Sophie Reads YA

ARC Review: Romancing the Nerd (Nerd #2) by Leah Rae Miller

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Romancing the Nerd
Series: Nerd #2
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Published April 5th 2016 by Entangled: Teen

Goodreads Synopsis
Dan Garrett has become exactly what he hates—popular. Until recently, he was just another live-action role-playing (LARP) geek on the lowest run of the social ladder. Cue a massive growth spurt and an uncanny skill at taking three-point shots in basketball and voila…Mr. Popular. It’s definitely weird.
And the biggest drawback? Going from high school zero to basketball hero cost Dan the secret girl-of-his-dorky dreams.

A tuba-playing nerd with an eclectic fashion sense, Zelda Potts’s “Coolness” stat is about minus forty-two. Dan turning his back on her and the rest of nerd-dom was brutal enough, but when he humiliates her at school, Zelda decides it’s time for a little revenge—dork style. Nevermind that she used to have a crush on him. Nevermind that her plan could backfire big time.
It’s time to roll the dice…and hope like freakin’ hell she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.
Goodreads

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

I read the first book in this series a while ago, and though I can't remember much about it, I know I did enjoy it. When I learnt there would be a companion book to it, I thought I'd request it, and see how it was.

In Romancing the Nerd, the two main characters, Zelda and Dan, used to be really close - basically besties. After Dan joined the basketball team at school, slimmed down, and became popular, he ignored Zelda, and their shared interest in live-action role-playing (LARP) games. Zelda has never forgiven him, and she cooks up this scheme to catfish and humiliate him as payback. Dan, on the other hand, doesn't have a clue why Zelda gives him death glares at every turn, and just wants to be friends again, and maybe a bit more.

As you can imagine, any book that has a catfish situation in it, is bound to blow up in the face of the person catfishing. I recently read another book that had a similar situation, but the other catfisher wanted a relationship, not revenge. At least in this book, Zelda had a feeling that it would all blow up, but she'd planned for that, and, really, that's what she was looking for, at first. Once she realised that the Dan that most people see at school is not the real Dan, she started to fall for him, and remember why they were friends in the first place.

Dan, on the other hand, is conflicted. He's always had feelings for Zelda, but now realises that it will never happen - she just hates him too much. Once the new girl contacts him online, who seems like his perfect women, he tells her more about himself, than he has told anyone in years. He really feels close to her, in a way he wished he was to Zelda.

I enjoyed seeing the two of them grow close to one another again, and even when Dan realised Zelda was the girl online, the way they interacted was extremely cute. Honestly, the whole book was just a cute, fun story, and even though it may have had quite a few common tropes in it, I still really enjoyed Romancing the Nerd. If you're in the mood for a light-hearted, cutesy contemporary, I would recommend this.

Dates Read:

April 10-11, 2016

Rating
4 Stars

May

Stacking the Shelves: May 7th 2016

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#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Map of Fates (The Conspiracy of Us #2) by Maggie Hall

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Map of Fates
Series: The Conspiracy of Us #2
Author: Maggie Hall
Published March 8th 2016 by Putnam Juvenile

Goodreads Synopsis
Two weeks.   

That’s how long it took for Avery West’s ordinary life to change forever: In two weeks, she discovered she was heiress to a powerful secret society known as the Circle, learned her mother was taken hostage by the Circle’s enemies, and fell for a boy she’s not allowed to love, just as she found out another was her unwelcome destiny.   

Now, Avery crosses oceans in private jets to hunt for clues that will uncover the truth about the Circle, setting her mom and herself free before it’s too late. By her side are both the boys: Jack—steady, loyal, and determined to help her even at the expense of his own duty—and Stellan, whose connection to Avery grows stronger by the day despite her best intentions, making her question what she believes at every turn. 

 But at the end of a desperate hunt from the islands of Greece to the red carpet at Cannes comes a discovery that not only changes everything, but could bring the whole world to its knees. And now Avery is forced to face the truth: in the world of the Circle, no one is what they seem.
Goodreads

Review
See my review of book 1, The Conspiracy of Us.

As you can see in my review of book 1, I adored the story that Maggie wove. It ended on such a strong point, that I was dying to get my hands on the sequel, and finally bought it when I was in America in March. The events of Map of Fates take place not long after The Conspiracy of Us ended. Avery, Jack, and Stellan are searching for more clues to the lost tomb of Alexander, and know that the Order are bearing down on them at every turn. They've been given a two week reprieve from the Order, but if they haven't got the location in that time, Avery's mam will be killed. Avery feels her only option is to turn to her newly discovered family, the Saxons, and hope that with their help, it'll allow them the chance to visit more places and hurry the whole search along.

I'd expected there to be many twists and turns in the book, but I couldn't believe just how intricate the plot was. Maggie has created a wonderful underground world, in which the Circle rule the world, unbeknownst to the masses. Everything and anything happens with the say so of the Circle members, and the Order have stepped up their game. With the prophecy stating that when the girl with the purple eyes (Avery), unites with the One true heir, all the heirs of the Circle families are at risk. Many of them are assassinated, just to try to stop the prophecy coming true. Only Avery, Jack, and Stellan know Stellan is the one, and they need to keep that a secret as long as possible, else it'll interrupt the search for Alexander's tomb.

One thing I wasn't too keen on in this book is the love triangle. It had been brewing from the very first meeting, but I'd always preferred Jack, as, it seems, did Avery. Now, we find Jack to be annoying, and very pushy with Avery - he tries to stop her from doing anything. And yes, it's because he cares about her, and wants her to be safe, but wrapping her up in cotton wool is not the way to go. At least Stellan understood that any situation Avery was in would be dangerous, and she needed to at least learn how to defend herself, and stand up for herself, or she'd be a liability to them all. By the end of the book, I was a lot more keen on Stellan, especially when more and more revelations came out.

On the subject of revelations, so many things were revealed towards the end of the book, I could hardly get my head around it all. At every turn, there was a new twist, and each was more significant than the last. I was on the edge of my seat until the final page, and even when I was finished, I was dying for more. Like with book 1, the ending is going to have so many consequences for all of the characters, and the final book is going to be a killer, I just know it.

I originally picked up this series because I'd heard so many glowing reviews, and if anything has a mention of Alexander the Great in it, I'm bound to want it. I'm in the middle of a module on Alexander, and should be writing my assignment right now, but instead I'm doing this (priorities ;p). Even though the whole situation with the Circle, and the true heir isn't factually correct, the way Maggie has constructed the whole plot makes you forget about it all. Honestly, I'd recommend this series to anyone, even if they have no interest in ancient history, because, by being set in the modern world, it only needs a hint of history to make it interesting. I think this may be one of my favourite series, and I'm dying to read book 3 when it comes out.

Dates Read:

April 14-18, 2016

Rating
5 Stars

Morgan Matson

Waiting on Wednesday: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

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ARC

ARC Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

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The Unexpected Everything
Series: None
Author: Morgan Matson
Published May 5th 2016 by Simon & Schuster Children's

Goodreads Synopsis
From Morgan Matson, the bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone comes a feel-good story of friendship, finding yourself, and all the joys in life that happen while you’re busy making other plans.

Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.

Future? A top-tier medical school.
Dad? Avoid him as much as possible (which isn’t that hard considering he’s a Congressman and he’s never around).
Friends? Palmer, Bri, and Toby—pretty much the most awesome people on the planet, who needs anyone else?
Relationships? No one’s worth more than three weeks.

So it’s no surprise that Andie’s got her summer all planned out too.

Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?
Goodreads

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

After a scandal rips apart the political career of Andie's dad, she is faced with a summer of unknowns.

She had been organised to complete a summer pre-med internship at the prestigious Johns Hopkins, setting her up for her future degree and career, until the scandal involving her dad and some missing funds came to light. Soon, her place has been rescinded, and everything else has been taken. Her summer plan of avoiding her father, and learning something in the process, is no more, and she soon takes up a summer job of walking dogs, even though Andie has never been around a dog before. She takes to it as easy as pie, and when she meets Clark, her summer appears to be back on track.

Even her relationship with her estranged father gets better. After the death of her mother a whole ago, they hadn’t got on, especially with him spending the majority of the year in Washington as a Congressman. Now that they’re forced to spend time together, they realise just how much they have in common, and the value of family.

I loved Andie - Alexandra may be her full name, but no one calls her that. She is faced with a situation that would make most people break apart, but she takes it all on the nose, and turns it in her advantage. She was a strong, and extremely smart, character, who values her friendships above everything else, and when stuff happens that threatens those very relationships, she does as much as possible to lessen the fall out.

The relationship between Andie and Clark was the cutest. It started off a little rocky, but once they got over their nerves and really got to know each other, I practically swooned. And, to make it even better, Andie didn’t ignore her friends in favour of her new boyfriend; instead, she introduced them all, and they got along really well. Even so, when she had to choose between her boyfriend or her besties, the besties won, every time – something that you don’t seem to find often in YA books.

I've only ever read one book by Matson before, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, and wasn't really a fan, but The Unexpected Everything, has changed that view completely. I adored the way she constructed all the various characters, and developed the plot, and will definitely be trying more of her work, starting with Since You've Been Gone, which I have a copy of at home.

If you're a fan of cute contemporary fiction, perfect for summertime, this is a book for you! I definitely recommend it. (Side note, I've recently fallen in love with pugs, and the fact that the cover has a pug on it, made it even more of a must have for me ;)).

Dates Read:

March 29-31, 2016

Rating
5 Stars

Blitz

Release Day Blitz: The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass (+US giveaway)

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books on my radar

May books on my radar

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Traitor Angels
Series: None
Author: Anne Blankman
May 3rd 2016 by Balzer+Bray

Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.
Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.
Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?
When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.

Goodreads

Ruined
Series: Untitled #1
Author: Amy Tintera
May 3rd 2016 by HarperTeen
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
Goodreads

The Crown
Series: The Selection #5
Author: Kiera Cass
May 3rd 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers

Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series has captured the hearts of readers from its very first page. Now the end of the journey is here. Prepare to be swept off your feet by The Crown—the eagerly awaited, wonderfully romantic fifth and final book in the Selection series.
In The Heir, a new era dawned in the world of The Selection. Twenty years have passed since America Singer and Prince Maxon fell in love, and their daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own.
Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.

Goodreads

Shuffle, Repeat
Series: None
Author: Jen Klein
May 3rd 2016 by Random House Books for Young Readers

When Harry Met Sally for YA romance readers. This opposites-attract love story is perfect for fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick, Stephanie Perkins, and Jenny Han.
June wants high school to end and real life to begin. Oliver is soaking up senior year’s glory days. They could have coasted through high school, knowing about—but not really knowing—each other.
Except that their moms have arranged for Oliver to drive June to school. Every. Single. Day.
Suddenly these two opposites are fighting about music, life . . . pretty much everything. But love is unpredictable. When promises—and hearts—get broken, Oliver and June must figure out what really matters. And then fight for it.
Goodreads

The Hidden Oracle
Series: The Trials of Apollo #1
Author: Rick Riordan
May 3rd 2016 by Puffin

How do you punish an immortal?
By making him human.
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour.
But Apollo has many enemies - gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

Goodreads

A Court of Mist and Fury
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Author: Sarah J. Maas
May 5th 2016 by Bloomsbury Childrens Books

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

Goodreads

Queen of Hearts
Series: Queen of Hearts Saga #1
Author: Colleen Oakes
May 5th 2016 by HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.
When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.
Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.
Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Goodreads

The Unexpected Everything
Series: None
Author: Morgan Matson
May 5th 2016 by Simon & Schuster

Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.
Future? A top-tier medical school.
Dad? Avoid him as much as possible (which isn't that hard considering he’s a Congressman and he’s never around).
Friends? Palmer, Bri, and Toby—pretty much the most awesome people on the planet, who needs anyone else?
Relationships? No one’s worth more than three weeks.
So it’s no surprise that Andie's got her summer all planned out too.
Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren't Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?

Goodreads

The Square Root of Summer
Series: None
Author: Harriet Reuter Hapgood
May 5th 2016 by Macmillan Children's Books

My heart is a kaleidoscope, and when we kiss it makes my world unravel...
Last summer, Gottie’s life fell apart. Her beloved grandfather Grey died and Jason left her – the boy to whom she lost her virginity (and her heart) – and he wouldn’t even hold her hand at the funeral! This summer, still reeling from twin heartbreaks, Gottie is lost and alone and burying herself in equations. Until, after five years absence, Thomas comes home: former boy next door. Former best friend. Former everything. And as life turns upside down again she starts to experience strange blips in time – back to last summer, back to what she should have seen then...
During one long, hazy summer, Gottie navigates grief, world-stopping kisses and rips in the space-time continuum, as she tries to reconcile her first heartbreak with her last.

Goodreads

Summer of Supernovas
Series: None
Author: Darcy Woods
May 10th 2016 by Crown BFYR

As the daughter of an expert astrologer, Wilamena Carlisle knows that the truth lies within the stars. So when she discovers a rare planetary alignment, she is forced to tackle her worst astrological fear – The Fifth House of Relationships and Love. But Wil must decide whether a cosmically doomed love is worth rejecting her mother’s legacy, when she falls for a sensitive guitar player hailing from the wrong side of the chart.
Debut author Darcy Woods explores love in all its complexities and how to best honor the loved ones who have passed before us, in a novel packed with both humor and heart.

Goodreads

Love Blind
Series: None
Author: Christa Desir & Jolene Perry
May 10th 2016 by Simon Pulse

It starts with a list of fears. Stupid things really. Things that Hailey shouldn't worry about, wouldn’t worry about if she didn’t wake up every morning with the world a little more blurry. Unable to see her two moms clearly. Unable to read the music for her guitar. One step closer to losing the things she cares about the most.
For a while, the only thing that keeps Hailey moving forward is the feeling she gets when she crosses something off the list.
Then she meets Kyle. He mumbles—when he talks at all—and listens to music to drown out his thoughts. He’s loaded down with fears, too. So Hailey talks him into making his own list.
Together, they stumble into an odd friendship, helping each other tackle one after another of their biggest fears. But fate and timing can change everything. And sometimes facing your worst fear makes you realize you had nothing to lose after all.

Goodreads

The Crown's Game
Series: The Crown's Game #1
Author: Evelyn Skye
May 17th 2016 by Balzer + Bray

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

Goodreads

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You
Series: None
Author: Lily Anderson
May 17th 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin

Trixie Watson has two very important goals for senior year: to finally save enough to buy the set of Doctor Who figurines at the local comic books store, and to place third in her class and knock Ben West--and his horrendous new mustache that he spent all summer growing--down to number four.
Trixie will do anything to get her name ranked over Ben's, including give up sleep and comic books--well, maybe not comic books--but definitely sleep. After all, the war of Watson v. West is as vicious as the Doctor v. Daleks and Browncoats v. Alliance combined, and it goes all the way back to the infamous monkey bars incident in the first grade. Over a decade later, it's time to declare a champion once and for all.
The war is Trixie's for the winning, until her best friend starts dating Ben's best friend and the two are unceremoniously dumped together and told to play nice. Finding common ground is odious and tooth-pullingly-painful, but Trixie and Ben's cautious truce slowly transforms into a fandom-based tentative friendship. When Trixie's best friend gets expelled for cheating and Trixie cries foul play, however, they have to choose who to believe and which side they're on--and they might not pick the same side.

Goodreads

What has caught your eye for May? Have you read any of these? Let me know :)