Always Jane - Review

Always Jane

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: March 29th 2022 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A chauffer’s daughter finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the sons of her boss’s wealthy next-door neighbors in this delightfully romantic story from the author of Alex, Approximately, Jenn Bennett.

Love—and Fen Sarafian—do not care about your summer plans.

Eighteen-year-old chauffeur’s daughter Jane Marlow grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer, within reach of bands she idolizes, but never a VIP. Every summer, Jane and her father head to the Sierras to work at the producer’s luxury lodge at Lake Condor—a resort town and the site of a major musical festival.

The legendary family who runs the festival are the Sarafians, and Jane’s had a longtime crush on their oldest son, Eddie—doltish but sweet. So when a long-distance romance finally sparks between them, she doesn’t hesitate to cross class lines.

But Jane’s feelings about Eddie are thrown into question after she returns to the lake and reconnects with his alluringly intense brother, the dark horse of her placid summer plans. A fellow lover of music—and hater of the game—Fen Sarafian has been ousted from the family and is slumming it at a vinyl record shop. He burns for Jane like a house on fire and will do anything to sabotage his older brother, even if it means taking a wrecking ball to a multi-million-dollar music festival. Or Jane’s heart.

Always Jane was darker than the bright pink and blue cover with the couple and the cute dog running around their feet would lead you to believe. This was not a "cheery" story which I would have assumed given the cover art.

Let's start with Fen. He is the 2nd son of a music industry promoter. His dad's parenting philosophy is to promote success by putting his oldest two kids in competition against one another. Eddie (the oldest) turned to ruthlessness, and Fen chose to bow out. As a result, Fen's relationships with both his father and Eddie have suffered. Eddie seems to have been spoiled, never having to suffer any real consequences in his life. And Fen has taken the brunt of more than one of Eddie's mistakes. Since the two have been competing almost all their lives, Fen is pretty heartbroken to find out that Jane has been seeing Eddie in secret. He knew that she had a crush on Eddie a few summers ago, but he thought that had changed.

Speaking of a few summers ago, Jane suffered an injury when she fell off the dam and into the lake. She hit her head which caused some brain damage affecting her speech. She can talk just fine, but she often has difficulty finding the word she wants to say even if it's a pretty basic word. She has in fact had a crush on Eddie for a long time. Mostly, it seems her crush was superficial, focused on his handsome face more than anything. She insults his intelligence in her own mind even while she's dating him. I mean I liked Jane, but this bugged me. Not all people are going to be on the same level intellectually. I'm aware. But shouldn't you at least aim to be in a relationship with someone who can compliment you or be on similar levels. I certainly would hate to be in a relationship with someone I considered dumb, and maybe even worse than that, I would hate to be in a relationship with someone who thought I was the dumb one. Regardless, I was a little miffed at Jane here.

Jane is also struggling with a few things like some rumors concerning her parentage. Apparently, her biological father could potentially be someone else. Jane is aware of the rumors, and we're never really given a straight answer to this question, but that didn't completely bother me. I suppose the struggle was the point in this case, not the resolution. And hey, not all problems have solutions. But this added depth to Jane as a character.

I usually do not abide cheating books at all. I simply do not find any interest in reading about characters who cannot end one relationship before moving on to the next. So in some ways, I found myself gritting my teeth because Jane should have done the right thing in this situation. At the same time, Eddie was so completely unworthy of Jane with his lies and secrecy that I didn't feel too bad for him. Regardless if cheating is an issue for you, then you might consider knowing up front that it exists. Perhaps what I personally took issue with even more than the actual cheating is the lie that I have been finding in books that if something feels right then it can't possibly be wrong. As a society, we have got to get this out of our heads. I get so frustrated by this lie being perpetuated. Feel good does not equal right, especially when things like morals or ethics are involved. What feels good is often a lie--or at the very least deceiving.

I feel like I should have quite a bit more to say about Always Jane, but it did take me nearly two weeks to write my review. Whoops.

Favorite quotes:

-"...your problem is that you always use a nuclear weapon when a simple knife to the back would suffice." "I like to make sure my adversary is dead."

-"Your brain doesn't speak for all brains."

-...my body was so delighted to see his body--hello, friend...

-"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said, grinning. "I'm years ahead. We've got kids already. We travel the world and leave them with Ms. Makruhi. There's cake every weekend. Frida does not sleep with us."

Always Jane was not really at all what I expected it to be. I did enjoy it while I was reading it. I was able to block out some things I normally take issue with in order to just read and enjoy the book, but now that it's over and time to write my review, those things I skipped over aren't as easy to ignore. There's cheating, there's the lie of what feels good has to be right, and there was diversity for diversity's sake which I always find annoying. I did root for Jane and Fen. And Eddie being a kind of crappy human being made it easier not to feel too guilty over the cheating and stuff. Obviously that's just because this is fiction. I do applaud Jenn Bennett for not getting too descriptive (for me). Always Jane gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Always Jane? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Spring 2022 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Spring 2022 TBR List.

1. The Second Blind Son (Saylok Chronicles, # 2) by Amy Harmon
2. This Woven Kingdom (The Woven Kingdom, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
3. The Valet's Secret by Josi S Kilpack
4. May His Face Shine Upon You by Susi Larson
5. Always Jane by Jenn Bennett
6. This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
7. Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light
8. From the Jump by Lacie Waldon
9. A Wicked and Beautiful Garden (Witches of the Island, # 1) by Katie McGarry
10. A Fate of Wrath and Flame (Wrath and Flame, # 1) by KA Tucker

Which books are on your Spring 2022 to be read list? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Always Jane

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Always Jane

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: March 29th 2022 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A chauffer’s daughter finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the sons of her boss’s wealthy next-door neighbors in this delightfully romantic story from the author of Alex, Approximately, Jenn Bennett.

Love—and Fen Sarafian—do not care about your summer plans.

Eighteen-year-old chauffeur’s daughter Jane Marlow grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer, within reach of bands she idolizes, but never a VIP. Every summer, Jane and her father head to the Sierras to work at the producer’s luxury lodge at Lake Condor—a resort town and the site of a major musical festival.

The legendary family who runs the festival are the Sarafians, and Jane’s had a longtime crush on their oldest son, Eddie—doltish but sweet. So when a long-distance romance finally sparks between them, she doesn’t hesitate to cross class lines.

But Jane’s feelings about Eddie are thrown into question after she returns to the lake and reconnects with his alluringly intense brother, the dark horse of her placid summer plans. A fellow lover of music—and hater of the game—Fen Sarafian has been ousted from the family and is slumming it at a vinyl record shop. He burns for Jane like a house on fire and will do anything to sabotage his older brother, even if it means taking a wrecking ball to a multi-million-dollar music festival. Or Jane’s heart.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Chasing Lucky - Review

Chasing Lucky

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: May 5th 2020 by Simon Pulse *Update: November 10, 2020

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon |Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this coming-of-age romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen, scandal and romance collide when an ambitious teen returns to her hometown only to have her plans interrupted after falling for the town’s “bad boy”—a.k.a. her childhood best friend.

Sometimes to find the good, you have to embrace the bad.

Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is…

While I haven't read every published book by Jenn Bennett, I have read most of them. She's not an auto-buy author for me because she tends to touch on the politically correct in a way that throws messages into her books that I don't always agree with. But she is an auto-look-into author for me. This basically means I'm going to at least look into every book she publishes and will plan to read them as long as the major storylines don't fall into any of my deal breakers categories. That being said, I was beyond excited to get a review copy of Chasing Lucky. I was beginning to think I was on Simon and Schuster's blackball list or something. Regardless, I pretty much started Chasing Lucky immediately.

Josie is a typical good girl. She's been the adult more often than not in her relationship with her mother who has dragged her from city to city over the years since they originally left Beauty after a falling out between her mother and grandmother. Because she doesn't live long in one place, she never makes friends or connections. And after several years of this, she decides that she can't do it anymore. She comes up with a plan for when she turns 18 and can step away from her mom. She assumed her time in Beauty will be short, probably only a year while her grandmother is away. But Josie has connections in Beauty from her past... family and old friends. Her cousin fills her best friend roles and she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Lucky, even though things don't just click back into place.

Lucky was affected deeply by Josie leaving town when she did. He was going through a difficult time and needed his best friend. Since then, he's struggled a little with his self-worth which has resulted in the bad boy reputation that he's since acquired. He's a good guy at heart, and I was rooting for him every step of the way... even when his motivations were not clear.

Josie had a lot to work through beyond her relationship with Lucky and I really enjoyed the family aspects of Chasing Lucky. The dynamics between Josie and her mother. Josie's mother and her relationship with her own mom. Evie, Josie's older cousin, had a big role to play. As I mentioned earlier, she filled the role of Josie's best friend. Yet she has quite a lot on her own plate.

As I mentioned earlier, I have found that Jenn Bennett's books often have what I call Mountain Out of Molehills moments. There's usually some message thrown in--often in only a sentence or two--that if I mention seems like I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but I feel compelled to address regardless. In the case of Chasing Lucky one of these messages is that women can have as many meaningless sexual encounters as they want. Quoting from Chasing Lucky: "I know women can and should have whatever sex life they want." The idea is that there's often a discrepancy between what society expects of men and women. It isn't unusual to hear about men having multiple partners but it's hypocritical to expect different of women. For me, instead of bringing women to the same promiscuous level as men, why don't we bring men back to the level as women in what we expect of them. Instead of being more permissive for both, perhaps the way God designed things (one man and one woman--married) is the direction we need to go. I know my opinion is likely not popular. This isn't new to me. That's not to even mention the two gay possibilities briefly mentioned nor the short mention of abortion.

Favorite quote:

-People aren't disposable.

Chasing Lucky was everything I've come to expect from Jenn Bennett. Characters and a story that will suck me in and have me not wanting to put it down. A relationship I can root for and am dying to see play out. And a few politically correct statements thrown in whether big or small. Chasing Lucky gets 4 Stars. Have you read Chasing Lucky? What did you think? Let me know!

My Last Ten Book Hangovers

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Most Frequent Book Hangovers.

Ok so this was kind of hard because I don't always mention book hangovers in my reviews. I often mention them in my Sunday Posts for the weekly wrap up, but it's hard to determine what I was reading prior to that week sometimes. A few of these I specifically stated in my reviews that they caused book hangovers, and a few others I'm just going off how I remember feeling after reading them.

1. Beach Read by Emily Henry (review coming soon)
2. A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones (review coming soon)
3. Shadow Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis (review coming soon)
4. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
5. Well Met by Jen DeLuca
6. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
7. Push by Claire Wallis
8. Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin, # 3) by Robin LaFevers
9. The Law of Moses (The Law of Moses, # 1) by Amy Harmon
10. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Which books have caused your book hangovers? Let me know!

Starry Eyes - Review

Starry Eyes

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: April 3rd 2018 by Simon Pulse

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this romantic dramedy from the author of Alex, Approximately, a teen girl’s way-too-ordinary life is driven off the beaten path when she’s abandoned in the wilderness with her worst adversary—the boy who broke her heart.

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely. And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

Sigh. Well Starry Eyes is a mixed bag for me.

What I liked:

In a lot of ways Zorie reminded me of myself. She is a planner and a scheduler because it gives her a sense of being in control. I am the same way. If things go off plan Zorie begins to freak out with anxiety to the point of getting hives. Now I'm not this bad. My mood is certainly influenced by whether or not things are going according to my plans and I definitely struggle with anxiety when I can't control certain aspects of my plans, but I don't break out in hives. And with being a parent I've 100% learned that no matter how much I might wish otherwise I can't control other people. But all of this made her relatable to me.

Lennon. At first, I didn't know what to think about him. He obviously has some strong feelings toward Zorie but I wasn't sure of his motivation. As his story and perspective are revealed my heart completely broke for him. He was an absolute rock through most of the book and I loved that about him.

The camping adventure. Now I'm going to be honest and say that I have no true desire to go camping much less backpacking at this point in my life. But it was fun to read about. The Sierras provided a setting I don't often read about, and I really enjoyed it.

What I didn't like (minor spoilers ahead):

The cheating. This is something I don't enjoy reading about. I know it happens because it has touched my own family. But that's why I'm so sensitive to reading about it. It brings back memories and emotions that I'd just rather keep in the past.

LGBT. Lennon's birth mother is now married to another woman. While I liked Sunny and Mac individually in what instances they were present in the story. They were very supportive of Lennon, and they were more present and supportive than Zorie's own father. But I just don't agree with this lifestyle and don't enjoy reading about it any more than I enjoy reading about cheating or time travel.

Meagan. I didn't feel like her character was completely flushed out. She was apparently angry with Zorie for her friendship with Avani yet Meagan didn't even seem to like Zorie all that much from a personal level. I mean obviously they have issues but how were they even friends in the past much less enough for Meagan to be jealous. Plus Meagan was the one who'd made a new group of friends.

So yeah. Starry Eyes had some parts that I really enjoyed and others that I didn't care for. For that reason, I'm giving Starry Eyes 3 Stars. Have you read Starry Eyes? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, but is currently hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors.

Interestingly enough, there are no 100% auto-buy authors for me. I have authors that I've read all of their published books and would certainly check out anything else they publish in the future. But I have certain topics that are just off limits. So *shrugs* this is as close as I get to an auto-buy list. I've done this topic in the past and it was interesting to go back and see which authors have fallen off my top ten list and which have remained. Here's my list from 2015 and 2013.

1. Colleen Hoover - So I've been a CoHort from way back when. Slammed was my first read by her when it was available on NetGalley. I've loved all of her books and have read each and every one of them.
2. Kasie West - I've read all of her published books. And since her content has always been clean I can pretty much guarantee that unless my reading tastes drastically change I'll always count Kasie West as an auto-buy author.
3. Mary E Pearson - I still have Mary E Pearson's earliest releases to read, but since the Remnant Chronicles I at least want to check out everything else she decides to do.
4. Sarah J Maas - Confession: I don't actually own any of her books although I've read all but Kingdom of Ash (cutting my eyes at you Holly). I've just borrowed them all from Holly. But all of her books are good enough to own, and certainly good enough to make this list. I can see where she might one day venture into territory that I'm not up for, but I'll always look into her books.
5. Amy Harmon - There are quite a few that Amy Harmon has written that I still haven't read, but all of the ones by her that I have read have been really good. I'm skeptical of What the Wind Knows because it is about time travel, and I don't usually enjoy that subject.
6. Katie McGarry - I've read all of Katie McGarry's books and haven't found one that I didn't like. Will definitely continue to check her books out in the future.
7. KA Tucker - Another author that I've read all of her releases. Wait no. I take that back. She has some very early releases that I haven't read even though I own the first one. I need to get around to that one soon.
8. Robin LaFevers - I always hesitate to add authors to lists like this when I've only read a few of their books or only one series because a different series could be vastly different. But I think I can trust her writing to be good.
9. Kristi Ann Hunter - Christian Historical Fiction - You can't go wrong. Well...maybe you could, but Kristi Ann Hunter has never led me astray. Probably an actual auto-buy author for me.
10. Jenn Bennett - Ok so Jenn Bennett is a tricky one. I've loved everything I've read from her, and I certainly want to read more of her books. However, I do know that she can trickle into subject matter that I'm not a fan of, and one of her books hasn't gotten the best reviews. So...we'll see.

Which authors are on your auto-buy List? Let me know!

Alex, Approximately - Review

Alex, Approximately

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: April 4th 2017 by Simon Pulse

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

Well the description just gives the whole mystery of the book away, doesn't it? I hadn't re-read the description for quite a while so I didn't remember it spelling things out so specifically. If you haven't read the description, maybe try not to read that last sentence. I mean there wasn't much doubt in my mind, but still, the mystery is one of the driving forces of the story. So try not to completely ruin the story by reading the description if you can avoid it.

The scenery of Alex, Approximately was adorable. I want to visit this small town in California. I haven't been to the West Coast so I've not seen the Pacific Ocean--although I have no issues with the beaches of Panama City Beach or Gulf Shores. The museum, while cheesy, definitely sounds like something that should be seen and visited as well as the boardwalk and local surfing. The whole place sounded charming.

I wasn't really sure that I was going to like Bailey. I could understand her issues with telling Alex that she was moving in with her Dad in the same town that Alex lives in, but I struggle a little with people in real life who won't just confront things head-on. I won't say that I enjoy conflict, but I personally believe that sweeping a problem under the rug only creates more problems whereas confronting things head on usually causes less confusion and miscommunication. But she has more to her and she makes significant progress in all areas throughout the course of the book.

Porter was perfectly imperfect. I liked how he and Bailey began their relationship with more hostility than anything else. But some of the fights he picked with Bailey, I was certainly on her side. But he becomes more and more likable as time passes and as his layers get pulled back one after one. I ended up being quite a fan of Porter. I do wish he wasn't described as much as he was. At least the long curly, hair part, but maybe that's just because I don't find long hair on men attractive. A little bit more left to my imagination as far as his appearance is concerned would have been great.

The side characters were almost all just as loveable: Grace, Pangborn, Bailey's Dad, Wanda, Mr. Roth, Mrs. Roth, Lana. I liked them all and the warmth and complexity they brought to this story.

I did find myself questioning several pieces of the puzzle. Like how the town wasn't large but it wasn't tiny, yet for Bailey to never question that she might actually run into Alex...especially while she's attempting to flesh out his workplace. Some of the clues felt so very obvious to me. Yet almost everything I questioned I could also find some way to explain away.

Favorite quotes:

-That’s the thing about being an evader. You have to be flexible and know when to bail before it all gets weird. Better for everyone, really. I’m a giver.

-"...Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you’re a whole lot stronger than you think.”

I did briefly get annoyed with Bailey's reaction to Porter's fight with Davy. I mean she does get over it, but this just felt like our current day's culture's attempt at a utopian society where there's never any violence. Do I wish for violence? Of course not. I think it's better to avoid it, but I'm not going to be freaked out if my boyfriend gets into a fight. Just a Mountains Into Molehills situation for me.

In the end the biggest compliment I can give Alex, Approximately is that I could not stop thinking about this book for days after I finished it. It had the potential to give me a book hangover had I not jumped into just the right book for follow-up after I finished it. Alex, Approximately gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Alex, Approximately? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Lady Rogue

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Lady Rogue

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: September 3rd 2019 by Simon Pulse

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Serious Moonlight

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Serious Moonlight

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: April 16th 2019 by Simon Pulse

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart - Review

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: November 3rd 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she’s spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Da Vinci’s footsteps, she’s ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital’s Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Jack is charming, wildly attractive, and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is—and tries to uncover what he’s hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in her family’s closet tear them apart?

When I initially read the description for The Anatomical Shape of a Heart it reminded me of Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley which I really enjoyed. The two stories don't have much in common beyond the secret graffiti artist, but I enjoyed them both.

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart had such a unique set of characters. Bex's fascination with anatomy and her unique interest in drawing medical textbook diagrams is something that I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I've never encountered before. I loved how individual Bex was all around. She's typically a follow-the-rules kid, but her mother's lack of support for her desire for this type of art has her beginning to sneak around. And this is where she meets Jack.

Bex and Jack have a moment the first night they meet, but Bex is a bit too practical to throw caution to the wind. But Jack is charming and he hunts her down in a non-stalkerish kind of way. I actually loved the mystery behind these two in the beginning. They both purposefully flirt in a way that keeps much of themselves secret from the other. But of course, over time that wears down and the two find out more and more about each other through the more time they spend together.

Speaking of Jack, there's so much more to him that meets the eye, but I loved how he didn't really beat around the bush when it came to Bex. He pursued her. He was pretty open about how he felt about her even when he was closed off about what was going on in his life.

Favorite quotes:

-"You're an interesting girl." "Says Jack the vegetarian Buddhist jewel thief."

-What did it mean? Yes, it was my birthday, so clearly it was a nod to that. But for the love of Pete, just send me a Have a Terrific Day! messsage online. No need to bring a felony charge into the mix.

-Mom says you should never ask for advice you aren't willing to take. I wasn't sure I agreed. Having an unbiased pair of eyes point out a sensible solution was helpful. But the sensible thing and the right thing weren't always the same choice, and no one but you could truly understand the difference.

-"Trust me?" "You ready to give me a reason to?"

-"Art shouldn't be practical. It should be emotional and expressive."

-We were both frantic and fevered, and it was the first kiss I'd ever had that felt like a fight. And the way he made my body ache made me think I'd been doing it all wrong until now.

Jenn Bennett's writing style in The Anatomical Shape of a Heart reminded me a lot of my friend Jennifer which I consider to be a good thing. Her words were flowing and smooth. I was hooked easily and quickly. The characters were rich and complex. And I loved so many unique features that she included in this book.

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart does have some language, some (though not too explicit) sexual scenes, as well as a gay side character. There's mental illness and suicide touched on. All of these are potential triggers for some readers in case these are issues for you in your reading preferences.

I enjoyed The Anatomical Shape of a Heart very much. I didn't want to put it down and actually risked getting car sick to finish it on our trip home from Gatlinburg so that I could keep reading until the end. I loved the unique characters and situations presented. And I appreciated Jenn Bennett's voice. I'll definitely seek out more of her books. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Anatomical Shape of a Heart? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Starry Eyes

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Starry Eyes

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: April 3rd 2018 by Simon Pulse

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this romantic dramedy from the author of Alex, Approximately, a teen girl’s way-too-ordinary life is driven off the beaten path when she’s abandoned in the wilderness with her worst adversary—the boy who broke her heart.

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

I'm new to the Jenn Bennett bandwagon, but what I've read by her I've really enjoyed. I want more! What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Waiting on Alex, Approximately

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Alex, Approximately

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: April 4th 2017 by Simon Pulse

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

I know this one was available for review a while back and somehow I missed out on requesting it. It sounds right up my alley. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring Me

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring Me.

1. Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer
2. Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Meagan Spooner & Aime Kaufman
3. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
4. On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nightime Sleep by Gary Ezzo
5. Esther: A Royal Beauty (A Dangerous Beauty, # 1) by Angela Hunt
6. The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles, # 2) by Mary E Pearson (already read but do not own)
7. End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, # 3) by Susan Ee
8. Split Second (Pivot Point, # 2) by Kasie West
9. Inspiring You (Unraveling You, # 4) by Jessica Sorensen
10. Extreme Wordsearch Puzzle Books by Parragon Books - Is it totally weird that I've been kind of craving a good search-a-word?

Which books are you hoping that Santa brings you? Let me know!