Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends

So many September books, I fear I am running out of random September-themed song lyrics to accompany them for titles!

The Art of Saving the World by Corinne Duyvis
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales With Fresh Bite  by Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, et al
These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin
Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds



Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends The Art of Saving the World by Corinne Duyvis
Published by Amulet Books on September 15, 2020
Pages: 400
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

One girl and her doppelgangers try to stop the end of the world in this YA sci-fi adventure

When Hazel Stanczak was born, an interdimensional rift tore open near her family’s home, which prompted immediate government attention. They soon learned that if Hazel strayed too far, the rift would become volatile and fling things from other dimensions onto their front lawn—or it could swallow up their whole town. As a result, Hazel has never left her small Pennsylvania town, and the government agents garrisoned on her lawn make sure it stays that way. On her sixteenth birthday, though, the rift spins completely out of control. Hazel comes face-to-face with a surprise: a second Hazel. Then another. And another. Three other Hazels from three different dimensions! Now, for the first time, Hazel has to step into the world to learn about her connection to the rift—and how to close it. But is Hazel—even more than one of her—really capable of saving the world?

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Dragons, doppelgangers, and dimensional rifts, oh my, this was a fun one indeed! While obviously the idea of the world literally ripping apart is pretty dire, the book still manages to have fun while being high stakes.

The Hazel we’re first introduced to has never been allowed to travel more than a mile and a half from her home, which is pretty brutal. The government discovered, upon her birth, that she was inexplicably and inextricably connected to the small rift by her family’s farm. But despite their best efforts, the rip opens, and out pop more Hazels, and a dragon for good measure. Hazel(s) must now try to figure out whatever has caused this widening rift, and hopefully, save the world.

Of course, things go off the rails fairly quickly, as the Hazels find some less supportive Hazels, along with a serious troll infestation wreaking havoc up and down the eastern seaboard. This is such a quirky and entertaining story, as all our Hazels, but especially OG Hazel, try to figure out their own natures versus nurtures. They cannot help but wonder who they would be if things were just ever so slightly different. OG Hazel wonders more than most, as she’s quite literally been stuck at home, being watched constantly, her whole life.

Can Hazel(s) save the world, while saving themselves and their family? Will they ever be able to get back to their original worlds? Do they even want to? Such a great adventure that kept me on my feet!

Bottom Line: It’s a sweet story about finding oneself while trying to save the world, and it’s full of both heartwarming and heart-racing moments.


Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria Schwab, Kayla Whaley
Published by Imprint on September 22, 2020
Pages: 320
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

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I love a good vampire story sometimes, and this book has plenty to choose from! As you can see from the author line-up, this anthology is on point. And the stories definitely delivered! They’re incredibly diverse, fresh takes on the sub-genre, and they’re all pretty fabulously thought provoking. I also loved an extra special detail where the editors put a little background/note after each story. Often historical in nature, I found them to be a great way to tie the stories together while giving the reader some extra information (something I always love)!

I am not breaking down each story (because I don’t feel like it, if I am being honest) but I will say that there weren’t any that I actively didn’t like. Plus, I think they were all a good length- sometimes in anthologies, the stories feel either too long, or not long enough to get a feel for them, but I didn’t find that to be the case here.

Bottom Line: A fast, fun take on the vampire genre to remind us that vampires are not, in fact, dead. And they’re more diverse than ever!


Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin
Published by Inkyard Press on September 8, 2020
Pages: 336
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Anyone can ask the Red Court for a favor...but every request comes at a cost. And once the deed is done, you're forever in their debt.

Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.

Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.

But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?

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In These Vengeful Hearts, Ember plans to infiltrate the Red Court, a secret society that operates by granting “favors” and collecting on debts, in order to avenge her sister’s accident at the hands of the Red Court. I have some mixed feelings on this one, so let’s dive into them!

Yays:

  • It’s a fun premise! I mean, can you totally see this happening? It’s got that “Mean Girls” high school vibe happening, and let’s be real, this sort of thing happens all the time in high school, just… less organized.
  • Ember obviously learns about herself when she joins this group. Because you cannot be involved in some very questionable activities without asking yourself if what you’re doing is worth it.
  • It is quite dark! I mean, these girls are not messing around. You want it done, they’ll do it… for a price. And I think I can say that the cost is never worth it, but also, you probably don’t want to ruin people’s lives anyway, because karma, but alas.
  • Along the same vein, it’s thought-provoking too, because you have to wonder if you could ever be drawn to request a Red Court favor, and what circumstances it would take.
  • I’mma go ahead and count the cover as a yay, because well, look at it. 

Nays:

  • The dialogue was a little cringey at times. I just… winced at some of Ember’s interactions with people.
  • I did find a lot of the twists to be predictable. That could just be me, I don’t know. But I was pretty sure I knew what was happening, and I was right.
  • I kind of didn’t get Ember’s entire thought process from the start. I mean, two wrongs don’t make a right, Ember! Especially since to be a part of this group, it will take Ember wayyy more than two wrongs. And since her sister really didn’t want her to do this… I just wouldn’t have?

Bottom Line: A messed up secret society that will definitely hold your attention, and will make you ask yourself- would you go to great lengths for vengeance?


Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on September 22, 2020
Pages: 320
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always, returns with another charming and powerful YA contemporary novel with a speculative twist, perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon, Becky Albertalli, and Adam Silvera.

What if you could bring your best friend back to life—but only for a short time?

Jamal’s best friend, Q, doesn’t know that he died, and that he’s about to die . . . again. He doesn’t know that Jamal tried to save him. And that the reason they haven’t been friends for two years is because Jamal blames Q for the accident that killed his parents.

But what if Jamal could have a second chance? A new technology allows Q to be reanimated for a few weeks before he dies . . . permanently. And Q’s mom is not about to let anyone ruin this miracle by telling Q about his impending death. So how can Jamal fix everything if he can’t tell Q the truth?

Early Departures weaves together loss, grief, friendship, and love to form a wholly unique homage to the bonds that bring people together for life—and beyond.

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Once again, I am over here saving the best for last! It’s another book in which I don’t know how to do it justice because it was that fabulous, but again, I’ll do my best! Early Departures is such a beautiful story of family, friendship, love, and loss. It was seriously one of the most moving books I have ever read, frankly.

Jamal has been through it. He’s currently living with his pregnant sister after his parents died in a tragic car accident. He’s alienated from his best friend, Q, because Jamal blames Q for his parents’ accident, and in turn, Q feels abandoned by Jamal. It’s so, so messy, because both young men have been through hell and back, and they need each other more than ever.

And then, at a random summer party, Q drowns. Jamal tries his hardest to save him, but by the time they get him to the hospital, it’s too late. Only, Q’s mom is given an option: Bring Q back, but only for a few days, or weeks at most. And as most moms would, she accepts. But here’s the catch: Q won’t remember the moments before his death.

So, Jamal, his sister Whit, his girlfriend Autumn, and Quincy and his mom set out to make Quincy’s remaining time the best it can be. At first, it’s only Quincy’s mom and Jamal who know the truth, and the others are just so glad to have these best friends reunited that they’re game. And as lies do, this one overwhelms Jamal at times.

But ultimately, Jamal realizes that while he has lost a lot, he also has a lot, too. He is finally ready to share memories and traditions he’d had with his parents, and he finds a new family in this group of people who love him so, so fiercely. And while he is all too aware that he’ll lose Quincy again soon, he now has so many beautiful memories to take with him. It’s a journey for Jamal, a healing journey, that teaches him that he is still very much alive, and while he will always hold those who have passed close to him, he also has a lot of living people who will be there for him unconditionally.

Bottom Line: This is such a wonderfully emotive and moving book; and while I cried (hard), I smiled in equal measure. A true gem.

Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!  

Posted September 19, 2020 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in In a Minute, Review / 15 Comments

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15 responses to “Reviews in a Minute: Wake Me Up When September Ends

  1. *crying* Early Departures really was something special. I remember seeing that it was inspired by Reynold’s own loss of a great friend, and. you can definitely feel the genuine emotion that is packed into that book. He is 2 for 2 with me. I cannot wait until his next book release.

    • Yes! He spoke about it when I saw him at a Barnes & Noble event and I teared up THEN, I should have known what I was in for hahah. I need to read the first one (which I have signed from the event!) but I am SCARED because wow did this one gut me (in the best possible way, but still!) So glad you love his books too!

      • Sam@wlabb

        It’s actually not as sad as Early Departures, because, you know, nobody is back from the dead. There are very emotional moments, but mostly it was funny and touching and it made me happy.

  2. I have my eyes set on The Art of Saving the World, but now you got me worried. I mean, you obviously liked this one a lot, and it sounds like there’s no romance in sight, but…dragons? trolls? for some reason, I’m afraid this book will take some over-comedic turn…Is it the case?

    Early Departures pops up now and then in my feeds. I’m more intrigued by the sci-fi angle than by the contemporary one (what’s wrong with me? LOL), but I have a feeling the former mostly serves to kick-start the story and doesn’t weigh a lot on it as a whole, so…I don’t know. When I read a book with a sci-fi or supernatural premise, I expect it to get explained or to play a big role in it, and I tend to feel disappointed it it doesn’t.

  3. I was super curious about Vampires Never Get Old, but I’m always a bit wary of anthologies because they’re sometimes ugh. Glad to hear that you liked it, though. might be something I check out anyway. 🙂

    I’m kind of surprised that you didn’t like These Vengeful Hearts as much. I’ve been seeing so many people looking forward to it, but I haven’t seen many reviews at this point, so that’s kind of a bummer. It didn’t really sound like anything I was interested in anyway, though, but I’m glad I read your review. I probably won’t bother, since I was already on the fence. xD

  4. I’m currently reading Early Departures and while I think the writing is phenomenal, I’m not in the best mental space for the amount of hurt and grief this book has. I’m going to set it aside and give it another try in the future, but I know that if I read it any other time, I would love it.

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