Book Review: "The Tragedy of Dane Riley" by Kat Spears

This is another one of those books I’ve had on my TBR for several years now, and I’m so glad to have finally read it. It’s definitely an emotional read, but it’s also one full of hope.

The teenage years are an anxiety-filled time for many. But Dane’s life is utter torture. He’s mourning the death of his father, who used to make Dane believe in himself and what he could do. To add insult to injury, his mother is now dating Chuck, his father’s best friend. And Chuck’s son Eric enjoys getting high and tormenting Dane.

In his head, Dane is tremendously articulate, but that never seems to translate into conversation. He’s profoundly emotional but he cannot seem to express the things he wants to, which leads to conflict with his mother, Chuck, and Eric. He’s been to a number of therapists but no one seems to get him or how he feels.

The person Dane is most at ease in communicating with is Ophelia, his next door neighbor and fellow teen. Ophelia shows him that it’s okay not to be okay, but also, you have no idea what another person may be going through, so it’s important to have compassion. She also helps Dane see beneath the surface of a person rather than taking them at face value.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley takes a frank look at mental health, particularly in teenagers, and the struggles many of them deal with. At times I truly felt for him, although at times I had to remember he was just a teenager, and his behavior was frustrating. But to watch him finally start to deal with his problems and express his feelings was gratifying.

Kat Spears did a great job with this story. I’m sorry it took me so long to read it, but I think I could appreciate it more now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy!

Book Review: "Adelaide" by Genevieve Wheeler

This was a powerful debut that really has stuck in my mind since I read it.

Adelaide has always dreamed of finding the person to sweep her off her feet, someone with whom she can spend the rest of her life. But relationships never seem to last for her, and as her friends pair off, it becomes more difficult to be happy for them when she is alone.

Living and working in London, one night Adelaide meets Rory, and she falls quickly for this handsome Englishman. He seems genuinely attracted to and interested in her. Sure, he’s far from perfect–he doesn’t always respond to texts, remember that they have plans, or reach out proactively to set up dates. But his good looks, charm, and intelligence truly appeal to her, and it’s not long before she realizes she’s in love with him.

Rory’s unpredictability takes an emotional toll on Adelaide. There are days, weeks that she doesn’t hear from him, and while her best friends support her unequivocally, they also wish she would give up pining for him. But every time she’s about ready to call it quits, he reappears, talks sweetly, and she is putty in his hands once again.

When Rory is impacted by tragedy, Adelaide puts all of her feelings on hold in order to take care of him. But the more Rory falls apart, and the more Adelaide tries to hold him together, the more her own psychological health frays. She tries to believe that at some point he will come around and realize how she has stood by him, but his unpredictability, coupled with his blatant disregard for her feelings, takes its toll.

Adelaide is a very emotional look at mental health and depression, as well as how at times, we can only depend on friends and chosen family to save us.

I’ll admit that I didn’t understand Rory’s appeal after his flaws became obvious, but I know that you cannot always help who you love. I was tremendously moved by this book, although its depiction of depression, grief, attempted suicide, and pregnancy loss might be triggering for some.

Book Review: "Really Good, Actually" by Monica Heisey

Monica Heisey's debut novel is a funny and poignant look at a woman trying to regain equilibrium after her divorce.

Maggie and Jon met in college and were inseparable. They fell in love, moved in together, and then, because there wasn’t anything else to do, they got married. But their marriage didn’t even last two years, and now Jon has moved out, taking most of their stuff (well, his stuff) and Janet, their cat.

Maggie was definitely not prepared to get divorced at age 29. And quite frankly, she doesn’t know what to do with herself. As she struggles to find her footing, and deals with a jumble of emotions, anxieties, and fears.

She doesn’t know if she’s ready to date again but she hates being alone. She’d like to have sex but hates her body. She wants to spend time with friends but is jealous of their romantic luck. She can’t afford to live in their apartment much longer but the alternatives aren’t great.

This book follows Maggie’s steps and missteps, her struggles and victories. Parts of the story are quite funny and parts are awkward, like you’re witnessing a person’s embarrassment and oversharing, and you’re trapped. I think this is a book that not everyone will get, but it was amusing and compelling.

Book Review: "We Are The Light" by Matthew Quick

The latest book from the author of Silver Linings Playbook is a tremendously moving story about grief, recovering from tragedy and trauma, and the impact people have on our lives.

The town of Majestic, Pennsylvania has recently been impacted by a terrible tragedy. A young man shot and killed 17 people in the town’s historic movie theater during a showing of a Christmas movie before dying himself.

Many in the town see Lucas Goodgame as a hero for his actions during the massacre, but he doesn’t like to think about that. All he can focus on is that his wife Darcy was among those who were killed, although he believes she comes to him each night as an angel.

Lucas doesn’t know how to process his grief, and the worst thing is that his Jungian analyst of three years, Karl, has ended their sessions because Karl’s wife was killed that day, too. He had come to depend on Karl and he is at a total loss, so the only thing he can do is write letters to him in the hope that Karl will decide to start seeing him again.

Things take an interesting turn when Eli, an 18-year-old whom Lucas had helped before, starts camping out in Lucas’ backyard. The entire town ostracizes Eli and he has nowhere else to turn.

This book, told completely in letters Lucas writes to Karl, is about the process of healing and how complicated it can be. As Lucas and Eli try to help the community—and especially the survivors of the massacre—with recovery, beautiful and troubling things will be uncovered.

I found this really moving. It’s very sad in places and there may be triggers for some. I don’t know about Jungian analysis, so the references to that went over my head, but this was a really poignant and beautiful story.

Book Review: "How Do I Un-Remember This?" by Danny Pellegrino

How Do I Un-Remember This? is a book of reminiscences, stories, and reflections, both funny and poignant.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ True confession: when I received this book as part of a group of books that my friend Carrie sent me, I had no idea who Danny Pellegrino was. Then I saw another friend talk about how excited he was to read this, so I needed to do some research. It turns out he’s the host of a pop culture podcast called Everything Iconic—and it has become my new guilty pleasure.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ This book contains numerous reminiscences of Pellegrino’s through his life, from childhood to adulthood. It touches on funny family stories, dealing with his sexuality, conquering grief and guilt related to his grandmother’s passing, his relationship with his boyfriend/fiancé, mental health, and his favorite subject, pop culture, be it the movies, music, or celebrities.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ Some of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny, particularly those recounting a vacation his family took when he was young. Some of the stories definitely hit close to home as well, and some were very emotional.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ You wouldn’t think that a memoir-of-sorts written by someone I wasn’t familiar with would be interesting, but Pellegrino is a tremendously engaging writer, full of personality—and pop culture references. How Do I Un-Remember This? was right up my alley!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Book Review: "The Chandler Legacies" by Abdi Nazemian

The latest YA book from Abdi Nazemian, The Chandler Legacies, is a powerful book about finding your tribe and finding yourself, while coming to terms with some hard truths.

Chandler is an exclusive boarding school in Connecticut. Some students are second-, even third-generation, many raised in worlds of privilege others could only imagine. Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is one of those students, but although she is idolized for her beauty and her acting talent, she wants so much more than people expect of her.

Beth is a “townie”—she lives in the town where Chandler is located. She had a horrible first year of school with her roommate, and she hopes this year will give her a fresh start. And Beth’s old roommate, Sarah, would also like to put the memories of that year behind her, for very different reasons.

Ramin left Iran because of the dangers of being gay. Yet he has no idea that a New England boarding school is in some ways no less oppressive a place for a young man who is different. And Freddy, who is training to be an Olympic pole vaulter, is finally having his eyes opened to the hazing culture that exists for anyone who appears weak.

The five students come together in the Circle, an exclusive writing group where they learn to express themselves and their fears through writing. At the same time, as their friendships grow, they are challenged by some hard truths about their school and the secrets it hides, secrets which have proved damaging to many.

I’m a huge fan of Nazemian’s writing, and The Chandler Legacies was based on his own experiences at boarding school. It’s an amazing story about finding friends who become your family, those who give you the chance to be seen and finally see yourself the way you deserve to.

The book does deal with sexual assault, homophobia, and hazing, so it might be triggering for some, but it’s not as difficult a book as I expected. It’s just an incredibly moving book, and I can’t wait to see what Nazemian does next!

Book Review: "Full Flight" by Ashley Schumacher

Seriously, y’all, Full Flight broke me a bit emotionally. But I really loved the story.

In Enfield, Texas, high school football is a big deal, but the marching band is often the center of attention as well, especially in state competition years. For Anna, the first-chair saxophonist, there’s tremendous pressure to get a key duet nailed down; if she fails, the opportunity will be given to someone else and she’ll let a lot of people down.

She decides to ask her duet partner, mellophone player Weston Ryan, for help. (Note: I had no idea what a mellophone was. Who said you don't learn from reading?) Weston is a talented musician yet the whole town thinks he’s a troublemaker, convinced he’s guilty of something he didn’t do. Weston feels an automatic connection with Anna but is afraid to let her in because he’s afraid he’ll ruin her.

The more Anna and Weston get to know each other, the more they see each other’s struggles and joys. But she has to hide their relationship from her strict parents, and that deception can only last so long. When their secret is discovered, Anna and Weston have to fight to stay together and show everyone around them how much brighter they are when they’re together. And then tragedy strikes.

I love YA romances when the characters each have secrets and each are struggling, but they find strength in their relationship. These characters were amazing; even though it's a conservative, religious town, not all of the characters were painted as close-minded or one-dimensional. To top it off, there are literally sentences in this book that took my breath away.

Full Flight is a beautiful story about love, friendship, music, survival, and hope.

Book Review: "Must Love Books" by Shauna Robinson

The title says Must Love Books, well, lucky for me, I do love books!!

Nora used to dream of a job in publishing, of finding the next great book and connecting with authors to make their dreams come true. But after five years at Parsons, she realizes how far her dreams are from the reality of her job.

After corporate restructuring, she’s now taken on many other people’s administrative tasks in addition to her own. And they just cut her salary on top of everything, so she’s doing triple the work for less money. So when she hears of a part-time freelance job at a rival publisher, she takes it—while continuing to work her job at Parsons. She intends to quit but she just never gets around to it. Nothing could go wrong, right?

But when she strikes up an unlikely friendship with Andrew, one of Parsons’ most successful authors, whom she’s supposed to be convincing to re-sign his contract, she’s suddenly conflicted. Should she do her actual job and get him back with Parsons, the freelance job and try to attract him to the other publisher, or be honest with Andrew? And what would that mean for her future—work-wise or even romance-wise?

I love books about publishing, bookstores, libraries, booksellers, etc., so I had a lot of hope for this one. It’s definitely cute but it just never really clicked for me. Maybe I was expecting more of a rom-com, but that really wasn't the core of this story. Even the cover design of the book and the blurb felt a little misleading. In the end, though, I thought this one was just ok.

You can’t win ‘em all!!

Book Review: "Blaine for the Win" by Robbie Couch

Robbie Couch's upcoming YA novel, Blaine for the Win, is a fantastic, heartwarming story about finding yourself and deciding what you want from life and love.

After loving Couch's first book, The Sky Blues (which was one of my favorites from last year, as you can see on this list), I was so excited to get an ARC of his new book, thanks to some arm-twisting by my dear friend Amy. Couch truly is the king of feel-good YA fiction!!

Blaine is creative, artistic, a bit of a daydreamer. He loves painting murals on buildings in his downtown Chicago neighborhood, and he loves his boyfriend Joey, who is a type-A overachiever with plans of becoming president one day.

When Joey breaks up with him—on their one-year anniversary and at the fanciest restaurant in Chicago—he tells Blaine he needs to date someone serious to be his partner in success. Blaine is too scatterbrained, too flighty, and he dresses too flamboyantly.

Blaine is devastated but he’s determined to win Joey back. To do that, he’ll become a serious guy—and to prove it, he’s decided to run for senior class president, to succeed Joey—and defeat Joey’s new, perfect boyfriend, Zach. Given that Blaine has never even been on student council (or cared), it’s an uphill battle which will require a lot of work, not to mention the support of his best friend…and some unexpected others. But will becoming a serious guy ruin what is best about Blaine? Will it close his eyes to those who truly care about him?

I loved this book x 1,000,000! It was sweet and fun, but there’s lots of discussion about teenagers’ mental health which is such an important topic to address.

Blaine for the Win publishes 4/12, and if you’re a YA fan you’ll want to pick it up!!

Book Review: "Kind of Sort of Fine" by Spencer Hall

It’s like this book had my name written on it.

Hayley has always been the perfect student, determined to get in to the best college. She takes all the right classes and is a fierce competitor on the tennis team. And then one day before the end of her junior year it all just gets to be too much for her and she has a very public breakdown of sorts, one which quickly goes viral.

Lewis has always thought of himself as the chubby, funny sidekick in the 80s movie that is his life. But for senior year he’s determined to change that, and become the leading man. He starts exercising and watching what he eats, and he’s hoping that he’ll find the courage to let a good friend know he’s interested in her.

When Hayley is forced to take TV Production as an elective (to “lighten” her schedule), she thinks it will just be a bunch of burnouts, but it’s Lewis’ favorite class. Once they’re paired on a semester-long assignment, they begin making documentaries on the things people would be surprised to learn about their fellow classmates.

Along the way they discover that there’s often a gap between what we perceive about people and reality, and that applies to them, too. They’ll also learn that in trying to change the way people think about you, you may lose what makes you special.

Kind of Sort of Fine really was a funny, emotional, thought-provoking book. I saw a little bit of high-school Larry in both Lewis and Hayley, and of course, any book that has an 80s vibe is all right with me!!

Book Review: "When I Ran Away" by Ilona Bannister

For a powerfully emotional story about grief, love, motherhood, and guilt, look no further than When I Ran Away.

Gigi and Harry meet on the Staten Island Ferry not long after both have fled the chaos following the collapse of the first tower on 9/11. Harry used to visit Gigi's favorite coffee shop but they never met officially, and yet here both are, covered in ash and not truly comprehending the magnitude of what is happening on that day.

Harry, an Englishman living in NYC, has nowhere to go, so Gigi brings him to her dysfunctional family home in Staten Island. But when the family discovers her younger brother was somehow in the Twin Towers that day and won’t ever come home, Harry helps them through one of the most painful moments in their lives, and then leaves them with their friends to process their grief.

When Gigi and Harry meet by chance 10 years later, she’s a single mother raising a young boy. They fall deeply in love, and Harry ultimately asks Gigi to move to London with him. It’s a very different atmosphere than what she’s used to, but she’s determined to make their marriage work, and to raise her son and their new baby right.

But after a while, the pressure of balancing motherhood, marriage, career, and her own happiness, all in an unfamiliar place away from friends and family, becomes too much to bear. She is faced with a crucial moment where she doesn’t know how to handle any of it, not to mention her and her family’s unresolved grief over her brother’s death 15 years earlier.

When I Ran Away is a beautifully told story, searing and poignant, but with flashes of sly humor. I’ll admit I thought it would be sadder and I was glad it wasn’t, especially having spent the weekend in a funk mourning friends lost on 9/11. But I’d imagine that for many mothers out there this will be an even more emotional and relevant read, one which will make many feel seen.

I’m glad I finally read this after it sat on my TBR stack for a while. Definitely one worth discussing with others.

Book Review: "Signs We Don't See" by Carrie Beamer

Signs We Don't See was a sweet, emotional YA romance that had me smiling, tearing up, and even feeling a little hungry.

Etta doesn’t want a lot—she wants to do well in school and ultimately become a chef. But when her father’s mental state begins slipping again, and he starts collecting signs from in front of buildings and houses and bringing them home instead of looking for a job, she has to become the responsible one, making sure bills get paid and that there’s food for her parents to eat.

While she’s worrying about whether all of the signs her father is bringing home are going to cause issues with their neighbors—or even the police—she’s utterly unprepared for the attentions of Jordan, a popular, wealthy classmate whose friends often insult Etta and her best friend, Nessa.

Etta can’t understand why someone like Jordan would be interested in her but his attention seems genuine. But as her father’s condition worsens, Jordan starts disappearing from school and won’t explain what’s going on. When she discovers he’s lying to her and avoiding her, she realizes he must have a secret he feels he can’t confide in her. But isn’t she doing the same with him?

“I’ll never understand why we cover up pain and hide it from the ones we love. Being ashamed of fear and pain has got to be the stupidest human emotion we have.”

Taking place in the late 1980s, this book had a little bit of a Pretty in Pink-type feel in the rich/poor thing but it was a story all its own, full of rich emotion, loyal friends, and characters you root for. I love that Carrie Beamer didn’t take the easy way out with the plot, making it a story worth savoring.

Thanks so much to Carrie Beamer for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!! It was wonderful, and I can’t wait to read her other one.

Book Review: "While We Were Dating" by Jasmine Guillory

Jasmine Guillory's newest book, While We Were Dating, is a fun yet weighty rom-com and another installment in this great world Guillory has built.⁣

⁣ Ben (whose brother Theo was a main character in The Wedding Party) is an ambitious ad executive. When he gets to present his firm’s idea for a major ad campaign featuring famous actress Anna Gardiner, he’s excited to get his break, especially when Anna shows up at the pitch meeting. (And it doesn’t hurt that Anna is beautiful, too.)⁣

⁣ After one Oscar nomination, Anna is ready for the next step in her career. She’s hoping this ad campaign helps put her in the public eye at the right time. She’s impressed with Ben—he’s smart, kind, funny, and sexy as hell—and it’s great to have a Black man in charge. The two build up a flirtatious relationship but both know moving beyond that would be disastrous.⁣

⁣ When an emergency occurs in Anna’s family, Ben comes to her rescue, and the two start to let their guard down with one another. Both reveal secrets about themselves, and that vulnerability leads to passion and intimacy, even though they know it must be fleeting.⁣

⁣ But when it’s suggested that a relationship (even a fake one) might help keep Anna in the public eye at the time she’s being considered for her dream role, Ben agrees to play along. Making it look like he has feelings for her is easy. Keeping it casual? Not so much.⁣

⁣ Of course, this is a rom-com, so you know where things are headed. But along the way we get some frank discussions about anxiety and mental health, family loyalty, and the pressures of fame. As always, Guillory’s writing is so charming, accessible and appealing, and she gives you characters to root for. (Plus, I love the interconnectedness of her books.)⁣

⁣ NetGalley and Berkley provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

While We Were Dating publishes 7/13.⁣

Book Review: "We Can't Keep Meeting Like This" by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The newest YA rom-com by Rachel Lynn Solomon, We Can't Keep Meeting Like This is a funny, sweet, and emotional look at love, friendship, family, romance, and trying to find your way.

Quinn can’t escape weddings—her family runs a successful wedding planning business and her parents have already planned her future, which includes her course of study in college and eventually joining the company full-time. How does Quinn tell them this isn’t what she wants without destroying her family? And how does she figure out what she does want?

If there’s been a plus side to being part of the family business all these years, it’s been working alongside Tarek, whose family runs the catering company they partner with. She and Tarek have been friends for years, they’ve even flirted a bit, but just before Tarek went to college Quinn sent him an email letting him know that she actually liked him—and he never responded.

Now Tarek is back for the summer and looks cuter than ever. And as angry and hurt as she was by him, Quinn can’t stop the resurgence of her feelings. He is a romantic, a fan of the grand gesture, and she hates all of that, believing love is ultimately doomed to fail. But as they grow closer and learn just how vulnerable the other is, Quinn needs to make sense of all of it—her feelings, her future plans, and her fears.

I really enjoyed We Can't Keep Meeting Like This, as I have some of Solomon's other books, including Today Tonight Tomorrow and The Ex-Talk. I love the Jewish representation she always includes and I loved the conversations around mental health, which are so important. It’s funny and emotional and these characters are really complex—sometimes Quinn is annoying, but that’s just like life!

I’m a huge fan of Solomon’s writing and can’t wait to see what’s next for her!

Book Review: "¡Hola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons" by John Paul Brammer

¡Hola Papi! is a series of reflections and recollections from John Paul Brammer, an online advice columnist who could’ve used his own advice a time or two.

Do you ever feel like a book speaks to you? Sometimes I completely identify with a character or situation in a book (like one of my last reads, Pumpkin). But rarely have I felt so seen by a book like I did with ¡Hola Papi! and, truthfully, I didn’t expect this in the least.

In this terrific book, Brammer shares what it was like to grow up biracial in Oklahoma. It was not a good place to struggle with your sexuality, and of course, deal with the related struggles with self-confidence and loving yourself. Far too many times these struggles took their toll on his mental health.

Brammer shares the problems he faced and the discoveries he made about life and himself, and presents them as answers to some of life’s questions, like how to let go of the past, how to forgive those who wronged you, how to find yourself worthy of love and happiness, and what to do when your high-school bully hits you up on Grindr. (Substitute “summer camp” for “high school” and I’m so there!)

I found this book funny, insightful, emotional, and so on point in so many ways. Even though on the surface Brammer and I couldn’t be more different, it’s amazing how much of what he had to say truly resonated and moved me.

I don’t read a lot of nonfiction but this is definitely one I’ll really remember.