Review: How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

Release date: May 2nd 2017
Purchase: Amazon
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Synopsis via Goodreads:

All seventeen year-old Grace Glasser wants is her own life. A normal life in which she sleeps in the same bed for longer than three months and doesn't have to scrounge for spare change to make sure the electric bill is paid. Emotionally trapped by her unreliable mother, Maggie, and the tiny cape on which she lives, she focuses on her best friend, her upcoming audition for a top music school in New York, and surviving Maggie’s latest boyfriend—who happens to be Grace’s own ex-boyfriend’s father.

Her attempts to lay low until she graduates are disrupted when she meets Eva, a girl with her own share of ghosts she’s trying to outrun. Grief-stricken and lonely, Eva pulls Grace into midnight adventures and feelings Grace never planned on. When Eva tells Grace she likes girls, both of their worlds open up. But, united by loss, Eva also shares a connection with Maggie. As Grace's mother spirals downward, both girls must figure out how to love and how to move on.

*Won a physical ARC in a Goodreads giveaway. My review remains honest and without bias.

I really liked Ashley's debut and was looking forward to reading more by the author. So imagine my excitement when I won a copy of her latest in a Goodreads giveaway that I'd randomly entered thinking I'd never win. Welp, I'm thankful to have gotten the pleasure to read How to Make a Wish because I liked it as much as her previous. 

This was certainly an interesting story. There were various things taking place and it wasn't only about Grace's roller-coaster life with her mother. I liked how she was also developing as an individual and learning to understand herself more. But let's start off with the situation with her mother. If that's even what you call her. 
The stuff she puts Grace through was just horrible. It's truly sad that she'd lost her husband when Grace was very young, and it's tough for many people to seek help and learn healthier ways to cope. But lord, this woman pissed me off so much. This "mother" constantly put her daughter in dangerous and uncomfortable situations where their roles were ridiculously reversed. Grace, a teenager, had to become an adult fast in order to look after her mother. It was so painful and frustrating to read the scenes where I wished this woman would get her crap together and think about her daughter more. 

What also frustrated me was the fact that Grace would make excuses and would even try to defend her mother whenever the best friend and his mom spoke up about it. I get that it's actually something many of us would do, no matter the hell they were putting us through, but I wish she would have come to the realization sooner that the only way her mother would get help was if Grace took herself out of the mess and gave her the ultimatum that she couldn't be in her life if she was going to continue living like that. 

That one drama aside, it was nice seeing how Grace was able to connect with someone. Even though Eva was dealing with her own problems. I liked that the two girls bonded and Grace could unravel more in regards to her emotions and aspirations. The issue with her mother threatened every relationship Grace had, including her friendships, but thankfully she addressed it all by the end. 

To conclude, I'm very satisfied with Ashley's second novel and so happy to have discovered her. How to Make a Wish has lucid writing with emotional moments and topics some may relate to. I look forward to wherever this talented storyteller takes us next. 

About the Author
Ashley Herring Blake used to write songs and now she writes books, including Suffer Love. She reads them a lot too and has been known to stare wistfully at her bookshelves. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and two sons. 

www.ashleyherringblake.com 

twitter.com/ashleyhblake

instagram.com/ashleyhblake

CAN'T WAIT TO READ: Results May Vary by Bethany Chase

Release date: August 9th 2016
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

She never saw it coming. 

Without even a shiver of suspicion to warn her, Caroline Hammond discovers that her husband is having an affair with a man—a revelation that forces her to question their entire history together, from their early days as high school sweethearts through their ten years as a happily married couple. 

In her now upside-down world, Caroline begins envisioning her life without the relationship that has defined it: the loneliness of being an “I” instead of a “we”; the rekindled yet tenuous closeness with her younger sister; and the unexpected—and potentially disastrous—attraction she can’t get off her mind. 

Caroline always thought she knew her own love story, but as her husband’s other secrets emerge, she must decide whether that story’s ending will mean forgiving the man she’s loved for half her life, or facing her future without him.

Compassionate and uplifting, Results May Vary is a bittersweet celebration of the heart’s ability to turn unexpected troubles into extraordinary strength.

About the Author

A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Bethany Chase headed to Williams College for an English degree and somehow came out the other side an interior designer. When she’s not writing or designing, you can usually find her in a karaoke bar. She lives with her lovely husband and occasionally psychotic cat in Brooklyn, three flights up.

facebook.com/bethanychaseauthor

twitter.com/mbethanychase

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.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER 

Review: All the Major Constellations by Pratima Cranse

Release date: November 10th 2015
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Laura Lettel is the most beautiful girl in the world. . . and Andrew’s not-so-secret infatuation.

Now he’s leaving high school behind and looking ahead to a fresh start at college and distance from his obsessive crush. But when a terrible accident leaves him without the companionship of his two best friends, Andrew is cast adrift and alone—until Laura unexpectedly offers him comfort, friendship, and the support of a youth group of true believers, fundamentalist Christians with problems and secrets of their own. Andrew is curiously drawn to their consuming beliefs, but why? Is it only to get closer to Laura? And is Laura genuinely interested in Andrew, or is she just trying to convert him?

This provocative and compelling debut novel will resonate deeply with readers as it explores questions of identity, sexuality, and spirituality.

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

The story started out intriguing. I was curious about this Laura and why Andrew was so fascinated with her. I wanted to understand her religion as well and see what her faith was really like, especially since the blurb indicated they had issues of their own. 

First of all, there was a lot going on in this story. From Andrew's tumultuous family, to him figuring out what to do with his feelings for Laura and what to do with his life. But most of all, that terrible event that led to one of his best friends, Sara, being in a coma. It was quite sad what happened her, and I wish the author had allowed us more time in getting to know her. As for Marcia, she seemed so much more mature than Andrew, and I commend her for stepping up the way she did to lend a hand to Sara's mom. That's some friendship. 

Now in the case of Andrew, I didn't connect with his character and was often displeased with the way he was. I could understand his situation, in that he was mistreated at home and one of the two people in his life who had always been there for him was on the verge of leaving him forever. But often time it was as if he didn't consider what his friends were going through, he mostly just thought about his own issues and his crush on Laura. And things started to complicate for him even more after receiving an invite, so to speak, from Laura and he got involved in her group for the wrong reasons. I liked that he sort of developed a slightly different perspective about faith, and also about each person in Laura's circle, but he still came off a tad immature toward the end of the story and I wasn't a fan of his actions with Karen and John. There were certain things that weren't necessary and I felt confused about them, but no more confused than Andrew, it seemed, and John. Poor John. I wish we'd gotten more in regards to what he was going through and how his situation turned out in the end. 

In spite of a few issues here and there, including me not connecting so much with the characters, it still was an interesting story. I did like the writing style and the book was a quick read. Just that it didn't deliver a certain depth that I wanted, and it certainly had the potential to do that. Still, not a bad story. 

About the Author

Pratima Cranse was born and raised in Vermont. She now lives in New Hampshire with her husband, daughter, and their two magnificent cats. When she’s not writing, Pratima enjoys jogging very slowly (some might call it shuffling) and spending time with her family.

www.pratimacranse.com | FACEBOOK

Review: Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Release date: November 3rd 2015
Publisher: Atria
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art and her best friend—and sometimes more—Ellis Carraway. Ellis and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets some smooth-talking entrepreneurs who offer to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night stripping on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s just a kinky escape from reality until a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they chat intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. It’s an easy decision: she’s starting to fall for him. But the steamier it gets, the more she craves the real man behind the keyboard. So Vada pops the question:

Can we meet IRL?

Blue agrees, on one condition. A condition that brings back a ghost from her past. Now Vada must confront the devastating secrets she's been running from—those of others, and those she's been keeping from herself...

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

Cam Girl was a very interesting story. It took me some time to get into it but once I did I ended up liking it for the most part. I found it intriguing in the sense that there were various aspects to the story aside from the characters figuring out their lives. There was a mystery as to what really happened on the night of the accident, and later on there was this whole thing with "Blue" and his identity. And even though it was kind of weird and not many people would do that, but I liked how Vada and a particular character developed this bond over the accident. In a way, they held on to their individual suffering through the other and I was happy that in the end, it resolved and they started on the journey of moving on.

In regards to the characters though, I didn't connect with either Vada or Ellis. I didn't like the way Ellis was, I thought she could be stronger when it came to Vada and often times she just seemed too clingy. I wanted her to realize that she deserved so much more and would start to live for herself. I couldn't get over what she did to gain Vada's attention, even though it wasn't necessary, it was dishonest and she should have fought harder and been truthful about herself. As for Vada, she was a very complicated character. I understood her individual struggles, and the pain of not being able to do something she was so passionate about, but there were times I just couldn't take her complacent and self-pitying ways. And some of her decisions were just mind-baffling.  

But like I said, it was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. There were sexual moments that made me cringe a tad, mostly because it seemed to happen too much, but it was tolerable for a new adult novel. I also liked the whole concept of "Blue", and the conversations he and Vada would have. I had two people in mind that could possibly be Blue, and even leaned mostly toward one in particular when Vada met him. But when his true identity was unraveled, I realized how many times I had missed the clues and in a way, I wanted it to be someone else aside from who it really was. Regardless, it was a good idea to make Blue be that person in particular. It made sense because of what this person was struggling with.

As always, the writing was superb. The kind of creative writing that puts your mind to work. Leah is just awesome and I commend her for writing these kind of stories that are somewhat few in the world of books and are very much needed for people like Vada and Ellis. Their characters are relatable in that sense. Cam Girl is a great story. Give it a read.

About the Author

LEAH RAEDER is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago.

(And she still writes pretentiously lyrical fiction.)

www.leahraeder.com | facebook.com/leahraederbooks

Review: Rikki (Hart University #1) by Abigail Strom

Series: Hart University #1
Release date: September 22nd 2015
Purchase: Amazon 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Ever since junior high and an ill-fated game of seven minutes in heaven, Rikki Eisendrath and Sam Payne have hated each others’ guts. But when they end up at the same college—and the same dorm—they figure it’s time to declare a truce. 

They even become friends… sort of. But when Sam asks Rikki to model for his sculpting project, they start spending more time together—and her feelings for him get more complicated. 

She tries to focus on the guy she’s been crushing on instead. But Sam’s the one she can’t stop thinking about, even though their arguments are starting to heat up as much as the chemistry between them.

With antagonism and attraction this intense, there’s bound to be an explosion. But when the dust settles, will Sam and Rikki be enemies, friends… or something more?

*Request was approved via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. I loved how it played with my emotions and had me really invested in the characters, in spite of how frustrated they made me. Rikki and Sam had so much angst between them that it gave me the fireworks. They spent years oblivious and completely misunderstanding each other, and throughout the book I just wanted to shake some senses into them. There were moments that made me laugh, and there were moments that made me want to cry. Yeah, like I said, the emotions were definitely there. 

I connected with Rikki in the sense that she liked holding on to control. I understood her character and felt like she was as realistic as an eighteen year old trying to figure out her life gets. I liked the family she came from, and I admired her determination and her drive to focus on her education and excel at everything. She was very intellectual, and I think the greatest thing about the story is that Rikki and Sam connected based on something they had in common: they were both very smart and always performed at their utmost best. And I loved that there wasn't an insta-love or constant gushing over one's appearance, but they were attracted to each other's minds. Their relationship wasn't the best at start, but after several years of competing in academics and misunderstanding their feelings for each other, I was happy when they realized there was no hate and decided to be friends in college. I felt like had they not done that, then they wouldn't have been able to spend more time learning about each other and developing clarity about their true feelings.

Sam was such a good person. He wasn't the typical model-like guy found in most YA books, and he wasn't a star athlete, but he was sort of a nerd with great qualities and the type of guy I swooned over because he was cute in his own way. He had to deal with loss and some other issues in his family, and it was so sad how he liked Rikki in secret all that time but believed she wasn't interested in him because of her silly crushing on the supposedly good-looking guys in school. It was funny how in the end, they both admitted to thinking the other wasn't interested and hence thought it was best to start pining over someone else. But their feelings were so strong that trying to be with someone else never worked out for either of them.

Gosh, there's so much I could go on about but I don't want to spoil it too much for anyone who hasn't read the story. All I can say is that you'll definitely feel like plucking your lashes out over the relationship between Rikki and Sam, and your emotions will be scattered from beginning to end. These characters didn't only go through high school completely oblivious and often in denial about each other, it continued to university. So you can only imagine how much their craziness will frustrate readers. Aside from the constant back and forth, there were juicy moments and some humor thrown in the mix to keep things interesting. The writing is great, and the pacing is quick. Not necessarily light, but this book will indeed make you feel things. I highly recommend. 

About the Author
Abigail Strom started writing stories at the age of seven and has never been able to stop. She lives in New England with her family, who are incredibly supportive of the hours she spends hunched over her computer.

www.abigailstrom.com 

twitter.com/abigailstrom

Review: Black Iris by Leah Raeder

Release date: April 28th 2015
Publisher: Atria
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

She's not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it's time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

Which was the plan all along.

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

She's going to show them all.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley

So I've been back and forth with Black Iris, trying to get my thoughts together to convey my reasons for why I didn't feel the fireworks that I'd anticipated, even though it had wonderful and poetic writing. The thing is, although the writing is absolute great, I felt like it worked for me at times, and then there were moments where I wish it would have been more to the point and less Shakespearean. For instance, the dialogues. Sometimes they lost me, and I would think to myself, "never mind girls, but do guys talk like this?" I guess that's what the author was going for but it just threw me at times, and every so often I'd zone out and not know what was going on or where I was. 

Speaking of where I was, the transitioning between time periods was sometimes confusing and I frequently had to skip back to know what time Laney was in for that particular chapter. It took some getting used to, but towards the middle I finally realized that it was breaking down what exactly happened and what the story was really about. The twist was interesting, I honestly didn't see that coming so I liked that aspect of the book. However, Laney's reasons were...humph. I know she's not the sweetest protagonist, but honestly, I don't think she should have gone after anyone using such tactics, and in any case, she had no one to blame but herself because no one held her hand and made her do anything. What happened to her mother was all on her. I hate bullying and emotionally scarring people, but violence is never the answer to get back at anyone. There are better ways to handle such pain. 

Which leads me to my overall feelings in regards to the characters. I didn't really connect with anyone. I mean, I'm all for equality and am sympathetic towards Laney and what she'd gone through because of who she was, but like I said, to me her actions weren't justice. Aside from that, I wish she'd dealt with her other issues. Like her substance abuse, among other things. Aside from Laney, Armin and Blythe were interesting enough to keep me curious, but like the main character I didn't connect with them. 

In conclusion, it was a good, dark read with beautiful writing that worked in some parts, but threw me in others. I do believe the plot was interesting and there were realistic topics that many face in their daily lives, but I just didn't feel the full impact of what the author was going for. Still, I'm in love with Leah's writing and will definitely read Unteachable soon. 

Review: No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace

Release date: September 8th 2014
Publisher: Flux
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Sometimes, the cost of love is too steep

Olivia's twin brother, Liam, has been her best friend her whole life. But when he starts dating, Olivia is left feeling alone, so she tries to drive away Liam's girlfriends in an effort to get her best friend back.

But she meets her match in Zoey, Liam's latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia's tricks. What starts as verbal sparring between the two changes into something different, however, as they share their deepest insecurities and learn they have a lot in common. Olivia falls for Zoey, believing her brother could never get serious with her. But when Liam confesses that he's in love with Zoey, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself?

*Approved by the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Even though No One Needs to Know had its good points, it's so not what I'd expected it to be. The story didn't grab me a lot the way the blurb did and to be honest, at times it got draggy and I sort of drifted away from some scenes, anticipating the end. I didn't get the fireworks so to speak, but overall, it wasn't a bad read because it was my first time getting into a book of such premise and I liked it.

The story is told from the alternating POV of both girls, and I kinda wish that Liam had a narration too because I'd like to get into his head more to truly see how certain things affected him, especially since he and his sister are basically abandoned by their parents until further noticed. I also would have liked to understand just how Olivia's clinging ways bugged him. 

Speaking of Olivia, she was a trip at first. Very oblivious to the way people perceived her and not all there with having an idea of who she really was. I liked how when she and Zoey were paired up in class and they dared each other to step out of their comfort zone. It truly was an eye opener for Olivia. I liked how she started to lose the pretentious cloak she used to wear and began to show more of her true side to Zoey. Their relationship certainly blossomed and it was interesting seeing how both reacted to their feelings for the other. 

Zoey, on the other hand, went through hell because of Olivia's friend and the fact that she yearned for a better situation for her mom and little sister, as well as for herself. She seemed a tad complacent at first but from the beginning of the book til the end, she was my favorite character because she kept it real with Olivia. 

In terms of pacing, like I said there were a few bumps along the road where I zoned out, but aside from that it was a good story with nice writing that kept my interest.