RTW: Best Book of June

Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival, where YA Highway’s contributors and readers post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s take on the topic.

This week’s prompt was: What's the best book you've read this month?

Well that’s not hard. But since I’ve already blogged about The Best Book I’ve Read In June, how about another book I’ve read and liked yet somewhat less than The Best Book?

From Goodreads: For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

 First, let’s talk about the cover. I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t heard anything about Hourglass that I’d still pick up the book based on this crazy cover. It’s not just that it’s beautifully designed, but also that it made me wonder what the heck was going on.

Now that the obvious is out of the way… I really enjoyed this story. For some reason, I had gotten it into my head that Hourglass was paranormal YA, but to be honest it’s really a balanced mix of paranormal and sci-fi, which I like. There’s time travel and kids with superpowers at a special home to hone their talents. I was half expecting Professor Xavier to start conducting a lesson.

There’s also hot boys and kissing, suspense, action, and—get this—a satisfying ending even though there will be a sequel. (Not that I don’t like cliffhanger endings, but I’m also wildly impatient and having things wrap up nicely is much more satisfying in the interim.)

I will say, this is the first time I’ve rooted for the obvious loser in a romantic triangle. I knew while reading who she’d pick—I read YA after all; it wasn’t rocket science—but for the first time I was really hoping she’d get with the other guy. So, I guess Hourglass turned me partially insane.

Despite the crazy-turning, it’s a fun read and I’ll be looking out for the second book.

What’s the best book you’ve read this month?*

*Translation: I’m always looking for great books, so leave your June recommendations in the comments. Also, other people can see them and benefit. See, this question isn’t just here for selfish reasons...