This week I'm pairing up my reviews so I can get them all posted in time!
The Treatment
(The Program #2)
by Suzanne Young
To be published by Simon Pulse
on April 29, 2014
Source: giveaway at ALA
Synopsis from Goodreads: Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go. Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose. Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?My (mini) take: I must confess: I didn't love The Treatment as much as The Program, but I am glad that I read it. I have a lot of affection for poor Sloane and James, starcrossed lovers trapped in a web of evil people who want to capture them and mess with their brains.
In this book, James and Sloane have escaped from the Program. It's rare that I am wildly enthusiastic about "on the run" books and that's pretty much what this installment was, as Sloane and James try to keep one step ahead of their pursuers and figure out who they can trust. One of my favorite things about The Program was the questions the book raised about what constitutes happiness and "normal" behavior. To today's parents, has teenage mental health become synonymous with "good" or conformist behavior? In The Treatment, with all the running around, most of these truly fascinating philosophical questions got lost in the mix.
I was also hoping for more resolution on the issue of Sloan's brother's death. After reading the first book, I was convinced was something sinister there. But I still I remain a fan of these books and a devoted shipper of James and Sloane. And overall, this duology does raise a lot of interesting and timely questions about how mental disorders and their treatment. While I wish The Treatment had taken the time to delve into these issues a little more, the book was still a pretty satisfying end to an interesting story.
Boys Like You
by Juliana Stone
To be published by Sourcebooks
on May 6, 2014
Source: Thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing me to read an advance copy for review!
Synopsis from Goodreads: One mistake and everything changes.My (mini) take: Here's a quick test you can take to see if Boys Like You is a good fit for you as a reader:
For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that. Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that.
Do you love those two-damaged-people plots in New Adult fiction? Are you a fan of edgy, angsty books like those by Katie McGarry? If so, this book is right up your alley.
I'm still on the fence about NA. While I appreciate all the emotions and issues the genre raises, I sometimes feel that all the angst and drama crowd out other things I value in a story, like character and plot development.
There were things I really liked about Boys Like You. The Southern setting was fantastic and Monroe's grandmother was a great character. Nathan and Monroe had sizzling hot chemistry that kept me flipping the pages. As a parent, I was especially moved by Trevor's story, and really felt for his parents and what they were going through. But at times, the "two broken people who find one another and smolder as they find healing" plot did feel a little busy. There was a whole lot going on - Nathan's issues, Monroe's issues, Trevor's issues. It just seemed that with so many issues, some of them got shortchanged. Given the cover, I was also a little disappointed that music wasn't as big a part of the book as I'd hoped. On the plus side, this book is filled with emotion and features a romantic relationship that I think a lot of YA readers will adore. If you go in expecting plenty of smolder and not as much music, I think you will be pleased.
We're review twins today (The Treatment). I pretty much felt the same as you. I liked but didn't love it as much as I had hoped.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll skip Boys Like You - no more angst please lol
Karen @ For What It's Worth
Yes, I had higher hopes for the Treatment but I'm still glad I finished the story.
DeleteBoys Like You does have a fair amount of angst. I still liked it, but I wished for a little more music and a little less angst!
I am a HUGE fan of Katie McGarry, but like you I'm weary of New Adult, usually it's very hit and miss with me. But I'm looking forward to Boys Like You - hopefully I'll enjoy it. :)
ReplyDeleteLet me know where you come out! It's definitely YA, and if you enjoy Katie McGarry's books, I think it has the same combination of issues and smolder!
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed The Treatment!! I cannot wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I read a review for Boys like you but it sounds really, really great. And since I love KM books, I'll be checking this out!
Thanks for your reviews!
Definitely -- if you like that kind of book, you should try this!
DeleteI can relate to your thoughts on The Treatment! I mean i really enjoyed it overall and felt like the sequel was defiently needed to give us proper closure but at the same time The Treatment never stood a chance against the Program. i loved that book so much and the romance in that one was way heavier and more swoon worthy, too!
ReplyDeleteLily @ Lilysbookblog
Yeah, I didn't like the sort-of love rectangle or whatever it was. I think maybe the Program should have been a standalone with a resolution!
DeleteI haven't read The Program yet but your review on The Treatment made me want to. I really enjoy books that explore philosophical topics. So I'm going to have to add it to my read list but at least I'm prepared that book 2 suffers from the middle slump. Hopefully book 3 will answer all those questions you still have. I failed the fit test for Boys Like You so I am going to skip that one. :) Good job on both reviews!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!!! I loved the Program -- definitely raises really interesting issues. I'm thinking this is a duology but I guess you never know :)
DeleteI've been on the fence about Boys Like You. I don't read much NA, but I'm already sick of the broken souls who find each other plot. Plus there's only so much angst I can take before I want to move on to something happier.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read The Program yet, but that series sounds like it could be really interesting.
I have heard great things about The Program but I haven't read it yet! I'm really glad you enjoyed The Treatment! Also I thought that Boys Like You is not for me, but now after reading your review I see I was wrong. I need to read it soon. Great reviews, Jen :)
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, I did love The Program more than The Treatment- I may have been expecting some miracle answers as to why suicide rates were so high, but still, I enjoyed seeing more of Sloane and James, and Realm. I'm definitely on board with anything Suzanne Young writes in the future. ;)
ReplyDeleteI skimmed your review for The Treatment, I am hoping to start it soon. I liked The Program enough to read the second book, sounds like you enjoyed it for the most part. Boys Like You sounds like one that I would like. Great reviews.
ReplyDeleteI recently got the first book in the series , so hopefully I will get around to getting this book. I have seen lots on reviews on it and it sounds great.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the sequel to The Programm wasn't as good. But I am still going to read it because I loved The Programm.
ReplyDeleteGreat mini reviews!