Reviews of Young Adult Fiction on The Candid Cover YA Book Blog.
Brambles by Intisar Khanani is a novella in the Dauntless Path series that fans of the first story, Thorn, will want to read. This short story gives an in-depth look into the events that take place before the first story begins. If you are impatiently waiting to read the next instalment in the series, this book will definitely whisk you back to Adania. Continue reading
Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma is a story of family secrets that also touches upon the film industry’s perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. I enjoyed the Beijing setting, and the main character’s excitement for acting and desire to challenge offensive Asian representation was a pleasant surprise. The pacing is slow, but there are still many elements of the book that I found enjoyable that outweigh this. Continue reading
It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne is a book that has a lot of potential but failed to deliver, in my opinion. I loved the feminist messages as well as the indie cinema setting, but I had trouble connecting with the main characters. As well, I am not the biggest fan of books in which the message is made explicitly clear and is constantly pushed on the reader, and that is what happened in this case. While this one wasn’t my favourite, there are still some aspects I found enjoyable, and those interested in books about cinema, feminism, and mental health might enjoy it. Continue reading
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco is a spooky story I have been meaning to read for a while now. The concept of this third instalment in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series feels fresh, and I really enjoyed the setting. However, I found it more difficult to connect with the main character, and I wasn’t a fan of all the drama in the book. Despite this, the series is so out of my comfort zone, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. Continue reading
One Way or Another by Kara McDowell is a Christmas book about destiny and self-acceptance. I enjoyed the discussions of mental health, which is pretty rare in holiday reads, and Paige’s character transforms throughout the book. One of my favourite parts is how both of her Christmas vacation options are depicted. This is such a cute holiday read that fans of Hallmark movies will love. Continue reading