#YAReview

[atruebloodwrites]

An important reminder that reviews really do help authors. Please, if you can, drop a line or two on retail sites. And if you don’t see the book you want at your local library, you can request it! . . . #bookreviews #yabookreviews #bookretailsites #bookishpost #yareader #yareview #yareadersofig #yabooknerd #yabookgeek #yabookshelf #yabookstack #yabooklove #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CF7XBjfgNiz/?igshid=hqtigku4b4jt

[rachaelsmithessentials]

2/5 ⭐️ Checkout my review of The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner on my blog (link in bio). This book wasn’t for me but the reviews on Goodreads are glowing! . . . #lovereading #bookish #booklove #readstagram #vscocam #totalbooknerd #yabooks #yalit #bookishthings #reader #bookstagramfeature #bookblogger #blogger #book #readmore #bookishfeatures #bookphotography #bookstagram #bookworm #bookaholic #review #bookreview #blog #blogger #theserpentking #jeffzentner #yareview #booknerd

[authorjenniferannedavis]

Posted @withrepost • @allcharacterswanted Happy October! What are you planning to read this month? . Reid has spent years pretending to be a boy so her family wouldn’t lose their title and lands. But when her secret is discovered, she is forced to prove her loyalty to the kingdom and joins the secret society of Knights. The only way she can gain freedom for her family is by successfully completing tasks given by the royal family. But as the missions bring her further from home, will she ever be able to back her way back again? . The first book in the Realm trilogy came out a few weeks ago and my review is online today! I love that my first October review is about a female protagonist, and is the beginning of a new trilogy! Thank you @reignpublishing and @Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book 💕 . . . . #realmofknights #jenniferannedavis #netgalley #freebook #bookreview #books #knights #yalit #ireadya #yareview #reignpublishing #yafantasy #bookstaclubforever https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FTnhCAruA/?igshid=4nr0yx0unsm2

[yadaily]

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han

Review by Paige:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding. But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind. When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

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It almost pains me to write this review, knowing that I’m saying goodbye to these books for good. While I may have to let go of these characters, I know they’ll always hold a special, soft place in my heart. This was, without a doubt, the fabulous and fitting conclusion to the series. I can see now why this book was so necessary, because this is truly where Lara Jean’s story deserved to end.

I’ll admit it up front: I’m in love with Peter Kavinsky. It felt like every time that boy talked I had a tear in my eye. He seems like such an average YA love interest, but for whatever reason, his kindness is such a standout. Oh, and he’s set my expectations for men unrealistically high. I felt he and Lara Jean got the ending they deserved, and that their futures will be worked towards tirelessly together. It was strong, it was based on mutual love and respect, and while I didn’t get to see everything I wanted them to do together, I know it was coming and that it was going to be beautiful.

The best part of this book, however, was watching Lara Jean go through the college admissions process. As a recent high school graduate, all her fears and anxieties were my own. I connected with her in ways I hadn’t been able to before. Watching her wonder whether she was good enough for certain schools, what she could’ve done differently, and struggling to move on, was a reminder to me that everyone goes through that process. Everyone leaves behind the life you were stuck in up until college. She faced everything head on, and it reminded me that I have to to.

I loved seeing Margot evolve, and Trina was such an interesting character to get to know! Their father became so important, and Kitty was as wise and wonderful as ever. There was a new element to their family, a new way they had to learn how to define themselves, and it was treacherous at times but so worth it.

Before I ramble on forever, I’m going to stop, knowing that this was the best way for Lara Jean’s story to end. It was a perfect conclusion, and a breath of fresh air for her character. In P.S. I Still Love You, I never felt she fully grew. Stepping away from this book, I know that she did, and I couldn’t be prouder. I feel ready to say goodbye. I think Lara Jean does too.

[thebookbud]

Six of Crows

(The Six of Crows Duology, Book One)

A BookBud Review

By Leigh Bardugo

Finished 02-26-2020

Genre: Fantasy 

Basic Plot: Kaz, a well know gang member among the ranks of the not so noble individuals in the Barrel of Kerch, is on his way to do an unthinkable heist in an unthinkable place with a crew who are willing to give everything to complete it. 

Notable Quote(s): This book had some wonderfully quotable lines...

“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

“Better terrible truths than kind lies”

“We are all someone’s monster”

 Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Readability: 5/5

Plot Interest: 5/5

Creativity: 4/5

Photo found on facelessfrey

This is really just going to be a rave, go read this. I was really REALLY hesitant, it took two friends recommending it for me to finally give it a shot and I’m so happy I did it because this book delivered much more than I was hoping for. I think it’s hard to impress when walking in with so many negative assumptions already. The first Leigh Bardugo book I had the ahem, pleasure, of reading was Ninth House. Now, I don’t think Ninth House was horrible but let’s just say Leigh Bardugo didn’t make it to the top of my list of author who’s works I want to devour. But! This is EXACTLY why I give authors a second and sometimes third chance. Now this didn’t win me over at the synopsis, it didn’t win me over with introductions or fantastic action scenes, no, no, no...Bardugo can write a sub plot. A sub plot so deep it eventually turns into the breaking point of the main plot and you have no idea WHICH sub plot the whole time. I felt so much anticipation while reading this but due to it’s YA audience, there’s enough semblance of hope with each character’s narrative and I loved it. 

I gave it a full star rating of 5 out of 5. It was an amazing change of pace considering it holds real feelings of loss and devastation but gives you a bitter sweet feeling of rebirth as you move on. Bardugo keeps you flipping the pages, wondering where loyalties lie, who’s honest, or if any of them are. In a real band of misfits style. I really enjoyed this story for it’s fast pace and ability to creep in with darkness but maintaining a bright undertone that keeps you coming back for more. 

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[paper-blots]

Review: The Library of Fates // Why It Disappointed Me

Review: The Library of Fates // Why It Disappointed Me

My thoughts on this book are complicated. Very, very complicated. Here it is in a short sense: I was kind of mad the first 70% of this book, but the ending made me just go gahhhhhhh. In a good way. ALSO, you may be thinking, “This isn’t on your posting schedule. Why are you posting today?” And my response is, “Because I want to.” *thumbs up* Here is my Goodreads review by the way. Which is…

[ukuvicki]

Review - EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

“Maddie is allergic to the world.

She hasn’t left her house in seventeen years.

Olly is the boy next door.

He’s determined to find a way to reach her.

Everything, Everything is about the crazy risks we take for love.”

I am not an avid Young Adult reader. Mostly because I’m 27. But I craved some effortless, fun reading and thought a Young Adult romance would be the way to go. This particular book pulled me in like a magpie due to the colorful illustration on the cover, which I later found was illustrated by David Yoon - the author's husband.

This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl (Maddy) who suffers with SCID which means she is literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance with the boy (Olly) and that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

I thought at only 310 pages, it would be worth a go. Afterall, I knew nothing about SCID and was intrigued of how the character would possibly fall in love with an outsider if she could never go outside herself.

The romance has been described as “insta-love” which I’ve found out is popular term used in mostly YA reviews. Basically, insta-love is when girl meets boy and lightening strikes, and that is exactly what this is. Love at first sight novels can be captivating and can really satisfy my girly needs for a bit of guilty pleasure romance. But unfortunately, for me, the love story between Maddy and Olly was unconvincing.

The other aspect of Everything Everything was that the main character suffers with SCID. I have found that  SCID stands for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, a genetic defect of the T- and B-lymphocyte systems that leaves the sufferer extremely susceptible to infectious disease and allergens. The most common treatment at this time is a bone marrow transplant, with “bubbles” of filtered air, sterilization procedures, and isolation being common before donors can be matched. Sadly, I did not learn that from Everything Everything, this was found through my own research after finishing the book.

I didn’t expect this read to be an informational booklet about the disease but I do feel the author could have explored SCID some more. For example, at one point, it was hinted and implied that Maddy could not eat bacon. What are the reasons for this? I’m guessing there are certain foods you can and can’t eat with SCID? Implications were constant throughout the book but unfortunately there was lack of explanation. Which I, personally, would have found interesting. But, admittedly, this did raise awareness of the disease and I have discovered more about SCID after reading Everything Everything. Maybe this was the intention of the book? if so, it worked!

Although, I wasn’t much of a fan for the love story, I did grow to like and relate to the main character. Maddy was trapped in her clinical L.A home with her mother and nurse, but she still managed to keep herself busy and I was entertained by having an insight to her daily activities. She seemed to be immune to depression and was an aspiring architect. She also had a strong and sweet relationship with her mother which was comforting to read. I admired her in many parts of the book, especially as it was evident she was quite happy with her life (before Olly arrived) despite her disability. I also enjoyed seeing her sketches, reading about her amusing window spying and the I.M conversations between her and Olly.

Now, this book has a twist. One that I wasn’t expecting. Which, yes, is a good thing. But I feel the main reason I didn’t expect that twist was because it was so ridiculous. I felt the ending was rushed which (whilst trying to avoid any spoilers) resulted in the ableist narrative in all its horrible glory: you can’t have a happy ending if you’re still disabled. Yoon's writing was enjoyably simplistic and the format was unique and interesting, but I found the narrative to be deeply problematic.

3*

Vicki

[princessalethea]

Princess Alethea is reviewing YA books for NPR! Check out her first official review, FROM TWINKLE, WITH LOVE!

Also: every creative young person in your life would love this book. You should get it! ❤️

http://wbaa.org/post/film-loving-twinkle-star-page#stream/0

[atruebloodwrites]

. . Today’s mood...🙃 . . . #writerlife #yabooks #yareads #feministaf #letteensbeteens #yareviews https://www.instagram.com/p/CDB2lo2g6l_/?igshid=1a8cpv7n56rb2

[inkedspines]

From Twinkle, With Love - REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️✩✩ From Twinkle with Love is Menon’s second young adult novel. Her first, When Dimple Met Rishi, was entertaining and fun to read, loved it. This one however, I found to build slowly and often found myself putting the book down because I couldn’t make it through the chapter. Twinkle is sixteen years old and directing a movie for a festival at her high school with her crush’s twin brother, Sahil�� this is where things get both predictable and kind of annoying in my opinion – she starts falling for the twin but can’t stop thinking about her original crush (Neil) on a guy she doesn’t even know. I get that she’s young and being shallow is pretty much a given, but I found it rather disturbing. Sahil was a cute character that I was much more drawn to than Twinkle, he was the main reason this book wasn’t a flop for me. This second novel lacked the depth and humour of Menon’s first, so I wasn’t as invested in Twinkle as I was with Dimple. Dimple’s novel kept me interested from start to finish, while Twinkle’s was a struggle to sit through. The emails and notes, which gave a view at other characters’ points of view were what I found myself looking forward to when I grew bored with Twinkle’s diary pages, they kept me entertained and allowed me to eventually finish the novel. All in all, it wasn’t as good as her last book but it wasn’t a bad novel for those still in high school and looking for a romance that in the end is cute and probably relevant to those within her age group. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✩✩

[delightedreader]

Collide by Ashley C. Harris http://bit.ly/1z9VVhH

Collide by Ashley C. Harris #YAReview #YoursAffectionately

This series has me worked up to a fever pitch just before each new installment releases, then I charge through the latest offering, and afterwards, I'm back to high anticipation for what is going to …

[paper-blots]

Review: Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman

Review: Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman

Nicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant sequel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Blackbeard. Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows…

[atruebloodwrites]

Hi! Just a gentle reminder that reviews matter for authors! 💚 Whether you’ve read an arc via Net Galley or purchased on your own, a line or two can really help a writer get more exposure on retail sites! 💚 #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreviewersofig #igbookreview #bookreviewsmatter #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #booknerd #readersofinstagram #readersofinsta #yareviews #amazonreviews #bookworm #bookshelf #bookaddict #booksbooksbooks #bookobsessed #booklife #igauthors #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B68k_F6gkd3/?igshid=1rw1ve1ezlnlv

[delightedreader]

Melodies by Pamela Srey http://bit.ly/1vadNS6

Melodies by Pamela Srey #YoursAffectionately #YAReview

A vulnerable, abused and lonely intellectual girl with artistic talents and good-looking, wealthy, musically talented boy come together in this opposites attract coming of age story. This is only the first segment and thank Dove …