Love Between Enemies (Grad Night #2) by Molly E.Lee

Summary: Zoey Handler is ready to put an end to her decade-long rivalry with Gordon Meyers. They’ve traded top spot between valedictorian and salutatorian for years, but all that’s over now. Right? But after a crazy graduation speech prank gets out of hand, suddenly their rivalry turns into all-out war. Time to make peace with a little friendly payback.

Step one? Make him believe they’re now friends.

Step two? Show him the time of his life at an epic graduation party.

Step three? Don’t fall for his tricks.

Step four? Absolutely, positively, do not kiss him again.

So what if he’s cute? (Okay, hot.) So what if he’s charming? (Heaven help her, tempting.) So what if he apologizes? (That has to be fake.) She knows the real Gordon. And no matter how much her heart begs her to stop, there’s no turning back.

Release Date: January 2018
Age Group: YA, Contemporary (clean)
Source: Review Copy from Publisher (Entangled Teen Crush)
Reviewed By: Nat

Review:
Most of the time it's going to be the same song and dance when I finish an Entangled Teen Crush book... they are just  🎧 to my ears! I love these easy, clean stories. Each one is unique and I never feel like I'm re-reading anything. The only time that re-visiting a good plot is in Hallmark movies. You can never have enough "cottage" "mistletoe" or "marry me" titles. 😂

Love Between Enemies was unique in that it was based on revenge and a competitive heart. I wouldn't say this book gave me #thefeels like most of the Crush books do but it did catch my interest.

The entire story was set in the span of a few days and it was a lot to take in. You had to accept that they had an unspoken history with each other and there were several memories that built out their past. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and when it did I was left feeling meh about it. I like the Grad Night series and the writing style of Lee and honestly think it was just the characters. Zoey and Gordon just didn't do it for me.

Overall, this was an easy, quick read but just not one of my Crush favorites.

Book Review: Ryan's Bed by Tijan

Summary:  
I crawled into Ryan Jensen’s bed that first night by accident.

I barely knew him. I thought it was his sister’s bed—her room. It took seconds to realize my error, and I should've left...

I didn’t.
I didn’t jump out.
I didn’t get embarrassed.
I relaxed.
And that night, in that moment, it was the only thing I craved.

I asked to stay. He let me, and I slept.

The truth? I never wanted to leave his bed. If I could've stayed forever, I would have.
He became my sanctuary.

Because—four hours earlier—my twin sister killed herself.


Release Date: January 2018
Age Group: New Adult, Contemporary
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Reviewed By: Nat

Review:
I've read most of Tijan's books and what draws me each time is how strong the women are in the face of absolute madness. Seriously, some of the plots are just straight nightmares but she has a way of developing these women, it's almost like a rebirth by the end.

Ryan's Bed is not my typical kind of read because I don't like to cry buuuutttt I couldn't resist a Tijan. It was a heavy read in the sense of the topic- suicide but not in the way I thought. It is told in the POV of the surviving twin. The story really captures you in the thoughts and mental processes of the grieving who are left after someone leaves in such an unexpected, harsh way. Mackenzie's voice really hooked me and it was like a roller coaster of emotions, self discovery, grief and hope. There were times when I busted out laughing and then others where I wanted to reach into the book and choke a kid. I hate bullies. But I never got choked up until the very. last. page. What a punch in the gut! The final twist and the final piece of Mackenzie was perfectly laid out. 

Novella Please:
Now, I know that this is a standalone and I am totally cool with that BUT there must be a novella or something for Ryan's backstory. You get bits and pieces of his trials and tribulations and in true reader fashion, I simply want more!

Young Adult or New Adult?
I know that this is labeled a YA because of the age of the characters but the content (i.e. sex) makes it a New Adult for me. It's not one I would recommend to the teens but I would tell my girlfriends about it. For a YA that focuses on loss (not suicide but similar grieving processes) I would recommend The Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

Book Review: Text, Don't Call: An Illustrated Guide to the Introverted Life by Aaron Caycedo-Kimura (AKA INFJoe)

Summary: 
An illustrated guide to the challenges and pleasures of the introverted life
Introversion is "in." But there are still many misconceptions about introverts in the world. They're shy. Anti-social. They don't want to have close relationships. They're all cat people. They don't like big parties (okay, that last one might be true).
INFJoe, the cartoon persona of artist and introvert Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, is here to set the record straight. Filled with charming comic book style illustrations, this book provides invaluable insights into the introverted life with plenty of humor and wit. Full of moments that will make introverts say, "That's so me!" as well as helpful tips on surviving at parties and in the workplace, Text, Don't Call is the perfect gift for your quiet friends, or the extroverted ones who could use some help to better understand the introverts in their lives.

Release Date: August 2017
Age Group: YA/Adult Humor, Illustrated Guide
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Reviewed By: Nat

Review:
Text, Don't Call popped up in my mail box just before Hurricane Harvey hit and it couldn't have come at a better time. I really needed a fun, light read! This hit the spot.

By nature I am a full blown extrovert that was born into a family of complete introverts (extended family included). For example, when my extended family gathered at the holidays they would literally choose starvation before saying a prayer over the meal. There would be 25 of us hanging out making small talk just waiting for that one uncle to get there because he was the designated Pray-ee. True story. They would choose death over praying in front of one another.

I've glanced at some of the reviews on Text, Don't Call and wasn't surprised that most were from introverts relating. After all, most bookworms fall into the introvert category but you know I like to stand out and cause myself trouble, I blame it on my extrovert nature.

INFJoe did a fantastic job of illustrating the situations and thought processes of both introverts and extroverts. I was cracking up and running back and forth to my bedroom shoeing my husband different pages. There were so many that I could relate too and even more that had me naming names!

"Hey, that's Miriam! I am so sending her this picture" 
"Oh my gosh that is what Nick says all the time, huh."
"... yep, that's what she does, hides behind her phone and blocks us all out."

This fun book is perfect for book exchanges, gifts and for those that just need a good, relatable laugh.

Book Review: You're Weird: A Creative Journal for Misfits, Oddballs, and Anyone Else Who's Uniquely Awesome by Kate Peterson

Summary: Part journal, part activity book, and all fun, You're Weird is a valentine for the inner weirdo in everyone--that part of us that doesn't quite fit in, and secretly isn't even trying. Filled with hand-drawn creatures that are a bit...different...along with lists, writing prompts, activities, and more, it's a delightful and affirming book for creative oddballs everywhere.

In our mass-produced world that wants everyone to fit in and fall in line, this quirky book give us permission to celebrate what makes us each unique--and amazing. It's the perfect gift for the creative teen, journal-loving best friend, or indie artist in your life...or for your own weird self.









Release Date: July 2017
Age Group: Everyone
Source:  Review Copy from Publisher
Reviewed By: Nat

Review:
If you don't think you're weird then chances are you are super, duper weird. This journal/doodle/prompt book is a lot of fun! It's not something that you sit down and try to complete. Rather you sit back and really think about what quirks you have and reflect a bit on yourself.

I wouldn't suggest this journal for children or even middle school-age children. Some of the prompts wouldn't mean much to them at their age. For instance, "What kinds of weirdness are most important to you in a partner?" or "Craziest things I've ever done for love, work, friendship, etc." My younger kids better not have done anything for love... ya feel me.

This is best suited for junior high and older, I just think they will get more out of it and beginning in Jr. High you start to see kids want to explore life a bit more (aka they become tween monsters).

Overall, I really enjoyed You're Weird and I plan to fill mine up and give it to my kids as a journal of all my weirdness without apology. The prompts allow for stories and experiences to be recorded and I think it will justify a lot of my quirks or it may just further confuse them but hey, it will be fun!

I would suggest this as a gift for a new graduate, doodlers, and adolescents who are having a hard time accepting their inner awesome. It could also be used as an anti-bullying prompt book in the classroom. 

For a young audience (middle grade and below) I would pick-up a Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith. There are over a dozen different versions and all the prompts are ridiculous and kid approved. My least favorite was when my daughter brought it to the dinner table and ate spaghetti off the book... good times.

Series Review: The Young Royals by Emma Lea

Despite being the second child of the King and Queen of Merveille, Alyssabeth thought that if she kept a low profile she could stay out of the media’s glaring spotlight and live a relatively normal life. That was until her father, the King, and her brother, the Crown Prince, are both killed in a hunting accident.
 
Her dream of joining the UN is no more and instead she needs to return to the small European country of her birth to pick up where her father and brother left off. Her Harvard degree in International Relations is forfeit and in it’s place she must become Queen, that is if the misogynistic Parliament can see past their prejudices.
 
Not much has changed in the small country in her four year absence, but there are two noticeable differences. Her brother’s two best friends Will Darkly and Jordan Wicks have grown up into two very intriguing men. Jordan practically sweeps her off her feet from the moment she steps off the plane, but Will’s more reserved, darkly intense interest in her gives her tingles.
 

Release Date: June 2016
Age Group: YA, Contemporary, Romance (Clean)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Reviewed By:  Nat

Review:
The Young Royals series was a Kindle Unlimited recommendation... I was on a bit of a royal bender... no matter my age I still enjoy a princess.

A Royal Engagement felt like a modern day Pride & Prejudice but with the twist that the girl wasn't going to be destitute, in fact it was the opposite, she was going to be Queen. Naturally I was hooked. I loved the MC Alyssabeth, Will and I loved to hate Jordan! A jerk is always a good ingredient when mapping out a love story and Jordan was totally Wickham material. All the characters are fleshed out so well and have their own struggles and story, which I find is hard in a contemporary series. Sometimes I feel like I am re-reading the same story just with another characters name.

I sped right from one book to the next. Initially I thought there might be a theme of "re-telling" but each book had a unique story and no other had the P&P feel.  {As it shouldn't because there is only room for one Darcy!}

Emma Lea does a great job of keeping it fresh and exciting throughout the series. I love that each subsequent story follows one of Alyssa's Ladies in Waiting ( and begins with an "E").

A Royal Engagement introduces Queen Alyssa and her Ladies in Waiting.
A Royal Entanglement is Lady Alexandra's story.
A Royal Entrapment is Lady Priscilla's Story.
A Royal Expectation is Lady Jeanette's story.

You need to read them in order because you get little bits and pieces of each Lady and you will probably make the wrong judgments, I did. That made me love them more when I read their story! If I had to choose a favorite it would be between Lady Alex and Lord Frédéric's story {A Royal Entanglement} & Lady Jeanette and her Aussie {A Royal Expectation}.

Lady Jeanette and her Aussie, Drew, were really fun to follow. I kept thinking of the strong Australian accent he must have had and then that led to Thor and well.... he looks like Thor... #winning

I know this can't be the end of the series because there are still Ladies and I am waiting Emma... these are like my Hallmark movies, I gotta have my fix!

*This is a clean contemporary romance series. If you like Emma Lea's writing style, she has loads of other series but they are not G rated like these.