From New York Times Bestselling authors Chandler Baker and Wesley King comes a young adult romance set during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poignant and relevant, Hello (From Here), which comes out on September 7th, shows how in an uncertain world, it's the unlikely connections that keep us together. 
     Maxine and Jonah bump into each other in the canned goods aisle of the grocery store just as the state of California is going into lockdown, when everything changes completely. Could there be a worse time to meet? Max's part-time job at a supermarket is about to transform into a hellish gauntlet. Jonah's pre-existing anxiety is about to become an epic daily struggle. As Max, Jonah, and their friends live together but apart through hijinks, humanity, and heartbreak, their story cuts across urgent matters much bigger than a teenage crush. Differences of class, privilege, mental health, and sacrifice are thrown into stark relief by the profound and personal stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. As thoughtful, probing, and informed as it is buoyant, romantic, and funny, Hello (From Here) looks at the first two months of the quarantine and adds falling hopelessly in love to the mess.   
     I thought it would be weird reading a love story set during COVID times, especially since COVID-19 isn’t completely eradicated yet, but I was so enraptured with this YA story and found it to be quite adorable. 
     This story reminded me that even though times were (and still are) different and frustrating and scary, it’s sometimes the little things or single people that make it just a bit more bearable.
     I think the authors did a great job of highlighting the realities of the pandemic without being too carefree or doom-and-gloom about it. Additionally, the highlighting of different issues like mental health, privilege, and social disparities made this book more than just another young adult romcom.
     This book made me laugh and cry while also making me grateful for the loved ones that helped me get through this pandemic. I think this book was such a great read and any fan of YA romances like Five Feet Apart and The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy this book, too.

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

     From the bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comes the story of four famous siblings, an epic party, and how their lives will all change after one fateful night. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest novel, Malibu Rising, shows how fame can affect people and who it means to be a family.
     Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth. Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone. By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.
     This book was a lot easier to read than I thought it would be and further solidified my belief that Taylor Jenkins Reid is a masterful writer. The story flowed wonderfully and made it such an engaging read.
     The way this story takes place in the span of a day in 1983, while also flashing back to moments from the 50s to 70s, is so wonderfully engaging and really broadens the scope of the characters and why they are the way they are and the actions that shaped them.
     While I found there to be a few too many characters to keep track of at certain parts of the story, the different people taking part in the Riva Party actually gives readers a glimpse into not only what the party is like, but also what the 80s were like for those trying to make it big in Hollywood or those who already have. The setting of Malibu paints an idyllic picture of what fame and fortune can bring while also juxtaposing it with the realities of these people’s not-so-perfect lives.
     Once again, Reid is a masterful storyteller and readers looking for an engaging story that will hook you in from the beginning will fall in love with this book! I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a final summer read or to escape real life for a while.