Trigger warning: self-harm, suicide, bullying

When aliens send a message that they're going to destroy the world in seven days, Jesse decides to make some money off it, Adeem decides to find his sister, and Cate decides to find her mother. Three seemingly unrelated teenagers end up becoming intertwined.

This was a unique story with plenty of diverse, fully fleshed out characters. That was the strongest aspect of this book--the characters. You definitely become attached by the end, wanting to save them from the impending doom from a planet called Alma.

However, the ending felt too abrupt to me. Everything happened so quickly, and there was no resolution. Which normally I'm fine with, but it didn't seem to fit the rest of the novel. Still, an enjoyable read!

I still don't get the hype around this series. It felt like not much happened in this book, and Lara Jean just feels so young for the age she's supposed to be. Will I read the third book? Yes, just because I need to know how the trilogy ends. Hopefully something more exciting happens in the next book.

On her thirteenth birthday, Moth suddenly gets witch powers. While she's ecstatic, her mom doesn't want her to practice magic, as the world is still dangerous for witches.

Complete with a talking black cat, this is an adorable middle grade graphic novel all about accepting who you are. The characters come to life on each page, supported by incredible world building. Fans of The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag will definitely enjoy this!

The art is what makes this really, with some gorgeous panels that fill up whole pages. As a story, some of it is a bit confusing and difficult to follow; though I didn't realize that this wasn't going to be a standalone novel.

At its core, this is a book about the freedom to be yourself. A fun, entertaining read that could potentially inspire readers to go their own path.

This was slightly better than the second one. For me, there was more of a story and more of a driving plot. Lara Jean drives me nuts, though. Also the emphasis on sex felt unnecessary to me. Focus on other aspects of the relationship, please and thank you!

I can see why people enjoy this series, but it just really wasn't for me. Could be a good escape for someone if they're looking for something light to read!

This middle grade contemporary novel follows the story of Natalie, whose botanist mom is depressed and won't come out of her room. Natalie is convinced that winning the egg drop competition with her friends Twig and Dari will be the answer to all her problems and bring her mom back.

Not only does this book have a diverse cast of lovable characters, it is an absolutely positive look at therapy. Natalie doesn't believe in it at first, even though her dad is a therapist, but she realizes it was what she needed. She also realizes that it's important to talk about feelings rather than bottle them up.

The book itself is also formatted like a lab notebook, following the scientific procedure. An overall wonderful look of mental health with a healthy dose of scientific exploration.

I liked this so much better than the Mortal Instruments! Mostly because I can't stand Clary, but Tessa and Jem and Will are fantastic. The storyline is more interesting too; can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

This contemporary YA is all about female friendships and growing up and learning to adapt to life's changes. It starts with a snapshot of a female president, and you have to figure out who it is from their senior year of high school. A fantastic premise that is actually really well done! There's lots of red herrings to keep you guessing.

While there were things that seemed somewhat unrealistic about the book, it's overall hopeful and the story is well done. The characters blend together at times; they could have each used a more unique voice, I think. But overall, the story was engaging and empowering. I didn't want to put it down!

Trigger Warnings: bullying, war, violence

Told in verse, this is Ha's account of running from the war in Vietnam to the United States. It's an inside look at a refugee story, based on the author's own account of immigrating from Vietnam to the US. Though the poems are short, there's a lot of feeling behind them. Lai lyrically describes an experience that is terrifying and life-changing. Definitely an important read--and one that isn't covered often in middle grade books.

Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!

Thanks to Simon Pulse for the ARC! The characters are really what pull me into these stories. Josie and Lucky had such chemistry on the page, but they also existed outside of their relationship. You’re definitely rooting for them right from the beginning.

The setting does a lot for this book, too. Honestly, whenever I read about these beach vacation towns, I just want to run a bookshop there. Josie and her family are lucky [pun not intended]!. It also makes for great romance settings. Sail off into the sunset!

The only thing that really rubbed me the wrong way about this book was the emphasis on virginity. I get that it’s YA, but there were just parts that felt too heavy handed to me. Other than that, this was the light-hearted read that I needed right now.

A delightful summer romance that will warm you up when it comes out this November.
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Next to Serious Moonlight, this might be my favorite of Jenn Bennett's books! Stay tuned later this week for a fully review.