Review: If the Fates Allow: A Short Story

If the Fates Allow: A Short Story by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

Book Summary:

Social distancing came easily to Reagan. But Reagan doesn’t want her grandpa to be alone for Christmas this year—he’s already spent too much time on his own in 2020. So she heads back to her hometown with a dish of holiday Jell-O salad, hoping it will be safe…

She isn’t expecting to run into the boy next door. Mason is all grown up now. He’s considerate. He’s funny. He doesn’t mind how prickly Reagan is—he maybe even likes it. And it makes Reagan feel like her defenses are falling. She needs her defenses, doesn’t she? In a time when six feet is close enough, how long can they keep their distance?

Review:

I felt like this needed to be fleshed out a bit more. It was a cute, short story… but it could easily have been made into more of a novella. I liked and completely related to the characters. I think it hit a little too close to home though…


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Review: This May End Badly

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this advanced copy. Opinions shared are completely my own.

Summary:
Doe and her friends are determined to win the century-long war against Winfield Academy before they graduate. But when it is announced that The Weston School will merge with Winfield Academy, the pranks take on a new meaning.

Doe needs to prove that the two schools cannot mix, as a way to protect her safe haven for future students. She starts by aiming directly for Three, the king of Winfield and her long-time nemesis. In order to get under his skin, she strikes a deal with his cousin, Wells, for a fake relationship - in return for Doe helping to return a family heirloom to Wells.

In order to stay ahead of the pranks, lies, and her own growing feelings for Wells, Doe does everything she can to keep her world upright. As the year goes on, Doe has to decide what is more important - the school legacy and winning a rivalry or protecting her students from something much more dangerous. When the rumors prove to be true about a teacher with inappropriate intentions, Doe has a choice to make.

Review:
This was a great book with characters who felt extremely real. In the stereotypical review wording - I laughed, I cried! I finished this book in 2 days and stayed up hours past my bedtime to get to the end and see how it all turned out. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA book that will suck them in with great pranks, believable characters, and a love story.

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Review: Unwanted Love

Unwanted Love by Rachel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - if you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (with some caveats)

I chose this book 100% for the cover photo. My parents have that exact photo hanging in their bathroom at home. I grew up spending summer weekends at Clear Lake. It's my happy place.

Summary:
Kat Willis grew up the only child of a wealthy family in Crystal Lake. She was mostly raised by staff and put out for show when it benefited her parents image. In rebellion, Kat has become the local wild child, going out to bars and having one night stands (and ONLY one night, no repeating). When she meets Jaxson McAllister, her world is flipped on its head. She's never had someone get under her skin and into her mind like him.

Review:
I went into this story without many expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the story line, but I kept thinking "how in the world am I only at xx%? I feel like this should be wrapping up pretty soon.". The extra story beyond what I was expecting made for a nice ending. I stayed up later than I should have just to figure out how we were going to get to the happily ever after.

I was annoyed that the author kept calling her lady bits a hoo-hoo. It seemed somewhat immature. "I seriously thought my hoo-hoo was going to explode right there." I've heard hoo-ha, va-jay-jay, or other less PC things, but I've never in my life heard it called hoo-hoo. Especially not in a book when talking about sex.

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Review: How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale

How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

Summary:
Claire Ventura, the middle child of a Filipino American family, is the people-pleaser trying to make sure differences are dealt with and disagreements are kept to a minimum.... sometimes at her own expense. She works in a bookstore, but dreams of opening her own cookie decorating business (rather than just having it as a side hustle). Claire spends her days decorating cookies, visiting her Lola (grandmother) in the memory ward of the local nursing home, and working at the bookstore. So, when she almost runs over a man while parking her car, she's shocked when he wants to spend more time with her. She is even more surprised to find that he is local tech billionaire Nate Noruta.

Review:
I could relate to Claire, as someone who is not comfortable in the spotlight or the ability to jump away from a steady job into the potential unknown. The story sucked me in to see what might happen next. There were so many internal struggles of the characters. I really enjoyed learning a little about the Filipino American immigrant story, and I loved the interaction between Claire and her two sisters. It seemed completely real and relatable. Nate and Claire struggle in their new, whirlwind relationship to find a way to integrate their completely different lives. Nate lives in the spotlight, with paparazzi and social media, while Claire lives in her normal, everyday world. Nate travels around the world regularly on business, while Claire usually stays close to home. I read late into the night in order to see how Claire and Nate would end up with their (absolutely necessary) happily ever after.

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Review: Yes No Maybe So

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Summary:
Jamie Goldberg, an awkward guy, is working with his cousin on a State Senate campaign. He enjoys being involved, as long as it's behind the scenes. Maya Rehman, an outgoing gal, is dealing with a canceled summer trip, an MIA best friend, and parents that are separating. The two couldn't be more different. In a weird twist, the two (re)meet at a Ramadan celebration, realizing that they were great friends as children. Their mothers, friends for many years, determine that the two should join the door-to-door canvassing for the political candidate. Through the hours of canvassing, they grow closer and learn more about each other.

Review:
I really enjoyed the story of these two. The political story seems loosely based on the Raphael Warnock special election, with the tense and personal stories on the line. I liked learning about the behind the scenes of some of the political elections, as well as how to contact those currently in office. I also really liked learning more about Ramadan through the interactions between Maya and Jamie. A mostly easy read, with some twists and turns on the way to a happy ending for most in the story.

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Review: Castle of Refuge

Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy I received. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Castle of Refuge is a retelling of "The Ugly Duckling"... sort of. I'm not sure I really see it, but that's what the publishers and author claim.

Book Summary:
Audrey, daughter of a viscount born in late fourteenth-century England, was hurt and irreparably scarred by her sister four years ago... damaging her marriage prospects. When her father announces his plans to marry off his damaged daughter to a man much older, Audrey decides to flee in search of her true destiny. She soon finds herself attacked, sick, and in desperate need of help. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier and bears scars of his own. Meanwhile, Edwin—Lord Dericott—is curious about the new, well-educated servant’s identity. All he knows is that he's quickly becoming smitten with her. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to marry comes looking for her, she and Edwin must make life-changing decisions about what to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.

Review:
I really enjoyed the book and read it quite quickly. I did have to wonder about some of the likelihood of some things happening based on when it was set in history. The story line and characters made me curious enough that I will go back and read the other books in the series. Audrey and Edwin were likeable characters, and you couldn't help but appropriately like or hate some of the others. Yes, the story line is completely predictable in that we all know there's a happy ending, BUT there were enough twists to keep my interest.

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Review: Meet You in the Middle

Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy.

This is the story of Ben and Kate, Senate staffers from opposite sides of the aisle. When they get off to a really rocky start, it turns into an office war of mail pranks and verbal jabs. The line between animosity and attraction becomes blurred and questions start to arise about how a politically opposite relationship could work.

I read this over the weekend as a way to escape the world for a few hours. It was light-hearted and fun, with minimal politics all things considered. The story line may have been inspired by the 2016 election, but little is actually discussed about the details of politics going on in the country currently. I enjoyed watching 2 characters with opposing views overcome the stereotypes and see past the labels to figure out how they could come together for a successful relationship.

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