The Taming of the Drew by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Published by: Sky Pony Press

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: Four Star

A huge thank you to Sky Pony for letting me read this in advance.

I wasn't too sure what to expect from this other than a retelling of Shakespeare in a contemporary way. My expectations were medium to low as I remembered that I'd requested this from Sky Pony. But as I devoured the book, I was impressed.

The Taming of the Drew follows Cass McKay as she plays the character of Kate from the Taming of the Shrew (Remember 10 things I hate about you? That's the same plot there minus Heath Ledger). It follows her ups and downs as a camper and actor and her joining up with fellow campers to cause chaos at the camp. It's quirky and funny. I didn't think it would be as much as it is but the book is genuinely fantastic.

Cass's world is rocked when she meets Drew. He's like the boy we all hate but secretly love. The pair of them literally become modern day versions of their characters and it's all a little cliche as it goes along. We all know how it ends but I think the development of Cass as a character is quite good. She's not as annoying in the end. Yes, that was my initial view of her but camp changes her. Life changes us all and it's just who we are. Strohm captures how even a summer can change a teenager's life and how the addition of annoying boys can be both good and bad.

The Taming of the Drew is available to buy at Amazon.

Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Rating: ****

Wandering Wild is a very different story that revolves around wanderer Talia and her brother Wen. Living a life away from what other might, the duo travel state to state as they work cons and earn money in unethical and illegal ways.

In all honesty, I forgot I requested this and when it appeared in an email, I was reminded of what made me want to request it. The sheer-non-fiction elements of this, that people do live this way and it interests me to read if fictional, accounts of lives like this because it makes you wonder whether or not there is someone out there like this. 

Talia is both likable and not. Her attitude is understandable and her behavior is just right for a young woman of her age and position in the world. It's got to be hard to be alone, no mother or father and forced to carry on with the amount of anger for that said mother. But she carries on. Despite knowing bad things that are about to happen in her life, Talia remains strong even when she wants to break down.

It all changes, though when she meets Spencer Sway. 

He's kind and studious but can work a con just like Talia can if given enough time to prepare. They're a weird and doomed duo that it breaks your heart assuming nothing good can ever come of them being together as the book develops into something I didn't expect to read.

Again being honest, I didn't think I would enjoy this but I did. It was a true page-turner and will make a great impact on the fiction charts, or at least it should.

Wandering Wild will be published on May 3rd by Sky Pony Press.

Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers

Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Music
Rating: ****

 Tone Deaf is literally every fangirl's dream book in the sense that the main character gets to spend time with a famous band. I mean who wouldn't want to do that?

Ali Collins is different, though. She used to be a prodigy but now she's deaf and stuck in a home with a father who hates her disability and will try anything he can to belittle or hide the fact that she isn't like him. It's only until she goes to a concert with her friend and wins a backstage tour that she meets Jace, the lead singer of Tone Deaf, a very popular band.

He acts spoilt and awful to Ali until another encounter between the two of them leads to Ali coming on tour with him and learning that first impressions aren't everything. Sound familiar? That's because it's a little Pride and Prejudice-y in parts. But don't let that deter you. It's a good book. I really enjoyed it and found myself rushing to read the final pages before I got off the bus.

There's something about it that will make the toughest of hearts feel for the characters. It also contains very serious topics and illnesses that are now becoming more and more talked about like abuse and deaf. Think Nial from ANTM or ABC (Freeform)'s Switched at Birth.

Tone Deaf is published May 3rd via Sky Pony Press.