Review: The Way I Used to Be

You probably all know by now that while I may be a fierce Young Adult fiction defender I don't read a ton of it myself. Every once and awhile, though, I come across a YA novel that intrigues me. The Way I Used to Be was one of those books. I was hooked as soon as I read the synopsis - wary, yes, but mostly hooked - and I knew I wanted to read it. Amber Smith's debut novel broke my heart but I adored it.

Here's the synopsis:

In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault.
Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.
What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.
Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.

Sounds pretty heavy, doesn't it? It was. But in a great way. (OK, "great" might be the wrong word but you know what I mean. I hope.) Smith doesn't build up to the rape. The story opens just after it's occurred and has Eden trying to figure out what happened, pretend it didn't happen, and decide what to do next. When Eden's mom comes in her room and sees the blood on the bed sheets she assumes Eden got her period overnight and proceeds to give her advice on counting days, etc. so she can avoid another accident. Eden is shocked (and, likely, still in shock) and doesn't tell her mother the truth - then or for the next four years.

One of the (many) things to break my heart while reading this book was that Eden's parents just don't pay that much attention to her. All Eden wants, over the four years following the rape, is for someone to ask, outright, if she was ok and if something happened. But her parents don't ask. They just think she's going through a typical teenage rebellious stage and try to wait it out. 

As the synopsis mentioned, the book is divided into four sections, one for each year of high school. I was happy with this set up...for the most part. It was really good to see Eden through every stage of high school and how her relationships (with her friends and with guys) changed as time went on. And also how her relationship with herself changed. But, this isn't a very large novel so there isn't a lot of room to go into everything in every year.. That usually worked. My problem was it sometimes seemed like time was moving too fast and/or I wasn't even sure how much time had passed until Smith mentioned a holiday or specific month. (And she did that in really good, subtle ways, which may seem contradictory.) The other thing that didn't really help this sense of time was the middle two parts, sophomore and junior years, were longer and almost seemed to drag a little bit. Not enough to completely altar my view of the novel, but just enough to warrant a mention. It's worth it to stick it out, trust me.

I don't even think I could tell you every emotion I felt while reading this book. There were a lot of them and they were so strong. I felt like screaming with rage and crying with sadness. I wanted to reach through the pages and tell Eden that it was all going to be ok. I didn't know how but I needed so badly to make things better for her. It made me glad that, at the moment, I don't want kids and therefore won't have a daughter who might go through this. I was worried for my friend's daughter for when she gets to high school and has to deal with who knows what. And I was thankful, oh so thankful, that nothing like this ever happened to me in high school. But I was also worried - how did I judge other girls when I was a teen? Was there anyone I knew who went through something like this? Who do I know that has never told anyone about a rape or sexual assault? How can I make things better? How can I make myself a better person? So, yeah. Many feelings. I actually read the end of the book at the gym and I can only imagine the emotions that were playing across my face. I was gripping the book so hard as I was on the bike and had to keep telling myself that the gym is not the place to have tears streaming down your face because of the emotions you're feeling for a fictional character. But even though all of these things were heart wrenching and felt like a punch to the gut (over and over and over again), I wouldn't change a thing. I needed to feel those things to fully appreciate this book.

The Way I Used to Be was such a great book, even if it was incredibly hard to read at times. Amber Smith has written a novel that I think every teen should read (hell, everyone regardless of age). This is a book that should encourage a discussion about what to do if you find yourself in Eden's situation or if you suspect a friend is going through something difficult. I may have felt like crying while reading this book but I consider that a job well done by Smith. I know I've painted a picture of a very difficult read but it's worth it, my friends. So so worth it.

Also: If you want to check out another review, please read Tiff's at Mostly YA Lit. It's fantastic. 

*An ARC was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Readalong: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Last month the book world lost another author, Louise Rennison, the woman behind the fabulous Georgia Nicolson novels. These books were absolute favourites of mine when I was a teenager and I was so upset to hear of her death. I wasn't the only one. Jessica of The Paper Trail Diary, a friend and fellow blogger, decided we needed to reread the books in honour of Rennison. (Read more on the readalong here.) It's been years since I've read them and I never did finish the series. Book ten was published in, I think, 2009 which was when I was graduating university and not reading much YA. So, while I was sad to hear Rennison had died, I was happy to have the chance to reread her books. The goal of the readalong is to read one book every three weeks and we're discussing them on social media using #GeorgiaNicolsonReadalong, on our personal blogs, and on Goodreads in a special group.

For those of you who have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, here's the synopsis of the first book in the Georgia Nicolson series, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging:

There are six things very wrong with my life:
1. I have one of those under-the-skin spots that will never come to a head but lurk in a red way for the next two years.
2. It is on my nose
3. I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.
4. In fourteen days the summer hols will be over and then it will be back to Stalag 14 and Oberfuhrer Frau Simpson and her bunch of sadistic teachers.
5. I am very ugly and need to go into an ugly home.
6. I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.
In this wildly funny journal of a year in the life of Georgia Nicolson, British author Louise Rennison has perfectly captured the soaring joys and bottomless angst of being a teenager. In the spirit of Bridget Jones's Diary, this fresh, irreverent, and simply hilarious book will leave you laughing out loud. As Georgia would say, it's "Fabbity fab fab!"

I first read book number one when I was 13 or so. I don't remember exactly how I came across the books, but I did, and my best friend, her sister, and I devoured it and the rest of the books as they were published. I remember finding it hilarious at 13 and wondered if 28-almost-29 year old me would find it just as funny. Yep. I did. Of course, it was a little difficult getting into the mindset of a 14 year old again but I got there. I did kind of laugh when Georgia referred to her parents as "The Olds" because I totally would have agreed with her then but my view of my mom and step-dad is completely different now!

For the most part, I thought the story held up pretty well, considering it was first published in 1999. Teenagers really aren't that different no matter when they were growing up. I did notice, however, some issues that wouldn't fly with some teen girls today who are aware of feminist/gender issues. At one point Georgia talks about how embarrassing it is to have a dad who's emotional instead of handy. "Instead of DIY he talks about feelings and stuff. Why can't he be a real dad? It's so pathetic in a grown man." (page 17) I really hope that teen girls (and boys) these days realize that being a "real man" involves more than swinging a hammer and providing for his family. The other passage that made me cringe involved Georgia and her friend Jas walking up and down the main street in short skirts to see how many cars would honk. Teenage girls of today: Please do not do this. Wear the skirt because you like it, not because you want boys to stare at you.

The books are written in diary format so it makes it so easy to read. I blew through the first book in one day (I probably could have easily finished it in one sitting had I not had my sister staying with me for the weekend). I found myself giggling out loud and remembering how much fun it was to first read the book and talk about it with my friends. I don't think I had read many books by English authors before that point, certainly none with contemporary characters talking just like they would in England. (Let's not get into how certain books become Americanized.) I loved it because it exposed a whole new world to me - and a new vocabulary.

I know this is a pretty short review of Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging but I always find it hard to review a book I'm doing a reread of. Plus, it's 11pm on the night before I'm posting this and I'm exhausted! Coming up next for the Georgia Nicholson readalong is book two: On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God (these titles just kill me). We'll be discussing it on April 12, along with the film version of Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging (which, if you can believe it, I've never seen) (Also, why did they have to change "full-frontal" to "perfect"? Ugh.). I can't wait! Now, I'm away laughing on a fast camel (you'll get that reference in a few books!).

RIP Louise. We'll miss you.

Review: Dear Emma

I loved Katie Heaney's first book, Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date, a memoir that was published two years ago. (Review is here.) So, when I heard Heaney was writing a novel I was thrilled. Thrilled! I didn't have any expectations of Dear Emma going in (I hardly even read the synopsis because I knew I'd want to read her novel no matter what), though I do think I had higher hopes for it than it delivered. I really enjoyed it though!

Here's the synopsis:

Harriet, the author of her college newspaper's pseudonymous student advice column "Dear Emma," is great at telling others what to do, dispensing wisdom for the lovelorn and lonely on her Midwestern campus. Somehow, though, she can't take her own advice, especially after Keith, the guy she's dating, blows her off completely. When Harriet discovers that Keith has started seeing the beautiful and intimidating Remy, she wants to hate her. But she can't help warming to Remy, who soon writes to "Dear Emma" asking for romantic advice.
Now Harriet has the perfect opportunity to take revenge on the person who broke her heart. But as she begins to doubt her own motivations and presumably faultless guidance, she's forced to question how much she really knows about love, friendship and well-meaning advice.

I'm going to tell you something I wish I had realized/been told right off the bat. And it's kind of embarrassing to admit this because I always say I'm such a Jane Austen fan...but...Dear Emma is kind of an homage to Austen's Emma. I know. Duh. It made so much sense after I read that in the acknowledgements/interview with the author. Side note: who else reads those sections? It wasn't until I got into blogging that reading them became a regular thing. This is a prime example why I do because it really did add to my reading experience. Anyway. I really dislike Emma - both the book and the heroine. She's meddling and frustrating and downright cruel at times and I just never understood the appeal to that particular Austen novel. But I do think it explains why I had a teeny bit of annoyance with Harriet and her story. She sometimes gets too into providing advice and trying to fix things (something a friend eventually calls her out on) that she forgets to allow friends, and herself, to make those "mistakes" we all need to learn from. Unlike Emma, I could see the growth in Harriet and I definitely liked her more as a person than Emma!

Even though Dear Emma is a play on another novel...the story still felt fresh. I don't think there are enough contemporary New Adult novels that are light, fun, with a touch of real life drama. They all tend to be quite angsty. Where are the books that resemble my own post-secondary experiences? As you'll see in the next paragraph, Dear Emma was totally the kind of New Adult novel I've been looking for. Harriet is smart, funny, and real. She has flaws just like everyone else and that's what made her so likeable and realistic. They're not major flaws...they're ordinary, really. She focuses a little bit too much on herself sometimes, for example, even though she really is a great friend. Who hasn't been that person at least once? I also liked that Harriet and her roommates were juniors (it is so weird for me, a Canadian, to write that...I would call it third year!). Too often novels that take place in college/university have characters who are in their first year or their last so this was another, subtle, thing I really appreciated.

At first I found it difficult to get myself back into the university age mindset. It's been awhile since I've been in school but once I got into a reading groove it was like I was right there with Harriet, Logan, and Mel (her two roommates). In fact, I started to picture the library (where Harriet worked) as my own university's library. Same with the campus. And the house the three girls lived in looked suspiciously like the place my friends and I shared our last two years at school (even though the set up was nothing like Harriet's house). I was right back to being 22/23 and it was...well, it was nice. Adulting is hard so it was kind of awesome to be thrown into a story where the biggest issues were school, dating, and figuring out how to function hungover (I miss the hangovers I had in my early 20s...they're so much worse now).

What kept me from giving this a higher rating (I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads though it's definitely 3.5), was actually the writing. Well, maybe not the writing, exactly, because Heaney knows what she's doing. The thing that kind of bugged me was that sometimes there was too much explanation, like every part of Harriet's day needed to be accounted for kind of thing. And sometimes I felt like the information was just kind of thrown at you. I don't have a finished copy so I can't quote any particular lines, I just knew there were scenes where I felt a little bored and wanted things to keep on moving.

While I'm not shouting on the rooftops about how much I adored Dear Emma, I still think it's a thoroughly enjoyable novel that every contemporary story loving twentysomething should pick up. Katie Heaney is an author I will continue to watch and I cannot wait for her next novel!

*An egalley copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind of Wonderful is the second book in author Sarah Morgan's Puffin Island series. While I hadn't read book one, First Time in Forever, I was still excited to check out this small town, second chance story. Two of my favourite tropes together in one romance novel? Sign. Me. Up.

Here's the synopsis:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan will sweep you away with her Puffin Island series! In a town where anything can happen, sometimes love can be found in the most unlikely place of all...
Her whole life, Puffin Islander Brittany Forrest has dreamed of adventure. And at the age of eighteen, she thought she'd found it in bad boy Zachary Flynn. But after just ten tempestuous, smoldering days, their whirlwind marriage went up in smoke, and Brittany resolved to put him out of her mind forever.
Zach knows he let Brittany down, but being back on Puffin Island and seeing Brittany again stirs up long-buried emotions. This daredevil pilot has never felt worthy of her, yet he can't stay away - even when he knows the chemistry between them will only complicate his life.
As long, hot summer days on the beach dissolve into sultry, starry nights, Brittany and Zach find that the sparks between them are more powerful than ever. Could it be that the second time around, their dreams of a happy-ever-after will finally come true?

There's a small chance I was expecting more out of this novel as I was just the teensiest bit disappointed when I finished it. Don't get me wrong...I enjoyed reading the book and I was happy spending the time doing so but...something irked me. I think it was a combination of a couple of things. The first was one of the things I was looking forward to about the book: the small town. It was small and therefore everyone knew everyone else's business. Brittany dealt with it because she knew, deep down, the townspeople meant well. I didn't have the benefit of living on Puffin Island my whole life so I didn't get that. I felt like Zach. It was a bit suffocating and, holy man, people were so judgmental and rude. Speaking of Zach...this was another small issue for me. He wasn't quite as well defined as I would have liked. I didn't mind so much at the start because he was holding so much back when Brittany came back to town. But by the end? I still didn't quite feel like he gave himself over to her totally. Maybe I just expected more of him :)

All that being said, the story was a sweet one. I mentioned before that I really like second chance romances. This one was interesting because there had been zero closure when Brittany and Zach's marriage fell apart and, when you meet them, you can tell they haven't been able to let go of what happened so many years ago. I looked forward to seeing how the pair dealt with unresolved feelings and issues. I was on Skylar's, one of Brittany's best friends, side and wanted the two to give into the physical feelings. Of course, I also wanted them to talk things out but sometimes you just gotta, well, you know. ;)

Speaking of Skylar, I really need to look into the next book in the Puffin Island series, Christmas Ever After, because it focuses on Skylar and Alec and I find them both really intriguing. Plus, I'm fairly certain part of the story takes place in London (a city I'm desperate to visit but have only ever experienced through books, TV, and movies!) before moving back to Puffin Island. Might have to read a holiday book in the spring!

Even with those few little things, I still liked Some Kind of Wonderful. I will continue to read Sarah Morgan's books (in fact, I may investigate her backlist when I'm in the mood for a sweet, good romance). You don't have to read the first book in the Puffin Island series but I think I would recommend it. There are enough references that make me wonder if I would have enjoyed the book more if I had started the characters' stories from the beginning.

*An eARC was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Lie

I've been reading Karina Halle's books for a little while now but I have yet to blog about them. Which is a shame because you all need to know how fantastic they are! The Lie is Halle's latest novel, just published today. It's just as addicting as her other contemporary books and I did not want to put it down!

Here's the synopsis:

Their love led to a lie
Their truth led to the end
Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident and his job from his subsequent downward spiral, he's finally moving forward, getting a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and a new life in the city. Slowly, but surely, he's pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him.
Until he sees her.
Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she'd die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she's in London, she's ready to start again.
Until she sees him.
Because some loves are too dangerous to ever indulge.
And some loves are far too powerful to ignore.
Their love just might be the life and the death of them.

Here's the thing...I consider this book a part of a series even though it's technically not a series and Halle doesn't want it promoted as such (sorry, Karina!). However, I'm a series purist and loather of spoilers. I must read a series in order, even if it's like this one where each story can completely stand on its own. I don't like finding out what happened in a previous book in a later one when I could have read the full story for myself. All that being said...you really don't have to read The Pact, The Offer, The Play, or Winter Wishes (a holiday novella that takes place during the time of The Play) in order to enjoy The Lie. You really don't. But you'll learn what happened with Lachlan and Kayla in The Play and their story is so great that I highly suggest you read it anyway. They're all such amazing reads that you'll breeze through because you'll be addicted to the smart, sexy, real storylines.

If you've read The Play, you'll already have some background information on Brigs. You'll know his wife and son died in a car accident and, if you're like me, you'll have an inkling of what happened prior to the car crash. It turns out I was right and Brigs and Natasha did not exactly have the best start to their relationship. Some people may not like how they first started and that's fine but I wouldn't let it put you off this story. Halle does such a great job of approaching the...I hesitate to call it infidelity because it wasn't a physical affair in the truest sense of the word...so let's just say relationship. It was messy and hard and heartbreaking but also tempting and forbidden and real. My heart broke for both Brigs and Natasha as I read what they had to go to four years prior. They're two amazing people who had been dealt a horrendous blow and I needed them to have a Happily Ever After.

Brigs and Natasha's relationship was a little bit different than the other McGregor relationships I'd read. They had already fallen in love before there was anything physical. Now, they had to learn to trust each other again. They also had to admit to themselves that they never fell out of love, no matter what the other may have thought or what had happened in the past. Halle writes some pretty fantastic, steamy, sexy times scenes in her other books but it seemed to take awhile to get to those scenes in The Lie. It's not a bad thing because I found it totally and completely suited the story and their relationship. Brigs and Natasha had a really sweet, romantic side to their relationship but when they finally made it to the bedroom (or...er...other places)? Hoo, boy. Look out ;) (Side note: I love the strong language Halle uses...it makes things so much more realistic since I frequently pepper my conversations with f bombs.)

At first I wasn't sure if I enjoyed that the novel went back and forth from present to past. In less talented hands, time shifting (on top of character POV shifting) can get confusing but Halle knows what she's doing. I also realized the story could not be told any other way. Halle gives enough info to start that you know what happened four years ago but then she delves into it even more so you understand how far Natasha and Brigs fell for each other and how broken they were before they ran into each other again.

I adored The Lie. I'm actually suffering from a delayed book hangover after finishing Karina Halle's latest. I adore the characters Halle writes and I get sucked in and addicted to the stories she spins. The great thing about her novels is they're so real and, well, I'm obsessed. There's no other word to use, really. You get everything with this story...drama, heartache, romance, humour, and sex. Anyone looking for an amazing contemporary story needs to read The Lie. Like, right now.

*An eARC was provided by the author in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: He Will Be My Ruin

Tomorrow is a big day in author K.A. Tucker's world...her first standalone novel is being published, and in hardcover to boot! He Will Be My Ruin is also more of a suspense novel than Tucker's previous books. I'm not usually much of a thriller/mystery/suspense kind of girl but I am a huge fan of Tucker so I knew I had to read it. The new novel was twisty, it kept me guessing, and it was good.

Here's the synopsis:

A woman who almost had it all . . .
On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old woman could want: a one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?
A man who was supposed to be her salvation . . .
Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.
Until he became her ruin.
On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

Tucker's previous books, particularly the Burying Water series, hinted at her ability to tell a suspenseful story well. He Will Be My Ruin was told well. I was kept guessing throughout the entire novel. I thought that maybe I had the mystery figured out even though I wondered if it'd be too obvious because the one suspect just seemed to obvious. (How's that for confusing?) I don't want to say too much because the last thing I want to do is give something away! Basically, the curveballs Tucker threw (er, wrote) were total strikes and I loved that. I didn't want to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to be surprised and challenged. I didn't necessarily want to be frightened but I did want to be kept on the edge of my seat. And I was.

Maggie was such an interesting character. She seems to have it all together and you almost want to be jealous of her at the beginning but you start to realize that she has elements of herself that need...shall we say, readjusting. Not changed, necessarily. Everyone has parts of themselves that could, should be better. By the end of the novel I think Maggie had realized how she could be a better person. It's just so heartbreaking that it had to happen because of her best friend's death.

Speaking of the best friend...I loved that part of the story was told from Celine's point of view. I think Tucker found a great way to be able to tell Celine's story from Celine's perspective. (Not her current one, obviously. Celine is dead and there aren't any ghosts in this book.) Even with this element, Maggie still had to hunt hard for more clues and had to piece together all of the information she was finding. What I learned is Celine would have been such an interesting person to know. I would have loved to hear the stories behind all of her treasures. Because I found myself drawn to Celine, I was even more hopeful that Maggie would find out what really happened and more invested in the overall story.

K.A. Tucker's latest was the first book I read in 2016 and it will be one I continue pushing on others throughout the entire year. He Will Be My Ruin was a damn good book and other book lovers need to know about it and need to read it. The only downside to having read this one well before the release date? I have to wait even longer for her next book. I don't think I'm going to be patient. :) Have you read any of Tucker's novels yet? You definitely should if you enjoy good, entertaining, page-turning reads.

*An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Top Ten Tuesday: Library Books I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday was a freebie and I had no ideas what to post about until about halfway through the day when I saw Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner's post about ten books she feels like she doesn't talk about nearly enough. That made me think about the books I don't really talk about too much...the ones I get from the library! I tend to use the library for books that I want to read that I can't afford to buy (since they're usually new releases and in hardcover) and didn't get copies to review. I started keeping track of library books on Goodreads awhile back so it was easy to review...not so easy to choose the ten favourite books I've checked out from my library! Do you find you tend to take out the same kinds of books from the library or are you an eclectic library user? Do you even use the library? (If you don't...WHY NOT? Love your local library!) Have you read any of these ten books? Links lead to Goodreads.

The Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm, and Career of Evil - Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling
I got myself on the list right away when the news leaked that Galbraith was actually Queen Rowling herself. They're great mysteries, a genre I don't normally read, and I really enjoy them. (Except for maybe The Silkworm...that was a weird one.)

Just One Day/Just One Year - Gayle Forman
For the first installment of the YA books I get from the library, I present the amazing Just One Day and Just One Day. I know lots of people of heard of and read these ones but because of other people's opinions, I just had to borrow them from my library!

The Orenda - Joseph Boyden
I ended up loving this one so much that I bought a copy so I could get it signed by Boyden when I met him a couple of years ago.

Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins
I probably would have bought these ones had Isla already been published and in soft cover but my wallet wouldn't allow it :)

Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson
I'd heard of Matson's books before so I scooped up Since You've Been Gone when I saw it at my library. Loved it!

The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou
I did an internship at Project Bookmark Canada and had to read a bunch of books set in Calgary. The Bone Cage was one of the books I read and I adored it.

Ten Tiny Breaths and Five Ways to Fall - KA Tucker
I read TTB first from the library because I wasn't sure if I'd like her books. I loved it and I've been hooked ever since.

To All the Boys I Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han
Everyone was SO excited about these books and I knew I had to give them a shot. Really enjoyed them!

99 Days - Kate Cotugno
I've mentioned before that it was because of Jamie's enthusiasm for this book that I read it. When I saw that my library actually had a copy I went right there to check it out!

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes - Anna McPartlin
This was a (very) recent library read. The library I work for has a Beer and Books book club and it was this month's pick. I think I might actually write a mini review of this one because I loved it so much and everyone needs to read it.