Opposite of Always

The Bookworm says... Maybe. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds was not my favorite book I have ever read. On an overnight visit to Whittier University with his best friend Jillian (who he is totally not in love with because she is dating their mutual best friend Franny), Jack King meets a girl named Kate Edwards. Kate is a freshman at Whittier, and after spending most of the night together at the party they share a few bowls of cereal. Jack falls for Kate quickly, but after only a few months she passes away unexpectedly. Jack never expected to face the loss of someone he so newly had feelings for, and he definitely never expected to experience it over and over again. Jack gets stuck in a loop; he relives their short relationship over and over again, each time Kate dies returning to the moment they first met on the steps at a college house party. Each time Jack tries something new to save Kate, but he finds that his actions have life-changing consequences on the other people he loves. Jack has to decide how much he is willing to risk to save a girl he just met while also helping all of the other people he loves. Luckily he has a few tries, because he lives those few months over and over again.

The first one hundred and fifty pages of this book were genuinely very good. I was hooked from the first chapter, a glance into the future, and was invested in Jack's story; his relationship with Kate, his friendship with Franny and Jillian, the success of their prom, and more. That being said, when Kate died for the first time and I realized that this was going to be one of those books, I literally groaned in disappointment. I couldn't help but feeling I had read this story before, if only a slightly different variation (think If I Stay). Also, as Jack relived the period of time from when he met Kate to the day she died,I found that it became repetitive (naturally) and boring. There were small changes and subtle differences each time, but nothing I felt was monumental or seriously exciting. Overall, I don't mean to say that this is a bad book. Not by any means. Could it have been half the length? Sure. Is the concept becoming quickly overdone? Yes. Would I recommend it to a friend? Maybe. Lovers of If I Stay will love this book, if they can get over how similar the concept is.

"I'm naturally clumsy and these attached strings are trip hazards."

DISCLAIMER: Review is based on an advanced reading copy made from uncorrected proofs. Tentative on-sale date is March 12th, 2019.

A Heart in a Body in the World

The Bookworm says... Definitely! A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti is wonderful and meaningful and heartbreaking and everything in between. Annabelle Agnelli, after a flashback inducing moment at a fast food restaurant, takes off running. She vows to run from Seattle to Washington D.C., and in doing so, she becomes a "reluctant activist". She runs from the tragedy left behind in Seattle, she runs from the memory of the boy she remembers only as "The Taker", she runs from the stares of her classmates in the hallways, she runs from the girl she was before. Above all else, Annabelle runs. Her Grandpa Ed follows her in his RV on her 2,700 mile journey across the country, where Annabelle sleeps after long days filled with running and endless thinking. As she runs for days through stretches of farmland, her memories haunt her and threaten to beat her, but she keeps running. With the help of her ever supportive brother Malcolm and two friends Zach and Olivia, Annabelle's run begins to attract attention from across the country; she is met at state lines by cheering crowds and greeted with free dinners other gifts in countless towns. People are listening and people want to believe in Annabelle, but she struggles to believe in herself. Still weighed down with guilt and shame about what happened in Seattle, Annabelle attempts to face her new reality and her new future, all while running forward.

From the first chapter, the reader understands that Annabelle once experienced a great tragedy that left her deeply traumatized. Then you discover that it was in the recent past. Then, Annabelle starts running. For me, one of the most amazing parts of this book is the way that you are taken on Annabelle's journey just by reading; as she crosses the United States on foot, discovering more and more about herself, the reader learns more and more about the tragedy that set her running in the first place. Integrated throughout the story are important passages that highlight the unique dangers of being a woman in today's society, and the novel as a whole does an excellent job examining the long lasting repercussions of these unique dangers, and all violence against women. Caletti's writing is impeccable, both in content and in style. The story is crafted to perfection, and I became truly engrossed in each and every character. I laughed, I cried, I shook my head, and I filled with rage. This book will make you feel, but it will also make you contemplate some very serious, very important issues. An incredible read, through and through.

"She survived something big, and when you survive something big, you are always, always aware that next time you might not."

DISCLAIMER: Review is based on an uncorrected proof. On-sale date is September 18th, 2018.

Meet Cute

The Bookworm says... Maybe. Meet Cute is a lovely collection of short stories written by Jennifer Armentrout, Dhonielle Clayton, Katie Cotugno, Jocelyn Davies, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Nina LaCour, Emery Lord, Katharine McGee, Kass Morgan, Julie Murphy, Meredith Russo, Sara Shepard, Nicola Yoon, and Ibi Zoboi. Each short story is exactly what you would expect, based on the title- a meet cute. A "meet cute", as defined by Urban Dictionary, is a scene in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Each of the stories contained in this anthology is charming and wistful and makes you believe that love at first sight might really be possible. Days later I remained thinking about Aviva's statistics project and Blythe's mission. At the end of each story, I found myself frustrated that I had reached the end, because even after a short number of pages I was already rooting for the romance. This anthology is a light, feel-good summer read that will fill your heart with joy as you turn the pages on the beach; a collection of work from such talented authors would be hard pressed to disappoint.

"Your own age- you guess- but somehow younger- carefree, dead sure that the world is theirs to enjoy, with every intention of doing that." (From "Say Everything" by Huntley Fitzpatrick)


Previously reviewed by Nicola Yoon- Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also A Star

Notorious RBG (Young Readers' Edition)

The Bookworm says... Yes! Notorious RBG (Young Readers' Edition) by Iron Carmon and Shana Knizhnik is the "Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" intended for a young audience. The biography goes in depth, from Ginsburg's childhood, to law school, to her experience as a lawyer, all the way to her current position on the Supreme Court of the United States. Not only do the authors outline RBG's life and accomplishments with superb detail, they also include explanations of relevant victories in the women's rights movement throughout Ruth's life. There are cartoons, photographs, timelines, and other graphics scattered throughout the text in order to provide a more comprehensive account of an impressive law career for young readers. Another bonus feature that makes this edition much more conducive to a younger reader is the "Legal Terms in Plain English" glossary included at the end of the book. It defines terms such as "brief", "precedent", "recuse", and other legal jargon that may be unfamiliar to some young adults.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of my personal heroes, is a trailblazer for women not only in law, but in all professional and nonprofessional fields. She is inspirational, fierce, and one of the most badass women in the world. What other eighty five year old does twenty five pushups a day? Especially while serving on the SCOTUS?

I am thankful that her story has been made accessible to younger readers, especially young women. It is important for young women and girls to see women in positions of authority in order to understand that they too can rise to a position of that level. When we see people like us succeeding, we allow ourselves to believe that we can succeed. I hope that some young girl reads this book and realizes that she really can be whatever she wants to be, even if it involves taking on a role no other woman has taken on. After all, we have to have a female president eventually, and someone will have to be first.

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."