Title: The Implosion of Aggie Winchester
Author: Lara Zielin
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: August 4, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 278
Source: Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen - even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer.

But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won't be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

Aggie's life is a bit of a whirlwind, and prom is the last thing on her mind. Like it or not though, when scandal rocks the school and her mother is at the heart of it, Aggie can't help but recognize prom is at the forefront of everything. Aggie has to take it all in stride. From her mother's breast cancer, to the snubs from her pregnant best friend, to her ex-boyfriend and her potential new romantic interest, everything is a bit too much. To come to terms and put things right, Aggie knows she must control the tiny piece of her life that she can. She has to figure out who burned the ballots, prove it wasn't her mother and help Sylvia win. Things be a bit more complicated than she'd hoped though.

I'd never heard of this one before it arrived on my doorstep, and I'll admit - I figured it would be an extremely light read that just might distract me from the dark books for which I hold a serious candle. The Implosion of Aggie Winchester turned out to be different than I'd thought though. Quirky, ironic and a touch dramatic at times, it's a sweet and oddly sensible tale that lets its small differences shine through and make it stand out from the crowd. Author, Lara Zielin, took a time-tested concept and added subtle twists and turns, gave us a lovable heroine and showed us that there can be good in these sweet, simple tales. Sweet and churning, this contemporary tale provides us with a wonderful host of characters and a plot that might seem trite at first glance, but could very well end up surprising you, too.

To be completely honest, I thought I was going to hate this book. For one, it's riddled with cliches (think cancer, goths & geeks, teen pregnancy and prom). For another, it seems as if the entire storyline revolves around a so-called mystery involving prom ballots. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that The Implosion of Aggie Winchester lent a sort of sincerity and truth to an otherwise tepid story. Aggie began as a first flat character. Her life revolved around a series of events - a breakup, an ex-best friend, the drama of her mother's illness and her friend's pregnancy. However, as we move through the story, we watch as she evolves from the one-sided character that cared about little but the superficial into someone we can genuinely relate to. There is a soft undertone of humour and wit that weaves its way through the otherwise very typical storyline, and it freshens the plot, ups the pace and really pushed The Implosion of Aggie Winchester to the next level. The bottom line is simple, friends. Simple and honest, this novel pushes past its foundation of cliches into a genuine, honest read that any teen or young woman can find sincere.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by The Implosion of Aggie Winchester. Was it the deepest novel I've ever read? Heck no. Was it fun, genuine and honest though? Yes, it most certainly was. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Such a Rush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: MTV
Publish Date: July 10, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.

I told you contemps in the summer were my thing! There’s something about summer than makes me want to read about real people, real struggles, real dilemmas and real love. Such a Rush sounds like a whirlwind of adventure, and the veteran author has written some gems that I love already, so it’s a win-win, in my humble opinion. Plus, there seems to be a lot of adventure, action and drama, and that cover is to die for, so I’m completely sold! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Perfect Escape
Author: Jennifer Brown
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: July 10, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 352

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

I've read a few of Jennifer Brown's books now, and she never ceases to amaze me. While I'll admit that I've started to have a bit of a soft spot for contemporary fiction, I'm still rather picky, and issue books are usually the way to go. I like some depth - more than the everyday romance and "boy meets girl" story. Because of that, I think that Perfect Escape might just be an awesome fit for me. It sounds like yet another deep, meaningful story in which I can become invested in the characters, so I can't wait! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend for Someone Who Doesn't Read Contemporary:

1. Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar - The name says it all. This book is so raw, so emotional and so powerful that I cried for at least three chapters straight. There's a beauty in the stark honesty of this one.

2. Between by Jessica Warman - I don't care if there was a bit of predictability to this one. It's so beautifully written, and there is power behind the words. I loved it in its entirety.

3. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - This one, though triggering, is amazing. I wouldn't recommend it to those necessarily recovering from an eating disorder because I saw a lot of tips I probably should forget, but it's incredibly powerful.

4. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden - It grapples with issues I haven't really explored before in YA fiction, and the reality of it is beautiful...and dangerous. It's complex and phenomenal.

5. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles - I've said it time and time again that this book is incredible. The story of Maggie and Caleb leaps from the pages with raw emotion and complexity. I really wish there wasn't a sequel because it didn't live up.

6. The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin - Written as a letter from a brother to his younger sister, this one was heart-wrenching from start to finish, and though I wasn't sure how I felt about it right away, I continue to re-read it to this day.

7. Stay by Deb Caletti - The author certainly knows how to paint her characters in a light that is so real that you feel you know them. I loved this book, and though I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, I have a very worn out copy on my shelf now.

8. Dark Song by Gail Giles - I'll be honest - this one isn't for the faint of heart. It's brutal, and it's a story of addictive personalities, rebellion, lies and abuse (both emotional and physical). Part of me loved it, and part of me felt physically ill. That's the beauty of it.

9. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler - I put this one off for so long because I thought the title sounded slutty, but it turned out to be a beautiful story of overcoming loss and tragedy. It was a bit blunt, but it was real, and it was rich.

10. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - I was on the fence about this one for a long time. It's a fast read, but it's intense. It's definitely nothing like I've ever experienced before, but the story of bullying is relevant, and it's powerful.