A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena // Such an Important, Special Read

A Girl Like That, by Tanaz Bhathena
Publication: February 27, 2018, by Farrar Straus Giroux
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 378
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. You don't want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

My Thoughts:

A Girl Like That was a shock. That is probably the most important sentence I will state in this entire review, as it's the complete and utter truth. I was really excited about reading it, as I heard about the book through a blogger event held by Raincoast Books, the book's Canadian publisher. However, when I began reading it, I automatically felt as if it would be disappointing. All of the perspectives got me really confused from the first few pages, and I didn't understand what the purpose of the story would be. From its summary, I was aware that this wouldn't be a typical contemporary story, and I was aware that it did produce a ton of emotions in readers. However, I was not ready for this story to showcase the struggles of females in the Middle East, due to the harshness of governments and laws. I did not expect to adore this as much as I did, either, as I was really confused for the first fifty pages or so. I expected this to be about the car accident in which the protagonist, Zarin, and the male character, Porus, end up in, however, Bhathena's story is really about what leads up to this accident. And, it really helps us answer the book's main question: who is Zarin Wadia? Who is she really? 

So, as mentioned, this story follows Zarin Wadia, a sixteen-year-old girl living in Saudi Arabia. She is an orphan living with her strict aunt and uncle, and is not native to Saudi Arabia, as she is Parsi. Throughout the novel, we readers see her outlook on life as she encounters many relationships with boys, exploring her femininity and personality. However, when she meets Porus, who also comes from the same culture as Zarin, she is intrigued with him in a different way than most boys, which leads to them both being killed in a car accident. This story shows us readers what happened before this accident, and what major event stirred this.

A day after I closed the book's spine, I still cannot get the characters and story out of my mind. I cannot help but wonder what happened next, and how each of the characters were doing in reality, as if they existed. Tanaz Bhathena did an outstanding job at creating three-dimensional characters who seemed so realistic. This rarely happens in novels, though Tanaz successfully achieved this, and I felt as if they were so real. I cannot wait to see what other ideas the author has in mind, and to see if her future stories will be similar to this one. 

I found the book to be quite fresh, in the sense that I finally found a story which took place somewhere else other than America or Canada. (Though honestly, Canada's even difficult to find). I learned so much about the Saudi Arabian/Middle Eastern culture through this story, and I wish that more YA authors would pick up on this idea and continue the legacy which this author has begun. 

THIS BOOK JUST SCREAMS OUT FEMINISM. Our protagonist, Zarin, is a true advocate for women's rights, and based on the tragic event that happens to her in this story, there is no better way to build on feminism than the way Tanaz Bhathena did. Zarin was so kick-butt and memorable, unlike many of the weaker females I've read about who let boys take advantage of them. The relationship she developed with Porus was a rare one, that's for sure. How often are we readers truly able to see a relationship blossom through friendship? They usually form very quickly from characters seeing each other for the first time -> flirting -> dating. NOT IN THIS CASE. Thank you, astonishing author, for defying the stereotypes. 






It is time for more diverse books in the YA genre. Sure, we do get our fair bunch, but I find that those books usually fall under the fantasy/sci-fi genre. A Girl Like That was a difficult book to read, in that it messed with my emotions and really was devastating. It's an important read for everyone to pick up, as it touches upon many tough issues that need more addressing. Grab this one and love it with all of your heart.

*An advanced review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What are some latest diverse YA reads?

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales // I Don't Understand the Problems

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, by Leila Sales
Publication: May 1, 2018, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

We all want to be seen. We all want to be heard. But what happens when we’re seen and heard saying or doing the wrong things? What then?
When Winter Halperin—former spelling bee champion, aspiring writer, and daughter of a parenting expert—gets caught saying the wrong thing online, her life explodes. All across the world, people knows what she’s done, and none of them will forgive her.

With her friends gone, her future plans cut short, and her identity in shambles, Winter is just trying to pick up the pieces without hurting anyone else. She knows she messed up, but does that mean it’s okay for people to send her hate mail and death threats? Does she deserve to lose all that she’s lost? And is “I’m sorry” ever good enough?

First and foremost a novel about public shaming in the internet age, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say is also an exploration of the power of words, the cumulative destructiveness of microaggressions, and the pressing need for empathy.

My Thoughts:

When I picked this book up, I was extremely hesitant because it seems that the entire bookish community is not really rooting for this book by Leila Sales. I am a HUGE Leila Sales, having read every book by her except for one, and when given the opportunity to read this new release, I was ecstatic. I was not aware that she would be releasing a new, heartwarming story in 2018, and discovering this was the best news. Then, I read some of the early reviews and I was afraid but skeptical. Leila Sales chose to write this book based on what is happening in our world today on social media and on the Internet. The topic of this book is very unique, however, it appears in reality everyday and affects all of our lives. Nevertheless, I completely support Leila Sales' decision to write about this, and we deserve to read a story about this topic. About racism and not realizing the consequences that our actions and words have. 

I obviously am not standing up for the comments that the protagonist, Winter Halperin, used. It was wrong for her to type that out (we obviously see the wrongness of the situation when Winter begins to lose everything she has ever had), however, this does not mean that Winter is an evil individual who deserves to be punished. In MY opinion, I see that Winter's character felt sorry for what she did, and, by the end of the novel, understood why her actions were wrong. I personally did not feel sorry for her (I don't think we were meant to feel that way — Leila Sales usually creates these kinds of characters), but just because I didn't feel sorry doesn't mean that this book is unacceptable. I just don't understand why some people are hating on this story for its theme and topic. It is about time that an author addresses this topic in a story, as it seems as if everyone has been ignoring it in the literary world. I personally enjoyed the topics explored in the writing.

For the first half of the story, I was intrigued and fascinated with the storyline and plot. The story is so unique that I'm pretty sure it cannot be compared to anything else. 2018 is the best time for this book to have been released, so I definitely think it's time for you to pick it up. When I got through to the second half, especially the part involving Winter's entrance to rehab and the relationship (which I don't think was necessary; let the girl focus on her emotions!) it fell short as I wasn't able to see where the story was really going. From the first half, I became aware of the fact that the story was about Winter learning how to deal with her mistakes, though I found that the plot dragged. Nonetheless, I totally recommend every bit of the story for a fresh read.

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say was a great read to start off my summer vacation, and it truly is an important one. Go see that for yourself.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What are some other controversial YA novels?

The Half-True Lies of Cricket Cohen by Catherine Lloyd Burns // A Book That Redeemed Itself Midway!

The Half-True Lies of Cricket Cohen, by Catherine Lloyd Burns
Publication: August 22, 2017, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BFYR
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 176
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Cricket Cohen isn’t a liar, but she doesn’t always tell the exact truth. She loves thinking about geology and astronomy and performing tricky brain surgery on her stuffed animals. She also loves conspiring with Dodo, her feisty grandmother who lives in the apartment right next door. And one Manhattan weekend when she’s in hot water with her teacher and her controlling parents over a fanciful memoir essay, Cricket goes along with Dodo’s questionable decision to hit the bricks. Imagining all sorts of escapades, Cricket is happy to leave home behind. But on a crosstown adventure with an elderly woman who has her own habit of mixing truth and fantasy, some hard realities may start to get in the way of all the fun.

My Thoughts:

The Half-True Lies of Cricket Cohen was really enjoyable and a book that looked so promising. It was memorable, and although the beginning was slow (and a bit confusing), every aspect of it was fabulous... practically.

DODO (Cricket's grandmother) WAS LIFE. I loved her. She was a rich, flirty granny who was a diff. character than we see in most middle grade books. It's so nice to see family relationships build in this book, and I can only help but WISH and BEG that many middle-grade books that are coming out will be the same. Same as in similar relationships. Cricket, our main character, on the other hand, was a responsible kid who just made me smile. I loved how she was just so honest with her grandma. Of course, what made me mad were the white lies Cricket made, but that was intentional as the whole story revolved around these lies. It was a book that can teach all of us something valuable for life. I can imagine the impact it can have on kids. 

This was promising, however it was extremely boring in the beginning - it was slow, not getting anywhere, especially with the fact that she started going to surf camp which didn't really make sense. It seemed as if it was just filler, and too much for me to comprehend. There were characters introduced who were so random and it was too much. But after, the book redeemed itself. 

The story as a whole was just hilarious. I truly loved Dodo and Cricket together The adventures they got into were THE BEST. DYNAMIC DUO FOREVER. You cannot even imagine how much I appreciate their relationship. It brightened up my day! 

CRICKET AS A WHOLE: she has insecurities and she's so real. You can feel the desperation in her voice as she tried to be someone else - but Dodo helped her realize that her real self is better than her "memoir" self. Cricket had a better connection with her grandma than her own mother, and it kind of is sad, but happy at the same time. It's important for people to have connections with their extended family as well. 

Even though The Half-True Lies of Cricket Cohen wasn't amusing in the beginning, I still really enjoyed this humorous and lesson-teaching (of kindness towards your family) story.  

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is the best relationship you have read about in a middle-grade book?

Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley // I Needed This When I Was a Kid!

Gertie's Leap to Greatness, by Kate Beasley
Publication: October 4, 2016, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BFYR
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 256
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating: 

Gertie Reece Foy is 100% Not-From-Concentrate awesome. She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her absent mother decides to move away from their small town, Gertie sets out on her greatest mission yet: becoming the best fifth grader in the universe to show her mother exactly what she'll be leaving behind. There's just one problem: Seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey wants to be the best fifth grader, too. And there is simply not enough room at the top for the two of them.

My Thoughts:

Gertie's Leap to Greatness was first introduced to me before I attended BEA this year, and I just adored the old-looking Winnie the Pooh-like cover that easily seems like my kind of read. My sister read it prior to me, adored it, and handed it straight over, saying that I would really enjoy it. The final outcome? I sure did enjoy it! Kate Beasley is a remarkable author, and for a debut, this was pure awesomeness. It seems as if she has done this a million times with so much experience. I loved reading about Gertie's struggles to greatness and how she was such an ambitious little girl who would do whatever it takes to achieve her dreams and more, and impress the people around her. This wasn't a book about a girl who carried so much envy that she needed to leap to be even better than the other person. This was about searching for greatness, but Gertie has her own uniqueness where she was able to do whatever it takes to just be her, and achieve better grades and so on.

I read this many weeks ago, but my memory is still clear about all of the greatness of this story. We immediately meet Gertie, who is living in Montgomery, Alabama, with her great-aunt and her father, who is occasionally home when he comes back from working at the oil rigs. Gertie is really fond of her father, who works so hard to support Gertie and her aunt. On Gertie's first day of fifth grade, she immediately meets the new girl, Mary Sue, who is the daughter of a Hollywood director (or something like that). She came from California, and thinks that she knows EVERYTHING. Also, she steals Gertie's seat immediately and Gertie tries to make sure that she could redeem herself, especially for her teacher.

This book is just touching. There are so many issues covered here that many middle-grade authors fail to cover because nobody wants to imagine a poor ten/eleven year old kid dealing with those kinds of things. The only thing that I was upset with was how the story with Gertie's mom was handled. I was extremely upset. Back to the "nobody wants to imagine a kid going through that" thing. I felt extremely confused with how Gertie and her mother's relationship was handled. Gertie's mother left when she was young, and she lived in the same neighbourhood. SAME NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH HER NEW FAMILY. Gertie was so heartbroken and I felt so bad for her. 

I adored this because it was so easy to read. Everything about it practically was so amazing that I could just jump for joy. It reminded me so much of myself of when I was a fifth grader, being an overachiever, ambitious and a perfectionist. Gertie was adorable, relatable and I just wanted her to achieve everything, and have the best in life. When this story really began, I was unable to put it down and I slowly felt all of Gertie's life/friends pouring into me. You will get to know her so quickly—including her obsession with Twinkies and her family's quirks. There is seriously no better way to fall in love with a character than to adore their family.

Gertie's Leap to Greatness inspires me, a sixteen-year-old, to go leap for greatness and try to do my best, including school-wise and beyond. I adored Gertie, her family, and her HUGE personality. I just want to fall in love with Beasley's writing all over again, and hopefully, that'll be real soon!

*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is a middle-grade book with so many heartfelt moments in it? What do you think of this cover?

Young Widows Club by Alexandra Coutts // Why the Negativity?

Young Widows Club, by Alexandra Coutts
Publication: November 10, 2015, by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux BFYR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Seventeen-year-old Tamsen Baird didn’t set out to become a teenage widow. All she did was fall in love and get married. But when her nineteen-year-old husband, Noah, dies suddenly in the middle of the night, her whole life changes. Now Tam is forced to return to the existence she thought she’d left behind—beginning with moving back home and finishing high school. But in order to overcome her loss and find her way forward, she’ll need to reinvent herself and reach out to others in ways she never imagined. She’ll need to open herself up to living—and even loving—again.
In Young Widows Club, Alexandra Coutts depicts a teenager whose struggle with grief and disappointment is heartbreakingly real and, in the end, powerfully uplifting.

My Thoughts:

A few years ago, I fell in love with Alexandra's angelic trilogy also known as the lovely Halo trilogy. I do not know if I would still love it to this day, because my tastes have definitely changed and I cannot really call myself a fan of paranormal fiction anymore (and probably will never call myself a fan of that ever again), but I loved it. And then, Tumble and Fall was released and I fell out of love with Alexandra's writing. I was hesitant to give this beauty a chance, but it turned out to be beautiful, just like I first experienced in Halo. Young Widows Club features a concept that no author has ever battled before. I do not know if it is because authors are scared, or because no author has ever thought about it before. All in all, I must say that a teenage character being a widow is a first. 

Reading the title, I expected something a little different. In fact, I expected this novel that was supposed to be all about characters who are all widows. Characters as in a plural word. I expected a group of girls who are each battling their own demons after experiencing horrible circumstances in the past. I don't know why I expected that, having read the summary a little bit (I never like to spoil it too much for me). Anyways, I must say that this turned out to be such a stellar read.

The Reasons WHY YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THIS STORY:

1. UNO. It's super sad. I love sad books—not because I enjoy when characters get depressed (that's just savaged) but because those books make my feels squirt around and go crazy. I love when books MAKE ME GET THE FEELS. This book did it wonderfully. We see grief (obviously) and themes that are not featured in some of the saddest YA books but are featured here. I love the character relationships too.

2. TAMSEN, THE MAIN CHARACTER. Tamsen's character is a representation of how many people overcome grief. She's such a great person overall and Alexandra added just the right amount emotion into her to make her story seem real. I liked her independence (sass, at times), and personality as a whole.

3. The Ending. Puzzle pieces, people. Everything was placed together beautifully. I LEGITIMATELY HAD TEARS IN MY EYES. I cannot relive these moments again.

~~

I was bothered by the romance. HONESTLY? PLEASSSEEE WHY?! I understand that books are written for readers' entertainment, but I was not entertained by Tamsen's new romance/love story at all. This is a story about grief, my friends, and not a new connection. *yawns*

Young Widows Club was ten times more better than I expected. I loved how concerned I felt with it all and how entitled I felt to continue reading it in a sitting. It is extremely light, quick, but meaningful to everyone, even though some of us have not yet experienced love. It's a rare find that makes you want to feel all angst-y and upset. But hey, a lot of us are teenagers, and we sometimes overreact. This was not a young woman's overreaction... at all.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is a concept that is extremely rare, but has been done in YA? Have you read anything by Alexandra before?

Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend // Practically a Perfect Middle-Grade

Where You'll Find Me, by Natasha Friend
Publication: March 8, 2016, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BFYR
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

The first month of school, thirteen-year-old Anna Collette finds herself…
Dumped by her best friend, Dani, who suddenly wants to spend eighth grade “hanging out with different people.”
Deserted by her mom, who’s in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt.
Trapped in a house with her dad, a new baby sister, and a stepmother young enough to wear her Delta Delta Delta sweatshirt with pride.
Stuck at a lunch table with Shawna the Eyebrow Plucker and Sarabeth the Irish Stepper because she has no one else to sit with.
But what if all isn’t lost? What if Anna’s mom didn’t exactly mean to leave her? What if Anna’s stepmother is cooler than she thought? What if the misfit lunch table isn’t such a bad fit after all?
With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna just may find herself on the road to okay.

My Thoughts:

Never in a million years did I imagine that when I'm a teenager, I will be reading pure middle grade fiction. And you know what? Middle-grade fiction is honestly a beautiful genre. Many authors capture moments in a protagonist where they still carry that childlike innocence where nothing is important except having fun, being a kid/girl and/or eating popsicles. That's the honest, evident part of MG fiction and is some of the reasons why us bloggers choose to read these books. Once in a while, I like to splurge on the books that I know my sister would read/eventually read. I honestly meant to give this one to her, but I hogged it anyways because I requested it. Har-dee-har-har. Natasha Friend's stories have always been with me through thick and thin when I was a tween, full of attitude and no good decision-making skills whatsoever. 

With Anna's character and the way Natasha chose to portray her character in a bundle of 300 or so pages, I took a flashback back to the years where I was a tween. There were many instances in this book where I felt that I was reading about my younger self and the awful things I did or said. That's life, quite frankly. Where You'll Find Me is a story of self-discovery, deciding what you want to see yourself doing in a few years and how you would like to see yourself acting. Anna was the perfect, most splendid protagonist to showcase the perfect role model for little girls like herself. There are many, young or old, who could relate to her misfits and struggles of fitting in or doing the right thing(s).

"It's hard to describe how it feels up there. The whole space is ours, and, even though the words aren't really ours, we own them right now. We've put them together in our own patchwork way. We are brave, we are rebels, we are dreamers who dare to dream. Our voices are pure and strong and open and defiant." (231-232)

Anna is a thirteen year old, who is honestly stuck in a messy situation. Her mother is recovering from a suicide attempt, she was recently dumped by her best friend for years, and her father is remarried. Did I mention the fact that she has a baby sister? She's second guessing everything, making doubts and thinking that everything occurred because of her, which is what children always end up thinking at one point of time.

Where You'll Find Me is actually heartbreaking. It could tear the heart of anyone, letting them know that there is a little girl (many of them) out there who are dealing with the same emotions and situations that Anna dealt with throughout this story. My heart felt for Anna and she was just so adorable. She had a mother-like personality, independently trying to do things and being so understanding, showing love for everyone around her, even if they didn't show it back. I feel like this is a book for every little girl out there. Everyone needs to grab a copy of this beauty and showcase it in their shelves with a big giant trophy stating, "Best Middle Grade Book Out There. For All." Y'all need to add this on your TBR lists right this instant. 

Natasha Friend has blown my mind with this beauty. Little girls, or any woman or man, if you enjoy coming-of-age stories, this one cannot be beat. I'm sure that the beautiful, sweet cover has already captivated you enough. Anna will speak to you through her words as if she's right in front of you, telling you her story and making dreams come true. This was exquisite.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is your favourite middle grade story? Do you know any MG stories that deal with suicide themes?

Rules for 50/50 Chances by Kate McGovern // Touching and Satisfying

Rules for 50/50 Chances, by Kate McGovern
Publication: November 24, 2015, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BFYR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

A heartrending but ultimately uplifting debut novel about learning to accept life's uncertainties; a perfect fit for the current trend in contemporary realistic novels that confront issues about life, death, and love.
Seventeen-year-old Rose Levenson has a decision to make: Does she want to know how she's going to die? Because when Rose turns eighteen, she can take the test that tells her if she carries the genetic mutation for Huntington's disease, the degenerative condition that is slowly killing her mother.
With a fifty-fifty shot at inheriting her family's genetic curse, Rose is skeptical about pursuing anything that presumes she'll live to be a healthy adult-including her dream career in ballet and the possibility of falling in love. But when she meets a boy from a similarly flawed genetic pool and gets an audition for a dance scholarship across the country, Rose begins to question her carefully laid rules.

My Thoughts:

I like books about taking chances. About people taking risks and discovering something new about themselves. Obviously, I didn't want any horrible outcome of this novel and its main character, Rose Levenson. Rules for 50/50 Chances is not your average contemporary romance tale that some people compare to anything by the works of John Green and The Fault in Our Stars. This novel can save a life, more specifically the life of a bookworm who feels like there isn't anything good anymore out there to rave about or recommend. At least, I know that it saved me in a way and I can never look at the cover the same way anymore since I know what it did to me. Kate McGovern throws in a reader's dream—a contemporary tale that shows diversity, an unique concept and a romance that is seriously gorgeous and meaningful. 

I'd say that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that you will adore this book. Much, much more greater than 50%. I have not been able to give out many five star ratings this year, and when this novel came around, it changed my perspective of great reads. WE NEED DIVERSITY. 2015 and much of 2014 were years of diversity, where new books all featured characters who fit in their own skin and were proud of who they were. Then... it kind of stopped. I haven't read a diverse book in a while. After flipping through the last pages of this beauty, I headed off to my Goodreads shelf where I realized that I haven't checked off too many books in the "diverse" category. That kind of shattered my heart. I didn't expect this to be diverse. When it was mentioned that Caleb is African-American, my heart crumbled into happiness. This is such a precious read! (I keep telling myself this continuously, actually.)

"'Let's face it,' I say finally. 'There are more ways to die in this world than to not die. There are exactly zero ways to do that.'" (115)

Do not try to contradict that quote. Don't even implant that thought into your mind! I know you just did because I threw the idea to you, like if you caught a ball. Ugh. Geez. That is what Kate McGovern's writing was like. There were quotes implanted throughout the novel at random times (but those that made sense) which caused me to think. To think about life and all of the things that I as a teenager have not yet learned or discovered in this glorious world. This kind of was, in a way, philosophical and heartbreaking. My heart crackled and popped at times where something unbelievable happened or when I felt Rose's agony and heartbreak. 

So you just keep seeing me blabbing about how this novel hit me. But really, you're inwardly asking, what is this about? Sadness. A girl named Rose. A boy named Caleb. Two families hit by different genetic illnesses that has begun to cause them to crumble inwardly. Rose's mother was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, where her fourth chromosome is mutated and causes her mental condition especially, to deteriorate. Rose discovers that she has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the disease. Her life falls apart as she realizes that the things that she loves to do and see might not even be worth it if she inherits the disease one day. Her father panics, tries to warn her to stay away from the negative thoughts and not take a test just yet. Rose dreams of going to a prestigious ballet academy in San Francisco and to ride trains all over the world, seeing things that she has never seen before. But Huntington's is on her mind. When she meets Caleb, who is also dealing with his two sisters and mother carrying the sickle cell, she feels like she is not alone.

Of course, a person cannot always rely on another person for too long. I've seen this in my own life. It's kind of like human nature. Rose and Caleb's relationship is emotional, and relatable, because the two could relate to each other so well and understand the hardships that they both have to encounter in their daily lives at home. They had very alike personalities that made their own relationship seemed flawed at some points because inwardly, Rose knew exactly what Caleb was trying to say, but she couldn't let the truth slip out at all. 

"Because it's a slippery slope from kissing to boyfriend-ing to falling in love. And falling in love is like getting a dog: You're pretty much guaranteed to end up with a big loss. Loss. It stops sounding like a word if say it enough times." (138)

I read this in a jiffy. One sitting. The minimum amount of time that you can imagine. I adore it so much. It's a refresher, honestly. My life is complete because of this book. And when everything came together and the ending hit me, I was more than satisfied. This is a tragic, coming-of-age novel about a girl who is torn between changing her life forever or not. Because of a test. The ending kind of killed me inside, I saw it coming, but I loved it anyways and it didn't change my opinion at all. Zero. Nada. I want to keep gushing and freaking out over the romance and everything else that came to mind here.

Rules for 50/50 Chances is seriously one of the best books I have ever read. I have never read anything like this—at all. My life has become better because of this story (not that it sucked before or anything) and it's going to be one of those stories that you won't have to pick up again because its magic still sticks inside of you. You won't be able to forget Rose and Caleb's story and their relationship... ever. I guarantee that you will build some personal relationship with this beauty.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much!*

What are some diverse books that have been published this year for YA? Does this book look fabulous to you?