Sophie Reads YA: Jenn Bennett

Waiting on Wednesday: Always Jane by Jenn Bennett

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2019 New Release challenge

Review: The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

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The Lady Rogue
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published September 3rd 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Synopsis
The Last Magician meets A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler's cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die...

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She's read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world's most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn't have is her father's permission. That honor goes to her father's nineteen-year-old protegee--and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora's life--Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora's help in rescuing him. Armed with her father's travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler--more widely known as Dracula--and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren't the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths--including murder--to possess it.
Goodreads

Review
This book was everything I could've asked for, and more! I adore Jenn's contemporary books, and being a historian, have always been on the lookout for more historical YA's, so this was definitely a must buy! The Lady Rogue follows Theodora, as she travels across Europe looking for her explorer father, who's got himself into a bit of bother. She's been raised all her life in the art of expedition, and will have to use everything she has about her to find her dad. The only real issue is that she has to do all of this with her dad's apprentice, Huck, who used to be her best friend - really, her only friend - until one day he betrayed her and left. Now they have to overcome their personal issues, in order to deal with the very real dangers they are facing, especially when it all revolves around Dracula's curse.

Like all of Jenn's books, this was phenomenal! Her stories and her characters are always well rounded, and fantastic, and this one was no exception. Theodora was the spunkiest and strongest of all of Jenn's heroines, and I loved her from the get go! Being a woman in a decidedly male world, she has had to overcome a lot to get to where she is, but she's not about to let her gender stop her from finding her father and stopping the society out to hurt the people she loves. Her heart was cruelly broken by Huck, and she needs to stitch herself back together if she is to work with him, and, to be honest, he's no different. When he left, he never said goodbye, or explained anything, and the longer that they are together, the more the truth comes out, and they start to rekindle their love for one another. And their relationship was so cute, and I really believed in it. It was hard, and messy, and real, and they actually spoke with each other and dealt with their issues rather than brushing it under the carpet.

The plot was everything I wanted from it. Multiple European countries, an intriguing mystery, and the perfect amount of danger and subterfuge. I found myself unable to put the book down, and flew through it so fast. Really, I loved it too much, and don't think I can do it justice to put into words how good it was, it just was! I seriously hope that Jenn writes more historical fiction in future, and I'll be first to buy it!

Dates Read:

October 5-6, 2019

Rating
5 Stars

Chasing Lucky

Waiting On Wednesday: Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

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2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

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Chasing Lucky
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published June 11th 2020 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is…
Goodreads

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

I just adore all of Jenn's books, so when my copy of Chasing Lucky arrived, just as the country was going to pot and lock down was looming, I knew it would be something to help get me through this difficult time. Chasing Lucky follows Josie as she returns to her hometown, Beauty, with her flighty mam, after fleeing five years ago in the dead of the night. Her whole family is cursed, and all the women struggle with love, and with being with other Saint-Martin's. With her grandma and auntie off to Nepal backpacking, it's up to Josie and her mam, Winona, to look after the family bookstore, and stay sane in town. When she meets up with her ex-best friend, Lucky, it's awkward and tense, and then a huge todo at a party leads her to smash the window of a local department store, and Lucky takes the blame. Josie doesn't know what to do with this, and she needs to find out who the new Lucky is, and just why he would do it. The more they are together, though, the more their old friendship, and chemistry soon blossoms into something more. Can she over come the Saint-Martin curse, or is her relationship doomed?

I honestly think this book was the perfect read for this time. Whenever I was reading it - and I did have to put it down a lot to help prepare my students for school closures - I forgot what was happening in the real world, and was wholly invested in Josie's story. She was a fantastic main character, and I really felt her pain in how her life had been moving from town to town, and just wanting some stability. Her interactions with everyone in the book, from her mam, to her cousin, Evie, to Lucky, and beyond, was perfect, and she is my favourite of Jenn's heroines, after Bailey from Alex, Approximately. Her mam, Winona, is wacky, and annoying at times, but she really did care about Josie, and their relationship is really explored and starts to fix itself as Josie learns more about what makes Winona tick.

The romance between Josie and Lucky was slow burning, what with the way they left their friendship 5 years ago, and I loved how they dealt with this issue before they moved onto the romantic side of their relationship. They were dead cute together, and I really believed in them together. Yeah, there is some angst that might've been unnecessary, but it's to be expected, and the way it was resolved was really well done. Jenn just can't write a bad book, and I can't wait to read her next one!

Dates Read:
March 18-23, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

#RockMyTBR 2017 Challenge

Review: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

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Alex, Approximately
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published July 27th 2017 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Goodreads Synopsis
The one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie fan Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online as Alex. Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new archnemesis. But life is a whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever it is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.
Goodreads

Review
Full disclosure, this book just might be my all time favourite book! So, that being said, this review may be a bit rambly. In Alex, Approximately, Bailey is someone who is obsessed with classic movies. Her whole life sort of revolves around them, and through them, she met her online pen pal, 'Alex'. The live on opposite sides of America, not an easy feat, and have never met in real life. To be honest, 'Alex' isn't his real name, and he knows her as 'Mink'. It soon comes about that Bailey will be moving across country to live with her dad in California, to the same hometown as Alex, but for some reason she doesn't tell him. She thinks she'll be able to identify him on sight, but as the weeks go by, she still doesn't know who he is.

One person who she does know is the arrogant Porter, who becomes her nemesis early on. When they both start working at the same museum in town, Porter starts to grow on Bailey, and she's conflicted. She has these two guys she really likes, both seemingly different, and she feels like she's cheating on the other, when she really didn't have an issue.

I loved Bailey! She is the best character that Jenn has ever written, and I wish she was in every book. She has such a personality to her, quirky and a bit shy at times, and I just adored reading from her PoV. She's also fully fleshed out, with such a fantastic backstory that slowly is brought out, by different characters, and really helps us to understand her nuances more. Even though she is masquerading as 'Mink' online, she's really showing herself, and I think that's why Alex/Porter fell for her so fast. Porter, as well, had a back story, and a wonderful family around him, that I loved getting to know more about.

The plot was phenomenal, with no page being boring or unnecessary. Rather, if there could've been 100s of more pages, I wouldn't have complained. You've Got Mail type plot devices can be done either very well, or really badly, and this was definitely in the former category. The reveal of who 'Alex' and 'Mink' actually were was done very, very well, and I keep this book close to re-read whenever I'm feeling down, or need to get out of a reading slump as it is just amazing! If you haven't already discovered Jenn's books, you need to, and this is the best one!

Dates Read:

July 27, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

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Serious Moonlight
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published May 16th 2019 by Simon and Schuster UK Children's

Goodreads Synopsis
Raised in isolation and home-schooled by her strict grandparents, the only experience Birdie has had of the outside world is through her favourite crime books.

But everything changes when she takes a summer job working the night shift at a historic Seattle hotel. There she meets Daniel Aoki, the hotel’s charismatic driver, and together they stumble upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—is secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell, and in doing so, realize that the most confounding mystery of all may just be her growing feelings for Daniel.
Goodreads

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

Serious Moonlight follows Birdie as she takes a job in a Seattle hotel, and uncovers a mystery right in front of her. Working with Daniel, who she had a one night stand with when they met at a local diner, and he just happens to be her coworker, they try to uncover just who the reclusive author is, and whether they can cope with the feelings growing between them.

It's no secret that I love Jenn's books, so when this was fell through my letterbox, I was overjoyed and dove right in. Unfortunately it wasn't my favourite of hers (but nothing will ever bump Alex, Approximately from that spot), but I was definitely intrigued with the historical aspects surrounding the Cascadia Hotel, and the mystery of the secret author. Birdie was a great character, who had faced a lot in her life. After her mother died of congenital heart disease, she's been living with her elderly grandparents, and seeing her aunt Mona as much as possible. Because of this, and her diagnosed narcolepsy, she's been sheltered for most of her life, and getting this job is her first break for independence. I loved how her and Daniel's liaison's at the Moonlight diner were dealt with, and this book was so sex positive and definitely perfect for today's market. Daniel, on his half, was hearing impaired, and had been diagnosed with depression with was discussed in such a sensitive manner which was wonderful to see. What was definitely the best part of the book was the detective aspect working to uncover who Raymond Darke was. I was left guessing at times, and was invested in this plot line. Even though I wasn't blown away by the romance in this, I will be reading any and all of Jenn's books in the future!

Dates Read:
May 14-19, 2019

Rating
4 Stars

Jenn Bennett

Waiting On Wednesday: The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

10:00

2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

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Starry Eyes
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published May 17th 2018 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets and hidden feelings surface. Soon it's not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.
Goodreads

Review
I have fallen in love with Bennett's books since Alex, Approximately, which I think I've read three different times already. So when I heard about this one coming out, and the friends-to-enemies-to-more trope, I knew I had to get a copy ASAP. While I didn't love this one as much as Alex, it was still a fantastic read, and Jenn has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors.

Zorie and Lennon used to be the best of friends, but once their parents started to hate each other, they were torn in the middle, a la Romeo and Juliet. It quickly turned into them two hating each other - or at least acting like they did - when they both were going on the same glamping trip with their friends from school. However, they soon become stranded in the wilderness - okay, a forest - and need to get over their differences, and work together to get home. Obviously the sexual tension that's been there since they were young would also come to a head, and they realise how much they had missed their best friend, let alone the person they were falling for.

I loved both characters - Zorie was organised, a big planner, and hated the outdoors (like me), whereas Lennon loves everything about the outdoors, and is a bit more lax about things. Being together, and having their different characteristics, helped them to recover their camping trip, and get back on the trail, having an adventure while they were at it. During the time when they had stopped being friends, a lot had happened in their families, and this time alone lets them vent to each other, and even without the romantic aspect of the book, the return to friends part was perfectly done!

The secondary characters were either lovely, or so annoying (Zorie's dad in particular), but because a lot of the book was spent with Zorie and Lennon alone, we didn't really see much of the other characters. I enjoyed the plot a lot, and think I will be re-reading this book soon, as I want to immerse myself in that world again.

Dates Read:

May 17, 2018

Rating
5 Stars

2019 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Night Owls by Jenn Bennett

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Night Owls
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published August 13th 2015 by Simon and Schuster UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Feeling alive is always worth the risk.

Meeting Jack on the Owl—San Francisco's night bus—turns Beatrix's world upside down. Jack is charming, wildly attractive...and possibly one of San Francisco's most notorious graffiti artists.

But Jack is hiding a piece of himself. On midnight rides and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who this enigmatic boy really is.
Goodreads

Review
I just love Jenn's books, and considering this was her debut, I don't know why it took me until February 2019 to read it. I did like this book, but it's probably my least favourite of the four I've read so far. Beatrix, or Bex, wants to be an anatomical artist one day, creating images for medical journals and the like. The only issue, she has issues with cadavers. While trying to overcome these issues, she rides the night bus, known as the Owl, to and from the local hospital, where she meets Jack for the first time. Meeting him, and getting to know him, allows Bex to discover more about herself, and though both have sides that they try to hide, but with other, they allow themselves to be real and open.

I did enjoy Bex, but didn't seem to connect with her that much. She needs a scholarship for university, after her deadbeat dad left them and never gets in touch, and her mam picks up shifts here, there, and everywhere at the hospital to make ends meet. Her mam has forbade her from drawing the cadavers, but she needs the images in order to gain her scholarship, so goes against her mam in this. Meeting Jack and spending more time with him, especially as more of his backstory and character comes out, is another thing her mother isn't happy about - she's not completely against it, but still thinks it will end badly. Jack is from a very important family, and also is a prolific tagger and street artist, whose work is appreciated by many, but not the authorities. Both of them use their art to interact and grow closer, and I did appreciate their relationship, but it didn't make me swoon as much as some of Jenn's other couples did. Overall, I think her books have improved, and Alex, Approximately will always be my favourite, but she is an autobuy author of mine.

Dates Read:

February 1-3, 2019

Rating
4 Stars