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[260]: All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

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!

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All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: October 10, 2017

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Here is a thing everyone wants: a miracle.

Here is a thing everyone fears: what it takes to get one.

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars.

At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo.

They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.

Excerpt:

“The box truck, he thought, had to be the answer.” (Hardback, pg. 111)

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!

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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?

Teaser Tuesday[218]: It’s All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick

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!

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It’s All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: January 2016

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. BookDepository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

My name is Caitlin and up until forty-eight hours ago I had never:

Tasted alcohol, kissed a boy, sang in public at the top of my lungs, kidnapped anyone or—WHAT? STOLEN A CONVERTIBLE?

Now I’m in jail and I have no idea what I’m going to tell:

The police, my parents, the mayor, all of those camera crews and everyone on Twitter.

I have just noticed that:

My nose is pierced and I have—WAIT? IS THAT A TATTOO?

I blame one person for this entire insane weekend:

My famous cousin.

Who is also my former best friend.

Who I have HATED for the past four years.

Who I miss like crazy. NO I DON’T!!!!

IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT, HELLER HARRIGAN!!!!

Excerpt:

“Heller was looking right at me, to see if she could trust me. I wasn’t sure how to reassure her—I almost reached out to touch her arm but that felt fake, as if I was her minister or guidance counselor. I just nodded, which I hoped was enough.” (ARC, pg. 121)

What are you reading right now?