Review: Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Published: June 18, 2019

Publisher: Little Brown and Co

Format: via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 

Synopsis

Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century! It's 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother's historic home in downtown Nantucket: but this year Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, a nursing student, is caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests, a passion which takes her to Martha's Vineyard with her best friend, Mary Jo Kopechne. Only son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. Thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother who is hiding some secrets of her own. As the summer heats up, Teddy Kennedy sinks a car in Chappaquiddick, a man flies to the moon, and Jessie experiences some sinking and flying herself, as she grows into her own body and mind.

My Thoughts

I’ve always been obsessed with the 60’s it was a fascinating time in history so when I heard Elin Hilderbrand newest novel was focused during that time I knew I had to read it. Summer of ‘69 focuses on The Levin family. We met Jessie who is thirteen and this is the summer when everything changes for her. We get the stories of her siblings Tiger who is in Vietnam, oldest sister Blair who is married and pregnant but doesn't know if she still wants to be and is struggling with her husband who wants her to be a housewife while she loves her independence. Middle sister Kirby who is in school but is drawn to protests and the civil rights movement and wants to make a change in this world. All of this while the world is changing and with historic moments thrown in Summer of ‘69 is one year no one will ever forget.

Jessie is the main voice of this novel, it's her coming of age story of a girl who is simply trying to figure out this thing we call life. She doesn't want to spend her summer in Nantucket with her grandmother but she is forced to by her parents and while there she learns a lot about growing up and falls in love for the first time. She is dealing with grown-up issues and is hoping her family can survive all that is happening during this crazy summer. The family is on edge hoping Tiger can make it back home and that the war will end. That takes a toll on everyone but especially their mother and that takes a toll on her marriage. This novel focuses on everything from love, marriage, family, to the war.

Summer of ‘69 is a compelling story of family, secrets and is a coming of age story that also spotlights the historic moments in history that take place during this time. It's an interesting story one that spotlights every member of the family but never makes you feel overwhelmed by all the characters. Every character has a distinct voice and their stories are all very interesting. While this is a departure for Elin Hilderbrand I loved this read. Her dive into historical fiction was great and I loved it. This is another winner from her and one novel that makes for the perfect summer read.

Review: Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Published: September 12, 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: audiobook via Overdrive

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

My Thoughts

Autoboyography gives us the story of Tanner who is a bi teen living in conservative Utah. He has a best friend Autumn whom he thinks likes him but he doesn't see her that way. He is just waiting to go off to college and live his life the way he wants when he meets Sebastian. Sebastian is everything Tanner wants to be, he has just published his first novel and Tanner falls in love with him. Living in religious Utah he doesn't know if Sebastian is gay or not so he doesn't want to be too forward but soon he gets signals that make him think Sebastian feels the same way about him.

We slowly see Tanner and Sebastian trend the line when it comes to romance. Tanner is head over heels while Sebastian can't admit that he is bi or gay he just knows that he has feelings for Tanner but will never admit it to anyone. This story pulled at my heartstrings at times seeing how both of these guys are just trying to find their way in the world all the while trying to navigate the feelings of love. It's hard enough growing up but to come out in such a conservative city it took a toll on them both and their relationship.

This novel was all about love and coming to terms with who you are and being proud of it. The romance was cute and you rooted for them because you wanted them to be happy and have a chance to see what could be. I also enjoyed Tanner’s friendships and family, they offered him such love and support sadly something you don't see sometimes. This is a wonderfully written novel that will leave you with so many emotions in the very end.

Cover Reveal: Ugly Beautiful Girl by Tracy Krimmer

Today is the cover reveal for Ugly Beautiful Girl by Tracy Krimmer. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Ugly Beautiful Girl by Tracy Krimmer

Genre: Coming of Age/ Contemporary Romance

Age category: New Adult

Release Date: September 27, 2017

Blurb:

Nerd. Weird. Ugly. That's me. And I don't want it to be anymore.

Now is my time to make my mark on the world. My college roommate doesn't make it easy. Neither does her brother, Jesse, but for completely different reasons. He makes me feel things I've never felt before.

Wanted. Important. Beautiful.

But we can't be together because it isn't real. Someone like him could never fall for someone like me. We aren't meant to fit together.

Even if I fall apart without him.

You can find Ugly Beautiful Girl on Goodreads

You can pre-order Ugly Beautiful Girl here on Amazon

Ugly Beautiful Girl will be available on Kindle Unlimited

        About the Author:
Tracy's love of writing began at nine years old. She wrote stories about aliens at school, machines that did homework for you, and penguins. Now she pens books and short stories about romance. She loves to read a great book, whether it be romance or science fiction, or any genre in between, or pop popcorn and catch up on her favorite TV shows or movies. She's been known to crush a candy or two as well. Her loves include fitness, reading, coffee, dogs, and naps (not in that order), and her dislikes are blue cheese, cold weather, and burpees.

You can find and contact Tracy here:

- Website

- Twitter

- Facebook

- Goodreads

- Amazon

- Bookbub

- Instagram

- Newsletter

Review: Grit by Gillian French

Grit by Gillian French

Expected Publication: May 16, 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

His presence beside me is like heat, like weight, something I’ve carried around on my back too long.

Raw and moving, this contemporary realistic debut novel will leave readers of E. Lockhart and Gayle Forman breathless as it unflinchingly unfolds the tragic secrets being kept in a small, deceptively idyllic Maine town.

Seventeen-year-old Darcy Prentiss has long held the title of “town slut.” She knows how to have a good time, sure, but she isn’t doing anything all the guys haven’t done. But when you’re a girl with a reputation, every little thing that happens seems to keep people whispering—especially when your ex-best friend goes missing.

But if anyone were to look closer at Darcy, they’d realize there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. Staying out late, hooking up, and telling lies is what Darcy does to forget. Forget about the mysterious disappearance of her friend. Forget about the dark secret she and her cousin Nell share. Forget about that hazy Fourth of July night. So when someone in town anonymously nominates Darcy to be in the running for Bay Festival Princess—a cruel act only someone with a score to settle would make—all of the things that Darcy wants to keep hidden threaten to erupt in ways she wasn’t prepared to handle…and isn’t sure if she can.

My Thoughts

I initially went into this thinking it was more of a thriller but I found it more of a coming of age story. We meet Darcy and her family who live in a small Maine town. Darcy doesn’t have the greatest of reputations but she owes who she is. She hasn’t been the same since her friend disappeared and the whole town is up in arms wanting to know what happened to her, and many believe Darcy knows something about it. We also met her cousin Nell who everyone, especially her mother thinks is the most innocent person around but we soon find out she isn’t exactly who people think she is. She has her fair share of secrets, ones that Darcy has kept for her since she is protective of her cousin.

I found the read interesting, I felt for Darcy and how she always gets the raw end of the deal. Yes, she likes to have fun and hang out but she isn’t as bad as many people think she is. Her reputation isn’t who she is yet the guys think she is as loose has the rumors make her out to be. Darcy has been hurt in the past and all she wants is for someone to truly love her and accept her for who she is…faults and all. While the backstory is about her missing friend, I found Darcy’s story about herself and how others view her way more interesting. You feel her pain and just want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright. I also love her feistiness though, she isn’t one to back down from everything you have to respect someone for that. This is one story while it wasn’t what I first thought it was about turned out to be a really enjoyable read.

Review: The Heartbroken Heartbreaker by Sam Madison

The Heartbroken Heartbreaker by Sam Madison

Format: via Wattpad

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

When Kyla Evans was dumped by her best friend-slash-boyfriend, Cedric, she was devastated. Convinced that her whole life came tumbling down, she promised that she would definitely get back at him, seeking nothing but revenge.

She abandoned her glasses and sweatshirts, determined to make Cedric regret ever dumping her. What she wants: Revenge. How she’s planning to get it: By going out with the school’s biggest player; the person her ex-boyfriend loathes the most—

Seth Everett.

My Thoughts

The Heartbroken Heartbreaker was the first book in a long time that gave me the “feels.” Oh, how I fell and rooted for Kyla and Seth! Kyla has just been dumped out of the blue by her boyfriend Cedric and determined to not let it get her down she plans to move on. So when Cedric’s enemy Seth starts talking to her she decides this is her way to get back at her ex. Cedric and Seth can't stand each other and Kyla doesn’t know why exactly but that doesn’t matter cause all she wants is revenge, at first she doesn’t like Seth much either but slowly she finds out he isn’t as bad as she has always thought he was.

I found Seth to be a sweet and good guy and his relentless pursuit of Kyla just made me root for him more and more. I felt Kyla was so blind in trying to get her ex’s attention that she didn’t see what was in front of her until it was too late. I also loved how there were other stories besides the whole Kyla and Seth will they or won't they storyline. We see why Cedric hates Seth so much and how all that comes full circle will the three of them. We also see how family life has affected everyone evolved and how all of that connects story wise.

This was my first time reading from Wattpad and I found the site wonderful with amazing stories so I highly recommend using the app if you haven’t already. The Heartbroken Heartbreaker is a great coming of age read one that will relive how first love and heartache can feel, definitely a read that I hope you will enjoy as much as I did.

Review: South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf

South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf

Expected Publication: April 1, 2016

Publisher: Albert Whitman

Format: via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

 Synopsis

What is Kaycee willing to risk for the sake of love?

And what will she risk for acceptance?

In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only “yes, ma’am” when the local bigots gossip at her mom’s cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.

Unlike Kaycee, Bren doesn’t really conceal who she is. But as the cool, worldly new girl, nobody at school seems to give her any trouble. Maybe there’s no harm if Kaycee gets closer to her too, as long as she can keep that part of her life a secret, especially from her family and her best friend. But the more serious things get with Bren, the harder it is to hide from everyone else. Kaycee knows Sunshine has a darker side for people like her, and she’s risking everything for the chance to truly be herself.

My Thoughts

In South of Sunshine we met Kaycee who is living in small town Sunshine and who is trying to figure out life and most importantly trying to figure out who exactly she is. Kaycee has been trying to suppress her true feelings and emotions when it comes to her sexuality all until new girl Bren walks into school. When she sees Bren she knows she’s a goner and is instantly smitten with Bren and although she tries to keep her distance there comes a point when neither one can deny that there is something definitely there.

What I loved most about this book was that it wasn't just about her sexuality but also about discovering the person she wants to be. Kaycee knows that she wants more in life than just her small town; she wants to explore and make something of herself. I think in Bren, Kaycee saw that she could do things in life and be more than she ever thought she could be. Bren was that light that showed her anything was possible. But not everyone is so happy for them she does face prejudice and that makes her doubt herself and if she is really ready to be out. She doesn’t know if she is strong enough to handle everything that comes with being her true self.

This is a great read no matter if you are gay or straight it’s all about being your true self. It shows us that we are stronger than we think, and to always take pride in who we are and that if you lucky to find love no matter what that’s a beautiful thing. South of Sunshine is wonderful coming of age story one that demands to be read.

Review: The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

Published: January 27, 2015

Format: via Edelweiss

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Challenges: NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads / Amazon

Synopsis

The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons. Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella - and force her to confront her past and her friends.

After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong. Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.

My Thoughts

I truly enjoyed this coming of age story of a group of friends whom we meet as teens and span the years to adulthood. While we meet a series of friends most of the book is focused on Suzie, Bella and Sam. We see how sometimes kids are forced to grownup and deal with issues that adults don’t realize affects them. We meet Sam and Bella who are neighbors and friends who lean on each other while both of their home lives are on the brink of disaster. They form a bond but is it really love? Or is it just two young people whom are drawn to each other because of what is happening between their families?

I love seeing each of them find themselves and come into their own. I like how everything doesn’t come easy and they don’t instantly know what they want and who they want to be in life. Sometimes in books we see everything so nice and wrapped in a bow but life isn’t that way and the fact that it takes Sam forever to find his true self I personally found that refreshing. This is one of those books that you just have to read to get. There is the story between Sam and Suzie, then the story of Sam and Bella, the friendship between Bella and Suzie not to mention the story and love between Suzie and Sam’s brother Michael [yep I said Sam’s brother!] There is just so much that I really couldn’t do it justice without having this review be like 10 pages deep. Just trust me when I say that this one is an amazing read, it gives you everything love, loss, laughter and friendship. I also have to mention my other favorite thing is the dynamics between the parents and their children. I sense that these parents weren’t really parents with the exception of Sam’s father who I will say that in the last scene of the book he made me ball like a baby!  These parents seemed so selfish to me, it just felt at times they were the children and not the parents. Like seriously they needed to grow up! All in all this book is simply geat! I love a good book that can span the years and shows us the growth in the characters. Everything was seamless and you can’t help but to invest in these characters, they are utterly unforgettable.

     About Robin
She is the author of The Summer We Fell Apart (HarperCollins 2010) which was chosen as a Target Breakout Book. The Summer We Fell Apart was also published in Turkey by Artemis Yayinlari. Her non-fiction work has been published at The Weeklings, The Nervous Breakdown and collected in The Beautiful Anthology, Writing off Script: Writers on the Influence of Cinema, and The Weeklings: Revolution #1 Selected Essays 2012-1013. Her short fiction has appeared in 52 Stories, Five Chapters, Sun Dog, The Southeast Review and Literary Mama among others.  Robin has received three honorable mentions in Glimmer Train's Family Matters and New Fiction Writer's contests as well as an honorable mention for the Tobias Wolf Fiction Award.

Connect with Robin

Website / Twitter / FB

Review: The Sweetheart by Angelina Mirabella

The Sweetheart by Angelina Mirabella

Published: January 20, 2015

Format: copy via publisher

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

A debut, coming-of-age novel in which a teenage girl from Philadelphia leaves her old life behind to become The Sweetheart, one of America's most infamous female wrestlers. It's 1953 and seventeen-year-old Leonie Putzkammer is cartoonishly tall and curvaceous, destined to spend the rest of her life waiting tables and living with her widowed father, Franz, in their Philadelphia row house. Until the day legendary wrestling promoter Salvatore Costantini walks into the local diner and offers her the chance of a lifetime.

Leonie sets off for Florida to train at Joe Pospisil's School for Lady Grappling. There, she transforms into Gorgeous Gwen Davies, tag-team partner of legendary Screaming Mimi Hollander, and begins a romance with the soon-to-be Junior Heavyweight Champion Spider McGee. But when life as Gorgeous Gwen leaves her wanting, she orchestrates a move that will catapult her from heel to hero: she becomes The Sweetheart, a choice that attracts the fans she desires but complicates all of her relationships with Franz, Joe, Spider, Mimi (who becomes her fiercest competitor), and even with herself.

My Thoughts

The Sweetheart caught me completely off guard…in a good way! I must admit I didn’t know if this book was my type but I vowed this year to span my literary horizon and after reading this I’m sure glad I did. While I’ve always been a fan of ‘resslin’ I honestly never really cared for women wrestling. However this story of Leonie was amusing and I loved the whole coming of age tale of a girl finding her passion and living her life. And while Leonie’s story is wonderful I also loved the supporting characters that are all wonderful in their own right. Although this books storyline is basically about wrestling it’s much more than that. It’s about friendship, love and ultimately finding who you are and whom you’re meant to be. 

Book Blitz: Take Them by Storm by Marie Landry

Take Them By Storm (Angel Island #3)  by Marie Landry

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

Summary from Goodreads:

This book is a standalone companion novel to Waiting for the Storm and After the Storm. The books do not need to be read together or in order, but please note that this synopsis contains mild spoilers for After the Storm.

Sadie Fitzgerald has always been different, and not just because she makes her own clothes and would rather stay home watching Doctor Who than party with kids her age. When it’s time to leave Angel Island for college, Sadie is eager to put her old life behind her. Small-minded people and rumors have plagued her for years, but with the love of her adoptive family, the O’Dells, Sadie has learned to embrace who she is. Now she’s not afraid to admit the rumors about her are true: she’s gay.

For the first time in her life, Sadie feels free to be herself. She dives into college life and begins volunteering at the local LGBT center, where she discovers her small-town upbringing left holes in her education about life outside Angel Island.

The world is a bigger and more accepting place than Sadie ever imagined. She’s finally found where she belongs, but with the reappearance of someone from her past, an unexpected new friendship, and a chance at love, Sadie soon realizes she still has a lot to learn about life, friendship, and love.

Companion books in this series:

Waiting for the Storm│After the Storm

 

About the Author

Marie has the best job in the world—one where she gets to make stuff up for a living and shamelessly eavesdrop on everyone around her. She writes happily ever afters while dreaming about the day she’ll have her own epic love story to tell. Most days you can find her writing, reading, fantasizing about traveling the world, listening to U2, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece. 

For more on Marie and her books please visit http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca. She also loves to chat with fellow book lovers, so feel free to tweet her @SweetMarie83 any time!

Author Links

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

Blitz Wide Giveaway $10 Amazon Gift Card Click HERE to enter

Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

WoW [89]

Waiting on Wednesday [WoW] is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

Expected Publication: January 27, 2015

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Synopsis...

The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.

Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella—and force her to confront her past and her friends.

After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong.

Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.

Why I Can’t Wait…

This one sounds AMAZING! Plus I love how it takes us through 10 years. I love seeing how people change over time…for the good or bad.

Feel free to link me to yours.

Late to the Game [5]: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR

Format: purchased

Ratings: 5/5

Synopsis

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

My Thoughts

I loved this book on SO many levels! Although it deals with some tough issues I loved how the road trip was almost like therapy. The chemistry between Amy and Roger was very interesting. I enjoyed how it slowly grew and wasn’t rushed like in some other novels. I felt that we were passengers with them as they explored the country and worked out their issues. As much as I adore books I also enjoy music so finding out that music played a major role in this book was such a highlight for me. The playlists were amazing and I thought they went well with the storyline and the states they travelled through. This is one road trip book that is so wonderful and amazing it’s beyond words. It’s all about healing, life lessons and most importantly finding yourself. Sometimes life’s little detours are way more healing that things that are planned.

Late to the Game [4]: The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

Late to the Game is a series I do featuring books that everybody and their mommy have read…except me. The thing is 99% of the time I have these books but they have just been pushed back on my TBR pile. This won’t be a review of sorts seeing how everyone already knows the basics of the story but more of what I felt and how it affected me. I’ve dedicated this feature to try to put a dent in my pile and also to see if they live up to the hype…good and/or bad.

  

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR

Format: purchased series

Ratings:

The Summer I Turned Pretty: 5/5

It’s Not Summer without You: 4/5

We’ll Always Have Summer: 5/5

Synopsis

Belly has always lived for the summertime because it means all her favorite things: swimming, the beach and the Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. She has spent every summer with them at Cousins Beach for as long as she can remember. She has always been in love with Conrad and finally, one summer, it seems like he might have feelings for her too. But it turns out, so does Jeremiah.

As the summers go on, Belly has to choose between two brothers who love her as she comes to the realization that she will have to break one of their hearts.

My Thoughts

I’ve heard so many awesome things about this series I knew I had to read it at some point. After reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before I knew I had to read it NOW. I read the first one The Summer I Turned Pretty in literally a day. LOVED it! Needless to say I devoured the next two back to back.

This series definitely lived up to the hype. I fell in love with Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad. Ok maybe not so much Conrad. At least not so much in the beginning, I thought he was mean and rude but then after getting into the series I realized the kind of person he was. Just like me. Yeah that’s right I said like ME. I saw myself in him as far as how he always distances himself and his feelings towards other. He doesn’t always show emotions nor does he speak his feels that often. It’s not that he doesn’t want to; he just doesn’t want to get rejected or hurt.

Jenny Han paints the picture of Cousins beach with such realness that I could close my eyes and see it. I could smell the salty air and feel the wind coming off the water. Not only are there wonderful characters but the supporting cast is amazing as well. However what I loved and enjoyed the most was how I got so invested in these characters so fast. Seeing them grow up and dealing with an issue that at times breaks your heart. There is not one of us who can’t identify with the triumphs and tragedies of growing up and trying to find out where and how we fit  into this crazy world. Throw in some romance and heartache you can’t go wrong. This is one read I wished I read earlier however I’m so glad I got to meet and fall in love with them and you should too.

Review: Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal 

Expected Publication: July 3, 2014

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Format: via publisher

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

When Ibby Bell’s father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother Fannie and throws in her father’s urn for good measure. Fannie’s New Orleans house is like no place Ibby has ever been—and Fannie, who has a tendency to end up in the local asylum—is like no one she has ever met. Fortunately, Fannie’s black cook, Queenie, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Dollbaby, take it upon themselves to initiate Ibby into the ways of the South, both its grand traditions and its darkest secrets.

For Fannie’s own family history is fraught with tragedy, hidden behind the closed rooms in her ornate Uptown mansion. It will take Ibby’s arrival to begin to unlock the mysteries there. And it will take Queenie and Dollbaby’s hard-won wisdom to show Ibby that family can sometimes be found in the least expected places.

My Thoughts

This was way more fantastic than I could never have imagined. Dollbaby has everything that I want in a really great book. There is family, a bit of a mystery as far as buried family secrets and a great coming of age storyline. Plus I am a bit obsessed with the 60’s so this made it way more interesting in my eyes I had to read it, not to mention it’s set in the South… a PLUS in my book!

We start off when Ibby was a young girl and her mom drops her off at her grandmother’s house after the death of her father. Ibby has never met her grandmother so she doesn’t know what’s in store for her. Soon Ibby is left to wonder if her mother will ever return, in the meantime she is set to get to know her grandmother. Ibby is just a girl coming of age and trying to deal with the fact that all she has in her life is Fannie, although she claims she doesn’t care about her mother she does. She struggles with growing up and making friends and not to mention trying to learn who her grandmother really is and why she acts the way she does sometimes.

Fannie has some buried secrets that no one knows except her confidant cook Queenie. Queenie is indeed the keeper to Fannie’s secrets and both care for each other like family. Fannie hasn’t always had the best life. She ran away when she was young and had to do things she didn’t like to survive. She soon meets her soon to be husband and together they have two sons. One dies very young and Fannie never recovers from it. She has these “episodes” and is sent off from time to time to recover. When Ibby comes into her life they soon bond and she doesn’t want to let her go. We slowly learn of Fannie’s backstory and it is one of hardship and pain. The supporting characters are Queenie and her daughter Dollbaby. While they bring some comical laughs to this book their family story also brought me to tears. Once secrets are revealed you can’t help but cry and realized all the pain they have endured in their lives.

I loved how this book spanned some years and we see Ibby grown up. We see a once shy and timid girl grow up and become a strong young lady. She was determined to know the truth about her family and not to continue burying family secrets. She is proud of her family…all of them. This is by far one of my favorite books this year. It sheds a light on growing up in a time when the world was radically changing but its main focus is family. It will make you laugh and cry…honestly the end had me sobbing…but most importantly it’s just an honest to god awesome read. If you read any book this year read this one it’s definitely worth it.

Review: Nantucket Sisters by Nancy Thayer

Nantucket Sisters by Nancy Thayer 

Published: June 17, 2014

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Format: Edelweiss
Challenge: NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

When Maggie and Emily meet as girls on the Nantucket beach, they are instant best friends—even though Emily's mother would much prefer she play with the daughters of senators and statesmen than a seamstress's kid like Maggie. But after many golden summers spent building sandcastles and sharing their dreams for the future, Emily and Maggie grow apart. In her twenties, beautiful and spirited Piper worries she'll never amount to more than the glittering wife of a successful husband, while hardworking redheaded Maggie scrimps and saves her pennies, wondering if she'll ever have the luxury of a passionate romance. It seems they have little in common…until Cameron Chadwick appears on the island. A wealthy Midwestern charmer, Cameron takes moonlit walks on the dunes with Maggie and whisks Emily away to New York City for lavish nights on the town. When both women discover they're pregnant, it looks like the end of their already-distant friendship. But as Maggie and Emily struggle to decide what their lives will be, they realize more than ever before how very much they need a friend.

My Thoughts

I had high hopes for this one and sadly it fell a bit flat. As a fan of Nancy Thayer I was expecting one thing and received something else.

This is a story of two friends who have known each other since they were kids, Emily who is rich and summers on the island while Maggie isn’t and is a native of the island. They start off every summer as no time has passed, Emily is and has for a while now have feelings for Maggie’s brother Ben. They both declare their love for one another but as time goes by he realizes he can never give her what she is used to and will never be good enough in her parent’s eyes. During this time she meets Cameron who is everything her parents want her to end up with. While she loves Ben she falls for Cameron’s slick ways she later finds out she’s pregnant. Whose is it? Ben’s or Cameron’s? She decides to tell Cameron it’s his. Little does Emily know what Cameron isn’t who she thought he would be. One night while helping out a friend Maggie meets and falls for Cameron. Yep drama! She later becomes pregnant herself but once she finds out that he is married to Emily she doesn’t say a word. She lives her life and marries an old friend and over time she and Emily become close again. Once she sees Emily’s child she knows who the father is.

This is a story about love and most importantly friendship. While I loved the parts of them as young girls I just couldn’t buy their friendship when they got older. I get that people grow and friendships change but seriously two best friends who could possibly be pregnant by the same man? REALLY? And no one gets mad? Trust me I don’t buy that in the real world. Granted it can happen yet no one questions anything in the book? It’s like the elephant in the room. Yet when everything plays out in the end I just wasn’t really satisfy. I love Nancy Thayer’s books but this one left me with more questions than answers.