Tag: #contemporaryfiction

• Lola At Last Review

  Lola Barnes’s summer is not off to the best start. Fresh off a scandal that tanked her social status, Lola has somehow managed to also alienate her twin sister, lose the friends she thought she had, and put a . . . fiery end to the first party of the summer. (The boat was barely on fire,…

  rachelbeerwoman

  February 23, 2026

  Reviews

  #contemporaryfiction, #harpercollins, #homage, #j.c.peterson, #lolaatlast, #lydiabennet, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #retelling, #YA

• Being Mary Bennet Review

  It is a truth universally acknowledged that every bookworm secretly wishes to be Lizzie Bennet. A less acknowledged truth is that Mary Bennet might be a better fit. For seventeen-year-old Marnie Barnes, who’s convinced she is the long-suffering protagonist of her life, this revelation comes at the end of a series of self-induced disasters that…

  rachelbeerwoman

  February 22, 2026

  Reviews

  #rachelreads&reviews, #YA, #realisticfiction, #janeausten, #prideandprejudice, #retelling, #harpercollins, #j.c.peterson, #beingmarybennet, #contemporaryfiction, #homage, #marybennet

• The Story of My Anger Review

  Yulieta Lopez is angry. Angry at her racist drama teacher who refuses to cast Black students in lead roles. Angry at the school board threatening her favorite teacher for teaching works of literature that they deem “controversial.” Angry that she has to keep quiet until she can head to college and leave Texas forever. Yuli…

  rachelbeerwoman

  February 21, 2026

  Reviews

  #bookbannings, #censorship, #contemporaryfiction, #jasminnemendez, #penguinrandomhouse, #POC, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #thestoryofmyanger, #woc, #YA

• The Dead Queens Club Review

  What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain, and the vice president of the debate club have in common? It sounds like the ridiculously long lead-up to an astoundingly absurd punchline, right? Except it’s not. Well, unless my life is the…

  rachelbeerwoman

  February 7, 2026

  Reviews

  #contemporaryfiction, #hannahcapin, #historical, #inkyardpress, #rachelreads&reviews, #retelling, #thedeadqueensclub, #tudorera, #YA

• Not So Pure and Simple Review

  Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed himself up for a Purity Pledge. His best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe anyone is worth…

  rachelbeerwoman

  February 4, 2026

  Reviews

  #africanamericanfiction, #contemporaryfiction, #contemporaryromance, #harpercollins, #harperteen, #lamargiles, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #religion, #sexualhealth, #toxicmasculinity, #YA

• Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely Review

  In 1969 twenty-three-year-old starlet Lori Lovely, the apple of Hollywood’s eye, shocks the world by ditching a promising film career to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Benedictine nun. Gossip columnists and scandal sheets can’t get enough of the story. Why would a successful starlet take the veil? Was she hiding from…

  rachelbeerwoman

  November 26, 2025

  Reviews

  #chicklit, #comingofage, #contemporaryfiction, #harpercollins, #historicalfiction, #hollywood, #rachelreads&reviews, #sarahmccoy, #spiritual, #whateverhappenedtolorilovely, #williammorrowbooks, #women’sfiction

• Ranking Cinderella Cleaners

  13 year old Diana didn’t expect her new after-school job at her family’s dry cleaners to end up providing so much adventure. After all, it was forced on her by her harsh step-mom, and she can no longer participate in her beloved drama club. But slipping into the garments of the customers, Diana goes from…

  rachelbeerwoman

  November 24, 2025

  Rankings

  #achangeofdress, #cinderellacleaners, #contemporaryfiction, #maskappeal, #mayagold, #middlegrade, #prepcool, #rachelreads&reviews, #rockandrole, #schemespirit, #scholastic, #swanfake

• Kelly Yang Interview

  Kelly Yang is the award-winning author for kids and young adults with popular titles such as the Front Desk series, Parachutes, Little Bird Laila, and more. She graciously took the time to answer my questions about her work, and share what’s coming next. Enjoy! 1. When did you feel ready to start pitching your own…

  rachelbeerwoman

  October 6, 2025

  Interview

  #comingofage, #contemporaryfiction, #frontdesk, #littlebirdlaila, #parachutes, #picturebooks, #rachelreads&reviews, #scholastic, #YA