Sophie Reads YA: Delacorte Press

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Royal Blood (Royal Blood #1) by Aimee Carter

10:00

Royal Blood
Series: Royal Blood #1
Author: Aimee Carter
Published March 7th 2023 by Delacorte Press/April 13th 2023 by Usborne

Goodreads Synopsis
Totally addictive and packed full of glamour, scandal and romance, Royal Blood is The Princess Diaries with murder, for fans of One Of Us Is Lying, Red, White And Royal Blue and The King Is Dead.

Kicked out of her American boarding school, Evan is sent to live with her estranged father, the King of England. Her existence as his illegitimate daughter is top secret - until someone leaks it to the press. Suddenly she's the focus of a thousand lurid headlines, plus the hatred of her stepmother the Queen and half-sister Princess Maisie.

Then the royal scandal intensifies... After Evan is seen disappearing with a journalist's son at a party, he is found dead and she becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation. Did "the Killer Princess" really do it? It seems that only the Queen's gorgeous nephew Kit will help Evan clear her name. But can she really trust anyone at the palace?
Goodreads

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

After she is kicked out of her latest boarding school, Evan has nowhere to turn except to her estranged father. The only issue there is that her father happens to be the King of England, and her existence is a closely guarded secret. But arriving in London, at the palace, she has to face her step mother and half sister, who have just learnt of her existence, as well as the rest of her extended family. And when one of her first friends is found dead, with Evan being the last person to see him, and the world learning of her parentage, Evan needs to discover who she can trust, and fast!

I loved this book so much! As soon as I saw the synopsis, and the comparisons to The Princess Diaries, I knew it was for me. Royal Blood had it all! There were twists and turns, drama, intrigue, murder, romance, mystery, and so much more. Evan was the perfect protagonist for the story, and I cared for her so much as the book progressed. She had suffered a lot in her life, and being hidden away for years, only to be thrust into the spotlight in such a way, was bound to affect her. She had no one on her side who she felt like she could trust, though the nephew of her step mother, Kit, was always by her side, and never pushed her. Their romance was wonderful, and there were moments when I thought all hope was lost, but then there were moments of lightness and joy, which Evan wholly deserved! There were truly 'on the edge of your seat' moments, and I found myself second guessing again and again over who the true villain was. I'm so happy this is not a standalone book as I had initially thought, because I need more from this world, and from Evan! A phenomenal book!

Dates Read:
June 22-25 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Borrow My Heart (Borrow My Heart #1) by Kasie West

10:00

Borrow My Heart
Series: Borrow My Heart #1
Author: Kasie West
Published June 13th 2023 by Delacorte

Goodreads Synopsis
When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We've Never Been.

Wren is used to being called a control freak. She doesn’t care; sticking to the list of rules she created for herself helps her navigate life. But when a cute guy named Asher walks through the door of her neighborhood coffee shop, the rulebook goes out the window.

Asher is cute, charming . . . and being catfished by his online crush. So Wren makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision—she pretends to be the girl he's waiting for to save him from embarrassment. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing.

It's not long before Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she's not who she says she is? Wren's not so sure. . . . After all, rules exist for a reason.
Goodreads

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

After overhearing a cute boy about to be embarrassed on social media after his 'date' catfishes him, Wren does the unthinkable and pretends to be the girl he's waiting for. Wren would never do anything like that, as she has rules upon rules over who she dates, and how, but she can't stand by and see Asher be so embarrassed. But what was intended to just be a one time thing soon spirals out of control when Asher appears at the shelter she volunteers at, even at the Olive Garden she's visiting with her family. As the two spend more time together, she knows she needs to tell him the truth, but she's falling for him too much.

As soon as I saw that Kasie had another book coming out, I immediately requested it. I love her books so much, and the idea of a fake dating romance, where only one of the characters knows it's not real - at least initially - drew me in. I liked Wren, but felt like she was a bit too high strung at times. I understood why she was that way, and when we finally met her mother, she was even worse than I expected. However, the many rules that Wren had were hindering her, rather than protecting her, and it was shown in how the one time she acts impulsively, it leads to Asher. The lying to each other was hard to deal with a little, and I actually thought we'd gotten over the drama at the 2/3 mark, but then it took a turn that I really wasn't expecting. I'm glad that Wren was able to allow Asher to explain, and the scenes with the dogs were so sweet. This is part of a series apparently, and I think book 2 will probably focus on Kamala and Dale, but I'm not sure. Even so, I'll be impatiently waiting for it!

Dates Read:
May 28-29, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian

10:00

Stardust in Their Veins
Series: Castles in Their Bones #2
Author: Laura Sebastian
Published February 7th 2023 by Hodder & Stoughton/Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother's grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress's control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What's worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother's sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can't trust anyone--least of all each other. If they've learned anything, though, it's that the Empress's game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses' favor... if they manage to avoid meeting their sister's fate before they can make their next move.

Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.
Goodreads

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

After their sister Sophronia is killed in a coup, Daphne and Beatriz know that they are in danger, and need all the help they can get. Beatriz is lucky to have been only imprisoned by the coup that has taken her throne, and Daphne is dodging attempts on her life at every turn. They don't know who they can trust, and it seems their mother's plots might put them in more danger than they expected. If they can get together, and if they can overcome their past distrust, they might be able to use their star magic to succeed, but the odds are stacked against them.

After the cataclysmic ending to Castles in their Bones, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Stardust in their Veins! Sophy had been my favourite of the sisters, and I was gutted that she was murdered, but thankfully her deaths sparked the drive in her sisters to fight against their mother, and the plots against them. This was a hefty book, and so much happened. We had three PoVs, Beatriz, Daphne, and Violie, and each other's individual stories were epic, but when they had moments together, it was fantastic! I didn't really like Violie or Daphne that much in book 1, but we learn so much more about them in this book, and it makes more sense why they acted that way previously. There's so much growth in this book, both in the three main characters, but also in the secondary characters like Bairre, Pasquale and Leopold. The romance is ramping up too, and though some of the characters make bad choices at times, I can see how their actions will help them in the future. Yet again there's a fiery ending, and book 3 can't come soon enough! My favourite of Laura's books, and I think I'd honestly read anything of hers!!

Dates Read:
April 22-29, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Well, That Was Unexpected (Untitled #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Well, That Was Unexpected
Series: Untitled #1
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Published September 27th 2022 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?
Goodreads

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

For Sharlot Citra, her mother has always refused to talk about her home and family in Indonesia, but following an incident involving Sharlot's now ex-boyfriend, she's whisked off to spend the summer away from her bad influences, and with her extended family. What Sharlot thought about her family was clearly completely wrong, as she arrives in Jakarta to discover her family her quite rich, and that her mother's oldest friend is from one of the country's richest families. And Sharlot is not alone in having an interfering parent. George Clooney Tanuwijaya soon finds that his dad has created a profile for him online, and has got him a date with the perfect girl. Soon though, Sharlot and George find themselves going along with the ruse of dating when the media discover it, but the spotlight is harsh, and Sharlot finds herself being villainised.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was immediately hooked. Sharlot and George were the best characters for the plot line, and the fact the book has dual POV made this so much more enjoyable. I adored the way the characters came together, and though they were hiding the fact that neither of their profiles were real, as they spent more time together - admittedly forced at first - they soon became comfortable enough to be their real selves. What I thought would be a cute YA romance was so much more. Well, That Was Unexpected delves into the conflict of wanting to please your parents, but also being your own person, with your own dreams. There's the added conflict of social media and public attention, and the double standards placed on Sharlot when compared to George. I didn't realise this was part of a series, but hopefully we'll see more of the couple in future!

Dates Read:
August 25-26, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Jesse Q. Sutanto:
I grew up going back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and consider both places my homes. I was fortunate enough to do my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford, which is surely one of the most gorgeous places in the world.

I am passionate about women’s rights and diversity in publishing. I regularly do giveaways where I critique queries or the first few pages, and I am especially interested in helping writers from marginalized communities. If you are a writer from a marginalized community, do hit me up! I love hearing from other writers, even if it’s just to say a quick hello.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Bad At Love by Gabriela Martins

10:00

Bad At Love
Series: None
Author: Gabriela Martins
Published August 30th 2022 by Underlined/Delacorte

Goodreads Synopsis
Ever since Daniel moved to L.A. from Brazil to join the band Mischief & Mayhem, he’s become the tabloids’ bad boy. Paparazzi follow him and girls swoon over him . . . except for Sasha, who hates bad boys. When a chance encounter brings them together, Sasha sees an opportunity to get close to Daniel and write a story that will make a name for herself at the celebrity gossip magazine where she interns. But Daniel is surprisingly sweet and extremely cute—could she be falling for him?

The truth is: Daniel is hiding something. When Sasha discovers his secret, will she follow her heart or deliver the hottest story of the summer?
Goodreads

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

Finding fame as a member of Mischief & Mayhem on the reality tv show, Making Music!, was a dream come true for Daniel. He uprooted his sister, and moved to LA for the opportunity, learning English as quickly as he could, and can't thank her enough. But having to be known as Rotten, the bad boy of the group, rubs the wrong way at times, and he hates the paparazzi following, and the tabloid headlines. When he comes across Sasha as he's trying to hide from the cameras, and ends up bringing her into the limelight, he ends up making a bad bet with his band mates that he can date her for the summer. The only issue - Sasha is a journalist, and getting the scoop on Rotten would cement her career, and land her a scholarship for college. As Sasha tries to get closer, they soon realise their feelings are very much real, and the secrets they're keeping may pull them apart for good.

When I started reading Bad at Love, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I haven't read anything from this author before, but heard glowing things, and honestly, I'd forgotten what the book was about - other than the fact that one of the characters was in a band. It took a little while to get into, but once I was at about chapter 5 or so, I didn't really want to put the book down. I loved both Daniel and Sasha, and they were so real, reading this was like seeing them in front of my eyes. Both had secrets, that is true, and if they had spoken to each other a lot of conflict could have been avoided, but it was understandable why they were wary with each other. Sasha really disliked bad boys, and what the tabloids had been printing about Rotten seemed to cement all her fears of him, so falling for him, or rather, for Daniel, was like a nightmare. This was the perfect summer read, and I adore how vibrant the characters and story was. I'll definitely be looking for more of Gabriela's books in the future!

Dates Read:
August 10-12, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Places We've Never Been by Kasie West

10:00

Places We've Never Been
Series: None
Author: Kasie West
Published May 31st 2022 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
A sweet and swoony contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance!

Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they'd talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.

But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems...like he’d rather be anywhere else. Hurt and confused, Norah reacts in kind. Suddenly, her oldest friendship is on the rocks.

An unexpected summer spent driving across the country leads both Norah and Skyler down new roads and to new discoveries. Before long, they are, once again, seeing each other in a different light. Can their friendship-turned-rivalry turn into something more?
Goodreads

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

Finding out that she will be going on a road trip for the summer with her mam, brother, and former best friend, Skyler, and his family, Norah can't wait to reconnect. But as soon as Skyler arrives, it's clear he doesn't feel the same way. Now forced to be in close proximity for weeks, sharing two RV's between the families, Norah needs to find out just what's wrong, and why they are so far apart when so close physically. As the miles roll by, and it's clear that Norah's strong feelings towards Skyler aren't quiet those of hatred, but one's of love, it's a struggle for her to reconcile with keeping secrets, and becoming closer than ever before.

When I learnt that Kasie had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance of reviewing it for the blog tour. I've always adored her books, and from the synopsis of Places We've Never Been, I knew this was one for me. Norah's character was one who was open to anything, and wore her heart on her sleeve, so learning that her former best friend, Skyler, who she's missed since he moved away years ago, would be back for the summer, she was overjoyed. However, he doesn't welcome the trip - or time with her - with open arms, and is rather standoffish, which wasn't what she expected at all. She's also got her upcoming interview at college to prepare for, and she can't get into the wrong head space for that - not when she knows that being a woman in a male oriented industry is already a difficult thing. I really liked seeing them reconnect, and be with each other now as teenagers, rather than preteens. They both held things back from each other, and there was a little plot line I wasn't too keen on, but I understood why it had to be included. Kasie has really hit it out the park with this one, and, once again, I'll be waiting for her next!

Dates Read:
May 14-15, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Kasie West:
Kasie West is the author of many YA novels, including The Fill-in Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Lucky in Love, and Listen to Your Heart. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, JLG selections, and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. When she’s not writing, she’s binge-watching television, devouring books, or bury-ing her toes in the sand of the Central Coast. Kasie lives in Fresno, California, with her family.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Love from Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill

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Love from Scratch
Series: None
Author: Kaitlyn Hill
Published April 5th 2022 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
This summer, Reese Camden is trading sweet tea and Southern hospitality for cold brew and crisp coastal air. She's landed her dream marketing internship at Friends of Flavor, a wildly popular cooking channel in Seattle. The only problem? Benny Beneventi, the relentlessly charming, backwards-baseball-cap-wearing culinary intern--and her main competition for the fall job.

Reese's plan to keep work a No Feelings Zone crumbles like a day-old muffin when she and Benny are thrown together for a video shoot that goes viral, making them the internet's newest ship. Audiences are hungry for more, and their bosses at Friends of Flavor are happy to deliver. Soon Reese and Benny are in an all-out food war, churning homemade ice cream, twisting soft pretzels, breaking eggs in an omelet showdown--while hundreds of thousands of viewers watch.

Reese can't deny the chemistry between her and Benny. But the more their rivalry heats up, the harder it is to keep love on the back burner...
Goodreads

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

For the summer before starting college, Reese Camden has bagged the internship of her dreams - working a marketing internship at Friends of Flavor. Friends of Flavor was there for her during a difficult period in her life, and she dreams of being selected for the fall job, to run alongside her degree. However, the other intern, Benny, also really wants the position, and soon a competition is created. Working together to host cooking videos, it's not long before the fans are shipping it, and Reese is finding it difficult to keep her feelings at bay. But soon it seems that the execs are favouring Benny simply because he's male, and Reese begins to realise that the comments online, and at work, are targeted to her.

This book simply blew me away. I was expecting a cutesy YA contemporary - and while it was that, it was also so much more! Reese was a little too perfect for me at times, but she was vulnerable too, and had dealt with a lot in the past, particularly around social media and sexist comments. Friends of Flavor was something she relied on her to keep her going through the dark times, and landing the internship was everything she'd ever wanted - except perhaps a real job there. I loved the camaraderie there was around the workplace, especially between the main 'Friends' and how they embraced Reese and Benny as one of their own. The secondary plot line of the sexism and misogyny was unexpected, but honestly perfect for the book, and the characters. Benny and Reese's relationship wasn't the easiest at times, but it worked, and I loved the ending so much! This was a fantastic debut, and I look forward to Kaitlyn's next book!

Dates Read:
March 18, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Castles in Their Bones (Castles in their Bones #1) by Laura Sebastian

10:00

Castles in Their Bones
Series: Castles in their Bones #1
Author: Laura Sebastian
Published February 1st 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton/Delacorte Press

Goodreads Synopsis
The plot: overthrow a kingdom. The goal: world domination. The plan: marriage.

Trained for from birth in espionage and seduction, the triplet princesses of Bessemia must travel to three distant lands to marry three princes and enact their Queen mother's plan to rule from sea to sea. But when they arrive, each sister discovers her task is not so simple, and their mother's motives may not be what they seem.
Goodreads

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

The Empress of Bessemia may have a country under her control, but she's nothing if not ambitious, and why else enlist a empryea to fall pregnant with triplets, if not to use them to gain dominance over the continent? The princesses Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia, now about to turn 16, know that soon they will be leaving home, marrying foreign princes, and setting in motion a plan years in the making, all for their mother's own gain. But as they meet their 'new' countries, and soon learn that their mother's goals may not align with their own, can they achieve their goals, or will they fall into danger, with no way out?

I've been waiting for this book for so long! I love Laura's Ash Princess trilogy, and when I learnt about this story, and the synopsis, I immediately sent in my review requests. As soon as I started my copy, I knew I needed to savour it, because it was just so good! Told in the pov's of the princesses, we soon learn that though they are privileged, their lives haven't been one of love or even affection, really. They were being raised as lambs to the slaughter - some more than others - and were only pawns in their mother's game. I'm going to admit, I warmed to Sophronia the most, with Daphne being the most aloof, and difficult to like. But by the end, I adored all three sisters, and the last 20% or so, I just devoured because I needed to know how they manage all the plans which are taking place simultaneously. The ending killed me, and I honestly don't know how I'll wait until book 2 is released! Such a fantastic story, with epic world-building, and amazing characters - a hit from Laura, yet again!

Dates Read:
January 30-February 4 2022

Rating
4 Stars