unique & relatable story
351937
I wasn't sure at first about the different "ghosts of former self" aspect but this was written so well that I came to see the ghosts as other characters to care about and root for along with the main character. This is a girl who has let pressure get the best of her, and is learning to recover by dealing with her past issues - I think most readers can appreciate & relate to that on some level. The story is delicate, heartbreaking, inspiring and funny all at the same time. It was refreshing to read compared to much of the chick lit currently available that focuses on more cliche topics. I wish there were more books like this. Noehren is a gifted writer and I hope more of her work becomes available soon.
2899845
The books main character Becca is a middle child and your typical teenage girl. Becca's problems are some of the typical things that anyone of us may have encountered, and makes the story very relatable, especially in the area of boys and friends. Her somewhat strained relationship with her mother really adds to the story, as Becca is forced to struggle with the knowledge of a life changing secret. Without giving away any of the book, the love story has a nice twist to it, proving that people may not always be the people we make them in our minds to be. A very enjoyable read for both teenager and adult!
3044144
This story is presented in a unique narrative, rich with details of characters and the events that have shaped their lives. The main characters are helpless to break from the defining circumstances put into motion by a patriarch generations before. As with real-life families, fact and fiction overlap and blur over the years, and the family history you identified as part of yourself may not always turn out to be true. And then you have to figure out who you really are, after your inner base has been shifted.

This is not a happy story, but there are elements of hope and love and moments of belonging, and of course the bonds of family. But it is a book well worth reading and contemplating! I look forward to reading other titles by this author in the future because of her unique style of story telling and creative character development.
745183
The Upside of Unrequited focuses on teenage Molly who feels that she's constantly struggling not be left behind by her twin sister and friends when it comes to the teenage experience. Not all teens sail through those years unscathed and it was refreshing to see how her anxiety and insecurity wasn't handled by those around her with derision or shame. Molly is how she is and they accept her but encourage her to step out and try new things.

The story itself is simple and focused on the relationships, which ranged from quirky and humourous to compelling and heartwarming. Molly is blessed with a good support system of friends, co-workers and family who are a lovely and diverse bunch in terms of race, age and sexual orientation.

I loved that LGBTQ relationships aren't highlighted for their uniqueness but because they represent many friends and families out there. Albertalli shows a regular ol' family who just happens to have two moms and these moms aren't relegated to the far reaches of the story but are an important support system for their kids. How unique! Molly's relationships with her moms, outspoken grandma and twin sister were wonderfully complicated and I think that Albertalli handled the sister bond well. As the older of three sisters I can attest to the fact that the sister bond can be complicated, awesome, frustrating, hilarious, sprinkled with jealousy and competition and be supportive - sometimes all within the same day. It's a lovely, messy and important bond and it felt authentic.

Along with the teen angst and relationships, many issues are addressed such as teen sex, body image (yay Molly for being a 'bigger girl' and still enjoying food!), underage drinking and mental health (albeit not in a great amount of depth).

The teenage years can be confusing and overwhelming and Albertalli focuses on the anxiety that some teens feel. But, sometimes Molly's low self-esteem was hard to read and it her inability to speak up for herself was frustrating when a little conversation could have cleared things up. But I'm speaking as someone who is a couple decades removed from teenage angst and while I think her anxiety explained some of her inability to speak up for herself it felt like her 'should I?/shouldn't I?' went on for a little too long.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read. It has a nice amount of quirkiness (I do love me some quirk), sweet romances, a relatable character, humour and focuses on various relationships and issues facing teens. And it also features the life-altering importance of Cadbury Mini Eggs. You gotta love that.
2178511
I highly recommend this book. This was a unique Young Adult story that stayed with me long after I finished reading. The author handled some sensitive material extremely well and created an unlikely journey for the two main characters.
1308927
One Half from the East is a unique piece of work, that introduces a different culture to many readers. This story is about a young girl named Obayda, who goes through many hardships in her home town, but the biggest of all is that her father was in a car accident. His leg was severely injured and had to be surgically removed. Soon after her family had to move to a small town where everything she knew changed. The biggest change affected her whole life. She had to pretend to be a boy. Obayda was now Obayd
 She made this sacrifice to help support her family, and her whole life had changed before her eyes. Along her journey she meets a girl like her named Rahim. The two girls realize that in a land like Afghanistan, being a boy can set you free. Nadia Hashimi is helping spread new positive messages and cultures to through reader's thoughts around the quiz.
Rachel B., 13, Central Pennsylvania Mensa
3288775
This book is for anyone who's been a mother, daughter or sister - it so perfectly captures the dynamics of those relationships.  I was caught up in the humor of the unlikely heroine being thrown into the world of impossibly perfect Westside LA private school parents, but I was also very moved by the discoveries the characters made about each other.  It really brought home the concept that you don't fully understand your own mother until you become one yourself!  The character of Noah, the heroine's 6 year-old son, is so well-drawn; he feels like a real kid, like someone you know, or maybe your own kid.  All of the characters felt authentic and recognizable, and the relationships were complex.
This book was a fun journey all the way through, and it stayed with me after I finished it.  If you want a book with real, fully-human characters you can identify with, and a gripping story that will keep you turning pages and not wanting to put it down,  READ THIS BOOK TODAY!
1185904
"The Right Time" follows Alex Winslow's life from childhood to adulthood.  I normally don't enjoy reading about children because childhood rarely includes mystery or romance.  However, I was surprisingly absorbed in the story from the beginning.  Alex's life problems and intelligence intrigued me and I was glad her childhood/young adulthood took up a large portion of the book -- it ended up being my favorite part.  The third person narration was very different from what I'm used to in that the narrator had a strong voice.  In some ways, this enabled a unique look into Alex's life by showing more than what she saw/felt (mostly an omniscient narrator).  On the other hand, this caused a layer of separation from Alex which limited my connection to the romance aspects of the story.  I basically felt as though I was observing Alex's life from afar, intrigued, but not personally invested.  I would recommend this book to people who particularly enjoy life stories that take place over many years.  However, if you're looking for a strict romance and won't tolerate anything less, this is probably not the book for you.  I happened to enjoy the book despite coming across it in a search for romance novels!  I will say, as a reader in my twenties, I felt a bit disconnected once Alex reached thirty, but I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ended.  My least favorite part of this read is that I found the ending to be a bit abrupt and *SPOILER ALERT* I was really hoping there would be a "right time" for Alex to reveal herself to the world at the end.
2689126
I was able to re-read this unique story recently and loved it even more the second time. There were layers there that became clearer upon the second reading.
I'm very excited to read this series, so I hope the next book is published soon!
3196577
I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings because I am always incredibly fascinated by the fact that so many people are able to take the same simple story and recreate it in a way that is completely unique. So of course when I heard about this book I couldn't resist it. Going in expecting a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, I was surprised by something I never would have expected in a million years. The story begins with Amelia waking up at Ian's house (the secluded palazzo) and she is hella confused. The book is written in a way at the beginning where you as the reader have no clue  really what is going on, which can be frustrating, but I think it adds a really nice touch because you learn about this new world as Amelia learns about it and her place in it. You figure out quickly that this isn't going to be your typical retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a very intriguing twist on why she is waking up without any memories or any idea of why she is waking up in this random guy's house. Besides the sleeping beauty aspect to it, towards the end I was also getting a Beauty and the Beast feeling, but I can't really tell you why without spoiling the book, so if you do you'll have to let me know if you feel that way too.

The story is set in the near future in a world that is very familiar to today, but also quite different. While it is different though, it definitely isn't a stretch that it is somewhere our current world could be heading. In the story Manhattan, where a majority of the book takes place, has become even more a place of privilege to the point where it is heavily controlled who could get in and out. The difference between social classes is also very stark with everyone who isn't rich having to wear a certain uniform so they can be identified. I really liked reading about this society and comparing it to our own society and how it made our downfalls as a society extreme.

As for the characters, I was a huge fan. Amelia is a headstrong girl who knows what she wants, and what she wants the most is Ian. There is a lot in this book about free will and choice which I really enjoyed because there is nothing I dislike more than a girl who gets with a guy because she feels like she doesn't have a choice. Amelia has a complicated past that may make her drawn to Ian even if she doesn't want to be, so with the help of Ian she ensures that it is her choice to be with him and she constantly is making that clear. She also goes through a journey in the book of figuring out who she is as a person without being influence by others which is something I could really relate to and I think most people can relate to.

Overall, this book definitely has it's erotic moments, but  I found it to be so much more than just another erotic novel. It explored what would happen if science started to question what it means to be human and if the social class gap became even wider. It explored the freedom we have to make our own choices and how important that is. It explored what it means to love someone and find out that your love for them might not be good for them. This book was an amazing read and I can't wait until the next book in the series in march.
1409844
I once heard that people read to find out that they are not alone.  This story does a great job of letting you share Ramsey's coming of age story and the universal adolescent themes of fitting in, finding love and exploring new independence.

The narrative is split between prose, comics, illustrations and lists which make this such an engaging and unique read while allowing her journey to come through.  It is great at showing that bravery is not moving forward without doubts but moving forward despite doubts.  She does a great job of describing the transition from missing her old home when she leaves for school to making a new life that she misses when she returns to the comforts of home.

This book is on my short list of books to give nieces as they look to move off to college.  If you have an artistic, introverted young woman in your life who is about to move to college or on her own, this is a perfect gift.  It pulls you through the pages in a fun and riveting read.
3611017
I loved that a disability was Incorporated in to this story. And a unique one at that. To go from being a normal 17 year old boy to being mute. I loved the relationship between Jake and Sam, it was believable. Everyone can relate to that one person in high school who they were just smitten with. Sams back story was not too out of the ordinary, it was plausible. And it was a good fit for the counter to Jakes accident. It was easy to believe that he could look at her situation and think "i guess i could have it a lot worse". I am definitely going to make my best friend read this one.
4123605
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and not just because the women in it are the exact same age as I am! The characters are likable, relatable, and the conflicts they face are realistic. It is a fun read, but one that also makes the reader consider the problems and possibilities that result from the choices we make.
4033287
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but it definitely wasn't what I got. This story is unique and powerful, telling the story of Jeannette's childhood, her relationships with her parents and brother and sister, and the many places they go. It is clear that the author has struggled with the love she feels for her parents, and the shame she feels in their behavior. Not only are her life and the characters in it interesting, her reactions to them help define her childhood and the woman she has become.

At first, the book seems like a scattered telling of one's childhood. Eventually, the title begins to make sense, and as the book comes to a close, you feel that you have shared an intimate journey with the author, learning a few things about life and love along the way.
4242383
From word one this book sort of sucks you in. Great read.

A delightful and metaphorical re-imagining of what it's like to not know what one is, who one wants to be, could be, should be--all of the self-identification questions, roadblocks and answers that confront a GLBTQ teen in today's world. The main character is blessed with an amazing perspective into her own dilemmas, and opportunities, as well as a great sense of humor. This author has cast a memorable group of people who go about their ordinary lives with an extraordinary sense of both oblivion and hyper-vigilance, which makes for intrigue, humor and insight in this unique coming-of-age story.

I enjoyed this story a lot but would like it to have started a bit earlier. I was very surprised to learn in the middle of the book that Celeste and May had ruled the school in an almost Mean Girls way. Nothing in CJs voice suggested that and it would have been good to see it. To have seen her Ignoring Rainie rather than hearing about it all later. I enjoyed the story. Having recently seen Divergent, it was hard to not draw comparisons, but this plot succeeded on its own. I really enjoyed the young voices of the characters, especially Celeste. A very enjoyable book, especially for young YA.

Wonderful story about discovering who you are and how you fit in the world.
1957975
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The story here is incredibly unique. Every little detail about Brett's life was fascinating to me because it all seemed so new. There are all sorts of weird situations and settings that are unlike anything I've read before.
- Brett's confusion (as he discovers his odd personality traits and latent supernatural abilities) is very endearing. I wanted to hug him, pat his cheek, and bake him a dozen cookies. On several different occasions.
- Witt does a great job of describing Brett's physical reactions to water and fire and a dozen other mundane, everyday stimuli as his true nature starts to come out.
- The romance progresses at a nice pace. No instalove, but not a lot of confusion about the fact that the guys are attracted to each other, either. I liked the uncomplicated nature of their relationship.

CONS:
- The story is told in first person from both of the main characters' points of view. Okay; I've seen this done before. What's a little puzzling, though, is the fact that the sections are not woven together; there's a large chunk (the first third of the story) from Brett's perspective, then a large chunk from Finn's, then another from Brett's, and so on. If those scenes had been intermingled--like, one chapter from Brett, the next from Finn, the next from Brett--I think I would have found the story a little less disjointed.
- About a third of the way in (at the first POV change), the tone of the entire story shifts, turning from a light-hearted fantasy romp with only a hint of real danger into something somber and a little depressing. This didn't particularly upset me; the switch was just so drastic that I wasn't expecting it. I was like, "Whoa. Blood, torture, death? Just like that?"
- (This is super picky, but it jolted me a little every time I read it, so I figured I would throw it out here.) Fairly frequently throughout the course of the story, one character or another's "face darkens." The way it's written, it obviously means that the character is blushing, but every time I read that phrase, I read it as the character getting angry about something (or closing off emotionally, or whatever), and I would think, "Wait. Why is he upset all of a sudden? What just happened? Oh... He's just embarrassed."

Overall comments: There's quite a bit of unpleasantness in this book, so if you're looking for warm fuzzies, keep looking. (Not for you if you're looking for sex, either: nothing graphic at all.) Also, this is the first in a series, so the ending to this book isn't what I would call satisfying in and of itself. If you're interested in an intriguing story, though, and you don't mind a somber tone and a death here and there, then this is a solid read.
4220719
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. The characters were so real, and despite it being centered around high schoolers, it was very relatable and really hit me right in the heart. Amazing.