Will Romance Make Christmas Merrier?

Tattoos, cliques, dating… Will new romance make Christmas merrier?

“An Unstill Life” by Kate Larkindale is a powerful work of literature perfect for gifting.

I cannot rate this book highly enough. Completely different from other tales in the YA genre, "An Unstill Life" is dynamically engrossing with real, uncondescending narrative and characters which possess multi-dimensional qualities. Readers are invited into Livvie's life as she evolves from a fifteen year old high schooler navigating common pitfalls of the age, to a confident young woman who creates positive change in her life and in her surrounding culture.

We meet Livvie at the end of the summer in a tattoo parlor with her two best friends. The mirth shared over their adolescent escapade is short lived as school begins. The three friends discover breaks in their relationships, leading Livvie to consider what true friendship means to her.

Throughout Livvie's turmoils with her friends and her derision with the opposite sex, she struggles with additional pain and heartache in her home life. Her unstable mother becomes more dismissive of her as her beloved older sister battles cancer. Guilt over being unable to aid her dying sister amid a lifetime of being made to feel "less-than" makes Livvie feel more isolated and disconnected from the people she cares about most.

She embarks on an unlikely friendship with the school outcast, who accepts Livvie for everything she is. As the story nears to a close, Livvie must find and borrow courage as she examines what true love is. When the worst of the world comes crashing down upon her, Livvie valiantly steps through her grief and agonizing decisions to become a catalyst of culture change in her community.

The honesty in Livvie's voice as she tells her story is refreshing. Her world is believable, relatable, breath-taking, and inspiring. I had to take a couple of "cry breaks" while reading. "An Unstill Life" is a must-read. Great gift for teens and romance fans.

Tomorrow we take a break from the mushy stuff and head into action and mystery with fascinating characters and devious plots. If you would like to see more books I recommend, check out my “Woke” blog for book reviews. Happy shopping!