Throwback Book Review - 10 Blind Dates

 📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

10 Blind Dates

by Ashley Elston

When Sophie walks in on her boyfriend Griffin discussing breaking up with her, she is heartbroken. Thankfully she has a built-in escape as she is spending the holidays at her grandparents’ house. To help Sophie’s broken heart, her Nonna thinks Sophie should go on some dates. Ten dates, to be exact, with the guy and activity selected by one of the members of her large family. Some she won’t have to worry about, such as her cousin Sara’s and her other cousin Olivia’s pick. In contrast, her evil cousin Jo’s and crazy Aunt Patrice’s are unknowns. Then Griffin pops up, asking for forgiveness so it should be simple, but reconnecting with the boy next door throughout the process makes it complicated.

It doesn’t have to be the holidays to enjoy this fun and entertaining read. Some parts of the story are corny but easy to forgive. While Sophie’s dates play a significant role in the story, it is also about her growth over her time there and reconnecting with her large family. Readers will enjoy finding out who her dates are, what the activity is, and just how it goes.

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Book Review - I Love You So Mochi

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

I Love You So Mochi

by Sarah Kuhn

After getting into a fight with her parents about dropping her advanced fine arts class, inspiring fashion designer Kimi Nakamura jumps at the invitation to visit her estranged grandparents in Kyoto. Her visit gets off to not the best start as meeting her grandparents for the first time is a bit awkward. Luckily, when it comes to having a tour guide around Kyoto, Kimi meets Akira, a cute guy who assists his uncle with his mochi business. Now Kimi is spending her time getting to know her grandparents and exploring her feelings for Akira, all while learning about her Japanese culture.

An adorable, sweet, and fun love story that you’ll be wishing you had some mochi to enjoy while reading. The book explores the relationship between Kimi and Akira, Kimi, and her family (both with her grandparents and her mother back home) and Kimi’s growth in Japan in a way that works well together. The story is also light despite the family drama. It helps that all the characters are very much likable. Some readers may be wishing they had Kimi’s grandparents as grandparents too.

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Book Review - Lucky Caller

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Lucky Caller

by Emma Mills

Nina’s dad may be a famous radio show host, but that doesn’t stop her own high school radio show from being a mess. Along with jokester Joydeep, sensible Sasha, and her childhood friend/crush Jamie, Nina puts on Sounds of the Nineties for her broadcasting class. To gain more followers, they decide to give secrets to a special guest, aka Nina’s dad. These hints though, also seem to describe a member of a popular 90s grunge band that the station keeps playing (due to their small number of loyal listeners). People begin to think the band member is the mystery guest, despite saying that isn’t the case. Little do any of them no, just how big of a pickle they will find themselves in. On top of all that, Nina has to deal with her dormant feelings for Jamie and family drama.

This book is an easy and enjoyable read for fans of Emma Mills or those looking to give her a shot. This book has likable and realistic characters, such as those mentioned above. The story moves at a leisurely pace, so you won’t be itching to turn the page but will still enjoy doing so. Though this story involves Nina’s old feeling for Jamie coming to surface, this book isn’t a romance and would still stand firm without it. 

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Book Review - 10 Blind Dates

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

10 Blind Dates

by Ashley Elston

When Sophie walks in on her boyfriend Griffin discussing breaking up with her, she is heartbroken. Thankfully she has a built-in escape as she is spending the holidays at her grandparents’ house. To help Sophie’s broken heart, her Nonna thinks Sophie should go on some dates. Ten dates, to be exact, with the guy and activity selected by one of the members of her large family. Some she won’t have to worry about, such as her cousin Sara’s and her other cousin Olivia’s pick. In contrast, her evil cousin Jo’s and crazy Aunt Patrice’s are unknowns. Then Griffin pops up, asking for forgiveness so it should be simple, but reconnecting with the boy next door throughout the process makes it complicated.

It doesn’t have to be the holidays to enjoy this fun and entertaining read. Some parts of the story are corny but easy to forgive. While Sophie’s dates play a significant role in the story, it is also about her growth over her time there and reconnecting with her large family. Readers will enjoy finding out who her dates are, what the activity is, and just how it goes.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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Book Review - The Rest of the Story

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

The Rest of the Story

by Sarah Dessen

A change of plans means Emma Saylor Payne will be spending the summer at her late mother’s home of North Lake, where she hasn’t been since she was a little girl. Emma doesn’t remember her mother’s side of the family and everyone there knows her as Saylor. The lake is split between the working class on the North Lake side and the wealthy on the Lake North side and she finds herself stuck between both worlds, as her father used to spend time at North Lake. Despite this, she chooses to be Saylor. While at the lake, Saylor hopes to learn more about her mother and the family she hasn’t seen.

Sarah Dessen leaves behind her familiar settings of Colby and Lakeview (though Saylor is from Lakeview) to take us to a new location of North Lake. In some ways, this book feels a little older than Dessen’s previous works but the same wonderful feeling is there even if the comfortable setting isn’t. The characters aren’t as memorable as her previous books either but will be overall delightful while you read.

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Book Review - Famous in a Small Town

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Famous in a Small Town

by Emma Mills

The Acadia Marching Band has been selected to perform in the Rose Parade, they just need the money to help them get there. Every year the small town hosts a Meghan Pleasant contest where people perform the hits of their claim to fame musician and this year Sophie is determined to have Meghan herself perform at the show to help raise the money the band will need. Sophie has recruited her friends to help get Meghan’s attention, including mysterious new guy August who has moved in a few doors down.

            When it comes to likable female protagonists, Sophie may not make the cut for all readers. Some of her actions and ideas are a little annoying but most come from a good place. Her friend group is awesome and it’s nice to see such a sweet group of friends with typical drama. While a light story, some of the conversations the characters have are a tad on the inappropriate side for some, as is the language used.  

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