Here are some quick reviews for books I haven’t gotten around to reviewing or that I just don’t have a ton to say about. Once again, I figure a few bite sized reviews together will be enough to feed your fiction addiction! 🙂
Published by HarperTeen on 9/2/14
Genres: Young Adult, Depression & Mental Illness, Contemporary
Pages: 432
Source: Library
My rating:
A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.
Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together… which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin.
It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn’t sure she’s brave enough to let herself fall.
Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, this debut novel from Rachel M. Wilson is a moving story of a talented girl who’s fighting an increasingly severe anxiety disorder, and the friends and family who stand by her.
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers on 4/5/14
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 422
Source: Library
My rating:
From the acclaimed author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He’s a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island’s summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she’ll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen’s dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.
A magnetic, push-you-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.
Don’t touch and Stepping Stones are both on my TBR. I’ve only read two of Kacey’s books, so I’m gonna give this one a go soon. Still, I can totally understand not connecting with the characters. Great reviews!
If you liked Kacey’s other books, this one will probably be a win for you too. I think it just wasn’t for me.
I need to add Don’t Touch to my TBR. It sounds so great!
It was really good. I highly recommend it!
I’ve been hesitant to read Don’t Touch, and I’m honestly not sure why. I do have a copy though, so I think I’m going to have to check it out very soon. So glad to see how much you liked it!! I enjoyed What I Thought Was True also. I didn’t love it… felt like something was missing… but I did enjoy it overall. Great reviews! 🙂
Sometimes there are books that you want to read, but you just can’t bring yourself to pick them up. That’s definitely happened to me before.
I hadn’t heard of tht first one but sounds really interesting. I like books that focus on mental health.I need ot pick up a Huntley Fitzpatrick book. Glad you enjoyed this one. Great reviews!
I loved Fitzpatrick’s The Boy Next Door. This one was good, but not quite as good as that one.
Don’t Touch looks emotional and worth the read, What I Thought Was True also. Stepping Stones? first time seeing it.
Don’t Touch is definitely emotional – I highly recommend it!!
I’m so glad Don’t Touch is highly recommended. I’ve been meaning to read that since it came out. And I’m glad you enjoyed What I Thought Was True…I know a few people who couldn’t connect with that one. Lovely reviews, Nicole.
I completely agree with you about Stepping Stones. It was so difficult not being able to make a connection to Onna, especially with all of the horror she faces. But on a positive note, What I Thought Was Sure looks really good! Honesty and straightforwardness can sometimes be hard to find books, so I’m looking forward to that.
I don’t like it when I cannot connect with the characters. The other two sound really good though. Great “mini” reviews 🙂
Aw YAY I am so glad you liked Don’t Touch! I have a lot of the same types of thoughts as Caddie, so I really was just blown away by how well Rachel was able to get inside her head. When I read it, I had to actually back away for a bit because it was too real.
I need to read one of Huntley’s books ASAP. She is so nice, and I hear good things! As for Stepping Stones… yeah, I am going to pass 😉