Review: More than Maybe by Erin Hahn

More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn

Published by: St Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books)
Released: 21^st June 2020 (in the US)
ISBN 9781250231642

Read: 20 -21 June 2020

While it’s really important to make sure I read just before I review a book, l also don’t recommend waiting until the day before it’s due to be released either. I am unable to give myself time to ponder the style, the plot or any of those other elements that require some thought before writing a review.

So, just so you know – I just finished More Than Maybe not 30 minutes ago, and I am still aglow with the lovely grand gesture and the perfectly pitched epilogue, and the tremendous bond that is the love between Vada and Luke.

They share the story with alternate chapters. Luke is a British boy, all charm and music nerd, a perfect counterbalance to wannabe music journalist Vada. I loved that they both had secret crushes on each other, which is a bit different to the usual plot where it’s either the boy or the girl who has the long-term crush. Here we see Luke feverishly checking every time Vada posts a new music vlog, and Vada going to sleep listening to Luke’s soothing voice through the podcast he presents with his twin brother, Cullen.

Both have music in their blood – Luke’s father is an ex punk rocker, now mostly retired looking for purpose. Vada’s horrible father used to be the lead singer of a local band. They broke up when drummer Phil quit and Marcus, now insurance salesman, having abandoned Vada’s mother, regularly turns up to Phil’s bar (where Vada works), and tosses around blame and regret while drinking himself to embarrassing levels. He refuses to help Vada financially and still expects her to babysit his new children. I don’t want him to take up any more of the review, actually. He’s basically a nightmare of a character and father.

So while Vada and Luke share secret longings for each other (Cullen and Luke record their show in Phil’s sound booth), neither of them are bold enough to take any steps beyond stumbling small talk. Of course, fate intervenes, by way their class schedule. Vada takes a dance elective, mostly to use the improvisation time to drive out her demons through movement and song. Luke’s music composition class is given the opportunity to create a piece for one of the dance class to choreograph a dance for the end of year final assessment. While Vada dances without knowing Luke is observing, she convinces herself no one will ask to work with her. But there’s no way Luke can pick anyone else!

While in actuality, very little collaboration goes on between them (Luke is able to compose several songs about Vada with very little effort), it does begin a series of texts, sharing stories and adventures, in which they get to know each other, allowing us to see them as well. This includes the acknowledgement that Luke is not interested in a life of performance, even though he has the voice of an angel, and the song writing ability of a legend and the network opportunity his father Charlie is only too willing to exploit. Luke’s decision to keep all his composition work private means he feels misunderstood by his family, and this is played out when Cullen uploads a video of Luke singing a song (secretly inspired by his love for Vada). It goes viral. He denies there ‘is a girl’, and the aftermath of this decision provides much of the drama of the middle of the book.

Hahn develops characters that are authentically teen. Cullen and his boyfriend Zack are more than side characters, as is Vada’s best friend Meg, and all the bar workers – lumbersexual Ben, and dread headed Kazi. I also liked seeing Vada’s mum build her lovely romance with Phil, and Luke and Cullen’s parents as well. Complicated messy families who still work together to overcome their issues are very much welcome in YA fiction.

Hahn drops in many musical references and although personally, I am aghast at Vada’s aggressive dislike for Stevie Nicks (what the?), most of the bands and songs reflect Vada and Luke’s growing relationship and inform much of the plot. Luke’s own songs are raw and when he lets others in, we see his vulnerabilities and how much he’s prepared to do for Vada.

Thanks to publisher, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for advanced copy. This is a super romantic story with two main characters deserving of the dreams they want to follow. They are usually thoughtful of other people, but yeah, they make mistakes and then try to do better. I have previously reviewed Hahn’s first book, You’d Be Mine, another teen romance involving teen music stars, and I am here for both of them. More than Maybe will be released in the US on June 21. Recommended if you love your fictional boys shy and a little bit broken, your fictional girls feisty and goal oriented, and a range of side characters who try to make our protagonists step up and risk love.

Review: You’d be Mine by Erin Hahn

You’d be Mine by Erin Hahn

Published by: Wednesday Books
Released on: April 2nd 2019 (in the US)
ISBN 9781250192882

Read 25-26 March 2019

You’d Be Mine is an engaging and intense read aimed at older teens who love their fictional love interests damaged and slightly broken. Even though Clay does fit into some very obvious YA tropes (he drinks even though he’s underage, he sticks to hooks up instead of relationships, and has the bad boy rep around the studio executives), but as the novel progresses, we see he is more than this stereotype, and Hahn does an excellent job of drawing us into his troubles, and sympathising with him.

Annie is also damaged by parents, initially neglectful and now dead. She’s been unable to break free of their memory as huge country and western stars (particularly her mother), and this has stymied her own career. This pair of broken kids need each other, and so we go on a summer road trip with them, as they perform on stage and spend time together off stage.

It’s not an original plot for sure, but Clay and Annie are interesting and well developed. We also have many side characters who also play important roles, especially Annie’s band mates, who are both family and friend to her. Hahn includes some of both Clay’s and Annie’s song lyrics, and it’s a good way to demonstrate their feelings for each other, and their growing sense of identity.

You’d be Mine is a  romance, but it’s also an insight into the lives of performing teenagers, and the pressures they put on themselves to succeed. There’s also a strong family element, and as both MCs have lost their closest family members, there’s a lot of grief and loss for them to overcome. It’s lovely to see Annie acknowledge her physical attraction to Clay, even though she isn’t one to act on impulse. Clay is also a gentleman (most of the time).

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Wednesday Books for providing an advanced copy of this novel. Recommended for readers who love summer romance novels, with a darker edge, who love their female lead to be thoughtful and kind, but also one who stands up for herself. There’s detail here, so it doesn’t skim the surface, instead delving into issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. But ultimately this is a love story, so you won’t be surprised that it’s a happy ending.

Review: Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren

Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren

Published by Amulet Books
Released March 12 2019 (in the US)
ISBN 9781419733673

Read March 10 2019

For some reason, I love a young adult novel involving ice hockey. Maybe because Australia is as far away from cold as possible. In fact, over the next few days we will experience extremely hot conditions, and we are in autumn already. So, it was quite lovely to read a book where they have a snow blizzard, where they are bundled up every time they leave the house, and a book where skating on an outside pond seems romantic.

Holland has been playing ice hockey with boys’ teams for her whole life. While she has complete confidence in her abilities, she is often brought undone by the negative reactions and words of other people.  She hangs on to the views of some old timers in her small Minnesota town, and drags them out way too often for her own good.

There are many predictable tropes here, but that doesn’t mean they are trite or shallow. Holland’s fight for recognition, and to be treated the same as any other player on her team are given serious consideration, and the people who are around her are not one dimensional. They support her, especially co-captain Wes (hot sauce) Millard. I love all of their nicknames for each other, and that they change according to situations. Holland mostly gets Hols, but Wes starts calling her ‘Dutch’, and the sparks between the two of them are strong and static-y. It’s ‘duckling adorable’ (her words).

Holland’s fight for acceptance is timely in today’s interesting climate. Movements begin and fade, and some have been going on for a long time. Women’s issues continue to raised, because no matter how far we go, there is always something more than can be done. Each woman in her own way, fights personal battles, yet if we don’t see other females fighting, it’s easy to feel isolated. Several important books have come out recently, and it’s great to be able to put them in the hands of young women who need to know they are not alone.

While Cold Day in the Sun is primarily a romance book, there are certainly enough questions about Holland’s treatment to make the readers think more about their own situation. A bonus, if you ask me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books for advancing me a copy. Highly recommended for readers who like their romance full of snark and banter. Holland puts in 100% into her beloved hockey, and is rewarded for her hard work. She does stumble a bit when it comes to articulating her feelings for Wes, and when all of her worries come true, she has to stay strong.

Cold Day in the Sun comes out tomorrow (March 12) in the US. Hopefully we’ll see it soon here in Australia

Review: Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard

Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard

Published by: Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781509852888
Released: February 12, 2019

Read: 3 – 5 February 2019

I have not read the previous book, Beautiful Broken Things, but don’t feel like it diminished by engagement or enjoyment of Fierce Fragile Hearts. Admittedly, when I became attuned to the complicated friendship that narrator Suzanne shares with Caddy and Rosie, I did wonder about the depiction of Suzanne through Caddy’s admiring and slightly envious eyes. The number of times she indicates that she’s ‘channelling Suze’, shows the impact they had one each other. I can also imagine the performance Suzanne would have put on. Being inside her head in Fierce Fragile Hearts is difficult because we know she only shows a portion of her true self to others. And this is a major theme of the novel—Suzanne’s need and desire to move on from trauma, without having to rely on the sympathy and kindness of others. We, as readers, know how hard that will be.

Very early in the novel, Suzanne tries to explain that a person never really gets better from trauma. And while she says it, the events and her actions that follow, demonstrate just how little she believes it. She continually takes one step forward, two steps back, her recovery often dimmed by her inability to reach out, her low sense of worth, and her reluctance to paint herself as a victim or a person to be pitied. While it’s a brave and strong characterisation, it’s also unsustainable and counter-productive. But these are lessons Suzanne must learn, and while she does, the consequences also force Caddy, Rosie, Matt and Sarah to give her space, while also constantly assuring her of their support and love. It’s a terrific representation of the way we all have to be prepared to allow those around us to grow and adapt.

Suzanne’s return to Brighton after two years of therapy and recovery drive the narrative. She must navigate her newly independent life, initially with Caddy and Rosie by her side. Once they leave for university, Suzanne’s inner negativity surfaces and Barnard uses this to highlight the difficulties faced by people who live with depression and fear. We might not understand why she doesn’t reach out sooner to Aunt Sarah or brother Brian, but Suzanne tries to explain it. She doesn’t believe she deserves their love. She doesn’t  want to tempt the moments of happiness she gets with her friends by asking more of them. These insights are important for us to read, because they help us to see the plight of people suffering from mental health issues. I was particularly struck by Suzanne’s epiphany that she lived a childhood of fear. That she was constantly on edge, terrified she might do something or say something to set her father off. This moment showed me the extent of Suzanne’s fragility. It’s a powerful moment.

The story doesn’t only focus on Suzanne’s fight for stability and worth. It also presents Caddy’s boyfriend Kel, and the subsequent development of that relationship. We also learn much more about Rosie, and the introduction of Matt as Suzanne’s potential love interest ensures all three girls are seen as equal and strong. Barnard uses the texting format to keep the story moving along even when the girls are apart. However, the best character introduced is undoubtedly Dilys, the elderly woman who lives in the unit below Suzanne. She offers Suzanne the use of her washing machine and dryer once a week in return for company, and the developing friendship gives Suzanne much to think about. Having someone who has lived a full life offer advice and show unreserved belief has a profound effect on Suzanne’s chances of coming through happy and healthy. Everyone will love Dilys, I am certain.

I am pleased to see there was some dealing with the abuse suffered at the hands of her father, and Suzanne finding a way to resolve her feelings not only for him, but also her mother, and to some extent, Brian, is another necessary component of recovery, providing a way for her to move on.

If I had one niggle, it’s the representative of drinking and other risky behaviours presented in Fierce Fragile Hearts. As an educator who puts books in the hands of teenagers, I will be cautious with this one. There is no judging by the author, nor should there be. Suzanne is 18, turning 19. She is an adult, and while we might worry her attitude towards hurried hook-ups with strangers is a reckless response to her trauma, Suzanne is mostly safe. But these young people consume a lot of alcohol. All of them. I am concerned that such actions are normalised, with some research indicating teenagers in fact are binging less, so a more balanced representation is preferable. We rarely see anyone refuse a drink, and there were a couple of times when Suzanne did have to extricate herself from a possible risky situation. I am sure some young people live this sort of partying life, and that brings authenticity to the story. I just wanted less of it. I was more interested in the way Matt understood and really ‘saw’ Suzanne, the plight of Clarence, and how the care system tries to help Suzanne.

Fierce Fragile Hearts is a strong contemporary novel. It highlights a number of timely topics facing young people, including trauma and abuse, and it provides hope and triumph, without cheesiness or melodrama. The conclusion is open ended but satisfying. We have seen Suzanne on her way to a secure and safe future.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for including me on this #AUSYAblogger book tour. You can catch all the exciting events that have been happening all week here at the website. Just to highlight a few, here’s what else is happening today:

Jessica’s Bookworld, Interview

That Bibliophile Franklin, Giveaway

Raathi Writes, Review

Escape into YA, Review

Bookish Kirra, Review

I will link any interested readers to Riverbend Books for purchasing, sticking with my #buylocal and #supportindiebookstores philosopy. They have a great online service as well.

Lists: Best of 2017 LGBTQIA

It’s been a strong year for queer YA, and I think the release of the film, Love, Simon, based on Becky Albertalli’s Simon Versus the Homo Sapien Agenda has something to do with that, and will open doors for even more literature depicting positive representations of all sorts of teens, but particularly those who sit somewhere on the queer spectrum. You’ll actually find other LGBTQIA books on my other lists too.

Future Leaders of Nowhere by Emily O’Beirne (March) I have been raving about O’Beirne’s books for a couple of years now. Contemporary Australian coming-of-age stories about gay girls that have a fresh voice. I reviewed both Future Leaders, and its sequel, All the Ways to Here (November) here. Willa and Finn are searching for meaning and stability. They support each other, and are stronger for their love for each other.

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate (May) I don’t know if this is readily available in Australia, but look out for it. It’s such a strong novel with a poor Asian scholarship student transforming herself to a boy to join an all male an elite a cappella octet called the Sharpshooters. I think it’s the longest review on here. God, I loved this. Interestingly, MC Jordan’s possible bisexuality is not the biggest question of the story. Read with glee (sorry, can’t help myself).

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (April) A companion novel to Simon Versus the Homo Sapien Agenda, Albertalli introduces twins Mollie and Cassie, who each deal with issues, primarily romantic endeavors, that are equally sweet and thoughtful. Again, this novel is filled with inclusion elements, and a powerful overriding sense of celebrating who you are. Can’t wait for her collaboration with Adam Silvera.

Release by Patrick Ness (May) A deeply personal, intimate story, Ness shows us one day in the life of Adam Thorn. Set in small town America, Adam is the son of a preacher, and is about to say goodbye to his first love. As he experiences this day of tumultuous highs and lows, Adam shows us what helps him through: a best friend, a new love, and his own strength and resilience. It wouldn’t be Patrick Ness without a parallel story of the ghostly  kind. It’s dense and dark, but ultimately hopeful.

We are Okay by Nina LaCour (February) I keep going on about this one. My review was posted at Children’s Books Daily.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (June) For a book that I loved so much, I have not raved about it much. But it’s been getting rave reviews everywhere else, and was voted one of the top books in the Young Adult Fiction 2017 GR Choice Awards. My short review is here.

My mystery list which was actually supposed to be posted today will be published on Sunday.

 

Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood

Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell, Fiona Wood

Published: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: August 29 2017
ISBN: 9781742612744

Read: June 24 2017

Take Three Girls doesn’t pull any punches. It’s cleverly crafted for maximum impact through a variety of formats—online forum posts, journal entries, lessons plans, letters to parents, and our three protagonists’ alternating points of view—covering nine weeks from July to September (then one epilogue post in December) of a wellness program involving Year 10 girls from a private boarding school.

The topics cover online sexual harassment, friendship dramas, parental expectations and sibling rivalry, honestly and frankly. Some content might be shocking to adults, but we suspect some ( a lot of?) girls deal with this sort of terrible slander, mostly by ignoring it or turning to friends for support. What’s also abundantly clear is that a lot of the shaming is flagrant lies, and yet there’s little the girls can do to repair their damaged reputations. It’s systemic and endemic. Getting this book into the hands of all teenagers is crucial because it impresses on readers that this sort of behaviour can be and should be stopped. It gives them the knowledge that they have the power to stand up to bullies, and redirect the narrative.

What Kate achieves at the end is marvelous and empowering. We are left with unfinished stories, but Ady’s plea is universal and hopeful: I just want to know that whatever happens, I can handle it.

Clem is the heart, Kate is the mind, and Ady is the soul of Take Three Girls. It’s astonishing,  It’s real. It’s important. Watch this literary space awards next year!

Review: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Released: April 4 2017
ISBN: 9781408883525

Read: January 29 2017

This contemporary young adult novel is a dual narrative story between Juliet and Declan. They go to the same school, and know each other by sight, but connect through letters without knowing each is the other letter writer. This allows them to open up and speak freely, but it’s not long before their secret and public lives collide.

These are two damaged teenagers, but they are also strong, and they feel real. Kemmerer writes authentic boys, tough and scary on the outside, but really, soft as butter, vulnerable and looking for meaning. The issues of grief, and trying to become a better person despite a neglected upbringing are not new, but this author brings a fresh approach, and readers easily identify with Juliet’s attempts to understand her mother’s death, and Declan’s desire to prove himself worthy of her affection.

Would sit alongside other notable contemporaries written by Emory Lord, Jennifer Niven, and Jandy Nelson. It’s another one we would recommend to boys who enjoy contemporary novels, even though the cover might dissuade them. Kemmerer announced that one of the secondary characters, Rev, who is Declan’s best friend will also get his own novel. It’s coming next April, and it’s great!!

Family ultimately shapes teenagers’ formative years, and Kemmerer links Juliet’s way of looking at world directly to her mother, and this is a very effective way to shake Juliet to her core. This is an emotional ride for both our main characters, and it’s great that they can depend on each other. I found this very satisfying.

Review: The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty

Published: Allen & Unwin
Released: November 1 2017 (in Australia)
ISBN: 9781760297176

Read: October 19 2017

At 109 chapters and over 500 pages, this story will challenge some young readers. But it is worth it because we are taken into a world that is fully realised, but never over-explained. We travel with Bronte to visit ten Aunts, and they are distinct individuals, and nothing feels repetitive or cliched. Each moment of revelation is seamlessly woven through the storyline, so that when its significance is inevitably realised, readers are not surprised or jolted out of the narrative.

The underlying sadness and pain take a while to leak through. Bronte is seemingly accommodating and well-mannered, so much of her point of view is coated with a stiff-upper-lip resolve. However, she also displays tremendously brave behaviour and very acute observations, and slowly we are given a glimpse into how she really feels about the disappearance and death of her parents. There is anger of course, and a longing that permeates her quest. It’s only late in the novel we are told that Bronte is reliving the story two years after her adventures. As a 12 year old, her perspective is wiser and gently scathing towards unkindness and narrow-mindedness. This is very subtle and is a further layer in a cleverly constructed story.

Moriarty incorporates humour to great effect. Each Aunt is accompanied by other characters who test Bronte’s mettle (ha. See what I did there?), and her ability to adapt and learn shows young readers about resilience and reward. Aunt Sue’s boisterous sons are delightful and generous, and Aunt Nancy’s clever daughters are wily and honest. Taylor’s no-nonsense offer of friendship arrives at exactly the right time, and the boy with no shoes is a mystery Bronte refuses to leave unsolved. I could go on listing other wonderful characters – the noisy librarian is particularly welcome, and the water sprites are effusive and jubilant—but to do that would spoil much of the wonder and delight of the novel. It’s best you discover them on your own.

The final quarter where all the clues fall together into the intricately woven climax keeps readers madly turning pages to watch Bronte stay one step ahead of the evil threatening her family and her identity. She needs all her skills and friends to triumph, and it’s an astonishing and wholly satisfying defeat. Then we have the final pages of reflection and quiet acceptance of her new reality. If I wanted more here, well, that’s ok. Those final poignant pages are all the more powerful for their low key and concise conclusion.

This ambitious and clever novel seems geared towards younger readers, but I believe anyone will love it. I think everyone should read it, actually.

Review: Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens

Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens

Published by: HarperTeen
Released: August 22 2017 (US)
ISBN:  9780062398512

Read: 19 – 22 August 2017

There are many moments when Dress Codes for Small Towns reads like any YA novel. Protagonist Billie is surrounded by loyal friends, who have her back no matter what. There are the usual tensions with parents, and as they move into their senior year, attractions between friends seem likely to spoil the group dynamic. And yet, in other ways, this book breaks through some of the predictable tropes and sends readers on a journey that is neither expected nor familiar.

Set in small (small) town Kentucky, Billie is the local pastor’s daughter, and her crew’s tendency to indulge in pranks, impulsive and ill-thought-out, see them suffer the backlash of conservative townsfolk who are only too happy to be critical. Billie, Woods, Janie Lee, Fifty, Mash and Davey are best buds who finish each other’s sentences. But it’s Billie’s voice that carries us through their antics, their fights and their trek to redemption.

Mash, Woods, Fifty and I once hijacked two zero-turn mowers from Big-T and raced them down the lane like it was the Indy 500, all while Tawny shook her broom on the front porch. The four of us have done quite a bit of living. Janie Lee, for the most part, has done quite a bit of watching. She doesn’t go fast. Or honk her horn. Or throw gravel. Or hijack mowers. Not anymore.

She cheers for us and has 911 at the ready. (p. 87)

After setting fire to the Youth Group room early in the book, they have a lot to make up for – most of all to Billie’s dad who is being threatened with dismissal because Billie refuses to follow the expectations and ‘play nice’, ‘like a girl’. We quickly realise that Billie has a strong connection to her faith, is compassionate, generous, and loves the town of Otters Holt, where she has spent the majority of her life. She feels utter dismay to continually disappoint her father, and struggles with how to express her identity without causing consternation and alienation. Her best friends have always validated her choices, but during the course of the novel, decisions are made, declarations of love are expressed, and good intentions go bad, and Billie is forced to take a hard look at who she is attracted to, and how far she will push boundaries to stay true. It’s a volatile and tumultuous journey, and it all felt very real to me.

The five friends are excellent characters – especially arrogant, bossy Woods, and violin playing Janie Lee, seemingly falling in love with each other, who test Billie the most, because she thinks she loves them both too. But it’s Davey, the most recent recruit to the friendship group, who will ultimately change the course of Billie’s life. As she learns more about him, his interests and old friends, she opens herself up to a world of daring cosplay, and the sheer joy of dancing.

In the middle of everyone leaping and screaming, I stand completely still and fully embrace the eye of the cosplay hurricane. The power of so many people doing the same thing rushes through my veins like blood. From the costumes to the dancing, we’re caught up in the same palm of an invisible hand (p. 50)

Meeting Audi Thomas and his girlfriend Gerry expands Billie’s horizons and give her space to explore her sexuality. But that’s not the only exploring and celebrating going on. The tradition of the Harvest Festival, the awarding of the Corn Dolly, and helping out the old folk of the town, also play out against the background of summer, and the growing understanding that this might be the last Harvest Festival ever.

I loved the contradictions, the ups and downs, and the secrets held and revealed through the narrative. I loved the banter, the in-jokes, the puppy piles, and the dares. This a glorious celebration of life. I might have sometimes felt confused by Billie’s thoughts, but I only ever wanted all the good things for her, and her friends and family. The conclusion is open-ended but satisfying.

Stevens avoids labels and wants young people to explore their sexuality safely, and not to feel beholden to adults who try to squeeze them into strict categories. Billie’s art is another avenue to explore her identity, and with the music of Woods and Janie Lee, and Davey’s interest in cosplay, we are given a great view into a range of creative fields. I shouldn’t leave out Fifty and Mash who provide much of the humour, but Stevens cannot fully develop all of the characters, and these two stay somewhat in the background, unfortunately. There is a terrific use of language that feels natural. It’s also extremely funny and sad, all at the same time.

I don’t have to peak around the door to know Einstein now says something ostentatious in Woods’s impeccable handwriting. Or to know that everyone in that room follows him to a new topic the way they’d follow him through the gates of hell. (p. 127)

Highly recommended for teenagers who love their stories diverse and inclusive, who appreciate small town traditions and the reasons why some kids might chose to stay (or return) and some want to leave the first chance they get. The romance levels are mild, but there’s a lot of kissing a lot of different characters, ‘just to check’ on the level of attraction, and best of all, friendships aren’t ruined when  the chemistry isn’t there. Underlying all the drama is the close bond between these friends, which isn’t always evident in YA novels. I was surprised, entertained and encouraged by this sassy smart story.

(Quotes taken from uncorrected proof copy. Pages may vary in the final version.)

Review: Paper Hearts by Ali Novak

Paper Hearts by Ali Novak

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN: 9781492653363
Released: July 4 2017

Read: 25 June 2017

When writing a romance novel, the most important thing is to get everything else right. Because basically readers don’t come for the ending. They know it’s a HEA. It’s a given. So the journey, the on-the-way, the path taken to reach it? That’s important. It has to feel right, because otherwise the romance won’t hold up.

At times, Paper Hearts doesn’t feel right. There are too many questions for which I wanted answers. The twist in the plot had too many holes, and it didn’t quite hit the shock value it was aiming for. But most unfortunately, I didn’t feel like I ever really knew Alec. I read the first book in this loosely connected series (about a boy band called The Heartbreakers), and even in that review I noted he seemed enigmatic, and one would think that, given this is HIS book, we would feel more connected. I didn’t. He’s as much a mystery by the end as he was in the beginning.

Everything is seen through Felicity’s point of view. She’s an open book. Her feelings, however, are closed up tight, and for much of the story, she remains focused on good grades, and getting into Harvard, even though anyone with their eyes half open can tell her passion lies elsewhere. Her decisions about her future were made when she was 13, when her older sister left and never returned. Felicity took on the burden of the well-behaved daughter, the reliable one, and we all know that meeting Alec is going to shake the foundations of her well-intentioned plans.

Felicity’s mother is a cardboard cut-out of a character. She serves only to be critical and meddlesome. Felicity has let her mother get away with some bad decisions, but at least we know why. We understand the loss of sister Rose has affected their mother badly, and it’s a clear reflection of Felicity’s generous heart. I wanted her to more appreciative of Felicity and oh, how about, not lie to her for years! (sorry, heading into spoiler territory there!)

I did like the way Felicity developed over the course of the novel. But really, aren’t the books meant to be about the boys in the band? Yes, by the end of the novel, Alec is also more confident, more independent, but we have little understanding of how he gets to that point, because of course, when the big misunderstanding happens, we follow Felicity and never see how Alec deals with the breakup. It’s frustrating. There was also way too much reliance on Felicity overhearing half-understood conversations, which didn’t help provide any insight into Alec.

A little research shows that these books started on as online stories, and now are being published in print. It’s great to see authors who have gained fans via an online forum getting to see their work in traditional media, and I will be interested to see the following titles that will show us the other two band members, Xander and JJ find their happy-ever-after. You might ask, why read these books if I’m just going to be critical? Well, I do love a romance. I always have. But I want more than eyes lighting up at the sight of him/her, and I don’t deserve you. And Paper Hearts just didn’t hit those highs.

Thanks to publisher, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the advanced copy. If you read the first book, you will want to catch up with all the band members here. There is one long extended sequence in which the Heartbreakers all appear. It’s a lovely bit of bonding. The road trip has some funny moments, and Felicity’s best friends, Asha and Boomer are their own special sub-plot.

Published on July 4.