Category Archives: Young (and New) Adult

All the Young Adult genre book reviews, with some New Adult thrown in.

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Review: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

Title: The Edge of Never
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Series: The Edge of Never series
Rating: ★★★★★

I love books that make me cry because of how good they are. Books that really reach in, grab your heart, and twist it every time they can. The Edge of Never is one of those books.

Camryn is stuck in her life. She had dreams and plans, but things fell apart. Instead of getting away from people’s expectations and traveling the world with her boyfriend, she works at a department store, hasn’t gone to college, and has to be practically forced by her best friend to even try and put herself out there. So when she’s finally reached the end of her rope, she buys a bus ticket to anywhere, just to leave.

It’s on her bus ride across the country where she meets Andrew. He’s using the bus ride to prolong the trip to Wyoming to see his dying father. From the beginning, it’s easy to tell this trip isn’t going to be what either of them thought it would be.

Cam’s depression is something that I can understand. She’s at a point in life where she just wants to feel something. Anger, sadness, happiness…she doesn’t care which, she just wants to feel. Being with Andrew makes her feel again, both the good and the bad things.

I’m glad they didn’t have that “insta-love” because that wouldn’t have felt real. Both Andrew and Cam needed to work through things before they could get to place where a relationship is something that wouldn’t be destructive. The easy-going feeling of their first interactions really sets up the rest of their relationship. For them, laughter is what helps heal their wounds.

For as happy as the novel made me feel, there was always a storm cloud waiting in the background. I was waiting for it to hit because I knew it would be the heart-twisting moment. And boy, did it hit hard.

The Edge of Never is a book that you can’t put down. Your heart will be in your throat the entire time. It makes you think about life, love, and finding a way to live your life for the moment instead of focusing on what has happened in the past or what is coming in the future. It’s definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

If The Edge of Never sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

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Review: Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Possess
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Rating: ★★★★

The first few chapters of Possess did not draw me in. They felt a little rough around the edges and I was worried this was going to be another book that got high praise from others and left me baffled.

Once the book got introductions and explanations over and could settle into the actual story, it got better. So much better.

I was expecting a book that relied heavily on religion to make a point. For the first few chapters, it seemed like that would be the direction the book took. Thankfully, the religion aspects of the novel were secondary. The story focused more on Bridget as she came to terms with her father’s death, her seemingly new power, and a possible love interest.

Bridget has the power to banish demons. She only recently discovered this power and it’s giving her a lot of self-doubt. She wasn’t looking for anything like this. She hasn’t really come to terms with the death of her father, plus she’s just like any normal teenage girl trying to find her way through the maze that is the high school years. She was a little immature at times, but that fit her character. I was happy she wasn’t some perfectly put together fifteen year old; she was a fifteen year old that had to grow up a little too fast, but she was still 15.

Matt was sweet. He isn’t my favorite Young Adult love interest, but he was nice enough and made me smile. He works hard to get Bridget to see him as more than the annoying son of a cop and I’m glad he got through to her. I can see him being her strength when she needs it.

The story wrapped up nicely, but left it open for more. It’s clear Possess is its own story, and I’m thankful for that. I’m also thankful the ending was left open for more.

Possess is a book that surprised me. It got off to a slightly shaky start, but as soon as the action and mystery kicked in, it became a page-turner.

If Possess sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

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Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Body Finder series
Rating: ★★★★

The Body Finder is a book that has been on my radar for a while, but I was always a little worried about reading it. The book description was unique and I was worried it would fall flat and I’d be left feeling a little let down.

The Body Finder does none of this. It is just as good as the description sounds. Both aspects of the novel, the suspense and the romance, are developed well and blend together. It never felt like one was taking a hit so the other could flourish.

This was a page turner. The serial killer parts of the novel were fantastic. There’s a lot of mystery there, and it’s done well. It gives the entire book a creepy feel. I was afraid to look over my shoulder; it felt like the creepiness had oozed of the novel and was standing right behind me. I love it when a book can make me feel that way.

The relationship between Jay and Violet was wonderful. This is the kind of “insta-love” I’m okay with. It’s insta-love in the scope of the novel, but not in the characters’ lives. Sure, Jay and Violet realized their feels early on in the novel, but they had a foundation of friendship to build upon and that’s what made it work. Their relationship works perfectly to balance out the serial killer roaming around town.

The other secondary characters, Violet’s friends, are also well-written. They aren’t placeholders; they actually act and behave like friends. Maybe it’s just the novels I pick to read, but this trait seems to be a little lacking in a lot of Young Adult titles today.

The Body Finder is a fantastic novel. It has just the right mix of creep and love to keep me turning the pages, anxious to find out who the killer is, but to also read more swoon-worthy moments. This is a series I’ll definitely be sticking with. I can’t wait to read more.

If The Body Finder sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

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Review: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Title: Breaking Beautiful
Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Rating: ★★★★

Breaking Beautiful has one of the most heartbreaking characters I’ve ever read and it has nothing to do with the accident that took her boyfriend’s life.

Going in, I knew this story would be tough. To see the contrast between the life everyone thinks Allie has and the one she’s truly living is astonishing. To the world, Allie is the perfectly happy, spoiled girlfriend. Trip gives her everything she could possibly need, acts the part of loving boyfriend. Sure, she has some enemies in town because Trip dumped the popular girl in favor of Allie, but that’s a minor problem. What everyone doesn’t know is what happens behind the scenes, what Allie is too ashamed to face.

Trip’s abuse has left Allie paranoid and broken. She doesn’t think of herself as worth anything because that’s what Trip beat into her. It’s all her fault and if she would only change, then everything could be perfect. That’s the mindset Allie has, even after the accident. She’s broken in nearly every way she can be.

This book could have easily become depressing, but it didn’t. Even as you read about how hurt Allie is, her strength comes through. She is still going on with her life, trying to find a new way to live. She hides away at times, but that’s only because she doesn’t know how to be Allie; she doesn’t know if just being Allie is good enough.

Blake. I loved Blake. He knew enough about Allie to try and find her whenever she’d lose herself to her own thoughts. He plays the tough, bad guy, but he’s got a couple soft spots. Both he and Allie have skeletons in their closets when they start their relationship, but they work together to make it work. Blake finds a way to give back to Allie the pieces of her life she needs and shows her it’s okay to let other pieces go.

Breaking Beautiful is a heartbreaking story while being heartwarming at the same time. It shows that you can make it through the toughest times and come out stronger on the other side. It says that it’s okay to become lost sometimes; you can find a way out. I’m incredibly glad I decided to read Breaking Beautiful and it’s definitely a must read, if you ask me.

If Breaking Beautiful sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

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The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

I got this book because one day, there was a notification on my Facebook wall about a free book and I am almost always incapable of turning a free book down. There was really nothing about the book summary that made me think I’d fall in love.

I didn’t fall in love. This isn’t a book that is made to be fantastic, a classic, something that tears at your heart. It’s supposed to be a “reality” show in book form. It definitely fit that bill. Unfortunately, I don’t watch reality shows and I’m not a huge fan of reality show books.

There’s nothing really wrong with The Ivy It’s just not my cup of tea. There wasn’t really much character development or much of a plot. It was like taking a peek into the lives of a few Harvard freshmen as they try to tackle the academics and social areas of college.

The guys are written to be swoon-worthy, but I’m only feeling lukewarm on them. The outside may be impressive, but I’d like a bit more substance. You can only stare at a pretty face for so long before you start to get a little bored.

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the break from my usual type of books to read The Ivy, and I’ll probably read at least the sequel the next time I’m looking for something quick to read. Just because this book isn’t for me doesn’t mean it’s bad, in any way, shape, or form. It just means it’s not for me. If you’re a fan of the reality shows that just follow the lives of a group of people, or books like the Gossip Girl series, then you’ll probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did.

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Reached by Ally Condie

There’s some spoilers ahead. Click and read at your own risk.

 

Continue reading →

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Where You Are by Tammara Webber

After finishing Between the Lines, I decided to give Where You Are a try, if only for a continuation of Graham and Emma’s story. To be honest, the plot didn’t really appeal to me. I’m not a girl that goes for the twisted, manipulating revenge kind of story. In the end, this book was about what I thought it would be. I loved the parts that dealt with Graham and Emma and loathed the parts that were about Brooke and Reid.

This is written from four different points of view. Brooke, Emma, Graham, and Reid all get to tell their own story. It did feel a little bogged down at times, but it wasn’t too bad. I think all sides were necessary to know everything going on, even if Reid and Brooke’s views got a little repetitive and overworked at times.

Graham and Emma are perfectly sweet. They’re a wonderfully written couple in the early stages of a relationship. There’s a little bit of confusion rolled around with a lot of happiness. If the story has simply been about them, I think I would have enjoyed it more. A book about trying to find their footing in a new romance while one starts college and one finishes and enters the next stage of life, not to mention Graham’s daughter, would have been a syrupy sweet read.

The problem comes in with Reid and Brooke and their “plan” to win back the relationships they never had. Brooke starts everything, coming to Reid with a plan to help him get Emma back. From there it just spirals. It felt too childish for me to actually enjoy. It took away from what could have been a good story.

There’s not a lot of secondary character action. Emily shows up occasionally, but there wasn’t enough to make up for Reid and Brooke. They were extremely secondary and I wished there could have been more.

Overall, Where You Are was a bit of a let-down from Between the Lines, even if I was kind of expecting it, based on the novel description. I’m glad I got to read a little bit more of Graham and Emma, but I could have done without the backstabbing pettiness of Reid and Brooke. Unfortunately, I think this is where I’ll bow out from the series. Emma and Graham were the people keeping me reading, and even with Reid’s slight redemption at the end, it’s not enough to keep me reading this series. I’m not ready to give up on Webber, though, so I will give her other book, Easy a try.

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Between the Lines by Tammara Webber

I honestly thought this would be a quick read that was a little enjoyable, a lot cheesy, and nice filler between other books. I really didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

It’s a book about teen movie stars. That’s why I wasn’t really sure about this book. I’m not really one for celebrity drama in real life, so why would I want to read a book about it? Turns out, the celebrity doesn’t play a huge part. It does come into play, but it’s basically a book about teens and their lives.

Emma is thrown into the world of the famous, but she’s trying to maintain her ties to home and as much of a regular life as she can. So when she starts to fall for one guy meanwhile having the hottest actor of the moment after her, life gets a little complicated. I liked how Webber kept Emma just outside the full celebrity life. It made her likable and a little bit relatable. She’s living the life a lot of people would love to have, if only for a day.

The two guys in this book are likable in their own way. Reid is a bit of a “bad boy,” but he’s also got a bit of a heart. Graham is a little mysterious, but always a gentleman. Webber managed to write the two types of guys most girls want to date at least once in life. I know who my favorite is, but it’s not hard to root for both.

The secondary characters in this novel are fantastic. Emily, Emma’s best friend, is one of the best. She doesn’t let Emma get away with anything. She may be a bit starstruck, but she’s still there for Emma. The people Emma meets on set are interesting and I liked that they kept Emma from getting completely wrapped up in the guys in her life. They may not be able to keep her grounded, but they were able to keep her head on straight.

Between the Lines is a book that surprised me. It was sweeter than I thought it would be, and not as cheese-filled as I expected. It was a quick read, but sometimes those are what you’re looking for.

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Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

I stopped reading Days of Blood and Starlight about halfway through. I didn’t want to read anymore. Every word I read meant I was one word closer to the end of the novel and I never wanted that to happen. And so I stopped reading. But then I started to hate myself a little bit because I wanted to read so badly. So I picked it back up and started to read.

<Days of Blood and Starlight is a book that doesn’t hide away from the ugliness of war. If Daughter of Smoke and Bone was about the relationship between Karou and Akiva, Days of Blood and Starlight is about the war that is tearing their world apart. It doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. It throws them right in your face and makes you confront them.

In Daughter, there’s only a hint of the war that has been going on. Yes, it is mentioned, but Daughter mainly focuses on Akiva and Karou and their romance. It tugs on your heart in a sweet way. Days tugs on your heart frantically, trying to make you see the horrors of war. War doesn’t affect only those fighting, but it affects every single living thing. It only gets worse when those leading the charge stop fighting for what they view as right and start fighting for revenge. It is then that all the rules go out the window and nothing becomes sacred anymore.

Karou is everything I want in a strong heroine. She has her flaws and weaknesses, but she knows that. She uses her strengths to overcome and start working towards finding a better way for her people to live. She sacrifices what she has to and asks for help when she needs it. She knows when a battle is worth fighting and when it is smarter to concede the point and wait for the right moment to spring her attack. She is powerful, but not perfect, and that makes her the perfect character to read.

Akiva also shows his strength when it is needed. He knows the war in his world is tearing it apart more than putting it together and he wants to change that. Not for Karou, not for himself, but because he knows that this war is destruction and there is a better way for peace; one that doesn’t involve one side being obliterated.

<Days of Blood and Starlight is one of those extremely rare sequels that manages to not only match the first novel in its strength, but surpass it. It is dark, gritty, and raw, but it makes you think. It is easily one of the best books of the year. Days of Blood and Starlight is a must read over and over and over again kind of book.

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Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

I’m not the easiest to impress when it comes to Young Adult romances. I typically like a little something else to go with the romance, something to keep my heart racing and keep me turning the pages. That’s why I expected to enjoy Catching Jordan, but not really love it. But as I got further and further into the story, I found myself loving it.

I think one thing I liked most about Catching Jordan was the lack of the typical teen “Queen Bee.” Yes, there were girls that got on Jordan’s nerves. But they weren’t out to destroy her, or at least, that wasn’t what the story was about. Kenneally kept the story focused on Jordan and the boys in her life.

That’s another thing that really worked. Yes, this is mainly a teen love story. But there’s also a team full of guys that respect Jordan as their team captain, but also look at her as the little sister they have to protect from all world evils. I liked that once the boy drama started, the rest of the team wasn’t ignored. The other guys had as much of a place in the story as Jordan did.

As for the romance, I loved it. It wasn’t overly cheesy and it didn’t feel like Kenneally was trying to fit an adult romance into a teen book. It was what high school love should be: sweet, wonderful, but not all-consuming. It also wasn’t insta-love, but rather the much more acceptable instant attraction.

Catching Jordan is a book that sneaked up on me. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. I was prepared for a bit of cheesiness with a side of fluff, but Catching Jordan is a lot more. I’ll be checking out more of Kenneally’s books for sure.