Middle Grade Review: Written in the Stars and Playing for Keeps

Quinn's excited to go back to camp this summer. Maybe people won't look at her with such sad eyes because her father died. Plus, she's excited to see her best friends again. But camp in a little different this year. On the first day, she meets a cute boy. He's new to camp.

Soon the other girls in her bunk are getting up early to make sure their hair looks good and they have time to put their make-up on. Quinn's confused. She likes Harry - but what are they supposed to do together besides hang out during free time. One of her bunkmates has a LOT of opinions about the subject.

My Thoughts: This was a cute story about all kinds of drama: family, friendship, relationship.  I enjoyed the camp drama. This is a short book with lots of drama making it very accessible to read. And it's part of a series, giving readers who like this one more options. This book is marketed as a romance, but it's not quite. It's *almost* a romance. I don't want to spoil the ending.

Aaliyah didn't get to see her best friend Travis much over the summer; they were both busy with camps and vacation. He doesn't respond to her texts the night before school starts. When she first sees him in the hallway, he's grown. Everyone's talking about how cute he is and that he has a girlfriend. 

Aaliyah doesn't know what she never found him cute before. She certainly thinks so now, but it's too late. She isn't a huge fan of his girlfriend Harper and she isn't a fan of Travis anymore. He never seems to want to hang out. Everything's changed.

Can they ever be the same?

My Thoughts: This one is a romance and it's super cute. There's a lot of miscommunication and listening to gossip. I enjoyed the friendship drama. Middle school is hard and these characters found their way through it.

Source: Books sent for review

Library Recommendation: Great for your middle grade school and public library collection

Hand this one to readers: who are ready for a little bit of romance

Picture Book Review: The Sweater

Hazel is heading out for a hike when she notices a little bird having some trouble. Instead of hiking, she goes to tell her friends that their new neighbor needs some help. They all pitch in. The next day, she drops off the present. It's a lovely present, but what's even better is what happens next.

What a wonderful story about community, sharing, and helping others. We really are stronger together. Connections do make all the difference. I loved this book. It carries such an important message that's desperately needed right now. 

* Must have book for your school and public library. 

Booklist: You've Got Mail

I recently read a You've Got Mail book and decided to create a booklist - just in case there are people who also love this trope.

The first four are adult books and the second four are YA books.

Are there ones that I missed? Let me know so I can read them!

To Read: Thrillers

 

Happy Friday the 13th.

I'm sharing some thrillers that I'm looking forward to reading

Adult:

YA:

Middle Grade:

Survival Thrillers:

Have you read any of these?

I feel like I need some more adult thrillers, do you have any recommendations?

Review: Battle of the Bookstores

 

Josie and Ryan each manage a bookstore. Josie manages a literary bookstore and Ryan manages a romance bookstore. In between, the two stores, there's a coffee shop. Ther person who owns the stores sits them both down. He shares that they will be merging the three stores under one manager. 

Josie and Ryan will spend the next few months competing to save their jobs. As they talk, both Josie and Ryan bring out the worst in each other. Each believe the other looks down upon their work. Through series of miscommunication, they become each other's enemies. Each time they talk, they become more irritated and frustrated with each other. Could they just need a little flip?

My Thoughts: This book was so much fun, I didn't want to put it down. There's a lot going on here.

1. I loved the bookstore bits. I love that the genres were swapped here with expectations - I would have assumed the romance bookstore would have been managed by a woman. That was opposite here. I loved the conversations about books. The bater between Josie and Ryan was on point. 
2. I loved the You've Got Mail spin on this story - the messages between the two bookstores were charming. 
3. The story between the sisters was sweet

This was my first Ali Brady book, but it won't be my last.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Why I Read: This was on a list of epistolary novels, which it isn't. But there are lots of tests. But bookstores.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance section

Picture Book Wednesday: I'm So Happy You're Here

This book is perfect.

The illustrations are charming, bright, and delightful. The joy surrounding libraries comes through. The beginning of the book reminds me of a Todd Parr book (whom I also adore). I love the part about library cards being hte best thing ever and the fact the libraries are NOT just about books. We do lot of programs too. 

This is a magical read that everyone should read and every library should own.

Mychal with Sam (my co-worker) and I at a library conference in CT

Top Ten Tuesday: Numbers

 This week's topic is books with numbers in the title. Here are some from my TRB list.

Have you read any of these? Are any of these on your TBR?