Only Everything by Kiernan Scott - YA Review

Only Everything by Kiernan Scott

When Eros (aka Cupid) is expelled from Olympus for defying Zeus after falling in love with Orion, she is banished to what she believes to be hell. We call it New Jersey. If she ever wants to go back to the comforts of her old life, she will have to find love for three couples—without using her powers.

Eros, now calling herself True, immediately identifies her first project in Charlie and believes finding him love will be a piece of cake. Charlie is new at school and eager to break out of his old image of band geek, so it’s lucky for him when he falls in with the right crowd on his first day. But music is still his passion. That is, until he meets Katrina...

Katrina is floundering after the death of her father and takes refuge with a boy who, while not entirely supportive, will be there when she needs him, unlike her mother. Too bad True thinks any girl Charlie talks to is perfect for him. Can she get out of her own way and help Charlie and Katrina connect, or will she be stuck in New Jersey forever? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

I knew I would be reading this one the second I saw the author's name - Kiernan Scott - on the front cover. Ms. Scott is an author I have always enjoyed whether I'm reading a YA Contemporary Romance by her under her Scott writing persona, or a Contemporary YA-Mystery-Drama under her other name Kate Brian. This one was especially intriguing because well, read the blurb: YA Contemp setting - check, Mythology mix in - check, amazing author - check. Well, looks all good from my end!

               For those wondering if this book is one for you, I'd say if you are a fan of YA Contemporaries, Mythology ( especially in the modern world), Teen Romance, and/or Kiernan Scott/Kate Brian  - go ahead and grab this one asap.

Highlights:

+ Concept: I really enjoyed the whole premise of a Greek Goddess of love incognito as a normal teenager in high school. Personally, the blurb grabbed me right away- it sounded light, fun, humorous and like a perfect summer read.

+Characters: It doesn't happen often, but I can honestly say I enjoyed all three of the main characters (Eros/True, Katrina, Charlie). Usually with multiple main characters , I find I favor some over others or don't enjoy or appreciate some as much. In this case I really loved the changing perspective and really felt for/enjoyed each of them.

+True's Learning Curve: I found it amusing to see "our world" through a goddess' eyes. True's learning curve was definitely funny, and added a nice touch to the storyline. I enjoyed that she didn't just come to earth and blend in effortlessly and know what to do, say, and how to act.

+Narrators POV:  I really liked the distinction between each characters POV. It was easy to flow from one character to another because it was very clear who you were hearing from the whole time.

Wishes

Hmm...well as always when I enjoy a book and it makes me laugh, cry, and/or happy/content - it's always really hard to think up wishes. However, even with the very best books, one can generally come up with at least a wish or two...

* Audio Nitpick - I read this book in a combination of listening to the audio while commuting and reading my physical copy at home (which has a really great cover by the way!). One thing I found a bit confusing at times when listening was True's narration whenever she had flashbacks. The chapters all tell who is narrating at the beginning (True, Charlie, Katrina), however, when reading it you can see the change in font to indicate a flashback for True. When listening obviously there is no distinction, other than listening and realizing it is not a present day True narration. I always figured this out and I don't know how one might fix this in an audio book, but like I said, it's a tiny nitpick.

* Charlie & Katrina - more of them please! I really loved the two characters and hope to see more of them in coming books :)

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and will definitely be continuing on with the series. (I was super disappointed to see I have to wait until September for the next installment!) As always, Kiernan Scott/Kate Brian, has left me wanting more and with a new series to follow. It's a light, fun read, perfect for a summer read - especially pool side if you ask me! So if you enjoy contemporary romance, true love, and a side of mythology - what are you waiting for? Go pick this one up and enjoy!

Rating:  

4 out of 5 Doxies - So great, I really enjoyed this one - go pick it up quick before book 2 comes out!!

Recommendations - 

Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Jenn @ Tale of Two Doxies

http://www.taleoftwodoxies.blogspot.com 

Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig - YA Review

Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig -
* E-Arc provided by NetGalley *

The last place you’d expect to find a team of criminals is at a prestigious Philadelphia prep school. But on a class trip to the U.S. Mint – which prints a million new coins every 30 minutes – an overlooked security flaw becomes far too tempting for a small group of students to ignore.

United by dire circumstances, these unlikely allies – the slacker, the nerd, the athlete, and the "perfect" student – band together to attempt the impossible: rob the U.S. Mint. The diverse crew is forced to confront their true beliefs about each other and themselves as they do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Elisa Ludwig's Coin Heist is a fun, suspenseful, and compelling thriller, told from the revolving perspectives of four teens, each with their own motive for committing a crime that could change all of their lives for the better—if they can pull it off. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

To begin I must confess: I love heist themes. Heist movies? Love them! Bring on the Ocean's, Italian Job, Inside Man type movies and keep 'em coming! Heist books? Love, love, love! (My absolute favorite being the YA Heist society series by Ally Carter). In my opinion, we need more YA/Teen Heist books because there are just not enough out there - so needless to say, I was a teeny-tiny bit excited for this and one I got the chance to read the E-Arc a happy dance may or may not have occurred!

               So, as you can probably gather from the picture and blurb, Coin Heist is about an unlikely group of teens who join forces to plan a heist on the US Mint in order to save their school. To me it was really Heist Society (or for movie reference Ocean's) meets Breakfast Club.

               So fans of awesome 80's films unlikely groups/teams working together - type stories, heist themes, and/or fun, adventure YA books - this book is probably looking for you!

Highlights:

* The heist! - I loved reading about the teens getting together, plotting, planning, strategizing and coordinating a heist.

*The  Plot - Can't say much more for fear of spoilers but: it was fun, it was amusing, and it was engaging!

*The characters - I really enjoyed getting to know each character, I liked learning about their personalities and motivations. I also liked that the book did this by changing POVs. This, of course, is always interesting for looking at and learning about other characters as well - I like getting an interpretation of the main characters not just from their own perspective but from others as well.

Wishes:

* Character POVs - Although I really did enjoy the fact that the story was told from multiple perspectives, one wish would have been for slightly more differentiation between the different character voices. At times I would lose track of who was narrating, although I could pick it up again easy enough as I went along and saw the conversations, etc.

* The ending didn't complete do it for me - I was a bit let down by the ending, I wished it happened a bit differently. I guess it was a more realistic (in some ways) idea of how it all plays out but I was hoping for a different resolution. I don't want to spoil the book so I can't really be specific here, but suffice it to say that I was left wanting for a bit more closure.

Overall, it was a fun, quick, and light read - perfect for what I'm generally looking for in my summer reads. I enjoyed the heist aspect and the overall idea of the story, I also found the characters to be interesting.

Rating

3.5 out of 5 Doxies - Light, fun and definitely worth a read!

Recommendations

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Jenn @ Tale of Two Doxies

http://www.taleoftwodoxies.blogspot.com 

#Scandal by Sarah Ockler - YA Review

 #scandal by Sarah Ockler

* E-Arc provided by Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss *

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation. 

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.
There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love…(Goodreads)

 My Thoughts:

This was my first read by author Sarah Ockler, but I can assure you it will not be my last!  I was very pleased and honestly impressed with #scandal, it really lived up to my hopes and expectations for the story based on the blurb (and yes, the cover too). #scandal for me was reminiscent of Gossip Girl in one aspect:  the mysterious and unidentified online personality (and somewhat trouble-maker) Miss Demeanor. However, the similarities , in my opinion, really end there. The online mystery personality is really one simple piece of what I thought was a well-written, engaging book that delves into some pretty deep issues but manages to remain relatively light.

               Fans of the author, I'm sure will enjoy this read, as well as fans of both Sarah Dessen and Susane Colansanti. If you find that you enjoy Contemporary Teen books that tackle social issues (while still not seeming to heavy), and feature friendship exploration and elements of romance, then this is probably a great pick for you!

Highlights:

               I guess I'll begin by saying, I really loved this book for a number of reasons, so somehow it made this review even harder to write. I have so many things that I think or feel about this book, and I really want to do it justice in this review! Anyway, on a few things, of the many that contributed to my love of the book, that I feel should really be highlighted:

* Lucy - Lucy is the main character of the story, and one who I found very relatable, and believable (which is always a huge selling point in my opinion). Although I didn't share a lot in common with Lucy and wasn't really similar to her in a lot of ways, I still felt I could connect with her. I think that many will be able to find some level to relate to her on, even if you weren't exactly like her. I think most of know someone like Lucy and/or might be able to relate to some of the things she goes through and experiences throughout the story.

* Character Growth - I always love a good coming of age/growth/etc type novel, I think they make for the most relatable because every day we are all growing, changing, and learning. You never stop learning and changing over the course of your life, so really you're always evolving and "coming of age" in a way.

* Secondary Characters - I liked them all, the supporting characters I thought were all pretty entertaining and each added something to the story. I also enjoyed that each character had multiple sides to them (whether we saw that at first or not) and that the author strove to show us (through Lucy's eyes) that no one is bad/good, there are always shades.

* Social Issue Focus: Bullying/Cyber-bullying - This is such a big issue, one that has been going on forever but has recently hit the radar of many. It's also something that seems to have gotten worse over time, the nature of today's technology, the way people treat one another, and the anonymity of using the internet has in many ways made bullying that much easier. I was so happy to see a book that was tackling this murky issue, showing how this technology can have both good and bad consequences. I was also happy that it managed to do this in a light, engaging way still that I could see teens reading, paying attention to, and actually taking in.

*Romance was an element, not the entire plot - While I enjoy a good contemporary romance ( I really do, easily what I read the most of) it was nice to see a book that focused more on the social issues, the main characters growth, and explored the friendships more than romance. This was not exactly what I thought might happen after reading the blurb, and instead of being disappointed I found myself quite content with how it played out.

Wishes:

 * Lucy and Cole - Okay, okay... I know I said above that Romance not being the focus was refreshing - however I also said my fave reads are the Contemp Romances. So while I completely enjoyed the novel as it was, I would have loved to see a little more of Lucy and Cole together too. (Sidenote - I also very much wanted more Spike and Night of the Living Dog! Mostly Spike, because I love dachshunds!!)

Overall, I really just love this book. It had so many great things going for it: engaging plot, intriguing mystery, realistic characters, and it even tackles important social issues while retaining some lightness and humor. I can only hope that many of you will pick up this great read and give it a chance! In the meantime, I hope to ease it into the hands of some of the teen girls I know who are currently in high school. I think this read has a lot of valuable lessons embedded in a quick, relatable read - perfect for starting a conversation of some tough topics for sure!

Rating:

4 out of 5 Doxies - Great read, definitely give this one a try!! 

Recommendations:

Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

Waiting for You - Susane Colasanti

The Unwritten Rule - Elizabeth Scott

Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

Jenn @ Tale of Two Doxies

http://www.taleoftwodoxies.blogspot.com 

Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson (Romance Review)

Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson

*E-Arc from Netgalley

Ever since she was a little girl learning to make decadent truffles in her family's chocolate shop, Juliet Arabella has been aware of the bitter feud between the Arabellas and the Mezzanottes. With their rival chocolate boutiques on the same street in Napa Valley, these families never mix. Until one night, when Juliet anonymously attends the annual masquerade ball. In a moonlit vineyard, she finds herself falling for a gorgeous stranger, a man who reminds her what passion is like outside of the kitchen. But her bliss is short-lived when she discovers her masked prince is actually Leo Mezzanotte, newly returned from Paris and the heir to her archenemy's confection dynasty. 

With her mind in a whirl, Juliet leaves for Italy to represent the Arabellas in a prestigious chocolate competition. The prize money will help her family's struggling business, and Juliet figures it's a perfect opportunity to forget Leo…only to find him already there and gunning for victory. As they compete head-to-head, Leo and Juliet's fervent attraction boils over. But Juliet's not sure whether to trust her adversary, or give up on the sweetest love she's ever tasted... (Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

Unmasking Juliet is a romantic, modern day reinterpretation of  Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet by Teri Wilson. I have to admit, when I first saw the book, my interest was first piqued by the cover - which to me was both beautiful and romantic. Obviously intrigued by the cover (and already sold on: Chick Lit? yes please!), I went on to read the blurb and was very intrigued by the idea of a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet (who doesn't love some Shakespeare?). I was banking on the fact that maybe Ms. Wilson would be able to deliver a romantic and happy R + J, and I was not disappointed!

Fans of retellings or modern interpretations of classic lit, romance, and happy endings will definitely enjoy this read. For me, it was a great read and one I would definitely recommend for some light summer reading or perhaps a nice weekend book retreat from reality.

Highlights

Where to start... I really, really enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet for so many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that I knew this one would have a happy ending! I'm sorry, I know some people love a good tragedy, a good sob fest and what-not, I am not one of those people. While I like some seriousness to my books, I also love a book that will take me away and give me the happily ever after and sometimes everything works out.

So, my first highlight would have to be that I knew in this version of R + J, there was going to be the happy resolution. Two, I happen to be a pup lover - so the addition of adorable puppies into the mix never hurt a story as far as I'm concerned. Next, the setting - Napa Valley, and if that weren't delicious enough the two warring families Mezzenotte and Arabella are chocolatiers. (So be prepared to crave a delicious truffle or two while reading!)

Other enjoyable highlights included (for me at least) the two main characters Juliet and Leo - I enjoyed hearing both of their stories. I also really enjoyed the family feud back story and learning the ins and outs. There were some nice additions in the supporting cast as well: Allegra, Cocoa, Uncle Joe, Marco. It was fun to see the families and how the feud effected them, it was also fun to see them compete.

Wishes

This is a tough one, this story delivered what I was looking for overall. I guess one wish could have been a bit more development and page time for some of the supporting characters. However, I really enjoyed the story just the way it stands.

Overall, if you enjoy light, delicious, romantic reads and don't mind a little star-crossed lovers with a side of competition mixed in - I'd say give this one a read. I really enjoyed myself and breezed through the pages far too quickly. I can't wait to try another by Ms. Wilson and so glad to have learned of an author who takes on the challenge of reinterpreting the classics. Can't wait to try her interpretation of Pride & Prejudice (my personal favorite) next!

Recommendations:

Delicious by Susan Mallery

The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Rating:

4 out of 5 Doxies - Liked it a lot, definitely worth a read!!

YA Review: The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

The Art of Lainey - by Paula Stokes

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with, if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be? (Goodreads)

The story picks up with the main character Lainey (popular girl and soccer player), who appeared to have her whole summer and senior year planned out, getting dumped by her popular boyfriend. And Jason isn't just a popular jock, no, he's also her first serious boyfriend and the older brother of one of her best friends! Well, what is a girl to do when her perfect life and all her plans seem to be crumbling around her? Wage a war to get him back of course!

The Art of Lainey is a fun, quick, and surprisingly layered YA Contemporary Romance read. I truly enjoyed getting wrapped up in Lainey's world, and feeling sixteen again, and breezed through the book in a day. This book is a sure win with fans of the YA Contemporary Romance genre, those who love a good breakup story, and fans of authors like Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Janette Rallison, and Susane Colasanti.

Highlights:

It's hard to figure out where to begin - I can honestly say that I found this book to be a unexpected and refreshing treat. I knew I would enjoy the book, but I didn't realize that I would enjoy it so much or find a book that took some tried and true plot pieces and made them feel original and new.

One thing that immediately stood out to me were the content and emotions of the story. I felt it was very realistic, and brought me right back to high school, being sixteen, and dealing with all the issues that go along with it: finding yourself, friendships, relationships, and breakups. I liked that the story was more than simply a romance, that it was also a coming of age story - it was about learning who you are and how to accept that person, it was about looking at the world around you with fresh eyes. Lainey had to learn to look beyond appearances and pre-conceived notions, she also had to learn about who she really was and what truly mattered to her. This really added depth to the story - the character growth and change we get to read about over the course of the novel.

I really liked the characters in this book - I was very pleased that each character felt well-developed, and that you got to see a glimpse of the meaning behind who they are and the choices they make. One thing that definitely stood out for me was the fact that the author chose to take the time to create 3 dimensional characters, all around and not just create "stock" bad guys and good. Even the Lainey's ex, Jason, is shown in this way - yes he's a teenage guy, yes he makes bad decisions, but he is not shown as a bad guy.

My favorite characters by far had to be Bianca (Lainey's best friend from childhood) and Micah (a boy who works with Lainey, and known her since they were kids). Both characters were fantastic in their own ways, and I enjoyed seeing them help Lainey to grow and also seeing their growth throughout the story as well. One thing that definitely stood out to me were some of the physical descriptions - I liked seeing some variety in the characters. Bianca is described as being pretty, but curvy and not super-appearance/fashion conscious. Micah has an alternative-punk type look, but despite being a main male character was not all "built" or super tan, he just sounded normal. Lainey herself, despite being a popular girl, is not described as perfect but instead is athletically built, strong, tall and with normal skin, etc. She's a bit of a tomboy but also has a feminine side she embraces as well, she's assertive but also insecure and unsure of herself at times. It was nice to see some variety - no super skinny, perfect teeth, hair, eyes, size etc.

I absolutely loved the friendship between Bianca and Lainey, it was a strong female friendship that endured over time. It was refreshing to see, and it was also nice to see this in contrast to Lainey's friendship with her other best friend Kendall.

I think one of the strong suits of this book is that it touches on universal issues, I think everyone will be able to find some part to relate to: the friendships, the identity issues, the relationships. It was great to see a book that tackled all these and made it feel real, I also enjoyed the fact that the book went about the changes slowly. A unique touch was the use of The Art of War, woven throughout the story.

Wishes

Normally, this would be the part where I lay the wishes on you...however, I didn't really have any with this book. I really enjoyed it start to finish, and for me - it worked.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book - I read it in one day, and stayed up waaaay too late to finish it. It's one I hope to get my younger sibling (who is in high school) to read, I think it touches on a lot of great topics and would be a great read for her and her friends. So, if you're looking for a fun, realistic, Contemporary YA read - look no further, give The Art of Lainey a try.

Recommendations:

What Happened To Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

Stealing Heaven - Elizabeth Scott

Dare You To - Katie McGarry

Summer State of Mind - Jen Calonita

When It Happens - Susane Colasanti

Rating - 

5 out of 5 Doxies - Loved it, definitely a reread and own it book!

Chick Lit Review: The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter

I am a big fan of Contemporary reads whether they are of the YA, Chick Lit, Romance, or Christian variety, sometimes you just need a nice getaway feel good story. This book is a Christian Romance novel, by author Denise Hunter - who I have read novels by before, and I always enjoy. Ms. Hunter's style is a bit different than many Christian authors I have read, her Christian elements are a lot more subtle and tend to be woven in to the story as more of an allegory than an overt message. I know that for some, this makes the story more enjoyable. When I read the summary, it definitely appealed to me, as it hits upon one of those plot-lines I'm always a bit of a sucker for: the arranged/marriage of convenience that becomes something more. I think fans of Denise Hunter's other works, of clean Romances, and of Contemporary Romance type reads will enjoy this one.

Highlights

Some things I usually find to be an appealing plot device in a romance were present in this novel: the marriage of convenience, a slow building romance, and opposites attracting. I really enjoyed Lucas and his family, especially his siblings and his relationship with them. It was also nice to read a romance that I could recommend to my mom or aunt without worrying about certain scenes.

I found the novel to be one that was easy to read and feel good. I wanted to see what would happen next and how things would work out for Lucas and Kate. It was also a nice switch to see the male character as the one who has developed feelings and is waiting for the woman to realize. The love story was definitely an uphill battle, and it was interesting to see their feelings grow and change- as well as to see how Kate changed.

One thing that I've always enjoyed about Denise Hunter's novels personally is the fact that they are sweet, clean romances. Her novels are Christian, but the message is more subtle and in the subtext instead, which I don't mind. This novel for instance, is a great clean, romance read that follows the story of Lucas and Kate - but is meant to represent the love God has for each of us. I think it's nice when the story is done with subtlety like his one, as it can be easier to recommend to a wider audience and will appeal to those who want a Christian novel and/or just a nice, clean romance read.

Wishes

Kate was a bit of a hard character to get used to, she was not always very likeable, and I often wanted to shake her. It didn't help that in contrast you have super sweet, caring, and patient Lucas. However, I think given the message of the novel - I understand that Kate's abrasiveness to start is kind of the point. It did make this Denise Hunter novel a bit harder for me to get into than others I've read though.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and though it was not my favorite of Ms. Hunter's works, I still found it a fun way to spend an afternoon. I look forward to reading more by her, and for those that enjoy these same plotlines and romances, I'd say it's definitely worth checking out.

Recommendations:  

If you enjoyed this book and are looking for more Contemporary Chick Lit reads try:

Just Breath – Susan Wiggs

Something Borrowed – Emily Giffin

There’s Cake in My Future – Kim Gruenenfelder

Unpredictable – Eileen Cook

When In Doubt Add Butter– Beth Harbison

For more Contemporary Christian Romance reads try:

The Princess by Lori Wick
Once Upon A Prince - Rachel Hauck
Secrets - Robin Jones Gunn
Seaside Letters  - Denise Hunter

           

Rating (for both of the above romances):

 3 out of 5 Doxies –   Really enjoyed it, definitely worth a read!

Jenn

 Tale of Two Doxies

www.taleoftwodoxies.blogspot.com

Book Tour Review - Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Title:      Biggest Flirts                                                              Series:   The Superlatives #1

Author: Jennifer Echols

Release date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pre-order: AMAZON

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16140838-biggest-flirts 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in the Blog Tour for the release of this title. The tour is being run by Shane over at Itching for Books, and for in exchange for an honest review - Edelweiss was kind enough to provide a free e-arc for me to read.

Biggest Flirts is a YA Contemporary Romance novel, which focuses on the story of Tia Cruz and Will Matthews. Tia and Will are high school seniors, about to embark on their final year of high school in Florida. Tia, who has lived in the area her whole life, comes from a broken family - a family with issues that result in a fear of commitment and responsibility. Tia has trouble picturing, wanting or trying to plan a future for herself. Will, is new to town and has always been the "perfect" guy - having recently been uprooted, he's attempting to figure out how to reconfigure his life and his plans. When Tia and Will meet, there is an instant attraction, and a flirtation develops. Can Tia and Will be more than friends? Can they move forward together?

This was my first read of a Jennifer Echols book, but I have had her on my radar for awhile now - and I was very excited to give her a try. I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed - I very much enjoyed reading Biggest Flirts and I finished it in one day. I'll definitely be checking out her other titles - though I am most excited for the next book in the Superlatives series (and hope that it will be titled Most Likely To Succeed). I think this book is definitely a read for fans of Echols, or those who enjoy Contemporary YA novels that are relationship oriented.

Highlights 

I happen to really enjoy Contemporary YA books, and I enjoyed the approach of this one. Although I didn't like all the choices the characters were making, it was part of what made them relatable and real to me. I found the characters to be true to life in that they were flawed and they were making impulsive choices, they didn't always use sound judgement or reasoning, and they were very focused on the present. To me that is high school - you are very focused on the social aspects, the present, and worried about what comes next. Everything feels so big and important. You make impulsive choices, you make mistakes, you create regrets - emotions rule and not everything you do or say is well thought out or executed. 

I liked Tia, she was very flawed and relatable - I thought her choices made sense with what she had experienced. I was happy to watch her develop, fail and grow during the story. I enjoyed learning her backstory, and I enjoyed seeing her interactions. Did she make some choices I didn't agree with? Sure, but she's seventeen and we all make some bad choices at seventeen, and we all used some weird justification and logic too. 

I also really enjoyed Will - he was interesting to get to know, I liked seeing his struggle with moving and what that meant. I enjoyed seeing how he interacted with Tia and how he changed over the story and learned about himself. Additionally, I also really enjoyed all of the secondary characters in the story as well. 

To me, this was a fun, light, summer read. Not to serious, but still with a nice balance of the more serious issues too. I enjoyed how the story was written, and watching the characters develop and change. I also liked seeing another side to each character as the story went on and revealed more about them.

Wishes 

One big wish I had was the timeframe - I wish the author had chosen to present the story over the course of the school year or several months at least. That part felt a bit rushed to me, although at the same time I do know that things move quickly when you're at that age. One day you're friends, the next you aren't - they could be dating one day, exes the next, etc. Part of the drama of high school. 

I know some might complain about the insta-love - but to me in rang kind of true. I remember in high school being instantly attracted and/or infatuated with a guy. I know how quickly relationships can develop and how important/big and all-consuming it all feels at that time. I think when you're young it is easy to confuse love and infatuation, and we do fall quickly and hard for people. 

***

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I went into it wanting a fun, light, romantic spring read - I wanted something that would take me away and distract me, wrap me up in the world of the book. This book did it for me, it made me think: about the characters and their choices, about high school, about my own experiences, and about how things feel as an adolescent. I enjoyed getting wrapped up in the characters and their high school experiences- I read the book over the course of a day and when I finished I was satisfied. I know I enjoyed my experience over all, and I will definitely try other titles by this author. 

Recommendations -

Perfect You - Elizabeth Scott

Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

Something Like Fate- Susane Colas anti

My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick

Taking the Ex Out of Ex Boyfriend - Janette Rallison

Rating -

4 out of 5 Doxies - Definitely worth a read, I can't wait to try another book by the author!

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YA Review - Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita

Summer State of  Mind by Jen Calonita

Summer has finally arrived and fifteen-year-old Harper McCallister intends to spend her days at the mall shopping or by the pool at her country club. But after receiving her latest heart-stopping credit card bill, Harper's parents makes other plans, and ship her off to camp.

Suddenly, the clueless yet ever-popular Harper is the new girl at the bottom of a social ladder she can't climb in wedge sandals and expensive clothes. She seems to be winning over super-cute camp "Lifer" Ethan, though, and if she can manage to make a few friends--and stay out of trouble--she just might find a whole new summer state of mind.

A fresh and funny summer-camp companion novel to Jen Calonita's hit Sleepaway Girls. (Goodreads)

A fun, light YA Contemporary read just in time for the spring/summer season - Summer State of Mind will definitely please fans of Calonita's as well as be a great choice for others who enjoy YA Contemporary. This Contemp YA novel takes place at a sleep away camp over summer break, and explores teenage identity, fitting in, and friendships.

Highlights

Having already read Calonita's Belles series, I was immediately interested when I heard she had a new offering available and I went and ordered it from Amazon right away. Having only ever heard of Calonita in reference to her Belles series, I wasn't aware until after I read the book that this is technically the second in the Whispering Pines series. However, if you haven't yet read the first book have no fear - this one reads like a stand-alone and from what I've been told features mostly new characters and an independent plot. I always enjoy a "series" where each book might take place in the same world, and overlap characters, but each can stand as an independent read - so right away that gets points from me.

I really enjoyed the read - it was just what I was looking for: light, fun, quick, and summer-y. Having never been a summer sleep away camp attendee (the most I've ever done was Girl Scout camps) - I can say the book paints a pretty fantastic picture - I definitely wanted to go back and do a summer session in high school at Whispering Pines! The author does a great job of making it sound pretty fantastic, even with a main character who dislikes the outdoors, camping, bugs, anything athletic, etc. - and as a girl who isn't overly athletic myself, it still sounded fun!

I think what stood out for me the most while I was reading (and makes me want to force my high school aged little sis to read this) would be the topics that are the focus of the book. The story's central themes involve friendship, identity, fitting in, and learning what you value. I enjoyed that the main character, Harper, is on a journey (whether she realizes and/or wants to be) of self-discovery and growth. Harper starts off pretty annoying, she has some clearly redeeming qualities (you can tell her hearts in the right place), however she is pretty superficial and waaaay to focused on all the wrong things.

I enjoyed watching Harper progress and learn to adapt to new experiences, try new things, and begin to find herself in the process. It was nice to watch her develop a friendship with Lina at camp, and see how their friendship grows and what Harper learns about being a friend from this. It was also refreshing to read a YA Contemp where the primary focus was not on the romance, although romance did play a small role as well.

Wishes

Generally, I really enjoyed this read and it fit with what I was expecting and looking for. A few wishes I might have had about the book would have to be around Kate and Margo (Harper's friends from home). I really didn't like Kate (for the entire book!), but Margo I felt was more like Harper: likable if given a push away from people like Kate. I wish we had gotten more closer around what Harper's next move was in terms of her 'friendships' with Margo and Kate and how the realizations she had made at camp would impact her at home. It would have been nice to have some closure around that situation.

***

Overall, I'd say it's a great summer read and I would definitely recommend picking it up if you're looking for a fun beach read. I know I'll definitely be looking into this other book that takes place at Whispering Pines.

Recommendations:

The Art of Lainey - Paula Stokes

Belles - Jen Calonita

My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick

Biggest Flirts - Jennifer Echols

Rating:  

4 out of 5 Doxies - Definitely worth a read, an author you can count on for a satisfying read!