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2020

Book Review: We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding

 

We Used To Be Friends

Author: Amy Spalding
Published by: Amulet on January 7th, 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary
Similar Books I’ve Read: The Paper & Hearts Society

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Two best friends grow up—and grow apart—in this innovative contemporary YA novel

Told in dual timelines—half of the chapters moving forward in time and half moving backward—We Used to Be Friends explores the most traumatic breakup of all: that of childhood besties. At the start of their senior year in high school, James (a girl with a boy’s name) and Kat are inseparable, but by graduation, they’re no longer friends. James prepares to head off to college as she reflects on the dissolution of her friendship with Kat while, in alternating chapters, Kat thinks about being newly in love with her first girlfriend and having a future that feels wide open. Over the course of senior year, Kat wants nothing more than James to continue to be her steady rock, as James worries that everything she believes about love and her future is a lie when her high-school sweetheart parents announce they’re getting a divorce. Funny, honest, and full of heart, We Used to Be Friends tells of the pains of growing up and growing apart.
FIRST THOUGHTS

Not only had We Used To Be Friends been on my radar for the last couple of months, but it was a total surprise to get this stunning read sent to me. I definitely was thanking my lucky stars! So, as always when I’ve got an incredible read just waiting for me in my TBR pile, I dove in as soon as I got the chance! It took me a little longer to finish than normal, only because I was also learning to drive at the time and getting prepared for a practical test – which I passed! (Now a fully licensed driver, yay!) So I was delighted that I could finish this beautiful read with a smile on my face. . .

THE REVIEW

I’m a huge fan of dual POV’s, especially when they’re both as captivating as James and Kat’s voices. Sometimes when you’ve got two different voices (and two different timelines going back and forth) it can get very confusing, but in We Used To Be Friends, this isn’t the case at all. In fact, the way that the past and present are told to us are woven effortlessly, displaying how the future is a certain way, because of an event in the past.

As characters, I much preferred James, in the past and future tense. Whether it’s because her voice spoke to my own as her character, or because in parts I found Kat’s character not as striking as James. Kat has a more child-like voice, to me at least, that sort of distanced her relatability to myself. Although there were many things that I loved about her personality, and her character development was the best of the two. James had such a way of roping me into rooting for her, whereas Kat had my feelings on the line hoping for her. In between their dual POV’s, we see their friendship – at it’s strongest, on fire, then weakening, to non-existent, then thriving and all the inbetween – and it’s above anything, a tale about how people can grow. For their friendship, for themselves, and to grow up alone before they can grow back together. And it’s about the things beyond friendship, from family struggles to first love and disaster and finding your balance as a teenager preparing to take on the world. 

Overall, despite feeling in parts that I wished it’d picked up faster, I found myself turning pages oh-so-fast and getting reeled deeper into the story. Friendships in YA have always been one of my favourite tropes, especially female ones, and having the pleasure of reading this one was no different to my other favourites. I loved the story from beginning to end, making it a bittersweet, powerful four-star read perfect for YA readers with a soft-spot for besties.

4 cats

Have you read We Used To Be Friends?

Let me know what you thought in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!

Happy Reading!

becca

Blog Tour & Review: Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

Trigger Warning: this novel contains topics that readers might be affected by.

Run, Rebel

Author:  Manjeet Mann
Published by: Penguin Books on March 5th, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Young Adult // Poetry
Similar Books I’ve Read: The Sun and her Flowers

*I received this book from the Publisher for review. This in no way sways my opinion and will always be unbiased.*

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When Amber runs, it’s the only time she feels completely free – far away from her claustrophobic home life. Her father wants her to be a dutiful daughter, waiting for an arranged marriage like her sister Ruby.

Running is a quiet rebellion. But Amber wants so much more – and she’s ready to fight for it.

It’s time for a revolution.

Strong Female Leads in Young Adult Fiction (mostly involving sports)

Alike Run, Rebel, Young Adult fiction has been featuring some kick-butt female leads that have a strong passion for sports and other headstrong activities either out of school or competitively for years. Not only is this highly addictive to read about, but very true to life. There are so many women in sports and getting to see them proudly displayed in YA has always been a huge highlight for me. Not only is it encouraging for the future generation of readers to pick up a sporty hobby, but it always plays into friendship in a big way. A lot of bonds are made during games and competitions. But in another aspect, in Run, Rebel, our main character Amber runs to escape from her home life. And because of the endorphins that come paired with running especially, it’s also hand in hand with mental health in a big way. It can actually help clear your mind and the concentration can be a big distraction from problems. In many scenes that I’ve grown to absolutely love, a lot of breakthroughs are made through these moments where the character feels their troubles melt away as they’re kicking a ball, running fast over the grass or kicking up a sweat in the boxing ring.
So because of this and more, I came up with some of my very favourite books that include female leads that play sports of some kind just like in Manjeet Mann’s stunning, poetic read.
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Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Haley is a champion kick-boxer. I know what you’re thinking: what a sport! It’s aggressively complex and has an edge that can scare some people away from it. But Katie McGarry has such a way with making us fall in love with reading her character’s stories, and in this way, we get to fall in love with the sport the same way her characters do.

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

In this incredible book, main character Sloane is a figure-skater. Not only is skating such a beautiful and intricate sport, but so disciplined and competitive. And when she gets to explore Hockey as well, it brings this novel to being one of the easiest YA reads that approaches sport with normalcy and true-to-life feeling.

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Savannah dreams of being a horse jockey. It’s the only story that I’ve ever read that features this sport, because it might seem a bit rare for YA. But because I have no idea about it whatsoever, throughout the novel I learn so much about why Savannah loves it and the strength that she shows to prove she’s worthy of being one.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Annie doesn’t actually like running, but because she feels it’s the only way to honour someone she feels she wronged, she trains to take part in a marathon. Even though she detests the sport in the beginning, we see that it brings out willpower within her, just like in Run, Rebel, and how to overcome her troubles. 

FIRST THOUGHTS

When I first heard about Run, Rebel, I was immediately intrigued. Not only does the book have the most compelling synopsis, but is set entirely in poetry verses. I haven’t seen a YA set this way since The Poet X, so I was really excited to start reading.

THE REVIEW

Amber wants to rebel. From her controlling home life, from the ideals that she’s supposed to conform to and everything in between. Not only does she have a passion for running, but dreams of being a professional athlete, a dream that is continuously rained upon by her particularly abusive father. Amber has spent her life translating for her Parents that don’t speak English, and because her sister has formed to the ideals of her Parents, Amber is expected to as well.

In the intricate verse that the novel reels me in with, I feel her pain, her frustration, her passion and the rebellion fueling with every stride she runs. The novel touches upon dark themes that can be a definite trigger, but we see them used in a way that gives us Amber’s eyes, guiding us through every step of her story. Above all, Amber is ultimately flawed in a way that opens up everything she’s dealing with, everything she desires, and everything that she knows will distort the vision she has for her future. The book is extremely heavy and deals with so many emotions, from overwhelming happiness to despair and abuse. But how they are touched upon in these poetry verses is a kind of magic, the way that I can hand on heart say that this story would not have been as powerful if it were any other way.

Overall, I read Run, Rebel in three sittings and in each, my focus could not be moved. I felt as though Amber was telling me her life ahead of me, almost hearing her voice shake and her strength never waver. It’s hard to describe just how powerful, yet normal this novel truly is. Amber is such an unforgettable character and I know she’s made such a lasting impression on me, even after the last page had closed. There’s so much I could express but with fear I’d spoil too much about the novel, you just must know that it echoes such a brilliant rebellion and breaking free. Manjeet Mann has written something that I feel should be in everyone’s hands, whether YA readers or not. There’s something to be felt, something to be learned and definitely something to tug at your heartstrings in Run, Rebel, and I thoroughly adored every page. Huge five stars.

I loved Run, Rebel and I know that so many will, too. If you’ve had a chance to read it, what did you think?

If you’ll be adding it to your TBR, let me know what you think in the comments!

Check out the other tour dates as above to see more stunning content for Run, Rebel!

Happy Reading!

becca

Book Review: Unpregnant (#1) by Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan

Unpregnant

Authors:  Jenni Hendriks, Ted Caplan
Published by: Chicken House Books on January 2nd, 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary
Similar Books I’ve Read: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

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Veronica is top of her class – and somehow she’s found herself gazing in disbelief at a positive pregnancy test. Even worse, her ex-best friend and the high school’s legendary malcontent, Bailey, is the only one there to help. In this warm and darkly funny road trip story, Veronica and Bailey drive a thousand miles to an out-of-state abortion clinic – rediscovering their friendship in the process.

* this book contains mature scenes/topics and may not be suitable for younger readers

FIRST THOUGHTS

I was so over the moon to get a copy of Unpregnant late last year because I had heard SO MANY THINGS and as soon as I could get the spare day or so to dive in, I took the chance. I’d heard only a month or so beforehand that it was becoming a movie, and if you know me, you know that I love to read the books before they’re a movie. Obviously I love film adaptations (looking at you, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before!) but as they say: the book is always better.

THE REVIEW

Whether or not you’ve heard of Unpregnant or the topics that it addresses, as soon as you hear the title, you know that it’s going to touch on certain topics that most YA Fiction doesn’t always tread into lightly. For one, teen pregnancies are either a straight hit-or-miss for YA audiences. More or less, they’re much better addressed on-screen. I’m not sure whether it’s because we can grasp emotion better in films and on TV when we can see them (not all people, I for one don’t seem to find a difference) but as soon as I started reading Unpregnant, I knew that people were immediately going to find flaws with it.

Veronica, straight-A student, perfect in most ways, heading to a prestigious University, finds herself in a very unfamiliar situation when she ends up pregnant. See, it shouldn’t quite have happened since Veronica and her boyfriend were safe, but we later do find out that there was a case of tampering that leads to one point that a lot of readers I know will find unnerving, but as a reality, this does happen quite frequently. But since Veronica can’t get an abortion in her town, she finds that the nearest one is a road-trip-worthy distance away. But since she’s not quite in this alone, after her ex-friend, also known as the school’s legendary bad-girl, Bailey, finds out that she’s pregnant after a mishap with her test in the bathroom. Now forced to find her way to get an abortion without a car, she turns to Bailey who does, forming a sort of alliance on their not-really-happy-but-not-really-sad road trip out of state. But as they travel those thousand miles away from their town starting as kind-of strangers, they go through a re-discovery of each other and the friendship they thought had died and they find that they’re truly there for each other through something so heavy, yet darkly injected with backhanded humour fit for the big-screen.

Overall, I think that Unpregnant was destined to be a movie. I know that the book was initially made to be a script, then turned into a book, and I truly believe that this is one of those occasions where they could have put either first and it would’ve made sense. There are a lot of moments that I think will fit into a movie perfectly, because sometimes some of the scenes didn’t really make sense as a book scene, but could easily have been a perfect movie scene, if that makes sense. I loved the friendship, the sort of dark-humour, bringing something as challenging as abortion and turning it into girls taking control of their body and their choices. The book raised some controversial topics that I think will either make people applaud or fall in the opposite direction. For me, I truly loved Unpregnant. It had a sort of movie-feel, and I can’t wait to see it reflected on the big screen. Four amazing stars!

Rating:4 cats

Have you read Unpregnant?

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!

happy reading!

becca

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