CAN'T WAIT TO READ: The Closest I've Come by Fred Aceves

Release date: November 7th 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The Closest I’ve Come is a must-read from talented first-time author Fred Aceves, in the tradition of Walter Dean Myers.

Marcos Rivas wants to find love.

He’s sure as hell not getting it at home, where his mom’s racist boyfriend beats him up. Or from his boys, who aren’t exactly the “hug it out” type. Marcos yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that aren’t falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood—which seems impossible.

When Marcos is placed in a new after-school program for troubled teens with potential, he meets Zach, a theater geek whose life seems great on the surface, and Amy, a punk girl who doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. These new friendships inspire Marcos to open up to his Maesta crew, too, and along the way, Marcos starts to think more about his future and what he has to fight for. Marcos ultimately learns that bravery isn’t about acting tough and being macho; it’s about being true to yourself.

About the Author

Fred Aceves is a Latino author who grew up in a community like the one described in The Closest I’ve Come, a tough, working-class neighborhood filled with single moms. He attended five high schools and worked two jobs before eventually dropping out of school. He later earned his GED and traveled around the world. He was born in the United States and currently lives in Mexico with his wife. The Closest I’ve Come is his debut novel.

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Review: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Release date: April 4th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been wanting to read Brigid's Elemental series for a while now, but Letters to the Lost was a wonderful first experience with the author because I absolutely loved this story. So well-written and emotionally driven, I was invested from beginning to end and had to take a breather when I had finished. 

Both characters had a lot to deal with and perhaps would have continued keeping everything inside if they hadn't found each other through one of Juliet's letters to her deceased mother. As a result, they ended up building a deep bond that helped heal their hearts. And even though initially, it came off invasive on Declan's part, I believed it was meant to happen that way because he was given the chance to share his pain and show that there was more to him than what others had presumed. I mean, Juliet's story was without a doubt sad, after all, she'd lost her mother so suddenly and thought it to be her fault somewhat. But Declan's story really pricked at my heart. He'd been let down so much by the people who were supposed to love and care for him. It's a wonder he survived that long with the kind of pain that lived in his heart. But thankfully he had the support of his best friend and towards the end was able to find some closure.  

It's difficult for me to put into words just how much I liked Juliet and Declan and overall story. I felt as if I was in every moment with them, feeling their emotions, crying and smiling, and rooting for their happiness. When they had started communicating through letters, and then soon after through emails, I thought it was just fascinating. But whenever they encountered each other in person, having no clue who the other was, I'd get so frustrated with Juliet judging him like everyone else. And not that I'm justifying Declan's aggressive reactions, but I felt like his anger was due to the way he grew up and because he was always frowned upon. Glad Juliet saw his real side and that both overcame so much by the end. 

I could go on and on about how great a story Letters to the Lost is but I don't want to spoil it too much for you. All I can say is please read it. The writing is wonderful; inviting. It holds your heart captive and you just can't pry away from the characters. Even days after finishing the story, I'm still thinking about it and still feeling the emotions. I'm now eager to read another Brigid Kemmerer novel.

About the Author
BRIGID KEMMERER is author of THICKER THAN WATER, a New Adult paranormal mystery with elements of romance, and the YALSA-nominated Elemental series of five Young Adult novels and three e-novellas which Kirkus Reviews calls “refreshingly human paranormal romance” and School Library Journal describes as “a new take on the supernatural genre.” She lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and four sons.

WEBSITE | @BrigidKemmerer

Review: Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

Release date: February 14th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsburry
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

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

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

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

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

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked Watson's previous novel, This Side of Home, and was excited to read Piecing Me Together when I spotted it on Goodreads. Well, this novel did not disappoint. I liked how the author kept things real, touching on topics that are still so strongly present in society, while also depicting relatable problems faced by a teen girl. 

Jade wasn't perfect and didn't come from a perfect family. She's raised by a single mother in a far-from-lavish neighborhood and they shared their already tight apartment with Jade's uncle. Regardless, they did their best. The mother worked hella hard so her daughter could have a good life and always encouraged Jade to do the same. I loved how whenever she was tough with Jade, it came from a place of love and hope for nothing but the best. And I admired the respect Jade had in return, not only for her mother but for where she came from. 

Speaking of where she came from. Often times people judge others based on their address and have preconceived notions about their character. But Jade was really smart and focused. She went to a great school that often overlooked her because of the color of her skin, but still, she kept on and looked for opportunities. Many of the things that came up in the story, mainly things that Jade experienced, made me look into my own life and I could remember moments where I had faced something similar. We may come from completely different backgrounds, but I could understand and relate to how she felt and agreed that her perception was justified and dead-on. For instance, that trip would have benefited Jade just as much as any other student, and she truly worked hard and deserved to go. So her feelings about it were acceptable and I wish that Sam was more understanding. 

Sam's character is like many. She was a good friend to Jade, but certain things made her uncomfortable to discuss and she seemed to rather not talk about it. I grew frustrated with her like Jade because, in times where she should have supported and stood up for her friend, she tried to brush it off and explain away the situation. Thankfully she made an effort later on and they were able to hold on to their friendship. 

There were other elements of the story that intensified my interest, including the whole debacle with Jade getting a mentor. The way she was sort of shoved into that program pissed me off, but I again, Jade was going for as many opportunities as she could so it wasn't surprising that she accepted. But that mentor had me rolling my eyes so much. She needed more mentoring than Jade, which brought back the line in the blurb where "just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade," and that was so true. Glad Jade spoke up and her mentor opened her eyes to reality sooner than later. 

My gosh, I could go on and on with reasons as to why I enjoyed this one but I don't want to give too much away. Loved the writing, the raw depictions of emotion toward horrible events, and that poem at the end was a tearjerker. Such a thought-provoking story. Wonderfully done, Renée.  

About the Author

RENÉE WATSON is the acclaimed author of the teen novel, This Side of Home, and two picture books: Harlem's Little Blackbird and A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, which was featured on NBC Nightly News. Her middle grade novel, What Momma Left Me debuted as an ABA New Voices Pick. She lives in New York City.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

Guest Post & Giveaway: Ethel Rohan on The Weight of Him

Award-winning short story writer Ethel Rohan has released her debut novel, The Weight of Him, which is described as the perfect feel-good novel to curl up with this winter. And I'm excited to have her on the blog sharing what inspired her to write this story. Check out the guest post and enter to win a copy of the book! 

Release date: February 14th 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.

At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food's colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy's beloved son Michael takes his own life.

Billy determines to make a difference in Michael's memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention--his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy's dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.

Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.

Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.

The meaning behind The Weight of Him, and why it is a "call for love"?

           While the characters and events in my first novel, The Weight of Him, are fictional, the story’s themes are rooted in reality and have deep personal meaning. For one, some of my earliest memories are around suicide.

When I was a girl, my mentally ill mother repeatedly threatened to kill herself. Every time she left the house I went into a panic, terrified she would end herself and never return. At night I lay awake on my bed, stiff and sweating, listening for sounds from downstairs, her bedroom, the bathroom—frantic that she might attempt to follow through on her threats.

As an adult, I’ve had my own struggles with anxiety and depression, and suicidal thoughts. I lost a dear friend to suicide, distant family members, several in my community, and many more in wider circles. Mental illness, and suicide in particular, is a disease that plagues all too many. Suicide is the number one killer of young men in Ireland, my birthplace, and is also a global epidemic. On average, in the US, there are 121 suicides every day. That’s 121 too many.

In my own journey to recovery, I found the root of my anguish lay in a lack of self-love and a sense of hopelessness—torment that’s common amongst the suicidal. It became impossible to believe that I could ever feel better about myself, and my life. My return to well-being started with gratitude. I began every day giving thanks. Even at my most wretched, with intention, I could always find something for which to be thankful—food, warmth, home, my daughters, my husband, another lifesaving breath. The more gratitude I expressed, the better I began to feel. Slowly. Surely.

My healing deepened with forgiveness—forgiving others and myself for wrongs both real and imagined. I did not find peace(ish), though, until I learned to love myself unconditionally. And getting to that point proved to be long, hard, painful work. I loved my children (and my cat and dog!) without reservation, but I had little empathy or compassion for myself. With counseling, instead of hating on myself, I started to treat myself as lovingly as I did my family and friends (and, yes, my cat and dog). I got to a once unthinkable place: I came to love myself. It’s heartbreaking how many of us cannot declare that with our whole heart: I love me.

That is my rally cry in my novel: Love yourself. Love others. It’s the only way we will survive.

About the Author
Ethel Rohan is the author of two story collections, Goodnight Nobody and Cut Through the Bone, the former longlisted for The Edge Hill Prize and the latter longlisted for The Story Prize.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, World Literature Today, GUERNICA Magazine, Tin House Online,The Rumpus, and many more. Born and raised in Ireland, she lives in San Francisco.

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*Thanks to the publisher for contributing a copy of the book

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Review: Cutter Boy by Cristy Watson

Series: Sidestreets
Release date: August 1st 2016
Publisher: Lorimer
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Bullied at school and ignored at home, Travis has a secret: cutting himself with a razor blade is the only thing that lets him control the pain in his life and find some peace. When he becomes friends with Chyvonne, a new girl at school, he doesn't know how to get close to her without revealing his secret and making himself even more vulnerable. Spending time with Chyvonne spurs Travis to try to discover why his mother can't seem to face his very existence. It's only when he learns about the art form of paper cutting that he realizes there might be other ways to make himself feel adrenalin-fueled and in control.

Although self-harm through cutting is a problem usually associated with teenage girls, many young men are involved in different sorts of self-injury. This story explores a teenager's motivations for cutting and the options for overcoming the need to self-injure.

*Publisher approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a chilling story for me. While I'm well aware that girls aren't the only ones that self-harm, I've never read a book where it was the boy doing it, much less have ever seen a movie that focused on the guy self-mutilating. Speaking of movies, this story reminded me a lot of one that I saw on Lifetime a while back. Same topic, but opposite sex. And the girl had family issues as well, especially with the mom. I tried to figure out from the beginning why Travis' mom was like that with him, thinking that perhaps he wasn't her biological son or that she had cheated on her husband and his father wasn't his real father. In the end, it was a lot more complicated and sad, but it also didn't take long for me to pick up on the truth. Her erratic behavior solved that mystery for me. 

As for Travis, he had a lot that he was dealing with and it all piled up on the inside, so much so that cutting was an emotional escape. I don't understand a lot about this topic, but from reading this story I got the sense that self-harm was the character's way of dealing. It just made me cringe every time a scene popped up where he was doing it because the description was good and it gave me a vivid picture. And while I loved that he found another way to release his bottled up pain through art, I still wish that he'd get the help he needed, as well as his parents. The whole family needed therapy. 

Overall, good story with a frightening topic that needs to be addressed more frequently and deserves a lot of awareness. Thanks to the author for taking it on in such a way that it left quite an emotional impact on me.

About the Author

Cristy Watson is a teacher and writer living in Surrey, British Columbia. Cristy host's open mic at her local coffee shop and enjoys entering poetry contests. She has worked with a Young Adult population for most of her career and wanted to help readers find books to enjoy that were both at a level they could manage and that shared interesting and pertinent themes.

facebook.com/watsoncristy | twitter.com/luvshakespeare

Review: The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Release date: November 1st 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

*Received physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This one had really nice writing, a diverse setting, and an instant yet sweet romance. I don't think I've ever read a story that plays out in one day (maybe I just don't remember) but I liked the author's delivery and how much was touched on throughout. 

Natasha was a bit hard for me to like in the beginning. She just seemed too tough, too much attitude, but then I realized that the way she was had a lot to do with the issues she had with her father. And also, her family was about to be deported, so of course she would be upset. She was about to leave the country that had been her home since she was eight, and return to an island she didn't remember and didn't have much connection with anymore. While I'm from Jamaica and love that the author is also from there (yay), I do understand this family's situation. This is something that happens often and I wish more could be done for immigrants like Natasha and her brother (he was actually born in the US). So that was another thing I liked about the story--it's realistic. And even if I can't relate to the situation, I'm sure someone else will. 

Daniel was a sweetheart. I can't get over how awesome of a guy he was, coming from a family that had so much expectations and never cared to ask what he wanted. His older brother was a self-hating a-hole, by the way. Both Daniel and Natasha were from different cultures and their parents came from different countries, but there was some correlation. For instance, going back to the parents, they all worked hard to give their children opportunities, so they wouldn't have to face the hardships they once did in their home country. I wasn't expecting certain racial issues to come up in a story that only takes place in one day, but I liked that the author brought it up, especially in the scene with Natasha and Daniel's father. Man I wanted to slap him for his asinine presumption about her hair. That's another real issue that happens in society and it's truly sad. By the way, did I mention that Daniel's brother was a self-hating a-hole? Yeah, he had me seething. Another thing too, while it wasn't really obvious if Natasha's parents wanted her to be with someone black, though I doubt they cared, Daniel's parents wanted him to be with Korean girls. Yeah, that's still going on in modern times. 

The one thing about the story that some may not like or find the most unrealistic, is the way these two characters came to meet and fell in love (in one day). But I thought it was sweet and their emotions were convincing. I'm the kind of person that believes in falling for someone instantly because that happened to me and my husband, but when it comes to books I don't always like it because it usually isn't believable. But in the case of Daniel and Natasha, their romance tugged at my heart, especially when they only had one day together and who knew what the future had in store for them. I loved how Daniel got her to reconsider love and actually believe it, and believe that some things are just meant to be.  

My only issue with the story were the parts that gave a character breakdown on someone I didn't really care for, and the scientific explanations. I thought the book could do without those parts, but thankfully it wasn't enough to break my interest. Like I said, nice writing and a sweet romance. But the one thing I loved most of all was the multicultural aspect. Do give this one a read. 

About the Author

NICOLA YOON is the number one New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, who created the artwork in these pages, and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Review: The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

Release date: September 13th 2016
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

THE LOST

When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Since then, Faith’s childhood has revolved around her sister’s disappearance—from her parents’ broken marriage and the constant media attention, to dealing with so-called friends who only ever want to talk about her missing sister.

THE FOUND

Now, thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the front yard of the Logans’ old house, disoriented and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Can her sister finally be back? Faith always dreamed of her sister coming home; she just never believed it would happen. But soon a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated from her family and paranoid about her sister’s motives. Before long, Faith begins to wonder if it’s the abduction that’s changed her sister, or if it’s something else. . . .

*Received a physical copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From the opening chapter I was intrigued and wanted to understand the family and Faith. It was easy to say she was being bratty and not very considerate of the situation, but at the same time I could understand her feelings. It was obvious that Faith was somewhat neglected by her mother and in some ways by her father as well. Her parents had spent all their time and efforts in finding Laurel, that they seemed to have not paid much attention to their other daughter. And when they were informed that Laurel had reappeared, Faith's mixed reaction wasn't surprising. I sensed jealousy a tad in her, because all the attention was given to her sister and not much was left for her. Over the years, she basically took care of herself. And honestly, I was happy that her parents weren't together. The mother seemed like such a trip, and I found nothing likable about the woman, and I wish there were more scenes with Faith's stepfather because he was the only one really there for her. 

Now, on to Laurel. It was great that one parents misery was coming to an end, and  their kidnapped daughter had finally come home. But I had my reservations. Something didn't seem right, especially with how Laurel didn't mind being in the spotlight and the way she acted with Faith's boyfriend. He was another story. With the way Faith questioned her feelings for him daily, I knew she had no business being in a relationship with him, and sadly it took too long for her to realize that. Even after what happened towards the end. 

The truth became pretty obvious to me from early. So for the rest of the story, I diverted my focus to the relationship between the girls; how they acted with each other, if Faith would finally break and unveil how she truly felt, and how the story would wrap up. It was terribly unfortunate what Laurel had experienced and I was happy that she was free from that. But with the state of the family, I didn't think it was healthy for her to be with them because she needed to know what it was like to have a normal, loving and supportive family. The father was barely around and the mother was pretentious and acted as if the world owed her. She got too caught up in the press and money and lost sight of what was important. She also pressured Faith a lot and treated her like crap, often dismissing her feelings or putting the guilt trip on her. The whole situation made me cringe and I yearned for the moment each of them would have an epiphany.

The ending wasn't much of a surprise, but it was emotional when Laurel spoke about her ordeal at last. Her pain felt so real and I could picture every single detail in my head as she revealed them. I'm not so sure I'm contented with the way things ended, but a part of me understands why they did that. 

To conclude, The Lost and the Found is an interesting story with a realistic tragedy no one should ever go through, but I did have some issues and that's why I rated it three stars. The writing's good, but at times I felt like there could have been less of some things mentioned, and more given at other parts. Also, I wasn't as emotionally invested as I was expecting to be, and I didn't really connect with the characters. Like I mentioned before, I already knew the truth from early so it was more about how it would end, and that was my main drive to keep reading. 

   

About the Author

Cat was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people. 

Cat has written non-fiction books about exciting things like cowboys, sharks and pirates, and now writes YA novels. She lives in Edinburgh with a couple of cats, Jem and Scout, who spend their days plotting to spit up furballs at the most inconvenient times. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.

www.catclarke.com

facebook.com/catclarkewriter

CAN'T WAIT TO READ: I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeil

Release date: September 13th 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has life all figured out. She's starting senior year at the top of her class, she’s a shoo-in for a scholarship to M.I.T., and she’s got a new boyfriend she’s crazy about. The only problem: All through high school Bea and her best friends Spencer and Gabe have been the targets of horrific bullying.

So Bea uses her math skills to come up with The Formula, a 100% mathematically-guaranteed path to social happiness in high school. Now Gabe is on his way to becoming Student Body President, and Spencer is finally getting his art noticed. But when her boyfriend dumps her for Toile, the quirky new girl at school, Bea realizes it's time to use The Formula for herself. She'll be reinvented as the eccentric and lovable Trixie—a quintessential manic pixie dream girl—in order to win her boyfriend back and beat new-girl Toile at her own game.

Unfortunately, being a manic pixie dream girl isn't all it's cracked up to be, and “Trixie” is causing unexpected consequences for her friends. As The Formula begins to break down, can Bea find a way to reclaim her true identity, and fix everything she's messed up? Or will the casualties of her manic pixie experiment go far deeper than she could possibly imagine?

About the Author

Gretchen McNeil is an opera singer, a writer, and a clown. She is also the author of Get Even as well as Ten, which was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a Romantic Times Top Pick, and an ALA Booklist Top Ten Horror Fiction for Youth and was nominated for Best Young Adult Contemporary Novel of 2012 by Romantic Times. Gretchen blogs with the Enchanted Inkpot and is a founding member of the vlog group the YARebels.

www.gretchenmcneil.com

facebook.com/AuthorGretchenMcNeil

twitter.com/GretchenMcNeil

instagram.com/gretchen_mcneil

Review: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Release date: May 3rd 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

“Just let it go.”

That’s what everyone keeps telling Hadley St. Clair after she learns that her father cheated on her mother. But Hadley doesn’t want to let it go. She wants to be angry and she wants everyone in her life—her dad most of all—to leave her alone.

Sam Bennett and his family have had their share of drama too. Still reeling from a move to a new town and his parents’ recent divorce, Sam is hoping that he can coast through senior year and then move on to hassle-free, parent-free life in college. He isn’t looking for a relationship…that is, until he sees Hadley for the first time.

Hadley and Sam’s connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret that could ruin everything. Should he follow his heart or tell the truth?

*Publisher approved request on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had featured Suffer Love a few weeks ago as a way to depict my excitement for its release. After reading the blurb, I became intrigued and wanted to understand what had happened to these characters and the state of their families. Ashley did not disappoint; from fluid and superb writing, to a story that is both relatable and likable, Suffer Love turned out to be just what I was looking for.

You might say "what a small world", with the way these characters ended up living in the same town. Both families are connected in a not so flattering way, and it may seem too coincidental to some that Hadley and Sam ended up falling for each other, but I felt like these things happen in real life and it didn't seem too far-fetched to me. 

I actually liked Hadley and Sam being together in spite of the situation. I always say you can't pick who to love, it just happens. And they were both dealing with the aftermath of adultery and had developed trust issues, but the fact that they were still capable of developing such strong feelings for each other was rather sweet and admirable, in my opinion. And I liked that their love had somewhat healed their hearts. 

In regards to the characters, I loved Sam. Didn't like that he behaved in that way to distract himself, of that he kept that significant detail from Hadley, but I understood his intentions and how protective he was of his little sister. He was a smart guy with a lot of hurt, and I wanted to shake his mom for not being there for him after what she put her family through. 

As for Hadley, I felt a little detached from her and wasn't a fan of how she'd act in various situations. Like she'd behave as if she was the only one in pain or dealt a horrible hand in life, when other people were suffering too. Some of the things she'd say turned me off at times too. But honestly, throughout the story, I grew more of a understanding of her character and why she was the way she was. 

Ajay and Livy were also great additions to the story. Ajay, Sam's best friend, was a breath of fresh air and humor relief when things got too serious. As for the parents, I would have liked to learn more about Sam's mom and Hadley's father, the two people who caused the issues to begin with. The story started with life after the cheating came to light, but I would have still liked to know about the parents and why or how they ended up in that predicament. 

Again, Suffer Love is an intriguing novel with interesting characters coping in a sad but realistic situation. Ashley is a great writer and she delivered a really good debut. I'm definitely a fan now, and I cannot wait to read her next release. 

About the Author

Ashley Herring Blake is a poet, teacher, and YA novelist. Her debut novel, SUFFER LOVE, follows two teens as they attempt to wade through an intense relationship complicated by their parents' infidelities. Ashley lives in Nashville, TN.

www.ashleyherringblake.com

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CAN'T WAIT TO READ: True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan

Release date: June 7th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

If you asked anyone in his small Vermont town, they’d tell you the facts: James Liddell, star athlete, decent student and sort-of boyfriend to cute, peppy Theresa, is a happy, funny, carefree guy.

But whenever James sits down at his desk to write, he tells a different story. As he fills his drawers with letters to the people in his world--letters he never intends to send--he spills the truth: he’s trying hard, but he just isn’t into Theresa. It’s a boy who lingers in his thoughts.

He feels trapped by his parents, his teammates, and the lies they’ve helped him tell, and he has no idea how to escape. Is he destined to live a life of fiction?

About the Author

Kenneth Logan would prefer to forget his own high school experiences, so it’s anyone’s guess why he chose to (1) teach high school English and (2) write a novel about seventeen-year-olds. He wrote his book at a colleague’s suggestion: “This is the book you should write.” He’s in a doctoral program at New York University, where he studies language and literacy development. He lives in Brooklyn but enjoys escaping on outdoor adventures, especially in Vermont.

Kenneth’s debut novel, TRUE LETTERS FROM A FICTIONAL LIFE (Harper-Collins, Spring 2016), is a Young Adult Contemporary. A seventeen-year-old boy meets and falls for his first boyfriend. As their relationship deepens, he must decide whether to stay in the closet and remain quiet, safe, and sad, or find the courage to admit who he truly is to his rural hometown and to himself.

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CAN'T WAIT TO READ: The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Release date: October 11th 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt. 

Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. It’s only a matter of time.

And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list. 

The bucket list, the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment all begin to lessen Catherine’s sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it. 

This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love—maternal, romantic, and platonic—affect a young woman’s struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment.

About the Author

Karen Fortunati is a writer of contemporary, realistic YA. The subject of her  first book, The Weight of Zero, is mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and it explores the shame, stigma and anxiety that often complicate the management of this chronic condition. The issue is personal to her, having witnessed the impact of depression and bipolar disorder in relatives and friends. Karen's goal was to write a story of hope for teens who struggle with mental illness.

Her path to writing and publication was a long and indirect one. She graduated from the University of Scranton with an accounting degree and then got a law degree from Georgetown. After working as a lawyer for many years, Karen found herself growing interested and then fascinated with history, specifically the American Revolution. This fascination sparked the idea for a middle grade story, so between family, dogs and a return to school (Trinity College for a master’s degree in American Studies), she threw herself into writing.

Success for that middle grade story never arrived. But that was okay. Because another idea was brewing, one that moved Karen in a way her first story never had. About a girl who had to deal not only with the standard pressures and stress of high school but also a much heavier weight – a mental illness. The story would be about her struggle to come to terms with it. It became The Weight of Zero.

www.karenfortunati.com | twitter.com/karenfortunati