Title: Some Kind of Normal
Author: Juliana Stone
Series: Companion to Boys Like You
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format:Hardcover, 304 pages
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: eARC received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review











What is Normal?

For Trevor normal was fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves Trevor with no band, no teammates and no chance of graduating. It's kinda hard to ace your finals when you've been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor—those beautiful blue eyes catching every last flaw.

For Everly normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor's daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.


Some Kind of Normal is a book that I knew I had to read because of who the author is. She is one of the authors that is on my auto read list because when I read Boys Like You last year it changed me. I loved that book more than I thought I would and to this day I still think about the characters and the events of that book. But Some Kind of Normal is a different kind of amazing for me. I loved this book because it was one of those books that tells you that there is a secret that needs to be discovered but won't tell you what it is. You have to find out with the rest of the characters, and I loved that because it keeps you engrossed in the book and its characters.

Characters. They are seriously important in any contemporary novel, and so when I started reading this book I knew these characters were perfect. Everly is the one with the secret, and it has changed her life and the way she sees the world and especially her family. I loved Everly because she was so strong and yet so frightened of ruining the facade that she has crested around her family. Then there is Trevor, a young man who got into a horrible car accident that changed his life forever. He is in and out of hospitals and he can't do the one thing he loves the most, make music. These characters have nothing in common, and yet have everything in common. Both of their lives are turned upside down and they ultimately feel alone. Until they meet.

Everly is Trevor's tutor and it is this chance encounter that changes their lives forever. There is an attraction there right away but both characters have their own demons to get through and they just have to realize that they have to face them together. And once they do, it is amazing.

Juliana Stone is an amazing writer, her stories drip with realism and make you feel things for her characters. You want to hug them, make then feel better in any way you can and they ultimately stay with you long after you finish the book. Please pick up Some Kind of Normal. It is an amazing piece of YA Fiction, these characters deserve to be heard and this story deserves to be read. Amazing book.


USA Today bestselling author Juliana Stone fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she split her time between baseball, books, and music—three passions that carried over into adulthood. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult and adult contemporary romance, and does so from her home in Canada.







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Title: 99 Days
Author: Katie Cotugno
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: April 21st 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: eARC received fro blog tour in exchange for an honest review

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Title: All the Rage
Author: Courtney Summers
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary, Social Issues
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: April 14th 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: ARC received from publisher for Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review

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The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out,All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?


Courtney Summers is an author that I will forever read, no matter what age I am or what subject she decides to conquer. Courtney has a way of writing real and damaged characters that I relate to on a level that I have never experienced before. All the Rage is a very hard book to read. I am not going to sugar coat the topics in this book because they are horrible. Rape, bullying and guilt are prominent in every page you read and I will tell you know it was hard to read. But in the best way possible. These kinds of book need to be on shelves and read by as many people as possible.

All the Rage follows a young girl named Romy who was once part of the crowd, until one night with the Sheriffs son ruins her reputation and her life as she knows it. That night changes her life forever. Now she is outcast as a liar and the people she used to be able to turn to torment her on a daily basis. But one night changes the dynamic again, when a girl goes missing after a party and the entire town seems to blame her. Like I said this book is INTENSE.

I loved Romy's character because she was so incredibly real. With every turn of the page I felt more and more anxiety for her and what she was going through. I wanted to go through the page and just give her a hug because I think she needed one so badly. She needed someone to believe her for once and to see through the facade she was putting on. My heart literally ached whiled reading this book because the depiction of bullying was so realistic. Many people that have never been bullied don't realized how all encompassing it can become and how much it can run your life. And I am so glad that Courtney does this with every book that she writes.

All the Rage is a book that NEEDS to be read. The characters, the situations and the actions are things that need to be written and Courtney is doing that, and I am so grateful for her because it gives a voice to those that don't think they have one. I am not going to say much more about the book itself because the more I say the more you will know going in, and I think for this type of book you need to go in blind. It will make your reading experience that much more intense and that is what this book is about. This not a fast read. It will make you cringe and gasp in places and for me, I had to put it down many times. But please read this book. Kids need to know that these types of book exist because it will help them realize that they are not alone. These types of book matter, and I guess to end this review I need to thanks Courtney Summers for being brave enough to write these types of characters and for being one of the most amazing authors I have ever read.

Title: Liars Inc.
Author: Paula Stokes
Series: Standalone
Genre:YA Mystery/Thriller
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: March 24th 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.  


Paula Stokes has quickly become one of my favorite contempoaray authors, every since I read The Art of Lainey last year. So when I leanred that she was going to be writing a YA Mystery I was very excited and knew I had to read it. And I am so glad that I did because this book was a page turner!

What I think I liked the most about this book was its characters. They were so real and interesting to read. They were also very hard to like which is a very different reading experience for me. We first meet Max, a young man who is a very interesting character. He is snarky, untrustworthy and niave. I actually really liked that Max was our narrator because he was interesting. He saw things from a very interesting perspective. I loved his relationhsips with his girlfriend Pavarti and his best friend Preston. I loved them because they were complicated. I knew right off  the batt that I didnt particularly like Pavarti or Preston. There was just something that was off for me. And I wanted desperately for Max to see it, but if he did we wouldnt have had this mytery would we?

The whole premise of this book is that Preston goes missing, police then find his body and it links Max to the murder. Intriguing right? And you would be right. This mystery kept me reading from beginning to end. It is a page turner that makes you want to find out what happened and why is Max being framed. But I will say that the outcome was a bit obvious...to me at least. I am a sucker for anything mystery and my husband gets mad at me when we watch those types of shows and i figure out who the killer is before it is revealed. So it is no suprise to me that I figured it out. But what makes this a great book was that the fact that I figured out the end did not hinder my reading experience. I still really enjoyed the book.

The only thing that I did not like that much was Pavarti and Prestons relationhip and what it meant for the story. Overall it was a bit creepy and although it makes for more conflict, it just made for extra drama that did not need to be there. But overall I really liked this mystery and you will be reading from beginning to end on the edge of your seat. Such a great new mystery to add to your shelves!

Title: Little Peach
Author: Peggy Kern
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary, Abuse
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Release Date: March 10th 2015
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Source: eARC received from publisher ia Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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What do you do if you're in trouble?

When Michelle runs away from her drug-addicted mother, she has just enough money to make it to New York City, where she hopes to move in with a friend. But once she arrives at the bustling Port Authority, she is confronted with the terrifying truth: she is alone and out of options.

Then she meets Devon, a good-looking, well-dressed guy who emerges from the crowd armed with a kind smile, a place for her to stay, and eyes that seem to understand exactly how she feels.

But Devon is not what he seems to be, and soon Michelle finds herself engulfed in the world of child prostitution where he becomes her “Daddy” and she his “Little Peach.” It is a world of impossible choices, where the line between love and abuse, captor and savior, is blurred beyond recognition.

This hauntingly vivid story illustrates the human spirit’s indomitable search for home, and one girl’s struggle to survive.


Little Peach is not an easy book to read. It is a fast read, but the subject matter was not an easy thing to read. This book is dark. Darker than I thought it was going to be. Michelle is a character that was born into a bad situation. Life did not hand her any favors and it doesnt look like she ever will get any. Michelle ran away from home to escape her drunk and drugged up mother. This seemed liek a great idea for her until she gets to New York with no one to turn to and one where to sleep. That is where Devon comes in. He helps Michelle out but he is not what he seems, and when Michelle finds out it is too late. She is too deep in his world and she can't turn back.

I really don't know how to review this book because although the subject matter was handled in an interesting way and the voice of Michelle was quite well done, there was something missing for me. I didn't connect with Michelle on the level I needed for me to be invested. I think I was invested more in the overall outcomes of the story than the characters themselves. I wanted to know if all the characters would get out alive. I wanted to know what happened to make her wantto leave everything she knew and I am glad that we got glimpses of her past because it helped me get a better picture of Michelle and what she was dealing with.

The writing in this book is very curt and short and it helps build teh tension and showcase how niave Michelle was to the outside world and what was going on around her. I wish that the book was longer so we could have more in depth into Michelle and what actually happened to her before and after what happened. But as it stands this book is not for everyone. Be preapred for some very tough subjects like prostitution, child prostitution and rape. Like I said, this book is a tough one, I just wish there was more of a resolution in the end so we could see some semblance of hope for Michelle.

Title: Better Than Perfect
Author: Melissa Kantor
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: February 17th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either.



I fell in love with Melissa Kantor last yeats when I read her book One More Day and cried like a little baby for days. So when I saw that she was coming out with a new book this year I knew I had to read it. I went into this book blind, I hadn't read the synopsis or heard anyting about it from other bloggers. So when I got into the book I was surprised, and not really in a good way.

Juliet has the perfect life. The perfect family, the perfect grades and the perfect boyfriends. But when her dad moves out and her mother loses it everything around her falls apart. It doesnt help that her boyfriend is away on a family vacation when all of this happens. Juliet doesnt know what to do anyone, and then walks in Declan. Now here is where I had my issues with this book. I know there have been a lot of talk lately about cheating in YA and I will admit that there is some in this book and I was not okay with it. That is not to say that I ahe cheating in all books no matter the situation, if the story warrents it and it makes sense for the character then yes, I will look the other way. But for me, in this book it didn't make as much sense as it should have.

To me Juliet had hard situation to deal with, that much is crystal clear, and her wanting to escape that life is totally understandable. But for me she did not have to do anything with Declan. Having feeling for him is normal, she had been with her boyfriends for a long time, so seeing someone new and having attraction to them is normal, that is not my issue. My issue was that she never told her boyfriend. Never really felt it necessary to own up to her mistake. Another issue I had with this whoe senario was that she had every opportunity to tell her boyfriend that she needed space to figure stuff out, but she didn't. He was confirmatbale to her and so she stayed.

Although I liked the overall story, especially everything to do with Juliet's family, I just couldnt  get over her actions. I hate cheating in general, I am a product of such a relationhsip and honestly I have never been upfront with that, but it is what it is. It is the perogative of the people involved and for me these characters were not for me. I did not undertsand their relationhsip at all and in the end it wasnt for me. But that is not to say that this book washorrible. It was not, the writing was amazing as always and Melissa is still a favorite of mine, but this time it was just not for me.

Title: Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked
Author: Jen Calonita
Genre: MG Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Release Date: March 3rd 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: eARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Would you send a villain to do a hero's job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita.

Full of regret, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia.

Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its sweet mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villian really change?  


As I have said MANY times over the years, I am sucker for Farit Tales and so this was a book that was not really a retelling but more of a alternate universe type of book. In Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked we follow Gilly who is the daughter of the showmaker. But ever since Cinderella's glass slippers got popular and her Fairy Godmother dicided to make them with the flick of her wand, they have been broke. So Gilly took matters into her own hands and started to steal things for money, they way they can eat. But in this new Fairy Tale world when you get caught doing something illegal you go to the Fairy Tale Reform School. A place run by reformed evil witches that we all know and love.

What I think I liked the most about this book was its immagination. The idea behind this book is brilliant. I loved that the author took characters we know and turned them on their heads, and made them into something both different but yet still familair. Gilly was a great main character, she was funny, sarcastic and little deceiving. She was nosey and wanted to know everyones business but in the end that went to her advantage.

This book was extremely fun to read and a fast read as well. I believe I read it over a weekend. I really loved the characters, they were all so well done and memorable. I do think this book should be part of a series because it feels like Gilly and her friends at the Reform School could get inot trouble at every turn so it would be really fun to read. This book is Middle Grade so it reads younger and there is no romance, which was a nice change for me. I think if you are looking for great world building, immaginative stpry telling and great characters this book is for you!