Review: The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood

Title: The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls
Author: Jessica Spotswood

One summer will challenge everything the Garrett sisters thought they knew about themselves—and each other.

Kat lands the lead in the community theater’s summer play, but the drama spills offstage when her ex and his new girlfriend are cast too. Can she get revenge by staging a new romance of her own?

Bea and her boyfriend are heading off to college together in the fall, just like they planned when they started dating. But Bea isn’t sure she wants the same things as when she was thirteen…

Vi has a crush on the girl next door. It makes her happy and nervous, but Cece has a boyfriend…so it’s not like her feelings could ever be reciprocated, right?

As the oldest, Des shoulders a lot of responsibility for her family and their independent bookstore. Except it’s hard to dream big when she’s so busy taking care of everyone else.

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Not going to lie I totally judged this book by it's cover!!! It was too pretty not to notice. The last Summer of the Garret Girls follows four sisters – Des, Bea, Vi, and Kat – through the summer as they meet new people, try new things, discovers new things about themselves, and fall for people they didn’t expect. 

Told in multple POV's the book really pulls you in to the Garret Girls lives. People keep saying that this book is like the Gilmore girls plus any Sarah Dessen book and I totally agree.There were a ton of pop culture references which I think added a certain charm to the book and wasn't overly done. Each POV sounded different from each over and while there was obviously overlap between all of them it was never really repetitive.

Honestly The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is  your typical summer YA contemporary with some pretty cute moments.What I really enjoyed was the fact that  the girls were named after Shakespeare characters, that there was a bookstore in the family, and that there was a lot of diversity in regards to sexual identity. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel good ya summer contemporary read.4/5

Cover Reveal: Meant To Be Broken by Brandy Woods Snow

Pre-Order Meant to be Broken by Brandy Woods Snow

Release Date: July 2, 2018

Her secret is big. Mam's is bigger.

Rayne Davidson is perfectly happy fading into the background. Her mama’s antics garner enough attention in their small Southern town for the both of them, but when Rayne catches the eye of all-star quarterback, Preston Howard, she’s enamored with the possibilities. Too bad Preston doesn’t make her heart thump—his brother does.

Gage Howard doesn’t mind the town’s stares because he doesn’t get them. Growing up in his older brother’s shadow, Gage shrugs off the endless parade of girls Preston brings home—until Rayne.

But there are unwritten rules that shouldn’t be broken, like cheating on your boyfriend or betraying your brother. Rayne and Gage deny their growing attraction, neither willing to hurt Preston—until the town finds out.

They think overcoming the gossip will be the hardest obstacle.

They’re wrong.

Rayne’s mama has a secret, and its revelation could divide the town, the families, and the new couple.

Can love endure if it’s all built on a lie?

Read an Excerpt

At 9:30 Saturday morning, I find out Preston Howard wants to date me. At 11:30, my mama hears it from old lady McAlister and has a “spell” in aisle three of the Piggly Wiggly. It’s taken seventeen years, but I finally understand the two things my social life and Mama have in common. They’re both erratic and one usually suffers because of the other.

The store manager calls me on my cell and asks me to come get her. He has my number because he’s Daddy’s best friend’s brother and used me to babysit his kids a few times last year. I answer, expecting another job offer.

“Rayne? This is Dave Sullivan, you know, the manager down at the Piggly Wiggly? There’s been an incident with your mama.”

Apparently it’d happened in front of the Luzianne tea bags. She was comparing the family size to smaller ones when Mrs. McAlister offered her a coupon… and a piece of news.

The details get a little sketchy from there—something about her sinking to the floor and gasping for air. That’s when the manager came over with one of those small brown paper sacks they use to bag up ice cream and had her breathe in it. A nurse and a vet, both in the crowd assembled around her, agreed from their varied medical expertise it didn’t appear to be life-threatening. When the paper bag seemed to work, he decided to call me instead of the ambulance.

I pull into the parking lot ten minutes later. She’s sitting on the front bench beside the automatic doors where the employees go to smoke, under the “I’m Big on the Pig!” sign. Mrs. McAlister sits beside her, a little too close, waving a folded-up circular in her face. I wonder what the store employees and shoppers think of me, casually parking the car, walking-not-running, and looking both ways before crossing the main traffic flow. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they’re all watching from between the weekly specials scribbled on the plate-glass windows.

I don’t feel the need to rush. It isn’t a heart attack or stroke. I call it her bipolar though Daddy gets mad when I refer to it like that. The diagnosis is anxiety, better known as my evil little sister—always around, always a pain, and always ruining my life.

This sort of episode has happened before, just not too often in public. In most societies that’s considered good news—but not in the South. They say we don’t hide our crazy, we dress it up and parade it on the front porch. And even if we don’t, someone else will do the parading for us—telegraph, telephone, tell-a-southern woman. We know how to reach out and touch some people.

Mrs. McAlister jumps up from the bench and grabs my arm as I step up on the curb. “I suwannee, child. She liked to turned over her buggy and spilt them groceries everywhere.”

Talking to some of the older ladies in town always feels like walking out of real life and into some part of Steel Magnolias. She gives me her version of the sordid details. Mama created quite a scene, not just with her episode but also by her scandalous choice of groceries. The mayonnaise was the only casualty, rolling out the leg hole of the kiddie seat portion of the cart when Mama accidentally gave it a rough shove while collapsing on the linoleum.

Mrs. McAlister hadn’t bothered to pick that up and put it back in the buggy, which was now waiting by the customer service desk. It wasn’t Dukes Mayonnaise. She leans in close to whisper because how embarrassing would that be for Mama. To her, it’s further proof Mama hadn’t been feeling well long before their conversation. What southern woman in her right mind buys off-brand mayonnaise?

Brandy Woods Snow

Website - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

Brandy Woods Snow is an author and journalist born, raised and currently living in beautiful Upstate South Carolina. She earned a BA in English/Writing from Clemson University and worked in corporate communications and the media for more than 17 years before pursuing her true passion for novel writing. Brandy is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Young Adult RWA.

When Brandy’s not writing, reading, spending time with her husband or driving carpool for her three kids, she enjoys kayaking, family hikes, yelling “Go Tigers!” as loud as she can, playing the piano and taking “naked” Jeep Wrangler cruises on twisty, country roads.

Publisher

Filles Vertes Publishing * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Youtube

 Love the cover, check out their website 

Broken Arrow Designs 

Review: Burro Hills

Title: Burro Hills
Author: Julia Lynn Rubin

In a town like Burro Hills, you either figure out who you are or die trying.

Seventeen-year-old Jack has lived in the troubled California town his entire life. He hides the truth about his sexuality from everyone, including his best friend Jess and his childhood rival and drug dealing partner, Toby. Keeping your head down, Jack knows, is the best way to survive.

But when Connor, a fearless new arrival, enrolls at school, he sees right through Jack’s façade. Jack finds himself falling for Connor, and the feeling is mutual―but their relationship will set into a motion a series of events with lasting consequences. After a falling out with Jess, Jack is worried to see her growing close to the manipulative Toby. To make matters worse, Jack is becoming increasingly paranoid that Toby will expose his relationship with Connor.

As tensions rise and more secrets come to a head, Jack cuts off ties with Toby. Hungry for revenge, Toby comes after Jack, jeopardizing his budding romance with Connor and the life he’s tried so hard to salvage in Burro Hills.

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Thank you Netgalley for providing me a free review copy in exchange for an honest review

I found about this book while on Goodreads looking up books that were coming out this year and I'm glad I did. The cover and the synopsis really drew me in,so when I found out I could request an ARC on Netgalley I went for the chance. Thankfully I was given an ARC and had a chance to read this  heartbreaking story about young adult, living life, friendships, going to high school, and making tough choices.

This book was excellent and I really dig all the characters and there characterization.Jack was just trying to find himself and figure life out.. He was a pretty chill character and like I said Burro Hills is heartbreak sweet. Ugh that ending bahh all the feels we had. The romance aspect of the book was great, I liked how both Conner and Jack were messed up but neither guy set out to try and fix or save the other.

Ahhh!!!That cover is lovely as hell. I really dig the color choice for it and the picture in general.
I totally recommend everyone give this book a chance, because the writing is awesome, the story is captivating and never loses its focus.The book is basically about a boy finding out who he is and how to be okay it, but with drugs, challenges and shit happening all around him, his friends and family.I will probably end up rereading this at some point.4/5

Reveiw: Song About a Girl

Title: Songs About a Girl (Songs About a Girl #1)
Author: Chris Russell 

Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance. 

Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mind-blowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs...

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I picked this book up and the libray based on the cover. Look at that cover it is so pretty!!!I decided to read it because i'm a sucker for nice covers and any book that includes a band/rock-stars.

This was a YA contemporary story about a girl and a boy band.Charlie was an okay character, and she did come across as fairly normal.Charlie is an amateur photographer, taking photos for fun. Her recent shots of a gig garner the attention of Olly, an old school acquaintance, who wants her to come and take backstage photographs of his band Fire & Lights.Charlie lives with her Dad who isn't always there one hundred percent of the time., Charlie gets bullied bullied a lot at school and does what she can to avoid it all. As her job with the band progresses, a photo is leaked of her with them, and the bullying escalates to a level that I thought was pretty awful.I like the fact that Song About A Girl really hit on online bullying and the fact that it is a huge issue.

The romance wasn't a huge thing however,I would have perhaps appreciated that if then the characters hadn’t gone and declared their love for each other, a month after meeting. My main problem with this book is the cheesy romance lines that a certain character feeds Charlie. This charterers feelings for Charlie  felt like instalove or maybe obsession is a better word for it.

As I mentioned that cover is quite pretty.I love It!! It was such a quick read and in a lot of ways predictable. However i'm curious to see what come next in the sequel Songs About Us (Songs About a Girl #2)2/5

Review: Calling My Name

Title: Calling My Name
Author:  Liara Tamani
Release Date: October 24th 2017
Publisher: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins


Taja Brown lives with her parents and older brother and younger sister, in Houston, Texas. Taja has always known what the expectations of her conservative and tightly-knit family are—do well in school, go to church every Sunday, no intimacy before marriage. But Taja is trying to keep up with friends as they get their first kisses, first boyfriends, first everythings.

 And she’s tired of cheering for her athletic younger sister and an older brother who has more freedom just because he’s a boy. Taja dreams of going to college and forging her own relationship with the world and with God, but when she falls in love for the first time, those dreams are suddenly in danger of evaporating.

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(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Texas Teen Book Fest)

I first heard about Calling My Name thanks to someones tweet on twitter.I'm not going to lie the cover is what drew me to the book more so than the synopsis. I was a bit unsure of reading Calling My Name because of the religions aspect mainly cause a lot of ya books I've read with religious aspect feel like religion is being forced at the reader....this was not the case with Calling My Name I am definitely glad I gave Calling My Name a chance because Liara Tamani has written  a very beautiful story about growing up with family members that do not always understand you.

 We follow Taja from middle grade up through high school graduation. We experience all her firsts. We follow her as she tries to figure out who she is and what she believes. Taja Brown as a main character was relate-able and a sweetheart who was just trying to figure out her own beliefs and who she wanted to be. I really like how the story  spans time with only light themes within it. Calling My Name is the type of book you read on chill day with no where to be. There's no urgency and what kept me reading was the beautiful writing. While not in verse it had a similar feel to it, I am a huge fan of Liara Tamani's writing style in this book it was absolutely freaking gorgeous. 

The cover screams simple elegance and I think it fits the story within perfectly.I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and,family,and any stranger. 4/5

Review: Dumplin

Title: Dumplin
Author: Julie Murphy

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

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So Dumplin has been out for a while now but I never gave the book much thought until I heard it was going to be a movie.While looking though the books at the Texas Teen Book Fest I stumble upon a affordable signed copy of Dumplin I snatched it up and later I had a chance to get i personalized by the lovely Julie Murphy herself. It was a wonderful moment were I word vomited on her about how I liked her books and congratulated her on getting her book turned onto a movie.

Willowdean also known as Will is the type of main character that was a bit hard for me to like.I feel like this was mainly because while I love YA books, sometimes it's rough reading from a YA perspective. Will is brave,self consistences and a typical teen girl.What I liked about Willowdean and the other characters was how relate-able they all were. Willowdean decided to do the whole beauty pageant thing to get back some confidence and year that happened,but she also gained some friends and a new perspective on who she was and who the people around her are.

The cover is simple and cute,it really seems to fit with the story perfectly.I can not wait to read the companion book to Dumplin called Puddin that's coming out in 2018!!Also fun fact if you didn't already know Dumplin is being turned into a movie. I'd definitely recommend everyone check out the book before the movie.3.5/5

Waiting on Wednesday(81) American Panda & The Cruel Prince

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week we're particularly excited for.. 

Title: AmericanPanda
Author: Gloria Chao
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 6th, 2018

 An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels? 

I am beyond excited for American Panda to come out!! Mainly 

 because I'm a sucker for cute contemporary romance novels.

Title: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of Air #1)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little Brown
Release Date: January 2nd, 2018

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. 

Why this book?? I love the cover, I am a huge fan of all things FAE, plus the main character seems like a bad***. Honestly, truly I cannot pass this book up!

So that's what we're waiting on this Wednesday.

 So how about you? Leave a link and let us know. :)

Waiting on Wednesday(81): Poet X & The Truth Beneath the Lies

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week we're particularly excited for.. 

Title:  Poet X

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo 
Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: March 6th 2018 

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

Look at that cover it is absolutely gorgeous!! March of 2018 is so far away I can't wait to read Poet X. Untill it comes out check out some of Elizabeth Acevedo's slam poetry.

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Title: The Truth Beneath the Lies

Author: Amanda Searcy
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date:  December 12th, 2017

Fight or Flight. 

All Kayla Asher wants to do is run. Run from the government housing complex she calls home. Run from her unstable mother. Run from a desperate job at No Limit Foods. Run to a better, cleaner, safer life. Every day is one day closer to leaving. 

All Betsy Hopewell wants to do is survive. Survive the burner phone hidden under her bed. Survive her new rules. Survive a new school with new classmates. Survive being watched. Every minute grants her another moment of life.  

But when fate brings Kayla and Betsy together, only one girl will live.

Definitely have to read, loving the plot, can't wait to read!! The cover screams girl fight/sisterly bonding/fight to the death!!! This is Amanda's debut novel, be sure to check out her website.

So that's what we're waiting on this Wednesday. 

          How about you? Leave a link and let us know :)

Teaser Tuesday(10): I Believe In A Thing Called Love

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR 
• Lists if they like your teasers!

 " I Watched Bob Ross videos until my eyes bled,but I still couldn't paint a sycamore tree that didn't look like a piece of broccoli."

Pg 223 Desi I Believe In A Thing Called Love Mauren Goo