“One day isn't your whole life. A day is just a day.”
Letters to the Lost is a stunning story about grief, moving on, and seeing past the ordinary. It’s a beautiful coming of age story that gave me so many feels. I adored it.
Juliet and Declan couldn’t seem more different if they tried. They go to the same high school, but they don’t run in the same crowds. Declan is a bad boy, and Juliet is a good student, into photography, and outgoing. Or she used to be, until she lost her mom. Declan and Juliet first ‘meet’ when Declan is doing his community service and finds a letter at a grave. He can relate, so he writes back. This turns into a pen-pal relationship of sorts.
The letters. The emails. The communication between Declan and Juliet. That was my favorite part of the story. I loved watching them connect, trust one another, relate to one another, and start to fall for one another, without having any idea who each one is.
“Do you believe in fate? Sometimes I want to. I want to believe that we all walk some path toward… something, and our paths intertwine for a reason. Like this, the way we’ve found each other. The way you told me the right story when I so desperately needed to hear it.”
The connection that these two characters had was something. It just shows you that opposites truly do attract sometimes, and people are so much more than what they seem. I read Rev’s book before this one, so I already kind of knew Declan, but I loved seeing more of his story. His past broke my heart. The pain, grief, and responsibility he felt was crushing. And Juliet is also drowning in grief. These two needed each other more than they ever could have known.
I just have to make a note that I listened to the audio book of this, and Kirby Heybourne voiced Declan. Kirby also voices Josh in TSOT and let me tell you, his voice is magical. He doesn’t just narrate, you feel the characters through him. I can’t even explain it, he does an amazing job voice acting and I can’t recommend listening to this one enough. Brittany Pressely also does a good job voicing Juliet.
Brigid Kemmerer, if you haven’t read her, you need to. She has a new fan in me. I’ve loved both of the books I’ve read by this author, but this, by far, is my favorite. Moving, heart-wrenching, and gave me all the feels. Truly, my best YA book of 2018 and a must read! ...more
“We all push sometimes, just to make sure someone is on the other side, pushing back.”
Gosh, I adored this book. The hero, Rev, is such a wonderful and endearing character. It’s emotional, sweet, and sucked me in from the start.
Emma Blue is a high schooler, a gamer, and a creator. In fact, she created the game that she’s currently playing. She’s going through a tough time right now with her parents fighting all the time, and sometimes she just has to get away. When she takes her dog for a walk to get out of the house, she meets a guy in a hoodie who the dog is taken with right away. She sort of recognizes him from school, but she doesn’t know him.
Rev Fletcher had an awful childhood and is still carrying it around some. He was adopted by two amazing people when he was a kid, but his past still haunts him. Or his father, to be precise. Both Emma and Rev are going through some difficult things, and they find solace in one another. It’s a strange sort of friendship at first, but soon, it becomes a bit more.
I loved Rev so much. His character gets all the stars. Seriously, he was pretty perfect. Emma on the other hand, I have to remind myself that she is just a teenager and humans are imperfect because some of the choices she made had me shaking my head. Overall, I loved them as a couple. I listened to the audio book and couldn’t get enough. I enjoyed it so much. And after listening, I’m jumping straight into Declan’s (Rev’s best friend) book! I can’t wait to get more of his back story and I’m sure Rev will play a part in it as well!
Hayden Holmes is a character I was dying to read about. He did not disappoint! Unfortunately, this book had something I hate in it and I really struggled with the last half. I loved the beginning and would love to be able to rate it higher, but I just can’t. Meghan Quinn is an amazing writer and her stories always make me laugh. This story had some giggles, but a little more of a serious one.
We meet Hayden Holmes in ‘Three Blind Dates’, but this can be read as a stand-alone. In fact, some of the book takes place before ‘Three Blind Dates’ and that part of the book was my favorite. Hayden is a successful hockey player taking a break when he meets Adalyn. Hayden is an amazing hero. He is seriously a great guy. And when he finds himself smitten with Adalyn, he’s all in. And she feels the same. Everything is going perfect and I’m happy as a clam.
I know one thing for sure, he's ruining me for all other men. Because I'm pretty sure he's the exception.
Then Adalyn gets pregnant. At the same time Hayden gets traded across country. It’s a lot for any couple to handle, but of course this heroine thinks it’s best (view spoiler)[ To NOT TELL Hayden she’s pregnant. This is one of my biggest reading pet peeves. You DO NOT DO THIS. What the F is wrong with people!??! I just don’t get it. She wouldn’t have told him, but one of her friends do. It’s so frustrating to me (hide spoiler)]. It’s a topic that really works me up. I ended up disliking her for most of the book, because of that, and a way she treated another male friend that was obviously into her. It’s so hard for me to love a book when I dislike one of the main characters. Honestly, it’s a good thing I loved Hayden so much or this would have been rated even lower.
Obviously, this is just my opinion. As I said earlier, this is a huge peeve for me personally. Most of my friends loved this book, so it could just be me. I do love the other books in this series and Hayden is amazing so read at your own risk! ;)...more
When I listened to 'Three Blind Dates' a few weeks ago, I knew I would have to get to the rest of the series asap. I loved the book so much and I couldn't wait to get the stories of the two guys who didn't get the girl. Becks is the rebel. In TBD you didn't get much of his story as he was closed off, but honestly, he just needed the right person to open him up.
Becks and Rylee both get talked into crashing a wedding by their friends. They end up on the same flight and at the same wedding in Key West. It's like they're meant to be. Rylee is a romance writer who is lacking any spark or connection in her life. Becks is the perfect guy for her. I loved these two together. They complimented each other so well!
I loved how light and fun this was, but it was also emotional and had heavier moments. Both of these main characters have been through something completely different, yet equally traumatizing to each one of them. And both of them really needed to find the right person who would be able to get in there and really open up. When they were able to bare themselves to each other, that's how you could tell their love connection was real and would be forever.
"Sometimes you just have to take a chance on something that makes you happy, regardless of the unknown."
I loved Becks in the first book in this series, but I loved him even more in this book! He was amazing and a great reminder that past mistakes don't define who we truly are. I was so sympathetic to Rylee, but she also had moments where she frustrated me a bit. Overall, I loved them both. The ending of this book was perfect! I've got to add, if you haven't read book one (you really should!) you can still read this book and not be lost! I listened to this book on audio and once again, the narration was fantastic!...more
I am obsessed with the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack, I mean OBSESSED. It’s been on constant repeat on my Spotify for months and I have tickets to see it on Broadway in May (YAY), so when I saw there was a book, I jumped in to read it. It was really fun to listen to the sound track as the book was playing, I just knew when each song would fit after being so familiar with the songs.
“I wish that everything was different. I wish that I was a part of something. I wish that anything I said mattered, to anyone. I mean, let's face it: would anybody even notice if I disappeared tomorrow?”
Evan Hansen is a teenager who doesn’t quite fit in. So is Connor Murphy. When Connor is found with Evan’s letter, the one that he wrote to himself, it’s easy to fall to the assumption that Evan and Connor were best friends. This lie is so easy for Evan to keep going. It gives him something he’s never had before. A feeling of belonging. But Evan can’t keep up the lie for forever. Even though he does a lot of good and reaches a lot of people, he can’t stand living a lie. When the truth comes out, it’s hard to know what will happen with Evan.
Evan is someone I think a lot of people can relate to. I love this coming of age story. It’s beautiful, the story itself, especially the lyrics (PLEASE listen to this soundtrack- it’s epic) and I loved it. An important YA story with a message that is moving and an unforgettable read!...more
Carian Cole is a new to me author this year and after reading a couple of her books I want to binge them all! I can’t wait to get to the rest of this series, this book was a great introduction to the ‘Ashes & Embers’ crew.
Storm starts out with a blizzard. Evelyn is lost and her GPS is no help. She’s trapped in this snow storm and doesn’t know what to do. Along comes a white knight named Storm who terrifies her at first. He’s covered in tattoos, looks a little grungy, and has a dog who could pass as a wolf with him. But he has a truck with four wheel drive and she gets in the truck with him. When that truck gets stuck, they’re together for 2 long days. Luckily, Storm has supplies, but this event bonds them.
Evelyn has no idea about Storm’s true identity. She may be the only person in the world not to recognize the rock star. But Storm finds that endearing. He finds her endearing. Their chemistry and attraction is there from the start. The only problem? Evelyn has a boyfriend. A boyfriend who is a dick, but a boyfriend none the less.
My biggest issue with this book wasn’t that she had a boyfriend. As I mentioned, he was a dick and I could care less about him. I hated that she took so long to get with Storm. It wasn’t fair to Storm, who I loved. But once this couple was together I couldn’t have been happier. They were all kinds of swoony and sexy and I loved it!
Our courtship breathes slowness. It hides in the dark corners. It peeks out with tiny touches, explodes with quick erotic moments, then runs back to hide. It is both sweet and dirty, and it’s taboo.
I love this authors writing style and I’m so excited to read more of her books. I listened to this in audio format and it was narrated by CJ Bloom (who I love) and she did a fantastic job as always. This is a bit of a spin on your normal rock star romance and I really enjoyed it!...more
One Snowy Night is a cute Christmas novella about Rory and Max. Rory is stuck in a truck with Max, a guy she knew from high school. There is something between them, a pull, but neither one of them have ever given in to it. There’s a snowstorm and they find themselves faced with truths about their pasts and realizations about what they both want from the future. This novella took place in a span of 24 hours. It was quick to listen to, and as I’m trying to get some Christmas reads in to put me in the spirit, it hit the spot! I really enjoyed it. Even though it says it’s book 2.5, it can be read as a stand-alone....more
Poet X is lyrical, deep, and meaningful. I loved the way this book was written. It had a fantastic flow, the poetry was poignant, and Xiomara5 stars!!
Poet X is lyrical, deep, and meaningful. I loved the way this book was written. It had a fantastic flow, the poetry was poignant, and Xiomara's voice and character really shined through.
This is a story about a teenage girl who lives in Harlem. She lives with her twin brother, her father, and an overly religious mother. Xiomara isn't allowed to have a voice in that house. Her mother wants her to be close to a god she's not sure she believes in and feels that should be the focus of her life. Boys, poetry, anything meaningful to X is forbidden.
Her life is a struggle. Xiomara has a curvy body and at just 15, she is leered at by boys. She only has one boy she likes, but she can't really be with him the way she wants to be (overprotective mother). Xiomara's outlet is writing. Her poetry gets her through everything she goes through. Her words are powerful. And with those words, she not only expresses herself, but just maybe starts to change minds and hearts that she felt were impossible to change.
I listened to the audio version of this book, which was narrated by the author. Elizabeth Acevedo not only wrote a moving story, but gave a moving performance narrating it. If you're going to read this book, I can't recommend listening to it enough. I feel like I got more out of it hearing Xiomara's story and listening to her read her poems.
This is very much a coming of age story about a girl who doesn't feel like she fits. I loved that her entire story was told through slam poetry and it had such a great message. Poet X is a unique story I feel will stay with me. I can't wait to read more from this author....more
I’ve had Becoming pre-ordered since I saw it was coming out. I was so excited to read it. Per my Amazon account, I purchased The Audacity o4.5 stars!!
I’ve had Becoming pre-ordered since I saw it was coming out. I was so excited to read it. Per my Amazon account, I purchased The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama in early 2007. When I read this book, I was moved and hoped this man would be president one day. When I was in my early 20’s, I volunteered for his 2008 campaign. My point is, I’ve always loved the Obamas, but I never knew much about Michelle. After reading this book, I feel like I know so much more. Her story is inspiring, fascinating, and I adore her.
If you’re going to read this book, I can’t recommend the audio book enough. Michelle herself narrates it and I always love when authors narrate their own stories. It makes them that more personal and captivating. I loved reading about her past, her family, and of course when she met Barack and their story. I could relate to some of her story and learned a lot of new things about her. This was a fantastic autobiography and I can’t recommend it enough!...more
“I dreamed of making love to her under the stars.”
Voyeur was my first book by Fiona Cole, and after that, I'll definitely be reading more!
Oaklyn is a nineteen year old college freshman who's desperate. Going to school and getting her degree is her top priority, but after her parents cashed her loan check, she doesn't know how she'll pay for it. When a friend recommends she get a job at Voyeur, a club where people... watch, Oaklyn isn't sure if it's for her. But really, what choice does she have?
Little does Oaklyn know, one of the frequent costumers at Voyeur is her insanely attractive astronomy professor. Cal and Oaklyn have the student teacher dynamic, but they are also friends. But Oaklyn still doesn't know that Cal comes to Voyeur. That he watches. Cal does this for a reason, but the secrecy is not something Oaklyn will be okay with... when the secrets come out, things turn conflicted pretty fast.
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was addicting. I didn't want to press pause. Yvonne Syd did a fabulous job voicing Oaklyn. Edward Thomas did a great job with Cal, but when he was voicing some of the other characters his voice felt a little off. Maybe it was just me, though. Still, overall it was a great listen.
This book was sexy, taboo, and emotional. It captivated me from the start and I can't wait to jump into Jackson's book. I loved him and just reading the synopsis- I'm ready!...more
Unzipped was such a fun and sweet friends to lovers story. Even though the two main characters were strangers at the beginning of the book, they became fast friends before any romance stepped in.
Kyler- aka Tom is out to get his college sweetheart back. She was his first love and he feels like he’s ready for a relationship now. He’s more settled. He decides to go with a big gesture. He’ll go to her home, play the boombox, all that good stuff. Problem is… he goes to her neighbors house *face palm*. This neighbor, Finley, gets a kick out of this. She explains to Tom that his ex is never there and decides to help him to come up with a less corny way to win her back since they have time.
This book made me smile and laugh non-stop. It was super cute. I thought the narrators did a great job with this audio. They were high energy and did an amazing job voicing Tom and Finley. I also loved that even though Tom started out wanting his ex back, wanting Finely just came naturally. It never felt like she was second best to me. And Finely had her show/writing going on but using Tom as inspiration was never hidden. I loved how open these two were with one another.
If you’re looking for a light and entertaining romance, check out Unzipped. If you are an audio book listener, I highly recommend it in this format! It was fantastic....more
The more I read from Teagan Hunter, the more I want to read. I kind of read these books out of order (they’re stand alones so it doesn’t matter much) and after reading I Wanna Text You Up, I had to have Delia and Zach’s story. I loved it just as much as Zoe and Caleb’s.
It all started with a wrong number… Delia thinks it’s her brother with a new number, and Zach thinks it’s a client. When most people have the wrong number, they just move on. Not Zach and Delia. They spend weeks texting and flirting, and my god… it’s so much fun. I adored this part of the book. The build up to them meeting- it was so entertaining to read.
When these two finally meet, it’s like they’ve known each other forever. The chemistry they felt through their texts is nothing compared to the sparks that are there when they meet in person. I loved these two together. And Marshmallow… sigh! It was the sweetest!
I listened to this audio book in a day. It was so great, I just didn’t want to stop listening. I can’t wait for the third book to come out in audio format. I definitely feel like these books are meant to be listened to, though I’m sure reading them is fine too! ...more
Kasie West wrote another fun, witty, and sweet YA book with Listen to Your Heart. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator, Nora Hunter, did a great job bringing Kate to life.
Kate is a bit of a snarky teenager. She’s funny, though, and I loved her personality. While taking a podcast class in highschool, she thinks she will be doing behind the scenes stuff. Then, after her idea for a advice show wins, she is made to co-host the podcast. This is not what Kate wants. Not at all. Hosting is something her best friend Alana wants to do, not her. But she’s kind of stuck so she goes with it. Kate becomes the sarcastic sidekick of the podcast and people actually love her advice. If only she could give herself some advice…
Kate develops a crush as the story goes on. A crush on Diego. I adored Diego from the moment I first met him. When the revelation about him was made (something I hoped was true from the start) I squealed in delight. The problem with Kate crushing on Diego, is that Diego is Alana’s crush and has been for a while. It makes things rather complicated.
What I really loved about this book was Kate’s growth. I loved that she saw herself in a new light after doing the podcast and saw that life outside of the lake- her comfort zone- did exist. She was a fun character and made me laugh. Then Diego. Gah! He was the sweetest. I just loved him. What I didn’t love so much was the Alana dynamic. It’s not that I disliked her, she just wasn’t my favorite. And towards the end she really annoyed me with the whole (view spoiler)[ Frank thing. It was obvious she liked him, but she was holding this torch for Diego even knowing that Kate had legit feelings (hide spoiler)].
Overall, this was an enjoyable audio. I’m glad I found Kasie West this year. Whenever I’m in the mood for a light and fun YA, she’s a new go to author for me....more
Jockblocked is the second book in Jen Frederick’s ‘Gridiron’ series. Both books so far have been fabulous and I would definitely recommend them to lovers of NA books and sports romance.
Lucy is a follower of the rules. She’s a good student, works hard, and is a member of her mock trial team. She has a medical condition so she takes her health very seriously. She meets Matty at her place of employment and she’s attracted to him right away. He’s flirty and fun, but she can’t go there. She’s got too much on her plate and jocks aren’t the type of guys she dates.
Matty is one of the stars of the football team. He’s on the path to becoming captain and has a lot on his plate, also. He meets Lucy and he knows one thing, he’s got to have her. There is something about this girl that’s different. He wants her. He falls hard and he falls fast. But there are some complications. One of Lucy’s best friends is a team member of Matty’s. Still, nothing could change the way Matty is starting to feel for her.
“I didn’t realize the earth was moving when I saw you the first time. I didn’t realize everything in my life was changing because it happened slowly. One meal, one conversation, one kiss at a time.”
I loved Matty and Lucy so much- both of them were wonderful. Matty is a great guy and not your typical football player. He’s kind and considering, but also alpha and sexy as hell. Lucy has many obstacles in her path, but I loved how she overcame what she could and dealt with the rest. They really complimented each other and I loved them together.
This book was sweet, steamy, and so much fun to listen to. I can’t wait to read more of these books- though I am a little nervous about the next one. I’m not sure how much I want to read a book about Ace, but hopefully it’s better than I’m imagining! Either way, this book was a win for me!
I’ve hungered for wins on the field, championships, success, but never a person. Not until Luce.
I have kind of went backwards with this series, as I’ve read books 3, 4, and 5 but not 1 and 2. When I saw book 2 was available to listen to on audio, I decided to give it a listen. I’m so glad I did! I loved Christian and Melody’s story.
Melody is a college student and Christian is a nerdy rock star. They meet at a restaurant but that doesn’t go well… then they bump into each other again in a library. These two just click. They have more in common then Melody thinks and Christian isn’t the type of guy she first thought he was. They appear to be so different, but really, they aren’t. The hero in this book is so dang lovable. I liked the heroine a lot as well. They were great together.
This book had much less of the rockstar vibe than some of the others. Christian is a bit nerdy and very smart and that’s what I loved most about him. These two were a great match and I really enjoyed listening to their story. The only complaint I have is that I wish it was longer- it was much too short for my liking. ...more
Billionaire Unknown- Blake is the 10th book in J.S. Scott's Billionaire series, but can most definitely be read as a stand alone. I've not read any of the other books and I wasn't lost at all. The start of this book takes place 12 years before the actual story.
Blake and Harper have a bit of a history, thought that history is muddled when it comes to Harper's memory. She doesn't know the whole story. Blake is currently a senator and Harper does work that she's passionate about, working with the homeless. These two haven't seen each other in over 12 years, but when Harper's sister is in danger, she goes to Blake's twin brother to help.
It doesn't matter how long these two have been apart, the chemistry between them is still there. It never left. I loved watching these two rekindle their romance and couldn't wait for the revelation to be made where Harper found out what really happened between them. This story was sexy and suspenseful. I listened to the audio book and the narrator, Elizabeth Powers, did a great job voicing Harper, Blake, and even the few chapters we got from Marcus (I'm looking forward to his book!).
Overall I did like this book, but there was something that did tamper my enjoyment ((view spoiler)[ Both Blake and Hunter had sex 12 years ago, and remained celibate for the entire 12 years they were apart... that seems super unrealistic to me. (hide spoiler)]. I give it a 3 star rating. I liked it, but it wasn't love for me. ...more
I listened to the audio book of I Wanna Text You Up and omg what a blast! I laughed so many times while listening and it took me less than 24 hours to listen to the entire book because I didn’t want to hit pause. This is my first Teagan Hunter book and I’m looking forward to reading more. This one was so good! Zoe is looking for a roommate after her best friend decides to move out with her boyfriend. Her flyer… gah! I love it:
ROOMMATE WANTED Chicks or dudes welcome!
Looking for a new roomie? I have a place for you! Like your music loud? I own headphones. Enjoy having late-night guests over? Again, headphones. Want someone to help pay the bills? Do the dishes? Take out the trash? You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (metaphorically, of course).
Check us out, getting along already.
Must be able to pay first and last month's rent up front. Must be okay with Breakfast & Beats. No dogs. No trying to sleep with me. Two bedrooms. One bathroom. $350/month plus electricity.
If interested, email [email protected]. P.S. Wiener pics sent directly to my grandmother. Don't do that crap to her.
She starts emailing with a guy anonymously and thinks… he will be the perfect roommate. Only to find out it’s her best friends ex-boyfriend. Caleb is pretty perfect and he and Zoe’s friend ended on good terms, so with her blessing, they decide to give this roommate thing a go. Oh the banter between these two! Their texts were so fun. This entire book was so fun. It had moments it was frustrating, sure, but overall, I really did love it! If you’re going to give this one a go I highly recommend trying out the audio! The narrator did a fantastic job....more
Sometimes you just meet the right person at the wrong time.
One Day in December is a story that follows three main characters, but it's told from Laurie and Jack's pov. It was a loonnnngggg journey to get there, but that ending, it was perfect. Life is about timing. Sometimes we meet people at exactly the right time, and sometimes we meet people at the wrong time.
The first time Jack and Laurie 'meet' it's on a bus. Laurie is on a bus and sees Jack. He sees her too. He tries to get on the bus, but it's too late. Her bus is pulling away and that's that. Laurie spends some time looking for him, but it's a big city and she doesn't find him. Until a year later. When her best friend/roommate brings him home and introduces them as her new boyfriend.
Ah the stress of this book. I just wanted Laurie to tell Sarah, but she couldn't ruin her happiness with Jack so she keeps quiet. The story spans 10 years. Jack and Laurie become friends and Sarah and Jack continue to date. I had so much anxiety while reading this. It was so hard, because I genuinely liked all three of these characters, as well as Oliver, who is introduced later in the book.
One thing I can say about this book is it hooked me early on and captivated me. I love a book that can completely hold my attention and this one did just that. I could see this book turning into a film- I think it would make an epic holiday rom-com/angsty romance. It's a heartwarming and beautiful tale of love, friendship, and how sometimes one choice can change the trajectory of your entire life. I listened to the audio book and the narration was fantastic. Definitely a romance I'd recommend for this winter!...more
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