YA Book Chat

Join fellow podcaster Abby and me as we chat about Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo! Hear the story of why it took me so long to get around to reading this book and covering it on the podcast. There is a (funny and crazy) reason. In addition to chatting about the book, Abby and I also dive into the Netflix television series as well.First 15 minutes are spoiler free! Join us!A little about Shadow and Bone: Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves her life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha,

Join me and my friends Claire and Amanda from Fictional Hangover podcast, as we discuss the second book in Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy, The Wicked King. This episode is full of moments that will make you laugh. Not only do we discuss the plot of the fabulous book, but we also talk about the intricacies of how it's possible for a fae prince to be weaned on cat milk, if mermaids/mermen end up eating their own poop, how Jude is quite the "stupid human," and so much more!Join us! First 15 minutes are spoiler free! (And that was very difficult for Claire and Amanda! ha ha!)A little about The Wicked King:  After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and

Welcome to the first episode of season three of YA Book Chat! Today I am joined by Elise from Novel Feelings Podcast, to chat about House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. House of Hollow is a suspenseful, creepy/horror (YA) story that will keep you guessing the entire book. It's a nail biter for sure! So, join Elise and I as we chat about all things creepy and gory, plus cuckoo birds, changelings, the Upside Down, and more!A little about House of Hollow: Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month a later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they're changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful, and inexplicably dangerous.But now, ten years later, seventeen-year-o

Today I am chatting with International best selling author, C.S. Pacat, about her brand new book, Dark Rise. Pacat is the author of the Captive Prince Series and the Fence graphic novels. Join us as we chat about classic good vs. evil fantasy stories, our Italian heritage, M. Night "Shenanigans," and, of course, this fantastic new book! A little about Dark Rise: Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. Then an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, who have sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Will is thrust into a world of magic, where he starts training for a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.As London is threatened and old enmities are awakened, Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.Visit C.S. Pacat's websitePurchase Dark RiseFollow C.S. Pacat on InstagramHave a question about Dark Rise? Ha

Today I am chatting about new YA releases coming out September - December. I'll share with you which books are highly anticipated, which are sequels, and which ones I am most looking forward to. Join me!All the books in today's episode are listed below. Check them out!The Last Legacy-Adrienne YoungDark Rise -C.S. PacatOnce Upon a Broken Heart-Stephanie GarberBeasts of Prey-Ayana GraySteelstriker-Marie Lu White Smoke-Tiffany D. JacksonSome Faraway Place-Lauren ShippenKingdom of the Cursed-Kerri Maniscalco Bad Girls Never Say Die-Jennifer MathieuVespertine-Margaret RogersonCity of Shattered Light-Clair WinnLittle Thieves-Margaret OwenGilded-Marissa MeyerAurora's End-Jay Kristoff & Amy KaufmanInto the Bloodred Woods-Martha BrockenbroughAll of Us Villians-Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn HermanThe Righteous-Renee AhdiehHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.comDon't forg

Today I am chatting with critically acclaimed author Chandra Prasad about her new book, Mercury Boys. Mercury Boys is a story like none other! It takes us on a remarkable journey through time, and explores the ups and downs of adolescent relationships. This book takes the meaning of the words "mean girls" to a whole new level! Join Chandra and I as we chat about the plot, Chandra's writing style, history and time travel, and more!This episode is 100% spoiler free!A little about Mercury Boys:When high schooler Saskia Brown plays around with a vial of liquid mercury, then touches a tattered old daguerreotype, she makes a startling discovery. She is somehow able to visit the man in the daguerreotype: Robert Cornelius, a brilliant young inventor from the nineteenth century. The hitch: she can see him only in her dreams.Saskia soon shares her revelation with some female classmates. Under Saskia’s guidance, the other girls try the experiment for themselves. They steal portraits of young men from a lo

Today I am joined by award winning author Sara Fujimura to chat about her brand new book, Faking Reality.  If you are a fan of HGTV, best friends to lovers, Japanese food and culture, and YA contemporary romance, this book is for you! It encompasses all of these things, and is such a fun read! You'll find strong characters, family themes, and more. Join Sara and I as we chat about Faking Reality, Sara's writing style,  our love of HGTV, Japanese culture, and more! About Faking Reality: Dakota McDonald swore after “The Great Homecoming Disaster” that she’d never allow her romantic life to be a plot line in her parents’ HGTV show again. But when the restaurant run by the family of her best friend (and secret crush), Leo, is on the line, Dakota might end up eating her own words.Leo Matsuda dreams of escaping the suffocating demands of working in his family’s restaurant, but the closer he gets to his goal―thanks to the help of his best friend (and secret crush) Dakota―the more reasons there are for him

Join me and my guests as we chat about A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan. Today I am joined by my friend Sarah, and Annie Sullivan herself! We open the podcast with some questions for Annie, and then dive into a full on (spoiler filled) plot discussion. Come listen and discover what A Touch of Gold is all about! First 20 minutes are spoiler FREE!A little about the book...After King Midas’s gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, he relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.Kora spends her days concealed behind gloves and veils. It isn’t until a charming duke arrives that Kora believes she could indeed be loved. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals treasures her father needs to survive. Thanks to Kora’s unique ability to sense gold, she sails off on her quest to find the missing items.Magic, mytholo

Today I am joined by NYT Best Selling author Emily Colin to chat about her Sword of the Seven Sins series. Come take a listen as Emily and I dive into the world of this series, her writing style, the characters, dystopian and fantasy YA, and even how Emily came to organize a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show. We'll even have a short spoiler chat at the end. You won't want to miss this!Emily's next book in the series, Siege of the Seven Sins will be available August 3, 2021.A little about Sword of the Seven Sins: Eva Marteinn never wanted to be a killer.Raised in the Commonwealth, where citizens live and die by the code of the Seven Sins, Eva is sickened by the barbaric punishments the High Priests inflict. She sees the Bellators of Light, the Commonwealth’s executioners, as no more than conscienceless killers.When she’s Chosen as the first female bellator—and can’t refuse, on threat of exile or disgrace—Eva is devastated. But she turns out to be inordinately gifted at the very role she abho

Today I am joined by author Lynn Slaughter! Lynn is the author of While I Danced, It Should Have Been You, and her brand new book, Leisha's Song.  Lynn and I will be chatting today about Leisha's Song. Leisha has always been the ultimate pleaser. She never intended to fall in love with classical singing, become an amateur detective, or get involved with Cody Harrington. But now she finds herself on a direct collision course with her African American grandfather, the only parent she’s ever known. But a more immediate danger looms as she draws closer to uncovering the truth about her mentor’s disappearance, putting her life in grave danger.If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, this book is for you! But Leisha's Song is not only a mystery, it's a coming of age story that deals with racism, and other issues faced by teens today. Check out Lynn's other books on her website!Follow Lynn on Facebook!Purchase Leisha's Song HERE or HERE or HERE!Have a question about Leisha's Song? Have

Join my guests and me as we chat about Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. Today I am joined by Michael and Barbara from the Badass Literature Society podcast. Realm Breaker is the first book in Victoria Aveyard's newest YA fantasy series, and is a thrill ride all the way through. If you enjoyed her Red Queen series, you won't want to miss this one either. Fan of Tolkien? This book is for you as well! It's a high fantasy full of adventure, magical creatures, unexpected plot twists, and a band of heroes trying desperately to save the realm they live in. A little more about Realm Breaker: A strange darkness grows in Allward.Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage—and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won’t be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions:A squire, forced to choose between home and honor.An immortal, avenging a

Join my friend Lily and me as we dive into the book Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly!Poisoned is a creative retelling of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Sophie is a loving, kind hearted girl who is continually told her kindness makes her weak, and that she could never be a good queen. Her (evil) step mother never lets Sophie forget this fact, and tells Sophie she must marry a prince who can rule for her. But Sophie isn't so sure...after all, it's the kindness of seven strangers that saves Sophie's life after the Huntsman takes her heart. Sophie soon discovers that her step mother may not be the only one who wants her dead, and that there is an even more dangerous foe lurking in the Dark Wood. A foe she must defeat if she wants to take her throne back and become queen.Poisoned is not only a wonderful retelling of Snow White, it is also full of encouragement that we all need to hear. Jennifer Donnelly weaves truths into her story that we all need to hear; truths about how we let people

Join my friend Bethanie and me as we chat about the book Renegades by Marissa Meyer. Renegades is a classic superhero, good vs evil story, with a few twists along the way. It's exciting, surprising, full of adventure and fun loving characters, and so much more! First 15 minutes are spoiler free!More about Renegades:The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.Check out Bethanie's podcast Prince Kai Fan PodPrince Kai Fan Pod InstagramPrince Kai Fan Pod PatreonHave a question about Renegades?

Join my friend Victoria Koops and me as we chat about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I absolutely adored this book! It brought back so many memories from my college days, introduced me to true fan fiction, and just brought me pure joy!Come take a listen as Victoria and I chat all about the characters, plot line, college, and more! Yes, we may veer off in a different direction and dive into the world of Marvel vs. DC movies. I promise, it does relate! Come join us for some fun! A little about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life―and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Ca

Today I am covering the fantastic tale of Fable by Adrienne Young!Join my guest Rachel and me as we "dive in" to the story of Fable, a young girl abandoned on an island by her father when she was just 13 years old. If you like pirates, treasure, adventure, and intrigue, you will love the world of Fable!So join us for a chat! A little about Fable: Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goa

Join me today as I give you a sneak peak of the brand new contemporary YA novel Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean. This book is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it! Listen to this 100% spoiler FREE episode to learn what makes it such a wonderful story. A little about Tokyo Ever After: Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in - it isn't easy being Japanese American in her small northern California town. Raised by a single mother, Izumi has always felt it's been her and her mom against the world. But then she discovers a clue to her previously unknown father's identity...and he's none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izumi is literally a princess. In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn't all ball gowns and tiaras...Thank you so much to Flatiron Books for sending me an ARC so I could review Tokyo Ever After!Follow Flatiron Books

Today I am joined by Abby from The Book Life podcast. Abby and I are chatting about a fantastic YA Science Fiction book, Aurora Rising, by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufmann.  I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book at first, but I ended up LOVING it! I got pulled in so quickly, and my interest never faltered! Take a listen as Abby and I talk about all the reasons we both love this book!First 15 minutes are spoiler free!A little about Aurora Rising...The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch....A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasmA sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulderAn alien warrior with anger-management issuesA tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you

Join my guest Abigail and me as we chat about Matched by Ally Condie!Abigail and I had so much fun chatting about this book! We also talk about Abigail's beautiful Cress cosplay, her love for tigers, and more. Oh, and we may let a small spoiler from book two in this series slip. Whoops! But don't worry, it's in the spoiler section anyway. First 15 minutes are spoiler free!A little about Matched: In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.Cassia has always trusted the Society’s choices. And when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, she is certain he’s the one—until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now she is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s ever known and a path no has dared to follow . . . between perfection and the truth.Follow Abigail's fun Lunar Chronicles Instagram!Follow Abigail's personal/author Instagram!Purchase a copy of Abigail's book

Today I have the privilege of interviewing the "Authoress" herself,  YA author Jillian Boehme!Jillian is known to the online writing community as Authoress, hostess of Miss Snark's First Victim, a blog for aspiring authors. She is the author of a short story in the book When the Hero Comes Home 2, and her first YA novel, Stormrise.Today Jillian and I are chatting about her brand new book, The Stolen Kingdom!For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigu

Join my guest Sarah and me as we chat about Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco!Sarah and I chat all about the book, Jack the Ripper himself, London fog, kidnapping Zachary Levi, and much more! It's a fun episode you don't want to miss. First 15 minutes are spoiler FREE!Here's a bit about Stalking Jack the Ripper...Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, make this da