Rewind & Review #81

Created by Shae Has Left the Room.

~I caught a bad cold or the flu right before spring break, which totally ruined all the plans I had. :(

~I didn't get to go to the NoVA Teen Book Fest, like I had been planning to, but the bookstore got my books signed for me and Ibi Zoboi and Jessica Spotswood even made get better videos for me.

~I was feeling a bit better by last night so my mom and I went to see Cinderella! The tour came through Richmond this weekend, and it was really good. The actress playing Ella wasn't as good as Laura Osnes, but I loved Marie, Gabrielle, Topher, Lord Pinkleton, and Jean-Michel.

Books I Received for Review

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser (from Bloomsbury)

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan (from Bloomsbury)

Geekerella by Ashley Poston (from Quirk Books via NetGalley)

Books I Won/Traded for/was Gifted

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee (traded with Stephanie)

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett (traded with Raisa)

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (gifted by my mom)

Books I Bought

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig

Books I Read

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Definitions of Indefinable Things by Whitney Taylor (DNF)

Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman

The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig (4 stars)

Crazy Messy Beautiful by Carrie Arcos (2.5 stars)

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby (reread)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (reread)

You in Five Acts by Una LaMarche (3 stars)

Heist Society by Ally Carter (reread)

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil (3 stars)

Blog Posts You Might've Missed in the Last Few Weeks

   (from 2/27-3/4)

• Why I Love P.S. I Like You
• The Chapter Sampler Test Part 4
• Reading Across the USA
• Writing Prompt #14

   (from 3/5-3/11)

• Review: By Your Side by Kasie West (3 stars)
• Top Ten Tuesday: Unreleased Books I Liked
• Review: My Faire Lady by Laura Wettersten (3 stars)
• Random Friday: Spring 2017 Reads
• So You Like... #45
• The Odyssey Article - 15 Books To Make Your Spring Break Better

So You Like... #45

I paired books with Disney Princesses a long time ago, but it's been fun doing more individualized series. This time it's...

SO YOU LIKE...

RAPUNZEL.
(As always, book covers link to Goodreads.)

Credit.

Artists

Dreaming of something more


















Is Rapunzel your favorite princess? Which other Disney princess would you like to see me feature? (I've already done Belle, Tiana, and Mulan, in case you haven't been keeping up with these posts.)

Random Friday: Spring 2017 Reads

Want to participate in Random Fridays? Just do the following: 

• Include the above image in your post and link back to my post.
• Blog about this week's topic.
• Add the link to your Random Friday at the bottom of this post.

Happy almost spring, everyone! Here are a few of the season's releases that I'm most anticipating.

1. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

2. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

3. And We're Off by Dana Schwartz

4. You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner

5. Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Plus one that I've already read but should totally be on your TBR list:

6. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

What spring releases are you anticipating?

Review: My Faire Lady

My Faire Lady by Laura Wettersten
Grade: C
Summary: Rowena Duncan is a thoroughly modern girl with big plans for her summer—until she catches her boyfriend making out with another girl. Heartbroken, she applies to an out-of-town job posting and finds herself somewhere she never expected: the Renaissance Faire.

As a face-painter doubling as a serving wench, Ro is thrown headfirst into a vibrant community of artists and performers. She feels like a fish out of water until Will, a quick-witted whip cracker, takes her under his wing. Then there’s Christian, a blue-eyed stunt jouster who makes Ro weak in the knees. Soon, it’s not just her gown that’s tripping her up.

Trading in the internet and electricity for stars and campfires was supposed to make life simpler, but Ro is finding that love is the ultimate complication. Can she let the past make way for her future?

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I bought this book without reading it back in 2014 (which is rare for me; I normally don't take a chance on a book unless it's an auto-buy author). I really enjoyed it at the time and had reread it once or twice since. But after my most recent reread, my opinion changed a little.
My Faire Lady is definitely light and reads slightly better than the average Disney Channel original movie, although the pretty much completely happy ending definitely reminded me of a DCOM.
I liked the descriptions of Ro's art, and I totally shipped her and Will from the beginning, but the book lacked little moments that would have made this a better book. The time length in the book felt a little too short for all the substantial things that happen. I also needed a little more substance in all of Ro's friendships. I couldn't see why she, Kara, and Meg got along, and her new friendship with Suze felt like it wasn't built on anything but the fact that they shared a tent and Suze trained Ro at the tavern. I really liked the setting of the Ren Faire, but Christian was totally unnecessary as a character. He was just there to cause drama and create a mini love triangle. I was happy with how things resolved between Ro and her parents, though. Towards the end, she tells them she wants to go to art school and although they're a bit dismayed at first, I can see their logic and they do come around (if a bit quickly). (Also even though Ro seemed to just want to be a painter, I could totally see her making a good elementary school art teacher.)
There was underage drinking and talk about sex. No foul language.

The Verdict: A fun romp that probably shouldn't be taken too seriously, but it's good if you're looking for something light.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: I already did.

Top Ten Tuesday: Unreleased Books I Liked

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

For the first time ever, TTT is actually taking a little (well-deserved) break. It's been going on for six and a half years, and I've been doing it for three and a half years. The hosts said we could do freebie topics if we want, so here I am. I'm going to list upcoming releases that I've already read and that I really enjoyed. I won't be going into details (watch for my reviews instead), but know that you should have these on your TBR lists and maybe even preorder them. Also...it's gonna be less than ten but TTT has never been about always having a perfect ten items. (I've gone waaaayyyy over enough times to probably compensate for tinier posts like this.)

1. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Delicious You've Got Mail-esque fun.

2. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

This book doesn't come out til the middle of May, but I jumped my entire review schedule as soon as it arrived, and it was 100% worth it. This is The Start of Me and You levels of good.

3. The Heartbeats of Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

So, so, so thought-provoking and lovely. (I know it's out in the U.K. and so shouldn't technically be on this list, but it doesn't release for another week here in the U.S. so...)

4. A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Looking for more beautiful fantasy unlike most of what's out there right now?

5. Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

Music, lots of questions teenagers have to deal with, and a very good ship.

Sorry/not sorry that they're almost all contemporary. 

Review: By Your Side

By Your Side by Kasie West
Grade: C
Summary: When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Kasie West has long been one of my favorite YA authors, but, for the first time, I feel a bit let-down.
I did like that Autumn had anxiety, but By Your Side wasn't a Mental Illness book. Anxiety was just part of Autumn's life and who she is. Medication was viewed positively, too.
I had several problems with the plot, characters, and writing style, though. Dialogue felt very awkward and stilted. Contractions often weren't used in places where I'm certain most people would use contractions (unless they're just ultra formal people, but I don't think Autumn and Dax would classify as that).
I'm still not sure how Autumn fell for Dax because there was little chemistry between them. Plus, I feel like the time covered in the book was too short for them to believably want to get in a relationship, especially after Autumn was crushing on Jeff so recently. Also, Autumn's friends are the worst. Their relationships with her seem only surface level, and I also don't even remember their names, so they clearly didn't matter that much. The parts with Autumn's brother also felt a bit disjointed. The plot with the library should've been great, but that was such a small part of the book, and they honestly did very little and things felt so hot and cold. I think I would've liked it if more if Autumn and Dax had known each other a little better before getting trapped in the library. Also, her photography hobby felt shoehorned in.

The Verdict: Not Kasie West's best. Hoping Lucky in Love later this year will be better.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: I actually bought it before reading and reviewing it.

Writing Prompt #14

So the following bit of writing didn't have a real prompt, per se (I kind of ignored my prof's real prompt, oops), but I think I can kind of make one up for y'all.

Prompt: Make the first paragraph to your story about something your character hates, and why they hate it.

Nora hated snow. If it hadn't snowed February 9, 2007, nothing bad would have happened. Her mom and dad wouldn't have died. She wouldn't be in foster care. She'd know where her little sister was. Most of all, she never would have been in the wrong place at the wrong time on April 17, 2015.

I don't entirely know where I was going with that tiny piece of writing, but I'd like to maybe pursue it for a future workshop piece. We'll see.

If you use this prompt, please let me know what you wrote about! I love to hear how writing prompts inspire others.

Reading Across the USA

Have you ever wanted to read a book set in every state? Well I'm about to provide you with the resources to knock several of those states off your list. I couldn't find solid books I felt good recommending for 11 of the states, but thanks to Abigail Johnson's #YAbyState on Twitter, I was able to find several books I hadn't thought of. To make up for this 11-state deficit, though, some states will have multiple books listed (also so you can have options).

(Also, in case you were wondering - but you probably weren't - I started thinking about this when I tried to list all 50 states from memory one day in class. I got 48 easily and forgot Nevada and Missouri.)

Also, asterisks will indicate books I haven't read, fyi.

Maine

Swept Away by Michelle Dalton

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

New Hampshire

Five Summers by Una LaMarche*

Massachusetts

Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

Connecticut

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

New York

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Like No Other by Una LaMarche

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler

Pennsylvania

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni

New Jersey

Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine

Maryland

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Virginia

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

North Carolina

Belles by Jen Calonita

South Carolina

The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne

Georgia

17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Florida

First & Then by Emma Mills

Paper Towns by John Green

Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi

Alabama

Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Mississippi

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Louisiana

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Arkansas

After the Fall by Kate Hart*

Tennessee

Hundred Oaks series by Miranda Kenneally

Kentucky

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Ohio

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Michigan

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord (not out yet, but it's SO good)

Indiana

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Illinois

The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Iowa

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler (I think it's set in Iowa; it's been a while since I read this one)

Wisconsin

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Minnesota

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater*

Nebraska

Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman*

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Kansas

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler

Texas

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu

What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae

Colorado

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler*

New Mexico

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Arizona

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Utah

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr*

By Your Side by Kasie West

Washington

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Everything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

Oregon

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson

This Side of Home by Renee Watson

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

California

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Golden by Jessi Kirby

Hawaii

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Nevada

The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt
Overturned by Lamar Giles

Missouri

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

The 11 states without books: Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska

I'm thinking about making this a third book challenge for myself. I probably won't start it, though, until I've finished the Newbery Challenge. Have you read a YA book set in every state?