Novel Review: Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: 2017

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

What do you do when you’ve fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems... and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

The Cover:

This cover is super cute. I like that it shows the museum aspect, since it's such an important part, and then the couple and the font is just super cute, all without being too embarrassing.

Review:

For a long while in this book, I really thought it was going in a particular direction, and had accepted that. Which made me conflicted when it went somewhere else in the end—even though that was the direction I originally wanted.

Abby is an artist, and she's trying to get accepted to art school and get her pieces put in an art show at the museum she works at. When she's told that she doesn't have enough experience—enough life experience—she decides to make a list and do some new things, challenge herself a little. Most of her friends are away for the summer, which leaves her with only Cooper, her closest friend and whom she's had a crush on forever.

I typically really like list-related series. They're fun to me and add some interesting challenges/plots for the characters, and I'm a list kind of person. I will admit the list took to the background a bit in this book. It was still fun and made Abby put herself out there, but it wasn't as important as it is in some books.

I also really liked Cooper, and am always a sucker for friends-to-lovers stories. For a really long time it felt like their relationship was going in one direction, because Cooper was fighting it so hard and Abby was still recovering from a failed earlier attempt. But their relationship was so close, and it was clear when they both became jealous, that it didn't make sense for it to end any other way. There was no way that Cooper didn't feel the same way for her, he was insane for thinking otherwise.

West's books are either just okay or a real hit for me, and this one was sadly the former. I did really like parts, particularly Cooper and Abby's relationship. I also liked Abby's parents and family situation, and completely understood when she got upset at what her father did and how her family reacted/let her down. But there were still parts that were just okay to me. This was more fun than not, but not a favorite at this point.

Novel Review: Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Point (Scholastic)

Release Date: May 2018

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere.

The Cover:

I really like this cover. It's cute and flirty, and gives good hints to what the story is about. The story definitely has elements of the lake, though not necessarily this activity, and it could show the podcast instead. But either way I think this works and it's cute, and I definitely appreciate that the two models look like the main couple.

Review:

This felt more like West's first books. I didn't want to put it down, and I really grew to love the characters.

I liked Kate from the beginning. She's rather straight-faced and quiet, and she doesn't want any attention. And yet she ends up being a host on her school's podcast, by accident. Giving advice to people, when she doesn't even know how to talk on a microphone. She ends up playing the straight-man to her co-host's charm, and it works well for both of them. I was actually surprised they didn't end up closer friends, as that felt a bit like a missed opportunity, but it also made sense.

I really liked the podcast; the shows were fun to read. Then there was a mix-up of crushes, some back and forth and confusion and worrying, because Kate and her best friend Alana end up falling for the wrong guys, without realizing it and without talking to each other. While it could have been frustrating, and did cause some issues, I mostly enjoyed the way it played out. There was some confusion as they mixed it up and tried not to, because they didn't want to hurt each other. And I liked both Frank and Diego, a lot. Kate had a big family, too, and I liked the antics with them, and how it turned out for her brother.

This book was a lot of fun to read, and is probably one of my favorites of West now. It makes me excited to catch up with her books again.

Novel Review: Lucky in Love by Kasie West

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance; Lottery

Publisher: Point (Scholastic)

Release Date: 2017

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Can’t buy me love…

Maddie’s not impulsive. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment—

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun…until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

The Cover:

  

This cover is super cute to me. I think the merry-go-round gives a different impression, since they work at a zoo, but it is kind of relevant. And otherwise, I think it gives the right feel, makes it look sweet and fluffy, like it mostly is.

Review:

Maddie is very strict in her ways and has a plan for herself and is on her way to getting it. But on a disappointing night, she decides to purchase a lottery ticket, pretty much in spite. And then she wins, and everything changes.

During all of this, when people start asking for money and trying to use her and she doesn't know who's actually her friend anymore, there's always the zoo she works at, and Seth. Seth doesn't seem to know, and he's still there to joke around and flirt with.

I will admit that I didn't get into this one as much as I have some of West's previous books. It was cute, but just okay overall.

I did like Seth, and the zoo elements. Those were a lot of fun. And I enjoyed the quirky, flawed elements in them. Maddie sometimes speaks when she doesn't mean to, and she usually acknowledged it, even aloud, which I thought was refreshing.

Maddie's brother annoyed me—but probably because I related to Maddie in that way. I didn't completely buy how easy Trina decided to be friends with Maddie. And I also didn't really agree with how Maddie blamed Elise for the article—I really don't think she meant anything bad by it, and it sounded more like she gave them hints than any real details. I was sympathetic to Elise—she just doesn't know what she wants with her life, and she just wants people to like her. I don't think it was her fault, and the journalist could have easily researched the numbers after mentions of places and dates.

This was cute and fun, but just okay in the end.

Teaser Tuesday[266]: Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

-----------------------------------

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: December 26, 2017

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being. But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems… and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

This is the first in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters.

Excerpt:

“'That's probably not true, but it's good you know your weaknesses.'” (Hardback, pg. 112)

What are you reading right now?

Teaser Tuesday[236]: By Your Side by Kasie West

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

---------------------------------------------------

By Your Side by Kasie West

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: January , 2017

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this irresistible story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson.

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

Excerpt:

“'Looks like mine is about to fall,' he said, standing up.” (Paperback, pg. 106)

What are you reading?

Teaser Tuesday[220]: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

----------------------------------

 

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Point (Scholastic)

Release Date: July 2016

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

Excerpt:

“Why didn’t you tell me? It felt like being slapped in the face today when I saw him at that desk.” (Hardback, pg. 153)

What’re you reading?

Wishlist Thursday[168]: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Point

Release Date: July 26, 2016

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

Why?:

I’ve enjoyed all of West’s previous books, and they’ve all been ones that I read in one sitting and are over way too soon. So I’m very excited to get my hands on this one and do just that. I like her contemporary novels for that especially, too. They’re fun and cute and sweet and fast.

I am a little annoyed that this is her first one being released in hardback, but I understand why, and I don’t mind too much. I can get over it.

What’s on your list?