TESSA TALKS BOOKS

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins

• One-word review: Emotional
• Emojis: 😂😭🥰
• Rating:  5🌟s

My thoughts:

Prepare to embark on an emotional roller coaster with Kristan Higgins’s Look on the Bright Side. This book had me laughing, crying, and loving, a testament to its ability to deeply engage and captivate. The characters and the unique blend of a tragic love story and a traditional fake dating rom-com create a narrative that is both complex and emotionally rich, leaving a lasting impression that I won’t soon forget.

When the meanest doctor in the hospital asks Lark to be his fake girlfriend for family events (including a wedding) over the summer, Lark couldn’t imagine anything worse.  But with the promise of introductions she needed to secure an oncology position, she didn’t feel she could say no. This begins the romcom story thread in a tale encompassing four different story threads and three different amazing women.  Needless to say, it’s complex and multi-faceted, and I loved all of it!

Usually, this is the portion of the review where I tell you about my favorite aspects, but in Look on the Bright Side, all aspects are my favorite. It takes on so much and delivers even more. I couldn’t tear myself away from the book and never once wanted to. The characters are fascinating, even the mean doctor nicknamed Dr. Satan. They are all complex and well-developed, with intricate layers that make them as real as someone I can reach out and touch.

Look on the Bright Side is perfection—a story that will evoke all of your emotions and leave you satisfied.

Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow

• One-word review: shocking
• Emojis: 🥹🤔😯🤐
• Rating: 4.5 🌟s

My thoughts:

I loved how Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow stands out from other YA stories with its unique blend of suspense, romance, and impactful topics. The story revolves around Ella, who is grappling with the death of her best friend, Haley, and her growing romantic feelings for Sawyer, Haley’s boyfriend. As Ella delves deeper into the mystery of that fateful night and uncovers more of Hayley’s secrets, the suspense escalates to a thrilling climax that left me breathless.

The emotional depth of Everything We Never Said is what truly left a lasting impression with me. It’s not just a fast-paced suspenseful romance, but a poignant exploration of domestic abuse and anger management issues among teens. The author’s portrayal, though heightened for dramatic effect, is still authentic enough to be both enlightening and impactful.

And, as always, I loved the fast pace and the building suspense! The story holds a few twists and turns that left my jaw on the floor, and my hat is off to the author for that last big twist. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was mistaken if I thought that was the end of the story. My jaw is still lingering on the floor.

This book is perfect if you love YA Romantic Suspense that will shock you and impact you far beyond the story.

If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay 

• One-word review: Twisty
• Emojis:🤔 🫨🤐
• Rating: 5 🌟s

My thoughts:

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a thrilling rollercoaster that weaves a complex narrative. It follows the story of Ali, who mysteriously vanishes after her boyfriend Ryan was pulled from her car, only to have that car discovered in a local lake five years later. The narrative unfolds through three distinct plotlines, each contributing to the gripping climax of the story.

The mob plotline, a glimpse into a world driven by revenge, struck a deep emotional chord with me. It delves into the heart-wrenching aftermath of a middle school bullying incident, a tragedy that resonated deeply with me as a parent. It’s a poignant part of the story that I knew would lead to anything but a devastating outcome.

I also loved the pacing. I flew through this story just having to know how the plotlines were connected and what was going to happen next. I figured out some twists, while others caused my jaw to drop in surprise. I felt like the ending was an interesting, though not surprising, choice. And overall I enjoyed this newest Alex Finlay novel. They never disappoint!