Review of Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Title: Let It Snow
Authors: John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Published by: Speak
Pages: 352
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

Three authors, three stories, and all the joy of the holiday season wrapped up in one book.

John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle each wrote a short story about one Christmas Eve.  I have to say that John Green's story was great.  As always his characters were realistic and a bit edgy.  The story had a little more mush than I'm used in his writing, but it fit the overall feel of the book.  Plus sometimes a little romance is just what is needed on these chilly winter nights. 

Maureen Johnson starts off the novel with her short story.  While at times I had a hard time believing everything was true, I was still invested in the story and the characters.  It was a great way to start off the novel because it truly felt like I was reading a Holiday romance...just not one that I may have expected in YA literature.

The final story by Lauren Myracle was my least favorite.  I had a hard time with the main character.  I though she was selfish, self-absorbed and just not a very nice person.  I understand the story was more about her growing as a person, but I never really ended up liking her.

The best thing about this book is that all the stories are connected in multiple ways.  It's not just one place or character that overlap, there are multiple characters and scenarios that are repeated in a new light in each story.  I'm not sure how these three authors worked it out, but it was genius!  I only wish there were more books like this out there.   

Review of The Lynburn Legacy short stories by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title:  The Spring Before I Met You (The Lynburn Legacy #0.25)
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Pages: 15
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Holly Black's Introduction: This story introduces us to one of the main characters of Unspoken, Jared Lynburn. Seeing him as the broken, dangerous, closed-off teenager that he appears to be from the outside allows us to anticipate all of the insight we'll have into his character when we get inside his head--which we will, since he's the heroine's "imaginary friend."/span>

This short story was really interesting.  I gave me more perspective into Jared's character and who he was before he met Kami.  I loved how vulnerable he seemed and that the "guidance counselor" really did seem to care and want to help him.  I'm glad that he wasn't written off by everyone even though he didn't have the best home life and seemed to act out as a way to compensate.  But like all short stories I wish there were more details not only with the story but with Jared himself.  He's such an interesting character that I think Sarah Rees Brennan could write an entire novel about his life before he met Kami.  For me The Spring Before I Met had a great basis for a storyline, but it felt too rushed and flat.



Title: The Summer Before I Met You (The Lynburn Legacy #0.5)
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Pages: 13
Format: ebook
Rating: 2 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  “Take care of your spirit, Kami,” said Megumi. “And don’t burn the place down.”

Kami grabbed both the suitcases and headed for the cabin she was sharing with Liz and Angela. Liz walked with her, and on their way Kami stopped.

“My Sobo was exaggerating,” she said earnestly. “There have been very few fires.”

This story followed Kami as she volunteered at a summer Cricket camp.  I had a hard time with this one.  The story was not only too short and rushed, but it felt very jumbled.  There didn't seem to be a natural flow to the story and we didn't really get to see into who the characters were.  There was a little excitement in the middle of the story however, that involved a scandal and Kami's superior sleuthing and reporting skills and we do get to learn about her first relationship so it wasn't all bad.

I just don't think I'm a very good short story person.  I get invested and I want to not only know more about the story, but also about the characters.  Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan was such a great read that I was a little disappointed by these prequels.  I suggest just skipping them and going straight to Unspoken.