Category: Contemporary

Review: In Case You Missed It

Title: In Case You Missed It
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 10, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Everyone has secrets—until they go viral.

Sammy Wallach has epic plans for the end of junior year: Sneak out to the city to see her favorite band. Get crush-worthy Jamie Moss to ask her to prom. Rock all exams (APs and driver’s).

With a few white lies, some killer flirting, and tons of practice, Sammy’s got things covered. That is, until the international bank her dad works for is attacked by hacktivists who manage to steal everything in the Wallach family’s private cloud, including Sammy’s entire digital life. Literally the whole world has access to her emails, texts, photos, and, worst of all, journal.

Life. Is. Over.

Now Sammy’s best friends are furious about things she wrote, Jamie thinks she’s desperate, and she can barely show her face at school. Plus, her parents know all the rules she broke. But Sammy’s not the only one with secrets—her family has a few of its own that could change everything. And while the truth might set you free, no one said it was going to be painless. Or in Sammy’s case, private.

Review:

This was a powerful story about the negative effects of technology.

In this story, Sammy’s father’s company gets hacked. It leads to their family’s “cloud” storage also getting hacked and all of their documents get posted online, including Sammy’s online diary. This would be mortifying for anyone, but especially a sixteen-year-old girl, who made private comments about her friends in her diary.

One thing I liked about this book is that the adults had to face consequences for the actions as well as the kids. Sammy ended up losing some friends over comments she made in her journal, but her parents’ secrets were also exposed in the hack. They were keeping a big secret from Sammy, which they had to discuss with her once the world found out before her. This shows that adults can be affected by the same consequences as their children.

I really enjoyed this story.

What to read next:

Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Have you read In Case You Missed It? What did you think of it?

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Review: Once and For All

Title: Once and For All
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 6, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine. 

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants. 

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

Review:

This is my first Sarah Dessen book and I loved it!

There were a lot of weddings in this story. Louna’s mother is a wedding planner, which looked like so much fun! This was a great setting for the novel. It made for some funny stories when things went wrong, such as a demanding mother of the bride who kept tissues in her bra!

One character was affected by a school shooting. I won’t give the details, since that is part of the suspense of the novel and I don’t want to spoil it. I was surprised that this is one of the first times I’ve read about this in a novel. Unfortunately, school shootings are a real part of life now, so I think they will be in many young adult novels in the future. It was heartbreaking to read about the way it affected a character in the novel.

I loved this book! I can’t wait to read more Sarah Dessen books!

What to read next:

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Have you read Once and For All? What did you think of it?

Review: We Are the Perfect Girl

Title: We Are the Perfect Girl
Author: Ariel Kaplan
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

She’s the beauty, I’m the bold one–together, we are the perfect girl… 

Aphra Brown is bold and outgoing. Her best friend, Bethany, is achingly beautiful. Individually, they could both do a little better in the self-esteem department, but together? Together, they have what it takes to win over Greg D’Agostino, a proverbial “ten,” who happens to be fluent in six languages–seven if you count the language of smoldering gazes . . .
What begins as an honest mistake turns into an elaborate deception, wherein Bethany goes on dates with Greg while Aphra coaches her on what to say, and texts him in the guise of Bethany, trying and failing, all the while, to tamp down her own hopeless crush. It’s only a matter of time before things come crashing down. The question is: What will happen when Greg finds out? And can Aphra and Bethany’s friendship survive the fallout? 
From the author of We Regret to Inform You comes a witty, warm-hearted exploration of love in all its forms, and a cris-de-coeur for self-acceptance when the pressure to be perfect is overwhelming.

Review:

This is a great new book about overcoming your insecurities. It is a modern retelling of a play called Cyrano de Bergerac. In that play, a man thinks he will not find love because of his large nose. Aphra has the same belief in this story. She goes as far as to impersonate her best friend, while chatting with her best friend’s boyfriend, to have the feeling of being loved by someone.

Aphra had to learn to deal with her insecurities in this book. She felt very self-conscious about her big nose, since her sister got a nose job and straightened her own nose. It made Aphra think that her sister must not think she is pretty, since she changed a feature they had in common. I felt so much sympathy for Aphra, because I was reminded about my own insecurities about my body. I could really relate to her.

This story also discussed allergies. Aphra’s brother develops an allergy to cats, which is upsetting to them since they have a cat. This made me realize that allergies aren’t discussed much in books, even though they are very common. I was glad to see this inclusion.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

We Regret to Inform You by Ariel Kaplan

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Have you read We Are the Perfect Girl? What did you think of it?

Review: The Rosie Result (Don Tillman #3)

Title: The Rosie Result (Don Tillman #3)
Author: Graeme Simsion
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher: Text Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

I was standing on one leg shucking oysters when the problems began…

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are about to face their most important challenge.

Their ten-year-old son, Hudson, is struggling at school: he’s socially awkward and not fitting in. Don’s spent a lifetime trying to fit in—so who better to teach Hudson the skills he needs?

The Hudson Project will require the help of friends old and new, force Don to decide how much to guide Hudson and how much to let him be himself, and raise some significant questions about Don’s own identity.

Meanwhile, there are multiple distractions to deal with: the Genetics Lecture Outrage, Rosie’s troubles at work, estrangement from his best friend Gene…

And opening the world’s best cocktail bar.

Hilarious and thought-provoking, with a brilliant cast of characters, The Rosie Result is the triumphant final instalment of the much-loved and internationally bestselling Don Tillman trilogy.

Review:

This is the perfect final instalment in the Don Tillman trilogy. Don and Rosie move back to Australia with their son, Hudson. Don takes on the task of helping Hudson fit in at school. He worries that he is conforming to the behaviours associated with autism, so he tries to “fix” him. Don often reflects on his own childhood and the ways his father tried to make him fit in, but it didn’t always work.

Along with addressing the complex issues around autism, this story also discusses vaccinations. One of Hudson’s friends is not vaccinated because her father is a homeopath and doesn’t believe in vaccinations. However, once the girl learns more about science, she decides that she doesn’t have the same values as her father. Don gets a little too involved, which adds some tension to the story.

I really enjoyed reading about Don. He’s a fun character. He misunderstood a lot of things in the world in the previous books. In this book, he made more jokes and understood the sarcasm much better, and he was still very funny.

I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you Text Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

Have you read The Rosie Result? What did you think of it?

Review: Bridal Boot Camp (Little Bridge Island #0.5)

Title: Bridal Boot Camp (Little Bridge Island #0.5)
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Source: Purchased
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot comes the first story in her Little Bridge Island series—which also includes an excerpt from her forthcoming new full-length novel No Judgments!

Looking for a tropical escape?

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest—and most beautiful—islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, stunning sunsets, and some of the quirkiest—but also kindest and most resourceful—people you’ll ever meet.

Physical trainer Roberta “Rob” James moved to Little Bridge hoping she’d found paradise, but things haven’t turned out quite as she’d hoped. The closest Rob has come to her “happily ever after” is happy hour at the Mermaid Café with her buddy Bree, the bartender slash waitress who’s got romance problems of her own.

But Rob’s situation suddenly changes when sheriff’s deputy Ryan Martinez accidentally enrolls in her bridal boot camp class. Turning mush into metal in time for the big day is Rob’s passion (because even the happiest bride could use a little toning).

But what happens when a guy who’s all mush meets a girl who’s all metal?

They discover they have a lot to learn . . . about each other, themselves, and the island paradise they’ve come to call home.

Review:

I was so excited to see this short story! I loved reading Meg Cabot books when I was younger, and I still read her YA books today. This is the first adult story by her that I’ve read.

This story was unique because it has been released before the full novel. This is a short story that takes place in the same town as her upcoming novel No Judgements. It has different main characters, but I’m guessing that these characters will make an appearance in the novel. In this story, they talk about a hurricane that is coming, which appears to create the tension in the novel.

The plot was very fast-paced, because it was so short. The romance between Rob and Ryan moved quickly, spanning just a couple of days. This makes sense for the short length of the novel, but it wasn’t very realistic.

This was a fun teaser for Meg Cabot’s upcoming book, which I can’t wait to read this fall!

What to read next:

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Have you read Bridal Boot Camp? What did you think of it?

Review: The Missing Season

Title: The Missing Season
Author: Gillian French
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Indigo Summer Preview
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Whenever another kid goes missing in October, the Pender kids know what is really behind it: a horrific monster out in the marshes they have named the Mumbler.

That’s what Clara’s new crew tells her when she moves to town: Bree and Sage, who take her under their wing; spirited Trace, who has taken the lead on this year’s Halloween prank war; and magnetic Kincaid, whose devil-may-care attitude and air of mystery are impossible for Clara to resist.

Clara doesn’t actually believe in the Mumbler. But as Halloween gets closer and tensions build in the town, it’s hard to shake the feeling that there really is something dark and dangerous in Pender, lurking in the shadows, waiting to bring the stories to life. 

Review:

There was some beautiful imagery in this book. The woods were described vividly. It felt like I was right there. One recurring image that stood out to me was the moths. They’re really harmless to people, yet they can be destructive to clothing if they invade. They can also seem scary when they are in large swarms. This was a great image in the story.

I thought that the missing kids would play a larger part in the story. Someone goes missing about halfway through. The first half of the story was about Clara getting to know the people in town and forming relationships with them. I was a little disappointed that the real mystery of the story started so late.

I was surprised at the ending, which was the conclusion to the mystery of the Mumbler. There was no way I could have guessed it. I wish there had been clues as to what was really happening throughout the story, so I had an opportunity to solve the mystery.

This was a good story, but not as suspenseful as I thought it would be.

Thank you Indigo for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

Have you read The Missing Season? What did you think of it?

Review: Deposing Nathan

Title: Deposing Nathan
Author: Zack Smedley
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son—the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who pushed him to break rules, dream, and accept himself. Conflicted, Nate began to push back. With each push, the boys became more entangled in each others’ worlds…but they also spiraled closer to their breaking points. And now all of it has fallen apart after a fistfight-turned-near-fatal-incident—one that’s left Nate with a stab wound and Cam in jail.

Now Nate is being ordered to give a statement, under oath, that will send his best friend to prison. The problem is, the real story of what happened between them isn’t as simple as anyone thinks. With all eyes on him, Nate must make his confessions about what led up to that night with Cam…and in doing so, risk tearing both of their lives apart.

Review:

This book begins at the end. Nate and Cam get into a fight right at the beginning. Cam is charged with stabbing Nate, yet it’s hard to see why when they become friends. Nate recounts their relationship as part of his deposition following the fight. Cam insists that Nate tell the whole story of what happened in their fight during his deposition, which seemed strange since he is the one who was charged.

The ending was a complete shock to me. I had no idea what would happen at the end of the deposition. However, when I look back on the story, there were hints at what would happen throughout it. My jaw dropped open when I read it. It was an amazing twist!

I found this story so compelling and hard to put down. I loved it!

Thank you Page Street Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford

Have you read Deposing Nathan? What did you think of it?

Review: Somewhere Only We Know

Title: Somewhere Only We Know
Author: Maurene Goo
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she’s just performed her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She’s about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She’s in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.

11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She’s very cute. He’s maybe curious.

12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same. 

Review:

This was a fun story about a K-pop star getting to live a day without her fame.

It was a very fast-paced story. Most of the story takes place in 24 hours. This could be challenging, because it could make the story repetitive or boring if the same two characters are spending the whole book together. However, Lucky and Jack do so many different things in Hong Kong, so it wasn’t repetitive.

Lucky is an outgoing girl. She was making me nervous at times, because of the risks she would take. She snuck out of her hotel without her money or a phone, when she could be recognized and mobbed at any moment. She left her family to become a pop star in Korea when she was a preteen. This made her admirable, because she was brave enough to take these risks.

I loved this book! I highly recommend it for a fun, summer read!

What to read next:

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

Have you read Somewhere Only We Know? What did you think of it?

Blog Tour Review: Secrets of a Fangirl

Title: Secrets of a Fangirl
Author: Erin M. Dionne
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Sarah Anne loves lacrosse, and the MK Nightshade series that everyone was obsessed over in grade school. The problem is that she’s still obsessed, which is way too nerdy for a popular kid like her. So she hides her geekiness with a set of rules meant to keep her geek and jock selves separate. 

Except when she’s offered a spot in a Nightshade fandom contest, where the winner gets to see the new movie premiere in LA. No one seems to think Sarah Anne can win, since she’s up against a pair of guys in high school–but the more she’s called a fake fan, the more determined she is to wipe the floor with her competition. As long as none of her friends or anyone at school knows what she’s doing.

Can she keep her geek identity a secret, win the contest, and manage to keep her friends even though she’s been living a lie? Sarah Anne is going to have to make some choices about what’s truly important to her and which rules she’s going to break to stay true to herself.

Review:

I loved this book!

I could really relate to Sarah Anne, the main character. She was a huge fan of a series called Nightshade, but she had to hide it from her friends. Her friends no longer thought it was “cool” to belong to a fandom, so Sarah Anne had to pretend that she didn’t like it anymore either. When she enters a contest online and wins, entering her into a fandom challenge, her secret “geeky” identity is put on display. I could relate to this because I remember in middle school and high school when liking geeky things, like fantasy book series or video games, was uncool. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I chose to ignore the fandoms that I loved, so that I could fit in with the rest of my classmates and friends. Now that I’m older, I wear tons of fandom gear, and I’m not afraid for anyone to know what geeky things I love.

I kept cringing at Sarah Anne’s popular friends. They were mean to so many kids, just because they liked certain movies and fandoms. One boy even expected Sarah Anne to keep up her position on the lacrosse team, because he couldn’t be seen with her if she wasn’t the best. This was so sad to read about, but it is definitely a real part of school. There are always the mean kids who think they can control what everyone else does in the school. The important thing is to continue to stand up for what you believe in.

This was a great book!

Thank you to Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Tournament Trouble by Sylv Chiang

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne

About the Author:

Erin Dionne’s latest book for tweens is Lights, Camera, Disaster (Scholastic 2018). Her other novels are Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies, The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, and Notes from an Accidental Band Geek.

Her novel Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking: A 14 Day Mystery, is based on the real-life Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist and was a 2014 Edgar Award finalist. The series continues with Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting. Her first picture book, Captain’s Log: Snowbound, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler, was released in 2018 and received a starred review from Kirkus.

A graduate of Boston College (BA English & Communications) and Emerson College (MFA), she teaches at Montserrat College of Art and lives outside of Boston with her husband, two children, and a very indignant dog.

Blog Tour Schedule:

May 20th

Dazzled by Books– Promo + Bookstagram
Struck by Stories– Review
The Book Dutchesses– Review

May 21st

Kayla Reads and Reviews– Review
Musings of a (Book) Girl– Interview + Bookstagram
The Reading Corner for All– Review + Bookstagram

May 22nd

onemused– Bookstagram + Review
Kait Plus Books– Guest Post + Bookstagram
Rhythmicbooktrovert– Review + Favorite Quotes

May 23rd

The Clever Reader– Interview
Jill’s Book Blog– Review
Moonlight Rendezvous– Review + Favorite Quotes

May 24th

L.M. Durand– Promo & Bookstagram
Vicarious Bookworm– Review + Playlist
Bookwyrming Thoughts– Review

Thank you The Fantastic Flying Book Club and Scholastic for letting me participate in this blog tour.

Have you read Secrets of a Fangirl? What did you think of it?

Review: The Beauty of the Moment

Title: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Susan dreams of being an artist. Malcolm wants to move him and his sister out of a bad living situation. Sparks fly when the two teens meet at a fundraiser for Syrian refugees. A Canadian YA romance for fans of The Sun is Also a Star.

Susan is the new girl — she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy — he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since. 
Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants — until he meets her. 
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are. 

Review:

I really enjoyed this story.

I liked the dual narratives of Susan and Malcolm. It was great to see both sides of their romance. They come from different backgrounds, yet they had many similarities. Malcolm’s father was remarried and Susan lived just with her mother, so they both only had one of their parents in their daily lives. However, they are in different positions in their school. Susan is new to the school and she has trouble making friends. Malcolm has a lot of history at the school, including a jealous ex-girlfriend. I saw the world through Susan’s new eyes, yet I also saw the history of the characters through Malcolm’s perspective.

Though there were fun parts of the story with their budding romance, there were serious issues addressed as well. Malcolm was abused at home by his father. Susan discovered problems in her parents’ marriage. They also reference the Syrian refugees in Toronto and Mississauga, because Malcolm’s sister organized a fundraiser for a Syrian family. These parts were educational and informative for young readers who may not know about these issues.

This story was set in Mississauga, which is a city in the Greater Toronto Area. I could picture most of the locations mentioned, which was so great! Though I couldn’t relate to the characters because they have different backgrounds from me, I felt connected to them through this setting.

This was a great story.

What to read next:

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

Have you read The Beauty of the Moment? What did you think of it?