Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings Abby isn’t going to take any chances.
Which is where the list comes in.
Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being. But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems… and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.
Love, Life and the List was my first Kasie West book and it was exactly what I was expecting and looking for when I picked it up. It is one of those YA contemporary novels that is really sweet and makes for the perfect summer read. I have been reading a lot of deep, sad, and dark novels lately and this book was the perfect palette cleanser! It put me in a great mood and reminding me how much I truly adore romance novels once in awhile. The characters are not very memorable, and there is not a lot of depth to the story, but that is not what I was looking for when I picked it up. I am planning to read more of her books this summer.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Everyone was absolutely right about Six of Crows! I thought it was amazing, and I in no way found it to be over hyped. I was not expecting to completely fall in love with these characters, but I ended up connect to each and every one of them in a unique way. This is a book that has found the perfect balance between being both plot-driven and character-driven. I am not usually a fan of a heist story, but this book ended up being an exception to the rule because of the writing, the characters, and the dialogue. I truly enjoy every single second and I am so happy that I finally caved and read it!
One by Sarah Crossan
Grace and Tippi. Tippi and Grace. Two sisters. Two hearts. Two dreams. Two lives. But one body.
Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins, joined at the waist, defying the odds of survival for sixteen years. They share everything, and they are everything to each other. They would never imagine being apart. For them, that would be the real tragedy.
But something is happening to them. Something they hoped would never happen. And Grace doesn’t want to admit it. Not even to Tippi.
How long can they hide from the truth—how long before they must face the most impossible choice of their lives?
One is such a beautifully told story that really tugged at my heartstrings. This is a book that is written in verse, and it I found that it added to the story. For such a quick read, it definitely left a lasting impression on me and it is a book that I will not soon forgot. I appreciate the research that Sarah Crossan put in to this novel, and it was apparent that she wanted to make sure she did justice to the experience of conjoined twins. I thought it was interesting that the story was told from the perspective of only one of the twins, and I would love if she wrote a companion novel from Tippi’s point of view. I am now hunting down all of her novels and I have high hopes for them!
I just checked out this Kasie West book Friday. It will be my first one and hopefully I’ll want to read more of her books.
Ohh I hope you enjoy it! I am excited to read more from her!
I’m so glad you like Love, Life, and the List and Six of Crows! On the Fence by Katie West is a solid, fluffy YA book as well if you need more of a break from depressing books haha. Also, One sounds so intriguing! I’ve never read something about conjoined twins.
Great post, Kristin 😁!
*Kasie not Katie 🙈
I have been curious about On The Fence. Happy to hear it is good! I definitely think you will enjoy One. So unique!
“This is a book that has found the perfect balance between being both plot-driven and character-driven.” -> you’re absolutely right! the choices the characters make and their personalities move and create the plot, which in turn puts the characters in position to reflect and act and so show who they are, what they want, etc. There’s a lot of growth in this book, it’s very dynamic. Hope you like the 2nd part of the duology!
I was so impressed with Six of Crows! You completely put in to words what I enjoyed about it. I adore books where the characters move the plot along. I am so excited for Crooked Kingdom!
I’m so glad you enjoyed Six of Crows! I was so worried about the hype when I first read it because I felt like I had to enjoy it or there was something wrong with me haha. Thankfully, it was an amazing book and I had nothing to worry about!
I was so worried about that too!
I’m so happy you loved Six of Crows! I don’t enjoy heist stories either, so I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it, but the characters stole my heart 💕
That is exactly how I felt about it!♥
I loved both SoC and Love, Life, & the List. I now understand why people love Bardugo, and KWest has always been a go-to for me. She had that one misstep last year, but her last two books have been solid.
I have been hearing so many amazing things about Kasie West’s latest book. I want to get to it soon! Bardugo is incredible!
Read Crooked Kingdom. That will completely blow your mind
I’m so excited!
I’m so glad you liked Six of Crows! Are you going to read Crooked Kingdom?
Definitely! I just need to remember to buy a copy! I have heard it’s even better.
Awesome! Most people’s reactions are that it was better, I didn’t think so, but that’s just my opinion! I hope you enjoy it just as much! 🙂
Ooh, I’ve seen everyone loving Six of Crows, and I’m very tempted to read it. 🙂 I’m not usually a fantasy/sci-fi reader, do you think it’s still worth reading?
Fantasy can be very hit and miss for me but this book didn’t feel fantasy heavy. If you like character driven novels I do think you will enjoy it!
Thank you, I’m glad to hear that! I think I’ll give it a try. 😉
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Lovely reviews! <3 I'm really happy you enjoyed Six of Crows so much – I agree that it was an amazing read <3 I can't wait to read more of Kasie West's books at some point, they all sound adorable 😀
Thank you! I am so happy that I finally read Six of Crows! I definitely recommend Kasie West for when you need something light and something that will put a smile on your face!
Good to hear that you loved Six of Crows so much!! The characters really do make the book so incredible for me
I so agree! The characters are what made that book so amazing!
Agggh I’m so glad you LOVED Six of Crows! I find the characters to be so much fun, and the plot itself is so engaging, and it’s my favorite YA book. 😉 Also, I hope you enjoy Crooked Kingdom! I found it at least twice as good as SoC, so fingers crossed for you!!
That’s really exciting! I can not wait to read Crooked Kingdom!!
Love your mini reviews! I actually own all three of these books and can’t wait to read them. I’ve had Six of Crows and One for so long now and need to finally read!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them. One is a book you could read in a day but think about forever!