ya contemporary – Page 4 – The Talking Bookworm

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Goodreads Summary:

A teen escapes to a boarding school abroad and falls for a Korean pop star in this fun and fresh romantic novel in the vein of Anna and the French Kiss.

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can’t stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can’t deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she’ll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process.

Review:

FREAKING ADORABLE. That is all I can come up with when I think of Hello, I Love You.

Many of you don’t know about my Kpop phase in college. I was OBSESSED with Korean pop my first year of college. I’m still a fan, but not in the obsessive way I was, so when I saw a YA book about a Kpop idol I went all grabby hands for it. I called dibs on Kayla’s copy.

HILY is a very fluffy and fun read, but it does have some serious moments. My heart broke several times watching Grace struggle with the family issues she was running from, but enter Mr. Kpop and the heaviness of the situation melted away. While I was not always a fan of Jason, I grew to like him. He was your typical aloof male Korean character. I felt like I was reading a Korean drama instead of watching one. It was GREAT. I devoured this book in two days. I am glad to report that I picked a great book as my first read of 2016.

I do want to point out that there are several out there that will most likely not LOVE this book like I do. If you are a fan of Korean dramas and the Kpop culture in general, I’m pretty positive you will at least like this book. If you are not into Korean entertainment, then it is 50/50.

If you are looking for a light, quick read, pick up Hello, I Love You. Give it a try at least. 🙂

Rating: 4 out of 5

Vero Signature copy

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: Joyride by Anna Banks

December 13, 2015November 20, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber’s mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

Review:

All I can think right now is… YES. Why do I have such reaction? Well I’ll tell you why. WE FINALLY SEE MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS PORTRAYED CORRECTLY IN YOUNG ADULT FICTION. *claps forever*

Okay, maybe I should not be screaming that at you guys, but I am just SO HAPPY to see a real portrayal [even if we didn’t really go down and dirty into the lives of an immigrant family]. I’m disappointed with how little the publishing world talks about the reality of hispanic immigrants in the United States. And we all know how rare it is to see another ethnicity other than caucasian as a main character in young adult fiction. Now let me clarify, I am not bashing those books. I obviously don’t mind reading about white characters, but it is refreshing to see someone rise up to the challenge and write something else. With all that said and done, let’s continue.

One of the reasons why I really like Joyride is how real the story felt. Every single character was developed. They didn’t feel two-dimensional to me. They had depth. I love it when an author can write a story so well that the reader feels as if she were reading a true story, an account of something that happened in real life. Maybe I feel that way because I grew up in neighborhoods full of Mexican/Hispanic immigrants and know the struggles of those whose parents are undocumented. It is tough when you have to grow up at such a young age just like Carly. There is a lot I want to talk about, but I would go off on a tangent so instead…

In Fat Amy’s famous words… Ms. Banks crushed it!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Vero Signature copy

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: Red Girl, Blue Boy by Lauren Baratz-Logstead

October 20, 2015July 8, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Katie and Drew really shouldn’t get along. After all, her father is the Republican nominee for President of the United States while his mother is at the top of the Democratic ticket. But when Katie and Drew are thrown together in a joint interview on a morning talk show, they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. With an entire nation tuned into and taking sides in your parents’ fight, and the knowledge that—ultimately—someone has to lose, how can you fall in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate?

This title in the If Only line is a frank and funny romance that shows how sparks fly when opposites attract.

Review:

Ahhhhh. I am… disappointed. After I read The Wrong Side of Right I’ve been craving to read another YA Contemporary-Political novel, and when I saw Red Girl, Blue Boy I thought that craving would be satisfied, but I was wrong.

First, Let’s talk about the good. I really liked Drew as a character. He felt genuine and real. He developed and progressed as the story went on. His values and believes were highlighted many times throughout the novel. He was my favorite character in RGBB.

Now… Katie. I did not like her at all. Over half of the novel, I felt like Katie’s character was stagnant. I didn’t see any development. She felt forced, at times a bit fake, and annoying. I know this sounds really harsh and I feel bad for saying that, but if there was a reason as to why she was the way she was, we were never told. At least I didn’t see it. I don’t judge a character by their likability, but by their development.

I will say that once the story got going, it was stinking cute. And adorable at times too. Drew’s puppy love was adorable, and I was even starting to like Kat a little because Drew liked her so much, but in the end that wasn’t enough.

If you enjoy fluffy, quick reads, this is the book for you. If you are looking for a romance-political thrilling read, you’re not going to get that with Red Girl, Blue Boy.

Red Girl, Blue Boy comes out today! Go to your major/local bookstore to get it if it sounds like your type of book!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from Emma @ Miss Print. Receiving this book for free does not influence my opinion.

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

ARC Review: Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

September 15, 2015July 8, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley is recklessly loyal. Taking care of her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But she’s tired of being loyal to people who don’t appreciate her—including her needy best friend and her absent mom.

Arden finds comfort in a blog she stumbles upon called “Tonight the Streets Are Ours,” the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter. When Peter is dumped by the girlfriend he blogs about, Arden decides to take a road trip to see him.

During one crazy night out in NYC filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn’t exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, either.

Review:

Why doesn’t anybody love me as much as I love them?

Arden, arden, arden. I know how you feel. I think everybody at some point in their life asks themselves that same question, and it is such a Leila thing to make a book around that question. (FYI, have been a huge Leila Sales fan ever since I read This Song Will Save You Life. Sales fan for life!)

We start of TTSAO with Arden taking the blame for something her best friend Lindsey did, but this time it’s not something small, but big. It is something that will have serious repercussions to her future, and that starts the domino effect which brings us to her asking herself the question if we love others more than they loves us?

SPOILERY SECTION

Now that you’re warned let’s begin. Sales takes us on a journey that helps us see why we may think we love others more than they love us. The journey really begins when Arden discovers the blog “Tonight The Streets Are Ours” written by Peter who asked himself the same question she had asked herself moments ago. Every post she reads makes her evaluate her life, her relationships, and along the way helps her see why her mother left, why her dad is the way he is, and why Lindsey acts the way she does. Sales teaches us that we can get burnt out if we only take care of others and not ourselves.

Sales also brings to the readers attention something called a blank check. A blank check is basically something we give someone. They can cash it whenever they want, how many times they want, whatever the favor may be.

I will finish this review of with a quote towards the end of the book.

“I used to think that loving somebody meant sacrificing anything for them. I thought it meant writing a blank check. I thought it meant that you would die without each other. But it turns out that Peter was right about that, too: death and a broken heart are not the same.” -Arden

GO BUY OUT YOUR COPY TODAY! YOU WON’T REGRET IT!

Banes & Noble | Amazon

Rating: 5 out of 5

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from Emma @ Miss Print which she obtained at BEA 2015 for review consideration.

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

September 8, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

When high school senior Kelsey’s identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn’t know about the tragedy is Michelle’s boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can’t bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can’t deny that she’s falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn’t want.

Review:

Wow.

This book swept me away. I was not expecting this book to show the crazy side of grief in such a real way. And to show that the grey area of the world is much more complicated than we make it out to be. I’m floored that we get such a real experience of grief.

We start of the story with the twins Kelsey and Michelle. They seem to be complete opposites. Twins that could not be more different. And then Michelle dies. It changes everything for Kelsey. She sees that all this time, she never really knew her sister. Not anymore. Not for the past few years. I really liked that AMMA started of with both of them alive, instead of Kelsey reminiscing.

Now let’s start the review portion where I let my thoughts go free…

AMMA felt so… Real. The entire time I was reading AMMA, it felt like I could know Kelsey in real life. She was such a genuine character and I felt for her. The themes in the novel and the experiences seemed so real. Maybe because war is an everyday thing to many people in this world nowadays, and death is something that happens naturally in everyday life. It’s Just… Crazy.

I really liked that Kelsey who is known to not be a girl who studies was able to get an A+ on a paper by studying hard. We don’t normally see the process of someone studying hard in books, and we are able to see how hard she studies in AMMA. As someone who had to study a fair amount to get good grades, it makes me feel good to see this portrayed in a YA novel. Kelsey learning how to study opened up a new world for her. She was able to see how much she could accomplish if she tried, and that gave her the fire she needed to start living again.

Let’s touch quickly on the male protagonist. Peter is such a complex character. The more we read about him, the more layers he received, and it is so gratifying to see a love interest get so much development. I was ecstatic.

I honestly think AMMA is one of the best books about grief in the YA sphere. I haven’t really heard much buzz about it, and it really does deserve more than it is getting so far.

Recommend to anyone looking for a sad yet inspiring read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Poppy/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: A Summer Like No Other by Elodie Nowodazkij

September 4, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Emilia Moretti’s goal for the summer is simple: forget her brother’s best friend—Nick Grawsky—ever existed. It should be easy: He’s spending his summer in the Hamptons, adding girls in tiny bikinis to his list of broken hearts. Guarantee he won’t be telling them they’re like his little sisters. This summer, Emilia won’t stay awake at night thinking about him. She’ll need flawless ballet movements to have a shot at next year’s showcase, and she’s finally ready to search for her birth parents. But when Nick decides to stay in the city, Emilia’s resolve disappears in a pirouette. Maybe it’s the spin they needed to be together. As long as she doesn’t get stuck believing in happily ever after…

Nick is tired of pretending to be the happy, let’s-have-fun guy. His father wants him to change his career from professional dancer to…lawyer. He needs to put all of his focus on dancing to prove to Daddy Dearest he’s good enough to make it big. And he may have a case of the bluest balls in history courtesy of Emilia. She’s off-limits: The bro code with Roberto even forbids the dirty thoughts he has about her. Besides, he’s not boyfriend material. He only has time for flings, for girls who don’t expect much, for girls he doesn’t want to kiss goodnight. He knows he should resist her, but he’s not sure he wants to…

At least for this summer.

It’s going to be a summer like no other.

Review:

I was getting ready to complain that it was too short, when I went on goodreads and saw that this is a companion novella. *face palm*

*Warning. Spoilery Review*

We start of with Emilia and get to know her story. She’s adopted. She wants to know who biological parents are and doesn’t understand the secrecy behind her adoption. Also, she’s obsessed with Nick.

Then we get to see Nick’s POV. We see his life isn’t as amazing as it seems. His father fired Emilia’s dad. His father doesn’t approve of him dancing professionally. And also, he promised his best friend who is Emilia’s brother that he wouldn’t go out with his sister.

As the story progresses so does Nick and Emilia’s relationship. Emilia was a little whiny at times and I actually liked the development of Nick’s character more than Emilia’s. You can see him change and really start to grow on the page while Emilia is stuck on her issues, acting out rashly and at times very immaturely. At the end of the day though, my only complaint is that this novella was not a full length novel.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: Everything, Everything By Nicola Yoon

September 1, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Review:

I think this is one of the hardest reviews I’ve written so far because I like the book, I loved the ending, I loved the message, but I did not like the MC. Don’t get me wrong, Madeline is not a bad character, I just personally didn’t like her half of the time.

I really like that Everything, Everything encourages the reader to do things they’re afraid of, not to stay in unhealthy relationships, and makes us see that the person “in love” does not always have the best judgement when it comes to the person they love.

What I actually disliked about EE was the middle of the book. I found myself a little bored and I was very close to giving up on it. I decided to put it aside for a few months and gave it a second chance a few days ago and I’m glad I did because the last 30% of the book was awesome!

I personally think if I had been younger I would have absolutely loved Everything, Everything. The writing is wonderful and at times poetic (and I’m a sucker for poetic writing), but I was not able to connect with the characters. I found them a bit childish at times and that made my experience a not so great one.

Overall, Everything, Everything is a novel you want to read. The impressions it leaves you with are worth the read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Disclaimer: Thank you Delacorte Press/Random House Children for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I received this book at YALLWEST 2015. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp

July 27, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

You say it was all meant to be. You and me. The way we met. Our secrets in the woods. Even the way it all exploded. It was simply a matter of fate.

Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it one more time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so uncertain. But I’m going back to the beginning on my own. To see what happened and why.

Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.

Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?

Review:

Guys, I really wanted to like this. I really did. But it fell short for me and I DNF’ed it halfway through.

The beginning wasn’t bad. I was actually starting to like it. Lulu was a bit endearing and you sympathized. You were rooting for her. Then entered her friends and I was just like ehhhhhh. And then there was Mason. I wanted to like him. I did. But I couldn’t. Something didn’t click for me. It fell short. I made myself continue to read it because I said to myself “It begins slow, It’s going to get better just you see, Come on Veronica you’re being too harsh!” But none of that helped.

The whole moonshine thing also made me want to smack Lulu in the head. I was like, “Come ON! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING! STOP IT!”

Overall, the story wasn’t for me. Maybe others have enjoyed it and I’m glad for them, but for me the story didn’t click. The characters were just characters and I couldn’t come to care for them.

Sigh.

Does anyone agree or disagree with me? Please let me know in the comments below!

Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Reviews, Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

July 13, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.

Review:

Gosh. I love politics. When I was approached by Penguin and asked if I would like to read The Wrong Side of Right I said, HECK YES!

When I was young, I dreamt of being a senator. I wanted to be a part of the law-making process of my country. I actually ended up taking a different route in college, but this book made me reminisce and want to be a part of that world again.

Kate’s world is turned upside down when she comes home to find out that one of the candidates running for president is her father. Kate handles it with so much grace that I wish I was Kate in day-to-day life. She makes mistakes like any 17-year-old girl would, yet she owns up to them. I’m proud of the way she handles her new life. With much more grace than I probably would if I were in her shoes.

There is just something to this story that just works, it clicks.

We have romance, sort-of, but not really. The story isn’t about the romance.
We have a dysfunctional family, but not your average one.
We have great friendships that experience some bumps in the road.
We explore what loyalty really means, and what being a family is all about.

But that’s not all, Throne throws all of that into the middle of a presidential campaign. I wish I was the one who came up with that idea. Truly amazing. I also geeked out a lot throughout the entire novel. I studied Communication in school, and reading the tactics and strategies the campaign used to gain ground in the polls made me giddy with excitement. Gosh, I am such a nerd.

It took me four months to read TWSoR, but it was worth it. I wasn’t always in the mood for contemporaries (I have been in a fantasy mood for the past couple months), but I pushed through and in the end I have no idea why it took me so long to finish it. I devoured the last third in no time.

If you are a fan of Ally Carter or Sarah Dessen, I recommend you pick up this book. It’s a great read and I don’t know why the hype around this book is not at it’s all time high.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Disclaimer: Edited on July 22nd for grammar and clarification.

Disclaimer: Thank you Penguin Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

June 4, 2015July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Review:

Floating on clouds. That’s my current emotional state. There is no other way to explain this book.

See, I was hesitant to read this book right after The Summer of Chasing Mermaids because I thought to myself nothing else can compare to its awesomeness, but good ol’ ignorant me forgot just how good Emery Lord is. There is no other book I could have read after TSoCM except this book without it falling flat.

The Start of Me and You is so stinking cute, I can’t stand it. It is like cotton candy. Sweet, delicious, but you devour to fast, craving for more. I tweeted that I both loved and hated Emery Lord right when I finished the book because THAT ENDING nearly killed me and this is what she had to say to that…

OFFICIALLY DYING OF FEELS.

Honestly, this review is not really a review, but more like an outlet of my feels because Dear Lord The Start of Me and You was everything I wanted and more. The awesome friendships, the slow-burn between Paige and Max, the idea that not everything is exactly how it seems, and that we should not take for granted the people we have in our lives just made it perfect. I would literally hug the book right now if it was anywhere near me. I want to cuddle with it like it were a teddy bear. Seriously guys. I’m not kidding. This baby needs to be protected.

Also, one more thing. MAX. UNGHHHH. THAT BOY. Seriously, he was so nerdy and adorable. I love nerds. Max is more of my real life ideal type when comparing him to my other book boyfriends. (I could never handle an Isaiah, but I can dream lol)

Now, go to the bookstore and read this darn book because I can assure you it will be the best decision of your life!