The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Publication: July 2nd 2013 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Description:

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about. 

My thoughts:

The Distance Between Us is a great light easy quick read that's perfect for summer. I flew through it in one sitting in a handful of hours. This was my second West book and I have to say her books are great filler books to pick up when you've finished a big series or a dark fantasy and need a quick break. They are super easy and cute to read but i will say they don't leave much of an impression when you're done. I had fun while reading The Distance Between Us but since finishing I haven't really thought about it.

I felt like the characters were very surface level but I wasn't looking for overly complex layered characters when I picked up The Distance Between Us. I liked Caymen; she had a very dry sense of humour and her sarcastic dialogue was fun to read. I liked Xander too, he was very respectful and I liked how he challenged Caymen's prejudices she had about rich people.  

This is a YA romance so of course it was a big part of the plot. There were a good few cute moments but I wasn't necessarily shipping it. It was cute at time and their banter was fun but nothing to get invested in.

The plot was very predicable and very convenient but because I read it so quick I didn't mind and I didn't pick this book up for a complex plot that had me on the edge of my seat or anything.

It was interesting reading a book where money was a big issue for the characters because it's not something I come across a lot in my reading. I liked how the book explored prejudices and biases and stuff in relation to finances.

There was nothing noteworthy about the writing. It was nice and easy to read.

I've read 2 Kasie West books now, this one and On the Fence, and I think  I liked On the Fence better. I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future when I want a quick light read!

Thanks for reading,

A :)

On the Fence by Kasie West

Publication:July 1st 2014 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Description:
For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

My thoughts:

I absolutely loved On the Fence. This was my first Kasie West book and I am so excited to delve more into this authors works! On the Fence was so much fun I didn't want to stop reading it, I was addicted from the first page! I read it in two sittings and I know if I had started it a bit earlier in the day I would have read it in one. Don't pick this up unless you have the time to read it in one sitting because trust me you will not want to put the book down. It is great!

I loved the main character Charile. I found it so easy to connect to her as we have similar personalities. She is me in so many ways but so not me on others and I really liked that; that she wasn't 100% like me. I really admired her courage to do what she wanted and it was so interesting watching her trying to balance her more tomboy side with her more girly side and the internal struggle that comes with that.

Braden was cool but nothing out of the ordinary for a YA contemporary love interest. I think there was a missed opportunity to develop his story more. His family life is hinted at but I think it could have been explored more.

The romance was cute. The best friends to lover trope is what I live for in books like these, it is just such a fun trope ( I mean Percabeth is my OTP and they are the epitome of best friends to lovers trope in MG/YA) I knew going in I was going to enjoy the romance and I wasn't disappointed. It wasn't OTP material but the tension was there and it was very enjoyable to read. It was well paced and while it had it's cliche moments it was good.

I loved the family element but felt that Charlie's brothers weren't very fleshed out, they were pretty flat and I wanted more from them. The same with her dad. Their relationship is touched on but I wanted more.

The ending was a bit quick but it is under 300 pages so what was I expecting really?

Overall I had such a fun time reading this quick read and definitely recommend it if you are looking for something cute to pick up this summer! I am excited to pick up more of Kasie West's books over the coming summer!

Thanks for reading,

A :)

How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

Publication: May 2nd 2017 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Description:

All seventeen year-old Grace Glasser wants is her own life. A normal life in which she sleeps in the same bed for longer than three months and doesn't have to scrounge for spare change to make sure the electric bill is paid. Emotionally trapped by her unreliable mother, Maggie, and the tiny cape on which she lives, she focuses on her best friend, her upcoming audition for a top music school in New York, and surviving Maggie’s latest boyfriend—who happens to be Grace’s own ex-boyfriend’s father.

Her attempts to lay low until she graduates are disrupted when she meets Eva, a girl with her own share of ghosts she’s trying to outrun. Grief-stricken and lonely, Eva pulls Grace into midnight adventures and feelings Grace never planned on. When Eva tells Grace she likes girls, both of their worlds open up. But, united by loss, Eva also shares a connection with Maggie. As Grace's mother spirals downward, both girls must figure out how to love and how to move on. 

My thoughts:

How to Make a Wish is a great summery read that is super easy to fall into. I found myself hooked very early on and connected emotionally invested in the characters stories almost instantly.

The main character, Grace, was my favourite character. I found myself emotionally invested in her story quickly and felt bad for her and happy for her when things went wrong or right for her. The author did an excellent job on her character development, Grace has a lovely arc of going on a journey of self discovery and self care. 

I loved reading about Grace and her best friend Luca. They had such a playful relationship for the most part it was really enjoyable to read. It was also fun seeing a boy and girl being best friends and having it not turning romantic. I loved how supportive they were of each other.

I liked Eva but didn't love her. I found it hard to identify with her and wasn't super invested in her relationship with Grace. I did love how she was into colouring in adult colouring books because I love colouring too and Im always looking for characters with hobbies other than reading. I also appreciated how diverse her character was; Eva is biracial and lesbian. I personally can't speak for the representation but I think it was done quite well.

Family is a big theme in the story. There is a big emphasis on Grace and her mother Maggie's relationship and how unhealthy it is. But it's not just blood family relationships that are explored but also the families we choose and people we consider family. I loved Grace's relationship with Luca's Mam Emmy (she is such a Molly Weasley).

Other themes readers should be aware of before picking up this book are parental neglect and verbal abuse. These issues are a major part of the story and could be triggering to sensitive readers so just keep that in mind if you're thinking of picking How to Make A Wish up.

I liked the ending but wasn't blown away. It wasn't wrapped up nicely with a bow but ended in a good place. I like my endings with everything tied off which rarely happens in contemporary.

I had fun reading How to Make a Wish, it was a quick contemporary read but touched on some very important topics that are not usually seen in YA.

My rating: 4 stars

Thanks for reading,

A :)

When Dimple Met Rishi By sandhya Menon

Publication: May 30th 2017 by Simon Pulse

Goodreads Description:

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways. 

My thoughts:

When Dimple Met Rishi is such a cute and funny read, I had a smile on my face the entire time while reading. This contemporary is nothing like I've read before and I loved it! It's definitely a new favourite of mine.

Both the main characters, Dimple and Rishi, were so well written. They felt very really and were really fleshed out and rounded. I loved how I could relate and see myself in both of them at times.

Dimple is such an inspiration; she's a go getter, independent, forward thinking young lady which I loved. She's so passionate about her education and going to Stanford and breaking traditions I loved it. She's headstrong and driven and a joy to read even if she comes off as a bit self righteous at times. Rishi on the other hand is a lot calmer. He's such a gentleman. I loved how sweet and thoughtful and kind he was. 

Dimple and Rishi complement each other so nicely it was easy for me to get behind their relationship. I loved how their personalities really balanced each other out and watching them grow and learn from each other.

When Dimple Met Rishi is told in dual POV. I thought I'd be annoyed with it swapping POVs but they flowed really nicely together and it was fun reading their individual reactions and thoughts to the same stuff that's going on. Each POV is short and these short burst made the book so quick to read.

If you're looking for something with a big focus on the coding and tech side of things this one isn't for you. The main focus in Dimple and Rishi's relationship, I went in expecting there to be a big emphasises on the app and was a bit disappointed on that front.

I have to mention the diversity in this book because it was so refreshing. Both main characters are Indian American which is something I've never read before. This is an own voices novel so it is written in a very authentic manner.

I loved how the concept of arranged marriage was dealt with. Living in a very western society it could be considered by a lot of people very backwards and such but Rishi really challenges this by explaining the value in it. A lot of us have very western mind frames like Dimple so it was interesting to hear that perspective. I liked learning about all the Indian culture sprinkled throughout the book and you can definitely tell the author knows what she's talking about!

I had so much fun reading when Dimple Met Rishi I can't wait to pick up more by Sandhya Menon.

My rating: 4.5 stars.

Thanks for reading,

A :)

Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell

*I was sent an ecopy of Melody's Key by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Publication:June 24th 2016

Goodreads Description:
“His eyes settled on her…piercing green embers of flame that revealed the ferocity of his pain and passion, yet still shrouded him under veils of ever deepening mystery that made every ounce of her ache to unravel him.” 

Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.

My thoughts:
Melody's Key is a fun, enjoyable, quick read. It is cliche (a lot of the time) but I didn't mind because that was just what I wanted at the time when I was reading. 

The main character Tegan is well developed over the course of the story and she is incredibly likebale from the fist page. I felt myself relating to her in multiple ways. She is very into music and art, and while I don't have a musical bone in my body, I really understood her thought process around creating music and art as I really like drawing. I think people who aren't into music or art can relate to her as well. I felt myself relating to her emotions and how she felt about certain things.

Family plays a big role in Melody's Key which I appreciated. Family is something I find is hardly present in the books I usually read. I really liked reading about Tegan's relationship with her younger sister, Ryleigh. As someone who has two sisters it was great to see a realistic sister relationship in the book.

The romance is the main focus in the story and I knew as soon as they met that Tegan and Mason's relationship was going to be full of cliches; and I was right there was cliches left right and centre! They were cute though and their interactions were funny. Both characters are very witty so it was fun reading any scenes they had together when the banter started to get going.

Other than the cliches everywhere the writing was really good. There are some long winded descriptions but they aren't so long that they take the reader out of the story.

The story is written in Tegan's point of view but there is also letters from the past that are scattered throughout the novel. I really enjoyed reading both I just wish there had been more about the letters.

There was some really good topics hit on in Melody's Key such as LGBT elements but I think the author missed an opportunity to explore them more. I felt like there was so much potential there but it was lost because Tegan and Mason's romance took over the story.

My only complaint is the ending; everything wraps up a little too conveniently (and unrealistic to be honest) for my taste. Some readers won't mind this but it was a bit too much for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed Melody's Key and would recommend it if your looking for something quick and fun to read.

My rating: 4 stars out of 5
Thanks for reading
A:)
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Also big thank you to the author, Dallas Coryell, who sent me an ecopy of the book!

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Publication:February 3rd 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Goodreads description: 
If Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing separating Skylar from art school is three months of summer…until Skylar’s mother loses her job, and Skylar realizes her dreams may be slipping out of reach.

Josh had a different escape route: the Marines. But after losing his leg in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be.

What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and, soon, something deeper.

Compelling and ultimately hopeful, this is a powerful examination of love, loss, and resilience.

My thoughts:
New favourite contemporary. If you're looking for something that has more substance than your usual light fluffy YA contemporary pick up I'l Meet You There.

I'll Meet You There is a slow paced character driven story. And I think it would be pretty hard not to love all the characters. 

The main character, Sky, is not like a lot of YA protagonists. I really liked how she deals with a lot of things that happen in real life but aren't explored that much in YA. She lives in a trailer park, she struggles with money and getting food on the table. She is dealing with a lot. And it makes her feel like a real person, especially when she makes mistakes. She's flawed just like everyone else on this planet. I liked how she dealt with her situation, she wasn't whiny or moaning about how crap her life is, she just gets on with it and tries her best.

I liked Josh too. He has his ups and downs bt for the most part I enjoyed his character. The story opens with him coming home from the war in Afghanistan so he is dealing with PTSD. I think Demetrios explored the subject very well and portrayed a realistic representation of it.

I loved the side characters, especially Sky's best friend Dylan and her boss Marge. All of the side characters are fleshed out really well.

I'll Meet You There is told in duel points of view; Sky and Josh. Demetrios did an excellent job making them have distinct voices, I never got confused how was narrating while reading. I wanted more or Josh though- I felt like his sections were very short but were extremely well written.

I really liked how I'll Meet You There had some very Important themes such as family and poverty but what really makes it stand out is how war and it impact on people is addressed in the story.

I'l Meet You There is a story I won't be forgetting.

My Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Thanks for reading,
A :) 
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Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Goodreads description:
From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

My thoughts:
Second Chance Summer is one of the saddest books I've ever read. It is an absolutely heartbreaking story about love and loss and I think it's one everyone should give a go.

It's not a summery feel good romance like Morgan Matson's other books but that doesn't mean it doesn't have all the charm her other stories have. Like all her books there is a big focus on family and friends.

I loved getting to see the family dealing with the situation and how each member of the family reacted differently. I liked how we slowly get to know them as they start getting to know each other. There's a big focus on parental love as well as love between sibling. I liked reading about how they learn means to be there for each other in times of need.

My favourite relationship that is explore in Second Chance Summer has to be Taylor's relationship with her father. It's incredibly heartwarming while also being incredibly heartbreaking. I think it's definitely the relationship that was developed the most.

Friendship is another big aspect of the story particularly how childhood friends are sometimes the ones that mean the most. Taylor gets a second chance at trying to fix a friendship that fell apart years ago. She's learns how to go about this and how to rebuild the relationship after the falling out.

I really liked Taylor, I found her to be super relatable. Her character development is amazing. She's a very different person by the end of the book. She grows and changes so much over the course of this one summer. The changes in her are so subtle you don't even realise how much ha changed until you think back to how she acted at the start of the book.

Henry, the love interest, was linkable. Usually I love Morgan Matson's male characters but I didn't love Henry. Personally I would have liken more from him.He didn't stand out to me as a character I'll remember. He felt a bit 2 D to me.

Overall I would highly recommend Second Chance Summer to everyone but be warned have tissues at the ready because you'll need them!!

My rating: 4.5 stars
Thanks for reading,
A :)
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The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Publication:May 3rd 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Goodreads description:
Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

My thoughts:
I loved this book! If you're looking for a book to get you in the mood for summer, look no further, The Unexpected Everything is for you.

The characters in Morgan Matson's books are just all so realistic. I loved getting to know Andie. She's such a relatable character. I found myself emotionally attached to her straight off the bat.

Along with Andie, I loved Clark. I think he's very different to what most love interest are like in YA. He's not bad boy or a guy who hides behind snarky sarcastic comments. He's a nerd. A geek. Whatever you want to call it. And he's so cute. And it's amazing. And lets just say he's on my fictional boyfriend list! I loved reading how awkward he was with Andie in the beginning. He felt like a real person and I really appreciated that. 

One of my favourite parts of The Unexpected Everything was reading about Andie's friendship with Toby,Bri and Palmer (and Tom). I feel like Morgan Matson really portrayed their friendship realistically. They were so much fun to get to know. It's not often you come across a big group of friends who get along so well in books.

I loved the family aspect of the story. It was really interesting watching Andie and her dad trying to fix their relationship. I love how Morgan Matson always has a family storyline going on in her books. We need more parents in YA.

I loved this book because it was so summery. It made me want to go to the outside and enjoy the sun with my friends. I had the best time reading Andie's story. There was lots of smile and laughs along the way and I'd really recommend giving Morgan Matson's books a read this summer! She writes the ultimate summer reads!

My rating: 5 stars

Thanks for reading,
Axx