Today's WHAT'S THE BUZZ features a DUO of titles from author Rachel Lynn Solomon. It's a Young Adult set that screams Coming-of-Age trope as it tackles life and love in high school days and beyond! That's right. We don't simply end things when the tassel is switched to the other side of the hat. Summer happens, and then...the sequel is released. *first pump* So, grab your cap and gown, or maybe the sweatshirt you confiscated from your significant other that may have belonged to them, but most assuredly is now yours, as we take a look between the pages of your next must reads...
9781534440258
Here, we meet Rowan and Neil in the hallowed battle ground that is also known as high school. Yes, I said battle ground because these two have been at each other academically for the last four years. Competitive much? OH yeah, and they drive each other crazy along the way, but it's definitely a case of the lady (or gent) doth protest too much because while they think they've merely been sparring all this time, friends and those that surround are catching a glimpse of feelings they may not have even admitted to themselves. Well, so maybe one of them has, and the other has been ignoring them since the first week they met, but that's beside the point...at least for now. The end of school scavenger hunt and sniper-ish game is a bout to prove how the line between enemy and something far more endearing is very easily blurred. There are moments of self discovery, situations that aid in them having those AH-HA instances, and a HEA waiting for them that is uniquely their own. You'll catch all the feels as things seriously heat up, and really get behind the dreams they are reaching for all while supporting each other in ways even they never realized. It's all drawn to a conclusion both satisfying and tantalizing as the future awaits them beyond the days of summer.
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9781665901956
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
About the book...
When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different places.
In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.
In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.
Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?
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Summer is over and college has begun. What looked like a dream on the horizon is actually shaping up to be...part dream, part torture, part big fat unknown. Funny how the best laid plans can fall by the wayside. People change as they grow, and dreams can be altered as well, but that doesn't mean we have to say goodbye to everything we hold dear. It's about learning what we need to hold close, letting go of what we don't, and making room for new experiences, likes, desires, and realizations. Rowan and Neil have some tough times ahead, both on their own and with each other, but if they put faith in their connection, if they trust in the love they share, there is no obstacle they can't handle, no challenge they can't face, no change in circumstances or desires that they can't handle. I know, I know, it sounds detrimental to our golden couple, but trust me, it's well worth the read. Everything they go through will make that potential for a HEA that much sweeter, that much more satisfying if reached...and really, while I won't spoil the surprise, when have either of them cracked from the pressure?
The beauty in this one isn't in the finding, but the understanding, the ability to relate to the characters and what they're going through. The situations are realistic, the feelings intense, and the hard moments...seriously tough... but it doesn't make them any less valid. They both have things to work through in this chapter of their lives, and while they've always been up to a challenge on their own, sometimes a problem shared is in fact a problem halved, allowing them to grow stronger together as they find those solutions. I was rooting for them the whole time, and delighted with the final outcome, as I think you will be too. A great pick for Young Adult readers that will pull you in and never let go.
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About the author...
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| Photograph by Sabreen Lakhani |
Rachel Lynn Solomon is the New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow, The Ex Talk, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life in Amsterdam, where she’s on a mission to try as many Dutch sweets as possible. Learn more at RachelSolomonBooks.com.
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Special thanks to Lindsey at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the chance to share these titles with you and for the copies for review! (THANKS!) For more information on this set, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. The second title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY June 4th, 2024, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
