I picked up this last-minute review of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Problem with Forever last week because I felt like doing one more of these RITA reviews when the opportunity came, but, well, it was a push to get it done and written before the deadline! I hadn’t read the book—as YA isn’t normally my happy place within the romance genre, despite the odd fact that I reviewed another YA RITA earlier this year—but I … Continue reading The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout →
I am not a big fan of YA. Oh, the books are fine, but as a genre label, YA is meaningless. Meant as a marketing ploy, I think this faux genre is just an excuse for lit snobs to be dismissive of some of the truly magnificent literature for young people. Unfortunately, The Distance from A to Z would not provide a great argument against the genre label. It’s totally YA. Abby is the storyteller … Continue reading The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt →
The first thing that you should know about this book is that it is YA romance, which I didn’t realize when I signed up for it since it was under the “best first book” category. Abby and Zeke’s ages are never actually given, although their French professor ensures they are both over 17 due to some explicit course content. It is difficult to review it because certain things that are hallmarks of YA don’t work … Continue reading The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt →
I was late to the RITA reviewing party but there was a gap for a reviewer of either YA or Inspirational: I’m not inspirational but I was young once so YA it is. Checking out the title of Affective Needs was itself an education: apparently it’s a term for having emotional and social difficulties. Which I would have thought summed up pretty much everyone in high school, but there you go. Right. Here we are … Continue reading Affective Needs by Rebecca Taylor →
Affective Needs is a YA romance with classic teen characters, like an angsty, academically-focused young woman ready to leave the confines of high school and a broody, mysterious bad boy who just started at the school. Rebecca Taylor’s story trod well-worn paths, but injects some fresh insights with an eye toward the realities behind high school experiences. On day one hundred and forty-four, Bella Blake emerged from winter break with freshly dyed atomic-pink hair. Everyone … Continue reading Affective Needs by Rebecca Taylor →
First off, I am absolutely smitten with the heroine, Wil. She is pretty much everything I wish I was at seventeen. To be honest, she’s pretty much everything I wish I was today at twenty-seven. She is strong-willed and so incredibly clever and cheeky. Woods definitely has a way with providing so much of her character just through Wil’s incredible internal dialogue – I caught myself I giggling out loud many times. Butts aren’t meant … Continue reading Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods →
An astrology romance, how novel! Summer of Supernovas is a YA romance about astrology-obsessed Wilamena Carlisle trying to abide by what seems written in her stars. The book begins on top of the dilapidated town water tower with nerdy retro chic 17-year-old Wil (or Mena, depending) seeking perspective on her impending search for love. She is determined to follow the star chart that feels like her only lingering connection to her dead mother. By some … Continue reading Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods →
