Shani Petroff

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for the chance to read and review this cute holiday romance by Shani Petroff. I really loved the realistic look at the trials and tribulations of high school crushes, and how sometimes you end up feeling a bit foolish on the path to finding that guy or girl who's truly a good fit for you.

Charlie is a fun MC to read about since she's a bit on the crazy-organized side and isn't afraid to let everyone around her know she expects no less from them. show more She's got a really cool best friend, and when sh e decides she needs a date for an upcoming social event, and sets her sights on a certain guy who doesn't really have her on his radar, the only way she can get his attention is to enlist the help of his not as suave cousin, J.D.

Watching the slow development on things between Charlie and J.D. was my favorite part of the book. He was just a super sweetheart, and so devoted to everyone around him. And best friend Morgan has this wise beyond her years mentality which is great relief when Charlie's issues with organization start to make her and everyone around her a bit bonkers. A nice light read.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.

Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader. show less

3.5 Stars

“Forget an electric jolt, this was shooting stars, Christmas morning, first-place trophies, early Harvard acceptance, and fireworks all rolled into one. I never wanted the feeling to stop.
My wish had come true.”

My New Crush Gave to Me is the perfect holiday read for all your contemporary needs. We follow Charlie Donovan as she searches for her dream date to Noelle Hawkins’ annual birthday party. Charlie is convinced she’s found her guy in Teo, star athlete, stellar GPA, show more and absolutely no clue she exists. Charlie enlists JD, the school paper’s resident photographer and Teo’s cousin, to help get the perfect secret santa gifts so she can land her dream guy. But not everything goes as planned along the way, and Charlie has to figure out who and what she really wants.

Things I Liked
This book gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings! This was honestly the perfect book to read after a super weird paranormal and get me back in a happy reading mood. This is such a great holiday read to cozy up with. I loved seeing the caroling, tree decorating, secret santas and all the fun holiday traditions - it made me want colder weather asap.

All of the relationships in this books are swoony and adorable. Even though there is a bit of an insta-infatuation on Charlie’s side with her and Teo they have some really cute interactions. Morgan and Ira are toothachingly sweet, and Charlie and JD’s banter is matched by none.

Morgan was such a great best friend to Charlie. She’s super spunky and supportive. And an amazing baker too! I also love reading about bakers in YA because I LOVE baking and it’s fun to see characters who share your hobbies. And I loved that she and her boyfriend were Jewish and talked about Hanukkah and their traditions as well.

JD was the arrogant-yet-thoughtful guy who works with Charlie on the paper, and helps her with her crush on Teo, his cousin. I really liked him! He was such a genuinely good person with such a happy nature, despite his slacker persona . I loved his relationship with his parents and how he and Charlie grow to be friends.

Things I Didn’t Like
Charlie was probably my least favorite character. I liked that she was focused, but she was a little too rigid for me. She was a very my-way or no-way type of person and I just didn’t connect to her like I did others. But I did like all of the dynamics with the other characters, so she didn’t ruin the story for me or anything. I just didn’t click with her.

I almost finished this book in one sitting, that’s how easy it was to read. The only reason I didn’t was because it got late, and I was tired. My New Crush Gave to Me was the perfect fluffy contemporary book. Holiday books are always fun and instantly make me happy, and this one is no different. We get great banter, cute flirting, fun holiday activities, and all the wonderful drama of high school politics. This is a book that has such a pure entertainment factor, you can’t put it down.

I received a copy of the book from Swoon Reads via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review show less

Angel Garrett has just several wishes on her thirteenth birthday: for Cole Daniels to notice her, and to go to the Mara’s Daughters concert. Imagine her surprise at the arrival of her father—whom her mother said was dead—and the greater shock that her father is the Devil himself!

Angel wants nothing to do with the Devil, but her father, desperate for some father-daughter bonding, shows Angel what he can provide for her: the concert, the popular friends, the boy, and much more. As Angel show more navigates the treacherous waters of middle school popularity, she struggles to keep her old best friend as well as reduce the influences of devilish magic in her life.

If you want a classic middle school popularity story with a funky paranormal twist, consider Shani Petroff’s debut book. It’s got the social angst that will appeal to middle school girls, with just enough crossover appeal that will sing for older readers.

I enjoyed Shani Petroff’s take on the Devil, making him into a—dare I say it?—likable, sympathetic character. (I mean, the guy wants to be called Lou. Is that non-Satanic enough for you?) DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL convincingly shows the limitations of external influences on one’s social standing in school without sounding preachy. While older readers might sigh in exasperation at Angel’s retrospectively painful desire for popularity, younger readers will easily sympathize with Angel’s emotions and behavior in a Judy Blume-like way.

The one aspect of this book that consistently disconcerted me, however, was how I thought that DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL was written in a way more similar to YA than MG books, when the characters and circumstances of the book clearly lean towards the MG crowd. Angel’s desires and actions are definitely those of a 13-year-old’s, but the way she narrated her story made her more reminiscent of an older teen. While this discrepancy jarred my belief of her as a genuine middle schooler, the more mature tone in narration might be the key to drawing in older readers.

Overall, DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL is a cute paranormal read. MG readers can read it alongside Judy Blume, while older readers looking for a light paranormal read won’t do wrong in picking this one up. I’m definitely curious as to what happens next in the sequel, BEDEVILED: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY DRESS! show less

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As much as I believe that I hate teen romance (or college romance cause acads is life), I actually loved this book! It’s not the typical story where it’ll start on how they met or how they fall in love. This G R E A T book is about remembering them, the total impact of concealed memories after a sudden break-up. You read that right, a break-up story where you’ll wonder if the two will get back together or if one of them will move on. That kind of doubt is actually what show more makes the read exciting, and who doesn’t want some kind of a thrill?

The story’s told in Sari’s POV (the ex-girlfriend) so readers will only get to see her side of the story, hmmm. She’s a musician. She has a best friend ever. She makes time for her grandma. Her parents are strict. And she once had a boyfriend for over a year named Zev. So Zev is whole different thing. I don’t know what he does but he’s plane-sick. I’d describe him as an ideal man! But no kissing other girls please.

The things is… they planned a trip together but Sari and Zev broke up. Imagine a whole trip you’re looking forward to, suddenly ruined because of a third party? Nah-ah. But they both went anyway (separately) and Zev tried fixing them. But there’s a new guy, Fritz, who met Sari on the trip (the old people’s place!) and he is described as hot! I prefer to call him the potential rebound. Great SWOON all over stuff happened while the three of them were there.

After a week, a storm came and they were all at the airport with a lot of people. They also eventually checked into a hotel with another great friend of Fritz named Dylan (also described as hot) who stayed with them. So, I have a question. Why do hot people only group with hot people? Seriously, Sari is so lucky. And I’m not talking about her broken relationship but about the genuine people she just met! They were all kind and sometimes too kind that you’ll get confused if that is being kind or flirty.

Before this review turn into a novel, I’d like to end by saying that I have loved the book! I got all “kilig” and happy while reading and the guessing-the-ending part was also fun. I recommend this to those who wants to meet a new bookish boyfriend! And to everyone who wants an honest, fun, fast-paced read! show less