Keeping with the "fun summer read" theme is this next book from the very talented Alison Cherry. Look Both Ways is a young adult book about the exciting world of summer theater.
I was in plays in high school and it brought some of my best memories. Look Both Ways gives us the chance to spend the summer with Brooklyn, a New York high schooler who spends her life surrounded by theater professionals. Brooklyn isn't quite the actress or singer she feels she's expected to be, so when she lands at Allerdale, she already worries she'll be seen as a faker. But thanks to an amazing roommate, Brooklyn finds summer is taking her in an entirely different direction. I loved this book. The depth of the characters in Look Both Ways draws you into the story and keeps you turning the page, all the way to the end.
I miss chick lit. It was around such a short time but it was so fun. Fortunately, the young adult genre sometimes gives us a younger version of it, as is the case with the next book I read this month:
In Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies, a high schooler gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to New York City and work at a cool teen magazine. The author's voice is chick lit at its best. You can't stop reading, it's so compelling. Plus, the character takes you along for the adventure. There's a great reason this book is getting phenomenal reviews. If you're looking for a fun summer read, this is it!
Medeia Sharif is a favorite around here. If you read her blog, you know she's one of the most prolific authors around. Her latest release touches on a lot of the race issues that are on everyone's mind these days.
A Love That Disturbs is an intense read. Throughout, I was amazed at Medeia's range. She can write lighthearted stories, adventures, and gut-wrenching dramas like this one. The story alternates between Maysa's and Haydee's points of view. Maysa is a Pakistani-American whose old-fashioned parents want her to marry someone from her background. Haydee is a former prostitute trying to turn her life around. The two fall in love--and must deal with the consequences of that love. This is an important book that breaks down stereotypes, while also being a page-turner.
The next book I read was by a familiar name, although you might not recognize it on the cover. Patricia Lynne writes new adult under the name Patricia Josephine.
Michael is hard to describe. On the surface, it's about an archangel whose job it is to search for fallen angels. However, there is a same-sex attraction between Michael and a fallen angel named Lake that takes the story in a different direction than you'd expect. Patricia wove in so many twists and turns with her suspense, you won't be able to put it down once you start. This is the first in a series and I can't wait to read the rest!
Once I finished Michael, I dove into another blogger's book. Libby Heily writes YA, science fiction, and contemporary fiction. Her book, Welcome to Sortilege Falls, grabs your attention with its super-interesting premise.
Strange things are happening in Sortilege Falls. A 16-year-old girl named Grape has just moved to the town with her family and she knows right away that things aren't normal. A small group of models seems to rule the high school in a weird way. When those models start dying, one by one, Grape must find a way to save them. The mystery of this one will keep you reading all the way to the end.
