new adult – Shenanigans, Adventures, and Heartbreak

Adele Inspired Bookish Playlist

Published on November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 by AmberleyLeave a comment

So this playlist is going to be slightly different than usual. Because I have been listening to Adele’s new album nonstop, I have decided to take each track and pick a book that I think encompasses the theme of the song. These recommendations are more new adult than YA, ‘cuz really…when you think of dramatic romantic shenanigans, Adele and New Adult go together like peas and carrots 🙂

I Miss You – Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I Miss You reminds me of Abby and Travis and the way that their relationship seeped into all aspects of their lives. Not only because they were living together, but also with the intensity of their attraction. It kind of overshadowed everything, regardless of Abby trying to prevent that from happening.

When We Were Young – Out of Breath by Rebecca Donavon

In this trilogy, Evan reminds me of the golden child, he has a lot going for him and the respect of the people around him. By the time we reach Out of Breath (the 3rd book in the trilogy) Evan and Emma’s relationship has been through more than many people face in their entire lives. When We Were Young reminds me of the reflecting Emma and Evan both do on their relationship and the appreciation they have for the little moments they experienced when they were dating.

Remedy – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

This is the one YA series that I put into this playlist because of the way friendship is presented. These girls lean on each other to recharge when boys and life in general has knocked them around a bit. The lyrics in Remedy outline this idea really well.

Water Under the Bridge – Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Water Under the Bridge perfectly describes the complications that arose when Miles tries to convince himself and Tate that their relationship is nothing more than physical. The chorus reminded me of Tate’s attitude toward the end of the novel. She knew that she was going to be hurt by their arrangement and that they probably won’t end up together, but she still wants him to acknowledge that he wasn’t completely numb to everything happened between them.

Love in the Dark – Bully by Penelope Douglas

This song represents Tate and Jared’s relationship throughout the entire Fall Away Series. After the first story it is clear that they care for each other and have a long history that binds them. However, they still have some major differences that cause tension in their relationship. Love in the Dark exemplifies that idea that despite the fact that two people care for each other, their relationship might not survive their differences.

Million Years Ago – Going Under S. Walden

This book is really intense and their are all sorts of trigger warnings before going into it, both for suicide and sexual assault. Million Years Ago describes the feelings that Brooke goes through in this novel. First her regret for how she treated her best friend but also the fear she has towards the end of the novel. As her plan to get revenge on her best friend’s attacker get under way, Brooke begins to understand how far in over her head she is, but she also feels there is no going back to where she started.

All I Ask – Rule by Jay Crownover

All I Ask is Shaw’s song. She has only ever loved Rule and knows that he may never feel the same way. She will take whatever he has to offer, because she thinks that is the only relationship she is ever going to have.

Sweetest Devotion – Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Sweetest Devotion is my song dedication for Reece and Pepper. A big issue I have with a lot of New Adult books, is the alpha personality that borders on stalker/abusive in a lot of the romantic interests. That is not the case with Reece. He always let Pepper take the lead on their relationship and I was really happy with their love story at the end of the book. Sweetest Devotion is a great love song about the supporting the one you love, and it reminded me of everything Reece was willing to for Pepper.

Send My Love – Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

So this is what I wish Erika had said to Michael. There were just some crazy shenanigans that went on that were his fault and I was not okay with how this ended. At most Erika could have just left things as is and went their separate ways. I would have also been okay with her saying that she would only talk to Michael again if he was in jail. So here is me wishing she had stood up for herself a bit more and said goodbye.

I wasn’t able to think of books to match up with Hello or River Lea. Does anyone have any thoughts for these two? Do any of the listed songs remind you of other books? 🙂

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Published on October 12, 2015September 28, 2015 by AmberleyLeave a comment

Hopeless

by Colleen Hoover

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Sky is a senior in high school who is attending public school for the first time after being home schooled her whole life. With her mom, she leads a very natural and tech-free lifestyle that has left Sky pretty sheltered and unprepared for the upcoming year. Without a cell phone, tv, or computer with internet, Sky has had to solely rely on her best friend and neighbor Six for all the information she needs to know about her upcoming year. Unfortunately, Six has been accepted into a study abroad program and has left Sky to fend for herself. One piece of advice Six gives Sky before leaving, is to avoid Dean Holder, a brooding senior who is rumored to have just returned to school after a year in juvie.

It ends up being too late for that warning though, because Sky and Holder have already met and have even set up a schedule so that can take their morning runs together. Although Sky is attracted to Holder she also wary of him and his intense moods. While he often seems angry and tense around others, when they hang out together she feels like she is spending time with an entirely different person. It is obvious Holder is hiding something from Sky. While he tries to figure out the best timing to reveal his past, Sky begins to learn the truth on her own and is surprised to find how closely their pasts are linked.

Review: I am usually a pretty big Colleen Hoover fan, however that just wasn’t the case with Hopeless. This has everything to do with Holder’s character and his role as Sky’s love interest. I totally get that he has some unresolved issues and that they might cause him to react negatively. Holder is definitely dealing with a lot, but this undeniable attraction that Sky has to Holder is just bonkers! The very first time they meet he is rude and really creepy, he follows Sky into a parking lot and then prevents her from driving away by forcing her door to stay open until he sees her ID. Then as she drives away she sees him punching the hood of his car. These are all things that realistically would have most people consider a restraining order, not encourage some instant crush. He then memorizes every detail on her ID down to whether she is an organ donor, definitely some stalker-type behavior. Although it doesn’t work with the plot, Holder clearly should be working through his own issues before trying to integrate himself into Sky’s life and solve her problems.

Sky’s past and repressed memories were an intriguing part of the plot, but this book lost me because of Holder’s behavior and Sky’s reaction to it.