Laura Taylor Namey

With times of brewing storms, chaos, and peaceful breezes, this romance grabs and promises an ending with a satisfied sigh.

Flora's life is like a hurricane. After her mother's death, she knows she doesn't deserve anything good in her life for years to come, but that's only the beginning of her troubles. She needs to figure out what to do with college, how to swerve around her father, and what to do with the problem of her best friend taking off to study architecture abroad. It doesn't help show more that her own temper blasts with the power of a devastating storm. So, she does what any catastrophe would do—she takes off across the ocean without a word. The escape to Florida lands her in a different environment, but the winds don't die down. Now, she's dealing with a new love interest, fake dating, and so much more.

Romance fans are going to sink into this one and enjoy. The main character, Flora, is a force to be reckoned with and completely lost, when it comes to her own goals. Those ran into chaos with the death of her mother. Her emotional wounds are extremely clear, and her energy is addicting. It's fun just to watch her learn to handle life around her because there's no doubt that she's going to be a powerful force when she does get things figured out. The characters around her pack just as much personality, which really makes each scene and interaction a treat...and a bit unpredictable.

There is a nice balance between humor, serious emotions, and the unexpected throughout the tale. While I'm not a huge fan of more serious, internal conflicts with thought and contemplation, this read handles these with finesse. They are definitely present but roll with the rest of the plot to make sure boredom stays at bay. Plus, the life lessons Flora faces are easy to relate to and her reactions, even if extreme at times, understandable.

This is a fun read with tons of heart. There are the misunderstandings and insecurities that young adult literature tends to bring with it, but these are met with enough maturity to keep it from becoming cliche. It's a read to sit back and enjoy, and one I do recommend. I received an ARC and found this to be a heart-touching, sweet, smooth read. show less

Lila Reyes knows exactly what her life has in store for her: she is going to carry on tradition and her Abuela's legacy by baking at La Paloma and running the family business with her sister. But when her Abuela passes away, her boyfriend breaks up with her, and she has a falling out with a friend, Lila is self-destructive enough that her family decides a complete upheaval is best. They send her to a friend in Winchester, England, hoping the change of scenery will help her. At first, Lila is show more angry and wants nothing more than to go back home to Miami, but as she starts to make friends - and especially as she meets a boy, Orion, who agrees to be her tour guide - her clear plan for tomorrow suddenly looks less black and white.

This was a really sweet friends-to-lovers slow burn romance, with a nice character arc for Lila as she grows, learning to let go and live in the moment. There's nothing new or life-changing here for adults with life experience, but it's a book for teens and one that I would have found comforting as I, like Lila, prefer a plan mapped out over uncertainty and change. And it does it all well, with fleshed-out characters and believable development in more than just Lila's story. A warm, enjoyable read that left me smiling. show less

Oh wow, this book hit me hard. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve started my Master’s Program and reading hasn’t come easily lately. It’s been a struggle to do the very thing that defines who I am. So it’s no surprise at all to me that I instantly fell in love with Darcy. She’s a girl who is built of stories. Words are her fuel, and she builds herself a life within the pages of books. I’m Darcy. Darcy is me. This book and I already were meant to be before I even picked it show more up.

Can I please thank Laura Taylor Namey for really nailing down what it’s like to live inside your own head? Darcy’s growth from page one, right on to the end, felt realistic to me. Battling her mother’s hoarding, trying to stay afloat in a world that wanted to knock her down, and just trying to be a person who had a place in the world, all of that was pure Darcy. I was so glad to see that there was no sugar coating around her world. Darcy’s brain was a a place that I could take shelter in, because it made sense. Namey hit the introvert gene, the anxiety driven thoughts, the books used as walls, all right on the head. If you’ve ever felt the least bit like Darcy, you’ll know as soon as you start reading this story.

Oh, and the other characters were so well fleshed out as well! Not one person in this book is overlooked. Marisol’s family was vibrant, and full of wild love. Asher was sweet, but not overly perfect. Even Jase, Bryn, and Landon, who didn’t get as much page time, were all just perfect puzzle pieces in the overall story. I felt like I was living this right alongside Darcy. I felt like I was part of their small world of plays, bonfires, and magical memories. This is the first time in a while that I’ve really felt nostalgic for high school, and it was a feeling that I’ll cherish.

I could gush on and on, if you’d let me. I could share with you the page of quotes that I jotted down while reading this, smiling the entire time. I’ll let you experience it for yourself though, because this book is well worth your time. Pick up The Library of Lost Things. Get lost in the pages. Grow with Darcy. You won’t regret a minute of it. show less

YA Really well done. Of course, tempted by the title - anything with books, libraries, book stores...but really no literal library is the focus here - but definitely literary themes. Darcy Wells is a senior in high school - has been off the radar on the fringes of 'cool' kids - or at least theatre kids and that is how she liked it. She is hiding something: the mess that is the apt. she shares with her hoarder mother. Only BFF Marisol knows the truth - and this book was worth it for their show more amazing friendship alone! So authentic and more like sisters as well as a good balance between introvert Darcy and social butterfly Marisol. What makes this year different than others is a combo of events that all come together: Darcy's apt. complex is under new management, so she is trying to cover for her mother with the manager so they don't get evicted; college and paying for it are looming; her father who left when she was an infant writes her a letter; the Fall school play is Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which Darcy knows by heart but would never seek the stage, and she meets Asher Fleet, a year older but still dating Sr. London, building the play set, and working across the street from Darcy's bookstore job. As she juggles all this stuff, physically and emotionally she learns a lot about herself and her own hoarder/hider tendencies with books -always her safe haven and retreat. Part of the conflict needing to be resolved is Darcy's relationship with her mother, whom she basically parents herself and the developing relationship with Asher and some of its attendant high school drama. Both require liberal doses of truth and facing reality. There are clever details woven throughout: word games, a parallel to Peter Pan, concepts of flight and home and all come full circle gracefully at the end. Thoroughly enjoyable! show less