Category: Young Adult

Title: Wicked Charm
Author: Amber Hart
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nothing good comes from living in the Devil’s swamp.

Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn’t half bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the shadows of the bog.

Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be next.

Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau Cadwell—the bad boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer tormenting the small town.

But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there’s something else that draws Willow to him.

When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow questions whether she can trust her instincts…or if they’re leading to her own death.

Review:

This was a very suspenseful story.

It is a great mystery. Girls who dated Beau go missing and are murdered near his home. It seems like Willow will be next. I didn’t guess who did it, but the solution makes sense if you look back on the story.

I didn’t feel a connection with Willow or Beau. I felt like they were only focused on the murders, and didn’t talk about anything else. Of course, the murders were concerning since Beau was a suspect, but I think they should have done some other things to build their relationship and develop their characters.

This was a great suspenseful story. If you’re looking for a creepy teen story, you should check this one out!

About the Author:

Title: Dear Martin
Author: Nic Stone
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Review:

This story is amazing. It’s very moving.

The issues that Justyce faced are familiar to anyone who watches the news. He was wrongfully arrested because of his skin colour. He was trying to do the right thing and ended up in trouble. After that, everything spirals out of control because Justyce wants to face this social injustice head on.

The plot of the story was very fast paced. I read the whole book in just a couple of hours. I couldn’t put it down! When the big twist happens halfway through the book, when the shots were fired, I was shocked.

I loved the irony in the way Justyce’s mom behaved. She wanted her son to have a good life and have opportunities so she sent him to a private boarding school. She didn’t want him to be judged by his skin colour. However, she refused to let him date a white girl, just because she has white skin. Even if the girl loved Justyce and was good for him, she still wouldn’t accept her just because of her skin. This ridiculous prejudice just shows how no one should be judged solely by the way they look. People from all different races and backgrounds are both good and bad. Appearance doesn’t define the way you behave.

It’s a great story for it’s entertainment value as well as it’s teachable moments. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Title: The Hazel Wood
Author: Melissa Albert
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. Alice’s only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother’s tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

Review:

I loved this book! I love fairytale adaptations, and this one was very twisted and original.

The writing was amazing. Alice had a unique and mature voice. I really enjoyed her narrative. Some of the fairytales from Alice’s grandmother’s book were also in the story. They were super creepy. I had to stop reading it one night and switch to a lighter book so I didn’t have nightmares. But the stories were so good!

The concept of the fairytales coming to life was so creepy. This story reminded me of the Percy Jackson series in that way. Percy learned his family secrets, which brought him into the world of Greek mythology, just as Alice learns her family history in the world of her grandmother’s fairytales.

I really hope a book of Alice’s grandmother’s fairytales is published. It would be awesome to read them all. The physical book was described in the story, so it could be a beautiful book as well.

I loved this story! I recommend it for fans of fairytale adaptations.

Title: American Panda
Author: Gloria Chao
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse, Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth–that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

Review:

I really liked this story!

Mei’s situation is very relatable. Her parents insist that she go to medical school, but she doesn’t want to. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to study what I wanted, but I know that isn’t the case for many people.

I loved Mei’s mother. She was so funny. She was constantly leaving voicemails for Mei and always ending them by saying “It’s your mom,” as if she didn’t know. She also called the police when Mei didn’t return her call for hours. She was very strict but also funny.

I’m a very squeamish person, so I don’t like reading about medical things. There were a few moments where Mei was in medical environments which were so gross! It was ironic since Mei was such a germaphobe. Those parts really grossed me out.

Overall, I really liked this story! It’s definitely worth the hype!

About the Author:

Title: Right Kiss Wrong Guy
Author: Natalie Decker
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Source: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

You’d think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.

But Valentine’s Day sucks when you’re single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.

A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom’s match-making business is doing great, and her school’s new fundraiser is “Love-Grams.”

Juliet’s miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.

Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he’s all but invisible. She isn’t impressed.

Jared’s never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and he’s determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla’s sister.

Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won’t work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?

Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone’s face. Juliet won’t play his game.

Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.

Review:

I enjoyed this book. 

It is very similar to the first book in the series, Right Text Wrong Guy. Layla’s twin Juliet is the focus of this story. In the first novel, Layla was texting a guy she liked, but didn’t realize it was Tyler. In this book, Juliet slowly falls for her secret admirer who she doesn’t know is Jared. In both stories the guys knew what was going on and we get to see both perspectives of the story. 

This story followed the same plot as the first book, so it was predictable. The good thing was the story began right away, since the characters were introduced in the previous story. 

Another good thing was that they only discussed what happened in the novella, Right Gift Wrong Day, in passing. Anyone who didn’t read that novella, which takes place between the two novels, wouldn’t feel left out. However, the novella was a great little bonus for fans of the series. 

This book is a must read for fans of the rest of the Offsides series!

About the Author:

Giveaway:

• Amazon Echo Dot

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Ruin and Rising
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Source: Purchased
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Review:

This was a thrilling conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy!

This story was quite fast paced. One of my favourite parts about Bardugo’s stories is that when the characters explain their plans and what they want to happen, something comes to ruin it. Even when you think you can predict what is going to happen, someone comes in to crash the plans so it doesn’t happen and it turns the plot in a completely different direction. It keeps her readers on their toes.

I found the ending of the story so emotional. The characters go through so much love and loss through this book. Some losses were very hard to take.

This may be a bit of a spoiler, but I liked the epilogue. The characters went through so much throughout the series that it was calming to see how it all ended. I was satisfied with the ending, but I am glad that there are more books in the GrishaVerse for me to read!

Title: We Were Liars
Author: E. Lockhart
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Purchased
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Review:

This is an original story.

The unusual style that Cady, the narrator, uses takes a while to get used to. She often drifts off into her own fantasies. For example, at the beginning she describes when her father left her and her mother. She says he got into the car, then shot her in the chest and she started bleeding. When I first read that, I was shocked! But that’s not what really happened. Cady often exaggerates events or makes up stories.

The mystery of what happened to Cady was really suspenseful. Since she lost her memories, she couldn’t remember everything that happened the night she was injured. As Cady remembered events, the reader was also told what happened.

I also liked the family dynamic of the story. The different generations all come together on their own island. The mothers used their children to try to manipulate their grandfather into giving them their inheritances. It’s sad to think about, but I can see that happening in very wealthy families.

The ending gave me goosebumps! I was definitely not expecting it. It left me speechless. You’ll just have to read the book to find out how it ends!

Title: Let’s Talk About Love
Author: Claire Kann
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Alice had her whole summer planned. Non-stop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally included) with the smallest dash of adulting–working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ended things when Alice confessed she’s asexual). Alice is done with dating–no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done.

But then Alice meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoons, oh my!).

When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn, and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library employee badge (close enough), Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated—or understood.

Review:

I loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read with an asexual character. 

At first, I was worried when Alice started having feelings for Takumi. I didn’t want the story to turn into her discovery that she wasn’t actually asexual. I was relieved that didn’t happen. The story is about Alice learning to accept her orientation. 

Even though many readers may not be able to relate to Alice’s orientation, her relationship with Takumi is relateable. She has butterflies in her stomach for the first time, when she meets him. She’s constantly thinking about him and she can’t figure out why. This is the first time she experienced romantic attraction. 

I think the book needed more tension. Alice had her personal problems, which were important and valid. But there weren’t a lot of exciting, tense moments to drive the story. I would have loved a surprise or shocking event throughout the story. I also would have liked to have seen more of her family. They created conflict with Alice, because they didn’t agree with what she wanted to do in life. 

I really enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it!

About the Author:

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

Title: Hunter: The Fallen One
Author: C.L. Hugely
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Source: Author
Release Date: October 31, 2016
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A hostile takeover of earth is unfolding secretly right before our very eyes. Is this a political move, or is something much more ancient and sinister at hand? Mystery schools were formed by the elite to train soldiers to further their agenda.

Lian Hunter is a freshman at one of these schools for the exclusively wealthy; the Tri- Asterisk Academy in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. When students start suddenly disappearing, Lian starts to feel something evil and corrupt underlying the veneer of the academy. Can he uncover the truth about his school before it is too late or is he just another soldier in training?

Review:

I really enjoyed this story. It was unpredictable and surprising, which is what I look for in books.

I really liked the futuristic elements of the story. There was a restaurant that Lian and his friends went to, where they could decide the atmosphere that they saw while sitting at their table. It was like a virtual reality restaurant. Some of their lessons in class were also in virtual reality, like when they studied the solar system or ancient civilizations.

Some parts of this story reminded me of Harry Potter. Lian finds a soccer championship cup with his father’s name on it from when he attended the school, just like Harry’s father’s name was on a Quidditch house cup at Hogwarts. There is also a part where Lian has flashbacks to when his father was a student, which was like when Harry revisits Dumbledore’s memories in the pensieve.

The mystery of what was happening to Lian kept me guessing until the end. It was so creepy, that he kept having visions that would appear without warning. However, when looking back on the description of the book, it doesn’t completely fit. The first part about mystery schools being formed to train soldiers is what seems to be happening, but they don’t say it outright. The story mainly focuses on Lian and his friends.

The omniscient narrator was a little unusual. The focus of the story jumped around from Lian to some of the adults in the story. This only happened occasionally, but I would have liked it to have focused more on Lian’s experience, rather than what else is going on in the world and even what his friends are doing.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I’m curious to see where it goes next.