Also Known As by Robin Benway

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (US) S&S (UK)

ISBN: 9780802733900 (US) 9781471116742 (UK)

Release Date: Feb 2013
Source: Purchased

This is published as Spy Society in the UK

From Goodreads: Which is more dangerous: being an international spy... or surviving high school?

Maggie Silver has never minded her unusual life. Cracking safes for the world's premier spy organization and traveling the world with her insanely cool parents definitely beat high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. (If it's three digits, why bother locking it at all?)

But when Maggie and her parents are sent to New York City for her first solo assignment, her world is transformed. Suddenly, she's attending a private school with hundreds of "mean girl" wannabes, trying to avoid the temptation to hack the school's elementary security system, and working to befriend the aggravatingly cute son of a potential national security threat... all while trying not to blow her cover.

From the hilarious and poignant author of Audrey, Wait! comes a fast-paced caper that proves that even the world's greatest spies don't have a mission plan for love.


Having absolutely loved Audrey Wait I knew I’d probably enjoy this one – and I really did! It is so much fun – I loved it! It’s kind of a cross between the TV show Alias and Gallager Girls, with something else thrown in.

I loved the concept – the way the family work for the collective and that they have for all of Maggie life. Plus I love the way she has all these skill (safe cracking, forgery etc) but can’t quite master high school. Throw in Roux (she totally rocks!) and Jesse and I was completely sold!

I really love Roux. She has absolutely no filter and is the kind of person who says and does what most people are just thinking. But there is a vulnerability there to which makes her someone you want to squish!

Jesse was adorable from his first scene – and I like the friendship/chemistry between him and Maggie. I also loved Angelo and Maggie’s parents.

Great stuff – sign me up for the sequel!   I'd like it now please.

I want to read that...

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

From Goodreads: Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is used to getting what she wants, and when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her for no reason, what she wants is to win him back before the start of their senior year. Lainey and her friend Bianca check the interwebz for tips and tricks, but the online dating advice is all pretty lame.

Then the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. Didn't someone once say that love is a battlefield? Jason isn't going to stand a chance once Lainey and Bee go all Zhou Dynasty on him...

Old school strategy and subterfuge meet modern-day dramarama in the story of a girl who sets out to win at all costs and ends up discovering what's really worth fighting for.

This sounds like it could be great fun!  Looking forward to it!  It is published May 2014 by Harper Teen.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780316209724

Release Date: May 2013
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story.

The Hate List is still one of my all time favourite reads so I get a little over excited each time Jennifer Brown publishes a new book. Like her others – this tackles a serious issue head on – and I found it really enjoyable and thought provoking too.

I really liked the main character Ashleigh – she’s easy to like and relate too, but she’s also really tough/strong too. What happens to her could have really affected her negatively but she does well to cope with it all. And I’m glad she does acknowledge her part in what happen (which is definitely not to say it was her fault at all) – but by embracing her punishment I think it showed a great strength of character.

To be honest, I’d never given much thought to sexting – or the fact it could be deemed as distributing child pornography. I’m not sure what the laws are in the UK – and while the outcome depicted in this seems harsh it does help to demonstrate the seriousness of the issue. And is food for thought.

I also really liked the friendship that develops between Ashleigh and Mack – although I would have like to have more closure on his part of the story. Another great read by Jennifer brown!

Cover Wars: Far From You - Tess Sharpe

UK /  US

From Goodreads: Sophie Winters nearly died. Twice.

The first time, she's fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that'll take years to kick.

The second time, she's seventeen, and it's no accident. Sophie and her best friend Mina are confronted by a masked man in the woods. Sophie survives, but Mina is not so lucky. When the cops deem Mina's murder a drug deal gone wrong, casting partial blame on Sophie, no one will believe the truth: Sophie has been clean for months, and it was Mina who led her into the woods that night for a meeting shrouded in mystery.

After a forced stint in rehab, Sophie returns home to a chilly new reality. Mina's brother won't speak to her, her parents fear she'll relapse, old friends have become enemies, and Sophie has to learn how to live without her other half. To make matters worse, no one is looking in the right places and Sophie must search for Mina's murderer on her own. But with every step, Sophie comes closer to revealing all: about herself, about Mina and about the secret they shared.

I find it really interesting how these two covers use the same image to a different effect.  I think the US one is 'prettier' - I like the lights!  But the UK one just has a more sinister feel that seems to fit in better with the book.

What do you think?  Also, let me know if you've read this one yet & what you think  - it sounds great!

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (US)

ISBN: 9781442451278

Release Date: July 2013
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Can a road trip repair a romance gone wrong? Find out in this standalone companion to Lauren Barnholdt’s Two-way Street.

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Having absolutely loved Two way street I was majorly excited to read this one. Was I disappointed? A little bit – but over all I still really enjoyed it.

Like Two Way Street the main characters in this are thrown together on a road trip. Cue loads of angst! In a good way of course.  I really liked both Peyton and Jace. Peyton's back story was interesting – finding out about her parents and her reason for wanting to go to North Carolina. And Jace was great too. I also loved catching up with Courtney and Jordan – they were so sweet!

That little bit of disappointment comes from Jace's reason for ceasing contact with Peyton. I was like “Really? That's your reason? Wtf!” I don’t know – I kind of understand it but I also don’t if that makes sense. It just didn’t feel a big enough, or a justifiable enough, reason. Maybe it’s because in Two Way Street Jordan had a really good reason for his actions? But overall I think it’s a minor quibble – I did really enjoy the story.

And the ending was good.