Category Archives: Contemporary

Review: It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

By | | , , ,
2 Comments

It Started with Goodbye by Christina JuneIt Started with Goodbye
Christina June
Blink YA
Published May 9, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

When a shopping trip with her best friend and best friend’s boyfriend ends in an arrest for shoplifting, Tatum tries to convince her parents of her innocence. But instead of understanding that Tatum did nothing wrong, that it was all the creepy boyfriend’s fault, Tatum’s dad leaves her under the strict rule of her stepmother. Yay for summer house arrest.

As part of her punishment, Tatum works community service, where a friend challenges her to start her own business doing graphic design. As Tatum explores … Continue reading →

Review: The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

By | | , ,
1 Comment

The Lost and the Found by Cat ClarkeThe Lost and the Found
Cat Clarke
Crown Books
September 23, 2016 (Originally published April 23, 2015)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About The Lost and the Found
THE LOST
When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Since then, Faith’s childhood has revolved around her sister’s disappearance—from her parents’ broken marriage and the constant media attention, to dealing with so-called friends who only ever want to talk about her missing sister.

THE FOUND
Now, thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the front yard of the Logans’ old house, disoriented … Continue reading →

Review: The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

By | | , ,
Comments Off on Review: The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

The Lovely Reckless by Kami GarciaThe Lovely Reckless
Kami Garcia
MacMillan / Imprint
Published October 4, 2016

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

After her boyfriend’s death, Frankie Devereaux spirals. A drunk-driving conviction lands her at her dad’s house, responsible for community service and public school for the first time. As she fights vicious flashbacks to Noah’s death, Frankie desperately tries to remember the face of the man who killed him. The last thing Frankie needs is Marco Leone, a dangerous racer with a larger-than-life reputation. Frankie resists the pull she feels, but when she learns who Marco truly is, she knows she can’t simply walk away from him. She’s … Continue reading →

Review: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

By | | , , , , ,
2 Comments

Three Times LuckyThree Times Lucky
Sheila Turnage
Dial Books
Published May 10, 2012

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Mo LoBeau, rising sixth grader in the tiny town of Tupelo Landing, turns detective when a local man turns up murdered. Mo and her best friend Dale figure they can locate the killer before that nosy outsider detective has time to finish his lunch at the café. After all, Mo already has experience searching for things, most particularly her “Upstream Mother” who set Mo on a raft and sent her down the river to the Colonel and Miss Lana as a baby. Mo and Dale follow clue after clue in the murder investigation, even as a hurricane barrels toward … Continue reading →

Review: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

By | | , , , ,
2 Comments

Letters to the Lost
Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published April 4, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Letters to the Lost
Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet … Continue reading →

Review: Dawn on the Road by Lea Waterhouse

By | | , , , ,
1 Comment

Dawn on the Road
Lea Waterhouse
CrossLink Publishing
Published February 23, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

When Dawn learns of an opportunity to visit a college for the arts, she feels desperate to go. She knows, though, her parents would never, ever go along with her dreams of pursuing a career in photography. But when an old friend from her past returns to town and offers Dawn a ride on his motorcycle, Dawn realizes this might be the perfect chance to chase her dream, and reconnect with the gorgeous guy she once left behind.

Dawn’s sense of the world (sometimes lack of it) and her struggle to embrace her dream really resonated with me. I liked … Continue reading →