Review: Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show
Juno Dawson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published August 4, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Survival Show

K-pop survival shows meet The Hunger Games in this “chilling, satirical dystopian adventure” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson.

The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never have: her voice. Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, … Continue reading →

Review: Girls Like Us by Jennifer Dugan

Girls Like Us by Jennifer Dugan

Girls Like Us (Some Girls Do #2)
Jennifer Dugan
G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Girls Like Us

In this sequel to Some Girls Do , two girls struggle when long distance complicates their relationship.

Ruby and Morgan fell for each other during their senior year of high school, and now, almost a year later, they are fighting to keep their spark alive, even while they are Morgan is on a track scholarship at a university several hours away, studying public policy, while Ruby stayed in her hometown, exploring her love of mechanics in the automotive engineering program at the local … Continue reading →

Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Ross

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

The Escape Game
Marissa Meyer and Tamara Ross
Publisher
Published April 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Escape Game

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show’s trickiest escape rooms. There’s Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl … Continue reading →

Review: Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson

Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson

Pretty Girl County
Lakita Wilson
Publisher
Published July 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Pretty Girl County

The glitz of Gossip Girl meets the hustle of Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown in this charming and hilarious story of ex-BFFs from PG County, Maryland, perfect for fans of Joya Goffney and Elise Bryant.

Girls like Reya Samuels always come from Prince George’s County. Reya is rich and she’s not afraid to show it—she wears designer clothes, drives a custom pink Audi, and lives in a neighborhood tucked behind a fancy cast iron gate. She works hard, but she can get anything she wants … Continue reading →

Review: With or Without You by Eric Smith

With or Without You by Eric Smith cover shows a boy and girl facing each other, lying on top of food trucks parked next to one another. He's on the left, she's on the right.

With or Without You
Eric Smith
Inkyard Press
Published November 7, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About With or Without You

New from Eric Smith comes a delightful YA rom-com about two teens caught in the middle of their families’ orchestrated rivalry between their Philly cheesesteak food trucks.

All’s fair in love and (food truck) war.

Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other.

According to many viral videos of their public shouting … Continue reading →

Review: Life Just Got Real by Sadie Robertson with Cindy Coloma

Life Just Got Real by Sadie Robertson with Cindy ColomaLife Just Got Real
Sadie Robertson with Cindy Coloma
Howard Books / Simon & Schuster
Published on June 7, 2016

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Life Just Got Real
Sixteen-year-old A.J. Smith grew up in backwoods Louisiana, repairing cars with her dad and hunting with her brothers. But when her dad dies, her mom drags the whole family to Nashville where everything is different—except A.J. And A.J. knows it will take everything she has to live original.

Kate Kelly grew up in Nashville’s best schools, jetting around the world with glamorous people and wearing clothes from her mom’s trendy boutique. But when … Continue reading →