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Teen SRC 2022 – The Score by Elle Kennedy

The Score by Elle Kennedy is the third book in the Off-Campus series. The third book in this series revolves around the college lives of Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes. Dean is someone who only does sex. He doesn’t disrespect anyone or make fake promises, but he explicitly clarifies his intentions when hooking up and clears everything out before making a move. He isn’t ashamed about talking about sex or how much he loves it in front of anyone. On the other hand, Allie is the opposite of Dean and doesn’t do casual sex. She loves every aspect of relationships. She loves cuddling, spending time, and all the cute and lovely things of being in a relationship. Allie and Dean cross paths due to their best friends (Hannah and Garret dating). When Allie comes over to Garret’s place (which all the boys share and live in) to avoid her ex-boyfriend Sean, the last thing she imagines doing is drinking tequila and having sex with Dean. Once this happens, they decide to keep it a secret as their friends would go crazy since Hannah specifically told Dean not to hook up with Allie. But after this one-night stand, Dean can no longer think sexually of any girl besides Allie and only wants her. This book shows how one goes from not being in love to being in love so unexpectedly. This book also shows how hard times can change a person and how it is

If I had to choose a favourite book from this entire series (which would be so hard for me to do as I enjoyed every one of these books, including the novella), it would be this one. I loved every small thing about Dean and Allie and how they got together and worked on their relationship. Out of all the hockey boys, Dean was the one that intrigued me the most, and I was so excited to find out how someone who doesn’t do relationships would fall in love. Another thing that I loved about this book was how it shows how hard times can change a person and how important it is to have a strong support group. Like the other two novels, this book also covers serious topics such as the grief of losing someone and excessive drinking. I loved this book!

Rating: 11/10 stars

Teen SRC 2022 – The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

The Mistake by Elle Kennedy is the second book in the Off-Campus series, which follows the life of Logan, short for John Logan and Grace Ivers. Logan is a junior in college who plays hockey. His life is full of hockey games, practices, parties, and girls lined up to hook up and even date him. But apart from this luxurious world, Logan is dreaded to graduate as his life after graduation is something he is not ready for. He’s also done having a thing for his best friend’s girl and tries to avoid being around them at all costs. On the other hand, Grace is a freshman in college and the literal meaning of the girl next door. She gets good grades, is the typical good girl, works hard, and avoids anything rebellious. One day while leaving his house to dodge a party, John accidentally ends up knocking on the wrong dorm door and meets Grace. They end up watching a movie together and essentially hooking up. They hook up regularly from here, although Logan wants nothing serious, and Grace is catching feelings. When Grace tells Logan, she’s a virgin, he ends up blowing her off and messing up big time. From here onwards, Logan realizes his mistake and spends the rest of the book winning Grace back and making it up to her.

This book was an exciting book that I read because how the author included Garret and Hannah from The Deal. This book also had characters from the rest of the books in the series, and it made me happy how there’s a book on each of the boys from the friend group, just like in the first book, serious topics such as alcohol addiction and forgiveness were included in this book. This book also alternated between the point of view of Logan and Grace. All in all, this book had the perfect amount of romance and comedy. I also loved how this book is similar but different from the first book. The hockey aspect of this book and series also kept me hooked.

Rating: 9/10 stars

Teen SRC 2022 – People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

I’d like to say first off I read this book (People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry) only because I saw it in a neighbourhood tiny library, like the ones that look like birdhouses. I don’t usually see anything not ancient in those so I swapped it, this book is a modern day rom-com book with minimal colours and cartoon-like covers, it’s generic at this point. I have seen too many. So about the book, Poppy and Alex who used to be best friends who took vacations to new places every summer but then something happened and now they don’t speak at all. It features a lot of time skipping, one chapter will be set five years ago, and the next is “present” day, it was annoying to keep up with but fun, the time skips slowly move towards the big happening that split up the best friends. Poppy is loud, straightforward, and friendly, but I found her somewhat annoying, Alex is quiet but different around Poppy, more extroverted, the book makes his entire personality khakis at the start, so he’s reduced to a pair of trousers that had a falling out with Poppy. It all changes though when they take a trip for the first time in years together so Poppy can write for her travel career. The rest is history, I liked this book because of the quick pacing, and I disliked this book because it’s generic and some parts made me shrivel up inside, I would rate this a 4.5/10, I do know some people that like this book, but it’s just not for me.

Teen SRC 2022 – November 9 by Colleen Hoover

November 9 by Colleen Hoover is a standalone contemporary romance novel which revolves around Fallon and Ben. Fallon and Ben meet each other a day before Fallon moves across the country to pursue her dreams. Their attraction is powerful, and they are as compatible as anyone. They end up spending Fallon’s entire last day together, which is November 9 and agreed to meet each other every November 9 for the following five years. They have no contact in between and live their lives as if the other doesn’t exist for the entire year, but every November 9, no matter how complicated and complex life gets, they meet each other. November 9 is a tough day for both of them as Ben’s mother committed suicide, and Fallon was in a fire that ruined her acting career due to getting burns in the fire burn survivor. They both try to make this day easier to cope with while accompanying each other. Ben, aspiring to be a novelist, also starts to write a story which revolves around how November 9 impacts both him and Fallon, which causes the account to shift in a direction you could have possibly not imagined.

Teen SRC 2022 – The Girl With Nine Lives

This book was about a girl named Ellie, who, in her difficult childhood, had only one friend. A cat named Benedict. One day, the cat died of old age when she was still very young. Then, after a few years, the cat reappeared right when Ellie was going through a stage of depression. The rest of the story is about the adventurous life of Ellie and Benedict.

Teen SRC 2022 – Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

***Contains minor spoilers****

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover is a book which I got tempted to buy after reading It Ends With Us. This book did not disappoint me, and I enjoyed every bit of it. This book is for mature readers as it discusses sensitive subjects such as the loss of a child and other topics that might trigger certain readers. This book is not only realistic but also sad and happy and makes you feel various emotions. 

This book revolves around Miles and Tate. They’re two people on and off without any label and pretty much limited themselves to using each other in bed and bed only. Tate catches feelings, and she knows Miles has to, but he’s not ready to commit and like her. This book revolves around ups and downs and plot twists on why Miles is so reluctant to be in a relationship with Tate. This book has other characters on the side, which flow nicely into the book’s storyline. In the end, everything ties back together and gives this book the plot twist and ending it needed. Not only does this book show the pretty side of love, but it also shows its ugly sides. 

Overall I would rate this book an 11/10. After all, it’s a realistic book because it engages you and is a quick summer read. I would recommend anyone who loves romance to read this book because it does not disappoint. My favourite part of this book would be how Tate and Miles met and how they slowly ended up getting closer and closer. 10/10 for character development and keeps you hooked! 

Teen SRC 2022 – It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

WARNING! Spoilers Ahead!

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is a book I’ve seen on BookTok for quite a while. When I picked up this book from the shelves of Walmart, I expected it to be another typical romantic book, but after I finished reading it, I was pretty shocked and left thinking about how impactful it was. This book is for mature readers as it shows abusive relationships and other topics that might be triggering for certain readers. 

This book starts with Lily Bloom, a 23-year-old redhead woman who has a dream of opening a flower shop and moving to Boston after the funeral of her abusive father. Her entire life, she’d seen her father hit her mother and even witnessed him trying to rape her. On a rooftop in Boston, on the day of her father’s funeral, Lily meets Ryle, also known as Dr. Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon. His looks have Lily swooning, but unfortunately, he only does one-night stands and does not want to get into a serious or committed relationship. Little does Lily know that that rooftop is not the only place she will see Ryle. Fast forward a couple of months, Lily finally bought a place to open her flower shop when a happy and charismatic woman named Allyssa offered to help her run it and work for her. Lily soon runs into Allyssa’s husband Marshall and her brother which is coincidentally Ryle. Lily and Ryle interact more than intended and eventually end up dating. After Lily and Ryle finally end up dating after being so crazy about each other and flirting for months, Lily is ecstatic. Their relationship is strong until she runs into Atlas, her teenage love, and this is where the novel takes another twist. The reader is kept hooked and wondering about the choices Lily will make. Throughout the novel, Lily’s letters to Ellen DeGeneres are shown. They talk about Atlas, a homeless boy who lived in the abandoned house behind her home. Lily reads these letters whenever free, taking the reader to the past along with her. 

Overall, I rate this book a 9/10 and would recommend anyone who loves romantic books to read it. This was the first Colleen Hoover book I read, and it definitely got me to read her other books. My favourite part about this book would be when Lily opened up her flower shop or when she was put into her mother’s shoes and had to deal with an abusive relationship. 

Teen SRC 2022 – The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

WARNING: Spoilers ahead!

“Carlin often said that history was everything, for it was in man’s nature to make the same mistakes over and over.”

The premise of The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen seems familiar at first glance. An ordinary teenage girl with a humble upbringing, discovers on the verge of adulthood, that she is the heir to a powerful ruler in her country. This so-called “the chosen one” trope can be found in almost every well-known fantasy novel. As I delve deeper into Kelsea’s world, I begin to discover a rich and complex society, with a tumultuous historical background and conflicts that have been manifesting for centuries. Observing this world through Kelsea’s lens and hearing her internal commentary provide readers with insight into her character. Growing up in a foster home, especially under the tutelage of the authoritative Carlin Glynn, Kelsea’s early education has had a far-reaching impact on her ideas of social justice and governance when she assumes the throne of the Tearling. As a historian formerly employed by the royal family, Carlin taught Kelsea the relation between history and cultural dynamics of the Tearling. Carlin’s authoritarian style of teaching is shown through Kelsea’s flashbacks, and it was clear that Kelsea was wary of Carlin’s disapproval. Whenever Kelsea became tired of school, she was met with her mentor’s disappointment and returned to her studies every time, yet soon after Kelsea is crowned Queen of the Tearling, she quickly asserts herself as a just and righteous ruler who has the courage, or audacity, to face down a hostile nation ready to tear down her country. Knowing that stopping the shipment to Mortmesne may draw the ire of the Red Queen, she gives her first order as queen and releases the Tear prisoners on the verge of being shipped to the enemy. This transition from a meek teenage girl to an authoritative ruler feels rushed and confusing, as authoritarian parenting is linked to shy and socially inept children who cannot make informed decisions for themselves.

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Teen SRC 2022 – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“The circus arrives without warning.”

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a fantasy romance novel that revolves around Celia and Marco Alisdair. Ever since they were children, they have been training for “the game,” a competition of some sort. The setting for this contest is the Night Circus, where Celia and Marco have to continuously produce more and more fantastical, unbelievable spectacles. From a garden made entirely of ice to a room filled with clouds, each feat becomes more impossible than the last. But how exactly does one win the game? Neither Celia nor Marco are told.

The Night Circus is written in a way that reflects its storyline. Reading it made me feel as though I were a visitor to the circus, wandering through the different tents, losing track of time and place. It is definitely a slow-paced book, but I feel that actually adds nicely to the ambience. However, it did make the ending seem a little rushed because everything sort of fell into place at once.

The story was also quite mysterious, and this was emphasized by the switching of perspectives, with alternating chapters from different characters’ points of view. There is also quite a lot of jumping around chronologically, so it feels like even more of an unreal experience.

In general, I really enjoyed the idea behind the book, as well as all the characters! I almost wish there had been more plot involved, but that’s just a personal preference.

I would give it an 8.5/10 and I would highly recommend it to those who liked The Invisible Life of Addie Larue or Caraval!

Teen SRC 2018 – Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

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Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Have you ever seen Jurassic park, the movie? well, I did and it was a good movie. Well, then do you know that the movie was actually originated from a book from Michael Crichton? some people may not know this but just like the movie, Jurassic Park is a good book too. Here is a brief description of the book. Mankind has finally developed a way to clone dinosaurs and Ingen has put the dinosaurs in Isla Nublar, intending to create a zoo, where people can see dinosaurs who went extinct 65 million years ago- for a price. Ingen has allowed park “testers” to come in and take a look on the park. On the day the “testers” come, an unexpected betrayal from one of the park staff leads to dinosaurs escaping their cages and holding pens. When a T-rex attacks attacks a tour vehicle, the lives of the guests are in turmoil and they are forced to survive until help arrives. the guests must work together to survive the dinosaurs of Jurassic park, or become lunch for the dinosaurs…

With more species of dinosaurs and more interesting scenes never shown in the movies, this book is sure to keep you reading over the summer. Check out the library for the sequel too, The lost world, also written by Michael Crichton. Enjoy! Happy readings!