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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 – The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Fault in our Stars, The : Green, John: Amazon.ca: Books

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The novel, The Fault in our Stars by John Green starts with a 16 year old girl named Hazel. She originally had thyroid cancer but it spread into her lungs. Her parents then encouraged her to attend a support group for people who have cancer; They believed that it would help her share her feelings and understand that she isn’t alone in her situation. At the start, Hazel didn’t enjoy being surrounded by people who had the same struggles and worries; that was until she met Augustus Waters. Augustus (or Gus) is tall, handsome, smart, and confident. They started hanging out pretty often along with Gus’ best friend Issac who also has cancer. It did not take long for Hazel to realize that she had found the person she admires and loves. The more Hazel and Augustus had hung out, the more they figured out how much they had in common; they both love to read, are very poetic with their actions and words, and they both know the struggles of having cancer. Throughout the rest of the story, there are a few ups and downs with the things getting in the way of their relationship. Will they work it out? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

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Teen SRC 2022 – Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is a contemporary romance or domestic fiction novel that revolves around the lives of mother-daughter Morgan and Clara. They have never gotten along too well, but things start to fall off once Clara and Morgan leave two people in their lives, Morgan’s sister Jenny and Morgan’s husband, Chris. Morgan’s grief and betrayal are extreme, but she decides to keep the truth from her daughter, which is that Chris and Jenny are having an affair. It’s even harder to handle when Jonah, Jenny’s fiancé, realizes that his infant son Elijah is not his son but is Chris’s. Jonah and Morgan cope with their grief together and finally grow onto each other, although they had a weird connection growing up as teens. They slowly realize their attraction toward each other, making Clara think that Morgan and Jonah have been having an affair and starts to develop a hatred for them. The ending ties everything up and gives everyone the ending they deserve.

Regretting You is written in a way that makes you connect deeply to Clara and Morgan as it is written from the perspective of both of them. It makes you feel what both of them feel and how they react to the situation at hand. 

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and loved how the characters were developed. I sometimes wish I could have got the point of view from Jenny or Chris so they could explain the affair or whatever was going on between them. 

Rating: 9/10 stars

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 2021- Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

I opened Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin expecting a light-hearted romcom with Muslim lingo, fun anecdotes, and maybe a bit of serious discussion on what life is like as a South Asian Canadian Muslim woman. I was not expecting to be punched in the gut with beautiful characters, amazing writing, a fully-developed plot, and just an overall WONDERFUL book that feels like home. It is not often that I will openly rave about a book, (so enjoy it while it lasts) but Hana Khan Carries On deserves every compliment it gets and then some. It quite literally made me tear up. And it made me laugh. SO. MUCH. (Rashid, best and funniest character hands-down, gets all the comedic credit.)

Also, my fears about bad Muslim rep were completely wrong (THANK GOODNESS). Hana Khan Carries On manages to carry with it a nuanced and deep reflection about life as a second-generation immigrant, about Muslim love stories, loss, ambition, and family relationships. Every single plot line is so AMAZING, I am seriously in awe. There is a side plot to appeal to everyone, and even I, a self-proclaimed romance critic, loved every bit of it. The overall feel of the book is more of a classic than any light contemporary romance I’ve ever read (and I admit I haven’t read many, but still) which helps. It offers a rivals-to-lovers slow burn, includes so many twists and turns, offers well-developed side characters and CHARACTER ARCS THAT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD. 

Anything else I could say would be redundant because I just loved reading this so much. I even finished it in a matter of hours (and will be rereading!). My only criticism is that the resolution wrapped up too quickly and that I could have down with a hundred more pages! *sigh*

Basically: If you haven’t read this book, go read it right now. 10/10, I have found a new favourite. 

P.S. This is not qualified as YA because the protagonist and other characters are in their 20s BUT there is absolutely nothing graphic or inappropriate in the book. In fact, it’s much more benign than some YA I’ve read AHAHAHA, don’t worry about that!

Teen SRC 2021 – An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

Have you ever read a book with so much potential only for it to turn out a boring and unappealing romance? Then you know exactly what I feel because An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi turned out to be a great disappointment for me (similar to her other standalone novel A Very Large Expanse of Sea). I think this review will be more of a rant than anything… but if I’m being unduly harsh it’s because this book claims Muslim representation (with a hijabi on the cover!!) but does not deliver. Maybe it’s just the right thing for some Muslims (and I don’t begrudge them for liking it) but it did not do for me.

(This is a side note because it’s not entirely this book’s fault, but why is there not a single book out there with a female Muslim protagonist that does NOT involve romance/boys? This is slowly becoming one of my BIGGEST pet peeves because it implies that Muslim women don’t matter except in correlation to a man, or that romance is the pinnacle of our achievement. Female characters in general are bogged down with unnecessary relationships (in my opinion) but it’s especially apparent with Muslim female characters for some reason. Not to mention that most Muslim women prefer not to date without the intention of marriage like… why purposely include it even then? It’s all just very messy and unrealistic.)

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