Category: Young Adult

Title: That Inevitable Victorian Thing
Author: E.K. Johnston
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Set in a near-future world where the British Empire was preserved, not by the cost of blood and theft but by effort of repatriation and promises kept, That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a novel of love, duty, and the small moments that can change people and the world.

Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendant of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history two centuries earlier. The imperial practice of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage like her mother before her, but before she does her duty, she’ll have one summer incognito in a far corner of empire. In Toronto, she meets Helena Marcus, daughter of one of the empire’s greatest placement geneticists, and August Callaghan, the heir apparent to a powerful shipping firm currently besieged by American pirates. In a summer of high-society debutante balls, politically charged tea parties, and romantic country dances, Margaret, Helena, and August discover they share an unusual bond and maybe a one in a million chance to have what they want and to change the world in the process —just like the first Queen Victoria.

Review:

When I read the description of this book, I knew I would love it. I love the Victorian period and the English monarchy, and I’m from Toronto, so it was the best of both worlds!

I loved the Toronto references. They mention that the Don Valley Parkway will be closed for construction, which often happens. There were also popular landmarks mentioned, like Union station and the Royal York hotel, where royals stay in when they visit Toronto, so it was very realistic. 

Since this world is like ours but a little different, there were some changes to history. Queen Victoria’s children married people from different British empires, rather than European royalty. This created a diverse monarchy. One subtle change to history was that Alan Turing was knighted and living in the 60s. Alan Turing invented a computer that ended WWII, but he later had hormone replacement therapy because he was gay and ended up killing himself in 1954. In this different, diverse world, Alan Turing lived. 

There was an omniscient third person narrator, which is not common in modern writing. The narrator knew what everyone was thinking and would switch between different characters’ minds. However, this was a common kind of narrator in Victorian literature, so it read like an authentic Victorian novel. 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Title: I See London, I See France
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

I see London, I see France, I see Sydney’s underpants.

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.

As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera…wearing only her polka-dot underpants.

Review:

I really enjoyed this story! It was so much fun!

I loved reading about the places they traveled in Europe. I could picture some places so well from my own vacations, like King’s Cross Station in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Since these places were so well represented, I’m sure the other cities and landmarks were described accurately.

Within the narrative, there were lines from the travel book that Sydney was reading, followed by her comments on them. These lines were so funny. Her take on these cities and the things that really happen, such as having a plate broken over your head in Corfu, were hilarious!

Sydney and Jackson were so cute! I was rooting for them from the beginning! Even though Leela thought he was trouble, I hoped that he would have some redeeming qualities. The dynamic of Sydney, Leela, and Kat was also accurately depicted. Usually, a group of three friends doesn’t work, because someone feels left out. Since Leela and Kat know Sydney from different places and times in her life, I wasn’t surprised that they had a rocky start.

I loved this book! It’s the perfect summer vacation story!

Title: King’s Cage (Red Queen #3)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl’s spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

Review:

This is a great book!

It has been a couple of years since I read Red Queen and Glass Sword, so it took a while to get back into the story. But once I did, it flew by.

The beginning of the story was a little slow. Mare’s captivity was repetitive, since she couldn’t do much inside her cell other than plot her escape. Maven was annoying, but I also felt sorry for him. I learned more about what he suffered at his mother’s hands in this story, which explains why he behaves the way he does.

The narrative switches between different characters. Since Mare is trapped by Maven, Cameron gives the perspective of the Scarlet Guard. This way, we can see what is happening in Maven’s court as well as how the Scarlet Guard is preparing to attack.

There were also some twists, and some characters made surprising decisions, like switching sides of the battle. Now I just have to read the finale, War Storm!

Title: Golden Hour
Author: Chantel Guertin
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: ECW Press
Source: Publisher
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The fourth and final book in the beloved Pippa Greene series

It’s senior year, and the college countdown is on. But instead of getting accepted to Tisch’s photography program, Pippa’s been waitlisted. Without a backup plan, and with the pressure from everyone around her to live up to her father’s legacy, Pippa sets out to prove herself worthy of the program by doing the opposite of everything she did to try to get in. But when she runs into her ex, and first love, Dylan McCutter, Pippa has to finally decide if she should follow her head or her heart.

Written with the same humor and heart that made Chantel Guertin’s first three Pippa Greene novels instant favorites, Golden Hour offers a fresh and charming perspective on friendships, family, and first love.

Review:

I can’t believe this is the last book in the Pippa Greene series! I think this was the best one yet!

In this book, Pippa’s life is turned upside down, even more than in past novels. She doesn’t get into the only college program she applied to, so she doesn’t know what to do next. She ends up doing things that are completely out of her comfort zone.

The love triangle of Pippa, Dylan, and Ben also came to a conclusion. I was happy with the way it ended, but I was a little surprised at where they all ended up.

This was a satisfying ending to the series, but I really wish the story would continue! This is a short and sweet YA series that you should definitely check out!

Title: The Brightsiders
Author: Jen Wilde
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A teen rockstar has to navigate family, love, coming out, and life in the spotlight after being labeled the latest celebrity trainwreck in Jen Wilde’s quirky and utterly relatable novel.

As a rock star drummer in the hit band The Brightsiders, Emmy King’s life should be perfect. But there’s nothing the paparazzi love more than watching a celebrity crash and burn. When a night of partying lands Emmy in hospital and her girlfriend in jail, she’s branded the latest tabloid train wreck.

Luckily, Emmy has her friends and bandmates, including the super-swoonworthy Alfie, to help her pick up the pieces of her life. She knows hooking up with a band member is exactly the kind of trouble she should be avoiding, and yet Emmy and Alfie Just. Keep. Kissing.

Will the inevitable fallout turn her into a clickbait scandal (again)? Or will she find the strength to stand on her own?

Review:

This book is amazing!

There is great representation of a variety of genders and orientations in this book. Some characters are bi, others are gay or non/binary. I believe this is the first book I’ve read with a non-binary character who prefers the pronoun “they.” At first, it was a little confusing when I read “they” referring to a single person. I thought I had missed another person entering the scene. But I got used it pretty quickly, and I loved the diversity.

Another important aspect of this book is the paparazzi culture. We see one side of the story in the photos, but we don’t know what is actually happening in the celebrities’ lives. Emmy looked like she was falling apart, but that was influenced by the tabloids’ opinions. Not everything is what it seems in the magazines.

I love the characters. I wish I could join their group of friends. They had so much fun, and it made me so jealous! And I totally loved Emmy and Alfie! They were definitely my favourite characters!

If you haven’t read Queens of Geek, you should read it before The Brightsiders. It isn’t a sequel, but the characters from Queens of Geek made a couple of appearances in this book, and it would spoil the ending of that book because you would see where they ended up.

I just loved this book and I’m going to recommend it to everyone!

About the Author:

Giveaway:

May 21st
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May 22nd
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May 23rd
–Butterfly-o-Meter Books >> Interview
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–A Book Addict’s Bookshelves >> Guest post
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May 24th
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May 25th
–Belle’s Book Blog >> Review
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Title: When Dimple Met Rishi
Author: Sandhya Menon
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Purchased
Release Date: March 30, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Review:

I finally finished this book, just in time for From Twinkle, With Love to come out, and I absolutely loved it!

Dimple was such a fabulous character. She was so real. I love that she was interested in coding. She was also strong because she insisted on going to school instead of getting married right away. She stood her ground with her parents, but at the same time, they respected her wishes.

I also loved Rishi! He was so sweet and planned the best dates with Dimple! He was even willing to leave the camp just to please her when she was shocked that he was there just for her.

Indian culture played an important part in this novel. Dimple’s and Rishi’s parents tried to set them up to get married, because they were family friends. Dimple wanted to do a Bollywood dance for the talent show. Both of them embraced their Indian culture. I wasn’t familiar with some things, like the foods, so I loved learning more in this book!

This book definitely lived up to the hype! I highly recommend it!

Title: Tradition
Author: Brendan Kiely
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Prestigious. Powerful. Privileged. This is Fullbrook Academy, an elite prep school where history looms in the leafy branches over its brick walkways. But some traditions upheld in its hallowed halls are profoundly dangerous.

Jules Devereux just wants to keep her head down, avoid distractions, and get into the right college, so she can leave Fullbrook and its old-boy social codes behind. She wants freedom, but ex-boyfriends and ex-best friends are determined to keep her in place.

Jamie Baxter feels like an imposter at Fullbrook, but the hockey scholarship that got him in has given him a chance to escape his past and fulfill the dreams of his parents and coaches, whose mantra rings in his ears: Don’t disappoint us.

When Jamie and Jules meet, they recognize in each other a similar instinct for survival, but at a school where girls in the student handbook are rated by their looks, athletes stack hockey pucks in dorm room windows like notches on a bedpost, and school-sponsored dances push first year girls out into the night with senior boys, the stakes for safe sex, real love, and true friendship couldn’t be higher.

As Jules and Jamie’s lives intertwine, and the pressures to play by the rules and remain silent about the school’s secrets intensify, they see Fullbrook for what it really is. That tradition, a word Fullbrook hides behind, can be ugly, even violent. Ultimately, Jules and Jamie are faced with the difficult question: can they stand together against classmates—and an institution—who believe they can do no wrong?

Review:

This story started a little slow but picked up in the middle. The one good thing about the slow beginning was that it really introduced the characters. By the time the main incident happened, I felt like I really knew who they were.

I really liked that there was a hook at the beginning, which took place right after the main party, so it encouraged me to keep reading. It just took a while to get to that point. Once the incident in Part 2 happened, the story flew by.

The characters were great and they had quite unique backgrounds. Jules was an outcast at school because she promotes women’s health. However, the year before she was dating one of the most popular guys in school. Jamie on the other hand is new to the school. He got a full scholarship to the school after he had to leave his public school.

The traditions of the school were disrupted by real life. The winning hockey team was disrupted by a violent player, and Jules’ life was disrupted by the assault at the party. Both Jules and Jamie had to fit in with the traditions of this private school, but still maintain their modern lives.

This is a great young adult novel.

About the Author:

Title: Stay Sweet
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A summer read about first love, feminism, and ice cream.

Summer in Sand Lake isn’t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery—the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls, who inevitably become the best of friends. Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is “Head Girl” at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn’t sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly’s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business…but Grady’s got some changes in mind…

Review:

This is a cute summer read!

I liked the characters in this story. Amelia seems like a simple girl, but she handled tough situations really well. She didn’t expect to be made Head Girl at the ice cream stand, but from the way she reacted to problems, she earned that position. Cate was a great contrast to her. She was much wilder with a carefree attitude, but very outspoken.

The story had some great twists right at the beginning. Molly’s death was quite a surprise. It made the story very serious for a while. But then it picked back up. It was also a twist that the stand was no longer be run solely by women. This was a great twist since women in higher positions in business is an important topic in the world today.

I also loved how the story included some of Molly’s perspective in the form of her diary from when she started making ice cream. It demonstrated that though Amelia and Molly were born decades apart, they were connected through their dedication to the business. This also kept Molly in the story after she died.

I really liked this story. It would be a great beach read this summer!

Title: Leading Lines
Author: Chantel Guertin
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: ECW Press
Source: Purchased
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

After two drama-filled weeks in Manhattan, Pippa Greene is back. Despite a romantic reunion with boyfriend Dylan, she can’t seem to shake the emotional aftermath of New York. As she navigates parental drama at home and her charged dynamic with Ben Baxter at school, Pippa finds that Dylan is more wrapped up in his post-high-school life of bands, shows, and new friends than in their relationship. Will it survive?

Written with the same humour and heart that made Chantel Guertin’s first two Pippa Greene novels instant favourites, Leading Lines offers a fresh and charming perspective on friendships, family, and first love.

Review:

I loved this third installment in the Pippa Greene series.

I could really relate to Pippa. I was frustrated for her while she had to navigate her confusing relationships with Dylan and Ben. They were both annoying in their own ways, but she couldn’t resist them.

The characters all have a lot of depth beyond their relationships. Dylan still has to deal with his past cancer battle. Pippa also has to deal with her discovery of her biological father in New York. These aspects keep the story moving, and make the characters unique.

This is a fabulous series that I highly recommend! The fourth book is being released in a couple of weeks, so there’s still time to catch up!