Sophie Reads YA: July 2019

July

July Summary

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Jennifer Honeybourn

Waiting on Wednesday: Just My Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn

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2017 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Just One of the Boys (The Chicago Falcons #1) by Leah & Kate Rooper

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Just One of the Boys
Series: The Chicago Falcons #1
Author: Leah & Kate Rooper
Published October 2nd 2017 by Entangled Teen

Goodreads Synopsis
Alice Bell has one goal: to play for the elite junior hockey team the Chicago Falcons. But when she’s passed over at tryouts for being a girl, she’ll do anything to make her dream a reality…even disguising herself as her twin brother. With her amazing skills on the ice, Alice is sure she’ll fit in easily. That is, until she starts falling for one of her teammates…

Hayden Tremblay, star of the Falcons, can’t keep himself out of the penalty box. Constantly living in the shadow of his older brother, Hayden’s losing his passion for hockey. But when he gets shown up on the ice by the Falcons’ new rookie, Hayden’s determined to teach the kid a thing or two. Little does he guess that “Al’s” surprises on the ice are just the beginning...

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush title proves that wonderful things can happen when you’re brave enough to go after your dream. Dream hockey player, that is! Warning--a few locker room scenes are included...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When I first heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued. Everything about the synopsis screamed it was a book for me, and I had quite the feeling that it would be very much like the movie, She's the Man, which is perfect. In Just One of the Boys, Alice has always wanted to be a hockey player. But, because she's a girl, she can't play with the boys. (sidenote: this really resonated with me, as I was told when I was 12 or 13 I couldn't play on the football team I was a part of any more, because I was a girl, and we had no girls teams in our area!). However, her cunning plan is to disguise herself as her twin brother, and don the persona of 'Al'. We get two PoVs in this book, and the second is from Hayden, who is the star player on the Falcons. He always gets compared to his older brother, and wants to do anything to get out from under his shadow. When the new rookie player, 'Al', rocks up, he takes him under his wing, and finds himself drawn to him, and 'Al's twin sister Alice when they meet too.

The chemistry between Alice and Hayden was unreal. Whenever they were together, the sparks literally flew, and I loved how open they could be with each other. Yes, there were obviously some tension and angst when Alice/Al was revealed, but other than that, there wasn't actually much drama in this book, which was nice. Hayden's PoV was wonderful too, and I loved his backstory about being treated differently because of his brother, and how he was finally getting his hockey mojo back throughout this book.

Another thing I really liked in this book was the friendship, especially between Alice and Madison, and Hayden, Daniel and Tyler - the others who I believe will have their own companion books! The friendships shown were all legit and real, and it made the book seem even more realistic, and improved the book! I loved this book, and the definitely comparison to She's the Man was apparent. If you love that movie, this is definitely a book for you!

Dates Read:

September 9, 2017

Rating
4 Stars

July

Stacking the Shelves: July 27th 2019

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2018 Debut Author Challenge

ARC Review: Blood and Sand (Blood and Sand #1) by C.V. Wyk

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Blood and Sand
Series: Blood and Sand #1
Author: C.V. Wyk
Published January 16th 2018 by Tor Teen

Goodreads Synopsis
Forged in battle, from the dust of the arena, a legend will rise...

Roma Victrix. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to create an empire―an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master’s favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end―and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Any and all books about Ancient Rome will automatically be on my radar, and this was no different. In a genderbent retelling of Spartacus, we follow Attia, once princess of Thrace, after she, and her people, have been enslaved by Rome. She is given to Xanthus, the champion of Rome, and once of the greatest gladiators the empire has ever seen. Attia has her own training, and will not just submit to the might of Rome, or to Xanthus. Her main aim = to escape, rise up, and reclaim her lost kingdom. As both she and Xanthus understand what it is to be enslaved, they form an agreement, and soon grow closer. However, their agreement will lead to one of the greatest uprisings Rome ever saw, and Attia will do just about anything to get what she wants.

I loved this book so much! Attia and Xanthus were both expertly written and researched. Thrace was one of the greatest kingdoms in the Ancient World, famed for its strength and warriors - both male and female. Attia perfectly embodied a princess and warriormaiden from this kingdom, and I loved reading her thoughts and processes throughout the book. When she decides to masquerade as one of the gladiators, known as Spartacus, she isn't faking her skill or resilience - it's all inherent in her from the get go. Xanthus, too, doesn't hide what he's been trained for, and all of the fight scenes, etc., are so details, but not overly graphic is if to provide a 'shock factor'. Attia and Xanthus together, I didn't think would work, because of the whole 'being gifted to him' arc. However, Xanthus never forces Attia into anything, and finds the notion of being gifted a girl abhorrent. The chemistry was undeniable, though, and I loved them together!

All in all, this was a fantastic debut, and I can't wait for book 2 to be published!

Dates Read:

January 9-10, 2018

Rating
5 Stars

Erin Beaty

Waiting on Wednesday: The Traitor's Kingdom (The Traitor's Circle #3) by Erin Beaty

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2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: 99% Faking It (Dating Dilemmas #2) by Chris Cannon

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99% Faking It
Series: Dating Dilemmas #2
Author: Chris Cannon
Published March 4th 2019 by Entangled: Crush

Goodreads Synopsis
Lisa is a card-carrying, book-loving Gryffindor. Solid. And that’s why everyone knows she’s awesome. Well, except for her crush, Matt. He only ever sees her as a friend. Plus, he's got his eye on another girl. Oh well, plenty of fish and all that.

Good thing Lisa just read a book on the “wedding ring phenomenon”—you get more attention when you’re already taken. What if Lisa pretends to be Matt’s plus one? Maybe it’ll help Matt get his girl and Lisa can hook her own fish.

After the plan works, Matt suddenly claims he doesn’t like the view from the friend-zone and wants her instead… But she isn’t interested in being anyone’s second choice. If this guy wants to earn her attention, he’ll need more than some silly “phenomenon.”

He’ll need to go all out...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lisa and Matt have been friends forever. Firmly in the friend zone, Lisa has a crush on Matt, but knows nothing will never happen there. She wants a boyfriend, and Matt has his eye on another girl in school. Well, like all good fanfiction, Lisa thinks that if they pretend to be together, then they will cause the people they have an eye on - not each other - to get jealous, and start to see them as someone they want to date. This backfires, obviously, when Matt realises he's been in love with her all along, and doesn't want to just pretend, he actually wants to be with her. However, Lisa, rather than falling at his feet, decides no, she isn't going to be his second choice, leaving Matt to have to fight for her and prove he is sincere.

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a quick read, and I was fully immersed until the last page. Yeah, there are a few cliches used in the book, but what contemporary these days doesn't employ tropes or cliches? Lisa was such a relatable character, someone who I enjoyed even in book 1, so was glad she was getting her own companion book. I seriously loved the fact that she made Matt work for her, and didn't just let him decide she was now worth it, so they may as well be together. Being in the friend zone had worked for her - it wasn't fun, but she could cope - and she wasn't going to let go of her morals or her self worth because Matt showed her more attention. I liked Matt too - he wasn't someone who felt like he was owed anything, and he really showed his true feelings in this book, rather than being insincere. All in all, this was an enjoyable contemporary read, and I look forward to more from Chris in future.

Dates Read:

February 16, 2019

Rating
4 Stars

Blitz

Cover Reveal Blitz: Deadly Little Scandals (Debutantes #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (+US giveaway)

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Today Freeform Books, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for her upcoming YA Mystery Book, DEADLY LITTLE SCANDALS, which releases on November 5, 2019! We're also revealing the new cover for book 1 in the series, LITTLE WHITE LIES! Check out the awesome covers and enter the giveaway!

On to the reveal!

Title: DEADLY LITTLE SCANDALS (Debutantes #2)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Pub. Date: November 5, 2019

Publisher: Freeform

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

"Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League-by way of Skull and Bones?"

Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret. When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up... until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discover near the family's summer home--and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.

No one is quite who they seem to be in this twisty, soapy, gasp-inducing sequel to Jennifer Lynn Barnes' unputdownable Little White Lies.

Title: LITTLE WHITE LIES (Debutantes #2)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Pub. Date: November 6, 2018

Publisher: Freeform

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 390

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."

Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.

Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed young adult novels. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science, including graduate degrees from Cambridge University, where she was a Fulbright Scholar, and Yale University, where she received her Ph.D. in 2012. Jen wrote her first published novel when she was nineteen-years-old and sold her first five books while still in college. In additional to writing YA novels, Jen has also written original pilot scripts for television networks like USA and MTV, and she is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination more broadly. Jen is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma, where she holds a dual appointment in Psychology and Professional Writing.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a paperback of LITTLE WHITE LIES, US Only.

Giveaway ends July 31st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills

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Famous in a Small Town
Series: None
Author: Emma Mills
Published January 15th 2019 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Goodreads Synopsis
For Sophie, small town life has never felt small. With her four best friends—loving, infuriating, and all she could ever ask for—she can weather any storm. But when Sophie’s beloved Acadia High School marching band is selected to march in the upcoming Rose Parade, it’s her job to get them all the way to LA. Her plan? To persuade country singer Megan Pleasant, their Midwestern town’s only claim to fame, to come back to Acadia to headline a fundraising festival.

The only problem is that Megan has very publicly sworn never to return.

What ensues is a journey filled with long-kept secrets, hidden heartbreaks, and revelations that could change everything—along with a possible fifth best friend: a new guy with a magnetic smile and secrets of his own.
Goodreads

Review
I can't remember just why I started reading Emma's books, but I have never been disappointed with any other them, and she's now one of my auto-buy authors. When this book was first announced, I pre-ordered it, even without really looking at the synopsis. Famous in a Small Town follows Sophie (fantastic name, if I do say so) who is in charge of the school's marching band, and they've just been picked for a prestigious opportunity of performing at a local parade. However, the cost of the trip is more than the budget of the school, so she's trying to think of ways to fundraise. The perfect idea - invite country sensation, Megan Pleasant, back to town for a festival, especially considering she was born and raised there. Megan, though, shies away from the limelight, and once said she would never go back to Acadia, so Sophie has quite the uphill battle on her hands.

Sophie was such a lovely character, who only wanted what was best for her city, even if it was at the detriment to herself, and took all her energy to complete. She's fiercely loyal to her friendship group, who are all fantastic in their own right, and friendship is such a key theme. When August arrives in town, he soon ingratiates himself in their friendship group, but the chemistry is tangible from the first meeting, and he and Sophie was really cute together. A slow burning romance - which I love - they tried to just be friends, rather than complicate things further, but their romance was undeniable. As with all teenagers, there is tension within the friendship group - all make mistakes, it's a fact of life, but this book helped to show that when mistakes happen, as long as you talk through them, it could all be alright in the end. I've already got the next book, Lucky Caller, pre-ordered, and expect to love that book as much as all of Emma's previous books.

Dates Read:

January 22-24, 2019

Rating
5 Stars

Kasie West

Waiting on Wednesday: Maybe This Time by Kasie West

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2018 Blogger Shame Challenge

ARC Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

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Invictus
Series: None
Author: Ryan Graudin
Published September 21st 2017 by Orion Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Time flies when you're plundering history.

Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past.

But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Invictus follows Far, who is an anomaly due to the fact his birth was not in any specific time. His father was a Roman gladiator from 95 AD, and his mother a Recorder of History from 2354 AD. Because of this, he has struggled his whole life with training, etc., and it falls on him to commandeer a ship, and with his group of mates, travel across time to steal important valuables and document from some of the most important time periods in history. None of this will be easy, though, and Far will be able to find out, once and for all, the truth of his birth, and just why he is so important.

It seemed like 2017 was the year for time travelling books, with 4 I can think of off the top of my head. I do enjoy time travelling books, especially when they visit time periods that I love, so a book that actively mentions the Roman Empire is one that I'll need to get my hands on. I did enjoy this book, but now that I think about it, after reading, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. My main issue with the book was how disjointed it felt. It seemed like every chapter, they were travelling to a different time period - each seeming well researched, though - so it wasn't simple to keep your head around where or when you were. Far and his rag-tag bunch were enjoyable, but I didn't find myself that invested in their stories. The last few chapters were really what redeemed this book, with the action finally being on the forefront, and it seeming as if the plot was actually there, and not just vaguely passing by. I haven't read any of Ryan's other books, and I don't know whether to bother with them now. If you think I should, let me know.

Dates Read:

January 17-28, 2018

Rating
3 Stars

July

Stacking the Shelves: July 13th 2019

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2019 New Release challenge

Review: Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard

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Oh My Gods
Series: None
Author: Alexandra Sheppard
Published January 3rd 2019 by Scholastic UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Life as a half-mortal teenager should be epic.
But, for Helen Thomas, it's tragic.

She's just moved in with her dorky dad and self-absorbed older siblings - who happen to be the ancient Greek gods, living incognito in London!

Between keeping her family's true identities secret, trying to impress her new friends, and meeting an actually cute boy, Helen's stress levels are higher than Mount Olympus.

She needs to rein in her chaotic family before they blow their cover AND her chances at a half-normal social life.

Or is Helen fated for an embarrassment of mythical proportions?
Goodreads

Review
I hadn't really heard anything about this book until I was browsing Waterstones one day, and decided to treat myself to celebrate getting a new job. And my god, am I glad I picked it up! Anything to do with mythology is automatically a book for me, being a Classics graduate and all, and this book did not disappoint at all. Helen is a demi-god - half human/half god - who has had to move in with her absentee father, who also happens to be Zeus, and her half siblings (Aphrodite, Apollo, and Eros), after the death of her mother. Between dealing with all that, and navigating a new school, Helen really didn't need a love interest being thrown into the mix, but that's what happens. However, the real world is starting to discover that the gods are real, and Helen needs to do everything she can to keep it a secret, lest her and her family be thrown out of Olympus, for good.

I really enjoyed Helen as a character. She seemed so real, and her mixed race heritage was explored in a way that didn't seemed forced. Both sides of her family, both mortal and immortal, and their heritage and traditions were cherished by Helen, and you could see how she was discovering herself, and where she stood in the world, as I think most teenagers try and do at the same age. She was really fun too, and no part of the plot was boring. The twist was slightly predictable, but still enjoyable, and I liked how the mythology was woven into the modern life of a teenager in London, navigating all that that brings with it. If you're a fan of Percy Jackson, and want something similar set in England, or a bit more modern, this is definitely one for you.

Dates Read:

January 18-19, 2019

Rating
5 Stars

July Summary

Waiting on Wednesday: Just My Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn

ARC Review: Just One of the Boys (The Chicago Falcons #1) by Leah & Kate Rooper

Stacking the Shelves: July 27th 2019

ARC Review: Blood and Sand (Blood and Sand #1) by C.V. Wyk

Waiting on Wednesday: The Traitor's Kingdom (The Traitor's Circle #3) by Erin Beaty

ARC Review: 99% Faking It (Dating Dilemmas #2) by Chris Cannon

Cover Reveal Blitz: Deadly Little Scandals (Debutantes #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (+US giveaway)

Review: Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills

Waiting on Wednesday: Maybe This Time by Kasie West

ARC Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Stacking the Shelves: July 13th 2019

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail.

This week (July 7th-13th) I received:

Bought:

The Supervillain and Me (Morriston Superheroes #1) by Danielle Banas

What did you receive? Let me know.

Review: Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard

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Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail. This week (July 7th-13th) I received: Bought: The Supervillain and Me (Morriston Superheroes #1) by Danielle Banas What did you receive? Let me know.

Contact Form

About Me

Search

Twitter

Bloglovin'

Reading Challenge

Review Scale

Blog Archive

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail.

This week (July 7th-13th) I received:

Bought:

The Supervillain and Me (Morriston Superheroes #1) by Danielle Banas

What did you receive? Let me know.