Synopsis Lizzie Brandt was valedictorian of her high school class, but at Radleigh University, all she's acing are partying and hooking up with the wrong guys. But all that changes when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, making her guardian to her two younger brothers. To keep them out of foster care, she'll have to fix up her image, her life, and her GPA—fast. Too bad the only person on campus she can go to for help is her humorless, pedantic Byzantine History TA, Connor Lawson, who isn't exactly Lizzie's biggest fan. But Connor surprises her. Not only is he a great tutor, but he’s also a pretty great babysitter. And chauffeur. And listener. And he understands exactly what it’s like to be on your own before you're ready. Before long, Lizzie realizes having a responsible-adult type around has its perks... and that she'd like to do some rather irresponsible (but considerably adult) things with him as well. Good thing he's not the kind of guy who'd ever reciprocate. Until he does. Until they turn into far more than teacher and student. Until the relationship that helped put their lives back together threatens everything they both have left. Synopsis from Goodreads  Details ✱ Pages: 414 (ebook) ✱ Publication date: December 2014 ✱ Series: Raleigh University #1 ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

 

First Impressions

 

I've been following Dahlia Adler on twitter for ages (because she is obviously very awesome), but it took me a while to get around to reading her books. I know what I was missing now!

Also the cover is gorgeous but I can't get the image to upload right now because I'm blogging on my tablet (which sucks) on the train wifi (which is marginally better). Check it out on goodreads though, it's really pretty!

 

My Review

The premise is that Lizzie ends up responsible for her younger brothers very suddenly, and has to straighten out her own life as a result. Juggling family and university isn't easy though - and I think that's what really resonated with me when reading this. Lizzie was trying so hard to be a parent, and it was wonderful to see her grow up, in a way - she puts her family first and gets on with things and it just makes her a genuinely likeable character, despite her party girl start.

 

There's so much emotional honesty to be found in this book, in these characters. They have their flaws, they may say or do stupid things, and they're wonderfully real and human. And Connor, the Byzantine history TA Lizzie gets involved with is just delicious - so there. That's another reason for you to pick up this book right now. Honestly, I read it in one go. In the middle of the night. Couldn't stop. I was in a romance/contemporary/NA mood, so Last Will and Testament was just perfect!

 

And did I mention the steamy scenes? No? They were steamy. Extra steaminess here if that's what you like. (Obviously I did.)

Quick Recap and Rating

Last Will and Testament is a pretty hot, addictive contemporary NA story. Dahlia's books are also really affordable for your kindle so you have no excuse!

Do you read a lot of NA? I need recommendations! (If not - what are you reading right now?)

Kate and Mark have sat next to each other in calculus all year, but the first time they actually talk is when they run into each other during a night out in the city.  Mark is in love with his best friend Ryan, and Kate has just escaped her friends, afraid to meet the girl she is in love with even though they have never spoken or met before. This chance meeting between Mark and Kate brings them closer than they would ever have thought. ✱ Pages: 256 (hardcover) ✱ Publication date: 7 June 2016 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

I've heard David Levithan's name so many times but never read his work before, so when I came across You Know Me Well (co-authored with Nina Lacour!), I was really interested. The title is lovely, and the premise made me think. How well do we know ourselves? How well do our friends and our family know us? What about complete strangers?

The story starts during Pride, and the events unfold over a week, from the initial meeting between Kate and Mark, until the end of their high school careers. Alternating between the points-of-view of Mark and Kate, it's a look at two teenagers on the brink of adulthood, trying to be true to themselves, trying to hold on to old friendships, and trying to navigate the paths of first love. You feel the uncertainty, the pain, the joy along with the characters. 

I loved Kate and Mark, they are wonderful and real, and they have their own issues, and they feel really strongly about friendship and just being there. So yep, I really, really loved them both, so much. There was something very realistic about this book to me, and I'm so happy I got to read it, and to share the journey Kate and Mark were on.

Another thing I love, is the depiction of the LGBT community in You Know Me Well - especially when it comes to teenagers finding somewhere they belong, with people they feel won't judge them. I think it's really important to discuss these topics, in YA literature especially, so I genuinely appreciate what the authors are doing here. This book could be a really important one for teens dealing with coming out, identity, and acceptance from other people.

First loves, friendships, the end of high school, the dreaded future - something we've all gone through.You Know Me Well is delightful, refreshing, and full of feeling.

Have you read David Levithan before? This was my first! Do you have other books in mind that touch upon LGBT themes?

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared… Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has. ✱ Pages: 400 (paperback) ✱ Publication date: 25 February 2016 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

I got a copy from the publisher after seeing this one displayed in my local Waterstones - apparently the author goes to my university! Good job, Waterstones Durham, for showing support to local talent!

Basically, Everything is Awesome

I can't really find anything I had a problem with. I loved just about every detail of Radio Silence. Alice Oseman's voice is unique and chatty. The friendships in the story, the relationship between Frances and her mother, the talk about sexuality/sexual orientation, identity, fandoms... It's just all so well done!

Frances and Aled

Amazing, real, and relatable. Both of them. I feel like I was so much like Frances, growing up, but I also feel like I was Aled, too. I might still be a bit like Aled? In any case - these two characters are so wonderful, and you can't help but fall in love with them a little.

Apparently I Can't Actually Review This Book

I'm too emotionally attached! I tried, you guys. I'll give it one more go:

There is something so genuine and effortless about Radio Silence, that I could not stop reading it. Alice Oseman has a knack for writing about being a teenager - dealing with all the issues related to growing up, living with the constant pressure from our peers and parents, and maybe most importantly - from ourselves.

In all honesty - I don't want to give too much away. I'd like for you to go and meet Aled and Francis for yourself and see if you feel the same way I did about them and this story.

A wonderful novel about identity, friendship, and growing up, Radio Silence is a great example of Young Adult fiction done right. It's realistic, emotional and uplifting, and it stays with you even after you've finished reading it.

Do you read a lot of contemporary YA? Have you read this one yet?

If you haven't, I'm once again going to go with 'please go and read this book, and then come back and fangirl with me because just please, okay?'

This is such an amazing short story collection. Neil Gaiman has to be one of my favourite contemporary authors. He is such a fabulous, creative writer, and knows exactly what a story needs to be interesting, or heart-warming, or harrowing. Mostly harrowing, in the case of Trigger Warning.

Just a few words on some of my favourite stories with the barest hint of spoilers:

The Case of Death and Honey. What starts as seemingly two separate stories ends up connecting in an interesting way. I love Sherlock Holmes and I love this story, and I love the ending. I think it's wonderful that Gaiman can take someone else's character and write about him so well; he's so true to the original Sherlock Holmes yet makes the story his own.

Click-Clack the Rattlebag. A nice, short, properly spooky story. Wouldn't want to spoil it.