August Round-Up!

And that's the summer, you guys. It's time for fall - colourful leaves, hot cocoa, overcast skies, and blessedly reasonable temperatures.

So what happened during this last month of summer? Other than finding out my novel's about to be published (still squeeing over this!)? I read a bunch of books!

*August Winner*

OCD Love Story, by Corey Ann Haydu. YA, Contemporary. A+

Pros: Fascinatingly detailed account of mental illness, great voice, empathetic protagonist, good tension. Cons: Kind of a misleading cover.

*August Dud*

Hope's Folly, by Linnea Sinclair. Romance, Science-Fiction. DNF

Pros: Great worldbuilding, lots of detail. Cons: Too much detail, drowning in detail, boring boring detail, just not enough story.

*The Best of the Rest*

Deerskin, by Robin McKinley. Fantasy, Fairy-Tale Retelling. A-
Pros: Gorgeous writing, exquisite detail, excellent build of tension. Cons: Slow pacing, ending is a bit abrupt.

Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Middle Grade. B
Pros: Lovely writing style, nicely balanced tone. Cons: Weird, unsatisfying ending.

Written On Your Skin, by Meredith Duran. Romance, Historical. B
Pros: Exquisite writing, great dialogue, good heroine. Cons: Slack pacing, no real suspense plot, couldn't connect with story.

The Infinite Moment of Us, by Lauren Myracle. YA, Romance. C+
Pros: Good development of heroine's parents, nice supporting characters. Cons: A poorly-drawn Evil Slut Villain, no real plot, goopy romance.

Just Like Fate, by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young. YA, Science-Fiction. C
Pros: Great concept, some interesting implications. Cons: No follow-through on concept, lame romance.