Tag Archives: Romance

Review: Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,
Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Kisses and Croissants
Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Delacorte Press
Published April 6, 2021

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

About Kisses and Croissants

Seventeen-year-old Mia, an American girl at an elite summer ballet program, has six weeks to achieve her dreams: to snag an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. But there’s more to Paris than ballet—especially when a charming French boy, Louis, wants to be her tour guide—and the pair discover the city has a few mysteries up its sleeve.

In the vein of romances like LOVE AND GELATO, this is the perfect summer adventure for anyone looking to get swept away in the City of Love.

My Review

I couldn’t resist this book on so many levels: a summer in Paris, ballet dancing, mysterious rumors about a Degas painting, and of course a whirlwind romance. It didn’t take me long to read through the whole thing. In fact I ended up staying up far too late one night, telling myself, “just one more chapter” all the way until the end. I loved the way the relationships developed– especially the friendship between Mia and Audrey. But I also loved the relationship between Mia and her teacher (not a romantic relationship) as well as the one between Mia and her mom.

Reading about ballet was also super fun. One summer when I was a teenager, I went to a professional ballet camp, so it brought back a LOT of memories and I found myself nodding along with some of the things Mia goes through. I felt like it really nailed the whole ballet camp experience. I also loved the way the search for a Degas painting pulled the story forward and tied a lot of the individual pieces– her relationship with ballet, her mom, and her relationship with Louis– together.

The romance between her and Louis was really sweet, too. Having the adventure of finding the painting helped it feel really big and more essential than just hanging out and falling in love. I thought that was super clever the way that played out.

On the whole, I think fans of Jenna Evans Welch, Jennifer E. Smith, and fans of ONE PARIS SUMMER by Denise Grover Swank will love this book.

Content Notes for Kisses and Croissants

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One of the instructors gives harsh criticism to the students.

Drug Content
Mia and her friends (who are around 16 years of age) drink alcohol several times.

More Books Like Kisses and Croissants

One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank

My Review | Goodreads | Bookshop

A young pianist is forced to spend the summer in Paris with her dad and his new wife and unexpectedly finds love.

Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch

My Review | Goodreads | Bookshop

Liv travels to Greece to help her estranged father film a documentary about Atlantis myths and finds love along the way.

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

My Review | Goodreads | Bookshop

After one night spent on the rooftops of Manhattan, Lucy and Owen go separate ways, traveling the world but longing to find their way back to each other.

In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

My Review | Goodreads | Bookshop

When her mother moves the family to Egypt to open an eye clinic, the last thing Caroline is expecting to find is love.

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

Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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

Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone #1)
Leigh Bardugo
Henry Holt & Co.
Published June 5, 2012

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

About Shadow and Bone

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

My Review

This book (the whole series, really) has been on my reading list especially since I read and loved SIX OF CROWS. I really enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s writing style so much that I figured she’s probably one of those authors where I’d enjoy all her books. I ended up putting it off because of some of the stuff I’d read about the Darkling character and just wasn’t sure if it would be for me.

Now that I’ve finally read it, I can say that I did really enjoy the book. I liked Alina’s story arc and the way her relationships with other characters developed. I loved the Grisha world and that Alina’s magic had an effect on her physical health that was different than in other series I’ve seen. It had always been my plan to read all of them before watching the Netflix series based on these and SIX OF CROWS, so I can see myself reading the sequel for sure.

If you enjoy magic and fantasy with a mix of politics, (and you’re late to the Grisha fandom like I am!) then I think this book is worth checking out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
The story setting is inspired by tsarist Russia. There’s a great interview with Leigh Bardugo about this in the Atlantic.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A couple instances of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Vague references to sexual exploits by Alina’s fellow soldiers. Some intense kissing between boy and girl. A boy asks a girl if he can visit her in her room, implying that he would like to have sex with her.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have supernatural abilities referred to as small science. These can be things like gathering light or darkness or causing someone’s heart to explode without touching them.

Violent Content
Some battle violence and situations of peril. Alina and her team face monsters that lurk in the dark.

Drug Content
Some social drinking.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler

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

Knight’s Ransom (The First Argentines #1)
Jeff Wheeler
47North
Published January 26, 2021

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

About Knight’s Ransom

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.

When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.

Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.

My Review

Once again Jeff Wheeler returns to the world of the Kingfountain books, this time to tell a story of knights and lords and ladies in the vein of King Arthur tales. KNIGHT’S RANSOM follows the boy Marshall, nicknamed Ransom for his childhood spent as a captive of the king, from his boyhood into his middle twenties. Chapters are from his point-of-view, but between them are journal entries from Claire, his childhood companion and the woman he grows to love.

Other than the obligatory battle scenes, the story is pretty gently told with a lot of narrative and internal monologue keeping us pretty close to Ransom’s view of things. From early on in his life as a knight, Ransom experiences the sound of rushing waters when he fights. He begins to be more curious about the source of that experience and what it might require of him, but the story doesn’t really center around that. It’s more about the politics of the kingdom and Ransom’s role in the events unfolding, but it seems as though the series might pursue Ransom’s gift more in a follow-up book.

I think my favorite parts were the journal entries by Lady Claire. She’s feisty and frank and smart. I think she’s perfect for Ransom, who’s steady and often outwardly very calm.

Fans of Wheeler’s books will love visiting the world of Kingfountain again, and new readers who enjoy King Arthur-esque stories will find a great story landscape within KNIGHT’S RANSOM.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Takes place in a country similar to UK. Few race details given.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Ransom uses a two-handed sword called a “bastard” sword, so that word appears regularly.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kiss between boy and girl. A woman tries to seduce a man.

Spiritual Content
Ransom’s people worship the Lady of the Fountain. Ransom himself hears rushing water in battle or feels a warning when danger is near.

Violent Content
Several scenes show graphic battles.

Drug Content
Ransom accompanies a prince and his friends to a tavern where they drink alcohol. Ransom stays sober to protect the prince.

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

Review: As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper

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

As Far As You’ll Take Me
Phil Stamper
Bloomsbury YA
Published February 9, 2021

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

About As Far As You’ll Take Me

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to start his new life–where he’s no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents’ disapproval.

From the outside, Marty’s life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he’s made new friends, he’s getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he’s even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can’t keep up the facade. He hasn’t spoken to his parents since he arrived, he’s tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn’t even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

My Review

I have mixed feelings about this one. Mostly, I think, I have mixed feelings about Marty as a character.

He has anxiety– and I thought that part was really well crafted. I felt like I was experiencing it with him, and definitely felt for him. I tend to love angsty musician characters, so I figured Marty would be a sure win.

Plus the oboe holds a special place in my heart, since I’m practically surrounded by oboe players. (My sister, my daughter, my former roommate, and my cousin all either play or played the oboe. Actually, both my sisters played, my youngest only briefly.) So I was super excited to see an oboe player. In a YA novel! Yay!

And I loved that the story featured such complex, twisty friendships. Marty and Megan is a great example. I feel like a LOT of people have had the experience where that one super close friendship we thought we couldn’t live without has some real, undeniable toxicity to it. Marty’s wrestling with how to feel about his friendship with her and the way his new friendships put that relationship into context was SO. Well. Done.

Despite that, I struggled with some feelings about Marty. He stressed about money and agonized over whether he’d be able to land gigs and stay in London, but then off he’d go with his friends and chasing down potential romance. He ignored his friends when they tried to tell him things he didn’t want to hear and seemed pretty comfortable using them. I thought he made a lot of selfish decisions.

Some of that made sense in the context of his being totally swallowed up by his romantic feelings, so I wanted to give him a break. All the breaks.

He does grow a lot through the story. I kind of wanted some of his epiphanies to happen earlier. Some things felt a bit crammed in to the last few chapters, and that didn’t really give me a chance to see him walk things out, which I think would have been really satisfying.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Marty is gay and has anxiety. His mother was born in Ireland. He comes from a conservative Christian family. Marty’s friend group is a pretty diverse group.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used roughly a few times per chapter.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two boys. Brief touching. One scene shows them undressed and leading up to sex. Brief kissing between two girls.

Spiritual Content
Marty’s parents are deeply religious Christians. Marty is pretty disparaging of their faith, for two reasons that are pretty interconnected. One is that he just doesn’t believe in God anymore. He also feels it’s been pretty hammered into him that who he is is a sin, which has been pretty damaging.

Violent Content – Trigger Warning for Homophobia
A person Marty cares about outs him as gay to people in his hometown. His parents offer support to him personally, but display some homophobic behavior to the LGBT community at large.

Drug Content
Marty and his friends drink alcohol together. Marty and another group member are underage at seventeen.

Note: I received a free copy of AS FAR AS YOU’LL TAKE ME in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends
Published February 4, 2014

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

About Cress

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who’s only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Review

Even though I read this book years ago when it came out, I somehow never actually posted a review? I reviewed the other books in the series, but I think I missed this one because I read it a few months before getting married and must have just dropped the ball on it.

This year, I needed a familiar book to read to get through a stressful time, so I figured it would be a good time to listen to the audiobook version of this one. Now I can post the review, so it feels like a total win/win.

I really like Cress a lot. I love that she’s incredibly clever but also incredibly inexperienced with social situations. It was super easy for me to root for her, and I often felt like I was on the edge of my seat, needing her to make it through whatever obstacle she faced.

CRESS also balances the story of Cress herself and the continuation of Cinder and Scarlet‘s stories really well. I found myself connecting to all the characters and really eager to read one more chapter all the way until the end of the book. I love that this book introduced Winter to us as well.

It was nice getting to reread this book and remember how much I enjoyed the series as a whole. I think I have the other books on audiobook as well, so I might end up listening to the whole series again.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Cinder, Wolf and Cress are from Luna, located on the moon. Other characters are from earth.

Earth has been experiencing a highly contagious, fatal plague called letumosis.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. A couple references to physical attraction.

Spiritual Content
Some people from Luna can use a glamour to change how someone sees them or to control what they think or do.

Violent Content
Some battle scenes. Some graphic descriptions of torture including hallucinations of spiders in one scene.

Drug Content
References to drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

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

Cast in Firelight (Wickery #1)
Dana Swift
Delacorte Press
Published January 19, 2021

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

About Cast in Firelight

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross…and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery’s fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it’s complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.

My Review

I really liked the concept of this book, and I’m generally a fan of the enemies-to-lovers types of stories, so CAST IN FIRELIGHT definitely has that going for it. I liked Adraa and how quirky and awkward she is, too.

There were a few things I struggled with, though. One was the magic system. It’s nine different types and coordinating gods/goddesses and colors. That made it a lot to keep track of, but also characters that then could use most or all types of magic seemed almost too powerful?

I also had a hard time understanding some of the structure of the royal family/palace. Like, I couldn’t understand if the palace was just really small, with a really small staff? (Was the kitchen maid the same girl who styled Adraa’s hair?) Sometimes things happened that seemed strange, like when a guard takes Adraa to his room to speak with her privately. Wouldn’t that be a huge breach in propriety? And with the prince’s fiancée??

They were small things, so it wasn’t hard to kind of just shrug and move past them to see where the rest of the story was going. I liked that it had a lot of twists and turns, and I definitely wanted to know where Adraa and Jatin’s relationship would head, so I was definitely invested in the story.

I also appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book explaining that while it’s not an #ownvoices story, she wrote the book for her children, who will be Indian. That and the nod to her husband’s family was really sweet.

I feel like this book would be a good one for middle school readers. It’s solidly a young adult book, but not really dark or gritty, so a great fit for readers who need something a bit lighter– readers who read and enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles, for instance.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Major characters are Indian-coded characters.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Characters use “blood” as a swear word.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. At one point a boy and girl fall asleep on top of a building, and he teases her about them “sleeping together”.

There are references to some sexual bullying.

Spiritual Content
Nine gods and goddesses have the power to bestow gifts of different types (and colors) of magic on humans.

Violent Content
Some battle violence and situations of peril.

Drug Content
Some people use a powerful drug called Bloodlurst that causes enhanced magic for a time before causing damage. It’s viewed very negatively in the story, and Adraa is working hard to try to stop a group which sells the drug to her people.

Note: I received a free copy of CAST IN FIRELIGHT 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.