Mini-Review Collection { 2 }
Hi friends! Since I like knocking off several reviews at once, I've decided to create Mini-Review Collection, where I'll usually post 3 quick reviews of books I recently read!
In the second collection, I'll be reviewing some contemporary reads: The Start of Me and You, Intermediate Thermodynamics, and Wesley James Ruined My Life!
In the second collection, I'll be reviewing some contemporary reads: The Start of Me and You, Intermediate Thermodynamics, and Wesley James Ruined My Life!
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The Start of Me and You, book 1
Published March 31, 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.
Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.
It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?
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I can't believe I didn't put down any thoughts for this one! I really did like it, even though I expected a few more kisses, but hopefully that's what the sequel will have.
One of my favourite things about this novel was the friendship. It made my heart sing, and, as these things go, my skin is clear, my hair shines, my stress has been relieved because of it. Friendships, especially female friendships, has always been something I held dear to my heart, and frankly, I don't see enough of it. Usually the love interest ends up taking all of the main character's attention and it gets me so heated. (miss me with that shit.)
But Lord made the friendship here so important, so authentic, it made me so emotional. I loved Paige and Tessa's relationship, but the other girls, Morgan and Kayleigh, were amazing too. They were a tight knit group, and it was clear they would do just about anything for each other. There were a lot of scenes that showed their friendship and I was just filled to the brim with happiness.
I liked the romance. It was a buildup throughout, so, that was both a bit disappointing (because I wanted kisses! gah) but also sweet because, well. It was just a good buildup. We really get to see Max's character and how he helps Paige. We see why she falls for him in the first place. And Max was just absolutely sweet? So unapologetically him and I adored it!
Paige was a great main character and really easy to relate to. Between her jokes with her friends and her personality, I did see myself in her at times. I loved seeing her develop throughout the book, overcome her grief, face her fears. Emery Lord did an impeccable job with all of these characters!
Overall, I'd recommend it. It's a cute novel and it's full of friendship and nice guys that aren't jerks, so bonus!
One of my favourite things about this novel was the friendship. It made my heart sing, and, as these things go, my skin is clear, my hair shines, my stress has been relieved because of it. Friendships, especially female friendships, has always been something I held dear to my heart, and frankly, I don't see enough of it. Usually the love interest ends up taking all of the main character's attention and it gets me so heated. (miss me with that shit.)
But Lord made the friendship here so important, so authentic, it made me so emotional. I loved Paige and Tessa's relationship, but the other girls, Morgan and Kayleigh, were amazing too. They were a tight knit group, and it was clear they would do just about anything for each other. There were a lot of scenes that showed their friendship and I was just filled to the brim with happiness.
I liked the romance. It was a buildup throughout, so, that was both a bit disappointing (because I wanted kisses! gah) but also sweet because, well. It was just a good buildup. We really get to see Max's character and how he helps Paige. We see why she falls for him in the first place. And Max was just absolutely sweet? So unapologetically him and I adored it!
Paige was a great main character and really easy to relate to. Between her jokes with her friends and her personality, I did see myself in her at times. I loved seeing her develop throughout the book, overcome her grief, face her fears. Emery Lord did an impeccable job with all of these characters!
Overall, I'd recommend it. It's a cute novel and it's full of friendship and nice guys that aren't jerks, so bonus!
Buy links!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
(it's 1.99 on kindle! it'd be a crime not to buy it!)
(it's 1.99 on kindle! it'd be a crime not to buy it!)
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Intermediate Thermodynamics by Susannah Nix
Chemistry Lessons, book 2
Published October 4, 2017 by Haver Street Press
Add it on GoodReads!
Chemistry Lessons, book 2
Published October 4, 2017 by Haver Street Press
Add it on GoodReads!
Aerospace engineer Esther Abbott doesn’t believe in love, but she’s perfectly happy hating her screenwriter neighbor, Jonathan. Until she’s forced to make a devil’s bargain with him: if he distracts her best friend from a mouth-breather ex, Esther will be his science advisor for the sci-fi script he's writing.
Her patience is put to the test when it’s time to fulfill her end of the deal. But the more time she spends with her nemesis, the more hate turns into attraction—and attraction into something much deeper. As Esther’s carefully-constructed defenses start to crumble, will love be her undoing or her salvation?
Intermediate Thermodynamics follows in the tradition of contemporary romantic comedy favorites like Penny Reid, Sally Thorne, and Jennifer Crusie. This sweet, enemies-to-lovers romance is the second in a series of standalone rom-coms featuring geeky heroines who work in STEM fields.
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I was surprised by the fact that I found myself enjoying this! I wasn't the biggest fan of book one, so I was a bit hesitant, but I'm glad I gave Esther's story a try.
Part of the reason I liked this a lot was because there was a solid best friend in this book. Jinny, her BFF, was a great character to have and I loved the interactions between her and Esther—there's a whole different side to the main character and I was happy that the author made their relationship such an important one in the novel.
I also found myself really liking Esther. She's hella judgy, and, admittedly, she reminded me of me a lot of the times. She was a strong, capable lead, and she wasn't silent about her opinions, which was something I adored about her! She did come off as a bit intense sometimes, but I always found it justified because she always brought up a good point: doesn't she need to be in her field?
So there were the occasional rants about misogyny and sexism in her work place and every time Esther overcame that, I definitely cheered her on.
As for the romance... I liked it, kind of? I personally thought the other aspects of the novel were stronger, but it wasn't bad. Jonathan and Esther had a good friendship and solid chemistry, but honestly, I liked seeing them interact as friends more than anything.
Overall, 3.5 stars! I'm curious to see who book 3 is about!
Part of the reason I liked this a lot was because there was a solid best friend in this book. Jinny, her BFF, was a great character to have and I loved the interactions between her and Esther—there's a whole different side to the main character and I was happy that the author made their relationship such an important one in the novel.
I also found myself really liking Esther. She's hella judgy, and, admittedly, she reminded me of me a lot of the times. She was a strong, capable lead, and she wasn't silent about her opinions, which was something I adored about her! She did come off as a bit intense sometimes, but I always found it justified because she always brought up a good point: doesn't she need to be in her field?
So there were the occasional rants about misogyny and sexism in her work place and every time Esther overcame that, I definitely cheered her on.
As for the romance... I liked it, kind of? I personally thought the other aspects of the novel were stronger, but it wasn't bad. Jonathan and Esther had a good friendship and solid chemistry, but honestly, I liked seeing them interact as friends more than anything.
Overall, 3.5 stars! I'm curious to see who book 3 is about!
Buy links!
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Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer HoneybourneStandalone Novel
Published July 18, 2017 by Swoon Reads
Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick’s having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad’s gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, former childhood friend—until he ruined her life, that is.
So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn’s going to do is forgive and forget. She’s determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once—by getting him fired.
But getting rid of Wesley isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it.
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SPOILER ALERT.
Unfortunately, there was a lot I was not fond of in regards to this book. First: the fact that Quinn tried to get Wes fired. The whole idea was so stupid and so selfish and just terrible. She hardly seemed to care how it would affect Wesley if he lost a job—I doubt she even thought of how he might need it, in the first place. And for a person who really needed the money/job, the whole idea seemed backwards and terrible.
Second was the fact that there was a moment where cheating would have been a possibility. This is mostly on Wesley's part and I hated it—the fact that he'd almost cheat on his girlfriend. Quinn didn't know, of course, but it wasn't something that Wesley should have done.
Which sort of connects with the next thing: how Quinn "retaliated", sort of. Basically, she hooked up with another guy to... what? Get back at Wes? To distract herself? I don't even remember and I don't care. How that arc ended was done poorly and there wasn't even a satisfying conclusion to it. (They sit next to each other in band! There was nothing about how what happened between them might have affected that situation.)
The ending seemed too clean cut. Everyone got a happy ending, which, I guess, yay? That's cool, but everything came out so easily, and that felt a bit... unsatisfying to me. There also weren't enough swoons so really.
Anyway, overall, I wasn't that impressed. Quinn's voice hardly stood out, so on top of everything, there wasn't a lot the story offered me. But it was a quick read so oh well. 2 stars.
Unfortunately, there was a lot I was not fond of in regards to this book. First: the fact that Quinn tried to get Wes fired. The whole idea was so stupid and so selfish and just terrible. She hardly seemed to care how it would affect Wesley if he lost a job—I doubt she even thought of how he might need it, in the first place. And for a person who really needed the money/job, the whole idea seemed backwards and terrible.
Second was the fact that there was a moment where cheating would have been a possibility. This is mostly on Wesley's part and I hated it—the fact that he'd almost cheat on his girlfriend. Quinn didn't know, of course, but it wasn't something that Wesley should have done.
Which sort of connects with the next thing: how Quinn "retaliated", sort of. Basically, she hooked up with another guy to... what? Get back at Wes? To distract herself? I don't even remember and I don't care. How that arc ended was done poorly and there wasn't even a satisfying conclusion to it. (They sit next to each other in band! There was nothing about how what happened between them might have affected that situation.)
The ending seemed too clean cut. Everyone got a happy ending, which, I guess, yay? That's cool, but everything came out so easily, and that felt a bit... unsatisfying to me. There also weren't enough swoons so really.
Anyway, overall, I wasn't that impressed. Quinn's voice hardly stood out, so on top of everything, there wasn't a lot the story offered me. But it was a quick read so oh well. 2 stars.
Buy links!
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