Reviews of Young Adult Fiction on The Candid Cover YA Book Blog.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi was one of my favourite series when it first came out, and I was thrilled when I heard that there would be three new books added to the original trilogy. The concept of the series is very original, and the writing is beautiful. I also enjoyed the characters and their complexities. Unfortunately, the new books are weak compared to the first three, and they ruined the series as a whole for me. Continue reading
Tumbling by Caela Carter is a story about gymnastics and the struggles of competing at such a high level, both physically and mentally. As a big fan of books about sports, I knew I would love this one, and I felt like I was able to connect with each of the five narrators. I also enjoyed the writing style and the suspense that accompanies the journey to select the five gymnasts who will compete in the Olympics. This is a book that is empowering and emotional, and I would recommend it to those looking for a more serious read. Continue reading
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon has many elements that I love to see in a novel. I enjoyed the extreme scavenger hunt that the book is centred around, and the main characters are both realistic and believable for their age. This was such a fun book to read, and it also touches on some complex topics. Continue reading
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is a summer read that is able to balance fluff with heavy topics. I enjoyed the leisure atmosphere of the vacation as well as the main character’s dynamic characterization. I also appreciated the nuance with which the author writes about grief. This is an enticing read that is realistic and easy to connect with. Continue reading
I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee is a book I was really looking forward to since I love any book about a competition, and the K-pop concept sounded like a lot of fun. This book was a very entertaining read, and I loved Skye’s strength, but she is not a very complex character and neither are the side characters. I also had some issues with the pacing and the lack of descriptions of Skye’s performances. This book is an enjoyable read if you are looking for something relatively short and sweet, but for me, I would have liked to see more. Continue reading