Ash Reads Stuff

Something Like Gravity  by Amber Smith Publication Date: June 18th, 2019 Pages: 400 (kindle) Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating:  3 stars Goodreads Synopsis:  Chris and Maia aren’t off to a great start. A near-fatal car accident first brings them together, and their next encounters don’t fare much better. Chris’s good intentions backfire. Maia’s temper gets the best of her. But they’re neighbors, at least for the summer, and despite their best efforts, they just can’t seem to stay away from each other. The path forward isn’t easy. Chris has come out as transgender, but he’s still processing a frightening assault he survived the year before. Maia is grieving the loss of her older sister and trying to find her place in the world without her. Falling in love was the last thing on either of their minds. But would it be so bad if it happened anyway? My Review:  When a book is compared to Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda , count me i...

The Rising Gold by Ava Jae Pages:  424 (hardcover) Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars Goodreads Synopsis: A new world ruler is crowned. Plunged into a crumbling world of foreign politics that is desperate for a leader, Eros chooses a loyal prince to help him navigate the hostile sands of Safara. But not everyone is happy to see a half-blood become the most powerful person on the planet. A queen must restore her nation. In power once more, Kora faces new challenges and a difficult decision that puts someone close to her in mortal danger. The wrong choice could destroy her relationships, her right to rule, and her life. A rebellion is brewing. With their world collapsing around them, new threats spreading across the globe, and their loved ones at risk, the people of Safara―Sepharon and human alike―depend on Eros and Kora to fix their bleeding world. But with generations of hate stacked against them, the two young monarchs may be doomed to...

Beautiful Mess  by Claire Christian Publication Date: August 27, 2017 Pages: 304 (kindle) Genre: Young Adult  My Goodreads Rating: 1-2 Stars Synopsis: Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven’t been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there’s the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab. Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other. My Review: Do you ever wonder if you've read the same book as other people? That's how I feel about Beautiful Mess .  This book had a lot of potential. I love a story that brings characters out of grief with the help of love, but this didn't really feel like that kind of story.  Ava i...