Review: The Problem With Forever

The Problem With Forever 
by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Publication Date: May 17, 2016 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

In THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER, Mallory Dodge has had a rough life in the foster system. She's had a hard time trusting people and speaking up but now finds herself with loving, adoptive parents. Encouraged to spend her senior year in a traditional high school (rather than homeschooling), she unexpectedly runs into Rider, a boy who once lived in the same foster home. They have a history and their relationship flourishes because of their past ties. Mallory and Rider are extremely likeable characters with well written chemistry. Armentrout does a nice job showing not only Mallory, but several other characters learning from their past experiences to start shaping their futures. 

Review: Tell Me Three Things

Tell Me Three Things 
By Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 5th, 2016 

TELL ME THREE THINGS is about a girl named Jessie who has just moved to L.A to live with her dad after her mom's death. Jessie continues to deal with the death of her mother as she adjusts to a new family and school. When SN (Somebody/Nobody), an anonymous student, offers to help Jessie at her new school, she accepts and eventually befriends SN. While parts of this book were predictable, it was not too cliché and it was still enjoyable. Jessie is a smart, sincere, and realistic character that makes her relatable and likeable. There's also a fun cast of characters adding a sense of lightness and humor to the story. It's pretty easy to guess who SN would be but there's still a slight suspense by the end to confirm who they are. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy contemporary fiction, and want to read a sweet, heart-warming story, also for fans of Stephanie Perkins. 

Review: Firstlife

Firstlife
By Gena Showalter 

Publication Date: February 21, 2016
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

FIRSTLIFE gives a new definition to life after death. After Firstlife, there's Everlife. The Troika and Myriad are the two powers in charge and a person has to sign with which realm they want to live in before they die. Ten has been sent to a mental asylum by her parents to make her choose Myriad, the realm they are loyal to. Both realms are in a deadly war to get Ten because of the power they believe she holds. Ten finds both realms appealing and can't make her choice as she questions everything she has been told. While the story does drag on in the beginning, it sets up Ten's relationships with other important characters. Ten handles everything with brilliance and we see not only her character develop, but also others as the plot thickens. Action packed and set in a futuristic world, FIRSTLIFE is a book for those looking for a completely new and fresh read. 

Review: The Girl From Everywhere

The Girl From Everywhere 

by Heidi Heilig

Publication Date: February 16th, 2016
Publisher: Greenwillow Books 

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE is a fantastical novel about a girl, Nix, her father, and a crew who navigates to different places in different time periods, with a mix of mythological stories. Nix and her father have a very complex relationship because of her father's obsession with going back to the time when his wife was alive, risking Nix's existence. It was interesting to see their dynamic and how they both try to solve their problems. Adventurous, mythical, and with a hint of romance, THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE is a book for readers looking for a diverse, refreshing new read. 

Review: The Year We Fell Apart

The Year We Fell Apart 
by Emily Martin

Publication Date: January 26th, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse 

In this contemporary novel, Harper faces challenges as she learns about her mom’s cancer diagnosis and the return of her best friend Declan, who she had a falling out with a year prior. As much as they try to avoid each other, their lives end up intertwining. Filled with confusing emotions, Harper acts differently, and more destructively than her usual self. Like a lot of teenagers, she learns from her experiences and ends up trying her best to make up for past mistakes. If you're a sucker for best friend romances, second chances, and a Sarah Dessen-esque plot, THE YEAR WE FELL APART is the book for you.