Into the Spotlight by Leslea Wahl

Into the Spotlight is the third book I have read written by Leslea Wahl. This is a YA book, which is evident. Though it can be enjoyed by all ages, it is a YA mystery, and if that is your genre, it is the perfect book for you. I enjoy reading YA for a change of pace and finding my daughter some new books to read.

The character development was good. Josie, at the beginning, is disrespectful to her mom. Telling her she ruined her life. By the end of the book, Josie realizes that her mother’s books have actually helped other girls out, and she forgives her mom and mends their relationship. Throughout the book, Josie is trying to figure out who she is, which is a big part of being a teenager and young adult. Josie does a lot of maturing while away, both mentally and spiritually.

The setting and storyline were good. I loved the island setting. It was the perfect place for a summer read. The storyline was good. We have a lot of different things we interact with. There was helping immigrants and refugees, respect for elders, trying to solve the case of who was breaking in and stealing, baseball, crushes, and more.

The romance aspect is light and sweet, kisses-only. We do have a fake dating that comes to light, and Josie is hurt by it. Then Josie's heart opens up to Ryan. For a YA book, I was not a fan of the fake dating relationship, because that behavior would be devastating in real life, and I don’t want my preteens exposed to that right now. Having multiple crushes on boys at the same time is typical for YA as they are trying to figure out life.

Leslea Wahl did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. It was encouraging to see how the character's faith was being developed through the story. Though written from a catholic aspect, it can be enjoyed by all. There are mentions of Hail Marys.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.