Sophie Reads YA

Ashley Poston

Waiting on Wednesday: The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con #2) by Ashley Poston

10:00

March

Stacking the Shelves: March 2nd 2019

10:00

books on my radar

March books on my radar

10:00

A Question of Holmes
Series: Charlotte Holmes #4
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
March 5th 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
The fourth book in the New York Times bestselling Charlotte Holmes series!
Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson think they’re finally in the clear. They’ve left Sherringford School—and the Moriartys—behind for a pre-college summer program at Oxford University. A chance to start from scratch and explore dating for the first time, while exploring a new city with all the freedom their program provides. But when they arrive, Charlotte is immediately drawn into a new case: a series of accidents have been befalling the members of the community theater troupe in Oxford, and now, on the eve of their production of Hamlet, they’re starting all over again. What once seemed like a comedy of errors is now a race to prevent the next tragedy—before Charlotte or Jamie is the next victim.
Goodreads

The Queen's Resistance
Series: The Queen's Rising #2
Author: Rebecca Ross
March 7th 2019 by HarperCollins Children's Books

The highly anticipated sequel to The Queen’s Rising!
Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge. She must prove herself trustworthy to the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s house as well as her country. And then there’s Cartier, a wholly separate but desirable factor in her new life.
Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia as a master of knowledge and his current one as the lord of a fallen house. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers a ten-year-old boy named Tomas, whose past and parentage are a complete mystery. So when Cartier’s former pupil Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, he lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his house alone?
As the Lannon trial rapidly approaches, Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside to concentrate on forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one interferes with the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And nothing makes a person more vulnerable than deep-seated love.

Goodreads

Izzy + Tristan
Series: None
Author: Shannon Dunlap
March 7th 2019 by Orion Children's Books
This isn't a story about anything new. It's about the oldest thing in the world. It's about love.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy, a bright aspiring doctor, isn't happy about her recent move from the Lower East Side across the river to Brooklyn. She feels distanced from her family, especially her increasingly incomprehensible twin brother, as well as her new neighbourhood.
And then she meets Tristan.
Tristan is a chess prodigy who lives with his aunt and looks up to his cousin, Marcus, who has watched out for him over the years. When he and Izzy meet one fateful night, together they tumble into a story as old and unstoppable as love itself.
From an exciting new voice in YA, this is a gripping tale of first love for anyone who loved All the Bright Places and The Hate U Give.
Goodreads

Night Music
Series: None
Author: Jenn Marie Thorne
March 19th 2019 by Dial Books
A romantic comedy that sweeps you up with breezy writing and canny social commentary, set behind the scenes of the classical music world during one hot, anything-can-happen, New York City summer
Ruby has always been Ruby Chertok future classical pianist, heir to the Chertok family legacy, daughter of renowned composer Martin Chertok. But after bungling her audition for the prestigious Amberley School of Music--where her father is on faculty--Ruby is suddenly just . . . Ruby. And who is that again? All she knows is that she wants out of the orbit of her relentlessly impressive family, and away from the world of classical music for good. Yes? Yes.
Oscar is a wunderkind, a musical genius. Just ask any of the 1.8 million people who've watched him conduct his own compositions on YouTube--or hey, just ask Oscar. But while he might be the type who'd name himself when asked about his favorite composer and somehow make you love him more for it, Oscar is not the type to jeopardize his chance to study under the great Martin Chertok--not for a crush. He's all too aware of how the ultra-privileged, ultra-white world of classical music might interpret a black guy like him falling for his benefactor's white daughter. Right? Right.
But as the New York City summer heats up, so does the spark between Ruby and Oscar. Soon their connection crackles with the same alive, uncontainable energy as the city itself. But can two people still figuring themselves out figure out how to be together? Or will the world make the choice for them?
Goodreads

The Next to Last Mistake
Series: None
Author: Amalie Jahn
March 19th 2019 by Light Messages Publishing

Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.
Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she’ll never fit in at her new school.
When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess’s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

Goodreads

Sherwood
Series: None
Author: Meagan Spooner
March 19th 2019 by HarperTeen
Fans of Danielle Paige, Marissa Meyer, and Alex Flinn will devour New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner’s next fierce fairy tale-inspired story, which Illuminae author Amie Kaufman calls “a kick-ass, gender-flipped feminist retelling.”
Robin of Locksley is dead.
Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.
Who is there to stop them?
Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.
Goodreads

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

February

February Summary

11:00

#RockMyTBR 2017 Challenge

Review: Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

10:00

Long May She Reign
Series: None
Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Published February 21st 2017 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
Freya was never meant be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.

Freya may have escaped the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councillors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, Freya knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom – and her life.

Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisors. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her, but also wanted more power for himself.

As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.
Goodreads

Review
As you probably know already, I love any book that has royalty in it, and this one was no different. As soon as I heard about Long May She Reign, I knew I needed to get a copy as soon as, and when my order arrived, I immediately dove in. Following Freya as she tries to navigate the poisonous court, we see how poisonous isn’t just a good adjective to describe the place, but what actually happens. Initially only 23rd in line to the throne, a fluke which meant she didn’t attend a banquet - rather, she was in her laboratory working - led to her being the sole survivor of a horrific massacre, and the new queen. Though the massacre may be over, she is still a target for whoever it was who wanted rid of the entire royal family, and Freya just doesn’t know who she can turn to or trust. None of the nobles left respect her - she’s just the weird scientist girl who they had to tolerate due to her being royalty - and nothing is working out. The only person who is willing to give her a chance is the illegitimate son of the old king, Fitzroy, but he’s the main suspect for the poisoning. As more comes to light about the deaths of over 400 people, Freya learns how to cope with her new found power, and more about herself. The

Even though Freya is in the most important role of her life, Queen of Epria, it’s a role she never asked for, and, quite frankly, one she so could’ve done without. Freya is a shy and socially awkward character, and because of her anxiety, she’s mainly at home in her laboratory, alone. Being thrust before the whole country, where the court is filled with gossip and backstabbing, she struggles, and because of those struggles, she endeared herself to the audience more and more. Over time her character grew, and she became more confident in herself, and in her new role.

Though not a large part to the plot, there was a bit of romance between Freya and Fitzroy. He may have been one of the main suspects for the murders, but he was about the only person who believed in Freya, and everything he did was to try and help her cope with the pressure, and not undermine her from the inside. I really enjoyed these two together, and thought that they helped each other grow, rather than take away anything.

I might have loved the book, and give it 5 stars, if not for the ending. It just seemed rushed, and a bit disjointed, if I’m being honest. The big reveal about the murderer, and why they had done it, was far too rushed, and the punishment was ridiculous. Because of all of this, I could only give the book 4 stars, but I did still really enjoy it, and would recommend it for the most part.

Dates Read:
April 27-May 1, 2017

Rating
4 Stars

Defy Me

Waiting on Wednesday: Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) by Tahereh Mafi

10:00

2017 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: The Memory Book by Lara Avery

10:00

The Memory Book
Series: None
Author: Lara Avery
Published January 26th 2017 by Hachette

Goodreads Summary
“They tell me that my memory will never be the same, that I'll start forgetting things. At first just a little, and then a lot. So I'm writing to remember.”

Samantha McCoy has it all mapped out. First she's going to win the national debating championship, then she's going to move to New York and become a human rights lawyer. But when Sammie discovers that a rare disease is going to take away her memory, the future she'd planned so perfectly is derailed before it’s started. What she needs is a new plan.

So the Memory Book is born: Sammie’s notes to her future self, a document of moments great and small. Realising that her life won't wait to be lived, she sets out on a summer of firsts: The first party; The first rebellion; The first friendship; The last love.

Through a mix of heartfelt journal entries, mementos, and guest posts from friends and family, readers will fall in love with Sammie, a brave and remarkable girl who learns to live and love life fully, even though it's not the life she planned.

Goodreads

Review
I honestly did not know what to expect when I went into this book. I was sent a copy by the publisher, unsolicited, and a quick check online made me give it a chance, and let me tell you, I'm so glad that I did! The Memory Book follows Samantha, who had her life all planned out, until she discovers that she has a rare medical condition that will limit her life. Her condition, Niemann-Pick Type C, is a disease that affects memory and gradually shuts down the body. So, she needs a new plan. Knowing that life will never be the same again, she creates the Memory Book, where she jots down anything that she wants to remember in the future - no matter how big or small it is. As the days, months, years, progress, Sammie slowly starts to deteriorate, but so much happens, and she learns so much about herself, that she is still able to tell us about it all, in her own words.

I loved Sammie - she was so relatable, and funny, and even with this dark shadow hanging over her, she still lives her life to the fullest. From the get go, she is a planner - initially planning to be valedictorian and go off to college - and when her first plan doesn't pan out, she just amends it to fit her new plan. Because of the way that the story is written, as if it's Sammie's journal, we see even more of her than we would normally do. She pours out her heart and soul, and all of her worries, into her diary entries, and it honestly felt like we were in her shoes for most of the book. Nothing about what she was going through was sugar coated, and it was emotional raw reading at times. However, that doesn't mean everything about book was sad or upsetting.

One thing I really appreciated in this book was how present Sammie's family was in the story. In most of the YA books recently, parents are barely there, if at all, but that really wasn't the case here. Obviously with how debilitating Sammie's condition would become, the family wanted to spend time with her doing things as memories - and not just for her Memory Book, but for them all to appreciate. The family had always been an important part to Sammie's life, but now, when it's really important for her especially to try and do things as she normally would, they worked with her every step of the way. Romance isn't really a huge part to the book, but there is some in there. It was cute when I was reading them, but I cared more about Sammie herself, or her familial relationships, that I didn't really get invested in anything romantic.

Overall, this was such a good book, and I'm really glad I gave it a go. It stuck with me so long after finishing, and if I was in Sammie's situation, I honestly don't know what I would've done. Definitely a book I'd recommend to everyone!

Dates Read:
January 4-7, 2017

Rating
4 Stars