The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

Buy this book here!

 

Rating: ★★★★★

 

The Summer that Melted Everything is NOT your average debut novel. Tiffany McDaniel does not shy away from dealing with some of our society's biggest taboos. I must start this review off by applauding Ms. McDaniel. This could not have been an easy novel to write especially given our current political and societal atmosphere. With that said, this is an incredible read and is marvelously written. 

This novel focuses on some very thought provoking subjects and does not shy away from society's views of these subjects. McDaniel addresses racism, religion, homosexuality, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980's. The way McDaniel weaves each of these subjects into this story creates a powerful and thought provoking work of art. The character development is so well done that you feel as though you have known these characters your entire life and have grown up with them in their small Ohio town. 

The story is an amazing tale of loss and heartbreak. It addresses so many topics that NEED to be discussed and does it in a way that encourages thought provoking conversation and intellectual discussion. The Summer that Melted Everything is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. McDaniel's writing is fantastic and adds to the magnificence of the story. I am not sure I could state how much I recommend this novel. It is definitely a MUST read for mature audiences and it will not disappoint. Tiffany McDaniel is an author to watch out for and I am excited to see what she has in store for us next!

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker by Rebecca Yelland

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

Buy this book here!

 

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is a powerful debut novel from author, Rebecca Yelland. The story is a non-stop page turning adventure filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. Yelland does a fantastic job at grabbing her readers from the very first page and making sure she holds on throughout the story. I was blown out of the water with Yelland's writing and ability to tell a powerful and emotional story in a page turning and detailed manner. I found myself holding my breathe with every turn of the page and experiencing heart wrenching moments of despair for June Parker, our main protagonist. 

Yelland created such powerful characters that I actually felt as if I knew June and her friends for years. The pain she experienced and the way she continued on with life was incredibly moving. 

The style used by Yelland, turning this into a journal found by June's daughter after her death, is absolutely perfect for this story. It allowed you to feel every emotion and experience the closure felt by her daughter upon completing her mother's story. It is filled with some amazing twists that simply add to the beauty of the story. 

If this is what we have to expect from Rebecca Yelland in her debut novel, I can only imagine what she has in store for her readers with her future writing endeavors. Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is the story of the summer as Ms. Yelland delivers with an absolute knockout!

Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance by Cynthia Yoder

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

Buy this book here!

 

Rating: ★★★★

 

Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is a very different novel than I typically read. It had a fantastic message and I found myself relating to many of the protagonists adventures and questions regarding life and how it "should" be lived versus how you want to live. Cynthia Yoder tells a marvelous tale of two young newlyweds and their journey to find themselves after leaving a life of religion and structure. 

The process of finding who you are is a journey we all take and this novel does a fantastic job asking and answering the questions that usually arise during that journey. Our main protagonists are very relatable characters and we truly see them grow as the novel progresses. Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is the perfect novel for young adults who may be in the midst of their personal journey. I personally found myself highlighting several passages that I felt perfectly summarized my current situation and how I see my journey moving forward. As I stated, this novel is a far cry from my usual reading material, but it is one I am glad I decided to give a go. It is the perfect read for the summer due to the easy page turning story and fantastic message.