What kind of ending is that?! 

If anyone was going to have me rooting for a second chance romance, it was going to be Tarah DeWitt. 
 
Megan Wicks x Connor Crais bring to life Wren x Ellis Byrd with heart, humor, and heat. Their chemistry is undeniable and practically seeps off the page, or in this case, my ears! I loved their performance and it's one that is going to be hard to forget. 
 
For the story, let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of second chance romances. But this one? THIS ONE was done so well with believable circumstances that cause a rift in a relationship, YEARNING for your first and only love, and family that is rooting for mcs to get back together. From the very beginning, I couldn't help but here Taylor Swift's "Down Bad" lyrics as a way of describing Ellis's x Wren's love, and slowly as they find their way back to another with flashbacks of their past driving their story forward it becomes "The Alchemy." 
 
I can't tell you enough how I LOVED Wren x Ellis. By the end, when the title context comes into play, I was SOBBING. I was not expecting the weight of its significance because here I was thinking "left" meant directional. And if you think I'm going to spoil this, I AM NOT. 
 
If you're looking for a second chance romance that is filled with yearning, heart, and humor look no further than Left of Forever.

12/10 stars
 
*also not me realizing this a second stand alone book in a series so now I gotta go and read Sage's book! 

Make way for a new couple to root for in this fun and emotionally driven duet narration that will leave you reeling with the utmost happiness and a cheesy grin on your face.
 
I absolutely adored Audre x Bash Are Just Friends. I'll be honest, I didn't really read the synopsis. All I saw was that Tia Williams was releasing a YA and I immediately requested. No thoughts, just glee! Imagine my absolute delight when I find out that Eva x Shane are IN THIS and I was squealing!
 
I loved the glimpses of Audre in Seven Days in June as a bright and intuitive kid, And this, is still very true in her own book.
 
The novel explores anxiety, the complexity of expectations from parent to child, friendship, vulnerability, and first love. On the subject of love, Bash is an excellent love interest who is sweet, caring, and mindful. I loved seeing how Audre had to shift her own perception of him because of rumors and how his outward appearance doesn't match his persona (gender non-comforming). He is also a complex character with a harsh past that weighed heavy on my heart. It is refreshing to see someone like Bash depicted on the page, making his very existence authentic and inclusive. Seeing how their relationship blossoms is so sweet it'll give you a cavity, and the chemistry between these two is charming with sharp and witty banter.
 
Tia Williams is the blueprint for romances and as her YA debut? This was a KNOCKOUT!! *gives all the stars*
 

Meh. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A heartfelt, tender, and powerful novel in verse of a girl finding the strength in her body. 

Esme's experience and relationship with her body is like my own. I felt so SEEN in Esme. I also grappled with having a bigger bust when I was a teen - with being overly sexualized, and trying so hard to shrink myself just to fit in. Esme was painfully relatable as she is grappling physically and mentally with her breasts that are affecting her dancing, clothes, and other's perception of her.

I really liked how the author navigated this subject with care for girls who are in a similar space as Esme or for others to know intimately what girls like Esme go through. I also loved the range of relationships portrayed in this novel, highlighting the many people that love and support Esme like Mia, Todd, Zoe, and her family. These relationships are tenderly built, slowly and strong. By the end, you are captivated by Esme's strength and power as she dances freely, soaring anew.

CWs: bullying, sexual assault