#AmReading YA

Where the Rhythm Takes You
Sarah Dass
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Reyna has spent most of her life at her family’s gorgeous seaside resort in Tobago, the Plumeria. But what once seemed like paradise is starting to feel more like purgatory. It’s been two years since Reyna’s mother passed away, two years since Aiden – her childhood best friend, first kiss, first love, first everything – left the island to pursue his music dreams. Reyna’s friends are all planning their futures and heading abroad. Even Daddy seems to want to move on, leaving her to try to keep the Plumeria running.

And that's when Aiden comes roaring back into her life – as a VIP guest at the resort.

Aiden is now one-third of DJ Bacchanal – the latest, hottest music group on the scene. While Reyna has stayed exactly where he left her, Aiden has returned to Tobago with his Grammy-nominated band and two gorgeous LA socialites. And he may (or may not be) dating one of them…

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, Where the Rhythm Takes You is a romantic, mesmerizing novel of first love and second chances.

Her whole life, Reyna was being groomed to take over the family resort. The Plumeria Hotel was a constant in her life, and she loved the place with all her heart. But following her mother's death, she began to feel as though it was her only choice for the future, as she believed it was her responsibility to keep the hotel going. Then a person from her past returned and seeing how much his life had changed had Reyna questioning if the Plumeria was really her only option. 

For my Austen fans out there, this is supposed to be a nod to Persuasion. As I have said before, I have not read any of Austen's books, but you know what? I still enjoyed this story, and here are some reasons why. 

BEAUTIFUL ISLAND SETTING

This was my first "trip" to Tobago, and Dass fully immersed me in all the wonders of this island. Reyna's father arranged for her to be a tour guide for her ex Aiden and his friends, and therefore, there were many excursions that allowed me to see so much of Tobago. Music and food were intertwined with each place visited, and I felt like I got the full experience at every location. Dass' descriptions were so vivid,  that I often found my tummy rumbling and my hips swaying. 

FIRST LOVE

The flashbacks showcasing Aiden and Reyna's past melted my heart. These two went back quite a ways, and it was such a treat seeing their love story unfold. Watching their affection grow and develop, while they went from enemies, to friends, and then lovers was wonderful. I could feel those flutters of first love, and my heart ached when it all fell apart. The reason was one that always drives me batty, but it made sense in this story. 

SECOND CHANCES

I have written entire blog posts about how much I love second chances. Kids, this was not an easy reunion as the ending to Aiden and Reyna's relationship was not a friendly one. But I was hopeful, and I was cheering them on. Every time one of them gave an inch to the other, I got excited, because it added to my hope that they could salvage what they once shared. But this wasn't just about a second shot at romance. This was also a second chance for Reyna to live her own life and pursue her own aspirations. It was an opportunity to tap back into the passion she once had and make her dreams a reality. 

Overall: I enjoyed watching Reyna and Aiden mend their broken bridges and find their way back to each other. I loved being on the island, and I adored the theme of second chances and new beginnings woven into this delightful story.

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses
Kristen O'Neal
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: Quirk Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Teen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship and the hairy side of chronic illness.

Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease during her sophomore year sends her back to her loving but overbearing family in New Jersey—and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were. Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones,” a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses.

When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement.

With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: the creature might be a werewolf—and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid's unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.

Priya was at the top of her game. She escaped NJ and earned a pre-med spot at Stanford. She was making her dream of becoming a doctor a reality until she fell ill. Now, she was back in Jersey trying to adjust to her new normal and the endless aches and pains associated with chronic Lyme disease. The silver lining was the online friendship she developed with Brigid. When their friendship went from online to IRL, Priya made a rather startling discovery about Brigid's chronic illness. 

I have read other books about people with chronic illnesses, but Lycanthropy never made the list. It was a fun twist, and I was surprised by how well it worked in the story. 

Quick thoughts about this book:

• This book was funny. O'Neal does quirky and witty banter well. I laughed a LOT as I read this book, and I always award bonus points when a book makes me laugh. 
• The online support groups was a brilliant way to explore chronic illnesses. Though the members of this support group delivered many comedic takes on their lives, they also shared some important information about being a person with a chronic illness or a disability, and the many difficulties they encountered in their daily life. I appreciated the perspective these chats offered and adored when they turned into love-fests. 
• Priya was dealing with her body betraying her while also coping with losing her dream. She was a bit adrift. I felt her journey was realistic. I will say it was wonderful to see her find a spark again, and I count her lucky to have had so many people on her side. Though she was sometimes frustrated with them, her family was there for her. I especially loved her dad. He made me cry towards the end there. 
• This was a buddy book. The friendship between Priya and Brigid was a central focus in the story, and it was a wonderful friendship. It was about supporting one another and accepting each other no matter what. 

This was a buddy story with quite a twist. I appreciated Priya's journey as she went from being at the top of her game to days filled with pain and uncertainty about her future. Lots of fun, friendship, and feels to enjoy.

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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