It's difficult to imagine that Abby and Instagram sensation Savannah Tully, who has shimmering hair, are related, let alone that they have the same parents. This is especially true given that Savannah is only a year and a half older than Abby.

The sensible thing to do? Find each other at summer camp (of course) and discover the reason Abby's parents placed Savvy for adoption. However, there are difficulties: Savvy is a total narc and a severe rule-follower. Leo is the camp's co-chef, which makes her jealous of Abby's developing love for him. Additionally, her parents' secret poses a threat to cause everything to fall apart.

But being there, putting in the effort, and figuring out how to put all your odd pieces together are all part of life. Because occasionally the most difficult things can also be the best.

My Review

I adored Tweet Cute, and this sequel has just as much personality and fervor. As if the nicest, cutest relationship could successfully combine with a family dispute. Although its storyline incorporated aspects of "the Parent Trap", a first crush from summer camp, and the hunt for a long-lost sister, the romance/angst parts were not overdone.

I like how each character is real and convincing. Despite their flaws, they are undeniably relatable. Since the supporting cast members were all just as well developed as our main characters, I came to adore them all.

Another thing I really like about this book is how much time is spent on the relationship between the two sisters, Abby and Savvy, as well as their interactions with their parents. I really enjoyed seeing them grow and uncover the truths about their pasts.

But since this story, in my opinion, is more about the family, you might feel a little let down if you're anticipating a full-on romance. Even yet, the romantic subplot is fantastic and fits in nicely with the main story of the sisters.

The writing has a distinct comfort to it. If you've read Emma Lord's first book, you might be familiar with her humorous writing style. Lord's particular wit and comedy are there in both of these works, which kept me laughing the entire time.

Overall, it was a lot of joy to read this book. I'd heartily recommend it if you're looking for a decent contemporary with themes of coming-of-age or perhaps something like to "The Parent Trap."

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : Ophelia After All

Author        : Racquel Marie

Pub Date    : February 08, 2022

Pages          : 341

My Rating   : ★★★★★

The Summary

Ophelia Rojas is aware of her preferences, which include her closest friends, Cuban cuisine, rose gardening, and way too many boys. Ophelia has a never-ending string of crushes, which her friends and parents tease about, but Ophelia is a romantic at heart. Even if she wanted to, she was unable to alter.

Therefore, seeds of doubt start to grow in Ophelia's rigid self-image as she starts to think more about cute, quiet Talia Sanchez than the loss of a beautiful prom with her ex-boyfriend. Things are starting to get a touch out of hand when you include in the imminent end of high school and the disintegration of her formerly close-knit group of friends. But the sexual and romantic paths were never straight. Ophelia must decide whether to hold on to the idealized picture of herself that she has always imagined or defy everyone's expectations in order to realize who she truly is as her secrets start to come out.

My Review

I'm not even sure where to start with this review. My expectations were well exceeded by this book. This book was just what I needed to refresh my memory of what makes a successful contemporary YA. The book was still pretty wonderful to me despite a few glitches.

The best young adult book I've ever read, without a doubt, and the most inventive. I wish I had a book like this when I was in high school. This book has such a wide range of representations that both adults like myself and high school pupils would enjoy reading it.

Ophelia, a "boy crazy" teenager who enjoys botany, is followed in this book as she discovers her sexuality and navigates the teen dating scene around prom time. As she has fleeting romantic feelings for passing boys and embarrassing crushes on girls, Ophelia is utterly confused of who she is.

The way the author handled Ophelia's sexuality was excellent. The author shows how it's a difficult trip that frequently lacks predictable conclusions and paths. Getting to know the Queer people in and related with the people in Ophelia's life and learning about their experiences was something I really enjoyed reading about. For many people, this creates a network of support during the questioning phase.

The friendship dynamics in this group were also a lot more realistic than in the typical YA book. Their buddy group has to deal with two smaller groups combining, a romantic drama, a contest for prom queen, the popularity hierarchy, and the knowledge that some of them will probably quit being buddies after they graduate in the spring.

From Ophelia's parents to her friends, all of the characters were really well-developed and felt incredibly original. Every situation was so vividly described in the writing that I could see it in my head.

Her Cuban-American heritage and the variety of her friends' backgrounds bring numerous fresh viewpoints to the story that are generally ignored in literature. It provides a wealth of cultural diversity as well. This book offers a wide range of character backgrounds if you're looking for one. I won't, however, remark on how accurate or inaccurate the various racial and ethnic caricatures were.

Overall, the launch definitely lived up to the anticipation! I'm really glad I picked this book to read for my first list 2023 read!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Matthew makes a good husband.

Titus: the ideal child.

Charlie: the ideal deception.

Rachel: the ideal stranger.

She was not invited to the book club by Charlie. Matthew refused to listen.

As Rachel dials 999 while holding the bloody knife in her hand, Charlie finds himself slouched next to his husband's body and his son seated at the dinner table in silence.

My Review

In other words, finish your meal before your stomach begins to twist violently. If you were easily agitated, you might not have eaten dinner otherwise!

Since Charlie is married to the victim, Matthew, the story is told from his point of view. The other guests were Rachel, a girl they had recently met, and Titus, Matthew's fifteen-year-old adopted son.

The Dinner Guest is a slow-burning domestic thriller that will have you wondering right up to the very end! The narrative shifts between multiple time periods and varying narrators as it recounts the incidents leading up to the murder.

It's disconcerting and unnerving to read about a stranger invading your private life without your knowledge, even though it's partially predictable. The way the narrative is told ensures that it never gives away too much, even though you may already be aware of some of the answers, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The prose was incredibly flowing and straightforward. It has a complicated plot that moves along really nicely and has unexpected turns. The plot is tense and taut, with a sense of impending doom and waves of discomfort. When will all the turbulence and shifting connections manifest, you wonder.

If any of the characters possessed even the tiniest sliver of decency, the novel would not function as it was intended. Simply said, the characters are all bad. There isn't a single good quality I can think of in any one of them. As we learn more about the four major protagonists, we peel back another layer of this mystery.

Overall, the mystery's premise is smart and has a lot of appeal.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.