The Spring Renews
-- EXCERPT: I groaned. I didn’t want to get stuck with this man at the festival. I already had plans to go with Riley, Randy, and Shelby. I didn’t want a parental escort. “Sounds great.” Rowan eyed me, keeping his posture open and his eyes as if they were smiling. Our guidance counselor had given us a lesson about body language for our school interviews next year, and, if I remembered correctly, open posture was supposed to be welcoming. Well, his welcoming stance could shove it. I didn’t want him to welcome me into whatever this was. “How long have you two been dating?” I asked. Mama’s jaw slackened. “Sophie!” Rowan waved her off. “It’s okay, Faye. I don’t mind.” He faced me. “Today is six months.” “Six months? Six months!” “Sophie, calm down.” My chair wobbled with the force from my body as I scooted backward. “You’ve been dating for half a year, and you just now say something. This is ridiculous.” I threw my napkin on the table and ran to my room. I grabbed my house key and phone and bolted out the front door. I faintly heard my name, but I refused to turn around and look. The sky was blue, with large puffy clouds—the complete opposite ambience to my mood. I wanted thunderheads and lightning streaking the sky. I wanted earthquakes and tornadoes ripping apart homes. Because then, just maybe, the rage that boiled beneath my skin wouldn’t surface. At the end of the neighborhood was a medium-sized playground. I strolled to the swings and plopped onto the middle one. I pushed hard off the ground and tucked my legs underneath. I closed my eyes and let the breeze collide with my face with each swing. The coolness and the movement lessened my rage—but only slightly. I pulled up my messages and clicked on Riley’s name. My mama is DATING someone. In fact, has been for six months! The swing slowed. I tapped my feet on the tire chips as I waited for a response. Come on, Riley. Answer me! The chirp startled me before I swiped to unlock my phone. What? Are you serious? YES! She told me this morning. Oh, and the best part is Caleb already knew. No idea for how long, but he knew. What was she thinking, Riley? I’ve never been so angry in my whole life. I’m sorry. How did you find out? The guy sat at our kitchen table this morning. He was already there when I walked around the corner. Can you believe that? Wow. Not the best introduction. He might be a nice guy, but we don’t need anyone else in our family. We’re doing just fine. What are you going to do? I don’t know. I started swinging again—back and forth, back and forth. I tried to release my anger. I tried to release it all, but my arms and legs tingled with the intensity of my clenching. I have an idea, but I’ll need your help to make it work. Whatever you need. I’m always here. Can you come by? Sure. Be there in thirty. You’re the best! I shoved my phone in my back pocket and strolled to the house. I would have just enough time to get changed, hopefully avoid Mama, and bolt from the house.
GIVEAWAY! #Book Blitz #Awakened are the Starry-Eyed by Christine Doré Miller #YA @Xpresso Book Tours16/5/2021
Awakened Are the Starry-Eyed
-- EXCERPT: “Andie!” Ethan shouted with a big grin on his face. He was seated in the crowded hot tub and started to get out when he saw us. Grabbing a towel from the nearby deck chair, his long legs stumbled underneath him as he moved. “Phew,” he said when he finally planted himself by me, wrapping his left arm around me for a side hug. “Come on, man.” I laughed as the warm water dripped from his body onto my shirt. He shook his head quickly, so the droplets spritzed toward me as they flicked from his curly hair. Ethan snickered through his wide smile, his sky-blue eyes dancing. “You all right?” Carter asked him. “How much have you had to drink?” “Not enough to talk to you!” Ethan shouted, his words slurring through some forced laughter. “Ah, okay, so it’s like that? Let’s talk another time, man, after you sober up. Maybe tomorrow,” Carter offered. “I want us to be cool.” “I have an easy solution! Don’t move away!” Ethan remarked. His tone sounded like he was joking, but there was truth buried behind the inflection that Carter picked up on, too. I shot Ethan a steely glare, trying with my eyes to get him to stop talking. I didn’t need anything or anyone to give Carter a reason to stay. “I’m gonna get you some water,” Carter said. “Will you guys stay here for a bit? I’ll be back in a few.” I nodded. “We’ll miss you!” Ethan shouted mockingly. His body started swaying, and I grabbed his forearm to steady him. “Come on, Ethan, let’s go sit down in the grass over there.” I held Ethan’s arms as we lowered ourselves onto a soft grassy part of the yard, the noise from the party still buzzing in the background. Once he was planted, he flopped down on his back. “I think I can literally feel the Earth spinning,” Ethan said with a loud sigh. “Haha, I think you’re just drunk,” I replied, stretching out next to him, our heads both facing the starlit sky. Ethan turned his head to face me, his left cheek resting in the grass. I turned toward him. “You’ll be fine. You just need some water and—” “Don’t go,” he said quietly, interrupting me. “Huh? Oh, come on, you’ve got to stop giving me such a hard time for taking Carter away from the band. I promise you guys will find another singer.” “I don’t care about that,” Ethan continued, suddenly sounding clearheaded. “Don’t go, Andie.” “You can visit us whenever you want. I know it’s not the same, but we’ll still text like every day,” I reassured him. “You’re my best friend. It’s always been us against the world, you know?” He paused and took a breath. “What if I still need you even if you don’t need me anymore?” Each sentence hung more resounding in the thick, humid air as the guilt crept in, disguised as acidic, aching nausea. I squinted my eyes as if that would help me process, but all I saw was Ethan as he lay on the soft grass next to me. His smooth, chiseled face was lit by the twinkly outdoor lights in the tree above us, his pale eyes burning into mine with an earnestness I’d never seen from him before. “I have to go. You know I have to go,” I said, my voice shaking. “What if I never get out of here?” he asked quietly. “All you have to do is make the decision and start driving,” I stated, hoping that if I said it out loud, it would make it true. “It’s not that easy for everyone, Andie, and you know it. We don’t all have safety nets or parents with money. And some of us have responsibilities here. And friends.” “That’s not fair,” I started. “Are you even going to take a part of me with you? I can’t shake this feeling that you’re just going to disappear.” “Yo!” Carter’s familiar voice rang out behind us, and I shot up to a seated position. “Hey!” I said chipperly. He casually sat down next to us, crossing his legs and handing a bottle of water to Ethan as he cracked open a fresh beer for himself. Ethan slowly sat up, too, taking the water from Carter without making eye contact. “Thanks,” Ethan said softly. My mind was racing, and I felt soaked in the unrest. I loved Ethan in this profound and endearing way, but if he loved me, too, then he would understand that I wasn’t just running toward something glamorous or exciting; I was saving myself from the town and darkness that threatened to consume me with each tainted memory. There was no way we could laugh through this tension to get back to where we once were. We couldn’t binge-watch dark comedies in my parents’ basement or swap playlists of our favorite new music without tonight’s conversation bleeding into every word, every movement. I’d wonder if he was resentful that I left. He’d wonder if I even cared about what I left behind. I prayed that he was too drunk to remember tonight. If so, I could forget, too. I could push this down where the other things I chose not to remember dwelled in my body. And I was good at keeping secrets. I decided instantly that I wouldn’t tell Carter about this. He didn’t need any more reasons to reconsider coming with me, so this, too, went deep into my vault. I could examine my feelings later if I wanted to, but for now, it just needed to go away. “It was hilarious,” Carter said as I realized he had been talking. I forced a smile and a soft laugh, hoping that was the appropriate response to whatever story he told. “I need to lay down for a minute,” Ethan said dizzily as he settled back down to the grass, closing his eyes. “Yeah, he’s probably out for the night. Jeff said he had a lot to drink. We should get him out of here. He can crash at my place tonight,” Carter offered. I agreed. “Okay, come on, big guy,” Carter said as he swung Ethan’s arm around his neck and pulled him up. “Little help, babe?” he asked. I grabbed Ethan’s other arm and placed it around my shoulders to help prop him up. “Ugh,” Ethan groaned, half awake. It felt strange being this close to him, my head under his chin with his arm around my shoulders as Carter and I helped him walk toward the car. Ethan and I had shared probably a million hugs throughout our years of friendship, but this time the closeness felt different, clouded by my wondering if it would be the last time.
GIVEAWAY! #Book Blitz #Twin River High Series by Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush #YA @Xpresso Book Tours16/5/2021
Gutter Girl
-- EXCERPT: Ernie waited a few seconds, then slammed his hands on the counter. “Spill it! Quick, before someone else interrupts us!” I grabbed the disinfectant spray and wiped Ernie’s handprints off my counter. “Okay, so get this. After lunch, I bumped into Jace in the hallway. Our notebooks accidentally got switched. And in the process he actually gave me a compliment. It was really weird!” Ernie pushed his glasses up, then hitched his hip onto the counter and leaned toward me. He was about four inches taller than me at five-foot-nine, heavier set around his middle section. And right now, his light brown eyes were securely fastened on me as if he were hanging on my every word. “Okay, so you switched notebooks; how did that turn into people thinking you’re the author of KOS?” “He had my physics lab notebook and I got his, um, writing notebook.” “Wait, so Jace Rovers is actually WriteEmHard?” I nodded. “You should have seen my face when I opened it during lab. He had like half of it filled with his Kingdom of Swords story. There was a map in the front and everything.” Ernie hung on my every word. “He’s like ridiculously popular on Scribbles. Like, famous.” I shook my head. “His book has millions of reads.” Ernie squinted. “Why are people saying that you’re WriteEmHard if Jace is?” I told Ernie the story of how I’d claimed the notebook was mine in order to save Jace’s cute ass. Wait, cute? I did not just say Jace has a cute ass… Okay, he totally did, but I did not want to notice that cute ass. Ernie leaned forward and gave me a sly grin. “You’ve always had a crush on him.” “No, that’s not why—” “I call BS!” He pointed at me. “Summer camp. Third grade.” “Shut up.” I reached over the counter and pushed his shoulder. Ernie clasped his hands to his chest, the side his heart was on, and batted his eyelashes. “MS plus JR was all over your camp diary.” He wasn’t wrong. But I’d never said anything. Jace had never known. It was clear, even at that age, I would never run in the same crowd as him. And then summer before sixth grade happened… “Whatever.” I shook the memories out of my head. That was then. This was now. And I lived in reality. “Wow, McKenna. Seriously, wow.” Ernie leaned against the counter and smoothed out his Hawaiian shirt. “So now that this is out in the open, what are you going to do? Because your perfectly honed role of Miss Invisibility is vapor. You realize that, right?” My stomach dropped. “You’re like a celebrity now.” Ernie eased off the counter and faced me full-on, then made an arc with his hands. “I can see the headlines for the school newspaper now, Famous Author Graces the Halls of Twin River High.” “No way. People will forget all about it by tomorrow.” Won’t they? I waved him off and started sanitizing the counter where he’d been sitting. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Ernie dug his phone out of his pocket and held it up. I gasped when my picture popped up on the screen. WriteEmHardFanAccount: We have HUGE news! It was revealed a short time ago that McKenna Storm is the author behind Kingdom of Swords! According to several classmates, she’s a senior at Twin River High in Twin River, Wisconsin. Stay tuned for more info on our favorite author! We will update soon! I gulped. “Son of a hot dog.”
GIVEAWAY! Whisper
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: CHAPTER 1: OLIVIA My dad used to tell me there are people inside of marbles. They were always talking to him. Whenever I wanted to play a game, he would pick the one with marbles. Only we wouldn’t actually move the marbles. My dad would just stare at them. Finally I stopped asking to play games. But that didn’t matter. My dad would still get out the game with the marbles, and he’d put the marbles in their little resting spots and watch them. And listen. At Samantha’s house, her three-year-old sister, Cara, is playing a marble game with one of her friends. They’re off in a corner by themselves, probably wondering why all these people are stuffed inside the house, wearing dark clothes, crying randomly, and talking in hushed voices. Cara wasn’t at Samantha’s funeral. Does she understand that her sister is never coming home? I move away from Cara and fill a plate with cubes of cheese, triangles of salami, and round crackers. I chew, swallow, and make small talk. But mostly I just stare out the window at the pool and remember the last time I was here. Sixth grade. A pool party for Samantha’s birthday. She and I were friends then. We stopped being friends sometime in seventh grade. I think it had something to do with green slime, a ham sandwich, and a guy we both liked, though I’m not really sure anymore. It all seems pretty stupid now, which gives me a lumpy ache in my throat, and makes me feel like a fraud for being here. But the whole junior class was at the funeral, all ninety-eight of us. Make that ninety-seven. Plus a good part of the rest of the high school. And although not everyone made their way here after the funeral, the house is still packed, with people spilled out onto the lawn, hovering by the pool, and clutching their paper plates as if they’re life preservers. My best friend, Julia, slides up next to me. Her chestnut brown hair is arranged in its usual French braid, except a lot of strands that she missed are poking out today. She takes a loose bit and wraps it around her finger. “Brings back memories, huh?” she says, following my gaze to the pool. “Remember that sleepover in sixth grade?” “Yeah, that was fun.” Except now my brain jumps right from sleepover to sweet dreams. The Sweet Dreams Strangler. I shake my head, trying to blot out the images seared into my mind by the news media. Images of Samantha, lying in a field wearing a beautiful dress, her head on a pillow, hair neatly arranged, hands folded. Beautiful. But dead. Strangled. I don’t know what to say, even to Julia. I look back out the window. A cardinal is perched on the feeder, picking through seeds, scattering debris on the ground. “It sure is stuffy in here,” Julia says. I’m about to agree when a wall of cold air hits me. “Mrs. Young must have read your mind. Wow. That feels good.” Julia scrunches up her face. “What are you talking about?” “The air. She turned on the air. Don’t you feel it?” “No. Are you under a vent or something?” Julia peers up at the ceiling. “Here, switch places with me.” “It’s just as hot here—” “It’s just as cold—” We say it at the same time. “I guess it’s just your wishful thinking.” Julia pats my shoulder. “Enjoy. I’m going to get some more to drink.” I nod and head across the room, by the TV, where hopefully it’s warmer. Goose bumps pop up on my arms. I rub them, but it doesn’t help. Next to me Josh Wallace tosses a cube of cheese into his mouth. Is that sweat dripping off his forehead? Why am I the only one shivering? I spot a decorative blanket on the couch. Should I? I tap Marcus on the shoulder. “Sorry, could you lean forward? I just need to get something behind you.” I tug at the blanket and drape it over my shoulders. Julia is back with a drink in her hand. “Why do you have a blanket wrapped around you? Are you feeling okay?” “Not really,” I answer. “What’s that noise?” “What noise?” “That buzzing sound. Is that the TV? Maybe someone turned it on without switching on the cable box.” I fumble with the buttons on the TV. An image flashes across the screen, and a voice blares. Funeral services were held today for Samantha Young, the fourth victim of the Sweet Dreams Strangler. Mrs. Young hovers in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. All the color drains from her face. I can’t seem to move. Julia turns off the TV. The buzzing grows louder, and then I realize that it’s voices I’m hearing, lots of them, all blending together into one big buzzing sound. And then the buzzing fades away until I hear only one voice. Olivia. It’s not real. I know it’s not real. Olivia. It’s not real because the voice is Samantha’s, and Samantha is dead. Olivia! It’s not real because the voice is not coming from a person. It’s coming from a fricking figurine on the mantel. From a yellow bird with black wings and a black head. I pick up the figurine, and I hold it in my hands. This is what my dad meant when he said there were people living in marbles. And then it speaks again. Olivia! Stop him! Even though I’m kind of expecting it, Samantha’s voice scares me all the same. It makes me jump and my hands open up and that figurine smashes on the floor and breaks. And I’m a little glad because maybe now the voice will stop. But suddenly I’m burning up, the salami and cheese rumbles around in my stomach, and before I can sit, the room spins all around me and darkness sets in.
GIVEAWAY! Beyond the Shore and Shadows
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Parliament House Press -- EXCERPT: Lena sat up in bed with a gasp. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could barely breathe. As she darted her gaze about the room, she noticed a strange grey cloud lingering all around her. Lena took in a deep breath but began to cough on the strange pungent scent in the air. Her eyes stung as she searched the darkened room. There was smoke…so much smoke. Lifting her arm up to cover her nose, she tried to look around the small living-area again, but the fumes stung her eyes. Everything was cloaked in the thick grey cloud. Involuntarily, she sucked in a breath before immediately coughing again, choking on the thick smog that was quickly filling the area around them. What was happening? Just beyond the stone wall of the Bror Boghandel, Lena could make out the echoes of rising voices off in the distance. Whoever they were, the ringing of their voices drifting through the walls seemed rather ominous. “Soren!” Lena gasped, pushing herself from the bed. Lena coughed and slid to the floor. At least there, she could breathe better again. After a small evening meal, Lena had spent a few hours going looking over the letters Soren had begun to teach her, while he sifted through a few of the books he’d taken from Edwin’s room. She had even seen him dig out the small broken white opal stone he possessed from his mother, to gaze at it more closely. He leaned over the books on the table, comparing the sketches in the pages to the stone in his hand. At some point amongst his research, she’d given in to sleep. He must have put her to bed, for she was still dressed in her blouse and skirt. “Soren!” she hissed as she closed her eyes; they were beginning to water against the stinging air. She could hear the voices off in the distance, and she carefully tried to make out what they were saying. But it seemed they were too far away. Taking a quick breath, Lena began to pull herself across the floor; her fingers acting as her eyes. “Soren!” she tried again, choking on the swirling air around her. Her chest began to grow tight as she continued to crawl toward his still, sleeping form on the floor. Just as her fingers grazed over him, he moved, startled. “Lena?” Soren’s voice broke through the darkness. She saw the shadow of his head move, seemingly taking in the surroundings before reaching for her. He lifted the blanket to her face. “Don’t move this away. We’ll die if we breathe in too much smoke.” She obeyed and slid her hand to hold the blanket in place. “We have to get out of here,” he managed, lifting a small blanket to cover his own nose and mouth. The smoke had already begun to sting her lungs, reminding her of the first time she broke through the sea’s surface. She remembered the way her lungs fought between fresh air and salt water. She wanted to take in a deep breath, but knew she had to resist. “I’m going to grab what I can,” Soren murmured, gently taking her arm and leading her to the door. “Stay in the shop. I’ll be right there.” With her heart pounding in her ears and quick thinking, Lena moved back toward the nightstand, grabbing her nightgown before turning on her heel and reaching for Soren’s brown jacket that hung near the door. Both might come to be useful wherever they’d need to go. She shoved her feet into the extra pair of boots left by the door and slipped into the bookshop. “Why is this happening?” Lena asked softly, her voice wavering from fear. What is going to happen? She stood shivering despite the insufferable heat that was burning its way through her last safe haven. Taking in another breath and promptly choking on the thick smoke, she couldn’t help but look around her. All of the books… all of the stories and ship logs she would now never learn how to read. Over her shoulder, she could hear the sounds of Soren rustling through the stacks of books. Squinting through the dark and hazy air, Lena could only make out Soren grabbing various things and shoving them into a small cloth satchel. Lena held the blanket against her nose and mouth, trying to breathe in whatever air she could. It wasn’t nearly as bad in the shop, but she could make out the shadows of strangers through the windows, just outside the main door. Their voices echoed throughout the shop. She turned her violet gaze back to the darkened doorway. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears. “Soren,” she called out softly. “Soren!” Ahead, she could hear more of what those gathering outside the doors of the Bror Boghandel were saying: “Come out here, bookkeeper! We know you’re in there!” Lena darted toward the door. Were they here to help? She reached for the latch but froze when she heard another voice just on the other side. “Come out little pearl,” Lord Jarl’s voice rang. “Everyone knows the truth.” Lena’s heart sank to her stomach. She felt frozen, despite the licking flames beginning to engulf the small book shop from the side. Lord Jarl had come for her after all, and he hadn’t stayed in hiding for long. Was Jace with him? Lord Jarl’s words echoed in her ears, as she allowed the realization of what he’d said to fill her. Everyone knows the truth. They all knew she was a merrow. Her fate was sealed. Her fingers began to tremble, and she swallowed hard, her throat thick with smoke and unshed tears as she gripped the blanket against her nose. They all know. They were all here for her
GIVEAWAY! The Midnight Lie
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
GIVEAWAY! Break the Stone
-- EXCERPT: Kody Walsh gripped the sealed red envelope tightly while his other hand steered around a John Deere. He pulled up to an old farmhouse where lace curtains blew out from an open window. His smart watch alerted him about his increased heart rate but Kody ignored it. He parked his Jeep at a distance behind a set of oak trees, leaving it running–just in case. Hopefully no one’s home. I’ll be quick. Kody patted his Glock and hustled past a blue Chevy with a dented-in door. It looked so run down that it probably couldn’t even start. Good. No one can chase me when I leave. A tall, broad, lumberjack-looking man with a trimmed beard marched out the side door, out to a barn. Shit! Kody plastered himself against the side of the house, then snuck inside the open window. He scanned the study room, taking inventory of the exit options: one closed door leading to the rest of the house, the window he just came through and a chimney. His gaze darted around the room. Desk chair—blunt force trauma, non-lethal. Award hung on the wall—one quick slice from a shard of broken glass to the neck could do the trick if needed. Darts in the corner could poke out someone’s eye. An antique desk stood against a wall in the small room. Kody dropped the red envelope on top of the desk as instructed. Then, he started searching for the item Snyder commanded that he borrow—steal. Kody’s hands were jittery, but he kept repeating the same phrase in his head. A soldier does anything for the team. Anything. He sprang across the study and looked in boxes, under books, on top of the shelf, in the cabinets, and rummaged through the drawers. As he slid the bottom drawer out, the rollers got stuck and fell off the track, sending it down at an angle. A girl’s voice started singing from the other side of the door. Kody’s heart raced as he ducked below the desk. Wait! There it is! A white marble box was taped underneath. It had a gold compass shape engraved on the front with tiny red specs sparkling like jewels. Kody ripped it off and jammed it in his pocket. Sacrifices must be made for the team. There’s no other option. The voice grew louder again and the door knob turned slowly.
GIVEAWAY! The Ones We’re Meant to Find
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
GIVEAWAY! My thoughts: This book was everything I was waiting for! Science-fiction is one of my favourite genres and when the writing is as good as Joan He's, it makes you feel powerful emotions and makes you think about the world created in it for days and days afterwards. The Ones We're meant to Find has multiple twists and while I am dying to tell you how brilliant the plot is, I don't want to spoil your reading pleasure. Straight from the beginning we are thrown into a mystery. We meet Celia who is stranded on an island, lost her colour vision and most of her memories and is desperately trying to find her sister Kay. Then the story switches to Kasey and her life in this futuristic dystopian world and we get a new set of elements that might seem confusing at the beginning, but will all come together into a mesmerising overall picture. Joan He's use of different forms of narrative (first person for Celia, third for her sister Kaycey) was absolutely brilliant. The characters are so well-differentiated and unique and you are compelled to read on to understand their personalities and their motivations. Both sisters are flawed in their own ways and you might relate more to one or the other,or more likely than not, you will relate to both of them at different points. The intensity of the bond between them and their love for each other is undeniable and will break your heart. Whatever expectations you have,the book is going to surprise you. I loved the steady pace and this feeling of being on the verge of figuring it all out. Of course, you learn more or get another mind-blowing twist which shifts your perspective. It is one of the most engaging and emotional stories I've read this year. Everything in it including the futuristic world with its environmental disasters that is paying consequences for our actions in the present, the characters, the plot- all of it was so well-written that the book definitely went beyond my expectations and I can't recommend it high enough. Can't wait to read what Joan He writes next! Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley and Roaring Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. The Wise One
GIVEAWAY!
My thoughts:
Calling all the fans of Celtic folklore and fantasy! The Wise One was a very quick and incredibly entertaining read that I just couldn't put down. It follows the story of a seventeen year old American girl McKenna McDwyer who discovers that her origins and her true nature are shrouded in secrets and she may have special powers. McKenna goes on a quest to find her birth mother and gradually build up the knowledge of what she herself is capable of. There were so many things I liked about the book. First of all, the writing style was extremely engaging. I felt transported into McKenna's world and felt her confusion and her desire to solve the mystery of her mother's whereabouts. Then the setting, of course-at some point McKenna and her friend Nissa reach Ireland and we see this wonderful country through their eyes. The characters- there's nothing more relatable to a teenager than the desire to find the place where you belong or the people you belong with. There is also the gradual discovery of what makes you special, makesyou stand out. There were a few things that didn't particularly work for me. The story is set in 1991, so the author takes pains to let the reader know what the political situation was at the moment, but McKenna expressing her political opinions seemed detached from the story and I wasn't sure why the author included this part. What I was more intrested in was the environmental angle which was very important on all levels of this story: the characters, the plot, the world-building. Another thing I wasn't particularly sure about was McKenna and Nissa's insta-friendship. Overall, I realy enjoyed this first part of what promises to be a very interesting series and I can't wait to read the next book! Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. This Is for Tonight
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
GIVEAWAY! My thoughts: I love a good YA rom-com and enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, especially if the author includes lots of banter and makes the protagonists relatable! Jessica Patrick did and I can definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested notonly in YA romance, but also in questions of identity, authenticity and social media, family dynamics, grief, forgiveness, and second chances. The setting of a music festival was such a bonus, as there is always something magical about letting yourself forget all your worries for a few days and enjoy live music with its fantastic energy. Andi Kennedy and her twin brother Jordan are very close, so Andi is desperately hoping she can get a scholarship to attend the same college where Jordan, a talented basketball player, is heading to. This college has a special significance for both of them as this is the place where their parents met and fell in love. Andi is a vlogger, but her channel focuses on crafts and is unlikely to suddenly begin making her the kind of money that would help her pay for her college tuition. When Jordan brings two tickets for Cabazon Festival of Music and Arts, Andi and Jordan are thrilled. Perhaps, Andi can find a way to make her videos go viral. At the festival Andi has a romantic meet-cute with a sweet guy called Jay, only to find out he and his brother specialise in prank videos. I don't want to give the story away, but I feel the question of identity and what it is shaped by on and off-camera is very pertinent to our world where social media play such a huge role. While Andi has Jordan and can't imagine her life without him, Jay also has a brother, dedicated to making their channel financially successful, only the way he does is offends and hurts other people. Family ties are important, but there comes a moment when you need to take a closer look at what you are and what you want to be in future. The book is very easy to get immersed in and you will root for Andi to find her HEA or at least HFN (more realistic considering she is in her final year of high school). If you are a music lover, you are going to enjoy the festival atmosphere with on-stage and off-stage events and spicy pizza at all times. A great romantic escape with some serious issues raised- definitely recommended. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley and Swoon Reads for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. |
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|