Adult Review of Sleeping Tigers by Holly Robinson

Title: Sleeping Tigers

Author: Holly Robinson

Published by: CreateSpace
Pages: 258
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Rating:★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Jordan O'Malley has everything she ever wanted: a job she loves, a beautiful home, and a dependable boyfriend. When her life unravels after a breast cancer scare, Jordan decides to join her wildest childhood friend in San Francisco and track down her drifter brother, Cam, who harbors secrets of his own.

When Cam suddenly flees the country, Jordan follows, determined to bring him home. Her journey takes her to the farthest reaches of majestic Nepal, where she encounters tests—and truths—about love and family that she never could have imagined.

This was the perfect vacation read.  Jordan is a little lost in life.  She had a major medical scare and now wants to make sure her life means something.  Jordan is a very likable character.  She's down-to-earth and very easy to relate to.  She's responsible and even though she wants to get away from it all and live a little carefree, she still is grounded in reality and willing to except what comes her way.

My favorite thing about this novel is that I felt like I was soul searching right along with Jordan.  Everything in this novel could happen to any of us at any time and that made it real for me.  Also I had just recently visited San Francisco so a lot of the settings were still vivid pictures in my mind. The scenes set in Nepal were descriptively breathtaking and made me a bit envious of Jordan's journey.   

Another aspect of this novel that I really loved was the strong connection of family.  Even though both Jordan and Cam are grown, they come to realize how much they still need each other in their life.  It's too bad that it took some extreme circumstances for both of them to realise that, but sometimes people need a big "push" to make things happen.  It also gave hope that people can change over time.  This is something that I think we all hold on to, so it was nice to have it "proven" in a novel. 

Overall I really enjoyed this novel.  It made me feel happy and content while reading it and I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Review of Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Title: Never Eighteen
Author: Megan Bostic
Published by: HMH Children's Books
Pages: 204
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

Heartbreaking and hopeful; this is a story you won't soon forget.  The majority of the story follows a weekend where Austin has a very important agenda.  He wants certain people to realize they are not living their lives, but instead living a shadow of it, including himself.  He recruits his best friend Kaylee, who he's secretly in love with, to be his chauffer on this important journey. 

Each of Austin's visits touch your heart a little.  While some are sad, and others crazily unexpected, each one is there for a specific reason.  The more people Austin visited or the more adventures he tried, I gained more respect for him then I can even begin to express.  While he was going through the hardest time in his life, he reached out to others.  Hopefully each person he visits feels a little better and realizes to cherish their life and start living it.   

The ending tore me apart.  I was expecting what happened, but still I couldn't stop the tears.  I felt like I got a glimpse into this amazing person's life and I wanted more than he had left to give. 

Never Eighteen was a stunning debut that left me heartbroken, but also gave me hope and courage to live my life to its fullest.