In a Nutshell Reviews

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

Heretics Anonymous
Katie Henry
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Put an atheist in a strict Catholic school? Expect comedy, chaos, and an Inquisition. The Breakfast Club meets Saved! in debut author Katie Henry’s hilarious novel about a band of misfits who set out to challenge their school, one nun at a time. Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Robyn Schneider.

When Michael walks through the doors of Catholic school, things can’t get much worse. His dad has just made the family move again, and Michael needs a friend. When a girl challenges their teacher in class, Michael thinks he might have found one, and a fellow atheist at that. Only this girl, Lucy, isn’t just Catholic . . . she wants to be a priest.

Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism.

Michael encourages the Heretics to go from secret society to rebels intent on exposing the school’s hypocrisies one stunt at a time. But when Michael takes one mission too far—putting the other Heretics at risk—he must decide whether to fight for his own freedom or rely on faith, whatever that means, in God, his friends, or himself.

Michael was not happy that his father up and moved his family yet again, and to make matters worse, he was making him attend a Catholic school. Michael had already written the place off before he even walked through the door, but then he met Lucy, and she introduced him to Heretics Anonymous, and well, things were looking up.

We believe in one fundamental truth:
That all people, regardless of what they worship, who they love, and what they think
Have a right to exist, and a right to be heard.

• Pro: From the excerpt from the Heretics Anonymous manifesto, you can see that there was a theme that EVERYBODY matters, and that's something I can get 100% behind. 
• Pro: The first half of the book was jam packed with humor. I was able to relate to a lot of things in the book too, because I am Catholic and went to a Catholic school. 
• Pro: I always get a little nervous when religion is part of a book, since many in the entertainment industry hold very negative views of organized religion. Henry did point out the flaws, but she also offered alternate points of view, and showed how there are some positive things to religion as well. 
• Pro: Diversity was present in many forms in this book. There were characters from different races, with different sexual orientations, and with different religious beliefs represented. 
• Pro: The exploration of faith and religion was quite interesting. The idea that you can be part of a religion, while not subscribing to every tenet was touched upon. Lucy was very devout, but she didn't hide the fact that she thought the church needed to evolve and change. It was still a place she loved and found comfort, but she also wanted to see it change as society changed. 
• Pro: I really, really enjoyed the last part of the book. It was the part, where Michael underwent his big growth phase. I was really proud of the conclusions he came to regarding his family, friends, and the idea of faith. 

Overall: What do you get when you send an atheist to Catholic School? You get a pretty amusing, heartwarming, and compelling coming of age story.

Almost Impossible
Nicole Williams
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Rating:  4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Fans of Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, and Jenny Han will delight as the fireworks spark and the secrets fly in this delicious summer romance from a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

When Jade decided to spend the summer with her aunt in California, she thought she knew what she was getting into. But nothing could have prepared her for Quentin. Jade hasn't been in suburbia long and even she knows her annoying (and annoyingly cute) next-door neighbor spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

And when Quentin learns Jade plans to spend her first American summer hiding out reading books, he refuses to be ignored. Sneaking out, staying up, and even a midnight swim, Quentin is determined to give Jade days--and nights--worth remembering.

But despite their storybook-perfect romance, every time Jade moves closer, Quentin pulls away. And when rumors of a jilted ex-girlfriend come to light, Jade knows Quentin is hiding a secret--and she's determined to find out what it is.

Jade had spent her whole life on the road with her mom as she toured the world with her band. This summer, the last summer before she was due to put down roots at the college of her choice, she wanted to experience an authentic American teenage summer and stay in one place. She had a few secret plans up her sleeve, but she never planned on Quentin capturing her heart.

• Pro: As a single mom, I love seeing single parent families depicted in books, and I really like when they DON'T show the family struggling. I am confident, that there are many successful single parents out there.  
• Pro: Jade was a vegan hippie bookworm, yet, I really liked her. Her big heart was one of her greatest attributes, and she used it to commit acts of kindness throughout this book. 
• Pro: I actually really liked the parallels that ran between certain characters in this book. The connection worked well for me. 
• Pro: Quentin and Jade were a great pair. They had chemistry, the banter was witty and snappy, and I loved the way they played off each other. 
• Pro: Jade and her mom shared a very special bond. They grew up together, but not only did her mom grow up, she grew into being a pretty amazing mom.
• Pro: I really liked the ending. Believe it or not, it was somewhat unexpected, though utterly delightful. My only issue was that I really wanted more of Jade and Quentin's story. I just enjoyed it so much. Maybe an epilogue would have left me fully sated? 

Overall: A great summer romance, which was sweet, touching, and left me smiling.

The Other Side of Lost
Jessi Kirby
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Girl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media.

Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet. But when she breaks down and posts a video confessing she’s been living a lie—that she isn’t the happy, in-love, inspirational online personality she’s been trying so hard to portray—it goes viral and she receives major backlash. To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision: to hike the entire John Muir trail. Mari and her late cousin, Bri, were supposed to do it together, to celebrate their shared eighteenth birthday. But that was before Mari got so wrapped up in her online world that she shut anyone out who questioned its worth—like Bri.

With Bri’s boots and trail diary, a heart full of regret, and a group of strangers that she meets along the way, Mari tries to navigate the difficult terrain of the hike. But the true challenge lies within, as she searches for the way back to the girl she fears may be too lost to find: herself.

Mari had spent so many years curating her life, that she forgot to actually live it. Following her cousin's death, she felt adrift, lost, and she hoped following in Bri's footsteps would lead her back to herself.

• Pro: My emotions! My emotions! There were so many tears during this book. I cried for Bri and the things she would never do. I cried for Mari and the years she wasted, but there were also plenty of happy tears shed. Every one of Mari's successes filled me with joy, and I loved seeing her point of view change. 
• Pro: This is my third book featuring some serious, hardcore hiking, and I was once again captivated by the trials, tribulations, and accomplishments of those who do this sort of thing. I know you are going to think, "How can Mari just walk onto that trail?" BUT, Kirby did not make it sound easy, by any means, and she gave her plenty of assistance. Regardless, I was still really inspired by the whole trip. 
• Pro: The Sierras sound absolutely breathtaking. Kirby took us on a physical and visual tour of the John Muir trail, and it was such a special treat getting to "see" it. 
• Pro: Mari was so lucky to meet Josh and all his friends. Not only did they help her novice self navigate the trail, but they gave her something she had needed more than she realized - genuine human interaction. The friendship they shared was really special. 
• Pro: One of the items Mari found in Bri's pack was her journal. I loved getting to peek at the daily entries, because they were positive, inspiring, and also adorably illustrated. I thought it was a fantastic way for Bri to encourage Mari, and a brilliant way for us to get to know Bri as well. 
• Pro: The ending was really beautiful and appropriate. I was left with some tears, but I was smiling through those tears. 

Overall: A beautiful and touching story of one woman's physical, mental, and emotional journey of self discovery. I was all in from the very beginning and loved every second of it. 

** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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