Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally

Coming Up for Air (Hundred Oaks)

by Miranda Kenneally

Source: eARC provided for review. Thank you!

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win? 

*****

 

Oh my, this book made me want to read all the books in The Hundred Oaks series. I feel like I cheated a little because I only read Stealing Parker (I loved it!) and this book would be probably more emotional if I’d read Catching Jordan. 

Anyway, this is the best friends-to-lovers book I’ve read. The shift in the relationship between Maggie and Levi was really smooth and I loved them to pieces.

But my favorite thing about this book was definitely all the knowledge I learned about swimming. I can’t swim and that breaks my heart but that’s my favorite sport to watch in the Olympics and after seeing how much heart these characters poured trying to accomplish their dreams, it made me like the sport even more!

I loved the group of friends, and how they always made time to see each other. I loved their conversations, the humor, and their personalities. 

I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t like about this book.

Miranda Kenneally’s writing is fast-paced and I loved the settings and the cast of characters she created.

This is definitely one of my fave “light reads”

If you’re looking for something cute, fun and even sexy, you will love this book. I highly recommend it! 

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Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Words in Deep Blue

by Cath Crowley

Source: eARC provided for review. Thank you!

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came. 

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.

Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

*****

I read Words in Deep Blue a few weeks ago, but I couldn’t write a review because I don’t know what to say about it.

Words in Deep Blue is such a deep and beautiful book. If you’ve read Graffiti Moon, then you already know how magical Cath Crowley’s writing is. Her words make you feel and you can’t help but falling in love with her characters.

Those characters, omg, they were so lovely and cute and interesting, and so much more. I loved the main characters, and I loved the secondary characters just the same. Henry’s sister and Rachel’s brother were such a sweethearts, my heart breaks just thinking about them.

This book is about loss and grief, but it’s so well done that I was able to see the magic and feel the joy of being alive even when my heart was broken seeing Rachel’s suffering.

There’s also a sort of love triangle because Henry is still in love with his ex girlfriend, but he’s so cute I didn’t care. It didn’t feel that way.

The book is told in Rachel and Henry’s POV, so it was really lovely to see them fall for each other, after everything they went through.

I loved all about this book, but one of the things I loved the most was the setting. This is a book about the power of books and words. The letter library is one of my fave things ever. The whole book was like a love letter or a love song.

You see, I don’t have anything bad to say about Words in Deep Blue because I fell in love with it, with the characters, the bookshop, the plot and the writing.

Cath Crowley stole my heart once more and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ll read everything she writes from now on. 

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Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Ramona Blue 

by Julie Murphy

 Source: ARC provided for review.

Goodreads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever.

Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever.

The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

****

Ramona Blue is one of the sweetest contemporary books I’ve ever read.

This one of those books that left me speechless, because it was really complex and deep and you know, I, (a Spanish speaker) don’t have enough words sometimes.

Ramona Blue is a beautiful book about sexuality, family, friendship, poverty and love for swimming.

I’ve been writing and re-writing my thoughts on this book, but I always end up just saying how much I loved it.

This book got close to my heart because Ramona’s family is so much like mine, and many of Ramona’s financial problems felt like mine, too. I understood her and I felt deeply sorry for her. And at the same time I admired her. Because these were her decisions and she was happy with her family. I loved how positive was their relationship even though there were some things wrong.

And then there’s the friendship. I adored Ramona’s friends and how loyal and honest they were.

Maybe this is why I loved Ramona’s relationship with Freddie, because they started as friends until their friendship evolved and became something more. It was so well done that I was rooting for them!

And just like I loved every character, I loved Julie’s writing. It was fast paced and addictive and beautiful, she made an “apparently” ugly town look beautiful and breathtaking.

I haven’t read Dumplin’ but I read Side Effects May Vary, and I didn’t exactly love that book, so if you’re unsure about reading this book, you really should give it a chance. It’s worth it. 

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas

Source: eARC provided for review

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

*****

I’ve tried to write about this book so many times, but I never found the right words to do so. It’s just that The Hate U Give was such an amazing and important and GOOD book. 

I think you all understand the importance of this book, but that wasn’t the only amazing thing about it.

The characters were unique and lovely and likable and so strong and honest. I didn’t dislike any of them; I think I liked even the ones I wasn’t supposed to like (except that racist friend we all hate).

The writing was past-paced and addictive. It got me on the edge of my seat. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The plot was well done, I loved that it wasn’t centered in hate, but in positivism and the importance of finding your voice to fight injustices.

And if this wasn’t enough, the romance is swoon-worthy. Starr and Chris were so cute together.

And I’m so here for a DeVante book!

The Hate U Give is masterpiece. Everyone must give a chance. Like I said, you won’t read only a book with a relevant message, but a beautiful romance, beautiful friendships and beautiful family dynamics.

You also have to be ready for the heartbreak. Some parts of this book are gut-wrenching and painful.

And it’s also hopeful.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I can’t recommend it enough. 

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