Review: We Regret to Inform You

We Regret to Inform You
by Ariel Kaplan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 21, 2018

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU by Ariel Kaplan is the scariest, most terrifying horror story I've ever read, and it's a contemporary rom-com. Mischa is a perfect student with all the grades, scores, and extracurriculars that should guarantee her a spot at any college she wants. Yet, she experiences every high schooler's worst nightmare when every single college she applied to rejects her, leaving Mischa without a plan. Digging deeper, she finds her applications have been sabotaged. With a growing list of suspects and still no college plan, Mischa fights the clock to discover who did this to her and uncovers a much darker secret. 

As a rising senior, college is one of the most pressing things on my mind, and it was fun to read the worst possible outcome in a humorous way. The writing and characters were consistent and relatable, and although the beginning may have been a bit better than the rest of the book, it was still an enjoyable page turner. Kaplan seemed to have a better grasp on the actual high school experience than most YA authors, which was refreshing and made the story more immersive and realistic. The ending was a bit rushed and I would have loved a more elaborate conclusion. Overall, this was a fun and exciting read that other high schoolers should check out! 

Review: Finding Felicity

Finding Felicity
by Stacey Kade

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 20, 2018

Caroline Sands has never had a friend. She’s had people she could chat with and people she was friendly with, but has yet to find anyone who could register higher than a distant acquaintance. When her stressed-out single mother began to worry for the state of her social life, Caroline made up friends for herself, stealing their names from characters out of the old 90s T.V. show Felicity. Now she’s moving halfway across the country to college. It’s an opportunity to transform herself into the outgoing, popular person she’s always wished she could be.

FINDING FELICITY is a refreshing take on the coming of age trope. Like most YA novels, there’s angst, interfering parents, and A Boy, but the book doesn’t quite follow the predictable course I figured it would at the beginning. It’s an interesting look at loneliness and isolation in the two places where friends are a hugely important part of your life—high school and college. Introverts will relate to Caroline’s struggle to navigate social dynamics. Ultimately, FINDING FELICITY is a sweet, mostly light-hearted book on friendship and belonging.

Review: My Best Everything

My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp
Publication date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Yesterday, I found myself thinking about Lulu and Mason driving into the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains to go river rafting, as if it were a memory from my own life; that's how vivid and alive this book felt to me. The summer after high school, Lulu is desperately trying to make enough money to send herself to college, by making moonshine with the help of Mason and her two best friends. Sarah Tomp does a fantastic job of telling the story of a girl who realizes the rest of her life might depend on whatever happens in one summer. Lulu has always wanted nothing more than to get out of the small town of Dale, yet now she finds it hard to imagine truly saying goodbye to all she has known, and to the possibilities of what life could be like if she stayed. As Lulu faces bigger decisions than she ever had to before, she wonders about whether fate really does exist: is there such a thing as someone or something that's meant to be? This story perfectly captures emotions about the overwhelming idea of one's future I have often found so hard to articulate. I loved this book and wished it didn't have to come to an end! I would recommend it for anyone!

Review: Roomies

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando
Publication date: December 24, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman year roommate assignment, she has no idea what she’s in for. Elizabeth’s first email to San Franciscan Lauren begins a strange friendship that not only changes each girl’s summer, but also begins to spark questions that make the girls wonder if they will ever be able to live together. Meanwhile, relationships with family and friends are becoming more difficult each day for Lauren and Elizabeth, and suddenly, the only people they can rely on are each other.

The point-of-view in ROOMIES rotates between Lauren and Elizabeth. Normally, this can become confusing, but each chapter is labeled, making it very clear who is narrating. In addition, I loved how different Lauren and Elizabeth are, yet, both girls are realistic, and anybody reading this book can relate to their fears and insecurities. The authors did a great job of addressing all the questions that come with trying to form a friendship with a person you don’t actually know. Each girl wonders about what the other looks like, whether or not they will get along, and what will happen when they make the big transition from home to college. ROOMIES has a perfect balance of romance, friendship, and family, and I would recommend it to anybody who is a fan of contemporary fiction.