ARC Review: The Night When No One Had Sex by Kalena Miller

Title: The Night When No One Had Sex

Author: Kalena Miller

Publisher: Aw Teen
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 320 Pages
Publication Date: October 12th, 2021

Summary: It's the night of senior prom, and eighteen-year-old Julia has made a pact with her friends. (Yes, that kind of pact.) They have secured a secluded cabin in the woods, one night without parental supervision, and plenty of condoms. But as soon as they leave the dance, the pact begins to unravel. Alex's grandmother is undergoing emergency surgery, and he and his date rush to the hospital. Zoe's trying to figure out how she feels about getting off the waitlist at Yale--and how to tell her girlfriend. Madison's chronic illness flares, holding her back once again from being a normal teenager. And Julia's fantasy-themed role play gets her locked in a closet. Alternating between each character's perspective and their ridiculous group chat, The Night When No One Had Sex finds a group of friends navigating the tenuous transition into adulthood and embracing the uncertainty of life after high school.

I received an ARC of THE NIGHT WHEN NO ONE HAD SEX in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad you did, because you guys...this book is hysterical. Seriously. I loved this book so much and am already hand-pushing it on all of my friends because I want them to all read it and laugh along with me. If the title itself wasn't enough to grab your attention, then trust me, the 

As the summary explains, the story follows a group of high school friends who are all seniors who made a sex pact for their prom night. They secured a cabin in the woods without adult supervision, all of their romantic partners, and it seems like it's going to be a great night...until everything that could possibly go wrong does go wrong. It's a hilarious story of runaway cats, roleplay gone wrong, and lots of twists and turns. Trust me, this is not the type of story that you want to miss!

I devoured this entire book in less than 48 hours and even read 200+ pages in a single day because I was so invested in the antics of all of the characters that I just couldn't put it down. I was laughing so hard that my stomach hurt and I was also gasping at every single plot twist and shocking moment. I've been in a bad reading slump for awhile since I've been so stressed about other facets of my life, so it felt like this book found me at the perfect time. I was able to sit down and dive into a hysterical story that I found myself really getting sucked into. I definitely had "one more chapter" syndrome with this one, that's for sure! You get to watch everyone's nights unravel into pure chaos in so many different ways, and although there are a lot of different things going on with each individual couple, the title of the book lets you know that something interesting will be happening with all of them, that's for sure! And some of them are definitely things that you wouldn't expect.

Something else that was really cool about this book was the variety of different perspectives. You get to see the story from the perspectives of everyone in the friend group from time to time, broken up by transcripts of their absolutely hysterical group chat with its ever-changing names. Their dynamic with each other really reminded me a lot of my own friend group at home and the conversations we have, so that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I think above all, this is a story of friendship and all of the different forms its support takes, even among all of the chaos. Seeing them all together and supporting each other (and helping each other out of jams) really made me smile -- I just love books with such tight friendships, and that was really evident here.

My favorite characters of them all were definitely Kevin and Julia. Having such a big cast of characters means that there were so many different options to choose from and picking favorites was hard, but I loved whenever I got to see scenes between the two of them. Even as everything about their night was starting to go wrong and Julia's carefully laid plans (hehe) fell apart, it was clear how much love the two of them had for each other. And I also loved the way Julia would just casually blurt anything and everything about her and Kevin to her friends. She definitely kept the friend group on their toes, that's for sure -- even if she wasn't the only one!

Overall, I absolutely loved THE NIGHT WHEN NO ONE HAD SEX. If you're looking for a book that makes you laugh so hard it hurts, fall in love, and watch the hijinks of a carefully planned prom night unfold in disastrous real-time, then trust me, this is absolutely the book for you. I'm absolutely a fan of Kalena Miller's, and I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work in the future, because reading this book was honestly such a delight!

Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover (Jessica's Review)

Title: Verity

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Hoover Ink, Inc.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Paperback, 314 Pages
Published December 2018

Summary: Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

I picked up this book after Emily and Amber both read it and told me that it was a must-read, and I didn't need much convincing. Everyone I know who read this book told me that it blew their minds, and since I'm in the two-week period in between grad school terms, I was eager to dive into as many books as possible to get myself out of my burnout reading/writing slump. Well, it's safe to say that this book didn't disappoint! So without further ado, let's jump into my review:

As the summary explains, Lowen is a struggling writer who gets assigned a huge project -- finishing the final three books in a series by the incomparable, amazing author Verity Crawford, who was injured in an accident. Lowen heads to the Crawford house to dig through Verity's notes to find outlines and such for writing the remaining books, but instead she ends up finding an abandoned manuscript written by Verity with terrifying admissions and insight into the tragedies that previously struck their family. Not only is that a horrifying thing to discover, but at the same time, Lowen starts developing feelings for Verity's husband, Jeremy. Not only does this manuscript paint Verity as an evil, horrid person, but it also gives Lowen an opportunity -- if she shows this to Jeremy, then he won't want to stay with Verity, and they can be together forever.

I finished this book late last night (because of course I couldn't go to sleep right as it was getting good), and I slept on it before writing my review, and I am still at a loss for words with this book. It broke my brain and tore me apart in the best way, and I've already started recommending it to all of my family and friends. I've read some thrillers before, and books with some killer plot twists, but Verity easily blows all of those out of the water. I don't think I've ever really been gripped by a book like this in a long time, staying up to finish it, since I read They Both Die at the End. It felt like around every turn, there was a new plot twist or revelation that kept me on my toes. And being able to get into Verity's head through that manuscript was equal parts fascinating and messed up. Without spoiling anything, all I'll say is that this woman is sick. And the more Lowen realizes that, the more she realizes that Jeremy deserves better...with her. I love the fact that this was a romantic thriller, because while there were some pretty awesome and shocking elements to the book, at its root there was also a love triangle, which caught my heart as a romantic. But overall, just...wow. I don't have any words for what this book did to me. All I can say is that you need to read this book right this very second. Yes, right now. Go download a Kindle copy or go to the store or order it online. Every second that you're not reading this book is a second wasted. 

(THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH! SKIP TO THE NEXT ONE TO AVOID THEM.) Alright, I just have to talk about the ending for a second, where they killed her. I was rooting for Lowen and Jeremy all the way until the end, when they went and killed her. I'm glad she's dead because she's sick, but why wouldn't they just turn her in?! Then she'd be gone and they wouldn't be murderers! But ugh...wow. That ending. I really couldn't go to bed, no matter how late it was getting, because I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. And the fact that they got Verity to talk?! I wish that had been drawn out more, because oh my gosh, that was such a shock. Toward the end of the book, I was so terrified to even keep reading, because I really had no idea what was going to come next, and what the next strike for these Chronics would be.

(THERE ARE ALSO BIG SPOILERS HERE! KEEP SKIPPING TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH!) That final part of the book also confused me a bit too. Lowen just gets pregnant and moves in with Jeremy, and nobody notices the timeline? They said they didn't move in together right away because it would look too suspicious after Verity's death, but wouldn't people put two and two together with their pregnancy? The fact that they got away with murder with no foul play was a bit suspicious. So was the fact that Lowen got rid of the letter -- did she do it because she thinks Verity was lying and doesn't want to upset Jeremy, or did she do it because she knows Verity was telling the truth, and she doesn't want to acknowledge that they killed an innocent person? I love that the book leaves off in such an ambiguous spot that readers get to come to their own conclusions (for the record, I think Verity's letter was a lie and that she really did do those things), because now I get to have such riveting conversations with my friends.

Overall, I loved reading Verity. While it's a deviation from the somewhat lighter romances that Colleen Hoover has written in the past (and don't get me wrong, those are some of my favorites), Verity was a whole different animal. This book gripped me from the opening line and kept me hooked (and kept my productivity low) for the entire day and night, because I just couldn't put it down. If you're looking for a whirlwind of a thriller to keep you on your toes and to break you out of a reading slump, then I'd definitely recommend picking this one up!

ARC Review: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

Title: Never Saw You Coming

Author: Erin Hahn

Publisher: Wednesday Books
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 320 Pages
Publication Date: September 7th, 2021

Summary: Raised by conservative parents, 18-year-old Meg Hennessey just found out her entire childhood was a lie. Instead of taking a gap year before college to find herself, she ends up traveling north to meet what’s left of the family she never knew existed. While there, she meets Micah Allen, a former pastor’s kid whose dad ended up in prison, leaving Micah with his own complicated relationship about the church. The clock is ticking on Pastor Allen’s probation hearing and Micah, now 19, feels the pressure to forgive - even when he can’t possibly forget. As Meg and Micah grow closer, they are confronted with the heavy flutterings of first love and all the complications it brings. Together, they must navigate the sometimes-painful process of cutting ties with childhood beliefs as they build toward something truer and straight from the heart.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I'm so glad that I did, because once again I got to dive into a fabulous Erin Hahn story that I loved from start to finish. I have so many amazing things to say about this book that it feels like my brain is whirring a mile a minute with all of the gushing that I want to do, but don't worry, guys -- I'm going to do my best to rein it in and not ramble! So without further ado, let's get into my review:

As the summary explains, Meg is taking a gap year before college and really trying to figure her life out after some shocking secrets about her parents and their marriage come to light. She ends up fleeing to meet some members of her long-lost family that she didn't know existed, only intending to stay for a little while to get to know them better, but soon enough, she meets Micah...the son of a disgraced pastor who has his own baggage to carry. As they get closer to one another and feelings start to bloom, they begin to explore all the different ways that their faith has both helped them and held them back growing up -- all while trying to find the balance of keeping God in their lives without succumbing to the pressures and prejudice that are all to common in so many church teachings.

Ugh, you guys, I LOVED this book. Seriously. It made me laugh, swoon, and gasp in surprise, all in equal measure. This book is equal parts an exploration of pushing past the more oppressive ideas of the Catholic church while also finding ways to embrace faith while still letting yourself enjoy life. And the super adorable, swoon-worthy romance between Meg and Micah just made the whole thing better, because I was shipping them from the start! And as always, Erin Hahn's writer is spectacular, as there were actual moments where I was laughing out loud or actually gasping in shock and rereading a few times because I couldn't believe that something happened. And yes, there was also lots of blushing and swooning! And cheering on characters as they fought back against some of the church's more antiquated beliefs. Basically, this book is going to take you on an emotional roller coaster in the best way, so buckle up and be prepared for it!

My favorite character in this book was Micah. I have to admit, I fell head over heels for him right from the very beginning. The way that he managed to still care about Meg and Duke and Cash and his family, even after all of the injustices that were thrown at him as a kid who had nothing to do with his father's prison sentence, really stood out to me. And the way he loved Meg...gosh. There were some moments where I just held this book to my chest and sighed and thought for a few seconds, because something that he said or did was just so lovely and it made him perfect boyfriend material for her, and it just made me feel really happy. I was cheering for him whenever he was on the page, and I was really glad that we got to read some chapters from his perspective as well, so you got to watch Meg and Micah fall for each other in real time, hearing everything play out in their heads. 

Something else that I really loved about this book was the way that it addressed some of the more unfair teachings of the church head-on. There was so beating around the bush here, and that's what I really appreciated. As someone who grew up in the Catholic church, there were a lot of ideas and lessons that I didn't agree with, especially when it came to the teen girls of the church and homosexuality. So being able to see these issues being grappled with in the story -- while having some characters who were staunchly unaccepting and set in the church's ways, while others were openly against it or in the process of coming around -- really helped make it seem a lot more realistic to me. I had (and honestly, I still do have) a hard time fitting in with my congregation, because while for the most part they are very accepting about a lot of things, there are still many ideals that they cling to that I really don't agree with. So I really identified with Meg's situation, believing in faith and a higher power and something greater than ourselves, and loving that entity with your whole heart, while being able to look at the church and recognize that what you're taught in a parish is not the only way that one can love and respect God. For someone who felt really stuck in that situation for a very long time, I felt so seen, and I appreciated it more than I could ever express.

Overall, I really loved reading NEVER SAW YOU COMING! If you're a former church kid who is looking to reconcile your faith with wanting to live a happy, full life, or you don't fit into that category but still want a sweet, swoon-worthy read that keeps you blushing and cheering for the main characters, then I definitely recommend picking this one up. Erin Hahn is a spectacular author whose books I always enjoy, and this was certainly no exception. It's safe to say that I'm already looking forward to Erin's next sweet YA romance...and I also have my eye on her adult rom-com that she's been working on!

Once again, thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending me this review copy! 

ARC Review: As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter

Title: As If on Cue

Author: Marisa Kanter

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 400 Pages
Publication Date: September 21st, 2021

Summary: Lifelong rivals Natalie and Reid have never been on the same team. So when their school’s art budget faces cutbacks, of course Natalie finds herself up against her nemesis once more. She’s fighting to direct the school’s first ever student-written play, but for her small production to get funding, the school’s award-winning band will have to lose it. Reid’s band. And he’s got no intention of letting the show go on. But when their rivalry turns into an all-out prank war that goes too far, Natalie and Reid have to face the music, resulting in the worst compromise: writing and directing a musical. Together. At least if they deliver a sold-out show, the school board will reconsider next year’s band and theater budget. Everyone could win. Except Natalie and Reid. Because after spending their entire lives in competition, they have absolutely no idea how to be co-anything. And they certainly don’t know how to deal with the feelings that are inexplicably, weirdly, definitely developing between them…

We received an advanced reader's copy of AS IF ON CUE from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that we did, because I loved this book. I have so many things to say and so many gushy feelings to get out, so without further ado, let's jump into my review!

As the summary explains, Natalie and Reid are family friends who have been feuding via prank wars for their entire life -- over everything. Everything between the two of them is a competition -- pranks. Family attention. Even music, which is something that they both love. So in high school, Reid is the star of the band and Natalie is fighting to have her play produced during the semester. But what neither of them expect is to find out that either Reid's band or Natalie's play will get funding this year -- not both. That is, unless they can hatch a plan to make it happen. But there are several different issues with that plan: they hate each other, they don't want to support each other, and neither of them want to give up what they're fighting for to make the other person's dream happen. That is, unless they can find a way to combine them...but that plan is rockier territory than they expect, including the surprising feelings that pop up when they scheme together...

Like I said, I absolutely adored this book. I was a huge fan of WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU back when it came out last year, so when I heard that Marisa had a sophomore novel on the way, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. And I'm so glad that I did, because this book was so sweet and funny and had me swooning and laughing out loud left and right. I really loved hearing the history of the prank war between Natalie and Reid, as well as how close their families were, and all of the school drama going on. There were several moments in this book where I actually swooned or squealed out loud and had to hold the book up to my face because I was blushing or laughing so much. AS IF ON CUE definitely nails the rom-com vibes, that's for sure! It was such a sweet, happy, engaging read that I tore through and couldn't get enough of.

My favorite character in this book was definitely Reid. Not only was his banter with Natalie hilarious, and some of his pranks pretty epic, but it was clear how much of a friendship the both of them had even under all of the hatred that they pretended to have for each other. Sure, he could be a bit cocky or annoying toward Natalie at times, but overall -- and especially after finishing the book -- I think he is definitely the best character in the whole story. I swooned over him lots and loved reading about him whenever he popped up on the page! 

Something else that I really enjoyed in AS IF ON CUE was the way that so many different avenues of the arts are explored! Seriously -- Natalie's mom is a writer, her dad is a music teacher, she's interested in theater, Reid is a musician, Fitz wants to be a fashion designer...it was just really cool to see all these different ways that the arts can mean various things to various different people. In addition to being a sweet, hilarious rom-com, it felt like such an awesome celebration of being creative and following your passions, in whatever form that means to you. Reading this book felt like one big sweet, swoony, giant hug.

Overall, I absolutely loved AS IF ON CUE. If you're looking for a sweet, funny, riveting read to hook you and soak up your whole day, then I definitely recommend picking this one up! The same with WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU. Marisa Kanter is a master of writing sweet, hilarious rom-coms that keep you invested from the first word until the very end. I'll absolutely be reading whatever else she writes in the future -- I'm a fan for life! 

ARC Review: Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle I. Mason

Title: Your Life Has Been Delayed

Author: Michelle I. Mason

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 308 Pages
Publication Date: September 7th, 2021

Summary: Jenny Waters boards her flight in 1995, but when she lands, she and the other passengers are told they disappeared . . . 25 years ago. Everyone thought they were dead. Now contending with her family and friends fast-forwarding decades, Jenny must quickly adjust to smartphones and social media while being the biggest story to hit the internet. She feels betrayed by her once-best friend and fights her attraction to a cute boy with an uncomfortable connection to her past. Meanwhile, there’s a growing group of conspiracy theorists determined to prove the whole situation is a hoax. Will Jenny figure out how to move forward, or will she always be stuck in the past?

I received a copy of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that I did, because this book ended up being spectacular. I tore through this book in giant chunks because I would just sit down and become so sucked into it that I didn't want to let it go! I have so many great things to say about this book, so without further ado, let's get into my review! 

As the summary explains, the story follows Jenny Waters, a 17 year old girl who gets on a plane in 1995 and when she lands, it's 25 entire years later. She hasn't aged at all, but everyone around her has -- her parents are retired, her baby brother is married with kids, her grandparents are gone, and her best friend has moved on and has a family of her own, with someone that Jenny would rather not think about. Everything else about the story is completely set in contemporary times, so Jenny has to adjust to things like social media, cell phones, and digital journalism, all while navigating her new life and trying to keep the conspiracy theorists from burning her at the stake for being some sort of alien or hoax. Basically, the way I've been describing this book to people is a fictional account of what would happen if the Malaysia Flight 370 suddenly reappeared and landed like nothing was wrong, even after it's been missing all of these years. And when the passengers get off the plane, they have no idea what's going on, thinking it's been just a few hours since they got into the air. I couldn't imagine what something like that would do to me mentally.

Like I said, I absolutely loved reading this book! It was both hilarious and shocking to see Jenny adapting to the 21st century and all of its changes. Some of them were expected, such as the new technology, but there were others -- such as finding out what happens to Angie, her best friend -- that took me by surprise. I couldn't put this book down, and I kept wanting to stay up to just read one more chapter, to see what was going to happen to Jenny as she began to adjust to all of the different aspects of her life that have changed so dramatically. And in addition to that, she's also going through all of this while she's basically a celebrity for returning from the plane, and there's a conspiracy group out there, PATROL, that is destined to prove that her flight was a hoax and that she is some sort of alien or cyborg. So it's a lot for one teen girl to handle! And following along with her antics was equal parts entertaining and emotional. I loved every second of it! 

My favorite character in this story was definitely Dylan. He was so hilarious, kind, and witty, and even as Jenny was fighting off her feelings for him, I was rooting for him on every page. I mean, come on -- any teen boy who loves The Hunger Games and plans super-cute dates is the type of guy that I'd root for. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart! But for real, when I found out about the connection he had to Jenny's past (which I won't mention here, but I *will* discuss in the next paragraph!), I was pleasantly shocked. That was an absolutely awesome plot twist that I really didn't see coming, and it was incredibly well-written! 

[Spoilers ahead, so skip to the next paragraph if you want to avoid them!] I actually liked the fact that you don't find out what made the plane jump in time. I don't think having that answer would've changed anything at all -- Jenny is still here, in the 21st century, regardless of whatever phenomenon got her there. So not actually explaining how it happened was a really interesting choice, but I actually really liked it. It made sure that the focus was on Jenny adjusting to her new life and all of its challenges, instead of just harping on what happened to her. Also, having Angie and Steve end up together (and then having Jenny fall in love with their son) is a plot twist that I wasn't expecting, and I really loved it! And like I said, he was definitely my favorite character in the whole book.

Overall, I absolutely loved YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED. If you're looking for a refreshing new debut that will have you flipping through the pages until the very end, then look no further! I hadn't ever read a story like this one before, and I loved it so much and am already talking it up to everyone that I know. I'm already a solid fan of Michelle I. Mason, and I'm looking forward to reading more work from her in the future!

DNF Review: The Taking of Jake Livingston by by Ryan Douglass

Title: The Taking of Jake Livingston

Author: Ryan Douglass

Publisher: Putnam
Rating: 1/5 Stars (DNF)
Hardcover, 308 Pages
Publication Date: July 13th, 2021

Summary: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.

I received an ARC of THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON in exchange for an honest review. When we first found out about this 2021 debut, we were super intrigued, because even though I'm a huge contemporary romance reader, there have been some thrillers and paranormal stories that I've liked in the past. So first and foremost, thank you Putnam for sending me a copy to review! 

As the summary explains, the story follows Jake Livingston, one of the only Black kids at his local prep school -- but that's not the only thing that makes him stand out. He can also see the dead -- particularly, the ghost of a high school shooter who begins haunting him. It's an interesting premise that caught my eye, and it adds a fresh spin on paranormal thrillers in a way that I wasn't expecting.

Unfortunately, I just wasn't really able to get into this book. It was a bit confusing for me in the beginning, when the info about Jake's ghost-seeing powers is explained, and it isn't quite clear what things are actually happening in real life, what are visions, what are dreams, etc. I muddled through the beginning of this book feeling very confused. I also just had a hard time getting into it, but I think that's because I may not have been in the right headspace to dive into a super dark, deep paranormal thriller at the moment. I had just gotten over being really sick and found myself in a nastier reading slump than I had expected. So even though I wasn't able to get into/finish this book right now, maybe one day down the line when I find myself craving a thriller, I'll pick this one up! But for now, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

I just want to stress that while THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON may not have been the right fit for me, that doesn't mean that someone else won't enjoy it! So if you were excited about reading this book, please do not let my review deter you. I'm simply sharing my own thoughts on why I was unable to finish the book -- but you might pick it up and decide that it's the perfect cup of tea that you've been waiting for! If you're into paranormal thrillers, I definitely encourage you to pick up this book and tell me what you think.

Did you have similar thoughts about THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON? Did you love it? Want to read it? Comment down below and let me know all of your thoughts!

ARC Review: Fresh by Margot Wood (Jessica's Review)

Title: Fresh

Author: Margot Wood

Publisher: Amulet books
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 352 Pages
Publication Date: August 3rd, 2021

Summary: Some students enter their freshman year of college knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. Elliot McHugh is not one of those people. But picking a major is the last thing on Elliot’s mind when she’s too busy experiencing all that college has to offer—from dancing all night at off-campus parties, to testing her RA Rose’s patience, to making new friends, to having the best sex one can have on a twin-sized dorm room bed. But she may not be ready for the fallout when reality hits. When the sex she’s having isn’t that great. When finals creep up and smack her right in the face. Or when her roommate’s boyfriend turns out to be the biggest a-hole. Elliot may make epic mistakes, but if she’s honest with herself (and with you, dear reader), she may just find the person she wants to be. And maybe even fall in love in the process . . . Well, maybe.

There aren't even words for how we reacted when we found out that Margot Wood was publishing a book. She had been our YA literary hero since we were little teens in high school who used to race home from the bus stop to catch the latest episode of Epic Reads's Tea Time with Margot & Aubrey. We've been fans of her for so long, following along with her writing journey, so it's safe to say that when she announced she was going to be a published author, we wasted no time adding the book to our TBR! And once more info came out about FRESH, we couldn't wait to get this book in our hands. So thank you to Margot for being so sweet and awesome and sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review! So without further ado, let's get into it.

As the summary explains, FRESH follows the story of Elliot McHugh as she leads the reader through her first year at Emerson College (which is where Margot actually went!). Elliot goes through a whole bunch of antics while she's there, some even based on Margot's own experiences -- everything from experimenting with sex, and friendship, classes, parties, and just the general anxieties and stress that come with going away to college for the first time (many of which I remember very well). And throughout the whole ride, she learns a lot of different things -- about herself, about her friends, and even about her future. The entire story is a fun rollercoaster ride, a loose retelling of EMMA, as Elliot makes her way through the chaotic jungle that is college.

I don't even have proper words for how much I loved this book. So just as a heads up, a majority of this review is going to be incoherent fangirling and flailing. It was so hysterical, and also so different than any other book I've ever read. I was so excited for my ARC of FRESH to arrive that I did something I'd never done before -- when it arrived, I stopped in the middle of the book that I was currently reading to dive right into it. I've never done that in my life before, so that's how you know how much I was anticipating this one! I enjoyed such a pleasant reading experience, laughing along with all of Elliot's antics, her internal monologues, her footnotes (which I'll talk more about in a second), and just all of the chaos and awkward situations she finds herself in. Her sparring with Rose was also super funny to see on the page, and watching them work out their dynamic was really fascinating. One thing I can absolutely say about FRESH is that it's so exciting and different, and really shook up my day-to-day monotony of reading the same types of books over and over. It absolutely stood out of me and I already started recommending it to so many friends and family members!

My favorite part of this book was definitely the footnotes. They were a fresh (ha), different take on reading a novel that I hadn't ever considered before. And they also added brief little snippets of the story that were directed straight toward the reader, so I didn't just feel like an outsider stepping into the story. I felt like I was actually part of the story myself, and Elliot even goes out of her way to address the reader directly several times. Fresh is also peppered with all sorts of interjections, choose-your-own-adventure segments, text transcripts, and more. All together, it made for a really fascinating, engaging, theatrical experience that I really enjoyed.

Overall, FRESH was such a fun, hilarious, sex-positive whirlwind of a ride that I enjoyed every second of. I spent so much time pausing my reading to share funny passages with my boyfriend and my co-bloggers, laughing out loud, and genuinely loving this story so much. I'm really looking forward to the book being published this upcoming Tuesday so I can go pick up a finished copy -- which is a hardcover without a dust jacket (!!) filled with all sorts of gorgeous endpapers, glossy text, and so much more that I'm excited to read. Let me reiterate: if you are a YA reader who needs a good laugh, you absolutely need to pick up FRESH. It's non-negotiable. And trust me, you'll thank me when you do!

Hats off to Margot Wood -- not only does she rock working in the publishing industry, but she rocks the author side of it as well! I'm really looking forward to reading more hilarious, captivating stories from her in the future.

ARC Review: Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler

Title: Where It All Lands

Author: Jennie Wexler

Publisher: Wednesday Books
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Hardcover, 352 Pages
Publication Date: July 6th, 2021

Summary: Stevie Rosenstein has never made a true friend. Never fallen in love. Moved from city to city by her father’s unrelenting job, it’s too hard to care for someone. Trust in anything. The pain of leaving always hurts too much. But she’ll soon learn to trust, to love. Twice. Drew and Shane have been best friends through everything. The painful death of Shane's dad. The bitter separation of Drew's parents. Through sleepaway camps and family heartache, basketball games and immeasurable loss, they've always been there for each other. When Stevie meets Drew and Shane, life should go on as normal. But a simple coin toss alters the course of their year in profound and unexpected ways.

I received an ARC of WHERE IT ALL LANDS in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that I did because I ended up really enjoying this story! This was actually one of our most anticipated 2021 debuts of the year, and I'm excited to report back that it didn't disappoint. So without further ado, let's get into my review:

As the summary explains, Drew and Shane are best friends that meet Stevie, the new girl at school, and she has them both smitten. But since both of them want to ask her out, and neither of them want to turn it into a competition where they resent one another, they decide to flip a coin -- heads, Drew gets to ask out Stevie, and tails, Shane gets to. From that moment forward, the story is broken into two timelines -- one being what would happen if the coin landed on heads, and one if the coin landed on tails. And without spoiling anything for you, all I'll say is that you'd be surprised what events would and wouldn't stay the same, depending on which course fate chooses to take.

To start, I really loved the premise of this book. Being able to see how every little choice can have a butterfly effect into something else -- and also the ways that some parts of fate will work out regardless of what you do -- was really fascinating. I liked the fact that you got to see most of the heads timeline first, and most of the tails second, instead of weaving them together the entire times, which is where things could really get confusing. Instead, you got to see how Drew would use his chance, and how Shane would, and the bonuses and consequences of both actions. And it's safe to say that some of them really surprised me! I absolutely loved that type of premise in the story, and I thought it was so creative and fresh, which made it such a delight to read.

I also really enjoyed Shane's character, definitely the most. He was sweet and kind and funny, and the way that he was there for Stevie in both timelines -- even in totally different ways sometimes -- had me cheering him on. Of the two of them, I definitely am Team Sean over Team Drew (although he was a pretty great guy as well, just not my favorite). Shane's humor, wit, and kind heart had me smitten from the very beginning, and I found myself smiling every time he was on the page.

One thing that I wasn't super keen on was the fact that once we switched from heads to tails, a few of the same moments ended up being re-explained. While I know that they happened in different ways based on the choices there made differently, there were still some moments that I found myself skimming a little bit because I already knew some of that information already from the previous timeline together. In some of those instances, a recap wasn't really that necessary and felt a bit repetitive, although I guess some of that is bound to happen when both timelines are explaining the exact same chunk of time, so some stuff is going to repeat. But having it skimmed over may have made it feel less repetitive in that way! (But of course, that's just my own opinion on the matter).

(MAJOR spoilers in this paragraph, so skip to the next one to avoid them!) I have so many different things that I want to say about that ending! The first is that Shane dying absolutely gutted my heart and I was really expecting it to happen in the second timeline, too -- which I'm incredibly glad that it didn't. I really loved the way that no matter which timeline you look at, Shane and Stevie were destined to be together, even in different ways. But the Heads timeline...damn, that one really gutted me in the end, especially the part with Stevie's dream. But above all, what I love is the fact that the book then flashes back to the scene with the penny, but it d doesn't tell you which side it actually lands on: so you never really know if Shane lives or dies, and what ends up happening. While that would normally be the type of suspense that sends me into an angry tailspin swearing off a book forever, being able to really see how both timelines played out still made me feel like I had that sense of closure (good or bad, depending on which path), no matter what side the coin would've landed on in the first place. Which just truly made it such brilliant, brilliant writing. I'll hopefully be analyzing this book in one of my future MFA courses, that's for sure! Because from a craft perspective, that was wonderful.

Overall, I really loved WHERE IT ALL LANDS and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh, enthralling new read. Jennie Wexler takes a super interesting premise and twists it into a captivating story that will keep you reading until the very end, to find out just what happens when two best friends flip a coin, and the different fates that each side can offer them. I'll definitely be reading more of Jennie's books in the future, and I'm really glad that she's going to be our #YADebutChat author this month, so we can talk to her more about the book! 

ARC Review: An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

Title: An Emotion of Great Delight

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Hardcover, 256 Pages
Published June 2021

Summary: It’s 2003, several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the American political world has evolved. Tensions are high, hate crimes are on the rise, FBI agents are infiltrating local mosques, and the Muslim community is harassed and targeted more than ever. Shadi, who wears hijab, keeps her head down. She's too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots. Shadi is named for joy, but she’s haunted by sorrow. Her brother is dead, her father is dying, her mother is falling apart, and her best friend has mysteriously dropped out of her life. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of her hear— It’s broken. Shadi tries to navigate her crumbling world by soldiering through, saying nothing. She devours her own pain, each day retreating farther and farther inside herself until finally, one day, everything changes. She explodes.

I received an advanced copy of AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. When I first heard that Tahereh Mafi had a new contemporary novel out, I was intrigued -- A VERY LARGE EXPANSE OF SEA was not one of my most favorite novels around, but both myself and my co-bloggers all absolutely adored the SHATTER ME series. I even had the chance to meet Tahereh a few years ago at a signing, and she was such a gem! So when I was asked about a copy of AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT, I was thrilled to dive into another Tahereh Mafi story. 

As the summary explains, the story is told in a dual-timeline, both parts from the perspective of Shadi, a Muslim-American teenager who is dealing with the onslaught of harassment, assault, and horrors that came with being a Muslim in a post-9/11 world. On top of that, after the death of Shadi's brother, her whole family is falling apart -- her father is sick, her mother is filled with grief, and her sister hates her. The book basically deals with Shadi's bottling up of pain, grief, emotions, and anything and everything that she wants to say, keeping herself small and out of the way, trying not to make trouble. But people can only bottle up their pain for so long, and eventually Shadi finds herself with a burning need to speak out and be heard -- exploding in a million different directions. 

Unfortunately, I didn't find myself as enamored by this book as I had hoped to be. For starters, it felt a little bit too literary for me, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but just isn't my type of writing style that I usually love. Even though the chapters and sections would clarify which timeline -- 2001 or 2003 -- that part of the story was taking place in, there were a lot of moments where I had to go back and reread a few sections to get clarity on what was happening, because I felt really confused. 

I think, looking back on all of Tahereh's books that I've read, I've been very invested in her sci-fi/fantasy stories, and not so much with her contemporary writing. While it seems like plenty of people adore it, I just had a hard time really connecting with it. Something about the way she writes contemporary stories with such a literary lean makes it a bit hard for me to connect with, and I felt like so many major things happened in this book and then were just sort of...done. Not addressed. And it left me with a lot more questions than answers. The book itself is a little under 250 pages, so maybe that's why it felt that way to me, but it feels like barely any major plot points were sewn up by the conclusion of the book.

(Spoilers in this paragraph, so skip to the next one to avoid them!) An issue that I had with A VERY LARGE EXPANSE OF SEA that I'm noticing again here is the lack of resolution in the story. Sometimes, books end off leaving the reader wondering what would happen, but in that case some other loose ends are usually tied up. Shadi and Ali seem to be beginning a relationship, but there was so much else I wondered about: Does her mother get help? Does her father find out what her mother was doing to herself? Is he cured of whatever ailments were happening with his heart? What happens with the friendship -- or lack thereof -- with Shadi and Zahra, especially after finding out about Shadi and Ali? And what about Noah?! I loved him so much in the few short bursts that he was on the page, and I really wish I could've seen him more. I remember getting toward the end of the book and realizing that I had only 10-20 pages left, and realizing that basically NONE of my questions were even close to being addressed. It felt a little too open-ended for me, which is where I feel that the book fell short, thus giving it two stars -- our rating here which translates to "It was okay." 

However, there were some aspects of AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT that I enjoyed as well. Like I mentioned above, Noah was a character that I loved seeing, and his kindness and the way he was constantly reaching out to Shadi even when she was trying to withdraw into herself really made me smile. It goes to show that you never really know when someone can use a friend. And watching the way that Shadi dealt with grief and pain and harbored it all, bearing the burden for her entire family until she couldn't handle it anymore, was a very sharp, poignant, important image that reading about really struck me with. It tugs on your heart to realize that there are some people in this world who are so misunderstood, forced to carry so much pain, and forced to endure so much more than anyone ever realizes.

Overall, while AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT didn't feel like my cup of tea and what I was hoping for with the book, that is just my opinion on it! Just because I didn't particularly enjoy a book doesn't mean that you won't! So if this book was on your TBR and you were considering reading it, I definitely still encourage you to give it a try. Plenty of people ended up loving this book, and it just so happened that this one wasn't my cup of tea.