Monthly Archives: February 2017

Book Title:
Sad Perfect
Book Author:
Stephanie Elliot
Publishing Date:
February 28th, 2017
Publisher:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Date Read:
February 21st, 2017
Source:
ARC from publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

The story of a teen girl's struggle with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and how love helps her on the road to recovery.

Sixteen-year-old Pea looks normal, but she has a secret: she has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). It is like having a monster inside of her, one that not only dictates what she can eat, but also causes anxiety, depression, and thoughts that she doesn’t want to have. When she falls crazy-mad in love with Ben, she hides her disorder from him, pretending that she’s fine. At first, everything really does feel like it’s getting better with him around, so she stops taking her anxiety and depression medication. And that's when the monster really takes over her life. Just as everything seems lost and hopeless, Pea finds in her family, and in Ben, the support and strength she needs to learn that her eating disorder doesn’t have to control her.

My Review

The first thing I noticed about this book when I started reading was the fact that it is written in second person narrative – something that isn’t often attempted, and when it is, can be really difficult to successfully do … Continue reading

4 Comments
Book Tour

Well, That Was Awkward Author: Rachel Vail Publication Date: February 28th, 2017 Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Synopsis: Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can’t breathe, can’t walk, can’t anything and the reason is standing right … Continue reading

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Book Title:
A Good Idea
Book Author:
Cristina Moracho
Publishing Date:
February 28th, 2017
Publisher:
Viking Books for Young Readers
Date Read:
February 23rd, 2017
Source:
ARC from publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

Can the right kind of boy get away with killing the wrong kind of girl?

Fin and Betty’s close friendship survived Fin’s ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates.

Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones—and herself—at risk.

But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty’s disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined—and infinitely more devastating?

My Review

As someone who would read pretty much every thriller in existence if I had the time, when a copy of A Good Idea showed up in my mailbox (a huge thank you to Penguin Teen!), I was incredibly excited – … Continue reading

3.5 stars
9 Comments
Book Title:
The Education of Margot Sanchez
Book Author:
Lilliam Rivera
Publishing Date:
February 21st, 2017
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Date Read:
February 20th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

Pretty in Pink comes to the South Bronx in this bold and romantic coming-of-age novel about dysfunctional families, good and bad choices, and finding the courage to question everything you ever thought you wanted—from debut author Lilliam Rivera.

THINGS/PEOPLE MARGOT HATES:

Mami, for destroying my social life

Papi, for allowing Junior to become a Neanderthal

Junior, for becoming a Neanderthal

This supermarket

Everyone else

After “borrowing” her father's credit card to finance a more stylish wardrobe, Margot Sanchez suddenly finds herself grounded. And by grounded, she means working as an indentured servant in her family’s struggling grocery store to pay off her debts.

With each order of deli meat she slices, Margot can feel her carefully cultivated prep school reputation slipping through her fingers, and she’s willing to do anything to get out of this punishment. Lie, cheat, and maybe even steal…

Margot’s invitation to the ultimate beach party is within reach and she has no intention of letting her family’s drama or Moises—the admittedly good looking but outspoken boy from the neighborhood—keep her from her goal.

My Review

The Education of Margot Sanchez is one of those books that I couldn’t help but love.  The characters were fun, the plot of the book was a good one, and the cover went really well with the story.  There’s a … Continue reading

4 stars
8 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Piecing Me Together
Book Author:
Renée Watson
Publishing Date:
February 14th, 2017
Publisher:
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Date Read:
February 19th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renée Watson.

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods.

But Jade doesn’t need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference.

Friendships, race, privilege, identity—this compelling and thoughtful story explores the issues young women face.

My Review

Before I started reading this book, I knew it was going to be powerful, but nothing prepared me for just how powerful and important that this novel is.  This is one of those books that I think should be mandatory … Continue reading

4 Comments
Book Tour

Beautiful Broken Girls Author: Kim Savage Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Release Date: February 21st 20 Synopsis: Mira and Francesca Cillo—beautiful, overprotected, odd—seemed untouchable. But Ben touched seven parts of Mira: her palm, hair, chest, cheek, lips, throat, and … Continue reading

8 Comments
Book Title:
Long May She Reign
Book Author:
Rhiannon Thomas
Publishing Date:
February 21st, 2017
Publisher:
HarperTeen
Date Read:
February 18th
Source:
eARC from publisher via Edelweiss - Thank you!

Synopsis

Freya was never meant be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.

Freya may have escaped the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councillors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, Freya knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom – and her life.

Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisors. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her, but also wanted more power for himself.

As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.

My Review

When I read A Wicked Thing and its sequel, Kingdom of Ashes, I fell in love with Rhiannon Thomas’s writing.  Well, in this standalone (yay, finally, a standalone fantasy!), her amazing writing can once again sweep you off your feet … Continue reading

4 stars
18 Comments
Book Title:
We Are Okay
Book Author:
Nina LaCour
Publishing Date:
February 14th, 2017
Publisher:
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Date Read:
February 13th, 2017
Source:
ARC from publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…

Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.

Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.

My Review

I love books that are loaded up with plenty of emotion, but even more than that, I love character driven novels that feature a main character and supporting characters learning more about themselves, growing as individuals, and dealing with everyday … Continue reading

4.5 stars
8 Comments
Book Title:
Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up
Book Author:
Jessica Brody
Publishing Date:
February 14th, 2017
Publisher:
Delacorte Press
Date Read:
February 15th, 2017
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher - Thank you!

Synopsis

Everyone makes wishes. Addie's wish just happens to come true.

Seventh grader Addie Bell can’t wait to grow up. Her parents won’t let her have her own phone, she doesn’t have any curves, and her best friend Grace isn’t at all interested in make-up or boys. Then, on the night of her twelfth birthday, Addie makes a wish on a magic jewelry box to be sixteen…and wakes up to find her entire life has been fast-forwarded four years! Suddenly she has everything she’s always wanted (including a driver’s license and a closet full of cool clothes)! But Addie soon discovers that a lot more has changed than she expected—including her friendship with Grace. Can Addie turn back time and take back her wish…or has she lost the chance to experience what could have been the best years of her life?

My Review

Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up was an interesting book, and to be honest, probably one of the first middle grade-young adult crossover books that I’ve ever read.  I wasn’t sure it was supposed to be geared more toward middle … Continue reading

4 stars
5 Comments
Book Tour

Dreamland Burning Author: Jennifer Latham Publication Date: February 21st, 2017 Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Synopsis: Some bodies won’t stay buried. Some stories need to be told.  When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, … Continue reading

9 Comments