Book Review: We are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

Delightful! Just as a reminder, I'm not a huge contemporary fan, but once in a while I see one that looks appealing.  We are Still Tornadoes is just that book.

We are Still Tornadoes is told entirely in letters sent back and forth from Scott to Cath.  Cath has just gone away to college, and Scott is back home working at his father's clothing store.  They have lived across the street from each other their entire lives and are best friends.

That's right.  I said letters.  No email, no texting.  We are Still Tornadoes takes place in the '80s and the references to the music of that time added to the entertainment.

It is no secret where this book is heading, but that is OK.  Because these two encounter a lot of bumps along the road, and they help each other through. Along the way, they are very entertaining.  I literally laughed aloud several times at their clever comebacks.

It's mostly a story of true friendship; the romance part is only at the very end. So if you want heat, this isn't the book. It's been compared to Eleanor & Park, and while I can see that, it's really not the same.  Scott and Cath aren't really misfits. They are fairly normal kids going through the stresses of adolescence and experiencing big changes in their lives.

We are Still Tornadoes is a quick read that will entertain contemporary friendship/romance fans of all ages. I can't wait to recommend this one!

Published by St. Martin's Griffin, November 1, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
304 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

I didn't really get into the entire premise behind Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. However, Smith's writing and characters, as usual, kept my interest.

Clare and Aidan are leaving for college on opposite sides of the country, and the entire book takes place on the last night before they leave. They've been together for two years. Clare thinks they should break up because long distance relationship are too hard, and they need to experience college on their own.  Aidan isn't so sure.

Clare has made a list of places to go and things to do on their last night, so they start off with that.  The evening doesn't go smoothly. They meet some friends who have their own things going on. I picked up on Stella's issue early on. They stray from the list after an encounter with Aidan's father.

These characters are interesting and Smith's style is so easy to fall into. I read Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between in a matter of hours.

I just didn't think this issue was worth all the fuss. Not that it matters what Smith writes about -- I'll read it. But this was kind of lame. Or I'm too old. I would have just said, "Try it out and see what happens. You can always break up later." Seems so practical to me, and I didn't understand why someone didn't say that. Yes, they explained why they didn't want to do that, but it's a lame excuse. You can still go out with friends and have a lot of fun when you are away at school even if you have a boyfriend.

I also wasn't a fan of the ending. The wrap up was very quick and in an epilogue. Not enough for me. So, Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between isn't my favorite Jennifer E. Smith book, but I'm not going to stop reading and recommending her books to all my high school kids.

Published by Poppy, September 1, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
247 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell @rainbowrowell

Finally a contemporary book that I can sink my teeth into. I've been DNFing or not even starting many contemporaries lately, but I should have known that Rowell's characters would win my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Fangirl.

Cath and her twin sister Wren are leaving for college and they are going to live in separate dorms. They will be apart for the first time. Cath is nervous, especially when her roommate shows almost no interest in getting to know Cath, and Cath is to frightened of everything to put herself out there.

All Cath wants to do is write her fanfic, which has a huge following on the internet. About the only thing she's excited about is her fiction writing class that she managed to get in as a freshman.

I think what makes Rowell's characters so easy to love is that they have multiple aspects to their lives. They are well rounded. I don't want to say too much but there are issues besides surviving their freshman year at college. Their father has some mental health issues, and Cath is worried about leaving him alone....since their mother left them when they were eight years old. Mom has suddenly decided she wants to be a part of their lives, much to Cath's dismay. Wren takes a different path through her freshman year, partying too much and paying the consequences. And, of course, there's a romance. A really sweet romance that melted my heart.

Cath has problems getting her priorities straight, as is common for freshmen in college, and following her through this process is both frustrating and satisfying.

I'm not sure I have anything negative to say. It did take me a while to immerse myself in Fangirl. But I think that's more of a personal thing -- only reading in short spurts. I do better if I can get a huge chunk of reading time all at once. That's not always possible, of course.

I was starting to think I shouldn't try any more contemporaries (maybe I'm too old for teen situations?) but Fangirl has renewed my faith. I'm going to have to start pushing this one to my teens. It's been nominated for our Abraham Lincoln High School Book Award, so that will help.

Published by St. Martin's Griffin, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
435 pages

Rating: 5/5

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