Lefty's Lowdown: More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer
(Letters to the Lost #2)
Published: March 6, 2018 by Bloomsbury Children's
Source: I received an eARC of this novel through Netgalley. All opinions stated in this review are 100% my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

 After finishing Letters to the Lost, I simply could not wait to get my hands on this sequel. Thankfully, I'd been approved for the title on Netgalley, otherwise I have no idea what I would have done. Admittedly, while this novel was absolutely enjoyable, it didn't quite hold up to its predecessor for me.

This story follows Rev, a character I fell in love with in Letters to the Lost, and Emma, a new and intriguing character. I wish I could say I loved Rev in this novel as much as I did in Letters. I think I was just expecting something different. While the Rev in Letters was indeed a bit tortured, he was also unwaveringly sweet and supportive and wonderful. In this novel, though...I get it, he was going through a lot. But I just found him incredibly frustrating. He was keeping this big secret from his best friend and his family and it was poisoning him. Even still, I do not understand why he chose to keep it a secret. I really think that all of his angst and drama would have dissolved if he had just taken the honesty route. More than that, I felt as if he didn't treat people the way they deserved.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Emma's character. She is this badass gamer girl who coded her very own computer game that hundreds of people played. Once again, I think a lot of her problems would have been solved if she had just told an adult what was going on with her, but I was more sympathetic to her secrecy. She felt like her problem didn't really matter and she was determined not to show weakness.

No matter what, though, I was hooked on these characters' stories. Despite any irritations, I cared about them and I wanted to see their happily ever after. The ending took a turn that wasn't hard to see coming but was kind of unexpected in terms of the tone of the story. A part of me wants to say it was a bit melodramatic, but, without giving spoilers, I have to admit that shit like that actually happens. Kemmerer has presented us with a very real, very scary threat that we might not even be able to see coming in our own lives.

I do love that Kemmerer maintained the theme-of-sorts from the first book, which is beginning each chapter with a letter or message. I also love the glimpses of Declan that we get to see in this novel, and we even get more resolution for his story. And, of course, I will forever and always love the relationship between Rev and Declan. No matter what obstacles arise in their personal lives or in their friendship, they are there for each other no matter what. It's real, unconditional love. I said it in my review of Letters and I will say it again: this relationship can and should serve as an example of a beautiful, healthy male friendship for the rest of fiction history.

This novel deals with subjects such as abuse, cyber bullying, women in male-dominated spheres, divorcing parents, adoption and foster care, and interracial families. Though this isn't a perfect novel, and my rating will reflect that, it is still one that will live in my heart for a very long time. These characters and the world they live in became real to me. I was not ready to say goodbye when the novel concluded, but I was satisfied with where their stories ended.

My rating: 

3.75/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
(standalone)
Published: April 3, 2018 by Simon Pulse
Source: I received an eARC of this novel through Netgalley. That has not affected any of the opinions stated in this review. Every thought is my own.

Summary from Goodreads:

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

This novel was everything I needed. Bennett's last novel Alex, Approximately, was one of the big contemporary titles last year, and while I really enjoyed it, I don't think I connected to it the same way other people did. It put Bennett on my radar, but I wouldn't list it among my favorite contemporary novels of all time. 

Starry Eyes, though. This novel gave me all the heart flutters and goofy grins I wanted from Alex, Approximately. I was in a hell of a reading slump when I cracked this baby open. I hadn't read anything for over a month, and I hadn't read anything that truly stole my heart since the beginning of January. But the moment I began Starry Eyes, I was hooked, wholeheartedly devoted to the story. 30 pages in I had already fallen head over heels with the love interest and had an unwavering smile plastered on my face. 

First and foremost, who doesn't love a good "trapped in the woods with the guy who broke my heart" trope? Because I do. I certainly do. You know the intensity is going to be through the roof and the sexual tension is going to be sizzling off the pages, which is absolutely true about this novel. And Zorie, the protagonist, has no idea why their friendship dissolved and how they started to hate each other, and it was a heck of a journey making these discoveries alongside her. 

So let's talk about the characters. Zorie is obsessed with planning things and ensuring that everything goes according to plan. Lennon, the dark brooding outcast with two moms who own a sex toy shop, is smart and full of surprises. I love them together and I love them separately. They both have some annoying traits, which I thought was excellent characterization on Bennett's part because she gives them annoying traits without making them annoying. They were both so well-developed and relatable. Even better, though, is that the secondary characters were well-developed, too. Some of them were absolute shitheads, and I'm so glad that's addressed, and some of them are rays of sunshine, like Lennon's moms, who persistently treat Zorie like family despite the feud with her father. 

The setting was really interesting too. I thoroughly enjoyed following Zorie and Lennon on their wilderness expedition. This novel kind of made me want to go on a long ass hike and become one with nature, which is quite the feat, considering I hate the outdoors and any sort of exertion. Anyway, I think some novels that have journeys like this can drag because there's a lot of description and focus on the journey itself, but Bennett finds a nice balance of journey, character development, and plot progression. Every scene has intrigue. 

I also think it's important to note that Bennett addresses, sometime subtly and sometime explicitly, some really important matters: safe sex, healthy sexual attitudes, consent, cheating, bigotry, toxic friendships, nontraditional families. It's good, friends. It's so, so good. 

I could not tear myself away from this novel. It's over 400 pages and I devoured it in one sitting. I stayed up until 7 am reading it. This is a solid read for contemporary lovers out there. One of my new favorites! 

5/5

Lefty Lowdown: Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally

Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally
(Hundred Oaks #8)
Published: July 4, 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire
Source: I received an eARC of this book for free from the publisher via Netgalley. All the opinions stated in this review are my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win?

Real talk: I'm not, like, a fan of this series. I've read 3 of the books and I got them all for free. I thought the other 2 books I've read were merely okay, nothing I'd spend money on. However, I enjoyed Coming Up for Air a lot. This novel managed to give me the fluffy, romantic fix I needed, along with depth and characters I ended up becoming very invested in.

In this installment, we're introduced to Maggie, swimmer of pools, eater of many foods, and kisser of nobody. She has spent so much of her time being focused on swimming and qualifying for the Olympics, that she never took the time to think what she could be missing. Until now. Until she realizes that she's off to college soon and she's never even kissed a boy. She doesn't want to go to college completely inexperienced, so she asks her hot, swimmer, best-friends-since-they-were-kids best friend to show her the ropes a lil bit. He's wary at first but eventually agrees and things get STEAMY and COMPLICATED and I loved it. They're relationship was absolutely wonderful! Of course, it's friends-to-lovers so it's destined to be great. You can tell how much they genuinely care about each other and respect each other.

They were great characters on their own, too. While I'm not a swimmer, I could really relate to the conflicts Maggie struggled with, whether it be issues with ex-friends or comparing her success to others'. And Levi was just honest and caring and he makes some mistakes but you can tell he feels so bad about them and if I were to ever have a daughter, he's the kind of boy I'd want her to date.

This novel also deals with topics like bullying, double standards for men and women, and females owning their sexuality! It really has some wonderful messages in it, and it's a quick, light read! I really do recommend this one to contemporary fans! Even if you're not into sports or you haven't read any of the other books in the series. This one can be read completely on its own!

My rating: 

4/5 stars

ARC August TBR

Hello, lovelies!! My blog has been a bit dry these past few weeks because I haven't had internet access, and blogging from my phone is too frustrating to even try. BUT I AM BACK!! And though August has already started and I'm a little late to the party, I present you all with my ARC August TBR.

For those of you wondering what ARC August is, it's a reading challenge that occurs throughout the entirety of August in which you read as many ARCs as you can, be they upcoming or backlist, physical or electronic--all ARCs are on the table. For more information on the challenge and how to sign up, head over to Read. Sleep. Repeat's lovely blog.

I'm super pumped about ARC August because, let's be honest, there are soooo many books I gotta catch up on.

Okay, okay, now onto my TBR.

PHYSICAL ARCS

Hello, Sunshine by Leila Howland
Published: July 11, 2017 by Disney-Hyperion

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Published: April 4, 2017 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
Published: June 13, 2017 by Henry Holt & Company Inc

ELECTRONIC ARCS

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
Published: July 18, 2017 by Simon Pulse

Of Jenny and the Aliens by Ryan Gebhart
Published: August 1, 2017 by Candlewick Press

No Good Deed by Kara Connolly
Published: July 18, 2017 by Delacorte Press

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
Published: August 29, 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

There you have it! It's not a particularly extensive selection, but I do have non-ARC books I want to read this month as well, so who knows if I'll even get to all of these. The end of August is when school starts up again and I can incredibly busy again, so I'm going to do my best.

Are you participating in ARC August? If so, let me know what you're reading. Also, let me know if you've read any of these books and which ones I should be excited for! 

Lefty's Lowdown: I'm Not in the Band by Amber Garza

I'm Not in the Band by Amber Garza
(standalone)
Published: June 12, 2017 by Entangled Teen (Crush)
Source: Received an electronic copy for review from the publisher via Netgalley, but that did not influence my review in any way.

Summary from Goodreads:
I like Kassidy Milton. There, I said it. She’s funny, beautiful—even though she doesn’t know it—and my favorite kind of weird. But I can’t tell if she’s into me or just trying to get close to me for a chance with my famous twin brother instead. I mean, it has to be me. I am the better-looking one.


But Kassidy has some demons, and she’s not good at letting people in. That happens when you’ve been hurt by someone close to you. I can relate. Trust is a funny thing; it’s hard to gain but easy to lose. I might just learn that the hard way.


Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book includes a snarky heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, crazy best friends, your favorite music, and lots of feels.

So it seems, recently, that I have A Thing for books that feature some sort of celebrity aspect. Thus, despite knowing how cheesy this looks and sounds, I requested a review copy. In the end, this book as just an okay read for me. There were a lot of little aspects I was not particularly fond of, but I was invested enough to see the story through and figure out where the characters end up. 

This book is, more or less, told from two points of view. I actually really enjoyed how Garza divded the narratives here. First there's Kassidy, who has a mysterious trauma in the near-past and isn't like Other Girls because she wears t-shirts and converse (ughhhh). Her story is told in a traditional formatting, but Archer's point of view was told entirely in facebook statuses, tweets, and text messages. I'm a sucker for mixed media, and this really worked for me. Was robably my favorite part of the novel, actually. 

While I liked Kassidy well enough, I didn't love her. In fact, she's utterly forgettable. Archer, on the other hand, was a controlling nozzle. Like, I get that he has Reasons to be so insecure, but that doesn't make it okay. I thought he was really sweet at first and then Kassidy literally interacts with his brother in the most innocent way and he frickin goes berserk. I'll admit, though, I did enjoy the way he interacted with his brothers and his friends. Some of their banter made me smile. But I lost all my respect for him the second his melodrama started waving its freak flag. 

Honestly, the melodrama was quite prevalent in this book, and I was not a fan. A lot of stuff just seemed over the top--even the romance. It had its cringe-worthy moments and kinda reeked of insta-love. No thank you. But at the same time, I was interested in seeing how everything was resolved and I enjoyed the characters' growth. 

The bottom line is that this was a quick read, and it kept my attention sufficiently, but it was nothing extraordinary. It's something I won't remember in a few months from now. The premise is appealing (at least in my opinion), but it's trope-y and just a bit much at times. 

My rating: 

3/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally

Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally
(Hundred Oaks companion series)
Published: July 5, 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
There are no mistakes in love.

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

 I've only read one other book by Miranda Kenneally, but I knew to expect a fairly light contemporary read from this book. That's exactly what I got, so I should be pleased, right? Well...I don't know. I wanted more from this novel, if I'm being honest. There were some parts that made me smile, and then there were parts that made me roll me eyes. All in all, I'd say this was a meh read for me.

Taylor's dad is a senator, and her siblings are "perfect" and successful so she strives to be too. She goes to this fancy private school and has a 4.2 GPA, is the captain of the soccer team, and basically has a flawless resume. Then, she takes the blame for something stupid that her boyfriend Ben (who is on scholarship at the private school) did, thinking her dad would be able to keep her from getting kicked out. He doesn't. So, she gets kicked out and has to go to *gasp* public school, meanwhile destroying her father's political career and bottling up the truth about what Ben did so she doesn't get labeled a snitch.

So, one of my least favorite plot lines in YA is the whole "Oh, I regret lying about something but it's too late to tell anyone the truth because that will just make things worse." NO NO NO. Maybe it's because I'm an honest-to-a-fault type of person, but I just think this trope is stupid and unnecessary. Which brings me back to the primary plot point in this novel. I just got so irritated that Taylor refused to tell anyone the truth about Ben. I don't see how being honest with her boyfriend or her family would have made the situation worse. There was no justification that made sense to me.

Ignoring the shaky foundation of the story, I liked Taylor well enough, but she wasn't the most interesting narrator. She loves soccer and dogs and she was pretty much perfect except for getting kicked out of school and lying about the whole situation. Ezra, the love interest, was okay too. He was really sweet. The problem is that this novel was very glossed-over. I feel like there wasn't a whole lot of depth to anything, so I had trouble connecting to the characters or really caring about them a whole lot. So, like I said, Ezra was okay. His and Taylor's relationship was cute and had some moments that made me smile, but it all felt very rushed. I liked them together, though.

My favorite part of this novel was the family dynamics. Their family was not perfect. They got mad at each other, but at the end of the day, you could see the love they had for one another, and that's what's important. I was really happy with the way everything ended in this regard.

If this book had been longer and more fleshed out, I probably would have enjoyed it much more. As it is, Defending Taylor felt rushed and a little superficial. It makes a good quick, fluffy read, though. It was easy to just get lost in it for an hour or so, and I came away from it feeling good.

3/5