#nicola yoon review

[theinyshlobster]

instructions for dancing by nicola yoon [review]

read from july 27th - july 31st

review

didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as i did honestly!

i do find the more and more i read the less i like the YA genre but this was a happy little book which i had fun with. i wouldn’t say i was craving to find the ending therefore that’s why its a 3-star, but i still had a good time!

i found evie very quippy and funny, and a lot more intriguing that your usual YA romance novel protagonist. her decisions at times were grating but im finding that’s the point of YA /lhj

X was…. fine. i mean immediate point ding for sharing the same name as musk’s awful website (this book was published in 2021 so yet again this is a joke). but i mean he was nice i guess. he kind of felt one-dimensional minus his backstory with clay & his dad but like… idk it didn’t go beyond that really. the last 30 pages decided to throw a random curveball to his story which i really didn’t see coming. honestly i don’t think i liked it. yes there was “foreshadowing” but idk it felt completely random and unnecessary. nicola yoon please stop killing a main character in ur YA romances please

. i mean im not mad at it but it really wasn’t needed and felt like the tone flipped literally at the last second. not needed!

the wlw rep surprisingly fit right into the story & didn’t seem forced so as a lesbian i will take that as a win. 

fifi was…. weird. idk her characterisation reminds me of when in movies make the bad guys from somewhere like russia, serbia, etc. i mean fifi wasn’t a complete stereotype & she was a nice character by the end but i wasn’t particularly thrilled with her. why was her whole character the fact she has a thick accent. ok sure.

other side characters really had nothing going for them. evie’s dad was alright, and other than that everyone felt flat. you can only do so much in 280 pages but trying to characterise evie’s friends, her mum, her sister, X’s grandparents, his dad, shirley, shirley’s mum…. please you cannot achieve that much in such little pages. honestly you could have even removed evie’s sister and the plot really wouldn’t have suffered. and that leads me on to my final point - too much was trying to be done. like we have evie’s visions, her romance, her plot with her dad, her plot with her friends, martin’s plot, the dance competition…. too much was trying to be achieved and it resulted in nothing really “succeeding”. like i fully forgot this book was about dancing for a good while because that plot was not mentioned for a while. and then i forgot the dad plot because the dancing took up a good portion of reading time. and then the dad’s plot took up a lot of time so i forgot about the friendship plot. the book either needed to be longer to account for all of this or just chuck out some of the side plots and focus on making a few side plots and the overall plot stronger. but honestly i don’t find this egregious as it’s a YA. no shade to YA it’s probably my most read genre but i don’t pick up a YA book expecting a literary masterpiece. i expect to be entertained. and i was! but from a critical perspective……. 😬

lets all just gloss over the fact i didn't do a currently reading post for this im in the trenches atm

[thislivsnjutare]

The Sun is Also a Star is a classic boy-meets-girl story, but with a twist—a brief, whirlwind romance that takes place over the course of a single day. It’s the kind of tale that romantic souls long for, where a single glance sparks something electric, and a few intimate questions lead to the feeling that you’ve known each other for a lifetime. Throw in a few minutes of gazing into each other’s eyes, and it feels like enough for love to bloom, despite the ticking clock.

Can two people who share just one monumental day truly be destined for forever? It sounds like something that only happens in the movies—or, in this case, a novel—but Nicola Yoon explores that very question, and along the way, she gives readers a glimpse into the improbable yet beautiful possibility of it. The story is not just about love, though; it dives into deeper, more sensitive topics like immigration, deportation, and the difficult sacrifices families make, sometimes at the expense of their dreams.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book were the side stories of the people surrounding the main characters. These glimpses into the lives of others show how our actions—or even our inactions—can ripple through the lives of those around us, often in ways we don’t even realize. It adds a layer of interconnectedness that feels profound, reminding us how small moments can have lasting impacts.

My only real struggle with the story was trying to fit everything that happened into a single day. It felt almost too perfect, like time was stretched just a little to allow everything to fall neatly into place. But maybe that’s the point—perhaps love, like time, bends when it needs to.

And the ending? That might just be my favorite part. It’s hopeful and brimming with possibilities, leaving you with the sense that maybe, just maybe, love can defy the odds and the limits of time.

[maniac25wrote]

Everything everything by Nicola yoon

Love is everything everything.

[fuwa-kuma]

An Unprompted Review of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I absolutely love this book overall. It's such an interesting read and I'd definitely recommend it (I haven't watched the movie for it yet, so I don't have much to say there).

❗️ spoilers (and disorganized thoughts) below ❗️

Firstly, I will say that this book has made me a fan of Nicola Yoon's. I acknowledge that I'm super late to the party, but I am so glad to be here.

Now, let's get into it. One thing that I love about this book is not just the story itself, but how it's written. It's almost like reading a diary (which was an intentional and appreciated touch) and really puts into perspective how much time Madeline spends with herself. She jots down schedules of strangers (and soon-to-be lovers) that she observes, she writes short book reviews, there are chat logs between her and Ollie, and things of that nature. It does a good job of having the reader feel engaged in her story and also gives more insight on what's happening. This style of writing also inspires me to experiment with adding illustrations and random thoughts within my own work. One thing that I don't love about this book is the pacing at a certain point. Everything is going pretty well up until we find out Madeline's mom had been making everything up. It just feels like everything happened really fast. The story blew past the fact that her mother had been lying to herself to cope with losing her husband and child. There was a lot to unpack there and all we got is that she went to therapy. I would have loved to see more exploration of what her mom has been going through. I would have also loved to see more conversation between Madeline and her mother about this. Also, the doctor that Madeline saw while in Hawaii very quickly realized that she did not have SCID. Why didn't Carla, the nurse who has been helping care for Madeline for as long as she can remember, notice this? In the book, I remember her saying something about how she "had suspicions" but there had to have been more than just suspicion, right? I guess I can't blame her too much since she probably just wants to provide for her own family but I dunno. Unless this was addressed and I just don't remember lol.

Conclusion:

I'd give this book a 4/5. I really loved it. Other than those issues above, I only have good things to say about this book. Well done, Mrs. Yoon!

[wttnblog]

"One of Our Kind" is a Page Turning Thriller with Confusing Messaging

Nicola Yoon, an acclaimed Young Adult author famous for Everything Everything, Black Out, and The Sun is Also a Star, has ventured into adult content with her new novel One of Our Kind. As a fan of her previous work, I dove into this one without doing too much research in advance. I was excited about a thriller that seemed like the all-Black version of Rouge or Nine Perfect Strangers and I…

[klainesheilen]

starting to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte and you know what that means? Rom-Com summer break is over, time to get back to my academic readings. Yet I want to share some of my thoughts with you on the books I have read in the last 3ish weeks

started with A Witch's Guide to Fake Date a Demon by Sarah Hawley AND I HAVE EATEN THIS SHIT UP. The main reason why I have got it is simply because it was for 99 cents and I thought the idea of a romance between a witch and a demon being something unique. This book made me laught out loud, can't remember the last time a book made me do that. It's helerious, I really enjoyed the other plot going, found the characters so loveable (the ones who derserve it lol, iykyk). My only issue with this book is the fake dating aspect. I see the reasening, but once I hit a point in the story where I was wondering "Why are we still calling it fake dating?" it wasn't doing it for me anymore. Maybe it's a me thing, but still a strong 4 star read for me !

next I read was Practice makes Perfect by Sarah Adams and this was a huge side eye, criminal offensive side eye. Maybe my bar was too high after AWGtFDaD, but what was that? I couldn't feel the chemistry. Everytime one of them drifted off in their thoughts and thought something sexuell - how did I get here? The only reason I kept on was that I updated my bf after like each chapter how and why these characters (and even the whole small town) pissed me on. Two stars for me.

I have dnfed Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly. I liked the new setting, found one of the characters a little cringe but both still loveable. At 13% I got the feeling that this will be more of sad story and I wasn't in the mood for that. Hope to pick it up again one day (:

With Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon I have hit book #400 of my alltimes reads. I wasn't the target audience, so I was cringing at some moments and at the writing style. Again, would have loved it more if I was younger, because the message is so good for young people and their first heart break, but for me, an adult who been there was there, it was a nice quick (two days !!) read. The adult in me gives it 3 stars and the (pre) teen 4 !

Lastly I have read It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. This one was a little rollercoaster for me. The beginning was so good, usually I have a problem with spoiled characters, but Piper was still true to herself that reading about her was so fun! The dynamic she has with Brendan LOVE! But once it's clear that they have a crush on each other it has put me into a slump. Everytime I had to force myself to pick the book up and keep on and once I did so I liked it, tho I got the feeling that the plot stretched itself. At like 80% I was so fucking close to dnf it. Not that I disliked the conflict, I just got so triggered by it. Can you tell that I have some personal stuff going on lately? Anyway, I finished it yesterday and gave it four stars, but now I'm thinking to go a little down with my rating, because of the reading slump it has put me in

[thegirlandthewardrobe]

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

~4/5 Heart-warming stars⭐

This book ripped my heart out and then put it back together again😭 Let me start by saying I ADORE Nicola Yoon's writing, and her books always leave me with the biggest book hangover, but in the best way possible. Evie Thomas' life has recently been turned upside down, all thanks to her parents' recent divorce. We watch as she goes from spending every waking moment fantasizing about romance and love, to ditching her entire romance novel collection in hopes of ridding her life of love for good (Evie and I might be one in the same at this point LMAO). Long story short, some things happen and Evie realizes that when she sees a couple kiss, their ENTIRE love story flashes before her eyes. Like start to finish y'all....In a last minute attempt to figure out what the hell is happening to her, she stops by the world's cutest dance studio, owned by an equally cute (and still very in love) older couple. Here enters Xavier, or "X" as he goes by, which ummm, how HOT is that???? Who is also the lead singer in a rock band, which is equally as swoon-worthy, and remember that cute old couple I mentioned? HIS GRANDPARENTS. Anyways, they team up and enter a dance competition (in order to save the dance studio of course) and accidentally😉 fall in love along the way. SO FREAKING CUTE. Young love at it's finest. If you're looking for a book that'll have you cheesin' the whole time, Instructions for Dancing is for you! Also, for those wondering why I docked a star.....it's simply because the ending broke my heart. Call me bitter.

*P.S. For all my freaky readers out there👀🌶️This is a CLEAN YA read, with basically no spice. Just throwin' that out there!*

As Always,

Happy Reading❤️

[tigger8900]

Blackout, by Dhonielle Clayton, et al.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

At the height of a summer heat wave, New York City is suddenly plunged into darkness as a blackout cuts power city-wide. Tiffany D. Jackson’s The Long Walk frames the events of the evening through the journey of Tammi and her ex-boyfriend Kareem, as they’re forced to pool their scant resources if they want to make it all the way to Brooklyn. Meanwhile… …trapped in a subway car, JJ has to confront his feelings for Tremaine, as well as the reality of what coming out might mean for his future on the basketball team. (Nic Stone’s Mask Off) …at a senior living home, the search for a misplaced photograph brings Nella and Joss together, but the lingering specter of Nella’s ex-girl friend — definitely not a girlfriend, that was the problem — threatens their fledgling connection. (Ashley Woodfolk’s Made to Fit) …trespassing in the New York Public Library, on the eve of a solo trip abroad, Lana searches for the perfect book, both to win a bet with her best friend Tristán and to tell him how she really feels. (Dhonielle Clayton’s All the Great Love Stories … and Dust) …stuck in traffic on a tour bus, Kayla finds herself torn between her long-time boyfriend Tre’Shawn and Micah, who recently joined her class. (Angie Thomas‘s No Sleep Till Brooklyn) …when her rideshare driver, Seymour, runs out of gas on the way to the night’s hottest party, Grace finds herself pondering identity, philosophy, and the problem of people growing apart. (Nicola Yoon’s Seymour and Grace)

This was another read for work, and definitely not my preferred genre. However, I was surprised by what I was able to find to enjoy. I think if you're someone who enjoys short, sweet, YA love stories, this book would be perfect for you. I will caution that these aren't romances, as not every one ends in a happily-ever-after or happy-for-now. But I will say that the main character in each story winds up fulfilled, whatever that might mean in their situation, so there are no bad endings in this book.

Aside from the obvious not-my-genre situation, the other thing I didn't like about this book was how inconsistently well anxiety was portrayed. Contrasting Mask Off with The Long Walk, I found the depiction of Tremaine's claustrophobia very relatable, and while at first Tammi's anxiety over the impending bridge situation was also spot-on, at the end it evaporated in a puff of plot resolution. True love doesn't overcome crippling anxiety! That's like everybody cheering as the guy in the wheelchair gets up and starts walking at the end of the movie. It just…doesn't work like that. Sure would be nice if it did!

There's some LGB content in this book, for those who look for that. Mask Off is about two boys, and Made to Fit is sapphic(also ownvoices, or close enough — Ashley Woodfolk is bi). T+ content is limited to the background, however.

If rating just off my own opinion, I would probably give this a 3.5, based largely off of how much I (unexpectedly!) genuinely enjoyed No Sleep Till Brooklyn. However, because I have few constructive complaints and mostly just feel that it was Not For Me, I'm going to be generous and bump it up to a 4.

[cjhbooks]

WHITEOUT BY: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas; Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon

Whiteout is the story of twelve teens in a snowstorm, all experiencing their own unique love story, while trying to help out their friend pull off a grand apology for her girlfriend, in the middle of an Atlanta snowstorm.

Each of the couple’s stories was a delight to read, and intricately woven into each other’s, with callback background characters and referenced details, and the urgency of the midnight deadline and the growing snowstorm (and interspersed weather broadcasts) helped drive the plot forward so it didn’t drag with the constant switching of perspective. 

The audiobook for the title is also very well done, the full cast of narrators for each POV character really helped bring the story to life in a unique way, especially when all of the narrators are present in one chapter for a text conversation. I loved this style of audiobook, and can’t wait to read another like it. 

[asoftepiloguemylove]

i will do as devils do. fall.

Sylvia Plath The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath / S. Osborn Blasphemies at the 5th Street Station / Kate Cayley Lent / retirementfund (on etsy) BEGOTTN HORROR PATCH / Ethel Cain Sun Bleached Files / Nicola Yoon The Sun is Also a Star / unknown

i. Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

[ "I need a father. I need a mother. I need some older, wiser being to cry to. I talk to God, but the sky is empty." ]

ii. S. Osborn, Blasphemies at the 5th Street Station

[ " 'if there is a light then i am going to swallow it. if there is a god then i'm going to make him cry.' / - s. osborn, from 'blasphemies at the 5th street station,' published in The Rising Phoenix Review (via lifeinpoetry)" ]

iii. Kate Cayley, Lent

[ "When I think of God, I think of hiding. The way a child hides. In hope of being found." ]

iv. retirementfund, BEGOTTN HORROR PATCH

[ Black patch with a screenshot form the horror movie Begotten. A grainy black and white image of a woman standing as she looks down at something. "GOD IS DEAD / ALL HAIL NATURE" ]

v. Ethel Cain, Sun Bleached Files

[ "What I wouldn't give to be in Church this Sunday / Listening to the choir, so heartfelt, all singing / God loves you, but not enough to save you" ]

vii. Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also a Star

[ "I wish I still felt that way. Growing up and seeing your parents flaws is like losing your religion. I don't believe in God anymore. I don't believe in my father either." ]

vii. unknown

[ Black and white drawing of a statue of a man looking upwards into the distance. "GOD ONLY LISTENS TO ME WHEN I SPEAK THROUGH SIN / IN TRANSLATION MY PRAYERS FALL FROM GRACE BUT I AM HEARD" ]

[howtobeapersonwithfibro]

SPOILERS

Okay now I'm almost done, the bombs have dropped, and boy do I have some news for the me back in the first post.

Don't really wanna spoil just in case. It's a decent book, but I feel sort of angry and betrayed. It's marketed as a sick person book, I read it as a sick person hoping for good rep, and then it turns out to Not be a sick person book.

Maybe I'm taking it too personally. But it makes me sad. It's like the miracle cure trope - why does the heroine HAVE to be healthy in the end?

Full review to come, but I'm reading Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon and here are my two main thoughts so far:

1. I wanted to hate it from the start, but the writing and characters are likeable and humorous.

2. I'm 200 pages in, at least 2/3 of the book, and the narrator has yet to have ANY symptoms of being a Sick Person, other than the loneliness of being quarantined. It wouldn't be much different if she was just a normal girl being held hostage by overbearing parents.

#2 is what really pisses me off and why I expected to hate it more than just on principle. Regardless of where the story is obviously going, why have a Book About A Sick Person if they're just going to basically be healthy until that One Thing happens? I know my chronic pain conditions are different to the condition in the book, and maybe there are people who can relate and like it, but as a spoonie-book I hoped it to be, it is not doing it for me.

(This is one thing TFIOS did right. Maybe it's "cringy" but it's the most realistic Sick (Young) Narrator I've read and I still enjoy that story.)

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb:

Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ally Carter, the dazzling sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu's Stars and Smoke, is “a brilliant, breathtaking ride" - Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author.

New sparks. Old flames. And a mission that's playing with fire.

A year has passed since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette. After barely surviving their first assignment together in London -- and their intense chemistry – the two haven’t spoken at all. Though they’re never far from the other’s thoughts, or fantasies.

So when Syndey shows up at Winter’s studio one day with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept. With the clock ticking, the duo prepares to head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger -- only to learn he’s none other than Sydney's ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist.

Of course, nothing is ever simple when it comes to Winter and Sydney. Especially not with the glamorous Gavi Ginsburg, a globe-trotting socialite and Winter’s one-time girlfriend, in the mix. Is she back for Winter’s heart – or does she have her eye on another prize?

The smoldering sequel to New York Times bestselling Stars and Smoke follows Winter and Sydney on yet another treacherous mission that grows more sinister with each twist and turn. To make it out alive, they'll have to figure out how to be partners again -- and if they can resist the burn of something more.

Review:

After a year apart from their last mission, world famous pop star Winter Young is reunited with the one girl he can't get off his mind, secret agent Sydney Cossette for another mission... to rescue her spy ex. Not exactly the reunion he had in mind and can he and Sydney finally confront their feelings for each other or are their worlds too different? Winter Young is a famous pop star, he's just released his new album and but he has only one thing on his mind: Sydney Cosette. Winter can't stop thinking about the time he spent with his bodyguard/secret agent while working on a mission and the kiss they shared... and now it's been a year without her. He doesn't know if or when he'll ever see her again. With the news that someone close to him is writing a tell-all book about him without his permission and the fact that his own ex has showed up at his door asking to spend time... his life is messy.. and to add on top of that Sydney is back in his life and he has been called to do another mission with her.... to help her rescue her ex. When Sydney shows up at his door with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept... and the mission requires that he have a date for the public event and with Sydney pushing that it cant be her and that he take his ex... he now has to bring her along too. Winter is not looking forward to bringing along his ex when he just wants to be with Sydney and he definitely is not looking forward to spending time with Sydney's own ex, Tems, a fellow spy. Yet the mission only gets more complicated when Tems shows up definitely not needing to be rescued but on a separate mission of his own... and now Sydney and Winter will have to find a way to stop a sinister group of traitors, save each other, and try and make it out alive and finally face the feelings they have for each other. Can a pop star and a spy really make it or are they too different from the beginning? When I had first read Stars and Smoke I loved it and definitely did not think it would be getting a sequel but oh boy did I have a blast with this sequel and I adored that ending for these two characters. I would love love LOVE a third book with Sydney and Winter and to get to see their relationship grow even more. I love that despite how different their lives are, they truly love and support one another no matter what. I had fun with all the twists and turns in this book and I just adored the relationship between the two main characters. This was such a fun series and I sincerely hope these characters get another book!

Release Date: June 11,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[the-liliger]

Review and Spoiler - #4

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

A captivating novel, depicting a colorful and glorious romance blooming out of the sterilized, lifeless white walls of the home Maddie's never left. Ever since being diagnosed with a rare type of SCID (Severe combined immunodeficiency) as a baby, her life has been full of identical, sanitized days with only books, the internet, and home nurse Carla to entertain her. That is until, an unexpected family moves in next door, and a boy her age lives in the room across from her own. It all starts with a cement bundt cake.

It's narrated perfectly in Madeline's voice so much so that it is similar to a diary she's writing in, though it's not a diary. It also contains lists and images from her life, such as daily health logs, observations, and her own spoiler reviews blog: Life Is Short. (My inspiration for this blog!)

Spoiler: Referencing Tangled, Mother Gothel lied, mother does not always know best.

[bookloveravenue]

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

This smoldering enemies-to-lovers novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu puts a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger – and Cupid’s arrow – in an electric new series perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ally Carter.

Meet Winter Young – International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him – just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling.

Meet Sydney Cossette – Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance – especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders.

When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61796738-stars-and-smoke

********

April 8, 2023

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another great story by Marie Lu! No surprises there. Marie's latest world leads us to the lives of spies. Sydney is part of an elite cover ops group. When there is something that needs to be done and the government can't do it, they are called in. And in her latest mission she is required to go undercover as a bodyguard and work with an international pop start, Winter Young. Winter may have this famous life, but it's not all that it is cracked up to be. At moments, he wonders if there is something more he can be doing. And when he is recruited by Panacea, he is at first reluctant to be some sort of spy, but is soon convinced that he can help. Especially when they have information on the death of his brother. Sydney and Winter are an unlikely pairing. But both surprise the other in so many ways. Their chemistry is full of banter and snark that you can't help but love. Their mission is to infiltrate a crime organization's boss and get the proof to finally put him away. There will be plenty of twists and turns, and revelations that will keep you one your toes. As always in Marie's books, there is lots of action and romance, and a great story line. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I hit a point, I was hooked and couldn't put it down! Hoping to see more in this world. And definitely more of Winter and Sydney.

[richincolor]

Book Review: Whiteout

Title: Whiteout

Author: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon

Genres:  Contemporary

Pages: 296

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Review Copy: Purchased

Availability: Available now

Summary: Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of interwoven narratives, Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance—by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout!

As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. But will they be able to make it happen, in spite of the storm?

No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can’t always prepare for the magical moments that change everything.

From the bestselling, award-winning, all-star authors who brought us Blackout—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—comes another novel of Black teen love, each relationship within as unique and sparkling as Southern snowflakes.

Review: I really loved “Blackout” by these powerhouse of Black women authors so when “Whiteout” was announced I knew I would buy it the day it came out. The lovely little vignettes of the different couples with a through line of getting to the block party really grabbed me in Blackout, so knowing this second book would be similar drew me in. However, there is a difference. Rather than being different stories of people trying to get to a similar place, “Whiteout” is a novel rather than vignettes. The story follows Stevie and Sola, and their friends, as Stevie must set up a grand apology to Sola, with the help of her friends all while battling a snowstorm. The result is a touching story that has moments of “awwww” and moments of cringe, but is all about the love!

Stevie and Sola are complete opposites but somehow fit together. They’ve been best friends since they were 6th grade but realized their feelings were much deeper. Throughout the novel we see the progression of their relationship from each of their perspectives and from their friends. Their “perfect” relationship hits a snag when Sola decides to re-introduce Stevie to her family as her girlfriend, rather than her friend. Unfortunately, Stevie messes the dinner up, then is grounded by her parents who take her electronics away essentially preventing her from contacting Sola to apologize. Of course, Sola is a huge romantic so she misunderstands Stevie’s silence and is heartbroken. She makes an ultimatum of Stevie, which is what sets the story in motion. Stevie’s grand gesture is revealed slowly through their friends as Stevie has asked them to bring items of memory of the couple. With each of the friend’s POV sections we learn a bit about the friend’s lives (and loves) and the impact Stevie and/or Sola have had on them. I really loved that aspect of the story because it truly showed how we have an impact on each other in large and small ways. Because this novel is about a friend’s group we also have more interactions with various family members as well. Again, the theme of “it takes a village” rings true because in order for Sola to even see the grand gesture takes work from not just their friends but their families too. The novel was a slice of life for a small group of people and I really enjoyed it for that reason. 

[mydarlinginej]

read my full review of her good side by rebekah weatherspoon here.

A swoony, heart-melting YA romance from beloved author Rebekah Weatherspoon about two awkward teens who decide to practice dating in order to be good at the real thing. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.

Sixteen-year-old Bethany Greene, though confident and self-assured, is what they call a late-bloomer. She’s never had a boyfriend, date, or first kiss. She’s determined to change that but after her crush turns her down cold for Homecoming–declaring her too inexperienced–and all her back-up ideas fall through, she cautiously agrees to go with her best friend’s boyfriend Jacob. A platonic date is better than no date, right? Until Saylor breaks up with said boyfriend.

Dumped twice in just two months, Jacob Yeun wonders if he’s the problem. After years hiding behind his camera and a shocking summer glow up, he wasn’t quite ready for all the attention or to be someone’s boyfriend. There are no guides for his particular circumstances, or for taking your ex’s best friend to the dance.

Why not make the best of an awkward situation? Bethany and Jacob decide to fake date for practice, building their confidence in matters of the heart.

And it works–guys are finally noticing Bethany. But things get complicated as their kissing sessions–for research of course!–start to feel real. This arrangement was supposed to help them in dating other people, but what if their perfect match is right in front of them?

my review:

Adding another fake dating book to my roster, groundbreaking, I know! This book sounded so cute though, and I sped through it. Her Good Side was an adorably sweet novel, with a cute romance and great character development.

Bethany Greene is a late bloomer; she’s never had a date or even a first kiss, much less a boyfriend. Meanwhile, Jacob Yeun has become hot overnight, and he ends up with two girlfriends in the span of as many months. Unfortunately for him, both of them broke up with him, leaving him feeling like he’s the problem. When Bethany’s friend connects them as homecoming dates, they end up agreeing to fake date. For Bethany, it’s a way for her to get used to being in a relationship while Jacob wants to turn his newly found reputation as “pathetic” around. As they spend more time together though, they both realize that they want this relationship to be more real than they initially expected.

I liked the characters! Bethany is outspoken and has very different dreams than what her parents want for her; she wants to step out of her shell so badly, but it’s hard to when people assume she’s not ready to date. Jacob is very kindhearted. He also doesn’t know what to do with the fact that everyone thinks he’s hot now. Both of their friend groups are so supportive and fun to be around, especially Saylor, the one who set the two of them up, and Heaven, Jacob’s best friend, who’s initially disapproving of Bethany but ultimately warms up to her.

read my full review here.