I have struggled with money my entire life. I'm pretty young, so my entire life is shorter than many, but it's still a long time to deal with the stress of finances. My husband, Alex, and I started using the You Need a Budget (YNAB) software last month and when I found out that the founder wrote a book, I knew I needed to check it out. I needed to hear from someone who has a healthy relationship with money, because that person doesn't exist in my family, nor my husband's. 

I've learned a lot from using the software, but I really enjoyed getting explanations and examples in the book. YNAB is based around 4 rules and seeing those rules broken down into not only bite sized pieces but with real life examples really helped get me in the right mindset. 

If you're struggling with money, whether it's paying your rent or saving for vacation, definitely give this book (or the YNAB podcast) a try. Mecham's ideas around money are very comforting in that it feels like you'll be ahead in no time!  

If you enjoyed Dear Martin, Just Mercy, The Hate U Give, Anger is a Gift or any other recent book exploring racial injustice, you'll want to add this to your TBR pile. This story was really captivating. I couldn't put the book down. The main character is a powerful, strong, determined and inspiring young black woman. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, with no idea how the two storylines would coincide or even if they would. 

While this is a great read, it comes with a lot of trigger warnings: murder, lynching (historical), racism, white supremist groups, and maybe more that I hadn't considered. It's not a light read, but it is full of hope. 

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Oh my goodness, so much love for this. If you need a contemporary romance, if you loved To All The Boys I've Loved Before, if you need a good laugh, then you need this book. I learned about the Asian community (I knew so, so little, and still know barely anything), which is always a great thing. I was fully invested in the characters and all of the relationships. While there were plenty of things in this book I could not relate to at all, there were still plenty of moments and relationships that I completely understood. 

Dual point of view, college age protagonists, child-parent relationships, touching moments, and fake dating really make this story stand out. 

Grab this book. You won't be disappointed! 

I really enjoyed reading The Insomniacs by Marit Weisenberg. I feel like mysteries and thrillers are hard to find in the YA space without adding in fantasy elements. I started reading this on Halloween and it was the perfect amount of spooky-ness for the day. I was fully invested in the characters and while I had some idea of how the story would end, I did not predict the journey. The love-story was really well done too, with just enough to satisfy your need for a teen love story, without taking over the mystery and the atmosphere. I'd definitely read more of Weisenberg's books and I hope they keep writing. 

If you enjoy Karen McManus, or adult thrillers, you'll enjoy this fast paced read.