One with good anxiety representation: Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan @PRHGlobal #partner #comics #VeronaComics

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan book cover

Today I want to share with you my review for Verona Comics, a ya contemporary that talks about anxiety and first love, that took me by surprise.

It was published on April 21st 2020 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. It has 352 pages.

I want to thank the team from Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

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About the book:

FROM GOODREADS / From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.

Jubilee has it all together. She’s an elite cellist, and when she’s not working in her stepmom’s indie comic shop, she’s prepping for the biggest audition of her life.

Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can’t stop disappointing them—that is, when they’re even paying attention.

They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can’t help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other’s throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible…unless they manage to keep it a secret.

Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley’s anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can’t conquer all? What if each of them needs more than the other can give?

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Review:

When I got Netgalley widget for Verona Comics I was pleasantly surprised. I am in a reading mood for ya contemporaries lately, and this book showed up in just about right time.

Since I like to go into my books blind, I only read summary briefly, and thought this would fun ya romance.
Boy, was I wrong!

What I thought would be fluffy and cute love story turned into serious novel that talks about anxiety with suicidal thoughts in such a strong and realistic way.

Don’t get me wrong, this book still had lots of cute and heart warming scenes, especially at the beginning, but as the story progressed the serious tone was louder and louder.

I am not sure if this is own voices story, but from my perspective, as someone who suffers from anxiety even today, and had suicidal thoughts before, I can say that Ridley’s character was realistic.
I could totally understand him, so many of his thoughts and actions I found familiar, especially those what were written in italics.

Verona Comics also represents lgbtq community and POC.

Other then that, it also touches subject of family dynamics, which is very important for the story.

I enjoyed comics reference. Who would say that it is such a competitive business?
Then again, I guess all businesses are.

This novel is written in first person, following two perspectives: Ridley’s and Jubilee’s.

I enjoyed the story, but I have to admit that I didn’t feel the chemistry between two main characters, which took some enjoyment from my reading experience.
All the other parts of the story, from family relationships to friendships were well written.

This is fast paced story, and easy to read.

I think ya contemporary lovers will enjoy this one!

rating 3,5 hearts

Book I read in April 2019 (Monthly Reading Wrap Up) #BookBloggers #BookLovers #Reading #April

Hi guys,

It has been more then a week since April came to an end, and only today I am bringing you my (poor) reading wrap up.

April was the worst reading month quantity wise, but it was great quality wise since out of (only) four books I finished, three were 5 stars worth.

To be honest, I can’t even remember when was the last time I read so few books in one month. It was probably even before 2012.

This time I am blaming one book that I DNFed but lost few days on it, and one other that took me 15 days to finish.

Anyway, these are the books I read in April:

I heart Forever Lindsey Kelk book cover The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden UK book cover My Lemon Grove Summer by Jo Thomas book cover The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor book cover UK

Favourite book of the month: The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor book cover UK

Even though I read only four books this time, I am still on track with my reading goal for 2019 (77 books), and if I’ll read 6 books each month from now on, I will reach it without doubt.

That is it!

Tell me what awesome books have your read in January?
What was your favorite one?

Book Review: Truth Or Date by Portia Macintosh

truth or date

Title: Truth Or Date
Author: Portia Macintosh
Publisher: Carina
Date: April 11st, 2016
Pages: 243
Format: eARC
Source: from Publisher for a review

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

Falling for the man of her dreams…

Ruby Wood is perfectly happy playing the dating game – until she has a red-hot dream about her very attractive flatmate, Nick. He might spend every day saving lives as a junior doctor, but he’s absolutely the last man on earth that fun-loving Ruby would ever date!

The solution? Focus on all of Nick’s bad points. And if that fails, up her dating antics and find herself a man! So what if she manages to make disapproving, goody two-shoes Nick jealous in the process…

Only, after a series of nightmare first dates, there’s still just one man on Ruby’s mind. Maybe it’s time to admit the truth and dare to ask Nick to be her next date?

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Review:

Ever since I’ve heard about this book I wanted to read it.
The cover is just adorable, it’s like it shines with positivity and the premise sounded like something I’d enjoy.

The best thing about this novel was the writing style it was wrtitten with.
Even though this was my first time reading Portia Macintosh’s work, the feeling I had while reading this book was like coming home, if you know what I mean.
It was like coming back to something familiar that makes you feel comfortable, if that makes sense.

I can’t say if maybe Macintosh’s voice sounded like the one from my favorite author Sophie Kinsella, or if it’s only me who find the similarity between the two.
No matter what the case is, the point I’m trying to make is that I liked it.

The story follows Ruby, a quirky 28 years old girl who works in a cafe shop.
She doesn’t take life too seriously and has no luck when it comes to guys. She does not give up, though. Going on dates reguraly is what she does. So what if most of them don’t end up too well? One day maybe her dream guy worth keeping will show up, right?

My relationship with Ruby was, in the lack of better words, pretty complicated.
At times I loved her, I liked how silly and funny she was. But at other times, I wanted to shake her. It didn’t help that I didn’t approve what she was trying to do (her main goal) and to be honest, I questioned her morality.

Her best friend Millsy was an interesting character and I liked him better then Ruby. Reading about them together was really fun, but when in the story came Ruby’s brother Woody, it was even better.

Nick was the guy I had a feeling we should all fall in love with.
And I did, for a second. I’m not gonna lie.
However, as the story progressed, that love faded and I ended up not liking him all that much anymore.

Nick’s girlfriend Gwen was my favorite character. I can even say I understood her at some point (when it comes to being annoyed by Ruby and her non-stop presence). I think every girlfriend who’s boyfriend had a roomate like Ruby would want to get rid of her.
I didn’t like how Heather’s character developed. It was like she suddenly lost a big precentage of her IQ level and I feel like the main thing about her personality was there just so we could start on hating her and maybe it was even there as an easier way for the author to make us root for Ruby and Nick.

I like how Ruby and Nick’s relationship developed from „not like“ to „more then like“ trough the story.
The end was a bit rushed.

Overall, a quick and funny read that is perfect for chick-lit lovers.

3,75

April Wrap Up and Book Haul

In April I ended up finishing 10 books and I am so happy about it because that is more book then I usually manage to read during a month.

I had luck when it comes to reading because I ended up liking all the books I read, which means I ratd all of them with more then three stars. Those kind of months are so rare.

Luck was also on my side giveaways wise because I won some amazing books this month.

All in all, I can’t complain!

 

Withouth further ado, here are the books I read in April:

the second love truth or date splintered timmy winners what's left of me the winner's crime my single friend the nearly weds alisa

My favorite book of the month: the second love

 

Book Haul:

These are the books I collected in April:

 

Purchased: the birthday that crazygirl falls in love

Gifted: americANAH the nearly weds

Borrowed: splintered

For review: 06042016040 summer at the comfort a year of being forever with you summer at rose island truth or date people we were before tone deaf

Won: the glittering court stolen songbird unspoken untold unmade michelle madow the santagelos

 

And that is it!
Guys, now I have so many books to read I feel like I’ll have something to read trough the whole year.
Oh… I only wish I could read faster….

 

What books have you read in April, which ones you liked and which ones you didn’t?
Have you expanded your book collection?

Tell me everything in the comments! 

Waiting on Wendesday (# Lucky 7): Who’s That Girl by Mhairi McFarlane

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Waiting on Wendesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases we can’t wait to read.

This week I am eagerly anticipating:

who's that girl

Who’s That Girl by Mhairi McFarlane

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: April 7th, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

An achingly funny story from the author of the bestselling YOU HAD ME AT HELLO

What’s the one thing you DON’T do at a wedding?

When Edie is caught in a compromising position at her colleagues’ wedding, all the blame falls on her – turns out that personal popularity in the office is not that different from your schooldays. Shamed online and ostracised by everyone she knows, her boss suggests an extended sabbatical – ghostwriting an autobiography for hot new acting talent, Elliot Owen. Easy, right?

Wrong. Banished back to her home town of Nottingham, Edie is not only dealing with a man who probably hasn’t heard the word ‘no’ in a decade, but also suffering an excruciating regression to her teenage years as she moves back in with her widowed father and judgey, layabout sister.

When the world is asking who you are, it’s hard not to question yourself. Who’s that girl? Edie is ready to find out.

Why am I waiting?

When I saw one of my favorite authors, Lindsey Kelk, talk about this book and say she feels an “author jaleousy” when it comes to McFarlane’s writing, I knew I had to check it out. I mean, when an amazing author says she wishes she could write like that, that has to be something, right?

The premise of this book sounds really interesting and the sentence “Will make you laugh out loud.” makes me want to read it even more.

This chick-lit should be over 500 pages long, which means I’ll probalby spend a lot of time having fun while reading it.
I just can’t wait to finally read it!

Author Website * Amazon UK * Amazon US * Goodreads * The Book Depository