Woo another book review! I’ve been reading a ton lately especially since I’ve been at home a lot. In between the stress of applying for jobs I find reading and escaping to another world to be very relaxing. Thankfully, I really enjoyed all of these books and I’ll totally be re-reading them in the future.
Again But Better by Christine Riccio 4/5
My rating: 3.5/5
Summary: Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal — but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that? Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change — there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart. Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic – the possibilities are endless.
I really loved the majority of this book. Shane moving to London to pursue change was super relatable for me, as I just moved to London as well. I liked the love story and the way conflict was written. The characters were likeable and fun to read about. The one thing I wasn’t super into was the sudden and weird magic/time travel aspect. I understood what the author was trying to do but I think the story would’ve been just fine if the familial conflict would’ve been resolved in the present timeline and if Shane could’ve stood up for herself.
Overall it was a cute story and I loved reading about London as I can visit the spots mentioned in the book. If you want a cute love story with a magical twist then I recommend you should check out this book.
Field Notes On Love by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 3.5/5
Summary: 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-college 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?
I love reading Jennifer E. Smith books when I’m in the need of a cutesy teen romance novel. This one was so adorable and I quite liked the plot. Mae and Hugo were likeable characters and I enjoyed reading their love story. Normally I’m more into first person POVs but Jennifer was able to make me engage with each character even from a third-person POV. Jennifer’s ability to switch perspectives from Hugo’s to Mae’s was done very well and I actually didn’t mind it.
The way both Hugo and Mae engaged with the concept of love was interesting to read about. I definitely related a bit more to Mae as I share some of her views on love and her creativity. This is a very short book so the love story is quite quick. However, if you’re looking for a cute but short teen love story you can finish in a day then pick-up Field Notes On Love at your local bookstore.
Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch 4/5
My rating: 4/5
Summary: Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.
So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.
And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.
That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way.
Oh my goshhhh I loved this book! Such a perfect teen and coming of age book. I love that it’s set in Ireland and you get to learn a bit about the country. Addie is very relatable as is Ian and Rowan. Rowan was a great love interest for Addie and I really delved into their story. The author did a great job with building up Addie and Rowan’s relationship throughout their travels while also exploring beauties about Ireland and healing Addie’s broken heart. I have to admit that after reading this book I’m itching to head back to Ireland and go on the same road trio the main characters did!
Overall, this book definitely gave me little butterflies and I totally recommend it for those searching for a cute but not overly cheesy book.
Maybe This Time by Kasie West 5/5
My rating: 5/5
Summary: One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love?
Funerals. Barbecues. New Year’s Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.
Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn’t so bad after all .
Another sweet book! Clearly I was in the mood for some cute teen novels for this batch. Sophie was an interesting character. I could totally relate with her on her need to escape her hometown and focus on her dreams. The fact that this books occurs over a year and many events was something that I actually liked. It spread the love story on a more realistic timeline, especially since Sophie and Andrew didn’t get along at first. Another interesting character in this novel was Sophie’s best friend as she is a big part to one of the main conflicts further into the story. What I loved about this story wasn’t just the cute romance but also it told a story of best friends, family and one’s readiness to leave the nest. Plus, as a big fan of events (Halloween is my favourite) I really enjoyed reading a story where most of the plot occurs on a special day.
This is a book I’ll be re-reading because I truly enjoyed it. So, go ahead and add this to your teen rom-com reading list!
All in all, this batch of books was definitely a success! I liked all the books, some more than others, and I think each book could appeal to someone. Once again let me know if you guys have any recommendations for books you’d like me to read and review.
Stay rosy,
xo
Melissa
By Melissa Marie 