Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

I have no words for this book. Tiffany D. Jackson, author of “Allegedly” and “The Weight of Blood”, weaves together a mysterious tale of a girl and her best friend. Where is Monday? Claudia, a teenage girl, grapples with the fact that her best friend is nowhere to be found. She hears inconsistent lies from her family and in her gut she knows something is wrong. In all 464 pages of this chair-gripping novel, nobody believes her. She’s all alone in her own mind, chasing Monday and praying she’ll find her. Claudia and Monday have always been best friends until one summer where Monday is not responding to any of Claudia’s letters. Claudia can not believe that her soul sister would just up and leave her, but how well does she really know Monday? In this novel, a girl struggles with her identity, growing on her own, and realizing that sometimes trusting your gut is your best weapon. 

The one thing I loved about this book was how well developed the characters were. I loved the main character Claudia because of how raw the author portrayed her. In the book, Claudia is challenged in reading and writing so we are able to see how she grows in that aspect. She also has an overthinking and analyzing brain, that’s what makes this book so interesting. Her thoughts themselves were vivid and brought every scene to life. The friendship between Claudia and Monday is also very real and not romanticized. The dynamic is very interesting as they constantly get judged by people at school for how close they are. There are also a lot of insecurities in the frameworks of the friendship that lead up to the climax. Keep in mind that every aspect of their life was planned together, so when Monday disappears Claudia is left in the dark. Later in the book, Claudia befriends a boy from church named Michael and their relationship develops throughout this storyline. This book is written with a very interesting point of view and timeline switch every chapter. They are labeled as “The Before”, “The After”, and “One Year Before the Before”. Through these different time points, Jackson bleeds the details in slowly. I especially loved “The After” because I never knew what to expect. If you love being surprised and you enjoy suspense, this book would be a great read. If you don’t enjoy reading mysteries I would not recommend this book to you. I give this book a solid 4.5 out of 5 just because I wish there was more of “The After”. I would really enjoy a sequel to this book because it does leave the reader with a lot of questions. The ending is written so that you on the edge of your seat to the very last page and I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. This book has me stunned so make sure to pay attention to the details of this book as you read. Enjoy another good one by Tiffany D. Jackson!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Olive Smith is a passionate STEM PhD student at Stanford in her third year. This story starts off with Olive having a mishap with her glasses and having a weirdly deep conversation with a male stranger. Flash forward to the first chapter, Olive finds herself in a too-pleasant-for-a-stranger liplock. With Adam Carslen. Professor Adam Carslen. You can see how that might be damaging but keep in mind that Adam is well known across campus as an exceptional tyrant. His reputation is nothing short of extraordinary with the numerous research projects he scrapped, people he made cry, and obnoxious behavior. The only reason Olive kissed him was to prove to her best friend Ahn, that she was happy and dating someone. I understand for some this scenario is completely unrealistic, so if you don’t like reading books that probably won’t happen in real life, this might not be the best choice. You do have to pretend in some parts of this book that the scenes are realistic. Nevertheless, this is where it all starts as Adam or Professor Carslen agrees to fake date Olive. What’s even weirder is that Carslen has his own reasons why. Hazelwood sews together a beautiful storyline with an interesting student and professor dynamic. This book starts off with a bang which is what I personally enjoy more, and then we see the author working backwards to fill in the pieces. 

I loved Olive. From the beginning of this story to the end, I loved the way she was vulnerable but still so strong. The author did well at touching on topics such as the issues women in STEM face for recognition and importance in the field. The rigor of the Stanford Research Program is addressed and Olive gives us an insight to her feelings and this was also really good for character development. The way she viewed herself as inferior but also still having an incredible passion for her field was incredibly captivating as a reader. In my personal opinion, the scientific aspect of this book was the best part. I wish the author went more into detail for these portions because it was really interesting to read. Adam Carslen. Well, there’s a lot I could say about this man. I found myself hating him some of the time but loving him most of the time. Some people would argue that his character was incredibly bland and had no personality, but I would disagree with them. I think the reservedness and stoicness of Adam was something I didn’t get to read a lot from male characters and I personally enjoyed it a lot. It made his words that much more meaningful. The author also did a great job showing his fondness for Olive throughout the book. One thing I wish was changed in this book is I wish we could see Adam’s point of view at some point. I never really got to understand how Adam felt about Olive. I mean yes, I could see his care for her but that is just surface level in my opinion. This book also does have a childish touch with its scenes which some of you might find immature instead of entertaining. There are some parts where the adults like Ahn, were acting childish but it wasn’t too bad. If anything, it added to the storyline. I would give this book a solid 4 out of 5 because I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the main characters but the side characters were questionable at times. I liked the plot and just wish we had more insight into Adam. This book does have some more mature scenes so I would recommend this book for 16 and up. Read with caution towards the end of the book and if you enjoy this book you will also love “Hook, Line, and Sinker” by Tessa Bailey!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

Taste Test by Kelly Fiore

This is a light, teasing, and quick read by Kelly Fiore. It takes place on the set of a reality TV Show called Taste Test. What are they fighting for, you might ask? Well, a $50,000 scholarship to a cooking school in Paris. The main character, Nora Henderson, is a girl who grew up learning how to cook in North Carolina at her dad’s barbecue joint. Contrasting to her, we have our other main character, Christian Van Lorton. The proclaimed son of a celebrity chef. He has the money for sure, so why is he here? In this plot, all the contestants treat Nora like a country hillbilly which makes her work even harder to prove herself. Christian and Nora’s first interaction is conflicting, and she already has hate pumping in her blood for him. She feels like she has to prove herself to be something she is not on this show. She has skills, but she doesn’t have the name to back her. Christian and Nora are top competitors who are always against each other in this competition. They have intense chemistry that is obvious from the first interaction, but it is a competition after all. 

The author plays up the qualities of a reality show to make their relationship that much more dramatic. I personally struggled with how the reader was not getting enough important details to the competition, as it was more focused on the chemistry between Nora and Christian. I love cooking shows and I live for the fiery flames that burn between contestants. I know as a reader sometimes it’s expected to fall in love with the main character. However, I felt no connection whatsoever to Nora. I found her judgmental and rude with her witty comments to her roommate throughout the book. While she was receiving hate, there is a difference from sticking up for yourself and putting others down. She also had a lot of quick opinion changes about Christian which makes sense for the progression of the book but it portrayed her as fake. Christian was an infuriating character but I understand why Fiore made him the way she did. He fits the “arrogant, self absorbed daddy’s boy” look and attitude. I’ve never read a book with this plot & setting before so it was refreshing to read something unique. While these main characters are fighting their attraction to each other, there are dangers brewing in the kitchen. Someone is sabotaging people to eliminate them from this show and tensions are high. So if you love a good mystery, this is a good novel. While I have conflicting thoughts about this book, it was a decent read. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 12. This is a light book to read and not emotional in any way. If you are looking for a book for your spare time, this is a great quick one!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

This is a proclaimed biography that received many awards including the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Nonfiction and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. This book is usually in the curriculum for 9th graders at most public schools. It is a statement piece which takes the reader through the life and experiences of an African American lawyer named Bryan Stevenson. He is the executive director and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. The base of this story is about the case of Walter McMillian, a man who was framed and accused for the murder of Ronda Morrison. This is based on a true story of a man named Walter “Johnny D.” McMillian in Monroeville, Alabama. I recommend reading this book and then exploring the case online. This story shows the passion and drive of a single person (Bryan Stevenson) which transforms the legal system. This book is filled with loss, hardship, and tears but it opens the eyes of the reader to the daily injustice being done. This book is especially impactful in this time period through the BLM movement and all the racial injustice/police brutality. People can only grow when their problems are called out and then fixed. This is what Bryan Stevenson does during this entire book. He has mountains of cases, and the reader gets a first look inside his mind through all of it. He aids underprivileged women, juveniles, and cases for those who can’t afford to be represented. He is the superhero of the story to countless lives. 

I recommend this book to everyone who is mature enough to understand what they are reading. Anyone who is 12 and up I feel like would benefit from reading this book. This book speaks about important and sensitive topics that do need to be addressed. Death penalty, police brutality, sexual harassment, rape, and violent crimes are all addressed. This is one of my all time favorite books because it is raw and it is important. I have never found a novel that included all problems in one. This book is written as a timeline progression and you find yourself loving the characters. If you are interested in social justice and even law, this book is an amazing way to research and learn more about the flaws to the system. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. I have no complaints other than I wish it never ended. I have never felt more convicted by a book and I hope you feel the same conviction. I recommend reading this book with a friend or discussing it to get the full benefit of this piece. If you enjoy this book I recommend reading “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee if you have not already. The connections between these books are so important to recognize especially in this generation. This book is truth, and truth is necessary for growth.

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

It Starts With Us is the sweet sequel to It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. I live laughed loved this book. Personally, I had mixed feelings about the first book so I didn’t have high expectations for the sequel. Let me tell you, this book is filled with sweet moments and healing. The best way I can describe it is the calm after the storm, but even in the calm there are always small tremors. If you haven’t read the first book, go read it now because keeping up with the storyline without doing so is extremely difficult. In the second book, Lily is a single mom trying to balance a new divorced life. This book blooms a second chance for Lily, but with who is the question. For those of you who have a love-hate relationship with Ryle, he is still a part of this storyline. I believe that this was incredibly important for the author to do since we all knew their story wasn’t even close to being done. This book transmits very different vibes than It Ends with Us so I think that’s why I connected more with this book. In this book, Atlas and Lily reconnect and struggle to identify if it’s the “right time”. As their relationship blossoms, Lily still has to figure out how she’s going to protect herself and her child. Trust is the foundation of every relationship and Lily grapples with deciding to forgive and trust Ryle once again. 

One thing I loved about this book was how Atlas and Lily were portrayed in the future. It was almost like they were flirting, dating, and being with each other for the first time. They are so perfectly sweet and endearing that if you need to feel that soft love, this is a great book. This book has a stronger family focus and also has a focus on Atlas’ past. We see his relationship with his mother as a main portion of this book and how he heals from his past. For those of you who remember the Ellen entries from the first book, this continues in this book. In my opinion, they are more lengthy in this book and harder to get through. I loved the use of this for the first book, but I as a reader just wanted more of Lily, Atlas, & Ryle in the present. This book is a little predictable but its characters are lighthearted and homey. I loved this book because it’s burden wasn’t as heavy as the first, but it was almost like reading a therapy journal. Lily’s growth is very powerful and as a reader it was empowering to see a woman build herself up again. This book is also very raw as it goes through the struggles of being a young, single mother. If you can relate to Lily, this book is a great read. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 only because the Ellen entries got too lengthy for me and ruined my motivation to read at times. Other than that, I thought this book was beautifully written and had a great ending. I strongly recommend this book to everyone to read little by little whenever you are free to!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

“Ugly Love” is such an entrapping title. How can love be ugly and is all love ugly? This title perfectly fits this book and the tone in which the author writes it. The main character in this book is Tate Collins, a nurse and a young adult who goes to live with her brother. The book opens with the drunk interaction between Miles Archer, an airplane pilot and her brother’s best friend. There is undeniable attraction between the two of them from the start, but there is also this weird barrier preventing anything. This story conveys attraction before love, so if you enjoy books like that, this one’s for you. It wouldn’t be a Colleen Hoover book if the characters didn’t have heartbreaking pasts right? Miles has an imperfectly shattered past, but the author does a great job of letting little details seep in every chapter. This is a slow burn, I was more emotionally connected to Miles than I was to Tate. If I were to describe this book in three words it would be fragmented, heart-rending, and impactful. There are a couple scenes to look out for if you are younger than 16 and I would read at your own risk. If you enjoyed books like “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover, this book will probably be okay for you to read also. 

This book has flashbacks to every other chapter to the past years of Miles’ life. If you enjoy changes of point of views and flashbacks, this book is a good one for you. One thing I disliked about this book was how it was based on attraction for a majority of the pages. This is a personal preference however so you might like the way the flirting unfolds. One thing I loved about this book was how much it shook my soul in the last 60 pages or so. The author saved a lot for the end and while it was hard to get through and I shed a couple of tears, it was beautifully written. This book has a poetic sense to it and it has a different take on love. It does follow the trope of “brother’s best friend” but in a more tainted way. This is not love at first sight by any means. If you are looking for a book with steamy action, a sad backstory & sorrow, this could be your next read. Some trigger warnings however include grief, death, and violence. Holding back the tears, I do recommend this book to anyone over the age of 15 as it shook my world. This is a beautiful piece of literature and a great summer read!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

No words, but at the same time so many words can be used to describe this book. I first picked up this book a year after it surged in popularity through Tik-tok and all social media platforms. For those of you who don’t know, this book is about the intertwining and connecting of the past and future of Lily Bloom. A beautiful redhead, with ambition to live because she never lived before. Lily has always dreamed of having her own flower shop and her childhood was filled with violence and sadness. One day on a roof she meets Ryle. Ryle is a surgeon and he is undeniably attracted to Lily. Later in this story, Atlas enters right as Lily and Ryle are in the midst of loving each other. This story weaves together the tale of three heartbroken souls and their journey from childhood to adulthood. Atlas and Lily have a broken past, and it bleeds into this story perfectly. 

I recommend this book to teenagers who are looking for a more emotional romance. If you love reading books with emotionally damaged backstories, this story is for you. If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover you will absolutely adore this book. I would give this book a 3.8 out of 5, only because I felt like some of the major issues could have been addressed in a better way. My favorite part of this book was the past and present switch. Colleen Hoover did an amazing job of creating a storyline where everything matched up. The way Lily reacted in the future was directly related to her past in the next chapter. Everything flowed so well and the heartbreak all led back to the same point. I also loved how Lily was portrayed during the end of the book. She was strong and resilient above it all but her mind was battered and bruised. The author did not try to hide this even when it’s so much easier to have a happy ending.  My least favorite part of this book was the fast progression towards the end. The beginning of the story had me hooked and drew me in because it was a slow burn. I understood the details and character development. As soon as the storyline hit its peak it all sped up so fast. I wished the author would slow it down but all around it was a good read. Unpopular opinion, this novel did not live up to the talk for me. It was a decently good book but it was rushed. Keep in mind, this story is not for the light of heart and includes a lot of potential triggers. If domestic abuse/violence or sexual assault is something you cannot read, this book will probably not be the right choice for you. If you enjoyed “Ugly Love” or “November 9” from Colleen Hoover, this book is a great addition to your list!

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

In this steamy office romance, the main characters, Lucy and Josh are always at each other’s throats. This novel was rated by Oprah Winfrey to be seventh in her list of best romance novels of all time. If Oprah thinks this book is worthy, it must be. This book has grown a network of readers which led to its popularity and eventually its film production. Lucy and Josh are executive assistants to their co-CEO’s whose names are Helen Pascal and Richard Bexley. They share the same office space, facing each other every single day. Lucy has always had this intense hate for Joshua Templeton, and boy does he ever return the hate. Lucy, 28 years old, is a relatable and empathetic character. Sally Thorne portrays her as the girl next door, with a boss-lady edge to her. She is clumsy and awkward but is also very successful. Her humor has such a light and airy mood that the reader has no choice but to smile. If you choose to read this book, you will find yourself falling in love with Lucy. Josh Templeton is an interesting character with even more interesting development. He has a planned and concise life, down to the shirts he wears every day. He contrasts Lucy and Lucy can never figure him out. He teases her relentlessly about how she was brought up on a Strawberry Farm, when in reality Lucy is nothing but homesick. Their relationship is so beautifully crafted, it keeps you wanting to turn the page. This book is the epitome of the enemies to lovers trope.

The main central issue of this book is a new job position. Chief Operating Officer is now on the table and as ironic as it might be, the two perfect candidates are Lucy and Josh. Here starts the never ending competition between the two of them. This book is filled with fiery moments, longing looks, and even a love triangle with another character whose name is Danny. If you love books with jealousy, sweet moments, and an AMAZING plot, this book is for you. In my personal opinion, this book deserves all the hype it gets. This book is a decent read of 384 pages and is great for every night reading. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 15. While there are some scenes to be wary of, it all depends on your personal evaluation. My favorite part of this  book was the slow-burn with the characters. If you hate when authors speed up the enemies to lover tropes like me, Thorne does a great job of slowing it down.

-Amy Cherian (Gum Spring Library)

Legend by Marie Lu

In a dystopian world, the former western United States is now the Republic of America, which is constantly at war with its neighbors and infected with a deadly plague. June, a fifteen-year-old prodigy, is born into the wealthiest district and part of the highest military circles. Day, born in the slums and struggling to keep his family alive, is the country’s most wanted criminal. When June’s brother Metias is killed, all accusations blame Day. As June sets out to get her revenge, the two meet and, in a surprising turn of events, discover the horrible secrets their country is keeping.

The book is brilliantly written and the plot was original and unpredictable. The story was fast-paced, there were no boring or slow parts. The age of the main characters makes the book a bit unrealistic, but other than that it was a great read and really difficult for me to put down. I recommend Legend to anyone looking for a dystopian YA novel.

-Jiya K (Gum Spring Library)

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

This book is about how the smallest actions can change a life and how although the world isn’t fair, it gives what is deserved in the end. Natasha, a science nerd, and love skeptic, has one day left in New York before she and her family are deported to Jamaica. Daniel is a destiny believer who dreams to become a poet despite it being against his parents’ wishes. The Universe brings the two together for a love story that is anything but simple. However, this book is not only about romance but about problems immigrants face as well as parent-child relationships.

The Sun is Also a Star is a very well-written novel and the chemistry between the two main characters is sweet and supportive. Although some people are skeptical of the ‘love at first sight’ component of this book, the characters don’t exactly fall in love, they just see the possibility that they could. One thing I really liked about the book was the points of view of the side characters. It really helped shape the story and showed how every little thing was part of a bigger picture. There were tons of deep quotes that made me really think about life. This book was unique and beautiful in so many ways. A great read, I would recommend it to everyone.

-Jiya K (Gum Spring Library)