What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:  368  

Summary:  It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

My Thoughts:  I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one, since the main character is a boy. I tend to read more books where girls are the main characters. But I did enjoy What You Left Behind.  We are introduced to Ryden who has a daughter who is just a baby. He was with a girl who got sick and is no longer around.  This was pretty devastating. Ryden is trying to do what he can to survive. He’s going to high school, has a job, and trying to support his baby with the help of his mom.

Ryden meets a new girl at his job. He feels guilty even having some sort of feelings for this other girl since it hasn’t been that long since his girlfriend died.

I really liked Ryden’s mom. She got it. She understood him a lot better than most moms would. She supported him. She loved him. She loved his baby. She understood.

Most of the book, we spent time looking for his old girlfriend's Meg’s notebooks. She left a few notebooks laying around for Ryden and a few others that explained her feelings during her last days.

I did like this one. It was also a very fast read for me. I liked Ryden as well but I never really fully connected with him even though I wanted too. I also liked Joni and her personality and how she understood Ryden and got it.

Overall:  I liked this one. I read it in a night, Flew right through it. I think this one is more of a 3.5 cupcake rating for me.

Cover: Like it. Its kind of dark but still interesting.

What I'd Give It:

Spartan Frost (Mythos Academy #4.5) by Jennifer Estep

Spartan Frost (Mythos Academy #4.5) by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: Kensington

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 46

Summary:   I'm Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was--until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story. . .

My Thoughts: Another little novella in the Mythos Academy series! Spartan Frost tells a little story from Logan’s point of view. Basically what happens after book 4 where Logan almost killed Gwen.

This one explores the feelings Logan has and his inner troubles he’s going through. It's just a little glimpse into his mind.

I really enjoy this series and I thought this was was a cute little novella. It really isn’t very deep and not much happens but it gives me a little bit more understanding of Logan.

Overall:This one was a very quick read, with a little under 50 pages! I liked it! Glad we are getting to know Logan better.

Cover: Its cute!

What I’d Give It:

The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

Release Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Summary:  Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.

Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.

Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the magnetic lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.

But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future...before she loses everything she has grown to love.

My Thoughts: Maggie was a pretty average teenager. She had friends, a family, and did ok in school. Until she got sick and lost her eyesight and also she’s been in a bit of trouble since.  Its hard to stay on the straight and narrow when you're basically mad at the world.

Maggie runs into a boy named Ben. Ben was quite a bit younger than Maggie but he takes her under his wing and invites her over to dinner. Ben was a bit girl crazy but it was so darn cute.  Maggie meets Ben’s family. And it's pretty cute. Ben’s mom was a riot and his brother Mason was pretty cool. I knew from the get go there was something special about Mason.  And I laughed my butt off when I found out who exactly he is.

I hated seeing Maggie suffer because she was blind. She was trying to navigate her new world and get used to it but it was hard. And then when she was around Ben and could partly see, I wanted her to be happy. And, it doesn’t help when I found out the reason why she could see. I wanted to cry so many times throughout this one.

I really enjoyed the characters and the plot in this one. And, I was happy where the story headed. I’m happy to see how far Maggie has come and how she deals with things.

And the romance, whoa. Loved it of course. Just loved Mason so much.

Overall: I really really liked this one a lot. Ben was such a fun kid who didn’t let things get him down. He was so darn chipper. I wish I had a friend like him. This one was very enlightening and such a good debut.

Cover: Like it but I don’t feel like it gives the book justice really. I’m not sure I would pick it up or not if I seen it in a store BUT I would want everyone to pick this one up!

What I’d Give It:

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 320

Summary:  This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed Everything Everything a lot. It was a really cute and fun story even if it wasn’t purely happy all the time.

We are introduced to Madeleine who has lived most of her life indoors. She has a rare disease that makes her allergic to the outside world. If she goes outside, she can get sick and die. Her mother has been treating her most of her life. Her mother monitors everything on a daily basis, even takes her temperature.

Maddy has watched a lot of her life through her bedroom window. She watches cars go by, she watches new neighbors move in and out.

She has one true friend, and that is the woman who comes in and helps take care of her.  

When a new family moves in next door, Maddy is instantly drawn to him through her bedroom window. She ends up talking to him through the window and then through the computer. She starts falling for Olly.  Maddy and Olly have a complicated relationship since they can’t do normal couple teenager stuff. But, they are “handling” it.

I really did enjoy this one and I was thrilled during a few parts. My jaw about hit the floor when Olly got into a fight with his father!!! I also liked how things played out even if things weren’t ever perfect.

I really enjoyed this one!

Overall:  Maddy and Olly were both such enjoyable characters. I liked both of their personalities. What a great book! I finished it pretty quick! Addicting!

Cover: Like it. I’m not really sure if I would be majorly attracted to it though. I’m glad I read the summary so I gave it a chance.    

What I’d Give It:

Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 384

Summary:  Silas Hart has seriously shaken up Westlin Beck's small-town life. Brand new to town, Silas is different than the guys in Green Lake. He's curious, poetic, philosophical, maddening-- and really, really cute. But Silas has a sister-- and she has a secret. And West has a boyfriend. And life in Green Lake is about to change forever.

Truest is a stunning, addictive debut. Romantic, fun, tender, and satisfying, it asks as many questions as it answers.

My Thoughts:  Truest was an interesting read to say the least. I liked it quite a bit.

We are introduced to West and Silas. West comes from a family where the father is a pastor in their church.  Silas comes from a home where his dad works a lot and he has a sister named Laurel who has a mental illness. Not sure I should really call it that or not. She had a lot of problems with reality I suppose. She never really knew what was really happening or if it was like living in a story.

Silas gets a job detailing cars with West over the summer and that is where the story begins. West also has a boyfriend so you can imagine how complicated that gets.

I really liked the first half of the book. It sucked me right in and I enjoyed reading this contemporary. And towards the end it gets really complicated and heartbreaking. I had so many feels during this book. I wanted Silas to be with West but I also felt bad for her boyfriend at times. I also felt really bad for Laurel and what she had to go through.

I really enjoyed this one a lot. I liked the pace of the novel and the characters the most. I even liked all the side characters from friends to West’s family.

Overall: I debated between a 4 and 5 cupcake rating for this one. I did really enjoy it a lot. I would have liked to see it go a different way but I know it had to happen like this. Just crazy and I wanted to cry a few times. I really enjoyed this debut.

Cover: Love it!  Would pick it up! I like the grass and the blue sky and all the colors really.

What I’d Give It: