Haley Neil

Even though this didn’t spend as much time in the apple orchard as I’d hoped (that setting is what prompted me to give this a try), this still delivered plenty of the cozy vibes I’d craved thanks to Felicity’s sense of style, the wedding planning, the sweet quality of the romance, and plenty of food, too.

Felicity is ace spectrum biromantic, and that plays a role in the story, we see the added challenge and concerns she feels over what a relationship for her might look like and whether the person she’s interested in will be okay with her boundaries or resent them. Not only did I like the relationship, and find it sweet as mentioned, I appreciated how thoughtfully this handled labeling sexuality, showing how reassuring it’s been for Felicity while at the same allowing that labels aren’t something that works for everyone, you should do whatever feels right for you.

Felicity and best friend Roo’s relationship was in such a rocky place throughout the book that I never really got on board with their friendship, but I absolutely loved the new friendship Felicity sort of stumbled her way into in the latter stages, that sequence of events was probably my favorite in the novel, just a joy.

The writing in this one is tinged with humor and lots of personality while at the same time exploring Felicity’s mental health struggles with the seriousness and respect it warranted. Whether or not the reader has reached the point Felicity has where she needed professional help, there’s in all likelihood some degree of relatably for everyone in her spiraling thoughts, in her skipping sleep and going overboard with caffeine to check everything off her to do list, and especially in her desire/drive for perfection.

I liked this one a lot, it’s a fun read for the most part yet it also gives you something to think about, particularly when it comes to the importance of cutting yourself some slack and widening your definition of perfect.… (mehr)

teen fiction - 18y.o. aspiring musical theater lyricist travels with youth temple group (and her twin brother) to Israel, deals with ongoing anxiety/panic attacks in addition to the grief/trauma of car accident (that the brother survived, but the driver did not), discovers she may be on the asexual spectrum (possibly demisexual).

I picked this book up off the new teen fic shelf at the library on a whim, pleasantly surprised by how much the author managed to pack into a short summer trip. Liked this even more than I thought I would.… (mehr)

The narration of this audiobook was good; I was easily able to tell the characters apart when they spoke. I was able to listen at 1.75 and still understand everything that was being said, which is always a bonus.

The story was told well. I like that Tally was dealing with so much at such a young age, it makes the story more relatable. Tally's focus on her brother's problems instead of her own is something I think we can all relate to; it is easier to see a "solution" when the problem isn't yours.

I really enjoyed when the group shared their stories of not being "Jewish enough" it was eye opening and I hope that this discussion helps others deal with this issue.… (mehr)