Sophie Reads YA

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Reputation by Lex Croucher

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Reputation
Series: None
Author: Lex Croucher
Published July 8th 2021 by Zaffre

Goodreads Synopsis
The hilarious debut novel from Lex Croucher. A classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and/or Jane Austen.

Abandoned by her parents, middle-class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who lives a life Georgiana couldn't have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana falls in with Frances and her unfathomably rich, deeply improper friends. Georgiana is introduced to a new world: drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely arresting hands, and the upper echelons of Regency society.

But the price of entry to high society might just be higher than Georgiana is willing to pay ...
Goodreads

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

Finding herself sent to her aunt and uncles, Miss Georgiana Ellers was expecting life to be dreary and dull in her new town. But, she meets the exciting Frances Campbell, daughter of the wealthy Lord Campbell, and all round leader of the in-crowd. And, what's more, it seems like Frances likes her, and wants to be her friend. Georgiana's eyes are opened to a whole new world, but her naivete may be the root of her downfall, and will her new friends be the reason she loses the man she has fallen for?

As soon as this book was brought to my attention, I knew I wanted it. I mean, when it's been compared to Bridgerton, Jane Austen, and Mean Girls - all things I love - it's bound to become a favourite of mine, right? Well, unfortunately, that was wrong. I mean, I liked Reputation, but it was a lot darker than I was expecting, and I never found myself too invested in any of the characters. The comparison to Mean Girls felt right, and I could almost imagine Lindsey Lohan, Rachel McAdams, etc. in the parts of the book's characters, and it played out like a movie in my head. There's even an iconic quote as a chapter opener part way through, so I definitely think that Croucher was going more for that audience, than one of Bridgerton etc. It's only really the period being used that was a link to Austen or Bridgerton in my opinion. I did like the way that some hard hitting topics were broached in the book, though some could've been delved into a lot more. Georgiana and Thomas' relationship was nice, and I really enjoyed the way the ending seemed to tie everything up, but I wanted more from this book, that unfortunately wasn't there.

Dates Read:
July 10, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty (Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters #1) by Marguerite Kaye

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The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty
Series: Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters #1
Author: Marguerite Kaye
Published September 16th 2021 by Mills & Boon Historical

Goodreads Synopsis
Unaware of her beauty…

Until he awakens her.

Prudence Carstairs knows her scars leave her with no romantic prospects—instead, she’s content revolutionising her employer’s home with her technological marvels. Then he unexpectedly perishes, and his mysterious younger brother, dashing Dominic Thorburn, reluctantly takes over. In the new earl, Prudence finally finds someone who meets her gaze without flinching. Might he see the beautiful, intelligent woman beyond her scars?
Goodreads

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

Scarred from a young age, Prudence Carstairs has known that she is unlikely to marry and instead puts her all into her work helping the Earl of Hastings with his estate. But when the young Earl dies, and the dashing Dominic Thorburn arrives, proclaiming to be the long lost younger brother, she finds herself struggling with her desire. But Dominic has never wanted anything to do with the Earldom, not since he was abandoned as a baby and ignored. All he wants is to sell up, denounce the title, and return to his small farm in Greece. However, meeting Prudence, and seeing the good he can do for others in England, especially fellow veterans of the recent wars, he starts to consider staying - but only if Prudence is by his side.

All I wanted to do while reading this book was reach in and hug Prudence. No one has ever looked past her scars - other than her siblings - and she is regularly stopped in the streets by children laughing or crying, and grown adults proclaiming she puts them off their food. Only Dominic sees through them, and looks at the person underneath - never treating her like a child, but as someone who should be just as loved and respected as anyone else. He bolsters her and supports her in her efforts, and honestly, was so refreshing to read. Okay, he's grumpy and doesn't want the title or anything to do with England, but just like he changes Prudence for the better, she makes him see the good in his inheritance, and how he can help people - like he's always wanted. I felt like they were perfect for each other, and though they had their ups and downs, it was everything they needed. I hope that we see Mercy get a happy ending in book 2, her husband is downright awful!

Dates Read:
October 8, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

April

Stacking the Shelves: April 9th 2022

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: The Matchbreaker Summer by Annie Rains

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The Matchbreaker Summer
Series: None
Author: Annie Rains
April 5th 2022 by Underlined

Goodreads Synopsis
A pitch-perfect summer camp rom-com about two teens with nothing in common who come together to help break up a romance and unexpectedly start one of their own

Sixteen-year-old Paisley Manning has been attending Camp Seabrook since she was a little girl, when her parents ran it together. For the last few years, since her father’s death, she’s been the one helping her mom run the camp behind the scenes. This year, however, will be Camp Seabrook’s last hurrah because Paisley’s mom has met a guy online and they’re getting married.

Enter Hayden Bennett, who is working alongside Paisley. Paisley and Hayden are like oil and water. She follows the rules, and he seems to live to break them all. But when Hayden catches wind of Paisley's predicament, he has an idea. If a matchmaker in some computer algorithm caused the issue, a couple of real-life matchbreakers can fix it.

As they work to break up the happy couple, Paisley discovers that maybe Hayden's not so bad after all. Has she met her own perfect match in her fellow matchbreaker?
Goodreads

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

For Paisley Manning, her summers have been spent at Camp Seabrook ever since she was a small child. Losing her father was hard for her, but the camp kept her going, even through her mother's new relationship with Dave. But learning that her mam plans on uprooting the family and moving them to Wyoming, selling the Camp in the meantime, Paisley needs a way to stop it. And when bad boy Hayden Bennett finds himself dumped at camp to make up for his graffiti, he and Paisley work together to show her mam that Dave isn't right for the family, and that she can't give up on Camp Seabrooke. Paisley went into the camp expecting it to be her last hurrah, but finding love was definitely not in the cards.

When I heard about this book, I knew it was one I needed to get my hands on, and I was more than right. The Matchbreaker Summer is the perfect read for someone who wants to escape to a summer camp, be completely engrossed in the story, and read about first love and family. Paisley has waited all this time for the summer she is 16, and can finally be a camp counsellor, rather than a camper. But's it's marred by the shock of her mam announcement, and the changes which have already began at her beloved Camp Seabrooke. Having to keep the truth from her friends, and deal with the unexpected arrival of Hayden, Paisley's almost at her wits ends, but after abruptly blurting out her problems to Hayden, they work together to try and make this camp the best they can. I liked how Paisley and Hayden were together, even though they tried to deny their true feelings for so long. Nora, Paisley's friend, sometimes got on my nerves, but nothing too major. All in all, a really nice YA debut from this author, though one probably in the lower age range.

Dates Read:
March 8-9, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Annie Rains:
USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains lives in a small, coastal North Carolina town, full of lovable folks, scenic downtown areas, and breathtaking nature—similar to the towns she writes about in her books. Annie’s love of reading and writing grabbed hold of her at a young age and never let go. Her first book was published in 2015, and she’s been writing heartfelt, page-turning stories ever since. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s reading from her never-ending TBR stack on her bedside table, taking long walks while plotting her characters’ happy endings, and living out her own happily ever after with her husband, three children, feisty rescue cat, and mischievous dog.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest

Sense and Second-Degree Murder

Waiting on Wednesday: Sense and Second-Degree Murder (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #2) by Tirzah Price

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5 Stars

ARC Review: This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

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This May End Badly
Series: None
Author: Samantha Markum
Published April 12th 2022 by Wednesday Books

Goodreads Synopsis
When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

Pranking mastermind Doe and her motley band of Weston girls are determined to win the century-long war against Winfield Academy before the clock ticks down on their senior year. But when their headmistress announces that The Weston School will merge with its rival the following year, their longtime feud spirals into chaos.

To protect the school that has been her safe haven since her parents’ divorce, Doe puts together a plan to prove once and for all that Winfield boys and Weston girls just don’t mix, starting with a direct hit at Three, Winfield’s boy king and her nemesis. In a desperate move to win, Doe strikes a bargain with Three’s cousin, Wells: If he fake dates her to get under Three’s skin, she’ll help him get back his rightful family heirloom from Three.

As the pranks escalate, so do her feelings for her fake boyfriend, and Doe spins lie after lie to keep up her end of the deal. But when a teacher long suspected of inappropriate behavior messes with a younger Weston girl, Doe has to decide what’s more important: winning a rivalry, or joining forces to protect something far more critical than a prank war legacy.

This May End Badly is a story about friendship, falling in love, and crossing pretty much every line presented to you—and how to atone when you do.
Goodreads

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

As a Weston girl, Doe and her friends have a tradition to fulfil - prank the boys of the Winfield academy across the road, before passing the baton to the next generation of students. Doe's arch nemesis Three, the golden boy at Winfield, has stepped up the stakes, and she might not be ready to take him down. But when there's the chance to make a deal with the devil, she'd be daft not to take it, right? Three's cousin, Wells, asks Doe to help him - pretend to be his girlfriend to get under Three's skin, and help Wells reclaim a family heirloom that was taken from him. Yet the longer the pretending dating goes on, it's more difficult for Doe to remember that it's not real, at least not for Wells - or is it?

I loved this book! It was one of my first 2022 reads, and as soon as I picked it up, I was hooked. From the premise, to the cover, to the characters and plot, everything was perfect. I have always loved the fake dating trope, and try to read as many books which use it, and this was one of the best. It's so witty and clever, full of puns and jokes, but also some really heartfelt moments, that take the reader through a whole boatload of emotions as they read Markum's debut. The characters, none of them, are perfect, and I think that was one of the most refreshing things in the book. All of them acted like real teenagers, going through their lives with changes to school, friendships, feelings for others, etc., and that means it gets messy in places. I may not have immediately loved all of the characters, but as we learnt more about them, and what made them so focused on the rivalry, it was easy to love them, and want the best for them. There's a really tough story line which spans the book, with a creepy teacher, and honestly, the way it was dealt with made this book 5 stars. It exceeded all of my expectations, and I can't wait for more from this author!

Dates Read:

November 25, 2021

Rating
5 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Queen’s Man (Regency Royals #5) by Jess Michaels

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The Queen’s Man
Series: Regency Royals #5
Author: Jess Michaels
Published March 15th 2022 by The Passionate Pen LLC

Goodreads Synopsis
The final book in the Regency Royals series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author Jess Michaels.

Queen Giabella of Athawick should be happy. Her children are all married and in love, her land is at last at peace and she’s about to have more freedom than she’s experienced in her whole life. And yet she’s…restless. Only one man has been able to settle her during times of trouble: her longtime personal secretary, Dashiell Talbot. So when they’re asked to do a tour of Athawick to celebrate their upcoming democratic elections, she knows she’ll be well taken care of. And she agrees.

Dash has served his queen for a decade and it has been the joy of his life. And the challenge, considering all he ever wants to do is touch her. But that is not his place and he has always been able to control himself before, nothing will be different now. Except that Gia is starting to have trouble controlling her own desires and everything that has been hidden, suppressed, denied is about to bubble to the surface with an explosion of powerful passion. Will they be able to find a path to a real future? Or will the past keep them apart once again?

Heat Level: A passion worth waiting for!
Goodreads

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

As her country is in the dawn of a new era, Queen Giabella of Athawick starts to look at her future. As the queen mother, she has had to hold herself aloof from her country, and only the love of her people, her children, and her loyal advisor, Dashiell Talbot, is what keeps her going. Since he joined her service 15 years ago, Giabella has loved Dash, but being married to the despot king, and also thinking herself too old to deserve happiness, she's never acted on her feelings. But now that she has been asked to tour the south of the country, with Dash by her side, she can't hold back, and she wants to explore her feelings and desires, especially as she sees them reflected in Dash. Dash, for himself, has loved Gia from the moment he set eyes on her, and seeing her love for Sasha, the orphaned child he's come to love as his own, and that Gia adopted, and her other children, made him want her more. Being by her side, day by day, is tough, but he would do everything to be with her, and sees himself as too low to be with a queen. Can they both allow themselves the chance for happiness - either only for a few days, or for the long term - before their lives change completely?

I've been waiting for this book ever since I read To Protect a Princess. Every time we saw Gia and Dash, we could see the longing and love between them, but forces have pulled them apart for so long. Now that all of the children are happily married, and starting their own lives and futures, Gia should be able to find her peace - but Dash is always in her thoughts, and she can't reconcile herself with being the queen, and being with him. She has hang ups from her marriage to the late king, and Dash seems too perfect for her. But learning that he wants to leave her side, and join the newly formed government, she feels loss and pain, and will do anything she can to be with him, even only for a few nights. This relationship has got to be one of the slowest burners ever - lasting over 15 years, but it was executed perfectly. Because of how well they both know each other, it's easy, once they get over their demons, for them to love each other. One of my favourite scenes - apart from the epilogue - was when King Grantham spoke to Dash, and I adore how well Dash is thought of, and loved, as a family member. In my opinion, the perfect ending to the series, and I can't wait for Jess' 100th book!

Dates Read:
February 24, 2022

Rating
4 Stars