The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

 

"When it all falls apart, who can you believe in?

Everything is going right for Lucy Hansson, until her mom’s cancer reappears. Just like that, Lucy breaks with all the constants in her life: her do-good boyfriend, her steady faith, even her longtime summer church camp job.

Instead, Lucy lands at a camp for kids who have been through tough times. As a counselor, Lucy is in over her head and longs to be with her parents across the lake. But that’s before she gets to know her coworkers, who are as loving and unafraid as she so desperately wants to be.

It’s not just new friends that Lucy discovers at camp—more than one old secret is revealed along the way. In fact, maybe there’s much more to her family and her faith than Lucy ever realized." - taken from Goodreads.

Even though this book ends abruptly, it did break me at the end. Discovering the reasons why Lucy's mom wanted her to spend the summer working at Camp Daybreak instead of at their church camp while she undergoes cancer treatments, is the heart of the story. Not your typical Emery Lord read.

Visit Emery Lord’s website.

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen (Violet Made of Thorns book 1)

 

“Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.” - taken from Goodreads.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year. Violet is torn between love and duty. A Seer, Violet came into her position after she saved the prince from death as children. Years later, both are struggling to live under the former Seer's prophecy. Violet is torn between her head and her heart, serving Cyrus's father or being with Cyrus. When her visions turn dark, Violet must make a choice that affects everyone.

The ending was fantastic and I can't wait for the second book.

Visit Gina Chen’s website.

When We Collided by Emery Lord

“Can you fall in love when you’re falling apart?”

“We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.” - Goodreads 

At the heart of this book, this was Jonah's story. I really wanted to shake Vivi for some of her choices but she was the breath of fresh air in the small town of Verona Cove. And the town and Jonah were better for Vivi being there. The beginning of this story wasn't really capturing my attention but I was in tears at the end. Grief, mental illness, and recovery are what makes this book. 

Visit Emery Lord’s website.

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

“After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own.

Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.

This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.” - taken from Goodreads.

This one has been on my TBR forever and it was just what I needed to read. Reagan has hit rock bottom and spending the summer with her best friend Dee is what both girls need. Dee has broken up with her long time boyfriend and is nursing a broken heart. Dee is also up and coming country music star Lilah Montgomery. Heading out on tour, plans change when Matt Finch joins as the permanent opening act. Soon Reagan finds that her summer has just been turned upside down. The ending of this story was absolutely perfect. A fantastic read! 

Visit Emery Lord’s website.
 

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

 

“Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she’s spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Da Vinci’s footsteps, she’s ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital’s Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Jack is charming, wildly attractive, and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is—and tries to uncover what he’s hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in her family’s closet tear them apart?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was an incredible story about a chance meeting, first love, and of course some pretty serious family drama. Bex and Jack meet late one night on a city bus and are unable to stop thinking about the other. As they begin to see one another, the two of them begin to unravel the hurt they are both holding onto. When confronted by their parents, can Bex and Jack's relationship survive? Another awesome book that I've waited too long to pick up.

Visit Jenn Bennett's website.

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

“Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.” - taken from Goodreads.

Why did I wait so long to read this book! Mink and Alex are online acquaintances who share a love of movies. Bailey, AKA Mink, moves across the country to live with her father who has to live in the same town as Alex. She doesn't tell Alex that she has moved because she wants to work out a plan to try and find him first. Bailey gets a job at a local museum where she meets Porter Roth, a boy who immediately infuriates. Soon. Bailey/Mink finds herself drawn to Porter while pulling away from Alex. But what happens when her real life and on life persona collide? A cute romance story. 

Visit Jenn Bennett’s website.

 

Live, Laugh, Kidnap by Gabby Noone

 

“The only thing Genesis, Holly and Zoe seem to have in common is being stuck in Violet, Montana. Well, that and the fact that Hope Harvest Ministries is trying to ruin their lives.

Genesis lives on a commune that is now an echo of the New Age cult it once was. She’s witnessed power couple Pastor Jay and Ree Reaps transform their sleepy small town into a haven for online Influencers, who flock to Violet, the bible in one hand and Ree’s bestselling ACT LIKE A LADY, PRAY LIKE A BOSS in the other. Now, the Reaps have decided it’s God’s Will™ that they take over Gen’s ranch.

Holly is a begrudging tourist, forced to spend the summer with her estranged father as punishment for her unsavoury behaviour back in LA. To Holly, Hope Harvest is nothing but a gimmicky marketing ploy, but it’s threatening to put her father’s diner out of business and, for some reason, Holly cares.

All Zoe wants is to leave Violet, working thankless shifts at the diner to scrape together enough cash to start a new life with her girlfriend. But Zoe’s mother has lost everything to the church’s multilevel marketing schemes so the little money that Zoe manages to make goes right to debt collectors.

The only solution to their problems is to scam the scammers and protect what’s theirs. It shouldn’t take much – the Reaps’ golden son, an accidental kidnapping, some light blackmail – and the Reaps’ fortune will be in the girls’ much more deserving hands. As long as everything goes according to plan… “ taken from Goodreads.

A hilarious teenage take on a 9 to 5 story line where the kidnappee takes part in a plan to con his parents out of some ransom money so that the four of then can start new lives. Genesis, the girl who grew up in a commune, Zoe, the girl whose mother has given all of their money to the Hope Harvest Church, Holly, who's in town for the summer to stay with her dad, and Dustin, the son of the Church's leaders, join forces not knowing what life has in store for them. A satisfying read. 

Visit Gabby Noone’s website.

The Last Laugh by Mindy McGinnis (The Initial Insult book 2)

 

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

“Tress Montor murdered Felicity Turnado—but she might not have to live with the guilt for long. With an infected arm held together by duct tape, the panther who clawed her open on the loose, and the whole town on the hunt for the lost homecoming queen, the odds are stacked against Tress. As her mind slides deeper into delirium, Tress is haunted by the growing sound of Felicity’s heartbeat pulsing from the “best friend” charm around her fevered neck.

Ribbit Usher has been a punchline his whole life—from his nickname to his latest turn as the unwitting star of a humiliating viral video. In the past he’s willingly played the fool, but now it’s time to fulfill his destiny. That means saving the girl, so that Felicity can take her place at his side and Ribbit can exact revenge on all who have done him wrong—which includes his cousin, Tress. Ribbit is held by a pact he made with his mother long ago, a pact that must be delivered upon in four days.

With time ticking down and an enemy she considers a friend lurking in the shadows, Tress’s grip on reality is failing. Can she keep both mind and body together long enough to finally find out what happened to her parents?’ - taken from Goodreads.

After the cliffhanger ending of the first book, I wasn't sure where the conclusion was going to go. Needless to say, it was like a train wreck that was impossible to ignore and I couldn't wait to get to the end. Tress Montor just wants to know what happened to her parents that night, but no one is talking. With the events from the first book playing out over the course of the following week, where the story ends will have readers shocked at the level of deception.

Visit Mindy McGinnis’ website.

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

 

“Isda does not exist. At least not beyond the opulent walls of the opera house.

Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.

But Isda breaks Cyril’s cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she’s ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.

Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book was a magical, fantasy story based on a gender swapped Phantom of the Opera. Isda is a disfigured girl who lives hidden in the catacombs beneath the opera house. Rescued from certain death by Cyril, Isda is okay with her life until she meets Emeric, the new night janitor. After accidentally exposing herself to Emeric, her life changes as she realizes that Cyril doesn't have her best interest at heart. While I found the first half of this book quite boring, the second half more than makes up for it.

Visit Jessica S. Olson’s website.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel (Stolen Beauty book 1)

 

“These days, I’ve been killing it when it comes to letting people down. Now I’ve been kicked out of high school, arrested, and accepted into a remote, off-the-grid school owned and operated by an inscrutable billionaire tech guru.

Gray Wolf Academy is looking for a certain kind of student. Ones that no one will miss. Like me.

Then there’s Braxton. The beautiful, oddly anachronistic guy who showed up right when the trouble started. And he’s a total enigma—which means that I definitely can’t trust him, even if there’s something about him that makes me want to.

They all tell me I have a gift. A very rare gift. And Gray Wolf Academy wants me to learn it. To use it. Because if what they say is true, I have all the time in the world.

And that makes me the most dangerous high school student you’ll never know… “ - taken from Goodreads.

This time-traveling mystery is perfect for fans of Truly Devious or The Inheritance Games. Natasha Clarke finds her world turned upside down when she skips school with her friend Elodie to go to a club. Not remembering what happened the night before, she finds herself arrested for stealing. When the cute boy she met at the club gets her charges dropped, Natasha finds herself with an impossible choice, join the Gray Wolf Academy or be nothing.

Soon, Natasha realizes that Gray Wolf hides many secrets and that there doesn't seem to be anyone there she can truly trust. As her past and present lives, collide will Natasha be able to unravel the mysteries of her new life before it's too late?

Book two, Ruling Destiny, is due out on February 7, 2023.

Visit Alyson Noel’s website.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye (Blood Scion book 1)

 

“This is what they deserve. They wanted me to be a monster. I will be the worst monster they ever created.

Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.

Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.

Sloane rises through the ranks and gains strength but, in doing so, risks something greater: losing herself entirely, and becoming the very monster that she ahbors.” - taken from Goodreads.

This is not a happy story nor a fantasy book suited for everyone. Sloane Shades' life is hard, especially since her mother's disappearance. When she is drafted into the army at the age of 15, her life is turned upside down. In order to survive, she must kill or be killed. Driven by vengeance, Sloane soon finds herself doing whatever it takes to thrive.

With major secrets revealed and a cliffhanger ending, readers will be left waiting for book two.

Visit Deborah Falaye’s website.