Sophie Reads YA: March 2020

March Summary

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What I've read this month:

Bookish and the Beast
Series: Once Upon a Con #3
Author: Ashley Poston
Published June 16th 2020 by Quirk Books (ARC)
Read: March 6-7 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2020 New Release Challenge

The Shadows Between Us
Series: None
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Published February 25th 2020 by Feiwel and Friends
Read: March 9-14 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

Chasing Lucky
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published June 11th 2020 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (ARC)
Read: March 18-23 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2020 New Release Challenge

Destination Anywhere
Series: None
Author: Sara Barnard
Published May 6th 2021 by Macmillan Children's Books (ARC)
Read: March 1-27 2020
My Rating: 2 Stars

A Good Duke is Hard to Find
Series: Isle of Synne #1
Author: Christina Britton
Published June 30th 2020 by Forever (eARC)
Read: March 27-28 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 New Release Challenge

The Paper & Hearts Society
Series: The Paper & Hearts Society #1
Author: Lucy Powrie
Published June 11th 2019 by Hodder Children's Books
Read: March 28-29 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me
Series: None
Author: Gae Polisner
Published April 7th 2020 by Wednesday Books (eARC)
Read: March 29 2020
My Rating: 1 Star
Challenge: 2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2020 New Release Challenge

Challenges Update:
2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge: 4 (16 total)
2020 New Release Challenge: 5 (14 total)
2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 1 (16 total)

Summary:

A mix of good and bad this month, and not as many as I thought I would read, what with social distancing and lock down coming in. I have been really busy organising home learning work for my students, though, and working from home. Here's hoping lock down won't be too long, and that everyone stays safe and stays home!

How have you done this month? Let me know below.

1 Star

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner

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2019 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

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The Duchess Deal
Series: Girl Meets Duke #1
Author: Tessa Dare
Published February 22nd 2018 by Mills & Boon

Goodreads Synopsis
When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:
- They will be husband and wife by night only.
- No lights, no kissing.
- No questions about his battle scars.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
- They will have dinner together every evening.
- With conversation.
- And unlimited teasing.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…
Goodreads

Review
The Duchess Deal meets Emma Gladstone as she is desperate enough to be knocking on a Duke's door for payment on a wedding dress she made. After leaving home a few years ago, she managed for find a position at a dressmakers, and has been making do, but after the former fiancee of the Duke of Ashbury refused to pay for her work, she's at risk of losing everything. After returning from war, injured and scarred, Ash has been alone. His fiancee back out of their engagement, and he's now realising he needs an heir. But to get one of them, he needs a wife. When one seemingly appears on his doorstep, wearing a wedding gown no less, he makes a deal with Emma - marry him, and never want for nothing again - but there are a few caveats. They will only be 'married' by night, there's no kissing, and once an heir is on his way, Emma can leave and go to one of the other properties and live in peace. Emma doesn't want a marriage like that, but is willing to accept it, at first, with some of her own requests. Will Emma knock down Ash's walls, and allow them both to feel loved?

Both of the main characters in this book were fantastic, and so nuanced. Because of his injuries, Ash feels basically worthless, and tries to keep anyone and everyone away from himself. When he meets Emma, and she perfectly fits his bill for wife, he thinks he can scare her away too, but she's too much for him. Because of her own background, she won't accept feeling worthless, not again, and as the new Duchess of Ashbury, she has a position that lets her meet people who love and care for her. The group of women she meets, Lady Penelope, Alexandra, and Nicola, are all fantastic in their own rights, and will have their own books which I'm desperate to read! The banter between Ash and Emma was wonderful, and to see both of them grow and open up to past trauma was refreshing to see. I honestly was grinning at times when they were together, and though there was a bit of angst towards the end of the book, the resolution was perfect! Bring on The Governess Game!

Dates Read:
February 21, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

Giveaway

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume Official Nerd Blast (+INTL giveaway)

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Age Range: 12 - 16 years
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company (April 1, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1682631605

Praise for WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ME

“Debut author Guillaume's novel features funny dialogue and fresh takes on body image and personal relationships as well as a plucky heroine who slowly but surely comes into her own…. Perfect for fans of Dumplin’, a hilariously sweet yet complex romance.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Guillaume’s delightful debut deals with teenagers and their self-esteem, as Maisie’s story is relayed through her journal entries. This intimate lens will invest readers in Maisie’s journey to self-acceptance and confidence. A fun story, abounding in humor, romance, and inspiration and filled with multifaceted characters that readers will enjoy.” ―Booklist

“This book draws obvious parallels to Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’, but Maisie and her diverse cast of friends are fresh and distinctive, as is the Australian setting…. A fun, upbeat, and tender coming-of-age story written in an engaging and lively diary format.” ―School Library Journal

You know all those movies where teenagers have, like, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES? This vacation is probably not going to be that.

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing over vacation is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she’s spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL and her gorgeous older sister has returned to rock Maisie’s already shaky confidence. And especially not when her best friend starts flirting with the boy she’s always loved. But Maisie’s got something to prove.

As she writes down all the ways this vacation is going from bad to worse in her school-assignment journal, what starts as a homework torture-device might just end up being an account of how Maisie didn’t let anything, or anyone, hold her back.

Jenna Guillame’s American debut features a plus-size protagonist with a compelling, funny, and authentic narrative voice. This relatable and charming novel about friendship, confidence, and self-love will draw readers in as Maisie’s realistic emotional journey unveils the importance of embracing one’s body and celebrating one’s self.

You can purchase What I Like About Me at the following Retailers:

Photo Content from Jenna Guillaume

Jenna Guillaume was editor-at-large for BuzzFeed Australia, where she wrote about very important things like pop culture, identity, feminism, social media, and Chris Hemsworth's biceps. Previously, she spent more than half a decade in the features department of Girlfriend magazine, editing the sealed section (yes, all those questions are real), and writing about everything from bullying and body image to bad kisses and boy bands. She was also a contributor to Girlfriend Life Hacks, an essential guide to navigating a girl's completely-awkward-but-totally-awesome teen years.

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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March