Field Notes on Love: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review
Posted on May 8, 2019 by missprint
"Look, this is what I do. I tell stories. And stories are magic. Trust me on this."
Hugo is used to being a minor celebrity in England–that's what happens when you're a sextuplet. He's used to being grouped with his siblings at home, at school, and even in posts on their mom's parenting blog. He's used to having a girlfriend and he's dreading what happens when he starts college with all of his siblings next year.
But then his girlfriend dumps him and suddenly a lot of the givens in Hugo's life are up in the air. Like the trip he and his now ex-girlfriend were going to take across the United States after graduation. Hugo still wants to go, is actually looking forward to the chance to travel alone if he's being honest, but there's one problem: the tickets are all booked under the name of his ex, Margaret Campbell. Nontransferable. No exceptions.
Margaret "Mae" Campbell has just been rejected from her dream film program. Her dads assure her that her application film was perfect. And Mae can always apply again as a transfer student. But with her life in small town New York already feeling so tiny, she's ready to shake things up. Enter Hugo's post online looking for a Margaret Campbell to take his spare ticket in exchange for making this trip happen.
Traveling together is meant to be a simple business arrangement. But how can Hugo help but be drawn in when Mae starts recording footage for a film about love? And how can Mae not want to help Hugo figure out how to follow his own dreams when she finds out how much he wants to learn who he is away from his brothers and sisters?
Sometimes you only get one chance to get what you want. As they near the end of their trip, Hugo and Mae have to decide how much they're willing to put on the line for their dreams–and each other in Field Notes on Love (2019) by Jennifer E. Smith.
Set over the course of their whirlwind trip, Field Notes on Love alternates closer third person chapters following Hugo and Mae. Smith populates this story with a distinct and memorable cast of characters including Hugo's large, boisterous family as well as Mae's dads and her grandmother.
Hugo and Mae are excellent foils as they push each other to chase their dreams even if it means going outside of their comfort zones. Mae's practical, savvy personality is a perfect contrast to Hugo who is more of a dreamer and still figuring out what he wants from life. Although both characters have very different visions for their future, Smith presents each course thoughtfully and honestly.
Field Notes on Love captures the strange intimacy of being forced into a small space with a person you don't know and uses that starting point to build a fully realized love story that is effervescent and sweet. Field Notes on Love is the perfect story for anyone who's ever wanted to take a vacation from their life, ever dreamed of making a big change, and anyone who has ever wanted that intangible something more. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, Dramatically Ever After by Isabel Bandeira, Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett, The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi, Save the Date by Morgan Matson, From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon, Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud, My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma, The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2019, books, breaking up is hard to do, Chick Lit Wednesday, growing pains, identity, Jennifer E. Smith, movies, Publisher: Delacorte (Random House), road trip, romantic, trains, travel	| 2 Replies
Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review
"Sometimes small and unspectacular things can be a universe."
For most of high school best friends Delia and Josie have spent every Friday night transforming themselves into Delilah Darkwood and Rayne Ravenscroft, hosts of Midnite Matinee their public access show on TV Six where they show a campy B (or C) horror movie with their own shorts in between.
The movies are never good and Delia and Josie's segments aren't much better, but it's their show that they built up from scratch which counts for a lot. Even if it isn't enough to ensure the show will continue now that high school is ending.
Josie is eager to pursue her lifelong dream of being on television when she goes to college but isn't sure what to do when her dreams might be leading her away from her hometown and her best friend.
Delia, meanwhile, is desperate to find a way to help Midnite Matinee grow beyond its current syndication so that Josie can pursue her dream without leaving Delia behind the way her father did.
With one last summer to make it big or call it quits, Delia and Josie's friendship and their show will be tested as they confront old hurts, embrace new dreams, and take one epic road trip to a horror convention with the potential to change everything in Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee (2019) by Jeff Zentner.
Zentner's latest standalone contemporary is a funny, strange story that explores all of the things that brought Josie and Delia together and all of the things that are starting to pull them in different directions.
Josie and Delia alternate first person narration in this story and by the end of the novel both girls completely won me over. Although Delia and Josie are facing some big decisions, they do it all with levity and obvious affection for each other as well as the other important people in their lives.
Zentner has filled this book with Easter eggs from his earlier novels as well as some amazing jokes–I can't reveal too much but let's just say I'm still cracking up about the baby Basset Hounds.
Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee is a story about big dreams, big chances, and the mediocre results we sometimes end up with as a result. Josie and Delia are hilarious, endearing, and some of my favorite characters to date. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo, Happy Messy Scary Love by Leah Konen, The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills, Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford, Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
You can also check out my exclusive interview with Jeff about this book!
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2019, books, Chick Lit Wednesday, family, fandom, friends, funny, growing pains, Jeff Zentner, Publisher: Crown Books (Penguin Random House), road trip, romantic, small town, television	| Leave a reply
The Darkest Legacy: A Review
"In darkness, you only needed to see just as far as your headlights extended. As long as you kept going, it was enough."
"We've inherited the darkest legacy, but they don't know that we've learned how to thrive in shadows and create our own light."
Five years ago Suzume "Zu" Kimura and her friends helped end President Gray's corrupt administration and the camp system that imprisoned the child survivors of IANN while claiming to rehabilitate them and "cure" their psychic abilities. Back then it had been easy to believe that change was possible.
But now Zu is seventeen and after watching Chubs and Vida try to work within a governmental system that fears them, she isn't sure if true change–or true freedom–is possible. As a spokesperson, Zu tries to convince the public that the government is helping even as new legislation continues to restrict Psi rights.
When she is framed for committing a terrorist attack, Zu has to clear her name before her supposed guilt becomes an excuse to punish other Psi. Zu forms an uneasy alliance with Roman and Priyanka–two Psi who say they want to help her but might just as easily betray her. As they grow closer Zu realizes that Roman and Priyanka's secrets are key to understanding the darkness that's been allowed to fester while the interim government works to restore order.
With no one left to trust, Zu has to depend on herself and her voice as she tries to save the friends who once rescued her and effect real change in The Darkest Legacy (2018) by Alexandra Bracken.
The Darkest Legacy is a tense, frenetic return to the world of Bracken's Darkest Minds trilogy (soon to be a motion picture staring Amandla Stenberg). Zu's story is self-contained and largely independent from Ruby's arc in the original trilogy. Familiarity with the previous books will give readers a larger appreciation for this standalone installment. The novel starts with Zu's found family fractured over whether they should work within or outside of the government–a moral issue Zu struggles with both in the present story and in flashback chapters.
Zu's Japanese-American heritage is thoughtfully portrayed and informs her lingering anger and post-traumatic stress from being in a Psi camp. The rest of the cast is equally inclusive including non-American characters who bring a different perspective to the Psi situation in the United States.
Zu has grown a lot since her time in the camp and with the Black Betty gang. She is desperate to convince her friends, and herself, that she is fine–that she's not the girl who stopped talking for a year anymore. But it's only when she acknowledges past traumas and hurts–both her own and those of other Psi–that she begins to understand her own strength as a survivor.
As Zu learns more about the government's misdeeds and her own role in advocating for them, she realizes she has to question everything she believes about the government and herself as she tries to find her own way–and her own moral code–to make a place for Psi in a society that doesn't always want to acknowledge or accept them.
The Darkest Legacy is an empowering story of independence, resilience, and one girl's decision to act even in the face of impossible odds and indifference. A must-read for fans of the series and a nail-biting introduction for readers discovering it for the first time.
Possible Pairings: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, White Cat by Holly Black, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, False Memory by Dan Krokos, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, The Archived by Victoria Schwab, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
*A more condensed version of this review was published in School Library Journal*
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2018, action, Alexandra Bracken, books, Dystopia, friends, LGBTQ, lying liars, moderately charming anti-heroes, Prof: SLJ, Publisher: Disney Hyperion, road trip, romantic, Science Fiction	| Leave a reply
Kissing in America: A Review
Eva Roth's father died two years ago. She tells everyone it was the result of a heart attack because the real answer–that he died in a plane crash–is too sensational and messy. No one asks more questions about a heart attack.
Eva's father was always the one who understood her, the one she'd sit with and write. In his absence Eva feels more friction than anything else when it comes to her women's studies professor mother–something her mother suspects is at the root of Eva's love of romance novels.
When Eva meets Will Freeman it seems like she might have found someone who really understands. Someone who can possibly help her to move past her grief. Until he moves away.
Afraid of losing Will and everything he promises, Eva and her best friend Annie Kim make a plan to travel across the country to find Will again. Along the way Eva and Annie will see unexpected pieces of the country and learn some surprising things about love in Kissing in America (2015) by Margo Rabb.
Kissing in America is Rabb's followup to her YA debut Cures for Heartbreak. This novel treads similar territory as Eva tries to find her way through grief and her teen years. Although it is often touted as a light romance and a summery read, this story is filled with melancholy and very much mired in Eva's grief.
Rabb's writing remains superlative and evocative. Eva's love of poetry also plays out in the novel with references to and poems from Elizabeth Bishop, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Nikki Giovanni, Marie Howe, and other authors add another layer to this story. While this book is marketed as a romance, it is really Eva's relationship with her best friend and with her mother that makes Kissing in America shine.
Eva's mother in an interesting character who is a vocal feminist and a women's studies professor. She terms Eva's love of romance novels as a rebellion which never quite rings true as the romance genre is one where women are able to dominate the market and a genre that is often referenced for its feminist elements and even promoting female equality. That this never comes up in the story remains a frustrating omission.
Kissing in America is a thoughtful and witty road trip story about best friends, family, grieving and, of course, love. Recommended for readers looking for a smart read that will have them smiling through the tears.
Possible Pairings: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu, Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills, Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood, Black and White by Paul Volponi, Cloudwish by Fiona Wood, After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2015, books, death/dying, family, friends, grieving, Margo Rabb, New York, poetry, Publisher: HarperCollins, road trip	| 2 Replies
The Apple Throne: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review
"It is by touching gods and godlings, elves and trolls and men and women, by starting a new story for ourselves and our names, that we reach into the future.
"That is how we thrive."
Astrid Glynn traded her life as a talented prophet and seethkona to save the person she loves. Soren Bearstar struck a bargain in turn so that he would remember Astrid even as the rest of the world forgot her.
It has been two years since Astrid gave up her name, her prophetic dreams, and her life to become Idun the Young–the not-quite goddess who guards and distributes the apples of immortality. In those two years Soren's bargain has allowed him to visit her every three months. Until he doesn't come.
Certain that something terrible is keeping Soren away, Astrid goes against the gods to escape her hidden orchard and search for him. With unexpected help from one of Thor's bastard sons, Astrid travels across New Asgard to find Soren and save him.
Astrid is no longer the seer she once was nor is she exactly a goddess. She will have to bridge the gap between her old life and new if she wants to save the people she loves and protect the world as they know it in The Apple Throne (2015) by Tessa Gratton.
Find it on Amazon (not available on Bookshop).
The Apple Throne is the conclusion to Gratton's Songs of New Asgard (United States of Asgard) series. It is preceded by The Lost Sun and The Strange Maid. All of the books function very well as stand-alone titles however, because of timeline and character overlap, The Apple Throne does include spoilers for the earlier books. These titles have all been reissued by the author through CreateSpace as paperbacks and eBooks.
The Apple Throne is a fantastic conclusion to one of my favorite fantasy series. This story starts soon after the conclusion of Soren's story and references the events of Signy's ascension to her title as Valkryie. Although Astrid's story is removed from that of the other protagonists in this series, her arc culminates in a finish that neatly ties all three books together.
Astrid accepts her current role as Idun, a quasi-goddess, gladly. But the loss of her identity as young prophet Astrid Glynn and her separation from Soren still sting. More importantly, Astrid isn't sure who she is without a place in the world and her dream visions to guide her. Throughout the story Astrid has to reconcile who she used to be with who she has become as she tries to correct past mistakes and protect the people she holds dear.
A feminist story literally about a young woman carving a place for herself in the world, The Apple Throne is another thoughtful fantasy filled with the intricate world building that Gratton's fans will expect. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, The Curiosities by Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, Freya by Matthew Laurence, The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley, Soundless by Richelle Mead, Clariel by Garth Nix, Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell, The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab, Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Be sure to watch for my interview with Tessa about this book tomorrow!
You can also enter my giveaway to win ebooks of this trilogy!
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2015, action, alternate history, bildungsroman, books, Chick Lit Wednesday, fantasy, fate, feminism, gods and goddesses, identity, journey, myths, Norse, Publisher: CreateSpace, road trip, romantic, Tessa Gratton	| 1 Reply
The Last True Love Story: A Review
Teddy Hendrix feels adrift with his grandfather, Gpa, in an assisted living facility slowly dying of Alzheimer's. His dad is long dead and his mother is more concerned with traveling for her job which leaves Hendrix alone to watch Gpa's deterioration.
Hoping to appease Gpa and ease his own anxiety about his condition, Hendrix makes a promise he isn't sure he can keep. He promises to bring Gpa across the country, east, to Ithaca where he first met and married Gma. Hendrix has no idea how his driver's license-less self is going to do that until everything starts to gel on an unlikely summer night.
Hendrix has been watching Corrina play all summer. Corrina is a talented musician chafing under her adoptive parents' strict rules. Adopted from Guatemala she feels at a remove from her family and her supposed friends. She wants to get away from town and try to jump start her music career.
Realizing they can help each other, Hendrix and Corrina decide to take a chance on each other. They take a car, grab Hendrix's dog Old Hump, and pick up Gpa to start heading to the east coast. Of course, nothing else goes exactly to plan in The Last True Love Story (2016) by Brendan Kiely.
The Last True Love Story has been the subject of much buzz and critical acclaim. Which it absolutely deserves. Kiely's writing is smooth and lyrical while also being straightforward. Hendrix and Corrina are interesting characters who are vibrantly portrayed in Hendrix's first-person narration.
At the same time, The Last True Love Story is a difficult book. Gpa (why is he called Gpa?) and his struggles with the progression of Alzheimer's is hard to read. Hendrix's grief over losing the man who raised him long before he dies is painful. Because of that, this book isn't going to work for everyone.
Readers who can deal with the inherent melancholy and sadness will be rewarded with a surprisingly optimistic and humorous book. Like all good road trip books The Last True Love Story is filled with excitement, adventure, and introspection. The addition of Kiely's thoughtful prose and distinctive characters further elevate this novel. Recommended.
Possible Pairings: Pirouette by Robyn Bavati, Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure, Be Good Be Real Be Crazy by Chelsea Philpot, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes by Randy Ribay, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2016, Alzheimer's, books, Brendan Kiely, family, Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), road trip, romantic	| Leave a reply
In Real Life: A Review
Hannah Cho and Nick Cooper have been best friends since eighth grade. They chat and text constantly. They talk on the phone for hours. They know each other better than anyone.
They've never met.
After years of following the rules and doing what everyone expects, Hannah's summer plans are ruined. Instead of spending her last high school summer on a trip to DC, Hannah has no plans whatsoever. With nothing holding her back and a sudden desire to be reckless, Hannah decides to take the ultimate risk and road trip from California to meet Nick in Vegas.
With her older sister and best friend on board, Hannah expects it to be the perfect summer trip. But when the trio arrive in Vegas to surprise Nick everything starts to go wrong. Instead of being able to admit her more-than-best-friend feelings for Nick, Hannah finds out that Nick has been less-than-honest with her.
Hannah still thinks the Nick she's known online can't be that different from Nick in real life. But she only has one night in Vegas to figure that out and decide if she's ready to risk her heart trying to make their friendship into something more in In Real Life (2016) by Jessica Love.
Hannah is a guileless narrator in this story about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking big risks. Although the night is filled with adventure (and some kissing and drinking) the story reads young enough that it can easily appeal to the younger end of the teen reader spectrum.
Hannah and Nick are an interesting pair but missed connections, white lies, and intentional misinformation from both often leaves this couple lacking in chemistry or much of a connection once they're face-to-face.
Hannah is accompanied by her (much more adventurous) older sister and best friend. Unfortunately any potentially empowering friendship moments quickly vanish as each girl is abruptly paired off with a guy and effectively disappears from the narrative. This leads to more than a few hurt feelings and a solid heart-to-heart before the novel's end. It also leaves Hannah in her own head for most of the novel.
Like many road trips the path from start to finish is messy for Hannah and filled with bumps in the road. Readers looking for a story that addresses the merits and value of online friendships realistically (even with some madcap adventures) will find a lot to enjoy here. In Real Life is a funny novel with a romance that ends on a sweet note.
Possible Pairings: The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg, The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle, Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu, The Truth Commission by Susan Juby, The Romantics by Leah Konen, The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, Analee in Real Life by Janelle Milanes, Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales, This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
*A copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2016, California, diverse, friends, funny, Jessica Love, Las Vegas, music, Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (Macmillan), road trip, romantic, sisters, your cheating heart	| Leave a reply
The Devil You Know: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review
Arcadia "Cadie" Wells is sick to death of her life in her tiny Florida town with her broken-down father and her four-year-old brother. Cadie is tired of being the de facto caretaker for her family. She is tired of putting what she wants last. Now that high school is over, all she can see ahead of her is an endless stretch of stifling sameness with work and family obligations pulling her down.
Cadie wants something more.
She wants adventure.
She wants a little act of rebellion.
It starts with a campfire party and a cute dress. It turns into a sudden road trip with two unbearably attractive cousins and the exact kind of escape Cadie's been yearning for. It will end with dangers Cadie never imagined and a dead body in The Devil You Know (2015) by Trish Doller.
The Devil You Know is a sexy and exciting thriller. Doller's writing is taut with tension as Cadie tries to step outside of her everyday routine with risks that are sometimes shocking even to herself. While this story follows many familiar conventions as Cadie questions who she can trust and the wisdom in falling hard for a handsome stranger, The Devil You Know is not your average thriller.
In this slim novel (256 pages, hardcover), Cadie struggles to reconcile her own wanderlust with the obligations weighing her down. Coming from a small town and a family that is struggling to get by, Cadie is very aware of the limitations on her life. She is also confident in her own ability to achieve more than life in her small town has to offer and also in how much she deserves it.
Cadie is a strong heroine with absolutely the best feminist ideals that are presented as a seamless part of her character. Throughout The Devil You Know Cadie takes ownership of her life and her sexuality in moments that are refreshingly empowering. The chemistry between Cadie and her love interest is palpable with dialog and descriptions that absolutely sizzle.
Although parts of the story veer toward predictable or even contrived, this book is decidedly clever and often entertaining. The Devil You Know is a smart thriller that uses this familiar form to subvert as many conventions as it follows.
Possible Pairings: The Leaving by Tara Altebrando, With Malice by Eileen Cook, Breaker by Kat Ellis, The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee, Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler, I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest, Damaged by Amy Reed, Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield, Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten, The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2015, books, family, feminism, Florida, moderately charming anti-heroes, mystery, Publisher: Bloomsbury, road trip, romantic, sexy, small town, smart, suspense, thriller, Trish Doller	| 8 Replies
Beau, Lee, The Bomb and Me: A (Rapid Fire) Review
Beau, Lee, The Bomb and Me by Mary McKinley (2014)
It's bad enough being smart or fat in a high school with known bullying issues, Rusty Winters is both. It's even worse to be gay, which is unfortunate for new kid Beau Gales.
When Beau arrives, Rusty's first thought is relief when she thinks the school might have someone else to target for a while. But when Rusty and Beau become fast friends, it hits her hard when Beau's bullying escalates to a beating on his way home. Rusty and fellow misfit Leonie readily agree to follow Beau when he decides to run away to San Francisco to ask his gay uncle for advice.
This road-trip novel is peppered with nods to The Wizard of Oz that range from clever to heavy-handed. A detour to the town of Forks (of "Twilight" fame) and numerous additional plot points—including the friends deciding how to properly deal with Leonie's molestation by her teacher and others, a car-jacking, and more—force much of the character development off-page in the form of time jumps and informative asides.
Lengthy passages about the devastating effects of the AIDS outbreak, often reductive explanations of the gay rights movement, and numerous reminders about the importance of tolerance lend a self-righteous tone to the narrative.
While the issues of bullying and gay rights are timely, outmoded pop-culture references and odd slang choices lend a dated feel to this novel. Worth a look for those hoping to flesh out their LGBTQ or bullying selections as well as hardcore Oz-philes. A good choice to pair with Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan.
*A slightly different version of this review appeared in an issue of School Library Journal from which it can be seen in various sites online*
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged 2014, books, family, friends, funny, Kensington Teen, LGBTQ, Mary McKinley, Prof: SLJ, Rapid Fire book reviews, retelling, road trip, sexual abuse	| 1 Reply