I had the absolute pleasure of receiving an ARC of Fight For Her from NetGalley and Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This is such a cute, adorable and fast-paced high school story, but with some more depth than what might be expected at first glance, and some really great character developments. Some parts were perhaps a bit too unrealistic for this book to be fully as gripping as it could have been, but it was overall a very sweet and enjoyable read.

Most high school books and movies take the outsider’s perspective, but here the main character, Scarlet Tucker, is the popular girl who has it all. A lot of friends, wonderful parents and a boyfriend, Jack, who is captain and quarterback of the school team and on his way to becoming an NFL superstar, but also “with the looks and a southern charm that would have made every girl drool over him anyway”.

But what if being that girl isn’t as great as it would seem?
 
“Looking in from the outside, it would appear that high school has really been the best four years of my life. Every day people in our small town see the muscled arm of our school’s star quarterback wrapped around me and friends surrounding all sides. The view from the outside, however, only scrapes the surface of who I, Scarlet, really am.”

After the tragic death of her brother, life has become a struggle for keeping up appearances for Scarlet and she’s starting to question if her perfect life really is that perfect. Why can she no longer stand her friends ridiculous conversations that are all about posturing and bragging? And why hasn’t she noticed before the mean way Jack treats other, how he always chooses football over her, and how he cares more about his reputation than about her feelings? And if she’s so happy in love with Jack, why does her heart race for no reason whenever she feels bad boy Elijah Black’s eyes on her? Is it only because she feels a connection to him since they share the same sorrow from losing a brother, or is there something more to it?
 
“There’s nothing selfish about wanting to be someone’s first choice.”
 
I really rooted for Scarlet and loved that she had so much more depth than her peers. She’s so strong and capable and had such integrity; she’s the opposite of a damsel in distress! I really appreciated that Liz Plum avoided most of the high school stereotypes and that she let Scarlet be into fixing cars and helping the guys out, and that Elijah wasn’t made into the typical bad boy with a leather jacket on a motorbike (even though he got a leather jacket in the end…), but more of a bully victim. Elijah was definitely my favorite character in this story, my heart ached so much for him!
 
The first part of the book had a little bit too much descriptions of how rich the Tuckers were (although not compared to the richest kids in Scarlet’s school) and how perfect and good looking her parents were, and how beautiful and hardworking Scarlet herself was. I understand that it was to set a backdrop to explain that living a privileged life doesn’t automatically make you happy, but some parts were a bit over the top. But then came this twist when Elijah let Scarlet into his hidden life of underground fighting, and some major secrets started to unravel that would seriously impact both of their lives. Some parts here were a bit unrealistic, but that set aside, the last part of the book was so unnerving and suspenseful, and kept me on the edge all the way through!
 
Overall, this was a great debut by Liz Plum and a sweet, easy and highly enjoyable high school story, even though it might not be the most realistic one. I read the book in one sitting, not able to put it down until all mysteries had been solved! So, 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 for the way this book kept me entertained and in suspense the whole way through.
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Rating:
4 stars

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​Author info:
Liz Plum

I received a free extract of the first eight chapters of The Fountains of Silence from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. But this intriguing story drew me in so completely from the very first page and I immediately rooted so much for the two main characters, Daniel and Ana, that I couldn’t just stop after the extract but needed to read the rest of the book straight away. This is therefore a review of the whole book, which I bought myself, and read in one sitting.

The Fountains of Silence is a beautiful, romantic, sad but hopeful, honest and gripping historic gem by Ruta Sepetys. It is set in postwar Spain, and takes us on a journey into the dark and secret life under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco in the late 1950s. The story is told from several POVs, but with the eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson - the aspiring photographer son of a Texas oil tycoon - and Ana Torres Moreno - who works as a maid at the hotel where Daniel and his parents are staying - as the two main characters.
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When Franco opens the door to American business men to invest in his country, the Mathesons take the chance to do oil business and to connect with the country of Daniel’s mother. Hoping to win a prestigious photography contest, Daniel tries to discover the real Spain through the lens of his camera, with Ana as his guide. Via his encounters with Ana’s family and friends and their interweaving obstacles, Daniel (and we readers) learn more of the fears and hidden horrors and brutality of Franco’s Spain, including a parallel story of stolen babies.

I loved all of the characters in this book and the multiple POVs that truly brought the story to life. Daniel was such a sweetheart; so genuinely kindhearted, eager to learn and caring. And I completely rooted for Ana, wanting to rescue her from her hard and brutal reality. But besides Daniel and Ana, there were so many other memorable and real characters in this book as well; Ana’s family members who all had at least two jobs each to try and keep the family together after their parents were executed by France, bull fighter Fuga who dared to dream big, journalist Ben who became a mentor to Daniel, and American ambassador son Nick with much more depth beneath his party animal impression and many others.

What I love about Ruty Sepetys’s books is that she always mixes the darkness with light, always shows the best and worst of humanity at the same time, always gives you so many wonderful characters you immediately fall in love with and hope and romance in the midst of the horrors. Compared to her previous books, The Fountains of Silence is perhaps not quite as devastating and heart-breaking, but it is nevertheless a powerful and gripping story of love, loss and the hidden violence of silence under a dictatorship. It’s a book that deeply touched my heart, and with characters that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the extract and find this unforgettable book!

Rating:
5 stars

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​Author info:
Ruta Sepetys

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is one of my absolute favorite books and one of the most tender and warm, yet fierce, gripping and compelling stories I’ve ever read. This beautiful book made me cry and laugh, it made me want to scream in frustration and it broke my heart, but it also gave me hope, and I loved every moment of it.

This is an exceptional coming of age story and fantastic debut by Daven McQueen. It’s a gripping YA historical fiction tale set in 1955, when Ethan Harper, a biracial kid, goes to stay with his aunt in Alabama for the summer. Ethan has been pretty sheltered, living in Washington with his white dad, so coming to Alabama is a whole new world for him. Ethan soon learns that being black in this town is not a good thing, and he’s feeling unwelcome, lonely and miserable, until he meets the town outcast, the red headed spitfire Juniper Jones. Juniper Jones (aka Starfish) is a character I will never forget. Her friendship with Ethan was so sweet and those two will have my heart forever!

“Good.” Juniper grinned widely, her teeth uneven between her rose petal lips. “Making sense is for nerds and grown-ups. I am way more interesting.”

This story is very happy and relatable with the summer adventures Juniper takes Ethan on; climbing tree, drinking milkshakes and looking at clouds. But at the same time, it deals with a lot of heavy topics like racism and bullying, with Ethan struggling with what it means to be black in this narrow-minded town. All along, there was this threat in the background of people who disliked (and even hated) Ethan simply because of the color of his skin, that made my heart beat faster. I almost held my breath at times, having a constant sense of dread and fearing for the safety of Ethan. The suspense kept me reading the book feverishly, wanting nothing else for Juniper and Ethan than the two of them having the best summer ever without having to worry about the evil some people are capable of.

I love it when a book keeps you at the edge of the seat from the very first sentence to the last, and when it opens your mind, gives you new perspectives and makes you think about it for days and days after finishing it. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones certainly is one of those books. It’s a story about the evil of racism, but also about the joy and healing power of friendship, about compassion and about facing your deepest fears without losing hope. It’s a book that everyone should read! I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with Juniper and Ethan and I recommend this book to anyone. I know for sure that its’s a book I will keep in my heart forever.

Rating:
5 stars

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Daven McQueen

I had very mixed feelings about this book after reading it and had to think for quite a while until I had sorted them out enough to write a review. I think the main problem is that it’s so unclear what kind of book this is? I was expecting something of a cute YA story about a sports team made up a bunch of high school misfits and also some m/m romance going on. Instead, this book turned out to be a dark, twisted mafia story with abuse, drug use, completely crazy characters and weird group dynamics. 

There are so many buried secrets, hidden plot agendas, background stories I don’t understand and a new completely invented sports called ‘exy’.

I did root for the main character, Neil, and my heart broke for his awful upbringing and sad situation, but he wasn’t always the most likeable person in the world. I also kept waiting for him to be involved in an m/m romance, but he “did not swing any way” as he put it himself when it came to romance, as all his life was focused on survival, so that left me disappointed in the end.

Plot wise, there is a lot going on, with many unexpected situations occurring, but despite that, the book still felt slow and many of the situations were also unrealistic and didn’t make sense in the overall plot. But you couldn’t stop being intrigued by it and enjoying it nevertheless. All in all, I think this is one of the weirdest yet interesting storylines I’ve ever read, but I didn’t feel invested enough to continue the series. But then I saw all reviews saying that the next book is so much better and that so much in this first book will make sense then, so maybe I need to stay in the Foxhole Court a little while longer after all...? We’ll see, I’m not convinced, but this book got me intrigued enough to deserve a three-star rating at least!

Rating:
3 stars

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This cute and addictive historical hate-to-love romance is set in the English Victorian Regency era during the early days of the suffrage movement, when commoner Annabelle Archer earns a place among the first group of female students at Oxford. In return she must support the women’s suffrage movement, which brings her face-to-face with the handsome Sebastian Devereux - the Duke of Montgomery – who is one of the most powerful men in England, and currently on the wrong side of history when it comes to women’s rights.

“Perhaps this is not a question of staying out of trouble, Your Grace. Perhaps this is about deciding on which side of history you want to be.”

Sebastian, who has divorced his previous wife, is looking for a wife to heal his shattered reputation. Thus, an outspoken commoner is not what he is looking for, no matter how much the green-eyed Annabelle tempts him.

This book pulled me in from the very first page with its perfect opposites-attract/enemies-to-lovers story start, and is definitely one of my favorite historical romances ever! It’s funny, steamy and feels very much like a contemporary read, despite the historical setting. I loved the insights to the suffragette movement, the witty dialogue and the banter between Annabelle and Sebastian, and how the romance did not fall into the cliché as many historical romances do. Even though the book had it fair shares of steamy moments, Annabelle was not the ordinary damsel in distress, but a strong, feisty and intelligent woman with a with a not-so-pure background.

The supporting characters were also truly amazing. Annabelle’s friends were all such strong and ambitious women and so supportive of each other. So even though this story might seem like an ordinary historical romance on the surface, it was a lot more than that. Yes, it was a steamy, fast-paced and fun rom com, but it was also a gripping story of friendship and sacrifice as well as a history lesson, outlining the dangerous fight for women’s rights and how much women before us have sacrificed for our right today to vote, have access to education and ownership of property and financial assets. I recommend it with all my heart and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Rating:
5 stars

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​Author info:
Evie Dunmore

You Should See Me in a Crown is such a delightful, fun, sweet and empowering high school prom and f/f romance story. High school senior Liz Lighty has the future all planned; she’ll get a scholarship to play in Pennington College’s world-famous orchestra and leave her small, midwestern town, as soon as possible. All her life she’s felt too black, too poor and too awkward to truly be herself in a world where teenagers dress like they are a real housewife. Not to mention being gay in the prom-obsessed traditional town.

“I haven’t been able to shake that weird feeling of otherness that sometimes hits me in waves so strong they threaten to pull me under.”

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, she’s forced to step out of her comfort zone and join the race to get her school’s scholarship for prom queen. But as if things weren’t complicated enough, she soon finds herself falling for a girl she is competing with. Hard. So, this book has a lot of prom focus and the usual high school cliches, but in the best possible way. And even though there are many other prom stories out there, this is the first one I can think of with a black, queer girl running for queen. And on top of that, there is this cute and forbidden f/f romance. I really loved Mack, even though I cringed sometimes at their awkward kissing attempts and the way Liz denied knowing Mack in public.

There are also some great support characters. I really enjoyed reading all Liz’s interactions with her supportive grandparents and younger brother. And Liz had such a wonderful group of friends, even though I didn’t like one of her friends at all in the end… And her old childhood friendship with Jordan was just so perfect, when they found a way back to each other again. There is a need for more boy/girl friendships in YA, and Liz’s and Jordan’s relationship was a perfect example of a great one!

I also really appreciated the important message in the book about being proud of who you are and the great descriptions of how Liz felt being a queer black girl in a small town. So even though the book felt a little shallow at first, and playing upon typical high school stereotypes, it also managed to weave in powerful themes about racism, homophobia, anxiety and self-worth, as well as some amazing character development.

“I never needed this race or a hashtag or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown.”

Rating:
4 stars

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​Author info:
Leah Johnson

​I had the absolute pleasure of receiving an ARC of A Soul as Cold as Frost from Winter Publishing House in exchange for an honest review. This is such a cute YA fantasy set in a magical wintery world and with a main character to root for. It’s a warm Christmas tale spiced with thrilling adventures; something of Alice in Wonderland meets the Snow Queen, the Scrooge, and the Nutcracker in an updated holiday legends story.

“May the forces of Winter save you from what I have just done.”

When Christmas shopping, sixteen-year-old Helen Bell is handed an orb by a mysterious girl, and suddenly starts to see and hear things no one else does; like strange rabbits in the snow-covered streets, a train horn ringing, places that have been hidden, and a handsome boy all dressed in black following her around. After being attacked, she suddenly finds herself on board an invisible train and swept away into a magical Winter wonderland. Finding out that she isn’t just another ordinary ‘Trite’, but in fact the Carrier of Truth whose life is now linked to the Revelation Orb in her hand, a whirlwind of adventures begins. Together with the boy in black, her (somewhat reluctant) Patrolman Zane, she answers to a whispered prayer to take on the fight against the crooked Queen, Mara Rouge, in the ancient Quarrel of Sword and Bone. On the journey to set the truth free and save the Rime Folk, Helen and Zane face snow monsters, giants, dwarves, the monstrous Greed and so many other magical creatures.

“The snow globe’s been shaken. A winter storm is coming, and we need to make it past the frost giants.”
“Whatever,” I remarked. “Snowsquatches. Pirates. Rabbits. At this point, who cares about crossing giants?”

I immediately rooted for Helen. Being orphaned at an early age and an outcast at her school she’s already had to overcome so much in her life. She’s so strong, and brave and lovable. I can relate so much to her feeling of being out of step with her classmates, feeling like a hundred years older than them, and being a “boring bookworm” thinking that books are more interesting than people.

The start before Helen figured the whole thing with the Winter Realm out was a bit slow and there were parts where the writing felt drawn-out with long descriptions and adjective upon adjective, but from the second half of the book the flow was so much better and there were so many adventures and breathtaking action that kept you on the edge of your seat. And I just have to mention how much I loved “The End?”-shock (you need to read this book yourself to find out what I’m talking about, but I can tell you that it was a clever way to give the readers a fright...)

A Soul as Cold as Frost is truly a wonderful debut by Jennifer Kropf and a perfect cozy wintertime YA story for anyone who is a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Christmas folklore, and I can’t wait to continue this series to see what new adventures life has in store for Helen and Zane.

Rating:
4 stars

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​Author info:
Jennifer Kropf