And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
On Sale November 1, 2016 by Atria
Rating: ★★★★★
"We're in my brain, Noahnoah. And it got smaller overnight again." Noah and his Grandpa share a special bond. Together, they speak the language of numbers. Because mathematics will always lead you home.Until it doesn't anymore.Lately, Grandpa has been struggling to make it home. The distance between hazy memories and lucidness is growing longer each day. Grandpa doesn't want to forget all the numbers to pi, his favorite doctor joke, and especially not his beloved late wife. Luckily, Noah vows to help him remember.This charming and heartbreaking novella is everything you'd expect from Fredrik Backman. It's a rare author who can wrap dementia up in sunshine and do it in a way that feels moving instead of flippant or manipulative. If you enjoy Backman's usual brand of quirky melodrama, this will be no exception. This is the kind of book I think I would get even more from on a reread (it can be a bit confusing at first to decipher what was in Grandpa's head and what was really taking place-- at least it was for me). And coming in at less than 100 pages, why not revisit Grandpa and Noah's special world?
Faithful by Alice Hoffman
On Sale November 1, 2016 by Simon & Schuster
Rating: ★★★
Shelby is determined to pay a lifetime of penance. When she's seventeen, she's involved in a one-vehicle crash that leaves her best friend in a vegetative state and herself in psych ward. Shelby is convinced the accident is actually her crime, and she's volunteered to serve as the warden to her own emotional prison. Instead of going to college, she shaves her head, festers in her parents' basement, only making human contact with her weed supplier.
I thought the beginning to Faithful was really interesting. A young woman in pain, full of self-loathing and self-abuse. There were so many directions this story could have gone... but I don't think it went much of anywhere.
Things just happen to Shelby. Good things. Even though she doesn't want them, doesn't think she deserves them, and does nothing to earn them. First, her aforementioned pot dealer turns into a stable adult and falls in love with her, and they move to NYC. She gets a job at a pet store-- happy to stock shelves and avoid both customers and co-workers-- and is promoted to manager because. Then she starts going to college, surprises herself that it just all comes so naturally to her, and the state of New York throws money at her for her education. She's also the most wonderful babysitter in the world and can fix an entire family with her reluctant awesomeness. She also rescues (steals) pets all over the city because she loves animals so much and knows what is best for them.Shelby, in her way, is a total Mary Sue. She's so determined to self-destruct, and yet just so special that all the forces of the universe conspire to keep her alive and give her a happy ending. All while she wallows in her own, endless pool of self-pity.There are elements of magical realism here, but they play a minor role in the book and felt a bit out of place with the rest of the book. Romance played a much larger role, but, in the end, I only became convinced that Shelby makes horrible choices when it comes to men.Shelby didn't grow enough for me as a character, especially considering the timeline of this book spans over a decade. It's hard for me to knock this book below 2.5 stars, because it is well written, decently paced, and many of the supporting characters possess the charisma Shelby lacks. And I did enjoy the relationship between Shelby and her mother. Ultimately, though, Faithful fell flat for me.
The Best Possible Answer, by E. Katherine Kottaras
On Sale November 1, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Rating: ★★★
So this is the book I expected: an over-stressed, over-worked, high school perfectionist with trust issues learns to open up to "Mr. Right" and live in the moment.That's not the book I got. This book is not a typical YA romance. In fact, it's not really a romance at all.This is a book about struggling to keep things together when your life is falling spectacularly apart.Viviana has real issues. It goes deeper than the humiliation she feels from her first love spreading around her nude selfies in retaliation for their break up. This incident puts her in the hospital with a severe case of anxiety. Viviana's parents put enormous pressure on her to get into an elite college, and her father is livid that the nude pics might bar her from Stanford (how?). In fact, her father is so disappointed he's moved out of the home and gone off to Singapore. If that weren't enough pain, Viviana also struggles to repair her relationship with her mother. Then she learns the truth about her father, and it's something that would land even the most well-adjusted person into a lifetime of therapy. With all this going on, she learns her best friend, Sammie, is moving away, and they spend much of their last summer together fighting over a boy. Then there's a mentally ill professor living in their apartment complex who somehow is going to teach a bunch of teens some important life lessons (sigh).I think this book tries to do too much. From the romance drama, to the family drama, to the best friend drama, to the sister drama... this book feels like a collage. A bunch of plot bits slapped together with glue into something that's not altogether horrible to look at but is undeniably cluttered. Each chapter starts with headers about studying for SATs, entrance essays to college, ect.-- I skipped past those.Something needed to give with this book. Removing one or more of the story elements and going further into depth with the remaining could have made this a much better novel, IMO.
The Fall Guy by James Lasdun
Published October 18, 2016 by W. W. Norton & Company
Rating: ★★★★
So this review is a bit of an unpopular opinion. The rating on this book has sunk to little over 3 on Goodreads. One of the common complaint is that this book is not riveting. And that's right. This book has a bit of an old-fashioned feel to it, imo. It's slower, less shocking, less sadistic than many modern thrillers. I don't think the thriller label is a good fit for this book, and I think it was slapped into that popular category for marketing reasons. Ok, enough of my rambling, onto the review....
Matthew and Charlie are cousins, more like brothers really, but their lives have gone in very different directions. Charlie is a successful investment banker and a married father. He owns multiple homes, has a million dollars in cash in his home safe, and is the type to be impressed with his own wealth. Matthew lives in a dingy one bedroom and is still striving to make his mark in the restaurant business. Both men are harboring some measure of resentment toward the other, but, like in most families, they keep it bubbling under the surface. That's until Charlie invites Matthew to spend the summer at his vacation home. As the days go on, the cracks between become undeniable.
Maybe things would be less complicated if Matthew weren't enamored with Charlie's wife, Chloe. While he's not in love with Chloe and isn't looking to steal her away from his cousin, Matthew feels both an intimacy and possessiveness over her that he can't quite explain. She's his without really being his. It's a dynamic they've all danced around for the last decade. But as the summer wears on, Matthew starts to suspect that Chloe is hiding something, and he becomes obsessive about it, more or less acting like a stalker. It takes him down the road of no return.This is a suspense novel, and it might disappoint fans of modern thrillers, but this is the type of book I really appreciate. It's told from one perspective and relies on a slower build up of tension. The writing is good and the plot realistic. It kept me interested, and, while not a true page turner, by the end I was racing through to see what would happen to Matthew. My main frustration was with Chloe and Charlie, who I felt were underdeveloped. What did Charlie really think of Matthew? What were Chloe's motivations? On the whole, though, good book.
We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen
On Sale November 1, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Rating: ★★★★
Cath and Scott are best friends who grew up on the same block and never experienced life without each other. That bond is tested when Cath goes off to college several hundred miles away, and Scott stays behind in their hometown to sell menswear in his Dad's shop. Their lives are seemingly taking different directions. Together, they were Tornadoes, class of 1982. But what will they become?
The book is written entirely in the format of letters exchanged back and forth between Cath and Scott. I have to admit, I find the premise a bit hokey. I mean, outside of war and possibly prison, what 18-year-old guy writes this manyletters to a platonic girl friend? Overall, though, it was enjoyable to read, and I laughed pretty hard at some of Scott's letters. I did feel the expected ending came abruptly, like the authors only had x amount of paper and needed to fit it in before they ran out.
This is a cute, fluffy read that does not require a serious time investment. It's forgettable but fun and good when you're craving something lighthearted.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Published August 9, 2016 by William Morrow
Rating: ★★★
"I type my password: IHATEJOSHUA4EV@. My previous passwords have all been variations on how much I hate Joshua. For ever."
Lucy Hutton hates Joshua Templeton with every fiber of her being. In fact, these days, hating him is about all she's doing with her life. Ever since the personable publishing house she works for merged with a heartless, number crunching competitor, Lucy spends countless hours at work. She lost her best friend in the merger, and her super supportive parents live hours away. Now, she and her nemesis are up for the same promotion, and the loser has to resign. Will she lose her job, too?
I liked this book well enough, but I was really expecting it to be more fun (and funny) than it was. The bit about the passwords is the only genuine laugh I had the entire book. It starts off with a misstep, going into the business merger instead of the meat of Lucy's war with Joshua. The two don't seem to antagonize each other all that much. If you're expecting Jim/Dwight levels of office shenanigans, you'll be disappointed.
The characters didn't seem consistent to me. As the story progresses, Lucy starts having "freak outs" that didn't plague her earlier in the book. Joshua gets more socially awkward and closed off. The romance just didn't work for me. I didn't buy the characters together.
I'm seeing it more and more in chick-lit type books, but the dialogue tagging was at times incorrectly done and confusing. How does this keep getting past editors?
Overall impressions: Devoted chick-lit fans will find a lot to like in this book, but other audiences might want to think twice.
The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
On Sale October 11, 2016 by Amulet Books
Rating: ★★
"Terrific? That's not how to describe Toby. He's charming and brilliant and bright and shiny. Toby is the movie star is his own movie! In all our movies!"
Amelia hero-worships her older brother, Toby, and always has. But here's the thing about building idols: when they falter, your world might come crashing down along with them. For Amelia, this moment comes when her brother starts exhibiting signs of a serious mental illness. She finds herself entirely unprepared to deal with the new reality.
In fact, most of this book is about Amelia unable to deal with Toby no longer being her cool big brother any more. That's because Amelia is an incredibly self-centered and immature character. It's obvious there's something wrong with Toby, but instead of being concerned about him, she whines about how she can't show him off properly to her new boyfriend. And that brings me to the romance portion of the book, which is awful. Amelia and Epstein have no chemistry together. She barely likes him, but she "loves" him, and they have sex... because. The sex scenes are incredibly uncomfortable and awkward. And it never seems to stop, because Amelia is constantly reminding us about it.
I didn't feel like this book had much of an ending, because nothing transformative happened. Amelia is still disappointed in Toby over something he can't control, and seems little more at peace with his illness than where she started. The only character who grew on me was Ray, Amelia's best friend, and she was the lone one in the book who put aside her own feelings to help someone else. Unfortunately, Amelia's parents are as self-centered as she is and deal with Toby's illness just about as well.
I'm not against showing drug use in YA books, but pot is pervasive in this book. It reinforces the stereotype that pot smokers are lazy bums disinterested in life, because none of these characters seemed to have any passions or plans for their future. I also grew tired of hearing about how Amelia didn't have her driver's license yet. It's mentioned about a million times throughout the book. Apparently, if you're not at the DMV the second you turn 16, there's something wrong with you.
The synopsis of this book is really misleading. I know mental illness is a popular theme in YA right now, but its one I mostly avoid. And I was disappointed in how this book used such a serious topic as a plot device. Poor Toby.
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
On Sale September 20, 2016 by Katherine Tegan Books
Rating: ★★★★★
I'm not entirely sure I have the words for this one, but I'll go ahead and try. This book is dark and violent and awesome... and I think I'll be processing what the holy heck I just read for a while to come. If you read this book, prepare to clear out some head space for the story to come and live in.
In the small, insular Ohio town where she grows up, Alex Craft is the girl with the dead sister. Not much more. She doesn't interact with her classmates, and they make no move to include her. That's until she catches the eyes of Jack Fisher-- the all-American boy who plays on every sports team, gets good grades and has no shortage of girls vying for a place in his bed. Once he notices Alex, really notices her, he can't get her out of his mind. Peekay also notices Alex but with very different motivation. Peekay is pigeonholed to the role of preacher's kid and is looking for a friend who sees her in a different light. Alex struggles with social interaction, but the two are able to cobble together a growing friendship as they volunteer at the local animal shelter.
And, oh, yeah, Alex Craft is also kind of a cold-blooded murderer:
"This is how I kill someone. And I don't feel bad about it."
"I am a wolf that my sister kept in a cage, until her hand was removed."
Alex Craft is the character I thought Jane Steele would be when I read the blurb for Jane Steele. She's a mixture of righteousness and cruelty. It's easy to fear her and admire her. You hope she'll be able to run off with Jack and start a happy little family while also thinking she really needs to be in jail.
And I did not see that ending coming.
For better or worse, it's impossible to deny this book has an effect. It's one of the most memorable books I've read all year. I will say that for a YA book, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with my teen reading this. I'll have to get back to you on that.
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrick Backman
Published May 3, 2016 by Atria
Rating: ★★★★
You see, Britt-Marie does not judge people. No, certainly not. That would be uncivilized.
"Britt-Marie would obviously never consider the woman to be "fat," because Britt-Marie is absolutely not the kind of person who pigeonholes people like that, but it does strike her how wonderful it must be for the woman to go through life so untroubled by her cholesterol levels."
Again, you see, it's just a matter of their being a wrong way to do things and a correct way. A clean, hygienic way. Unfortunately, and quite baffling to Britt-Marie, no one seems to care for, appreciate, or even notice the correct and clean and hygienic way of doing things. For years, Britt-Marie had dinner ready at six o'clock, as any person not raised by wolves would, and her husband Kent never said a word in thanks. He never commented on her carefully crafted hairstyle or paid attention to her superior use of baking soda. Never complimented her cooking without having to be asked first.
"Britt-Marie doesn't know when their marriage slipped out of her hands. When it became worn and scratched up no matter how many coasters were used."
Britt-Marie spent so much her life worrying about what other people thought of her, of how scandalous it would be to have someone see an unmade bed or muddy shoes tracking on the floor, only to realize at age 63 that no one's thought about her much at all. And Kent's been having an affair. For the first time in decades, she's on her own and looking for work.
Borg is the type of town the world forgot. It sits along the side of a highway, gutted and turned into ghost town by the financial crisis (a reasoning Britt-Marie doesn't trust because, after all, Kent said the financial crisis was over, and Kent was an entrepreneur). Britt-Marie is sent there to work a temporary position at the recreation center. Soon she finds herself the coach of a rag tag team of soccer youths, despite having no interest in the sport whatsoever. For the first time in her life, Britt-Marie needs to figure out just who Britt-Marie is when she's not living for someone else.
I'm a fan of Fredrik Backman's particular brand of emotional manipulation, and I very much enjoyed this book. It definitely has similarities to A Man Called Ove although it's not as well-done. I think Ove fans will be very much at home with Britt-Marie.
The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
On Sale September 6, 2016
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Rating: ★★★★★
September 11, 2001. Kyle is part of the human stream flowing over the Brooklyn Bridge: to safety, and away from smoldering, smoking Manhattan. As he's crossing, he notices what looks like a giant bird perched at the edge of the bridge. Then he realizes it's not a bird. It's a girl. She looks lost and scared. She looks like she might jump. Kyle convinces her to follow him to the safety of his family apartment. He discovers she doesn't know who she is or what happened to her. And on top of dealing an amnesiac stranger (who he's quickly developing a bit of a crush on), his first-responder father is not answering his phone, he can't get a hold of his mother and sister who were supposed to fly out from LA that morning, and there's a disabled uncle who needs care. What happens over the course of the next 3 days changes Kyle forever.
For the most part, this book is everything a YA novel should be. It's been a couple of days since I read it, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. Kyle is mature without coming off like a twenty-five year old. I'm in love with the boy he becomes by the end of the story. I liked the realistic relationship he had with his parents and Uncle Matt. This is exactly the type of book I'd want my teen to read, and I enjoyed it a lot myself.
A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
Published by St. Martin's Press
On Sale September 6, 2016
Rating: ★★★★
"Life is an adventure, not a walk. That's why it's difficult."
3.5 stars
Alex's life is falling apart. His wife, Jody, has asked him to move out their home. The sticking point in their marriage is Alex's inability to connect with and parent their eight-year-old autistic son, Sam. He's struggling at his stressful job, and he's still carrying unresolved trauma from his childhood. So maybe it's not too surprising that he finds himself, in his 30s, bunking with a mate and sleeping on a lumpy air mattress.
Alex almost lives in fear of his autistic child. The thought of taking Sam to the park or spending any time with him alone is enough to induce a panic attack. Sam has been diagnosed with a high-functioning form of the disorder, but he's still different in a way Alex finds impossible to cope with. Sam is afraid of dogs, can't stand loud noises or crowds, has a narrow set of interests and food preferences, and tends to lash out violently when he doesn't get his way. For years, Alex's primary parenting strategy has been retreat.
Things start to change between father and son when Sam discovers Minecraft. Alex discovers that not only can he play the game with his son, but that the Minecraft world helps Sam open up parts of him that were locked shut before. The game helps Sam build his vocabulary, open up about his feelings about school, and learn to interact with other children. It's not a miracle. But it's progress. And that's everything.
I don't know any autistic children and have no idea whether the portrayal of Sam is accurate or not. However, as a parent, I could easily see parts of me becoming like Jody and parts of me like Alex. The issues in their marriage seem very realistic.
More than liking this book, I think I appreciate this book because of the importance of the topic it covers. At times, the story went a little slow for me, and I felt like Alex's drama with his sister and mother dragged the book down a bit. I also felt a little hampered by my complete ignorance about Minecraft.
Vivian is a book blogger.
She's obsessed with romance novels and spends her free time surrounded by them, from running a lonely hearts book club to working part-time at her mom's bookshop to raving about hunky heroes anonymously on the internet. Up until now, seventeen-year-old Viv's knowledge of love has come entirely from in between the covers... book covers, that is. But that changes when her long time crush, Jake, takes notice of her over the summer. They start sneaking off for clandestine make out sessions on the beach at night.
So it's all coming up roses for our fair heroine Vivian. Until the first day of school comes and Jake makes it clear he and she are not a thing. Were never a thing. He was just bored. Yep, he's that guy.
Heartbroken, Vivian decides to make a list of guys who are safe to crush on. It becomes an all-consuming mission (helped by a healthy dose of channeling Spock), and her number one requirement is lack of chemistry. Too bad she meets Dallas, the new guy. He's nerd-hot and a perfect match for her, but she won't let herself get close, worried about getting hurt again. Still, it's hard to deny the attraction between them, and Dallas isn't giving up on becoming her replacement crush. But Viv is playing a dangerous game and just might push him so far away that he's gone for good.
This is a cute, sweet book that's easy enough to devour in a single sitting. Dallas is the perfect book boyfriend. Not the least bit realistic, but he's fun to read about and has great chemistry with Viv. Vivian's friends were fun, and it was nice to read a book with drama-free, supportive girl friendships. Viv herself came across as younger than seventeen, and her mission became a bit tiresome and the concept a bit convoluted, which are my only real criticisms of this book. If you want to get lost in a fun, innocent romance with plenty of book nerd and straight-up-nerd references, consider this one.
This book will be published on September 6 2016 by Entangled Teen
Rating: ★★★★
God, I hate feeling left out. Have you ever read a book everyone else loved, but you were like:
I feel you Ben Wyatt. And it was just a dumb, kind-of-small horse. Don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.
It seems like people either love or hate this book. I went into it with a lot of hope from all the five star reviews, but also aware that the subject matter might have me wanting to throw it across the room. I was prepared for a heart breaker and a moving experience. However, much to my surprise, I felt... nothing. I meh this book. For me, this was nothing more than an average, if somewhat uncomfortable, read.
Yes, I was disturbed by a 26 year old man having sexual relations with a 13 year old. The fact that Kellen was the only parental figure Wavy had ever known and had been caring for her since she was 8 only made the matter worse. I guess I'm supposed to think that what Kellen and Wavy have isspecial and that their inappropriate relationship makes sense for these characters. But isn't that what every pedophile thinks? That the world is just ignorant to their unique love? That it's different for them? Consider me unconvinced.
Outside of the controversial aspect, I'm not sure what this book has to offer. I found that when I wasn't horrified reading about neglected children, domestic abuse, drugs, and pedophilia, I was pretty bored. There's no question this book is well written and the characters well developed, but not in any way I enjoyed. I didn't even like Wavy, although I did feel sorry for her. I don't think she had any appreciation for what her Aunt sacrificed for her. The only characters I connected with or really cared about were Amy and Donal.
This book will be available for purchase on August 9 2016 and is being released by Thomas Dunne Books
Rating: ★★★
Author: Scott Stambach
Release Date: August 9th 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Version Reviewed: digital ARC courtesy of publisher and NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★★
Wow. I don't tend to use the word in book reviews, because I think it's kind of cliche. But, sometimes, a book is just... wow... and there's no better way to describe it.
Ivan has lived his entire seventeen years inside the Mazyr Hospital for Gravely Ill Children in Belarus. He was born with a number of physical deformities, including missing 3 of his limbs, probably due to radiation exposure after the Chernobyl meltdown. Abandoned by his parents and with little hope for a normal life, Ivan gets through the day by making everything a game. One of his favorites is to pretend to be in a coma to eavesdrop on the nurses. He dislikes most of these nurses, except Nurse Natalya, who is his biggest ally, his book supplier, and, ultimately, his savior.
Much of every day is the same for Ivan, until terminal cancer patient Polina comes to the hospital. Their relationship starts as a friendship, but becomes more. In some ways it's as bleak as the hospital, in other ways it's hopeful and typically teenaged. One thing is for sure: Ivan will never be the same.
There are parts of this book that are uncomfortable to read and even a little gross. But, in it's own way, it's also wonderful and moving. This is a unique book and a strong debut from the author. I recommend it.
This book straddles the line between young adult and new adult. I have given the title over to the latter. I don't read a lot of new adult, mostly because I haven't had any luck with the genre. This book is better than others of its kind. It was hard to write this review, because I can't talk about "the twist" without spoilers. All I can say is that it's in line with a trope I cringe when I encounter. However, these authors handle it well.
Title: You Before Anyone Else
Authors: Julie Cross and Mark Perini
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: 8/1/16
Version Reviewed: digital ARC via NetGalley
Rating: ★★★
Finley is a model who is tired of getting the cold shoulder at casting calls because of her "good girl" reputation. After all, she's close with her family, helps out with her younger twin brothers and knits (of all things!). Looking to shed her goody goody image, she decides to let lose and have a one night stand with bad boy Eddie Wells.
No, really.
But if you can get past the silliness that a model can somehow get booked for jobs by hooking up with a stranger, there's a lot to like about this book. Both Finley and Eddie wind up being likable, if sometimes a bit bland, characters. Eddie lacks some serious edge for being the "bad boy." I was worried when "the twist" materialized, because we live in a culture that increasingly romanticizes this sort of situation. The ending of this book could have gone very wrong, but it wound up surprising me by striking the exact right note. I was worried I wouldn't be able to relate to a romance about models, but that wasn't a problem.
This book exceeded my expectations in many ways, but there were places where it still struggled. The dialogue tagging is a bit dodgy, the writing very average, and the plot movement a bit turbulent. Finley's story lacked the conflict and depth that Eddie's did, and everything worked out for her a little too well to be interesting.
Author: Karole Cozzo
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: 8/2/16
Version Reviewed: digital ARC courtesy of NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★
Nikki Baylor wants a second chance. But will anyone grant her one? A couple months ago, she took part in a cyber bullying incident for which she took 100% of the fall. Now she's the girl everyone is whispering about. Her friends, and co-bullies, have ditched her and she's been expelled from school. She never leaves the house without a baseball cap pulled down to obscure her face, hoping she can get through the day without being recognized and vilified. Her once loving and supportive parents have gone cold. She's given up the things she used to love like singing and preforming. She's not sure what future, if any, waits for her after graduation.
Nikki meets Pax at the rehabilitation center where she does community service. Pax is the first person since the bullying fall out who sees her as a person instead of just her sin. Pax believes everyone deserves a second chance. He feels his own reckless actions resulted in him being paralyzed from the waist down and having to adjust to a new reality in a wheelchair. Pax is confident, good looking, charming, and Nikki starts to fall for him. But Pax has insecurities that get in the way and that Nikki can't fully understand. Neither Nikki nor Pax is where they thought they'd be in life. Can a pair of teenagers make a relationship work when they're still carrying so much baggage?
This is a sweet and fun book. Pax is one of those perfect YA boy characters we all know don't really exist but like to read about anyway. The relationship between he and Nikki is genuine and uplifting. I did not like Nikki's parents. They adore their queen bee daughter until she gets publicly outed as a mean girl, at which point they drop her like it's hot and act like she's contagious. Way to straddle both extremes, mom and dad.
The ending was nice, but for me it was a bit abrupt. Pax had a lot of issues he needed to work on, and I didn't see much resolution on them. I also felt like Nikki's story was incomplete. Yes, she gets the guy, but that's not everything.
It has occurred to me in the five months since I wrote this review (and there's a reason I no longer review ARCs that far in advance) that I might have been a bit "hetero-normative" with my first paragraph. In my defense, I didn't even know that was a thing. What I do know, is that this is a delightful YA book. It hits the exact right note of being undramatic without being cutesy. And there are amazing passages in it like this:
"... I have known you since the mountains were made and the rivers were formed. I know we're in a weird place right now, but I want you to step out of it and be there for me. Taylor is a boy, and you are my best friend. Taylor is a date, and you are my calendar. Understood?"
Did you swoon? Because I did. The writing in this book is just so darn good. And a YA book about friendship and the value of said friendship over teen romantic attachments? Sign me up.
Title: You Know Me Well
Authors: Nina LaCour and David Levithan
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: 6/7/16
Version Reviewed: digital ARC courtesy of NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★★
Mark and Kate sat next to each other in Calculus class and never said a word to each other. But during the last week of the school year, they randomly find each other in a bar and everything changes. This, of course, is when Mark and Kate start to fall in love, each amazed that their soulmate has been sitting beside them the whole time undetected... or maybe not.
Mark and Kate are both gay, and both in love with seemingly unobtainable people. Both are in the midst of growing apart from their lifelong best friends, something that is especially painful for Mark because he happens to be in love with his. The two develop an instant connection and a fast friendship that they come to rely on. They help each other through insecurities and confront their fears. Kate is a promising art student who is afraid of success and believes she isn't good enough, not for the UCLA art program that accepted her and certainly not for her crush, Violet. Mark lives in terror of being rejected by his best friend, and sometimes secret boyfriend, Ryan. But even though both Kate and Mark are consumed with being in love, the driving engine of this story is their friendship.
There were so many places where this book could have dissolved into cliche, but it didn't. The ending was just that much more beautiful because it wasn't presented with a neat little bow. The writing and the characters are both fantastic. If I had to make one complaint, I do think Mark and Kate both seemed overly mature for their age.
This was one of the first reviews I wrote after joining NetGalley earlier this year. Since that time, I've read a lot of books. About a hundred, to be exact. I kind of binged on ARCs like a kid loose in a candy store. The truth is, no matter how much you like a book, not all of them stick with you. Some fade; some lose their luster. I can honestly say The Children has very much permeated my conscious. It pops into my head once and a while, just to remind me how much I enjoyed reading it.
Title: The Children
Author: Ann Leary
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 5/24/16
Version Reviewed: digital ARC courtesy of NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★
Charlotte Maynard is awkward. She writes a popular mommy blog, but nothing about it is real. She's agoraphobic and almost never leaves the house she shares with her mother. As a teenager, she sneaks into a nearby boarding school at night and reads student medical records. Her college education is comprised of hiding out in the back of large lecture halls at Columbia University, but she isn't enrolled there. She idolizes a deceased stepfather, Whit Whitman, who isn't worthy of her admiration. She stalks her stepbrother's girlfriend on social media, trying to know her before actually meeting her.
Charlotte has the potential to be a creepy character, but she's not. Her actions are born out of a lifetime of neglect. Even the people who love her best do so incompletely: a self-absorbed mother, a bipolar sister, a stepfather who prioritizes banjos over family, a part-time lover, a golden child stepbrother with secret rage. She's bored, unaccomplished, and stuck. Her mommy blog is just her latest escape-- her fake internet husband just happens to resemble the real life boyfriend who won't commit to her.
Even though Charlotte's world isn't quite real, it's peaceful and predictable, right up until her stepbrother Skip announces he's getting married to Laurel, a former almost-Olympic skier who the family has never met. Charlotte and her sister Sally alternate between sympathizing with Laurel, to being jealous and suspicious of her. There's just something about Laurel you can't put your finger on. No amount of stalking her facebook page prepared the sisters for the havoc she would cause.
There's a lot that goes on in this shortish book. Around the time Laurel comes into the picture, Mr. Clean, a person who breaks into homes and does housework, returns to the lake community where Charlotte lives, creating panic among her neighbors and mother. There are a lot of flashbacks back to when the vaulted Whit Whitman was alive. A new police officer moves into town and starts showing an interest in the family. But the main story is the introduction of Laurel into the Whitman-Maynard family.
I really enjoyed Ann Leary's writing style, and I devoured this book in about a day. I rarely get that hooked into a story. I give it four stars because the ending came too fast, and because Laurel was too obvious.
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