by Bethany Lopez
Publication: August 2012
Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | Smashwords
Melissa has had a fantastic summer hanging out with her friends and making new ones. Life as she knows it will change when they all come together to begin their sophomore year at Dearborn High. Connections will be made and friendships will be tested. Will Melissa’s family and friends be able to help her through the challenges she will face in the upcoming months?
Ciao is a cute read that looks into a high school girl’s life from friendship to family to crushes and love through the journal that she keeps. There is a fabulous cast of characters with people that you want for your group of friends: cool guys (with two vying for your attention), the best girl friend who knows everything (Jess), and gorgeous Cassie who’s so sweet you can’t grudge her good lucks. It was fun watching them go through the high-school drama that seems like it means the world at the time but don’t in reality, the kind you look back at and laugh over with your friends. Jess and her Giovanni are especially cute and so protective of Melissa together.
The story is nice overall, but the plot didn’t really stand out to me. It is simple and predictible. Mostly, it’s about Melissa being at a standstill with her heart torn between two guys but not wanting to ruin her friendship with them. With the story being as short as it is, it is more of the length of a middle-grade book and something I can see both tweens and younger teens reading. Nothing overly exciting happens until the end, and even then it didn’t wow me.
Girls will be able to relate to Melissa as she navigates the beginning of her sophomore year, deals with the awkwardness of friends crushing on the same guy, and comes to terms with her growing feelings for a guy who’s always been a friend. The story is short and makes for a pleasant read when you don’t want an overly complicated plot and just want to relax.
Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series Stories About Melissa.
Bethany is giving away signed paperback copies of the first three books in the Stories About Melissa series (Ta Ta for Now!, XOXOXO, and Ciao), along with a Bookmark and Magnet and a Book Nerd necklace!
The giveaway is open to US only.
Disclaimer: I received a copy for review through the tour. No payment was received in return for a review. The receipt of the book had no influence on the opinions expressed in my review.
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Wendy says
What I love most about YA novels is that they are easy to escape through. They provide a vivid plot for people like me who sometimes want to escape the life they live. They are creative and just plain enjoyable. Thank you