Stephanie Kate StrohmRezensionen
Autor von It's Not Me, It's You
Rezensionen
Part of Your World: A Twisted Tale Graphic Novel… von Stephanie Strohm
The Format: This book was written in an interview format, so basically the book was Avery's final history paper. I love reading books in unique formats. It's fun to mix it up. Also, I loved all the sarcastic comments and Editor's Notes that came along with each person's perspective.
The Cuteness: So Avery is a mega-popular girl who gets dumped right before prom. To me, that's really no big deal, but I to someone like Avery-- it's something she's been looking forward to for years. To her this is supposed to be one of the most important memory moments of her life. Even though we have differing views on what is an "important moment", I liked Avery. She wasn't the stereotypical mean girl or the dumb blonde. She was smart and nice. She wasn't conceited, she cared about people, and she had a kick-ass BFF. Coco was one of my favorite parts of this book. She quoted JFK constantly and always had her bestie's back.
I loved that this was a positive book. It was Avery looking back on her failed love-life and she didn't have a bad thing to say about any of the dudes. I give her credit for that, because I DEFINITELY can't say the same.
The 2 Things: As much as I loved reading this super-fun book, there were 2 things I would change. 1st-- the ending. I could see it coming by page 30. I still LIKED the ending, but I wish it would've happened in a less Captain Obvious way.
The other thing is that I was wishing for less G-ratedness. When I read YA, I expect a little bit of edginess. Not over-the-top stuff, but this girl had 15 or so boyfriends and everything there was nicey-nice, nothingness. She had a few serious boyfriends, and I would expect that some of those would progress beyond kissing (not that I need every detail, but teens are doing more than kissing), and I would expect some of those to have deeper issues than-- he said I love you and I didn't say it back.
I could never hate on this book though. It would be like kicking a puppy. It's adorable and fun-- totally do-able for Middle Grade readers, but also fun entertainment for older teens.
OVERALL: Loved this lightness and cuteness of this book. Avery was popular and NOT a mean girl-- crazy isn't it?? I loved the format and the characters. Lightness is needed, but I was wishing for a tad more edge or drama-- or maybe just a little less sweetness. It's definitely a book that will give you a toothache.
My Blog:
Gosh, I just loved the chemistry between Dylan and Jamie. From the first moment they meet, they have this really natural, cute, nerdy vibe that works so well. You feel like you’re spying on two regular teens falling in love. Sometimes in books, this feels rushed. But I loved the way that while on this little Scottish get-away, their interactions, whether hiding from the cameras or going on real dates felt genuine and full of the sort of bloopers you can expect in real life. Jamie was sweet and just the sort of hero you would want to fall in love with, and I like that Strohm made him loveable but not so over the top that he seemed like he wasn’t real. Just perfect.
And I especially loved the relationships within Dylan’s family that we got to look at. Before I forget, it was really nice to see Strohm write a really tall girl! It seems like I’ve read a lot of very petite heroines lately, and it’s lovely when we see heroines that come in all different shapes, sizes, ethnicities, sexual orientations, etc. So having Dylan be six feet tall and on eye level with her guy was a brave and lovely choice! I liked the exploration of all the relationships Dylan had with members of her family (won’t say too much since I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I thought that was well worked out and brought story arcs to a nice conclusion.)
This was a super cute read that’s perfect for cuddling up and enjoying on a cold rainy day, or listening to (that’s what I did) when you’re not feeling well. It’s light-hearted and full of funny reality-TV moments that if you’ve ever watched “The Bachelor” will make you roll your eyes.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.
Many thanks to Thomas Allen & Co. for the free review copy, which arrived with such rapidity it was astonishing.
I liked the romance of Dylan and Jaime. They were very sweet together and were the realistic of the bunch, not pretentious or fake. And I do love a boy who likes fictional friends more than actual ones and can bring Bronte into a conversation, but when he starts quoting Dylan Thomas, EE Cummings and Yeats, it just went too much over my head.
It’s still a cute love story that you can enjoy on a rainy day with a cup of hot chocolate.
This one made me really hungry, craving things I'd never even heard of before this book, let alone seen them. My favourite part of it might have been the food, because the romance was okay......not something I particularly loved.
The problem, I feel, with the romance, was that it was just too whiny? for me. And the love triangle was boring? And just not working? And too fast? I don't know, but the characters, Henry and Rosie, were just acting like whiny children and misinterpreting to the limit where even whiny children would not have misinterpreted.
That said, I really liked the humour in this book, and I did have a good time reading this. Except the near-constant mouthwatering and stomach growling. In fact, I'm feeling hungry right now, writing(typing?) this, and I just had lunch.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, like really light and fluffy romance, and can tolerate a bit of whining, and likes food. the best thing was the culinary school, and the food.
[full review on blog]
"Now was not the time for casual necksmelling, even if someone smelled tantalizingly of cinnamon, like a manly Christmas cookie" (pg 91).
STORY:
Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Strohm (320 pages) is about Dylan's country bumpkin, beauty queen sister getting married to a lord (but prince sounds catchier! hence the title). Unfortunately, this forces the rest of the fam onto a reality TV show. Poor Dylan would just like to pass by un-noticed except network television is not having that!
First, I'm sorry (not really), but I'm tired of those cliche American vs. British jokes. You guys have fish and chips? Oh you, Brits! You guys deep-fry everything? Oh you, Americans! That's about 75% of the book right there. Please stop! It's cute at first but then it just gets grating.
hidden pregnancy or the sacrificial reality-tv lamb storyline. Surprisingly the
"Now, I knew romance could be perfect stillness" (pg 96).
Jamie and Dylan liked each other rather quickly. Still, that's the basis for a crush, right? Instant attraction. A few lines about poetry and the girl's hooked.
CHARACTERS:
The characters are fine. Heaven's got the most personality for me (and I really wanted to know more about her beyond being a best friend).
Dylan's the ugly-duckling who is actually not ugly but just overlooked. Apparently, she plays sports, likes books, and has never been kissed. I didn't really feel for her because beyond hating the reality show, liking Jamies, and feeling resentful toward her sis, there was nothing distinct about her.
Dusty, the beauty queen sister, has a little depth to her that makes her cool.
I liked Jamie but come on! He was written to be super likable as if there was a sign attached to his head saying, "Hey, like this guy! He spouts poetry references and likes Frozen!"
OVERALL:
"Perhaps that's what happens when you meet someone you really quite like [...] You both feel a bit as though you've tricked the other person into liking you" (pg 198).
A sweet relatively wholesome story with some cute moments ("You missed, Dylan ... " AWWW) though too predictable for anyone not interested in a light-hearted read. This is by no means a bad story; it's just I may have liked this more when I was younger. Still, I definitely recommend this for Hallmark movie lovers.
Love à la Mode was a lovely book that I enjoyed from start to finish! It was a book I thought about even when I wasn't reading it, and one I looked forward to sitting down with every day. There was just something about Rosie and Henry that made me want to see their story through to the end, and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough! The two clicked from the beginning, and it was fun watching them explore a new city, a new school, and new feelings.
I absolutely adored the setting! Love à la Mode takes place at a culinary boarding school in Paris! It had an Anna and the French Kiss vibe, but the stories were completely different. For one thing, the author described the city's food more than the city itself, and I'm pretty sure I openly drooled a few times. This book made me unbelievably hungry, so have a snack nearby when you read this!
The characters were fantastic! I think their individual personalities really complemented the group as a whole, and I liked that everything was easy and uncomplicated. Yumi was bold and always said what she was thinking, Marquis was fun to be around and added humor to their conversations, and Priya was an amazing friend from the start. Hampus might be my favorite character ever! He's an all-around wonderful person, and he's willing to go out of his way to help others. I especially liked his foraging through Paris. Rosie was sweet, blushed more than she didn't, and was incredibly down-to-earth and relatable. Henry was Henry! He loved food and was always there to encourage others. If someone was feeling bad after a class, he was quick to offer kind words and a laugh. They really did have a great group dynamic!
Unfortunately, they're still in high school, so there is some drama throughout the story. Clara was just a miserable person, and misery loves company. She wanted everyone to think she was perfect, but it was easy to spot her insecurities.
I thought the text messages between Rosie and Ricky were hilarious! His random questions always made me smile, and some of them were pretty ridiculous (like subbing jam for blueberries). It was obvious her brothers had relied on her to do most of the cooking, and now they're having to get by on their own. At one point Ricky didn't know where the bowls were, so he decided to just use a random bucket he'd found. When Rosie asked him if he'd washed the bucket first, he declined to answer.
The romance was subtle and sweet, though I would have liked a little more communication between Rosie and Henry. I feel like they lost a lot of time together for ridiculous reasons, and they would often perceive conversations and actions the wrong way. We know what's really going on, because we're in their heads, but I wish they had shared their thoughts with each other sooner rather than later.
Overall, this was a delectable read that I plan on re-reading in the future! The characters, setting, story -- all amazing! It was my first book by this author, but I believe she's written others. If they're anything like this one, I'll definitely check them out!
Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on December 4, 2018.
The best words I can use to describe That’s Not What I Heard are dramatic and entertaining. Stephanie’s writing is just so easy to read and get lost in - I usually end up reading her books in one sitting and I find they’re the perfect thing to pick up when I don’t know what reading mood I’m in. I also love how she incorporated so many POVs into her stories as well - it’s never overwhelming, but it adds so much to the chaotic and frenzied nature of the story. And while I do enjoy all the POVs, because there’s so many, and it’s such a quick read, I’m never really invested in the story. But I don’t mind that so much, because it’s not what I’m looking for from this particular book.
That’s Not What I Heard is a big game of he-said she-said, with exaggerated high school politics that come together in creative and ridiculous ways.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Prince in Disguise is one of those books that are perfect one-sitting reads that you can just devour and have a great time with. It's nothing new or unexpected, but it's comforting because it's so familiar. First love, dating hilarity, family drama, and a dash of secret identities make for an enjoyable read that puts you in a reading mood and reaching for another story to pick up. You know exactly what you're getting into with this book and you're either picking it up for that reason or you're not, simple as that. But if you go into this expecting a cute story that will make you smile and give you the warm-fuzzy feelings of first love, you're in the right place.
Often times Contemporary Romance works even in the Young Adult genre can take things...shall we say a bit too far? This one retains the sweetness of the moment, enjoys the romance for what it is, and allows readers to step inside the innocence of first love's potential bloom without encountering the thorns (for the most part).
Grab a front row seat for this reality show-esque read that'll have you wondering just how much of your favorite shows are scripted versus life simply playing out on the small screen...for better or worse.
**copy received for review
All of the students, who are from all over the world, live and study at a large, glamorous townhouse with a huge kitchen, and a staff to teach them led by Chef Martinet. ("Martinet" turns out to be a not-very-original epithet for the cold, strict disciplinarian.)
What happens to them unfolds in alternate chapters narrated by Rosie and Henry. Each of them makes fast friends with most of the other students, including the charming Yumi from Tokyo; Hampus from Sweden; Priya, who is Rosie’s roommate; and a surprise student - the great-looking and (fictionally) famous to foodies, Bodie Tal, who stars in a baking show with his superstar pastry chef dad.
As the students struggle to attain cooking perfection, some of them battle personal issues as well. In Henry’s case, his mom pressures the school to give Henry more assignments to help him prepare for college. Henry doesn’t want to go to college; he wants to go to culinary school. The extra work makes him tired and moody, but he won’t communicate about it with Rosie, so she thinks he doesn’t like her. Nevertheless, he is crazily jealous over Bodie, who obviously likes Rosie also. (It was beyond me why Rosie didn’t prefer Bodie anyway, who seems way more capable and mature than the volatile, juvenile Henry.)
Tensions come to a head not only between the triangle of Rosie, Henry, and Bodie. Towards the end of the semester the students have to make the best meals of their lives to convince both Chef Martinet and Chef Laurent that they should be allowed to return for another term after the Christmas holidays.
Discussion: The author quite cleverly has in essence used the main theme of Hemingway’s Movable Feast to develop a plot for young adults involving Paris, food, and romance - a great combination! (In his memoir, which is also one of my favorite books, Hemingway notably said, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.”)
Rosie interprets the idea of a movable feast broadly after Henry shared that quote with her:
“Rosie loved that idea, of a moveable feast. Of something you could enjoy whenever you wanted, something that went with you no matter where you happened to go. Like home. Home was a place you carried in your heart. [And] . . . food was never just food. . . . Food was the people you cooked with, the people you cooked for, the people you ate with, and the people you thought of as you ate. The people who made the meal what it was.”
She concludes:
“In a few days, she’d go home to Ohio for Christmas. . . . But she would never leave Paris. Not really. Because she knew that it would stay with her. Wherever she went. For the rest of her life.”
Evaluation: This frothy confection celebrating food and family is fine for tweens as well as teens. However, you may want to have a supply of chocolate croissants and gougeres nearby, just for starters. I have never been so craving of French pastries as I have while reading this book!
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