#AmReading YA

With You All the Way
Cynthia Hand
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Ada’s life is a mess. She just caught her boyfriend cheating on her after a humiliating attempt at losing her virginity, and she’s had it up to here with her gorgeous older sister’s unsolicited advice.

But things really hit the fan during a family vacation in Hawaii, where Ada discovers her own mother is having an affair. Apparently, everyone is falling into bed with people they shouldn’t. Everyone except Ada. But when Ada decides she’s going to stop trying and start doing—sex, that is—her best laid plan overlooks an inconvenient truth:

Feelings, romantic or not, always get in the way.

Originally, Ada wished she could skip the family vacation to spend more time with her boyfriend, but after she discovered she wasn't the only girl in his life, she couldn't wait to flee to Hawaii. However, things seemed off. Her step-father didn't accompany them on the trip, her sister was acting moody and secretive, and then she caught a glimpse of her mother with another man. Ada's ideas surrounding love, sex, relationships, and her family came crashing down, but would she be able to come to terms with it all before making any rash decisions.  

I kept hearing so much about this book being "the new" Forever..., so I expected it to focus largely on Ada and her sexual experiences. And, well, there was a bit of that, but for me, this was more about all the ideas people have about love, relationships, and family. 

This story began with Ada utterly heartbroken. She thought she had something special with her boyfriend, just to discover that she was totally wrong about it all. Then to discover what she did about her mother really left her with a lack of confidence in herself in the relationship realm. She questioned everything she knew about relationships, reflecting on past and present experiences, as she tried to come to an understanding of it all. This was the heart of this tale for me, and Hand dealt with it all so well. The story was really thoughtful and thought provoking, while evoking a myriad of emotions from me. 

I loved so much about this book, but here are a few things that stood out for me. 

SISTERHOOD

The bond between these three sisters was a beautiful thing. I adored the interactions between Ada and her younger sister, Abby, who was "oh my dogs" adorable. Though tense at times, Ada and her older sister, Afton, shared something really special too. Being closer in age, Afton was a confidant, who wanted to do right by her sister. She shared a lot of her own painful past to help Ada make her own choices, and they shared many really meaningful moments in this book. 

HONEST AND REAL TALK ABOUT SEX

I honestly loved Nick. He was part of Ada's "losing it" subplot, and he really endeared himself to me. It was with him where I might have seen those shades of Forever... people referred to, but it was a way more modern take, where consent was explicitly discussed, as well as the physical and emotional side of sex. I found their open discussions refreshing, and their fumbling truly authentic. I also liked all the different ways sex was explored in this story. How it may or may not be tangled up in love, as well as how it could be something beautiful to share with someone you love or simply a physical act. 

HAWAII

During the pandemic, I have grown to appreciate authors who really pull me into the setting of their stories, as all I see these days is my home and the market. Hand took me to Hawaii. She shared history, some of the culture, and many breathtaking views with me. Maybe someday I will see it for real. 

BLENDED FAMILIES

My family is just my daughter and I, so I always like seeing the "non-traditional" type families in stories. Afton and Ada were her mother's children from her previous marriage, while Abby was the child she had with her new husband, better known as Pop. There was no half or step anything in this family. He was Pop, they were his daughters, and all the girls were sisters. Their family blended in the most beautiful way and was brimming with love. 

This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I loved it nonetheless. Hand always does such a wonderful job with complicated family dynamics, and she skillfully explored love, trust, sex, and relationships of all kinds throughout this story. There were painful moments, hilarious moments, OMG moments, and touching moments which added up for one rather great reading experience for me.  

The Secret Recipe for Moving On
Karen Bischer
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Home economics is supposed to be an easy A for Ellie Agresti, but, much like an imperfect souffle, her plans collapse epically when she's dumped by her boyfriend, Hunter. Now Ellie has to mend her broken heart while watching Hunter fawn all over his new girlfriend, Brynn, in class. To make matters worse, Ellie is partnered with four of the biggest misfit guys in school: Jeremy, the loudmouth with temper issues; Isaiah, the solemn, silent horse racing obsessive; Andrew, who can't take rejection; and Luke, the giant, tattooed stunt biker.

Over the course of a semester, Ellie works to overcome her feelings for Hunter, as well as deeper insecurities that have plagued her since middle school. As the weeks go by, she's surprised to find friendships in unexpected places... and sparks flying with the last guy she'd expect.

After Ellie's parents ran into some financial issues, her family was forced to move, and she had to start over at a new school. Before she even settled in, she met her boyfriend and was immediately absorbed into his life. His friends were her friends. His interests were her interest. When he breaks up with Ellie out of nowhere, she is forced to start over from scratch. She thought the breakup was one of the worst things to happen to her, but it just might have been one of the best. 

If I was forced to be brief while describing this book, I could sum it up as super cute. There were just so many things in this story that brought a smile to my face. 

First and foremost, I was the #1 fan of Ellie's life skills "family". Ellie thought being in a group with these boys would be utter torture. She had some preconceptions about a few of them, but the more they worked together, the more they learned about each other, and they bonded. The combination of diverse personalities was a winning one, and they all won a place in my heart.  I especially adored seeing them move from being "family" to being family.

Joining this group was one of Ellie's first steps outside her comfort zone, and it didn't stop there. Ellie continued to stretch her wings throughout this story. She attended events her ex Hunter never liked, and you know what? She had a good time. She joined clubs Hunter didn't approve of, and there she discovered talents she never knew she had. The more independent decisions she made, the more she discovered about herself. Her confidence grew, her circle of friends grew, and Ellie grew. 

When I said this book was super cute, I was also talking about the romance. I will admit, my first meeting with Luke was less than stellar, but gosh darn it! He was a gem. The boy had layers, and underneath those layers were lots of surprises. However, it was more than just him for me. It was the combination of him and Ellie that was all sorts of adorable. You could feel the excitement and electricity flowing between them. I just loved it! 

I was definitely here for the romance, but the focus on friendship and Ellie finding her own path made it an even better experience for me. I think a lot of people will relate to Ellie's heartbreak and cheer for her as she attempts to find the secret recipe for moving on. 

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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