RANDOMNESS THOUGHTS

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance Release Date: May 11, 2021   Description: " For fans of Sarah Dessen and Mary H.K. Choi, this lyrical and emotionally driven novel follows Alina, a young aspiring dancer who suffers a devastating injury and must face a world without ballet—as well as the darker side of her former dream. Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg—and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it. After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for. But to move forward, Alina must make peace with her pas

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  Graphic Novel Release Date: June 22, 2021   Description: " My name is Grace, not "Kyle's little sister!" Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks—especially when you're the total opposite, someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!), and everyone calls you "Kyle's little sister" while looking disappointed that you're not more like him. I was really hoping I'd get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least I have my friends...until he finds a way to ruin that, too...! Argh! What do I have to do to get out of his shadow?! " The art style worked really well with the story. The story itself was a good representation of middle school life, as friendships can become complex and fragile over the smallest things. Heck, I still see some

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism Release Date: November 2, 2021   Description: " If I Stay  meets  Your Name  in Dustin Thao's  You've Reached Sam , a heartfelt novel about love and loss and what it means to say goodbye. How do you move forward when everything you love in on the line? Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend asummer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail. And Sam picks up the phone. What would you do if you had a second chance at goodbye? Filled with a diverse cast of characters, the heartache of first love and loss, and the kind of friends that can get you through anything, plus a touch of magic,  You've Reached Sam  will

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller Release Date: September 21, 2021   Description: " Everyone in Gardiners Bay has a secret. When Jenna Dallas and Adam Cole find Colleen O’Dell’s body floating off the shore of their coastal town, the community of Gardiners Bay is shaken. But even more shocking is the fact that her drowning was no accident. Once Jenna’s best friend becomes a key suspect, Jenna starts to look for answers on her own. As she uncovers scandals inside Preston Prep School leading back to Rookwood reform school, she knows she needs Adam on her side. As a student at Rookwood, Adam is used to getting judgmental looks, but now his friends are being investigated by the police. Adam will do whatever he can to keep them safe, even if that means trusting Jenna. As lies unravel, the truth starts to blur. Only one thing is certain: somebody must take the fall. " While

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance Release Date: May 4, 2021   Description: " It's Senior Party Week, that magical in-between time after classes have ended but before graduation, chock-full of gimmicky theme parties, last-minute bonding, and family traditions. Olivia couldn't be more ready. Class salutatorian and confident in her future at LSU, she's poised to sail through to the next phase of her life. But when the tiny hiccup of an unsigned off-campus P.E. form puts Olivia in danger of not graduating at all, she has one week to set things straight without tipping off her very big and very nosy extended family. Volunteering to help at a local golf tournament should do it, but since Olivia's mom equipped her phone with a tracking app, there'll be no hiding the fact that she's at the golf course instead of all the graduation parties happening at the same time.

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  Historical Fiction, Adult, Contemporary Release Date: June 1, 2021   Description: " Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever. Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned b

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology Release Date: May 4, 2021   Description: " Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family. Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Her sister, Hattie, will earn her Gi bracelet and finally be able to cast spells without adult supervision. Although Riley is desperate to follow in her sister's footsteps when she herself turns thirteen, she's a saram--a person without magic. Riley was adopted, and despite having memorized every healing spell she's ever heard, she often feels like the odd one out in her family and the gifted community. Then Hattie gets an id

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT Release Date: May 11, 2021   Description: " Dahlia Adler's  Cool for the Summer  is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are. Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life. Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the sc

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, History, Biography Release Date: April 20, 2021   Description: " In  Why She Wrote , dive into the fascinating, unexpected, and inspiring stories behind the greatest women writers in the English language. This compelling graphic collection features 18 women—including Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Alice Dunbar Nelson, Anne Lister, and more—and asks a simple question: in a time when being a woman writer often meant being undervalued, overlooked, or pigeonholed, why did she write? Why did Jane Austen struggle to write for five years before her first novel was ever published? How did Edith Maude Eaton's writing change the narrative around Chinese immigrant workers in North America? Why did the Brontë sisters choose to write under male pennames, and Anne Lister write her personal diaries in code? Learn about women writers from the 18th, 19th, and

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  Graphic Novel, Romance, Nonfiction, Adult Release Date: February 2, 2021 Description: " From the author of the #1  New York Times  bestseller  Snug  and the bestselling  Little Moments of Love  comes an all-new collection,  In  Love & Pajamas  by Catana Chetwynd of Catana Comics!  When you've reached that sweatpants-wearing cozy place in your relationship, it's all  In  Love & Pajamas ! This brand-new collection of Catana Comics presents 50 percent never-before-seen comics and some fan favorites that delight and amuse readers of all ages. Wholesome, sweet, feel-good humor, a perfect gift for your other half and a welcome add-on to any wedding, anniversary, or Valentine's Day gift. " This was such a cute collection of short comics! Just knowing that this is based on the artist's real relationship makes it all the more wholesome. Overall rating:  4

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance Release Date: April 6, 2021 Description: " As sweet as a macaron from Laduree, with writing as crisp as a freshly baked baguette, this romantic novel set in Paris about an American ballerina and a charming French boy is  parfait  for fans of  American Royals  and Netflix’s  To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before . Sixteen-year-old Mia, an American girl at an elite summer ballet program, has six weeks to achieve her dreams: to snag an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. But there’s more to Paris than ballet—especially when a charming French boy, Louis, wants to be her tour guide—and the pair discover the city has a few mysteries up its sleeve. In the vein of romances like  Love and Gelato , this is the perfect summer adventure for anyone looking to get swept away in the City of Love. " Going into this all I expected was a cute rom

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance Release Date: June 1, 2021   Description: " Freaky Friday meets The Parent Trap in this sparkling and heartfelt story about sisters, second chances, finding romance, and finding yourself. Jamie’s an aspiring standup comic in Los Angeles with a growing case of stage anxiety. Siri’s a stunning ballerina from New Jersey nursing a career-changing injury. They’ve both signed up for the same session at an off the grid Re-Discover Yourself Retreat in Colorado. When they run into each other, their worlds turn upside down. Jamie and Siri are sisters, torn apart at a young age by their parent's volatile divorce. They’ve grown up living completely separate lives: Jamie with their Dad and Siri with their Mom. Now, reunited after over a decade apart, they hatch a plot to switch places. It’s time they get to know and confront each of their estranged parents. Wi

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller Release Date: February 2, 2021   Description: " Double standards are about to get singled out. In this stunning debut, author Natalie Walton tackles privacy and relationships in the digital age. As a lead reporter for The Warrior Weekly, Eden has covered her fair share of stories at St. Joseph's High School. And when intimate pictures of seven female students are anonymously emailed to the entire school, Eden is determined to get to the bottom of it. In tracking down leads, Eden is shocked to discover not everyone agrees the students are victims. Some people feel the girls "brought it on themselves." Even worse, the school’s administration seems more concerned about protecting its reputation than its students. With the anonymous sender threatening more emails, Eden finds an unlikely ally: the seven young women themselves. Ban

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance, Asian Literature Release Date: May 4, 2021   Description: " In this sparkling and romantic YA debut, a reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy. How do you make one month last a lifetime? Karina Ahmed has a plan. Keep her head down, get through high school without a fuss, and follow her parents’ rules—even if it means sacrificing her dreams. When her parents go abroad to Bangladesh for four weeks, Karina expects some peace and quiet. Instead, one simple lie unravels everything. Karina is my girlfriend. Tutoring the school’s resident bad boy was already crossing a line. Pretending to date him? Out of the question. But Ace Clyde does everything right—he brings her coffee in the mornings, impresses her friends without trying, and even promises t

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT Release Date: March 9, 2021  Description: " In Sophie Gonzales' Perfect on Paper, Leah on the Offbeat meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before: a bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates is hired by the hot guy to help him get his ex back           Her advice, spot on. Her love life, way off.           Darcy Phillips: • Can give you the solution to any of your relationship woes―for a fee. •   Uses her power for good. Most of the time. • Really cannot stand Alexander Brougham. • Has maybe not the best judgement when it comes to her best friend, Brooke…who is in love with someone else. • Does not appreciate being blackmailed. However, when Brougham catches her in the act of collecting letters from locker 89―out of which she’s been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service―that’s exactly w

  **Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** Genre:  YA, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Asian Literature Release Date: May 25, 2021 Description: " Crazy Rich Asians  meets  The Princess Diaries  in this irresistible story about Izumi, a Japanese-American girl who discovers her senior year of high school that she’s  really  a princess of Japan. Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity…and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is  literally  a princess. In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a prin