Genre: Love & Romance

Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany Rutter

Posted July 29, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Romance, YA / 0 Comments

Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany Rutter

Good morning my lovely bookworms. It’s even a while. End of term was brutal for me and I just needed some time for myself and reset I guess. But it’s the start of my summer holidays and I intend to return my blog and bookstagram and I have a lot of books to catch up on so over the next week or two you have will have see some mini-reviews starting off with 2 week YA Romance reads.

Me and romance reads, I know I very rarely read or review some but here we are. They are so different and so many key and positive messages. I would urge you to pick them up.

Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany RutterThe Love Interest by Helen Comerford
Published by Bloomsbury YA on June 6, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Love & Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Amazon | Waterstones
Goodreads

A swoony, speculative and entirely electric YA debut with a humorous and satirical take on the conventions of the superhero-verse, for fans of Michelle Quach's Not Here To Be Liked and the Marvel Universe.
Seventeen-year-old Jenna Ray has just been saved by the world's newest superhero, Blaze. And, in the eyes of the public, that means one thing: Jenna Ray has been cast as the Love Interest.
No. Not happening. Not if Jenna has anything to say about it (even if Blaze is actually quite sweet and cute).
But her plans to defy the HPA (the Heroics and Power Authority) and turn down this new role are thwarted when the Villains begin to take an interest in her and offer a life-changing proposition; become Blaze's Love Interest, while avoiding catching feelings for him, to uncover the HPA's secret plans and find her missing mum.
To make matters even more complicated, just as Jenna starts to embrace her new-found career, she discovers she might be more on the side of the superheroes than she ever imagined …

I love Marvel (and DC but mostly Marvel) so when I saw a YA superhero romance I was in. The book has the vibe of Marvel movies, mixed with The Boys. As much as the reader want to follow the same stereotypical superhero romance e.g the woman is in danger and needs to be saved and they fall in love, defeat bad evil and live happily ever after. We love those, I mean who doesn’t Lois Lane and Superman, Pepper Potts and Iron Man, Mary-Jane Watson and Spiderman. This book makes you think about the real world, the reality we are faced with mixed in with some dystopian, fantastical superhero element. Comerford really captures that you shouldn’t have to conform to society and what they dictate and Jenna Ray embodies this.

I rooted for Jenna Ray throughout the entire book and that she stuck to her own person regardless of the trials and tribulations she hasn’t to endure so called playing by the HPAs rules. Now it wouldn’t be a review if I didn’t mentioned Blaze, the famous hero himself. I felt a bit sorry for Blaze because he had to live up to a prophecy. That in itself is pressure, his so called love life and have a ‘Love interest’ determined the success of being a superhero. That twist in the storyline really lent a perspective of life itself. We are human and we see that all the time, so I really appreciated the human value not such a powerful character such as well, Blaze. Jenna Ray’s sister, father and her best friend were all an integral part of the book which made it an incredible cast of characters.

The Love Interest is a brilliant mix of romance, comedy, banter and satire to breaking down of the patriarchy that you won’t be able to put down. If you love Marvel/The Boys mixed with Holly Bourne – think Lottie from What’s a Girl Gotta Do then you’ll love this unique YA Romance.

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA for sending me a copy in exchange for a review. Check back later in the week as I interview Helen on her debut.

Mini Book Reviews: The YA Romance Edition | The Love Interest by Helen Comerford & Slowcoach by Bethany RutterSlowcoach: A feel-good teen summer romance by Bethany Rutter
Published by Hot Key Books on June 6, 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Love & Romance, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Amazon | Waterstones
Goodreads

For sixteen-year-old Ruby, GCSEs are over and summer has just begun, so that means hanging out with her BFFs in the park on their roller skates and having fun. She didn't expect it to mean signing up to run in the Dawson Dash - a 5k race for sporty sixth-formers. Because Ruby is NOT sporty. But she really needs to prove wrong her mean brother and even meaner PE teacher about what a fat girl can do.

When Ruby starts to train, she doesn't expect that she would need help - nor that she would find it in the cute boy who has just moved in next door. As the two jog through the long summer evenings in south London's parks together, with Ollie only seeing her at her sweatiest and most vulnerable, the last thing she expected was that he might . . . like her. Or that she could allow herself to like him.

But nothing this summer is working out like she expected . . .

It was a long time ago when I first read No Big Deal, I loved it. I described in then as ‘She owns who she is and she isn’t afraid to show it off.’ That is the same for her latest YA, Slowcoach. She doesn’t lose the true characteristics of her books from her debut to now and I really admire that.

Our main character Ruby never stoped believing, she didn’t let her brother and her father get her down no matter what. Whilst she knew she would get her brother’s time, she did the Dawson Dash for herself. She’s not ashamed of being fat, eating her mum’s amazing cakes or falling for the boy next door, Ollie. She stayed true to herself and the people around saw everything about her but most of all, they saw the incredible beauty and passion and damn brilliant persona that shines bright. Her friends support and I loved Sasha and Liv so much.

Her books tackle important body positivity in the most raw, relatable and honest with a dash of light hearted humour. Through in a love interest that you will adore and you will have life-affirming reaction to the book. Following Bethany on Instagram and seeing her personal journey with running, I was really inspired by her book Slowcoach and how real and how life’s journey has also impacted her writing.

I met Bethany as part of her book tour at my school and it was a real pleasure to host her. She is inspiring and it was amazing to chat to her about her book and being a writer. If you want the perfect, quick summer read that has meaning and cute romance, then Bethany Rutter is author you need to read.

Thank you to Hot Key YA for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

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Book Review | Sing if You Can’t Dance by Alexia Casale

Posted March 11, 2024 by Emma in 2024 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 0 Comments
Book Review | Sing if You Can’t Dance by Alexia Casale

Good morning lovely readers. I’m so excited to be reviewing this book. I wished I read this one sooner and it’s such beautiful, unique and captivating contemporary romance YA book. I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in 2 days which is super good for me but I was on half-term which helped. I picked this book up as I was part of the Discovery Tour for Empathy Lab UK which I was really honoured to be part of. It’s something as a librarian that is close to my heart and something that I promote every year in […]

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Book Review | Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain

Book Review | Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain

Hello my lovely readers. I am about to review the first book to make me cry of 2024 and my second 5 star read. I had a glorious glowing book hangover not in a bad way and it took me a while to really process it. 05/01/2023 – Only 17 pages in and already the main characters Sid and Mel, remind me a bit of 10 Things I Hate About You. Especially Sid specifically I think. I’m just getting that vibe and I love it. 10/01/2024 – Well what a book. I’m still crying… that was not what I expected […]

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Cosy Sunday Reading Update – Heartstopper Volume 4 and 5

Posted December 10, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Bookish Post, Heartstopper, LGBTQ+, UKYA, YA / 2 Comments
Cosy Sunday Reading Update – Heartstopper Volume 4 and 5

Hello my lovely readers, I took a bit of lengthy unintentional break from the blog. Like with everything, work got super busy. But I’m hoping as I my term comes to an end in a week and half I’ll be coming back. But today, I had a very chilled and cosy Sunday, reading and I want to record it, here on my blog. I wanted to document my feeling for Heartstopper whilst reading it. Blanket + Christmas Tree lights + Christmas fireplace ASMR + BOOKS = A Cosy Sunday Reading I’ve been unwell the last few days and today I […]

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ARC Book Review | How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok

Posted September 19, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, LGBTQ+, Mystery, YA / 2 Comments
ARC Book Review | How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok

Good evening, my wonderful readers. As I’m writing this, I’m wrapped up in a blanket, I can certainly feel that Autumn is coming. Today’s is an ARC review, I feel I haven’t read a book before publication for ages and it feels so good. I’m really excited for you to read this book and this is great for your Autumn TBRs too. I’lll also be interviewing the author on publication day about this book so welcome to How to Find a Missing Girl themed week! On to the review shall we… How to Find a Missing Girl saved my reading! […]

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Book Review | Overemotional by David Fenne – A laugh-out-loud heartfelt queer YA

Posted September 7, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Book Review, Bookish Post, UKYA, YA / 0 Comments
Book Review | Overemotional by David Fenne – A laugh-out-loud heartfelt queer YA

Hello my lovely readers, it’s a hot one in the UK at the moment, wish this weather was around when I had my summer holidays and not when I’m back at work, starting a new academic year. That the British weather for you. Ha. Today I’m bring you a review of my last read of August and that of my summer holidays and what a cracker it was. It was such a good book so let me tell you a bit more. I knew I needed this book when I went to CampYA at the beginning of the summer and […]

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Under the Cover #4 – with Anna Waterworth author of The Girl Who Grew Wings

Posted July 27, 2023 by Emma in 2023 Books, Bookish Post, UKYA, Under the Cover / 0 Comments
Under the Cover #4 – with Anna Waterworth author of The Girl Who Grew Wings

Happy Thursday my lovely friends, I’m really excited to welcome my next guest to my author series, Anna Waterworth. Under the Cover is where I interview some of favourite authors and authors I’ve recently read and discovered. I’m trying to refresh my blog and I love interviewing authors and getting an insight into their storytelling, hence Under the Cover was born. Anna is best known for her Fandom duology which I read years ago and loved it. She has returned this year with a brand new Greek Mythology retelling, The Girl Who Grew Wings. It is stunning. So sit back, grab a coffee […]

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Blog Tour – Book Review | If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude – a unique sapphic dystopian YA…

Blog Tour – Book Review |  If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude – a unique sapphic dystopian YA…

Hello my bookish friends. I am really excited to be part of the Ultimate Blog Tour with The Write Reads for debut novel, If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude. Sadly life got in the way, so here is my delayed review. It’s the start of Pride Month and I have the perfect YA Dystopian recommendation for your to add to your TBR piles. Whilst I have put a content warning above, the first few pages is about the main character, Avery about to take her own life. There is a lot of reference to it throughout the book. I […]

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Blog Tour | Book Review – Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan

Blog Tour | Book Review – Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan

Happy Sunday my bookish friends, today I’m really excited for my stop on the Ultimate Blog Tour with The Write Reads for debut novel, Straight Expectations. My first book of May and what a brilliant start to the month. Before I head into my review here is a little bit more about the book. Another book I didn’t really know what to expect. Opening the first few pages on my kindle and I knew I was going to love it. It instantly it gave me Boy Queen by George Lester and Heartstopper vibes. Max is loud and proud at school, […]

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