Review: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

the lowdown
Tim and Alice never thought of falling for each other. He's her brothers best friend and she's the older sister with responsibilities. They fall for each other at the most unexpected time. That is, until Tim's past comes back to haunt him, and in the most unexpected way. Alice now finds herself in a situation that she would have never dreamed of. As told through Tim and Alice, this story will captivate you and make you love the boy most likely to.

Huntley Fitzpatrick is back and better than ever. We at Books Unlocked, have loved her books from the beginning and were so excited to get our hands on this book. The story brings you back to My Life Next Door, only now its about Tim, Samantha's best friend, and Alice, Jase's sister. Two people who are complete opposites but who are so attracted to each other, that they are willing to risk everything. Cover to cover, I loved this book. It reminds me how much love and dedication Fitzpatrick puts into her work and how she has become one of my favorite authors. If you have read her books in the past, this one is a must add for any bookshelf.

the good

• Like all of Fitzpatrick's books, this one had characters that were each their own. They have ups and downs and thats what makes them likable. She gives life to her characters and allows them to grow throughout the book. They can be someone who you relate to or someone you may actually know in real life. 
• The plot and subplots of the book are so intriguing and you want to keep reading to see whats going to happen or if someone is going to do something. The plots are what make the book and this plot, along with the subplots, give the book the spunk it needs to be a 'i never want this to end' type of book.

the bad

• Throughout the book there are some editing issues that could have been overlooked but once you read it its clear where the mistakes are. Its nothing against the author, more towards the editors because they are common mistakes.

the quote
"I am shocked. Well down the road beyond that, even - all the way to flabbergasted. Floored. But why? Isn't this the kind of thing everyone would expect to happen? The Boy Most Likely To strikes again?"

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 If you can't already tell from my review, I loved this book. So I'm recommending you buy it and add it to any YA bookshelf.

overall score:8/10

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Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

the lowdown


Oliver disappeared ten years ago. His dad kidnapped him and Emmy lost her best friend. The kidnapping changed everything in their small, suburban California town, including scaring Emmy's parents into sheltering her from as much as possible. Ten years later and he's home again, but Oliver doesn't really know what home is. For ten years, he thought his dad was the good guy and that his mother abandoned him.
I really loved this book. I've read a few of Benway's other books and enjoyed them, but I didn't love them like I did Emmy & Oliver. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the depth of the storyline. While certainly there is a romance aspect to this book, as the title suggests, the book delves into issues that are a lot deeper than that. If you're looking for a great young adult read about identity, growing up, family, and friendship, Emmy & Oliver is a wonderful choice.

the good

• The writing in this book is particularly strong. It's down to earth and realistic. There's no unnecessary drama, despite the somewhat heavy topic, and the dialogue is just fantastic: smart, funny, and heart warming. I loved the way that Benway wove this story, and I had a hard time putting it down. 
• I liked the fact that so much of this book wasn't concerned with the romance between Emmy and Oliver, but rather their friendship, as well as their friendships with Caro and Drew. If I had to choose one theme from this book, it would absolutely be friendship. It's such an interesting portrayal of how group dynamics shift when someone leaves and then comes back. It was also such a sweet story of growing up and understanding your place in the world. 

the bad

• My primary issue with this book was length. Rarely do I find young adult books to be too short, this one makes it on that list. I just wanted more of Emmy and Oliver. It's probably a testament to just how much I enjoyed this book, but another couple of scenes with them would have really cemented their relationship for me. I would have also liked to have seen more with Caro and Drew, particularly how some of Drew's storylines get resolved and progress.  

the quote

“'Well, that’s growing up, isn’t it?' my dad said. 'You don’t always have to know. And things aren’t always fair. You just have to keep moving forward. A step in one direction.'”

skip it/borrow it/buy it
Absolutely pick this one up! It's such a great read. After a long wait, I got this one from the library and wish I would've just bought it straight out. On my next trip to the bookstore, I'll definitely buy it.

overall score:8/10

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Friday Flashback: Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson

the lowdown
Tandy Angel is a suspect in the murder of her parents. She and her siblings are the only suspects the police have. She was the last person to see her family alive and now she doesn't know who she can trust, even herself. Tandy takes matters into her own hands and decides she will clear her family name and her siblings will be freed. As she digs deeper into her family's perfect life, secrets are brought to light that will change Tandy's life forever.

James Patterson is a great novelist. This book, along with the other two in the series, shows just how much Patterson is able to put into his work and how hard he works for it. This book really captured me (even though I read the second book first on accident) because even though it centers around a murder, Patterson really digs deeper into the family roots and how deep secrets can run in a family without knowing. This is a good series to begin with if you're a young adult and you want to read something that is a bit different. This falls into the murder and mystery section and its a book I think teens will be able to read if they want something of a mystery. After reading the first and second book, I read right through the third one and I am so excited to read the fourth. As always, Patterson will surprise us and give us something new to ponder.

the good

• The book is so captivating because the plot is very interesting and it keeps you at the edge of your feet. The family and the mystery give the plot the life it needs in order to grow and to develop throughout the novel and to be carried on in the other books of the series.
• The characters are very different. They have a history and as we read more about them in the novel, their secrets come out and everything changes. Its a way of keeping it interesting and its good because a dull character would be a dull book. Tandy and her siblings and friends have different personalities and thats what makes them so captivating.

the bad

• The ending could have held up a bit more. There was so much buildup until then and it wasn't as grand as I thought it would be. Maybe its because we do need to continue reading the series.
• The mix up of the suspects and the neighbors. Sometimes things just weren't clear enough and so it was a bit confusing. There could have been more of a separation to really get a picture of who went where.

the quote
"Our parents were gods and monsters at the same time. Maybe we're all like that-gods and monsters."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 The book itself and its plot are very interesting. Its a great 'jump into mystery' kind of book. I would recommend you borrow it first to get a feel for the author, series, and genre.

overall score:7/10

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Review: Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud

the lowdown


Violet has spent most of her life pretending to be someone else. Violet has spent years preparing to become Erica Silverman, a Las Vegas heiress who was kidnapped at the age of five. Violet knows the truth, that Erica was killed almost immediately after, but very few others do. Violet's father, Sal, Las Vegas' best conman learned the truth from Erica's killer. He raised Violet to impersonate Erica with the intent that she would infiltrate the household and steal an expensive painting. But when push comes to shove, and Violet finds herself living in Erica's old life, making friends and a boy that could possibly be more, she begins to doubt her mission.

I was so ready to love this book, but unfortunately, I just didn't. The first three quarters of the book were really well done, but after all the lead up to a specific event, Violet stealing the painting, I found the climax to be a little stilted and frankly not deserving of the build up. It was still an enjoyable read, but I was hoping it'd end with a pop, but instead it fizzled.

the good

• I thought that the premise and general storyline were really interesting. I've never read anything like it before and found it to be really enjoyable. It was interesting to see the way that her upbringing as the daughter of a conman impacted the way that she looked at the world.
• The book touches on a lot of different themes, especially identity and grief. I really enjoyed reading about the ways that Violet and Erica's identities merged and weaved in and out of each other. I thought that Painchaud handled the grief that many characters were experiencing in a thoughtful way.
• Painchaud was really good at slowly building suspense to the ending. It was more subtle than a lot of other books in the genre, but by the end I was really curious as to what Violet would do when it came time to steal the painting. 

the bad

• Honestly the ending of this book is what really ruined it for me. I don't want to give anything away, but I feel that it does deserve some commentary. It's not at all that the ending wasn't satisfying or was inappropriate to the story. It's just that Painchaud had me so intrigued as to what was going to happen, and told such an unconventional story, I was hoping the ending would honor that and I don't feel that it did. 

the quote

“The microwave clock spills over into midnight, and the marionette girl walks up the stairs to sleep in her puppet bed in the puppet house, filled with not-puppet people. They are made of flesh and blood, and she is made of lies and wood.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

I think that this one is worth reading for any YA fan, especially for those fans of suspense and thrillers. I don't think I'll be picking up a copy of this one for my bookshelf. Borrow it.

overall score:6/10

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Review: A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

the lowdown
Lea and Gabe are taking the same creative writing class, hangout in the same places and even order the same Chinese dish. So when they're paths cross multiple times during the year, they begin to wonder if fate is on their side. Everybody can see that they are meant to be together, from the professor to the Starbucks baristas to the squirrel on the green. These two are made for each other, except Lea and Gabe can't see it.

I love, love, love this book!! It is going straight to my top 10 ya book lists. This story is told in 14, count them, 14 different viewpoints and never from the two most important characters, Lea and Gabe. In her first book, Hall did a tremendous job on this book and its a book I know I will pick up and reread over and over again. I liked how the setting was a university and I could relate to that since I am in the middle of finishing up my last semester. This is a book I hope could get a film or a tv movie and I hope it does. I think everybody should pick up a copy and read it because its amazing how an author could post her story on a website and then get it published and be so great and different and amazing. A Little Something Different has a little bit of everything from the drama to the romance and its something every person goes through.

the good

• The writing is so different in the book and its a nice refresher. 14 different viewpoints on a love story. Its nice to step outside the box and get these points of view and to see it through everybody else's eyes. Hall is able to capture moments and bring them to life through her writing and through the 14 viewpoints.
• The characters are all witty and different and their personalities jump right out of the pages. They are all different people who everyone can relate to in a certain way and it gives the book a feeling of closeness. 

the bad

• The different viewpoints can get to be a bit much but thats natural since its so many other characters to keep up. There are some that have no real connection to the lovebirds and those could have maybe been edited to have had a previous connection with them. 

the quote
"They sit there in the window of the coffee shop for almost an hour, not talking much, but looking at each other over the tops of their books, flirting somehow even without words. It would be gross if it weren't adorable."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend buying it and reading it immediately. This book is too good to pass up.

overall score:10/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flashback Friday: Heart on A Chain by Cindy C. Bennett

the lowdown


Kate lives with a terrible home life. She has an absent, alcoholic father, and a pill addicted mother who abuses her. At school, things aren't much better. Because of her secondhand clothes, she's an easy target and she's learned that fighting back only makes it worse. So she hides, and does her best to make herself invisible. But that changes when Henry, her elementary school crush, returns. He remembers Kate and refuses to let her be invisible anymore. As they fall in love, Kate tries to keep everything straight and figure out what game Henry must be playing with her, even as the violence at home escalates.

I read this book a few years ago and considered it to be one of my favorites for quite a while. Something about this book really stuck with me, and even before I picked it up to reread it for this review, I could still remember a lot about it, even after years, which is rare for me. I was scared, though, that I would find it a bit far fetched now that my tastes have matured a bit. While that did happen to a certain extent, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again. It moved me to tears multiple times, and it was a really refreshing story.

the good

• Kate is a really likable character. I think that the strength that she shows in the face of so much adversity is extremely moving. At the beginning, she can be a little frustrating, especially when she refuses to believe Henry's true intentions, but who can blame her?
• Henry and his entire family are so wonderful. I think to a certain extent, they're probably a little unrealistic, because it's like they're taken straight out of the Perfect Family Museum. I think though, that this serves the book well, because Bennett draws such sharp dichotomies between family types. Henry is also straight up out of the Perfect Boyfriend Museum, but again, I think that it serves the book well.                                                                                             

the bad

• This book is heavy on drama, and Kate definitely relies on others to save her. There's some criticism that this is a little anti-feminist, that Henry comes in and saves the day. But I think that allowing yourself to be that open to being saved. But, I understand the criticism, it would have been nice if Kate would have taken a more active role 

the quote

“Kate, I’ve loved you for years. I mean, I know twelve-year-olds don’t know what love is, so I guess I should say I’ve really liked you for years. But when I saw you this year, I knew. I knew we should be together. I just didn’t know how hard you were going to make me work to get you to even like me. So, yeah, of course I want you to love me back.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

This one is tough for me to decide, but ultimately, I think it falls into the buy it category. As evidenced by this review, I liked this book enough to want to reread it. It's a heartfelt, emotional, and heartwarming story about love and its redeeming qualities, and I think it warrants buying.

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

the lowdown

Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumped her. In the parking lot. Of prom, where he's supposed to be her date. And oh yeah, her friends weren't completely convinced that he existed, and this was her chance to show them that he did. Further complicating this is the fact that the reason her friends didn't believe that he existed was because of a new member to the group, Jules, who Gia thinks is scheming to steal her friends away from her. So what's a girl to do? Well, when she sees a guy sitting in a car, reading, in the parking lot, she asks him to fill in for Bradley.

I read On the Fence, another entry by West last year and absolutely inhaled it. I love that book. I read this one just as fast, albeit with less enthusiasm. This was a good, enjoyable read, but it was a lot fluffier than On the Fence. If this book had a little more depth, it'd be a lot more effective. Still, this is one worth reading and West is definitely an author to keep an eye on.

the good

• The premise was interesting. Definitely done before, West offers a fresh variation on the theme. Hayden (fill-in Bradley) was a likable character and his growth with Gia was enjoyable to read. Hayden's sister, though, is the star character of this book, and I found myself enjoying the scenes between Gia and her even more than those between Gia and  Hayden.
• The romance didn't feel contrived or forced in any way. It seemed to develop naturally, which I really appreciate. 
• Despite it lacking some depth, the storyline between Gia and her friend group was interesting to read about. While many others might not have felt that it had an adequate resolution, I was satisfied by it. That dynamic was really relatable for me, and suspect for quite a few others as well. It really reminded me a lot of issues that I encountered in high school and college, too, wanting to fit it and being afraid of being pushed out.

the bad

• Like I mentioned previously, this book was heavy on fluff. There wasn't a ton of substance, and while Gia has a moderate amount of character development, it's all surface level. It would have been really interesting to see Gia struggle with something a little more substantial, because I think that the character could have handled it. 

the quote

“We rarely find a depth by looking inside of ourselves for it. Depth is found in what we can learn from the people and things around us. Everyone, everything, has a story, Gia. When you learn those stories, you learn experiences that fill you up, that expand your understanding. You add layers to your soul.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

Well worth reading, but not quite worth buying. I don't see myself returning to this one; borrow it.

overall score:7/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

the lowdown

Paige Hancock is that girl. The one who’s boyfriend drowned in a tragic swimming accident. Though she and Aaron weren’t together for long, his death has cast a shadow on her life. Everywhere she goes in her small town, people give her that look. Tired of the misplaced sympathy and ready to begin moving on, Paige decides that this school year things will get back to normal. To do so, she commits to joining a club, getting her longtime crush, Ryan Chase, to go on a date with her, and to get past her fear of swimming. But then Ryan’s cousin Max transfers back to their school and convinces Paige to join the Quiz Bowl team, and her plan isn’t quite what it seems.

I really liked Open Road Summer, Lord’s debut novel, so I was excited to read this, but also skeptical because sophomore entries rarely have the same sparkle as someone’s first novel. Lord lives in Cincinnati, where Laura and I both went to college and where we bought our (signed!) copies of Open Road Summer at the local bookstore. Couple that with the fact that this book is set in a fictional suburb of Indianapolis but with lots of references that Hoosiers will get, and I was in hog heaven and definitely a little homesick! I read this book really quickly, I devoured it, actually. This was deeper and more emotional than I was expecting, to the point where I was ugly crying pretty hard at the end of it. If you’re looking for a YA read with a little more substance, but which doesn’t sacrifice the classic YA elements, The Start of Me and You is a good pick.



the good

• The way that Lord handled the grief that Paige was experiencing was appropriate and not trite, as I feared it might be. While Paige has lost an important person in her life, she is the first to admit that they were only together for a few months, and that her grief has a lot more to do with what could’ve been than what they had. My heart broke for her every time she woke up from the terrible nightmares about drowning that plagued her sleep far too often.
• I’ve made no secret of how much I love well-written, smart female friendships. The Start of Me and You delivers on this front, and delivers it well. The foursome of girls, who quickly become friends with Ryan and Max, adding them to the group, are supportive and understanding. They support and complement each other in all the best ways. I wish that there had been more depth to some of their story lines, but overall they were a highlight.

the bad

• While I appreciated the tact with which some of the more complex issues were dealt with in this book, it definitely had some of the more saccharine and predictable moments that YA books are prone to. Certainly the storyline was predictable, but it was still enjoyable to read. If you’re looking for something groundbreaking, though, you won’t find it here.

the quote

“In friendship, we are all debtors. We all owe each other for a thousand small kindnesses, for little moments of grace in the chaos.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

 This one is worth a trip to your local bookstore to buy it. I borrowed it from my library and plan on purchasing a copy. I really enjoyed this book, and definitely see myself reading it again in the future.



overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flashback Friday: Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen

the lowdown

Lock & Key tells the story of Ruby, a girl who is abandoned by her mother to live in the tiny yellow farmhouse that they live just a few months shy of her eighteenth birthday. She exists on her own for weeks but is eventually found out and taken to live with her sister, Cora, who is 10 years older than her, and who she hasn't spoken to in years. Now she's living in a huge house in an expensive neighborhood, and she's going to Perkins Day, the smaller private school, instead of Jackson High. It's a rough transition but along the way she meets some wonderful people, including her techie brother-in-law Jamie, her handsome next door neighbor Nate, and eccentric Harriet who employs Ruby to help her sell jewelry. All these wonderful people come together and force Ruby to examine what exactly it means to be family.

Lock & Key is probably my favorite Dessen novel. It has a lot to do with the characters, which Dessen always excels with, but they really shine here. It also has to do with the fact that so much of this book centers on family, which feels very real to me, coming from a very tight nit family. At the end of the day, though, this is just one of those books that makes you smile from the inside out.

the good

• Ruby. Ruby is probably my favorite Dessen narrator. There is just something so relatable about wanting to be tough, but being shown that keeping others out isn't always the best course of action. She's funny, tough, and smart, all things I strive to be in my own life. The way she grows throughout the book is quite spectacular, and at the same time, you don't even realize it's happened until it does. 
• The supporting cast. Nate and the rest of her high school gang (Gervais, Olivia, and Laney) are quite fun characters to lead. While I wish that Olivia had been a bit more fleshed out, I think that Nate is easily the most well developed love interest in a contemporary that I've read in a long time. Her family, Cora, and Jamie, are also wonderful to read. I think that giving Cora her own struggle, as well as serving as an anchor for Ruby, really augments the main storyline.
• That hard to quantify factor. There's just something so heartwarming about this book that is hard to put into words, but you know it when you read it. It's what makes you want to keep reading the novel, devouring each page, waiting to see what happens. Lock & Key definitely has this, as do most Dessen entries. 

the bad

• Despite my obvious obsession with this book (seriously Ruby is awesome), I think that it had a pretty unsatisfying finish. While all the loose ends were definitely wrapped up, it feels like there is a scene that is missing.
• This one, for me, is also a little skimpy on the romantic interest part. I certainly enjoy these parts of YA novels, but aren't necessarily what makes or breaks a book for me, so it's rare for me to say that there wasn't quite enough. While I definitely feel like I got to know Nate pretty well, as does Ruby, it's a little light on the time that they're actually together. 

the quote
"But I was sure of something, too: it's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching, and rarely discovered--so many locks, not enough keys."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
It's pretty obvious that for me, this is solidly in the buy it category. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I'm saving up all my Sarah Dessen books to give to any future offspring I might have. I just reread this for this review, and it brought joy to me all over again, definitely making me glad that I bought this one.

overall score:9/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Love, Lucy by April Lindner

the lowdown

Lucy Sommersworth is backpacking through Europe and her last stop is Florence, Italy. She meets Jesse and explores her days in Italy in his company. Once she leaves, her fantasy days in Italy are over and she's faced with reality: college, and the deal she made with her father. Once at school, all she can think about is Jesse, their time in Italy together and if she'll ever see him again.

In this young adult romance book, you find yourself wishing you could help Lucy and Jesse work to be together, and to fight for each other. With inspiration from Roman Holiday, you find yourself wishing you could travel to Florence and follow in Lucy and Jesse's footsteps. Lindner is able to make you feel the emotions that every teenager at Lucy's age has gone through and to hope that Lucy can find a way to make this relationship work. Its a novel that is meant to make you feel your first love emotions all over again. It's a wonderful book that you'll get lost in and never want to end.

the good

• Lindner is able to capture the emotions that every teenager goes through during this time in their lives, especially while trying to find love. She really brings you in and makes you relive those feelings you once felt. 
• The characters are well rounded and easy to imagine. Their personalities really jump through the pages and thats what makes them so relatable throughout the story. You wish you could join them and be there for them during their journey.
• If you have ever heard of or seen or have been wanting to see Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, this book will make you want to watch it over and over again. The movie is an inspiration for the book and you get a sense of it throughout the book.

the bad

• The book starts out great and as you keep reading, some areas do fall flat. The writing is great but a few more background stories could help. Throughout the book, you can see where more could have been written or more information could have been given. 
• The ending of the book could have used more flair. I was expecting something a bit more than the ending. I thought there would have been more from her parents and then something more intriguing with Jesse.

the quote
"I should be happy, she thought. She felt like a kite that had reached the limits of its string and was being yanked back to earth. 'I want to stay. I really do,' she heard herself say, her words muffled by his shirt. 'It means everything that you want me to.'"

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I bought this book with a promising outcome and I got it. I would buy it because it is a great young adult book every teenager needs their collection

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

the lowdown

Cassie is a natural. She's a natural at reading people, and knowing a lot about them, just by looking at them. She just didn't know that this innate ability would catch the attention of the FBI. Cassie didn't know she'd become a Natural. The Naturals is a program run (secretly) by the FBI which hopes to train teens with natural abilities that could be useful in crime solving. When she's approached with an offer from them, she's shocked. Still reeling over the loss of her mother, and with an absentee (although he's in the military) father, Cassie decides she's not really tied down, and decides to enter the program, much to the chagrin of her grandmother, with whom she lives. Plus, in the back of her mind, she wonders if honing her ability might not help her solve her mother's murder. So she does it, and she decides to go live in a house run by the FBI, with other extraordinary teens, to learn how to catch serial killers.
I have to confess that this isn't a totally fair review, because I accidentally spoiled myself on a major plot point about 20 pages before it happened. I was enjoying the book so I decided to request the sequel from my local library, and in doing so, saw the description for the sequel, which included a major plot twist. Oops. So I can't pretend like this book shocked me, because I knew some pretty major stuff. That being said, I was kind of disappointed with this book anyway. It was still a good book, just not as good as I was hoping. I love a good murder mystery...Criminal Minds, CSI, Law and Order, Psych, Monk, you name it, I'm there. I thought that this concept had a lot of potential, I mean serial killer profiling teenagers? I'm so there. Unfortunately, I think very little of that potential was realized. Still, because I think there are so few well-written books that capture two of my favorite genres (mystery and contemporary YA), I'd still recommend giving this one a read if you like that combination.

the good 

• The premise was awesome and getting inside Cassie's head as she profiled people was definitely cool. There's obviously a little needed suspicion of disbelief to get on board with how much she's able to tell about someone about how they park their car at the mall, but I was willing to do it. I think that kind of stuff is fascinating. 
• The characters were pretty funny. Think about the kind of kids that would end up in a house for FBI trainees, add in a couple of grumpy FBI agents, and you've got a good yourself a good time. That being said, I wish that more had been done with them. Again, I felt like there was a lot of potential, with little of it being realized. There were two love interests, both with interesting backstories, but neither backstory was really explored. 
• Some parts of this book were really well done and made me not want to put the book down. Others were a little dull, to be honest. I think that the mystery was also really well handled, you know, until I ruined it for myself. The fact that there were parts that were that well done gives me faith for the future installments, where I hopefully don't spoil the ending. 

the bad 

• It was too young adult without being good at it. The romantic moments in the book just felt forced and honestly, a little juvenile (although I'm a slightly older YA reader). There was also a lot of house drama between the teenagers living there that just really didn't interest me. There wasn't enough meat on the bones of the YA stuff for it to be good, and then focusing so hard on trying to force that really detracted from the mystery aspect. Neither aspect was great, they were both just okay. 
• The love triangle. Dear Lord, this was the captain of all unnecessary love triangles. It was very frustrating, quite honestly, because I couldn't make myself give a crap about either of the guys because all the book talked about was their skill set. Again, no exploration of their admittedly kind of fascinating backgrounds. 

the quote
"No matter how long they did this job, or how much training they had, these agents would never have instincts as finely honed as ours."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
I borrowed this from the library (like I always do) and I don't regret it. The concept and the profiling is so cool that I definitely recommend reading it if you like that kind of stuff. I still requested the sequel, and will definitely give it a read. So still read it, but definitely borrow it.

overall score: 7/10

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Guest Review: Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

guest review into
Hi everyone! My name is Leticia. As was mentioned in the Sunday Preview, I am the younger sister to Laura. I'm a sophomore in high school. I enjoy hanging out with friends, shopping, and reading. The main genre I read is young adult and some mystery. I hope you enjoy my review and I look forward to reviewing some more in the future.

the lowdown
Before freshman year of high school Kelsey and David became best friends. One night changed all of that when Kelsey became the talk of the school. Her parents told Kelsey that they would be moving away. Kelsey saw this as a opportunity to restart her life and leave behind everything that has happened. Now it's senior year: Kelsey has a new group of friends, a baseball player for her boyfriend, and popularity. Everything is perfect until David comes to town. Everything that Kelsey has built is falling apart little by little. The more time she spends with David, the more she sees she can never let go of him.

I really enjoyed this book because it lays out every detail to perfection. Gina Ciocca made it feel like I was watching everything play out in my head and she made me want to leap into the book and join along. This book is real in focusing on the high school life, which is great since I am currently in high school and I can relate. Last Year's Mistake is a book that really captured my attention. I could re-read this book a million times.

the good

• While I was reading this book I felt like I was in the book. Like I was one of the characters. Gina really drew me in and I wanted to belong and to join in on everything that was happening in the book.
• The characters that are portrayed in this book are like teens these days. They have boy drama in real life and in the book. This made everything seem like high school life today for me and my friends.
• I really love the way the author wrote the book. She really understands how teen girls feel and how they react to situations in the book. And she was able to portray that in her writing.

the bad

• The book could have really had more things going on between Kelsey and her boyfriend. The drama was there but it could have stood to be a bit more spiced up and to bring more to the storyline.
• It could also have had more description about school wise. Like their classes, and how the school layout was. Maybe something to help picture everything in my head a bit more clearly.

the quote
"Violet's hand shot into the air. "Mr. Ingles? Wasn't Shakespeare gay?'... Mr. Ingles grabbed the back of his chair and leaned on it. "It's a highly debated topic, Ms. Kensing. Shakespeare was, of course, married to a woman, and he fathered several children." "But that doesn't mean anything, right? He could have been trying to hide it."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 This book is one that I recommend that every teenager should have on their book shelf. I would have to say buy it!

overall score:10/10

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Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

the lowdown

Sydney has always felt invisible in the shadow of her older brother, Peyton. Peyton was always larger than life, charismatic, while Sydney hung out in the background. But Peyton's adventures turned increasingly reckless, culminating in a drunk driving accident which leaves a young boy permanently paralyzed. With Peyton in jail, and her parents more focused on him than ever, Sydney feels not only invisible, but alone. But then she meets the Chatham family. They teach her about dum-dum selection and proper french fry eating and, most importantly, that she is seen.
I feel like I start every review off saying how excited I was to read whatever particular book I'm reviewing (which shows 1. that I'm just really excited about reading, but also 2. that I only pick stuff I'm pumped to read. Who would have guessed?) But that was really the case this time. I'm a huge Sarah Dessen fan. I think she is the bee's knees. I was lucky enough to meet her in person when she was on tour for The Moon and More, and we've tweeted back and forth a couple of times (fun fact: one was about dinosaur balloon animals and the other was about Kristen Bell. I full on spazzed both times.) Anyway, I love her and I love her writing. I've always loved reading, but her writing was what really got me into reading young adult books. I felt this book, you guys, I felt it in my bones. I don't know if it's because it reminds me of something I'm dealing with in my personal life, or just because the writing is that powerful, but I devoured this book. Like a good book does, it spoke to me, to a part of me that needed speaking to. Any book that can help you process a difficult time in your own life is a good book indeed. 

the good 

• The characters are so well developed that you feel like you really know them, and you loved growing with them. I wanted to crawl into this book and just give Mrs. Chatham a hug. No one does characters and character development like Dessen. No one. While this may not be her most notable work in that regard, the characters and development still shine bright. I found Sydney, as a main character, to be a little blander that past entries by Dessen, but still likable. I found myself relating to her reaction to Peyton's situation, and certainly found myself occasionally frustrated by her propensity to shy away from voicing her opinion in certain situations, she was definitely an enjoyable main character. 
• The plot, particularly the plot line between Sydney and Peyton, was intriguing and expertly handled. For me, this is where this book really shined. It's definitely a darker Sarah Dessen than some may be used to (although not as much as Dreamland), but it was, as I said, really well done. 

the bad 

• The one thing that this book is missing is that moment that her books so frequently have. Difficult to articulate, you know it when you read it. It's that moment where she offers up some little advice, as only she can, about life, and then you realize the character has changed. While the plot still felt resolved, it didn't pack quite the punch to which I'm accustomed from Dessen.

the quote
"...it wasn't until later in the day that I realized the most shocking thing at all. It wasn't that I'd broken down, but that I hadn't been alone when I did so. You only really fall apart in front of the people you know can piece you back together."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
Even though I almost always check stuff out from the library before reading it, I bought it before even reading it. I'm such a Dessen fan that I knew I'd want to have it. Embarrassingly, hers are the books I'm saving so my daughter can read them some day, and I knew no matter what I wanted to expand my collection. I don't regret it! If you're a Dessen fan, you won't regret it. Buy it. 

overall score: 9/10

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Flashback Friday: Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

the lowdown

Gigi and her two best friends, Neerja, and Bea, are just biding their time in high school, waiting for their all but certain acceptances to good colleges so that their lives can begin. When they hit the Ivy Leagues, they'll have everything. But when they discover how empty Neerja's idolized, genius older sister's senior yearbook is, they realized that there may be more to getting everything than what they thought. They decide that they've got to take action to get everything they deserve, including a full yearbook.
I actually just read this recently, but it was published a while ago. I wanted to read this because it seemed like something that I could relate to...in high school I was definitely a lot like Gigi.  I also hate reading books about girls who aren't interested in being perceived as intelligent. It's a huge pet peeve of mine, so I figured I would really like this book. Overall, it was a cute read. Nothing groundbreaking, but it didn't really pretend to be and I wasn't expecting that. I found Gigi to be a relatable character, with some feminist undertones that I appreciated. 

the good 

• The friendship. I absolutely wanted to go hang out with Gigi, Neerja and Bea. I seriously adored their best friendship and the way they support each other. This little friendship group was definitely the highlight of the book, and they serve of a great example of how to write female friendships without cattiness. I really enjoyed reading about them growing as they were pushed out of their comfort zones. 
• The supporting characters, specifically Gigi's family. I love that Gigi's mother is another smart female (this book has them in spades!) and that she cares a lot about Gigi even though she's not there for her all the time. But I especially liked Gigi's hilarious french-speaking grandmother who pretty much lets her do what she wants. As far as the love interest goes...it's hard to say much without giving the plot away, but I liked him a lot, too, but wish that he would have been developed a little more.
• I really appreciated the representation in this book. It can always be better, and actually the main character Gigi is pretty bland, but I appreciated that Neerja was Indian and that there were references being made to a lesbian couple.

the bad 

• The plot was definitely predictable. I can't say that there was anything about this book that caught me off guard or surprised me. That being said, it was an enjoying sort of predictable, and it was paced well. 
• There wasn't much of substance here. It was a nice, light pick-me-up read, which is what I was expecting, but I would't have been disappointed if I found that it covered deeper and more difficult topics. There was definitely room for it--some of the characters had some really interesting and trying family situations that I think could have been fleshed out a little more. 

the quote
"Friends should have the right to adopt one another after age thirteen."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
Borrow it. This book is definitely worth reading if you're looking for a smart young adult book. I don't see myself coming back to reread this one, though, and so this is a great one to grab from your local library or a generous friend.

overall score: 7/10

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Review: Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham

the lowdown

Scarlett is a fifteen year old Muslim detective who lives in Las Almas. She is an orphan, having lost her mother to cancer and her father to murder. Luckily, she still has her sister, who is a resident at a local hospital. When a young girl comes to her office requesting help because her brother is acting strangely, Scarlett has no idea that this seemingly innocent case will lead her to discover secrets about her family, her faith, and herself.
I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love it really bad. I really appreciated that the main character was a Muslim woman of color. Goodreads also lists this for fans of Veronica Mars, which is my favorite show ever, so I mean it when I say that I really wanted to love this book. I couldn't, though, and I didn't. Without giving too much away, I will say that the somewhat paranormal aspect of the story was irritating to me. I just didn't really enjoy it and I didn't finding myself suspending my disbelief throughout the story. I didn't hate this book; it certainly wasn't bad enough that I did not want to finish it, I just can't say I really enjoyed it, either.

the good 

• I really appreciated the representation that this book offered. I always find it refreshing to have a character who's not a white teenaged girl. In this case, We've got a Muslim American who's also a person of color. Love it. I do have to say that I've read that the author's characterizations of the tenants of Islam are somewhat inaccurate, perhaps bordering on offensive. I'm not well versed enough in the Islamic faith to say whether or not this is true, but it's worth noting.
• Scarlett is a total BAMF, which I love. While she's not necessarily afraid of relying on others, it's amazing how much Scarlett is able to accomplish on her own. Recognizing and ditching a tail? Check. Being able to beat down the bad guys with her blackjack? Check. Yep, she's definitely a badass.
• I really liked how the author wrote Scarlett's narration. I love narrative driven stories, and I thought that aspect of the story was well done. While I didn't love the plot, I did enjoy getting inside Scarlett's head and seeing not only how she solved the mystery, but also how the various revelations in the book impacted her.

the bad 

• There were a few, minor inconsistencies and sloppy editing that lead me to believe that this may have been rushed to print. For instance, the book jacket says that Scarlett is fifteen, but at one point in the book, Scarlett says she's sixteen. While that didn't change my understanding of the story, it definitely made me question how carefully the book was finished.
• The paranormal/cult aspect of this book, which constituted a majority of it, just did not ultimately appeal to me. If the story and characters are good and compelling enough, I'm usually willing to suspend disbelief for enjoyment purposes. I did not feel that way about this book. The paranormal aspect felt rushed, and I don't know that I feel like it was fully resolved. Given that it was the focus of the book, and not the characters, I think that it needed to be really well done to succeed, and unfortunately I don't think that's the case.
• The story felt a little short to me. I didn't feel like I got to know anyone other than Scarlett particularly well. Given that this is a young adult title, I was expecting quite a bit of focus on the characters. Instead we get a mostly absent sister and a whole cast of minor characters who appear when it's convenient to the story. The mystery aspect of the book was definitely the driving point, which would have been fine if it's was well done and interesting, but for me, it just wasn't.

the quote
"'Then I guess we'll have to do things the hard way,' I said. 'Because I'm real good at my job, and real bad at letting things go. Sooner or later, I'll bust up your little freak show. And when that happens, I guarantee you're not gonna like it."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 Ultimately, unless you have a particular interest in a paranormal Muslim cult, this unfortunately falls in the skip it category.  

overall score: 5/10

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Review: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

the lowdown

Kate Quinn's mother died a year ago. Since then, nothing has been the same. She was shipped off to live with her aunt and uncle in South Carolina, far away from Los Angeles where she grew up. Where her best friend Penny lives. Where her life was. Little did Kate realize, that was just the tip of the iceberg. One day after she gets home from her new school, she discovers a huge crowd of press outside her aunt and uncle's house and a Presidential candidate in her living room. What she finds out next, that this man she's seen on the news, is her father, changes everything. Kate's world is turned upside down once again upon learning that she is the product of an affair her father had with her mother, who was working on his first campaign. She decides to go live with him and his family her new family, which includes a step-mother and twin half-siblings, and work on the campaign.

I read somewhere that this was like Sarah Dessen meets Aaron Sorkin/The West Wing and I love The West Wing and Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors, so I was all in. This book didn't disappoint. I loved the character depth and growth in this story. This book got off to a bit of a slow start, but really picked up. I thought that the author's handling of issues in the book and the world she created were very compelling. This is a must read for any YA fan. 

the good 

• The way in which the author handled issues in the book was very well done and felt authentic.  While I've not personally spent any time as a member of a political campaign, it felt very realistic; it did not feel like a romanticized notion of what it might be like to be on a campaign. Thorne's handling of Kate's grief over the loss of he mother was also very well done. It was true to that emotion and not glossed over too much, which happens far too often in novels dealing with loss, I think, but also didn't overcome other elements of the story.
• I really loved the characters and character development. This story is first and foremost a family drama, which I really enjoyed, but I think is tricky to do well. Without well written, likable characters, this storyline could have become very annoying. I can't imagine what it must be like to find out that you were the product of an affair and that you have another family, let alone to go and live with them, but this book tackles that storyline well. It would have been easy to draw lines and make "good" and "bad" characters in this story (like an evil, calculating father who cares only about his career and not at all about his family, or an terrible step-mother unwilling to welcome in the offspring of her spouse's illicit affair). Thankfully, Thorne was smart enough not to do that, and it really made the characters come alive. Instead, what she left us with was an imperfect family struggling to make the best of an imperfect situation, and their trials and tribulations along the way...which definitely brought me to tears multiple times (full disclosure: I'm a book crier, so take that with a grain of salt). 
• The love story is another of the book's strong points. It was sweet and innocent, like many "first" relationship stories, but managed to stay away from crossing the line where it was saccharine and overdone. Additionally, despite being a YA title, the love story really wasn't the primary focus of the book, which I appreciated. I hate it when I read a story that has a great romantic interest, but nothing else of substance to back it up. That was definitely not the case with this book. 

the bad 

• While I liked the writer's writing style quite a bit, some of her phrasing was repetitive. There was a point at which I thought if another character blanched I was going to throw the book out the window. It wasn't enough to disrupt my overall enjoyment of the book, but it was enough to be noticeable.
• For all the great character development in this story, there was definitely one character that felt a little underdeveloped: the main character Kate. You get sparks of her personality at different moments throughout the book, but she never feels fully developed. Most of the other characters seem to have a better sense of who they are but I never felt that way about Kate. In some ways, that was relatable, because I often feel that way at times, but at other times it made the reading a little bland. That being said, Kate wasn't annoying, and while occasionally bland, she was a tolerable main character. 

the quote
"'No, I don’t feel ashamed.'

My voice ricocheted from the speakers, echoed by a shriek of feedback. I guess I’d spoken a little too loudly. The crowd had fallen dead silent. I saw that the senator had come back, his hand hesitating inches from the microphone, but what could he do? I was talking, he couldn’t stop me. His hand dropped.

I swallowed.

'There’s no shame in being born. I don’t have to apologize for that.'"

skip it/borrow it/buy it
Highly dependent on your tastes. For me personally, even though I got this from my local library, I intend to buy it, because the subject matter is right up my alley. I definitely recommend reading this book if you're a YA fan at all, but you may not find yourself returning to it if the political aspect doesn't interest you. Because of that, I'll put it in the borrow it category.



overall score: 8/10

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