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Book Review: Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

 


Chasing Lucky

Author: Jenn Bennett
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children’s on June 11th, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary Romance
Similar Books I’ve Read: Serious Moonlight

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**this book was gifted to me by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, which in no way changes my opinion or rating**

Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is…
FIRST THOUGHTS

Jenn Bennett has quickly become one of my favourite YA authors. Her characters become instant favourites and I look forward to each and every one of the books that she brings out. So over the course of isolation, I picked up my next book in my TBR and it was this lovely little book. The title has me feeling very giddy, because I actually have a cat named Lucky! So it was like a sign to start reading it and ignore the real world for just a little while. . .

THE REVIEW

Shutterbug Josie Saint-Martin has lived pretty much everywhere on the east coast of the US since she was around twelve. Josie and her mother left Beauty, their hometown, after her Mum and Grandma had a falling out. But now that she and her Aunt are not in town and teaching abroad, Josie and her Mum return to help her cousin Evie run the family bookstore. It just so happens that a familiar face is there waiting for her. Josie hasn’t seen Lucky Karras in years. Not since she was whisked away before they could have a proper goodbye – they were once best friends, then suddenly as if overnight, just strangers. As Josie returns to a normal life in town and tries to finish school and get the attention and respect of her distant, arts-famous father on the West Coast, she sees Lucky everywhere. Like a moth to a flame, they begin talking again in parts, as Josie learns that the sweet and good little boy that she left town remembering is now this tattooed, dark haired bad boy with a knack for turning their innocent conversations into a flirtatious banter at an arm’s length.

But after a disaster at a pool party where Josie gets into major trouble, she is stunned to find that Lucky covers for her. Through new chance meetings, learning the new Lucky and trying to outlive the curse of the Saint-Martin women’s curse of never finding love, Josie begins to discover that they both have changed. And the two new people that they are have loads of chemistry. But in getting closer to him again like old times, Josie starts to uncover that maybe the sweet, good-hearted boy is still there underneath his brooding expressions. But as family drama ensues, with rumours and dashed hopes, the plan that Josie thought her heart could rely on is wavering.

Overall, Chasing Lucky was electric, surprisingly fast-paced and ultra-romantic. I couldn’t help but adore the Saint-Martin family. My heart swooned for Lucky and I rooted for Josie and Lucky’s relationship from the get-go. Far from insta-love, closer to meant-to-be. Jenn has written one of my favourite reads of the year and my new favourite of hers! I honestly can’t find a bad fault with this book – only that it wasn’t long enough. It was the perfect distraction at a not-so-perfect time in my life. Huge five stars!

What is your favourite YA Couple? And more importantly, which is your favourite Jenn Bennett book?

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

Happy Reading & Stay Safe! 


Becca Jayne

Blog Tour & Guest Post: Take A Chance On Me by Beth Garrod


Welcome to Day Three of Take A Chance On Me, the blog tour! Today I have a sparkling review of Beth Garrod’s latest read, a lovely Guest Post about Insta Vacay’s and the lowdown on your must-have summer read!



Take A Chance On Me

Author: Beth Garrod

Published by: Scholastic on July 4th, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary Romance

Similar Books I’ve Read: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Kissing Booth


Disclosure: I received this book from the Publisher/Author in exchange for an impartial review. This is an unpaid/unsponsored post.


The brand-new sunny, funny, feel-good rom com from bestselling Beth Garrod, perfect for fans of TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE and THE KISSING BOOTH. Meg had a disastrous first kiss she would rather forget, but this is the summer she puts it behind her. 

This is the summer she has a perfect, swoony, just-like-in-the-movies kiss with a hot boy – and what better setting than the sun-drenched Greek island she’s holidaying on? But with three very different boys vying for her attention, this mission to reset her first kiss may be more complicated than she bargained for…



First Thoughts  


I’m guilty of having only read one previous book by Beth (although they’re all in my TBR stack!) previous to delving into Take A Chance On Me. But the well-known fact around the YA World is that Beth’s books are honest, hilarious and addictive. So when I got the chance to take this little read on vacation with me, I delved in right away in scenic beach views to get the perfect authentic experience. 




My Review


Picture this: you’ve got the perfect summer read, you’re staying on the English Riviera, the temperature is close to 30’c on the coastline and you’ve just met one of the funniest book characters you’ve had the chance to meet in a long time. That was my summer, last week. And it was so much better with Take A Chance On Me in my bag on long, hot days and beach trips. 


Meg, our main character, has had a shall we say, quite disastrous history of her first kiss that she would very much love to start forgetting. And that’s what this summer is all about. She has a gorgeous setting to restart her journey for the best kiss ever: a lush Greek island and perhaps more than she bargained for when one of the world’s hottest film stars is revealed to be shooting his newest movie on the same island she’s on holiday. Now, the thing is, there’s not just one boy that wants to lock lips with Meg. There’s three. And this summer that was supposed to be all about getting a do-over for that horrendous first kiss (and sheer horror of having a nose breaking curse) turns more complicated by the second. What’s a girl to do when there’s multiple options for a second first kiss?


I couldn’t put down Take A Chance On Me. Somehow, because I was on vacation and the book takes place with Meg on holiday, too, it seemed like the perfect fit. I was drenched in sunshine and exploring, just like Meg. The only difference was that Meg’s summer was a lot more complicated than mine, one that was taking leaps into a romantic setting and angling for her best summer yet. And for a one-off book, unlike Beth’s other books, I felt extremely drawn to Meg and her life and wished that this novel went on forever! 


Overall, I am so thankful that I took a chance on Take A Chance On Me. Not only did I laugh so hard that other people on the beach looked my way (oops!) but I felt like I had just took a peak into one of those life-changing types of YA reads that defines summer and romance to a perfect conclusion, wrapped up in a neat bow of sunshine and heartbeats. If you’ve never read a Beth Garrod book, you’re missing out completely. Start with Take A Chance On Me, and I pinky promise that it’ll be your favourite summer read yet. Huge five stars!





How to make like you’re on an Instagram vacay when you’re actually holed up at home.

So it’s the middle of August, you’re at home with no plans,  and your thumb has gone rogue and decided that you need to open Instagram. Again. For the 54th time today. We’ve all been there.
You have two options – get stuck in the scroll and indulge in some serious FOMO, or… pull on your best sunglasses and remind yourself don’t need to have got on a plane to be living your best #vacaylife.

Here’s how being at home, can be just as good as floating around on an inflatable flamingo.

You Came, You Saw, You Cone-quered
Guess what, no matter what fancy food foreign travels throw as us, and on to our friends’ feeds, the UK has something no posh beach does.
A 99 Flake.
So make mine a large, go heavy on the pink sauce, and feel smug you’re clutching the undisputed champion of all ice creams. And because the UK’s probably not even that hot, you’ll even have time to take a pic for the gram before it melts. Hello winning.

Pals Vs Paradise
Yeah yeah, we’ve all seen all your sandy white beach and clear blue sea pics, and realised that maybe, just maybe, it’s more appealing than the special brand of grey-drizzle the UK can serve up. But you know what every picture of that amazing empty beach is missing? Mates. So grab your besties, pull on your sunnies and work those angles. The sun won’t be so bright you can’t see the screen either. UK 2 – Tropical Paradise 0.

99 Problems, but Pants Aren’t One
Someone’s feed might be looking total #vacaygoals, but what’s happening behind the holiday scenes? At glorious home there’s no such horrors as forgetting enough pants, or realising you’ve got a tan line that’s the exact shape of your hand where you couldn’t be bothered to rub in Factor 50. And what’s worse? Another mosquito bite, or inhaling a massive lungful of the spray that’s meant to stop them? It’s a close call. But here in the glorious UK, we don’t need to fret about such survival matters. Oh no. In fact the only thing we need to worry about getting bitten by is the need to watch another episode of Love Island. And to that we say, crack on.

When Your Feed is Blowing Up…
…with blow everythings (Flamingos! Pizzas! Avodacoes! Llamas! You name it – someone has inflated it) remember one thing. Have you ever tried to get on one of those things in the blazing heat?! The inner-thigh burn is REAL. And a graceful mount/dismount is something probably even Simone Biles couldn’t manage.
So grab another pillow off your bed, and head to the park or the garden, knowing that whatever you’re sitting on, it’s going to beat straddling a scalding hot inflatable spring onion.

And if all else fails, put down your phone and remind yourself that someone else might be looking at your feed with the same amount of FOMO. So stop comparing your summer holiday realness with other people’s edited highlights, and make the most of zero school or college.  However you want to spend summer, the main thing is you take it easy – on everything but the ice-cream eating.




Hello – I’m Beth. The Super Awkward author. Which just about describes everything really.
Super Awkward was my debut book, Truly Madly Awkward was the sequel, and Access All Awkward was the third in the Awkward trilogy, but I’ve been writing for teenagers for a looong time. And being awkward in my own life for even longer.
My new summery book – Take A Chance On Me – is about a girl called Meg and came out in July 2019. 
My day job is making stuff for TV, radio and online, and I’ve worked on everything from Blue Peter to Radio 1 to MTV. Career highlight was probably fishing out Miley Cyrus’ used face-wipe from a bin.
I currently live in east London, and dream of owning a dog.
If you want to get in touch about that – or anything else – head to bethgarrod.com or follow me on Twitter @bethg or on IG @beth__garrod. 




What is your perfect summer read?


What’s your favourite book that Beth has written?


Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @LittleMemoirs and make sure to visit the other tour dates and get involved!


happy reading!

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Book Review: Save The Date by Morgan Matson + Giveaway!

Title: Save The Date
Author: Morgan Matson
Published: June 5th, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I bought this book myself, reviewing it as an impartial review. Giveaway copies are sponsored. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.
Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.
Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future. 

First Thoughts…

YAS! That is the first thing that came into my mind, several months ago, when I heard Morgan had another book coming out. I’ve been a fan since the Amy & Roger days, and this latest edition would be no different. I pre-ordered my copy on Book Depository, and when it arrived, I FLIPPED. But not because of the book, but because I didn’t know that it was a SIGNED FIRST EDITION! For a moment, I thought there had been a mistake and even took to Instagram to fangirl. But it was all good! And I began reading that same day…

My Review…

Charlie’s sister is getting married. For any normal family, this would be a perfectly normal amount of stress. But when you’re part of the Grant family – of GRANT CENTRAL STATION, a comic-strip –  it’s a whole other world of chaos, especially now that the house they’ve grown up in and was featured in the comic-strip, is being sold. So Linnie, Charlie’s sister, wants to get married there before it’s gone to them forever. There’s a lot of history there, and from the word go, there’s 100% laughs-meets-drama.
Charlie has been in love with Jesse Foster, her brother Mike’s best friend, since she can remember. There’s nothing she wants more than to be happy with him, but there’s history there, too. Things that have kept them apart. And despite their fiery past, their present has been divided from each other’s lives. So when all Charlie’s siblings come back for the wedding, she’s thrown into Jesse’s life again, whilst juggling planning Linnie’s wedding, and it comes to a head with disaster after disaster…
I’m always a sucker for these types of books. Morgan has such a way of building character development and making me automatically care about the Grant family from the first few chapters. There’s love – a lot of it – heartbreak, family and so. much. more! I can’t tell you just how fast Save The Date has climbed into the top three books I’ve read this year, and I’ve only read twenty or so!
Overall, Save The Date is a story not to be missed. There’s something so magical about this book, these characters and the way the words make me fall faster in love with each new chapter. Morgan has gifted us the beauty of her best book to date. I had this feeling, as soon as I’d finished reading, like my heart was full. And I think it’s to do with the family and love, that came together in this gift, wrapped in a bow, that never had a dull moment. You are missing out if this isn’t on your TBR. Five stars completely! GOSH I just want to gush all day about this sweet-as-sugar book.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster (and Olivia!) I can offer THREE paperback copies of SAVE THE DATE for a giveaway! UK Only, ends July 1st! 

To enter, all you have to do is follow the instructions on my pinned-tweet. Good luck!

Have you read Save The Date?


What did you love the most about Charlie’s story?


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


happy reading!

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Guest Post + Review: Arrowheart by Rebecca Sky

Title: Arrowheart (The Love Curse #1)
Author: Rebecca Sky
Published: June 14th, 2018
Publisher: Hodder
Rating: ★★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Kiss the boys and make them cry…
The gods are gone. The people have forgotten them. But sixteen-year-old Rachel Patel can’t forget – the gods control her life, or more specifically, her love life.
Being a Hedoness, one of a strong group of women descended from Greek God Eros, makes true love impossible for Rachel. She wields the power of that magical golden arrow, and with it, the promise to take the will of any boy she kisses. But the last thing Rachel wants is to force someone to love her . . .
When seventeen-year-old Benjamin Blake’s disappearance links back to the Hedonesses, Rachel’s world collides with his, and her biggest fear becomes a terrifying reality. She’s falling for him – a messy, magnetic, arrow-over-feet type of fall.
Rachel distances herself, struggling to resist the growing attraction, but when he gives up his dream to help her evade arrest, distance becomes an insurmountable task. With the police hot on their trail, Rachel soon realizes there are darker forces hunting them – a group of mortals recruited by the gods who will stop at nothing to preserve the power of the Hedonesses – not to mention Eros himself, who is desperate to reverse the curse . . .
Rachel must learn to do what no Hedoness has done before – to resist her gift – or she’ll turn the person she’s grown to love into a shadow of himself … for ever. 

First Thoughts…

I think I’ve always had a thing for mythology. Some of my early scribbles as a wanna-be writer were influenced by the Gods, just like Arrowheart. So when I had the chance to be a part of the tour, (and I mean, c’mon, one look at the cover and the blurb and I was HOOKED) I jumped at the chance. But the story collides mythology with love and being descendant from a God, and that just had me. I couldn’t stop myself from reading – even if it was two a.m. in the morning!

My Review…

Rachel is such a likeable character from the get-go. I love that despite wielding this immense power to make any boy fall head over heels in love with her, she just wants to be your average girl. To fall in love with ease. To not feel like she’s meant for something huge and to live a perfectly normal life. But being a Hedoness, she kinda can’t. Her and Marissa, another Hedoness, have this power that centers around the book’s first mystery. Boys are going missing and then turning up again, not knowing what happened the entire time. But the girls know all too well what’s happening. Rachel doesn’t want to make anyone love her – not forcibly, anyway – and when Benjamin, a missing boy, comes into the picture and his absence links back to the Hedonesses, it’s a fight or flight reaction.
Forced to try and ignore her feelings for him and focus on the growing suspicion around her, she can’t help but fall deeper in love with the boy she can never have love her. But then, the Police get involved and she’s thrown into a dilemma. She has to leave, and when Benjamin gives up what he loves to go on the run with her and not get arrested, they’re not only being hunted by the Police, but by something much more sinister.
I just…this book BROKE ME and HEALED ME again. I haven’t read a book this fast-paced and funny and interesting in such a long time! Not only was the Greek Mythology history and factual spin on YA unique and incredible with the world-building, but the characters were just so normal. So believable. Even though most were descendant from Gods or unlike me at all, I connected with Rachel so much on so many levels (even though we couldn’t be lightyears away from each other).
Overall, Arrowheart has struck it’s golden arrow right into my heart. I am blown away by this epic-YA that has woven it’s way into my favourites. Getting to the ending and that cliffhanger was just so nail-biting! I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I NEED IT! Rebecca (name twin!), this is clearly one of my favourite books I’ve read in such a long time. Five stars isn’t enough!

After graduating high-school, Rebecca Sky set out on a five-year, 24 Country exploration to find herself. She slept in a hammock in the Amazon Jungle, skinny-dipped off the West African Coast, ate balut and climbed the chocolate hills in the Philippines, and fell in love in Cuba (then again in Brazil, and a final time to a Rocker from Canada). Rebecca returned home to the West Coast captivated by the world and ready for another adventure. 
So she did what every wanderer does when standing still—began writing. Her work has since garnered over 20 million reads on Wattpad, and she’s had the opportunity to partner with some really great brands. She was featured in The New York Times and The Boston Globe, (check out those articleshere). Her debut Arrowheart, book one in THE LOVE CURSE series will be published by Hodder Children a division of Hachette Book Group. Look for that in stores June 14th, 2018!

Rebecca Sky, on Greek mythology:
I grew up in a very religious home, and because of that I spent the majority of my childhood weekends in some form of Church activity like Sunday School. I was never very good at sitting still and was bored most of the time, which meant I’d find ways to self-entertain, ways that resulted in my being sent to time-out more often than I’d like to admit. I made a game of it though, throwing out one-liners that made the entire class burst into giggles and the teachers mumble prayers of serenity under breath.
Eventually they realized that time-out wasn’t helping any of us, (I mean, if I couldn’t sit still on the pew, why would the corner change things?). We came to the compromise that I could read my bible during lectures, which really meant I’d slip a comic book behind the cover and read that instead. I thought I’d found the key to surviving Sunday School until they caught me and told me that I was only allowed to read books from the church library. I begrudgingly searched through and pulled out a Greek/English bible thinking the writing on the spine looked kinda magical.
That was my first introduction to the Greek language and I was fascinated. I tried to teach myself by memorizing the Greek version of familiar passages. I couldn’t get enough and eventually took every book about Greece out of my local library, one of which was a book on mythology. I spent my days reading about the Gods and their wild adventures, and thought it was unfair that the Greeks got the cool Gods and my family’s God was boring (please, don’t tell my Nana I said that).

It is taught that humans were born with 2 heads, 4 arms and 4 legs, and only one soul, but Zeus feared our power and cut us apart. Now we spend our lives searching for the other half of our soul. 

I’d often imagine the Greek Gods in my Sunday School stories – Samson the strong became Heracles the son of Zeus, etc.. So when I stumbled upon the bible verse Genesis 6:4, “when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them,” it wasn’t far-fetched for me to imagine that the sons of gods were the Gods of Olympus and that the offspring they had with human women where the Greek legends like Achilles and Hedone. The more my mind wandered the more The Love Curse series formed.
And everyone knows, or should know, that you can’t write a story based on Greek Mythology and not have it centred on romance. I’d argue that mythology reflects the spirit of its people, and there is no mythology more romantic than Greek.
It is taught that humans were born with 2 heads, 4 arms and 4 legs, and only one soul, but Zeus feared our power and cut us apart. Now we spend our lives searching for the other half of our soul. There’s something really beautiful about this concept, and for a hopeless romantic like myself, the idea of soul mates and a love that has the power to unite two individuals so perfectly is something I can get behind. And I did, you’ll see in Arrowheart (The Love Curse #1) that my character Rachel feels this way too, which makes it suck extra that she can never have it, because if she so much as kisses a guy her power will take his will away. But that’s a story for another time…


Have you heard about Arrowheart?


Are you going to read it?


Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @LittleMemoirs with the tag #ARROWHEART! 


happy reading!

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Book Review: Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet by Jennifer L. Armentrout & Various Authors

Title: Meet Cute

Authors:  

Published: January 2nd, 2018

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this book for review by the publisher. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


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Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. 
Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno’s story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick’s charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants. 
This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

First Thoughts…When I saw that these authors – these AMAZING writers – were coming out with a book together, not only that, but it was called Meet Cute (one of my favourite plot devices and all-round words), I flipped! I was lucky enough to get a copy on NetGalley and ordered my hardback copy alongside it to support these incredible authors. 

My Review...In the mood for a feel-good story (so, always) I picked up my iPad to read Meet Cute early this year, immersed in the New Year of books ahead. It’s clear from the beginning that these stories are full of whip-smart, lovable characters who are discovering something new and magical in the world with someone else: love. I won’t do a mini-review of every book in the anthology (gosh, can you imagine how long that review would be?!) but I will be saying my favourite things about the book as a whole, of which there were many. 

The stories, depicted as the beginnings of how they met, are the stories of YA dreams. Not only are they achingly beautiful – in particular Nina LaCour, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Emery Lord and Jennifer Armentrout’s stories – but they’re meaningful, frank and oh-so-realistic. I’m also super proud that Meredith Russo wrote a trans heroine for her story in Meet Cute, and that the authors showed the ups-and-downs of breaking up, that love had no bounds in futuristic tales and humorous romances that will make your heart swell. Now, because these stories are short and involve an “instant connection” meaning a Meet Cute, there is the dreaded insta-love. But you know what? It’s the good kind of insta-love. The kind that is really believable. I could honestly imagine this is how some people – soulmates and true love – actually meet and fall in love in an instant, fleeting moment.

Overall, Meet Cute is as magical as it sounds. Each story holds something momentous and epic, a love story for the ages. I couldn’t fault any of the unique spins on Meet Cute’s, or any of the ways that they panned out. This is truly such a breath of fresh air, the perfect weekend read and equally welcome book for fans of sweet YA romances with sparkling beginnings. A huge five stars!

Have you read Meet Cute?

What did you think?

Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or in the Comments!

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Once And For All” by Sarah Dessen

Title: Once And For All

Author: Sarah Dessen

Published: June 6th, 2017

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers 

Find the Author: Goodreads 


I bought this book myself and was not gifted in any way! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine. 


Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants. 


Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humour, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

First Thoughts

Sarah Dessen is a staple author for those books that make you feel all the feels. I’ve read a few of her books before I started blogging a few years ago, and since then, collected her releases. But Once And For All just appealed more to me than anything else when I saw it in Waterstones. It just had one of those gorgeous covers and intricate, delicious sounding blurbs that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. So ultimately, I had to feature it. I finished it a few weeks ago but because of some busy IRL stuff, my blogging schedule has been all over the place. So I’m back with a bang!

Review

Let me just start by saying that this is THE novel you want on a summer vacation, cooped up on a beach somewhere or at a Lake House, absorbed in another beautiful Sarah Dessen world (or maybe to take along to a destination wedding?). I finished it in three sittings, mainly because I was busy, but I would have devoured it in one sitting if I had the time, trust me. 
Despite the happy cover, our main character Louna doesn’t have a bright and beautiful life. Her story is hard-hitting and emotional, working at a wedding planning business and keeping everyone’s special day the best day of their lives. She wants everything to go smoothly, but it doesn’t always, and the stress that she was under definitely echoes though the pages to me as a reader. Bonus; I loved Louna’s relationship with her mother and business partner. They had this chemistry all together as a dynamic and it was just so realistic, you know? Like I could honestly believe every word. 
But, enter Ambrose. He’s Louna’s love interest and the kind of boy that’s your typical bookish boyfriend material. He’s charming, suave and kindhearted through and through. After Louna’s bad relationship in the past, she’s forced to feel like she needs to distance herself from Ambrose – so they become friends instead. In fact, they begin caring for each other in ways Louna feels bittersweet about. She can’t help but remind herself he’s got female attention all the time and enjoys it, but this changes the more that they spend time together. He becomes more attentive and drops the annoying act, and they click and spark like a wildfire together. Something inside Louna tells her that she can open her heart back up to love, in many forms and ways, if she believes that she deserves a little happiness, too.
I love, love, loved Once And For All. Although at times I felt it was slow, or a tad predictable (it’s not hard to be in YA romances, though) I can’t deny that this was such a pleasantly sweet book that I fell head over heels for. Overall, you will definitely benefit from reading this! Sarah Dessen has truly outdone herself with characters, words and romance to make your heart soar with love.

Rating

Perfect For

YA romance and contemporary fans!

What do you think of Once And For All? 


Have you read it?


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



happy reading!

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Sister Book Swap: “The Vincent Boys” by Abbi Glines

Title: The Vincent Boys

Author: Abbi Glines

Published: October 30th, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Find the Author: Goodreads


I borrowed this book as part of Sister Book Swap! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased. 



Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.

Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.

Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist…

When Sophie gave me this book as our first Sister Book Swap, I was torn on what type of read this would be since my usual picks are YA that aren’t typically on the border of New Adult. I had heard great things about Abbi’s writing, so ultimately I had high hopes for The Vincent Boys. 

Ashton Gray is far from perfect, but that’s the destiny she chose to follow. As a kid, she was always causing havoc with her best friends Beau and Sawyer Vincent (who were cousins), but more closely Beau who she used to have the most fun pranking people with. Fast forward years later and Ashton is far from the girl she used to be. She’s carved herself into the flawless Preacher’s daughter who wouldn’t dare step out of line, and with the charming and ever-so-perfect Sawyer by her side, Ashton thought she had it all. 
Beau Vincent is the town’s bad boy. Aside from the occasional sentence and favour, Beau and Ashton strayed apart from their younger, wild days. Whereas Beau stays out drinking and hanging out with his girlfriend Nicole, Ashton felt neglected and alone since Sawyer was away. She knew he’d be back soon, but then she’d just have to keep up the act of the good girl for even longer. Beau was the only one who knew that she wasn’t really like that, and when they reconnect suddenly, she starts to peal away the layer of fake Ash and let the real one shine. . .but that lands her right in Beau’s arms. 
Ash and Beau’s romance is fiery and complicated. They both know they like each other, he can only be a better person with her and she can only be herself when she’s with him. They go to extreme measures to keep their sordid liaison a secret, but when Sawyer returns and heated Nicole catches on, everything comes crashing down. 
Complex, enchanting and lively, The Vincent Boys was a whirlwind of a novel. From the shocking twists to the fights to romance, there was never a dull moment. The characters seemed so real to me and both Ashton and Beau’s POV’s were both riveting and clear-cut to their unique voices. I loved getting to know the world of characters and can’t wait to see how this novel floods into the next in the series. A definite, unexpected five-star read. 
Older YA and NA romance fans!
Sophie from 23 Review Street sent over these questions to go with my review from what I thought about the characters to my thoughts on the plot! 
Both Beau and Sawyer are different in many ways, which one is your favourite and why?
I think Beau was my favourite by far, but that might change when I hear things from Sawyer’s POV when I read the next novel. To me, I think reading about Ash and Beau bonded them in my mind and Sawyer to me didn’t stand out as much. So definitely Beau.

The Vincent Boys is a NA, do you think it is a genre that you would like to read more of?
Even though I loved this book, not all NA appeals to me. I tend to stray away from the hot-paced NA romances and lean toward more sweeter novels, but it’s definitely a genre I’m inclined to read.

My favourite character would have to be Ashton, who would you say your favourite is and why?
I think I agree, Ashton was my favourite. She went through a lot trying to pretend to be this perfect Preacher’s daughter that everyone wanted her to be and the struggle that she went through to reveal what she had done and suffer the consequences and bullying at school was heartbreaking. Having the courage to dust herself off and be happy made her favourite character worthy by far.

Abbi Glines has wrote many series, The Vincent Boys/Brothers is one. Would you be more inclined to read more of her books now that you have read this one?
I loved Abbi’s writing so I would be up for reading another one of her books, more especially the next in the series. 

So that was our first Sister Book Swap!

Check out Sophie’s post here for Roomies. 

What did you think of The Vincent Boys?

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs or hashtag #SisterBookSwap

happy reading!

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Book Review: “The United States of Us” by Kate Sundara


Title: The United States of Us

Author: Kate Sundara

Published: November 23rd, 2015

Publisher: Canelo

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this book for review! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


A heart-rending story of romance and self-discovery…

This is a story about soulmates, not where it began, but where it needs to begin: twenty-two year-old Mia pressed against the forest floor by a man shielding her from the crazed bear bellowing in her ear. This is a story about love and the power of actions over words. A story of how one day can change everything.

Mia Hart’s childhood sweetheart, Robin, has been watching over her ever since his death. Haunted by the devastating incident that killed him, Mia spends three years travelling the world.
Discovering the island of Utopia, a retreat in the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea, Mia meets Zak, a dashing American musician. After a whirlwind romance, Zak asks Mia to come and live with him in the faraway Midwest. Swept up by infatuation and desperate to be free from Robin’s ghost, she accepts.

Braving a move to River Valley, a small town in the American wilderness, Mia soon discovers the fairytale Zak promised her is anything but. Worried she’s made a rash decision, but too proud to leave, Mia must confront her past before she can find true happiness.

Vivid, beautiful, and packed with unforgettable characters, The United States of Us is a riveting and intense tale of love, loss and letting go.

I was intrigued by The United States of Us from the synopsis and how it differed from a regular plot with a ghost in the POV line of a YA contemporary read and couldn’t wait to delve in. 
The United States of Us struck me as one of those rare gems that you read in the year that totally surpasses your expectations and totally knocks you off your feet. It was definitely like this for me, with how intricate and beautiful the plot really was. Mia and Robin were one of those couples who could’ve had it all, like starcrossed lovers. Sadly, Robin died and Mia was thrown into the abyss, the memory of it unforgettable. She spent some years travelling, trying to fill the void and find herself, meanwhile not knowing that Robin was watching over her; always, keeping their connection as soulmates locked tight.
When Mia is on a retreat, she meets charming musician Zak and though she keeps Robin’s ghost, they share a whirlwind, rollercoaster romance that leads to him inviting her to stay with him in the Midwest. Even though she doesn’t want to let go, she accepts, but suddenly there and with Zak, she starts to wonder if this life is what she wanted. . .and if this version of her vision of a fairytale is at all what she wants. 
Perfectly heartbreaking, The United States of Us was an epic story of soulmates, adventure and true happiness. With this story, one minute I was enraptured in the story, then saddened by the loss that Mia had been through and for Robin, torn away from his soulmate and love of his life. Although at times there was a lot going on in the story that took some time to remember what had happened previously in parts, I was totally compelled by this amazing emotional novel, the realness of it and the vivid, clear bonds of everlasting love and the pain of letting go.
 YA fans of Contemporary, realistic romance.

Have you read The United States of Us?


What did you think?


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


happy reading!

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Book Review: “This Raging Light” by Estelle Laure

Title: This Raging Light

Author: Estelle Laure

Published: January 14th, 2016

Publisher: Orchard Books

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this book for review! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

How is it that you suddenly notice a person? How is it that one day Digby was my best friend’s admittedly cute twin brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?

Lucille has bigger problems than falling for her best friend’s unavailable brother. Her mom has gone, leaving her to look after her sister, Wren. With bills mounting up and appearances to keep, Lucille is raging against her life but holding it together – just.

A stunning debut to devour in one sitting, Laure captures completely the agony and ecstasy of first love.

I had heard amazing things about This Raging Light even before it landed in my mailbox. It was the subject of several Waiting on Wednesday posts from blogs I read and not to mention how I always seemed to see the cover and praise for it everywhere online. So I was eager to dive in and see what amazing-ness was within…


Lucille’s life is a mess, but that’s only a shred of light into her life. Her Mom has left, her Father has gone and she’s been left alone to care for her nine year old sister; Wren, whilst struggling with several other matters that only seemed to weigh heavier on her concious. She hadn’t ever thought about her best friend’s twin brother; Digby, in a “romantic” way before, but suddenly it’s like he’s right there and she can’t help but notice every incredible thing about him, the way he’s there for her and how he’s just so…perfect. But then, like a ton of bricks to her heart, she knows she can’t have him. The boy she loves has a girlfriend – a very serious girlfriend. 
Things only get tougher from there. Knowing her Mother will never come back, despite her promise, only drives Lucille more. She knows she has to care for Wren and make sure no one takes her away, investing all her time and effort into becoming a better person and sister to keep their small and messy, yet beautiful family together. She faces mixed feelings over friends, family and her life that cascade her into falling harder for Digby, making her messier life even crazier. 
The chaotic, beautiful writing that spun us into Lucille’s world was perfectly matched to every way she was feeling and acting. The romance was sweet, yet complicated in more ways than one. But This Raging Light is about more than just romance, it’s about real life. Lucille is left to fend for herself and her sister without a shred of help out of fear of losing her, and the way she grows up and pulls herself together throughout the novel was beautifully done. I was enthralled by the storyline and even though there was a lot going on, the way Lucille stuck by her sister was my favourite. Despite loving the character of Digby and his relationship/friendship with Lucille, the cheating between his current girlfriend and then with Lucille felt rocky to me and conflicted how he could see them both. 
Beautifully chaotic and poignant, This Raging Light was an amazing novel that will have you turning the pages and falling into the rabbit hole of the perfectly messy story. 
YA Fans of contemporary, romance and the in-betweens. 

Have you read This Raging Light?


What did you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs


happy reading!

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Book Review: “Nowhere But Here” by Katie McGarry




*I received this book from Harlequin Teen for a fair and unbiased review!*

Title: Nowhere But Here

Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary Romance
Published: May 26th 2015 by Harlequin Teen


An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she’s curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both. 
Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They’re the good guys. They protect people. They’re…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club’s most respected member—is in town, he’s gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it’s his shot at his dream. What he doesn’t count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.
No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Katie McGarry is and will always be one of my favourite authors of all time. No matter what genre, characters or plot, something between her writing and my brain just click. So when I heard about a new series called Thunder Road and the first novel being Nowhere But Here, I was already anticipating finding the next best thing on my shelf.

Emily, our main character, loves her life. Her perfectly normal life. She has friends and family who love her—well, except her biological father who chose the life of being a member of Reign of Terror, the motorcycle club—and it hasn’t phased her since. That’s until she witnesses the club for herself and the danger that their world is consumed with, and her life gets changed forever. Even though she’s conflicted about meeting relatives she hasn’t before, when she meets a mysterious boy who’s sworn to protect her, suddenly her priorities are differed. 
Oz wants to be a member of Reign of Terror for more than one reason. They’re a close knit group, like a family. He knows they’re the good guys in a town full of not-so-good ones. So when he gets a chance to prove to Emily’s biological father that he can protect her from a rival club, he jumps at it. But what he didn’t expect was to fall head over heels for the protected girl. 
With a fast-paced, explosive and engrossing plot, I was sucked in from the start. Katie wrote an epic whirlwind romance with passionate and lively characters that are standing up there with the likes of Echo and Noah. I loved getting into this new world of exciting themes that will cascade into the next novel (that I CAN’T wait to read!).
Overall, Nowhere But Here is a novel you can’t miss. If you’re a fan of Katie McGarry, or you haven’t read anything from her yet—this is going to be your next favourite YA book. 5 Stars completely through and through. Katie never fails to write another book that I don’t fall in love with.

YA Readers and extended to NA readers, alike.

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.
Have you read Nowhere But Here?

What are your thoughts?

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs 


happy reading!

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