Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

 

5*

Once again, Lynn Painter has written a swoonworthy young adult romance that grabs you from the first chapter and holds your attention right until the end. I think it’s my new favorite Painter novel. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, so I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dani and Alec as they cautiously, sometimes painfully, navigate their second chance at a romantic relationship when they reconnect as seniors in high school. They both believe that they were ghosted after Dani stopped visiting Minnesota each summer and their weekly coded postcards also stopped coming. So, they’re understandably angry and very cautious about resuming their friendship, let alone a romance. In the intervening 5 years, nerdy Alec has had a major glow-up and has every appearance of being one of the obnoxious jocks Dani has learned to steer clear of. However, when they accidently fall into a fake relationship, it gives them the closeness and time to discover how much they’ve both changed but, more importantly, how they’re still the same at heart.

If you’re looking for a young adult novel that isn’t too angsty, has some steamy kisses, and features main characters who act their age, you can’t go wrong with Fake Skating. If you’re a fan of hockey romance, this YA version of the trope won’t disappoint. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

 

5*

 

Every now and then, I read a book and can’t help but envision the movie version. This is one such book. From the moment aspiring podcaster Finley is betrayed by her boyfriend to the grand gesture at the end, it has all the hallmarks of a wonderful young adult rom-com. There’s enemies-to-lovers, a narcissistic, gaslighting ex, a gorgeous, cocky (but with a heart of gold) love interest in Theo, a cheeky, loving grandmother in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s who Finley does a podcast with, a mystery to solve, and a plot for revenge that doesn’t play out like she planned. 

Kasie West has proven, once again, why she is one of the queens of YA romance. Her characters are deftly drawn, showing a range of emotions and navigating the minefield that is both high school and teen relationships. There’s a lot of kissing, but that’s as far as it goes, so it’s appropriate for younger teens, but will be enjoyed by older ones as well. Highly recommended.

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Delacorte Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed

5*

This is a timely and extremely uncomfortable book to read, and that’s what makes it so powerful. In a time when Fascism seems to be winning in our country and book banning is sharply on the rise, it’s so important for our teens to have a story like this that lays bare the extremism, racism, anti-LGBTQ language and violence perpetuated by the white supremacists who have been empowered by our country’s leaders. It speaks to how protest can begin with just one voice, one brave person committed to freedom and fairness by speaking out against the ugliness that has been exposed.

As a librarian, it hurts my heart to read a fictionalized account of what challenges our young citizens are being exposed to under the guise of “protecting our children.” Noor Khan is a role model for standing up for what is right, even if it puts her and her loved ones in harm’s way. If I were still working at the high school level, I’d not only buy multiples of this book, but would also work with students and colleagues to host an event to discuss the topic and actions students can take to fight against these bans. Highly recommended.

 

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn Stringfield

 

4*

If you like Emily in Paris, you’ll enjoy this delightful and sweet young adult romance. Whitney Curry is in her favorite city for the first semester of her junior year. Her well-documented plan (she’s a list maker) is to visit all of the tourist spots while also researching and writing her senior project on Josephine Baker. What’s not on the list is falling for a local boy, especially her grumpy French tutor Thierry. He insists that the best way to learn about the city and gain fluency is to get away from the tourist traps and go where the locals go which, serendipitously, includes him teaching her how to make chocolates at his stepfather’s shop. (Yes, it’s on her list!)

As they spend weeks together, her outsized personality (which I felt was really annoying at the beginning) draws smiles and hard-earned laughter from Thierry, and, in turn, he encourages her spontaneity. As Whitney writes, directs and ultimately stars in a one-act play, she discovers the one thing that was missing: Josephine Baker didn’t just entertain; she also loved her adopted city, her adopted children, and the numerous men in her life. They weren’t a distraction, but rather enhanced her performances and her life which was a lesson Whitney learned to heartily embrace.

Teen romance lovers should thoroughly enjoy this charming and romantic romp through the city of lights. Recommended.

I Will Follow by Eireann Corrigan

 

4*


This YA abduction thriller is reminiscent of Stephen King’s Misery, but with a psychotic teen girl, Nora, who develops a parasocial relationship with Shea, a TikTok influencer/dancer instead of a middle-aged woman angry with the ending of her favorite novelist’s series. It’s a harsh look at influence culture, and how internet fame corrupts the creators as their follower count rises and their focus turns towards monetization and away from the fans who helped them grow their brand. Sadly, when an emotionally and mentally unstable follower convinces herself that her idol needs her help, the price of fame becomes too high.

Author Corrigan’s wise decision to use a dual POV enables readers to see into Nora’s mind and the experiences in her young life that have fostered her delusions. We also see how, despite her fear, Shea uses her time in captivity to reflect on how far her internet fame and sponsorships have taken her away from the joy she used to get from sharing her love of dance with her audience and how exposing even small parts of her life make her vulnerable. The message is an important one for today’s teens and tweens if there are librarians who can guide them to this worthwhile book because it’s not one they might easily find on their own. Recommended.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

 

4*

This is a sweet, clean romance about two 17-year-olds in love and on the precipice of losing their virginity to each other two years into their relationship. Reynolds starts the story in the present, and then goes back in time two years (in increments) to when Neon first met Aria at his grandfather’s burial, returning to the present in the last short chapter. It takes place in an unnamed urban setting (presumably DC/MD area, based on the names of the neighborhoods), but it’s nice to read a YA book that isn’t full of inner-city violence and tragedy. Instead, it’s focused on emotions, sage advice, parental support from both of Neon’s parents and Aria’s father, and solid friendships. Due to childhood abuse and the resultant trauma, Aria’s mother is difficult, but there’s no real angst in the story. This is very much character-driven with not much of a plot to speak of, and readers who are not familiar with black colloquial language may struggle a bit to understand some of the dialogue and Neon’s narrative (it’s told from his POV), but the message isn’t muddied. Recommended for libraries that serve teens.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Lucy, Uncensored by Mel and Teghan Hammond

4* (minor spoilers)

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At surface level, this is a coming-of-age novel about best friends and self-proclaimed “drama nerds” who have written a queer retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, their senior showcase that will serve as an audition for the university drama program they both hope to get into nearby. Dig deeper and it's an important book that pulls back the curtain to show what transgender and non-binary youth have to endure while trying to live as their authentic selves, battling transphobia, homophobia and gender dysphoria.

Lucy and Callie have planned out their path to success which includes getting into the Hughes drama program at Central University where they’ll be roommates. However, when they make a visit, Lucy runs into classmates who taunt her with transphobic slurs, leaving her uncomfortable with the idea of going to college so close to home. To add to her mounting distress, in a ripped from the headlines scenario, the local school board has banned them from putting on their play, forcing them to either rewrite a “sanitized version” or to give up their chance to attend Hughes. So, Lucy decides to see what other options are out there and finds an all-women’s college 6 hours away. Now all she has to do is visit the campus with Callie and hope it’s everything she’s been led to believe it might be, including meeting face-to-face with a handsome guy she connects with online who she’s been pumping for information about the school.

As Lucy starts to have conversations with queer students who have various gender identities and sexual preferences, readers are given the opportunity to witness the challenges these vulnerable, yet proud young adults face from family, classmates, supposed friends, and strangers. For some readers, this will be a valuable lesson; for those who are navigating their own journey, it will hopefully provide validation, comfort and hope when they see themselves in the characters. This is a worthy addition to any teen collection. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Knopf BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.




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Most Ardently (Remixed Classics #9) by Gale Cole Novoa

 

3.5*

I give much credit to Novoa for thoughtfully reimagining Pride and Prejudice as a queer romance with Oliver Bennett (deadname: Elizabeth), a trans male, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a gay cisgender male. However, I struggled with the fact that the dialogue was, for the most part, very modern. When Oliver used the word “infantilized,” it actually pulled me out of the story to check on its etymology. (It was first used in the 1930s.) It was also hard for me to ignore my knowledge of the history of sodomy laws in the UK. (The Buggery Act of 1533 under Henry VIII, which made sodomy punishable by death, wasn’t lifted until 1861, and homosexuality wasn’t fully legal until 1967.)

Having said this, I found the book enjoyable and imagine that its target audience, young adults, will probably not have these same issues since most haven’t read Jane Austen’s original story and don’t know the history. Many have, however, seen at least one movie adaptation, so they’d be able to appreciate Oliver and Darcy’s relationship without distraction. Regardless of my concerns, I really enjoyed how Novoa made Wickham even a bigger villain than he was in Austen’s story, highlighted the loving relationship between Oliver and his father, and showed a much softer side of Darcy. I also love the cover art.

 

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

 

4*

Nothing Like the Movies is the long-awaited sequel to Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies, a sweet, clean, YA second chance romance. I wish I had reread the first before I began this one, not because it can’t stand alone, but because I wanted, fresh in my mind, Wes and Liz’s origin story and the place where they left off.

Liz and Wes were next-door neighbors in Omaha, and Wes enjoyed antagonizing her as all little boys do when they like a girl. It wasn’t until their senior year, when Liz’s old crush Michael moved back, that she and Wes faked a relationship in the hopes of getting Michael to finally notice her. As so often happens, after spending so much time together, they realized that their feelings had gone from frenemy to love. This story picks up as Liz is entering her third year at UCLA where she started with Wes as a freshman until his father’s sudden death forced him to drop out and quit a very promising baseball career. So, imagine Liz’s surprise when she sees that he’s back and eager to rekindle their relationship despite breaking her heart (and his own). Liz, in a misguided attempt to dissuade him, fakes another relationship, this time with her very platonic roommate Clark. When her new internship has her enmeshed with the baseball team, filming their every move in the preseason, it becomes harder and harder for her to ignore Wes’s efforts, especially when she finally learns the truth about what happened that led to their breakup.

Although I didn’t find this sequel quite as entertaining as Better Than the Movies, I think it’s because of the suffering these two delightful kids went through to find their way back to each other. Wes is quite clueless when he thinks he can just work his charm on Liz and she’ll fall back into his arms, but she’s not having it. I enjoyed watching each of them excelling, Liz with her sports video productions and Wes with his exceptional pitching (when he can get his head back in the game after recalling his father’s critical comments). There’s a good balance of humorous banter and painful vulnerability, and side characters provide encouragement and guidance to help Wes and Liz recognize the truth of their complicated feelings. I also enjoyed the rom-com movie quotes at the start of each chapter, my recognition proof of my unapologetic love for the genre. Once again, Painter has demonstrated why she’s a star in the YA romance world. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BFYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson

 

5*

Oh, my! It was worth the 10-year wait since the publication of my all-time favorite young adult book, I’ll Give You the Sun, to finally read Jandy Nelson’s new book, When the World Tips Over. Other than excellent writing, I had no idea what to expect and never could have anticipated this tear-inducing, heartbreaking, romantic, redemptive family saga full of magical realism, sibling rivalry, and fanciful storytelling. Like its predecessor, a central theme is the way children cope with the loss of a parent, whether through death, abandonment or mental illness. It’s also vaguely reminiscent of Esquival’s Like Water for Chocolate minus the overwhelming tragedy. That’s not to say that this story is a happy one.

In its 500+ pages, there’s plenty of space for Nelson to weave a tale that gives sufficient attention to all of the characters and their lives, both separate from each other and in the ways they intermingle. She successfully juggles the various timelines and multiple POVs; handles multiple traumatic, potentially triggering events with sensitivity; describes the impact her characters’ bad decisions have on people around them while still not seeming to judge them harshly; introduces ghosts and curses without them seeming fantastical; and paves the way for a very dysfunctional family to come together and begin to heal following a near-tragedy. I found the idea of nature vs. nurture very interesting, especially how genetics can have a profound impact on someone’s life in both positive and negatives ways (whether it’s synesthesia, sexual orientation, musical talent, etc.), and appreciated how Nelson handled queer characters and their navigation of their sexuality and gender identity in the face of adversity. The exploration of love in all its forms (e.g., familial, platonic, romantic) is a thread that runs throughout the story, and is a potent motivator for many characters.

There are so many emotional highs and lows in this story. I actually cried in the first chapter and several other times throughout, but there was never a feeling of hopelessness. Of course, I also thought how much this family (especially the children) could benefit from therapy. Having a dog you can talk with telepathically is not a healthy coping mechanism! A quote near the end, which references the title, pretty much sums it up: “I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow.”

Although this is billed as a young adult novel, I want to emphasize that the number of triggers is very high, so this would be most appropriate for older teens, young adults and adults. It’s an unforgettable story that deserves all the awards and accolades I suspect it will receive. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Dial Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

If you don't want to see the triggers in case you consider them spoilers, don't read beyond this point.

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Tags and Triggers: #FamilySaga, #Curses, #StarCrossedLovers, #LGBTQ, #California, #Vineyards, #Brothers, #Musicians, #Synesthesia, #Infidelity, #Neglect, #Abandonment, #DomesticViolence, #SexualAssault, #Death, #Grief, #YALit, #YoungAdult, #Romance, #MultipleTimelines, #MultiplePOV, #Tearjerker, #Soulmates, #DysfunctionalFamily, #LoveAtFirstSight, #Family, #Depression, #MentalIllness, #Addiction, #Alcoholism, #SingleParent, #AccidentalPregnancy, #Abuse, #ChildAbuse, #Trauma, #CleanRomance, #LoveTriangle, #ForbiddenLove, #Dogs, #MMRomance, #GayRomance, #Bullying, #Guilt, #Wineries, #Stepsiblings, #LiteraryFiction, #RoadTrip, #MagicalRealism, #Chefs, #Paranormal, #SexualAbuse, #Ghosts, #Adultery, #OralStorytelling, #Coming-of-Age, #Bildungsroman, #Diaries, #Dreams

With Love, Echo Park by Laura Taylor Namey

 

5*

This is more than a frenemies-to-lovers young adult novel. It’s also a loving tribute to the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles and the immigrants who settled there starting in the early 1900s. In this story, the focus is on the Cuban families who fled after Castro took power and how their history is slowly but steadily being forgotten and painted over due to gentrification.

Clary Delgado’s family runs a florist shop that, thanks to a high-profile celebrity wedding, does a booming business. Her childhood nemesis Emilio Avalos’s family owns the bike shop across the street. They’re part of a handful of original Cuban businesses that still exist, and Clary has made it her mission to try to get a historical designation for the Sunset business district “to preserve the area and honor its role in fostering Cuban culture on the west coast.” Author Namey, who is half Cuban and a SoCal resident, pays homage to the artists who created the numerous colorful murals that decorate the neighborhood and feature strongly in Clary’s life. Sadly, many of them have been painted over by new business owners, but others have been restored. In the book, Clary learns that there is no mention of the Cubans’ contribution to the neighborhood on the local historical society website (which doesn’t surprise me given that I live nearby and have witnessed the whitewashing of the neighborhood and entitlement of the newer, white NIMBY residents). She is committed to honoring those memories and ensuring that those that came before her aren’t forgotten.

The slow burn romance between Clary and Emilio is very sweet, but the family relationships are equally central to the story. Namey does a wonderful job of describing the value that they place on their culture (through music, food, celebration and more) as well as the loyalty and devotion they have for each other. A few years ago, I invited Namey to visit our school library where we served Cuban pastries from Porto’s Bakery, so I got a kick out of reading about the characters in this book enjoying them as well. I highly recommend this poignant and, at times, poetic story.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt

 

5*

I decided to re-read Orbiting Jupiter before reading this sequel, and it was just as heart-wrenching as I remembered. I recommend any reader do the same for context, but this can technically be read as a standalone since some of the background story of Jupiter’s parents is revealed. However, getting a greater sense of why Jack so desperately wants to keep Jupiter (his foster sister and Joseph’s daughter) close makes this story that much more poignant. Schmidt never shies away from highlighting how poorly children can be treated by parents who should love and protect them and how the government agencies that are supposed to safeguard abused children so often fail in their duty because of unscrupulous lawyers and the misguided idea that all efforts should be expended to keep them with their blood relatives.

In this story, Jack’s adopted parents fostered Jupiter’s father who was just 14 when she was born. Eventually, they began fostering her as well and are in the process of adopting her when her maternal grandparents, who ignored her for the first three years of her life, decide to fight for custody. At the same time Jack has to worry about losing her, he’s also paired by his coach with one of Joseph’s former bullies, Jay Perkins. As they spend every weekday afternoon running the roads of their small Maine town, they start to grudgingly build a friendship and Jack finally learns why Jay was so angry at Joseph. I couldn’t help but hope that Jack wouldn’t suffer the loss of anyone else he loves. Schmidt writes achingly beautiful coming-of-age stories that highlight just how strong young people can be when faced with some of the worst of humanity. Be sure to have tissue ready! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Clarion Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Betting on You by Lynn Painter

 

5*

With Betting on You, Lynn Painter has proven yet again that she is a rising star in the YA romance field. In this enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract love story, Type A-personality Bailey first encounters laid back, wittily sarcastic Charlie in the Fairbanks, AK airport as each of them is embarking on a flight away from their fathers after spending the summer. For Bailey, her parents’ impending divorce is new and she’s leaving the only home she’s known to move to Omaha. For Charlie, it’s just the latest solo flight of many. Bailey is relieved when they land and she has seen the last of bothersome Charlie. So when she runs into him two years later, she surprised to realize that he’s maybe not as bad as she remembers. A year later, as they’re entering their senior year at different high schools, they end up working at the same resort, slowing building a friendship (although Charlie persists in referring to them as co-workers, not friends, because he believes boys and girls can’t BE friends without it becoming more and he’s not willing to risk it). They bond over crazy guests, absentee fathers, and heartbreaking exes and strengthen their friendship by frequently touching base via text. So when they end up faking a relationship as a way to break up her mother’s growing relationship (she wants her mom to be happy, but doesn’t want to lose the life they’ve built which has provided the healing comfort she needed post-divorce), will the forced proximity and practice kisses prove Charlie right and will he be willing to risk losing his best friend if he gives in to his feelings?

Painter has chosen to use a dual POV format which brings so much depth and insight to the story. Beneath Charlie’s cynicism and snark is a very wounded young man who believes that happily-ever-afters don’t exist, so having him voice his fears and justifications for his actions is key. Like her debut novel Better Than the Movies (featuring Charlie’s cousin Wes), we see the grown-up version of the “pulling girls’ pigtails in the playground” scenario play out and, despite Charlie’s misguided efforts, the intense chemistry and enviable friendship can't be denied. If you’re a fan, check out Painter’s website for bonus material on both books. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon and Schuster through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

 

5*

Following a desperate and damaging attempt to run from what she calls a “trifecta” of heartbreak, Lila Reyes has been exiled by her Cuban-American parents from her beloved Miami to her aunt’s B&B in Winchester, England in the hopes that she will find peace and healing. In her opinion, this is just one more act of betrayal, removing control of how she handles her grieving process after the death of her beloved Abuela, the breakup with her long-time boyfriend, and the abandonment of her best friend. Her plan had been to take over the family bakery with her sister, with Pilar handling the business end and Lila honoring her grandmother’s legacy, using both her recipes and the lessons she taught her. How can she possibly do that if she has to spend the summer an ocean away?

On the surface, Winchester and Miami are polar opposites. One is ancient, gray, chilly, lacking in flavor, understated. The other is modern, full of color, sizzling, spicy, bold. Lila’s initial assumption is that the people reflect their cities…this will feel like a prison sentence. So, after 48 hours of solitude, her first surprise is finding that the loud rock music emanating from her cousin Gordon’s room is the creative inspiration for his beautiful architectural drawings. Then she meets Orion Maxwell, the son of the local tea purveyor, his sister Flora, the talented singer-songwriter Jules, and her boyfriend Remy. Orion, who makes it his mission to find Lila’s favorite flavor of tea, offers to be her Winchester tour guide. Through various adventures over the course of the book, the five friends collectively show her that there are so many flavors to food and drink, styles of music, dance, and architecture, landscape views, and even types of heartbreak, grief, and love beyond the small world she has inhabited her whole life, that she slowly comes to love her temporary home.

Although Orion and Lila are both dealing with weighty issues, their shared grief creates a special bond between them that will make it difficult to let go at the end of the summer. Will there be any way for them to keep the relationship alive when they’re worlds apart?

This aptly-titled book is a culinary guide to Cuban cuisine, a travel guide of Winchester, and an emotional journey both on foot and via many modes of transportation through grief, loss, and hope. The descriptions of the food are mouth-watering and central to the story, both as a tribute to Lila’s Abuela and as a plot point when Lila takes over the B&B kitchen in the absence of their regular pastry chef. The city of Winchester and the surrounding countryside, which Lila and Orion discover on their runs and the back of his motorcycle, are another character in the story and like the humans, are well-drawn and another reason that Lila comes to love her place of exile. Although there are heavy topics such as mental illness and death, they are handled delicately. In the talented hands of Laura Taylor Namey, this is another extraordinary young adult novel to share with teens who are looking for a deeply-emotional, thought-provoking story that will leave them wanting more. Highly recommended!

When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey

 

4.5*


After reading Namey’s first book, The Library of Lost Things, and loving the humor, the romance, and the bookstore setting, I wasn’t expecting or prepared for the emotional tsunami of this book. Set in Namey’s hometown of San Diego, it’s a beautiful portrayal of female friendship and the multiple ways love manifests. Although there’s a romantic element, it’s the story behind the relationships and the impact grief and guilt have on families and friendships that are the primary focus.

Willa, Luz, and Britton have been inseparable friends for a decade, but a single act of betrayal by Willa threatens to tear them apart. In order to gain the forgiveness she craves, Luz demands that Willa think about the real reasons for her actions in the week leading up to their high school graduation. As she begins to go through a box full of mementos that dredge up very painful memories, the narrative switches between graduation week and a past she needs to revisit in order to piece together the events that led up to her betrayal. Foremost is a near-tragic event at age 13 that affected them all and led to her mother mentally withdrawing and focusing all of her attention on her backyard garden, leaving Willa to find comfort and support from her friends’ families instead.

The heartbreaking journey Willa takes is difficult to read, as Namey does a masterful job of wringing all sorts of emotions from her readers. At times, especially at the beginning, it’s a bit difficult to understand where the set-up is leading, but it’s only a minor distraction which becomes clear as the story unfolds and ultimately reaches its conclusion. Have tissues handy for this one! Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Atheneum BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This is for Tonight by Jessica Patrick

5*

Crafting YouTuber Andi needs money to go to SCU (presumably the fictional USC) with her twin brother, the same school where her parents met. Unfortunately, she doesn’t win the scholarship and can’t afford the tuition since they’re still paying off her father’s medical bills 5 years after his death. (Universal healthcare, anyone?) So they come up with the idea of filming a video at the Cabazon Music Festival (Coachella in disguise) in the hopes it’ll go viral and raise the funds she needs. The problem is that she’ll have to change her vlogger focus if she wants the money to keep rolling in.Jay Bankar has a hugely-successful YouTube channel that features him pranking people and being an all-around jerk and misogynist. When he and Andi meet the first night of the festival when he offers to help her set up her tent, the chemistry is instantaneous, that is, until she gets a good look at him in the light of the following day. She struggles to reconcile the nice guy with the vlogger she hates with a passion. As they begin to compete with each other in a scavenger hunt with the prize of interviewing the headliner band, one of the hottest in the country, she sees traces of that sweet guy hiding behind his sarcastic online persona. Can she believe him when he says it’s all an act, one designed to raise his own college funds? Is he worthy of her forgiveness after he disappoints her more than once, especially when she thinks about her father’s policy of “no second chances”?

Patrick’s debut novel will appeal to her internet-savvy, social media-obsessed teen audience. In addition to its enemies-to-lovers theme, it also explores sometimes rocky sibling relationships, the lingering grief of losing a parent, and the stress caused by a lack of funds which sometimes causes people to make questionable decisions, all set against the backdrop of a music festival. If you have teen patrons looking for a fun summer read, hand them this book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Swoon Reads through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

5*

Wes is the boy-next-door who has taken pleasure in annoying Liz since they were children. It’s pretty obvious from the start that he’s using the tried and true method of all little boys who want to get a girl’s attention. However, it isn’t until Michael (her girlhood crush) moves back to town and Liz bribes Wes to help her get Michael to ask her to prom that she begins to see Wes in a new light. When they decide to fake a relationship to get Michael to notice her, it’s inevitable that real feelings will surface. Is it possible that Wes was the right one all along?
This is a sweet, sweet enemies-to-lovers YA romance that deals with Liz’s prolonged grief over losing her mother at a young age and the unconscious way she dresses like her mom and imagines life and love to be like the rom-coms they enjoyed together. (This same relationship mirrors the adult one in Waiting for Tom Hanks.) It’s also about friendship and the pleasure of discovering someone who sees and admires the real you. There’s so much to recommend this debut novel, and Painter’s sophomore effort will be hotly anticipated by teens who love romances. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Sunkissed by Kasie West

 

4*

Very cute teen romance with only a mild bit of angst. If you combine Dirty Dancing (without the sex) with A Star is Born (without the tragedy), you get a really good sense of the plot of this book. There’s Brooks, the hot rocker with a heart of gold, who works at a woodsy resort in Northern CA so he can both escape the obligations to his family and raise funds for his father’s medical bills and Avery, the good girl who doesn’t like conflict, which means she trods the path of least resistance. When she realizes that she’s not living a life she’s chosen, she makes a vow to get out of her comfort zone, and Brooks is there to encourage her every step of the way. They break all the rules to help each other fulfill their dreams and, in the process, fall in love. Supporting them is a solid group of friends and Avery’s younger sister, all of whom spur them on to reach for the stars. Fans of Morgan Matson, Huntley Fitzpatrick, and Sarah Dessen will love this great summer read. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Delacorte Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

4*

This debut author’s book definitely dialed-in to the current teen social media culture. On the plus side, I love the YA lit fandom angle being such a big fan of the genre. I also appreciate that it’s a YA novel in which friends are genuine and there’s no focus (other than some negative comments online) on bullying. The secondary characters are well-developed and I appreciate the focus on family and the way people process grief.

 

Unfortunately, I seriously disliked Halle. Yes, she suffers from crippling anxiety and low self-esteem, but it’s never clear where that comes from other than never staying in one place long enough to make friends and establish an identity. Her loving family supports her and her social media following should be proof that she’s successful at what she does. It shouldn’t take an acceptance to NYU and invitation to a BookCon panel to validate her. However, that doesn’t excuse her selfishness and dishonesty. Trust is essential in relationships and she betrayed everyone’s. It’s astounding that everyone forgave her, honestly. I recommend this title because teen book lovers will appreciate the YA lit focus and the DM format. 

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey

4*

This book has it all: teen romance, family drama, flawed characters, and a beautiful bookstore. Darcy Wells’ mother is a hoarder who compulsively buys and catalogs her things ever since her fiancé and Darcy’s father abandoned her prior to Darcy’s birth. She fools the world because she can put herself together and work as a cosmetics consultant, but in private it’s a different story. Their apartment is full, and the only way Darcy can survive is with help from her grandmother since the father she’s never known doesn’t pay child support. She is parenting her mother and won’t abandon her to go live with her grandmother, but if she chooses to remain with her mother, all financial support from her grandmother will end on her 18th birthday a little over a month away. Books have been her escape from her sad reality for years, and the only boyfriends she’s ever had are from their pages. That is, until Asher Fleet starts hanging out at the shop while on breaks from his construction job across the street. He was a year ahead of her at school, but after a tragic car accident, his injuries forced him to abandon his dreams of becoming a pilot, so he is dealing with his own demons. Despite their separate burdens, the story isn’t all doom and gloom. Darcy’s best friend, Marisol is a devoted friend, the sparring between her boss Mr.Winston and his long-divorced ex-wife Tess who runs the adjacent wig shop serves as a comedic element, and the healing that comes through the books themselves all combine to make this teen romance a treat for the senses. Highly recommended for teen collections.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Inkyard Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.