Sophie Reads YA: September 2023

monthly summary

September Summary

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September

Stacking the Shelves: September 30th 2023

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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Love, Theoretically
Series: None
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Published June 13th 2023 by Berkley/Little Brown Books

Goodreads Synopsis
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
Goodreads

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

Trying to get onto the tenure path is more of a struggle than theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway expected it to be. Working as an adjunct professor at three different Boston universities, she is spread too thin, and has no time for research. So getting the interview at MIT is a dream, and nothing can go wrong, right? Well, the fact that one of the interview panellists happens to be Jack Smith - or Jonathan Turner-Smith in scientific circles. Jack is both the man who ruined the career of Elsie's mentor, and the brother of the guy she is 'fake-dating'. Jack knows she is lying, and seems to hate theoretical physicists on principle, so why is she so attracted to him. And why can he see the real Elsie, like no one ever has done before?

Wow, just wow! I don't actually know why I'm surprised with how much I loved this book, but it was phenomenal! Elsie's character was someone who had always been a people pleaser, who changed herself and her actions in order to please the person she is with. She managed to use it to her benefit by working for 'Faux', a fake dating app, turning herself into the perfect date, which is allowing her to survive because adjuncting does not pay well. Her favourite 'client' is Greg, who she has had a number of dates with, and that's where she meets Jack. Jack seems to hate her from the beginning, always staring at her, and asking her leading questions about her 'boyfriend'. So when she realises that Jack, who thinks she is a librarian, will be on the interview panel, and hates theoretical physicists, she needs to put her best game face on. But it doesn't work with Jack - she can't read him like she can other people, and she is always her true self, even when it gets her into trouble.

The chemistry between the pair was unreal, and they embodied a fantastic enemies-to-lovers trope perfectly. I liked how he didn't sugarcoat the negatives, and always spoke truthfully to Elsie, encouraging her to do the same. It was hard for her, especially after her past with JJ and her mother's controlling nature, but it was so worth it. Jack really cared about Elsie, even when it was hard, and he poured his heart out to her - in public, as well as in private. A beautiful STEMinist love story, though I wouldn't expect anything less from Ali!

Dates Read:
August 27-28, 2023

Rating
5 Stars

Chloe Gong

Waiting On Wednesday: Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune #2) by Chloe Gong

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is:

Foul Heart Huntsman
Series: Foul Lady Fortune #2
Author: Chloe Gong
Published September 26th 2023 by Hodder & Stoughton

Goodreads Summary

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

Foul Lady Fortune was breathtaking, and I can't wait to see how our favourites are doing!

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

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Imogen, Obviously
Series: None
Author: Becky Albertalli
Published May 2nd 2023 by Balzer + Bray/May 11th 2023 by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks

Goodreads Synopsis
With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestseller Becky Albertalli explores the nuances of sexuality, identity, and friendship.

Imogen Scott may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s got the World’s Greatest Ally title locked down.

She's never missed a Pride Alliance meeting. She knows more about queer media discourse than her very queer little sister. She even has two queer best friends. There's Gretchen, a fellow high school senior, who helps keep Imogen's biases in check. And then there's Lili—newly out and newly thriving with a cool new squad of queer college friends.

Imogen's thrilled for Lili. Any ally would be. And now that she's finally visiting Lili on campus, she's bringing her ally A game. Any support Lili needs, Imogen's all in.

Even if that means bending the truth, just a little.

Like when Lili drops a tiny queer bombshell: she's told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date. And none of them know that Imogen is a raging hetero—not even Lili’s best friend, Tessa.

Of course, the more time Imogen spends with chaotic, freckle-faced Tessa, the more she starts to wonder if her truth was ever all that straight to begin with. . .
Goodreads

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

After her best friend heads off to college, Imogen Scott has been in limbo until her own graduation, and she can join Lili on campus. Finally accepting an invitation to spend the weekend with Lili and her new friends, Imogen is nervous to meet those she has followed online. And when Lili drops the bombshell that her new friends think that Imogen and Lili used to be a thing, but are now best friends, Imogen doesn't know how she can pretend to be queer, when she the straightest girl going. Though the longer she spends with Tessa, the more Imogen starts to question everything she's ever thought about herself.

I simply loved this book! It was everything I was expecting from Becky, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way though. Imogen was the sweetest, and there were so many times I wanted to give her a hug, particularly as she started to reminisce and question her own sexuality. She had two best friends, Lili and Gretchen, and Lili was a doll, and Gretchen was awful. We all hate her, right? She completely steamrolled Imogen, and invalidated her thoughts and feelings all of the time. I still feel like she deserved worse than she got, but the ending of the book was good enough for me - at least Imogen was happy. Imogen and Tessa were so sweet together, and I loved their message threads so much. It all felt so real, and the way they went from new friends, to tentative flirting, and then the culmination of it all, was perfect! Such a great book, which I will definitely be recommending to my students!

Dates Read:
August 1-3, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: My Rogue to Ruin (The Wild Wynchesters #4) by Erica Ridley

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My Rogue to Ruin
Series: The Wild Wynchesters #4
Author: Erica Ridley
Published September 12th 2023 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
The riotous Wynchester family has taken on a new case to expose a forger, but the prime suspect isn't at all what he seems in this captivating Regency romp from a New York Times bestselling author.

Lord Adrian Webb is a no-good, roguish, rakish scoundrel of the first order, which is why his father sends him to the Continent and cuts him off without a farthing. When (penniless) in Rome, what's a disgraced gentleman to do, but dabble in some light forgery? After all, better to leave the original works of art where they belong instead of some English snob's drawing room. But soon his scheme snowballs out of control, and a blackmailer is out to ruin him.

The Wynchester family is known for their daring capers to help those in need. Until now, Marjorie has always let her siblings take the lead when it comes to planning undercover work. But someone in London is trying to pass off counterfeits and this time she's the only one with the skill needed to find the culprit. Her investigations lead her straight to Lord Adrian Webb. But every time Marjorie thinks she's figured Adrian out, she learns something new that turns all her assumptions on their head. He's a sinner. A saint. A heartless scoundrel. A loyal brother. A liar. A good kisser. Er…wait… She can't afford to lose herself in the passionate embrace of a man she'll have to turn over to the magistrate as soon as the case is closed.
Goodreads

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

Adrian Webb may be a lord, but he's been on the outs with his father since being blamed for his elder brother's actions, and has been the last few years on the continent. Finding himself with little money, he used his artistic ability to 'dabble' in some forgery, creating almost identical replicas of some of the greatest pieces of art, and selling them to unsuspecting British aristocrats. But on his return to London, he has crossed the wrong man, and finds himself hostage to the wicked Snowley, to forge coins to fund the crooks underworld empire. But doing so lands Snowley on the Wynchester's radar, and this time Marjorie Wynchester is ready to save the day. However, she never expected she would find herself working with the 'villain', Adrian, or falling for him either.

This book was so fun! I've really enjoyed each of the books in the series so far, but I reckon this one is my favourite! Marjorie has always been a Wynchester to stay more in the shadows, and has never really put herself forward to lead a mission before, partly because of her partial deafness, but also because the others are more forceful than her. However, when the case of the forged coins and Snowley's empire come to the Wynchester's, she knows she has the skills they need, and won't take no for an answer. When she strolled into the 'work room' that Adrian is being held in, and went toe-to-toe with him, and with Snowley, it was a joy to see. I liked how she and Adrian worked together too, and though they clearly had an attraction, they tried to fight it, at least at first. Marjorie was ready to think the worst of Adrian, but once she realised he was even more of a hostage than she was, and his reputation was wholly unwarranted, it wasn't hard for her to fall for him. I loved the moments when the other Wynchester's all managed to give Adrian a bit of an interrogation, and showed their love for their sister. Another fantastic book in the Wild Wynchesters series!

Dates Read:
May 6-7, 2023

Rating
4 Stars