Review: Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak

Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak
by Adi Alsaid

Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publication Date: April 30, 2019

BRIEF CHRONICLE OF ANOTHER STUPID HEARTBREAK tells the tale of Lu, a teen writer who is struggling with writer's block after being dumped by her senior boyfriend. When she finds a couple she may be able to write about, it makes her question the meaning of her own relationships and what might be worth saving. This book was very cute, and it was exciting to be on Lu’s journey alongside her.

Review: Girls With Sharp Sticks

Girls With Sharp Sticks
by Suzanne Young

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 19, 2019

GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS is a beautifully relevant novel that tells the story of the young women of Innovations Academy. A boarding school for girls run by men, this school prepares these girls for their lives with husbands chosen for them by the academy. The girls are taught to never speak out, to look perfect at all times, and that the men in control of them are superior to any of their own ideas and aspirations. As the girls fight to stay close with one another, making the most out of their separation from families and the challenge of day to day confinement in perfection, they start to see that maybe Innovations might not have their best interests at heart, and the education they’d always dreamed of having might be a facade. Told from the perspective of a girl with high hopes for her future, GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS explores with her the challenges of their lives, first loves, and friendships. This book was absolutely amazing, and with these characters the author explored very real issues and controversies that are prevalent today in our world. 

Review: Imagine Us Happy

Imagine Us Happy
by Jennifer Yu

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 23, 2018

IMAGINE US HAPPY by Jennifer Yu tells the heartbreaking story of a teenage girl in high school as she battles depression, fighting parents, and her first true love. As she gets deeper and deeper into her relationship and learns more about him and herself, Stella must figure out how to win the internal battle with what she knows is right while trying to figure out what it is she deserves. From crazy house parties with her BFFs to scary fights to pained therapy sessions, this is not an easy topic to read about, but it is written beautifully and I could not put it down! The way the author flashed forward to the future and back to present throughout the story helped grasp the intricate backstory of Stella and her world, and the language was amazing. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

Review: Always Forever Maybe

Always Forever Maybe
by Anica Mrose Rissi

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE by Amica Mrose Rissi tells the beautiful story of a girl falling in love for the first time... and all that comes with it in this case. What starts out as a storybook romance, a fairytale connection, soon takes a turn. Bee first starts cutting her family from her life, than her best friend, and one by one she becomes more and more alone, even though she seemingly has everything she’s always wanted. 

This book shows us how devastating love and physical attraction can truly be, but also how sometimes it takes tragedy to finally see the light. I couldn’t put this book down until it was finished, and I thought it was very well written and truly draws you in.

Review: The Year of Living Awkwardly

The Year of Living Awkwardly: Sophomore Year
by Emma Chastain

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: July 10, 2018

THE YEAR OF LIVING AWKWARDLY: SOPHOMORE YEAR by Emma Chastain follows Chloe as she navigates her sophomore year of high school. Over the summer she works as a lifeguard with Grady, an incoming freshman, who she finds to be stupid and silly, not at all boyfriend material even though he has a massive crush on her. But when the school year begins and she’s trying to figure out her place, from theater to friends to boys, she starts to realize her cheating ex, Mac, maybe isn’t what she deserves. Throughout this relatable and hilarious novel, we see the importance of family and acceptance, the value of always sticking by your friends, and many more lessons. I thought this book was well written and a good easy light read. Written from Chloe's perspective, it feels like the reader is right there with her, making it fun!

Review: Folded Notes from High School

Folded Notes from High School
by Matt Boren

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: April 3, 2018

FOLDED NOTES FROM HIGH SCHOOL by Matt Boren follows Tara, the biggest mean girl at South High. She seemingly has everything: a gorgeous jock boyfriend, best friend, and she’s the star of her school theater department. But this year there’s a new freshman, Matthew. She’s having fun being his mentor, almost like his older sister, but then  it gets complicated when she starts feeling things she never thought she was capable of... but there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her status as queen bee. 

This book is written in the witty slang of high school notes being passed between the South High students, which I thought was very clever and is easy to relate to. The story was fun and light; definitely recommend!

Review: Twelve Steps to Normal

Twelve Steps to Normal
by Farrah Penn

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Publication Date: March 13, 2018

In TWELVE STEPS TO NORMAL by Farrah Penn, the story is told from the perspective of Kira as she tries to recover her old life. After having to leave her whole life behind for for a year because of her dad’s alcohol addiction, she returns to her town as a junior in high school and must figure out what friendships and relationships are worth saving after so much time has passed. She comes home to many surprises (some good and some not so good) that she must face head on and fix before she loses everything… But will she really? I thought this book was very well written and it was very easy to relate to her attitude as a teenager and some of the struggles she faced with relationships, freedom, and parents.

Review: When My Heart Joins the Thousand

When My Heart Joins the Thousand
by A.J. Steiger

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 6, 2018

WHEN MY HEART JOINS THE THOUSAND by A.J. Steiger is a beautiful story following Alvie on her journey to finding herself and honestly trying to just make it to her 18th birthday in one piece. She’s never fit in, and she really doesn’t care. She’s scared to care. Her only friend is a bird at the zoo she works at, Chance. But, when she meets a boy, her world is different. HE is different. 

As she gets closer to him and hears about his estranged past, she must decide if it's worth it to her to have him in her life. I thought this was beautifully written and although it was sad, it was easy to relate to and truly feel like you are in the story with these heart wrenching positions they find themselves in. 

Review: I Never

I Never
by Laura Hopper

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 7, 2017

Love is an unknown idea for junior Janey King, so when she falls hard for a popular senior, she has to get it together and figure out what her goals are, while still staying on top of school, her newly divorced parents, and constant friend drama. I NEVER by Laura Hopper tells Janey's coming of age story as she navigates first love and all of its many obstacles. I really enjoyed how real this story was and how it made you feel like you were truly Janey King and going through your first love right alongside her. The writing was well put together and has a nice flow to the chapters making it easy to follow, but while still leaving mystery. Will Janey love being in love? Or will she dig herself into a hole she can’t get out of…

Review: No Saints in Kansas

No Saints in Kansas
by Amy Brashear

Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: November 14, 2017

NO SAINTS IN KANSAS by Amy Brashear is narrated by 16 year old Carly Flemming who is new to the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. Winter is usually quiet in this small town, but after the horrible murder of the Clutter family (including Nancy Clutter whom Carly used to secretly tutor), Carly and her friends take it upon themselves to solve the mystery and find the killer, much to the disapproval of the sheriff and their protective parents. This suspenseful novel was impossible to put down, and was definitely a fun read. Carly’s character is easy to relate to and she takes the reader on quite a ride as she tries to solve the case.

Review: More of Me

More of Me
by Kathryn Evans

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017

MORE OF ME tells the story of Teva… and her multiple other selves. Every year on her birthday, she splits into two and the newest version of herself takes over her life. As her 17th birthday is coming up, she decides that she’s had enough so she does everything she can to keep her future as she battles with her relationship with her mother, boyfriend, and friends. I loved this book and thought it was very clever and written well with beautiful language. It was a very unique spin on a typical high school story.

Review: Zenn Diagram

Zenn Diagram
by Wendy Brant

Publisher: Hachette
Publication Date: April 4, 2017

ZENN DIAGRAM by Wendy Brant follows 17-year-old Eva through her senior year of high school, but she's not an ordinary girl. Everything she touches gives her an overwhelming flood of all the owner's deepest fears and secrets, making it hard for her to be normal. So, being a math genius, she sticks to tutoring and only touching people's calculators to know what they're struggling with... That is, until she meets handsome Zenn with a dark past. Will she be able to resist touching him and getting his whole life's story? 

This book is definitely a page turner and is a look into the struggles of any teenage girl who is starting a new life in a different city. I loved the writing style and how much it shows what a look into the teenage brain is like.

Review: Alex, Approximately

Alex Approximately
by Jenn Bennett

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 4, 2017

ALEX, APPROXIMATELY by Jenn Bennett is about an east coast teenage girl who moves to Los Angeles and has to navigate her parents' divorce, getting her first job, and of course, love. When she lived in Washington, her life was simple and she started to develop a storybook romance with Alex, her online boyfriend. But when she moves across the country to meet him for the first time she falls for Porter, a risk taking surfer. Who will she choose? Or is there even a decision to make... I thought this book was very well written, playful, and definitely a page turner. If you're into rom-com's and books about teens this is for you.

Review: Confessions of a High School Disaster

Confessions of a High School Disaster
by Emma Chastain

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

Adjusting to high school can be hard... Especially when you fall in love with a senior who has a seemingly flawless girlfriend, have parents who are splitting up but can't admit it, and are the lead in the school musical. CONFESSIONS OF A HIGH SCHOOL DISASTER by Emma Chastain is told by Chloe, a lovable but flawed high school student. Throughout this witty, hilarious diary of an ordinary teenager, we follow her as she navigates friendship, the role of family, and most difficultly, love. I thought it was very interesting for the book to be written from her perspective as a diary so we get to see her life day by day, without one detail missing. This book was very well written.

Review: Love and First Sight

Love and First Sight
by Josh Sundquist

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 3, 2017



LOVE AND FIRST SIGHT by Josh Sundquist is a romantic comedy about 16 year old Will Porter who was born blind. When he starts at his first mainstream high school, he struggles to fit in and at the same time falls in love with a girl, Cecily. When he decides to have a surgery to potentially give him eyesight for the first time, he sees the world for the first time. Along with the author's captivating writing style, this story was very fresh and a nice change from the stereotypical high school rom-com book because of the author making the decision to make the main character blind.

Review: The Romantics

The Romantics
by Leah Konen

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: November 1, 2016

THE ROMANTICS by Leah Konen is a romantic comedy about high-school romance with a unique twist: Love itself is the narrator. Love tells the story of Gael Brennen, a high-school senior, as he struggles with heartbreak and relationships while his family is crumbling around him. Although I thought this book was cliche and very cheesy, I found myself not being able to put it down because of the striking characters and interesting plot twists. It was very clever to have the story be told from the perspective of Love as I have never heard of a book written that way. I enjoyed the references to famous movies and books throughout it and thought it was a very witty story overall.