New Book Releases for April 2016
Here is a small collection of young adult and Christian fiction new releases for April 2016. Click on the book covers for full reviews.
Young Adult Fiction
Don’t Get Caught – Kurt Dinan – Sourcebooks – Published 1 April 2016
This book had me at Ocean’s 11. It’s a great mix of humour and outrageous escapades, with a cast of realistic, if slightly crazy, teenage characters.
When Max is invited to the water tower by the school’s infamous Chaos Club he is happy to throw off his Just-Max, nobody role and do something a bit daring. But when he and the four other students told to meet there are set up and embarrassingly caught and then punished in front of the whole school, Max is determined to seek his revenge. And just like any good heist leader, Max needs a crew – and the four teens also caught in the first embarrassing prank setup prove to be excellent and willing conspirators.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Romancing the Nerd – Leah Rae Miller – Entangled:Teen – Published 5 April 2016
Dan was a nerd once a upon a time, but that was before a growth spurt and his dad landed him on the basketball team and propelled him to popularity glory (or torture, as he sees it). It meant leaving his nerdy friends behind, including Zelda, who has never forgiven him for it. An unfortunate incident (involving a basketball, a tuba and a whole lot of blood) puts Dan in Zelda’s crosshairs. Zelda is determined to enact her revenge. But Zelda never imagined that there was still a cute, fumbling, geeky guy under all that popularity. And it might just be harder for Zelda to hate him than she thought.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
My Kind of Crazy – Robin Reul – SourcebooksFire – Published 5 April 2016
My Kind of Crazy is weirdly addictive, sad and way more confronting than I could have imagined. Despite the best of intentions, seventeen-year old, wisecracking Hank Kirby can’t quite seem to catch a break. It’s not that he means to screw things up all the time, it just happens. A lot. Case in point: his attempt to ask out the girl he likes literally goes up in flames when he spells “Prom” in sparklers on her lawn…and nearly burns down her house. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Peyton Breedlove, a brooding loner and budding pyromaniac, witnesses the whole thing.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Essential Maps for the Lost – Deb Caletti – Simon Pulse – Published 5 April 2016
This is a raw and revealing tale of survival and resilience, of searching for sunlight and chasing your dreams.
Right from the start the reader is warned that the story between Madison Murray (Mads) and Billy Youngwolf Floyd will be horrible but also beautiful. Readers are told to hang on through the tough bits and wait for the good. Well, this is great advice. There are plenty of hard bits in this story. One minute everything is going along smoothly, sunshine and puppy dogs, kisses and smiles and then suddenly everything spirals downwards, only to jump back again. This certainly is a book that drags you right along through the characters’ emotional turmoil.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
Keep Me In Mind – Jaime Reed – Point – Published 26 April 2016
Ellia Dawson doesn’t recognize the handsome boy who sits in tears by her hospital bed. But he’s telling her that he’s Liam McPherson, her boyfriend. Boyfriend? Ellia thinks in shock. She has no clue who Liam is, let alone whether or not she once loved him. She remembers her family, her friends, and the fact that she wants to be a fashion designer. But Liam is a big blank in her life.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Christian Fiction
Sit, Stay, Love – Dana Mentink – Harvest House Publishers – Published 1 April 2016
Sit, Stay, Love is an amusing and energetic romance. A professional athlete male lead character, a major-incident-prone teacher turned dog sitter and a very cute, very crazy little dog, plus faith, family and zealous fans, this book ticks all the boxes.
Adult fiction: Christian contemporary.
Silence in the Dark – Patricia Bradley – Logan Point #4 – Revell – Published 5 April 2016
Two years ago, Bailey Adams broke off her engagement to Danny Maxwell and fled Logan Point for the mission field in Chihuahua, Mexico. Now she’s about to return home to the States, but there’s just one problem. After Bailey meets with the uncle of one of the mission children in the city, she barely escapes a sudden danger. Now she’s on the run–she just doesn’t know from whom. To make matters worse, people who help her along the way find themselves in danger too–including Danny. Who is after her? Will they ever let up? And in the midst of the chaos, can Bailey keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again?
Adult fiction: Christian suspense.
Like Never Before – Melissa Tagg – Bethany House – Published 5 April 2016
Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley’s haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered. But her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the small-town paper is in danger of closing. Her one hope: A lead on an intriguing story that just might impress the new publisher…if only she knew who he was.
After his biggest campaign success yet, widowed speechwriter Logan Walker now has the chance of a lifetime–a spot on a presidential campaign. But his plans are interrupted when he finds out he’s inherited his hometown newspaper. He travels home intent on selling the paper and spending some much-needed time with his young daughter before making the leap into national politics.
Close To You – Kara Isaac – Howard Books – Published 26 April 2016
This is a standout contemporary novel, hilarious, touching and enjoyable right to the very last page.
Allison Shire is working for a Lord of the Rings tour company. She is perhaps the most over-qualified tour guide ever, but this is where she must stay until the courts can annul her marriage to a charmer who was only after her money and citizenship and just happened to already be married. Jackson Gregory went from entrepreneur and businessman success story to disaster when his girlfriend stole his company’s secrets and gave them to his top competitor. Both Allie and Jackson have been severely burnt by love and life, but they can’t deny the feelings that spring up on their trip through the great New Zealand scenery (although those feelings are mainly frustration and irritation). It just might take a miracle for these two to survive the trip with their hearts intact.
Adult fiction: Christian contemporary.
There are so many interesting books on this list! I especially want to read My Kind of Crazy.
Lots of books to choose from, lucky us! My Kind of Crazy is definitely worth a read. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your comment.