Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West

 

“Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they'd talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.

But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems...like he’d rather be anywhere else. Hurt and confused, Norah reacts in kind. Suddenly, her oldest friendship is on the rocks.

An unexpected summer spent driving across the country leads both Norah and Skyler down new roads and to new discoveries. Before long, they are, once again, seeing each other in a different light. Can their friendship-turned-rivalry turn into something more? - taken from Goodreads.

This book takes place over an RV trip between former best friends, Norah and Skyler. Excited to see her best friend/”crush” for the first time in four years, Norah is quickly hurt that Skyler doesn’t seem to want to still be friends. Trying to figure out what has changed between the two of them, Norah tries to find ways to break through Skyler’s tough exterior. When the details of the trip seem sketchy, Norah is determined to find out what is going on. As the miles click away, can these two go back to being friends or are the obstacles in front of them just too much? 

Visit Kasie West’s website.

Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

“A boy desperate to hold on, a girl ready to let go.

Fitz Holton waits in fear for the day his single mother's early-onset Alzheimer's starts stealing her memory. He's vowed to stay close to home to care for her in the years to come--never mind the ridiculous college tour she's forcing him on to visit schools where he knows he'll never go. Juniper Ramirez is counting down the days until she can leave home, a home crowded with five younger siblings and zero privacy. Against the wishes of her tight-knit family, Juniper plans her own college tour of the East Coast with one goal: get out.

When Fitz and Juniper cross paths on their first college tour in Boston, they're at odds from the moment they meet-- while Juniper's dying to start a new life apart for her family, Fitz faces the sacrifices he must make for his. Their relationship sparks a deep connection--in each other's eyes, they glimpse alternate possibilities regarding the first big decision of their adult lives.

Time of Our Lives is a story of home and away, of the wonder and weight of memory, of outgrowing fears and growing into the future.” taken from Goodreads.com

I really enjoyed this story about two high school seniors as they begin to make plans for their college futures, Juniper just wants to escape from her large family while Fitz wants to cling to his mother who will eventually develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Bumping into each other on the first stop of their college tours, the two are intrigued enough by each other to seek each other out at their next stops. I felt that Juniper jumped from her long-time boyfriend Matt to Fitz really quickly. I also hate how the story seemed to just suddenly stop unexpectedly for me.

Visit Emily & Austin’s website.

 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

“Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I don’t know why it has taken me so long to read/listen to a Morgan Matson book. I had heard great things about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour but they didn’t do the book justice. Amy Currie is still reeling from her father’s death a few short months earlier. Her twin brother Charlie is in North Carolina at a drug rehab and her mother has taken a job in Connecticut. Amy was left behind in California to finish out her school year. With money tight, her mother decides that a family friend’s son can drive their car and Amy across the country. Amy is not too thrilled with the prospect of four days with a total stranger but she has no choice. When Roger Sullivan comes to her house to start their trip, it isn’t too long before the two decide to deviate from Mrs. Currie’s plans and head off on their own.

As they travel across the country, Amy and Roger begin to fight and heal from their own inner demons. An epic road trip ensues as readers discover what exactly happened when Amy’s father died.

Visit Morgan Matson’s website.

Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins (Rebel Belle book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Rebel Belle and MIss Mayhem, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“High heels. Higher stakes.”

“Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark's battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again.  

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.” - Goodreads.com

Ryan and Bee helped David escape the wards put in place by Saylor around Pine Grove not knowing they were to help him, not contain him. Harper is devastated and is determined to find him. When her Paladin powers escape her the night another Paladin attacks her, she realizes that David believes that she is trying to kill him. With his growing Oracle powers gaining strength and spiraling out of control, Harper is in a race to find David before it is too late.

Can Harper find David? Who helps her in the journey? Does she keep her Paladin powers? Will it be too late for him? Can he be David or will his Oracle powers survive? What secrets did Saylor hide? Will the mystery of his parentage be discovered? What happens when Harper realizes the only way to stop the Oracle is death?

Visit Rachel Hawkins’ website.