'I Wish You Would' by Eva Des Lauriers

5 swoony stars!

Book Blurb:

"In this drama-filled love story, private confessions are scattered on the beach during a senior class overnight and explosive secrets threaten to tear everyone apart, including best friends (or maybe more?), Natalia and Ethan.

It’s Senior Sunrise, the epic overnight at the beach that kicks off senior year. But for Natalia and Ethan, it’s the first time seeing each other after what happened at junior prom―when they almost crossed the line from best friends to something more and ruined everything. After ghosting each other all summer, Natalia is desperate to pretend she doesn’t care and Ethan is desperate to fix his mistake.

When the senior class carries out their tradition of writing private letters to themselves―what they wish they would do this year if they were braver―Natalia pours her heart out. So does Ethan. So does everyone in their entire class. But in Natalia’s panicked attempt to retrieve her heartfelt confession, the wind scatters seven of the notes across the beach. Now, Ethan and Natalia are forced to work together to find the lost letters before any secrets are revealed―especially their own.

Seven private confessions. Seven time bombs loose for anyone to find. And one last chance before the sun rises for these two to fall in love."


My Review:

Absolutely fantastic YA Contemporary read! 'I Wish You Would' is a tender, heartfelt tale of family, friendship, expectations, and finding yourself. It also has the sweetest love story between two best friends whose chemistry is off the charts. Sparks fly whether they're bickering or kissing.

This is 'Shout From the Rooftops' good and one of my new all-time favorites. I'm excited to re-read it soon! Releases on May 21, 2024 - pre-order here!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Hearts Overboard' by Becky Dean

4 stars

Book Blurb:

"Set sail with this banter-filled rivals-to-lovers romance between a STEM-loving girl and a jock guy that will fill you with wanderlust...and have you rooting for love in the great outdoors!

Love is on the horizon...

After a very public breakup where her ex, Caleb, told her she is both, a.) boring, and b.) stuck in her ways, Savannah Moore decides her mom’s company cruise to Alaska is the perfect opportunity to show people that she can be fun. One new thing a day should be enough to prove to others, and herself, that she isn’t “Moore the Bore.”

Stepping out of her comfort zone isn’t easy, especially since her long-time nemesis, Tanner Woods, is also on the ship. His family and hers are friends, and Tanner knows her—and her true self—better than she’d like to admit.

When he learns of her plan, Tanner offers to help Savannah be adventurous and encourages her to try absolutely everything—zip lining and dogsledding, hiking the bear-infested Alaskan wilderness, late-night karaoke, and a polar plunge. Savannah will win Caleb back by showing him just what he’s missing.

Except after spending so much time with Tanner, soon she’s not sure Caleb is the one she wants anymore…"


My Review:

Enjoyed this fluffy, fun YA Contemporary read. 'Hearts Overboard' is a fun guided tour through parts of Canada, Alaska, and the cruise ship, as much as it is a story about two long-standing rivals finding their way to friendship, and maybe more.

Releasing in July 2024, pre-order your copy here!

#HeartsOverboard #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell' by Tobias Madden

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"There Are No Cheat Codes for Showmance

Seventeen-year-old gaymer Noah Mitchell only has one friend the wonderful, funny, strictly online-only MagePants69. After years playing RPGs together, they know everything about each other, except anything that would give away their real life identities. And Noah is certain that if they could just meet in person, they would be soulmates. Noah would do anything to make this happen―including finally leaving his gaming chair to join a community theater show that he’s only mostly sure MagePants69 is performing in. Noah has never done anything like theater―he can’t sing, he can’t dance, and he’s never willingly watched a musical―but he’ll have to go all in to have a chance at love.

With Noah’s mum performing in the lead role, and former friends waiting in the wings to sabotage his reputation, his plan to make MagePants69 fall in love with him might be a little more difficult than originally anticipated.

And the longer Noah waits to come clean, the more tangled his web of lies becomes. By opening night, he will have to decide if telling the truth is worth closing the curtain on his one shot at true love."

My Review:

Really enjoyed this LGBTQIA+ YA contemporary coming-of-age read.  Highly recommended!  Grab a copy here!