Review: Cruel Summer

 

Their freshman year of high school is over and big summer plans are in the works:

TS is going to London with her posh girlfriend Gemma. Only, she doesn't realize just how posh Gemma really is or how rude her family can be.

Tay is performing with her band and hopefully getting an opening spot, if everyone in the band can agree on their set list.

Teffy is happy with her boyfriend, but once she tells her parents, the secret will be out. Is she ready for more people to know about them?

Taylor is heading to summer camp, but unfortunately so is her ex-boyfriend. What goes from a happy summer quickly becomes horrific....

My Thoughts: The sequel to Love Stories is just as drama filled as the first book. There is plenty of love for Taylor Swift, friendship drama, and romance. I love how these friends support each other through thick and thin. I didn't want to put this book down. I hope there are more in the works about this friend group.

And Easter Egg: Whispering Pines camp in from Jen Calonita's (The Taylor's 0.5) book:

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Must have books for your school and public library for your Taylor Swift fans.

Review: Love Stories

 

Four girls who met in 5th grade and became best friends are now starting high school. They're excited and nervous. There are so many opportunities for the future. But it also means that everything is changing, they're pursuing their own interests - including crushes. Can they still find time for their friendship?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. There's SO MUCH drama: friendship drama and relationship drama. I loved reading about this group of girls four years later. I loved seeing them change and grow. I'm looking forward to what comes next for them because 

book two is already out and I can't wait to read it!

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your Taylor readers

Hand this to: All the Swifties 

Middle Grade Review: The Taylors

 

Four girls meet in middle school (5th grade). Each of them is named Taylor - named our course after the greatest singer ever! Three of them have nicknames: Teffy, Tay-Tay, and TS. They bond over their love for their namesake. 

Soon, they start hanging out and quickly become a foursome. They desperately want to attend the ERAS tour when it comes to town, but the tickets are outrageously expensive. They start a friendship bracelet making business in hopes to raise enough money. The Taylors make a pact to go tother or not at all. Will their biggest wish come true?

My Thoughts: This is the first in a new series about these four best friends. I love how they came together in their own little meet-cute. I love how they start connecting and supporting each other. They help each other become better. There are some mean girl moments, lots of friendship drama, lots of Taylor Swift references, and many school moments. I love how everything tuned out for these friends. 

And the books continue with the girls four years later as they start high school:

Cover Thoughts: Adorable!

Source: My Library

Why I Read This: Taylor Swift and friendship and Jen Calonita 

Give this to: Readers who love Taylor Swift and friendship drama

Library Recommendation: A must have book in your school and public library for all our Swiftie Readers!

Review: This is How I Roll

 

Sana and her family moved so her father could own his own restaurant. Sana loves to cook but her father, who owns a restaurant, doesn't like her messing up the kitchen. She tries everything she knows to get his attention - but he's very busy. 

Now she's in the same town with her cousin, her best friend. Sana thought she was going to be spending the summer with her cousin doing art projects and cooking on the sly. But when her cousin gets a last-minute spot at a summer camp, Sana's at a loss.

Luckily, she meets Koji. While her cousin isn't Koji's biggest fan, Sana really likes him. Koji takes Sana home to meet his mother. Sana connects with Mrs. Yamada. They end up cooking together. But Sana isn't telling the truth about any of her relationships...

My Thoughts: Another winner for Debbi Michiki Florence - this book is super cute. I felt bad for Sana - she has a hard relationship with her parents. They all seem to have a communication problem. They don't seem to include her in decisions - even sharing what's going on. Sana often finds out details from her cousin. 

It's always hard navigating middle school - friendships, crushes, and mean girls. I love the relationship between Sana and Mrs. Yamada. Of course, I love all the food moments. They made my mouth water. I love how Koji and Sana decide to create cute cooking videos. The ending is super cute. Lots to love in this middle grade adventure. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: Highly recommended for your library's collection. 

Review: Dragon Overnight

* Book 4 in Upside Down Magic series *

Nory and her friends are going on an overnight field trip for the first time ever - to Dragon Haven. Not only do they get to hang out together, but they get to see dragons up close and personal. They can't wait to get there.

Unfortunately - there's another school joining them. Nory's heart sinks when she realizes it's her father's school and that he's also there with his students. Her father's strict with his students and they can do magic properly.

Nory's worried the other students might laugh at her and her friends because their magic isn't the same. But most of the student seem to enjoy their variations of magic. They might even become friends with them...

My Thoughts: Another cute edition to this series - I love how Nory's magic isn't the same as everyone else's. I love how the other students made new friends and shared their differences. I would love going on an overnight to a dragon haven - so I loved tagging along with Nory and her friends. I enjoyed the moments she had with her father and their frank conversation. I admired her for stepping up. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Cover Thoughts: Cute and matches the others really well.
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Great for public and school libraries - grab up this series for the action, the magic, and the empathy.