Christmas Book Review: Mint to Be

For as long as anyone in the small town can remember - it's Always been Emma and Aiden. They've been best friends for years. But that was before - before the fight, before Emma left for boarding school without saying goodbye, and before she came back to town with a new boyfriend. 

Emma and Aiden haven't spoken in months. They've sent a few texts back and forth but nothing substantial. He's had a hard time without her. 

Emma can't believe she's back. Everything looks and feels different after spending time in New York City. When Aiden and Sam finally meet - things do not go well. Emma's torn between her oldest friend and her new boyfriend. 

My Thoughts: I really liked this book - from the mint hot chocolate to the friendship between Emma and Aiden. I really enjoyed the dual POV and timeline. While the reader knows something happened between Emma and Aiden before she left, it takes a long time to uncover all that information. The only thing I didn't like in this book was Sam. He was terrible - very similar to those Hallmark movies where you never knew why the relationship was happening.  

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A cute holiday romance with a friends to lovers trope.

Review: Everest Trilogy

 

I hadn't read this trilogy, but I shared the first few chapters during World Read Aloud Day at a school. Gordon Korman is always a hit with readers.

There's a competition for hikers and climber under 18 to secure a spot on the team hiking up Everest. There are several in the running. Dominic and his brother Chris are hoping to make it. Dominic is VERY young, but he has experience. 

The first book features the competition to get on the team.

The second book is about getting to Everest and acclimating

The third book is about climbing to the summit

I would read all these books back-to-back.

This trilogy was intense with lots of twists and turns. There are multiple POVs. There's lots of action and danger. There are secrets, betrayals, and death. I didn't want to put these down. It's about luck, survival, and determination. 

Everest is NOT for the faint of heart. This book made me realize that I didn't want to hike Everest or go anywhere near it. 

This book was published over 20 years ago, and it holds up today. If you're late to the party like I am, don't miss these.

Review: My Roman Summer

 

Livia is excited to be spending the summer in Rome, but she's sorry that it took her grandmother's fall to make it happen. Her grandmother isn't excited to see her. Instead, there's a boy who is delivering food to her grandmother. She's happy to see him. Livia doesn't remember Giulio, but he lives next door to her grandmother. She's an honorary grandmother to him. Every time she turns around, he's there. He even works at the family cafe. 

He's set up Italian lessons for Livia as her language is rusty. She's annoyed at the way he makes her feel inadequate. He seems to know something about the cafe; something he's not sharing. The cafe is in trouble and she's not sure she can help save it. Livia is also not sure about her feelings for Giulio.  

As an Italian in Scotland, she's never really fit in. But as a person who lives in Scotland, she feels like an outsider in Rome too. Can she ever feel like she belongs?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved the summer in Rome - from the places to the food to the people. I felt badly to Livia. she felt so out of place in the world, in between two cultures. I really enjoyed the moments in the cafe; it felt like a character in the book. I love how the relationship developed and changed over the book. I wish there was a little more in the relationship between Livia and her grandmother. I love how the Italian lessons turned out and the friendships that were created during that time. This is an adorable summer romance with banter, sweet moments, and an amazing countryside. 

This book did have me googling places the book mentions in Rome. Now I want to go back. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable.

It's supposed to be a scratch and sniff cover (lemons) but mine didn't work.

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great summer romance for your school and public library collections: highly recommended.