Sophie Reads YA: Macmillan

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Boyfriend Candidate (Fool Me Once #2) by Ashley Winstead

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The Boyfriend Candidate
Series: Fool Me Once #2
Author: Ashley Winstead
Published May 9th 2023 by Graydon House

Goodreads Synopsis
As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she's dumped for being too meek-in bed!-she decides she needs to change. And what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?

Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Audacious and filterless, Logan is Alexis's opposite-and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she's about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly-and shockingly-flees.

Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor's seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career-and jeopardize Alexis's job-until a solution is he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?
Goodreads

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

For shy librarian Alexis, she decides to get out of her comfort zone and have a one night stand after her ex dumps her for being too meek in bed. she meets the flirty and gorgeous Logan in a hotel bar and the sparks fly. He's her exact opposite, but seems perfect for her night of fun. But nature has other ideas, and when the hotel catches fire, they are forced to flee, and photos of Logan carrying Alexis out of the hotel in his arms soon take over the internet. Logan is not just a handsome stranger, but none other than Logan Arthur, the candidate for governor in Texas' upcoming election. He can't afford for a scandal to ruin his campaign, or Alexis' job, and so they agree to pretend to be in a relationship for the sake of the campaign. But will they remember it's not real, or not?

I found this book such a quick and fun read. Alexis and Logan were fantastic MCs, and they really hit it off. Thought nothing like each other, their personalities complemented each other perfectly, and brought out the best in each other. Yes their romance was initially transactional, but both of them fell hard, with Logan falling quickest. A great contemporary romance, with a dash of politics thrown in.

Dates Read:
November 12, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

ARC Review: My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

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My Mechanical Romance
Series: None
Author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
Published June 23rd 2022 by Macmillan

Goodreads Synopsis
From Alexene Farol Follmuth the globally bestselling, TikTok viral author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes My Mechanical Romance, an adorable opposites-attract YA romance that explores the vulnerability of first love.

Nerds are so hot.

Especially battle–robot–building nerds.

When Bel accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s forced into joining the robotics club.

Enter Mateo Luna, perfect on paper – captain of the football team and the robotics club – who recognizes Bel as a potential asset, even if they couldn’t be more different. And as the nights of after–school work grow longer, Bel and Teo realize they've made more than just a combat–ready robot for the championship: they’ve made a connection themselves.

But with graduation approaching, their differences and what they want for their futures, threatens what they’ve built together.

Can they survive Nationals without breaking their robots – or their hearts?
Goodreads

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

After joining a new school, Bel is encouraged to join the robotics club. Not really something she's interested in, as she's more of a coder, she finds out that there's only one other girl on the team, and it's very much a testosterone filled nightmare. But the captain of the team, Mateo Luna - who also happens to be captain of the football team too - sees something in Bel, and though they clash heads regularly, he needs her for the team to win. Working together after school, they soon realise that it's not just a working relationship they have, but the potential for romance too.

I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but it was such a good story. Bel and Teo were the perfect MCs for the plot, and their somewhat enemies-to-lovers romance was great. I liked how much STEM was in the book, and Bel forced back against the gender stereotypes to prove that she was more than worthy to be in the school and on the team, and no one should underestimate her.

Dates Read:
July 14-16, 2024

Rating
4 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood

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Unnecessary Drama
Series: None
Author: Nina Kenwood
Published August 8th 2023 by Flatiron Books

Goodreads Synopsis
From the award-winning author of It Sounded Better in My Head comes a deliciously entertaining enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two high school nemeses who end up sharing a house together their first year of college

Eighteen-year-old Brooke is the kind of friend who not only remembers everyone’s birthdays, but also organizes the group present, pays for it, and politely chases others for their share. She’s the helper, the doer, the maker-of spreadsheets. She’s the responsible one who always follows the rules—and she plans to keep it that way during her first year of college.

Her student housing only has one rule: "no unnecessary drama." Which means no fights, tension, or romance between roommates. When one of them turns out to be Jesse, her high-school nemesis, Brooke is determined she can handle it. They’ll simply silently endure living together and stay out of each other’s way. But it turns out Jesse isn’t so easy to ignore.

With Unnecessary Drama, Nina Kenwood perfectly captures the experience of leaving home for the first time, dealing with the unexpected complications of life, and somehow finding exactly what you need.
Goodreads

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

Brookes has planned her uni experience down to a T. Moving to Melbourne, she is happy that she's found a home with Harper, who seems to be a little messy, but someone she can live with. She can't wait to meet her other roommate, Jeremy, and discover what the house rules are. However, Jeremy turns out to be Jesse, her former best friend and high school nemesis, and the one person she wished to never see again. To top it all off, there's only one house rule: 'no unnecessary drama'! Brooke is in for a hell of a ride.

I've not read a book by this author before, and didn't really know what to expect going into this book, but I loved it. I listened to the audio book while out walking, and there were moments when I would have looked like an idiot, grinning to myself over how cute Jesse and Brooke were. They came to the agreement to be civil with each other for Harper's sake, but as they spent more time living together, particularly watching The Vampire Diaries, their former friendship came back, and it was clear that the feelings they had for each other when they were young teenagers had never really gone away. I wish they had spoken about the 'incident' sooner, and about their real feelings for each other, but it was beyond cute! I think I have a copy of Nina's debut book somewhere, so I'm going to dig it out and get right on that as soon as!

Dates Read:
May 21-23, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

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Windfall
Series: None
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Published May 4th 2017 by Pan Macmillan

Goodreads Synopsis
Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined . . . and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect.
Goodreads

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

Alice has never believed in luck, but she has always believed in love. Buying a lottery ticket for her best friend (and secret crush) Teddy's 18th birthday was a whim, but somehow, Alice picked the winner. Now a millionaire, and the youngest lottery winner in history, Teddy's life has changed, and not always for the better. Alice sees a new side to the boy she's always known, and supporting each other through thick and thin can only go so far. Will they be able to come back to each other, or has the money changed them too much?

Well, I'm conflicted on this book. I've enjoyed Jennifer's books in the past, and was really looking forward to reading Windfall when it was first announced. For some reason, I left it on my NG shelf and completely forgot about it until recently. I liked the book, but I will say it wasn't the most memorable, nor will it be a favourite of mine. Alice was a decent main character, who had lost her parents young, and now thought luck was just a myth. She'd lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, for nearly 10 years now, but still thought of California as her home. Nothing felt permanent, and she tried the best she could to be happy where she was. But it was hard, and her fear of change was part of the reason why she never spoke to Teddy about her feelings. They both had family drama, and relied on each other through it all, so the idea of changing the dynamic was a big thing. I will say I hated the way Teddy acted at times in the book, though I understand why he was portrayed that way. The main thing I liked about the book, though, was the fact that Alice really grew throughout the book, and was in a much better place by the ending.

Dates Read:
March 2-6 2023

Rating
3 Stars

2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: A Seven-Letter Word by Kim Slater

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A Seven-Letter Word
Series: None
Author: Kim Slater
Published March 24th 2016 by Macmillan Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
My name is Finlay McIntosh. I can see OK, can hear perfectly fine and I can write really, really well. But the thing is, I can't speak. I'm a st-st-st-stutterer. Hilarious, isn't it? It's like the word is there in my mouth, fully formed and then, just as it's ready to leave my lips . . . POP! It jumps and ricochets and bounces around my gob. Except it isn't funny at all, because there's not a thing I can do about it.'

Finlay's mother vanished two years ago. And ever since then his stutter has become almost unbearable. Bullied at school and ignored by his father, the only way to get out the words which are bouncing around in his head is by writing long letters to his ma which he knows she will never read, and by playing Scrabble online. But when Finlay is befriended by an online Scrabble player called Alex, everything changes. Could it be his mother secretly trying to contact him? Or is there something more sinister going on?

A Seven-Letter Word is an evocative and heartfelt story from the multi-award-winning author of Smart, Kim Slater.
Goodreads

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

When his mother disappeared two years ago, Finlay McIntosh was lost. He had always struggled with his stutter, and playing scramble with mam was a way of improving it. Now though, his stutter is worse than ever, and his days are filled with bullies at school, and then being ignored by his dad. Finding a new friend on an online Scrabble forum, Finlay feels happy for once. But soon it seems his new friend, Alex, knows a lot about him mam, and what started out as friendship might have taken a turn for the sinister.

This book was so strange. I honestly didn't know what to expect from it, but definitely not where it eventually went. I felt sorry for Finlay, and felt like his school really needed to step up for him. Luckily, he had the school librarian to help him, and a few people who grew to be friends with him. The plot line with Alex was one that started as a nice one, where he had someone who he could talk too, but he obviously had no idea of stranger danger, because he gave them too much information, too quickly, and it was bound to turn bad. From then, though, it took a turn for the ridiculous, and I ended up skimming the final few chapters. I think younger readers would enjoy it, but it wasn't a hit for me.

Dates Read:
February 27 2023

Rating
3 Stars

2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Out of the Blue by Sophie Cameron

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Out of the Blue
Series: None
Author: Sophie Cameron
Published March 22nd 2018 by Macmillan Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
When angels start falling from the sky, it seems like the world is ending. Smashing down to earth at extraordinary speeds, wings bent, faces contorted, not a single one has survived.

As the world goes wild for angels, Jaya’s father uproots the family to Edinburgh intent on catching one alive. But Jaya can’t stand this obsession and, still reeling from her mother’s recent death and the sudden disappearance of her ex-girlfriend, she’s determined to stay out of it.

Then something incredible happens: an angel lands right at Jaya’s feet - and it’s alive ...
Goodreads

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

When angels start falling unexpectedly from the skies across the world, life as Jaya knew it is over. Her father uproots the family to Edinburgh for the summer, adamant that he will be the one to capture a Being alive, and discover just why it is happening. Jaya, on the other hand, is sick of the Angel mania, and hates that her father has just shut down. She's grieving for her mother, and the disappearance of her ex, and all she wants is a bit of normality. So when an Angel falls in front of her, and the Being is alive, Jaya can't believe it.

Well, I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, and I'm still not too sure on what I think of it. It's such a weird premise, that Angels are falling and dying, and no one knows why. Even as the book progresses, not much is really said on the whys or hows. I liked Jaya, and felt like she and Allie really made the book. The story isn't a romance, but their growing feelings were sweet, and I loved the rep which was present. Even though I finished the book at the weekend, I'm conflicted on my feelings over it, but it's probably 3 of 5 stars - not a great book, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Dates Read:
November 26-27, 2022

Rating
3 Stars

2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas

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2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

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Ophelia After All
Series: None
Author: Racquel Marie
Published September 29th 2022 by Pan Macmillan

Goodreads Synopsis
A teen girl navigates friendship drama, the end of high school, and discovering her queerness in Ophelia After All, the hilarious and heartfelt contemporary YA debut by Racquel Marie.

Ophelia Rojas knows what she likes: her best friends, Cuban food, rose-gardening, and boys – way too many boys. Her friends and parents make fun of her endless stream of crushes, but Ophelia is a romantic at heart. She couldn’t change, even if she wanted to.

So when she finds herself thinking more about cute, quiet Talia Sanchez than the loss of a perfect prom with her ex-boyfriend, seeds of doubt take root in Ophelia’s firm image of herself. Add to that the impending end of high school and the fracturing of her once-solid friend group, and things are spiraling a little out of control. But the course of love - and sexuality - never did run smooth. As her secrets begin to unravel, Ophelia must make a choice between clinging to the fantasy version of herself she’s always imagined or upending everyone’s expectations to rediscover who she really is, after all.
Goodreads

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

As the daughter of a professor of Shakespearean literature, Ophelia Rojas was always bound to be named after one of the Bard's heroines, and Ophelia suits her quite well. Boy crazy, and with a green thumb, Ophelia loves spending time with her friends or in her rose garden. So when she starts developing feelings for the cute and quiet Talia Sanchez, all her plans for prom and the future go out the window. And as her friendship group starts to implode and unravel, Ophelia will discover that the path to true love never did run smooth, and her last few months at high school will be a ride.

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I needed to read it. And from the very first page, I was hooked. Ophelia was one of the most relatable characters I've ever read. She's not perfect, and life got messy at times for her, but she was just right for this book, and the plot. She discovers that being a teenager isn't easy, especially when big decisions are on the horizon, and that sexuality is not something that is black and white. Her heritage, and her goals were sometimes in conflict with each other, and her history as 'boy crazy' is a hard one to shake off. I loved the dynamics in the friendship group, as it was clear that Ophelia had different relationships with the different people, and they weren't always the 'best' of friends. Being a teenager is hard, and the author showed that so perfectly in this book. I'm going to recommend that my students read this book, because honestly, I wish I'd had it when I was a teen. A truly great debut!

Dates Read:
January 5-8, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2017 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Romeo & What's Her Name by Shani Petroff

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Romeo & What's Her Name
Series: None
Author: Shani Petroff
Published February 7th 2017 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
Understudies never get to perform

. . . which is why being Juliet's understudy in the school's yearly "Evening with Shakespeare" is the perfect role for Emily. She can earn some much-needed extra credit while pursuing her main goal of spending time with Wes, aka Romeo, aka the hottest, nicest guy in school (in her completely unbiased opinion). And she meant to learn her lines, really, it's just:
a) Shakespeare is HARD,
b) Amanda, aka the "real" Juliet, makes her run errands instead of lines, and
c) there's no point because Amanda would never miss the chance to be the star of the show.

Then, Amanda ends up in the hospital and Emily, as the (completely unprepared!) understudy, has to star opposite the guy of her dreams. Oops?
Goodreads

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

This was my first of Petroff's books, and I really enjoyed her writing style. Emily decides that the way to get close to her crush, Wes, is the become the understudy Juliet in the school's performance of Romeo and Juliet. Wes, of course, is playing Romeo, and being an understudy, she'll have to be at the practises - and will get some well deserved credit for doing so - but will never have to actually perform. All she needs to to learn the lines, work with the actual Juliet, Amanda, and try not to stare at Wes too much. The problems? The lines aren't that easy to learn; Amanda is a proper diva; and then she ends up in hospital, and Emily is needed to be Juliet - and she's no way prepared. Can she do it, or will she just mess up in front of everyone, and more importantly, in front of Wes?

This book was such an enjoyable and quick read. I loved Emily's character, though she sometimes was a little over the top, but that was just her character. She was silly, and immature at times, but used that as a bit of a mask in order to not get as hurt, especially if Wes doesn't reciprocate her feelings. She is down to earth too, and uses this, and her humour, to get closer to Wes, but it doesn't always work out. All in all, a quick and enjoyable book.

Dates Read:
July 17-19, 2017

Rating
3 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

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I Kissed Shara Wheeler
Series: None
Author: Casey McQuiston
Published May 12th 2022 by Pan Macmillan

Goodreads Synopsis
From the bestselling New York Times bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need . . .

Chloe Green has spent the past four years dodging gossipy, classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that's kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal's perfect daughter.

But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she's not the only one Shara kissed. There's also Smith, Shara's longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara's bad boy neighbour with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara's trail of clues and find her. It'll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair-and-square.

Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe - probably not, but maybe - more to Shara, too.

Fierce, funny and frank, Casey McQuiston's I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy and finding love in unexpected places.
Goodreads

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

Chloe Green may just be the only person at Willowgrove Christian Academy, both student and staff, who doesn't worship the ground that Shara Wheeler walks on. Vying for the valedictorian post, Shara is the only one who has ever caught up with her, and when she kisses her before prom, and then disappears, just weeks before graduation, Chloe needs to know more. Soon Chloe discovers that she is not the only person Shara has recently kissed, and Shara has left a series of post it notes and puzzles for them all to solve. Is there something special between the two, or is Shara messing with Chloe in order to win valedictorian?

I really enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue when I read it a few years ago, so when I learnt that Casey had a YA book coming out soon, I leapt at the chance to read it. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is less of a rom-com, and more a mystery in my opinion. I expected something similar to RWRB, but instead found the mystery, and camaraderie between Chloe, Rory, and Smith, a ragtag bunch who no one would ever expect to become friends without a catalyst starting it all. The representation in this book is amazing, and I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager. I loved Chloe, and her family, and the entire cast of characters. The only person I didn't like was the Principal, who you're not supposed to like anyway. A fantastic YA debut from an already beloved author, and a book I can't wait to tell my students about!

Dates Read:
September 3-8, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

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

2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty

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Blood and Moonlight
Series: None
Author: Erin Beaty
Published June 28th 2022 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Goodreads Synopsis
In this medieval YA fantasy thriller, an orphan with a secret, magical sight gets caught between a mysterious genius and the serial killer he’s hunting.

Rising above the city of Collis is the holy Sanctum. And watching over its spires is Catrin, an orphan girl with unique skills—for she alone can spot the building’s flaws in construction before they turn deadly.

But when Catrin witnesses a murderer escaping the scene of his crime, she’s pulled into the web of a dangerous man who will definitely strike again. Assigned to capture the culprit is the mysterious, brilliant, and enigmatic Simon, whose insights into the mind of a killer are frighteningly accurate.

As the grisly crimes continue, Catrin finds herself caught between murderer and detective while hiding her own secret—a supernatural sight granted by the moon, destined to make her an outcast, and the only thing that might save her and those she loves from becoming the next victims...
Goodreads

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

For Catrin, she has found herself a position working with the master architect, finding flaws in the construction of the Sanctum that no one else can she. Once an orphan with no family other than the sisters in the convent, she has people who she would do anything for, and when the master architect is drawn under suspicion for a series of murders which she alone can hear and see, Catrin involves herself in the investigation, with the handsome Simon at the helm. But as they work together, they start to question everything they've always known, and soon find themselves in a danger no one could ever have imagined.

When I heard that Erin had a new book coming out, I immediately added it to my TBR. I adore her Traitor's Circle series, and have been desperate for more, so Blood & Moonlight was a definitely must read for me! I was drawn to Catrin as soon as I started this book. She's strong, but also quite vulnerable, and she's always wanted a family - or at least to know more about her parents and why she was abandoned at the Abbey. When she falls from the Sanctum, and hears the first murder, it awakens something inside of her which she embraces, but also fears, as she's worried it will drive others away. I loved the way she explored her new found powers, and how she embraces the differences of others around her with relative ease. Meeting Simon, and Juliane was really great for her, and I loved their banter, as well as the romantic aspect.

The true identity of the murderer kept me guessing until the end. I had suspicions of about 5 different characters at one point - including the actual murderer - but the way in which the plot line progressed was definitely one to keep you hooked until the very end. The world building seemed familiar to me, and when I realised it was loosely based on medieval Europe, with real life places and saints interwoven with the fictional, I was in awe of Erin's research. I've been waiting over 3 years for this book, and Erin has not disappointed. If you loved her debut series, this is definitely one for you, and I for one, can't wait for her next story!

Dates Read:
June 25-27, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Erin Beaty:
Erin Beaty was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, which means she can’t drive a tractor but won’t eat veggies that come from a can.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) and German, then served in the fleet as a weapons officer on a combat destroyer and later as an instructor the Center for Naval Leadership.
After a few years as a stay-at-home mother and navy wife with a casual family blog, Erin upped her game and started writing her first novel in the spring of 2014. She is now the author of the Traitor’s Circle Trilogy published by Imprint, Macmillan and in several foreign languages.
She and her husband have five children, two cats, and a vegetable garden and live wherever the navy tells them to go.
Erin has taught classes at The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk and has also served on the advisory board of Hampton Roads Writers.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith

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Field Notes on Love
Series: None
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Published May 30th 2019 by Macmillan Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
The bestselling author of Windfall and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight returns with a meet-cute romance about Hugo and Mae, two teens who are thrown together on a cross-country train trip that will teach them about love, each other, and the futures they can build for themselves.

It's the perfect idea for a romantic week together: traveling across America by train.

But then Hugo's girlfriend dumps him. Her parting gift: the tickets for their long-planned last-hurrah-before-uni trip. Only, it's been booked under her name. Nontransferable, no exceptions.

Mae is still reeling from being rejected from USC's film school. When she stumbles across Hugo's ad for a replacement Margaret Campbell (her full name!), she's certain it's exactly the adventure she needs to shake off her disappointment and jump-start her next film.

A cross-country train trip with a complete stranger might not seem like the best idea. But to Mae and Hugo, both eager to escape their regular lives, it makes perfect sense. What starts as a convenient arrangement soon turns into something more. But when life outside the train catches up to them, can they find a way to keep their feelings for each other from getting derailed?
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Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Hugo Wilkinson's whole life has been in the spotlight. The youngest sextuplet, he and his siblings have always been treated like a unit, and it's starting to grate on him. He's due to start university in the autumn, and though he's excited, he hates that the choice of university, and the independence, has been taken away from him; he has to go to the University of Surrey, with his 5 siblings, to get the scholarship that was left for them all. But, he has his trip across America with girlfriend Margaret to look forward to, and that's what's been keeping him going. However, when she breaks up with him, and leaves him the tickets, he needs to find another Margaret Campbell to go with, as the tickets are non-transferable. That's how he finds Mae. Mae thought she had it all planned, but when her audition film for film school at USC doesn't pass muster, she's floundering. Should she go on the trip, and keep it from her dad's, or will she always regret not taking the opportunity, and exploring the country, and herself?

This is a book where I didn't really know what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. I have liked other books by this author, and the premise of this one seemed fun, and it really was - though there were some hard hitting moments too. Hugo wants some freedom, and independence. He doesn't want to be known as the youngest Wilkinson sextuplet any more, and though he loves his family, he wants the space. Going from living with them all for 18 years, to having to go to the same university for the next 3 years, is a hard pill to swallow. Having his week in America, albeit with a stranger, sounds like heaven, and I loved seeing how Hugo embraced travel, and exploration. His development and growth was fantastic, and I really liked where he was in the end of the story. Mae's character I really like too, but I don't think she grew as much as Hugo. She's sort of always known what she wanted, and was supported by her nan and dad's, but never really put much of an effort in - just thought that she would be a shoo in for her admittance to college. Hiding the truth about her trip from her dad's, she was slow to take to the experience, but used the trip, and her meeting new people - including Hugo - to grow as a film maker, and discover herself, and her own feelings on love. The romance between Hugo and Mae was cute, but a bit fast I thought. I did like it, though, and felt like the ending was the perfect way for the story to end - though maybe a bit of an epilogue or something would've made the book all the better. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Dates Read:
April 6-7, 2021

Rating
4 Stars