There's suspense, action, and tragedy galore in Sonic The Hedgehog Vol. 5: Crisis City, the next installation in the fantastic comic series offshoot of the video games. This book follows the blue blur and his friends as they struggle to navigate their world as it quickly turns against them. The Metal Virus -- Dr. Eggman's new bid to enslave all life -- has been unleashed on the world, and there is seemingly no stopping it. It spreads from person to person, converting whole cities into invincible "zombots". Even Sonic has been infected, and has only survived by burning off the virus with his speed. The Restoration tries to find survivors and bring them to safety, but the virus slowly begins to take its toll on the brave rescuers. As if things can't get worse, the virus also begins to give Eggman problems as well. With city after city succumbing to infection and the problem beginning to grow out of control, can Sonic and his friends manage to survive the attacks -- or will they become infected too?
This volume in the series is particularly interesting because it catapults Sonic and his friends head-on into what is at its core a zombie apocalypse. Seeing the crew interact in this sort of survival dynamic is really interesting, as it brings out emotions in characters that normally wouldn't be seen. Surprises and exciting scenarios arise left and right. The only thing that brings the book down a notch from full-on awesomeness is that it is focused on tragedy and loss -- even though the heroes ultimately succeed at what they are trying to do, it feels as if they are continually losing for the entire book. However, this is necessary to build up for what is to come. Overall, the book is a satisfying and suspenseful read, with a great balance between high-speed action and character interactions. Gear up and steel yourself for the most terrifying Sonic conflict yet!

Casey needed to get away; that's why she moved to a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, where her closest neighbor is miles away. Of course, Casey starts questioning her choices as a storm begins to roll in and the roof of her cabin is not looking promising. As the storm rolls in Casey's worry about her roof is momentarily disrupted when she receives an unexpected guess; a young girl covered in blood that isn't her own. Casey knows this girl is hiding something... and she's determined to figure out exactly what that is; but she has to survive the night if she wants to figure it out.

"The Intruder" is a fascinating book with a surprising plot twist. I would recommend it to anyone who likes vigilante thrillers and plot's that are far from what they seem to be.
Reviewer Grade: 12

Debbie is having a hard time, in more ways than one. Suddenly fired from her job, pushed away by her daughters, and kept in the dark by her husband about where he goes at night... Debbie can't take much more. Little does anyone know, Debbie has some secrets, and they just keep building as Debbie begins to snap.

"Dear Debbie" gives a unique perspective on how events from the past can determine the rest of someone's life. It's also a perfect book for those who love when nothing is as it seems. This is definitely a book I would recommend.
Reviewer Grade: 12

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins is about a Capitol that controls 12 districts, and every year, the districts have to get one female and one male that are drawn at random to participate in the Hunger Games. The book shows what happened at the 74th games, and shows the experience that the main character, Katniss Everdeen, faces. This book really kept me engaged, and any time a chapter ended, I could not wait to see what would happen next. I felt inspired and looked up to the main character, as she was very clever and strong willed, as she was independent and had so much determination. I usually have trouble reading books in a series, but I was able to easily move on to the next book and finish the series in no time. "The Hunger Games" is one of my favorite books that I read this year, and I recommend this to everyone.

Gachiakuta follows 15-year-old Rudo. After being wrongly convicted of murder, he is punished by being sent to “The Pit,” where all garbage is thrown away. He ends up on the “Ground” and meets a man named Enjin, who teaches him about the existence of a group called “Givers,” who use their powers to protect the people of the Ground from monsters.

I think this book has a really good hook for a first volume. It establishes the world-building almost immediately, even if it is a little exposition-dump-y at times. Rudo is a really interesting main character for a couple of reasons, but the one that stood out to me the most is that he actually feels and looks like a fifteen-year-old boy, which isn’t something you see a lot in manga. He’s reactive and a little judgy, but he’s also very kind and receptive to feedback, and it makes the audience want to get to know him better. My rating is so low because the first volume is very short, and I really did not like how “in your face” some of the explanations felt. Otherwise, it’s quite literally the very beginning, so there’s not a lot to really form an opinion about, but I did enjoy this volume and am looking forward to reading the next.

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in The Inheritance Games series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The final installment follows the final weeks leading up to Avery Grambs’s eighteenth birthday when she will officially inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. This book introduces a visitor from outside the Hawthorne family, adding a new mystery and extra layers of conflict.
In my opinion, while I enjoy the concept of the universe and the puzzles, this book felt somewhat unnecessary. I understand that a satisfying conclusion was required, but by this point, the mystery felt forced and the love triangle drama felt like filler. Additionally, Avery’s character still felt overly adaptable and lacked distinctive growth, and the series’ signature riddles and puzzles, while clever, no longer felt as engaging or surprising. The resolution wrapped up loose ends but did so in a way that sometimes felt rushed or convenient.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first two books in the series and enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, family intrigue, and romantic tension.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi is about Kareem, a Syrian-American boy excited for seventh grade until everything starts going wrong for him.
His best friend moves away, he doesn’t make the football team, and because he’s Syrian, he’s asked to show a new student—a Syrian refugee—around school, but he’s embarrassed by the boy’s thick accent.
Later, the football team’s quarterback—and the coach’s son—offers to help Kareem get a spot on the spring team, but only if Kareem does something he knows is wrong. On top of all that, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to help her family, just as the 2017 Muslim Ban is put into place.
In my opinion, this was a nice coming-of-age middle-grade novel about a Muslim boy learning to do the right thing and navigate the challenges of identity, friendship, and belonging. The plot was mostly predictable and the characters seemed pretty one-dimensional. Personally, I’m not a big fan of books written in verse, but others may like that.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy stories about cultural identity, middle school struggles, and sports-themed coming-of-age tales.

"Everything We Never Had" follows four generations of a Filipino-American family: Francisco, a revolutionary alive during the zoot suit riots in the 1930s. Emil, his son, who refuses to follow in his father's footsteps. Chris, who seeks to learn more about Filipino-American history despite the fact that his father hasn't told him anything about their ancestry. And Enzo, who attempts to bridge the differences between his grandfather, Emil, and his father, Chris, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a story about intergenerational trauma, finding your identity, and reconnecting with the past.

I really loved the exploration of Filipino-American history in "Everything We Never Had." This is something often underrepresented in YA books, so having this touching story in a form accessible to teens was really impactful. It was also really interesting to see each generation's story slowly come together to create a meaningful message. The only reasons I didn't give this book a higher rating is because personally I'm not a fan of stories set during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also because the time skips for each generation were somewhat confusing, leaving me lost on the individual plots and characters at times. Other than that, this is a worthwhile read if you are looking to learn more about Filipino-American history in the form of a relatable and meaningful YA book.

The Great Gatsby is an amazing novel that follows the story of Nick Carraway when he moves to New York City. The man who lives next to him, Jay Gatsby, is very mysterious to Nick. He throws lavish parties that shine bright into the night with a multitude of guests. Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who lives on the other side of a wide river from Nick and Gatsby, catches the attention of Jay Gatsby but is already married to a Tom Buchanan. The Great Gatsby explores the themes of love, social hierarchy, fake relationships between the rich, and the American Dream through an intriguing story and symbols.

The first few pages of The Great Gatsby did not immediately catch my attention. The more I read into the book and understood the deeper meanings and deepening intricacies of the characters, the more that I loved the book. The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully written book with an amazing story filled with deep and meaningful symbols. It highlights problems with relationships and social hierarchy that I will keep in my mind for the future. I would recommend you read this book!

When Jackson Hurd's family decides to take 14-year-old Joseph Brook under their wing, they are warned about Joseph's past: he almost killed a teacher and was incarcerated, and he has a 3-month-old daughter, whom he's never seen. Things begin a little awkward between the Hurds and Joseph, but as Joseph warms up to them and starts seeing a future for himself, he reveals the ghosts that have been haunting his past - as well as his desperation to see his daughter, Jupiter. Together, the Hurds and Joseph search for Jupiter, but the mission brings more dangers to their family, and Joseph, than expected.

To put it simply, this book was devastating. It was beautiful and gut-wrenching at the same time. The story is told entirely through the eyes of 12-year-old Jackson as he's processing things he's supposedly too young to deal with, and the way Schimdt uses simple, straightforward language portrays his thoughts perfectly while still retaining the uncertainty and seriousness of the situation. I loved how Joseph was characterized, and I enjoyed the little moments of childlike bonding between him and Jack, as well as his journey in finding himself and discovering his interests. The twists towards the end were unexpected and tragic, but it culminates in a hopeful ending. Overall, this book did a great job shedding light on and humanizing the children in similar positions to Joseph, as well as showing that there is triumph even in the darkest times.

Conrad of Urwin lives in a brutal Meritocracy, where people are divided into Highs, Middles, and Lows based not only on their family's legacy, but also their strength in combat. As Conrad and his mother struggle as Lows, he soon has no choice but to turn to the person he loathes most in this world - his uncle. And while his uncle promises to reunite Conrad with his sister, the only way to save her is to enter the Selection for the Twelve Trades and prove that he is powerful enough to earn his place in the Urwin family. However, as he embarks on this dangerous journey, Conrad must decide how far he will go in order to rise...

As much as I wanted to like "Sky's End," I honestly couldn't find any redeeming qualities within the story. From the very beginning, the writing style and pacing were off, making the book extremely difficult to read, as the time skips completely interrupted the flow and action. Not only did this severely affect the story itself, but it also made significant events (like character deaths) seem to carry no weight. Additionally, there was no clear organization or climax to the story, making the entire book seem stagnant, confusing, and rushed. None of the characters (including Conrad) were likable or dynamic, and the sexist undertones throughout the book and blatant objectification of female characters did not sit right with me as a reader.

I really enjoyed Little Women more than I thought I would. The March sisters each have such distinct personalities, and watching them grow up and navigate life felt really relatable, even though the story is from the 1800s. I especially loved Jo, her independence and passion for writing really resonated with me. Some parts felt a little slow, especially the family’s daily routines, but the overall story is heartwarming and full of lessons about family, love, and perseverance. Definitely a classic worth reading.

Pip has become a local legend and internet crime solving star. Her fame grows exponentially after she publishes her podcast on Andie Bell's murder case, but she promises her family she won't seek out more cases because of the danger it put her and those she loved in. However, when her best friend Conner begs her to help find his missing brother, Pip decides to open one last case and find Jamie Reynolds.

I enjoyed this sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. In my opinion, the first was better, but the second was still very good. I finished it in less than two days. The second half of the book is especially interesting. Good Girl, Bad Blood doesn't just focus on the mystery, but also the relationships she has with her family, Ravi, Cara, Conner, and her other close friends. Holly Jackson does a wonderful job of exploring how the detective work Pip engages in affects her mental health and relationships. Personally, I found the emotional exploration more interesting than the mystery at times. Jackson makes sure to provide realistic emotions that Pip feels after being targeted while trying to solve her previous case. This book is well worth your time, especially if you enjoyed the first book in the series. It is an epic continuation of a story that started long before Pippa picked up the Andie Bell case.

I picked up this book because I wanted a quick, easy read that would keep me hooked throughout the entire adventure. I was not disappointed. Holly Jackson's novel is creatively put together to keep the reader on their toes, and it is emotionally packed, helping the characters feel real.

For her senior capstone project, Pippa-Fitz Amobi decides to reopen a missing persons case that was closed 5 years ago. And this case is especially close to home, as the victim and her murderer both went to the same high school Pippa is attending. However, suspicious points of evidence convince Pippa the story hasn't truly been told, and she sets out to gather as much information as she can. Each piece of evidence leads Pippa further down a rabbit hole to discover the truth, and as she gets closer to her goal and unknown person begins to threaten her. Pippa struggles to decide if she'd rather have guaranteed safety, or solve the case thats been nagging the back of her brain for years.

This book is 100% worth reading. Before beginning, I had promised myself I would avoid every red herring Holly Jackson planted to lead me away from the real criminal. However, it was unavoidable. Holly Jackson plants, takes away, then replants seeds of doubt about every suspect Pippa interviews. Despite this, when the mystery is solved it makes perfect sense and doesn't feel rushed, and there are little to no major plot holes. If you want a quick a read, then this is the book to pick up. I finished it in 25 hours and enjoyed every single page.

This is a very thought-provoking book that sends important messages about confidence and beauty standards. In this book, Tally Youngblood meets a new trouble-making (like her) friend named Shay after her best friend leaves to go to New Pretty Town after his plastic surgery. When she leaves the city to join the Smoke, a group of Uglies living out in the wilderness, she is told to find them, or she will never get her surgery. However, the people and lifestyle she encounters there make her start rethinking everything. I think how shallow and selfish she is portrayed is very interesting because most protagonists aren’t like that and it really shows the effect her society has had on her. She has been trained to be how she is, and I think the story of her overcoming that was way more interesting than it would have been had it been from the perspective of someone who had already overcome that like Shay. I think that it has good themes, induces complex discussions, and is overall just a very interesting book.

This was a very entertaining read. In this book, Cole, Mira and the rest of the group travel to Elloweer to find Honor (Mira’s sister), find Dalton, and defeat Morgassa with the help of the resistance and other powerful characters. I would get annoyed anytime I was interrupted while reading because the sequences, especially near the end, were so interesting that I didn’t want to stop reading them. There was a lot of important character development explored in this book through the situations they had to undergo such as with Trillian the torivor and the fight against Morgassa. The exploration of Cole’s powers is interesting and really makes theories start running through my head. It makes me want to keep reading the series.

This book was an absolute page-turner. It hardly mattered that it’s written for kids and preteens. It was still very interesting at an older age. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on a quest to get a lightning bolt back from Hades and get it back to Zeus. All the while, monsters hunt them down and they try to rescue Percy’s mom from the underworld. The characters are very likeable and relatable and this was a nice, quick read that was very enjoyable.

Murtagh is part of the Inheritance Cycle series, and like all the other books, is written extremely well. This book follows Murtagh and Thorn after Eragon's main story has concluded. Thorn and Murtagh have focused their lives on surviving and mostly avoiding towns. That is, until they discover something Murtagh thinks is too interesting to ignore. Their travels lead them through multiple fatal encounters with a witch, a giant fish, and requests from werecats. Not only do the dragon and Rider have to try and defeat a witch that might be even more dangerous than Galbatorix, they also need to make peace with themselves. This book, while set in a fantasy world with all its problems, still manages to focus on the main characters' feelings and emotions. Anyone returning to the Inheritance Cycle would enjoy this book.

Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows is about Ingrid, labeled as “The Girl with Dead Parents” at school and treated like her popular friend Rachel’s charity case. While she feels invisible and pitied in real life, she secretly lives a completely different life online as a confident and well-known gamer.

After a falling out with her best friend leaves her isolated and ostracized at school, Ingrid unexpectedly connects with a boy through a wrong-text message. The two begin talking anonymously, and for the first time, Ingrid feels seen for who she truly is. However, things become complicated when she starts to suspect that the boy she’s confiding in might actually be a popular classmate from school, forcing her to confront her fears about identity, vulnerability, and trust.

In my opinion, this was a cute middle-grade romance with a sweet message about friendship and self-acceptance, though some parts of the plot felt predictable. I would recommend this to those who enjoy wholesome middle-grade romance, mistaken-identity tropes, and stories about friendship and finding confidence.

Drum Roll, Please is a book about a quiet girl, Melly, who is simply planning on going to a music camp with her best friend, Olivia and enjoying it. But then, her whole world falls apart. Her parents split up. Camp starts to look less fun with this hanging over her, but when she arrives, she starts to make friends, music, and even finds love. This book is an amazing story about friendship and change. The way that the author describes Melly's emotions is very descriptive and relatable. Anyone who enjoys reading about music, friendship, or thinks they might relate to Melly would love this book.

After quitting her modelling career and accidently wishing her cousin ill health and a depressing marriage, Leah Zhang's parents send her on a two-week travel program in China. Leah is excited to reconnect with her family's culture, brushing up on her Mandarin and - hopefully! - impressing her aunt at the end of the trip. However, Leah soon finds that her childhood nemesis, Cyrus Sui, is on the trip, too. Deciding to exact the ultimate revenge, Leah hatches a plan to pretend to forgive Cyrus, only to break his heart in front of all their classmates when he eventually falls for her. But Leah soon finds herself falling in love with the boy she used to hate, and must grapple with her newfound feelings for him...

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed "Never Thought I'd End Up Here"! I was actually not looking forward to reading this book, as I don't typically read YA romance novels. However, I really liked the cultural reconnection plot, and Leah and Cyrus's trope was sweet and well-done. My favorite part of this story was the way Liang was able to convey Leah's mental health struggles, as I was really able to connect with her thoughts and insecurities. My only complaint would be Leah's revenge plot. Her idea of "seducing Cyrus and then breaking his heart" was not only out of character, but also juvenile and unnecessary. It made me dislike Leah's character, which was a shame. I think Liang could still have pulled off Leah and Cyrus's trope without the revenge plot. Overall, though, I would recommend "Never Thought I'd End Up Here" to anyone who is a fan of YA romance novels!

"A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson is a mystery about a high schooler, Pip, who chooses to re-investigate a case on Andie Bell, who was said to be murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Pip wants to prove Sal's innocence and uncovers dark secrets from her town. This book easily became one of my favorites because it had so many mysteries and suspense. I loved the shocking twists that came throughout every part of the story, and the author really kept me engaged while reading it. Holly Jackson also described and showed Pip's character and development in such a great way. This book also made me excited to read the other books in the series. Definitely recommend this book to people who love mysteries and detective work.

American Royals by Katharine McGee is a story centered on the House of Washington royalty, the monarchs that sit on America’s throne, generations after George Washington was offered the crown.
Beatrice is the heir to the throne, and will become the first Queen of America. Her parents insist on an arranged marriage, but her heart belongs to someone else.
Samantha, better known as Sam, is the spare. She’s always lived in her sister’s shadow and has had her share of flings, but the one person she truly wants is the only one she can’t have.
Jefferson, Sam’s twin, is America’s favorite prince. Charming and charismatic, he seems to have it all—except he has no idea that two very different girls are both in love with him.
In my opinion, this book was amazing! Katherine McGee’s writing style was engaging and easy to read, and the concept of an American monarchy felt fresh, unique, and completely intriguing. The shifting perspectives between characters kept the story dynamic and dramatic, making it hard to put down. I will definitely be reading the next books in the series.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy royal drama, love triangles, and glamorous contemporary romance with a twist of political intrigue.

We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han is the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The story is about Belly Conklin planning her wedding with Jeremiah Fisher while also trying to sort her lingering feelings for her first crush, Conrad Fisher. This tension between the two brothers drives much of the drama and emotion throughout the novel.
In my opinion, this book was fine but nothing special. At times, Belly’s character felt frustrating, especially as she seemed to lead both brothers on and struggled with indecision, which made it hard to fully sympathize with her. The romantic tension can be engaging, but it occasionally borders on repetitive or overly dramatic.
I would recommend this book to mainly those who have read the first two books and enjoy summer romances, love triangle drama, and stories about coming-of-age and self-discovery.

This book was pretty good and really funny. It is a graphic novel, so it is a pretty fast read. Plain Jane and the Mermaid is about a girl with deceased parents in the 1800s who can't inherit her own house due to the fact that she is a woman. So, she goes to find a man to marry. Naturally, she chooses Peter, whom she has loved for a long time and he would gladly say yes, if only to get away from his father. This was a great plan... up until Peter was kidnapped by a mermaid. This book balances humor and sadness all while keeping the reader captivated. Although some places were a little less exciting and slow. Overall, this is a great book for graphic novel and mythical creature lovers.

This book is quite captivating. The main character, Cole, follows his friends into another a world after they were kidnapped, is enslaved, is sold to a company that has him doing dangerous work where he meets Mira. The idea of escape prevalent throughout the book builds up a desire to see it happen for these two characters and their friends. My only wish for this book is that it had the ability to explore Cole’s relationship with his two best friends more beyond just Cole’s thoughts and maybe a bit more of his experiences as a slave. Beyond that slight lack, however, it has an interesting storyline that makes you just want to keep turning the page.

Ever since he was taken in by the enigmatic, reclusive billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall, Evander has never known anything except the walls of his room in his guardian's large gothic mansion known as the Hazelthorn Estate. Physically sick, traumatized, and orphaned, he remembers next to nothing about his childhood - except that Byron's grandson, Laurie, once tried to kill him by burying him alive. For Evander's safety, Byron has given him a strict set of rules he must abide by, including that he must never leave his room or go anywhere near Laurie alone. And he cannot, for reasons unbeknownst to him, go into the ever-growing, ominous gardens of Hazelthorn.

Then one day Byron dies a gruesome death right in front of Evander. And a look in Byron's will reveals something strange: all of Hazelthorn Estates and his riches will be inherited by Evander, leaving nothing to the rest of his family, including Laurie. Horrified by the sudden turn of events, Evander is certain that his caretaker must have been murdered, leaving him to find the killer. But other threats appear as Byron's eerie relatives begin to move into the estate, clearly wanting a claim on Evander's newfound riches, and as Hazelthorn's strange garden, previously off-limits to Evander, continuously grows, threatening to swallow up the Estate - and Evander himself. As unsettling family secrets begin to reveal themselves one by one, Evander is forced to figure out the ugly truth behind Hazelthorn Estates before the garden - or Byron's supposed murderer - gets to him, and he might just have to put his trust in Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him years ago, to survive.

I must start off by stating that Drews' writing style was very immersive in my opinion - I loved the dark, psychological style of the book, although at some points it felt a little overdone and edgy. The plot was, in simplest terms, insane: there were definitely twists that I never could have predicted, and each one was more surprising than the last. The body horror elements in the novel managed to spook me a little, which is rare for me. The book is fast paced, especially the second half, and each chapter left me with so many questions that I just had to keep reading for want of finding out. Evander and Laurie's relationship was also very complex - it was a genuine lovers-to-enemies story, and both of the characters slowly letting out their traumas and vulnerabilities gave the story emotional output and catharsis. I also enjoyed Evander's journey to self-acceptance, that feeling of finally breaking free from the confines one's been put in and learning to love oneself. Overall, it was personally a good read and a nice introduction to the body horror genre for me. I also look forward to potentially reading Drews' previously published work of a similar genre, Don't Let the Forest In.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is about Isabel “Belly” Conklin who has spent every summer going to a beach house with her mother and her older brother Steven to visit her mom’s best friend Susannah Beck and two sons—Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.
The story is a nostalgic summer romance centered on first crushes, family bonds, and growing up.
In my opinion, this book was entertaining and Jenny Han’s writing style was fun and easy to read. While the story was enjoyable, some parts felt slow-paced or a bit predictable.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes summer romances, coming-of-age stories, and stories about family and friendship.