Utterly absorbing; a must for fans of Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass (2012) and its sequels. (Fantasy. 13-adult)
After banishment as a child, a girl must brave a treacherous estate to save her father and unearth her past.
White teen Jules Ember lives with her father in the kingdom of Sempera, where they struggle to make rent. The Gerling family, owners of the Everless estate, collect tenants’ blood-iron: coins forged from blood, each equating to increments of time that can be added to a life span. Desperate to save her ailing father, Jules hopes to work at Everless to earn enough blood-iron to pay their debts. There’s a royal wedding approaching and much to be done. Lord Roan Gerling, also white, whom Jules grew up with, is betrothed to the ward of the queen. Jules hopes Roan will remember her, and her heart stutters when she sees him. Her father forbids her to go to Everless, warning her never to let the queen near her. But Jules sets out on a dangerous path; she can pause time itself, and memories of her childhood aren’t what they seem. Rather than hide from the queen, she’s determined to find out their true connection—ultimately risking everything. Though tropes abound, characters are given room to grow past them. Propelled by inventive lore and magic, Jules’ story, which she narrates in the present tense, is a heady, addicting page-turner—especially for readers who prize worldbuilding over romance.
Utterly absorbing; a must for fans of Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass (2012) and its sequels. (Fantasy. 13-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-265365-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
A lighthearted romance in which love comes to those who speak their minds and stick to their truths.
A strong young woman discovers love where she least expects it.
At 17, Madeline Fisher-Michaels’ only love has been field hockey. With her focus on playing in college, boys have never been a priority. But after she agrees to be a bridesmaid in her brother Austin’s wedding to his fiancée, Katie, everything changes. She allows Katie—whom she doesn’t like but hopes to bond with—and the other bridesmaids to be her matchmakers. Mads navigates complicated, changing feelings toward longtime best friend Connor McCallister and classmate Marco Álvarez, whom she banters and bickers with. With the support of her dads, Mads must work through shifting relationships with family, boys, and even herself. Mads proves to be a strong protagonist: She often speaks her mind and maintains clear boundaries throughout the novel, which is refreshing. She communicates well with her family and serves as an inspirational role model for young women navigating relationships. The complexity of Katie’s characterization is another highlight; her depth and growth balance the lack of substance in the portrayals of other supporting characters. Readers looking for drama and intrigue may be disappointed, but Walther’s strong young women characters truly shine in this quietly entertaining, character-driven tale. Marco is cued Latine in the otherwise largely white cast.
A lighthearted romance in which love comes to those who speak their minds and stick to their truths. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781728263144
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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