April 2015
It seems there are ever-increasing numbers of fantastic books published each month and April 2015 looks set to be a month to remember for new and exciting books. With so many on offer I have split my April 2015 list into categories. Here are the young adult books that have particularly caught my interest.
Young Adult
The Truth About Us – Janet Gurtler – Sourcebooks Fire – Published 7 April 2015
Jess is sent by her father to volunteer at a soup kitchen. Instead of being a punishment for her crimes, Jess finds New Beginnings to be inspiring and eye opening.
It’s hard to find the right word to describe this book. Touching. Beautiful. Moving. Surprising. None of those adequately cover how great this book is. I had a huge grin on my face for most of this book. Any yet it grabs you with its honesty.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Social Issues. Friendship and relationships.
The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things – Ann Aguirre – Feiwel and Friends – Published 7 April 2015
“Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.”
This one sounds an exciting contemporary.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance.
Kissing Ted Callahan (And Other Guys) – Amy Spalding – Poppy – Published 7 April 2015
“After catching their bandmates in a compromising position, sixteen-year-old Los Angelenos Riley and Reid become painfully aware of the romance missing from their own lives. And so a pact is formed: they’ll both try to make something happen with their respective crushes and document the experiences in a shared notebook.”
I have the ARC for this one but it is still sitting in my To-be-read pile. I’ll get to it!
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Dating.
Boys Like You – Juliana Stone – Sourcebooks Fire – Published 7 April 2015
“IF
If I hadn’t fallen asleep.
If I hadn’t gotten behind the wheel.
If I hadn’t made a mistake.”
The tragic past of two teens bring Monroe Blackwell and Nathan Everets together.
I loved Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone so this book went straight on the to-be-read list.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Music. Death and grief.
The Truth About Jack – Jody Gehrman – Entangled: Crush – Published 14 April 2015.
“There’s beauty out there and we’re going to find it”.
Dakota McCloud has just been accepted into a prestigious art school, but her world is shaken when her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend. Jack Sauvage finds the message in a bottle Dakota throws into the sea and is determined to connect with this intriguing girl.
I loved this book. It was refreshing and uplifting. The writing style is artistic and beautiful.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Friendship and relationships.
Play On – Michelle Smith – Spencer Hill Contemporary – Published 14 April 2015.
Baseball. A small town. The town’s all-star pitcher, the new girl in town.
“As Austin starts to peel back the layers of Marisa’s pain, it forces him to look beyond the façade of himself and everyone he thought he knew in his town. What he sees instead is that in a small town like Lewis Creek, maybe baseball isn’t everything—maybe it is just the thing that ties them all together.”
Count me in! Looking forward to this one.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Sport.
99 Days – Katie Cotugno – Balzer+Bray – Published 21 April 2015
Molly is planning to hide out and simply survive the 99 days she has left before she escapes Star Lake once and for all. But the past will not stay buried and history may be on the repeat.
99 Days hooked me from the very first chapter. It promised an interesting story, with just enough hints initially to make it very intriguing.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Dating and relationships.
Things We Know – Jessi Kirby – HarperTeen – Published 21 April 2015
“When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.”
Yep. That’s all I needed to hear before I knew I had to read this one. Loved In Honor by Jessi Kirby, so I’m looking forward to reading Things We Know By Heart.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance.
City Love – Susane Colasanti – Katherine Tegen Books – Published 21 April 2015
“Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna are living together in New York City the summer before their freshman year of college begins. With no parents, no rules, and an entire city to explore, these three girls are on the verge of the best summer of their lives.
Told from alternating points of view, City Love captures the moments in each girl’s life when everything is thrilling, amazing, and terrifying all at once . . . in a way it will never be again.”
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary.
Watch Your Back – Tracy Bilen – Tulip Teen – Published 27 April 2015
“When sixteen-year-old Kate hears the boom that ends her parents’ life, she doesn’t even realize it has anything to do with her. Until the police arrive at her front door.
Sent to live with her aunt at a ski school in Vermont, Kate tries to adapt to her new life. But then Kate’s aunt is hit by a speeding car and a rogue FBI agent tries to force Kate into his car at gunpoint. She’s saved by Ryan, the risk-taking skier she’s only just met.”
This one sounds fantastic. Can’t wait.
Young Adult Fiction: Suspense.
Magonia – Maria Dahvana Headley – HarperCollins – Published 28 April 2015
Aza is dying. Slowly but surely. She cannot breathe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was soon drawn into the magic and wonderful mix that is Magonia. Aza’s snark grew on me, as did quirky and equally wonderful Jason. And the bird-human characters, ships that sail the sky and epic sky battles were just a bonus. The summary is right to liken this book to a mix between John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust.
Young Adult Fiction: Fantasy. Adventure. Romance.
Life Unaware – Cole Gibsen – Entangled: Teen – Published 28 April 2015
Regan Flay has life under control. Almost. Until every nasty text and email is printed out and posted all over the school.
Now the only person who will talk to her is her former best-friend’s brother, Nolan Letner.
“But the consequences of Regan’s fall from grace are only just beginning. Once the chain reaction starts, no one will remain untouched…”
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Social Issues.
Rook – Sharon Cameron – Scholastic Press – Published 28 April 2015
“In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.”
Young Adult Fiction: Science Fiction. Romance.
Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir – Razorbil – Published 28 April 2015
“Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.”
This is going to be epic!
Young Adult Fiction: Fantasy. Romance.
Lying Out Loud – Kody Keplinger – Scholastic – Published 28 April 2015
Return to the world of The DUFF. Three teens: a girl excellent at lying, her best friend and the new boy at school. When a prank results in a very mixed up situation, the girls will have to use their best lies to reveal the truth.
Young Adult Fiction: Contemporary. Romance. Friendships and relationships.
Other titles you might be interested in include
Rouge – Julie Kagawa – Talon #2 – Harlequin Teen – Published 28 April 2015
Replaced – Kimberly Derting – The Taking #2 – HarperTeen – Published 28 April 2015
The Trials – Stacey Kade – Project Paper Doll #3 – Disney-Hyperion – Published 21 April 2015
