Contemporary

Allison: The Look | Sophia Bennett | Book Review & Giveaway

by Allison L

When a modeling agency tells fifteen year old Edwina (Ted) Trout that she has “the look” that they looking for and offers her a brand new career, she cannot believe her luck. But just as her career is put into motion, her older sister Ava is diagnosed with cancer. With their worlds turned upside down in more ways than they could ever imagine, two girls are forced to look deep inside, and figure out who they truly are, and what actually matters.

When I first picked up The Look by Sophia Bennett, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect even after reading the synopsis. Was this going to be a sugary-sweet story of a girl trying to make it in the modeling world while dealing with some personal things on the home front? Or was it going to be a heart felt story about the relationship between two sisters and the choices that come from that relationship? Ultimately, it was more the second option, which was wonderful but yet it was also so much more than that. It is a well thought out story that will bring laughter to your heart and tears to your eyes in so many different ways.

Ted has spent a majority of her life in the shadow of her older sister Ava who has always been the more popular, the more outwardly beautiful, and the more outgoing of the two sisters. Ava is also the more fashion conscious as well. So, it is a big surprise to both of them when Ted is spotted and asked if she would be interested in becoming a model. At first, Ted is completely willing to brush it off, and believe that it was a joke or a scam but, then her sister is diagnosed with cancer and she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to cheer her up, even becoming a model.

I really loved Ted as a character. She is quirky and fun and she really has no idea what she is getting herself into when it comes to this modeling business. All she cares about is making her sister happy, and helping take her sisters mind off of what is happening to her. The relationship between the two sisters is beautiful. There are so many scenes in the book that brought tears to my eyes because of the way that the two of them were bonded together. This is a cancer story but it is not entirely a sad cancer story. It has points of optimism and hope as well as truths and realities which hit you head on and make you think.

Another reason I really enjoyed the character of Ted was the fact that she was so heartfelt. She takes the rejection and the sting of the modeling industry to heart even as she is saying that it doesn’t really matter to her. She has always been insecure about her looks and being in the modeling industry pushes those insecurities even more to the forefront of her mind. The truth is that it does matter to her but how much it matters to her is all part of the journey that she goes on as she gets further and further into the business of modeling. I really liked the glimpse into the world of fashion and modeling because I felt that it was a very realistic viewpoint of modeling. Ted is not an overnight sensation by any means, and the journey that she goes on allows her to discover more about herself than she could have ever imagined. It makes her think, it makes her feel, and it also makes the reader think and feel as well.

I also enjoyed the character of Ava as well. At first, it appears as if Ava is living vicariously through Ted (just as Ted lived vicariously through her for many years prior) but in reality Ava is really using Ted’s modeling as a way to cope with her cancer. This is what Ted initially wanted but I don’t think either sister realized the magnitude of what was going on because even as Ava is trying to mask her emotions she is still going through a life changing event, and is still forced to decide the type of person she will be through it. I really loved the way that this was approached, and the different events that occurred because of it. It is very nicely done!

To say that I loved The Look would be an understatement. It is a wonderful story to read, and one that I think really pulls at your heart strings and makes you really think about the things you value most in life. I highly recommend you check it out!

Disclosure: Received advanced copy from Oblong Books for attending a signing

Other reviews of The Look by Sophia Bennett:

Queen of Contemporary Books: “Personally, I think every teen should read this heart-wrenching novel!”

Abby The Librarian: “This story hit just the right blend of fluffy and serious, of fashion-y fun and cancer drama, and it’s all told in a believable narrative voice.”

Books, Biscuits, and Tea: “The Look is without a doubt one of those books that will make you roar with laughter one minute, shed a few tears the next but most importantly, it will make you think and re-evaluate your life.”

As a way of promoting my love for The Look by Sophia Bennett, I am going to be giving away my advanced copy to one lucky winner! This contest will be US only and will end March 7th, 2013. Good luck!

Enter here to win a copy of The Look by Sophia Bennett

The Center Of Everything | Linda Urban | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Linda Urban’s The Center Of Everything is one of those delightful read-in-a-single-sitting sorts of children’s books that blends several interesting elements. I was initially interested in Urban’s latest book because A) I am not as well read in the middle grade contemporary genre as I would like to be and B) donuts play a fairly large role and I just love donuts. Thankfully, The Center Of Everything definitely delivers on it’s wonderful premise and is a pleasant read, on the whole.

The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban | Good Books And Good Wine

Ruby Pepperdine has a big task ahead of her. This year she has been selected as the Essay Girl for Bunning Day, an event in Bunning, New Hampshire that celebrates both donuts and sea Captain Bunning, who basically invented donuts — at least according to The Center Of Everything. Unfortunately, Ruby is on the outs with her best friend Lucy and new friend Nero. She is hoping that by using her twelfth birthday wish, things will go back to normal. Or, at least the way it was when she would stargaze from the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors with her now-deceased grandmother, Gigi.

Ruby Pepperdine is a likable young heroine. She is the sort of person who is reliable, those who know Ruby know that they can depend on her to be sensible and level headed. Ruby is the sort who believes in ‘supposed to’. However, Ruby is dealing with a lot of grief and pain. Rather than reach out to her friends and family for help, she turns her grief inward. Urban works this larger issue in seamlessly and rather than be depressed by Ruby, children will empathize with her, and feel ultimately rewarded by the changes and development Ruby undergoes.

At it’s heart, The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban seems to be a novel about friendship. Ruby spends much of the book worrying about her friendships with Lucy and Nero. Lucy has been Ruby’s best friend for a very long time. Unfortunately, she is quite cross with Ruby, which is hard on Ruby. What further exacerbates this is that Ruby has also messed things up with Nero — a character who has the potential of being a wonderful friend to her. Will the three resolve their issues? Will Ruby’s wish come true? You’ll have to read this or buy it for your child to find out.

Urban’s writing style has a way of drawing the reader in. The Center Of Everything was a very quickly paced read that I did not want to put down. Granted, I am older than the target range for this book. Yet, even I found that as an adult I could connect with Ruby’s love for her extended family and how deeply she cares for her friends. I found the inclusion of donut lore to be a fun addition to the book as well — I quite like reading about food.

I would recommend The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban to the 7-13 year old age range, however, it is also a generally good read. You don’t have to be in that age range to enjoy it, but I think it will find the most traction with that age group. This is recommended for readers who like real life situations with a twist of the extraordinary, and quirky characters who value community.

Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon Vine

Other reviews of The Center Of Everything by Linda Urban:

GreenBeanTeenQueen – “a gentle story of family and friendship”

The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog – “Linda Urban writes beautifully”

Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets | Evan Roskos | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Evan Roskos’s young adult debut, Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets is a YAWP!-worthy book. Depicting the awkwardness of unrequited crushes, an unstable home life and mental illness, this a a book that deserves a place in school and classroom libraries. Roskos brings a unique voice to the contemporary young adult genre as he weaves the tried and true poetry of Walt Whitman, and especially Song Of Myself in with the poetry of his main character James Whitman.

Dr. Bird's Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos | Good Books And Good Wine

James Whitman does not have the easiest life. His older sister Jorie was kicked out of the house by his parents. Unfortunately, his family refuses to delve into the issue further. This just serves to fuel James’s anxiety and depression. To alleviate his internal pain, James has made it his mission to get the school to allow Jorie to finish out her senior year and walk in graduation. He also wants to convince his parents to let Jorie come home. However, his parents are the abusive sort and refuse to let Jorie come back. Matters are complicated even further when James finds himself pulled into helping with the school literary journal in order to impress a girl. Thankfully, Roskos effortlessly weaves in complex themes and issues, but the plot never feels convoluted.

James Whitman is a perfect blend of gawky and earnest. He is a weird kid, but Roskos never presents him in a mocking light. You see, when James is stressed he hugs trees and he talks to an imaginary pigeon psychiatrist named Dr. Bird – hence the title. James also is quite obsessed with Walt Whitman because they share a last name. He uses poetry as a creative outlet and a way to express his internal strife. In all, I found James Whitman to be the sort of character that I simultaneously rooted for but was also glad to not be in his situation. However, if you were or currently are an angsty and lonely teenager, chances are you will be able to relate to the main character of Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos.

It’s also important for me to mention James’s sister Jorie. Although she’s largely absent from the book – - we hear more about her than we interact with her, she’s sort of the central force behind the story. She is James’s catalyst to seek therapy and answers. Rather than turning Jorie into a cliche, she’s fascinating in that she has secrets of her own. We discover that although Jorie is the black sheep of the family, she and James have more in common than originally thought. I especially loved reading the emails and texts between Jorie and James, as she would often encourage James’s creativity.

Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets does a bang up job depicting the theme of teenage depression without being a totally buzz kill. Instead, Roskos weaves a thread of hope and humor throughout the book. We get to see different types of depression — one type that manifests in talking to imaginary things and suicidal ideation, the other sort that manifests in cutting. It is sad and hard to read about, but Roskos shows the possibility of happiness for both of the characters. Further, there are secondary characters which do add a light touch to the book as well as a positive support system.

Evan Roskos’s debut novel comes across as quite literary in style. If you are a fan of Where Things Come Back chances are you will enjoy Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets. The writing is sophisticated, but accessible. What I mean by this is that Roskos has effortlessly placed Song Of Myself within a teenage context and it does not feel awkward. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a penchant for poetry, angst, and quirky but earnest characters.

Okay, and I had to put this at the end, for the part that isn’t going into the Amazon Vine review because I try to make those seem a bit more formal and professional. So, I used to be in poetry elective and poetry club when I was in high school. What this meant was that I helped with the yearly poetry journal AND I did things like poetry slams and won an award at a competition for public speaking. #humblebrag. Anyways, I just was thinking the entire time reading this that I would have LOVED Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets as a teenager because I could relate to James and his love of Song Of Myself and his YAWP-ing. And being awkward around people I liked. And a few of the more personal things that I won’t share. Anyways, suffice to say, this legit would have been the perfect book for teenage me, and thus I really do wholeheartedly recommend it. It seems to have a sort of quiet buzz around it, but trust if you can get your hands on Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets, you absolutely should read it.

Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon Vine

Other reviews of Dr. Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets by Evan Roskos:

Haven’t seen any in my google search of the book blogosphere, so if you review this PLEASE drop your link in the comments so I can add it up here.

Also Known As | Robin Benway | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

I am solidly in the camp that as an author, Robin Benway can do no wrong. Also Known As was the third book I’ve read by Benway, and like her previous two it was an absolute hit with me. Also? Holy moly I was clicking the pages so fast (I read this on my Kindle on the bike). Benway brings her trade mark humor and sass to her latest story of spies, espionage and boo, high school with Also Known As. Seriously, if you aren’t already on the bandwagon of RB love, you will be after reading this book, it is MAR-VEL-LOUS!

Also Known As by Robin Benway | Good Books And Good Wine

Maggie’s parents are spies AND SO IS SHE. Her family works for this shadowy agency called The Collective that takes them all over the world where they basically bust human trafficking rings and even take down dictators. Pretty much her family has the best job ever. Of course, Maggie isn’t a useless lump content to ride on her parents’ coattails. Instead, she brings her own talent of safecracking to the table — and what that means is she’s kind of a master lock picker. Girl can work a bobby pin, yo. Anyways, Maggie is about to get her first assignment, and so her family packs up from Iceland and heads to Manhattan. Maggie must get close to this boy, Jesse Oliver and somehow prevent his dad, Armand, from running a story in his newspaper that he owns that would dox members of the Collective. OH? And? Maggie still has to do calculus homework while trying to save the world. What a life, eh?

Even though Maggie is very new at the whole school and friendship thing, I think that for the most part I’d totally give her a friendship bracelet. She’s got this crazy awesome sense of humor. Further, when it really matters she is there for her first friend ever ROUX and I love that. Y’all, Maggie was so compelling to read about. First off, she is not at all angsty like other teenagers that I usually end up reading about. Secondly, she actually has an interesting backstory. Third, omg Maggie is FUN. You guys, fun. And hahaha I am dorky but I feel I could read about her safecracking all day.

Are you all about the contemporary books that have different types of relationships, each POSITIVE? Then friend, Also Known As should totally be on your to be read list (and also Benway’s other books). Seriously, okay as with Audrey, Wait! there’s a fantastic best friend. You see, Maggie makes friends with this social outcast named Roux on her first day of school. Roux is sarcastic and loud and my spirit animal. LOL, at one point Maggie is feeling down, so Roux offers her this clear drink and Maggie is like, oh thanks for the water. BUT IT IS VODKA. ROUX, I LOVE YOU. Of course, there aren’t just friend relationships, but also romantic relationships. Y’all, yes Jesse Oliver is the mark, but of course, Maggie develops feelings for him. I can’t blame her. Like other Benway dudes, Jesse is NICE and sweet and kind. ALSO, he banters with Maggie like constantly. Seriously, I just loved reading the conversations between the two and was like, please please banter for the whole book AND THEN have a three way banter session with Roux.

One trademark that you can usually count on with Benway’s books are that she usually does not portray her adults as bumbling idiots. Instead, Maggie’s parents are portrayed as quite realistic but without much dysfunction. Her parents are slightly goofy and weird, but what parents aren’t? Further, Maggie’s mom and dad actually really do give a crap about her and are protective of her but still give her room to grow. Also Known As might not have typical parents, in that they are spies, yet, Benway does a great job portraying a healthy relationship between Maggie and her parents. ALSO? There’s this other adult character named Angelo who rocks a lot of suits like Barney from How I Met Your Mother only he’s totally not a womanizer, but awesome, regardless. He was one of my favorite side characters.

The pacing is aces. Seriously, there is not a single dull moment in Also Known As where I was like urgh this book is going nowhere. Of course, yes there are suspenseful moments where I worried about Maggie, but that’s different and good. If you’re looking for a quick read that’s great for working out, then Robin Benway’s Also Known As is a great choice. It has humor, heart and strongly drawn characters. I could not recommend this book more. I also would suggest checking out Benway’s other two books.

Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley, however I will be purchasing a signed copy on March 2nd.

Other reviews of Also Known As by Robin Benway:

Great Imaginations – “I recommend the book to someone looking for fun and a few good laughs”

Quinn’s Book Nook – “a hilarious book with an amazing main character, fabulous, well-developed secondary characters”

Rather Be Reading – “Benway brought more comedy to this story than I expected”

Books by Robin Benway:

Audrey, Wait!
The Extraordinary Secrets Of April, May And June

BONUS: You can order a signed copies of Robin Benway’s books through Oblong Books. HOWEVER, I think that you have to order by 3/1/13 if you want them personalized.

Wild Awake | Hilary T. Smith | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

When all of your twitter friends are reading and discussing the same book, the pressure to read it kind of becomes expotential, especially when they are reading an early copy and you find that you also have that same book in your posession. Y’all, I read Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith because I WANTED TO FIT IN WITH MY TWITTER FRIENDS. Thankfully, this was the good sort of peer pressure, and not the type that gets you arrested. I ended up mostly pleased with Wild Awake, a book that has one of the strongest voices I have read in a long time. Now, not everyone is going to fall head over heels for this book, as I think there’s a certain demographic that will love it and one that just won’t dig it. Personally, I liked Smith’s debut but have a few reservations.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith | Good Books And Good Wine

After smoking weed in her best friend Lukas’s basement, Kiri heads to her parent-less home where she receives a mysterious phone call from an older man asking her to pick up her sister Suki’s things from the dangerous part of the city. As Kiri’s parents are on a cruise, she decides, hey why not. And so, putting herself at considerable risk, she goes to get deceased Suki’s things and thus unleashes a chain of events that will uncover the true circumstances about Suki’s death. OH OH and there is a boy too, who is decidedly not Lukas. And a lot of music and piano playing. And really, that’s Wild Awake in a super nut shell. Obviously more things go on and happen but you totally should go into without spoilers.Like I went in only knowing that my friends were flipping the frick out and OMG-ing all over the place.

I wouldn’t say that Kiri is the sort of strong, kick ass heroine that I love. HOWEVER, I liked her for the most part. She is quite determined and stubborn. She has a huge heart, as evidenced by her treatment of Doug, a junkie who basically lives in the really bad part of town (he knew Suki). I think that Kiri is the sort of teenager who definitely does not have her shit together and that’s perfectly fine. Not every teen does. And well, Kiri is dealing with absentee parents who seem to want her to be the perfect kid to make up for how much of a problem Suki was. Kiri is also pretty manic — like she doesn’t sleep, she thinks she can play piano in her head, she is quite trusting of strangers. Oh and she definitely smokes a lot of j’s in Wild Awake. She’s DEFINITELY realistic,gritty, raw and true, ya know? And yes, those are the absolute most cliche words ever to describe a contemporary, but I honestly think in this case, it applies.

Kiri has a love interest. Which to be 100% honest didn’t entirely make me swoon. Yet, if you’re a fan of those books where two totally fucked up people fall in love, I think you’ll like this. Personally, there were some things that her love interest did that were dealbreakers to me. And no, he’s not a bad boy or the abusive sort AT all, just for ME and me alone, I was like eh, I could take you or leave you after that. However, there were some pretty sweet moments, and okay I won’t lie a kissing scene where I definitely underlined the page.

I think that Wild Awake is it’s strongest in it’s voice. It’s not like anything I’ve read in a long time. The book is written in first person and yeah, getting inside Kiri’s head is kind of a trip. I’ll be honest, I thought a lot of it was weird — but in this case, I was fine with the weird. This is because the weird blended into utterly gorgeous prose that made me want to dog ear pages. As I was reading I kept thinking there’s a certain wild cadence to this book and I love that, love it so, so much. And ya know? Wild Awake is the sort of read where if you want a contemporary that isn’t cookie cutter, but a bit literary and kind of like beat poetry, you’ll like the writing style.

In all, Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith is an impressive debut. There were parts where I questioned Kiri’s life choices, but then I was like — hey I remember being a teenager and also making awful choices and sat back and let the book unfold. Kiri is an interesting heroine, and Wild Awake, a compelling story. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this to people who are fans of the off-beat and who don’t get all bent out of shape when a character doesn’t do what you want them to do. Seriously, this is a great book and utterly enjoyable.

Disclosure: Received for review

Other reviews of Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith:

Chick Loves Lit – “WILD AWAKE gives me more reason to shout about contemporary YA from the mountaintops”

The Perpetual Page Turner – “her energy just pulses through you and holds you captive.”

Real Men Read YA – “will go bat-shit crazy with the “I don’t read much” teenage crowd”

The Moon And More | Sarah Dessen | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

When I read a Sarah Dessen book, I feel that the experience is akin to a pair of sweatpants. Bear with me here. Sweatpants are the most comfortable article of clothing, ever, at least in my opinion. Sarah Dessen’s books are the most comfy YA books. By this, I mean that when you open up a book by Dessen, you know that you’re going to get a quality contemporary read about a girl who isn’t too out of whack, usually with a pretty level head, although not all the time with a problem. I LOVE her books and each one I read feels like coming home. Y’all, The Moon And More definitely lived up to my expectations, and then some.

The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen | Good Books And Good Wine

It’s summer, obvs, and Emaline is working for the family beach rental realty agency. She has a perfectly comfortable life, living with her mom and stepdad (whom she calls dad) and two sisters. She’s been dating the same guy, Luke, since 9th grade. Yet, as we all know — things won’t stay comfortable and cushy for long. Emaline’s estranged father shows up in Colby for the summer and we find out that there are a lot of unresolved issues between the two – mainly centering around Emaline’s potential for going to Columbia University. To further complicate matters, one of the renters is a famous documentary filmmaker named Ivy and she’s doing a documentary on Clyde, one of the island residents who used to be a well-regarded artist. Also. Ivy is a pain in the ass. BUT she also has a kind of socially awkward, cute assistant named Theo who thinks that Emaline is destined for bigger things than Colby.

Emaline is a total Dessen protagonist and I mean that in the greatest possible way. She has a good head on her shoulders, she has good friends, an interesting family, and is at a crossroads. She’s on the verge of leaving and becoming independent in college, East U. This is her last summer before school, to state the obvious. Emaline does a ton of internal reflection and we see that she’s making that awkward transition from past to future. I think if you’ve gone away to college or experienced a major life change that involved leaving home, you’ll understand what I mean. Anyways, on the one hand Theo and her father say that she’s too good for Colby, she’s too smart to stick around. On the other hand, there’s so much that Emaline LOVES about Colby and so she’s conflicted about her future. And well, I don’t want to go too much more in depth because spoilers are the worst for brand new books.

YOU GUYS! I am so excited to return to Colby. I absolutely loved Along For The Ride, so it was nice to return to a familiar location. We get to revisit the bike shop and the all night laundromat/cafe. It is awesome. PLUS! We get to see characters from Along For The Ride again. Anyways, this book made me want to take some of my vacation time and spend it on the beach riding bikes and eating shrimp burgers. I have to say, Dessen really does the beach setting very well. OH OH and while we’re talking about Easter eggs, our favorite fictional social network makes an appearance and there’s a few more you will spot and be glad to be in on the reference as the super fans you all are.

Of course, there are boys in The Moon And More, not just one but TWO! Luke is Emaline’s long time boyfriend and he’s pretty adorable. He’s apparently good looking without a shirt. Kids love him. And he gets along very, very well with others. However, the spark between Luke and Emaline seems to have faded out. Enter Theo. He’s pretty much a hipster, or that’s my impression of him because he wears girl jeans. Anyways, Theo is totally awkward, but he’s ambitious and has big dreams. He might be a contendor for Emaline’s heart, but yes, you’ll have to read to find out. Although, to be honest, I thought the love interests weren’t nearly as important as Emaline and her coming of age.

When it came to swooning and The Moon And More, I actually swooned WAY HARDER for the supporting couple of Daisy and Morris. They definitely are not the lead characters, however, their relationship is solid. PLUS, they are just so different. Morris is not exactly what you would call ambitious, he’s slow moving, but he’s a super nice guy and genuine. Daisy, on the other hand, is a super achiever and really into art and fashion. You’d think their coupling would be weird and off, but it’s actually quite sweet and one of my favorite things about Dessen’s latest.

This book didn’t feel a page over 200 — despite actually having over 400 pages. What I mean by this is that I inhaled Dessen’s prose, as one does when reading her books. I was so caught up in the drama between Emaline and her estranged father. But then I was also absorbed by all of the side characters, from Benji the awesome little brother to Amber, the dramatic hair stylist character, to Ivy and Clyde and Daisy and Morris. Seriously, one thing Dessen never skimps on is character. ALSO! The parent/child relationship in The Moon And More is wonderful. Emaline’s big crazy blended family all really care for one another and are supportive of each other when you get down to it. Also, you guys totally need to meet Emaline’s grandmother. She’s the bomb. (Well, if people still said THE BOMB)

Basically you can just boil this whole long review to this: you should definitely preorder The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen. Actually I am pretty sure that a few of you were already going to do that. It’s another great addition to your Dessen collection — especially if you loved Along For The Ride and Lock And Key. I fell in love with this book and really appreciate that it was about SO MUCH MORE than cute boys and swooning, but about actual things that matter, like the future and life and the paths we take.

Disclosure: Received for review
FYI: For more about The Moon And More, check out Sarah Dessen’s Blog Tour Stop HERE

Other reviews of The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen:

Chick Loves Lit – “Fans of Dessen won’t be disappointed”

Books by Sarah Dessen:
Along For The Ride

The Reece Malcolm List | Amy Spalding | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

I am so glad I read The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding, not just because the twitterati said it was great and I try to fit it, but because it is a genuinely awesome book that really does encapsulate coming of age. Dude, how cliche do I sound there? Ha ha, but it is true though. I came into The Reece Malcolm List expecting a girl being sent to a mom she’s never met and lots of tumultuousness, but what I got was way more. And really — Spalding’s debut reminded me why I love young adult contemporary books so much, PLUS PLUS there was so much about it that reminded me of what it’s really actually like to be a teenager beyond being in love triangles and leading revolutions and whatnot. ALSO! This book was totally deserving of the Courtney Summers cover blurb, like you guys, for once it’s actually not a misleading blurb.

The Reece Malcolm List Amy Spalding Book Cover

Devan has always moved all over the Midwest with her dad, who often felt like they needed a change and would pack up Devan and her stepmother to try living in a different town or city. Devan’s okay with this, she’s come to terms with being the perennial new girl.When her dad dies quite suddenly, Devan is sent to LA to live with her mother, Reece Malcolm. FYI Reece Malcolm is a famous kind of a big deal author and while that in itself is a big change, there’s also the fact that Devan has never spoken with or had any prior contact with her mother so in essence, she’s being sent to live with a stranger (and her awesome live in boyfriend). As Devan is used to being new it’s not a super huge deal for her, well besides the dead dad thing, but her narration makes it seem like she was kind of distant from her dad and stepmom Tracy. Anyways, living with Reece Malcolm has it’s advantages – including a baller new wardrobe and being enrolled in an amazing performing arts school. Essentially The Reece Malcolm List is all about Devan navigating her new life in LA, experiencing new romances and most importantly, forming a new relationship and bond with her mother after years of basically being strangers.

You would think Devan would be super emo and sad and mopey, but she’s actually quite awesome. Like this is a girl where, if I liked theater people, I’d probably be friends with her.She comes across as very real. She’s flawed, but not to the point where I was thinking she was a hot mess. Instead, she’s very much a real person, rough edges and all. I have to say, I didn’t really love all of Devan’s life choices, especially a few concerning her mother and their lack of communication, but she’s a teenager and honestly, teenagers do stupid things. Like I totally remember being a teenager and making awful life choices right and left. SO, despite me shaking my head going DEVAN COME ONNNN JUST SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND WANT, I still liked her.

Obviously, this review of The Reece Malcolm List would blow if I didn’t mention THE REECE MALCOLM in her own paragraph. You guys, I want to be Reece Malcolm when I grow up. She is awesome. She doesn’t cook. She isn’t a fan of getting all dressed up. Also? She has this amazing work ethic when it comes to writing and her books. When I started the book, I was under the impression that Reece would be horrible and evil, because what kind of mom doesn’t contact her kid until said child is proverbially dropped on her door step? Turns out I was so totally wrong, and well, this book stars Reece almost as much as Devan. I just, I loved reading about Reece learning to be a mother and how she actually seems to be a much better parent than Devan’s dad and stepmom. I actually thought the relationship was very well done and it’s kind of like Reece comes of age too.

If you’re looking for a young adult contemporary book to approximate something similar to what you experienced in high school, maybe The Reece Malcolm List will come close. I mean, not all of us have famous people for parents. Nor, god willing, do we all experience the death of a parent while still a kid. However, I think plenty of you can relate to spending lots of time doing extracurriculars and making pretty decent friends with the other people who were into the same after school activity or hobby. I loved that singing and musical theater feature so prominently in The Reece Malcolm List. Like, I was in choir for many, many years. I also did the school musical a few times. Not that I was any good, I wasn’t. Devan, though, is actually an awesome performer and well, it’s nice to read about a character who is so talented, but also really works at honing her skills and craft. ALSO! Just because she’s in an extracurricular doesn’t mean that homework disappears. I loved that Amy Spalding showed Devan doing things like homework and studying without making it boring, instead it all just seemed authentic. I just have to put it out there that I never get why in YA books set during the school year the characters never seem to be doing homework. ANYWAYS.

There is definitely kissing in The Reece Malcolm List, not a ton, this isn’t entirely a kissing book, but there was enough to leave me satisfied. Let’s just say that Devan has multiple suitors, but the very best one is Sai. Sai is another new kid, also from the midwest. However, he’s going through a few of his own problems. Unfortunately for Devan, she’s firmly in the friend zone despite there being chemistry between the two. I have to say, expect swooning for multiple dudes, much like being a teenager. And also expect Devan to change her mind, she’s young thus not tied down to one guy. And then! AH! There’s a moment where we truly see her growth and it has to do with the romance and the kissing and it is fantastic.

Friends, I absolutely loved The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding on multiple levels. It’s well-written. It’s funny. The main character has interests outside of herself and boys. Actually, I loved that this book was more than a romance — although I do like strictly romance books — but mainly about family relationships. I loved that people were illustrated with a touch of humanity, instead of you know totally quirky and perfect. I also loved that this book was so totally different from my expectations. Seriously, this was one awesome contemporary debut and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Amy Spalding. Likely something amazing.

Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley

Other reviews of The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding:

Makeshift Bookmark – “snappy and fresh with dialogue that hits all the right notes”

A Reader Of Fictions – “a deliciously funny and honest book about family, boys, and musical theater”

The Allure Of Books – “you have got to meet this girl for yourselves, y’all!”

One Shot Away | T. Glen Coughlin | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

I am not sure about you, but as someone who grew up not very athletically inclined, but came to see the light when it comes to exercise as an adult, I find myself immensely attracted to young adult books where sports play a central role. I’ll admit I did participate in: cheerleading, swim team, and volleyball plus a few 3-on-3 basketball tournaments growing up. However, I was never very good at sports. In One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin, the three protagonists are actually very, very serious about their sport – wrestling – and definitely fall into an elite class of athlete. It was very interesting reading about the boys’ dedication to the sport. ALSO you know what ELSE caught my attention? The Harper Collins catalog blurb compared One Shot Away to Friday Night Lights, and so I knew I would have to give it a shot, because all the cool kids know that is one bombass TV show.

One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin | Good Books And Good Wine

Set in the part of New Jersey that isn’t the shore, One Shot Away focuses on Jimmy, Diggy, and Trevor – three wrestlers who want to have a winning season. Jimmy and Diggy are seniors and it’s important to both to get their names up on the wall. Jimmy was nearly undefeated last year and is expected to continue his streak. Diggy, on the other hand, wrestles dirty and finds that Trevor Crow is challenging him for his spot. There is drama aplenty in T. Glen Coughlin’s One Shot Away as we read about the three and their struggles – because each character has problems beyond winning and losing their individual matches.

Jimmy is the star of the wrestling team. He dates one of the more popular girls at school – Roxanne. From the outside looking in, he doesn’t have it quite so bad. Only, when we start One Shot Away, Jimmy is reluctantly accompanying his dad on a midnight ride to steal lumber. This is important because it basically messes with Jimmy’s life for the rest of the book. Like, we see the real stress having a dad who walks the wrong side of the law has on Jimmy. Then there is Diggy whose brother is a legacy. Diggy is from a wealthy family. He’s very entitled, yet there’s a lot of pressure on him. Diggy’s dad is kind of abusive and totally expects Diggy to equal his brother — who is away at college. Finally, the third point of view character is Trevor Crow. Trevor’s dealing with the pain of losing his dad to a freak car accident. Unfortunately Trevor’s mom is broke as a joke and so they end up moving to and working in a crappy motel. OH and Trevor has bulked up and wants Diggy’s weight class on varsity.

I liked that T. Glen Coughlin made use of alternating point of views in One Shot Away. I thought the various viewpoints provided diverse experiences of being on the team, and even more than that a look at the relationship between father and son. You guys, I didn’t even pick up on that until writing out this review ha ha, but that’s such a BIG theme. Like, Trevor has the dead father, Diggy the abusive domineering dad, and Jimmy’s Pops cares about him but has questionable morals. It’s a good look at dysfunction now that I think about it, and shows how that transcends class. As with most multi-main character books, I did wind up preferring certain points of view over others. Like, to be honest with you I thought Diggy was a total douche and even though he redeems himself, I still much preferred Trevor and Jimmy to Diggy.

Obviously wrestling plays a super huge role in One Shot Away. Like, we get to see the total discipline of the team. Plus, how important it is to make weight and the lengths the characters will go to. Various scenes depicted the matches and the atheleticsm involved. Granted, I am no expert in wrestling (although my uncle built a wrestling room in his house for my cousin wayyyy back when), I felt I could follow along with the pins and not be confused.I also think it’s interesting how wrestling is a very individual sport — it’s only two people against each other, yet the team was quite bonded.

Unfortunately, One Shot Away isn’t the greatest book I’ve ever read. I would say it’s good but not like a favorite or really great. For one, it took me a very long time to get into — however I also ended up making myself read 30 pages a day to finish it. That’s fine, but I just wasn’t always motivated to pick it up. I also found myself dreading a few parts. Also? It’s not entirely like Friday Night Lights but that’s more my own hang up and fault because I actually listened to a comparison. I guess I was waiting for a Tim Riggins and he never showed up to the book. OH OH and I could not get over my distaste for Diggy who seemed to have the most POV chapters.

Regardless, T. Glen Coughlin’s One Shot Away is not a bad book, but an interesting portrayal of high school sports and the drive and dedication involved. I’d recommend it if you want to know more about wrestling or maybe know someone who is super into sports and thus wouldn’t be adverse to reading about the love of the game.

Disclosure: Received for review

Other reviews of One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin:

Chick Loves Lit – “I’m an advocate for good sports focused books”

Once Upon A Twilight – “storyline is truly clever along with being a little edgy”

Wake Up At Seven – “This isn’t a book you’ll want to miss, especially for fans of wrestling”

What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Friends, I absolutely love the cover of What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard, I love the silhouettes against the night sky. I love how the title font goes from yellow to green. I just think everything about the cover is gorgeous. Yet, this is not a review of the cover, but of the book. Unfortunately, I did not find everything about What We Saw At Night to be gorgeous, nor did I absolutely love it. However, to set the record straight so you aren’t confused about my rating or anything, I LIKED Mitchard’s latest, I just did not think it was mindblowing or amazing, nor am I rushing to put it on my favorites list.

What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard | Good Books And Good Wine

Allie Kim has XP, a rare genetic disease that makes her allergic to light. Luckily, she lives in a small Minnesota town where there is a huge study on XP, so she’s not alone. Her two best friends Juliet and Rob have the disease as well. Due to XP, the trio cannot hang out during the day, they have to be nocturnal. It’s cool though because they don’t have curfews or anything. The teens have almost complete freedom, except for the whole daylight thing. Juliet is determined to live life to the fullest, and so she convinces Allie and Rob to take up parkour with her, which is basically where you jump from building to building, my whole idea of parkour is based on The Office where Micheal, Andy and Dwight see some videos on youtube and start doing it too with awful results. Anyways, while finding places to hone their new sport, the trio witnesses something sinister, a possible murder. Also! Juliet starts acting super sketchy and Allie can’t figure out why she’s so hot and cold, meanwhile Rob is starting to give Allie special attention.

The Office Parkour

Allie Kim is kind of compelling as narrator. I mean, okay, I liked her for the most part. She is a very smart girl who is level headed, plus she treats her friends very well. Yet, I had a hard time understanding why she was so cool about letting Juliet treat her like garbage. Allie is quite timid and didn’t seem to fully believe in herself. And okay, I get that teenage girls aren’t always bastions of confidence, even I wasn’t Captain Confidence, but I just wanted to shake her and be like COME ON LADY SNAP OUT OF IT. I guess it was hard for me to sympathize with Allie because as a reader I felt distant from her. It’s hard for me to explain what exactly the distance was caused by, maybe the writing? I just spent all of What We Saw At Night feeling as though I was being held at arm’s length.

However, I don’t want to be totally negative about Jacquelyn Mitchard’s YA debut, there were things I actually enjoyed. The mystery, for example. I did spent a lot of the book in the dark as to who the murderer was and I like when that happens. It’s awesome to not immediately be able to guess who the killer is. What We Saw At Night is quite suspenseful, once you get to the teens actually seeing something at night. That’s when it starts to get scary and suspenseful and you get that feeling of something bad looming, which I prefer when I read suspense books.

The pacing of What We Saw At Night kind of felt off to me. It is a short book, it clocks in at 272 pages, but feels like it takes forever to read. It’s because it drags in the first half until we get to the scary bits 42% of the way in, according to my goodreads updates. I don’t want to say that the writing is dense, but it’s not quite as breezy as the YA that I am used to. Not that this is a bad thing, I am fine with slower, more literary YA books, but it just seemed like the pacing didn’t really suit the story. I suppose to me, if a book is a thriller, it should be fast paced and enthralling and this one just wasn’t. Also, there’s a cliffhanger ending which really irritated me because I suppose I just expect a mystery to be solved by the end of a book at this point. Alas.

Look, there is definitely an audience out there for What We Saw At Night, but I just was not that into it. I was not very invested. However, maybe people who love mysteries and crime fiction will love this book. The concept is interesting and unique — I haven’t really read about teenage protagonists with XP before. Yet, I’ve read Dean Koontz’s Fear Nothing and I will admit it was in my brain while reading, because that main character also has XP, only he has a dog and it’s written for the masses, thus faster paced. Anyway, I think that if you’re really into crime fiction, you should give What We Saw At Night a chance.

Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley

Other reviews of What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard:

The Book Smugglers – “its execution decidedly is not Hitchcock-grade material.”

Word For Teens – “this was one creepy ass book”

The Picky Girl – “an intriguing premise and realistic characters”

Snowed Over | Angie Stanton | Book Review

by April (Books&Wine)

Oh hey for once I am reviewing a seasonably appropriate book on two fronts – Snowed Over by Angie Stanton has a blizzard AND it’s a romance, so it’s an awesome February read, especially in light of the latest snow storm. Also, this review is not going to be terribly long, because Snowed Over is a novella, it’s only 126 pages and straight up, I don’t want to spoil you with all of the details.

Snowed Over by Angie Stanton | Good Books And Good Wine

Katie is dreading going home because her parents just recently separated, so it really is like she ‘can never go home again’, like that saying.As she is carless at her university, she catches a ride home with Alex, a 20 year old upperclassman whom she finds to be pretty good looking. However, Katie doesn’t act on her attraction because he’s got a fiancé back home, Trina. Alex is dreading going home too. When a blizzard strikes and leaves the two snowed in, sparks fly between Katie and Alex and that chemistry kind of becomes undeniable.

So, Katie is kind of shy but she’s also laid back and fun. She’s the quintessential girl next door. Alex is a bit of a boy scout, but he’s overall a nice sort. I don’t exactly have a perfect handle on the characters because Snowed Over is so short, but they weren’t the type to totally irritate me.I thought Angie Stanton excelled in creating attraction between the two characters, and also tension. Like, obviously because Alex has a fiancé we all know they shouldn’t hook up. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, you totally want them to do so because they banter and have interesting conversations and everything we hear about the other girl is bad.

I guess my criticism would be that I thought the fiancé seemed to be all terrible and not at all complex. She seemed very flat and sort of one of those contrived characters, introduced to create tension between the two leads, because obviously there needs to be an obstacle between them hooking up. All things considered though, that’s a small complaint, and I actually did enjoy my time reading Snowed Over, brief as it was. It’s a super cute novella perfect for a winter’s evening.

Disclosure: Purchased copy

Other reviews of Snowed Over by Angie Stanton:

That Artsy Reader Girl – “plenty of tension to go around”

The Reading Date -”’good holiday pick-me-up overall.”

Lost In Books -”cute, sweet, but also often humorous”