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.

#AllForTheGame #HeatherBuchta #NetGalley #YALit #FridayNightLights #BookReview

Second Chance Summer

The Summer You Were Mine
By Jill Francis
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250322296
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

A beachy, second-chance romance set on the stunning Italian coast, where messy emotions and life challenges collide in this poignant and enthralling novel.

Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have known each other their entire lives. Both families hail from Chiavari, a small city on the Italian Riviera. Their grandparents are friends. Their parents are friends. They were friends. And for one brief moment fourteen summers ago, they were almost more than that.

After years apart, Ellie and Cris are headed back to Chiavari as generations of Beltramis and Contes gather for the unlikely second marriage between her grandmother and his grandfather. But while everyone’s celebrating, Ellie is reeling from the very public implosion of her career as the host of a sports talk show, plus overthinking her past and perceived flaws in light of the recent discovery that she is neurodivergent. Cris, a newly retired elite swimmer, also arrives adrift after being accused of using a banned substance.

Reunited in a place where summer dreams come true, Cris and Ellie make a deal: an exclusive interview with Cris to fix her career, and an appearance on Ellie’s show to clear his name. Soon they’re picking up where their teen romance left off―but if this second chance can last, they’ll need to finally confront what drove them apart all those summers ago.

Can your greatest regret become your deepest love?

 My Thoughts:

Ellie and Cris had a moment when they were 14, but it never came to anything. In fact, she’s been avoiding him for 20 years, since he blew her off. After multiple disruptions to her life—learning she’s autistic, totally screwing up her job, and hearing that her parents are divorcing—she’s not looking forward to the emotional labor of seeing him again when her grandmother and his grandfather marry in Italy.

 Of course, meddling family members keep throwing them together on wedding preparation tasks. As they spend time together, their long-past friendship comes back, and they confide in one another over the various problems they have been facing. It seems like a perfect solution for both of them to have Ellie interview Cris as a comeback for her show. Naturally, it doesn’t go as intended.

 The third-person narration allows us into the minds of both the main characters. Both characters are at crossroads in their lives, and their development as they determine next steps is satisfying. The resolution of the third-act breakup is strong—everything isn’t magically all better. They actually work on themselves and their relationship.

 The Italian setting is almost its own character, with beautiful descriptions and strong secondary characters.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Swearing, including the f-word. Drinking. Some characters are gay. Sex, open door, semi-descriptive.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Anyone interested in Italy. Fans of second chances, and flawed, slightly more mature characters.

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

#TheSummerYouWereMine #NetGalley #JillFrancis #StMartinsPress #BookReview #SecondChanceRomance #NeurodivergentCharacter

Past and Present Collide

 

This Book Might Be About Zinnia
By Brittney Morris
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665904018
Reading age: 12 years and up
Grade level: 7 – 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Clap When You Land meets Monday’s Not Coming in this “compelling, introspective” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel told in two timelines as one teen searches for her biological mother and the other copes with giving up her baby from the acclaimed author of SLAY.

Two moments in time. Two very different girls. And one story that connects them both.

It’s the year 2024, and Zinnia Davis is on a mission to ace her personal essay. But when an admissions rep hints that her adoption story is “lacking heart,” she has to figure out a new spin. Frankly, Zinnia doesn’t know much about her birth parents; that is, until her favorite author releases a new novel—Little Heart—about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead and separated from her mother at birth…just like Zinnia. Could this be her birth mother?

Flashback to 2006, and teenager Tuesday Walker is barely making it through high school after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months. To cope, Tuesday writes a series of entries in a journal, but when the journal is lost, it feels like reliving the trauma all over again. Tuesday’s search for the journal uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother’s story.

If Tuesday isn’t careful in her search, Zinnia will have to reap the consequences in the present.

 My Thoughts:

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that we know pretty early on that yes, Zinnia is Tuesday’s child. The “loss” that Tuesday experiences—missing months of school, etc.—is clearly her pregnancy, and since she’s not currently raising a child, we know that she gave her baby up for adoption.

 I like that Zinnia has known since childhood that she’s adopted. There’s no traumatic revelation, no coming to terms with that fact. I also like that she isn’t fazed by the birthmark on her face; she wears it with pride.

 At first, Zinnia’s decision to find her birth mother seems shallow. She just wants to have a strong college admission essay. And she’s in a time crunch; her first essay was rejected and she has a limited time to resubmit. She’s been aiming for Harvard all her life, and she’s right on track to get there—if she can fix the essay problem. So when a favorite author’s new book has references that are suspiciously close to Zinnia’s story…she pursues it.

 Simultaneously, we get the story of Tuesday’s recovery from her pregnancy (which no one at school—including the baby’s father—knows about), the betrayal of the boy who impregnated her, and her borderline abusive mother,

 As we watch both of our protagonists, we see the threads of past and present come together. There’s heartbreak. Friendships are tested. Zinnia’s single-minded pursuit of her birth mother blinds her to best friend Eli’s family struggles, and their friendship fractures because of it. (So do a lot of her other high-achieving habits. Parental relationships are tested. Tuesday’s breaks; Zinnia’s strengthens.

 I love some dramatic irony (when the reader knows things the characters don’t), and we get plenty of it as we draw toward the climax of the book. All in all, the resolution and aftermath are satisfying.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

 Some cursing, including the f-word. Mention of teenage sex, including mention of condoms and STDs. Kissing. Vaping. Arson. Parental death.

 Who Might Like This Book:

People who like coming of age, found family, adoption stories.

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

 #BrittneyMorris #NetGalley #BookReview #YALit #ThisBookMightBeAboutZinnia

Wendy Darling, All Grown Up

 

Wendy’s Ever After
By Julie Wright
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639933877
Reading age: 13 - 17 years
Grade level: 10 – 12

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Wendy Darling embarks on a new journey where her past in Neverland collides with her future hopes for love, only to rediscover the adventure never truly ended.

Wendy Darling has grown into a stunning young woman. Her days are filled with social gatherings and elegant balls, but her nights are alive with memories of fighting pirates, soaring through the skies, and other wild escapes through Neverland with Peter Pan—the boy who never grew up.

When Wendy meets a handsome and mysterious stranger, there’s something about him that feels familiar yet elusive. His eyes sparkle with a mischief that tugs at Wendy’s heartstrings, reminding her of Peter. Intrigued and a bit unnerved, Wendy finds herself inexplicably drawn to this handsome young man and soon finds herself back in Neverland.

Caught between the allure of her past and the promise of the future, Wendy must navigate a perilous new journey, rediscovering the courage and wonder that once defined her youth. As she battles old foes and forges allies with new friends, Wendy is torn between her memories of a boy she once loved and the man who has stolen her heart.

 My Thoughts:

I’m always excited about retellings, re-imaginings, and “what happened next” stories based on familiar tales. In this one, Wendy Darling is nearly 18 and weary of her mother’s pressure to find a man and marry. Her father has died, and her brothers never speak of their time in Neverland. But Wendy longs to go back to her life in Neverland—and to Peter Pan.

 So imagine her surprise when she meets a charismatic stranger that maybe, just maybe, is dropping veiled references to Neverland. Naturally, she has to pursue that. After all, she hasn’t been able to find her way back. Of course, he was deliberately luring her. It turns out that not only has he served in the Royal Navy, but he’s also a nephew of Captain Hook.

 Yes, that Captain Hook.

 This is where Wendy has to learn that not all pirates are bad. And Peter Pan isn’t always good. And Neverland isn’t necessarily the lovely place of her memories.

As Wendy must learn to work together with (gasp) a pirate, she realizes that Peter is in many ways still a child. He takes no responsibility, and everything is a game. Wendy has matured; Peter hasn’t.

They are all brought together to fight a common enemy. The resolution—both in Neverland and for Wendy personally—is satisfying.

I particularly like that Wendy decides not to marry just because her mother wants her to. She knows she will marry and have a family some day, but it will be on her own terms. Her growth throughout the story is natural and believable.

 Now for the nitpicks. My advanced reader copy had a continuity error. I question the use of the word “updo” for Wendy’s hairstyle—it didn’t come into popular use until after the time period in which the story takes place.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Fantasy creatures, mild violence, perilous situations. Pirates. A little bit of kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Fans of the original story who want to see what happens later. Romance fans, especially fans of “clean” romance. Although it is marketed as Young Adult, it didn’t feel overly juvenile; adults should be just fine with it.

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

 #WendysEverAfter #NetGalley #WendysEverAfter #JulieWright #YAFantasyRomance #FairyTaleRetelling #ShadowMountainPub #YAFantasy #YARomantasy #Book Review

An Irish Summer

 

An Irish Summer
By Alexandra Page
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0063316560
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

A new romantic comedy in which a young woman embarks on a summer adventure—and summer fling—in Ireland, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Beth O’Leary. 

Boston has everything Chelsea needs: her best friend, her family, a great job. She’s worked and lived at the same bed and breakfast since graduating college, and she relishes the sense of stability. That is, until she’s informed that O’Shea’s Bed and Breakfast is being sold and she has less than a month to find a new job and apartment. Desperate, she takes a summer gig at the B&B’s sister hostel in Galway, Ireland. It’ll be an adventure, she convinces herself, and it’ll give her some time to plan her Next Act.

 As it turns out, Galway has everything Chelsea hates: nonstop rain, no iced coffee, shared bathrooms. Working at The Wanderer might grant her time and a few extra lines on her resume, but Chelsea can’t help but feel like she left her life back in Massachusetts. Her new coworkers, however, are determined to change her mind, especially the handsome and charming tour guide Collin.

 Collin and Chelsea strike up a deal: he’ll show Chelsea everything Ireland has to offer, and only then can she pass judgement. Sure enough, Chelsea finds herself warming up to the hostel and Irish lifestyle… and falling for her charismatic new friend. But as the summer comes to an end, she finds herself torn between the familiarity of home and the tantalizing adventure of life abroad.

An Irish Summer is a heartfelt, transporting story perfect for readers looking for the thrill of moving away from home and the unique magic of summer love. 

 My Thoughts:

 Chelsea is a planner. If she doesn’t have a plan, she’s not comfortable.

 So naturally, this book begins when her plans are abruptly taken away from her.

 She ends up working at a hostel in Ireland. She doesn’t like the idea, but it’s better than the thought of moving back into her parents’ home. Everything about the job is different from her orderly, predictable life.

 But, naturally, she gradually loosens up. She starts by helping to plan experiences and events for the guests of the hostel. She makes friends with the other employees. She starts to…have fun.

 Of course, Collin is a big part of that. He makes it clear from the start that he’s interested in Chelsea as more than a coworker, and she eventually opens herself up to the idea. Still, she’s clear that she’s going back to Boston at the end of the summer. She wants a job with a big hotel chain, and she pursues it. When her dream job becomes available near the end of her stay in Ireland, she is conflicted, but leaves Collin behind.

 This is told entirely from Chelsea’s POV. Her experiences as she learns to love Ireland were probably the best part of the book for me. While she does show growth over most of the book, I find the ending to be a bit of a stretch. I won’t explain, since that would spoil it, but…yeah. Too much change too quickly.

 We don’t really get to see much of Collin’s internal life or struggle. He has a job he likes. He finds a woman he likes. He loves showing her why he loves his homeland. I don’t think there’s much growth or change or even conflict for him, so he comes off as kind of a flat character.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A gay couple. Unmarried sex (open door, but not overly descriptive). Adults drink. Some swearing, including the F-word.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Romance fans. Anyone with an interest in Ireland.

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

 
#IrishSummerAn #NetGalley #HarperCollins #BookReview #Romance