ARC Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Pub. Date: September 17th, 2013

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Hardcover

288 pages

Elise Dembowski is one of the funniest, most relatable girl next door while being a complete individual, characters that I have had the privilege of reading. Her voice is completely encompassing and this book touched me profoundly.

Everyday for Elise is a struggle. Even when she tries, its obvious that she’s not like everyone else. The take away, avoid being unique and don’t be special, it just makes you lonely and miserable. So, Elise makes the only decision she thinks she has left, to commit suicide. After a failed attempt followed by major support and healing time, Elise finds comfort in listening to music while night walking. Her walking leads her right to where she will heal the most - a warehouse party, with a DJ. Finding a place where people appreciate music as much as she does is like finding Mecca. But when Elise’s natural DJ ability threatens her new friendships, she has to decide if it’s better to fit in, or be true to yourself.

I loved this novel. The realism, humor, and music blew my mind. Within the first few pages there was one of the most descriptive, affecting, ‘practice’ suicide attempts that I have ever read. I felt sick to

Review: Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi

Pub. Date: August 27^th, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Paperback

432 pages

Every once in a while I get the urge to read a pure love story. That is what I expected Love Overdue to be – a love story. And don’t get me wrong it is - but it’s not only a romance love story, it’s also a love story about a town.

Hired as the new Librarian in small-town Verdant Kansas, from her clothes to her tightly wound bun, DJ Jarrow is intent on living up to the Librarian stereotype. Her strict control stems from one moment of humiliation as a teenager when she allowed herself to just let go. Eight years later, DJ is faced with a different type of humiliation – small town gossip. Worst of all, rumors start spreading that DJ was really hired because the head of the library board was hoping for a bit of matchmaking between DJ and her son Scott. Much to DJs dismay, the son – Scott Sanderson, happens to be the source of her humiliation years before. Waiting for the day Scott is able to figure out why she seems so familiar, DJ actually starts getting to know the adult Scott, and she’s forced to question if the Scott she built up in her head, reflects the real Scott. Intent on building a life in Verdant, DJ has to get past the past, and learn to live her present and her future for more than just her job.  

Review: Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek

Pub. Date: September 1^st, 2013

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

Hardcover

311 pages

I always try my best to remain spoiler free in my reviews – but this is one of the rare times that I will not be able to review without discussing some major plot points. If you want to remain spoiler free I suggest you skip this one!

When the school board changes zoning areas, Reyna Fey has to start freshman year at a different school than her three best friends. Hoping to not spend everyday completely alone, Reyna’s open to making friends, but sharp tongued, tell it like it is Olive Barton, wasn’t the kind she was expecting. Brought together first out of loneliness, Reyna slowly begins to consider Olive a real friend. But, everything changes when Olive comes out to Reyna, and Reyna responds in the most hurtful, painful way possible. Unaware how severely she has hurt Olive, Reyna submerges herself in a new relationship, and a new group of friends, abandoning Olive when she needs her the most. As the girls become more hostile than friendly, Reyna is forced to learn how one person’s actions and words can forever alter someone else’s life.