Reading, Writing, and Me

I wanted to take a minute to tell you guys about some of the awesomeness that will be coming up in the near future on the blog! I've been working hard to plan some interesting new content to compliment the reviews, and one of my main goals is to promote as many debut authors as possible. Finding your new favorite author could just be a click away! Lots of this content will come in the form of expanding my Into YA section where I talk to industry professionals about what they do and how they get books into your hands. This month, along with debuts, there also happen to be a few great sophomore novels coming soon. Here's a glimpse at what you can look forward to along with the regular Sunday reviewed: Immoral Code Interview: Here   Next week we're celebrating the impending release of Lillian Clark's Immoral Code.  Five teens create a plan to send one of their own to MIT by taking money from her absent father's giant cooperation. With a hacker, a genius, an a...

A Danger to Herself and Others  by Alyssa Sheinmel (February 5) Overview: Hannah Gold is being held in a mental institution, not quite against her will, but she'd definitely rather not be there. Actually, she's only being so cooperative because she knows that it's a mistake that she's there. She's perfectly sane, and everyone just needs to see that. Of course she never pushed Agnes. As the story progresses, though, she's forced to confront her new diagnosis and what really happened when Agnes fell off the window ledge. Overall: 4.5  Characters: 5 I really enjoyed Hannah's character, which is a good thing because we spend almost the whole story with her and the empty room. She's smart and her parents have always prized her maturity. Really, she's never spent more time than when she was at summer camp away from them, so she can't believe that there could be anything wrong with her. Slowly, though, with the help of the doctor she nicknames ...

This Is Not a Test  by Courtney Summers (326 pages) Overview: Sloane wanted to end her life. And then the apocalypse came. Her focus suddenly turns to survival because that's what she's supposed to do. She finds a group of other teens from her school, and they survive in the infected city for seven days before finding shelter in the high school. With all the doors barricaded and the necessities provided, suddenly, there's room to think, reflect, and feel again, and their safe haven quickly turns into a cage. Overall: 5  Characters: 5 This cast has blown me away. Courtney Summers in general has done that with every aspect of the novel, but the characters are all so detailed and unique and flawed and emotional and broken. It makes for the perfect novel. Sloane has recently had her sister leave without her, even though the plan was for them to escape their abusive father together. Without Lily, she feels her life has no point, but when it's seriously threatened, som...

Goodbye, Perfect  by Sara Barnard (January 29) Overview: Eden has always been the irresponsible one with poor grades, a loud mouth, and a general air of irresponsibility, but it's her friend Bonnie that takes over the headlines of every major news station in the UK. Bonnie disappears with her ,music teacher and parent boyfriend, Jack Cohen, better known to everyone at Kett as Mr. Cohen. Eden can't believe that a friend would do this, but, suddenly, when she gets a WhatsApp message from Bonnie, she's clued in to their runaway mission. Pressured by her family, Bonnie's, and the cops, Eden refuses to tell them what they know because she made a promise to her best friend. Overall: 3.5  Characters: 3 Okay, I guess I can see some of the thinking behind these characters, but it wasn't articulated very well. Eden refuses to tell on her friend even though she knows how wrong and serious the situation is. I can see making a promise and being hesitant, but I can't se...

The Dead Queen's Club  by Hannah Capin (January 29) Overview: For fans of European history, specifically Henry VIII and his many wives, this is a treat. Modernized and set in high school, this version is the tale of all of Henry's living ex-girlfriends banding together to find the real reason behind the death of two of his former girlfriends, Anna Boleyn and Katie Howard. Narrated by Annie, better known as Cleves, the reader falls for Henry's charm but also sees the cracks growing in his perfect facade. Overall: 4  Characters: 4 Cleves has a authoritative voice that I very much enjoyed. She's outspoken and uncompromising as she makes a place for herself in her new school senior year. Even though she marches to the beat of her own drum, she's found a place for herself among the cheerleaders who genuinely love how unique she is; but it helps that she's already friends with Henry, football star who practically owns the school. The other characters have their...

Girl Made of Stars  by Ashley Herring Blake (295 pages) Overview: Mara's twin brother is accused of rape by her friend. Mara's attempt to go back to being best friends with her ex-girlfriend isn't working. Mara is so lost. Sisters, best friends, parents, and everyone at school have an opinion about what happened between Owen and Hannah in the woods. Mara's mom, who's always been a devout feminist, is suddenly vehemently denying that Owen is at fault. Mara isn't so sure. Even though she loves her twin and can't imagine him as a rapist, she knows her best friend would never lie. Overall: 5+++++ Characters: 5 Mara is a wonderful character. She's so honestly confused and torn up about what happened, but she quickly aligns with Hannah. Supporting her best friend becomes something for herself, as well, though, because Mara is a survivor too. She takes Hannah's pain like her own as everyone at school and home takes Owen's side. Mara has to come to...

When The Truth Unravels  by Ruthanne Snow (297 pages) Overview: Elin missed two weeks mid semester, not because she had Mono. She was in the hospital, then at home, recovering from her suicide attempt. But no one knows, besides her best friends. Now that it's prom times, her friends want to give her the most perfect night to share a happy memory for senior year. The lengths her friends will go to is extreme, and perfection might not be attainable. Overall: 3.5 Characters: 3 I really wanted to like these girls... Rosie was probably my favorite. She's introverted, which often comes off as cold or mean, but she'll do anything for her friends. Her parents use her as a pawn in the divorce, but her step-dad, Will, would move the world for her. He's a great character as well. Fischer, the supposed "Ice Princess" also turns out to be a good addition as well. The other girls, though, had some missteps. Jenna was too stereotypically the "perfect girl." ...