Sometimes I read a book, and I even enjoy it, but I don't have much to say about it. I jot down a few thoughts and then I move on. When these start to pile up, I put them together in one post.
Here are some reviews of YA Contemporaries that would be fun light summer reads:
Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
Overall, I really like this book and am excited to have discovered Liz Czukas as an author. I will definitely read her next book. I enjoy YA books that are about genuine teens in genuine teen situations, behaving in the overly dramatic silly way they often do. And Czukas is very good at the humorous similes, banter, and zingy one liners. With all of that and the main romantic guy in this book plus the friends this would have been a five star read for me. Except for the entire premise. And if the entire premise of a book doesn't work, it should sink it and sink it hard right? But the writing was a bit too engaging for it to sink it completely from me. I just didn't get why it was necessary. The book goes back and forth between two alternate realities. Why couldn't one have been enough? (The one I think was the reality worked just fine.) I THINK it was Heart's coping mechanism for the night. Imagining what her night may have been like if she had gone with the other choice, but it's never really explained what is going on it in that whole back and forth between two scenarios section and it bothered me. A lot. Both scenarios have the same ending and it's the ending I wanted from the moment a particular character was introduced. And like I said, it is a testament to the dialogue and characters that the back and forth didn't completely kill this for me. I just wish it hadn't been there.
Going Rogue by Robin Benway
Going Rogue is a fun sequel to Also Known As. The situations in this book are so out of the realm of reality and yet also have enough realism injected into the characters and relationships that it works to make the outrageousness just believable enough to keep me invested. I enjoyed seeing how Maggie's relationships with those around her are changing now they know her secrets, how she is coping, and how the secrets she has always lived with affect the people who love her. Jesse remains the very best of boyfriends despite some bumpy patches in the road and Roux is as lovable and surly as ever. I'm definitely hoping for more of these because I just find these characters so delightful.
Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore
I enjoyed the concept of this book and how the ideas the girls had to make their lives more like the movies played out. It was very genuine and I appreciated how their developing friendship and different personalities were shown. The book is in first person and switches between their points of view. I liked both main characters for different reasons and appreciated how their stories turned out. I did feel like Lily's ending was rushed and didn't make quite as much sense. We just didn't get enough time getting to know Joe and what he might be thinking to completely understand why that turned out as it did. It's certainly fun light read and one I highly recommend to anyone looking for a romantic read for summer. It would be fun to to go through the book and have a marathon of all the movies mentioned. They are all good ones.
Review of ARC I received at ALA Midwinter.
Here are some reviews of YA Contemporaries that would be fun light summer reads:
Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
Overall, I really like this book and am excited to have discovered Liz Czukas as an author. I will definitely read her next book. I enjoy YA books that are about genuine teens in genuine teen situations, behaving in the overly dramatic silly way they often do. And Czukas is very good at the humorous similes, banter, and zingy one liners. With all of that and the main romantic guy in this book plus the friends this would have been a five star read for me. Except for the entire premise. And if the entire premise of a book doesn't work, it should sink it and sink it hard right? But the writing was a bit too engaging for it to sink it completely from me. I just didn't get why it was necessary. The book goes back and forth between two alternate realities. Why couldn't one have been enough? (The one I think was the reality worked just fine.) I THINK it was Heart's coping mechanism for the night. Imagining what her night may have been like if she had gone with the other choice, but it's never really explained what is going on it in that whole back and forth between two scenarios section and it bothered me. A lot. Both scenarios have the same ending and it's the ending I wanted from the moment a particular character was introduced. And like I said, it is a testament to the dialogue and characters that the back and forth didn't completely kill this for me. I just wish it hadn't been there. Going Rogue by Robin Benway
Going Rogue is a fun sequel to Also Known As. The situations in this book are so out of the realm of reality and yet also have enough realism injected into the characters and relationships that it works to make the outrageousness just believable enough to keep me invested. I enjoyed seeing how Maggie's relationships with those around her are changing now they know her secrets, how she is coping, and how the secrets she has always lived with affect the people who love her. Jesse remains the very best of boyfriends despite some bumpy patches in the road and Roux is as lovable and surly as ever. I'm definitely hoping for more of these because I just find these characters so delightful.Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore
I enjoyed the concept of this book and how the ideas the girls had to make their lives more like the movies played out. It was very genuine and I appreciated how their developing friendship and different personalities were shown. The book is in first person and switches between their points of view. I liked both main characters for different reasons and appreciated how their stories turned out. I did feel like Lily's ending was rushed and didn't make quite as much sense. We just didn't get enough time getting to know Joe and what he might be thinking to completely understand why that turned out as it did. It's certainly fun light read and one I highly recommend to anyone looking for a romantic read for summer. It would be fun to to go through the book and have a marathon of all the movies mentioned. They are all good ones. Review of ARC I received at ALA Midwinter.
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