"The Holiday Switch"

"The Holiday Switch" by Tif Marcelo

Senior year of high school is looking pretty spectacular for

Lila Santos. Hard work and determination have paid off

for this young lady with lofty goals. 

She's been accepted into Syracuse University, her dream

school, and hopes to pick up extra hours at the Bookworm

Inn during the upcoming holiday break to help with all

those college expenses. The Inn, a snug, little slice of 

heaven, sits in the center of Holly, New York, a picturesque

postcard of a town, where the famous movie, Holiday by 

the Lake, was filmed years ago.

What people don't know about Lila, is that she is the anonymous

author of a popular book blog with a loyal following. Writing is a 

secret passion, one that her parents would vehemently oppose,

considering their distaste for social media. No harm in keeping

this one, little truth from the people she loves.

But plans often hit a snag, and Lila's comes in the form of a 

flirtatious, attractive young man by the name of Teddy Rivera.

He's the nephew of the Inn's owner, and, unfortunately, he'll be

taking some of Lila's hours while she trains him. Sparks fly 

between them, and infuriatingly exasperating as Teddy can be, 

the mutual attraction is undeniable. One day, when they 

accidentally switch phones, Lila discovers she's not the only 

one hiding a secret. Together, the teenagers learn that facing fear

and uncertainty brings clarity to what lies ahead. It's a recipe for

a growing friendship that just might lead to sweet romance.

Young Adult readers will enjoy this delightfully entertaining 

paperback that captures the essence of what it means to be a 

family. But other readers will also find it to be a light and fun addition

to the festive season head. The story examines the interaction of two, 

vibrant Filipino American teenagers who learn that dreams and 

aspirations don't always fall in line with what their parents might

choose for them, and honesty goes a long way in achieving

happiness. 

And be sure to read the author's notes at the end of the book, that

describe how she's managed to pursue two careers while putting

love of family at the heart of it all, much like the special

characters she's created in this rom-com called "The Holiday Switch".

 

 

We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

They had it all at their fingertips. Wealth, beauty, social standing. And then one summer it just slipped away......

Candence Sinclair Eastman is the narrator of this story but those who know her well call her Cady. Even her name sounds regal, as it should, considering she is an heiress to her grandfather's fortune. She's one of The Sinclairs; blonde, lovely, and privileged. Cady eagerly anticipates the summer because once again she and her cousins will spend languid days and nights on a private island off the coast of Cape Cod, walking the rocky shoreline, eating rich, buttery, fresh seafood and occasionally imbibing in the liquor hidden behind locked doors.

As well as being related, these four teens call themselves the Liars. There are cousins Mirren and Johnny and the illusive Gat.  He's the son of Aunt Carrie's boyfriend, and Cady is awestruck in his presence. She's in love. They've all known each other since they were eight years old. This posse of four must stick together as their dysfunctional family surrounds them. Granddad is rigid and controlling, the aunts bicker and argue over the many material possessions, and Cady's mom stills reels from the day her  husband walked out on her. Yes, the four Liars can weather it all, if they just stick together.

Then during her fifteenth summer on the island, Cady has a mysterious accident that leaves her in constant pain and suffering from amnesia. Now it is two years later and Cady still fights to remember what really happened that pivotal summer. If only she could remember.....

Much like John Green's The Fault in our Stars, this much talked about book appeals to an adolescent reader, but seems to have acquired an adult audience.  E. Lockhart is a National Book Award finalist with a distinct writing style. All 240 pages are written in a halting abbreviated manner which eventually you will come to expect as the pages turn. This book has almost a mystical quality. Continue reading and the heavy fog of uncertainty gradually lifts until Cady's story becomes painfully clear. Powerful and not easily forgotten, it's a book you'll either love or hate, but certainly one worth the discussion.

And by all means, don't tell anyone how it ends.

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