Author: Beth Steury

When not working on her soon-to-be-released young adult (YA) novel series, Beth immerses herself in the YA world via substitute teaching, connecting with the teenage staff at the fast food joint where she claims the back booth as her office, and reading YA fiction. Her “Waiting Matters … Because YOU Matter” blog helps people of all ages navigate the choppy waters of saving sex for marriage while her “Slices of Real Life” blog posts finds GOD in the day-to-day moments of real life.
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It’s Addicting by Laura L. Smith

 

It’s Addicting by Laura L. Smith is the third book in the Status Updates series, suitable for ages sixteen and up. Check out Kathrese McKee’s review of the series’ first book, It’s Complicated, and my review of the second installment, It’s Over. Again, I’m placing book #3 in both the Young Adult and New Adult categories.

Synopsis:

Obsessing over status, grades, exercise or a boyfriend could never become an addiction…could it? The third installment of the Status Updates series finds four college sophomore roommates finally getting comfy with the routines of dorm life. But Kat, Claire, Palmer, and Hannah soon begin to feel the nagging ache of innocent addictions pulling them away from their true selves. Hang out with these four roomies to see if they can–or even want to–ditch these sneaky little hang-ups before they take over their lives.

Pros:

  • As I gushed about in the review of It’s Over, this is Christian New Adult. Proof positive that New Adult fiction can (and should!) be so much more than sexed-up YA. Kudos to Laura L. Smith for taking on the nay-sayers and creating a realisitic NA series that is clean.
  • The real world greets the roommates as each branches out into her own niche. THE REAL WORLD. No sanitized Christian fiction here. Yet nothing explicit, excessive, or gratuitous, either.
  • I liked how the roomies depended on each other, but each moved forward pursuing their unique talents and interest, going in different directions but remaining solid friends.
  • About that friendship. It wouldn’t be “real life” if potholes didn’t spring up along the friendship journey. They do but no spoilers here.
  • They faced realistic “addictions”. The kind every college student will stumble upon. The true power of fiction is revealed when readers see themselves between the covers of a book and find hope and inspiration for tackling their own life issues. It’s Addicting hits that mark.

Cons: 

  • If situations involving alcohol concern you, be alerted underage drinking occurs. But it is in no way gratuitous or excessive. Rather, it’s extremely reality-based and fitting to the story. Actually, to me this is a “pro” rather than a “con”. The temptation to drink is HUGE for college-aged kids. What a perfect opportunity for parents and and heading-to-college teenagers to discuss this issue together.

Personal thoughts:

This was my favorite of the series so far. I’m a huge fan of realistic contemporary Christian YA/NA fiction because I believe in the power of story to transform lives. As noted on her website, Laura writes “real stories for real girls”. And that she does. Way to go, Laura! Will there be a book #4 in the Status Updates Series? My vote–if I get one–is YES.

Discussion questions:

  • Which of the addictions the girls faced can you most identify with?
  • Which issue do you think you would be/are the most vulnerable to?
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It’s Over by Laura L. Smith

It’s Over by Laura L. Smith is the second book in the Status Updates series, suitable for ages sixteen and up. Check out Kathrese McKee’s review of the series’ first book, It’s Complicated.

I agree with Kathrese who placed this series, that follows Claire, Hannah, Palmer, and Kat as they head off to college, on both the Young Adult and New Adult shelves.

   Synopsis:

How do you move on when It’s Over? When four college roommates lose pieces of their lives, the pain isolates and the tension rises. Emotions are hard to hide and even harder to tackle. How can the girls move forward, when there is so much pain in letting go? Together, Claire, Kat, Palmer and Hannah learn to lean on God and each other, and through it all they learn loss is a part of life.

     Pros:

  • This is a Christian contemporary new adult novel! YAY! Rather than bow to the naysayers who say New Adult is strictly sexed-up YA, Laura Smith proves otherwise. Way to go, Laura!!
  • As a series, these books allow for more complex story lines that give readers a chance to really get to know the characters.
  • These “new adults” face a variety of real life issues, this time each dealing with some kind of loss. Unfortunately, life and loss go together.
  • The girls’ faith is challenged. (Wait… that’s a PRO? Why yes it is! Soooo many things/issues/situations/heartaches have the potential to challenge our faith in real life. Why not in fiction too?)
  • These tough subjects are handled with both realism and grace.
  • OH, and this is Christian contemporary NA! YAY!

Cons:

  • I found none to mention. Because I see this as upper-YA and NA, I would expect tough, “edgy” subjects. Hey, being a Christian doesn’t isolate a young adult from the temptations that lure toward worldly pleasures and values. And again, Smith handles these subjects without graphic details or gratuitous scenarios.

   My Personal Opinions:

I love a series as it gives me time to fall in love with the characters more and more.

Novels written in first-person present are not my favorite, BUT I’m not the intended audience, even though I read a lot of YA and NA. But I’m sure the “close feel” is a winner with young women as this age group is all about living in the moment.

And while I found some parts a bit mundane, I shook away those thoughts, because not everything in a YA/NA novel has to be about the nitty-gritty stuff. In fact, the parts about sibling and grandparent and parental relationships SHOULD be in novels for this age. Because these are important, often trying real-life connections that can benefit from the lessons learned in realistic fiction.

And YES, I will say it again! YAY for Christian NA! There is no audience more in need of the molding and guidance a Christian worldview novel can give. If my YA or NA aged daughter were interested in the Status Series? I’d buy her the entire set and present them to her with a big smile.

Now it’s on to book #3, It’s Addicting.

Discussion questions:

  • Which girl can you relate to most?
  • Which struggle/loss/heartache did you most identify with?
  • Which decisions did you agree with?  Disagree with?