Tag: Young Adult Fiction

Posted in Book Talk

Review: All That’s Left to Say

Posted on by Sara B.

So much to say about All That’s Left to Say. The novel, written by Emery Lord, follows protagonist Hannah MacLaren after her cousin and best friend Sophie dies from an overdose. Hannah’s world is completely shattered, as she deals with this loss and the mystery surrounding it. The Sophie she knew wouldn’t have used drugs, wouldn’t have kept such a huge secret from her. Yet that’s the truth she’s left with. Her grief is big and all-consuming, the only thing driving her forward being her determination to find out who gave Sophie the pills that ended her life.

Continue reading “Review: All That’s Left to Say” →
Posted in Writer Brain

I am ~obsessed~ with Heartstopper. Halp.

Posted on by Sara B.

**Spoilers to Heartstopper Season 1/Volumes 1-2

I’m not even joking — I’m actually obsessed. I had no idea what Heartstopper was when the Netflix show first came out. But I saw the immediate praise online and eventually learned it was based on a popular graphic novel series by Alice Oseman. Concept-wise, I was in. Two cutie patootie British boys falling in love? A supposed happy counterpart to Young Royals, which broke me only months before? I was Intrigued, with a capital I. Nearly a year after the show premiered, I finally ordered the graphic novels and read the first two (knowing that’s how far season one of the show covered). Aaaaaaand I fell. Hard. About as hard as Nick fell for Charlie.

Continue reading “I am ~obsessed~ with Heartstopper. Halp.” →
Posted in Book Talk

Review: Throwback

Posted on by Sara B.

Throwback by Maurene Goo is a coming-of-age fantasy YA novel about a Gen Z Korean-American named Samantha who travels back to the 1990’s and meets her teenage mother, with the mission to change their future. With that description alone, I was ready to swan dive into this book. It sounded like a wonderful package of the things I love, like a zany k-drama meets 90’s teen movie. And I’m so glad that it fully delivered.

Continue reading “Review: Throwback” →
Posted in Book Talk

Mini Review: Jane Anonymous

Posted on by Sara B.

Oof, this book was an experience. It’s not what I would call a satisfying or enjoyable reading experience, but that’s kind of the point. We follow main character Jane throughout a traumatizing kidnapping, as well as the aftermath, with alternating “Then” and “Now” chapters. The “Then” sections were especially thrilling and gut-wrenching, with the only comfort being Jane’s confidante and fellow kidnapped victim Mason. I was with Jane the whole ride, feeling the emotions — the fear, the panic, the unexpected love and loss. And as the truth unfolded, I was right there with Jane in feeling her pain. So I’d definitely recommend the book, so long as you’re in the right mood. (I definitely have to read something a little fluffier at the moment. 😭)

Rating: ★★★★★

Posted in Listicles

My Top 10 Most Anticipated YA Books (2020)

Posted on by Sara B.

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Well, isn’t this perfect timing. It’s summer, I’m out of school (for good! 🥳), and suddenly, all the big YA books are trickling out. The following list is only ten of the many that I’m excited to get my hands on. Mostly contemporary, that being my favorite genre, and some fantasy here and there. I went ahead and included stars to rate my personal excitement, as well as every book’s release date — so mark your calendars! Here we go! Continue reading “My Top 10 Most Anticipated YA Books (2020)” →

Posted in Book Talk

Mini Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

Posted on by Sara B.

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I had the pleasure of seeing the lovely Sandhya Menon at a panel for the Texas Book Festival, where I first heard of her and her book When Dimple Met Rishi. She was such a delight in person that I made note to read her work. I’d remind myself to get on that every time I saw the book in store or advertised online, but I just never came around to it. Fast-forward to two years later, in quarantine, and needing a good, cheerful read to take my mind off things. This was definitely that. A good, cheerful time with two Indian-American teens navigating love for the first time. Continue reading “Mini Review: When Dimple Met Rishi” →

Posted in Writer Brain

Novel writing anxieties.

Posted on by Sara B.

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Cause of today’s anxiety: My master’s thesis (aka, the YA novel I’ve been trying to write since 2016, aka, the apple of my eye, aka, the bane of my existence) being due in one week.

Naming characters. *changing name for the tenth time* Should I go for a unique name or an average name? Something with significance or something I choose randomly from a baby names list? Continue reading “Novel writing anxieties.” →

Posted in Book Talk

Mini Review: Opposite of Always

Posted on by Sara B.

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I love Groundhog Day. I love About Time. And oh man, I love the Supernatural episode “Mystery Spot.” (🎵 Heeeeat of the moment 🎵) So I was bound to love the time-travelling trope thrown into a swoony YA romance. I’d seen the pretty cover of Justin A. Reynolds’s Opposite of Always floating all over the place, and I finally found the time to read it. Or hear it, I guess, since I experienced the story with Audible. The voice actor brought protagonist Jack’s charm to life, making it so easy to fall into this world. And phew, I fell running. Continue reading “Mini Review: Opposite of Always” →

Posted in Book Talk

Double Feature: The Start of Me and You & The Map from Here to There

Posted on by Sara B.

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Somehow, in the black hole that is the YA Fiction community, I missed the name Emery Lord. She made her debut in 2014 with contemporary novel Open Road Summer and pounded out four more novels after that. It was the 2017 romance When We Collided that finally got her on my radar. Funny, heartwarming, and achingly raw, WWC takes first love and intertwines it with themes of grief and mental health — themes very much needed in the YA genre. Continue reading “Double Feature: The Start of Me and You & The Map from Here to There” →