Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

I think A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (detailed review coming soon - once I finish watching the show!) might be it for me re: Holly Jackson because I wasn’t impressed by Not Quite Dead Yet or Five Survive. I like the premise of both, and if they were each about 200 pages max, I think they’d be amazing. But that was also my issue with As Good As Dead - definitely too wordy, too much internal thinking. Cutting a lot of that and keeping a tight pace with concise writing would have made that book so much better, and I think the same of the other I previously mentioned.

In Five Survive… wow. I think ALL of that RV curtain mess could have been cut, because what did it even matter? A lot of the internal waffling started grating on my nerves. The story itself was interesting, good twist that wasn’t what I predicted from the get-go, and the cliffhanger chapter endings kept me turning pages. But in between those cliffhangers, I almost put the book down several times. It was enough to make me wonder if Jackson wrote the book and an editor told her it needed to be # pages, so she had to add a lot to it.

That said, the concept was phenomenal - I love the idea of an "accident" stranding these teens and making them sitting ducks, and then raising the stakes by making it a purposeful issue. Everything took place in one location over eight hours, and that ticking clock made the story really compelling. I felt like the characters weren't too well-developed, which should have been the top priority considering it was only six people in an RV - why not spend time getting to know them instead of obsessing over the curtains? Instead, they were very generalized. Oliver was too awful, too easy to hate. Red was too pathetic. Maddy was so bland, the only thing I remember about her is that she looked like Red. Etc etc. I think there was a lot of potential here, but it just didn't hit home for me.

Forever... by Judy Blume (Book + Show)

Forever... by Judy Blume

There are some stories that imprint on you long before you understood why. For me, Forever... by Judy Blume is one of those books. I first checked it out of the library when I was about nine (seriously) and practically wore out that copy by the time I was twelve. I always felt so clever getting it from the library—surely the librarians had no clue what this was really about!

Re-reading it as an adult, first in 2020 while taking Judy Blume's MasterClass, and again in July 2025 in anticipation of watching the Netflix adaptation, was both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh.

Honestly? It holds up. Even more than that—I love it more now, reading it as a grown woman and a parent. There's something powerful about how Blume writes a teenage love story with such clarity and compassion. It's tender, it's honest, and it doesn't moralize. Kath and Michael fall in love. They have sex. They break up. No one gets pregnant. No one dies. And life goes on.

I can remember countless (dated) books of teens having sex and having a baby, being forced to marry, etc. (Thinking of you, Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones.) While I do think it's important for teens to know possible consequences, I don't think only focusing on those negative outcomes in stories helps anyone. For that, Forever... was—and still is—refreshing. It allows its main character to explore sex and heartbreak without shame. That message felt radical when I was young, and it still feels rare today.

There is SO MUCH to see in every second of this show. I loved watching the pictures change during the opening credits of each episode.

 

I watched the Netflix adaptation after re-reading the book, and while it stays emotionally true to the original, it definitely updates and reshapes the story for a 2025 audience.

What Stayed the Same:

• Michael's signature mole on his cheek is still there (thank you, casting!). That's one thing that I remembered from the book over all these years, even before re-reading.
  
  

• The cozy New Year's Eve party and fondue scene made it into the show and felt like a direct lift from the book—nostalgic and warm.
  
  

What Changed:

• In the book, Kath and Michael meet for the first time at the party, but in the show, Keisha and Justin already know each other from childhood.
  
  

• They kiss on New Year's Eve in the show, which speeds up the emotional stakes right away.
  
  

• The show's version of Keisha is more experienced and confident, sexually and socially.
  
  

• Justin's family is portrayed as more emotionally stable and warm compared to the book, where Michael's parents are pretty absent, but his sister and brother-in-law are somewhat involved.
  
  

• The story is much more modern, with FaceTime calls, ADHD references, and other contemporary updates.
  
  

• Their relationship gets physical more quickly than in the novel, a nod to how teen relationships have changed (or how they're perceived to have changed) over the decades.
  
  

The show is a solid reimagining, but the book still holds a sacred place for me. It captures something timeless about first love—that intoxicating mix of intensity, idealism, and eventual unraveling. And it does so with respect for young people's intelligence and emotional depth. Even re-reading it as an adult, I was blown away by how the book captures those feelings and then, at the end, allows room for heartbreak, acceptance of change, and new beginnings, all at once.

Check out this article where Mara Brock Akil, the producer, shares a lot of her thoughts about the book and also insight into the show's creation. Watch the show for a contemporary spin, but definitely read—or re-read—the book for its quiet, enduring power. Because Forever... is a solid story about growing up, letting go, and realizing that the end of a relationship isn't the end of you.

Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Divergent

I thought I read this when it came out but I guess there were so many dystopian YA books that I got it mixed up with something else. When someone mentioned it to me recently, I actually was picturing the cover of “Matched” so I guess that’s where I got my wires crossed. I’m glad I got it figured out, though, because I read about 300 pages of this in a day, and then finished it soon after. I really like the story but am hesitant about it devolving into war at the end. I’ll try the second one and see how I like it.

Divergent (film)

I absolutely loved this movie. I thought it stayed really true to the book and pulled me right in. I'm not a huge Shailene Woodley fan (she'll forever be the brat in The Secret Life of the American Teenager to me) but I think she pulled it off.

Insurgent (film)

I got the second book from the library but also got the second movie, so I decided to watch the movie first. I rarely ever do that. I'm a book before movie gal through and through. But I was already feeling kind of "meh" about reading the second book. A friend who had watched all the movies (but not read all the books) suggested I watch the movie and see if it made me want to read the book. It was a decent movie in terms of continuing on from the first, but it wasn't enough to make me want to read the book. Theo James was the best part. So this is as far as I got in the Divergent series, but I don't feel the need to continue on.

Skellig by David Almond

Skellig by David Almond

My mom read this book because it was recommended in an author's newsletter. The book won a Printz Award from YALSA, and my mom remembered that I used to be involved with YALSA when I was a librarian, so she thought I'd enjoy this book. I went in without knowing anything about it and I honestly think that was for the best because every page took me by surprise.

Michael's newborn sister has health issues and his parents are worried and distracted. They just moved to a ramshackle house with a falling-down garage which draws Michael in. There, he finds a man seemingly stuck in place, eating bugs. The man hardly talks but Michael is determined to help him. When Michael meets his new neighbor, Mina, he starts to trust her enough to let her in on the secret living in his garage.

The man introduces himself as Skellig... but he's not quite a man. He has wings, which make Michael question what he's learning in school about evolution. The kindness and curiosity Michael and Mina have was really touching and provided brightness in a story that's pretty dark overall.

The story itself is compelling, but the writing really drew me in. At times it seemed dry and timeless in a way, like reading a classic written 75 years ago. But then it would be so poignant and emotional, enough to bring tears to my eyes. I was almost bawling at the end of the book, not because the resolution was overly sentimental, but because it was just right. Even thinking of it now hits me because it was absolutely perfect.

There's a prequel about Mina that I'll read next, along with more of Almond's work because I think his writing style and ideas are so unique.

The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams

The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams

I’m a huge Babysitters Club fan so The Babysitters Coven had a more grown-up and modern (and WITCHY) twist on it that was right up my alley. I loved how it introduced the world and the characters so we were getting to know their powers along with them. The ending was so action-packed that I really just wanted to see it as a Netflix series so I could watch it all play out. 

After reading this book, I looked it up and was surprised to see that it was a re-release (apparently?) because the initial reception wasn't so hot. Publishers Weekly mentions that the slang, pop culture references, and political stances could make it seem dated, but those didn't stand out to me. Also, I still think 1999 was 4 years ago, but still. 

Complaints from Smart Bitches Trashy Books include that the narrator is "wildly insecure but also extremely judgmental" and that the book "tries VERY hard to sound teen-like while not sounding teen-like at all." Again, I feel like not noticing these issues probably speaks very clearly about where I am in life, ha, but honestly, the book rang true for me. As true as witchy babysitters can be, anyway. 

Kirkus Reviews said the humor was not funny at all (I laughed to myself many times) and that it was a ripoff of Buffy (which I have never seen) so yeah... I guess all of that just fuels my argument that this was a good read for me but might not land for you, unless you're a lot like me. (And if so, sorry, it's miserable, isn't it? Ha.)

The biggest bummer is that my library only has book one. However, I think I’ve got to get this series to read them all. I can’t wait to see how things progress!

Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers edited by Judy Blume

Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers edited by Judy Blume

After reading Rachel Vail for the first time since middle school, I wanted to see what else the library had of hers, and this anthology came up. I've read books from many of these authors and, as a short story lover, was excited to see what they did with the form.

Each writer also included a brief essay about censorship. A quote from Rachel Vail stood out to me: "But I had made a vow to myself when I was a teenager that I would never forget, and never disrespect, the intensity of the adolescent experience, the power and terror of being a person actively creating herself."

I love that idea, and think it goes well beyond adolescence. Aren't we always actively creating ourselves? If not, I think that quote is certainly inspiration to do so.

But overall, I’m sad this book is still relevant. Let people read what they want to read. Don't parent other people's kids. Don't ban books. Let people make their own choices. Etc etc etc. I could turn this into a full-blown rant, but I won't. That said, I liked reading a bunch of different YA stories in one collection, and the essays authors shared about censorship and why they write were powerful.

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

As a fan of the MTV show Catfish, this young adult novel of catfishing caught my attention based on the title alone. My Instagram is (thankfully) all books and writing, so I don't have to worry about filtering myself to draw in an audience. I do understand the desire to get attention for your work and talent, though, so Kat's story of being a photographer drew me in. I was a photographer long before Instagram existed so I didn't have to worry about getting likes, but that didn't make Kat's story any less relatable.

One of my favorite things about this book was how normalized everything was and how realistic that made it feel. Kat is plus-sized and so is her female love interest. Despite being unsure if she's bi early in the book, her sexuality is normalized and no one freaks out about it. I also love that her closest friends were guys and they were portrayed as humans, skipping out on stereotypes. Her trendy blond friend that she uses as her profile photo also isn't a stereotype. The unique family situation was also refreshing to read; I haven't seen one like this in a book before.

My total favorite thing about this book was that there were so many ways the story could have unraveled, and the way it happened was one I hadn't thought of! I won't share spoilers, but think about how using an anti-social media coworker's photos as your fake profile could blow up in your face! I kept thinking X would happen, or maybe Y, or Z? And then it was 3! Okay, that's just random and silly, but you get the idea.

I think the build-up to the catfishing (which her friends eventually call Katfishing) was a bit slow, though I understand the need to set the scene and make it feel imperative and natural that Kat chose to do this to her friend and coworker. But there were several places where the book lagged a bit and I wish those were cut out to keep the anxiety pumping as the reader worried about Kat's future.