Sophie Reads YA: August 2022

August

August Summary

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Sophie Jordan

Waiting on Wednesday: The Scoundrel Falls Hard (The Duke Hunt #3) by Sophie Jordan

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2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

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Love, Hate & Other Filters
Series: None
Author: Samira Ahmed
Published January 16th 2018 by Hot Key Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Maya Aziz dreams about kissing boys and going to film school in New York, but miles away, an unknown danger looms. A terrorist attack in another city unleashes fear and hate in Maya's small town, changing her life and disrupting her future.
Goodreads

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

High school senior Maya hopes to study photography and film at college when she graduates, in New York, but her Indian family want her to go into Medicine or Law, and find a nice husband to settle down with closer to home. To her, she wants to be more like her independent aunt, and also explore her growing feelings for Phil. Just as she thinks her dreams might come true, a horrific terrorist attack in a major city, initially thought to have been by a Muslim man who has the same surname as Maya, brings the terror close to home, and her family are targeted. Will the actions of one terrorist be enough to derail Maya's plans, and will she always face Islamophobia wherever she goes?

I think I actually forgot I had this book, until I was tidying my shelves and realised I still hadn't read/reviewed it. I don't know why I put it off so long, because I really enjoyed it. Maya was a fantastic main character, so real and true to herself, and she grew so much throughout the book. She was one of the only students at her school of Indian descent and Muslim, so exploring her identity, and her wish to be independent - against the wishes of her parents - we saw Maya really face her own fears, and grow to understand her parents that little bit more. The horrific terror attack really affected Maya, and her whole family, and it was awful to see how the actions of someone she never met, who committed such evil, would have repercussions for her as an American teenager, and even people she'd known her entire life would start to turn against her. Going into the book, I didn't bother reading the synopsis - I rarely do after being approved/buying a book - so I hadn't realised it would discuss such hard hitting topics. I expected it to be a fluffy contemporary romance, and there were nice scenes between Maya and Phil, which helped to intersperse the upsetting scenes with some lightheartedness, which Maya sorely deserved.

Dates Read:
July 3-4, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Much Ado About Dukes (Never a Wallflower #2) by Eva Devon

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2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Wedding Wager by Eva Devon

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The Wedding Wager
Series: None
Author: Eva Devon
Published October 25th 2021 by Entangled: Amara

Goodreads Synopsis
All Lady Victoria Kirby wants is to dig in the dirt, take notations, and record history, thank you very much. Bumbling through ballrooms and getting disdained by the ton for her less than ideal looks, on the other hand, is the last thing she wants. But her reckless father has a different idea for her future when he puts up the ultimate ante—her hand in marriage—and loses. Over her dead body.

The Duke of Chase cannot bear to see a woman misused. After all, he saw that often enough as a child. So when he’s witness to a marquess gambling away his daughter to a lecher of a man, he has no choice but to step in and rescue her. Lady Victoria has a reputation for being as tart as a lemon and as bitter as one, too. So, he may have just found the perfect wife to keep a promise he made to himself long ago--to never have an heir. With her, surely, he'll never be tempted to take her to bed and break that promise.

But when he meets the wild, witty intelligent young lady he’s bound to marry, he knows trouble is headed his way... And everything he ever swore to uphold may very well come undone, especially his heart.
Goodreads

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

Lady Victoria Kitty may be the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Halford, but she would rather spend her time on an archaeological dig than in a ballroom, let alone even think about marrying. But soon that is out of her hand, when the Duke of Chase witnesses Halford wagering his daughter to a disreputable rake, and instead wins her hand. Victoria is angry that her father did this to her, and only agrees to marry Derek, as long as their marriage is a chaste one - something he is happy to agree too, as he promised he would never have children. As they spend time together, though, it's clear that they are attracted to one another, and soon it's hard to keep the other at arms length, when they want nothing more than to be together, properly.

As soon as I saw this book on NG, I knew I needed to read it. I loved one of Eva's previous books, and the synopsis of this one was right up my street. Victoria was such a character, who loved her family, and her work as an archaeologist, but when her father forced her to marry, she embraced being a duchess, and used it for good. The friendship she and Derek formed early on in their marriage was lovely too, as it really made their transition from friends to lovers more realistic. There wasn't a whole lot of plot here, but it was extremely enjoyable nonetheless, and I found myself being unable to put the book down in parts. The backstory surrounding Derek and his promise was heartbreaking, and I'm glad he had Victoria to help him through it all. This is a standalone, but I really hope we see a companion book in the future, perhaps about Victoria's sister, Catharine.

Dates Read:
October 2-3 2021

Rating
4 Stars

August

Stacking the Shelves: August 27th 2022

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2022 New Release challenge

Review: Heartbreaker (Hell's Belles #2) by Sarah MacLean

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Heartbreaker
Series: Hell's Belles #2
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published August 23rd 2022 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.

A Princess of Thieves

Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.

A King of Reputation

Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.

A Royal Match

When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.
Goodreads

Review
Though she was raised as the princess of an underworld gang, Adelaide Frampton got out from her father's control, and managed to make a place for herself in high society, masquerading as the wallflower cousin to the Duchess of Trevescan, as well as being the Heartbreaker, who has saved numerous young women from bad matches. Crossing paths with Henry, Duke of Claybourn, she finds the one person - other than her fellow Belles - who notices hers, and that's a worry. Especially as he see's her break into a factory as if by magic, and realises she is the Heartbreaker. Forced to work together to find Claybourn's younger brother, and his betrothed, from their elopement, and the danger they are in from the lady's father, the sparks fly, and as they pretend to be man and wife, the fiction soon becomes too real to imagine.

This book was amazing! I've had Heartbreaker preordered for as long as I can remember, and as soon as my copy arrived, I dropped everything, and sunk in. It was so good, that I read the entire thing in one sitting. Adelaide's background is introduced to us in the first chapter, and we slowly learn more and more about her life as Alfie Trunbull's daughter. I loved the way she took ownership of her actions, both then and now, and found a place for her, with the Belles. As the Heartbreaker, she could help protect other women like she wasn't, and also ensure that they are set for the future, with good marriage settlements, or just the knowledge that they have someone looking out for them. The added complication in this case, as well as the elopement, was just the pièce de résistance needed to tip this book over the edge. Claybourn and Adelaide's every scene was tense, and full of chemistry, that it didn't take much for them to explore the relationship further. So much happened, that I'm honestly in awe of Sarah's plot's and world building. The extended cast, of the Belles, Adelaide's past family, and Inspector Tommy, were all very present, and we can really see how the series is going to progress. Imogen and Tommy's book, which I think is next, is going to be explosive!

Dates Read:
August 18, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

Emily Sullivan

Waiting on Wednesday: The Hellion and the Hero (League of Scoundrels #3) by Emily Sullivan

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2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard

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Goodbye, Perfect
Series: None
Author: Sara Barnard
Published Published February 8th 2018 by Macmillan Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
When I was wild, you were steady . . .
Now you are wild - what am I?

Eden McKinley knows she can’t count on much in this world, but she can depend on Bonnie, her solid, steady, straight-A best friend. So it’s a complete shock when, five days before the start of their GCSEs, Bonnie runs away with a guy Eden knows nothing about. And it's the last person she would ever have expected.

As the days pass, and her world begins to unravel, Eden is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her best friend and herself.
Goodreads

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

For Eden McKinley, she is expecting the Saturday before starting her GCSE exams to be normal. Her and best friend, Bonnie, have plans to head off to Cheltenham for the day to relax, and as she's getting ready, she is completely shocked when the police, and Bonnie's mam, turn up on her doorstep and reveal that Bonnie has run away, and with her form tutor, Mr Cohn. To say Eden is blindsided would be an understatement - she knew that Bonnie had been 'seeing' a mystery guy named Jack, but never could have guessed that would be a teacher. But when Bonnie starts contacting her from an unknown number, and revealing more about where her and Mr Cohn are, can Eden stay loyal to her oldest friend, or will she do the right thing and tell the truth?

I feel really weird saying I enjoyed this book. I've been on a bit of a Barnard binge at the minute, and this is the third of her books I've read in the last week. Obviously, the content of the book looks at a truly abhorrent and vile crime, and as a teacher myself, I felt sick seeing how Mr Cohn had groomed Bonnie into believing they were in love and running away. I also couldn't believe how much Eden kept hidden, until the very end. Yes, there is loyalty to your friend, but when it's a crime, and and that friend is in danger - even if she believes she's on an adventure - you should want to help get her back to safety. Eden was a character who was difficult to like. She had had a difficult life, in and out of the foster care, with an abusive and neglectful mother, but had been adopted by the McKinley's since she was 8/9, and had a loving family around her, including sister Daisy, and step-sister Valerie. The way Eden treated Valerie, though, I hated. All Valerie wanted was to be the best big sister she could to Eden, ever since they met, but Eden always pushed her away. I mean, Valerie was in the final year of uni, about to start her exams, and still came home to be with Eden after it was revealed Bonnie had fled. Eden just wouldn't either contemplate the idea of being kind to Valerie, even when Valerie dropped everything further to drive them to Glasgow to try and find Bonnie. I loved the way that the whole situation with Bonnie and Mr Cohn wasn't glamourised, or treated like something normal. It was always shown as abhorrent, with only Bonnie being the one to think it was normal. For Bonnie, I felt sorry for her. She'd always been told she was brilliant, and clever, and it seemed like she had the world on her shoulders when it came to exam results, and she was vulnerable and Mr Cohn used and abused his position of power. She wanted to feel loved, and cared about for her - not for her grades - and, unfortunately, this was when Mr Cohn pounced. All in all, a really thought provoking, and important book.

Dates Read:
January 25-27, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

4 Stars

ARC Review: Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk

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Summerhaven
Series: None
Author: Tiffany Odekirk
Published February 14th 2022 by Covenant Communications

Goodreads Synopsis
Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.
Goodreads

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

Ever since she was young, Hannah Kent has known she would marry her neighbour and best friend, Oliver Jennings. She's been waiting to hear from him again, especially after her mother's death, so being invited for a summer house party at the Summerhaven estate, she expects he will soon make her an offer. But when she arrives, it's like he's completely forgotten about their pledge to one another, and his older brother Damon, who was always a little bit of a bully and prankster, has changed completely. As the heir to the estate, Damon wants to avoid the marriage mart as much as possible, so he makes Hannah an agreement - pretend to be madly in love with each other, to hopefully deter people from Damon, and make Oliver realise what he's missing. Soon, though, it's clear that it was a mistake, and the pretend feelings are becoming very much real. Hannah should be happy that Oliver seems to be falling for her, so why is she so focused on Damon instead?

I wasn't expecting a lot from this book - thought it would be a nice regency era romance - so was simply blown away by how hooked I was by the characters. Hannah truly believed she and best friend Oliver would marry one day, and decided that their drifting apart was mainly due to him heading to university, and the capital, but he would soon remember his pledge. So being invited back to Summerhaven, she thought it was time for them to reconnect and set a date. I really felt sorry for her when she realised that Oliver hadn't invited her, but rather his mother, and he didn't seem interested in spending much time with her either. Damon really saw her - and apparently he had been from their youth too - and so he came up with the plan, clearly doomed to fail from the start. I knew from the first description that Damon would be the love interest, and he was really right for Hannah, even if she didn't see it at first. They say the path to true love never did run smooth, and Hannah and Damon ran into difficulties from time to time, but came out right in the end. A romance that defied all expectations!

Dates Read:
December 18, 2021

Rating
4 Stars