The Gods Will Sing Our Song: a World War II historical romance with magic, myth and the power of love

The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause is a sweeping World War II historical romance with magic, myth and the power of love. In 1942, the world is at war and two lives are set to meet and their lives will change forever. Seventeen year old Ren Hamada has a troubled past that seems to follow him. Violet Aratani seemingly has the perfect life with loving parents and a bright future with college in front of her. However, in May 1942, Ren, Violet and their community of Japanese Americans were rounded up and sent to the Manzanar Relocation Camp in the California desert. Ren and Violet have little in common except the family relics they prize. Together, they discover a god walks among them as his mortal form is tethered to the camp and only Ren and Violet have the power to release him. Would a divine favor be powerful enough to save them and their families? Will they have the strength and resilience to fight for their survival? 

I was first pulled to this story by its cover and then I knew I wanted to read it when the blurb. Inspired by the author's true family history of internment and resilience, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a fast paced, intriguing story with emotion and tensions. The internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II is another horrible, devastating period of American history. Ms Krause describes the internment camp and its condition in vivid detail that my heart broke for these people who loved the US and their only crime was being Japanese. I enjoyed the mixture of history and Japanese mythology. Ren and Violet’s interaction with the god was fun and powerful as Ren is skeptical and Violet believes. I could not put this book down as tensions rose. I even loved reading the author’s note as she explained the inspiration for this powerful story. While this book is categorized as young adult, I highly, highly recommend The Gods Will Sing Our Song for everyone. 

The Gods Will Sing Our Song will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

on September 1, 2026

Edgewood: the first book in a young adult sci fi action adventure series

Edgewood is the first book in the Edgewood series by Karen McQuestion. Russ Becker has found the late night walks along the quiet streets of his small town as an escape. One night it all changed as he witnessed a strange astronomical event in the sky. He soon discovers that he has gained extraordinary powers and he wasn’t the only one. He soon meets Mallory, a young girl with the power to control minds. Jameson can move objects with his thoughts and Nadia has developed empathic abilities. He learns that they have more in common than just their new abilities. As they are learning about their new abilities, they also learn there is a ruthless organization that wants to exploit their powers. As the enemy closes in and threatens Russ’s family, Russ and his new friends join forces and fight back. 

I am more familiar with Karen McQuestion’s contemporary fiction book and she is one of my go-to authors. The Edgewood series has always been on my radar to read. Edgewood is the first book in an action-packed sci-fi young adult novel. It does start off a bit slow, as most sci-fi stories do in my opinion, however, the story picks up and I was on the edge of my seat. I was Intrigued with Russ as a young man who suffers from insomnia. A series of strange events leads him to a small group of other extraordinary teenagers. As the story reveals hidden agendas and secret organizations, I had a few questions and suspicions that the story does not answer. However, overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Edgewood. 

Edgewood is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Kiss Me First: a sweet, mature young adult romance with lots of laughs and drama

Kiss Me First is the Blairwood University and Bluebonnet Creek series prequel story by Anna B. Doe. Katherine Adams never thought she'd end up in the small town of Bluebonnet Creek, Texas. However, it is the perfect place when she needs to get away. She and her younger sister, Penny, have moved in with her aunt as Penny needs specialized care. Her plan doesn’t include the attention of a certain boy, no matter how charming he is. Emmett Santiago is the town’s golden boy, star football player and the one who could have any girl he wanted. But one look at Kate and he is hooked. While Katherine tries to keep Emmett at arm’s length, he is determined to win her heart. When the sparks start to fly, will she be able to resist? Can Emmett convince Katherine that when he is in, he is all in? 

Kiss Me First is a sweet, mature young adult romance with lots of laughs and drama. At first, I found Katherine to be very aloof and cold; however, once I learned why, I understood. I loved to see Katherine open up and be the teenager she was supposed to be instead of the adult she had to be. I enjoyed Emmett’s pursuit of her as sweet and charming. He was the strength she needed. I also enjoyed the supporting characters who added the laughs of the story. The drama was very realistic and heartbreaking. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to the rest of the series. The story was an engaging read which made it easier to stay glued to the page and continue reading. If you enjoy sweet, mature young adult romance, I recommend Kiss Me First. 

Kiss Me First is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Last Kiss of Summer: heartbreaking young adult love story of one summer

Last Kiss of Summer by Jessica M. Fellerman is a heartbreaking young adult love story of one summer and a devastating turn. Sera Watkins and her family return to their summer house on Cape Cod after two years. She has one goal in mind: to stay away from the boy who broke her heart two years ago. Luke Tisdale is their next door neighbor and he literally has a piece of her heart. When Sera received a new heart as a baby, her healthy values of the old heart were given to Luke. They spent summer days on their secret beach, bonding over their physical connection as well as their mutual love of art and painting. Their friendship seemed like it was evolving into something more. Except one fateful night and a family secret sent Luke spiraling and broke Sera’s heart in the process. Now she is determined to pick Luke as a friend and nothing more. But when she receives devastating news, she is more determined to make this the summer to remember. 

Last Kiss of Summer is described as “A Walk to Remember meets Everything We Never Said.” While I have not read Everything We Never Said, I have read and seen the movie A Walk to Remember, so I was prepared for an emotional story. From the opening chapter to the closing pages, I was hooked on Sera and Luke’s story. My heart warmed at the tender romance between Sera and Luke and I stopped breathing as Sera suffered setbacks that made her future look grim. There was drama and life lessons with tender moments. Oh the tears that fell during the last couple chapters. I kept going back and reading again and again, thinking what just happened didn’t really happen. I closed the book with tears streaming down my face. This story isn’t just a story of summer love. It is a story of learning to truly live and embrace all the storms that life will bring in your path and yet find the joy and beauty in life itself. I highly, highly recommend Last Kiss of Summer. 

Last Kiss of Summer will be available in paperback, eBook and audiobook on April 28, 2026. 

Woke Up Like This: a magical romantic comedy as two high school seniors to enjoy the smaller moments

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea is a seventeen going on thirty story in which two high school seniors find themselves waking up as their adult selves. Charlotte Wu is ultra-organized and trying to plan the perfect prom, the final hurrah before they graduate and enter the adult world. After falling off a ladder and landing atop her archnemesis, J.T. Renner, Charlotte wakes up at thirty years old and lying next to her fiancé, a bearded Renner. In the situation together, Charlotte and Renner discover what they have missed twelve years and must discover if there’s a way to get back. Charlotte also realizes there is more to Renner than just the irritation jock she thought she knew. As they navigate the situation and try to figure out how to get back to seventeen. How will life be different when or if they do? 

Woke Up Like This is described as a “magical romantic comedy about growing up too fast and living in the moment,” I was intrigued by the premise of waking up as your adult self and learning what really matters in life. In the beginning, I was annoyed by Charlotte. She was a hard character to like as she was bossy, judgmental and petty. As someone who does not see the big deal of prom and did not attend my senior prom, I could not connect with her desire with the perfect prom or the perfect milestones. However, I enjoyed her growth as she realizes that the milestones are not as important as the smaller moments that happen in between. Overall, I enjoyed the story as the character showed great growth throughout the story. If you enjoy young adult and magical romantic comedies, I recommend Woke Up Like This. 

Woke Up Like This is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Already Gone: a young adult drama about two sisters and the fight for their future

Already Gone by Bridget E Baker is the story of two sisters and the events that tear their lives apart forever. Lacy Shelton and her sister Hope are only eleven months apart, aka Irish Twins. However, they couldn’t be more different. Lacy is captain of the debate team, a possible Valedictorian, and eagerly awaiting the admission letter from Yale. Hope is the captain of the swim team and happy to go to community college in the fall. According to Lacy, Hope has taken everything she has ever wanted and now she has had enough. She is determined that Hope will not take the handsome new guy in school and she won’t let her ruin her chances with Yale. When a shocking death changes everything and Lacy is now stuck in court-mandated therapy, she is forced to relive the events leading up to the tragedy for a chance at a future.

Already Gone alternates between Lacy’s and Hope’s points of view in a puzzle of sisterhood, betrayal, and teenage mistakes in order to find forgiveness and purpose for the future. I was ready for a great story of teenage sisters, angst, and a story to keep me on the edge of my seat. However, that is not what happened. Yes, Lacy and Hope are stereotypical teens filled with attitude and spite. So much so that I had the urge to shake some sense into both of them. I had a hard time relating to them as I was not this kind of teen growing up. The recommended ages are between 12 and 18. I don’t see a 12 year old understanding this story, definitely high school age readers. The ending was anti-climatic and a bit disappointing. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. However, if you enjoy young adult drama, I recommend Already Gone. 

Already Gone is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Five Survive: a slow burn young adult thriller with surprising twists and turns

Five Survive by Holly Jackson is a young adult thriller which takes place over eight hours with six friends and one sniper threatening their lives. Eighteen year old Red Kenny is on a Spring Break trip with her friends. A road trip in an RV from Philadelphia to the beach. When the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service and no one around to help. Suddenly, the wheels of the RV are shot out, the friends realize that there is a sniper out in the dark, watching them and knows exactly who they are. Someone in their group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. The friends desperately try to get help as well as discover who had the secret. As the hours pass, the friends discover that they all have secrets buried deep. They have nowhere to run and tensions run high, someone will not survive. 

After reading the author’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy, I looked forward to reading her other thrillers. Five Survive is a slow burn thriller that picks up in the final quarter of the book with dizzying speed. At one point, I questioned whether I cared about these characters or the secret someone was hiding or how the events played out. I considered putting the book away. Oh I am so glad that I didn’t! There were so many twists and turns that I was on the edge of my seat to the very end. Each character seemed sketchy and trying to hide something. Even Red, the narrator, left me questioning her motives. The how and why behind their adventures was shocking and the identity of who dies is unclear even to the final page. If you enjoy thrillers, even a young adult one, I highly, highly recommend Five Survive. 

Five Survive is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Shatter Me: a young adult dystopian novel with suspense and a bit of romance

Shatter Me is the first book in the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Juliette is cursed. She cannot touch anyone. Her touch is lethal. When she accidentally touches someone, she is locked up in prison for murder by the Reestablishment, a government in power. No one knows why she has such a lethal touch. For 264 days, she is alone in her prison cell because she is a monster and the world is falling apart. However, when the whispers of war and resistance become too loud to ignore, the Reestablishment decides that Juliette will become their weapon to keep the people in line. They placed Adam in her cell and they learned something interesting that sets a chain of events in motion that changes the course of her life. Juliette must decide if she will become their weapon or fight back and become a warrior against those who imprisoned her.

Shatter Me is a young adult dystopian novel with great suspense and world building. I usually don’t read dystopian novels and I have heard good and bad reviews on Shatter Me. There is a small bit of romance and plenty of action. I enjoyed Juliette as she tries to deal with the isolation and struggles to find her place in the new world around her. The printing style is interesting and unique. It is not an earth shattering, mind blowing type of story. It was an engaging read and the story flowed fairly easily. I look forward to the rest of the series. However, this story is not for everyone. If you are looking for a story with a lot of depth, Shatter Me may not be the story for you. However, if you enjoy engaging dystopian stories, you may enjoy this story. I recommend Shatter Me. 

Shatter Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Secret Year: a romance no one knew about and a grief he could not express

The Secret Year is a young adult romance by Jennifer R Hubbard. Colt Morrissey had a secret relationship with Julia for an entire year and no one had a clue. They seemingly had nothing in common. Julia comes from the country club world and Colt is from the other side of the tracks; but it didn’t seem to matter to them. Until one day when Julia dies in a car accident and Colt pays a price for their secret. He can’t mourn her in the way he wants to and is even tormented with his possible role in her accident. When Julia’s brother hands him a journal Julia wrote to “CM,” Colt relives their time together as he tries to move on as if he never knew her. Can her words help him move on? 

Advertised as a mixture of Romeo and Juliet and The Outsiders, I was looking forward to a drama filled story about two teens and a secret love. However, it was disappointing. The author does a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing.” It is horribly cliched with the rich girl and the poor guy, the homophobic family and the stereotypical high school characters. And Romeo and Juliet meets The Outsiders is misleading. Romeo and Juliet is not a romantic story and the boy and girl from opposite sides of town whose parents aren’t really forbidding their romance aren't the same. Also, The Outsiders is a beloved favorite of mine and this story just doesn’t not compare! Colt is weak and has no growth throughout the story. I do not recommend The Secret Year. 

The Secret Year is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder: a young adult mystery thriller

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is the first book in the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy. In the small town of Fairview, Connecticut, everyone knows the story. Andie Bell, the pretty and popular high school senior, disappeared and was believed to be murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself after confessing to the crime. It is a story everyone still talks about and it haunts the town. For a senior project, Pippa Fitz-Amobi decides to reexamine the case, to cast doubt on the original investigation and the accepted narrative. She knew Sal as a child and she can’t shake the feeling that he did not kill Andie. As she begins to question the people who knew Andie and Sal, she finds clues of darker secrets and proof that Sal is actually innocent. However, someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip digging around as the threatening notes begin. Could her own life be in danger? 

I have seen A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on social media for a while and it wasn’t until my preteen daughter was interested in reading the book and Netflix's new series that I decided to give it a try. Popular BookTok books have been hit and miss for me but I enjoy young adult books and mystery thrillers. I also wanted to read the book before checking out the series. I loved Pippa and her determination to cast a shadow on the accepted story. She was smart and intuitive. There were plenty of suspects and people who had secrets to hide. The twists and turns kept me guessing and the revelations at the end were unexpected but looking back on the clues, the hints were there. I enjoyed this story so much that I will be continuing the trilogy. If you enjoy young adult stories and mystery thrillers, you will enjoy this story. I highly recommend A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. 

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Curvy Girls Can Rule: a heartwarming young adult romance with real life issues

Curvy Girls Can Rule by Ann Maree Craven and Michelle MacQueen is the first book in the About That Girl series. Guys aren’t supposed to fall for their best friend, right? Especially when she’s the curvy girl. Eighteen months ago, Cameron Tucker left. He left Twin Rivers. He left his school, his friends and he left her. Peyton Callahan wrote to Cameron for eighteen months with no reply. Until one day, she decided she had enough and she moved on. The accident that took her brother’s life and caused Cameron to walk away from her tore her world apart. And she hated him for it. Now he’s back at the beginning of their senior year and she wants to show him that she has recovered without him. Little does she know that he didn’t forget about her. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t forget. Now that he’s back, can he prove to her that he still cares for her? Will she forgive him? 

Curvy Girls Can Rule is a heartwarming, sweet young adult romance with powerful moments of grief, pain, confrontation of bullies and unbreakable friendships. From the opening chapter to the final page, readers are taken on an emotional journey of teenage drama with real issues and trauma. I loved Peyton and Cameron as they confront each other with the past as they battle present issues and fight for their futures. Cameron’s grand gesture at the end is very touching and I admit it. I shed a few tears. I especially enjoyed their mutual friend, Nori, who was not afraid to confront them and hit the nail on the head about the internal battles they were fighting silently. I do hope she gets her own story in the series. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy young adult stories with hard hitting, real life issues, I highly recommend Curvy Girls Can Rule. 

Curvy Girls Can Rule is available in eBook

If He Had Been With Me: a young adult romance of what ifs

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin is a story of what if. Autumn and Finn used to be inseparable but along the way, something changed or they changed. Whatever it is, they do their best to ignore each other when they can. Each has their own significant others and friend groups, however, whenever they are together, Autumn feels their relationship could be different and even something more than just friends. One August night, everything changes. It was raining and Finn and his girlfriend were arguing as they drove on the slick road. No one knows what the argument was, or they don’t care; however, the cause of the argument is crucial. The situation causes Autumn to wonder how things could have been different if she and Finn hadn’t drifted apart. She asks herself, if he had been with me, would everything have been different? 

This book has been all over social media and each time it popped up, I was intrigued at the book which came highly recommended. It has been described as “an achingly authentic and raw portrait of love, regret and the life-altering impact of the relationships we hold closest to us.” However, this young adult romance did not live up to the hype. It was pretty predictable as to the cause of the argument; however, the ending left me confused and unsure what happened. There wasn’t much action, even the scenes with action were kinda ho-hum. I think the book and its premise had so much potential and could have been the emotional story it was supposed to be; however, I think it needed better development. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. It was confusing and boring. I do not recommend If He Had Been With Me. 

If He Had Been With Me is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Marked: a young adult action adventure dystopian novel

Marked by Bridget E Baker is the first book in the Sins of Our Ancestors series. All seventeen year old Ruby Behl wants is a good career match and to kiss her long time crush, Wesley Fairchild. It seems all that any teenage girl would want. However, Ruby doesn’t live in a normal world. Ten years ago, a deadly virus nearly wiped out the human race. Transmitted through touch so even the slightest contact is strictly prohibited. During an innocent game of Spin the Bottle, Ruby gets the opportunity to kiss Wesley. After their kiss, she learns that he has been Marked. She discovers that she may be the key to finding the cure. Now it is a race against time as she must search her mysterious past for a possible cure. 

I’ve been a fan of Bridget E Baker’s adult books and through her Facebook fan group, I discovered she also wrote young adult novels. A young adult dystopian novel with Hunger Games vibes, Marked is an action filled story with a mystery and “romance.”  I enjoyed Ruby as she discovers a strength and tenacity she didn’t know she had and fights through her self-doubt. Reluctantly at first, she is accompanied by Sam who proves he is a worthy ally to have at her side. I enjoyed Ruby and Sam’s interaction with each other and they make a great team. There were quite a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy young adult dystopian stories, I recommend Marked. 

Marked is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Celia and the Fairies: a sweet story for all ages

Celia and the Fairies by Karen McQuestion is a story of magic, imagination and the power of kindness. Ten-year-old Celia Lovejoy  is excited to learn that her Grammy will be moving in with her family. She no longer has to go to Paul’s house, her neighbor, after school anymore. Grammy has the best stories filled with magical fairies that live in the woods behind their house. She believes that they are just stories until she receives an unexpected visit from Mira, a real, live fairy! Mira needs help. Celia’s house and the woods are in danger of being demolished. The person who is behind this horrible danger is someone who holds a grudge against Celia’s father. And while fairies can fight against evil, they need Celia’s help. With Paul’s help, Celia starts her danger-filled journey that takes her deep into the woods at night and faces her greatest fears. 

Celia and the Fairies is a fun, sweet story filled with magic and the message that every day kindness can help change the world. It is the first book of The Watchful Woods series. It is written as a Young Adult novel but I think readers of all ages would enjoy this story. Celia is a little girl whose parents have not allowed her to believe in imaginary things like the Easter Bunny or any sort of magic, rather teaching her the realities of the world. When her Grammy moves in, Celia learns that magic does, in fact, exist and it can help with the realities of the real world. I enjoyed the story as it has the message that even the smallest child can affect change. Change starts close to home before spreading to the wider world. Kindness to others is a simple change we can all do. I recommend Celia and the Fairies. 

Celia and the Fairies is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.