Month: March 2021

BONUS REVIEW: Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott

BONUS REVIEW: Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Addie is focused on seeing her friend, Serena, married. The groom’s step-mother has been a terror throughout the planning process, ignoring the wishes of the couple. She cancelled reservations, changed their cake, and ignored their plans for a small gathering, inviting her personal friends. Addie is running interference and trying to keep things from going off the rails. She doesn’t need the distraction of a murder on the beach near where the yacht for the wedding is anchored.

She also doesn’t need the disaster of Lacey Davenport. Lacey causes trouble and chaos wherever she goes. The last time Addie saw her, Lacey stole money from Serena. There’s no way she was invited  to the wedding. But she shows up, and she stirs up trouble anyway.

While Serena and her new husband are able to get away for their honeymoon, the guests who spent the night on the yacht find themselves confined on board when police find a second body connected to the yacht. It’s only a matter of time before Addie starts sleuthing.

Review

This is the sixth book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, but it’s the first I have read. I enjoyed the setting for this – guests and suspects confined to the boat during the investigation. It’s what drew me to the story in the first place.

There’s a LOT going on in this book: two murders that may or may not be connected, a book-related mystery which draws Addie in to the investigation, affairs, secrets, suspicious, and relationship drama. There’s also a really large cast for this story. I struggled to track everyone, and at times the case seemed to spin its wheels. Maybe this would have been a better fit for me if I had read the previous books in the series. At least, I would know more of the main characters. That was really the only piece that ever left me feeling lost, even though I picked up in the middle of a series – tracking all the characters. I also struggled with some of the writing choices in this one, at least in the unedited review copy.

The mystery here is satisfying. I think series fans will enjoy this one. I always like seeing characters grow through everyday life events as a series grows, and this book includes Serena’s wedding as well as some relationship developments for a few other characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/Solid/Fine

REVIEW: Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

REVIEW: Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Marin’s sister, Sadie, got home from her assignment in China, she looked worn out and thin. Marin, the caretaker and worrier of the pair, agreed to the getaway for Sadie’s sake. Marin had been taking care of Sadie since their mother died. She could put aside her fear of flying and her homebody nature to take a trip with her only sister.

But Sadie missed the flight. Which means she also missed the turbulence. And the storm that re-routed the plane. Sadie also missed every awful, embarrassing moment between Marin and her good looking seatmate, Lucas Tsai. (And really, all that embarrassment was Sadie’s fault! If she had been there, Marin never would have had to sit by Lucas!)

So now, Marin is alone on a beautiful tropical island while her sister is still at home. Marin has never been the adventurous one. She plays things safe. She’s been strangled by fear since their mother died. And this getaway is about to challenge every bit of her safe, quiet existence.

Review

Wow. I was wrecked by this book in all the best ways for a reader. I was expecting something light and funny – and those moments are there. But there are also these beautiful, ugly-crying moments with this stellar cast of characters. I wasn’t expecting the extremes, but I adored them. This book packs and punch, and I am forever a fan.

The author does a fantastic job of balancing the contemporary story with Marin’s backstory. It’s a great way to explain how Marin gets to the point where she’s settled for whatever life hands her instead of living a life she wants. I was engrossed in watching Marin’s journey, cheering for her along the way.

Yes, there’s a beautiful romantic element to this that’s supremely satisfying. But it’s also so much more. Do not miss this one! It will stick with me for a long time. (Language, TW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally Carter

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this from Netgalley, but by the time I was approved, I had already bought a print copy of the published book. I read the print version for this review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

April and her friends are settled in at Winterborne House. Gabriel Winterborne has been “found” and is famous again. April and the other kids thwarted a lot of dark, ugly schemes that could have hurt a lot of people (Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor) and lived to tell the tale.

But Izzy has disappeared and Smithers, the butler, is away, leaving Gabriel in charge of five kids and the house. Things are pretty chaotic when the case worker arrives. Then, a swordsman breaks into the house. And Gabriel goes missing.

Now the kids are dodging the case worker who wants to take them away from their home and from each other. They are searching for Gabriel, afraid he’s hurt or dying – or that he’s just abandoned them. And they are running from guys with guns, desperate to preserve their found family.

Review

WOW! This was fantastic! I squeezed in a quick re-read of book one so the story was fresh in my mind when I started this. And I am so glad. I was able to pick up the action and the characters right away, which was important. This book jumps right into the action! This is definitely a read-in-order series.

While this is April’s story, I adore the full ensemble cast. The kids have really gelled into a team – and a family – by this book. I love them even more this time around.

The story was captivating from start to end. There are a ton of things going on here, but the author never loses the reigns on her story. I flew through this in one breathless sitting because I had to know what happens for everyone. I have my fingers crossed that there will be more stories for these characters in the future. But this book ends solidly with no major cliffhangers.

Fans of book 1, fans of Ally Carter, and fans of middle grade mysteries should NOT miss this excellent series. I’d say the target audience would be older middle grade readers – 10 and up – due to the violence of the story. While not at all graphic, there are sword fights and bullet wounds and stabbings and peril that might not be a good fit for some young readers.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: March 30, 2021

BOOK NEWS: March 30, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Wow, I can’t believe the year is almost a quarter finished! Here are some of the new books releasing during this last week of March.

Books for Kids

Who Is Jane Goodall? AND Who Was Jackie Robinson (Board Books) – The Who HQ line (Who Was, Where Is, etc.) moves into board books with these two titles.
Bear Can’t Wait – A new addition to the delightful Bear series. Bear has a surprise planned for a friend, but he finds it hard to wait.
I’m a Gluten-Sniffing Service Dog (April 1) – Chewy is training to be a service dog, but he’s struggling with distraction.
The Critter Club: Ellie Tames the Tiger – Book 22 in the Critter Club series. Ellie and her friends try to keep a new kitten named Tiger under control while Ellie also deals with a dance partner who isn’t very friendly.
DJ Funkyfoot, Butler for Hire – First in a new series which is part of the Flytrap Files. DJ the butler can’t find a job other than babysitter for ShrubBaby who has a taste for adventure.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

All You Knead Is Love – Alba is sent to Barcelona to live with her estranged grandmother while her mother tries to leave Alba’s abusive father. While there Alba discovers a love of bread baking that leads her to take action when her favorite bakery is in danger of closing. This is on my list for this week.
Finn and the Time-Traveling Pajamas (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Finniverse series. Finn is saved by an older version of himself who needs Finn and his friends to help correct mistakes in the older Finn’s past.
Star Wars The Mandalorian Season 1 Volume 1 Screen Comix – Graphic novel-style retelling of the first four episodes of season 1 of The Mandalorian.
Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice – First in a new series. When Barclay breaks his community’s most sacred rule – don’t go into the woods – and bonds with a Beast, he is run out of town. He journeys to a community of Lore Keepers who have also bonded with Beasts to find out what to do next. This sounds fun!
The Death of Nancy Drew (Graphic Novel) When Nancy dies after taking down a crime organization, the Hardy Boys step in to investigate her death.
Prom Theory – In an effort to prove her scientific theories about love and attraction, Iris tries to get a newly single guy at school to ask her to prom.

Books for Adults – Fiction

Back in the Burbs (Trade Paperback) – The one saving grace after Mallory watches her marriage and her work life fall completely apart is inheriting a house in the burbs where she can start over. If only the house wasn’t a complete disaster. This reminds me of the premise of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, but sassier, and I am here for it!
Bodies and Bows (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Apron Shop mystery series. Iris starts investigating when a local bad boy is killed in a hit and run.
Careless Whispers (Mass Market Paperback) – Part of the Jackson Falls series. Elaina has dreamed of nothing but taking over the family business. Instead, she is fired, and her father hires her nemesis Alex instead. When she tries to launch her own business, though, Elaina will need Alex’s help.
Death at the Salon (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Daisy Thorne Mystery series. When Daisy’s customer – and former high school foe – is found dead, all the evidence points to Daisy as the killer.
Don’t Rock the Goat (e-book) – Book 8 in the Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. Ivy’s rescue farm acquires some baby goats while Ivy acquires a new mystery to solve.
Duchess If You Dare (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Maidens of Mayhem Mystery series. Scarlett’s sleuthing into a missing seamstress brings her in contact with a Duke trying to solve his own mystery. Teaming up would help both of them out, if they can put aside the feelings that are growing between them. This series sounds fun!
Flight (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Texas Murder Files series. Miranda may have hung up her forensic photographer hat in favor of wildlife photography, but when she finds a couple of dead bodies, she can’t help but apply her skills to the case. If only the local detective would take her thoughts seriously.
Fresh Brewed Murder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Ground Rules Mystery series. Sage’s coffee truck, Ground Rules, is the site of a murder, and she is the prime suspect. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Hiding Place (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Mercy Carr Mystery series. Mercy has her hands full when she inherits a 20-year-old cold case, her grandfather’s murderer escapes custody, her grandmother goes missing, and someone shows up claiming Elvis is *his* dog. I have loved the first two books in this series, so this is at the top of my wish list for this week.
Knitty Gritty Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Pamela and her friends are investigating another murder when a local farm-to-table enthusiast is killed.
Murder at the Taffy Shop (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series. Mac and her friends start investigating when the owner of the taffy shop is accused of murder.
Murder at Wedgefield Manor (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Jane Wunderly Mystery series. Jane and her aunt are spending time at Wedgefield prior to their return to America when one of the manor’s mechanics is killed in a car accident that turns out to be murder.
The Museum Murder (e-book, March 31) – Book 2 in the Epiphany Bloom Mystery series. Pip starts investigating when an important dress goes missing from a fashion museum.
Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Desert Flowers Mystery series.  The Desert Flowers Detective Agency is on the case when a social media influencer is killed in a way that reminds Poppy of the Pillow Talk Killer murders from her early days as an actress.
Under the Cover of Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. While Addie is supposed to be serving as the maid of honor at the wedding of the year, instead she is trapped on a yacht, investigating the two bodies that have washed ashore.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation (Hardcover) – New from the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.  Tackles the issues that undermine serious discipleship. I have read some of the author’s other works, and he’s fantastic. This is on my list for this week.
Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better at It (Hardcover) – The Holderness videos have gotten me through some dark moments of the pandemic with a LOT of laughter. I have my fingers crossed that that same humor translates to their first book, Everybody Fights, about marriage and communication.
Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence  (Hardcover) – The author responds to the question she is asked most often, “How can you still be a Christian?” as people wrestle with disillusionment and disappointment with the Church and Church leaders. This one is on my list, too.
The Hill We Climb (Hardcover) – A gift edition of the poet’s inaugural poem from this past January. Foreward by Oprah Winfrey.
Seeing Beautiful Again: 50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story (Hardcover) – A new devotional from Lysa TerKeurst, author of Uninvited and It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way (♥♥♥♥½).

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sometimes, Charlie wishes she was more like her best friend, Amelia. She’s stylish, athletic, and popular. Even Charlie’s mom acts like she’d rather have Amelia as her daughter. And Charlie’s crush, Cal, can’t get enough of Amelia, even though she shuts him down, hard, all the time.

Not only does Charlie’s mom seem to like Amelia better, but she’s always on Charlie about her weight.  She gave her an activity tracker so she can track Charlie’s steps. She sells meal replacement shakes online and pushes Charlie about using them. When Charlie’s dad died and her mom focused her grief on losing weight, the dynamic between them shifted dramatically. Charlie chose self-acceptance instead of obsessing about weight, or at least she is trying to.

As Charlie negotiates her junior year, her worsening relationship with her mom, and her first boyfriend, things come to a head that leaves her on shaky ground.

Review

I adored this! It’s absolutely perfect – painful at times, sure, but so enjoyable overall. I loved Charlie! She, Amelia, and Brian made such a fantastic core group of characters. I would have loved a few more chapters with the characters at the end.

The writing and the story and the characters perfectly capture first love – and its sometimes all-consuming nature. The dynamic between Charlie and her mom also felt very real. I liked that, while progress was made, there were no instant solutions or easy answers to their issues (although, honest communication helped).

This is Charlie’s story of self-kindness, self-acceptance, and self-celebration. It’s a story *every* reader could enjoy and learn from. There were several moments where I wanted to mark the page or underline the writing – perfect little nuggets  I wanted to savor. This would make an excellent choice for a book group or discussion group. Don’t miss this one! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: fat shaming)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sage and her friend, Harley, just opened their coffee cart, Ground Rules. They’ve been getting to know their neighbors – other food truck owners – and watching the protesters across the street, protesting a development going in.

On what should have been their third day of business, Sage discovers the gate to the square open, the door to her coffee cart ajar, and a dead body. And the murder weapon, a box cutter, was something Sage had been using in her cart for the last two days.

Now Sage is a murder suspect, her business is temporarily closed for the investigation, and she finds out her estranged mother has ties to the case. If Sage wants to be able to focus on the full launch of their business, she’s going to have to clear her name and find a killer.

Review

This was so good! There’s an engaging cast of characters, excellent pacing to both the mystery and the series set up, and tons of great coffee-related moments. For serious coffee lovers, there are lots of little details about what Sage and Harley are doing with their business, both the food cart and the roasting pieces. For those of us who take a more simple approach to caffeine, though, the details are fun but don’t bog things down.

The mystery does a great job of drawing out the details of Sage’s childhood and the situation with her mother in genuine and unforced ways. I was really impressed by how the author used the mystery to share that backstory rather than dumping the information in some other way. This way of crafting the story was one of my favorite parts of the book. Also, the reveal of the killer caught me completely by surprise, which was fun.

I loved the characters in this! Sage will keep me coming back for more books in this series. I was fascinated by the ways her character is self-aware, especially about the impact of life with her mother on her personality now. She does a great job thinking through the boundary between being personable and manipulating people. I hope her romantic life will settle on my favorite of her two suitors. And I’m eager to see how some of her other relationships develop, especially with Harley, who is off-page for a lot of the book. I never got a good feel for her in the book, so I have high hopes that book 2 will dig more into their friendship and business partnership.

This books releases NEXT week, on March 30, 2021.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it ! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Lyrical Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

A woman of no title or money, Mercy Heath knows she is likely to wind up a spinster. And the one man who makes her pulse race, the Earl of Castlewick, would never pursue her. She’s nowhere near his level. And she keeps telling herself that, even when he asks her to dance out of the blue, or when he pays her any bit of attention.

Mercy’s best friend, Aurora, Lady Radcliff, is widowed and has no intention of remarrying. Ever. But the Earl of Castlewick has decided to court her. She owns a parcel of land that used to belong to his family. As her husband, the land would return to his family’s holdings. That has been the driving focus of Wesley’s adult life – buying back the land his grandfather lost yeas ago.

Wesley is committed to this plan for the sake of his family and the promise he made to his father before he died. And Aurora is lovely and bright and would make a good wife. But he can’t stop thinking of Mercy and wishing she was the woman he was pursing instead.

Review

This was lovely! It’s book 3 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. I have the first two books on my TBR, but I haven’t gotten to them yet. After enjoying this so much, I’ll be bumping them up the list. I adored all four of the Wallflowers, and I can’t wait to read the first two stories. (I had no issues jumping into this series with book 3.)

The first thing I loved about this was the quartet of friends. I didn’t have to have read the previous books – The Earl Not Taken and Misleading a Duke – in order to enjoy and understand their bond. They are like sisters in all the best ways – fiercely loyal and protective of anyone in their circle. These ladies are amazing.

I especially liked Mercy as the odd woman out in this book. No title, no money, but fully secure in who she is and in the love of her friends. It was obvious from the start that Wesley was captivated by her. But he stubbornly clung to his plan to marry Aurora, despite his feelings and her clear disinterest. I felt like a stronger case could have been made for why this land mattered to Wesley so much. (I also would have liked much stronger repercussions for something that happens later in the story.) But I liked everything else so much that I didn’t let those pieces distract me from the story.

Historical romance fans who enjoy stories with characters thwarted in their pursuit of love and with excellent, strong women, should be sure to check this book out – as well as the rest of the series. (Sex, TW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sherlock Bones is a mystery-solving superstar at the Natural History Museum. Sherlock, the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth, along with his helpers Watts, a stuffed parrot from an exhibit, and Grace, a raccoon, takes on the case of a swamp monster stalking around the museum.

Review

This is book 2 in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series for kids. As I was reading this, I imagined this was for kids in the 6-9 age range, but the range from the publisher is 8-12. I think any elementary school reader who loves mysteries, quirky characters, and animal facts will enjoy this one. The characters are punny, and the animal facts were interesting. Readers can follow along with the detectives and work out the solutions on their own.

I got a kick out of this! It’s a funny story with unusual characters in a fascinating setting. I would like to go back and read the first one to see how the author sets up this unique team of sleuths. I would happily hand this to a young reader – I think kids will enjoy this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: March 23, 2021

BOOK NEWS: March 23, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Let’s take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

Duck Duck Moose – The three friends are playing a quiet game of cards when someone asks them “Where’s Goose?” which turns into an all-day hunt. I am eager to see this one in person.
I Am Not a Dog Toy – A toy bear insists he is a kid’s toy, not a dog toy. When the girl doesn’t want to play with him, but Dog does, maybe Bear will see who his real friend is.
Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn – Kitty thinks she might be a unicorn, but when she meets Unicorn, who is so amazing, she feels pretty plain.
Meanest of Meanies – When you are a MOM, sometimes being “mean” means “I love you.”
The Middle Kid – A middle child shares his story of the ups and downs of his place in his family.
Dog Man: Mothering Heights – Book 10 in the Dog Man series.
Doggo and Pupper – First in a new chapter book series by Katherine Applegate (Roscoe Riley Rules series, The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw). An older dog adjusts when a new puppy joins the family. This looks sweet!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Disney Monsters Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – The Monsters Inc. movies in comics form.
Flash: Legends of Forever – Book 3 in the Crossover Crisis series of the Flash novels where the Legends of Tomorrow help with the mission to save the multiverse.
Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel mystery series starring a skeleton from the Natural History Museum. This time, Sherlock and his friends are hunting down a swamp monster in the museum. I got such a kick out of this! I’ll post a full review soon.
Where We Used to Roam – Emma embraces a summer in Wyoming, away from her brother who has gone into rehab and from her best friend and the things that happened between them. This one is on my list.
Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World – A celebration of women in STEM.
Fade Away – When a high school basketball star disappears right after winning the big game, the whole town weighs in on what they think happened. I have this one on my list.
Girls with Rebel Souls – The third and final book in the Girls with Sharp Sticks series. The girls of Innovations Academy aren’t done fighting for their futures or their freedom. I have this series on my wish list.
Lost in the Never Woods – When local children start to go missing in the woods, Wendy has to face the past she can’t remember in order to help them.
The Secret Recipe for Moving On – Getting dumped was bad enough. But now Ellie has to watch her ex with his new girlfriend in their life skills class while she is stuck in a group of misfits. This is on my list, too.
The Theft of Sunlight – Book 2 in the Dauntless Path series. Rae is named attendant to the princess which gives her freedom to look into the recent disappearances of local children.

Books for Adults

Midlife CatAstrophe (e-book) – First in the new Meno-paws Mystery series. (I know, the pun is awful. But I have my fingers crossed that the book is good.) Nell is looking for a fresh start after her divorce, but instead she finds a dead body and a talking cat. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.
Murder by Page One (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Peach Coast Library Mysteries series from Hallmark Publishing. Marvey, new librarian in town, teams up with the charming newspaper owner to investigate the body found at the local bookstore. This is another book for my list.
Stealing Time (e-book) – A physicist who invented the technology that terrorists used to steal time from the lives of children has gone into hiding after the thieves were found and the technology destroyed. But now children are going missing  and she has to know if her technology is being used again.
The Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Styles (Trade Paperback, March 25) – The 25th anniversary edition of this introductory book on the Enneagram.
Simple & Free (book AND Study Guide AND Guided Journal) – Jen Hatmaker has revised and updated one of her most popular books, 7. Now called Simple & Free, the book comes with a study guide and a journal. This would be fantastic for group study!

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Webster stood Aubrey up for Homecoming, she was devastated. And the awful things he said to her that night only added to her hurt and confusion. It ruined their friendship much less any chance at it becoming something more.

Between Webster and the disaster that is her parents’ marriage, Aubrey has become pretty cynical when it comes to love. Even when she starts dating Webster’s cousin, Holland, she is always bracing for something to go wrong.

When Aubrey puts all of her energy into examining the ways love could go wrong – both in her life and in the relationships around her, it’s a way to try to manage her fears. But it’s also a great way to make sure everything that matters most to her blows up in her face.

Review

This was a hard story to enjoy. It’s well-written, with engaging characters. But it’s also painful. Aubrey is so young to be so cynical. Her fear and self-protectiveness are understandable, but they are also sad. And they make her a hard character to like. (Webster is hard to like, too.)

I appreciated Aubrey’s journey and the transparency of the novel. Readers may find their own stories and relationships and feelings reflected in Aubrey’s experience. And her story is a great sales pitch for the value of honest communication.

Readers looking for a serious story about romantic relationships in high school, especially seniors considering the next steps of college and career, should pick this one up. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, drinking)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Solid/fine/good