{Mini} Reviews: Solving for Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans & Where You'll Find Me by Erin Fletcher

Title: Solving for Ex
Author: Leigh Ann Kopans
Series: n/a
Publisher: indie/self-published
Publication Date: February 11, 2014
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.

Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy.

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.

SOLVING FOR EX is a YA contemporary romance that remixes Mansfield Park as Clueless meets Mean Girls in a crazy mix of high school society, mathletic competition, and teenage romance.

I love best friends romances. But for a long time, I wasn't sure that's where this story was headed. And that was okay. Until it wasn't. I'm being intentionally vague, but there's just so much miscommunication and avoidance and underhandedness among the characters in this story that I just couldn't appreciate it for the cute little romance it endeavored to be.

Solving for Ex has its moments. Those nerdy math jokes were really cute. And both Brendan and Ashley were adorably clueless. But bad decision-making and stereotypical behavior made the rest of the story sort of tedious. Beyond that, it was easy to guess the plot twist that shifted everything for the characters.

While this book wasn't quite what I was expecting, I still had fun reading it and enjoyed myself enough that I still want to pick up the author's other series. I'm sure many readers will find this book absolutely adorable, but I'm looking for just a bit more from my contemporary reads.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again).

Find Leigh Ann:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Title: Where You'll Find Me
Author: Erin Fletcher
Series: n/a
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When Hanley Helton discovers a boy living in her garage, she knows she should kick him out. But Nate is too charming to be dangerous. He just needs a place to get away, which Hanley understands. Her own escape methods (vodka, black hair dye, and pretending the past didn't happen) are more traditional, but who is she to judge?

Nate doesn't tell her why he's in her garage, and she doesn't tell him what she's running from. Soon, Hanley's trading her late-night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate's recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn't sure which is worse: that she's harboring a fugitive, or that she's in love with one.

Where You'll Find Me does not attempt to be humorous or provide comic relief. But it does try a little too hard to be so terribly tragic. The two main characters are hiding their horrible pasts from each other and refuse to face their own pasts, each choosing their own manner of running away from their problems. But I didn't find either of their pasts all that terrible. Sure, their families' reactions to those events is kind of horrible but nothing a little grief counseling couldn't mend.

Everyone thinks their own personal tragedy is the worst. And some people might be right. So, I won't pass judgment on how unspeakable Hanley and Nate's tragedies are or even deign to compare the two. But I do think that the whole "guy living in your garage" aspect is a little hard to swallow, if not implausible. And trusting the guy living in your garage and aiding his refuge in your garage is even more improbable. Hanley questions his motives and how dangerous Nate is for all of about five minutes before agreeing to his cockamamie plan.

Le sigh. Teenagers don't always make the best decisions, though. In fact, I probably know a few who might be as easily coerced as Hanley. Especially if a hot guy was doing the asking. So, I guess I can overlook that point for now. Aside from that, I found the characters intriguing and I wanted to see how this whole scenario played out. And I have to admit, I was pulling for these kids to get their act together, even with parents who were so unable to see the whole picture.

This book is sad, but it has some uplifting moments, as well. I liked it. I could see myself reading more from this author. She made me feel for these characters even when I thought they were behaving stupidly. And there's something to that.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

YA writer. WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME coming 1/7/14 from Entangled Teen. Lover of coffee and flip flops. Represented by John M. Cusick of Greenhouse Literary.

Find Erin:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

It's been a little while since I read both of these books, but I do remember enjoying Where You'll Find Me just a bit more than Solving for Ex, despite giving them both the same rating. WYFM is just a bit grittier, a little meatier than SFE.

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Labels: contemporary, entangled, erin fletcher, indies, leigh ann kopans, nerds, reviews, solving for ex, tough subject, where you'll find me

{Blog Tour} The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller: Review + Giveaway

Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Series: n/a
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Source: eARC received from Rockstar Tours for blog tour
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

There is just so much to love about The Summer I Became a Nerd.  It's cute and funny and sweet, and well, just plain adorkable!  I, myself, am a huge nerd, though I think it's pretty obvious that I don't try to conceal that fact.

I envied Maddie, getting to LARP with the likes of Logan and Dan.  My only experience with LARPing is through Little Brother, another nerdy book that I enjoyed quite a bit.  And, honestly, now that I think about it, that was actually a big scavenger hunt and maybe there was no LARPing involved?  So, yeah, terribly jealous.  I'm not a gamer girl, but I think I'd be awesome at LARP.  Just sayin'.


So, yeah, I liked the LARP aspect.  I giggled at all of The Princess Bride references.  (It is my favorite movie ever.)  And I loved how much this book reminded me of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, complete with battle of the evil exes.  The only thing I didn't like was how Maddie continually denied her own happiness simply for the sake of keeping up appearances.  That is the main focus of the book, but I just found the justification for her actions, the underlying reason, to be without merit.  However, when it comes time to confront the truth and make amends, Maddie mans up and I can appreciate that.

I can also appreciate the cute nerdy boy she has a big ole crush on.  Logan actually reminded me of the guy I was hard-core crushing on in high school.  And just like Maddie, I thought his dorkiness made him that much cooler.  And much like Maddie, I was dating someone else when he finally announced his feelings for me.  It made for an awkward situation...in both cases.  But I loved seeing how it played out, even if Maddie didn't always do the honorable thing.  Does the nerd get the girl?  You shall have to read to find out.


If you are a nerd, have nerdish tendencies, are friends with a nerd, or are crushing on a nerd, I think you'll enjoy this fun and quirky book.  The Summer I Became a Nerd is the romance novel for those of us who'd rather find true love in a comic book store than at the lifeguard stand.  It's not your average summer beach read, but it's full of clever, nerdy banter and timeless sci-fi and comic book clichés that even your most closeted nerd can appreciate.

Rating:  

About the author:

Mother, wife, and YA author living on a windy hill in Natchitoches, Louisiana. I love fuzzy socks, comic books, cherry coke, and brand new office supplies. THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD coming Summer 2013 from Entangled Teen. Stay cool!

Find Leah Rae Miller:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

The awesome blog tour hosts have graciously provided 3 (three) ebook copies of The Summer I Became a Nerd for giveaway on the tour, and it's international!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: blog tour, contemporary, entangled, fun, giveaways, leah rae miller, nerds, reviews, the summer i became a nerd