The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

Since living in Asheville for about 11 years, I’ve come to fall in love with local author Stephanie Perkins. She’s well known for her excellent young adult romance, but did you know she can write horror too?

Thank you Penguin Teen for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Best friends Neena and Josie spent high school as outsiders, but at least they had each other. Now, with college and a two-thousand-mile separation looming on the horizon, they have one last chance to be together—a three-day hike deep into the woods of the Pisgah National Forest. Simmering tensions lead to a detour off the trail and straight into a waking nightmare … and then into something far worse. Something that will test them in horrifying ways.

I give all the props to Stephanie – to be able to write such opposite genres (horror and romance) takes true talent! While this wasn’t my favorite book by her, I thought it was an enjoyable read. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but I really liked the young adult aspect to it. I think if this was an adult horror novel, I would’ve thought less of it. I really liked introducing a character with an Indian background and thought she did a really good job with it. On the other hand, I think the book was filled with a bit more drama than needed to be. I want a horror novel to sneak up on you. This had a lot happening all at once. Not a bad read, but not something I would read again.

I did have a wonderful time with Stephanie and Malaprops Bookstore celebrating her book being published this week!

3.5/5 Stars

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

It’s no surprise that I love Young Adult Books. I JUMPED for JOY when Book of the Month started a young adult box! I have ALWAYS loved that you can get a brand new book (sometimes even before they are released in stores) for WAY less than what they cost in stores new. Plus, they come hardcover 🙂

I’m ESPECIALLY OVER THE MOON EXCITED that my most highly anticipated read this year is one of their September books. I have read both David’s wife Nicola Yoon’s books as soon as they came out (see my past reviews on them!), so it was no surprise that I was THRILLED that he has written his first book.

Synopsis: High school senior Frank Li is a Limbo–his term for Korean-American kids who find themselves caught between their parents’ traditional expectations and their own Southern California upbringing. His parents have one rule when it comes to romance–“Date Korean”–which proves complicated when Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful–and white. Fellow Limbo Joy Song is in a similar predicament, and so they make a pact: they’ll pretend to date each other in order to gain their freedom. Frank thinks it’s the perfect plan, but in the end, Frank and Joy’s fake-dating maneuver leaves him wondering if he ever really understood love–or himself–at all.

It’s AMAZING and looks like there will even be a sequel! You can get your copy TODAY for only $5 using the code “YALIT” through this link here. They ship super fast too so you won’t have to miss out on reading this soon. Let me know what you think of it!