Lucy & Linh by Alice Pung

Laurinda is a posh school where every student is a high achiever and a hard worker. Only popularity isn't based on looks or grades in this school but who you're in with.

There on a scholarship is Lucy, whom witnesses a prank done by Amber, Brodie and Chelsea which sees her drawn into their group The Cabinet, purely by timing and chance. She starts to hang out with Amber especially a lot more and even goes to a party she's holding. The girls also meet up with the boys from their school too.

Lucy writes about her three terms to Linh and I found this confusing in the book as it's never made completely clear until right towards the end of the book who she is to her like a friend or relative etc. While there is some drama I found this book not exciting and a bit flat, the characters didn't seem to have distinct personalities and a lot of focus was on ethnicity which is great but only told us so much. The main focus is that Lucy changes from who she was before and becomes nothing like the person she once was or wants to be, I just feel it could've been more dramatic or easier to follow.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Pumpkin Spice Secrets by Hillary Homzie

Maddie along with Elvie her sister, go to buy drinks out and discuss her beginning seventh grade, only after she spills her drink all down a really cute guy's back, she finds herself gaining a crush on him, Jacob who later winds up in her new school class.

Then when one of her best friends Jana announces she has a crush on Jacob, Maddie feels unsure of what to do about her feelings, after all there's girl code to think of!

Yet, when Maddie ends up texting Jacob and arranging to meet up with him on his birthday behind Jana's back we can expect Jana to find out eventually somehow as they fight for their friendship over a guy the two are put to the test.

Overall it's a great book for early teen readers to pick up with cute moments and first crushes as well as dealing with friendship and school troubles with grades it's a relatable read for us all!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

And Then We Ran by Katy Cannon

Have you ever wanted to go against your parents wishes?

Lizzie, Megan's high achieving sister has died in a horrific accident. Off the back of that, Megan finds her parents pushing her to become like Lizzie and not study her photography she is so passionate about!

Megan knows Elliott, her old best friend could however help her.
She needs to be married before a certain date to inherit her grandma's old London house enabling her to study in London and set up her photography business on the side.

Elliott, goes along with the plan but realises along the way, feelings lie in wait and every hold up to get them to Gretna Green on time only makes him realize, maybe they're more than friends given time and a chance.

This book shows how spirit and determination can get you a long way. Highly fun and seriously amazing to imagine happening in real life! I loved this book from cover to cover and you will too!

Song Of Summer by Laura Lee Andersen

Seven weeks of summer left for Carter away from his New York home start off in a diner as he teaches ASL to his latest student and friend, Barry but at the diner they meet Robin, a petite waitress who also takes a like to Carter once realising he's deaf and not gay.

However, Robin's life isn't great right now as she has just broke up with Trent, who's also in her church band and they still have to perform together where he still acts flirty with her despite them breaking up. So when Jeni encourages her to pursue Carter after he comes back to the diner alone, she does and a great mini romance occurs despite her love of music not being shared with a guy she cares so much about. Trent also causes some trouble for the pair but doesn't faze them at first.

This book was super unique in the fact that Carter's family is a mix of deaf and hearing with his siblings being adopted by their deaf father and hearing but teaching ASL mum. I really enjoyed this book and the elements of dealing with the love in your life unable to share your biggest passion and hobby which to me made me think so hard about how great this pair worked as a couple until it ran it's course. I would suggest you read this if your a fan of love stories of drama not just the deaf or hearing aspect.

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

When Sam is all dolled up in her best girliest and sexiest clothing, she turns the head of Carter much to his ex's disapproval, Rayna wants him still while Sam wants Nick her best friend to notice her as girlfriend material.

As Sam can't handle being drunk as she is, then Carter's insult towards her, her friend Michelle thinks he's taken advantage of her and raped her. Then next day, remembering nothing except drinking too much.

When Nick splits up with Rayna and later kisses Sam, all is amazing until they realize why Carter's car was egged recently and drama ensues as graduation nears and Carter gets more angry at the lies someone's feeling guilty about telling by accident...

Full of drama and a bit too much worry, Sam's life changes based on the actions of a night any teen can relate to about parties. An essential lesson to everyone about the danger lies can cause.

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Rumi and Lea were sisters who loved to sing and write and perform their songs together, best friends.

Until a tragic car crash...

As Rumi gets sent away to her aunt's by her mother she has to cope with losing her beloved sister and her mum too.

Whilst away her neighbour Kai and his friends hang out with Rumi but its an elderly neighbour who truly gives her friendship and no messing guidance as she grieves and struggles to accept all that has changed and she has lost.

There's also the fact of finishing the final song they began together, Summer Bird Blue.

Ann emotional story of how to adapt and accept a close death and the Many ways people deal with the turmoil it can lead their lives to be affected by. I really liked that Rumi also touches on the fact of not being sure if her sexuality and it made her realistic as a teenager in today's times. A fast flowing hard hitting read.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Boy Seeking Band by Steve Brezenoff

Starting a new school, Terrence meets Eddie, an alternative styled girl who also secretly sings in the school basement after school. Her brother who is a well built sax player and her twin acts like he doesn't like Terence and he feels intimidated easily by him.

At his new school they have a jazz band in which anyone joins if they play an instrument and Terence plays bass guitar already which is why he went to his old school, a private music and art school first. Unfortunately, his mum died from illness leaving his dad depressed hardly leaving the house and his bed at all.

Yet as Terence forms his own band at his new school and they enter into a competition battle of the bands style, he has to face his old band from his last school.

We see Terence's struggle to get emotionally attached to people after losing his mum suddenly. The lessons in the book's storyline's show friendship and standing up for each other as well as how fitting in with others you judge wrongly at first isn't always a bad thing.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Stella lives with cystic fibrosis only as it worsens and her lung function plummets she needs a transplant fast.

She wishes she could be with her best friends in Cabo.

Also in the hospital is Poe her gay friend and new boy, Will who wants to be living the end of his life not wasting time on a hospital trial that may extend his life as he fights a bacterial infections that's resistant to antibiotics.

Stella and Will keep meeting and seeing each other only getting closer and closer and one cough between the pair could spread infection and kill them...

So as the pair communicate by Skype, phone and partial contact, maybe Will can have some faith this times drug trial might work and Stella can move on from her family's trauma but as she fights an infection, Poe prepares to finally visit his family and Will awaits news of his trial drug, who will be left alive?

I can't wait for the film this year after reading this and loving it! The main two characters have an instant connection that is super and beyond their illness, the story was intriguing and led us to hope the pair survived if not end up together as we'd hope!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!