In Search of Us by Ava Dellaira

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 389 

Publisher: Hot Key Books 

Released: 6th of March 2018 

Marilyn is in search of freedom. She grew up as a child actor, her mother's meal ticket out of mediocrity. But it's been a long time since she booked a job, and she and her mother have no choice but to move in with her volatile uncle. Marilyn is counting down the days until she can escape to college, and the promise of her own future. That is, until she falls in love with James, the boy downstairs, who shows her that her life is worth living in the present. At 17, Marilyn is about to learn that everything can change in an instant.

Angie is in search of answers. She is mixed race and has never met her father, but she knows she looks and thinks a lot like him. Though Angie grew up with her devoted mother, Marilyn, she's always felt the absence of the man she never knew. But after discovering that her mother has been lying to her, Angie sets off on a road trip to Los Angeles, in search of an unknown uncle - and maybe even her dad. At 17, she hopes to finally find out the truth about where she came from so she can discover who she truly is.

What I Have to Say 

This was a fascinating story about the longing for identity and the secrets of the past. The only thing was that every time I got into a thread of the story, it switched back to the other thread. Though I liked both of the threads and Marilyn and Angie were both great characters, it just jarred me every time it switched. 

I got into it more as I got further into the book though and it felt less jarring. The best thing about it was the romance. Marilyn's relationship with James felt so very real, which is something that I don't find often with book romance. And Marilyn as a character was so great and vivid. She felt like someone I just wanted to know more and more about. 

Angie felt less detailed, but what I liked about her story was the sense of loss she felt at never knowing her father, never knowing anything about her father. Throughout the book she was searching for an identity that was so lacking throughout her childhood and was emphasised to her every time someone pointed out she didn't look like her mother. 

I look forward to reading more of Dellaira's books. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hot Key Books for providing me with this copy for review.

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Synopsis (from Goodread)

Pages: 288

Publisher: Hot Key Books 

Released: 16th of January 2018 

Maya Aziz is torn between futures: the one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter (i.e.; staying nearby in Chicago and being matched with a "suitable" Muslim boy), and the one where she goes to film school in New York City--and maybe, just maybe, kisses a guy she's only known from afar. There's the also the fun stuff, like laughing with her best friend Violet, making on-the-spot documentaries, sneaking away for private swimming lessons at a secret pond in the woods. But her world is shattered when a suicide bomber strikes in the American heartland; by chance, he shares Maya's last name. What happens to the one Muslim family in town when their community is suddenly consumed with hatred and fear?

What I Have to Say 

This is a beautiful story with really great and interesting characters. Maya was so easy to like and get interested in. I enjoyed her funny interactions with both the boys she dated, her friend and her aunt. I wanted so much for her to get to go to film school and get what she wanted. 

The racism and terroism attack made it really interesting, especially with the bomber sharing Maya's last name, showing an important glance into what it's like to be Muslim after an attack. It showed the way that people are quick to take "revenge" on the Muslims in their community, taking out their anger on innocent people. 

I enjoyed every twist and turn of this book, watching Maya struggle to free herself from the overprotectiveness of her parents and chase her dreams of filmaking. I would definitely read more from this author. 

My thanks go to Hot Key Books and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Dramatically Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press 

Released: 6th June 2017 

Senior year is not shaping up to be the picture perfect movie Em Katsaros had imagined. Her super hot leading man is five thousand miles away. Her dad just got laid off. And Em can kiss her first-pick university goodbye if she doesn't snag a scholarship

To turn this Shakespearean tragedy into the Academy Award-winning dream Em has written for herself, she enters a speech competition and manages to cinch a spot in the US Youth Change Council national round. She gets to spend a week in Boston and her prayers might be answered if she can kick butt and win one of the national scholarships.

Everything seems to be going by the script until she finds out Kris Lambert-senior class president, stuck-up jerk, and her nemesis-is going, too. Cue the dramatic music. In Boston, Kris is different. Nice. Cute, even. But she knows his game way too well-be nice to your opponents and then throw them under the bus on your way to victory. Instead of becoming his next victim, Em decides to turn the tables by putting her acting and flirting skills to work. Unfortunately, as they get close to the final competition and judging, reality and acting start to blur.

Can Em use the drama from the stage to get the future she's been dreaming of?

What I Have to Say 

I love book series where we switch to a different character each book. This book made me miss Phoebe's voice a lot, but it's so great to see Em's story and I can't wait for the third one. 

The dynamic between Kris and Em was what really made this book I think. It's so different from Phoebe's story. I also really enjoyed how much the intense field trip to Boston was shown. It highlighted how tied up in her emotions Em was getting, because there just wasn't time to process it while she was going from one conference to the next. 

I really liked Em's character as well. She was so driven. I love to read about people who know what they want and are ready to go out and do anything to get it. With actors like Em it can be especially fun because you can see the characters they put on. 

I think Bookishly is still my favourite, but this is a very good follow up. I can't wait for Practically Ever After! 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for providing me with this copy for review.