Recommended For You by Laura Silverman

 

“Shoshanna Greenberg loves working at Once Upon, her favorite local bookstore. And with her moms fighting at home and her beloved car teetering on the brink of death, the store has become a welcome escape.

When her boss announces a holiday bonus to the person who sells the most books, Shoshanna sees an opportunity to at least fix her car, if none of her other problems. The only person standing in her way? New hire Jake Kaplan.

Jake is an affront to everything Shoshanna stands for. He doesn’t even read! But somehow his sales start to rival hers. Jake may be cute (really cute), and he may be an eligible Jewish single (hard to find south of Atlanta), but he’s also the enemy, and Shoshanna is ready to take him down.

But as the competition intensifies, Jake and Shoshanna grow closer and realize they might be more on the same page than either expects… “ - taken from Goodreads.com

Recommended For You was a cute holiday story that reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie. Shoshana, who is Jewish, loves working at a local bookstore. When her boss offers a holiday bonus for the top seasonal seller, she sees it as a way to get her car fixed if not to relieve some of the tension at home. Jake Kaplan, the cute new hire, is her only competition. With lots of stumbles and realizations, Shoshana soon realizes that Jake isn't what he originally seemed. 

Visit Laura Silverman’s website.

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim (Blood of Stars book 2)

 

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

“Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.

But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Wow, this book was definitely worth the wait! I had no problem picking up the story from book one. I don't want to do is give away too many details about this story. Maia has been named the royal tailor and has returned with the three coveted dresses in tow. What she hadn't planned on doing was trying to stop the coming war on her kingdom. Full of adventures and heartbreak, Maia’s adventure is one not to forget.

Visit Elizabeth Lim’s website.

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

 

“Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious.

Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family's past is.

The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I wholeheartedly believe that Karen McManus is a master of YA mystery. The Cousins was so different from her previous YA books that the reader is left hanging until the very end to see what really has happened. The four Story children; Adam, Anders, Allison, and Archer, are banished from their mother's life with a letter from her attorney is it states “you know what you did.”. They never hear from her again, not even after marriages or the birth of their children.

When the three Story grandchildren, Millie, Aubrey, and Jonah; receive letters offering them summer employment at their grandmother's luxury resort, their parents leave them no choice. Soon, they find themselves deep in the infamous Story mystery.

 Full of shocking twists, turns, and reveals, readers will be holding their breath until the very end. 

Visit Karen M. McManus’ website.

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon (Dimple and Rishi book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a companion story that takes place after There’s Something About Sweetie. While it’s not necessary to read the previous book first, I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the details for you. 

“Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions (aka boyfriends) she’s made, she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy, Samir—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer. As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I enjoyed Pinky and Samir’s story who we first meet in There’s Something About Sweetie. This book is your typical fake boyfriend troupe but it really works well in this story. Both of our characters grew over the course of the summer. Unfortunately for fans of the previous books, only Ashish has the briefest of mentions at the beginning and end of the story. I hope that the author writes an epilogue of all six of these characters in the future to see how everyone turns out.

Visit Sandhya Menon’s website.

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

 

“The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?” - taken from Goodreads.com

A powerful story about Fabiola’s quest to achieve the American Dream and what it will cost her to get there. Thrown into life with her cousins and aunt, she is left to own devices to find a way to gain her mother’s release from immigration officials and make her way around the streets of Detroit. Interspersed with the stories of minor characters, readers will gain insight into what life is like for an immigrant. 

Visit Ibi Zoboi’s website.