Category Archives: Young Adult/Teen 12-18

Review: Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry

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Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry

Finding Prince Charming
Jamar J. Perry
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published June 10, 2025

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About Finding Prince Charming

In this swoonworthy YA romance, an ordinary teenage boy finds himself accidentally fake dating a crown prince.

Tyriq Howell is swearing off of love. After a fight with his cheating ex leads to missing his college scholarship interview, he vows to be done with dating for good. Until Desmond, a boy who works in the scholarship office, approaches with a curious proposal: he’ll get Tyriq another interview if he pretends to be Desmond’s date to a fancy gala in two weeks.

When Tyriq shows up to the gala, he’s shocked when photographers swarm him and Desmond. He’s even more shocked when he finds out that Desmond is Prince Desmond of Catalina. And now that the whole world knows Desmond is gay, he’s front page news.

When the King angrily summons Desmond and his new boyfriend to Catalina, Desmond begs Tyriq to play along. If his father realizes Desmond is serious about coming out, he might finally agree to let Desmond pass the crown to his sister instead. But navigating court politics and pretend relationships is harder than Tyriq imagined-especially when he realizes that he may have accidentally broken his swearing-off-of-love rule.

My Review

I read this on the heels of a really challenging book. I definitely needed a sweet, funny, adorable romance, and this book absolutely delivered those things. Tyriq is such a sweet guy. He’s got great people in his life… except where it comes to love. There, he’s struggling to figure out how to find a relationship that balances taking with giving.

There are a few moments where the plot armor pulls the story forward before we can really parse out whether something is realistic, but honestly, I didn’t look too closely that those details. It was fun getting carried away by the romance and the fun parts of the story, and I don’t think those hiccups represented anything problematic.

I liked Tyriq’s best friend and his mom a lot. His mom is smart and pragmatic. His best friend tells him exactly what she thinks, but she’s really funny, too. Tyriq also has a twin brother, and I enjoyed the ways in which they were alike and very different from one another.

I think I read a middle grade book by Jamar J. Perry last year, and honestly, I wouldn’t have realized this was the same writer. The tone is so light and fun here, whereas his middle grade fantasy was more serious and tense. That strikes me as having some great range. I’m really interested to see what he writes next.

Readers looking for a light rom com for the summer– be sure to put Finding Prince Charming on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. A couple of scenes lead up to sex. There are a couple of details that show the characters leading up to that experience before the scene cuts away.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Paparazzi follow and pester Desmond, Tyrig and Tyriq’s family. Desmond’s dad displays some homophobia.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara

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Embrace the Serpent
Sunya Mara
HarperCollins
Published June 24, 2025

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About Embrace the Serpent

In this sweeping romantic fantasy, a dangerous deal binds a young jeweler’s apprentice to the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience, thrusting her into a deadly game between the cunning, fearsome ruler and his rebellious huntsman. Perfect for fans of The Wrath & the Dawn and Once Upon a Broken Heart!

The Serpent King has come to find his bride, and with his arrival festivities sweep through the city. Inside and outside the Rose Palace await women from across the six kingdoms determined to become his new bride-to-be—all except for eighteen-year-old Saphira.

After escaping life as a palace ward under the cruel djinn Lady Incarnadine, Saphira now works as the apprentice to the unscrupulous jewelsmith Galen. Out of fear of being discovered, she hides her rare gift for harnessing the magic in gemstones and lets Galen take credit for her craft.

But when Galen makes a boast that ruffles the court, Lady Incarnadine punishes him with an impossible task—one that threatens to drag Saphira back into Incarnadine’s grasp. Desperate to avoid this fate, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal with Rane, the enigmatic huntsman sent by the Serpent King to find the best jewelsmith in the empire.

Rane promises that if Saphira crafts a mysterious piece for his master, the Serpent King will grant her a new identity and freedom. But when their plans go awry and the only way out is to marry the Serpent King, Saphira becomes entangled in the dangerous affairs of kingdoms and empires—caught between the cunning, handsome Rane and her cold, serpentine husband.

My Review

I remember really liking Sunya Mara’s debut novel, so I’ve been really excited about this one. I think I liked it even better than what I read before. There were moments that I thought this was going to be a duology, especially as we learned some critical information about the Serpent King’s empire. The last several chapters of the book moved really fast. If that had been expanded and some additional subplots and conflicts happened, it probably could have been a duology.

I think I actually prefer the standalone, though. I loved getting to read the entire story in one sitting. Finding out what happens with Saphira and how she navigates her unplanned/fake marriage was a lot of fun. A saw one thing coming, but then when it happened, I was excited and relieved. I didn’t mind that I’d spotted it before it was revealed.

Saphira’s experience as a jeweler and her obvious past trauma make her a character it was easy to care about immediately. She’s got this whole carefully balanced life that any number of things could upset. I knew we were in for a wild adventure.

She also has a sweet relationship with a golem that she’s created. I loved the way that that developed over the course of the story, too. He’s like a protector and friend, and they look out for each other.

Embrace the Serpent is one of my favorite young adult fantasies of this summer so far. I’m so glad I had a chance to read it, and I’m eagerly anticipating what Sunya Mara will write next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. In one scene the characters undress and the scene ends.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are magical beings and can transform. Other characters have some magical ability or influence. Saphira can create jewelry with magical ability through the power in different precious stones.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A few battle scenes with injuries. References to execution or imprisonment.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Redemption of Daya Keane by Gia Gordon

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The Redemption of Daya Keane
Gia Gordon
Publisher
Published May 28, 2024

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About The Redemption of Daya Keane

The end of Daya Keane’s junior year in Escondido, Arizona, is anything but expected.

And it starts when her longtime, swoon-worthy crush, Beckett Wild, actually talks to her at a party neither of them should’ve been at.

But as Daya’s best friends, Stella and B’Rad, are quick to point out, smart, cute, artistic Beckett is also the poster girl for the wildly popular youth group at Grace Redeemer, the megachurch Daya’s mom prays at and pushes her daughter to attend.

Amid the concert-worthy light shows, high-energy live band, and pastor preaching to love thy neighbor so long as thy neighbor “gets right with God” first, Daya struggles to find her place in a house of worship that doesn’t seem to create space for someone like her. Then again, she never planned to fall this hard for a girl like Beckett Wild.

Now Daya has to decide how far she’s willing to surrender to Beckett’s world of Grace Redeemer, and who she’s willing to become to be with her.

A fearless and profound tale ideal for readers of Jeff Zentner and Jennifer Dugan, The Redemption of Daya Keane gives an intimate and unforgettable look into a world that demands to be seen.

My Review

This might be the most triggering book that I’ve ever read in terms of its religious representation. I’ll get to that, though.

First, I want to say that this book is one of those debuts that really doesn’t read like a debut. The characterization is so perfect. The banter between characters feels so authentic and had me literally laughing out loud in a few scenes. I love Daya and her two closest friends so much.

In the story, Daya visits a church that reminds me of places I’ve attended myself in the past. The worship service is highly polished and filled with songs that sound identical to those performed by popular artists on the radio. It’s funny because I grew up in that environment, so reading about someone looking in from the outside was a whole new experience for me.

Daya’s critique of the church world rang true. She spots hypocrisy in the way the church has perfected its merchandising and glittery appeal. Her assessment of the kids in the Great Wait club also landed a bullseye. It made me think of a passage from Barking to the Choir by Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle:

“In a recent New Yorker profile of American Baptists, the congregation’s leadership resigned itself to the fact that “secular culture” would always be “hostile” to Christianity. I don’t believe this is true. Our culture is hostile only to the inauthentic living of the gospel. It sniffs out hypocrisy everywhere and knows when Christians aren’t taking seriously what Jesus took seriously.”

That’s how the scenes in this book struck me. It’s not that Daya was necessarily on a deep spiritual quest, though she was desperately trying to understand her mom’s perspective and wanted to give the church a chance for her mom’s sake. But instead of finding life, and life abundant, she found a performative, control-based, rules-oriented organization that devalued her without ever bothering to get to know her.

All that to say that this book struck a deep chord with me, and I have a feeling I’ll return to this story again in the future. If you like young adult books by Jeff Zentner or Adam Sass, definitely check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. One scene includes characters undressing and a brief description of sex.

Spiritual Content
Daya attends church with her mother, religious club meetings, and a dance centered around abstinence.

Violent Content
Several scenes include homophobic statements and beliefs, including reference to conversion therapy and being kicked out of one’s home because of being LGBTQIA+.

One character reveals that their parents died by murder-suicide. A man drunkenly rages in a nearby house.

Drug Content
References to teen drinking and smoking pot. In one scene, Daya smokes with two other teens.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Out of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch

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Out of Step, Into You
Ciera Burch
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Published May 20, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Out of Step, Into You

Out of Step, into You is a sapphic contemporary romance following childhood friends turned cross-country team rivals who are forced to work together to win the state championship – for fans of She Gets the Girl.

You can’t outrun love.

Taylor and Marianna were each other’s whole world – best friends, running partners, practically sisters – until Marianna moved away and Taylor promptly ghosted her. When the former best friends turned rivals end up on the same cross-country team three years later, everything is a competition… and a reminder of past feelings, as well as blossoming new ones.

Marianna runs because she’s angry. The oldest child of a single mother, she knows all about responsibility – for her siblings, at her part-time job. She just has to stay focused and be faster than the past nipping at her heels if she wants to secure a new, brighter future. With or without Taylor.

Taylor runs to prove herself. The only child of an almost-Olympian, she’s no stranger to high expectations. With enough effort, she knows she can immortalize herself with a state record and make her parents proud. Then, she can figure out her own passion. She definitely doesn’t have time to untangle her feelings towards Mari.

Can this pair figure out a way to work together before their past catches up with them?

My Review

A long time ago I saw someone posting that their favorite trope was friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, which I hadn’t thought much about. Since then, I’ve read several books that qualify, and I tend to enjoy them (as long as the reconnection and romance don’t seem forced). While Taylor and Marianna aren’t precisely enemies, they begin the story on rival cross-country teams after an estrangement in their friendship. So, just about as close as you can get to that trope in a contemporary romance.

The story alternates between each girl’s point of view, and I liked both right away. Marianna is under so much pressure at home with her mom needing her help with her younger siblings. Taylor’s dad has a serious health issue that she can’t always count on her parents to be honest with her about. They both have a lot on their plates in addition to competing on the cross-country team.

The romance develops tentatively, and it has several really sweet moments between the girls. They dance around whether they can be friends again (or even want to) while they each feel a growing warmth toward one another that is definitely more than friendship.

I’m also not super familiar with cross country as a sport, so it was cool reading something that informed me about it and helped me understand the stakes and celebrate the victories that each girl faced.

All in all, this is a fun romance read, perfect for summer.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
Characters attend a party where some of them drink alcohol. The next day, they perform poorly at cross country.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer and Joelle Murray

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We Could Be Magic
Marissa Meyer
Art by Joelle Murray
Feiwel & Friends
Published June 3, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About We Could Be Magic

A swoon-worthy young adult graphic novel about a girl’s summer job at a theme park from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents’ marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.

There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well… thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn’t fit the park’s idea of a princess.

Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.

With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.

My Review

I was so excited to receive a finished copy of We Could Be Magic from the publisher in my mailbox a few days after I had surgery recently. It was a really nice pick-me-up at a time when I needed one!

It’s such an enthusiastic story. Tabi has the epitome of a can-do attitude. She shows up at her summer internship determined to bring the Summerland magic to every guest encounter she has. I loved that.

It was hard to watch some of her setbacks, just because she deserved so much more. But, as she finds allies and even a romance, you see the tide start to turn for her. Her hard work pays off in big and unexpected ways.

So Tabitha works at a theme park that’s been a huge part of her life. She loves the line of princess movies and the magic of the theme park experience. It’s not hard to squint and see some parallels to another popular theme park with a canon of princess stories.

I think this book would work really well as a transitional read for upper middle grade readers and those ready to transition to young adult books. The themes (summer romance, summer internship, and the importance of a positive attitude) give We Could Be Magic broad appeal.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A few instances of fat shaming.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Lady’s Knight
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Storytide
Published June 3, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Lady’s Knight

An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!

Gwen is sick of hiding—hiding the fact that she’s taken over her father’s blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight.

Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is—until now. She’s been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can’t talk her way out of trouble.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together—Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means… well, let’s not go there.

One thing’s for sure: falling in love was never the plan.

But the best laid plans…are often trampled all over by dragons.

My Review

It’s been a minute since I’ve read anything by this duo, but I remember that I enjoyed the last book by Kaufman and Spooner that I read. This novel is a lot of fun, as one familiar with the authors would expect. The characters have serious moments, but they’re often punctuated by asides that highlight the irony of a situation or point out a paradox in the culture of the time.

The characters speak to one another in fairly modern language, which might be challenging for die-hard historical fiction fans, but will make the story more accessible for readers who generally read contemporary fiction.

The romance between Gwen and Isobelle is so sweet. They have very different personalities, and that made watching them fall in love such a joy. Isobelle is the kind of character that might be easy to write off as too silly or shallow at first, but as you get to know her, you see how she uses humor or frivolity to mask her true self. It’s not safe for her to be any other way.

The pragmatic and serious Gwen challenges Isobelle to speak up more, and in return, Isobelle challenges Gwen to believe in herself and take risks. They make a fabulous couple. I loved some of the side characters, especially Olivia, Isobelle’s maid (with a much more exciting history) and Madame DuPont, the swordswoman who helps Gwen prepare for the tournament.

The author acknowledgements say this is the first book in a series, and I say, bring it! I’m absolutely here for more adventures in this story world.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are hedge witches, who use healing herbs to help sick or wounded people and uplift women and marginalized people.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Some scenes show knights competing at jousting, which can be deadly. Some participants injure their opponents.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol and play a drinking game (a medieval version of Never Have I Ever).

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.