In a Nutshell: YA Edition

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

The Art of Losing
Lizzy Mason
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Soho Teen
Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

The Art of Losing is a compelling debut that explores issues of addiction, sisterhood, and loss.

On one terrible night, 17-year-old Harley Langston’s life changes forever. At a party she discovers her boyfriend, Mike, hooking up with her younger sister, Audrey. Furious, she abandons them both. When Mike drunkenly attempts to drive Audrey home, he crashes and Audrey ends up in a coma. Now Harley is left with guilt, grief, pain and the undeniable truth that her now ex-boyfriend has a drinking problem. So it’s a surprise that she finds herself reconnecting with Raf, a neighbor and childhood friend who’s recently out of rehab and still wrestling with his own demons. At first Harley doesn’t want to get too close to him. But as her sister slowly recovers, Harley begins to see a path forward with Raf’s help that she never would have believed possible—one guided by honesty, forgiveness, and redemption.

Harley was grappling with conflicting emotions regarding what happened that night. After excusing his many slip-ups and bad behaviors, Harley's boyfriend had finally crossed into unforgivable territory by driving drunk and putting her sister in a coma. She could never forgive her boyfriend, but would Harley be able to forgive her sister for what she had done?

• Pro: This was a very moving read, and Mason did an amazing job making me feel each and every one of Harley's emotions. I felt her anger and her sadness, her joy and her shame. Her confusion and anguish over the situation with her sister was probably the most powerful for me, though, and I couldn't even bring myself to pick a side. 
• Pro: Mason deftly addressed the addiction storyline. I really thought it was fantastic the way she showed how addiction can affect so many people connected to the addict. She also gave us different portraits of addiction - those who accept and those who deny, which I felt really added to giving me a more complete picture of a very complex issue. 
• Pro: Speaking of complex issues, the relationship between Harley and her sister was super sticky. There was no doubt that Harley held a deep affection for her sister, but she also felt less-than because of her. The battle she fought between her heart and her feelings of inadequacy were rather heartbreaking. 
• Pro: What an emotional growth spurt Harley experienced! Her sister's accident was a rude sort of wake-up call, but a wake-up call none-the-less. It forced Harley to really examine her relationship with Mike, and to make some tough choices for herself. 
• Pro: A lot of Harley's truths came to light via flashbacks, which I thought were utilized very well. We see snapshots from her past featuring her sister, Mike, and Raf, which were very telling, and sometimes, very sweet. 
• Pro: I saved the best part for last - I wanted RafAndHarley to happen from that first cigarette. He was someone positive from her past, who was now becoming someone positive in her present, and then there was that amazing "gesture" towards the end, that just solidified my need to have these two together. 

Overall: An honest and hopeful story about addiction, family dynamics, trust, forgiveness, and the strength it takes to change.

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Fierce Fragile Hearts
Sara Barnard
Series: Beautiful Broken Things, #2
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

This time around, I'm going to be so much better. I'm going to prove to them that it was worth waiting on me.'

Two years after a downward spiral took her as low as you can possibly go, Suzanne is starting again. Again. She's back in Brighton, the only place she felt she belonged, back with her best friends Caddy and Rosie. But they're about to leave for university. When your friends have been your light in the darkness, what happens when you're the one left behind?

Fierce Fragile Hearts is the stunning sequel to international bestseller Beautiful Broken Things.

Two years after hitting bottom, Suzanne was happy to be returning to the one place she felt she belonged and to her two best friends, Caddy and Rosie. Adjusting to life in Brighton on her own was not as easy as she thought it would be, but it ended up being an eye opening, and positive, experience for Suze.

• Pro: I was ecstatic to catch up with Suzanne, Caddy, and Rosie. Though this was Suzanne's story, Barnard still dedicated a lot of time to the trio's friendship. The ups and downs and ins and outs were explored, and I was happy to see their friendship grow along with them. 
• Pro: This was such a raw and honest look at Suzanne's life. She had some really difficult moments in this book, but she also discovered so much about herself. She came to terms with some things from her past and was finally able to set her eyes on the future. 
• Pro: It was really sad, that Suzanne's family could not love and support her in the way one expects from their family, but she was so lucky to have assembled such a wonderful support system, even if it took her quite a while to realize they were there for her. Caddy, Rosie, Matt, Aunt Sarah, Kel, and Dilys -- I adored them all, because of the way they loved, supported, and encouraged Suzanne. 
• Pro: The friendship that developed between Suzanne and Dilys was so, so special. It was very pure and beautiful. These two lonely souls found comfort in each other, but they also gave so much more to one another. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. 
• Pro: Barnard is so good at writing boys! Both Kel and Matt won my heart. They were sweet and considerate and that brand of soft boy that I love so much. 
• Pro: I just re-read the ending again, and yes, there are tears sliding down my cheeks. It was just really lovely to see Suzanne moving in the right direction. Was it perfect for me? No, because there are two or three things I would have changed, but it was touching and heartwarming and I was happy for Suzanne. 

Overall: A total gift to those of us, who loved Fragile Like Us, but also a book that stands on its own. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful.

** Book received via an author giveaway

On Thin Ice
Julie Cross
Series: Juniper Falls, #3
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Brooke Parker never expected to find herself in the tiny town of Juniper Falls, Minnesota. Of course, she also never expected to lose her dad. Or for her mom to lose herself. Brooke feels like she’s losing it…until she finds Juniper Falls hockey. Juniper Falls girls’ hockey, that is.

Jake Hammond, current prince of Juniper Falls, captain of the hockey team, and player with the best chance of scoring it big, is on top of the world. Until one hazing ritual gone wrong lands him injured, sitting on the sidelines, and―shocking even to him―finding himself enjoying his “punishment” as assistant coach for the girls’ team.

As Jake and Brooke grow closer, he finds the quiet new girl is hiding a persona full of life, ideas, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. But to Jake, hockey’s never just been a game. It’s his whole life. And leveraging the game for a shot at their future might be more than he can give.

After a near fatal accident, Jake begins to question some of the traditions surrounding Otter hockey, but is Jake willing to risk his future to challenge traditions that have endured for over 100 years?

• Pro: Cross impressed me by taking on this topic. It was a rather interesting look at how entrenched these traditions become, and how difficult it can be to abandon those which are toxic. The characters' reactions and struggle with the situation came across as very authentic, and I appreciated how she let us view the issue from multiple sides. 
• Pro: Let's hear it for finally getting a women's team in Juniper Falls. It was rather exhilarating watching this team get their footing and finding some success in their debut season. 
• Pro: This story can be read as a standalone, but Cross also incorporated a bunch of characters from the previous two books. I always love catching up with old friends, and I was so happy with the future she gave to one of the side characters. It was great getting to know this character a little better, and also seeing things starting to look up for him. 
• Pro: Both Brooke and Jake are extremely likable. Brooke's backstory was sort of heartbreaking, but I couldn't help but be impressed with how she dealt with her situation, and came out stronger because of it. And, I admired Jake for taking a stand on a tough issue. He had the deck stacked against him, but he still chose the high road, and I was proud of him. 
• Pro: The romance was so sweet, and I was absolutely on board with this ship. The circumstances bringing these two together were less than ideal, but something real and beautiful grew out of it all. Both Jake and Brooke were there for each other and offered support and comfort when they really needed it. Their romance growing from a sort of friendship made it just that much better. 
• Pro: Although it was slightly abrupt, I still loved the ending to this book. Cross gave me closure as far as the fate of the team, the town, its inhabitants, and this couple. I was left feeling very satisfied and extremely happy with the way things turned out. 

Overall:  I fall more and more in love with this series with each book. Once again Cross delivered a story with substance that incorporated family, friendship, romance, and left me hungry for the next book. 

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read any of these books?

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