by Karen M. McManus

One of Us Is Lying was my first YA “Whodunit” book, and it did not disappoint. Karen M. McManus writes in a way that hooks you right from the very beginning and keeps you guessing until the end!  

One of Us Is Lying follows the story of five Bayview High students, Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, Cooper and Simon. Bronwyn is an intelligent and introverted girl whose goal is to get into Yale. Addy is the popular high school girl who wishes to become the homecoming princess. Nate, also known as the school “bad boy”, is on probation for dealing and doesn’t believe he has a future doing much else. Cooper is a star athlete who has many successes ahead of him. Finally, there is Simon, the outcast and the creator of Simon Says, the high school’s notorious gossip app.  

On Monday, these five students find themselves all wound up in detention. At the end, only four exit the classroom. Why you ask? Because Simon is dead, and according to the investigation, it wasn’t an accident. Simon had planned to reveal dirty secrets on the four survivors the next day. Once this is found, Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper all become prime suspects… is one or all of them guilty? 

This novel is definitely a page-turner. It is impossible to put down once you start reading as you want to figure out what happened to Simon. The story is told from the viewpoint of the 4 “prime suspects”, so you get to really relate to each of the characters in unique ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to any teenager or YA!

4 Stars

Emma O.

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by Justin A. Reynolds

I was first intrigued in Opposite of Always because I saw that Angie Thomas, one of my favourite authors, had commented that she thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can confirm that this book is one of the best love stories I have ever read. Justin A. Reynolds has done a beautiful job with this novel. When reading the back of the novel, you might think that it could come across as a bit “sci-fi”, but I guarantee it isn’t like that at all.  

Opposite of Always follows the story of two teenagers, Jack and Kate. When Jack and Kate meet at a party, they are instantly compatible. Jack feels as though he might be falling hard for this girl. Soon enough, Kate is meeting Jack’s best friends, Jilian and Franny, who she wins over just as quickly as she did Jack…  

But then Kate dies. Typically this is where the story would end, but no. Kate’s death sends Jack right back to the party where they met. Jack thinks he might be losing his mind because there is Kate standing right next time him, breathing, alive and healthy. Jack doesn’t know what is happening, but if he has the chance to save Kate, he will take it. Will he be able to save Kate, or will their story end just as abruptly as it did the first time? 

This novel is funny, heartfelt, beautiful and everything in between. I strongly suggest this book to any YA reader or even a young teen who loves unexpected love stories. Justin A. Reynolds had me hooked right from the first sentence all the way to the last. This book is definitely one of my top three favourite books that I have read. I look forward to reading more books by this amazing author.

4.5 Stars

Emma O.

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by Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You is a romance novel written by Jenny Han that is the sequel to the novel To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. After recovering from a heated fight, Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship begins to grow, and Lara Jean learns what it is like to be in a real relationship. She begins volunteering at the Belleview retirement home and gets closer to Stormy, an elderly woman who gives Lara Jean relationship advice. One day, Lara Jean receives a letter from a grade school friend John Ambrose McClaren, informing her that he received the old love letter she wrote to him. They become pen pals, and when Lara Jean discovers that the neighbourhood tree house she and her friends used to hang out in will be cut down, she plans a reunion party and invites John. When John and Lara Jean reconnect, her past feelings for him suddenly begin to resurface, causing her to be more confused than ever. Lara Jean finds herself being pursued by two boys, discovering that love is often painful. Between her current boyfriend, Peter, and her past crush, John, she must decide who she should really be with.  

P.S. I Still Love You is a lighthearted and adorable book centred on romance. If you enjoyed the previous book, I would highly recommend picking this one up! I love how relatable Lara Jean is and how the storyline kept me guessing throughout. This book is all about finding yourself, finding love, and experiencing heartbreak. If you are looking for a heartwarming young adult romance novel, this is the ideal book to read!

4 Stars

Emily K.

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by Holly Black

The romance/fantasy Fiction, The Cruel Prince, written by Holly Black, was a dangerous yet charming book. It tells the story of Jude, her parents were murdered when she was only seven. But by whom? The person that murdered her parents is the person that adopted her and her sisters. Can you believe that? I would’ve never seen that coming. Throughout the book, you truly get to see how Jude develops as a character. Honestly, the character she becomes at the end isn’t what I was expecting and neither did I like the way she turned out.

But what else would she have done? Ever since she entered fairy land, she was treated horrible by the prince and his friends because she wasn’t like anyone of them. She doesn’t have their ears, their eyes, their skin or their body. She wants to be them, but she can’t. Eventually, as so many events happen throughout the book, you won’t be able to put the book down. When I mean I don’t like to read books like this, I couldn’t stop once I finished reading it. I just wanted to read the second book. Did I mention this book is a part of a series? Well, there are three more books, and I can’t wait to read them. I definitely recommend this book to anyone over the age of 14 and up. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5 stars!  

Hoda D.

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by Adi Alsaid

The fiction, Come On In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding Home, edited by Adi Alsaid, was a very breathtaking book. Books like these aren’t the type of books I’d easily be attracted to, but the second I looked at the cover of the book, I just couldn’t resist myself. This story has 15 different authors that wrote their own short stories. All these authors wrote such fascinating stories that I just couldn’t put the book down. Especially, the first short story, All The Colors Of Goodbye, written by Nafiza Azad, was so awe-inspiring to read. Although the short story is very upsetting, it’s still so amazing. All the other short stories were also super fascinating, each short story I read I couldn’t even put the book down.

The second I finished the book, after taking in all the stories and all the messages in, I can say I was very emotional. With all that emotion going through me, all I wanted to do was just read the book all over again. As I mentioned before, I would’ve never read a book like this, and honestly I never would have thought there would be so many stories by different authors in one book. But the second I read all the stories from all the 15 authors, I honestly am so glad I read this book. I have no idea whose idea it was to write a story like this, but I’m guessing it was Adi Alsaid idea, and I will say that such an amazing idea. I definitely recommend this book for people over the age of 12 and up, especially younger adults. Nevertheless, I rate this book a 5/5 stars!  

Hoda D.

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Little White Lies

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In this witty page turner, Jennifer Lynn Barnes opens up a world usually only viewed from the inside. Sawyer Taft thinks her life is the small town where she lives with her mother, but soon everything is turned upside down when her estranged, high society grandmother presents her with an offer she cannot refuse, half a million dollars. Although her main goal is to find out who her father is, Sawyer is quickly swept up in the dangerous scandals of the Debutantes. Will Sawyer successfully navigate the glittering world of the upper class, or will she get lost in the labyrinth of big dresses and even bigger secrets?

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The Vanishing Stair

Maureen Johnson

In Maureen Johnson’s second installment in her Truly Devious Series, readers delve into the present while keeping an eye on the past. Stevie Bell has solved one mystery, but the murders of the past still haunt her. However, when she is forced to leave Ellingham Academy against her will, she must try to move past her obsession with the case. Then, a deal is struck and Stevie is whisked back to Ellingham Academy where the past never leaves and the present stalks the school like a ghost. A captivating mystery with twists and turns, The Vanishing Stair will leave readers wondering and wishing for the final and third installment.

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Truly Devious

Maureen Johnson

Stevie Bell is finally getting what she wants- a chance to attend the famous Ellingham Academy in Vermont. The school boasts a different kind of curriculum, where the greatest inventors, thinkers and creators come together to explore and learn. For Stevie however, this is chance of a lifetime. As a true crime enthusiast, Stevie has dedicated her young life to solving the murder of Albert Ellingham’s wife and daughter, the founder of the school. Maureen Johnson weaves two story lines into the book, taking readers back to the early days of the school and the murders as well as following Stevie on her hunt to find the murderer decades later. A truly captivating novel, lovers of true crime and mystery should not wait to pick up this book.

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Skyward

Brandon Sanderson

Imagine a planet where its inhabitants live in constant fear of attack. Imagine the attacks are issued by an alien race, whose motive is to destroy human kind. This is Spensa’s world, and in her people’s fight against the Krell, their only defense are fighter pilots.

All Spensa ever dreamed of was becoming a pilot, to follow in her Father’s footsteps and help defeat the Krell. Throughout the novel, Spensa must defend her Father’s legacy as a deserter from his pilot team and fight for her chance to fly. Filled with action, suspense and swift dialogue, Sanderson’s Skyward takes readers on an adventure through the skies and does not let them go until the very last page.

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36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You

Vicki Grant

36 Questions that Changed My Mind About You is a romantic comedy style book. With a failed meet-cute of Betty and Bob who meet through a psychology study. They are both there for different reasons, one to find love or at least something like it and the other who has no idea what he’s in for, he just needs the money from the study. Opposites attract in this strange and cute story. It goes through the main character Betty/Hildy’s point of view for most of the novel and her journey to the university and to this study of human connections.  

 

It’s about finding yourself, and has a lot of truth and honesty, even when the characters are trying their hardest to keep their true selves a secret and separate from the other, who is a virtual stranger. They may even know more about each other than their friends do. First impressions aren’t always as they seem, not everyone shows you who they really are upon first meeting, but maybe that can change, once you get to know someone, even a stranger.   

 

The story was overall light and a quick read, however I found the character development a little lacking especially in main character Betty/Hildy. However, Bob/Paul was a unique character different from most books, especially surprising for this genre. It was an enjoyable read but somethings I found a little unrealistic, and I felt the ending was a little abrupt. Also, the story was slightly repetitive at times, but that may have been the nature of the book and the repetitive vibe the psychology study gave. I would still recommend this book to readers who enjoy romantic comedies and meet-cutes. –Zoe P.   

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