{SPOILERY} Fangirling Over The Wicked King

Title: The Wicked King
Author: Holly Black
Series: The Folk of the Air series, book #2
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Source: ARC received from publisher, purchased multiple copies
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

Like many of you, The Cruel Prince left us eyes wide and jaws dropped, dying to get our hands on The Wicked King. We needed to know what would happen next. In fact, I was actually at Jen's house the weekend the Owlcrate Wicked King Box went on sale and we were fangirling hard, double-checking time zone differences, credit cards ready, afraid to miss out on what we just knew -- because duh: Holly Black -- was going to be another amazing installment in this series. And not to brag...but we weren't wrong.

Nope. I might even go so far as to say that this sequel was even better: twists and turns that left us guessing, the hatemance we've been dying for, and an ending that rivals even its predecessor...which is really saying something. I loved all of the faerie machinations and the mention of Fairfold and Severin from The Darkest Part of the Forest and how it all seemingly comes together but ends up throwing me completely off by the end. Did you read that one or The Lost Sisters, Sabrina? I know you weren't always the biggest fan of faerie stories, but you've come so far now that you might as well go all in, right? 😄

Definitely an ending that rivals The Cruel Prince! Unfortunately, no. I haven't read either one, Jen. You are the reason I gave faerie stories another chance so I'm so glad I did because they are some of my favorites now. *Adds those to my TBR* (Jen approves.) Back to the review... one of the things I loved about The Wicked King was how Jude and Cardan are kind of pushed into an alliance. The fact that not everyone is happy that Cardan is on the throne AND that someone is betraying Jude creates a scenario where they really have to rely on each other. So, while they are reluctant to trust one another fully, it makes for a very charged dynamic between them. Even as the ice first begins to thaw in their relationship, they are developing feelings for one another. 

"...and the single last thing in my head: that I like him better than I’ve ever liked anyone and that of all the things he’s ever done to me, making me like him so much is by far the worst."

Which means this just might be my favorite hate-to-love romance ever. That whole not trusting each other but having no one else to rely on thing? Yeah, that's kinda my jam. And this story is rife with it. Well, that and betrayal. So much betrayal. At every turn: BETRAYAL. Even worse than what Jude faced in TCP. But I think Jude always comes away from it stronger, more focused on the endgame than she was before. And despite it all, I find myself hopeful. That all is not what it seems. That she IS truly queen. That Cardan was saving her, not torturing her further. I feel set adrift with all my hopes for this story, and I don't think I'll come fully back to myself until I have The Queen of Nothing in my hands.

I blame these devious Merfolk...scheming, plotting and setting Cardan's murderous brother free. Cardan has 99 problems and almost all of them are directly caused by Sea fae. That being said, Jude is the cause of so many of them, too. Nobody casually knifes fae villains like Jude. The relationship between these two works so deliciously because they are both so flawed. I love that Cardan can't lie and that Jude forgets to when she's all hot and bothered by him. Also, I second that she is really Queen. If she wasn't, Cardan would've said it. That boy is far too mouthy to not have spoken cruel words. He's protecting her from an impossible situation. I hope. 😭

Yes, exactly! Thanks for elucidating the reasons for my hope...and making me feel less naïve about it, lol. We can't forget that Jude is human and therefore "fragile" in comparison to the fae, despite the gesh that allows no glamour to be placed on her, and despite the fact that she's spent years training with Madoc. I just wish Cardan had trusted in her...she'd gotten them this far, after all. But it wouldn't be a true faery story without all the murder, political manueverings and dramatic banishments. Jude will have her vengeance and they'll all rue the day she was brought into Faerie as Madoc's ward.

Okay, so it's taken us this long to get our thoughts in order, but basically, this is already going down as our favorite of 2019.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare), The Darkest Part of the Forest, and her new series which begins with The Cruel Prince in January 2018.

She has been a a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.

Find Holly:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads

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Labels: all-time favorites, faeries, favorite authors, favorite series, favorites, hachette, holly black, joint reviews, reviews, the folk of the air

THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING Was Everything We Expected From a MoMa Book

Title: The Unexpected Everything
Author: Morgan Matson
Narrator(s): Bailey Carr
Series: n/a
Length: 16 hrs 43 mins
Publisher: Audible Studios, Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Source: purchased audiobook, galley received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

We haven't done a joint review in ages, but we love getting together to chat about MoMa books or just cute contemporaries in general, so here we are.

What made us read this/initial thoughts:

April: I immediately purchased this because it's a MoMa. Say no more. I'm not sure what it is about her books, but I can't get enough. She has a way of balancing the deep subjects with the fun and weightlessness every contemp should have. I adore her her books.

Jen: April kind of forced this one on me. I had a review copy, but the closer to release it got, the less I realized I actually wanted to read this book anymore. And I told April this. So, after she listened and loved it, she bought me an audiobook copy, too, essentially forcing me to read it so I could love it, too. It was cute as expected but also not what I expected, which kind of worked for me.

The Story:

Jen: So, I read scandal in the synopsis and assumed it was some gross love affair and I was all set to hate Andie's dad. And he was kind of douche at the beginning, but I loved what became of their relationship. And I love that the scandal changed all of Andie's summer plans, thereby changing HER. I did not like her character at the onset of the story.

April: I'm with Jen. When I read scandal in the synopsis, I assumed the same thing. I was glad it was not, but I would have been okay either way. Andie's summer plans pretty much go to shit because of her fathers misfortune, and that's just what she needs because she's very up tight early on.

The Characters:

April: Andie grew on me. I didn't love her starting off. She made me sooo mad, but I understand why she was the way she was. By the end of the story, I loved her. I enjoyed all the side characters as well.

Jen: As usual, MoMa's characters are well-fleshed out, like people you might actually meet on the street. Andie was kind of the opposite of Emily from Since You've Been Gone in that she had a great group of friends and her love interest was the one without.

The Friendships:

April: Ahh, I loved the friendships in this book. I had a group of girls I was close with in High School. Some I'm still close with, others not so much. I know that if texting had been a thing while I was in school, the text chains would have been our thing. Maybe not at girly though. I loved the crap that goes down towards the end.. no spoilers, but I felt a realness in it all. Been there, seen that kinda thing.

Jen: I've never had a group of really close friends, just one or two at a time, so it was nice seeing what that might have been like. Though it did seem like a lot of work. All those text chains! Of course, when I was in high school, cell phones were still relatively new and the iPhone definitely didn't exist, lol. But I also liked that this group of friends wasn't portrayed as perfect, that they had their ups and downs and that sometimes, there's just no coming back from a mistake.

The Romance:

Jen: It might be more what Clark does than who he is, but he might be my favorite MoMa love interest yet. And I loved that, for once, I got to see the romance actually last over the course of the book. Sure, there's that tension that leads to problems and the inevitable happy ending, but usually all of that happens late in a book and the characters aren't really together before that. This was truly a sweet summer romance.

April: I loved Clark. Like Jen, I liked what he did, but also, physically, he's described to be the perfect guy for me. He has officially shot up to the top of my book boyfriend list. He's just over all a swell guy and I've always fell for the nice ones.

The Family:

April: Andie's relationship with her father isn't so great starting out. He's actually a bit of a dick. I mean, how do you not know what's going on in your child's life?  But do to unexpected circumstances, they begin to find each other again and that was one of my favorite things about this story. <3

Jen: It's pretty much just Andie and her dad and though that's through no fault of their own, it's still not really a sob story. They've moved past it and pretty much past each other, too. Which is kind of sad, but thing's take a turn for the better with Andie's dad having to take a step back from politics due to the scandal. I actually liked their interactions by the end of the book.

That End of Summer Feeling:

April: Everything about this story screams "Summer Feeling".  There are no twists and turns, it's just a fun summer book. A bit predictable, but like Jen says below, most contemporaries are. I think that's what makes them good summer books. When I'm laying out by the pool or on the beach, I don't want anything that's gonna make me think to hard. Just a good fun entertaining read.

Jen: Not gonna lie, The Unexpected Everything was, well, a little expected and predictable. But most contemporaries are for me, so I try not to hold that against the book. The book did leave me with that perfect summer feeling, that anything's possible and every day promises something new, so it gets bonus points for that.

The Narrator:

April: I have never listened to Bailey Carr, but I loved how she Narrated TUE. Her voice fit Andie's Character to perfection.

Jen: This was my first time listening to Bailey Carr, but I thought she did an adorable job with TUE. In fact, I searched her on Audible and added some more of her audiobooks to my wishlist. ;) She was just the embodiment of Andie and how I pictured her sounding.

Overall:

April: I loved it so much. Sometimes you just need a cute book to listen too. I had just come back from vacation, and TUE got me through the week following, which is always rough when you have to go back to work. I'm so happy Jen decided to listen to it too, even though I forced her. haha. She's usually the one pushing books on me! :) I knew that she would at least like TUE, and I just adore reviewing books with her.

Jen: TUE was adorable and very much a MoMa book. I'm very glad April made me read/listen to it, too. I would have missed out on a very cute story otherwise. That April is one smart cookie and maybe she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. :D

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Morgan Matson grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children's department of Vroman's Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.

Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. It has since been published in five different languages and six different countries.

In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.

Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2014.

Find Morgan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, favorite authors, funfunfun, joint reviews, morgan matson, reviews, summer, the unexpected everything

{Audiobook} {Joint} Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Title: Second Chance Summer
Author: Morgan Matson
Narrator(s): Brittany Pressley
Series: n/a
Length: 10 hrs 37 mins
Publisher: Audible Studios, Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: June 11, 2013; May 8, 2012
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Second Chance Summer has been on my to read list since it came out. I know that it’s been on Jen's for a while too and we both made goals to get this one done this summer. (Summer TBR List) While we didn’t quite buddy read this one, we both listened to the audio within days of each other so we decided a joint review was in order! Also, even if you can't read this whole long review to the end... be sure to scroll down to the bottom because I made a little something!!

What made us finally read this:

April: Jamie (The Perpetual Page Turner) reviewed it over on her blog and mentioned that it takes place right here in the Pocono Mountains. That is the main reason I wanted to read it. It’s my home! Also, Second Chance Summer has one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever seen. I mean, look at those colors! I’ve seen so many friends/bloggers read this one and love it, so I figured it was about time.

Jen: I had already listened to and loved Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, so I was already a fan of Morgan Matson's writing. I think as soon as I finished Amy & Roger, I went and added all of her books to my TBR. I kept putting off Second Chance Summer because of all the feels I knew it had solicited in other readers and bloggers, but when I caught it on sale on audio, I knew it was finally time. I mean, I survived the TFiOS feels, right? How much worse could it be in Second Chance Summer?

The Story:

April: *sigh* What can I say about this story? It’s sad, but it’s also fun, if that makes sense. Taylor and her family have been given the worst kind of news. Her father is dying, and only has a few months left. So the family packs up everything and heads to their lake house in the Poconos to spend one last summer together. That’s ominous, I know, but it’s not all depressing. There is some summer love and teenage drama to mix it all up. The Edward’s haven’t visited house in quite some time, so things have changed. It’s a great story about family, friendships, and growing up.

Jen: I think that above all else, this was a story about redemption. It was about Taylor writing the wrongs of the past, getting second chances with friends and family alike, and not squandering the opportunity, no matter how much easier it was to run from her problems. Yes, it's sad. Yes, there's heartbreak. But the story encompasses so much more than that.

The Characters:

April: I adored every character in this book. Taylor, I felt for this girl. I didn’t always agree with how she reacted to situations, but at the same time you just know she’s hurting. The prospect of losing your dad is a tough pill to take, and I think she does the best she can. Mr. Edward’s, he was awesome. I loved the relationship he had with each of his kids. Taylors mom, brother and younger sister, were great too. I just loved every freaking body!

Jen: It's not surprising to me that I pretty much adored all of the characters in this book, even when they were catty or mean. Everyone's dealing with something, but it's how they all handle their issues that shows what kind of people they are. The same is true of the characters in Second Chance Summer.

This is an ice cream place close to me 

The Friendships:

April: When Taylor left the Poconos years ago, she left with a bit of a mess behind her. I won’t get into too much detail but she had a best friend, Lucy, and a first boyfriend, Henry. Through-out the story, we get to look back and see what all goes down. These flashbacks seem to be a staple in the books I’ve read so far of Matson, and she does them perfectly. I enjoyed seeing what happened, and how they all work it out slowly in the present.

Jen: April makes an excellent point about Matson's use of flashbacks. I think this method is genuinely useful in showing the reader how the characters came to find themselves in their current predicaments, rather than just telling us what happened all those years ago. And in Second Chance Summer, it really helped me understand why Taylor was so hesitant to return to the summer house in the Poconos and chance running into her former best friends. But I'm also glad that in remembering what happened, Taylor is pretty much forced to confront her past and attempt to redeem herself and reconnect with her friends.

The Romance:

April: The romance was cute and complicated. Going with what I mentioned above, things aren’t exactly peachy between Taylor and Henry when she shows up at the lake house this year. There are a ton of misunderstandings that need to be worked out, and still a whole lot that Taylor is dealing with right now with her father. There are some really sweet moments though, and I liked how it all played out between them.

Jen: Friends to something more romances are my absolute favorite kind. Even when the people involved are twelve. ;) But even at that tender age, things can get complicated. I liked seeing Taylor and Henry reconnect and attempt to salvage what they might have been that summer all those years ago. Even if Taylor is still running scared. I hate when characters let their fears get in the way of what they really want, even when the rational side of my brain is telling me that this character in particular is going through a lot of stuff with her family and could use a break.

The Setting:

It's not lake Phoenix, but it's my lake and it's what I pictured

April: I added this category because I wanted to stress with you all, how obvious it is that Matson has spent a ton of time in the Pocono’s. Her setting details are extremely accurate. It’s kind of surreal reading a book that takes place so close to home. There is mention of the Pocono Record, a local paper that I’ve grown up with. The Stroud Mall was referenced, guys it’s a shitty little mall, but it’s the closet thing we have. Well, had, the area has built up like crazy over the years. The hospital that Taylors Dad goes to, my husband works there. I gave birth to my daughter there. It’s just so neat! Please forgive me while I gush in my nerdy self. I know that I’m not the first person to have a connection to a books setting, but I don’t live in a big city. Lol Lake Phoenix, there isn’t one, but there are dozens of lake communities around me. All of them similar, and happen to live in one. I laughed at the mention of gravel driveways and high peeked roofs. So very true. About half of the houses in my development are vacation rentals. Now that it’s summertime, there are tourists everywhere. The Author mentions in her bio that she used to spend the summers with her family in the Pocono’s. She told me which Community they used to go to on twitter, and it’s really close to me. There were a few things off, like the college name is actually East Stroudsburg University, but perhaps some of the names were changed for a reason. Other than that, *high five* to Matson for getting the area right!

Jen: I'm just going to assume that April knows what she's talking about. Hahaha...just kidding. Seriously, though, Matson is very good with details. Like, "transport you there from your comfy spot on the couch" good. April shares pictures with me a lot, and yeah, Matson nailed it. Thanks to the two of them, I feel like I've already been to the Poconos. Though this will absolutely NOT keep me from inviting myself to April's next summer, lol.

The Sads :(

April: The sad’s, you knew we had to talk about them. It’s the one thing that kept me from reading this sooner. I was really afraid it would tear my heart apart and drag it through the mud. It did, a little, but maybe because I went into it knowing what the outcome would probably me, that helped me? I knew I would cry based on what others have said, but it wasn’t so bad. At least not as bad as I thought it would be. A little tears won’t kill ya!

Jen: April's lying, y'all. It's not, like, consistently sad, but when it gets to the sad part, beware. I bawled like a baby at my desk, my sister making fun of me the whole time. You see, we have this running joke between us about how I'm an unfeeling monster...or an alien, depending on her mood that day. Not true, though...I just care about different things than she does. Anyway, yeah, total blubbering mess at the end of the day when I finished this audio. So, basically, Second Chance Summer made a monster cry. I hope you're happy, Matson.

The Narrator:

April: I really liked the narrator. I wasn’t sure at first whether I would. I get a little anxious each time I start a new audio book, but I slipped right into it with no problem. She did a great job giving Taylor a voice.

Jen: This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Brittany Pressley, but after enjoying the audio for Second Chance Summer and after checking out the other books she's narrated, I've added a few more to my wishlist. So, yeah, she's good. She brought Taylor and her issues to life and it's probably her fault I cried as much as I did because her performance was just so heartbreaking and real.

Overall:

April: Hmmm, overall, I would have to say Second Chance Summer is an all time favorite. I think I liked Since You’ve been Gone more, as far as a fun summer read, but SCS holds a special place in my heart just because of where it takes place. I’m becoming a huge fan of Morgan Matson, and I will be stalking all of her future books. I highly recommend this one if you haven’t read it already.

Jen: I wouldn't go so far as to say this book is a favorite. Stories like this, full of the feels and the lessons, usually just don't make that cut for me. Maybe if I felt as close to the setting as April does or if I felt some fellowship with Taylor over a shared experience, I'd have loved this story that much more. As it is, I really enjoyed the story and I will keep reading everything Morgan Matson writes from now till the end of time, even as her alter-ego who writes stories of revenge. April's giving this book a full-out five stars, but for my own personal shelves, I'm giving it four well-earned stars.

GIF it to me straight:

April: Some of you know I like to make book trailers with my Sims 3 game. I haven't made one in so long. I just had to make one for Second Chance Summer though, because I loved it so much. Here it is!! Enjoy and feel free to share it around! :) 

About the author:

Morgan Matson grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children's department of Vroman's Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.

Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. It has since been published in five different languages and six different countries.

In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.

Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2014.

Find Morgan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: all the feels, all the swoons, audiobooks, beautiful covers, book trailers, contemporary, favorite narrators, favorites, joint reviews, morgan matson, reviews, second chance summer, simon schuster, summer

{Joint} Review: On the Fence by Kasie West

Title: On the Fence
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

Jen:  Although I've loved every single one of Kasie West's books -- and I've read them ALL -- I think On the Fence will go down as my favorite. Well, at least until her next novel is released. :) Best friend romances are my absolute favorite because from the get-go, you know the characters know each other and the risk of insta-love is fairly non-existent. Having said that, this may also be my favorite best friends romance. I loved this story THAT much.

April:  I have only read one other Kasie West book so far and that was The Distance Between Us. I loved it, but if I had to choose a favorite, On the Fence wins hands down. I adore best friend romances and I have to agree with you, I think this may be my favorite one too. I think that has a lot to do with the characters. West just has this way of making you fall in love with them.

Jen:  She does, doesn't she? I mean, I love that Charlie's a tomboy who finds her girly side, but I also love all of her brothers and her dad and the influence they have on her, besides the swoony Braden. But what I loved best was how much effort Braden puts into convincing Charlie that she's perfect the way she is, that she shouldn't change for a guy or pretend to be something she's not so that a boy will like her. That is such a great message, one that more girls need to hear.

April:  Absolutely, it's the best message for girls. As a mom of a young girl, I want her to read books like these. Books that will show her that being yourself is what's most important. Never change for anybody. Her dad and brothers were a real trip for sure. They made me laugh numerous times. One other thing I really liked was how she tied this story in with The Distance Between Us. I knew going in that there was a cameo appearance, but I thought it was just Caymen and Xander. Not another character I had loved, but made me so happy when she showed up.

Jen:  I love when authors do that, too...just give you glimpses of characters from previous books. It's just nice to know that they're still doing okay. ;0) What else was great about this story was those fence chats. My goodness, the honesty that pours out from both Charlie and Braden...it was refreshing to see the wall come down between them, even though there was technically a fence separating them. Even if the potential for something more between them hadn't been there, I would still have loved this aspect because it felt so genuine and we learned so much about the characters and their families through these talks.

April:  Those fence chats were killer. I looked forward to every single one, they really were the highlight of the story for me. I didn't really connect the whole walls coming down, and fence thing, but yes! Great symbolism. Another thing I found really interesting was the mystery behind her mom. I wasn't expecting any serious undertones, but I felt like they added some depth to the story.

Jen:  I had a feeling there was more to the story, especially since no one seemed to want to talk about it, but I tried not to dwell on it too much while I was reading. I did like how the family seemed to have pulled together over the years and practically made Braden one of their own since his own home situation wasn't ideal. Besides those fence chats, I liked the closeness, the bonds between all of the characters. And I also enjoyed the competitive nature between them. So much fun watching them all try to outdo each other, especially when it came to their wacky dares.

April:  Their dares were hilarious. Especially that first one we are introduced to, I will admit I may have gagged a bit. lol Too Funny. My ending thoughts are... On the Fence is a great summer read. And I know that we said that last Friday about Since You've Been Gone, but we have just been so extremely lucky when choosing our buddy reads/ listens. *high five*

Jen:  *return five* We have definitely had some great luck picking our summer reads. But it also helps that we've had really good experiences with both of those authors prior to their new releases, too. =D I highly recommend this one, though...even if you've never read a Kasie West book, even if you don't normally like contemporaries. This book is just too much fun to pass up!

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT, its sequel SPLIT SECOND (Feb 2014), and THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US (a contemporary novel). I also have two more contemporaries, ON THE FENCE coming out July 1, 2014, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND coming out the summer of 2015. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: all the feels, all the swoons, beautiful covers, contemporary, favorites, harper-collins, joint reviews, kasie west, must-read, on the fence, reviews, sports, summer

{Joint} Review: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Title: Open Road Summer
Author: Emery Lord
Series: n/a
Publisher: Walker Children's
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

So, April and I both read this book at the same time and both ended up adoring it, and since we read the story sorta together, we figured we'd review it together. We've never attempted a joint review like this before, so we may ramble and we might digress, but I think our love for this book will shine through regardless. =)

What drew us to the book in the first place:

Jen:  Before being sent the invitation to read this title via Netgalley, I'd already had every intention of reading Open Road Summer. I'd read Jennifer Echols' Dirty Little Secret last year, which was about a rising country star, and I liked it well enough, but I kept hoping for more of a connection with those characters. From everything I'd read in early reviews for Emory Lord's debut, there was no question I'd find that connection with Reagan, Dee, and even Matt. Also, I'm sort of a recent convert to country music, thanks to my husband and daughter -- whose favorite artists are Eric Church and Carrie Underwood, respectively -- so I was intrigued by that aspect, as well.

April:  I saw it on Goodreads. A few bloggers I follow were reading it, and all of their status updates were positive. Then I saw it was on Netgalley and requested it right away. I knew this was something I would like based on the description. Plus, it has the word Summer in the title. This Winter has sucked, so I crave any story with warmth.

The Story:

Jen:  Open Road Summer is the kind of book that won me over to contemporary. The writing is solid and flows as well as the songs being sung on Lilah's tour, and it's touching in a way that isn't overly sentimental. It's fun and light-hearted, while at the same time delving into some deeper subject matter, including physical abuse and the effects of becoming a celebrity as a teenager. But the book isn't preachy, nor does it attempt to be an "issues" book; it's just a genuine story of how one summer on a country music tour can change your whole perspective, and I enjoyed it immensely...if that wasn't already clear. =)

April: I loved the story. I mean, how can you not? It's summertime and she's spending it on tour with her best friend. The whole set up is full of win. But it's not all fun and games, there are issues that arise, and issues that they've both already been working through. Have no fear though, Emery Lord tackles all of that while keeping Open Road Summer light and enjoyable. These kind of contemporaries make for the best summer reads.

The Characters:

Jen:  Connecting with the characters in a story is probably the most important aspect of the reading experience for me. I'm not a country music artist on my very first headlining tour and I don't come from a somewhat broken home, but even so, I felt a genuine connection to both Dee and Reagan. (Lilah Montgomery is Dee's stage name, in case you were wondering.) And Matt was just about the sweetest love interest I've ever come across -- I do like boys with Southern charm! -- but I'll get to him in a bit. I liked the group dynamic early on between these three friends on tour, and I liked how their relationships progressed over the course of the book, despite some tricky circumstances.

April:  Reagan is a tough cookie, and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like her, but I warmed up to her character pretty quickly. Her friendship with Dee/Lilah is what thawed me. I adored Dee. I could not stop thinking of Taylor Swift while reading this though. She has this Taylor Swift vibe, but like if Taylor Swift wasn't annoying. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, and belt her music in the car often, but I can see how she gets on some peoples nerves. Dee is the cute, country sweet heart girl, blonde hair, blue eyes, sings about her life experiences. But doesn't date every celebrity that walks by. She's awesome and I loved her. lol Matt, I really liked him, even though he was a bit cheesy at times with his songs.

Jen:  I totally got a Taylor Swift-vibe from Dee, too! Or maybe a younger version of Carrie Underwood. Or a mix of those two. But definitely a country cutie all the way. :D

The Friendship:

Jen:  Reagan and Dee are the kind of best friends you envy: they've been through thick and thin together and even the worst fight won't keep them apart for long. They'd do anything for each other, which is why Dee invited Reagan along on her tour when she saw that Reagan needed a break from what had become of her life. Reagan helps Dee attempt to get over a bad but amicable break-up and Dee gives Reagan the space she needs while also trying to help her cope with the fall-out of her own break-up, which includes the physical and mental effects of some physical abuse. These girls are thick as thieves, and watching the further evolution of their friendship during the cross-country tour was one of my favorite aspects of the story, especially when they were depicted just as two girls, hanging out and doing normal friend things.

April:  This was my favorite part of the whole book. There are not enough stories out there with friendships like Reagan and Dee's. I think that every girl should grow up with a friendship like theirs. I loved how Reagan was there for Dee when things got crazy. Like Jen says above, the evolution of their friendship was great to watch.

The Music & the Tour:

Jen:  The musical portions of the story were probably the weakest for me, and that's mostly due to Matt's writing songs for Reagan, which sometimes felt trite and a little cheesy. But it was also sweet. Reading about all of the behind-the-scenes stuff on tour was infinitely more fun. Except when Dee as Lilah was being harassed by paparazzi or found herself the subject of tabloid gossip. The way Dee handled it all seemed realistic, as did the actual interactions with the media, especially considering what you can read in gossip magazines or see on TMZ. It was unsettling and had my blood boiling at times, but I appreciated that this aspect of life as a country music darling was highlighted in the story, rather than being glossed over.

April: I normally don't like music written in books. When a whole song is written out, lyrics and such, it annoys me. Especially if it's often, because what do the songs actually sound like? Lyrics are never enough for me. Is that lame? lol. Maybe. I did love the tour stuff, the concerts and all that jazz. The paparazzi stuff had me pissed off too, but it's a real thing. If I ever had a chance to be rich and famous, I would turn it down because it's just not worth all that. I also think Open Road Summer covered that aspect well.

The Romance:

Jen:  If the friendship between Dee and Reagan was my favorite part of Open Road Summer, then the romance between Reagan and Matt was my second. Reagan just got out of a terrible relationship with an older guy who treated her badly. She's not looking for love while on tour with her best friend. But she wasn't expecting Matt to join them on the tour, nor did she expect him to be just the sort of nice guy she needed in her life. To complicate matters, because of gossip surrounding Lilah's newest album and her source of inspiration, Lilah's people are allowing speculation that Matt joined the tour as Lilah's boyfriend. Matt and Dee don't exactly pretend to be dating, but they don't deny the rumors either. Reagan's determination not to fall for Matt and let him in because of the potential heartbreak of dating a famous country crooner and Matt's resolve to win her over battle it out for much of the book, but it was fun rather than aggravating. And then there's that thing between Dee and Jimmy. *sigh* This book was just like reading a freaking country song. :D

April: The romance was cute. I loved that Reagan was hesitant at first. Coming out of a bad relationship, you aren't looking for a new one. That's realistic. I've been there, personally, so I connected with her in that way. But then Matt comes along, and some things you just can't fight. Like my husband for instance. I almost didn't date him because I just got out of a bad relationship, but here we are. Their romance was adorable and real to me. Also all the stuff Jen says above. She got to this section before I did and puts it into words so much better and I'm lazy so Ditto! lol.

Jen:  Haha, April...ditto works. :) OH! And I almost didn't date my husband because I was actually still in my bad relationship when we met. But I totally related to Reagan in that respect, as well. I think it's hard not to relate with her on some level.

Overall:

Jen:  Open Road Summer is the quintessential summer read, full of ups and downs, love and loss, and I know I'll be picking it up for a quick read again this summer. Everything about this novel makes me smile, even when less than pleasant things were happening in the story, simply because it was so genuine and heartfelt. This book is definitely going at the top of my Top Summer Reads Recommendations list...whenever April and I get around to putting that thing together. =)

April: I loved Open Road Summer. It had everything I was looking for. It's one of those books that reminds me why I love contemporary so much. This was such a great debut and I look forward to reading more of Emory Lords stuff in the future.

*All of those cute little quotes you see came from the author's Tumblr.

GIF it to me straight:

After this book, we're both ready for summer & a good road trip! =D

About the author:

I write books about complicated families and the friends who save your life just by showing up and your worst mistakes and that boy who gets you like no one else ever has and the summer that changed everything.

Find Emory:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr

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Labels: beautiful covers, bloomsbury, book trailers, contemporary, emery lord, favorites, joint reviews, music, must-read, open road summer, reviews, road trips, summer