Monday, December 3, 2018

In a Nutshell - YA Edition


In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

29 Dates
Melissa de la Cruz
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Jisu's traditional South Korean parents are concerned by what they see as her lack of attention to her schoolwork and her future. Working with Seoul's premiere matchmaker to find the right boyfriend is one step toward ensuring Jisu's success, and going on the recommended dates is Jisu's compromise to please her parents while finding space to figure out her own dreams. But when she flubs a test then skips out on a date to spend time with friends, her fed-up parents shock her by shipping her off to a private school in San Francisco. Where she'll have the opportunity to shine academically—and be set up on more dates!

Navigating her host family, her new city and school, and more dates, Jisu finds comfort in taking the photographs that populate her ever-growing social media account. Soon attention from two very different boys sends Jisu into a tailspin of soul-searching. As her passion for photography lights her on fire, does she even want to find The One? And what if her One isn't parent and matchmaker approved?
Jisu was devastated, when her parents shipped her off to San Francisco in hopes that she could perform better in an American school, but they may have given her the greatest gift, since her new environment did yield some stellar results.
  • Pro: Jisu was easy to like and root for. My heart broke, when her whole life was uprooted, but I admired the way she took it in stride, and also commended her on fulfilling her filial duties. Beside being under the standard pressure to get into an Ivy League school and earn top grades, she also had to go on a myriad of blind dates, which she did with a more or less open mind. 
  • Pro: The dates were interesting. They were presented to us in a transcript format, and what I really liked was the way they paralleled something happening outside of the dates, as well as being a catalyst for Jisu's growth and change. She had discovered a lot about herself during these dates, even if she never happened to find "the one". 
  • Pro: I adored Dave, and thought the chemistry and dynamic between him and Jisu was fantastic. One of my favorite scenes was when Jisu met his mom. Totally couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 
  • Con: There were some really fun parts in this book and also, a lot of things I really enjoyed. I wish more of these things had been included. There were some times when the mood shifted, and it sort of made the story drag a little.  
  • Pro: It's really difficult for a teen to leave her friends, but Jisu was lucky to find such a great squad in San Francisco. I especially loved Hiba, who was fierce and not afraid to speak her mind. 
  • Pro: Jisu's grandfather was a most precious human. I loved and adored him so much, and was grateful that Jisu had such a phenomenal ally. 
  • Pro: The ending went in a direction that left me with a smile on my face. I was really happy with how de la Cruz finished Jisu's story (even if I wanted an epilogue, too)
Overall:  A story of growth, change, family, friendship, and finding your passion, which was thoughtful and satisfying.


Invisible Ghosts
Robyn Schneider
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Rose Asher believes in ghosts. She should, since she has one for a best friend: Logan, her annoying, Netflix-addicted brother, who is forever stuck at fifteen. But Rose is growing up, and when an old friend moves back to Laguna Canyon and appears in her drama class, things get complicated.

Jamie Aldridge is charming, confident, and a painful reminder of the life Rose has been missing out on since her brother's death. She watches as Jamie easily rejoins their former friends--a group of magnificently silly theater nerds--while avoiding her so intensely that it must be deliberate.

Yet when the two of them unexpectedly cross paths, Rose learns that Jamie has a secret of his own, one that changes everything. Rose finds herself drawn back into her old life--and to Jamie. But she quickly starts to suspect that he isn't telling her the whole truth.

All Rose knows is that it's becoming harder to choose between the boy who makes her feel alive and the brother she isn't ready to lose.
My love of grief and loss books is well documented, and Invisible Ghosts wedged its way into my heart. I really didn't expect to have such strong feelings for this book, but I simply loved it. The book was a really thoughtful, interesting, and beautiful look at growing up, moving on, and letting go.
  • Pro: I was elated as Rose reintegrated herself into her former life. It pained me that she was grieving and carrying around the guilt associated with her brother's death for so long, and I just wanted her to be able to forgive herself and live again. 
  • Pro: Rose's new-old friends were fabulous. They were fun and artsy and very real. It was a beautiful thing watching them bring Rose back into the fold, but it was also fun just being in their presence. 
  • Pro: Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. ❤️ I adored this sweet little cinnamon roll. 
  • Pro: I am a fan of second chances, and there was a lot of that going on in this book. This was Rose's second chance at romance with Jamie, but it was also her second chance to rejoin her theatre clique and pursue something she had a passion for. I was glad she had Jamie to encourage her and that she decided to take the leap. 
  • Pro: Schneider did a great job helping me understand Rose's emotions regarding the loss of her brother. She was now older than her brother ever was and experiencing things he never got to experience. I felt and shared Rose's pain, and shed quite a few tears for her. 
  • Pro: I liked the way Schneider addressed the change in the family dynamic after Logan's death, as well as the different ways each member of the family was coping. Rose felt a lot of pressure to be perfect, because she had to fill the void left by Logan's death, but that pressure compounded with her guilt was a lot for Rose to bear. 
Overall: An emotional tale of grief, loss, love, and letting go, which was filled with laughter, tears, friendship, and affection.

** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Have you read any of these books?
Let us know in the comments!

28 comments:

  1. Invisible Ghosts sounds wonderful! I'm not sure I'm ready for a "grief book" yet (I can't believe I read TJR's Forever, Interrupted - what was I thinking?) but I'll definitely be adding this one to the TBR for when I'm ready to tackle it. Somehow I've not read anything by Schneider (how is that possible?) but I love how she apparently shows not only Rose's grief but also guilt, and the pressure she feels from family expectations. And I must meet Jamie! :)

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    1. I could understand it being too soon for a grief and loss book, but Invisible Ghosts had a lot of humor and joy with just a touch of sadness -- when she finally really comes to terms with the fact that her brother is gone. I like Schneider. I had read the Beginning of Everything, which I also 5-starred, so I have no idea why I missed this one in my review spreadsheet.

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  2. INVISIBLE GHOSTS sounds really good! I read a lot of grief books, too. Not sure why, but I find them appealing most of the time. Is that weird??

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    1. Last year I read and lived a ton of grief books, and I think I find comfort in seeing people heal.

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  3. I want to read both of these. I guess I would start with Invisible Ghosts for a mini review you really made me want to read that one. I don't really read books about grief because I am going through my own but I might pick this one up anyway.

    Mary

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    1. I find working though someone else' pain cathartic and it gives me hope. Ghosts was about a lot more than grief, though, and it was funny and witty and deep at times too.

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  4. I always wanted to read a Melissa de la Cruz's book! I like that it is about family and friendship. I may give it a try! :)

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    1. It's my second contemporary from her, and though it wasn't perfect, there were a lot of things I really liked. I don't finish books I am not enjoying, so I was enjoying the story and invested in the outcome for Jisu.

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  5. Oh, that ghost book sounds kind of awesome. I love the cover, too.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I thought I would like it, but I didn't expect it to be so delightful.

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  6. Sorry to hear 29 dates dragged a little, but I'm really glad to hear about the fun parts in the book and I'm looking forward to seeing all those when the book publishes in a few weeks! Invisible Ghosts sound good as well.

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    1. 29 Dates was mostly great. I think I understand what de la Cruz was trying to do, but for some reason, parts didn't fully work for me. The ending really won me over though.

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  7. Invisible Ghosts sounds incredible, like a heavy, heartbreaking but also very beautiful read. I can't wait to give it a try... well, when I am in the mood for such a heavy read aha :) thank you so much for sharing these reviews! :D

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    1. That's the thing, for a grief book, it was rather delightful. Obviously there were parts particularly associated with her brother, which were heartbreaking, but there was so much more that made me smile. Watching Rose start living again was a treat.

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  8. I love when a book catches me by surprise.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  9. 29 Dates sounds cute, but it's also a little weird that if a teenager wasn't paying enough attention to school or her future, her parents would think that adding a boyfriend to that would be a solution? LOL

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    1. There is actually talk about that in the book. It has to do with their social circles and what not. So, that point was not overlooked.

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  10. I've been seeing Invisible Ghosts pop up here and there, but it wasn't until yours that I really read it and figured out what it is about. I am quite intrigued, and I really have been looking for some emotional reads. Wonderful reviews, Sam! :)

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    1. I hadn't really seen much buzz for it, which is probably why I forgot to read it back in May, but I liked it so much, even if I thought it was about metaphorical ghosts and not real ghosts. 😂

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  11. Oh wow, Invisible Ghosts sounds fantastic. I'll definitely be adding that one to my TBR. Great reviews for both books!

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    1. I loved it. Schneider seems to work for me, because I loved The Beginning of Everything too.

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  12. I hadn't heard of either of these but they both sound worth a read.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  13. The first is disappointing as I used to love melissa De La CRuz books but the second one ...Only positive sam? Wow. Sophie @bewareofthereader

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    1. It wasn't terrible. I don't finish books I am not enjoying, but it dragged a little here and there. However, the ending was fabulous

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  14. 29 Dates sounds like it is such a cute book and that the relationships in it, between her and friends and also with the grandfather too are really what make that one such a good read. I also really love the sound of Invisible Ghosts and I want to read it! I don't know why books with grief in them intrigue me so much? I also felt a hard hit when I was grieving for my grandfathers and I think even though their deaths happened years ago now, and my great aunt passed this year, reading about grief still helps me.

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    1. I feel a lot of comfort in seeing how other people deal with grief and that there is some relief in store. You never totally forget, but it eases, and I like having that hope.

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