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Impactful, Powerful and Absolutely Stunning | Mini YA Reviews

Jun 17, 2020

The other day I shared some mini romance reviews and today I thought I would share my thoughts on recent young adult books that I have devoured through mini YA reviews. Today I’m reviewing Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes, Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

Pages: 382
Publish date: May 17th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062379962
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she’s around. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time the house next door caught on fire. Or the time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash–and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch.

Despite what her therapist tells her, Maguire thinks it’s best to hide out in her room, far away from anyone she might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away, but it turns out staying away might be harder than she thought.

Girl Against the Universe:

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while now. The hardback was expensive at first so I had to wait until the paperback was out. Then I forgot about it. But this year my best friend Ely and I decided we wanted to pick a few books for each other to read. And this is what she picked for me. And I’m so glad.

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes follows Maguire as she tries to navigate her life at a new school while also trying to manger her PTSD as well as her so-called ‘bad luck’. When Maguire’s therapist encourages her to start a sport that includes other people, she is hesitant. Then she meets Jordy. He wants to help Maguire break her ‘bad luck’. And while she tries to push him away, Maguire can’t help but start to fall for him.

Maguire was such an interesting protagonist and I loved her. She was really easy to get along with, even though she wasn’t always likable. Her character arc was fantastic and I loved seeing her grow. The reader can see her growth throughout the novel. And Maguire isn’t “fixed” but she is helped. Maguire is witty but quiet. And that’s what makes her so endearing.

Mental health and PTSD were one of the main focuses of Girl Against the Universe. Like I said she wasn’t fixed by a boy or love, but she was helped. Maguire was given ways to cope and ways to help herself. I loved seeing Maguire’s determination to try and help herself. At first, the reader can see she might have been doing it for others, however, by the end it was for herself. And I loved seeing that.

I loved seeing all the different relationships throughout the novel. They all stood out on their own and were all so important to assisting Maguire. The romance was hella adorable. Like it melted my heart so damn much. I can’t even begin to explain. I love the friendships she builds, and the family bonds she repairs. These were all done so well.

Overall, I adored Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes. It was an excellent novel that does focus on mental health. It’s not a love fixes all kind of novel but explores how those around can help you in a way that you never thought. Maguire and Jordy were adorable and I love them so much. If you are looking for a positive mental health novel that has a little bit of everything then this is for you.

Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone

Pages: 210
Publish date: October 17th 2017
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781101939499
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighbourhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Dear Martin:

I’ve been putting off picking this up since I picked it up. I knew that I had to be in the headspace to grasp everything that Dear Martin explores. But I am so glad that I did. I got it last year while I was in the States and was able to read it last week. And it’s going to be one that I remember for a while.

Justyce looks to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. for guidance after a white police officer puts him in handcuffs. It doesn’t matter that his the top of his class, set for Ivy League and left his old neighbourhood behind. But he starts to find some sort of solace writing to Dr King. But then everything changes the day that he does on a drive with his best friend, Manny. When a white off-duty cop fires shots.

I enjoyed Justyce as a protagonist. I loved getting to see him grow and was so easy to get along with. The reader can see Justyce growth throughout the whole of Dear Martin and some of it is because of horrible horrible events. But one should have to go through what he did. Justyce voice is strong and powerful. It hits your right in the guys – and that is what made this book so fantastic.

I loved being able to see different sides of Justyce and his interaction with different people. He can see the true colours of classmates and the world and sometimes that was hard for him to understand. I also loved the different relationships explored throughout the novel. The reader can see Justyce interact with a lot of different people and some of those help shape him.

A slight problem that I had with Dear Martin was that I felt that it was a little too short. I feel that it could have been fleshed out a little more. That doesn’t mean it needed 100 more pages, even just a chapter or two.

Overall, Dear Martin by Nic Stone is an emotional read, but it’s also powerful and beautiful. Justyce was such a fantastic protagonist. He felt real and honest and that made for such an incredible read. Dear Martin explores the injustices of the world and why the #BlackLivesMatter movement is so important to understand as well as support. If you haven’t read this book, please do. It is a powerful but brutal read.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Pages: 357
Publish date: March 6th 2018
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
ISBN: 9780062662804
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighbourhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her Mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

The Poet X:

I am not going to lie, I cried for the last maybe 40 minutes of The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Like heavy, deep crying. I’m so lucky that I was listening to it on audio because if I was reading a physical copy I would have not been able to see. The Poet X is a stunning debut and if you have the chance, please read it on audio.

The Poet X follows Xiomara Batista, or simply X as she tries to navigate where she fits in life. And she pours all her thoughts and passions into a leather notebook, she words turn into something more. But, X doesn’t know what to do when she is invited to join her schools Slam Poetry Club. Her mother won’t let her, she won’t let her do anything that goes against anything to do with the church. Thrown in new feelings for a boy in her bio class, X is now facing decisions that might tear her apart.

I loved Xiomara, she has to be one of my favourite protagonist I’ve read so far this year. Her passion and determination were strong and bold. I loved that she questioned things in her life, but also understood the importance of those things in other peoples lives. At times I just wanted to give her a big hug and just tell her everything is going to be alright. I’ve seen a few reviews that call X angry and why wouldn’t she be? Why is that a bad thing? I found X honest and so relatable.

There was a big focus on faith throughout the whole of The Poet X and especially regarding her mother and her connection to faith. At times some of these scenes were hard to read because X not only question her connection to faith but herself as well. Her relationship with her mother is another major focus of the novel. It’s not a good or healthy relationship and that is explored throughout The Poet X. I thought the romance was hella adorable and I enjoyed seeing both X and Aman grow both together and apart.

The Poet X is an emotional book. As I said I cried for the last 40 minutes or so of the book. It was hard-hitting and did take a lot out of me. The reader is truly able to feel X’s pain, her troubles and everything in between. There were also times throughout the book that were telling and I loved it, so much.

Overall, I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful and stunning The Poet X is. The passion and thought that went into every word, every poem was just perfect. I love how each poem intertwined, everything felt like it belonged. I don’t read a lot of modern poetry, but I love spoken word and slam poetry. It just sounds beautiful. And I loved how Elizabeth Acevedo presented it here.

And that is it for today’s mini YA reviews. Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Did you love them as much as I did? Let’s Chat!

Also, a quick reminder to check out these resources regarding #BlackLivesMatter. It’s important to understand and help where you can. It’s not over.

A Rebel, A Protector and Luna | Mini Romance Reviews

Jun 13, 2020

Today I thought I would share some romance mini-reviews. I’ve been reading a lot of romance books this year and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of them all. So I thought sharing my thoughts through mini-reviews would be fun. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Rebel (Women Who Dare #1) by Beverly Jenkins, Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman and Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata.

Rebel (Women Who Dare #1) by Beverly Jenkins

Pages: 384
Publish date: May 28th 2019
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 9780062861696
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Valinda Lacey’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly emancipated community survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here, freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and then targets her, Valinda runs for her life—and straight into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq.

As an architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s determination. And he can’t stop admiring—or wanting—her. But when Valinda’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.

Rebel:

I can’t believe I haven’t read a Beverly Jenkins before this one. It was fantastic and I never knew that I needed it.

Rebel follows teacher Valinda Lacey as she tries to help the newly emancipated community of New Orleans survive and thrive. And after her school is destroyed, Valinda herself then becomes a target. That is when she runs into the safety of Captain Drake LeVeq. And they can’t stop admiring one another, then Valinda’s father demands that she return home and marry another.

I can’t begin to express how much I loved Rebel. It was fantastically written, with characters that were present and full. Both Valinda and Drake had such great character arcs and the reader can truly see them grow throughout the novel.

Valinda is such a brilliant female protagonist, I loved her so much. She was determined and tried not to let anything get her down and that was fantastic. While Drake was such a flirt and I loved it. He was such a fun character to be around. The romance was so beautiful in this one. Valinda and Drake made me smile the whole way through. They just brought such brightness to the page. And I loved that so much.

Rebel also deals with newly emancipated slaves and I liked how Beverly Jenkins explores that. She explores the major tension that still was held in the communities and how while not slaves anymore, they were still being treated differently.

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins is such a fantastic historical romance and I can’t wait to read more. The romance was fantastic and I enjoyed reading a book set in a different time than I normally read in my historical romance. I’ve not read many historical romances set after the Civil War but this was fantastic. If you are looking for a fantastic historical romance then his one is for you.

Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman

Pages: 400
Publish date: June 12th 2020
Publisher: One More Chapter
ISBN: 9780008365837
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

British actor Zac Edwards is the latest heartthrob to hit the red carpets. Hot, talented and rich, he sends women wild…all except one.

Close protection officer Kat Parker hasn’t got time to play celebrity games. She has one job: to protect Zac from the stalker that seems to be dogging his every move.

Zac might get her hot under her very starched collar, but Kat’s a professional – and sleeping with Zac is no way part of her remit…

Up Close and Personal:

I received a copy of Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman from One More Chapter via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I was looking forward to reading this one, it sounded fun and excited and I was sadly disappointed. The romance felt off and I wasn’t able to connect with the characters fully.

Up Close and Personal follows Kat Parker as she starts to protect her new charge; Zac Edwards. Zac is the lastest British heartthrob and has a stalker. When things start to get serious, Kat becomes his close protection officer. But being this close both Kat and Zac start to fall for one another – but Kat must stay professional.

I wanted to love this book so much. It sounded like something that I would enjoy. But everything fell flat for me. Kat was a decent protagonist, but I just could not connect with her fully. I felt everything that she was holding back from Zac and that made it even harder to connect with her as a reader. I felt the same with Zac. Both characters lacked something and I can’t put my finger on it.

Because of this, I did feel that the romance felt off. I also felt that we didn’t get enough of it. Or the connection. At first, the reader can see the tension, but then it stayed on that level, until the end. There was just this whole part that felt missing and I wanted more of that.

In saying all this I felt the tension and stakes in the book were good and I did enjoy that aspect. I did guess some fo the things that were going to happen but then I was surprised by other things – which I found fantastic.

Overall, Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman was an okay read. I won’t be talking about it again, but I didn’t hate it. I wish the romance was focused on more and the reader was able to see it grow a lot more. Both Kat and Zac felt a little flat for me and I do wish they were a little more fleshed out.

Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata

Pages: 628
Publish date: December 12th 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07LBMPK54
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

The problem with secrets is that they’re too easy to keep collecting.

Luna Allen has done some things she would rather no one ever know about. She also knows that, if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change a single thing.

With three sisters she loves, a job she (mostly) adores, and a family built up of friends she’s made over the years, Luna figures everything has worked out the way it was supposed to.

But when one of those secrets involves the man who signs her paycheck, she can’t find it in her to regret it. Despite the fact that he’s not the friendliest man in the world. Or the most patient.

Sometimes there are things you’re better off keeping to yourself.

Luna and the Lie:

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I had heard a lot of things about Mariana Zapata from romance bloggers and booktubers. But I never picked any of her books up, but I was going through a romance binge and I found this on Kindle Unlimited and I thought why not.

Luna and the Lie follows Luna Allen as she tries and go through her life. She tries to put her past behind her but also doesn’t want to forget it. And she loves the life that she is living, then secrets start to surface and one of them is from the man who signs her paycheck. Rip is always angry. And doesn’t want to make friends with anyone. But Luna has a way with people.

I wasn’t expecting to like this, but I did. I did have a few problems with it, but overall, I enjoyed reading this. Luna was a fabulous protagonist and I loved getting to know all about her. I loved her optimism and everything else that she worked. I adored that she worked in this ‘all-male’ environment. It just made her stand out more. Rip was intriguing, I do have to say, however, I didn’t love him. I wanted to, but I did feel disconnected with him.

The romance in Luna and the Lie is very, very slow. If you don’t like a slow burn, then this one is not for you. I do enjoy slow burns, but at times this even felt slow for me. But I loved getting to know both Luna and Rip and seeing them fall for one another. One of my major issues with this book was that it was long, like very long. Too long, maybe?

Overall, I enjoyed reading Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata. And I will and have will read more books from Mariana Zapata. The romance was an incredibly slow burn but I did hate that. I enjoyed Luna as a protagonist and liked Rip. If you are looking for a slow-burn romance that has many layers, then this book is for you.

And those are my mini romance reviews! Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? What romance books have you read recently? Let’s Chat!

Romance Reviews | Suffragette, Second Chances & Hot Shots

Apr 21, 2020

Today I thought I would share some mini-reviews on some romance books that I’ve read recently. I’m loving reading romance more and more these days and I love reading a big range of it as well. Here are my reviews for Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren and Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert.

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore

Pages: 356
Publish date: September 3rd 2019
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984805683
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women’s suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain’s politics at the Queen’s command. And her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can’t deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn’t be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn’t claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring…or could he?

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke…

Bringing Down the Duke:

I’ve been wanting to pick up Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore for a while now but I finally got around to it a few weeks ago. I’m loving historical romances more and more but for the most part, I’ve stayed in the same time frame. When I saw this was also about the British suffrage movement I knew that I had to pick it up. And it didn’t disappoint.

Bringing Down the Duke follows Annabelle Archer has earnt her place as one of the first females to be offered a place at Oxford University. And in exchange for her scholarship, she must support the rising women’s suffrage movement. Her task is to recruit men with influence to their cause. And her target? Well, it’s none other than, Sebastian Devereux. The Duke of Montgomery who is under the Queen’s command.

Annabelle wants to get amazing from her demanding and challenging family, while Sebastian needs a wife of equal standing. But together Annabelle and Sebastian are fire and smoke. They can’t stand each other but gosh do they have amazing chemistry. The romance is swoon-worthy and I couldn’t put the book down. For most of the book, Sebastian is cold and calculated, but Annabelle can break down those walls. While Annabelle might have this hard exterior, Sebastian can break her walls down.

But Sebastian cannot give Annabelle what she wants and deserves. It’s hard at times seeing this dynamic between Sebastian and Annabelle. But the reader can see them both want each other and it was so beautiful. They are both very stubborn so it made it that little bit of extra fun. They both have so much on the line, but they can’t help but fall for one another and that was beautiful.

Overall, I loved Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore. It was fun and entertaining, while also being heartbreaking and challenging. The romance between Annabell and Sebastian was swoon-worthy and exactly what I want from my historical romances. If you are looking for something new and bright in historical romance, then pick this one up.

The Ones Who Got Away (The Ones Who Got Away #1) by Roni Loren

Pages: 354
Publish date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 9781492651406
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Liv’s words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she’d known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence.

It’s been twelve years since tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a few students survived that fateful night—a group the media dubbed The Ones Who Got Away.

Liv Arias thought she’d never return to Long Acre—until a documentary brings her and the other survivors back home. Suddenly her old flame, Finn Dorsey, is closer than ever, and their attraction is still white-hot. When a searing kiss reignites their passion, Liv realizes this rough-around-the-edges cop might be exactly what she needs…

The Ones Who Got Away:

This is another one that has been on my TBR list for some time now. I had heard a heap about it in the romance community and it was all fantastic. So when I found in stock at a bookstore – well I grabbed it of course and now I have the whole series.

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren follows Liv Arias who never through that she would return to Long Arce. It’s been twelve years since she survived a school shooting that killed most of her senior class. Now she returns to town for a documentary that brings back not only Liv but the other survivors as well. This means Finn Dorsey is back and the attraction between this is still very much there. But can she forgive him about everything that happened in the past?

I’m not going to lie, this book broke me. This book tore me to pieces. But it was also beautiful, heartwarming and the romance was so good. Liv, Finn and the other Ones Who Got Away went through a lot and being back in down rehashing everything for this documentary is an emotional rollercoaster for all. Liv and Finn a have past and it’s the first time that they are seeing each other in some time. Let’s just say that they still very much have feelings for one another.

I enjoyed both Finn and Liv as protagonists. They felt real, impactful and drove the novel. I love second chance romances and it was done so well here. The reader can see the past and present emotional and connects between the both of them. I love that their past wasn’t closed over and they both had to deal with things that did happen that day. I loved getting to know their story and while it was emotional as hell, it was also beautiful.

Overall, The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is not an easy read. You will cry, shout and hurt. But it’s also beautiful and filled with a romance that puts a smile on my face. I loved getting to know Liv and Finn, as well as the rest of the ones who got away. I want to know more about them even more now. This second chance romance is adorable and beautiful. Be prepared to cry, but also be prepared to smile.

Burn Zone (Hotshots #1) by Annabeth Albert

Pages: 336
Publish date: April 27th 2020
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 9781335459497
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts…

Smokejumper Lincoln Reid is speechless to see Jacob Hartman among his squad’s new recruits. Linc had promised his late best friend he’d stay away from his little brother. And yet here Jacob is…and almost instantly, the same temptation Linc has always felt around him is causing way too many problems.

Jacob gets everyone’s concerns, but he’s waited years for his shot at joining the elite smoke jumping team, hoping to honour his brother’s memory. He’s ready to tackle any challenge Linc throws his way and senses the chemistry between them—chemistry Linc insists on ignoring—is still alive and kicking. This time, Jacob’s determined to get what he wants.

Close quarters and high stakes make it difficult for Linc to keep his resolve, never mind do so while also making sure the rookie’s safe. But the closer they get, the more Linc’s plan to leave at the end of the season risks him breaking another promise: the one his heart wants to make to Jacob.

Burn Zone:

I received an earc of Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert for review from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I started reading Annabeth Alberts books last year and have since then been more intrigued by what she has written. I haven’t loved any of her books, but I’ve enjoyed them that I want to read more from her. They are great M/M romances that I can just sit back and read and not worry about too much.

Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert follows Jacob Hartman as he begins his first day as a recruit of Lincoln Reids elite smoke jumping team. There has always been heat between Jacob and Linc. But Linc has tried to stay away from the temptation, he promised Jacobs late brother and Linc’s best friend that he would. But now being this close together, it’s not as easy. And Jacob doesn’t get the warm welcome and support that he wanted and expected. He knows everyone’s concern, but he wants to do this.

I loved the heat between Jacob and Linc. It is intense and is always going. This made the novel quite fast-paced and that made the novel more enjoyable. Jacob and Linc have a past, and while it’s not all romantic or full of tension, Linc and Jacobs brother were best friends and it’s not something that they can hide. Because of this Linc has a hard time being able to accept these feelings for Jacob and that does cause a lot of tension throughout the book. While also the fact that Linc also feels guilt about his best friends death.

Overall, Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert is an okay read. Like her other books, they aren’t my favourite. But they are great books to just sit and read and not worry too much about anything else. The romance was hot and adorable at the same. Plus the tension of them fighting fires leaves the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next. I will continue this series just to see what happens next with everyone.

And that is it for this post! I hope that you enjoyed these mini romance reviews. Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are you planning on it? Let’s Chat!