Reviews of Young Adult Fiction on The Candid Cover YA Book Blog.
All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia is a book I had been eagerly anticipating since I can’t resist books with Hallmark movie vibes. I loved all the festive activities throughout the book and the main character’s love for all things Christmas. However, I found that the characters are underdeveloped, and the ending feels rushed. But because this is meant to be a short and sweet read, I was willing to overlook this and ultimately enjoyed the story. Continue reading
A Royal Christmas Quandary by Samantha Hastings is the perfect read to get you feeling festive. This historical novel contains shenanigans and a bit of mystery as a prince goes missing. Both the main characters are easy to root for, and their dialogue is engaging. This is such a fun read that I would definitely recommend this holiday season. Continue reading
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