Book Review: SMASH IT by Francina Simone

This book has such an AWESOME cover! It immediately drew me in. Scroll down for my complete review.

 

SMASH IT!

By Francina Simone

On Sale: September 22, 2020

INKYARD PRESS

ISBN: 978-1335146502

368 pages

Description from the Publisher:

Olivia “Liv” James is done with letting her insecurities get the best of her. So she does what any self-respecting hot mess of a girl who wants to SMASH junior year does…

After Liv shows up to a Halloween party in khaki shorts—why?—she decides to set aside her wack AF ways. She makes a list—a F*ck-It list.

1. Be bold—do the thing that scares me.

2. Learn to take a compliment.

3. Stand out instead of back.

She kicks it off by trying out for the school musical, saying yes to a date and making new friends. Life is great when you stop punking yourself! However, with change comes a lot of missteps, and being bold means following her heart. So what happens when Liv’s heart is interested in three different guys—and two of them are her best friends? What is she supposed to do when she gets dumped by a guy she’s not even dating? How does one Smash It! after the humiliation of being friend-zoned?

In Liv’s own words, “F*ck it. What’s the worst that can happen?”

A lot, apparently.

About the Author:

Francina Simone believes in one thing: authenticity. She writes YA stories full of humor and hard life lessons with sprinkles of truth that make us all feel understood. Her craft focuses on stories about girls throwing caution to the wind to discover exactly who they are and what it means to love. Francina is also known for her BookTube channel, where she discusses controversial topics in books.

My Review:

SMASH IT by Francina Simone paints a fascinating picture of life as a teenage girl -- a girl who just wants to have the guts to be herself. While I was never into the theater scene, I certainly was a girl who wanted to be myself. Problem was . . . figuring out who exactly that was! Simone does a great job of exploring that idea within the pages of SMASH IT.

One way the main character tries to find herself is by stepping out of her comfort zone and auditioning for the school play. (You don't have to be a theater buff or a teenage girl to enjoy this book!) The process allows her to meet new people and have experiences she would have missed out on otherwise.

I'm not a huge Shakespeare buff, so a lot of the references within the story were lost on me. But this didn't diminish my ability to enjoy the story line. Another element that was lost on me was much of the slang. I don't know if it was because I'm from a different region of the country or because I'm older or because I'm white, but nonetheless, I had fun extrapolating the intended meanings.

There are a lot of sexual themes and a few scenes in the book - but when you're trying to figure out who you are and how to grow into yourself and love yourself - your sexuality plays a significant role in that process. The author did a fabulous and thoughtful job with this topic.

Because she's working on finding herself, she creates a "F*ck It List" to help her overcome her insecurities. So, obviously, be forewarned if you have a huge aversion to cuss words; they are used a lot in this story.  But also, keep in mind, her list serves a terrific purpose. Here's an example of it:

1. Be bold - do the things that scare me.

2. Learn to take a compliment. 

3. Stand out instead of back.

Page after page, I found myself smiling because:

Simone is a great writer with an ability to fully immerse the reader within the story world.

Some of my favorite lines from the story:

"I look like the freak who has no social shame. The truth is I have too much social shame. So much shame that it seeps out of me like fresh cut garlic on the back of the tongue."

"I'm not uncool, but I do these uncool things as if I'm addicted to self-sabotage."

"I don't drink -- I think alcohol is nasty. Like, who chooses to drink that burn-your-throat-flavor when you could drink a smoothie? I'd rather die fat than from liver problems."

"If I'm going to stand out, then I have to start standing on my own."

[I received an early copy for free from the publisher via Net Galley. This did not influence my opinion.]

Book Review: BREATH LIKE WATER by Anna Jarzab

After recently taking swim lessons (as an adult!), I was intrigued by the description of this book. I jumped at the opportunity to read an early copy, and it was the BEST book I've read in ages! Scroll down for my complete review.

Breath Like Water
by Anna Jarzab
Publication Date: May 19, 2020
ISBN: 978-1335050236
Publisher: Inkyard Press

Description from Publisher:
Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews. As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost—and the beauty—of trying to achieve something extraordinary.

About the Author:
Anna Jarzab is the author of All Unquiet Things, The Opposite of Hallelujah, Tandem, Tether, Red Dirt, and Breath Like Water. She lives in New York City and works in children's book publishing. Visit her online at www.annajarzab.com and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @ajarzab.



My Review:

Anyone who's ever dealt with an overbearing, in-your-face coach ... anyone who's ever dealt with disappointment ... anyone who's ever dealt with mental illness ... and/or anyone who's ever wanted a goal so badly every fiber of their being ached for it ... should read this book!

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab was simply the best book I've read in ages. The writing was terrific and easy to read. The characters were well developed. The plot was captivating. The setting was fascinating. And I was intrigued from page one.

Often times in books targeted at the young adult audience, the parents are absent from the story or neglectful in some regard (in order to let the teenager solve his/her own problems, which is a necessary story device). However, in Breath Like Water, the main character's parents were present, supportive, and realistic. And the main character, Susannah, was still able to solve her own problems. I think this is true in real life more often than we acknowledge. Part of good parenting is allowing your children to make their own decisions, and part of being a teenager is making choices regardless of what your parents may recommend.

"It's my responsibility to take care of you, and to teach you how to take care of yourself. I take it seriously."

Another huge adult influence in the lives of teens is a coach. If a teen is blessed with a great one, the benefits are limitless. If a teen is cursed with a bad one, the damage is limitless, and the belittling can cause scars that carry into other aspects of their lives and far into adulthood. Breath Like Water explores the two different types of coaches. Many times, parents are never fully aware of the harmful things coaches say to their kids. Books such as Breath Like Water will help many young adults realize it's not just them being verbally abused and bullied by their coaches. This happens to a lot of people. They're not alone, and they can rise above it.

"Dave has been my coach for nearly ten years. He knows exactly what knives cut the deepest, and he keeps them nice and sharp at all times."

My only criticism of this story: I wanted Susannah to be more inquisitive around Harry sooner. I wanted her to care enough about him to ask him questions and probe into his life. This aspect pulled me from the story, aware that the author was making me wait for the information.

Nonetheless, I loved this book so much! Jarzab's storytelling was captivating, and her writing was inspiring. She made me feel emotions deeply; I cried several times (tears of joy, relief, and sadness). She made me stand taller, feeling seen for my own abilities and struggles. We are not alone. We are strong. We are capable.

"Failure is an intersection, but even though I took a detour for a while, I ended up on a better stretch of the same road." 

Breath Like Water offers hope and encouragement to anyone, any age, striving to manage their lives, overcome their circumstances, and achieve their goals. 

For those concerned with triggers, be aware that this book deals with topics of mental illness and suicide.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"There's no worse struggle than the one that never begins."

"How do you even begin to mourn the death of a dream?"

"A year ago, I had no idea [Harry] existed. Now, nothing seems to have really happened until I've told him about it."

"And fighting, not for the promise of a reward but simply for one's own satisfaction is the greatest glory a person can attain."

"Failure is an intersection."

"To demonstrate the skills that I'm so proud of ... I have to open myself up to the censure of the world, which will judge me according to its standards, not mine."

"I'm starting to understand the power of individual moments. The joy that can be found when you're not too distracted by the faraway horizon to appreciate the beauty of where you're standing."

"Just because a dream won't bend to your will when it's convenient doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing."


[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher for free, via Net Galley, which in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: MALICE by Pintip Dunn

Malice by Pintip Dunn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Pintip Dunn delivers a fun, twisty, time-travel adventure in her latest novel, MALICE!

Dunn wastes no time jumping right into the story. So buckle in before you pick this one up because you'll be turning pages to find out what's going to happen next. Of course, if you're afraid of the current real-life virus spanning the globe, you may want to wash your hands and wear a mask (not really, just joking!) because this story is a mix of TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger and PANDEMIC by Yvonne Ventresca.

I loved the majority of the story. The only part that rubbed me wrong was the gun handling. As a person from Idaho, where we love our guns, go target shooting, and teach safe gun handling, I felt like the characters were uneducated in the safe handling of and respect for dangerous firearms. It felt too casual, as if no training is necessary and as if taking a life is no big deal. Other than that ;) I enjoyed the book.

Dunn writes, "Because of the virus ... It was manufactured to be highly contagious ..." YIKES! And the main character says, "I refuse to think about the Voice. Because it either means I'm slowly but surely losing my grip on reality...or someone really did hack into my brain and can now force me to do anything she wants." YIKES!

So . . . as you stock up in preparation for the current real-life pandemic, be sure to add MALICE to your stack of books to read while quarantined.


[I received a free copy of MALICE from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]




View all my reviews

Book Review: DON'T READ THE COMMENTS by Eric Smith

I've admired Eric Smith's work as a literary agent for years, and when I was offered the opportunity to read his new novel, I jumped at the chance! He's a great agent, but can he write, too? Scroll on down for my full review.

Don't Read the Comments 
Author: Eric Smith
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Publisher: Inkyard Press
ISBN: 9781335016027

Description from the Publisher:
Two teen gamers find their virtual worlds—and blossoming romance—invaded by the real-world issues of trolling and doxxing in the gaming community.

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she’s trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho’s entire life. Much to his mother’s frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron’s dreams and Divya’s actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn’t going down without a fight.

Author Bio:
Eric Smith is an author, prolific book blogger, and literary agent from New Jersey, currently living in Philadelphia. Smith cohosts Book Riot’s newest podcast, HEY YA, with non-fiction YA author Kelly Jensen. He can regularly be found writing for Book Riot’s blog, as well as Barnes & Noble’s Teen Reads blog, Paste Magazine, and Publishing Crawl. Smith also has a growing Twitter platform of over 40,000 followers.

Social Links: 
Author website: https://www.ericsmithrocks.com/
Twitter: @ericsmithrocks
Instagram: @ericsmithrocks
Facebook: @ericsmithwrites

My Review:

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith is a fun quick read!

At first, I was concerned that this story would only appeal to gamers, with terms like doxxing, trolling, and streaming. (Doxxing--or doxing--means, according to Google: "searching for and publishing private or identifying information about a particular individual on the Internet, typically with malicious intent.") But even with gaming description and terminology, this story will appeal to all fans of young adult literature.

With diverse characters, a captivating plot, and unique settings, Don't Read the Comments kept my attention from the first to the last page!

I enjoyed almost all the characters, except for Divya's mom. She relied on Divya too much and had huge blinders on when it came to Divya's needs. And, actually, Aaron's mom, too, was not my favorite. I wanted at least one mom who encouraged and facilitated their child's dreams. But the story wasn't necessarily about the moms. It was about the teens who wanted to enjoy and pursue their online gaming experiences without being harassed by stupid Internet trolls. Seriously, don't those people have better things to do with their time?! They need a worthwhile hobby or a team sport to better utilize their energy! I do wish the characters had been developed a bit more with richer, fuller arcs. Specifically, I wanted Rebekah's inner demons resolved. Aaron, by far, was my favorite character!

The sections that feature gaming details read like a science-fiction novel. It was fun to have a sci-fi element embedded within a contemporary novel. For example: "With a hum, the landing pads extend, emitting a soft rumbling under my feet."

However, some of the gaming references and details felt like commercials for products. "...plugins courtesy of Samsung."

If language matters to you, there are a few f-words spattered throughout, but overall there are minimal cuss words.

There were sections that made me gasp. Such as the moment Divya realizes just how close the trolls have gotten to her in the real world: "I click it. It opens. And I see a photograph of my apartment building. My breath catches in my throat. How? How could this have happened?" 

Overall, I highly enjoyed Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith. The writing is terrific and the story is fun.


[I received an early copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: DAY ZERO by Kelly deVos

Oh, I love thrillers, and I love novels written for the young adult audience! So when I was offered a copy of DAY ZERO to read, I jumped at the opportunity! Scroll down for my complete review.

DAY ZERO
Author: Kelly deVos
ISBN:  978-1335008480
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Publisher: Inkyard Press


Description from the Publisher
Don’t miss the exhilarating new novel from the author of Fat Girl on a Plane, featuring a fierce, bold heroine who will fight for her family and do whatever it takes to survive. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It series and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave series will
cheer for this fast-paced, near-future thrill ride. If you’re going through hell…keep going. Seventeen-year-old coder Jinx Marshall grew up spending weekends drilling with her paranoid dad for a doomsday she’s sure will never come. She’s an expert on self-heating meal rations, Krav Maga, and extracting water from a barrel cactus. Now that her parents are divorced, she’s ready to relax. Her big plans include making it to level 99 in her favorite MMORPG and spending the weekend with her new hunky stepbrother, Toby. But all that disaster training comes in handy when an explosion traps her in a burning building. Stuck leading her headstrong stepsister, MacKenna, and her precocious little brother, Charles, to safety, Jinx gets them out alive only to discover the explosion is part of a pattern of violence erupting all over the country. Even worse, Jinx’s dad stands accused of triggering the chaos. In a desperate attempt to evade paramilitary forces and vigilantes, Jinx and her siblings find Toby and make a break for Mexico. With seemingly the whole world working against them, they’ve got to get along and search for the truth about the attacks—and about each other. But if they can survive, will there be anything left worth surviving for?


About the Author
KELLY DEVOS is from Gilbert, Arizona, where she lives with her high school sweetheart husband, amazing teen daughter and superhero dog, Cocoa. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. When not reading or writing, Kelly can typically be found with a mocha in hand, bingeing the latest TV shows and adding to her ever-growing sticker collection. Her debut novel, Fat Girl on a Plane, named one of the "50 Best Summer Reads of All Time" by Reader's Digest magazine, is available now from HarperCollins. Kelly's work has been featured in the New York Times as well as on Salon, Vulture and Bustle.

Twitter: @kdevosauthor
Facebook: @kellydevosbooks
Instagram: @kellydevos


My Review

In DAY ZERO, Kelly deVos brings us a political doomsday thriller jam packed with explosive action, plot twists, and unique settings.

At first, I was concerned that the story was going to sink too heavily into a political commentary, but once the action started, deVos deftly balanced out the politics with the additional plot elements. And honestly, such is the nature of a political thriller: a story involving political corruption, terrorism, and warfare while two opposing forces fight for control of the system. The tricky part here was the story is targeted at the young adult audience. So while the main character was a teenage girl, many of the decisions and resolutions in the plot line were made by adults. 

The beginning of the story contained quite a bit of set-up, but around the twenty-percent mark, the story started moving at a nice clip and constant adventure and action filled the pages.

I love a story that surprises me, and DAY ZERO offered plenty of plot twists—clear up to the final pages—keeping me engaged and wondering what would happen next.

Strong writing stood out in the action scenes while shorter sentences spattered the slower scenes, such as: “I force down mouthfuls of cheese pizza. The slice is cold and clammy. The cheese tastes like plastic.”

There were many passages of writing that I absolutely loved. Some of my favorites included:

“Next to the register, a stack of plastic dancing turkey figurines shake in unison from side to side. This is going to be the last thing I see. My last moments on earth will be spent thinking Gobble till you wobble.”

“A tall, grimly thin, gray-haired man emerges from a small room at the back. His hair shoots out in every direction, and he’s dressed in overalls so dirty that I was probably a small child the last time anyone washed them.”

“Everyone has a mother.”

“There’s no upside to being the daughter of the devil.”

“She thinks if she doesn’t pick any battles, there’s no way she can lose.”

“A zero-day exploit is a piece of malware that’s been hanging around for a while. Day Zero is the moment when the user becomes aware that they’re screwed. It’s usually the start of something. Something terrible.”

Final verdict: If you enjoy action, adventure, doomsday plots, and/or political thrillers, DAY ZERO by Kelly deVos is a book for you!



[I received this book for free from the publisher via Net Galley. This did not influence my opinion.]

Book Review: STORM AND FURY by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I was given the opportunity to read an early copy of STORM AND FURY by bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, I jumped at it! Scroll on down for my complete review.

STORM AND FURY
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
June 11, 2019 - Inkyard Press
ISBN: 978-1335218797

Description from the Publisher
Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

About the Author
# 1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. Find her on Twitter @JLArmentrout or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.



My Review

In STORM AND FURY, Jennifer L. Armentrout has created dynamic characters, steamy romance scenes, and unexpected plot twists. 

Armentrout is a fabulous story teller, and I loved STORM AND FURY. I especially enjoyed the secondary characters - specifically Zayne. The main character, Trinity, seemed a bit scattered and inconsistent, but Zayne was well developed and fun to follow. This was the first book I've read by Armentrout, and I didn't realize beforehand that this was a spin-off from another series. Without having read any of her other books, I was still able to fully follow the plot and characters in this story. And now . . . I want to go and read the other series!

Additionally, even though STORM AND FURY is the first book in a new series, the plot was wrapped up beautifully, and I look forward to the next book. 

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"I wasn't part-Warden, either, and they were like real-life superheroes, hunting down the bad guys, if superheroes were, well, gargoyles."

"Isn't that evil's greatest achievement? It often hides itself in innocence?"

"My iron blade clattered onto the driveway, settling in a pile of demon dust."



[I received a free advanced copy from the publisher via Net Galley, which in no way influenced my opinion.]