Lefty's Lowdown: What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
(standalone)
Published: July 11, 2017 by Delacorte Press
Source: Won a free ARC in a giveaway. All thoughts stated in this review are my own.

Summary from Goodreads:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes a charming and poignant story about two struggling teenagers who find an unexpected connection just when they need it most. For fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Niven, and Rainbow Rowell.

Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.

KIT: I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.

DAVID: In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her.


When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?

I knew literally nothing about this book. I won it in a giveaway and someone on Twitter said they really adored it and that we should all put it on our TBRs. It looked like a quick read, and so I picked it up and dove in. I DO NOT REGRET A THING. This book really took me by surprise in the best way. And like that person on Twitter, I say PUT IT ON YOUR TBR STAT.

This book has alternating perspectives--Kit, who is in a really dark place after her father died, and David, who is insanely intelligent but has no friends. These characters had me hooked instantly! They have two very distinct voices, but I didn't find myself favoring one POV over the other. I was equally engaged throughout the whole thing. And boy did I feel for these characters. So, Kit's dad died and nobody wants to freaking talk about it. They want her to move on because that would make the situation more comfortable for them. But on top of that, she keeps a devastating secret bottled up and then uncovers ANOTHER DEVASTATING SECRET. Like, things are not going well for this girl and I totally sympathize with her. And then there's David. He's on the autism spectrum and people are so fucking mean to him. It absolutely killed my heart to see the way that people treated him when he was such a PURE LIL CINNAMON ROLL. Honestly, he's my favorite character that I've read about in a whiiiile. 

What I really admire about this book is that yeah, it's a romance, and yeah, I ship Kit and David out the wazoo, but it's also not just about romance. Like, it's more than just wanting these characters to get to smoochin. It's about getting to know someone and really seeing the good in them. Seeing the truth in them. About being truly comfortable with someone, trusting them, and forgiving them when they do something painfully human. 

Somehow this book managed to break my heart and put it back together again. I love this book. I highly, highly recommend this book. It's underrated, if you ask me, with only 240 ratings on Goodreads. What to Say Next is not just your average YA contemporary book, and I think everyone could probably learn a little something from it. 

Again, I highly recommend this. 

Read it. 

My rating: 

4.5/5

A post shared by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jul 5, 2017 at 4:27pm PDT

Lefty's Lowdown: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

(standalone)
Published: February 21, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Read for free on Rivetedlit.com. All opinions stated in this review are my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

I'd heard a lot about this novel but I wasn't quite sure what to expect, really. A cute dude romance. That's all I had in my brain going into this book, and boy was I misguided in that. This novel is more than a sweet story of two boys falling in love. Much, much more. Reading this book allowed me to embark on a journey of asking questions and learning how to come to terms with feelings. 

I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing Ari's character, claiming he's mean and treats people poorly, and I just have to disagree. In my opinion, Ari was painfully real and relatable. I saw a young boy who resorted to coping mechanisms and aversion tactics, who didn't know how to handle all the thoughts swirling around his head, who was often lonely and bored and insecure. I saw so many pieces of my heart in Ari, so many pieces of my fears and flaws. Maybe he wasn't a particularly likeable character, so to speak, but he was a character I really sympathized with, rooted for, and ended up loving, despite his flaws, and I think that's a truly beautiful, raw relationship to have with a fictional character. 

Dante, on the other hand, was a delightful contrast to Ari. He was unabashed and so generous with his love. He was exactly the person Ari needed in his life. With that said, though, this is not really what I'd consider a romantic book. In my opinion, their relationship is more about friendship and different variations on love, and the way feelings truly affect you. Of course I shipped them together because they balanced each other out beautifully, but they didn't have the sort of relationship where I wanted to push their heads together and make them kiss like two dolls. I wanted their relationship to evolve slowly, for them both to really figure things out before they came to terms with their feelings for each other. I was more than satisfied where these characters ended up--I was grinning like a fool by the time I reached the novel's conclusion. 

Now, admittedly, this is not a plot-focused book by any means. It's all about character development. I'm all on board with that, but I know a lot of people are not as gung-ho about it as myself. So, yes, this book is essentially plot-less, but it still managed to keep my attention and keep me eager to know what happens to my little babies. The writing style took me a little bit of time to get used to, but by the end, I really adored it and I think it fit the story. It was a bit jagged and jarring at first, but by the end of the novel it seemed more seamless. 

This is a novel that truly explores what it means to grow up and what it means to be a person. This is a novel of juxtaposition, of beauty and ugliness. Of honesty and stifled truths. Of being happy and simply just being. Aristotle and Dante provided a unique reading experience that I know I will revisit one day. My reaction at the very end was simply to close my eyes and say "Wow." 

My rating:

4.5/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
(standalone)
Published: June 6, 2017 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.


Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

If you didn't know, Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors on the planet and this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I just knew that with Sarah Dessen comes summer and adorable romance and heaps of self-discovery. And I was not let down! ONCE AND FOR ALL has the typical Sarah Dessen essence, but it also feels different than her previous works. Sweet and poignant and fun, but also relevant to current events.

What really attracted me to the premise of this book is that it deals largely with the wedding planning industry, which I'M FASCINATED BY. Honestly, I watch one episode of Say Yes to the Dress and I've already got three different weddings planned for people who don't exist. But I digress. I just adored the way Dessen showed the behind-the-scenes of the perfect (and usually not-so-perfect) wedding, and the way that shapes Louna, our protagonist.

Something else I really enjoyed while reading was that this book has two different story lines playing out: Louna's past, in which we  follow along as she falls in love for the first time and her whole world crashes around her, and Louna's present, in which she is finally moving on and shedding her cynical ways. I fell in love with the two different narratives, and I was equally engrossed in both of them.

In her past, we meet Ethan, who is sweet and charming and stole her heart instantly. We see their relationship's glorious beginning--one night of pure connection--and my heart was absolutely humming as I read. However, it was also aching, as we know things do not end well between the two of them. If anyone has seen the musical The Last Five Years, I was getting that sort of vibe from it. I was really rooting for their relationship and falling in love right alongside them, despite its tragic conclusion. I've seen some people complain about the insta-love between them, and how their relationship moved much too quickly, but that was sort of the point, in my opinion. Sarah Dessen shows us that while these magnificent connections exist with people, that's not the only love there is.

In her present, Louna meets Ambrose. Now, it took me a while to warm up to him, but again, I think that's the point. He's like a ball of energy and disregard. What I really admire about his character is that Dessen made the love interest annoying. Intentionally. Usually when a romantic prospect is "annoying" it's because he's so arrogant and smug, but this is different. He's a little bit obnoxious and I have mad respect because HOW DO YOU EVEN PULL THAT OFF. You morph into Sarah Dessen, that's how. As the story progressed. he really grew on me. He's more than just his obnoxious behavior. By the end of the novel, I NEEDED him and Louna to get together. Not a want--a need. They both developed so much by the end of the novel and I knew they were right for each other, that they would make each other better and continue to grow.

I do have one complaint. This is the reason that I couldn't give the book 5 stars, despite how incredible it was. And it seems small, but it made a huge difference, and it's simply that I wish we had more MOMENTS between Louna and Ambrose throughout the novel. More unsolicited sexual tension, ya know? I wanted Louna to more actively deny her feelings and I wanted Ambrose to hint at his more than he did.

Really, though, this novel was just lovely. I teared up at the end--not because it was sad, but because it felt like a piece of my heart had just concluded. I have so many thoughts and feelings that aren't even possible to articulate, but once again, Sarah Dessen has blessed us with an emotional gem of a book. I will definitely return to this one in the future.

My rating:

4.5/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae
(Beyond the Red #1)
Published: March 1, 2016 by Sky Pony Press
Source: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
A story of betrayal, love, and loss—all on a technologically advanced alien planet where monarchy reigns, but lies rule.

Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. But that doesn’t stop him from defending his people—at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He is given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.

 This book was a pleasant surprise, and I wish I would have read it much sooner. I was feeling kind of meh about everything I'd been reading, but then this book came along and took me on an adventure full of twists and turns.

Beyond the Red is action-packed from the get-go, and Jae is not afraid to "go there." My jaw dropped open several times while reading because I was so shocked that certain things actually happened. It's definitely an exciting book! And the writing is wonderful. I think one thing that deterred me from reading this for so long was that, for some unidentifiable reason, I had a feeling the writing would not be very good. Nope, nope, nope. That feeling was completely inaccurate, because the writing is solid.

The novel is told from alternating points of view--Eros, the half-blood who everyone knows shouldn't be alive, and Kora, the alien queen that many people want to be de-throned. First of all, before I even delve into the characters, I just want to say that this book contains some really important social issues like racism (the human hate the alien race, the alien race hates the humans, and everyone hates the half-bloods) and sexism (many of the aliens don't want Kora to be queen simply because she is a female). I love the way she handled these issues! She's slowly deconstructing these issues and asking why these arbitrary prejudices exist, but she's doing so in a way that doesn't feel forced or cheesy. The development is a bit slow, but I have a feeling we're going to see attitudes continue to evolve in the next couple of books.

Now, I really liked the two main characters. They are my favorite kinds of characters: they're flawed, they've made horrible mistakes in the past, and they're uncertain about what is right and what is wrong--but they're doing their best. They are trying to be good people, but it's not always so easy. I'm really looking forward to seeing them develop more in the forthcoming novels. I've been reading a lot of standalones lately, so I haven't really had the chance to get excited about characters the same way, but I'm so so so excited to see where Eros and Kora are going to end up by the conclusion of the series. Wherever they end up, I hope it's together because I SHIP THEM SO MUCH. The chemistry is present from the get-go, and I was ready for them to tear one another's clothing off immediately, but alas! Here we have a slow-burn romance with many obstacles (and a steamy scene that will probably take you a bit by surprise at first but also make ya sweat a lil bit). I'm curious as to where this ship is heading in the sequels.

I think the one thing this book could benefit from is a bit more worldbuilding. I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to fantasy or sci-fi setting, so I don't know exactly what is missing, I just know that I feel like I only got part of the picture and that there were some gaps. I did love that there was a little bit of special dialect thrown in. It added a lil flavor.

Really and truly, I enjoyed this book a ton! It started with a bang and stayed strong throughout. This novel got me excited to read more sci-fi and fantasy. I want to point out that this is not a cheesy alien romance--it's way more than that! It's political and sharp, and the aliens are not painted as caricatures, but rather a different race with their own culture, beliefs, etc. It makes me sad how underhyped this book is because I feel it deserves more attention. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!

4.5/5

Lefty's Lowdown: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
(standalone)
Published: May 5, 2011 by Walker Books
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

 This book was not at all what I expected. I admit, going into it, I hadn't had the faintest clue what it was actually about, but it was still much different than what I figured it would be. And I think that's a good thing. I definitely think this is the type of book you should go into blind and just experience how amazing & emotional it is.

Patrick Ness has woven such a beautiful and poignant story about loss and truth and coping with pain. It will sweep you away for a few hours and never fully return you because it will steal tiny fragments of your heart. I couldn't help but hurt on Conor's behalf. He's dealing with a lot of painful circumstances that no child his age (I'm pretty sure he's like 13) should have to deal with, and it has forced him to grow up much too soon and he has kind of lost himself somewhere along the way. So of course I became very emotionally invested in him, and truly enjoyed his story arc & where Ness left his character in the end. Also, it's important to note that he could be super sassy and hilarious at times which was just truly wonderful.

The monster is an interesting aspect of this novel, in terms of characterization and what he represents, but I don't want to say too much about him because I don't want to give too much away. But this monster is different than any of the other monsters you will find in YA/MG literature and really helps set this book apart from others. I also adored the stories he told within the stories and the way he interacted with Conor.

This book is about emotion. By the end of this novel, I was sobbing. Ness brings so many memories and fears to the surface that it is impossible to not be overwhelmed by emotion. This is a quick read, but it definitely hits you where it hurts. I seriously think everyone would be able to enjoy this story and take something away from it, no matter how old you are or what walks of life you come from. Unfortunately, I bought the movie tie-in edition and that does not come with the illustrations that are in the original version of the book, which makes me so upset. I do think illustrations would have given this book completely new life, so I recommend not getting the movie tie-in.

I'm definitely going to be picking up more books from Patrick Ness now, and I'm really looking forward to the movie. I know this is the type of book that the film studio is going to have to take various creative liberties with, and I'm interested to see how they bring this book to life.

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
(Red Queen #1)
Published: February 10, 2015 by HarperTeen
Source: purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

 I scored this baby for $1 at a LGBTQ thrift shop I was volunteering for in Atlanta. If that doesn't set the groundwork for a good find, I don't know what does. And a good find it was! Red Queen was everything I was hoping it would be: intense, with a sharp-tongued heroine, a bad case of social stratification, magic and charming boys! Right from the beginning, I was, in the words of my Goodreads status update, hooked so hard.

So, I'm not really sure if this book is considered dystopian or fantasy? I guess it does not really matter, because the bottom line is the world that Victoria Aveyard has created is utterly engrossing. The concept is that there are two different types of blood in the world. The Silvers are royalty. They have magic and money--and closed minds. The Reds are considered lesser. They scour for work so they don't have to fight in the ongoing war. Mare, the aforementioned sharp-tongued protagonist, doesn't have any skills to land her a job, though. She's a thief, and a damn good one. That all changes when she tries to steal from the wrong person. Mare lands a job at court and she learns about the cutthroat nature of the royal Silvers. Like I said, excellent world building. I couldn't help but be sucked into the politics and the society and the unique magical aspects. Seriously, I loved learning about the different types of magic in this world. Aveyard's creativity really shone when she developed the Red Queen universe.

Earlier, when I mentioned the charming boys, I wasn't kidding. There is somewhat of a love triangle present in this book, but it's not the annoying kind, I assure you. There's Cal and Maven, and I don't want to tell you much about them because that will give some spoilers that you need to experience for yourself. But just know that they both have their moments of glory, and while I didn't want to like one of them, I couldn't help but be charmed along the way. And then there's Kilorn, who is Mare's best friend, and not really a romantic interest. But I loved him. He is scrappy, and clearly cares about Mare. As of right now, I am Team Kilorn.

Red Queen is a book that calls loyalty into question. A book in which you're never sure what's true and who to trust. A book that is fast-paced and ensnaring. A book with strong writing and twists that will keep you turning pages faster than your fingers can handle. Red Queen is a great start to what I'm praying will be a dynamic series. I cannot wait to get my paws on book number 2.

4.5/5