#AmReading YA

Fade Into the Bright
Jessica Koosed Etting, Alyssa Schwartz
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Five Feet Apart meets Tell Me Three Things in this YA contemporary novel about two sisters, one summer, and a diagnosis that changes everything.

Abby needs to escape a life that she no longer recognizes as her own. Her old life--the one where she was a high school volleyball star with a textbook-perfect future--has been ripped away. Abby and her sister, Brooke, have received a letter from their estranged dad informing them he has Huntington's disease, a fatal, degenerative disorder that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. And when the sisters agree to genetic testing, one of them tests positive.

Fleeing to Catalina Island for the summer, Abby is relieved to be in a place where no one knows her tragic history. But when she meets aspiring documentary filmmaker Ben--tall, outdoorsy, easygoing, with eyes that don't miss a thing--she's thrown off her game. Ben's the kind of guy who loves to figure out people's stories. What if he learns hers?

A small white envelope held her fate. Abby wasn't sure she wanted to know, but now she did. She was gene-positive for Huntington's disease. Reeling from the diagnosis, she flees to her estranged aunt's home on Catalina. She hopes the distance will give her the room to process and determine what's next for her, as what was important before the envelope doesn't seem so important any more.

Huntington's disease was described as a combination of ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. It's a devastating disease with no cure at this time. Could you imagine being 18 years old and finding out this was your fate? That was what Abby had to deal with in Fade Into the Bright.

It was no surprise the diagnosis threw her off balance. How could it not? It was heartbreaking to be in her head as she tried to come to terms with what this would mean for her future. She was second guessing her short range plans and questioning if she should even bother with any for the long term.

This book could have been all doom and gloom, but the authors chose to be realistic, while also having Abby look for the bright spots in the darkness. They showed people with the disease being in loving relationships, they highlighted research being done to manage symptoms, and also presented characters who chose not know their results. They helped me look for those pockets of hope, as I watched Abby struggle with the things she did and did not have control over.

This was a book with sad parts, but oddly, not sad overall. The sweet romance, strong friendships, and touching familial moments balanced out the darker parts. This story made my heart both ache and burst with joy, and also left me really thinking about life in general.

Overall: An emotional rollercoaster, which left me uplifted and hopeful.

The Key to You and Me
Jaye Robin Brown
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A sweet and funny #ownvoices LGBTQ+ romance perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Julie Murphy, from the critically acclaimed author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit!

Piper Kitts is spending the summer living with her grandmother, training at the barn of a former Olympic horseback rider, and trying to get over her ex-girlfriend. Much to Piper’s dismay, her grandmother is making her face her fear of driving head-on by taking lessons from a girl in town.

Kat Pearson has always suspected that she likes girls but fears her North Carolina town is too small to color outside the lines. But when Piper’s grandmother hires Kat to give her driving lessons, everything changes.

Piper’s not sure if she’s ready to let go of her ex. Kat’s navigating uncharted territory with her new crush. With the summer running out, will they be able to unlock a future together?

Piper was seeking refuge for the summer with her grandmother. Not only would she be far from her ex-girlfriend, she would also have an opportunity to train with an Olympic equestrian. She was laser-focused on her goals until her grandmother arranged driving lessons with a cute local girl. Though Piper and Kat were different in so many ways, a friendship began to grow. Though would it ever grow into more?

This was a big summer for both Kat and Piper, and I enjoyed spending it with them. 

When I first met Kat, I was impressed with her dedication and love for her family. She shared a close bond with her sister and was trying to protect her, while also helping Emma achieve her dreams. I loved that about her. Kat took on the task of teaching Piper to drive so that her sister could attend a better dance studio. Her initial meeting with Piper wasn't love-at-first-sight, but Piper's openness about her sexual orientation made an impression on Kat, who was already questioning her own identity. Confronting her sexuality was a bit scary for Kat, because she worried how the news would be received by those in her world. I was happy she had Piper to talk to and for support as she explored and discovered things about herself. 

Piper's dedication to her craft was admirable. I really enjoyed being around the horses with her, and I wanted her parents to get on board with her dream. But her Olympic aspirations were also a source of pain, as they were one of the reasons for her breakup. Piper was struggling with moving on from her ex, and I sometimes found this frustrating. However, I was happy with Piper's progress towards accepting the past and trying to move forward, and WOW! I was really excited about where her life was heading at the end of the book. 

I often complain about slow-burn romances, because I just can't wait for my couples to get together. When I know two people belong to each other, I want that connection to happen ASAP. I had to be more patient here, and I was ok with it. I think because both women had things to work through and that their journeys kept my interest, I had no problem waiting for IT to happen. I also reveled in the wonderful friendship that was growing between them and enjoyed seeing them build that solid foundation together. 

Overall: I enjoyed spending the summer with Kat and Piper. Piper was looking towards her future in dressage and coming to terms with her past romance, while Kat was exploring her sexual identity. Together, they forged a wonderful friendship, which helped bring them both clarity and more.

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Did you ever have an Olympic dream?
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