Dear Adam by Kelsie Stelting

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 280
Series: Warr Acres High #1
Genre: YA, High School
Published: Feb. 14th, 2019
Rating: 2.5

Synopsis:

What happens when the bad boy takes over the school advice column?

The last thing Emerick should be doing is giving anyone advice. His dad’s in prison. His mom’s buried under credit card debt. And he’s one step from failing. After everything his mom’s been through, she can’t take another disappointment. So when the guidance counselor gives him a choice, anonymously write the school’s advice column or drop out, what choice does he really have?

Student body president Nora Wilson has the perfect life. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. And with her dad running for governor . . . reputation is everything. She can’t let anyone know she’s drowning under the pressure. Except for an anonymous advice columnist.

Nora and Emerick can’t stand each other in real life. But online? They may have more in common than they ever thought possible.

Review:

This is not the first time I have read something by Kelsie. Please don’t let this review throw you off from reading this book. This is my opinion. I loved the other books written by Kelsie. This is nothing against her writing. I just did not like this book.

At first, I didn’t like Emerick. He was a whiny brat who acted like he was the only one in this world with problems. But once he gets the Dear Adam job he is like “Oh wow, people that have rich parents have real problems too.” I seriously do not like these types of characters. It makes them seem shallow and stuck in their own world. Or maybe most teenagers are like that and I just grew up knowing that people deal with their problems by either becoming total jerks or by being likable. I guess I was raised by parents who told me you never know what’s going on in someone’s life.

The characters didn’t feel real to me. When Emerick has an accident, I didn’t really care nor did it feel vital to the story. It felt more to me like the normal gimmick in the YA/NA recipe. I really want to like these characters but I, personally, didn’t find anything likable. Just another story I wanted to blow through so I could put it on the read pile and move on.

While I did rate this low, it wasn’t so bad of a book that I DNF. Again, please don’t let this deter you from reading it. The story just wasn’t for me.

Hate Notes by Gracie Graham

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 263
Series: Lakeview Prep #1
Genre: Young Adult, High School, Haters to Lovers
Published: June 26th, 2021
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis

Topher Elliot is high school royalty.

The king of Lakeview prep.

You know the type. Disgustingly rich. Blond-haired. Eyes the color of a clear, blue sky. And muscles for days.

He also happens to be enemy #1, the bane of my existence.

Only, now my scholarship is in jeopardy and, like the peasant I am, I must tutor the king himself if I want to graduate.

Still, if I have to be around him, I might as well make it worth my while. So I send him a scathing text, telling him exactly what I think about him. But he mistakes me for someone else. That’s when I hatch a plan: get dirt on the king, and watch his reign crumble.

It’s about time someone made the king come tumbling down.

Review:

The pettiness of high school meant making fun of your peers never got old.

Topher has made fun of Penelope since 6th grade. Penelope has just been trying to get by without being noticed. But Topher pushes her to the point she sends him a hate text. Only one problem… he didn’t know it was her. Now she has the chance to get dirt on him by catfishing him but of course, this is a YA so she is obviously going to fall for him.

It was cute but it’s predictable in ways. I guess I would say I’ve read this story before but with new elements if that makes sense. The rich guy always secretly liked the poor girl. Poor girl hates rich guy. But something brings them together. I liked the story don’t get me wrong but as I said earlier it’s predictable. Still 3.5 stars.

My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 360
Series: My Life with the Walter Boys #1
Genre: YA, High School
Published: Mar 1, 2014
Rating:

Synopsis:

My Life with the Walter Boys centers on the prim, proper, and always perfect Jackie Howard. When her world is turned upside down by tragedy, Jackie must learn to cut loose and be part of a family again.

Jackie does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy! The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades-the perfect daughter. And then…

Surprise #1: Jackie’s family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2: Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters-her new guardians.

Surprise #3: The Walters have twelve sons. (Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway)

Now Jackie must trade in her Type A personality and New York City apartment for a Colorado ranch and all the wild Walter boys who come with it. Jackie is surrounded by the enemy-loud, dirty, annoying boys who have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She’s not stuck-up or boring-no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents’ memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?

Review:

This was cute but one problem. It’s the only book out. There isn’t a second one. There is one that is said to be in the works. I do wish there was another book but since this was published in 2014 and it is now 2022, I doubt it’s coming out.

The way it started I didn’t know if I would even like it. The Walter boys aren’t all boys. There is one girl whose name is Parker and I think she is like seven.

Jackie (who all I could picture was Jackie Burkheart played by the wonderful Mila Kunis) moves to Colorado to live with her mother’s best friend from college. This was pretty much your typical new kid YA story and yes there of course was the love triangle.

I’m not a fan of love triangles and I thoroughly dislike them, even more, when it happens to involve siblings. This ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger but not one that makes me want to throw my computer. One I can live without.