In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.
Abdi Nazemian
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Historical
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.Reza was living in the closet, paralyzed by the fear, that being gay was a death sentence. But, through some good friends and a welcoming community, Reza was able to embrace his true self, and open himself up to the possibility of love.
Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.
Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.
Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.
As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known.
- Pro: I was the same age as Reza, Art, and Judy in 1989. Therefore, this was a bit of nostalgia for me. I remember the protests, and the fear that gripped us all during that time. Nazemian deftly captured the time period and the emotional impact the AIDS crisis had on everyone.
- Pro: Art was sort of in-your-face and brash, but Art+Reza was a beautiful thing. I loved these two together, and all the lovely things I associate with first love were there.
- Pro: This was such a beautiful homage to the gay community. The love and support they showed each other, as well as their drive to fight for their rights to treatment and medication was so inspiring. The parts where Nazemian focused on the community were among my favorite parts of the book, and it's great that we are seeing books recounting some important moments in LGBTQ+ history.
- Pro: And the star was Stephen. He was by far the most incredible character in this book. I adored him for being such an amazing uncle to Judy. I praised him as the father-figure Art needed, and my heart expanded three sizes, when he took Reza under his wing. His love was boundless, and I can't imagine anyone reading this story, and not adoring him as much as I did.
- Pro: Family played an important role in this story, and it was very rewarding watching them grow along with Reza, Judy, and Art. This was primarily Reza's coming of age, but I felt like every character experienced a bit of a metamorphosis over the course of this story, and the changes were all positive.
- Pro: Though a few of the things in the ending were a bit sad for me, I was so happy that I got a jump-ahead ending. They are my favorite kind, and really appropriate for this story, where I needed to know what happened to Art, Judy, and Reza.
Natalie Williamson
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Honest and full of heart, this clever contemporary romance debut deftly combines utterly relatable family drama with all the sweetness and uncertainy that comes with falling in love.After yet another of her mother's failed relationships, Amber established a set of rules to protect herself. However, after living by these rules for several years, she began to realize that they were keeping her from enjoying a multitude of wonderful things.
Rule #1: Don't get attached.
Amber lives by strict rules to survive her mother’s love life: Always keep your eyes on the horizon and never get close to anyone connected to Mom's boyfriends.
But after they move in with Kevin, the latest of her mom's “soul mates,” the rules become increasingly difficult to follow. Kevin’s daughter, Cammie, keeps acting like Amber’s friend, even though she’s definitely not. And Jordan—star basketball player, hottest boy in school, and Cammie's best friend—keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments.
Amber has reasons for every one of her rules, and following them is the only way to protect her heart when her mom inevitably moves on. But as she spends more time with Kevin, his daughter, and especially Jordan, she starts to wonder if the rules might be worth breaking this time.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Rules We're Meant to Break is a charming, heartachingly real story of family and young love by debut author Natalie Williamson.
- Pro: I am going to start with the most important thing. This book featured a fantastic dog, Buffy, and the dog lives!!!!
- Pro: Amber worked in a pet store, and part of her job was training dogs. I had a magnificent time at puppy lessons, and loved that Buffy got a fair amount of page time as well. I believe dog lovers will appreciate and enjoy all these moments.
- Pro: There were lots of great friendships in this story, and I especially liked the one between Amber and her best friend, Hannah. Hannah was there for support, but was also a straight shooter, when necessary, and she played a big role in Amber's growth process.
- Pro: Those who know me are aware of how much I abhor loose ends. Well, I am happy to report, that Williamson gave me enough closure on all the different plot lines, and even if I would have liked a jump ahead, I still had answers which satisfied me.
- Pro: Blended families can be tricky, and it was great watching Amber develop her relationships with Kevin and his daughter, Cammie. Also, Kevin was a gem, and I grew really, really fond of him.
- Pro: Saving the best for last - the romance! I adored Jordan, and I am all warm and fuzzy just thinking about these two. I know I wore a stupid grin on my face as their relationship blossomed and flourished. It was sweet and precious and everything first love should be.
** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.
Have you read any of these books?
Let us know in the comments!
I love that Like a Love Story is set in 1989. I remember the AIDS well and I was roughly the same age at the time (I'm pretty sure you and I are only a couple years apart). There was such fear at the time, in the gay community and beyond. I love the sound of the friendships/relationships in this one and Stephen sounds so loving and so supportive. Great review, Sam! I really like the sound of this one!
ReplyDeleteI think we are pretty close in age (probably why I like you so much). Nazemian did a great job bringing me back, while also presenting me with a fabulous story of coming of age, coming out, first love, and friendship. This is my second book from him, and book were rock solid reads.
DeleteStepfamilies can be a tricky thing, so I like that Amber grows and becomes closer to her mom's boyfriend and daughter, and that they're good people!
ReplyDeleteI was really happy with her growth, but also her mother's growth. I like that the author had them confront how her mother's dating habits affected Amber.
DeleteHa ha... loved that the most important thing was that the dog lives!! Totally agree with that statement, nothing worse than throwing in a pet just to kill it off and tear out our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI am so tired of meeting these great dogs, just to have them die. And, I was a little nervous, because the author dedicated the book to her dog and talked about the seeing them on the rainbow bridge, BUT Buffy lives!
DeleteBoth sound great. I especially like the sound of the first one, with the 80's/ AIDS thing- it DID feel like a death sentence, I think, to many and the fear was palpable. Glad to see that was evoked well. And I do like jump- aheads too a lot of times, to get that sense of where are they now down the road. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing the way Nazemian brought me back to that time, but also incredible to see how much progress was made with the disease, even if politics almost kept it out of the hands of people, who needed the medications. My heart aches a little from the jump ahead, but it was also very beautiful.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed both of these! They're on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read them at some point, because I think they were worth reading.
DeleteI am so excited for Like a Love Story. I saw Abdi at Yallwest and he's so delightful, but I'm ready for him to break my heart.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I fell in love with his first book, and this one was probably close to 4.5 stars, but I am cutthroat about certain things, and GAAHHHH! I was sort of sad at something he did, even if it was realistic and something else he did, that sort of really surprised me. BUT, still a fantastic book.
DeleteI've had my eye on that first book because of the NYC setting and the subject matter. I'm glad to hear it was such a good read for you and will definitely be adding it to my TBR after reading your review.
ReplyDeleteI think Nazemian had a great balance between the romance, the friendship/family drama, and the historical events. All combined in a great way to produce a really moving portrait of the time, but also a story that many would be able to connect to.
DeleteYay for some nostalgia reading Like A Love Story, I was not even born in 1989 so definitely no nostaligia but who doesn't love a book set in the 80s? It sounds like a really good book and I love that it looks back at some of LGBTQA+ history.
ReplyDeleteRules We're Meant To Break sounds right up my street. I love so many of the Swoon books and this one sounds like it's another great addition to their catalogue. Definitely adding that to the TBR.
Sorry, I am laughing my old-lady butt off here. I love the 80s, and there were a million references to Madonna in Like a Love Story, which I really enjoyed too.
DeleteRules was the perfect little contemporary. Fairly low drama, adorable romance, quite a bit of growth, and the dog, I loved the dog.
Rules We're Meant to Break sounds like a super neat read about family. I also think the Like a Love Story is so appropriate right now. What a struggle and fear to live under. We could all learn from that. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThe 80s were really intense. Everyone was on edge, if they saw someone cut themselves and there was so much to learn about the disease. We knew more by 1989, but it was still tense, as there were veritable pissing contests over who could claim what, while people were dying.
DeleteI am glad you liked Like A Love Story! The cover is so gorgeous and it sounds like a great one to read for pride month. (Or any month, for that matter). And the characters sound like they have a great romance. Yay for family being featured! I also really like the sound of Rules We Are Meant to Break not being entirely a closed ending, but having enough closure to satisfy us regardless!
ReplyDeleteThe cover of LaLS really is stunning, and I love that it featured Judy in her yellow dress. I feel like we are seeing more and more family drama in YA, and it's been of a good quality too.
DeleteYou have me wanting to read, Like a Love Story. I was a kid in the 80's, but I remember the AIDS scare/epidermic and the way the media was constantly talking about it. This story sounds powerful and I love that you get some LGBTQ history as well. This is going on my TBR! Rules We're meant to Break sounds like a fun light romance, and I love that it features a fantastic dog, and the amending of family relationships. Great Reviews Sam!
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Love Story was really good. I almost feel like I was a bit unfair with my rating, but there was something that happened at the end, which frustrated me. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful love letter to NY, Madonna, and the gay community during the AIDS crisis.
DeleteThese both sounds like me and my daughter would enjoy them. My daughter loves everything LGBTQ in books so I will have to grab this one for her and set in the late 80s is a winner for me cause it brings me to my time era and will help her to understand more about my ear as well. Great reviews and really glad you liked them!
ReplyDeleteMary
Love Story has a lot to offer with respect to LGBTQIA+ history, and the author did a wonderful time bringing back to that point in history.
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