Turns out that today is a HUGE day for book releases, and I was lucky enough to get a lot of them early for review, so I’m going to do something a little different for Release Day Review. I’m going to just do a mini review for all of them, but if you want more info on any of them, send me a message and I’m happy to talk more about them!

 

The Leading Edge of Now, by Marci Lyn Curtis
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher:  KCP Loft
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Length: 327 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:    

Mini Review: You know how I’m always screaming from the rooftops BELIEVE THE GIRLS!!? There is not a soul in this book that doesn’t believe the girl and it warms my soul so much. There is so much immediate belief for so many people, and JESUS isn’t it nice to just believe someone and get on with what needs to be done after that? Isn’t it nice to not waste time asking what she was wearing or if she was drinking or are you sure it really happened or blah blah blah blah HEY in this book we just moved right along to the important things and it was super refreshing! Also, Grace, Janna, & Owen were amazing, forgiving, loving characters who supported each other through the unimaginable.

“We were hit with the same wrecking ball, but we flew in opposite directions. I can’t blame him for how he picks himself back up any more than he can blame me.”

 

Hole in the Middle, by Kendra Fortmeyer
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher: Soho Teen                                                     Release Date: September 4, 2018
Length: 345 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:    

 

Mini Review: Lovely debut about self-acceptance and body image. Our main character Morgan decided to come out with her weirdness, and we’re witness to the whole beautiful event. Her best friend Caro is exhaustively supportive, but draws a line in the sand when Morgan is truly mean to her, because Caro knows that love doesn’t mean taking someone else’s shit for them. Howie might be Morgan’s cure, and he offers her chance after chance to redeem herself when she’s awful to him, because Morgan isn’t perfect.

“Maybe it’s an introvert thing, but even when I’m lonely, there’s always a little relief to being alone.”

 

When Elephants Fly, by Nancy Richardson Fischer
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Length: 385 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:   

 

Mini Review: I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it, and I read all of it. The animal abuse was really hard to read, but I expected that it would be there. I love elephants, and as someone who’s read a lot on them, I’m fairly certain the info in this one was well researched, though sad. As far as characters, Sawyer was 100% AMAZING and Lily was 100% THE WORST friend to him. I don’t know why he put up with her honestly.

“Crazy is genetic. It’s the house I was born inside. There are no windows, just two locked doors. One leads to Normal, the other to Insanity. At some point, I will inherit a key, but I don’t get to pick which door it unlocks.”

Uncharted, by Erin Cashman 
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Length: 409 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:   .5

Mini Review: The beautiful cover and intriguing premise drew me in, but unfortunately neither won me over in the long run. The idea of mythology and secret societies was there, but didn’t really get fleshed out enough. The pacing was off, the writing was a little young sounding, and the romance didn’t really take off. The problem with this one might be with me–I was honestly really confused for a lot of it. The island, the mutations, the monster, the myths, the legends…I just didn’t feel like I got enough information on them, so I didn’t understand them, so a lot of it didn’t make sense to me. It might to you!

 

Meet the Sky, by McCall Hoyle
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher: Blink
Release Date: September 4, 2018Length: 238 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:    
Mini Review: This book hits SO MANY of my favorite tropes. Must survive a disaster together! No parents around! He didn’t actually stand me up a few years ago like I thought! This hotel/house we’ve broken into has only one bed/couch/closet and we must share! You guys, disaster movies are my JAM, and this one had such a DANGER, DANGER feeling running through the majority of it, which I adored. Points off for lots of build up, very little pay-off in the romance department. Is it realistic that they didn’t spend all night making out while hiding out from a hurricane alone? Sure. But that’s not what I’m here for, okay?

 

People Kill People, by Ellen Hopkins
Goodreads ¦ Amazon¦ Barnes & Noble
Series?: No
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Length: 448 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating:   

 

 

 

Mini Review: I don’t usually like second person POV, but it works here because the idea is for you to put yourself in the place of each character. There are six in total, each one unique, each one capable of the thoughts we never share with anyone else. Each person’s perspective was so unfamiliar to me that this POV was necessary for me to step inside them, to try to relate in some way. It wasn’t pleasant, but it worked. I’m a person who believes that in order for change to occur, you have to have the hard conversations with people who are different than yourself. I think you have to actually listen to people who believe differently than you do, and get inside their head, get to the why of their belief, instead of just saying you’re wrong. We don’t like to do that in this country, but that’s why this book is really important. Get uncomfortable, understand other people, before you can tell them why you’re right and they’re wrong.

 

And last but not least, if you missed it a few weeks ago, I already reviewed Sadie, by Courtney Summers, which was twisty and beautiful and you can all finally #findsadie in stores.
This week has been a whirlwind of amazing YA releases! Have you guys read any of these yet? Are you planning on picking any up? Let me know in the comments!