Sophie Reads YA: Spencer Hill

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending #2) by Rachel Harris

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The Natural History of Us
Series: The Fine Art of Pretending #2
Author: Rachel Harris
Published April 5th 2016 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

Goodreads Synopsis
One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.
Goodreads

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

The Natural History of Us follows Peyton and Justin, through their final weeks of senior year, while also delving into their history during freshman year. Peyton used to be home schooled, but following her recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), she is adamant to attend the school her dad coaches at. She meets Justin Carter, one of the rising stars on the baseball team, and they form a secret relationship. But, once the stake got too much, it seems that Justin cheated on Peyton, and has broken her heart. Now with only a few months left of school, they have to 'marry' in one of their subjects, and even 'raise' a baby for a weekend. Peyton can't believe her luck that Justin is the one who she's been paired with, and no matter how much she claims she is over him - she even has a new boyfriend - she's always been in love with him.

I vaguely remember reading the companion book, The Fine Art of Pretending, way back in 2015, and that was probably why I requested this one on NetGalley. I first tried reading this in 2016, after being approved, but I wasn't really engaged with any of the characters, or really enjoying it. Fast forward to 2021, and I'm trying to clear any old NetGalley books, and this was next on my list. I liked it, but wouldn't say I loved it. I'm more just pleased it's finished, and I don't have it waiting for me anymore. My main issue with the book was just how dramatic and full of angst it was. We see the modern day and and the past in the same chapters, but it was clearly signed as to when it was. I sort of guessed what the 'disaster' was before we got to it, and why Justin was so adamant that Peyton needed to listen about what the truth was. I will admit, I felt so sorry for Justin and his home life, where he was regularly ignored and left alone with only the housekeeper to care for him. I liked Justin, Peyton was okay, and disliked Cade. The book had a decent plot, but like I said, it was too angst ridden for my liking. All in all, decent, but not a book I'd re-read.

Dates Read:
February 22-23, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Dramatically Ever After (Ever After #2) by Isabel Bandeira

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Dramatically Ever After
Series: Ever After #2
Author: Isabel Bandeira
Published June 20th 2017 by Spencer Hill Press

Goodreads Synopsis
Senior year is not shaping up to be the picture perfect movie Em Katsaros had imagined. Her super hot leading man is five thousand miles away. Her dad just got laid off. And Em can kiss her first-pick university goodbye if she doesn't snag a scholarship.

To turn this Shakespearean tragedy into the Academy Award-winning dream Em has written for herself, she enters a speech competition and manages to cinch a spot in the US Youth Change Council national round. She gets to spend a week in Boston and her prayers might be answered if she can kick butt and win one of the national scholarships.

Everything seems to be going by the script until she finds out Kris Lambert--senior class president, stuck-up jerk, and her nemesis--is going, too. Cue the dramatic music. In Boston, Kris is different. Nice. Cute, even. But she knows his game way too well--be nice to your opponents and then throw them under the bus on your way to victory. Instead of becoming his next victim, Em decides to turn the tables by putting her acting and flirting skills to work. Unfortunately, as they get close to the final competition and judging, reality and acting start to blur.

Can Em use the drama from the stage to get the future she's been dreaming of?
Goodreads

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

For Em Katsaros, she wants to go to college and study drama, but following her father losing his job, and the fact her mam has tenure at a local university, she's struggling to convince them to let her go to the college of her dreams. However, when she wins State for a speech writing competition, and is sent to the US Youth Change Council national round, she just might be in with a chance of gaining a scholarship, and proving she can get what she wants. But, the other candidate for New Jersey just happens to be her nemesis, Kris Lambert, and her week in Boston soon turns into a battle. But, for all the arrogance and annoyance Kris has at home, he's different in Boston - he's kind, and caring, and just might be flirting? Can Em get over the breakup from her long distance boyfriend, and focus on the competition, or will her warring feelings over Kris ruin it all?

When I read the first book in the series, Bookishly Ever After, way back in 2016, I absolutely loved it! I was approved for both the sequels, but because of events in real life, I never got around to reading them - until Covid hit, and I had a lot more free time on my hands. Book 2 follows Em and Kris, secondary characters in BEA, as they spend most of the book in Boston, at the competition. They were characters who you immediately liked, though there's only one pov (Em's). I will admit, I have next to no interest in speech writing, or competitions like this, but being a history graduate, I loved all the inclusion of historical aspects to the story. Both of the main characters had a really good chemistry with each other, and I enjoyed reading their story. They also had a lot of good friends, both at home and those they made in Boston, which helped to create the story as more than just two people getting over their differences and falling in love. One thing that really annoyed me, though, was Em's obsession or reaction over her 'relationship' with Wil. I can't really remember much about them from book 1, but when you're in New Jersey, and he's in Germany, and doesn't speak very good English, you're relationship's not going to go far. Especially as a teenager. I completely understood why he wasn't as into the relationship as she was, and even though she's the one who said that after the fight they were done for good, she still bombarded him with emails, messages, liking his photos, etc. Just accept it's over, and move on! However, once I got over that, I did enjoy the book, and will be starting Practically Ever After very soon.

Dates Read:
April 7-8, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

Blitz

HELLO? Sale Campaign Blitz (+US giveaway)

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For Valentine's Weekend, Hello? by Liza W. Wiemer will be only $0.99 for the ebook.

About the Book:

Title: Hello?

Author: Liza Wiemer
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | The Book Depository

Late one night, in a moment of deep grief, Tricia places a call to her deceased grandmother’s old phone number. She expects the disconnect notice, but is thrown when another teen— also up late and coping with his own frustrations—answers. It’s Emerson, and though they're perfect strangers, Tricia senses an unexplainable, deeper connection between them.

When his phone rings, Emerson expects it to be his sometimes-overbearing girlfriend Angie, but instead ends up transfixed by Tricia’s tenderness and heartache. The two make a pact, thus setting the events of HELLO? in motion.

HELLO? is the story of five small town Wisconsin teens: Tricia, who has lost her family and is trying to find her way; her over-protective boyfriend Brian, a potter; the perfectionist Emerson; his girlfriend, the insecure and unpredictable Angie; and her tough best friend Brenda, an aspiring actress and screenwriter.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian), HELLO? offers a textured account of five lives and weaves together the stories of these teens into a compelling narrative of serendipity and a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

About Liza:

I am the author of two non-fiction adult books, short stories, and newspaper and magazine articles. A pre-school to high school educator now writing YA fiction full time, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! And I'm a diehard Green Bay Packers fan.

For my author posts on writing and my upcoming YA novel HELLO?: http://www.LizaWiemer.com
Unique "job" experiences: I spent a summer selling popcorn in a Koepsell's popcorn wagon while listening to awesome music on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee. I also know my way around a fender and a quarter panel and under the hood of a car. I spent a few years driving to accident scenes, scrapyards, hospitals, auto repair shops as a claims adjuster for an insurance company.

Website | Twitter

Giveaway Details:

Win one of three $10 GCs!

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2016 Debut Author Challenge

ARC Review: Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1) by Isabel Bandeira

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Bookishly Ever After
Series: Ever After #1
Author: Isabel Bandeira
Published January 12th 2016 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

Goodreads Synopsis
In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins’ life would be a book. Preferably a YA novel with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn't even qualify for a quiet contemporary. But when Phoebe finds out that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her, she turns to her favorite books for advice. Phoebe overhauls her personality to become as awesome as her favorite heroines and win Dev's heart. But if her plan fails, can she go back to her happy world of fictional boys after falling for the real thing?
Goodreads

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

This book was sheer perfection! Honestly, I think I should apologise now, in advance, for how rambly this review is likely to be. Bookishly Ever After is about a nerdy, book lover, called Phoebe, who always has her head in a book. She doesn't really care much for gossip and other high school activities, but hand her the newest YA best-seller, and she is sorted. She's also a prolific knitter, and amazing archer. When her best friend tries to convince her that Dev, a guy in the school band with her, actually has a crush on her, Phoebe immediately doesn't believe it. She starts using her bookish knowledge to construct a plan of action. One that, understandably, doesn't go to plan.

Phoebe was amazing! She's someone I could see myself in. I'm not a knitter, but I do cross stitch, and have no problem admitting that I'm a bit of a loner, and prefer the company of a book over people, most days. I loved Phoebe's quirkiness, and how much she wasn't ashamed to admit she wasn't like most teenagers, but that was okay. She knew who she was, and she wasn't ashamed of it; she just wished that she knew a bit more about flirting, and then everything would be alright.

Her love interest, Dev, was just the type of guy she needed. He himself was a different, and was in the school band, and a theatre geek. His love of Bollywood dancing was a running joke between them, as was his over confidence in himself. Though he was never arrogant, like some other characters we, he was just a self-deprecating person, which endeared him more to me. The romance between Phoebe and Dev was the type of slow burning angst that all the best books are full of, and it just racked up the tension to a whole other level.

What made the book extra special was the little excerpts from Phoebe's favourite books. I fell in love with them too, and am somewhat gutted that they don't actually exist in real life. Hidden seemed the most intriguing, as I don't believe I've ever read anything like that. Golden had a very The Falconer vibe about it, but with Leprechauns instead of Faeries. If these books were available in real life, I would jump at the chance to read them!

Considering this was Bandeira's debut novel, I'm in awe at her writing! I can't wait to read more from her. I've seen this book is the first in a series, though I'm not sure whether it's an actual series, or more of a companion series. I'm hoping for the first. If you haven't been able to tell, this book was fantastic, and I can not recommend it enough, especially for book lovers. Bandeira is definitely an author to look out for!

Dates Read:
January 4-5, 2016

Rating
5 Stars