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Review: You Have a Match by Emma Lord

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You Have a Match by Emma Lord

You Have a Match
Emma Lord
Wednesday Books
Published January 12, 2021

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About You Have a Match

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

My Review

It would have been super easy to read this book all in one sitting. I made myself pause about 75 pages from the end because it was WAYYY late at night and I have a toddler who does not see a book hangover as a reasonable excuse for not being up and chipper first thing in the morning. So basically, I finished reading while she ate breakfast the next morning. Ha.

I loved this book so much, though. I’m a HUGE fan of sister books, and I loved the connection (and all its messy, complicated glory) between Abby and Savannah. One of the things that stands out to me as amazing are the scenes in which lots of people are talking. I think it’s really hard to do those well. Lots of times when I read them, they’re confusing or don’t sound organic, but Emma Lord totally nailed those. They sounded exactly like the chaotic, hilarious conversations that happen when you get a bunch of people who know each other well all talking and telling stories. I loved those scenes so much.

Also, I thought the balance between the focus on Abby’s relationship with Savannah and her relationship with Leo was perfect. I love that Abby ended up being faced with needing to speak up and not be passive and that that was echoed in all these relationships and situations in her life. I loved how transformative summer camp was for her, too.

Honestly, I’m hard-pressed to find anything I didn’t love about You Have a Match. It made me laugh. It also made me cry in that deep, I-see-you kind of feeling that you get when you read about grief and it feels so familiar.

Anyway, all that to say, if you’re a fan of Emma Mills’ THIS ADVENTURE ENDS or a lover of summer camp stories, please check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Abby’s friend Leo and his sister Filipino-American and adopted. Abby’s sister is in a relationship with another girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls and kissing between a boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A couple people fall and get injured.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of YOU HAVE A MATCH in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Tell Me Everything by Sarah Enni

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Tell Me Everything
Sarah Enni
Point
February 26, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About Tell Me Everything

YOUR SECRET’S SAFE … UNTIL IT’S NOT

Ivy is the shy artist type and keeps a low profile—so low that she’s practically invisible to everyone at Belfry High School except for her best friend, Harold. As sophomore year begins, Harold takes up a hundred activities, leaving Ivy on her own. Luckily she’s found a distraction: the new anonymous art-sharing app, VEIL.

Soon Ivy realizes that one of her classmates is the VEIL user who needs new paintbrushes … and another is the one visiting the hospital every week … and another is the one dealing with their parents’ messy divorce. While she’s too scared to put her own creations on the app, Ivy thinks of an even better way to contribute—by making gifts for the artists she’s discovered. The acts of kindness give her such a rush that, when Ivy suspects Harold is keeping a secret, she decides to go all in. Forget gifts—Ivy wants to throw Harold a major party.

But when all those good intentions thrust her into the spotlight, Ivy’s carefully curated world is thrown into chaos. Now she has to find the courage to come out of the shadows—about her art, her secrets, and her mistakes—or risk losing everything and everyone she loves the most.

My Review

In TELL ME EVERYTHING, Ivy has the best voice of anything I’ve read in a while. I loved her awkwardness and the way she paid attention to people. The writing felt really natural and funny.

I enjoyed the story a lot, too. I liked that even though she was figuring out secrets of people around her, her judgments weren’t always accurate. And she also has to learn that even when they are accurate, it doesn’t mean that her interference will be welcome.

She also wrestles with this desire to be part of things but also invisible, which really resonated with me. It’s hard to find the right balance for me, too.

Overall, I loved so many things about TELL ME EVERYTHING. Somebody go read it so we can have coffee and gush about it together! Ha!

Seriously, though, if you like Sarah Dessen’s books or THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B by Teresa Toten, then you definitely want to check out TELL ME EVERYTHING.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Ivy discovers one of her friends is gay. Her best friend is black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Someone posts slurs against someone who’s gay.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of TELL ME EVERYTHING in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Start Here by Trish Doller

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Start Here
Trish Doller
Simon Pulse
Published August 13, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About Start Here

Two teens go on a life-changing sailing trip as they deal with the grief of losing their best friend in this heartwrenching, hopeful novel from the author of Something Like Normal and In a Perfect World.

Willa and Taylor were supposed to spend the summer after high school sailing from Ohio to Key West with their best friend, Finley. But Finley died before graduation, leaving them with a twenty-five-foot sailboat, a list of clues leading them to destinations along the way, and a friendship that’s hanging by a thread.

Now, Willa and Taylor have two months and two thousand miles to discover how life works without Finley—and to decide if their own friendship is worth saving.

From acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a poignant tale of forgiveness, grief, and the brilliant discoveries we make within ourselves when we least expect it.

My Review

You know that feeling you get when you follow an author and read multiple of their books, and then a new one comes out and you feel like it has a special kind of magic the others (while they were great!) didn’t quite have?

I felt that way reading START HERE. The story seemed to come alive as I read it. I connected with the characters immediately. The “trapped on a sailboat with your frenemy to honor your best friend’s dying wish” plot was amazing and unique. I loved all the sailing stuff!

I sobbed with Finley as she made the video for her friends about the journey. Then I sobbed with Taylor and Willa as they grieved through that terrible loss. And, as the girls began to find themselves through the trip and learn to appreciate one another, I cried for how far they’d come.

This is the best kind of book to finish your summer with. It’s full of the kind of hope that only comes from grief transformed. It’s real and moving and full of surprise sweet and funny moments. I loved it. I read an electronic review copy, but I’m definitely ordering a finished copy of the book because I suspect it’s one I’ll return to again.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Willa isn’t sure of her ancestry. She has brown skin and curly hair. Taylor is white and bisexual.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. At one point, one couple are discovered in bed together partly clothed. Kissing between two girls.

There are also a couple of sexual references, like a boy making comments about his physical desire for sex. Ultimately, I thought it was cool the way the author juxtaposed this boy’s behavior (which left a girl feeling a lot of internal pressure) and a different boy’s behavior(which left her feeling protected and cared for).

Spiritual Content
Some references to magic, as in that sort of serendipitous thing that happens where you end up finding exactly what you need when you need it. Both girls express some anger at God for Finley’s death as a part of their grief.

Violent Content
Both girls face situations where men make unwanted, insistent advances. They handle the situation, but it’s still obviously stressful and scary.

Drug Content
Willa and Taylor use fake IDs to get into a bar and drink alcohol. They attend a college party where there’s lots of drinking. They drink alcohol legally outside the US.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of START HERE in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Dawn on the Road by Lea Waterhouse

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

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 the ways in which her journey remained her own. Sometimes I felt like Justin’s wisdom and superior experience sort of overshadowed Dawn, but I liked that Dawn, on her own, crafts this spiritual journey apart from her relationship with Justin. I also liked that this story isn’t wholly a romance. At the heart of the story, Dawn faces some issues of maturity and cosmic questions. She’s a bit shallow and unfocused at the beginning, but definitely shows some growth by the end of the book.

The one thing that kind of left me shaking my head is the ending. I don’t want to give away what happens, but I felt like through the whole story Justin behaves a certain way, and then at the end he makes a choice that felt contrary to his character and the rules he’d established for himself.

On the whole this was a quick read with strong spiritual content that would probably appeal to young readers looking for stories featuring Christian girls. I liked the way the story used Dawn’s interest in photography as well.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
Dawn’s parents are atheists and pretty forceful about their beliefs. Justin is a Christian but reluctant to share his beliefs with her.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Dawn’s mom educated her about sex and provided condoms, so Dawn would be prepared. Dawn feels embarrassed about this, but when she leaves for her trip with Justin, she brings one condom along, just in case. She feels very attracted to Justin, and it seems he feels something for her, too.

One kiss at the very end of the story between a boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
See above. Dawn attends a church service and later begins her own exploration of the Bible and prayer. She becomes a Christian through these experiences.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Review: Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

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

Tension of Opposites
Kristina McBride
EgmontUSA
Available May 25, 2010

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Two years ago, Tessa’s best friend Noelle disappeared, leaving behind only her red bicycle and shattered memories. Tessa forces herself to accept the likelihood that her friend is dead. Then, in a shocking revelation from Noelle’s brother, Tessa learns that her friend is alive. That she’s been rescued from her captor. That she’ll be coming home.

Desperate to revive the kinship she once shared with Noelle, Tessa calls and visits, trying again and again to see her friend, only to be told Noelle isn’t ready. When she’s finally able to confront her, Tessa finds Noelle – who now insists on being called Elle – to be a stranger, aloof and hateful. Tessa won’t be deterred, nor will she sit idly by while Elle follows her new destructive path.

Tessa focuses so much on saving Elle that she pushes away everyone else around her, including the handsome new guy and his romantic hopes. Max challenges Tessa to reach beyond her comfort zones, to make her own needs a priority and to have confidence in her talent as a budding photographer.

While not overly graphic in its rehashing of Elle’s abduction, this isn’t a neat and tidy story, with a clear A-to-B plotline. Just as the reality of returning from horror would be twisted and messy, Elle’s re-acclimation into her family and school is raw and difficult. Her decisions reflect her turmoil. Tessa’s choices reflect her feelings of guilt and helplessness. The deep drama sucks the reader in and doesn’t let go until the last page is read. McBride strikes a good balance between darkness and hope.

Language Content
Moderate profanity, mild frequency.

Sexual Content
Brief references to what happened to Noelle after her kidnapping. No graphic details. Kissing between Tessa and her boyfriend. Elle talks frankly about planning to have sex with a boy she knows is only seeing her for the attention.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violence
No graphic descriptions of violence. Very brief references to things which occurred during Noelle’s captivity.

Drug Content
Teens attend parties and drink beer. Some smoke pot. Main character is seen as a “goody-goody,” though she does drink a beer at one of the parties.

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