Tag: Realistic Fiction

Book Review

The Hidden Girl

TheShelfLife

The Hidden Girl by Louise Bassett

Publication Date: October 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A surface level but tactful look into human trafficking with emotional characters.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Melati has had her share of teenage struggles, including a bully who just can’t seem to stop targeting her. When she finds a diary written in Indonesian, she starts to learn the story of a girl named Devi. While Mel is on a school trip to Indonesia, she continues to translate the diary with the help of a boy named Michael. She learns that Devi is stuck in a tragic situation, and has been trafficked. Hidden in the written words is a cry for help that Mel can’t ignore. She begins to track down Devi and uncover what has happened to her.

My Analysis:

I decided to read this one to see how sensitively the topic of human trafficking (trigger warning!) was depicted. I do think the author was successful and tactful in addressing this tough topic, how impactful and emotional it is, but also without going into extreme detail of Devi’s encounters. It did feel to me for the first 70% of the book that it was two separate stories that she was trying to mesh together, it just didn’t really flesh out till the end. I am also not very confident the author has spent much time around teenagers as the way they spoke and their actions towards each other were overly immature. Even if a character had some immature qualities in their growth, this was every single teen character. Again though, the emotion of both Devi and Mel’s characters were well done, and readers can see a glimpse into their individual experiences. It should be noted that this is set in Australia and features a trip to Indonesia. I enjoyed reading about some of the cultural aspects of Mel’s time in Indonesia. Overall if you’re looking for a book that discusses trafficking at a pretty surface level but also provides emotional characters then this one would work for you.

Book Review

Influenced

TheShelfLife

Influenced by Sarah Darer Littman & Cindy Otis

Publication Date: August 2025 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A cautionary tale of the impact of social media from both the perspective of the influencer and those who follow them.  Good choice for younger YA readers who could benefit from seeing the power of influence.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Lainey is having a challenging sophomore year, especially now that her twin brother is moving across the country to live with their father.  When she finds it challenging to connect with her friends at school, she reaches out to Bliss, an influencer who is starting to make a name for herself.  Bliss finds herself the center of attention when her wheelchair breaks down and her friends help to push her to their destination.  Capitalizing on going viral, she ends up with a large follower count and with the support of her parents, creates a persona to talk about her disability.  When a concerned Lainey shows up unexpectedly at Bliss’s apartment, things begin to unravel as not is all as it seems.

My Analysis: This is a great depiction of a parasocial relationship between a teenager and a teen influencer.  Something that is very relevant to current times, and would serve well as a cautionary tale of the impact social media and influencers have.  I liked that it not only shares Lainey’s experience with watching and interacting with an influencer, but also Bliss’s perspective as an influencer and how daunting a task it is to become a persona while also balancing your true self and life.  My biggest gripe with this one is that the big event happens so early on, that the rest of the story was a touch mundane.  It was interesting to go back into the past and see how the two main characters got to where they are now, but other than seeing how that played out there’s not much else to wonder about as the story goes on.  Lainey and Bliss are both interesting characters and I did appreciate their individual struggles with their families and friends.  I felt the authors did a decent job of making them realistic, although Lainey bothered me a little bit when it came to her interactions with her family.  Although they may have been part of what drove her to develop the relationship that she did with Bliss, it made it hard for me to want to root for Lainey when she acted the way she did to her friends at school and members of her family.  Overall, this was a decent book and provides a very relevant look at the influence of social media and how teenagers can get so caught up in both being an influencer (or wanting to be) and following those who share the fake personas they have created.

Book Review

Wandering Wild

TheShelfLife

By Lynette Noni, Narrated by Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller

Publication Date: May 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: Fantastic and engaging from start to finish, this title will keep you rooting for romance as well as survival.

5/5 Stars

5/5 Stars for Narration

Book Summary: Zander is a Hollywood star, but his reputation of late has been problematic.  Attempting to quickly fix his public image, he agrees to go on a wilderness show with a fan.   Charlie, thanks to her best friend, finds herself the winner of the competition and alongside Zander on a wilderness journey.  This proves to be challenging, as Charlie has come to resent Zander and his newfound image.  Everything starts to fall apart when Zander and Charlie separate from TV show star Rykon, and have to continue their adventure together.  As they battle real danger Zander and Charlie must learn to trust one another and open up about their pasts.

My Analysis: If you’re looking for a realistic fiction that has a solid romance story but takes it a step further and provides some compelling but serious topics, this one is for you.  I absolutely loved this from start to finish.  The characters are interesting, well developed and you will find yourself rooting for them.  Even though Zander is a movie star, you get to see the real emotions and experiences he has faced in his past.  Is it unlikely that Charlie will end up on a reality show with a celebrity? Yes, but it honestly worked for this novel without it seeming too far-fetched.  The plot is entertaining and suspenseful with the inclusion of perilous nature encounters.  I highly recommend this one and if you have the option for an audiobook, the narrators were absolutely perfect.

Book Review

AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help

TheShelfLife

AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help by Melinda Salisbury

Publication Date: August 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A quick read that serves as a cautionary tale of when AI reliance goes too far. Solid thriller novella.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Freya is desperate to become a popular influencer, especially when her former friend has similar ambitions but is already very well known. When Freya’s stepdad brings home AdelAIDE, an AI robot assistant, she feels like her luck may be changing. AdelAIDE only wants to help, and Freya continues to seek out and adhere to her suggestions on how to make herself more popular. After awhile though Freya ends up making some radical choices, putting into question AdelAIDE and the morality of her input.

My Analysis: I adored Salisbury’s Hold Back the Tide (if you haven’t read it- do it!) so when I saw this one I was intrigued. This is a very timely cautionary tale of the influence of AI technology and how reliant one can become on it if we let it. I thought this was a solid thriller novella. Coming in at just under 100 pages, I read it in one sitting. It kept my interest all throughout and I was invested in how AdelAIDE would continue to interact with Freya and the fallout of everything that was happening. A few years ago I would have classified this as Sci-Fi, but with where things are today it’s actually more realistic fiction. I can definitely see this being of interest to a wide range of audiences.

Book Review

The Wilderness of Girls

TheShelfLife

The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Publication Date: June 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: If you’re willing to put up with the very slow pace, this is an original concept that discusses some heavy topics.

3/5 Stars

4/5 Stars for Narration

Book Summary: Eden is placed with her estranged uncle after her father ends up in jail and her step mother runs off. Wanting to start fresh, she dawns a new name as Rhi, and tries to find some happiness in Happy Valley. While working for her uncle at a nature preserve, Rhi stumbles upon a group of girls who appear to have lived in the wilderness for quite some time. While trying to help them, the girls are forced into a world they have never known. They tell Rhi that they have been living with a man named Mother and that they are princesses from another land. Grappling with her own past and present, Rhi balances figuring out herself and the unique bond that she has established with the girls.

My Analysis: This is an original idea and an ambitious one. The story starts off strong, then slows down dramatically before picking up again at the tail end. Honestly a good quarter of the book couple probably have been cut out. If you’re willing to put up with such a slow pace and some ambiguity, it is an interesting read. It is important to note there are some trigger warnings including sexual abuse, suicide and cannibalism. Given those incidents, this is probably suited for older YA readers. The themes, although heavy, are very well portrayed. The characters and their relationships as sisters, friends and more is the cornerstone of this book. I really liked all the characters equally too, there wasn’t one that stood out among the others in terms of keeping my interest. Readers will grapple with fantasy vs reality with one, and a lot is left up to interpretation. This novel isn’t for everyone, but those who really buy into the parallels it presents will find value in the stories told.

Book Review

I Wish You Would

TheShelfLife

I Wish You Would by Eva Des Lauriers, Narrated by Max Meyers & Victoria Villarreal

Publication Date: May 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: A little cliche in its story, but readers really get to know some fascinating characters deeply in a short amount of time.

4/5 Stars – Novel

4/5 Stars – Narrators

Book Summary: Kicking off their last year of High School at Senior Sunrise, a group of teens find out more than they bargained for about themselves and their fellow classmates. The Seniors follow a tradition of writing private letters describing what they would do if they were braver. When Natalia second guesses what she wrote and attempts to take it back, some of the secrets are scattered in the wind along the beach. Drama ensues, secrets revealed, connections made and romances ignite.

My Analysis: This is a cute realistic fiction story, seeped in friendship and romance drama. I liked that this whole book takes place within two days, and even with the short time frame you’re really able to see character growth. Even the secondary characters are well thought out and have depth. Basically the entire story is a miscommunication plot, so if you aren’t into that sort of thing I’d avoid this one. For the most part I didn’t mind it, but sometimes it did get a little old. There were also a lot of cliche moments, but if you can be accepting of them it was ultimately a nice coming of age novel with a heavy dose of romance. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this. The narrator for Natalia was spectacular. I was less impressed by the narrator for Ethan. His voice was a little aged for the character and his intonation of female characters I found to be a bit grating. If you are looking for a cute summer read with some friendship drama and romance, I recommend this one.

Book Review

Break To You

TheShelfLife

Break To You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young, Michelle Knowlden

Publication Date: July 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A surface level look into the experiences of a teenage detention center, which may appeal to younger YA readers.

2.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Adriana is sentenced to seven months at the Compass Juvenile Detention Center. As she adjusts to this new life, she continues to write in her journal, the one way she is able to fully express her emotions. One day though, she can’t locate her journal. Adriana discovers is some time later only to realize that someone else has written back to her. A boy, who she is not allowed to see on the girls-only side of the center. Adriana and Jon (who has been at Compass for a long time) begin a correspondence to help them work through their time there. Giving them hope in a challenging circumstance.

My Analysis: I am a HUGE Shusterman fan, so when I saw this coming out I jumped on it immediately. But I was disappointed in this one. It really didn’t feel like his voice was in the story at all. I suppose that is what happens when you have three minds working together to author a novel. I think this is a much needed look into the teen experience of a juvenile detention center. I wish it has dived in deeper though. I feel like I didn’t really get to know all of the characters as well as I would have liked to. And I’ll admit- I found it hard to root for Adriana. I much preferred reading about Jon. The focus was much more on a budding romance than anything else, and I would have appreciated more depth. Something else that stood out to me in this one were the glaring inconsistencies. I know this is an ARC and that a final copy may have these things adjusted (I hope!), but they were noticeable. I did like how the story wrapped up and the ending was satisfying. Overall I think this may appeal more to younger YA readers.

Book Review

Girls Like Her

TheShelfLife

Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow

Publication Date: June 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Heart wrenching story of a young girl on trial for murder, and the trauma she has faced from childhood. Excellent representation of this topic.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Fifteen year old Ruby Monroe is on trial for murder. She has no one who she can count on her entire life, until she meets her court appointed social worker Cadence. With her trial drawing nearer and life in prison on the line, Cadence must work with Ruby to determine exactly what happened the day a rich philanthropist died. Ruby’s past has been one challenge after another, and she must work to convince a jury that this trauma has impacted her and make them hear her truth.

My Analysis: I started reading this one expecting a mystery/thriller but what I got was more realistic fiction. Not to say that is a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I anticipated based on the synopsis. I also actually thought this was the authors debut book based on her writing, but it is not. Not to say the writing was bad! But I would have expected a little more from a seasoned author. I really liked the fact that the author was a lawyer in the Texas court however and drew this character together based on her experiences. She has a nice authors note in the beginning which explains this, as well as the fact that this book does contain mention of trauma and some trigger warnings for readers. This novel was a combination of court transcripts, letters and narrative, which I thought was a great way to present Ruby’s story. I did find the narrative a little repetitive though, until things really picked up toward the end. This was a heart wrenching story and I think it is a needed representation of the girls like Ruby who find themselves in a cycle of trauma and can’t navigate their way out alone.

Book Review

Sun Don’t Shine

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Sun Don’t Shine by Crissa-Jean Chappell

Publication Date: January 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: More realistic fiction than thriller, but gives an intimate view into those who are homeless and struggle financially. Super quick read!

4/5

Book Summary: Reeces father abducted her from home 10 years ago. Ever since they have been on the run and Reece has had to follow her Dads rules for staying safe. Living in cars, the woods, shady motels and pulling food from dumpsters is all she has grown up knowing. When Reece meets Shawn, she starts to question how she came to be in this life and starts to uncover secrets her father has been keeping from her for years.

My Analysis: This is marketed as a thriller, but I felt it to be more realistic fiction. It did have some suspenseful moments and the pace was quick (as was the novel) which is more true to that genre. This story is about a girl who was abducted, but the focus is less on that and more on her living situation. Reece and her father have done whatever they need to do to survive, and the author does a nice job painting a picture of their struggles. I felt it provided an intimate look into homelessness and financial difficulties. This was one of those books that when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. I liked the character development throughout, especially Reece. There were a few times were I questioned why the characters did or did not do certain things that seemed to be pretty obvious, but that didn’t detract from the story at all. Overall it was a quick read and if you want to get to know some interesting characters, you should give it a try.

Book Review

The Atlas of Us

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The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

Publication Date: January 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A slow paced but intimate picture into the mind of a teenager consumed by grief.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Atlas lost her father after a battle with cancer. Now she is trying to pull her life back together when all she can focus on is what is missing. Following one of her fathers passions, Atlas works for a community service project rehabbing trails. On the trails everyone goes by a nickname and Atlas wants to feel immersed in nature while trying to start anew. Little did she think that the strangers she started out with would get to know her better than anyone in their month together.

My Analysis: This book has a lot of emotion packed into it. I really enjoyed the development of the characters – and not just Atlas, the secondary ones too. I would almost consider this a YA version of Wild by Cheryl Strayed, being in nature hoping to find answers. It is an intriguing premise and not one that you find a lot in YA lit. Let’s talk about what this book really is though…an extremely intimate look into a teenager actively working through grief. This is a constant throughout the book, almost to the point of it being a little too much. But, it does fit with the character and how she would be thinking and acting based on how she is feeling. I will say however, if you are a reader who is currently grieving, this may not be the best option for you right now. It is an accurate portrayal of emotions, but I can also see it being triggering for someone who feels too closely to how Atlas does. If you are a reader that would like to see this perspective from someone going through it however, this will accomplish it. The thing that I didn’t care for with this book was the pacing. It moves very slowly, slow enough to make me not super excited to keep reading, but not enough for me not to finish.