Tag: Jenn Bennett

A 2020 YA FAVORITE: Chasing Lucky Review

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Summary (from the publisher): 

Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is…

 

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

If there was only one book I was going to fall head-over-heels in love with in 2020, it was Jenn Bennett’s Chasing Lucky. How could I not fall in love with a book by one of my all-time favorite authors that takes place in the summer on the East Coast AND whose main character’s family owns a bookstore AND develops feelings for her ex-best friend? I was fortunate enough to have read an early copy of Chasing Lucky back in February, with the book originally being slated to come out in May, but its release date was pushed to November during the height of the pandemic. I’m so happy that everyone can read the book that stole my heart earlier in this year now – I’m already planning to dive into my finished copy!

There is SO much to explore about Chasing Lucky, but let’s start with the one element guaranteed to please all readers: THE BOOKSTORE! Chasing Lucky begins with Josie and her mom’s move back to their New England hometown in Rhode Island to run the family bookstore, Siren’s Book Nook. Since the town, Beauty, is set right on the water, Siren’s Book Nook’s takes on a nautical theme, but is just as cozy as you would expect from a Jenn Bennett book. I’m also ready to be best friends with Josie’s cousin, Evie, who spends her breaks at the bookstore reading paperback romances. Josie is also a photographer at heart, and the bookstore’s backroom doubles as her dark room. While the plot doesn’t directly involve the bookstore, I really loved having this setting and atmosphere. 

Speaking of atmosphere, the overall setting of Chasing Lucky that is Beauty makes me want to take a trip up to New England ASAP! Told over Josie’s summer, Chasing Lucky transports readers to the best season of the year to this small, coastal town. I loved Josie’s trips to the town’s nautical-themed coffee ship and the days spent near on the water. 

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Summer Reading Recommendations: The YA Edition

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Instead of doing one mega summer reading recommendations post, I wanted to spread the summer reading love around and do recommendations in stages. While last week I shared summer reading recs based on what I read in 2019, today I’ll be talking about all the YA books that are perfect summertime reads. 

When I think of YA summer reads, my mind instantly goes to Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door. My Life Next Door was THE hot book of 2014/2015, especially on BookTube. In honor of this post, I actually reread My Life Next Door during my beach and pool days this week! It wasn’t as amazing as I remembered it to be – it definitely moved down from a 5 star to a 4 star read because it really didn’t provide solutions to the book’s conflicts – it still is a really great atmospheric summer read, as it takes place in a Connecticut beach town. I never read the companion novel, The Boy Most Likely To, so I actually might give it a read this summer! 

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Althought it doesn’t come out until July 28th, you better adjust your summer reading plans now to include Rachel Lynn Solomon’s upcoming novel, Today Tonight Tomorrow. Taking place on the last day of senior year, enemies Rowan and Neil must pair together to win their senior class game. This book’s swoony romance and adventure provides for a fun way to fulfill some wanderlust this summer. 

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett – I am a firm believer that all of Jenn Bennett’s YA contemporaries make for perfect summer reads, but Starry Eyes especially does so! The book follows best friends turned enemies Zorie and Lennon’s group camping trip gone wrong. 

Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll – One book that I always wish got more love is Jen Doll’s Unclaimed Baggage – how can its adorable cover NOT grab your attention! I actually read Unclaimed Baggage on vacation two summers ago. It is such a unique summer contemporary, following three teens and unlikely friends working at a lost luggage store for the summer.

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SWOON-WORTHY ADVENTURE: The Lady Rogue Review

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Summary (from the publisher):
Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.the-lady-rogue-9781534431997_lg

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

 

 My Rating: 5/5 Stars

 My Thoughts:

Everyone knows how much I love Jenn Bennett’s YA contemporaries. Her first 2019 release, Serious Moonlight,  is very much a contender for my favorite book of the year. Jenn Bennett has once again swept me away with her second book of 2019, The Lady Rogue. With The Lady Rogue, Jenn Bennett has transitioned from YA contemporary to YA historical fantasy. Set in late 1930s Romania, the book follows Theodora and her ex-best friend Huck as they set off to find Theodora’s missing in action and explorer of a father while also searching for a magical ring rumored to have been owned by Vlad the Impaler-otherwise known as Dracula.

No matter the genre, I once again fell into Jenn Bennett’s writing from the get-go. I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary this summer with some fantasy and historical fiction in between, but The Lady Rogue made me crave more books within these two genres! As a young woman in the 1930s, Theo’s father does often not let her accompany him as his expeditions. Theo is sick of being stuck in hotel rooms and being basically babysat by her tutors, especially while Huck gets to join her father. Despite being often restricted from explorations, I loved Theo’s sense of adventure and this book was really about her getting to have her own time in the spotlight. From crossword puzzles to cryptic messages, Theo loves solving mysteries, and she definitely leads the two in finding answers about her father and the ring.

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2019 FAVORITE READ: Serious Moonlight Review & Inspired Recipe

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36511805._UY2114_SS2114_Summary (from the publisher): Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Thoughts: 

Between Alex, Approximately and Starry Eyes, Jenn Bennett stole my contemporary-loving heart in 2018. Her latest novel, Serious Moonlight, is and now was my most anticipated release of 2019, thanks to its swoon-worthy synopsis. Swoon-worthy for the romance, and swoon-worthy for the fact that this book follows a mystery book-loving girl working in a hotel and trying to solve a mystery with her swoon-worthy co-worker. So basically any (okay, my) fangirl’s dreams!

It may be no surprise, but I seriously adored Serious Moonlight. I loved just about every element in this book. From the atmospheric setting to the relatable characters to the romance, Serious Moonlight is a new favorite read of mine.

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Serious Moonlight is set in Seattle. While I plan on travelling to the West Coast one day, this book solidified my goal to visit the city. Jenn Bennett made this book feel so atmospheric, from Pike Place to the Cascadia (the hotel where Birdie and Daniel work) to the Space Needle. My favorite spot was probably the Moonlight Diner, and I promise it’s not just for the pie. But seriously, this book made me break out my apple pie recipe! I’d love to try and recreate a few of the Moonlight’s pie of the days!

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REREADING FAVORITES & SERIES: 2019 Reread Goals

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Us book bloggers (okay, ME) always talk about books that we need to reread.

I am definitely someone who’s been working on her rereading over the past two years -yes, my TBR still scares me, but we’re working on our relationship. I intend to reread the following books  at some point this year, either for revisiting a favorite read or necessary for continuing a series.

FAVORITES REREADS

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Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

Stay Sweet was the type of book I went in expecting to love and I thankfully did. Siobhan Vivian has become one of my favorite contemporary authors. I’m really hoping her next book comes out this year, but nevertheless, I want to revisit Stay Sweet to re-experience those ice cream and summertime feels.

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The Anna and the French Kiss trilogy by Stephanie Perkins: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, & Isla and the Happily Ever After

The Anna and the French Kiss trilogy is such a YA staple. I often reference these three book in Top Five Wednesday or recommendations posts, so I think it’s time to re-learn why I love this series so much.

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WEST COAST WANDERLUST: Alex, Approximately Review

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Summary: Bailey “Mink” Rydell has yet to meet someone who loves classic movies as much as she does IRL. At least she has her fellow witty film geek and online friend Alex, who she may or may not have a crush on. The two live on opposite sides of the county anyway, until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as Alex. Faced with fear that her online relationship is too good to be true face-to-face, Bailey decides not to tell Alex that she’s moved to his hometown. Besides, she’s too busy working at the local tourist-trap museum, where she’s tormented daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter. Porter is supposed to be Bailey’s archenemy, her villain – until Bailey begins to feel something for him that’s not exactly hate. 

My Rating: 4.25/5 Stars

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My Thoughts:

A congratulations or two OR TWENTY is in order for so many of my blogger friends and fellow bloggers for convincing me to finally pick up Jenn Bennett’s Alex, Approximately. After being a bit obsessed with Starry Eyes earlier this summer, I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed Alex Approximately– yay to being able to add another fun summer contemporary to my read pile!

In my opinion, Alex Approximately was a unique YA read for a few reasons:

  • Bailey, Grace and Porter’s workplace. The Cave isn’t the most normal of museums, but Bailey and Grace had so much fun working in the Hot Box together (for the most part)
  • There’s a ton of old school movie love between Bailey, Alex, and Porter
  • -Bailey and Porter both have traumatic experiences before the start of the novel. I’m not sure how I exactly feel about Bailey’s situation yet (I know that fiction gets to be fiction, but it felt a little bit left field still), but I understand its purpose for the connection between her and Porter.
  • Alex Approximately has one of the best YA contemporary covers ever. Reminder to pick up a movie screen and cute string lights for my backyard ASAP.
  • There’s intimate romance done right! AKA no cringe-moments! I loveeeeeeeee YA contemporary with all of my heart, but often romance scenes can be a bit cringe. However, I think Jenn Bennett wrote the intimate/sexual scenes so well (I also noticed this in Starry Eyes). Bailey and Porter also both come off as really mature characters.

Speaking of characters, I loved so many of the side characters in Alex, Approximately, including Bailey’s dad, Mrs. Roth, Grace and Pangborn. I think we’ve gotten to a point in YA where parents and family members are present and ARE AWESOME. Bailey’s dad and Porter’s parents are no exception.

If there’s one thing that was frustrating me as a reader of books’ covers, IT’S THAT ALEX, APPROXIMATELY’S REAL BLURB SORT’VE SPOILS THE BOOK! Warning: if you want to go into Alex, Approximately with zilch idea of who Alex could be, DO NOT READ THE BLURB ON THE PHYSICAL COPY. Even though halfway through the book it’s not hard to figure out Alex’s real identity, next time please save my non-spoiler wishing self.

Overall, Alex, Approximately is perfect for any movie-loving, especially You’ve Got Mail, YA readers. I’m highly anticipating Jenn Bennett’s 2019 release, Serious Moonlight, and I just added The Anatomical Shape of a Heart to my TBR.

 Have you read Alex, Approximately? What’s your favorite Jenn Bennett book? Share in the comments!

Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

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Summary: Ever since last year’s homecoming, best-friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have done everything to avoid each other. It’s a bit hard though when you live in the same small town and your families are the modern-day Montagues and Caputlets. But when a camping trip goes a bit unexpected (besides Lennon being there, much to Zorie’s dismay), the two find themselves stranded in the wilderness alone together. As the two travel through northern California’s backcountry, with plenty of jabs and insults in tow, Zorie and Lennon’s hidden past and secrets resurface. Maybe they aren’t Romeo & Juliet after all?

 My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

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My Thoughts:

My craving for summer contemporaries continued in June with Jenn Bennett’s Starry Eyes. After seeing everyone’s love for Alex Approximately, I knew that it was time to pick up Jenn Bennett’s latest book.

Zorie was such a fun main protagonist because she was such a unique YA character! I loved her interst in astrology and I really need to raid her eye glasses collection! I really enjoyed her relationship with her stepmother, especially because stepparents and teens tend to be pitied against one another in most YA cases. Also, I’ve never met a character named Zorie?? And guessing by Lennon’s moms’ interest in music triva, I think it’s safe to assume that Lennon is named after a Beatle.

The book is spilt into three parts, and I admit that I was nervous that we would get both Lennon and Zorie’s perspectives. This is not to say that I disliked Lennon because I did really like him as a character and romantic interest, but I wanted to see everything from Zorie’s point-of-view. I think we wouldn’t have gotten to fully experience Zorie’s first time in the real great outdoors and her indesiveness over her relationship with Lennon.

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Can we also get more YA novels about camping trips and hiking??? While I love being outside, I never really considered hiking, but Jenn Bennett has totally inspired me to do so. Minus the camping part and having to deal with bears and mountain lions. I’ll take a day hiking with Lennon and Zorie, but let me come home to a book and a new episode of The Bold Type, please! It was fun to see Lennon, a wildnerness extraordinaire, and Zorie, a wildnerness un-extraodrinaire, jusxtaposed against one another, and I liked seeing Zorie warm up to this setting. The glamping campground was also fun, yet understandly short-lived. I especially loved when Zorie and Reagan go shopping for glamping supplies, and Zories refers to a yurt as yogurt.

Overall, I really enjoyed Starry Eyes for its unique story and setting, and yes my contemporary romance fans, there’s plenty of romance in this gem! It was more steamy than I expected, but everyone needs a fun summer romance!

Have you read Starry Eyes? Share in the comments!