Since this is a YA novel, our characters are teens, all about to start their senior year of high school...until something that they thought only happened to other people, happens to them. That's where the heart-wrenching drama begins—with the aftermath, and the realization that life is fragile. We see the different ways that young brains and bodies process tragedy.
I know I'm being vague, but I really don't want to give any spoilers (beyond the fact that empaths should prepare themselves). I think it's a good book for both teens and parents of teens to read, since it serves as a reminder and a precautionary tale. And maybe, just maybe, will make you want to hold your loved ones even tighter.
Shall we talk about food? There's not a ton mentioned, but there is a bit inspiration to be found on the pages. I actually craved Pop-Tarts, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken nuggets dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce several times throughout the book. Oh, and also some Crock-Pot meatloaf with a side of peas.
But what I chose to make was something enjoyed by two characters you'll be very invested in when you read this...and something that I knew my own teens would enjoy as much as they did—S'mores Brownies.
Sebastian reched over to the pile of food, picked up a container and popped the lid open. "Mom made s'more brownies."
My mouth watered. "S'more brownies? That sounds like heaven."
"They are amazing." He put the lid back on and picked up another. "The last time she made them, I ate so many I thought I'd vomit."
If There's No Tomorrow
author: Jennifer Armentroutpublisher: Harlequin Teen (September 5, 2017)
genre: Teens > Literature & Fiction > Social & Family Issues
hardcover: 384 pages
"foodie" read: No
opening sentence: I couldn't move, and everything hurt — my skin felt stretched too tight, muscles burned like they'd been lit on fire, and my bones ached deep into the marrow.
teaser: Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She’s ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications, and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic—one of opportunities and chances.
Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything.
Now Lena isn’t looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian might never forgive her for what happened.
For what she let happen.
With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when she and her friends’ entire existences have been redefined? How can she move on when tomorrow isn’t even guaranteed?
about the author: # 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction.
She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.connect with the author: website | facebook | twitter | instagram
recipe inspired by the book: S'mores Brownies
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Yield: 16 brownies
S'mores Brownies
prep time: 15 MINScook time: 50 MINStotal time: 65 mins
Two classic American desserts combine to form one decadent recipe, featuring a brownie base and s'mores-style topping.
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 full graham cracker sheets, broken into small pieces
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 6 "snack size" (~2.5 ounces total) Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars, broken into individual rectangles
- 1 package of your favorite brownie mix* (+ ingredients called for on box)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 325° F (or temperature indicated on brownie mix package, if different). Grease an 8"-square baking pan, then line it with a sheet of parchment paper, leaving an overhang, so that it easy to remove them later.
- Combine broken graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and chocolate in a small bowl; toss to combine the s'mores topping, then set aside.
- Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, then scoop and spread into prepared pan. Slide into oven and bake according to the time listed on the package—sprinkling with the s'mores topping mixture during the final 15 minutes of baking time. Done when a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out mostly clean (of brownie batter - topping may stick). (For the mix I use, I bake for 35 minutes, then scatter s'mores topping over it and bake for another 15 minutes.)
- Set pan on a wire rack and allow to brownies to cool as long as you can before lifting them out of the pan by the parchment overhang and cutting them (the cooler they are, the easier they will be to cut).
Notes:
- *I used 1 (18.3 ounce) box of Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix.
- One sheet of graham crackers weighs approximately 15 grams.
©All Roads Lead to the Kitchen. Inspired by and adapted from allrecipes.
Created using The Recipes Generator
