Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

“When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was my first Brigid Kemmerer book despite the fact that her Elementals series has been in a box by my bed for years. Fortunately, this will not be my last book by this author. I literally blew through this book in two days. Maegan and Rob’s story sucked me in and didn’t let go until the end, which was a heartbreaking mixture of emotions. Kemmerer’s contemporary novels are now on my auto-read list. 

Visit Brigid Kemmerer’s website.

As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows (Fallen Isles book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Before She Ignites, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“MIRA, THE HOPEBEARER

Mira Minkoba is on the run with her friends after a fiery escape from the Pit, where she’d been imprisoned for defending the dragons she loves. And she wants answers. Where have all the dragons been taken? Why are powerful noorestones being shipped to the mainland? And did the treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sell out the Fallen Isles to their enemies?

MIRA, THE DRAGONHEARTED

As her connection to the dragons—and their power—grows stronger, so does Mira’s fear that she might lose control and hurt someone she loves. But the only way to find the truth is to go home again, to Damina, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust.

Home, where she must rise above her fears. Or be consumed.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I think I waited a bit too long in picking up the second book in this trilogy. I had problems recalling a lot of the details from the first book. Unfortunately, I found the beginning of the book to be very slow. It literally takes Mira and her friends forever to escape and go somewhere else after leaving the pit. Once the action picks up, the story really moves forward. As shocking revelations are revealed, Mina must make a choice as to who she will become. The ending sets up the final book in this trilogy.

Book three, When She Reigns, is due out Sept. 10, 2019.

Visit Jodi Meadows’ website.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

“Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I enjoyed Angie Thomas’ sophomore novel so much better than her first and more than I initially expected. As Bri’s story unfolded, I help my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. A couple of times the incident from The Hate U Give is mentioned but reading that book first isn’t necessary. Once again, I listened to the audio version and Bahni Turpin is a phenomenal voice to the author’s words. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. 

Visit Angie Thomas’ website.

Maybe This Time by Kasie West

“One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love

Weddings. Funerals. Barbecues. New Year's Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.

Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn't so bad after all . . .

Told over the course of one year and following Sophie from event to event, this delightful novel from master of romantic comedy Kasie West shows how love can blossom in unexpected places.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I love reading Kasie West’s books and her latest is no exception. What was different about this story was the timeline over which it took place. Over the various events in this small town, our main characters not only meet and interact but eventually fall in love. I also liked how the flower theme and meanings of various flowers were interwoven into the story. I do wish we could have seen more interaction between Sophie and Andrew then only nine times in the story.

Visit Kasie West’s website.

Whisper of the Tide by Sarah Tolcser (Song of the Current book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Song of the Current, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Caro has settled into a routine: Wake, eat breakfast, try to figure out who is going attempt to assassinate Markos today. The currents aren't exactly calm. Markos is in constant danger, and his claim to the Akhaian throne is largely unsupported. Without military strength he doesn't have a chance. Relief appears on the horizon when a powerful Archon wants to side with Markos in his fight for the throne. But in exchange for an army, Markos must marry the Archon’s daughter. They must decide which is more important: their love for each other or the fate of Akhaia. And Caro will have to decide if her destiny is to sail with the tide, or chart her own course.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I had put off reading this book for a while especially since I couldn’t find a recap of the first book. Fortunately, I surprised myself by not needing it at all. A few characters from the first book didn’t return but I feel like the author dropped a major hint involving a minor character. I hope that there is a third book or spinoff to flesh out this new storyline.

Visit Sarah Tolcser’s website.

Defy the Fates by Claudia Gray (Constellations book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Defy the Stars and Defy the Worlds, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Hunted and desperate.

Abel only has one mission left that matters: save the life of Noemi Vidal. To do that, he not only has to escape the Genesis authorities, he also must face the one person in the galaxy who still has the means to destroy him. Burton Mansfield's consciousness lives on, desperate for a home, and Abel's own body is his last bargaining chip. 

Alone in the universe.

Brought back from the brink of death, Noemi Vidal finds Abel has not only saved her life, but he's made her into something else, something more. Not quite mech, yet not quite human any longer, Noemi must find her place in a universe where she is utterly unique, all while trying to create a world where anyone--even a mech--can be free.

The final battle between Earth and the colony planets is here, and there's no lengths to which Earth won't go to preserve its domination over all humanity. But together, the universe's most advanced mech and its first human-mech hybrid might have the power to change the galaxy for good.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book is how a series should end. The action picks up immediately where book two ended and never stops. Fast paced, thrilling, and intriguing, Abel and Noemi take fans for a wild ride across the universe. With everyone out to get them, these two never give up on their beliefs and not only fight for their friends but for their enemies as well. After finishing this series, I cannot wait to pick up another one of Ms. Gray’s books 

Visit Claudia Gray’s website.

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo

“10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she's just performed her hit song "Heartbeat" in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She's about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She's in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.

11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She's very cute. He's maybe curious.

12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same.” - taken from Goodreads.com

With this book, Maurene Goo has become one of my must-read authors. I loved The Way You Make Me Feel, but Lucky and Jack captured my heart that I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. Lucky is a huge K-pop star living a completely sheltered and controlled life. Desperate for a hamburger after she finishes her latest concert tour, Lucky sneaks out of her hotel after taking a sleeping pill. What occurs next is a Good Samaritan named Jack finding and taking care of her, not knowing her true identity.

When Jack, a freelance paparazzo, discovers who he has brought home, he devises a plan to capture candid photos of the squeaky-clean star to further his career. What Jack doesn't expect is to fall in love with Lucky. This book is absolutely beautiful. Maurene Goo fans, there's even a tiny little glimpse of the characters from The Way You Make Me Feel. 

Visit Maurene Goo’s website.