You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan |  Rating: ★★★★★

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Net Galley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Broadening the genre (if only for a small fraction of what is desired) beloved LGBTQ friendly writers Nina LaCour ("Everything Leads to You", "Hold Still") and David Levithan ("Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist", "Boy Meets Boy") have teamed up with each other for what's surely the most dynamic writing duo this year and lead us into a breezy young adult contemporary that is fast on track to becoming a new favorite for fans.

Seriously, guys. Their writing together? It's heavenly. Can you guys, like, I don't know, team up again about thirty-five more times? No?

Okay. Back on track!

If you've ever loved either author's work (solo or otherwise) You Know Me Well should be at the top of your list to purchase this summer. I don't even have to tell you this. Perhaps the best young adult book of 2016, You Know Me Well is the perfect novel to lay in the sun with and remains impossible to put down. New fans will be made with this gem of a novel and I'm confident in saying so.

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad | Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

“Real relationships - the kind that were supposed to last but never did - were more trouble than they were worth.”

Pop culture enthusiasts will remember Lauren Conrad for her many years spent on MTV’s reality A-List with two hit shows: Laguna Beach and The Hills. Since breaking onto the scene of reality television a decade ago, her career has exploded with not only two shows under her belt but successful ventures in lifestyle, fashion and literature.

Lauren Conrad is a woman of many talents and one of my favorite people, well, ever.

L.A. Candy marked her first dabble into the release of young adult fiction and serves a dishy alternative to The A-List by Zoey Dean and Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar. It is the first of a trilogy, and followed quickly by a sequel trilogy as well, and is the very definition of beach reads.

Fans of those series will have certainly flocked to this gem and its follow-ups because reading it is just a genuinely good time. It’s smart and stylish but not a slow read. Once you’re in it, you’re in it until the finish and can’t take your eyes from it pages. The biggest mistake anyone could make with this novel is by thinking it'll be something other than it's not: don't take it too seriously.

Lost in Love by Susane Colasanti | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Because of my love for the introduction of this trilogy, Lost in Love was at the tip top of my to-read list this spring. It did not disappoint–in fact, it is the perfect novel for any romantic to have on hand this summer. Susane Colasanti shows her writing chops again with a heartfelt summer adventure filled with romance and friendship and the age old questioning of those entering adulthood.

Back it again are our girls–Sadie, Darcy and Rosanna. Each girl faces a world of changes with the backdrop of New York City just in the distance. When we left them in City Love, the trio were navigating their new lives and new loves, all the while befriending one another and exploring their contrasting personalities.

Drama was at an abundance when it came down to a few flaws in their new lives. Sadie’s found her soulmate, Austin, only to discover he isn’t at all who she that he was–that he was keeping a huge secret from her. He’s married. When we meet up with Sadie again, our eternal optimist is struggling with their break up and needs time to get back into the right state of mind to deal with this news.

I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Readers or pop cultural enthusiasts will recognize McMillan as the author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and many, many novels that empowered a generation and continue to do so. I Almost Forgot About You is inspiring and the perfect novel to bring with you when going on a trip. Inspiring, thoughtful and all about growth–Terry McMillan does it again and if my praise for it doesn’t spark your curiosity, let this be the one exception when it comes to the pesky little “don’t judge a book by its cover!” rule.

How pretty is this gem? Anyways! Back on track.

Would I Lie to You (GG #10) created by Cecily von Ziegesar | Rating: ★★★★★

You can expect the usual realistic and sloppy portrayal of the teenage mind in this hot installment. Gossip Girl continues to cater to its audience–light, juicy, fashionable and fast reads that leave you giggling a little bit to yourself. It’s dizzily trashy and that’s what makes it dazzling. Yes, it is the perfect summer treat for those who want to kick back, lose themselves in luxury and drama.

Summer lives on as the drama reaches an all time high in Would I Lie To You? the second to last installment in the original series. And with filming at an end for Breakfast at Fred’s, Blair and Serena wind up staying in the Hampton’s as fashion muses for a very famous designer.

Of course, this doesn’t mean they will be the face of this designers new line and have to share the spotlight with their own lookalikes. Neither duo seems to be happy about this, and Blair feels that the models are very much so up to something.

They happen to be living next door to Nate, too, and because of this their love triangle is back on. Blair, Nate and Serena reunite as the best friends that they are but there’s always more lingering in their hearts. While things heat up between Nate and Blair once more, Serena begins to question her feelings for Nate and comes to the conclusion that she has loved him all along.

Only in Your Dreams (GG #9) created by Cecily von Ziegesar | Rating: ★★★★★

Summer is here and things are heating up for our recent high school graduates in the ninth book of the pop culture phenomenon that is Gossip Girl. Sadly, Only In Your Dreams is the first of the series to be written by a ghost writer instead of Cecily von Ziegesar and it definitely shows.

But the ghost writer does capture Cecily’s series in a way the mimics her style perfectly. While it isn’t the best of the series, it is still juicy and stylish in the way that only Gossip Girl can be.

Everyone’s favorite Upper East Siders are nearing adulthood and have vowed to make this summer their best yet. Serena’s begun production as the lead in Breakfast at Fred’s, only to find out acting isn’t quite as easy as she thought. Her only saving grace is her looks and her ridiculously adorable and sweet costar, whom she definitely develops a crush on.

But is this something she can pursue? Or is he just not that into her?

And then there’s Vanessa who, after getting booted from her apartment by her older sister Ruby’s return, finds herself temporarily homeless.

Luckily for her, with Serena’s help, she is able to land a job on the movie set. And she moves in with the Humphrey’s. Rufus is surprisingly cool about it and soon she finds herself staying in Jenny’s old room. It’s a cozy little set up and things look up for our favorite edgy, badass, bald, budding filmmaker.

The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard | Rating: ★★★★☆

It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Sara Shepard and have been for years. Devouring The Lying Game and Pretty Little Liars series has been a bit of an addiction for me since my teens; so it’s no surprise how thrilled I was when I heard about The Perfectionists, Sara’s latest dive into young adult suspense and glamour.

Not only is the cover gorgeous, the plot shows promise in the same way that all her books do. Although Sara’s writing isn’t the best in all the land, she makes reading fun and each story oozes scandal, luxury, death and mystery. It’s easy to see why her work is adapted frequently and why she dominates her portion of the genre.

Sara’s mind is filled with ideas, this much we know. She just knows what she’s doing to make readers crawl back. But while The Perfectionists was a fun, thrill filled read that shined bright with dark air and mystery, it wasn’t her best work. I keep noting that some of the characters felt less alive than her previous works.

This isn’t to say that The Perfectionists was boring or a chore to read. It’s fast and fun and very delicious in its own right; it just had moments where you felt very unattached to some of the characters.

Almost like they weren’t quite fleshed out beyond a brief summary of interests and physical appearances. It was odd.

Ava, Caitlin, Mac, Parker and Julie were all entertaining in their own rights and it was easy to get wrap up in their drama, yet more often than not I found myself feeling rather underwhelmed by their plots and characteristics. Mostly, they were forgettable.

Perfect (PLL #3) by Sara Shepard | Rating: ★★★★★

She knew too much. -A

Sara Shepard’s completely addictive bestselling series Pretty Little Liars continues down its dark and delicious path of Rosewood through its third installment, Perfect, and picks up right where Flawless left off.

Everyone’s favorite liars and readers alike have hardly had a chance to breath, and things are only looking more dramatic from here on out. Trouble is certainly brewing in the beautiful, exclusive town of Rosewood -- what could possibly happen next?

Pretty Little Liars is wildly entertaining in the vein of Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl book series, for its exploits of rich, mysterious and beautiful teenagers, with dashes of a good old vintage young adult thriller reminiscent of Lois Duncan. With every clue, with every description and development, with every answer comes about a dozen more questions.

And that, my friends, is what makes the suspense of A and who killed Alison DiLaurentis so fun.

ANEW: Book One: Awakened by Josie Litton | Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

“This idea you have that I’m a piece of p r o p e r t y is nothing short of repellant. You do not own me. No one can. Not ever.”

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Anew: Book One: Awakened provides us with a retelling of the much beloved children’s story Sleeping Beauty; set in the near future and pulled together in all its erotic glory. It promises intrigue, mystery and all kinds of tension tied together with vivid, unique writing by Josie Litton who put quite a lot of work into this vibrant and startling world of desire and discovery.

We open our story to find our leading lady, Amelia, awakening from her slumber and embracing her obvious freedom. Although she is able to function in her thoughts, her mind is filled with haziness when it comes down to her memories. These thoughts haunt her and beyond the knowledge of life and much of its meaning, her memories grow thinner when it comes down to her past.

Her past, we will soon learn, is… well… I can’t say without giving away the most massive piece of information in the plot. It’s frightening, actually. It’s unique and surely fits the plot. I have to admit I didn’t see it coming and was surprised in more ways than one. Amelia’s got questions and the answers may not come to her easily; in fact, they are very well devastating.

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

A Window Opens is one of the best fiction releases I’ve had the pleasure of reading in all of 2015. It’s warm, it’s got humor and is overall a thoughtful debut by Elisabeth Egan, who’s writing is easy to fall into and in it delivers us a vivid picture with rich descriptions, alive characters and varying opinions filled with plenty of tension and room for growth.

There’s something inspirational and real about this story and its ordinary backdrop. It reminds us that struggling through work and home is complicated and that it’s also okay to ask for help every now and again.

Its opinionated characters, with their struggles that are real and deep, it has its heartbreaking moments and all the while remains a fast read perfect for a day off in the sun. Elisabeth does a fantastic job at incorporating plenty into her plots without becoming overbearing or drawn out, balancing out everything in a way that will delight readers thoroughly.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han | Rating: ★★★★★

“So much of love is chance. There's something scary and wonderful about that.”

It’s no surprise that I’ve been anticipating P.S. I Still Love You for the better part of this year. There’s something undeniably sweet and warm to the way Jenny Han tells the story of Lara Jean and her family, friends and romantic life. I’ve been in wait for the continuation of her character and it did not disappoint me in any way, shape or form.

Unless you count me being upset to say goodbye to Lara Jean and Peter; wanting so desperately for Jenny Han to bring out another installment. Although logic says this was a good ending, light hearted and satisfying for fans and truly an excellent end, part of me will always long for more because I’d become so attached to these characters so quickly. It was unexpected and that’s what makes it one of my favorite book duos of all time in the YA contemporary genre.

Lara Jean is a character that readers can connect to instantly because there are parts of her that are so leveled with who we all are. Yes, Lara Jean is just a joy to read about – the tone in which she thinks is so sweet and intriguing and overall a delight. Being able to see her grow, to see her life bloom more and more has been an exciting privilege for me. I absolutely adore her and can say that in all the contemporary young adult releases I’ve read recently, I do enjoy reading from Lara Jean’s point of view the most.

Because I'm Worth It (GG #4) by Cecily Von Ziegesar | Rating: ★★★★★

Because I’m Worth It takes things up a notch for our favorite Upper East Siders. Time has passed rather quickly and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Some are given second chances, some are cleaning up their acts and some are exploring whole new worlds to discover themselves no matter what it costs those they love. As usual, we can expect a luxurious setting with tons of backstabbing, sex and rich teen angst.

(And we see the age old statement: give a girl a new haircut and she can take on the world. Wait, that’s not a thing? Oh…)

With a budding romance in rehab just beginning, other relationships fall apart. There’s plenty of romantic plots as per usual in this installment, and while some of it seems excessive and silly it still serves as an trashy entertainment at its finest. There’s a reason these books, and the “adaption”, are so popular: they are scandalous and reminiscent of a train wreck you can’t help but to watch.

On the topic of romance, something unexpected happens to our favorite teen queen B: Blair meets someone who has such a classic handsome tone to him that he just may be the next leading man to her Audrey Hepburn; the only catch is massive seeing as he is a friend of her fathers and is the man who is giving her a second chance at her Yale interview.

The Kiss by Lucy Courtenay | Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Are you looking for the PERFECT gift for a young adult romantic just in time for summer? Or do you long for something fun, light and flirty to read in your own downtime?

Look no further: this cute little gem is filled with entertaining characters and just the right amount of sarcasm to keep one interested till its final pages. Dash in some lovely settings, a little mythology (talk mythology to me, baby!) and romcom moments. One thing I know for sure upon reading this little guy is that I really must go to Paris one day.

Who’s with me? After all, don’t a good majority of us want to experience something magical in our lives? In this case, the memory of a very special kiss is magic.

The Kiss by Lucy Courtenay is an adorable addition to any preteen/early teen girls library (although I wouldn’t set any age limit, actually) – it is fluffy, sweet beyond repair and quite funny, it has a quirky feel to its writing and I don’t even have to say this: it will certainly go over well with fans of contemporary romance looking for a fast, beachy read that leaves it readers giggling, hopeful and swooning over the thought of THE kiss.

Vampires of Manhattan (The New Blue Bloods Coven #1) by Melissa de la Cruz | Rating: ★★★★☆

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

It’s been near a decade, now, since I’ve been reading Melissa de la Cruz and her books and it’s safe to say I’ve always been a massive fan. Back in high school, two of her book series were amongst my favorites on my shelf: The Au-Pairs and Blue Bloods. Almost all of her books have the same fast pace and snarky attitude to it that makes it a breeze to read and enjoy.

Until I saw Vampires of Manhattan on Net Galley I hadn’t the slightest idea that she had made a Blue Bloods spin off/sequel series targeted at adults instead of teens. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t heard considering I’ve been pretty present in the book community and this is one of my all time favorite supernatural series. Alas, I’ve clearly been living under a rock – it has been nearly a year since its release, after all!

I felt like a horrible fan however, I was PUMPED to get my hands on a copy of this little gem and more than ready to dive back into this world of vampires, luxury and the supernatural. I feel as though I should have perhaps had a refresher; reread the original series beforehand but it was surprisingly easy to jump back into this world.

Blonde Ambition (The A-List #3) by Zoey Dean | Rating: ★★★★☆

Blonde Ambition is quite possibly one of my favorites installments in the beloved The A-List series. Zoey Dean’s is known for her sharp, fun and fast paced story telling and doesn’t disappoint in this third book of the series.

It shows immediate growth in a few of the characters, Anna for example, and shows great promise for the others. We see a romance bud in an unlikely place and friendships shrink and grow. And of course a signature dash of family and relationship dramas. Zoey Dean is the master of teen friendly drama that levels the field with style, intrigue, sex and the constant battle of general teenage affairs.

It’s Gossip Girl meets a stylish, more laid back California setting with a dash of good ole 90210 drama and a whole lot of sass.

Blonde Ambition is a mix of everything we’ve come to know and love from the series and then some. We see second chances, we see strong friendships and other moments that make you go OMG. Blonde Ambition is The A-List in its prime and it’s something you will read quickly, unable to put it down.

My recommendations to have on the side?

Sunshine, your favorite drink, a killer pair of shoes and shades. It’s a beach read, it’s perfect for the summer and perhaps always will be with its fashionable description, drama and various pop culture references that have long passed.

The Corridor by A.N. Willis | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

THE CORRIDOR by A.N. Willis has been on my most anticipated list for quite a while now and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint me. Within the first chapters, I knew that it was on the track to becoming one of the best young adult sci-fy releases in 2015 with its engaging plot that centers around one girls ability to travel within various parallel universes.

Readers who aren’t used to sci-fy stories could easily lose themselves in this, it could be the first real experience of the genre for them, because it’s simple and thrilling and has an excellent leading lady in Estele. There’s something undeniably smart and suspenseful about the entire story that makes it engaging in the manner that you don’t want to put it down.

Needless to say, the plot is as fascinating as the description would lead you to believe and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s easy to imagine the colours of each world passing us by as Estelle explores and reads quite a bit like a movie or television series; which is awesome. I can certainly see this novel being adapted sooner rather than later and frankly, I need it NOW! I just need more of these worlds.

Take A Chance On Me (GG: The Carlyles #3) created by Cecily von Ziegesar and written by Annabelle Vestry | Rating: ★★★★★

In the third installment of Gossip Girl: The Carlyles, things continue heating up on the Upper East Side and these new scandalous teenagers just won’t quit. Everything has been up in flames since the arrival of The Carlyle triplets and Take A Chance on Me is quite possibly the best in this spin off and dishes us a hefty helping of drama, betrayal, romance and power struggles.

Say hello to your next best beach read, ladies and gentlemen. Although this next generation of kids don’t quite reach the level of awesomeness that our original group did, this installment certainly takes things to a whole new level and is classic Gossip Girl. It’s stylish, witty, light and will have you glued to the pages until the final chapter.

As for the kids…

Owen has officially snagged the girlfriend of his ex best friend, and with this betrayal and the entire UES teenage population knowing this, he no longer has to hide his attraction to Kelsey. No matter who he hurts, he flaunts this relationship and finds himself blissfully at ease. Love is a powerful thing, my friends. Powerful and brutal.

But is it love that two share or is it just lust? Was their romance a classic case of “you want what you can’t have”? Owen soon can’t help but wonder how well he really knows Kelsey. Now that he is friendless and in a relationship, Owen begins to have second thoughts. Kelsey doesn’t seem to ever want to just talk to him and after Rhys quits the team; he becomes captain to a group of guys who seemed to have picked sides.

Girls on Film (The A-List #2) by Zoey Dean | Rating: ★★★★★

The A-List crew is back for seconds in this installment of the best selling series. It’s hard for me to believe it’s as old as it is, but in spit of its age it is still hilarious and oozes shallow rich-kid-plots goodness. Zoey Dean ups her game for this number and doesn’t disappoint fans with where she takes this glamorous series.

Often hailed as Gossip Girl for California teens, The A-List is one of the most popular young adult chick lit series and proves time and time again that sometimes it’s fun to be bad. Girls on Film is just as funny, luxurious, fashionable and scandalous as the previous book and we watch the delightful batch of characters as they cook up more drama in their final semester of high school.

Anna Percy moved to California to live with her father and start over. Always in the shadow of her dear best friend, Anna thought it was about time for an adventure of her own and a personality overhaul. With her new found confidence and new zip code, Anna has found herself in love with one boy, dating another, new friends and new enemies.

Anna has certainly sealed her place on The A-List without so much of a struggle. She hasn’t come too far out of her shell but she does have a level of intrigue that her new classmates have found. Her arrival has brought a new mix to the lives of these teenagers; a friendship has quickly formed between herself and the always entertaining Sam Sharpe. And this friendship takes the main stage in Girls on Film, as the two girls work together on a film for school – a retelling of The Great Gatsby.

All I Want Is Everything (GG #3) by Cecily von Ziegesar | Rating: ★★★★★

Following the events of You Know You Love Me, everyone’s favorite group of partying, reckless, intriguing teenagers are still the hot topic on the infamous Gossip Girl blog.

Which is not at all shocking, given their lives are as entertaining and stressful as your favorite handy dandy soap opera. It’s just as dishy, catty and sarcastic as ever and once more an absolute delight to pick up where we left off in the wild happenings of this batch of characters. Yes, Gossip Girl is the ultimate trash favorite.

All I Want Is Everything is YA chick lit at its finest. Even all these years later, this series is still fun and enjoyable and cringe worthy, i.e: a total beach read. So grab your shades, that new bikini and your favorite drink – it’s time to dive back into this dishy world and gossip our cute little butts off. Who doesn’t love a good gossip?

Winter break is nearly here and with the end of the year drawing closer, there's plenty of room for these kids to ring in the new year with dramatic sparks. Some will stay in the city for the holidays while others will be jetting off for a vacation in the sun and the world at their feet.

Thankfully for us, and the entire Upper East Side, the loveable pair of best frenemies, Blair and Serena, have patched up their friendship. Now that both girls are single and BFFs again, they’re looking to spend their winter holidays in the sun and to enjoy themselves thoroughly. They’ve earned it, right? With Nate no longer in either girls romantic lives, they’ve retracted their claws and maybe, just maybe, their eyes will meet another special someone’s.

You Know You Love Me (GG #2) by Cecily von Ziegesar | Rating: ★★★★★

You Know You Love Me serves as the second installment of the original Gossip Girl series and comes with the return of fan favorites Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, Jenny, Vanessa and Chuck. After the excellent start to the series, one can tell instantly that these scandalous teenagers and their lives are only just getting started. Get ready for more sex, more betrayal and more fun.

The title of this book is, perhaps, the most iconic of the series due to the phrase “you know you love me” that frequents the ever mysterious Gossip Girl’s blog and also makes its appearance in dialogue for both Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen. You don’t think of Gossip Girl without this phrase.

It reminds me of middle and high school; the way you feel when you're just discovering the world for yourself and how odd and intriguing life can really be. It reminds me of the autumn and the very first pair of heels I'd purchased as a teenager; it reminds me of the thrill of doing things you shouldn't be and the exploration of it all. Plot wise, it picks up right where the first of the series left off and throws us right into the mix of these teenagers scandal filled lives.

Blair and Nate are back together, Nate is as fickle as ever, Serena is kind-of-sort-of with Dan (but for how long?), Vanessa has an older boyfriend and Jenny is looking for a way in as usual. And Chuck Bass is still a dirt bag dressed up with a pinky ring and scarf.