3.5 stars

Though they shared a magical kiss at Prom, Tan and Winter have decided to not let it change their friendship. However, this plan becomes increasingly difficult when all of their parents go on a vacation to Hawaii. Now, Tan and Winter are in charge of Tan's little sister while they're gone. Meaning avoiding each other becomes impossible.

Things get even more complicated when Tan's ex, Rebecca, arrives, on the run from her billionaire father. Tan is quickly pulled into helping her, and now they all find themselves on the run. Will they be able to figure everything out before Rebecca's dad catches up with them?

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen! I was intrigued by the premise, as it sounded sort of spy, action adventure related. And there is plenty of action as the teens find themselves on the run. It's an overall fast paced read, which makes it really easy to get through quickly!

My main issue was the premise requires a lot of suspension of disbelief to make the book work, and I just couldn't quite get there. The sort of thriller/chase aspect didn't quite work for me because the situation seemed highly exaggerated. There weren't enough details grounded in reality to make it believable, which made it difficult for me to get into the story.

However, the romance is cute. There's some love triangle drama, if you're into that kind of thing. The ending is satisfying, and if you can just throw yourself into the story, it's an entertaining read overall. Just wasn't necessarily for me.

If you like action-y romance, definitely check this one out in August!

This required a heck of a lot of suspension of disbelief, but if you can accomplish that, it was a cute and fun fast-paced read.

I really liked the characters and I loved the Cove. It was such a warm and welcoming home for kids without homes. And even though it was located in a church-related building and run by a nun, the religious aspect wasn't really pushed. I appreciated that. Also that it welcomed a nonbinary kid who got kicked out by their parents with open arms, bending the gendered sleeping quarters rule for them.

The scenes with the Cove and the kids there were the best parts; luckily they took up quite a bit of the book.

The plot was unrealistic to the extreme, but a handful of kids running from international thugs made for a great story. It was sort of like if you combined the Boxcar Children with Mission Impossible. I don't know if the parts about digital security and codebreaking were accurate as that's not my area of expertise, but they seemed at least internally consistent and were believable enough to keep me immersed in the story. It would make a fantastic action movie.

The love story was sweet although too much time was spent telling me how the characters thought and felt for my taste. I prefer to be left to figure it out from context. But it's a YA book and so it falls into that trap of overexplaining feelings that many YA books fall into.

I also really liked that, no matter how determined Tan was to handle everything and keep everyone safe, especially his little sister, Sana played a huge role in the big showdown at the end. The kids from the Cove did as well. It very much kept to the theme of 'we're stronger together' which gave it a nice wholesome feel.

I also liked the San Francisco bay area setting. One, because it makes sense for a family so heavily into digital currency security and codebreaking, and two, because it's just familiar enough to me that I could really picture a lot of the scenes.

The audiobook was really well done and helped keep me immersed in the story. The character voices were easily distinguishable and made sense. The narration flowed smoothly and the pacing was good.

Although it was a little difficult to get into the story at first, and I really had to suspend my disbelief, I had a great time with this story and would definitely read more by this author.

*Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Young Listeners for providing an early copy for review.

3.25 stars

Not what I expected.

This book reads like an upper middle grade rather than YA, which there's nothing wrong with, but it was not the level that I expected. The beginning somehow feels really slow even though kind of a lot happens pretty quickly. The writing is repetitive, with Tan constantly repeating things he's already mentioned, and not important things.

If you loved the Loveboat series like I did, this one is kind of disappointing. Tan is not all that interesting, even though he seems like he should be. It might have been better to have it in first person perspective so that we don't feel so removed from what Tan's feeling as he goes.

Abigail Hing Wen is one of my favorite YA authors, though, and I'll still read her next project.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

In this captivating novel, perfect for upper middle schoolers, the main characters, Tan and Winter, teeter on the brink of a potential romance. However, Tan’s lingering feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca, complicate matters. Winter wisely urges Tan to pump the brakes on their budding relationship. Despite Tan’s desire to assert that he’s moved on from his ex, he fails to communicate it effectively.

Adding to the drama of their almost-relationship, Rebecca—affectionately dubbed ‘The Ex’—unexpectedly shows up at Tan’s doorstep, seeking solace and desperately needing his help. She insists he gets involved, even after ghosting him for a year.

The main characters include Tan, Winter, and Rebecca. Tan is an all-around good guy with a talent for writing and cracking codes, who grapples with conflicting emotions. Winter, the voice of reason, remains steadfast and dependable. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s privileged demeanor and slow grasp of consequences make her the least likable character.

As for the novel’s future, it’s unclear whether it will become a series, but I’m intrigued to see how it unfolds. While I enjoyed the overall story, I was particularly captivated by Sister Ava and the Cove kids at the cathedral. “...Sister Ava...cutting a striking figure in the moonlight in her nun's habit..." The image alone is an absolute guffaw in the best possible way.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my ARC copy for my honest review.

⋆⋆⅗

the one good thing i have to say about this is that it was short, and the ending was cute. and that's it. i really wanted to like it—i liked loveboat taipei—but it lacked complexity and depth, even for something that's ya.

the problem with this book, i think, is that it contains the level of absurdity one would expect from middle grade thrillers (think 39 clues or gallagher girls). the villain is uber-scary and all powerful, and has police all over the globe in his palm, and yet is incompetent enough to have his twenty-year plan thwarted by three teenaged idiots in less than a week? with the help of a... super nun? honestly, this is a trope present in a lot of a ya thrillers, but the protagonists in this one happen to be morons, so it automatically makes the antagonist and the entire plot feel cartoonish. it doesn't help that the characters have the maturity of 14 year olds instead of the 17-18 year olds they supposedly are.

tan lee, the main character, entirely lacks any personality. his two traits are that a) he solves puzzles, and b) he loves his baby sister (which, yay! a non misogynist, he deserves points for that one, considering the state of his peers). he's a bore. i don't have anything to say about him, honestly. i can't even hate him, he's just... there. the book being from either of the girls' povs would immediately make this more interesting. winter technically didn't have any personality either, aside from loving family and tan and hating rebecca. (i just like her more than tan because she's a girl. well.) rebecca was the most intriguing character, by virtue of being the only one with any development. her going from obnoxious rich girl to connecting with people at the shelter and freeing herself from her parents' influence was lovely.

the romance was... meh. the love triangle was nonexistent—it was always obvious wintertan was the endgame, and that rebecca was just there to remind tan how different down-to-earth, impoverished winter was from out-of-touch, rich girl rebecca. neither couple had much chemistry, and wintertan were very bland and aggravating until the church confession scene at around 80%(?).

and this has nothing to do with anything, but it annoyed me so much, so i'm making it a whole paragraph. there's a three chapter arc near the beginning of the book, where they're first fleeing the evil thugs and whatnot. sana, the baby sister, goes around telling strangers private info like names, where they are from, etc, leading them to be almost caught multiple times. obviously, she's five, she's not the issue here. but when tan tries to tell her to not say anything, they make a whole issue about lying??? and it's like, isn't it a bigger issue that this girl babbles to randoms about what school she's going to?? is stranger danger not a more important concept here, or like literally always, regardless of whether you're being chased by your ex's dad's goons or not? what is wrong with you??

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

Wait I did not realize this was a continuation of Abigail's story from the YA romance anthology (published back in maybe 2021/2022?). I was so excited when I recognized the premise. I think YA romance readers will really enjoy this one and Abigail Hing Wen delivers another swoon-worthy, adorable story.

Winter and her mother rent rooms from Tan’s family. The Kiss – Winter and Tan go the prom, followed by hot kisses and then not talking to each other. The Codes – Tan has a mind for code breaking and cryptology. The Conspiracy – Tan’s ex-girlfriend Rebecca shows up with cryptocurrency stolen from her billionaire father and needs his mind to help break the code. These three things make for a dangerous and sometimes romantic romp across the Bay Area avoiding thugs sent by Rebecca’s father…or by someone else?
Very fun and kept me interested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this DRC.
#KissesCodesandConspiracies #NetGalley

A thrilling YA book from the start. An emotional journey for the main character. Fun faced paced story with friends family and villains.

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies is a whirlwind of teenage romance, mystery, and adventure that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.
The author expertly blends elements of romance and suspense, keeping readers guessing with every twist and turn. Tan's journey to protect his loved ones while unraveling a conspiracy and dodging international hackers makes for an exhilarating read.
What sets this book apart is its vibrant characters and authentic portrayal of teenage friendships and emotions. Tan's internal struggles and growth throughout the story add depth to the narrative, making him a relatable and compelling protagonist.
With its fast-paced plot, witty dialogue, and heartwarming moments, Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies is a captivating YA novel that will appeal to readers of all ages. The author's seamless storytelling and engaging writing style make this book a must-read for anyone craving an exciting and entertaining adventure.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When Tan’s ex Rebecca comes to his door asking for help, he never expected the kind of trouble he would be in. Rebecca has run away from her family and stolen something valuable. Bad guys come to Tan’s door and Tan, his sister Sana, his love interest Winter and Rebecca have to escape. They are chased around and their lives (and their parents lives) are all in danger. I really disliked that the villain was almost omniscient- he knew where they were seemingly all the time and everyone that helped them. It did not make much sense to me.

After her father died, Winter and her mother rented space in Tan's house to save money while her mom finished law school - which is a little awkward because Tan and Winter are In the same grade at Palo Alto High School. But the pair have lived like siblings, going through some major milestones together, especially after Tan's girlfriend, Rebecca, broke up with him when her parents didn't approve of him. But Winter steps in as Tan's prom date and, whoa, what just happened? They share a kiss at prom but know they can't do more than that - it would complicate everything for their families. Pushing their feeling to the side, life gets in the way, especially when their parents take a vacation together to celebrate Winter's mom's graduation, Tan's ex-girlfriend shows up at their doorstep, followed by a team of thugs who are after Rebecca. But is it Rebecca they want?

This story is a continuation of my favorite short story from Serendipity - a collection of romance stories from Marissa Meyer. In "The Idiom Algorithm" Abigail Hing Wen. More of an action-adventure story than romance, this book is appropriate for upper middle school students. I can't wait to add it to my library collection - this will be a hit with students.