Tangled Up In You by Samantha Chase

4*

Fans of Chase’s Shaughnessy Brothers have waited a long time for Bobby Hannigan’s story and won’t be disappointed with this 7th (and probable last) book in the series. Bobby, a cop in the process of slowly recovering from a gunshot wound, has moved back home to heal with hopes of rejoining the force. Single mom Teagan Shaughnessy, cousin to the large brood immortalized in previous books, has also moved to the Carolina coast with her parents and young son, Lucas and runs into Bobby at a family gathering. Although both have plans for the future that don’t include romantic entanglements and Teagan wants to protect Lucas from growing too attached, the attraction can’t be denied and the bond between them grows. However, Teagan worries about getting involved with another man who puts himself in front of the line of fire after losing her fiancé in Afghanistan. Can these two people help each other through their grief and build a life together?

Chase excels at writing heart-warming, honest stories with complicated family dynamics, sexy scenes that aren’t too graphic, and the struggles romantic partners must overcome to be together. Many of the characters in previous books that readers came to love are featured in this book, especially Quinn and his wife Anna, Bobby’s sister. Although Bobby and Quinn have had a contentious relationship in the past, it’s Quinn who talks with Bobby about the extent of his injuries and the probability that his career is over. It’s very satisfying to see past hurts and animosities ease as the extended Shaughnessy clan celebrate family and protect and defend those they love.

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

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

4*

What if you had the chance to reinvent yourself by taking a semester in London, pursuing your passion rather than continuing to follow the career path your parents chose for you, forcing yourself to socialize, and even trying to get your first kiss? What if the boy you’re falling for turns out to have a girlfriend at home and things between you become painfully awkward? What if you spent the first twenty years of your life living to please others and it still blew up in your face? If you’re regretting your decisions and are given another chance, would you take the do-over in the hopes of getting it right the second time?

These are the questions that timid, insecure Shane Primaveri is faced with in this frustrating, but ultimately redeeming story. The first half of the book drags because Riccio uses running commentary, via first-person narrative and Shane’s blog, journal, emails and postcards, to chronicle her thoughts and recount everything the characters said and did on a daily basis. Shane was so full of self-doubt that it made much of it uncomfortable to read. However, when the story fast-forwarded six years and Riccio added a magical element, the pace picked up and much of the detail in the first half made sense.

The well-described supporting characters are varied (including different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations), and fill critical roles without their own subplots being superfluous. Beware: descriptions of their travels also inspire wanderlust!

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

The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

3.5 stars

In this 2nd book in the Bookish Boyfriends series, Rory is a freshman at tony prep school Hero High where she, her older sister Merri, and sister’s friend Eliza are the scholarship kids. Toby, a sophomore lacrosse player side-lined for the season with an injury, is the boy-next-door. They’ve all been friends since sandbox days which is where Rory kissed him as a pre-schooler…and she’s been in love with him ever since. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Merri. Rory got into Hero High because of her prodigious art talent, but her fellow art students are routinely sabotaging her work, seeing her as a threat to winning the once-every-four-years competition to work with a famous artist for a week in New York City. How the teacher fails to see that the destruction of her work isn’t accidental is incomprehensible, especially when Rory might lose her place at the school if she doesn’t keep her grades up. When she needs some math tutoring, Toby volunteers and, as the months ensue, their friendship strengthens and they begin to see each other as more than just the crush and the little sister. Is there a chance Toby will ever see her as more than a substitute?

If you picked this book up based on the publisher’s blurb, you might be a bit confused when nearly the first half of the book focuses on The Great Gatsby, not Little Women. And, if you’re a fan of the latter, you’ll find many of the comparisons loose, at best. Merri is nothing like Jo March in looks or personality; the father isn’t away at war, but is very present; and Amy and Laurie are adults by the end of the Little Women whereas Rory and Toby are 15 and 17. Also, the “quirky teacher” who makes fantasies come to life isn’t Miss Frizzle for the literary set, but just a teacher who knows her students well enough to put the right books in their hands and hope that they’ll make the connection between the characters and their own lives.

Overall, this is a cute YA romance that would make a fun summer read. In all likelihood, most teens haven’t read Little Women, so the loose comparisons won’t bother them. They’ll be eager for the 3rd book in the series.

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

The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo

2*

If you pick this up looking for what’s billed as a “charming romantic comedy”, you’re bound to be disappointed because it’s not at all funny and has hints of romance lacking in emotion with no satisfactory endings. This is much more a family saga about three Filipino-American sisters who co-own a wedding planning business, but who are stuck in the ruts established when they were in late adolescence. The oldest sister, Mari, is emotionally-stunted and a control freak unwilling to let her baby sister Penny (who’s 26) take the lead on any events because she doesn’t trust her. The middle sister, Jane, is a single mom who serves primarily as peacekeeper. Oddly, the story is told in only two voices, leaving out Jane’s perspective which is disappointing since she is the most level-headed and insightful.

Ultimately, this is a character-driven novel that lacks…well, character and leaves us with too many unanswered questions. What happened to Saul? Will Reid move from Atlanta to be with Mari? Will Jane end up with Gabe or Marco? Why didn’t Marco know he had a son, or is he just lying to save face? Very disappointing!

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

Lovestruck by Kate Watson

4*

Don’t tempt fate or you might live to regret it!

Sixteen-year-old Kalixta (Kali), a disgruntled archer-in-training and daughter of god Eros and Psyche, is angry at The Oracle and The Fates for calling her to archery camp, and has been (un)intentionally making bad love matches in the hopes of being kicked out so she can become a muse, her dream job. When you’re a god and accidentally prick yourself with one of the Erote’s (Eros derivative) arrows, you are destined to eternally love the first person you see Her best friend Hector, son of the god Apollo and Calliope, pricked himself at age 12 and has been in love with Kali ever since. For a brief time, she returned his love until The Thunderclap (something that is oft-mentioned but not explained until late in the story). Now she can’t accept that Hector’s emotions are true and doesn’t want to repeat what she sees as an enduring, but tragic love between her parents (who suffered the same fate).

Her current case is Ben who she’s been observing for five weeks, making sure that she finds the perfect match for him. Her friend and aunt Deya (by way of Aphrodite) senses that it has more to do with a crush Kali has on him rather than a strong desire to get it right. When she accidentally pricks her own finger as she and Ben make eye contact, Kali is faced with a very difficult choice: spend a human lifetime in the mortal world (much shorter in god time) or try to reverse the spell so she can remain on Olympus. And why, if a shot from an Erote’s arrow is supposed to mean eternal love, is she having second thoughts about Ben and unwelcome thoughts about Hector?

Watson has deftly woven the stories of several of the gods and goddesses who inhabit the beautiful Olympus into a humorous, touching YA romance with strong secondary characters. This is a love story for the ages that will be enjoyed by teens who have outgrown Rick Riordan’s books.

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

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee

4*

Here’s a cute YA rom-com with a fresh take on the fake-dating trope. Nolan Grant, 16 and openly gay, just wants to fly under the radar, devoting his time to his art, his plants and his quirky adoptive family. However, after she’s dumped, his older sister Daphne makes it her mission to find him a date for prom and experience his first kiss. When his promposal to his secret crush Si O’Mara, a sweet, popular, gay jock, goes awry, it’s Ira Bernstein (Bern), a brooding tough kid who bullied him when he came out freshman year, who ends up agreeing to be his date. They both stand to gain something from it: Bern needs to send a clear message to scary ex-girlfriend Gia that he’s moved on and Nolan needs Daphne off his back. All of the elements that make fake-dating a popular theme are present: being convincing enough with awkward displays of affection that friends and family believe it’s real and the hilarious scenarios that arise from misunderstandings. The twist is that, although a true friendship develops between this unlikely pair, Nolan doesn’t know if the growing affection between them is manufactured or if he’s misjudged Bern from the start. If you’re looking for a funny, light-hearted romance that bypasses the typical teenage angst and keeps you guessing until the end, pick this one up.

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

Unleaving by Melissa Ostrom

4*

In this timely novel that speaks to the rape culture pervasive in our society, 19-year-old college student Maggie is assaulted at a fraternity party and leaves school and her hometown to escape the vicious backlash by fans of the college football team after several players are expelled. She goes to live with her Aunt Wren, a famous artist who left her family at 18 and remained estranged from both parents and her twin sister, Maggie’s mother Min. Although it’s meant as an escape and a chance to heal from the PTSD she has suffered as the result of the trauma, Maggie struggles to put the past behind her because of the drama surrounding her aunt and the neighbors. When she begins receiving emails from another student who has been raped and is looking to Maggie for help, she wonders if she will able to heal or if the reminders of that night will continue to haunt her.

Unleaving is a worthy successor to Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak. Ostrom successfully navigates not only the issues of rape, shame and victim-blaming, but also the damage done by abusive parents and the foster care system and the inadvisability of trying to bury the past rather than work through it. Through Maggie, she also demonstrates that many people have two faces, and that those who love them often don’t see the dark side. Characters such as Linnie who bears the emotional scars of an abusive childhood, Sam who has never truly mourned his mother’s death, their five-year-old daughter Kate, and Aunt Wren and Min who won’t address the reason for the estrangement are well-developed and ultimately serve as catalysts for Maggie to face her fears and return to the scene of the crime. The only criticism is that the ending was abrupt, leaving several unanswered questions.Trigger warning for rape and other kinds of abuse. Highly recommended for libraries that serve young adults.

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

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

3*

Update:

I initially gave this book 5*, but after reading multiple 1* reviews in which the reviewers mentioned the age difference, the rape scene towards the end of the book, and the fact that a straight white woman shouldn't be writing a book about a young gay (or gay and bi) couple without vetting it with members of the queer community, I knocked it down 2 stars. I still feel it's well-written and has a lot going for it, but I acknowledge that I am, in fact, a straight, older woman who can't subjectively evaluate it and apologize for even trying.

Initial 5* review:

In this epistolary YA novel, Jonathan (Jo) Hopkirk and Adam (Kurl) Kurlansky are assigned as pen pals. With each letter exchanged, an unlikely friendship develops between openly and proudly gay Jo and bad boy football player Kurl that eventually grows into love. However, as the vicious bullying of Jo escalates and devastating family secrets are revealed, will their love be strong enough to survive? Henstra has gifted us with a gut-wrenching, heart-warming, and ultimately hopeful story about the challenges gay teens face and the scars and wounds they carry that can either strengthen or destroy love. It is a love letter to the lost art of letter writing and to Walt Whitman’s poetry which is the thread that binds their relationship. Kurt’s affirming journey from a taciturn, angry young man to a thoughtful and expressive writer is noteworthy.

As an advocate for LGBTQ+ teens, it warms my heart to read so many new YA romance titles with queer protagonists. At a time when the queer community is fighting to protect its rights and vulnerable teens are dealing with increased depression, bullying, and suicide, they desperately need to have books that provide assurance that they are not alone and that their love is honored and celebrated. I encourage all librarians and others working with teens to share this book and use it as a vehicle to spark conversation between queer and straight kids because, with knowledge comes understanding and acceptance.


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

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

4.5*

Casey McQuiston’s much-anticipated debut romance between the First Son of the USA and a British prince is everything early reviews promised. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the half-Mexican son of the divorced first female President…and the fantasy doesn’t stop there! When an embarrassing and scandalous incident between Alex and his nemesis Prince Henry occurs at a wedding and a video is leaked, they must pretend to be best buds to keep the President’s re-election campaign from derailing and to avoid a royal scandal. As they spend more time together, they both realize that past misunderstandings have kept them from getting to know each other’s true personalities and motivations. When Henry kisses Alex, it causes him to question his own sexuality (he’s bi and Henry is “very, very gay”). As their relationship heats up through secretive, worldwide liaisons and poetic, candid and heart-warming texts full of witty and sexy banter, feelings intensify and decisions need to be made about how and if they can take their romance public. Will Alex and Henry risk their careers and their families’ reputations to have their happily-ever-after or will British tradition and homophobia destroy their relationship?


A great cast of secondary characters helps smooth the path for the couple, including Alex’s loving family, several queer friends he can go to for advice, White House and palace security and staff who keep their secrets, and even politicians (with the exception of the villainous rival Presidential candidate). Although it drags a bit at the end with the focus on the Presidential election, it barely detracts from the story. At its heart, this book is a funny, sexy, heart-warming romance that highlights many of the same challenges most queer teens and young adults face in real life. Ultimately, the question is whether they’re willing to risk all to have the full, loving, and open relationship they deserve. It’s just unfortunate that the question even needs to be asked.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

5*

In her delightful and heart-warming debut novel set in London, British author Beth O’Leary transcends the typical contemporary romance by introducing a unique approach to building a relationship through Post-It notes and shared food, delicately handling the topic of PTSD from an emotionally-abusive relationship, and tackling racial profiling. In a dual narrative format, we are privy to the intimate thoughts of two wonderful protagonists. Socially anxious Leon communicates in shorthand and works as a palliative care nurse. He needs money for his incarcerated brother’s legal fees, so decides to advertise a flatshare (or, more accurately, a bedshare). Tiffy, asst. editor for a crafting and DIY publisher, with a colorful attitude and wardrobe to match, responds after being evicted from her ex-boyfriend’s flat. With both of them working opposite shifts, they never expect to meet, but fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans. A strong group of secondary characters including Rachel the best friend, Gerty the barrister, Mo the counselor, Holly the young, but wise-beyond-her-years leukemia patient, Richie the incarcerated brother, and Katherin the demanding knitting and crochet book author provide sound advice, a little match-making help, and emotional support when Justin, the vile and controlling ex-boyfriend, keeps pushing his way into her life. For fans of Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne, Helen Hoang, and Josie Silver.

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