Review: TATTOO ATLAS, by Tim Floreen

Tattoo Atlas was a whirlwind of emotions for me. I flew through this book, unable to pull away from the plot and characters. Tim Floreen has a knack for combining amazing storytelling, creative plot twists, and harrowing character relationships. After reading this book and Willful Machines, Floreen has easily jumped to the top of my list of favorite authors.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who love sci-fi thrillers that explore the complex aspects of human emotion make you think "What if?"

Review: ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek

Escape from Witchwood Hollow was an unexpected thrill ride for me. The book mainly bounces between three women during three different time periods in the same location. Jordan Elizabeth Mierek did a great job of emphasizing each character's unique qualities and placing the reader within each time period, whether historical or contemporary. The twists in the plot kept me locked into the story, eager to find out where it was headed. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the present-day character Honoria, who I found to be one-dimensional and unlikeable. Still, I enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to others.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: anyone who likes mysterious young adult fantasies.

Review: IN THE REARVIEW, by Maria Ann Green

The emotional conflict abounding in Maria Ann Green's IN THE REARVIEW will take your breath away. The main character's development and journey to rise above self-inflicted harm is powerfully realistic; I even caught myself gasping out loud more than once. Ms. Green writes beautifully and has a knack for breaking her readers' hearts before giving them hope, allowing her characters to struggle beyond recognition before they can begin to piece their lives back together. IN THE REARVIEW seamlessly weaves together prose and poetry to give readers a 360-degree view of an intense issue that deserves more recognition in young adult literature.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Fans of unconventional storytelling and realistic contemporaries

Review: JERKBAIT, by Mia Siegert

JERKBAIT follows a pair of two very different twins, each struggling internally and externally with unique issues. This book is an amazing read for anyone interested in current issues surrounding teen athletes, or anyone who just enjoys well-written young adult contemporaries. It is full of vivid characters, sobering dilemmas, and bittersweet drama that will stick with the reader long after the final page.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Those who love sports contemporaries and LGBT characters

Review: SIGNS OF ATTRACTION, by Laura Brown

Signs of Attraction is easily the best romance novel I’ve read in a long time. This story features a Deaf character (Reed) and a hard of hearing character (Carli), and follows their journey as they not only fall in love but also learn to define themselves. The writing, with its mixed feel of literary and contemporary, grabbed me from the start. Reed and Carli each have a unique voice that jumps off the page and encourages the reader to continue. In addition to the swoony romance, I also love the dark edginess of this story. Signs of Attraction has a deep, well-rounded plot that is sure to hook all readers interested in contemporary romances. I will definitely read all of Laura Brown’s future works; she’s an author to watch!

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy dark romances with diverse characters

Review: IF I WAS YOUR GIRL, by Meredith Russo

Wow! Meredith Russo is an author to watch! If I Was Your Girl has everything you could ever ask for in a young adult book: great writing, a convincing dilemma, and solid character development. Forget that this book is about a trans character, because people of all ages can relate to the main character's struggles--of fitting in, of keeping secrets, of fearing what people think of you. I give 5 solid stars to this book, and I look forward to anything and everything Meredith Russo writes in the future.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Lovers of contemporary fiction

Review: THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN, by Roshani Chokshi

The Star-Touched Queen is a beautiful piece of art that should not be missed. The lyrical tune of Roshani Chokshi's writing places her in the top of her field; it pulls the reader along like a song, allowing us to feast on a constellation of word choice. The plot is also striking and well-developed, with unexpected and clever twists. The author does a great job of immersing her readers into a unique and surreal setting that will not soon be forgotten.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: anyone interested in fantasy novels of non-Western cultures.