Tag Archives: Romance

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (review by Anya W. ’20)

September 1, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The destiny of a samurai’s daughter is to marry well to bring honor to the family. Even 17-year-old Mariko is no exception, never mind the fact that she’s smart enough to be a step or two ahead of most everyone she meets. But when her convoy to meet the betrothed her father selected for her is attacked and only Mariko survives, she knows that the only way to protect her family’s honor is to destroy the ones who attacked her. So, with no way to contact her twin brother, she sets off dressed as a boy in order to infiltrate her only lead: a bandit group called the Black Clan. The thing is… what Mariko finds is a lot closer to family. The novel definitely had some strong elements, from the premise of the plot to more realistic character reactions then some YA novels. However, the author’s attempts at creating chemistry between the protagonist and her love interest, while (refreshingly) present, were oft clumsy. Furthermore, the ending of the book, even with the clear set-up for a sequel, feels a bit rushed it would have been nice to have more time with various character and their reactions to recent plot developments. – Anya W. ’20

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Once and for All by Sarah Dessen (review by Anya W. ’20)

August 30, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After losing Ethan, Louna isn’t sure if she can ever fall in love again at all, and her summer job helping out at her romantically jaded mother’s wedding planning business isn’t doing anything to change that. Not even a friendship with Ambrose, the new hire and a natural playboy, or an intriguing bet will change that. But now, it is a matter of who will give up on the bet first: Ambrose, who has to find someone to go steady with for seven weeks, or Louna who has to go on two dates a week for the same amount of time. After all the winner’s prize (getting to choose who the loser goes out with next) is too good to turn down… And Sarah Dessen has rolled out another instant classic. Just like her other works, the novel is a cute romance with a few more serious undertones filled to the brim with lovable characters. While I would not have minded a bit of more rounding out of Ambrose and Jilly (the best friend) neither were by any means flat. – Anya W. ’20

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The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (review by Sachi B. ’21)

July 16, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written by Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also a Star is a novel revolving around two young adults Natasha and Daniel, who fall in love despite the numerous obstacles that come their way. First, Daniel is Korean and Natasha is African-American, which is a racial difference they believe their families would not approve of. Moreover, Natasha is an undocumented immigrant and is to be deported the exact day they meet, forcing the two lovers to separate. Despite the challenges they face, both Natasha and Daniel attempt to make the best of their bad situations. They focus on the present and on each other, cherishing the time they have left together, instead of constantly worrying when they will have to leave each other.

This book is unique and showcases the perspective and thoughts of each character by labeling their names at the top of every page rather than being narrated from only one perspective. This allowed the reader to really feel what the lovers are feeling, and anticipate and fear what will happen to the protagonists. I would definitely recommend this book due to its beautiful concept of how living in the moment is such an important concept that everyone needs to implement in their own lives. – Sachi B. ’21

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11/22/63 by Stephen King (review by Simar B. ’20)

July 16, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

11/22/63 by Stephen King is a novel about Jake Epping, a high school English teacher, who travels back in time to try to save President John F. Kennedy’s life. He meets his friend Al Templeton who tells him that he has discovered a way to go back in time. However, Al is dying, and he entrusts Jake to fulfill his life mission to save President Kennedy, thinking that the world would be much better off had Kennedy survived. Jake is apprehensive but takes on Al’s mission and travels back into 1958. Jake bides his time for three years, slowly making his way to Dallas to stop the assassination. Unfortunately, time also moves on sluggishly for the reader, and it is quite difficult to not put the book aside because it drags on and on. The gist of 1000 pages is Jake bets a lot of money to sustain himself, stalks Oswald for a year, and falls in love with Sadie, a librarian in the school he teaches. It does not feel like a novel, but it feels like a biography of the fictional Jake Epping. Despite all this, the book picks up towards the end. Overall, I enjoyed this book only because of how it ended, but the casual reader might not enjoy it.

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Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub (review by Prameela K. ’19)

June 8, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After reading Romeo and Juliet, I couldn’t help but wonder: “What happens now?”

Melinda Taub’s novel aims to answer that question, and many of the other ones that readers may ask after finishing Romeo and Juliet. Unsurprisingly, the Montagues and Capulets–who entered a dubious truce in the aftermath of their children’s deaths–are still feuding, unable to suppress the animosity rooted in their bloodline. Intending to quell the dissension that is plaguing his city, Prince Escalus of Verona devises a plan in which he arranges for a member of the house of Montague–Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin– to marry a member of the house of Capulet–Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin and Romeo’s first love (before he meets Juliet). Neither Benvolio nor Rosaline are thrilled about the prospect of an arranged marriage with one another, and they form an initially unenthusiastic alliance in order to put an end to their engagement.

Rosaline is independent and strong-willed, and she develops as a character. While Benvolio also undergoes a significant amount of moral growth, his personality is rather muted, but his chemistry with Rosaline makes up for his blandness. While their relationship is the main highlight of the novel,
another surprisingly appealing element is mystery. There are clues, red herrings, buildup, and an ultimate reveal that is well-executed though somewhat predictable. It’s no Agatha Christie mystery, but it’s interesting enough.

One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is the dialogue. All characters speak Shakespearean English, complete with “thees” and “thous”. The setting is undoubtedly Shakespearean, and the re-imagining of supporting characters from Romeo and Juliet makes Taub’s continuation of the tragedy vivid and creative. Yet one of the weakest points of the novel (and one of the main reasons why I rate this book three stars and not four) is the inclusion of a love triangle–one with a predictable outcome–that distracts from the mystery at the core of the plot and slows the story progression.

Overall, Still Star-Crossed is a good book with an enjoyable plot and a compelling protagonist, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Shondaland’s new show will provide its own take on the novel! – Prameela K. ’19

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Heartless by Marissa Meyer (review by Prameela K. ’19)

May 30, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of Marissa Meyer and her science fiction fantasy Lunar Chronicles series, I was eager to read her standalone debut. Once I learned that Heartless was a fairy tale origin story with a Victorian setting, my anticipation only heightened. A fantasy period novel based on Alice in Wonderland? Count me in.

Heartless draws upon many aspects of Lewis Carroll’s whimsical world in Meyer’s re-imagination of the Kingdom of Hearts, where Wonderlandesque oddities and the social constructs of Victorian-era England intermingle to create a setting equally strange and captivating.

At the center is Catherine, a teenage girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Unlike many young adult protagonists, she is not overbearing or infuriating, and her kindness is admirable. She is a lover of all things sweet, and her aspiration in life is to open up a bakery–but her parents have different plans for her and aim to consolidate her marriage to the foolish, and incredibly annoying, King of Hearts.

Oh, but of course, there is a love interest: Jest, the roguish and devilishly handsome court jester. He has a mysteriously magical past and the obscurity of his identity may be frustrating at times, but he makes up for it with his humor and charm. He and Cath have instant chemistry and their interactions are chock-full of witty repartee. Oh, and do not forget Jest’s equally mysterious raven, who is reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem and only speaks in, well, poetry. Jest is also a friend of the famed Hatter, who was really quite a hunk back in the day — before he went mad and all.

Because Cath starts out as a well-rounded character with a strong sense of right and wrong, there is little room for moral development. Instead, Meyer focuses on her progression from being an aspiring young baker to being the Queen of Hearts. The plot is filled with twists and turns as Catherine embarks on a journey to fulfill her goals and discover who she truly is. While the novel has its fair share of romance, the action is what truly captivated me–Cath’s bravery shines through when it matters the most.

At points, the plot progresses slowly, but as the page count dwindled I found myself more and more enthralled in the characters’ fates. Whopping revelations, nail-biting action sequences, and heart-wrenching plot twists combine to form a stress-inducing final 100 pages that culminate in an ending that is, at first, shocking. But after a few days of deep thinking, I realized that the plot had really been going in that direction all along, and one of the main reasons why Heartless made such a strong impression. – Prameela K. ’19

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The Diabolic by S.J. Kinkaid (review by Anya W. ’20)

February 8, 2017 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for. That is the duty of a Diabolic. To love their master for the entirety of their lives and be willing to do anything to protect them. In a time when a ruthless emperor reigns, that sacrifice can even extend to taking her place. If Nemesis is discovered, she’s dead, and Sidonia is in danger… Be it taking on a ruthless tyrant or allying with a mad prince, Nemesis will do whatever it takes to protect her master. The Diabolic is beautifully written and definitely falls into the YA category. The world building for this novel is absolutely brilliant, and personally, I’m a sucker for good world building. From the beginning, this novel is gripping, and although the quality of the story decreases somewhat near the end, this novel ends quite nicely. Speaking as someone who has been slightly phasing out of YA novels as of late, The Diabolic definitely deserves a read. – Anya W. ’20

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (review by Anika B. ’18)

August 26, 2016 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars follows a member of the distinguished Sinclair family, Cadence Sinclair Eastman, who is recovering from a brain injury she received in an accident that she cannot remember. As she recalls more about the accident, she begins to question her family’s ideals and develops her own identity. For me, the strongest element of this novel was the addition of various stories about a king and his three daughters being told in parallel to the main plotline. These short stories created an interesting structure and served as perfect transitions between sections. However, besides the protagonist, most characters were very black-and-white, and lacked the dynamic personalities needed for an effective story. Cadence remembers the majority of the details involving her accident quite suddenly towards the end of the book. Spreading out the realizations and starting them earlier in the book might have resulted in a stronger, more engaging novel. Most fans of this book believe the ending to be stunning, but I found it incredibly disappointing, as it seemed to contradict much of what had occurred earlier. Overall, the book had an impressive structure, but the one-dimensional characters and ending diminished its overall efficacy.

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Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (review by Megan H. ’18)

August 24, 2016 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (more commonly known under his alias Lemony Snicket) tells the story of the short-lived romance of Min Green, indie film fanatic and nameless nobody at school, and Ed Slatterton, the popular co-captain of the basketball team. The novel follows Min, as she returns mementos from their relationship back to Ed after their breakup, each accompanied by a letter addressing him, which divulges to the reader the story behind the souvenir, as well as a reason that the two broke up, as stated in the title. The backstory behind each trinket composes the entire tale of the relationship, from start to finish, while the letters from Min to Ed reflect her opinions and emotions she feels as she goes through it. Handler excellently depicts the classic teenage relationship, while weaving in his own twists that have always characterized his distinctive writing. Although the events that the two protagonists face are incredibly interesting and unlike a typical romance novel, their personalities sometimes fall flat and seem stereotypical, as Min is depicted as an artsy hipster while Ed is portrayed as the classic jock. However, I still enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end and would recommend it to anyone looking to read a unique story about the life and death of a relationship.

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Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (review by Jacqueline H. ’18)

January 25, 2016 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gone With the Wind is a refreshing twist on your typical classic novel. It’s one of those books that leaves an indelible impression on you, the kind that you find yourself re-reading every so often.

We start off in the rolling red hills of the antebellum South. Scarlett O’Hara, a sixteen-year-old debutante with a self-centered personality and a sharp mind to match, comes of age during the tumultuous Civil War. In a surprisingly short time, Scarlett’s life of luxury degenerates into one of starvation and poverty. The book is a masterful subversion of many common literature tropes. Rather than becoming the sweet-natured lady she was groomed to be, Scarlett is selfish and vindictive to the core. She doesn’t get her initial love interest, nor her second – despite her former status as belle of the South. Lastly, Gone With the Wind is told from the perspective of the Confederates. Racial prejudice is a glossed-over issue in this novel, which reinforces the uncertain morality of the characters.

Overall, this is an amazingly well-written novel. I loved the vivid prose, the heart-wrenching moments, and the abrupt ending that yearns to be extended. I recommend this book to anyone searching for an interesting read.

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