Hockey, but not

 

If All Else Sails
By Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication date:  August 5, 2025
Print length:  368 pages
ISBN-13:  978-1400346943

 Publisher’s Blurb:

In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

 When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

 A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.

 Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

 Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

 Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

 Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.

 Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.

 And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.

 If you're a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

 My Thoughts:

Emma St. Clair can be relied on to deliver imperfect people who aren’t just grumpy for the sake of grumpiness—they have reasons for the way they are. It’s those reasons and past hurts that get in the way of their HEAs until they can be acknowledged and worked on.

 That is the case in this book. Wyatt’s family dynamic has made him shun the spotlight, despite his fame. Josie has past trauma with athletes, which has led her to misjudge Wyatt from the very first time they met. Which is too bad, because for him, it was pretty close to love at first sight.

 So when Josie’s over-the-top charming brother coerces her into looking after Wyatt’s recovery from an off-the-rink injury, she’s not exactly happy about it. But she recognize that Wyatt is in a vulnerable place, so she stays.

 As they both work through their vulnerabilities, they end up confessing past traumas and hurts and finally (and it takes some time) work through just how much Josie has misjudged Wyatt over the years. She has to be willing to look at all their past interactions through a new lens.

 Of course, there are obstacles. They don’t live in the same city. Josie has a lot of insecurity about fitting the mold of a famous athlete’s girlfriend…if Wyatt even thinks of her that way. Those insecurities are an obstacle, but Josie is self-aware enough that they avoid the third-act breakup.

 Though this is billed as a standalone, it does have a connection to the Appies series, cowritten by St. Clair and Jenny Proctor (reviewed here). This is completely a good thing.

 This is petty, but the most annoying thing to me about this book is the way Josie goes all in on dressing up the dog. I just…don’t get the appeal.

 All told, this is another entertaining read from St. Clair, with all the banter, feelings, and character development that we’ve come to expect.

 Also—St. Clair is working on a playlist for the book. Keep your eyes peeled!

 Possible objectionable material:

Past death of a family member, including spreading their ashes. Family disfunction. Josie’s older brother is a “player”. Past sexual assault. Kissing. Unmarried people share a bed.

 Who might like this book:

There’s not really any hockey in this book, though the male protagonist is a hockey player. If you like books with cameos from familiar characters, this has it. It’s classic closed-door romance.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #ClosedDoorRomance #Appies #EmmaStClair #IfAllElseSails #RomCom @emmastclairauthor

Jinkies!

 Very Dangerous Things
By Lauren Munoz
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593857892
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Everyone in town knows about the game. For decades, J. Everett High has staged an annual murder mystery to put its criminology students to the test. And this year, crime junkie Dulce Castillo is dead set on winning. Soon, the game kicks off, and the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school’s greenhouse . . . except his death is not pretend.

It’s murder.

When the authorities open an investigation, all the evidence points to Sierra Fox, Xavier’s ex-girlfriend and Dulce’s ex-best friend. Claiming innocence and desperate to clear her name, Sierra begs Dulce to look past their bad blood and find the culprit.

After all, Dulce knows this school better than any investigator ever could, but she must use caution to solve this mystery. Because these historic halls are full of suspects with no shortage of motives. And in this game of cat and mouse, the other player kills.

 

My Thoughts:

Well, I didn’t see that coming.

 

I can frequently figure out the culprit in mysteries, but this one was sneaky. It’s not that it was unbelievable…just that it was a surprise.

 

Dulce and her late mother loved the detective novels of Dorothy Sayers, and Dulce attends a magnet school for forensics and criminology. Each year, the school stages a fake murder, and teams race to solve the case. Dulce is tired of taking second to her former best friend. But when the murder turns out to be real, and the former bestie is the prime suspect, Dulce grudgingly takes the case.

 

She turns out to be…not that great of a detective. I won’t tell you exactly how, but, while she does some things well, she bungles others. Nontheless, she and her friends do solve the case.

 

The idea of a magnet school for future crime solvers is an interesting premise. The school still has things like band and PE, so it’s not totally out there.

 

Overall, I found the characters interesting. They all have their flaws and are real and human. Zane’s sketchy past before transferring to Dulce’s school is a strong motivator for his actions in the story, although his attraction to Dulce is an equally strong motivator for other actions.

 

All in all, it’s a fun detective novel with imperfect people who still find a way to be successful.

 

I love Dulce’s dad, by the way. We don’t see him much, but I love what we get.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Swearing, including the F-word. Teenage partying. Teen sexual activity (off page). Some teenaged petty crime. Kissing. A parent died in a car accident. Same sex couples. Murder, poisoning, and assault. A smear campaign.

Who might like this book:

Fans of mysteries and true crime.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview #NetGalley #YA #Mystery #VeryDangerousThings #LaurenMunoz #biblioquacious

A Passion for Fashion

The Other Side of Imani
By Lisa Springer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0063288782
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Ever since she could remember, thirteen-year-old Imani has wanted to be a fashion designer.

 

But fashion designers are bold, out-there, and in your face. And despite her unique sense of style, Imani has trouble fitting in, let alone standing out. Entering her new school’s design competition for a scholarship to the nearby arts high school seems like the perfect way to make new friends and get closer to her dream of being a designer.

 

Then Imani’s designs are stolen by one of her classmates, and Imani is forced to enter the competition anonymously, under a virtual persona of her own creation—“Estelle.” When Estelle then goes viral, Imani must figure out how to be her “real” self as she finds her true friends and her voice... all while hoping to win the competition.  

 

My Thoughts:

Being new at a school is rough. Imani is overjoyed to find another girl who is as interested in fashion and design as she is, and she excited to be invited to the other girl’s house to work on their designs for their school’s competition. (I find it a little hard to believe that everyone in their middle school is so excited about this competition.)

 

As an adult reading this book, I saw the theft of Imani’s designs coming. Her resolution of the situation is what the real story is about.

 

Honestly, the fact that all these middle-schoolers are so heavily engaged in the story’s equivalent of Instagram is a little disturbing. I mean, yes, my high school students are super into it. But to have 11-14-year-olds so invested…oof.

 

As is the case with so many middle grade novels, Imani feels she must solve her problem by herself. Of course, if she just confided in her parents or her older sister, we wouldn’t really have a story.

 

There are some awesome supporting characters. And some—like the school principal—that you’ll love to hate.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Bullying. Sneaking around. Lying. Way too much social media use.

 Who might like this book:

Those who like fashion and creative expression. This one’s probably going to be of interest to more girls than to boys.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrades #TheOtherSideOfImani  #LisaSpringer #HarperCollins #biblioquacious

A New Dystopian Twist

Soulmatch
By Rebecca Danzenbaker
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 496 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665963701
Reading age: 12 years and up
Grade level: 7 - 9

Publisher's Blurb:

Two hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every eighteen-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

 

My Thoughts:

This book hinges on the idea that reincarnation is real, as well as that some people have true soulmates.

 

Imagine that each soul has a specific vibration or frequency, and that it can be measured, identified, and catalogued. That is the premise here. Sivon has turned 18 and it is time for her to be kirled, the process by which her soul is identified. She is terrified that she has a bad soul, one that still owes society for crimes committed in past incarnations.

 

Instead, she finds out that her soul has never been catalogued—a New Soul. This gets her involved in her time’s equivalent of a presidential race, in order to provide protection for her mother from all the people who feel strongly (both positively and negatively) about New Souls.

 

Along the way, she meets two boys: one infuriating, and one who claims to be her soulmate. She must unravel the realities of who really has her best interests at heart and who is using her.

 

Although I don’t believe in reincarnation, I found the base premise of this story to be interesting and well-handled. Although it wasn’t particularly difficult to figure out who the true bad guy of the story was, watching Sivon figure things out was only mildly frustrating. I’ve definitely had worse reads.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Reincarnation. Swearing, including multiple F-words. Same gender relationships. Nonbinary characters. Souls can be born into bodies of either gender in future lives. Kissing. Physical danger. Possible suicide.

 

Who might like this book:

Fans of YA dystopian fiction. Anyone who enjoys a love triangle.

  

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #YA #DystopianFiction #Soulmatch #RebeccaDanzenbakerBooks #biblioquacious

Solving a Parisian Mystery

The House of Found Objects
Bea Bellemore Mysteries #1
By Jo Beckett-King
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665967174
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 – 7

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Twelve-year-old Bea from Passaic, New Jersey, is visiting her family in Paris for the summer when her grandmother’s most precious heirloom—a drawing by Henri Matisse—goes missing. After a cryptic clue arrives on Bea’s doorstep suggesting its whereabouts, Bea is determined to pursue the lead.

Without the French skills to navigate her way around the landmarks of Paris, she teams up with her cousin, Céline, whose clear-eyed French directness makes her a perfect partner for curious, problem-solving Bea. The girls embark on a city-wide search, deciphering riddles, solving puzzles, and cracking codes as they try to locate the Matisse, find a thief, and identify their mysterious benefactor.

 

My Thoughts:

Bea is bummed. She was supposed to be having lots of fun adventures with her aunt. Her parents are on a trip (without her), and sent her to stay in Paris. Sounds great, right? Well, her aunt, a journalist, keeps having to work. Her grandmother is busy running her secondhand/antique shop. And her cousin doesn’t seem to have much in common with Bea.

 

And then disaster strikes. Bea accidentally allows a man to take a box that contains the family treasure, a portrait of Bea’s great-grandfather, created by famous artist Henri Matisse.

 

And thus begins Bea’s true adventures in Paris. A mysterious note is left for her which indicates that, if she unravels the clues she will be able to recover the portrait. But Bea’s French is rudimentary, so she must enlist Celine’s help. The two visit sites around the city—although Bea is not supposed to leave the neighborhood without her aunt.

 

There are red herrings and misdirections along the way. But with the help of a couple of clever—and cute—French boys, Bea and Celine just might win the day.

 

We feel Bea’s frustration with being limited to her aunt’s flat and her grandmother’s shop all day while the aunt is at work. I’d be frustrated too! We also understand Bea’s guilt at having—however accidentally—allowed the painting to be taken.

 

Descriptions, characterizations, and conversations were well-done.

 

Possible objectionable material:

A tweenage kiss. Sneaking around and going places without adult permission. Lying.

 

Who might like this book:

Anyone interested in Paris or who likes solving a mystery. I’d say that the grade levels provided by the publisher are pretty accurate.

 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrade #TheHouseOfFoundObjects #JoBeckettKing #SimonAndSchuster #biblioquacious

Middle Grade Novel in Verse

Aarzu All Around
By Marzieh Abbas
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665970419
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Living with her aunt and patriarchal uncle in Karachi, Pakistan, recently orphaned twelve-year-old Aarzu detests the way she and her younger sister get treated like extras and excluded from all the fun stuff. Aarzu dreams of playing cricket, just like her male cousins and the neighborhood boys in the streets, but her uncle will hear nothing of it. According to him, girls ought to master the art of making round rotis, not play sports.

When her sister requires urgent medical treatment but finances are tight, Aarzu decides to earn money herself. She hears of a part-time job at a bungalow near her school—but it’s only open to boys. Aarzu has no choice but to disguise herself as a turban-wearing boy to get the gig.

Now, Aarzu must find a way to balance school, work, chores, and secret cricket practices—all without burning out or getting caught by her uncle—or else her dreams of making the girls cricket team and her quest to save her sister will crumble around her.

 

My Thoughts:

Thiswas a difficult book for me to read, for two vastly different reasons.

 

1.     It’s a novel in verse. While I love reading poetry, I find that verse novels don’t really work for me. Poetry is about packing a great deal of meaning into a few carefully chosen words. In narratives, I feel that many times depth of description and emotion can suffer when told in verse.

2.     Aarzu is in just such a sad situation. Her parents were killed in an earthquake, and she lives with her mother’s sister and her husband and sons. The uncle is very patriarchal and has strong ideas about the roles of girls and women. The older son is a bit of a bully. And Aarzu’s sister suffers from a debilitating and potentially fatal kidney disease. They live in near poverty; the uncle’s income comes from taking tourists around in his rickshaw, and the aunt sells items she has embroidered.

 That said, don’t think I didn’t like this story. Aarzu is resilient, and devoted to her sister. Her indomitable spirit shines out in this story.

 Like so many middle-grade novels, there is a subplot of a friendship nearly broken by jealousy, but Aarzu comes to realize her faults and the friendship survives.

 The book also features an explanation of how the game of cricket works, a glossary of Arabic/Pakistani terms, and—best of all to my English teacher heart—a list of the various forms of poetry used to tell the story.

 Possible objectionable material:

Loss of parents, misogyny, domestic abuse (not shown). Aarzu does some serious sneaking around. Chronic illness.

 Who would like this book:

If you like stories of courageous young people who find a way to rise above their difficulties, this would be a good one for you. And if you like or are interested in cricket, give it a shot.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrade #NovelInVerse #MarziehAbbas #AarzuAllAround #SimonAndSchuster #biblioquacious 

A Fateless Chosen One

 

Fateless
By Julie Kagawa
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: July 15, 2025
Print length: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1335448804
Reading age: 13 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits—for one bold enough to steal it.

When seventeen-year-old Sparrow joined the Thieves Guild she made a vow of binding loyalty to their cause. So when a mission comes along from The Circle, a group of mysterious, dangerous beings who control the Thieves Guild from the shadows, Sparrow is determined to cement her place in the guild.

What ensues is a death-defying adventure that has Sparrow and her band of thieves venturing into the heart of the forgotten city of the Deathless King. The fate of Sparrow, her companions, and Raithe, the enigmatic yet alluring assassin Sparrow is forced to join forces with during their quest, all hang in the balance as they find themselves battling ancient forces within the tombs and facing the unwavering hold of fate.

Perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir, this new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa will sweep listeners into a bold and exciting new world, where a twisted game of destiny has far-reaching consequences.

 My Thoughts:

This book follows some of the YA fantasy tropes: A chosen one. A romance. Found family. Honestly, the blurb is a little misleading. Sparrow doesn’t lead “a band of thieves” into the underground city, and they actually do very little battling in the tombs. It’s what happens after Sparrow’s quest to the underground city that really matters, and it’s what forces her to run from all she has known and team up with people who become her friends—and more.

 Sparrow has always been taught to count on no one, that the only person she can truly rely on is herself. Her people believe that the fate you are born to cannot be changed. So having to see herself as anything but a thief is a big lift. Luckily, she is able to develop both the humility and the hope to do exactly that.

 There is one thing that bugs me a bit—the romance between Raithe, the equivalent to an elf, who has lived for centuries, and 17-year-old Sparrow. Age gap much?

 This book doesn’t tread a lot of new ground. There are elves and dwarves, although the names of those races are slightly different. There are battles and adventures. But don’t take this to mean that it’s not worth the read. It most definitely is, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Mild swearing. Drinking. Fantasy creatures. Stealing. Dark blood magic. Battles, complete with blood, injuries, and death. Kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Anyone who likes the Chosen One trope. Those who like magical realms and adventure.

 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #Fateless #NetGalley #JulieKagawa #HarperColllins #BookReview #YAFantasy #ChosenOne

Imperfect People

The Peculiar Gift of July
By Ashley Ream
Publisher: Dutton
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 416 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593853726
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

With a dash of magic and a cast of oddball, small-town characters, this feel-good novel explores forgiveness, family, and the sense of humor it takes to live with the ones we love the most.

Ebey’s End is a small town on an island off the Pacific coast, reachable only by ferry (assuming the gods are with you and it’s not a Tuesday). It’s a comfortable, familiar (but okay, fine, sometimes lonely) life for its resident grocer Anita Odom. That is, until fourteen-year-old July shows up on her doorstep.

Taking in the recently orphaned daughter of an estranged cousin had not been on Anita’s to-do list. In fact, it’s a terrible idea. Anita is ill-suited, ill-prepared, and absolutely certain the entire enterprise will end in disaster—for both of them.

From the moment she arrives, July seems to “know” what each customer at the Island Grocery needs. They’re small things: a housekeeping magazine slipped into old Mr. Daly’s basket or a coconut cream pie pressed into the hands of Pastor Chet. But one by one, these gifts start to change the lives of nearly everyone in town in ways much larger than they—or July—could have imagined.

It's not long before secrets are exposed and questions emerge, and everyone in Ebey’s End has to open their hearts a little wider to make room for it all.

 My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Ashley Ream. It won’t be my last. She has the same sense for imperfect people that Fredrik Backman and Catherine Ryan Hyde have, and I am here for it.

 This time, it’s loner and borderline misanthrope Anita, who suddenly finds herself in charge of her late cousin’s adopted daughter, July. July has a…knack…for knowing what people need, things they don’t even realize they need (or will soon need). Her filling those needs sets many things into motion on their little (not real) island in Washington’s San Juans.

 Although the book is named for July, and she’s an important character, there are many important characters in this book. So many people with needs. Thanks to July, people’s lives are made easier in countless small and large ways.

 There are a variety of conflicts and difficult moments in this book. It is how those moments are met and dealt with that gives the book its heart and soul. It’s a story of imperfect people living imperfect and often difficult lives, but there is love, and hope, and beauty here.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Swearing, including the f-word. Infidelity. Homosexuality.

 Who Might Like This Book:

If you like Backman or Hyde, definitely try this one. If you like stories about imperfect people doing the best they can, try this.

 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #ThePeculiarGiftOfJuly #NetGalley #AshleyReam #BookReview #MagicalRealism

Becky Dean Does it Again

 

Love Unmasked
By Becky Dean
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Publication date: July 15, 2025
Print length: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593647875
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9
Lexile measure: HL680L

 Publisher’s Blurb:

From the author of Hearts Overboard comes a swoony mystery-filled romance in which a girl on a school trip to Venice gets swept off her feet by a mask-wearing stranger...but does she know him already? Lose yourself in the masquerade—because sometimes, the greatest adventure begins when you unmask your heart.

People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.

Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.

But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?

 My Thoughts:

Becky Dean has been on my “must read” list since the first time I read one of her books. (Reviewed here.) This book just supports that assessment.

 Once again, Dean gives us a story of a high-achieving girl on the brink of adulthood. Evie’s dealing with stress, parental expectations, sibling examples, and the death of her father. She’s worked hard to present a certain image at school: always helpful, always reliable, always well-behaved. But secretly, she geeks out over a series of fantasy novels that she enjoyed with her father before his death. So when she gets the chance to visit Venice—where there’s a secret fanclub for the books—on a school trip, she plans a minor rebellion.

 Her daytime plans get abruptly changed, when she’s assigned to partner with standoffish Gabe. In contrast, the first night she sneaks out to find the club, she meets a boy who’s also masked, with the same purpose in mind, and the two bond quickly over their shared fandom. Evie finds freedom in being masked; she can be her true self with no repercussions. So she continues, gradually trying to forge a friendship with Gabe by day, while hanging out with “Angelo” all night.

 With help from her best friend, who is in on her secret, Evie tries to figure which of the students on the trip might be Angelo. But she’s also developing feelings for Gabe, who turns out to be sensitive, funny, and even wise. He helps her to stand up for herself.

 I loved their explorations of Venice, a city that I spend half a day in a few years ago. They visited two of my favorite places as well! So it was easy for me to visualize the setting as I read. Even without having visited there, I think Dean’s descriptions were thorough and engaging.

 The running “what are you thinking” game between Evie and her friend group was a lot of fun. The minor characters here were well-done. The dialogue rang true.

 It takes a lot to get five stars from me. Basically, it has to be a book I not only enjoyed but will read again. This book checks those boxes.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Past death of a parent. Sneaking around. Mention of bullying. Kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

People interested in art, Venice, and coming of age.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#LoveUnmaked #NetGalley #BeckyDean #YALit #BookReview #DelacortePress

Friday Night Lights...Twisted

 

All for the Game
By Heather Buchta
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 464 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593384985
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9
Lexile measure: HL620L
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Friday Night Lights meets A Good Girl's Guide to Murder in this juicy, mind-twisting thriller about football, romance, and the cost of playing the game.

In Texas, football is life.

For Finn Geringer, it’s a ticket to a better future. Transferring to East Pages High, Finn hopes to secure a college scholarship and a chance to provide for his grandmother. In this town where football reigns supreme, East Pages seems perfect. Until it’s not.

Finn’s girlfriend, Megan, notices rival players absent from games. As she digs deeper, her life becomes increasingly dangerous: Mysterious cars tail her, strangers issue threats, and she’s sure someone’s been in her bedroom. Is it her imagination, or is East Pages hiding a dark secret?

Meanwhile, Finn’s cousin, Brit, the head cheerleader, revels in the perks of popularity and the prestige of attending a renowned sports school. But when a football player dies, she learns that her peers are purposely keeping her in the dark. Is her popularity an illusion?

Finn must choose between pursuing his dreams or uncovering the truth. As he, Brit, and Megan unravel the team’s mysteries, they face a powerful force determined to protect the school’s legacy at all costs. From veteran author Heather Buchta comes a gripping second-guessing game of suspicion and paranoia, romance and reputation, and the lengths people will go to protect who—and what—they love.

 My Thoughts:

This book is long, but it was a quick read. Part of that is the lower lexile level—about a 5^th grade level, although the book is definitely directed at a high school audience. I haven’t said it here recently, but about half of my incoming freshmen each year read below grade level, so having these high-interest, low-lexile books is important.

 On to the book…

 The school I teach at has a very successful football program, making the playoffs most of our 16-year history, including a state title. That said, we are nowhere near the rabid fans that you’ll find in this book. In East Pages, football is everything. Finn transfers to East Pages high school to further his goal of college, then pro, ball in order to support his family. His cousin Brit already goes to school there, but hasn’t really mentioned to her classmates that they are related. After all, up until his transfer, he was the enemy.

 And that’s the mindset of the town—anyone not part of their program is the enemy.

 The three POV characters are smart, and when they notice—collectively and individually—that things just aren’t quite right, they don’t just let it slide. They each have personal struggles, and the whole football thing just adds another layer to that.

 I was especially interested in Brit—super smart, but dumbs herself down to fit the cheerleader image. Her shock at realizing that she was never actually one of the “in” group is powerful.

 The three make personal sacrifices as they choose to do the right thing. The end isn’t easy, but it’s satisfying.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Drinking. Scheming. Sneaking around. The love of football is almost cult-like. Deceiving parents. Overbearing parents. Swearing, including the f-word. Mentions of Christian faith and scripture.

 Who Might Like This Book:

High school football fans. Anyone who likes suspense. This book would easily appeal to readers of any gender.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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