Monday, July 1, 2019

In a Nutshell Reviews: YA Edition


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



The Last Word
Samantha Hastings
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
1861. Miss Lucinda Leavitt is shocked when she learns the author of her favorite serialized novel has died before completing the story. Determined to learn how it ends, Lucinda reluctantly enlists the help of her father’s young business partner, Mr. David Randall, to track down the reclusive author’s former whereabouts.

David is a successful young businessman, but is overwhelmed by his workload. He wants to prove himself to his late father, as well as to himself. He doesn’t have the time, nor the interest, for this endeavor, but Lucinda is not the type to take no for an answer.

Their search for the elusive Mrs. Smith and the rightful ending to her novel leads Lucinda and David around the country, but the truths they discover about themselves—and each other—are anything but fictional.
It wasn't easy being a young woman in 1861. All Lucinda wanted to do was contribute to her father's business, but society dictated that she belonged in the home, bored to tears. When one of her favorite authors died before finishing their book, Lucinda was determined to get those last pages. This search for the "ending" resulted in more than Lucinda had ever anticipated.
  • Pro: I rarely read historicals, but for some reason, the majority seem to be set during this time period, and I always enjoy it. I was amused, time and time again, by how prim and proper everyone acted, and loved seeing characters toppling social barriers.  
  • Pro: Her father tried his hardest to turn Lucinda into a proper lady, but she could not keep that much spirit under wraps. It was fun seeing all the little ways she pushed the boundaries, and David's reactions to her shenanigans were priceless. 
  • Pro: Speaking of David, he was a great match for Lucinda. Unlike most men of that time period, he delighted in Lucinda's mathematical brilliance, curiosity, and desire to do more than write letters and work on her needlepoint. Hooray, for forward-thinking men. 
  • Pro: Lucinda won my heart. She was fierce, determined, and very much an independent thinker. That girl had moxie, and I loved the way she challenged people and their ideas of who she should be. 
  • Pro: It was wonderful watching the spark ignite between these two former friends. The interactions between David and Lucinda were sweet and fun and packed with snappy banter. There were these seriously swoony parts too, that just melted my heart. The romance between these two was absolutely precious, and I was shipping them the whole time. 
  • Pro: I think readers will appreciate the feminist messages permeating the story. Lucinda was definitely a woman ahead of her time. 
Overall: A fun and charming romance between a lovely hero and a spirited heroine, which was filled with a little action, a bit of mystery, witty banter, and lots of swoons.


Beau & Bett
Kathryn Berla
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Retelling
Publisher: Amberjack Publishing
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
After Beau LeFrancois's mother wrecks Bett Diaz’s luxury SUV, his family faces an impossibly large bill—with no car insurance to help pay it. To pay off the debt, Beau spends his weekends working at the Diaz Ranch.

Beau’s prepared to work, but he’s definitely not prepared for the infamous temper of Bett Diaz, also known as "The Beast" at school. As Beau learns the secrets behind Bett’s tough exterior, he finds himself falling for her . . . until he catches Bett in a lie.

A contemporary twist on a classic fairy tale, Beau and Bett is a timely story of family, friendship, and the power of speaking out and standing up for yourself.
While working off his family's debt, Beau was forced into proximity with Bett, aka The Beast, aka the spoiled rich girl. As they spent more and more time together, Beau began to see the real Bett underneath her beastly armor.
  • Pro: Beau came from a wonderful family, whose motto was, "We don't got any luck but we gotta lot of love." And, the love among and between the members of this family radiated off the page and warmed my heart. 
  • Pro: Bett was a product of her environment. Between the grownups, who were supposed to protect and love her, letting her down, and the way her peers ostracized her for doing the right thing, it was understandable that she created this offsetting personality to repel others. But, it was amazing to see how far a little kindness went in tearing down those walls. 
  • Pro: The ranch setting was something different, and I really enjoyed it. I learned a little about grapes, avocados, and even snakes. It was also lovely to hear Bett talk about the ranch, because her love for it transformed it into a most magical place. 
  • Pro: When I first met Beau, he was crushing hard on his locker mate, but the more time he spent with Bett, the more he realized how superficial his infatuation with that other girl was. It was quite interesting being in his head as he came to these realizations, and it just made me like him more than I already did. 
  • Pro: I always get pretty excited to have a book told from the male protagonist's point of view, and Beau was the perfect character for the job. His voice pulled me in, right away, and it came across as wholly authentic. 
  • Pro: This was an enemies-to-friends-to-more stories, and I thought Berla allowed this relationship to develop and unfold so well. It was slow going, but along the way, we got to see Beau discover so many things about Bett and himself, and we got to see Bett transform, bit by bit. 
Overall: A sweet, charming, and subtle Beauty and the Beast retelling, filled with family, warmth, and lots of love.

** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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

34 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard of either of these books. The first one appeals to me more because I love historicals. And a friends to more romance is my jam!
    I've been fairly disappointed by B&B retellings, but this sounds like it adds a fun modern twist to it.

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    1. The Last Word surprised me, in a good way. It even had this BIG perilous moment.

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  2. Thanks for sharing these. Both are new authors for me and the books sound great.

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    1. This is my first Hastings book, but my third from Berla, and I have really enjoyed her previous books.

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  3. I've heard great things about Beau and Bett. Your review reminds me why I need to read it!

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    1. It's a quiet book, but a very lovely story, and I think the #MeToo angle will appeal to many as well.

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  4. That modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast sounds interesting! I like the role reversal too.

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    1. I could see the parallels to the original story, but it also included a lot of elements that are modern. Even if there was not inkling of the retelling, it was really lovely story of family, friendship, and digging below the surface.

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  5. I definitely want to read Beau and Bett now. I also love the braid on the cover.

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    1. I saw someone talking about how they didn't like the cover, but I thought it nice, and Bett's hair is admired quite a bit by Beau.

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  6. I love the cover of Beau! And the Beauty and the Beast in reverse ;-)

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    1. I liked that Berla chose to make the "beast" the female character, and some of the reasons for her behaviors were specifically related to women's issues.

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  7. The LAst Word sounds quite nice! I like the plot idea of seeking out the author's papers... and the romance that develops as they search. Sounds fun!

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    1. The search for those last pages were fun, but for me, this book was all about Lucinda making her way in a world that wasn't quite ready for women like her. It was fun and sweet, but had depth too.

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  8. You had me at Beauty and the Beast retelling! Oh so much pros for each character and you have really have me curious about the book! I will have to check this one out. Brilly review.

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    1. I have read three of Berla's books, and she writes great characters, which was really important for Beau & Bett, since it is a quieter story, but really heartwarming and sweet.

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  9. I didn't realize the second one is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It sounds really good so I'll have to keep it in mind for the retellings challenge I'm taking part in. Great reviews for both of these!

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    1. It was really sweet story of friends and family and there was a lot of beauty in those moments the characters shared.

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  10. The Last Word was such an unexpected gem for me too! Like, it sounded kind of cute, but it just happened to come in a package I got from FierceReads, and I felt like something historical (and fine, short hah) and BAM I was SO INTO IT! Beau & Bett is new to me, but it sounds really cute too! Great reviews!!

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    1. I wasn't sure what to expect from The Last Word, but I really found myself invested in the characters and their relationships, and I must admit, I requested it based on the cover and publisher. I had no idea it was a historical, but it was a nice change of pace for me, and I couldn't help smiling as I read it.

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  11. Beau & Bett sounds very cute, I love the gender swap on the main characters and the ranch setting sounds fun!

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    1. The setting was cool. Most of the books I read, that are set in California, are usually in the city or at the beach, and I know there is so much more to that state. It was fun to be on the ranch and actually do some work there too.

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  12. I love the friends to lovers trope and stories that carry feminist messages. Beau and Bett sounds like a great fairytale retelling. I love that Beau grew and matured by realizing his interest in his locker neighbor was superficial.

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. Both carry feminist and pro-women messages, which I thought were well done. It was interesting pairing them, because the time periods were so different, yet each young woman was working towards making their way in a male dominated field.

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  13. I hadn't heard of either of these prior to your reviews but always up for a wonderful Beauty and The Beast retelling. I love those hate to love type romances and especially seeing it told from the male point of view which is refreshing. Will definitely be checking these out. Brilliant reviews Sam!

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    1. I read a lot of books written by female authors, and in a single POV book, I rarely get it from a male perspective. So, it's something different, and Berla did it well. He was a believable boy, but had a lovely sensitive and introspective side.

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  14. Beau & Bett sounds super cute. I'm so happy you had all pros for it!

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    1. Sometimes it's nice to read a quieter book, and I loved the family angle and some of the other themes featured in the story.

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  15. I recently found out about B&B but didn't really know what it was about. All the pros, yes! I'll have to check it out for sure. I hadn't seen the first book at all. I'll admit, by the cover alone, I probably wouldn't pick it up.
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

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    1. I have enjoyed Berla's previous books, and this was another great one for me. It's on the quieter side, but I was all over the family, friendship, and other elements she incorporated into the story.

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  16. I love retelling's and glad that this one lived up to your expectations! I am going to have to grab this one as beauty and the beast is one of my favorite retelling's.

    Mary

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    1. The author is good at writing characters I want to get to know, and this was also very heartwarming, which is always a plus for me.

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  17. I haven't seen too many reviews for The Last Words, so I was considering taking off my list. However, your review really made me reconsider. I think I'm going to give it a chance, since I liked all the pros you listed. Great reviews, Sam! :)

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    1. I was skeptical of it, but I saw some really glowing reviews from other bloggers, who I follow on Twitter. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, considering that I am not a huge fan of historicals.

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