Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass
"Aubrey and her best friends made a pact to play by the guys' rules when it comes to dating. They're hoping the rules will keep them from experiencing high school heartbreak—they don't realize that these rules could just as easily keep them from opening their hearts and minds. And when new boy Nathan Diggs moves to town, Aubrey starts to think that some rules are meant to be broken."- summary from Amazon

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a refreshing take on a contemporary book. There is a romance in it but it's just handled so realistically and so differently from a lot of other YA. I loved Aubrey and her friends' pact, though (and this was probably done on purpose) I would get annoyed sometimes with how they all dealt with things and they seemed condescending too when they saw other girls that weren't as "enlightened" as they were. But part of that mentality is a crucial part of Aubrey's emotional arc in the book.

Nathan and Aubrey's blossoming friendship-turned-relationship is an interesting journey and Bass takes her time with it, letting them grow closer and closer until it's inevitable that they wind up together. Then, she writes about the ensuing relationship, rather than ending it on that happy note, which has its ups and downs. It's a fantastically written portrait of a high school relationship and was very compelling to read.

Overall, Bass' debut is an interesting and engrossing look at relationships in high school, and I'm so excited to see what she releases next!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
"When Cynthia Rothschild's best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, Cyn can totally see why; he's really young and very good-looking. But after meeting Mr Gabriel, Cyn realizes something isn't quite right. Maybe it's the creepy look in the librarian's eyes, or the weird feeling Cyn gets whenever she's around him. Before long Cyn realizes that Mr Gabriel is, in fact ...a demon. Now, in addition to saving the school production of Sweeney Todd from technical disaster and trying not to make a fool of herself with her own hopeless crush, Cyn has to save her best friend from the clutches of the evil librarian, who also seems to be slowly sucking the life force out of the entire student body!"- summary from Amazon

This was such a fun and witty book; it reminded me a bit of Team Human by Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier. I wish there was more humorous paranormal YA. Knudsen did a wonderful job writing some humor into a normally dark subject, though there was still plenty of dark and creepy things going on.

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli
"Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met."- summary from Amazon

I could write pages upon pages about how awesome and adorable this book is but I will try not to make this too long. Albertalli has written such a wonderful coming-out and coming-of-age tale. Simon's voice is pitch perfect and felt like such a realistic depiction of gay teens today. While GLBT people are becoming more accepted and it can be easier to come out nowadays, it is still a difficult process to have to come out to your friends and family. You may think you know them well enough, but sometimes you don't and it's hard to fathom that kind of rejection so you hide part of your basic self from others. Simon is dealing with that problem and there are little things that are said or done that affect how he perceives people and how he thinks they'll handle this sort of announcement.

Keeping him happy is the relationship that's slowly blossoming between him and Blue, another gay boy at his school. They keep in touch through emails sent from accounts used just for that purpose. I could honestly read a whole book just composed of their emails because they are hilarious, touching, insightful, and playful. It is such a perfect way to show how close they are getting and how willing (or not willing) they are to break their self-imposed silence.

Simon's friends are also written very well and they are brought to life through Albertalli's breezy yet thoughtful way of writing. The writing itself is light when it needs to be and heavy when it needs to be, just like real life. The various friendships written in this novel are so realistically done that they all feel like real people and people I would like to spend time with.

Overall, an amazingly stunning debut and I urge you all to read it and become fans for life like I am. Get this book immediately when it comes out tomorrow.

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell + Interview

Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell
"For as long as she can remember, Lucy Aimes has been plagued by a dark, recurring dream of drowning. But when her family moves to an old plantation outside New Orleans, she starts having intense new dreams, vivid scenes of a bygone era filled with people she shouldn't know but does. Searching for answers to her haunting visions, Lucy reluctantly descends into the city's mystical culture.

What she finds is Alex, a charming but mysterious boy who behaves as if they've known each other forever. Lucy shouldn't be so drawn to him . . . but she is. As she tries to solve the mystery surrounding Alex, a centuries-old vendetta unspools around her, resulting in a vicious murder. Now trapped in a dangerous crossfire, Lucy must act fast to save her future—and everyone she loves."- summary from Amazon

Maxwell's debut is a scary but fun book. The mystery surrounding the plantation and Alex makes for a compelling, page-turning read and Maxwell knows when to give enough information but leave some just out of reach. I am a big fan of books that involve voodoo elements because I'm just such a huge fan of various forms of magic, so this was right up my alley. The book is set at a good, slow pace, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to find out more about what's going on. The attraction between Lucy and Alex makes the book captivating as well, and Maxwell treads the line between romantic and creepy very well when it comes to that part of the story.

Overall, a fantastically written debut and I'm eager to read more from Maxwell, which includes a companion book out this year, which she talks about in the interview below!

and here's an interview with Lisa:

1) How did you get the idea for Sweet Unrest?

The idea for SWEET UNREST started with one of my wedding pictures. There’s a weird smudge in one of them, and the photographer (only partially jokingly) said, "oh, that’s a ghost. We see those all the time.” So that was the beginning of Lucy’s character and the opening lines of the book. From there, I had this idea to write about Zombies, but the more I researched *real* Zombies, the more interested I got in Voodoo. And when I discovered that the first African American Daguerreotype photographer lived in New Orleans… things started coming together.


2) You have a second book coming out in 2016 from Simon Pulse called Heartless Things. Can you tell us about it? Are you working on anything else?

Actually, my second book is a 2015 release with Flux that is a companion novel/sequel to SWEET UNREST. It’s called THE GATHERING DEEP and tells the continuing story from another character’s POV.

Then HEARTLESS (which will be retitled eventually) is in 2016 and another book to be decided from Simon Pulse in 2017. I also have a Middle Grade that’s about to go out on submission called Xavier T. Fletcher, Ornithologist, and the Keeper of the Rend. It’s about birds and boys and goats and monsters and bees and I love it. :O)


3) What do you love most about teaching English? Is there anything you don't like about it?

I love getting to talk to bright students about books and writing—and I get paid for it. There are certain stories and poems that I can teach over and over again and never get tired of them. And I just got to propose and develop a course in YA Literature, so I’ll actually get to teach what I write in 2015 or 2016. There’s plenty I don’t like—starting with the grading. But the hardest thing for me to deal with as a professor is to see students who could really go far not care or not try or not be interested in or believe in themselves enough to put in the time and effort to get ahead. That’s the most frustrating thing—so much potential, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Because, ultimately, learning is internal and personal. No one can make you do it.


4) You blog as part of the Fall Fourteeners. How have they helped you along as you deal with your first published book?

The Fall Fourteeners have been such a lifeline! They’ve been my best cheerleaders and we all have bounced ideas off of each other about publicity and marketing and just surviving this whole crazy launch experience.


5) What book(s) are you currently reading, or are about to start? Any 2015 titles you're excited for?

I’m currently on a binge reading spree, desperately cramming in more words before I get my next round of edits. Today’s book is EVERY DAY by David Levithan, but I have a pile lined up behind that. I’m really excited about the second book in The Winner’s Curse series and also for the follow up to Snow Like Ashes. And I can’t wait for Rachael Allen’s The Revenge Playbook.


6) What is your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor(s)? Or if you don't like those, do you have a favorite snack to have while writing or as a reward for writing?

Favorite flavors are a mix of toasted marshmallow, strawberry something, and coconut.

FTC: Received finished paperback from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst
"It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassible dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing—and what she's running from—before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found…. "- summary from Amazon

I love Durst's books as they're all such interesting concepts and she creates each world so well. The Lost is a thrilling book encased in a character study of Lauren and the other residents of Lost. Each person there is on a quest for a purpose and they need to look deep within before they can figure out what that is. Helping Lauren along on this journey are Claire, a cute, deadly six year old and Peter aka the Finder (who brings the people to Lost) after Lauren has been run out of town by the locals. Both characters are fun and mysterious and I enjoyed reading about their time together as they navigate Lost to stay away from the hostile locals. Lauren is a character many will relate to, as she feels lost after what happened recently to her mother and wonders just what exactly she is doing with her life. She's a strong character for sure, but also vulnerable and scared (both emotionally and physically- the townspeople are after her, after all).

Overall, Durst has written a fantastically compelling start to a trilogy and I cannot wait to read more. Book 2 is already out, with Book 3 out later this year.

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.