Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC of You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings.

I want to start by saying I absolutely loved this story and these characters so much. There are so many big and complex emotions with each of the characters, and every single one is justified and valid (except Conner, f*ck him), but so much of the conflict stemmed from the absolute lack of communication between anyone in this group. They were all confused and hurt by each other because anytime something happened, they would either ice each other out or get into a yelling match. And I understand the use of miscommunication, especially in a group so young in such a high-stakes, high-stress situation, but I knew no peace while reading this 😭

That being said, I do think there were so many important topics discussed in this book, and I do think Mazey Eddings did a really great job handling them with care, in my personal opinion. The two biggest topics that I thought were well done were the discussion of sexuality and the exploration of emotions. I loved how sexuality was explored throughout this book. I think sexuality is such a personal experience, and there is no timeline for discovering who you are and how you want to exist in this world. Everyone’s journey is so different, and we see a small glimpse of that with Cubby and Darcy. I felt so many emotions reading about Darcy’s story in particular because she didn’t have a safe family to come out to, and that really was such a huge part of this story and why it was so special when she finally allowed herself to love out loud.

I also really appreciated how big Cubby’s emotions were and how she internalized other people’s opinions of her. So often women get told our feelings are too much or too dramatic, but they were such a vital part of Cubby, and her “big” feelings were what helped her create art. As someone who has always been told I’m too sensitive, I really connected with Cubby, even when it sometimes felt uncomfortable to read how she felt about herself because I saw so much of myself in her.

All the characters in this book were so well written, had so much depth, and I feel like so many people will be able to relate to their stories. They also represented so many different versions of love from romantic, platonic, found family and really everything in between. We see such a beautiful blend of characters, who don’t feel like they fit in anywhere else, but have found a home in this band creating art together and while it isn’t always perfect it is real.

I could go on and on about how much I adored this book. The profound story Mazey was able to create with these messy, raw characters going on tour was just so special. The writing was addicting, and just like with her other books, I found myself laughing, cringing, and crying. I couldn’t recommend this more!

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. I found both of the main characters annoying and the overall story very surface level, leaving me underwhelmed and uninterested.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC of The Summer of Lost Things by Jenn Bennett.

This was a really fun read. I was hooked from start to finish. I love a good treasure-hunting story, and I felt like this hit a lot of the marks. It was full of adventure, plotting, twists, and a great crew (aka the Wags).

The reconnection between all of the friends was also great. The Wags were definitely friendship goals, and I just really loved the dynamic between all of them. I thought the romance between Seb and Paige was sweet, maybe a bit rushed in terms of not having enough buildup in the earlier chapters, but I still enjoyed their relationship.

The overall plot was good, if not a bit predictable. It definitely gave very heavy Outer Banks vibes, but was distinct enough to stand on its own.

This is definitely a great summer read if you’re looking for a romance with a bit of adventure.

This was another super cute book by Lynn Painter! I absolutely loved the dynamic between Bailey and Charlie, and the way they met was such a perfect lead up to their friendship later on.

I really liked the children of divorce aspect and the ways they both felt about their relationships with not only their parents, but their parents’ new significant others. It felt very realistic and really helped shape both of their characters.

The friendship, the fake dating, the bets, all of it was so, so good. Bailey and Charlie’s chemistry was amazing, and I was giggling so many times while reading this. I will say some parts felt a little childish, but this is YA, so it’s to be expected.

Definitely a fun, easy read!