Book Review: Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

Meet Me at Midnight
By: Jessica Pennington
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen
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Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Summary:

They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.

My Thoughts:

Meet Me at Midnight was such a fun reading adventure.  It took me to the lake, and I was enjoying summer, the refreshing water, and the interesting dynamic between Sidney and Asher.

Readers are rewarded with an entertaining story narrated by both Sidney and Asher in first person.  These two have been vacationing together every summer for eight weeks, since they were thirteen, and this is the summer before they go off to college..  Their mothers are best of friends, and their families are extremely close.  Sidney goes through boyfriends really quickly, and they never seem to make it past ten days, because she finds something wrong with them, and gets easily bored.

Sidney and Asher have an epic prank war every summer, that they look forward to and start to make plans for all year long.  It was fun seeing them trying to always one up each other!  When Sidney goes too far with one of her pranks, she gets both of their families kicked out of their rentals. Asher proposes that the two of them join forces, by pranking the landlord that kicked their families out.  This along with their families being forced to share a rental, becomes the catalyst for the two of them growing closer.to one another.  

Asher embraces his feelings for Sidney, but she is scared of getting her heart broken.  They agree to go on four dates with one another to see if they are meant to be together, or should go their separate ways.  However, Sidney overthinks everything, and every time they start to get close, or share a special moment, she panics, backs away, and avoids him.  Can Asher push past her walls, and in to her heart, or will he be the one left behind with a broken heart?

Meet Me at Midnight was the perfect book for me to read at such a chaotic and stressful time in my life.  It was fun, light, entertaining, and enjoyable, I loved how caring, thoughtful and sweet Asher was to Sidney. He made me swoon with how he treated Sidney, and I loved getting the history between the two of them.  I liked Sidney too.  I felt bad for her, and the way she demanded perfection from herself.  She was a planner, list maker, and over thinker like me.  Asher acted more on impulse, and wasn't overly serious like Sidney was.  They balanced each other out.  I got frustrated with the way Sidney repeatedly pushed Asher away, and was so quick to give up on him, or believe the worst about him.  However, as the story progressed, we saw her grow and mature.

I enjoyed Sidney and Asher's romance, how they knew each other so well, and fit together perfectly.  If you are looking for an easy going, fun, light, and entertaining read, look no further!  Meet Me at Midnight is a great read!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Google | TBD

About the Author:

Jessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington

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Blog Tour: Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson

Sparrow
By: 
Mary Cecilia Jackson

Publisher:
Tor Teen

Published:
March 17, 2020

Add to:
Goodreads

Source:
eARC from Tor Teen via FFBC in exchange for a honest review

Book Synopsis:

In the tradition of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, a devastating but hopeful YA debut about a ballerina who finds the courage to confront the abuse that haunts her past and threatens her future. 

There are two kinds of people on the planet. Hunters and prey.  I thought I would be safe after my mother died. I thought I could stop searching for new places to hide. But you can’t escape what you are, what you’ve always been. My name is Savannah Darcy Rose. And I am still prey. 

Though Savannah Rose―Sparrow to her friends and family―is a gifted ballerina, her real talent is keeping secrets. Schooled in silence by her long-dead mother, Sparrow has always believed that her lifelong creed―“I’m not the kind of girl who tells”―will make her just like everyone else: Normal. Happy. Safe. But in the aftermath of a brutal assault by her seemingly perfect boyfriend Tristan, Sparrow must finally find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past, or lose herself forever….

My Thoughts:

Sparrow was a riveting read, that I found myself fully immersed in.  What an emotional reading experience!  This story hurt my heart, made me cry, and had me rooting for Sparrow.  I loved her character, and desperately wanted her to find her strength, and courage; as well as the road to healing.

Savannah "Sparrow" Rose endured abuse at the hands of her mother as a young girl, and nightmares continue to plague her.  As a talented and aspiring professional ballerina, she has the life of a typical teenager.  Her good friends Lucas and Delaney, as well as her father and doting aunt offer her an abundance of love, caring, nurturing, and support.

Sparrow is swept away by Tristan, a charming, rich, good looking, and popular athlete at her school.  When he starts abusing her, she makes excuses for him, because she loves him, and thinks he loves her.  However, what happens when you stay in an abusive relationship?  Could it eventually be a matter of life and death?

What an intense and profound story!  With Sparrow, we learn about the cycle of abuse, and how it effects everyone, not just the person being abused.  In this story we get two points of view; Sparrow, and her best friend Lucas.  Serious topics are addressed, such as abuse, death of a loved one, and how to heal; along with all of the emotions that come with these experiences.

I loved how much this story sucked me in, and how it consumed my emotions.  It had a spectacular cast of characters that were real and relatable.  Sparrow was a vulnerable, sweet, caring, and loving character. I loved reading about her dancing, and could picture her in the studio with Lucas.  These two were very passionate about ballet, and as a reader, I was front and center as they performed. 

Lucas was the type of friend that would give you the shirt off his back.  He was loyal, kind, and always there for Sparrow.  He was going through his own pain, but always made time for Sparrow and his family.  I appreciated his persistence and perseverance in trying to make Sparrow realize that she deserved better, and needed to get out of her relationship.  He was in love with his best friend, and I wanted her to see what was right in front of her face.  His Grandma Deidre was a favorite character of mine.  I loved spending time with her.  She was wise, funny, and so caring.  

If you are looking to get swept away in a story, check out Sparrow!  This book delivered so many emotions, strong and loving friendships and familial relationships, as well as messages about life, hope and healing.

 

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks 
Google Books | Kobo | The Book Depository

About the Author:

Mary Cecilia Jackson has worked as a middle school teacher, an adjunct instructor of college freshmen, a technical writer and editor, a speechwriter, a museum docent, and a development officer for central Virginia's PBS and NPR stations. Her first novel, Sparrow, was an honor recipient of the SCBWI Sue Alexander Award and a young-adult finalist in the Writers' League of Texas manuscript contest. She lives with her architect husband, William, in Western North Carolina and Hawaii, where they have a farm and five ridiculously adorable goats. 

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Book Review: Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry

Echoes Between Us
By: Katie McGarry
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen
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Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Synopsis:

Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her. 

Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother's ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it's something more... 

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but his adrenaline addiction draws him to Veronica. 

A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose--can they conquer their demons together?

 

My Thoughts:

Echoes Between Us is a raw, riveting, and beautiful story.  It broke my heart and put it back together again by offering bright rays of hope. I went through a lot of tissues, as Veronica and Sawyer's journey felt authentic, was relatable, and extremely moving. Even as Katie McGarry is one of my favorite authors, this story exceeded my expectations.  

It was multilayered, and had so many elements that I enjoy in a favorite read.  Echoes Between Us had such a rich and colorful cast of characters, serious topics that kept me engaged, a plot that held my attention and kept me guessing how everything would end, and a story so rich in friendship and unconditional love.

Veronica was a character with a lot of heart.  She marched to the beat of her own drum, and was courageous when it came to being true to herself, even though it made her an outcast among her peers.  

She had a wonderful tribe of friends, and I loved how dedicated, loyal, and caring they were towards one another.  Even though this story is a standalone, I was excited to recognize beloved characters Jesse, Scarlett, and Glory from Only a Breath Apart.  I hope Nazareth gets his own story next, because he was one of my favorite characters.

From outside appearances Sawyer had an easy life.  He was popular, and an accomplished swimmer.  Both Veronica and Sawyer were hurting and going through their own private struggles.  We get the dual perspectives of Veronica and Sawyer, as well as snippets of a diary from a girl that had Tuberculosis in the 1900's; which tied in to an important life lesson. 

There were paranormal elements in the story that touched on ghosts and hauntings, which I loved.  There was an air of mystery throughout the story as I tried to figure out certain things, and I loved how the story kept me guessing.

The ending of the story was spectacular and really touched my heart.  In less you can't tell, I loved this story and highly recommend it.  If you are looking for a multi-layered story that is unique, has an amazing cast of characters, and will both break your heart, and mend it, check out Echoes Between Us!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 
 IndieBound | Google Play | Book Depository 

About the Author:

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. 

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

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Waiting on Wednesday (74)

The Burning Shadow

Orgin #2

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date:  October 8, 2019

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Why I'm Waiting:

I LOVED The Darkest Star so much!  In fact I read it in one sitting!  I swooned over Luc the whole time, and Evie was an amazing character!  This was a book that I got completely lost in, and I really had a major book hangover when it came to an end.  The Burning Shadow is the sequel, so I can't wait to get my hands on it.  October seems so far away!  I love the book covers as well.  They're so pretty!

What are you Waiting On?

Book Review: Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

Only a Breath Apart

By: 
Katie McGarry

Published:
Jan. 22, 2019

Publisher:
Tor Teen

Add to: Goodreads

Source: Purchased

Book Synopsis:

Bestselling author Katie McGarry’s trademark wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance is given a new twist in the gritty YA contemporary novel, Only a Breath Apart. 

Jesse Lachlin is cursed. 

So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland. 

Scarlett Copeland is psychic. 

Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin. 

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…

My Thoughts:

Only a Breath Apart is a tender and angst filled love story about two broken teenagers.  Both of them have secrets, and don't let people in.  Jesse has a past that he doesn't talk about, and Scarlett comes from a broken home with an abusive and controlling father.  Growing up, they were childhood best friends, and the single most important person in each other's lives.  Jesse ended their friendship abruptly without explanation, and Scarlett was devastated.

After Jesse's grandmother dies, circumstances lead Scarlett and Jesse back in to one another's lives.  Jesse believes his family is cursed, and the only way to keep the curse at bay is to stay on his family's land; the land that has been in his family for generations.  Scarlett is desperate to lead her own life and escape the controlling clutches of her domineering father.  Together they will support each other, and fall in love along the way.  Will their love story have a happy ending, or is the Laclan Curse real?

I loved reading Only a Breath Apart. It was such a page turner.  This love story really tugged on my emotions and melted my heart.  The characterization of Jesse and Scarlett was excellent.  Both characters came to life and jumped right off of the page with the talented Ms. McGarry's storytelling.  I enjoyed the secondary characters as well.  My favorite was Glory, Jesse's distant cousin.  She was a psychic fortuneteller, with a quirky personality, who was devoted to helping both Jesse and Scarlett.  

Only a Breath Apart was an intense story filled with angst, and the very real and heartbreaking cycle of abuse.  It wasn't sugarcoated, and there were no easy solutions.  I appreciated the raw emotions that it provoked in me, because it meant that the author was really able to connect me to the story and its characters.  I love that she also offered a message of hope; but it was a realistic message that also delivered encouragement and strength to readers who might be going through similar situations.   

Purchase At:

Amazon|B&N|iBooks|Google Play

Kobo|IndieBound 

About Katie McGarry:

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

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