Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Review

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3)

By: Jenny Han

Publication: April 4th 2017 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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Goodreads description--Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

You guys, I was so torn when I heard there was going to be another book in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series. Lara Jean and Peter had been through so much and I just wanted them to have their happily ever after--or at least leave their happily ever after alone. Especially when I found out that a large part of the plot was going to revolve around time for Lara Jean and Peter to decide where to go to college. I mean, duh, modern, progressive, feminist literature couldn't possibly support Lara Jean going off to college with her high school boyfriend. So I worried that the entire book was just going to screw things up for them. And thus I put off reading Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

The entire Covey family is just so great. I love Jenny Han's take on their family dynamics. I've never been a big fan of Margot. She's a bit mean and stuck up for my preferences. Lara Jean does a wonderful job being the mediator. She's old enough to mother Kitty a bit, and yet young enough to be mothered too. I loved the parts of this story that revolve around family. And Jenny Han does a perfect job of blending the events of the family and the characters into a story about a teenage girl where the family often feels like an afterthought. Kitty is beyond one of my favorite characters to have ever read about. I love how confident she is with herself. She isn't scared to be herself. I love, love, love her. But even still Lara Jean might be my favorite because she's not as extreme as Margot or Kitty can be. These characters really couldn't be more fleshed out and pop off the page. Again, Jenny Han does a great job of having Margot or Kitty make decisions that mirror something Lara Jean might be dealing with, yet the idea is showing how the two girls (or really all three girls) deal with things differently.

Peter Kavinsky. Ah, Peter Kavinsky...where were you when I was in high school? I loved how comfortable Peter and Lara Jean were with each other. They're happy and confident in their relationship (for the majority of the book anyway). There's no doubt in their minds about their love for each other. Peter is entirely Peter, yet the perfect fit for Lara Jean even when it might not seem so on the surface. I just get the warm and fuzzies from their relationship. And kudos to him for taking things at Lara Jean's pace even when it has to drive him crazy as a teenage boy. I wouldn't be too terribly upset if my daughter found herself a Peter Kavinsky one day. (BTW, I can't picture him any other way than the actor, Noah Centineo, who plays Peter in the Netflix Original film now that I've seen it possibly 3 times.)

I do have to be honest with you guys and say that I cheated. I caved to the anxiety this book caused me. I was feeling so paranoid and anxious about how things would end that I just wasn't enjoying the experience as much as I'd hoped because I was a bit of a wreck. I can't remember if it was 50, 60, or 70% but somewhere along the way, I Googled the ending. This is the first book that I have ever really spoiled for myself, but I'm honestly not even upset that I did. I don't need that kind of anxiety in my life, so I solved that for myself. 

Despite my worries, Always and Forever, Lara Jean ended up being a worthy ending to a series I've really enjoyed and characters I've come to love. I don't even have much more to say about this book. I highly enjoyed this book and this entire series. Always and Forever, Lara Jean gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Always and Forever, Lara Jean? What did you think? Let me know!

Verity - Review

Verity (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 2)

By: Lisa Tawn Bergren

Publication: April 2nd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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*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 leaving England behind for a new life in the West Indies with her sisters, Verity Banning wants something to call her own. Her affinity for animals inspires her to set up a business importing horses, as well as other goods in demand by the island residents. But when she arrives in the Colonies to purchase her goods, unexpected news of Captain Duncan McKintrick awaits her--as does the captain's handsome brother, Ian--whose sympathies lie with the fledgling Patriot cause.

As the great-granddaughter of a British general and friend to many Loyalists, Verity believed all she wanted was a peaceful resolution. But both the Patriots and the impassioned Ian McKintrick are steadily laying claim to her heart. When faced with the decision of what--and for whom--she will fight, can she set her feet on a new path despite the danger that awaits?

I've seen Lisa T Bergren's books for years. There's been no real reason that I haven't picked one of her books up until now besides not having a specific opportunity to do so. Well, that all changed when I saw Verity for review. I wish that I had realized Verity was the 2nd in a series. Somehow I missed that. I truly don't think Goodreads had the series listed when I decided to request it for review. I definitely felt like I was missing out for not having read Keturah, but nothing was missing that was crucial enough not to be able to read Verity as a standalone.

The Banning sisters aren't above going beyond what society expects of a woman--or just society's expectations in general. Yet I did wonder what Verity was thinking at times. Specifically her decision to follow Ian without a guardian. I mean things worked out okay, but she had no guarantee that they would without completely ruining her reputation. Strong as she may be, that seemed a little out of character for her--or maybe just out of character for me.

Similarly, some of the decisions that Ian and Verity made concerning the Sons of Freedom were hard for me to support. I mean they did hard things that did a lot of good, but they didn't seem to make the smartest choices at the same time. I guess those things were necessary for conflict and tension within the story, but I was kind of bumping my fist against my forehead in frustration at these two sometimes. I mean they kept creating enemies at just about every port they stopped at. I guess I felt they could have been a bit better at being two-faced if that makes sense without giving too much away.

I particularly enjoyed the beginning of Ian and Verity's relationship. The common ground that binds them instantly. The growth and the journey the two must go through to choose each other. But of course, love stories are my favorite. These two were a little cheesy at times once they left Nevis, but I don't mind a little cheese.

The subterfuge had me anxious while reading. I found myself holding my breath until I could find out their outcomes of each moment.

My first experience with Lisa T Bergren was enjoyable. I loved how Verity brought history to life. The love story was really good. And the missions had me anxious to see how it would all turn out. Verity gets 4 Stars. Have you read Verity? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Would Like to Meet

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.

Would Like to Meet

By: Rachel Winters

Expected Publication: December 3rd 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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*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 charming, feel-good debut novel, a cynical assistant at a screenwriting agency must reenact the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedy movies in order to help her #1 client get his scriptwriting mojo back--but can a real-life meet-cute be in store for someone who doesn't believe in happily ever after?

After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she's been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency's biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy.

The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.

But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.

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

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 09/01/19

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Wow! It's September! This is when the year really starts wrapping up quickly. We had a good week. Little Girl's preschool finally finished a new playground build, and she has been beyond excited to go to school and play on the playground. Little Boy and I ran some errands Wednesday. We went to Hobby Lobby and got some things I needed for a fall craft project. Friday after getting Little Girl from school, I ran by McDonald's for the kids and then took them to my parents. Little Girl went with them to my sister's house a few hours south of here. It was my sister's birthday Friday so they're going to celebrate, and Little Girl wanted to see her cousins. Husband and I took Little Boy out to eat with us Friday night. And Saturday was pretty normal despite it just being the three of us.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Well Met by Jen DeLuca (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Seven Books I Should Own But Don't
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson
Saturday: August 2019 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Labor Day (US) - No Blog Post
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of Verity (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 2) by Lisa T Bergren

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Tweet Cute

By: Emma Lord

Publication: January 21st 2020 by Wednesday Books

336 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 fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

August 2019 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 9 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff
The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon
Bone Crier's Moon (Bone Grace, # 1) by Kathryn Purdie
Losing the Field (The Field Party, # 4) by Abbi Glines
Beasts of the Frozen Sun (Frozen Sun Saga, # 1) by Jill Criswell
Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely
Verity (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 2) by Lisa T Bergren
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

I have reviewed 4 books. *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Just In Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado
With this Pledge (Carnton, # 1) by Tamera Alexander
A Reluctant Bride (The Bride Ships, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 08/04/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 08/11/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 08/18/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 08/25/19
Ten Characters That Make Great BFFs
Top Ten Favorite Book Tropes
Seven Books I Should Own But Don't
Can't Wait for 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
Can't Wait for Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao
Can't Wait for A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 3) by Mimi Matthews
Can't Wait for The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson
2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - August Wrap Up
July 2019 EOM Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm 5 days ahead of schedule with my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 61 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.