Teen Romance – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Title: Sixteen Scandals

Author: Sophie Jordan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 256

Publication Date: 5/25/21

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Categories: Historical Romance, Young Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

In this irreverent regency romp by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan, newly minted sixteen-year-old Primrose Ainsworth finds herself on a wayward birthday adventure through London with a mysterious hero—perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.

I’ve read Sophie Jordan’s adult historical romances so I really wanted to see how a young adult romance would work out. I thought the Sixteen Candles twist to it was cute, since it’s one of my most favorite movies of the 80’s.
Prim definitely takes chances by sneaking out of the house and going to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. I think it’s important to remember in history and historical romances, girls got married at 16+. So Prim sneaking out, really had the risk of being caught in a scandal that could ruin her life.
Her family life is drama-filled with her sisters and a mom who is laser focused on getting each girl married, except Prim, of course, it’s like she’s too tired to care about Prim, poor girl. Glad Prim doesn’t let that hold her back though.
The romance is sweet and cute. Prim and Jacob get to know each other all in one night, but the sparks are definitely there by the end.
It’s a happy ending for Prim, thank goodness because her mom’s plan for her life was pretty harsh.

This was a quick read – and it’s meant for teens. As an adult reading it, it wasn’t for me. But this would be definitely perfect for teens – it has a little romance, adventure, and a girl trying to live her young life. I had a hard time trying to stop comparing adult historical romance and this one meant for a younger audience.
And being a Sixteen Candles fan, where was Farmer Ted?! Haha, I mean Jacob obviously is Jake (the duke). The story takes place all in one night, just like the movie, but I think because of the amazing supporting cast in the movie, Prim and Jacob’s one night escapade in this book fell so short. It had some action, the kind you would get in a pleasure garden haha.
Everything comes to such a predictable and anti-climatic ending.

I do wish there was a little more to the Sixteen Candles retelling like having more of a supporting cast like the movie did. Other than that, the story is quick and the romance is sweet. This one is perfect for teen readers who want to read a historical romance story.

💜 ~ Yolanda

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Author: Chandelle LaVaun

Format: Kindle Edition E-book

Pages: 414

Categories: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Witches, Academy, Teen Romance, Arcana.

Book Blurb:

Magic. Isn’t. Real.
At least that’s what I thought. But now, my story is changing…

You know you’re invisible when even your bullies forget to pick on you. That’s me, Bettina Blair, hidden in plain sight. No matter how hard I try I just never fit in with my classmates.

Now I know why. I’m a witch…apparently.

One little demon attack and my parents confess their ugly secret…and ship me off to an elite academy of magic- for witches only.

I can’t summon magic. I can’t fight with my hands or my fists. I just don’t belong here, and Jackson Lancaster keeps reminding me every single chance he gets. This boy is the most insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, judgmental person to ever have the right to be that gorgeous. I don’t care how sexy his British accent is, or that literally everyone else on campus adores him. He hates me, and the feeling is mutual.

Suddenly, I’m sent on a quest into the Old Lands to find the only thing that can save Eden from a demon invasion. I’m in way over my head, and my best chance of coming back alive lies in the hands of the guy who wants me gone…

The Hidden Witch is the first book in a brand new, fast paced urban fantasy adventure featuring a sharp-witted heroine, swoon-worthy hero, and one epic hate-to-love rollercoaster set inside a magical academy!

MY REVIEW

Bettina Blair is a teenage girl who finds out she’s a witch after being attacked by a demon. She gets sent to Edenburg Academy, a school where she learns about her powers, the history of witches and how to train to become a Sword.

Bettina struggles with her combat training at first but with help from her new friends and coven leaders she eventually rises to her potential at being a Sword. Of course there is the issue of her gorgeous instructor, Jackson Lancaster, who always seems angry with her – but the tension between them is far from hateful feelings brewing, it’s just the opposite.

This was a quick read and it was exactly the fast paced kind of story I was looking for. I like how Bettina developed into a kick-ass fighter at the Academy. She’s a character that’s easy to like. There is a great supporting cast of characters and with the next books I hope we get to know them much better.

The last half of the book throws Bettina and her friends into some battle situations where she gets to use her combat skills. She is then chosen to partake on a mission to the Old Lands, a dimension not part of Earth. The book does end in a cliffhanger so I was ready to download Book 2 when I finished this book at almost one in the morning but book 2 doesn’t come out until May 19, 2019! Other than the ending which I felt was a bit rushed, it’s a great start to a series and I look forward to reading more of Bettina Blair and her adventures.