5 Contemporary YA Books With Interesting Premises

I love a good premise — like give me that hook and I am there. These five books all caught my attention for a different reason. We have a paranormal contemporary version of Northanger Abbey. There’s a book that asks what happens when a loved one dies by overdose – and you infiltrate her life and private school – what happens next? Then, we have a good girl and a boy whose made some mistakes. Follow that up with a cutthroat competition at an elite private school. And finally, a young adult version of When Harry Met Sally. While I had varying degrees of enjoyment with these books — they definitely caught my attention.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Ghosted by Amanda Quain
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on July 25, 2023
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Ghost Stories, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction / School & Education / Boarding School & Prep School
Pages: 320
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain's Ghosted, a fresh and funny update on the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey.

Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living—like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in work. If Hattie just tries hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.

But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, who’s just transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are paired up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that the campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person who makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.

With her signature wit and slow-burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.

Ghosted by Amanda Quain is a gender swapped Northanger Abbey. The story features Hattie Tilney whose mom is the headmistress of the Northanger Abbey school. Her father died a few years ago and the Tilney family has fallen apart amidst the grief. Prior to his death, Hattie was really into the paranormal and ghost hunting. However, she’s shut herself off from all that and pretty much remade her personality. Hattie begins to question this decision when she is paired with new student Kit Moreland who is obsessed with ghosts for a class project. Soon, Hattie begins falling for Kit.

I wanted to like Ghosted more than I did. The concept is wonderful and interesting to me. However, as I am not at all an objective reviewer — I’ll say that something happened while I was reading this book that impacted me negatively. So, I subconsciously associated this book with that event. Also, it took forever for me to get through. I did like Ghosted towards the end. There’s some emotional content at the end that is well written and really tugs at the heartstrings. This wasn’t the book for me — but I do think if you are a Jane Austen fan who happens to like ghosts, you’ll enjoy this young adult book.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

All That’s Left to Say by Emery Lord
Also by this author: Open Road Summer, Open Road Summer, The Start of Me and You, The Start of Me and You, The Names They Gave Us, The Map from Here to There
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on July 18, 2023
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Class Differences, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Pages: 400
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

A poignant and powerful story of a grieving girl willing to risk everything, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson.

On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster's office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She is in huge trouble after pulling the fire alarm right as the prom queen was about to be crowned. But Hannah had her reasons . . .

One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one question: Who gave Sophie those pills? Who is refusing to give her family the closure they deserve?

Then she concocted a plan: enroll at her cousin's fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, and finally uncover the truth.

But Hannah didn't expect all the lines to blur. She didn't expect Sophie's friends to be so complicated. She didn't expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Now, she must choose to either let herself really mourn Sophie and move on, or see her search through to its explosive end--even if it means destroying herself.

All That’s Left To Say by Emery Lord opens with main character Hannah sitting in the headmaster’s office, in trouble for pulling the fire alarm at prom night and causing a lot of drama. Zoom out, however, and we see this is the culmination of careful planning. You see, a year earlier, her cousin Sophie died of a drug overdose at a high school party. And so, Hannah wants to find out who gave her the drugs that killed her. So, she changes herself and goes to her cousin’s school for her senior year. No one knows who Hannah really is. She ends up infiltrating the popular circles. Oh, and she also finds herself falling for the boy who was her debate team rival prior to her going to the new school. All That’s Left To Say follows a dual timeline, going back and forth from before Sophie dies to present day to the past after Sophie passes away.

I feel like All That’s Left To Say was a departure from what I’m used to reading with Emery Lord’s books. That isn’t a bad thing – I like an author with range. It just felt heavier and more serious. I expected to tear through this book but then ended up kind of taking my time and digesting it. This was a book I wasn’t too sure of for awhile while reading it. However, the ending when everything came together and I got to the root of what was going on and all the little connections clicked really made up for the slower start. Overall, this is an excellent book on a serious topic that if you’re rural, chances are you know all too well. Highly recommended.

 

@aprilbooksandwine

I really liked All That’s Left To Say by Emery Lord. Its a YA contemporary about a grieving girl who goes to her cousin’s private school to get answers about what happened to her cousin. @Bloomsbury Books #aprilbooksandwine #emerylord #booktok #libroslibroslibros #booktokchallenge #booktokover30

♬ original sound – April Books & Wine

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison
Narrator: Ramon De Ocampo, Adenrele Ojo
Length: 12 Hours 7 Minutes
Published by Harlequin on July 13, 2021
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Diversity & Multicultural, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Dating & Sex, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Pages: 304
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

FROM THE AUTHOR OF A LOVE HATE THING

He’s never met a rule he didn’t break… She’s followed the rules her whole life… When they meet, one golden rule is established: stay away.
They were supposed to ignore each other and respect that fine line between them…

Guillermo Lozano is getting a fresh start. New town, new school, and no more reckless behavior. He’s done his time, and now he needs to right his wrongs. But when his work at the local community center throws him into the path of the one girl who is off-limits, friendship sparks…and maybe more.

Regan London needs a fresh perspective. The pressure to stay in her “perfect” relationship and be the good girl all the time has worn her down. But when the walls start to cave in and she finds unexpected understanding from the boy her parents warned about, she can’t ignore her feelings anymore.

The disapproval is instant. Being together might just get Guillermo sent away. But when it comes to the heart, sometimes you have to break the rules and be a little bit reckless…

"An accepting, endearing romance built on respect between partners.” —Publishers Weekly

The Right Side Of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison was a decent palate cleanser sort of read. I listened to this when I wasn’t physically reading this YA book that I was not at all into. I was, at least, into The Right Side Of Reckless. This is an opposites attract story and I loved that. Guillermo Lozano has moved to a new town with his family for a fresh start after getting arrested and being on probation. He starts working at the community center for his court ordered community service. It is there that he meets Regan London who also happens to be his neighbor. Regan is in a relationship with a football player who is expected to go pro. Her family also expects that she will graduate and go into accounting, but she just isn’t into it. However, the pressure is getting to her. As it turns out, Mo understands her and doesn’t put the pressure on. But, the two can’t get together because it would be so reckless and break all the rules.

You know right from that summary of The Right Side Of Reckless that I ate Whitney D. Grandison’s story right up. This book was a superb listen. I really liked Regan and her uncertainty about her future and the path that had been picked for her. It was compelling to see how she tries to figure out what might be a career path that is her calling. I also enjoyed Mo’s redemption arc. He learns to react in a different way. He also is kind and respectful to a character who is frequently slut shamed — without it turning romantic between him and that character. The audiobook narration worked really well for me. It is narrated by Adenrele Ojo and Ramon De Ocampo. I had just listened to an audiobook that Ojo narrated so was excited for this one. Also, am a fan of De Ocampo. The Right Side Of Reckless was a great listen – easy to follow and like the narration style. It is 12 hours and 7 minutes unabridged and if you are a library lover, it is on Hoopla.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
Published by Simon and Schuster on July 25, 2023
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Class Differences, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / General
Pages: 416
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

A Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren’t just high, they’re deadly, in this searing thriller that’s Ace of Spades meets Squid Game with a sprinkling of The Bachelor.

You must work twice as hard to get half as much.

Adina Walker has known this the entire time she’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy—a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England. It’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything.

And it does. One fight, one moment of lost control, leaves Adina blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college and any other. Her only chance to regain the future she’s sacrificed everything for is the Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater’s founding family in which twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door.

But when she arrives at the Finish, Adina quickly gets the feeling that something isn’t quite right with both the Remingtons and her competition, and soon it becomes clear that this larger-than-life prize can only come at an even greater cost. Because the Finish’s stakes aren’t just make or break…they’re life and death.

Adina knows the deck is stacked against her—it always has been—so maybe the only way to survive their vicious games is for her to change the rules.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington is a sinister thrill ride of a book. I am still reeling and it’s been days since I read it. Their Vicious Games follows Adina Walker who has just graduated from the prestigious Edgewater Academy. Unlike her classmates, she’s not off to the Ivy League after making a bad choice which left all her acceptances rescinded. However, there may be a chance for her future if she competes in the Finish. The Finish is an elite competition for the best girls. The winner goes on to have vast influence and all kinds of doors in life opened up to her. There’s a Ride, a Raid, and a Royale. As it turns out, these events are quite deadly. Will the Finish change Adina? Will she get the future she’s been denied?

I really thought Wellington wrote a perfect book for Autumn. I get that this book is set during summer, right after graduation. However, the sinister, scary vibes are perfect. You can immediately tell that something is off about the Remingtons and their mansion. Although they are obscenely wealthy and old money, they are very bad people in both small ways — microaggressions — and big ways — murder. Adina is Black and her roommate for the Finish, Saint, is Chinese. The two are the only women of color in the Finish. That comes with its own complications. We then see a world where women are at the whim of powerful men – molded to what those men want. Honestly, this book is so deep and so smart. I feel like it would be a good book club book. Adina, fyi, is someone I was really pulling for. She goes through so much, but retains her humanity and her innate goodness. If you want a book that will have you on edge but also activate your brain, pick up Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Betting on You by Lynn Painter
Published by Simon and Schuster on November 28, 2023
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Pages: 432
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

A New York Times Bestseller

From the New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, this swoon-worthy rom-com in the vein of She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You follows a teen girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of a bet while working at a waterpark.

When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip.

Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?

Betting On You by Lynn Painter was my first read of a Lynn Painter book and now I am adding all the rest of her back list to my TBR. This book was so enjoyable and really worked for my rom com loving self. It’s like a YA version of When Harry Met Sally but with some different spins and I was here for it. Betting On You is about Bailey and Charlie who meet on a cross country flight. They really do not like each other. Then, they meet again. And finally, they end up working together in the same small town fun center resort, The two are polar opposites — Charlie believes guys and girls can’t just be friends and Bailey believes the opposite. Then, the two begin fake dating in hopes of breaking up Charlie’s mom and her new boyfriend.

I just really genuinely enjoyed my time with Betting On You. I thought it was so cute and embodies what I am looking for with a YA contemporary romance. We saw Charlie navigate his anxiety. We saw Bailey navigate her parent’s divorce. There’s the slow burn blossoming enemies to friends to lovers romance. Also, banter. The pacing is snappy. I actually am so excited to get my hands on Painter’s books aimed at adults as well as the other YA books just because this one was so good – felt like I was picking up a Morgan Matson at different parts.

@aprilbooksandwine

Thoughts on Betting On You by Lynn Painter @Simon Teen #aprilbooksandwine #bookreview #booktokover30 #librarybooks

♬ Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Sonny Tennet