Katy Upperman's Blog

So many amazing reads in January…

[image error]Stealing Home by Becky Wallace (July, 2019)

This YA romance encompasses everything I love about the genre — savvy heroine, dreamy love interest, snappy dialogue, butterfly-inducing chemistry — while feeling unexpected and fresh. I was rooting for Ryan and Sawyer (and the Buckley Beavers!) from the first pitch. If you’re into contemporary YA, or baseball, or characters you’ll wish you could befriend, check this delightful story out when it releases this summer. It’ll make a fantastic beach/pool/park read.

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I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

I’ve read a lot of true crime, and this is one of the best. It’s an armchair detective’s chronicle of her hunt for one of California’s most notorious serial rapists/murderers, and it is riveting. This book’s strongest attribute is that it never feels as though it’s taking advantage of the Golden State Killer’s victims, even while it reads like page-turning fiction. Its pace is quick, its “characters” are gripping, and it’s so full of atmosphere and tension, I had a hard time stepping away. I recommend it if you’re a true crime fan.

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A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Somehow I never read a Tahereh Mafi novel before this one? But now I’m all about burning through her catalogue, because A Very Large Expanse of Sea is beautiful. It’s about Shirin, a Muslim girl living in the US after 9/11. She faces horrifying micro-aggressions, as well as a lot of overt racism. In the midst of all this, though, she learns to breakdance, and she falls in love with the sweetest boy, Ocean. This book is important and topical and gorgeously written, but its romance was (of course) my favorite part. Shirin and Ocean are perfection.

My 2019 word is REVEL.

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In the waiting. In the necessary tasks. In the small successes and the tiny joys. I want to be present and patient. I want to appreciate. I want to celebrate.

Here’s what I read in November and December…

Happy Halloween! 

Below, find the books I read during the last two months. I’ve been having a hard time getting through young adult books lately (they’re usually my fave!), so this list is adult-read heavy. That said, Starry Eyes and Sadie were exceptional.

[image error]Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy

1. Unflinching. Where All Light Tends to Go is an intense, graphic story about a boy caught up in the meth ring his father runs in rural North Carolina. It centers on murder, scandal, and secrets, and while author David Joy doesn’t shy away from ugliness, he writes about this world in the most an elegant way. I found myself rereading many of his beautifully penned lines.

2. YA-ish. This is an adult novel (the subject matter and themes are mature) but main character Jacob is eighteen and his voice reads as authentically teen. The heavier content was a cool change of pace without falling too far outside my usual reading scope.

3. Extraordinary pacing. There’s not one moment in this debut novel that drags. Things are constantly changing for Jacob, worsening his situation and upping the tension. I couldn’t put this book down, and its conclusion, while surprising, did not disappoint.

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The Girls by Emma Cline

1. Haunting. I’m still thinking about this book more than a month after finishing because it was evocative, ruthlessly honest, and so unsettling. That’s good writing.

2. Coming of age. Much like Where All Light Tends to Go, the narrator of The Girls, Evie, is a teenager. She becomes mixed up in a cult reminiscent of the Manson Family, and ends up learning a whole lot about power, evil, and what it means to be a girl in the late 1960s. Evie’s arc and the characters who surround her are absolutely fascinating.

3. Gorgeous prose. I’m a big fan of Emma Cline’s writing style. Her words are vivid and her sentences are lovely, even when the subject matter is not; I ended up completely caught up in the world she spun.

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Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle

1. FUNNY. I’m not normally drawn to books described as “hilarious” because, honestly, that’s a very lofty claim. But Sparkly Green Earrings is full of wit and snark. Melanie Shankle writes with openness and humor about the not so glamorous parts of marriage and motherhood, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

2. Heartwarming. This book is so relatable. Here’s a fellow mama writing honestly about how distraught she was over a miscarriage, about how stressful potting training can be, and about getting puked on, repeatedly, by her sick toddler. Sometimes it’s really nice to be reminded that you’re not alone in the awful moments. That’s what this book did for me, and my heart was happy as a result.

3. Conversational. Melanie Shankle’s style is frank, fluid, and fun; it almost feels as if she’s sitting across the table, sharing anecdotes with a friend. Pick this one up if you’re looking for something light and bright.

[image error]Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

1. Survival story. I love survival stories, and I especially love survival stories that have a strong romantic thread. Starry Eyes is a survival story set in the California backcountry starring two former best friends turned sweethearts turned enemies. So. Good.

2. Awesome characters. Zorie and Lennon are both a little bit eccentric. She’s into astronomy, planning, and nerd-chic fashion. He’s goth and loves retiles. Also, his moms own a sex shop, so that’s fun. Zorie and Lennon, despite some major complications, are so great together. Their banter and chemistry are incredibly well written, and made this book nearly impossible to put down.

3. Sex positive. I’ve read all of Jenn Bennett’s YA novels this year, and don’t even think about asking me to pick a favorite. Her books rock, and one of my favorite things about them is their candid, affirming take on sex and sexuality. I’m such a fan, and highly recommend Starry Eyes, as well as Jenn’s other books.

[image error]Sadie by Courtney Summers

1. Brutal. Like the Courtney Summers novels before it, Sadie battered my heart. It’s visceral, suspenseful, gritty, and rich. It’s affecting and incredibly entertaining — a study in outstanding storytelling.

2. Unique format. Sadie is told partly through Sadie’s first-person perspective as she hunts down her sister’s murderer, and partly through the transcripts of a podcast called The Girls, which centers on finding Sadie. What a brilliant way to relay this riveting story.

3. Unforgettable characters. Sadie, Mattie, Claire, and West have burrowed into my soul. I finished this novel weeks ago, but I’m still worrying for its characters, as if they’re real people. Courtney Summers writes about the challenges of being a girl in this cruel, callous world like no other author I’ve read. Sadie is a must-read.

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Story Genius by Lisa Cron

I’m not going to review this book with my usual 1, 2, 3 format because I can sum it up in one sentence: Writers, you need to read Story Genius. This craft book lays out exactly how to create a character-driven “blueprint” that will help you execute a truly satisfying story — one that will hook readers from the start. Story Genius has changed the way I think about crafting narratives, and I plan to use Lisa Cron’s strategies going forward. So glad I picked this one up!

Tell me — what’s the best book you’ve read this autumn?

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus materials from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

During this hunt, you not only get to see exclusive content from participating authors, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive a book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

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There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I’m part of the ORANGE TEAM — but there is also a red team, blue team, gold team, green team, purple team, and pink team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books.

(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, visit the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in orange.) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the orange team AND added up the favorite numbers, make sure you fill out the entry form HERE to officially qualify for the prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will be accepted.

Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under 18 should have a parent’s or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR

I’m excited to welcome Dana Mele, author of People Like Us, to my blog! Dana is a Pushcart-nominated writer and a work at home mother. A graduate of Wellesley College, she is a former actor, lawyer, musician, and briefly, associate producer. She prefers tea to coffee, snow to sand, and stars to sunshine, and she lives in the Catskills with her husband and toddler.

You can find Dana at her , on , and on Instagram.

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I’m kind of obsessed with the cover of her debut People Like Us…

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So fantastic, right?! And here’s the story’s synopsis…

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple. The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

Fact: I love books set at boarding schools. I’ve wanted to attend one since I was, like, nine. And I’m getting glorious Gossip Girl vibes from those uniforms. Also, a scavenger hunt, tons of secrets,  girls desperate to protect their reputations, AND a murder mystery? Yes, please!

As a special bonus, Dana’s sharing the Spotify playlist she made for People Like Us. Guys, I’ve been listening nonstop — it’s so good! If you have a Spotify account, you can listen for free. If you don’t, signing up takes three seconds –> make it happen here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books from me, Dana, and many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number, hidden in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the ORANGE TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter to win our prize!

To keep going on your quest for the secret code,  check out the next author on the Orange Team, Jennifer Digiovanni.

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus materials from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

During this hunt, you not only get to see exclusive content from participating authors, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive a book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

[image error]

There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I’m part of the ORANGE TEAM — but there is also a red team, blue team, gold team, green team, purple team, and pink team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books.

(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, visit the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in orange.) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the orange team AND added up the favorite numbers, make sure you fill out the entry form HERE to officially qualify for the prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will be accepted.

Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under 18 should have a parent’s or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR

I’m excited to welcome Dana Mele, author of People Like Us, to my blog! Dana is a Pushcart-nominated writer and a work at home mother. A graduate of Wellesley College, she is a former actor, lawyer, musician, and briefly, associate producer. She prefers tea to coffee, snow to sand, and stars to sunshine, and she lives in the Catskills with her husband and toddler.

You can find Dana at her , on , and on Instagram.

[image error]

I’m kind of obsessed with the cover of her debut People Like Us…

[image error]

So fantastic, right?! And here’s the story’s synopsis…

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple. The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

Fact: I love books set at boarding schools. I’ve wanted to attend one since I was, like, nine. And I’m getting glorious Gossip Girl vibes from those uniforms. Also, a scavenger hunt, tons of secrets,  girls desperate to protect their reputations, AND a murder mystery? Yes, please!

As a special bonus, Dana’s sharing the Spotify playlist she made for People Like Us. Guys, I’ve been listening nonstop — it’s so good! If you have a Spotify account, you can listen for free. If you don’t, signing up takes three seconds –> make it happen here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books from me, Dana, and many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number, hidden in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the ORANGE TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter to win our prize!

To keep going on your quest for the secret code,  check out the next author on the Orange Team, Jennifer Digiovanni.

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus materials from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

During this hunt, you not only get to see exclusive content from participating authors, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive a book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

[image error]

There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I’m part of the ORANGE TEAM — but there is also a red team, blue team, gold team, green team, purple team, and pink team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books.

(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, visit the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in orange.) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the orange team AND added up the favorite numbers, make sure you fill out the entry form HERE to officially qualify for the prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will be accepted.

Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under 18 should have a parent’s or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR

I’m excited to welcome Dana Mele, author of People Like Us, to my blog! Dana is a Pushcart-nominated writer and a work at home mother. A graduate of Wellesley College, she is a former actor, lawyer, musician, and briefly, associate producer. She prefers tea to coffee, snow to sand, and stars to sunshine, and she lives in the Catskills with her husband and toddler.

You can find Dana at her , on , and on Instagram.

[image error]

I’m kind of obsessed with the cover of her debut People Like Us…

[image error]

So fantastic, right?! And here’s the story’s synopsis…

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple. The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

Fact: I love books set at boarding schools. I’ve wanted to attend one since I was, like, nine. And I’m getting glorious Gossip Girl vibes from those uniforms. Also, a scavenger hunt, tons of secrets,  girls desperate to protect their reputations, AND a murder mystery? Yes, please!

As a special bonus, Dana’s sharing the Spotify playlist she made for People Like Us. Guys, I’ve been listening nonstop — it’s so good! If you have a Spotify account, you can listen for free. If you don’t, signing up takes three seconds –> make it happen here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books from me, Dana, and many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number, hidden in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the ORANGE TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter to win our prize!

To keep going on your quest for the secret code,  check out the next author on the Orange Team, Jennifer Digiovanni.

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus materials from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

During this hunt, you not only get to see exclusive content from participating authors, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive a book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

[image error]

There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I’m part of the ORANGE TEAM — but there is also a red team, blue team, gold team, green team, purple team, and pink team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books.

(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, visit the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in orange.) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Orange Team, then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the orange team AND added up the favorite numbers, make sure you fill out the entry form HERE to officially qualify for the prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will be accepted.

Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under 18 should have a parent’s or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

~~~~~~~~~~

SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR

I’m excited to welcome Dana Mele, author of People Like Us, to my blog! Dana is a Pushcart-nominated writer and a work at home mother. A graduate of Wellesley College, she is a former actor, lawyer, musician, and briefly, associate producer. She prefers tea to coffee, snow to sand, and stars to sunshine, and she lives in the Catskills with her husband and toddler.

You can find Dana at her , on , and on Instagram.

[image error]

I’m kind of obsessed with the cover of her debut People Like Us…

[image error]

So fantastic, right?! And here’s the story’s synopsis…

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple. The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

Fact: I love books set at boarding schools. I’ve wanted to attend one since I was, like, nine. And I’m getting glorious Gossip Girl vibes from those uniforms. Also, a scavenger hunt, tons of secrets,  girls desperate to protect their reputations, AND a murder mystery? Yes, please!

As a special bonus, Dana’s sharing the Spotify playlist she made for People Like Us. Guys, I’ve been listening nonstop — it’s so good! If you have a Spotify account, you can listen for free. If you don’t, signing up takes three seconds –> make it happen here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books from me, Dana, and many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number, hidden in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the ORANGE TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter to win our prize!

To keep going on your quest for the secret code,  check out the next author on the Orange Team, Jennifer Digiovanni.

Guys! How the Light Gets In has a cover, and it is GORGEOUS!

⇣ sneak peek ⇣

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Want to see the whole glorious image?

Hop over to Swoon Reads for the full cover, and read about all the reasons I love it. Plus, I’m talking a little about the inception and evolution of How the Light Gets In, as well sharing its official synopsis.

(I don’t want to play cover favorites because I happen to think all three of mine are truly beautiful, but there’s something really special about this cover. I hope you agree!)

How the Light Gets In‘s Swoon Reads Cover Reveal

Mark How the Light Gets In To-Read on Goodreads

I wanted to read more this summer, but time got away from me.

Still, six novels in two months… Not terrible, right? 

[image error]Coming Up For Air by Miranda Kenneally

1. Swim life. I was on my high school’s swim team so I’m easily annoyed by inaccuracies in what it’s like to be a competitive swimmer. Miranda Kenneally gets it right; it’s clear she did tons of research to portray the challenges and rewards of the sport.

2. Sex positive. I mean, this is a Miranda Kenneally book, so obviously. I’m always impressed by how her characters are frank about what they want and how they feel. And, the fact that these conversations and experiences are often awkward and fumbling make them even more authentic.

3. Best friends become sweethearts… maybe. Maggie and Levi are lifelong besties with swimming their common bond. They end up in something of a contractual relationship because Maggie doesn’t want to go away to college inexperienced in the way of intimacy. Emotions become heightened, of course, and all sorts of complications arise. I loved this book A LOT; I might go so far as to say it’s my favorite of Miranda’s Hundred Oaks series!

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To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin (August 21, 2018)

1. Family first. While I love romances most, stories about families and their complex dynamics are a close runner-up. Maggie Ann Martin paints such a realistic picture of Savannah’s prickly relationship with her mom (who’s recently lost a lot of weight and has become fixated on dieting and exercise), and her suddenly growing-pained relationship with her older sister, Ashley.

2. Body positive (this cover, though!). Savannah is fat and cool with it, and wow — how refreshing. As someone who’s struggled with body image over the years, I found myself constantly wanting to break into applause for Savannah because even while she struggles with insecurities in realistic and relatable ways, she truly loves herself.

3. Voice. To Be Honest tackles some serious topics (diet culture, fat-phobia, divorce, anxiety) but thanks to Maggie’s effervescent narrative voice, the story never feels bogged down or like it’s forcing A Message on readers. It’s sometimes funny, often moving, and always heartfelt.

[image error]Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

1. Survival story. Perhaps not in the traditional sense — main character Charlie isn’t, like, stranded in the woods, but she’s certainly lost, and she’s definitely alone. She spends the better part of the story learning how to sustain herself in a new city, while battling a lot of personal demons.

2. Intense subject matter. I’m not sure this book is for everyone, but I loved it. It’s raw and gritty and troubling, tackling issues like self harm, substance abuse, and assault in a way that holds nothing back. It’s an unflinching story about a courageous girl.

3. Gorgeous prose. Kathleen Glasgow write about ugly experiences in a beautiful way. I found myself rereading so many of her phrases, in awe of the way she made me feel so much with a few carefully chosen words.

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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

1. Book love. This is a story about books and book lovers and the impact books can have on our lives. So, firmly in my wheelhouse.

2. Charming and complex characters. Even the most flawed people in A.J. Fikery (including A.J. himself) have moments of humanity that make them feel known. I felt this most notable with Daniel, who’s a self-indulgent, womanizing jerk and yet… I didn’t hate him.

3. Lovely setting. Alice Island comes to life within the pages of this novel, particularly its indie bookstore, Island Books. It sounds like the loveliest vacation destination.

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Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It by Kerry Winfrey

1. Authentically teen. This book, more than any other I’ve read lately, felt like high school. Maybe that’s because I related deeply to MC Jolie and her desire to avoid taking up space. Or, maybe author Kerry Winfrey’s just exceptionally talented when it comes to capturing the voice and spirit of teenagers. Either way, I can’t wait to read more of her work.

2. Cuuuuute romance. Without giving too much away, the turn this book took romance-wise was delightful. It turned out to be a really sweet take on one of my favorite tropes {highlight for spoiler: best friends become sweethearts}, and totally gave me all the first-love butterflies. In addition to the romance, Jolie’s relationship with her two best friends, Evelyn and Derek, are perfectly imperfect.

3. Sisters forever. Much like To Be Honest, Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It has a complex and interesting sister relationship. I loved how it developed over the course of the book, particularly as Abbi’s pregnancy progressed. Jolie’s entire family, in fact, is pretty fantastic.

[image error]Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley

1. Wish fulfillment — for me, anyway.