Review- Snakes in the Meadows by Ayaz Kohli

Snakes in the Meadows on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Jammu and Kashmir, 1987. In the hilly village of pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and ashwar, two young lovers, dream of marriage and of good things of life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, pathri Aali is populated mostly by women and children. Soon they realize the mujahedeen, who guise themselves as their liberators, are the worst perpetrators, and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar refuses to be cowed down by this reign of terror and is determined not to let it devastate the once-peaceful village. The only one she can Bank on is aslam—and she calls out to him across the distance of time and space, to return and live up to the legends of their village. Snakes in the meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of pir panjal—the ‘and’ of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Release date: May 20th 2019

Published by: Rupa Publications India

Page numbers: 288

REVIEW: 

Because it is set in the troublesome and terrific Jammu and Kashmir, Snakes in the Meadows demanded to be read. Set in the village of Pathri Aali in Kashmir, this is Ayaz Kohli's debut which is the story of Ashwar and Aslam, two lovers separated by the condition and situation in their hometown. 

For his first novel, author Ayaz Kohli has done something tremendous by describing the raw and real stuff that happened and still continues to happen in villages that are forgotten. With no media coverage whatsoever, the people of Pathri Aali have to depend on themselves to save their Eden. The way the habitats come together and form an army of their own was extremely inspiring to read about. This book helps you understand how important your roots really are. 

Ayaz Kohli's writing is very easy to follow and clean. By that, I mean that it is as precise as it could get without meandering too much into unnecessary details. I did find that the book was slightly difficult to get into, but once the 60% mark was crossed, it got very engrossing and I found myself rooting for the people I had journeyed with in this book. 

There are many books set in Jammu and Kashmir that are available in the market, and each is unique in it's own way. But I would recommend Snakes in the Meadows because it really digs deep into history of forgotten places and makes you realise both the positive and negative extremes of humanity. There is always so much more to a person and a story than what meets the eye. And that is exactly why you should give this one a go.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Rupa Publications in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

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Review- Caramel Hearts by E.R. Murray

Caramel Hearts on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Liv Bloom’s life is even more complicated than that of your average fourteen-year-old: her father walked out on the family when she was young, her mother is in a recovery centre for alcoholics, and her older sister is struggling to step into Mum’s shoes. The only person she can turn to is her best friend Sarah, who gets out of scrapes at school and is a constant source of advice and companionship. One day Liv discovers a book of recipes written in her mum’s handwriting, which sets her off on a journey towards self-discovery and reconciliation – but a theft, a love rivalry and a school bully are just some of the many obstacles on the way.

Structured around real cake recipes, Caramel Hearts is a coming-of-age novel about love, disappointment and hope, and discovering the true value of friends and family, no matter how dysfunctional they are. 

Release date: May 26th 2016

Published by: Alma Books Ltd.

Page numbers: 300 (paperback), 355 (Kindle)

REVIEW:

Caramel Hearts is the sad story of Olivia who goes through heaps of trauma at a very young age because of a father who left his family and an alcoholic mother. She lives with her sister, Hatty with whom she shares a very typical sister relationship where there are fights, rude comebacks and tension but who still are there for and love each other. Together, the two try as hard as possible to keep everything under control so that the social services don't take underage Olivia away. 

While there were many positives about this book, for me, Olivia got on my nerves more than once. From the very beginning, I found her to be silly. Her actions seemed to contradict her beliefs. Most of the time, she knew what she was doing was reckless and wrong- and while I do understand teenage angst and the need to have purpose- she still made a bunch of mistakes while knowing she was making them and that is so silly. She knew her sister was working hard and yet she kept snapping at her. She could see her mother trying hard and yet she never gave her an opportunity to improve. 

The positives in this one, like any young adult novel, was the importance give to family, friends and school. Olivia's family was not the perfect one, but then which family is perfect? Their problems and shortcomings were portrayed in a raw and real manner. Olivia goes through a roller coaster with her friendships but eventually, everything starts falling in place. Her school life was hard, and while she did mess up many, many times, the hardships always overpowered the silliness. 

The most incredible part of Caramel Hearts was the way in which food was effortlessly incorporated in the story. When author E.R. Murray describes Olivia's state of being while she bakes the delicious treats her parents noted down, it was so easy to believe because I feel the same sense of calm and ease when cooking. The way food was involved in bringing people together was very well done. I am slightly tempted to try a few of the recipes on my own. 

Overall, Caramel Hearts is a quick and great young adult novel that might seem silly at times but that is still very gratifying. 

P.S: I had won this book from a huge Instagram giveaway by Bloomsbury Publishing! 

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Review- You Against Me by Jenny Downham

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

 BOOK SUMMARY:

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right?

If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him, don't you?

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart.

When Ellie's brother is charged with the offence, her world begins to unravel.

When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love.

Release date: December 2nd 2010

Published by: David Fickling

Page numbers: 413

REVIEW: 

I remember it was 2012 when I first came across You Against Me. When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read the book. I put off reading the ebook for a very, very long time. Recently, however, I came across a paperback copy of the book at a local book sale and bought it. I took it as a sign and finally picked it up from my shelf to read. And man, what a book! 

I'm actually glad I read the book in 2018, and not 2012 because I understood it better and I found so much depth in it in the really small stuff which I probably would've ignored back in the day. Author Jenny Downham has written a beautiful book and her writing is so very beautiful that even though the book is slow and very long, once it ended, I wanted more of her words because they were so beautiful. 

When Karyn files a rape case against Tom, both her and Tom's families are shattered. Family relations are my most favourite part about young adult books, and both families were amazingly portrayed. Tom comes from a very rich family who will do whatever it takes to defend him and his future. Karen's family is poor, troubled but a close knit family who tries their best to be there for her. 

Tom's sister Ellie and Karyn's brother Mikey meet once and sparks fly. Although both want to protect their siblings, they know what's right and what needs to be done to serve justice. I loved how their relationship blossomed throughout the book. These two had some of the hardest decisions to make and they did it with brains and poise. The character and relationship development was wonderful. 

I highly recommend You Against Me to fans of young adult and anyone really, because this is a deep, sad and beautiful book. And since it's set in England, you get to know so much about the country added knowlegde is always a plus. 

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Review- This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

 This Song Will Save Your Life on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, This Song Will Save Your Life is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Release date: September17th 2013

Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Page numbers: 276

REVIEW: 

No matter how many books I read and how much I love experimenting with new genres, I always find myself going back to Young Adult, which is my all time favourite. I just feel that the genre is very pure and raw making it extremely relatable and pleasing. So when I decided to pick up author Leila Sales' This Song Will Save Your Life, I knew I would have a great time reading it, and clearly, I wasn't wrong because this one ended up being just the book that I like to read.

This Song Will Save Your Life is the story of Elise Dembowski, who seems like a normal person on the outside, just like you and I. But only Elise really knows what's going on in her head and she has experienced firsthand how cruel and pathetic the world is even though she's only sixteen. One night, Elise stumbles upon something in a lonely and dark alleyway that turns her life upside down; for better or worse... Well, read the book to find out!

I really liked how Elise's character was portrayed. She did seem very mature for a sixteen year old, but there were many times when her thoughts mimicked mine and I couldn't help but completely agree with her. She was a smart and great person who deserved nothing but happiness. Throughout the book, I was rooting for her. She comes across a couple of people in her life, even though some of the characters were lovely, most of them got on my nerves for the way they were, but Elise's family and friends made for very likeable and pleasant characters.

This was a a very nice coming of age story, but it's also very dark and deep which is why the label of it being for older readers is perfect. Every fan of Young Adult reads will really like this book and will take something back from it. It definitely is like any other YA contemporary, but it is also very unique at the same time because of the way it takes up important issues and shows that no matter what, we win in the end, in our own way.

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Review- Saving June by Hannah Harrington

 BOOK SUMMARY:

If she'd waited less than two weeks, she'd have been June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that. When sixteen-year-old Harper’s sister June, the perfect, popular, pretty one to Harper’s also-ran, commits suicide just before her high school graduation, nothing in Harper’s world makes sense anymore. With her family falling apart, Harper has a plan – steal June’s ashes and take her sister to the one place she always wanted to go: California. Embarking on a wild road trip of impromptu gigs and stolen kisses with mysterious musician Jake, the one person who could hold answers about June, Harper’s determined to find peace for her sister. But will she find peace for herself along the way? ‘fresh, fun and poignant’ - Kody Keplinger ‘tender, funny and moving’ - Courtney Summers ‘raw, powerful, and absolutely spot-on’ - YA Reads.com

Release date: June 1st 2012

Published by: Mira Ink

Page numbers: 336

REVIEW: 

I had been wanting to read Saving June since it was released a few years ago. But knowing me, I take all the time in the world to actually pick up a book and read it. When I released that I had covered up all the Young Adult reads on my shelf, I turned to Janhvi and asked her for a few recommendations when she reminded me that I wanted to read Saving June and she, very kindly, let me borrow her paperback.

Saving June is the story of Harper who loses her sister June because she commits suicide. Harper tries as much as she's able to, to figure out exactly what was wrong with her sister, but turns out, it is too late. So instead, she decides to do what her sister always dreamed of doing: going to California and embracing freedom. She then goes on a road trip from Michigan to California with her closest friend Laney and mysterious boy Jake. More than being a way to free June, the road trip ends up being necessary for Harper.

I love books about suicide, but I always have this one issue because I want a suicide to be justified in order for me to accept it. Now when it comes to Saving June, I have mixed feelings a about the suicide because we barely got a glimpse into June's life, let alone knowing her in and out. But on the other hand, the way she was portrayed and Harper's description of her sister did make some point which I could accept.

All that aside though, considering as this is Harper's story, Saving June was a very nicely written book which takes up an important issue in a very interesting and straightforward manner. Author Hannah Harrignton has written a lovely book that is a must read for fans of coming of age Young Adult reads, because this isn't a book you read, it's an experience you live.

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Review- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Hi, guys! So I read Thirteen Reasons Why a long, long time ago, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring out this review that's been collecting dust in my drafts. I'm posting it now in honour of the web series on the book being started. 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Release date: June 14th 2011

Published by: Razorbill

Page numbers: 288

REVIEW: 

I actually came across Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why when I read and reviewed a book called 34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues. A great number of reviewers compared the latter to the former and while I wasn't very fond of 34 Pieces of You myself, I was highly intrigued by Thirteen Reasons Why since I love suicide plot lines. I was on a hunt for the book since then and once I got it, I couldn't wait to devour it. Somewhere, I feel I was going to like this book anyhow, anyway, no matter what. And that's what I did. 

Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of Hannah, who leaves a packet of thirteen tapes that she recorded before committing suicide and that she wishes are passed around to nine people, who were, in some minute and tiny way, responsible for her giving up on life. The person from whose point of view we read the book and listen to the tapes is Clay. From the beginning, I was hoping for some dangerous and torturous reason why Clay was on the tape, but the real reason left me awestruck. It was breathtaking in its own way. I loved the story the two shared. 

I read that the book made readers change the way they are. It left them feeling that being nice is the least and the best thing one can do to anyone else. Jay Asher actually shows how something that we do- that might seem insignificant and silly to us- actually has an impact on someone else. It affects their life and the way they look at things. I admire stories that go beyond the ordinary and explore what really lies underneath all the covers and masks that we built. 

Thirteen Reasons Why is an intriguing, peculiar and completely mind-blowing story that's written in a very somber yet sparkling and slightly creepy manner. I literally couldn't put the book down. Once I read a few pages, I had to read a few more and that kept me occupied for the time that it took me to read the book. It was highly addictive and really well put down. I especially love the way it  ended- it was perfect. It's a book that's going to stay with me. 

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

Review- I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I'll Meet You There on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

Release date: February 3rd 2015

Published by: Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)

Page numbers: 388

REVIEW: 

You know you're reading a great book when you dream about it. I'll Meet You There will take you on an emotional roller coaster that very few books manage to do. You will be out of words to describe how full of amazing, beautiful and wonderful this book is. The story will kill you from the inside out, the romance will make you melt and the writing will enthral you. If that isn't enough for you to pick this up, continue reading further. 

I'll Meet You There is the story of Skylar and Josh. Sky has always wanted to escape the monotonous and boring lifestyle of her tiny town Creek View which is why she is dying to start art college in San Francisco come September. Josh got the chance to leave Creek View when he signed up as a Marine, and is now back without a leg, haunting, life changing and unforgettable memories from Afghanistan and a very deep perspective on life in general. Co-workers at the Paradise from the time before he left, the two form a friendship that gives them a reason to smile, and a reason to live. 

The main characters were simply amazing. Both Skylar and Josh were portrayed beautifully as broken people. There was so much common to them than what appeared on the surface. Josh's situation was obviously more serious, but I loved how Sky had equally important issues going on. The two of them had a wonderful chemistry that was slow, steady and simply satisfying. Trust me, they did not even kiss till the end pages, and that makes their story so much more wonderful. Romance for them wasn't about getting physical, it was about having a shoulder to support your emotional burdens on, and it was amazing. The other characters were just as beautiful and added so much depth and meaning to the already meaningful and sad story. 

The writing was so amazing. After every few chapters that go strictly from Sky's point of view in first person, you will get a small chapter from Josh's point of view where he writes in second person to his best friend from his troop. Author Heather Demetrios has written an amazing, beautiful and wonderful story that you should read. You will not just read this book, but you will live it. And that cover. You will understand it when you read the book. You can thank me later. Although if you get the significance of the title, let me know as that's the only thing I didn't quite get. 

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Review- Stolen by Lucy Christopher

 BOOK SUMMARY:


It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Release date: May 4th 2009

Published by: Chicken House Ltd

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW: 

Stolen. Hmmm. What do I say about this book? One thing I know for sure is that my friends Glass and Tanja over at Ja citam, a ti? will be very happy and proud of the fact that I finally read Stolen. You should check out their buddy review of the same. Another confirmation I can make is that these two girls always recommend very, very good books, but I always knew that anyway. 

When it comes to the story, Stolen wasn't anything new to me. I won't spoil anything for people who haven't read the book though. One aspect of Stolen that for me makes the story what it is is the setup. The story takes place in a deserted desert in Australia, and it is portrayed so beautifully. At first, the over descriptive narration really irritated me and slowed my reading pace, but the second person point of view is what kept it interesting. Once I crossed the fifty percent mark, however, the book took such a wonderful turn that I couldn't put it down. This is not just the story of Gemma and Ty, but of nature and how we have to love what needs to be loved and there is so much hidden behind that. 

Speaking of Gemma and Ty, the main characters. Oh my God, the characters. They made the story. If I were to describe my feelings for Gemma and Ty in two words, those two words would be: mixed feelings. They are two of the most complicated, well developed, well portrayed and thoroughly amazing characters. They were the kind of characters or people that you love to hate and hate to love. I felt so connected to them both. And that in itself is a feat. With so much going on in the book which ultimately means so much going on on the reader's mind at the same time, the characters manage to really establish a relation with the reader. One moment, I wanted to hug Gemma and Ty and the next, I wanted to slap them. I loved Ty for his caring and thoughtful nature and I hated him for forcing his lifestyle on someone else. I hated Gemma for not adapting to the situations life put her in, and I loved her not for being strong, but for not being weak. They were both beautifully portrayed. 

The ending of the book was good. It was pretty apt and predictable, but... There's always going to be a but there. So I will just conclude by saying that Lucy Christopher has written a very amazing, beautiful and wonderful book that is definitely worth a try. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan

How They Met, and Other Stories on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a confection from David Levithan that is sure to appeal to fans of Boy Meets Boy. Here are 18 stories, all about love, and about all kinds of love. From the aching for the one you pine for, to standing up and speaking up for the one you love, to pure joy and happiness, these love stories run the gamut of that emotion that at some point has turned every one of us inside out and upside down. What is love? With this original story collection David Levithan proves that love is a many splendored thing, a varied, complicated, addictive, wonderful thing.

Release date: 2014 (first published January 8th 2008)

Published by: Electric Monkey

Page numbers: 307

REVIEW: 

Authors normally pick up a pen to write, but I always imagine David Levithan picking up a wand. We might still be waiting for our Hogwarts letter, but I'm a 100% sure that David Levithan topped his OWLs and NEWTs, because he is a wizard and magic runs in his blood. He makes magic. I always, always imagine him waving his wand and words just coming out and forming that whole Avada Kedavra and Expelliarmus magic or something like Tom Marvolo Riddle- I am Lord Voldemort.

Now that I've proved that my most favourite contemporary writer of our time is a magician, let me tell you that he was as magical during his high school as he is now, because How They Met, and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by the author in his school years. "If he's THAT incredible when he's so young, imagine what he'll do later", I'm sure someone must've said this to young David, and it goes to say, without doubt, that he kept getting better and better, to the point where he has established himself as a bright, brilliant, sparkling and shining star of an author.

How They Met, and Other Stories is incredible and every story is so different and unique that it feels like it's written by different people. Of course, I loved this collection as a whole, but some of my absolutely favourite stories were: Starbucks Boy, The Alumni Interview, The Number of People Who Meet on Airplane, What a Song Can Do and Without Saying. But I have to say that my most favourite story was Lost Sometimes, which is a sexy story of two boys in a more physical relationship. I have read almost all books by David Levithan, but I've never read something so sexy, gorgeous and exhilarating.

A book I always wanted to read, How They Met, and Other Stories had stories that I both loved and liked, but none that I didn't like. I didn't have any expectations, but I was way too happy with what I got, because the lovely magician never fails to deliver. I loved the book, but this book has proved that I love David Levithan even more.

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Review- Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan

 BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s Tiny Cooper’s turn in the spotlight in this companion novel to New York Times bestseller Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

Jazz hands at the ready! Tiny Cooper (“the world’s largest person who is also really, really gay”) stole readers’ hearts when he was introduced to the world in the New York Times bestselling book Will Grayson, Will Grayson, co-authored by John Green and David Levithan. Now Tiny finally gets to tell his story—from his fabulous birth and childhood to his quest for true love and his infamous parade of ex-boyfriends—the way he always intended: as a musical! Filled with honesty, humor, and “big, lively, belty” musical numbers, the novel is told through the full script of the musical first introduced in Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

Release date: March 17th 2015

Published by: Dutton Juvenile

Page numbers: 208

REVIEW: 

Practically everyone who has read Will Grayson, Will Grayson by two of the most admirable authors of our times, John Green and David Levithan, has ended up loving Tiny Cooper more than the two Will Graysons. It was the same for me. I have said in my review of Will Grayson, Will Grayson that Tiny even beat Infinite Darlene from Boy Meets Boy for me. And that's saying something, because Darlene is just as epic as Tiny, if not more. My excitement for Hold Me Closer was up to the brim, and like any Levithan book, it lived up to my expectations. 

Hold Me Closer is the most fun book ever. Tiny Cooper is fantastic and fabulous topped with sparkles and lightning. In Will Grayson, Will Grayson, we got to see two sides of him where he is this daring, dashing and dazzling guy on the one hand; and on the other, he is a silent weeper who is very sensitive. Hold Me Closer, from the very beginning until the very end, is Tiny Cooper and only Tiny Cooper, and when you have that, it's bound to be fun and frolicky. 

The musical that adds so much to the plot of Will Grayson, Will Grayson came to life in Hold Me Closer. It's Tiny's life coming to life from the time he is born until the present day. Like any true musical, this one is full of laughter and tears, and a medley of emotions and feelings and that have the reader journey along with Mr. Fabulous and Fantastic all in one.  

Although Hold Me Closer didn't seem to blow me away in terms of its writing, David Levithan never fails to amaze me with the different style he picks up for each book and each character he comes up with. In that sense, Hold Me Closer was very unique and absolutely awesome. If you have loved or love Tiny Cooper, there's no reason why you wouldn't love his fabulously fantastic and fantastically fabulous life story presented in the most lovely way in this musical novel. 

Buy the book: AMAZON / FLIPKART

Review- Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz

Not Otherwise Specified on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels and categories that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown.

Everywhere she turns, someone feels she's too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique, thanks to a recent relationship with a boy; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; and not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere— until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group. Both girls are auditioning for Brentwood, a prestigious New York theater academy that is so not Nebraska. Bianca seems like Etta’s salvation, but how can Etta be saved by a girl who needs saving herself?

The latest powerful, original novel from Hannah Moskowitz is the story about living in and outside communities and stereotypes, and defining your own identity. 

BOOK COVER:

Release date: March 3rd 2015

Published by: Simon Pulse

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW:

I had initially read Hannah Moskowitz's Gone, Gone, Gone, and it was a pretty good book that I still remember sometimes, mainly because the two main characters were very well portrayed, making them unforgettable. The same stands true for Not Otherwise Specified, because even though the story was good, the characterisation was even better. I don't know how she does it, but Hannah creates and writes about characters that stay with you, and that, I feel is very beautiful. 

Not Otherwise Specified is the story of Etta from Nebraska who dreams of going to New York or basically anywhere that's not Nebraska. She is a girl with some issues and that makes her real and hence, relatable. She is always herself, although she is trying to figure out exactly who that is. And that is what makes the book a true coming of age story, because in spite of all the important things going on and the important characters standing out, this book is about figuring out oneself while trying to not break down even when it seems like the easy way out. 

Like I mentioned before, the side characters in the book stood out really well, as well. So while Etta is the protagonist, her story itself is shaped by everything that goes on around her and everyone around her. Each secondary character moulds themselves perfectly to fit into Etta's story and for that again, I must commend Hannah's beautiful characterisation which really makes the reader feel belonged. 

Overall, while are some bits of Not Otherwise Specified that I didn't necessarily like or even understand at sometime, it was still a really different, enjoyable and very good read that I would recommend to fans of young adult LGBT stories that take up the whole coming of age theme. 

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Review- My Best Friend, Maybe by Caela Carter

My Best Friend, Maybe on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Colette has been bored and lonely ever since her best friend, Sadie, dumped her the summer before they stared high school. She tries to be perfect for everyone left in her life: her parents, her younger brothers, her church youth group, even her boyfriend, Mark. But Colette is restless. And she misses Sadie.

When Sadie tells Colette that she needs her old friend to join her on a family vacation to the Greek Islands, one that leaves in only a few days, Colette is shocked to hear their old magic word: need. And she finds herself agreeing.

Colette tries to relax and enjoy her Grecian surroundings but it’s not easy to go on vacation with the person who hurt you most in the world. When the reason for the trip finally surfaces, Colette finds out this is not only a fun vacation. Sadie has kept an enormous secret from Colette for years...forever. It’s a summer full of surprises, but that might be what Colette needs.

Release date: June 3rd 2014

Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Page numbers: 352

REVIEW:

I have been thinking a lot, and I cannot think of any word to describe this book other than beautiful. It was so beautiful. Beautiful characters. Beautiful story. Beautiful writing. Beautiful everything. My Best Friend, Maybe is nothing but beautiful. So very beautiful. 

I normally don't read book summaries, and I didn't read the one for this book either. But it showing up every time I went on the Goodreads page of a LGBT book told me everything I needed to know and that was to add the book to my TBR, get it and finally read it. I'm not even going to attempt summarizing the book because, 1) the story is beautifully complicated and 2) I'd rather you read the book. Seriously, I have never read a book about a lesbian that's as beautiful as this one, and I do read my share of the category. 

My Best Friend, Maybe was perfectly balanced in terms of all the contrasts it had. While there were times when the book seemed predictable- and I was right about most of my suspicions- the book did take some really unpredictable turns that made it both creepy, mysterious and pretty at the same time because of the way in which it was done. Speaking of mysterious, there was this eerie feeling throughout and it added just the right amount of tension and curiosity. 

While this story did appear to be very dramatic at times, I feel the drama was not very overdone because every time something seemed very hard for me to believe or too much, I just put myself in the shoes of the respective characters and that's when it started getting realistic and justifiable. But still, it was full of drama- both good and bad. 

I really, really, really like this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book so much and I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I would highly recommend it. 

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual. Struggling to sort out her growing feelings and Saskia's confusing signals, Leila confides in her old friend, Lisa, and grows closer to her fellow drama tech-crew members, especially Tomas, whose comments about his own sexuality are frank, funny, wise, and sometimes painful. Gradually, Leila begins to see that almost all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and many are keeping fascinating secrets of their own.

Release date: October 7th, 2014

Published by: Algonquin Young Readers

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW:

The premise of Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel sounded very promising and interesting. Luckily, it ended up being just like that, as well. While the book mainly dealt with the traumas of a lesbian from an Iranian family, it wasn't just a rant session or an almost autobiographical text, because the story in itself had so much going on that it ended up being more of a family/ school drama, which was so very adorable. 

Leila has always been into girls, but coming from a country where people are hanged for not abiding by society's self-made rules, she is afraid if coming out to anyone, let alone her family. The Azadi family was portrayed so well by the author that they seemed just like any normal family one would come across. It's always great to see importance given to family in YA novels, and this wasn't any exception. From the family scenes described in the book to the relationship Leila has with each of them to the way they all react to her sexuality, everything was well done and spot on. 

Leila isn't a wallflower or anything, but she isn't the queen of her school either. Her life is going just about fine until Saskia walks into it. From the very beginning, there was something so off about Saskia and she just seemed so wrong, but for the avoidance of spoilers, let's just say that everything turns out really well. Leila's other friends from school, like her family, were portrayed in a very realistic and cool manner. The fact that the story revolved around a school play (again, something so lovely about YA!) was just perfect. 

Overall, Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel wasn't very unique or anything, but it was such an adorable read that had a bit of everything you'd look for in a YA novel in it. To top it all of, it is a very quick and easy read, thanks to author Sara Farizan's simple writing and intriguing story-telling. A thoroughly enjoyable read, this one is definitely the cutest and least- by no means do I mean to sound rude or offend anyone by using the following word- dramatic book about a lesbian that I have read. 

Buy the book: AMAZON