The Reece Malcolm List

by Amy Spalding

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Music, Realistic Fiction, Family

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2013

About the author

Amy Spalding is the author of several novels, including the bestselling For Her Consideration, We Used to Be Friends and The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles), which was named a best book of 2018 by NPR, the Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, and more. She is a recipient of the 2023 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award for the authentic, funny, and diverse representation of the LGBTQ+ community in her books.

Amy grew up in St. Louis and now lives in Los Angeles. She has a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications from Webster University and an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School. Amy studied longform improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you're sad? Me? Les Miserables (Original London Cast), Disc 1, Track 5: I Dreamed a Dream
Upset about a boy? Wicked, Track 8: I'm Not That Girl
Outraged over something? Ragtime, Disc 2, Track 15: Make Them Hear You
Getting ready to parrrrty? Rent (Original Broadway Cast), Disc 1, Track 14: Out Tonight


Why yes, that is a Korean edition of the Les Miserables Original London Cast. I needed emotional support on my first trip to Korea after being castigated for not speaking Korean well so I demanded my mother buy it for me.

If the soundtrack to your life is found on soundtracks to shows, this book is your kindred spirit.

Here are some things to know about Devan Mitchell:
1. She loves to sing and perform.
2. Her father just died.
2a. But it's mitigated by the fact that:

"Kids in musicals without parents always ended up okay -- Annie got Daddy Warbucks, Cosette got Jean Valjean, Christine got stalked by the Phantom though she did get to make out with Raoul."

3. Her stepmother can't stand her.
4. She found out about her birth mother through a book dedication.
5. She's never met her birth mother.
6. She's never kissed a boy.

"Also, ugh, really? Dad is dead and my long-lost mother would have totally preferred to stay long-lost, and I'm feeling sorry for myself about boys?"

Two of those things will change when she moves to Los Angeles to meet and live with her mother, award winning author Reece Malcolm.

The Reece Malcolm List is like an alternate world version of Gilmore Girls, exploring what would have happened if Lorelai had given up baby Rory and Rory focused on musicals instead of Harvard. Like the show, the book is a mix of humor and heart with snappy dialogue and a cast of memorable characters.

I liked Reece immediately. She's moody and socially awkward, and the only reason I don't mock the way Devan talks (like, like, like) is because Reece does it first. Okay, that also makes her kind of a bitch, but she's my kind of bitch. At 32, she's a successful writer but I love that she doesn't have her shit together. She's not only someone I would hang out it, but probably someone I already do hang out with. Devan never really fit in at her old schools but transferring to a performing arts high school finally gives her a place where she belongs. I mentioned the way she talks (like, like, like), but her voice is so authentically 16. I love that she's a bit timid and unconfident in real life but the minute she's on stage and in character, she unleashes everything inside. For a girl who's constantly apologizing, the one thing she doesn't apologize for is her talent. Reece Lissa tells her,

"When you sing you're this force of nature, all fearless and bad-ass. Then you switch off, and it's weird. It's like you really are in a musical, where you can only express yourself through song or whatever."

No wonder Reece is a best-selling author because that's the perfect analogy. Or whatever.

Of course, I have to mention the boys. There's the guylinered one and the Indian-Chinese one, which HELLO, but the one who held my attention was Brad, Reece's boyfriend. He's the most together person in the book and such a warm character. However, there are no perfect characters in this, and the realistically drawn characters are one of the strengths of the book.

You don't have to love musicals to enjoy this book, but if you are a theater geek, HANDS IN, A-CA-BITCHES! This book is your song.

I received an ARC of this from the author but waited so long to read it that I bought and reviewed the finished copy instead. Because that's how I do.

This review appears on Young Adult Anonymous.

[emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

every summer, it is my legal obligation to read a contemporary with a title / cover combination your friends could make fun of you for, if desired.

the words "legal obligation" can also be replaced with "karmic punishment," or "living nightmare."

sometimes it works out. this time, for reasons of Bad Characters and Annoying Sentences, it did not.

part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

As a teen, it feels as if I read less of teen fiction and more of adult. Statistically speaking, this isn’t true. Nearly all the novels I pick up are YA, but I tend to pick the more serious type; more brooding, more depressing, and infinitely more likely to make me burst into tears rather than laugh out loud. Why? I have no idea. I guess you could say I’m a snob. I read reviews where people describe a novel as being “fun” and automatically discard it from the list of novels I hope to read within the next few decades. I don’t even bother to give them a try. With The Reece Malcolm List, I didn’t even need to read the synopsis or a review to discard it: one look at that pink cover and I was scrambling for the dark, poignant covers of heartfelt contemporary.

Needless to say, I hope you all don’t make the same assumption as I did. I wound up buying The Reece Malcolm List on a whim to read during a four-hour bus ride to Washington D.C. and I simply could not put it down. From the very first pages, the clear-cut, no-nonsense, and deeply vulnerable voice of Devan Malcolm, the protagonist of our tale who loses her father and is sent to live with the mother she’s never even met before, resonated within me. Granted, my instant connection to this novel stems mostly from myself and the very fact that the quirks that make Devan who she is are very similar to the quirks that make me who I am, but, regardless, I believe that every reader can find something to connect with, love, appreciate, and ultimately enjoy about The Reece Malcolm List.

If I had taken a few seconds out of my too-busy-procrastinating life and actually read the synopsis of The Reece Malcolm List, I would have recognized it for a novel I would love. Instantly. I find that there is something very heart-warming and endearing about family novels, especially ones that focus realistically on mother-daughter relationships. When Devan’s father dies unexpectedly, she is shipped off to live with her mother, the famous author Reece Malcolm, in California, mostly because her step-mother doesn’t want her anymore. As Devan has never even spoken to her mother before, she is apprehensive about this new move. Is she intruding on her mother’s life? Why did her mother never try to contact her for sixteen years? And just what will happen if Reece Malcolm decides she doesn’t want Devan after all?

What makes The Reece Malcolm List such a stunning debut is, in my opinion, its narration. From the moment you meet her, Devan is a character you cannot help but love and feel for. We are immediately introduced to “The Reece Malcolm List”, an ongoing list that Devan adds to whenever she finds out something new about her mother. With this simple idea, the entire novel is cast in a light of aching bittersweetness, mostly because the small tid-bits of knowledge that we take for granted about our mothers or other family members are the very same facts that Devan craves to know, but is too shy to ask for fear of highlighting the elephant in the room that only keeps growing. Yet, as the story wears on, we can recognize the thin and fragile bond developing between Reece and Devan. It is easy to witness the love between these two, despite their silent way of showing their affection.

Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet, but flawed, adult relationship prevalent in this novel. Brad, the just-moved-in boyfriend of Reece, is an absolute sweetheart, loving Reece despite her moodiness and rather strange quirks. I found myself immersed in their love story for the problems they faced, right alongside the happiness. In fact, it is the relationship between all three of them – Devan, Brad, and Reece – that is so perfect simply because it is flawed, filled with sarcastic arguments, flaring tempers, and lame apologies. Yet, it is that makes it all so real, which is perhaps why I fell so hard for this debut.

Although Devan’s relationship with her mother and her boyfriend is easily the most important aspect of this novel, the friendships she forges in her new school, one exclusively for singers and actors, is another excellent element to this tale. As a student who isn’t used to much attention, Devan is surprised to make friends in her new school. Although she does instantly meet some nice people, the growing closer and growing apart of the friendships between this group of both guys and gals is an experience in-and-of itself. Not only are they all involved in music, loving to sing or dance or act, but they face very real issues. Furthermore, Devan captivated me with her enthusiasm for musicals, despite the fact that my knowledge of them is extremely limited. I love nothing more than a novel that can make you passionate about a topic you originally were not before and on this front, The Reece Malcolm List delivers spectacularly.

Nevertheless, I do have to admit that the romance surprised me. It was surprisingly similar to Anna and the French Kiss, only with significantly less drama. The Reece Malcolm List sets up a similar scheme of two best friends, one who has a girlfriend while the other looks on in unrequited like, but it is portrayed slightly differently. Instead of approaching this as a romance novel, Spalding looks at it as an experience in growing up and finding your place in the world, which I loved. Integrated between this romance is an immense amount of growth, although, don’t worry, there’s more than enough making out as well.

If there are any flaws with this novel, it is simply that it ended too soon. Unlike most novels which share this flaw, I actually loved the ending of The Reece Malcolm List. Yet, I thought it was ever-so-slightly convenient, idealistic and, overall, I found that I wanted a little more insight, both into the future of Devan’s relationship with her mother and the issues that Devan’s crush, Sai, had. With him, it felt as if we only peeled back a thin layer of the depth of the issues that were present in his life. I most definitely wanted something more towards the end to leave me feeling more than completely satisfied, opposed to just pleasantly happy by the end of this. You can clearly tell, though, that I have little to complain about since this debut was simply brilliant. It was endearingly realistic, all while retaining a spunky, musical quality about it which makes me want to label it as “fun” even though it’s also deep, inspirational, and utterly sweet. Amy Spalding, I hope you’re one of those authors who can whip out a book or two a year because I am already demanding more!

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.

[tonya. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I know About The Reece Malcolm List:

1) It will make you laugh.
2) If you are at all into musical theatre, it will make you sing. If you’re not into it, it’ll probably give you the urge to check it out.
3) It will make you want to go to LA (even if you live in Southern California, and hate the traffic, like me).
4) It will make you a little giddy.
5) It will make you cry. (But mostly in the happy way.)

This might be my favorite read of 2013, so far. I went in with zero expectations, but finished with cheeks that ached and were sporting a few tear trickles.

Devan grew up in St. Louis with her dad and stepmother, knowing absolutely nothing of her mother--not even her name. It wasn’t until she happened upon one of her mother’s books with the dedication made out to her, that she began to suspect. And research.

When her dad dies unexpectedly and she’s shipped off to LA to live with her stranger of a mother, she knows exactly five things:
1. She graduated from New York University.2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.5. She’s my mother.

Things with Devan and Reece are awkward at first. Reece has no idea how to be a mom, and Devan has no idea how to relate to her famous, and a little abrasive mother. The only bright spot is her mother figuring out she’s into musical theatre, and enrolling her in a fancy performing arts high school.

Which is pretty big for her. She’s always had a natural talent and affinity for performing, but going to school with other kids just as passionate as she is is a new for her. She’s used to being part of a small niche of geeks on campus--but now her entire school is made up of people just like her.

And she’s one of the best.

She expects to be treated with jealousy and bitterness for being the talented new kid, but instead finds she has friends almost immediately--another first for her. As is the fact that the seriously beautiful (and yet seriously nice) Sai, a fellow new kid, even talks to her, let alone pursues her friendship.

While she finds her place in school, she and Reece begin to find their place together as well. Devan soon finds herself comfortable, if not on her way to actual happiness.

Until she learns something about her mother that could break the tenuous bonds they’ve begun to forge.

I really loved the relationships Amy Spalding created here. Devan isn’t the damaged, angry mourner I expected. She’s a lot awkward, and a little self-involved, both of which I found refreshingly accurate for a sixteen year old. And Reece may be a thirty-two year old famous author, but she’s almost as clueless as her daughter. She isn’t the absent, negligent parent we see in most YAs--she’s just not really sure how to go about being a mom. But she’s trying, and I liked watching them dance around one another until they found their rhythm.

I loved the musical theatre focus, and can see it appealing to fans of Glee, even if they aren’t into theater. And although I think some may be turned off by Devan’s voice, as it’s very teenage girl, I found it endearing and authentic. (But maybe that’s just because I live in Southern California and have never quite outgrown the Valley Girl in me.)

“Knowing they’re in, like, True Love is a weird thing to comprehend. I feel a weird surge of happiness for them, along with a lame zap of jealousy that I could have made it to sixteen without any boys even wanting to kiss me.

Also, ugh, really? Dad is dead and my long-lost mother would have totally preferred to stay long-lost, and I’m feeling sorry for myself about boys?”

Devan has the voice, and the wants / fears / dreams of a normal sixteen year old, but doesn’t come across superficial or vapid. Just real.

I found The Reece Malcolm List very reminiscent of Anna and the French Kiss in some ways, which is about the highest praise I can give a contemporary YA. It’s not as swoony as Anna, as the main focus isn’t on the romance (though the romance is there, and it is swoony), but it left me with the same giddy, happy feeling as Anna did.

Which is pretty much my favorite way to end a book.

The Reece Malcolm List is Amy Spalding's debut novel, and will be followed up this December with Ink is Thicker Than Water, which sounds equally fun.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.

We walk outside to the parking lot. Sunshine and blue skies. Again. I open my mouth to let her know about the name mistake, except that I really like the thought of being Devan Malcolm. And if I tell her, she’ll call up New City, get it fixed, and I’ll have to go back to being Devan Mitchell. And suddenly she’s the last person I want to be.

When just the right book comes along at just the right time, it's a real treat. Such is the case of Amy Spalding's debut, The Reece Malcolm List, which ticked so very many of my want-to-read boxes.


Devan Mitchell finds herself suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world when she's shipped to Los Angeles from a small town near St. Louis to live with the mother she never knew following the death of her father. Devan knew very little about her mother, aside from that she's a best-selling novelist who seemingly never had an interest in a relationship with her daughter.

When she arrives in L.A., Devan's world transforms. Always an accomplished singing and hardcore musical theater fan, she's enrolled in a private performing arts high school where rather than being the weird musical girl, she's kind of, well, normal.

Devan chronicles the little bits of information she learns about her unusual mother in a notebook, while navigating her new, vibrant world. There's a bit of romance and a lot of unusual and realistic family issues explored in this memorable debut with a knock-out authentic teen voice. The result is a gem of a book that equally tugged at my heartstrings and put a grin on my face with its wit.

If I were to make a Devan-style list about The Reece Malcolm List, my review would look something like this...

Things I Love About The Reece Malcolm List

1) L.A. is a lively and fun setting for a young adult novel. The experiences of young people in a city like that are absolutely fascinating.

2) Family dynamics are complicated--but not what you'd expect. Devan's mother, The Reece Malcolm, has a charming boyfriend, Brad, who's a great guy who loves to cook and so different from most parental boyfriends or step-parents in YA. Devan's developing of a relationship with a mother she never knew--and whom she may be more like than she imagined--is touching and real.

We get our usuals, enchiladas for her and the chile relleno for me, both orders to be split in half and shared. I still can’t predict what she’ll say or do, but it’s nice we’ve gotten into this routine with food. Maybe it’s silly that it makes me feel more connected with her, but in this tiny way it does.

3) While Devan is a bit dense when it comes to understanding issues related to her family, she's pretty smart about what she wants when it comes to boys. There are two boys in this story, but she doesn't flip back and forth between the two.

4) Devan develops relationships with interesting adults. These adults play important roles related to plot and character develop--they don't just exist to teach Devan Very Important Lessons.

5) Like a lot of kids who are into things, at her former traditional high school, Devan was a bit of a strange ranger; the performing arts school is different, where being excited about performance is expected. While reading Reece, I kept thinking how wonderful it was "watching" Devan find "her people."

6) Realistic friendships make The Reece Malcolm List shine. They get mad and jealous and are a bit contradictory--just like real friendships.

7) There are boys with good hair. This is important--I shouldn't have to explain why.

Of course, I’ve never stood near the cutest guy on the planet pre-audition before. “Hey!” He jumps up from his chair as I walk into the music department waiting room at New City School. His hair is nearly black and kind of swooped forward, some- where between really preppy and a little punk. It is Very Serious Hair. I think about how it would feel to run my fingers through it. (Good, obviously.)

8) Devan's teenage voice is authentic without being dumbed-down. She's clever and witty, but not in a talky Dawson's Creek way. For example, her commentary on show choir,

I actually think it’s kind of a little pretty cheesy. People say the same thing about musical theatre, but I don’t think that’s true at all. It’s one thing to burst into song in character because there’s such an overflow of emotion it can’t be contained. It’s another entirely to randomly sing and dance, apropos of nothing. I mean, I love it, but I can’t deny its cheesiness. (Musical theatre, on the other hand, I’ll defend to its—and my—death.) Still, show choir is a small group of talented people, and you occasionally even get to sing songs from this century. It’s the best of all of them.
I know Amy has a comedy background and it shows in her writing, but it's not in a, "Now we will be FUNNY!" sort of way. It's imbued within Devan's character and her new surroundings and experiences.

9) I am an idiot when it comes to musical theater (yes, you may all gasp in horror now), but Devan's enthusiasm for it bubbles of the page in such an infectious way that it made me love musical theater for 352 pages.

10) Dialogue. Dialogue. Dialogue. I love dialogue that I can hear--and I sure could in The Reece Malcolm List.

“What’s your favorite—” She cuts herself off. “I was about to ask what your favorite thing about L.A. was so far, but I should probably ask if you can even stand it enough to have a favorite thing.”
“Is it dumb if I say the weather? It’s totally a cliché, right?”
“It’s a cliché for a reason,” she says. “It’s generally glorious here. I won’t deduct points for lack of originality.”
“What’s your favorite thing about L.A.?” Right now feels like a safe time to ask.
“Oh, God, don’t repeat it, but probably that most of the people I care about are here.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “But I’d hate to lose my rep of not giving a shit.”
“So the weather?”
“Right,” she says with a smile. “The weather.”

FNL Character Rating: I had to bring Laura in for a consult on this one, and after a long discussion via text message that because of the touching exploration of family and friendships that it's worthy of a Becky Sproles when Becky realizes who her real family is near the end of season five rating. Though I lobbied hard for a one-of-a-kind, "the perfect effortless wave of Tami Taylor's hair" FNL Character Rating.

Read our interview with Amy from 2012 in which she discusses the unique process involved in developing the cover for Reece: http://cleareyesfullshelves.com/blog/...

Initial reaction:
4.5-ish stars

I absolutely loved this and I was totally nervous and reading it because I really enjoy chatting with Amy of Twitter and I was super worried I wouldn't like her book and I'd have to be all vague in my reaction or whatever.

But, it's such an original novel and Devan is a totally believable teenager with such a unique voice. The family stuff is fantastic and really different from what you find in a lot of YA.

This book also has a fantastic wit that I'd love to see more of in YA.

Finally, I'm surprised how much I liked LA as a setting. I can't imagine how weird it is to grow up there and this book really captures that but doesn't mock it, though it has it's funny moments because LA is weird.

[Jasprit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Fresh, funny and tinged with heartache, The Reece Malcolm List tells the story of Devan, a girl still discovering her place in the world. Devan has always been on the move her entire life, her last place she was finally able to find a close friend in Justine. But then unexpectedly her dad is killed, she was never close to her dad but he still was still her only real family. Tracey was her step-mum, but there had always been that bitterness between them. So three months after her father’s death, Devan’s biological mother’s lawyer turns up with the announcement that she will be living with her mother. Devan hasn’t heard a peep from her mother in her sixteen years so she doesn’t really know what to expect. Who is the real Reece Malcolm?

My first impression of Reece Malcolm was that she didn’t give two hoots about Devan; she didn’t even make the trip over to pick her up from St Louis, sent her lawyer instead and then didn’t even acknowledge Devan when she came to pick her up. But her aloofness and distance did simmer down pretty quickly, she did everything a normal parent is expected to do, but she never made it out that she wanted to do it. She was nice enough but not the best communicator; she was always one to make rash comments which came across quite hurtful without thinking things through. But Brad her boyfriend definitely made up for her behaviour, he was down to earth, charming and always thought of Devan.

I enjoyed the journey we went on with Devan discovering who Reece Malcolm was. It was funny how she had to find out bits of information through Google searching, observing her mother’s behaviour and snooping around. I wanted Devan to form a strong relationship with her mother who had abandoned her for 16 years with no explanation and at points we did see that coming through, but I’d rather have preferred Devan and her mother to be honest with each other in the beginning instead of keeping their ideas cooped up, eventually we knew it would lead to a big blow up. But I guess it was all necessary for them to realise the truth.

Devan was a solid protagonist that I didn’t have a hard time connecting to, she was talented in the performing arts and she just needed stability in her life to keep her grounded. She wasn’t afraid of doing things which went against the grain even if it meant having no friends, and I admired her honest voice, it made her situation appear more realistic. Of course there were stumbling blocks along the way with a love quadrangle developing, (why is it always the case when a person is single you do nothing about it, but then when you’re with someone you suddenly show interest). The guy that Devan admired really wasn’t my cup of tea, he was indecisive, and how he always ran to Devan in time of need when he had a girlfriend made me root for the other guy. I supposed the way things resolved themselves between these characters would sit well with the majority of readers, but the behaviour of this guy didn’t leave the greatest impression on me.

However The Reece Malcolm list was solidified with a great set of secondary characters. They brought their own drama and cheerfulness which could perk you up very quickly. I liked how I’d started off with my initial favourites but was quick to change sides as the book progressed.

Amy Spalding’s The Reece Malcolm list is definitely one debut novel to look out for this year, it delves into several issues Devan had to face in a realistic way, but also brought a lot of fun along the way.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things you should know about me:

1. I got an A in Performing Arts in high school but I cannot carry a tune to save my life. But I can cry on cue and am naturally over dramatic about everything.
2. I LOVE musical theatre. I was the girl dancing in the stalls when I went to see Fame who then sprained her ankle when she fell down the steps from dancing too enthusiastically.
3. I like guyliner and good hair.

The Reece Malcolm List is the kind of book you don’t realise you’ve been waiting for until you turn the last page and burst into a frankly mediocre* performance of At Last. (*excruciatingly bad) Because FINALLY. AT LAST! Now everybody dance.


Things I love about this book:

1. The characters are all so authentic and Spalding really nails what friendships in high school are like. Some of them are fleeting but others remain a certainty. I loved how the characters were layered and acted like actual teenagers and not parodies of teenagers who eat thesaurus’s for breakfast. Like give me a break.

2. Reece is hands down the best ‘mom’ character I’ve read in a long time. She’s grouchy and awkward and doesn’t like crowds of people. She’s a little bit of a bitch with her directness and sometimes scathing humor but MY GOD do I want to be her friend. I get that she doesn’t like shopping and on some people I find that trait unforgivable BUT she is awesome so I am willing to let that slide. It’s refreshing to read about an adult that doesn’t totally have all her shit together

3. Devan is such an engaging protagonist. It was heart-warming to see her unapologetically and rightfully own her talent because damn can that girl sing. Also, can you please invite me to your next performance? Her enthusiasm for performing is infectious, like her passion for it is somehow imbibed into the pages of the book so you get infected to. I will give you cold hard cash if you didn’t finish this book and immediately want to do a leap or jazz hands or randomly burst into song.

4. Performing arts school is my ultimate fantasy. In my head people break into song halfway through class and dance around the corridors. I know this is probably a slight exaggeration but still, any book that delves into the competitiveness and highly strung atmosphere of performing arts is a book that I want to read. Along with an amazing cast of supporting characters the book progressed at an engaging rate and I never once felt my attention slip.

5. Brad. I don’t want to say much about this guy because like a fine wine he needs to be savoured. But I will tell you this; he has GOOD hair. He can cook. He has an accent. He is my new book boyfriend.

Spalding steps out onto the contemporary stage with a show stopping debut that is witty, original and super fun without losing any of its storytelling depth. Her writing is snappy and fresh with dialogue that hits all the right notes. I can't wait to see what she does next.

[Natalie (Natflix&Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this cute contemporary YA novel about family, friendship, first love, and...musical theater.

The Reece Malcolm List follows Devan, a teenager girl who has just lost her father, and her move to LA from St. Louis to live with the mother she has never known--the famous writer, Reece Malcolm.

Reece grew up with her father and her stepmother, Tracy. She was never really close with her father and she knows that Tracy wishes Devan was never born as Devan is the product of her father's infidelity. Devan grew up never knowing who her mother even was, until the day Tracy catches her reading one of Reece's books. After her father's death, arrangements are made for Devan to live with Reece and the book opens with her arrival to LA.

I really enjoyed this book. It perfectly hits that elusive sweet-spot between light and serious. We watch as Devan settles into LA, both in her mother's house where her boyfriend, Brad (a truly wonderful character) is also in the process of moving in and as she settles into her new school, a private performing arts high school. Devan meets and falls into a group of friends that are all unique and wonderful in their own ways on her first day. She also meets the oh-so-cute Sai, a boy who has also just moved to LA from St. Louis with his recently divorced father. Sai almost immediately starts dating the school's local hottie, and Devan starts dating someone, too, but there is a spark between them that doesn't seem to want to go away. Sai and Devan, along with a couple of their other friends, are involved with the school's music program and are soon trying out for the upcoming musical.

I highly recommend The Reece Malcolm List. Like I stated earlier, I found the tone to be just perfect. It isn't just another contemporary YA romance. A good portion of the book is about Reece and Devon (and Brad) and the way they are adjusting to this new family life. The characters aren't perfect, they make mistakes and have arguments and feel awkward. The writing was fast-paced and easy to read, the relationships were real, and the romance was very sweet. I will most definitely be on the look-out for Amy Spalding's next book.

*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

That moment when you're super curious about a book but have pretty much no expectations, and it turns out to be completely awesome. I am living this moment. The Reece Malcolm List caught my eye with it's kooky cover and blurb, but I really knew nothing about it. Turns out The Reece Malcolm List is a deliciously funny and honest book about family, boys, and musical theater.

Reece Malcolm is Devan's Mitchell's mother, and this, along with four other facts, equals the sum total of Devan's knowledge about Reece. After her father's death, Reece's lawyer picks Devan up in St. Louis and flies with her to L.A., her new home. Every chapter opens with a continuation of Devan's list of things she knows about her introverted, prickly mother. Their relationship forms the core of the story, much more important than the romance or Devan's calling to perform in musicals.

Reece definitely probably will not be winning any mother of the year awards, but I really love her character. She does not act remotely like the stereotypical mom (either in the neglectful or involved sense), but, through her gruff exterior, you can see her attempts at affection. Being of an emotionally clumsy, somewhat taciturn disposition myself, I totally get Reece. She's a very permissive parent, allowing Reece to go out and do pretty much whatever she wants, but very much a present one, as is Reece's live-in boyfriend Brad. They have a lot of family dinners and shopping excursions, and she always knows what's going on in Devan's life. Plus, Reece probably wouldn't do anything too objectionable anyway, so really deserves to be trusted with that freedom. I also love the fights that they have, because they were very much true to life, full of intentionally brutal comments that later result in regret.

Devan, too, delights me and, other than being somewhat reserved and highly talented, is very much unlike Reece. Except when it comes to music and acting, Devan worries and constantly apologizes for things. She bottles up her emotions, polite to everyone even when they're rude, until she explodes and delivers a tirade. Devan's narrative voice includes a lot of humor, teen angst, and passion. She also just feels a hundred percent like a real teenager.

All of the other characters are fantastic too, even some of the lesser characters like Mira receiving some real consideration. What I love best about this book is how honestly teen it feels. The relationship drama, while full of angst and a huge portion of Devan's mental lanscape, does not come off as the most important aspect of her life. As much as she stresses thinks about boys, she does not act like her life will be ruined without a boy or like she's in true love forever. Plus, all of the relationships in here feel so real, awkward, ill-defined, and messy. Despite that, Devan's narration definitely keeps the book on the happier end of the contemporary scale, because her love of theater helps her maintain balance and perspective.

My only slight reservation deals with the writing style, which for the most part I love. The storytelling sounds completely like Reece, and really helps throw you into her head, so that is fantastic. The only questionable element is the use of strikethroughs to express Devan's confusion about her emotions. They are a bit too cutesy, and I really think Spalding got Devan's emotional state across perfectly well without that.

Amy Spalding's debut sparkles with wit and characterization, and I highly recommend it! I will definitely be reading whatever she happens to write next, and really wouldn't mind if it were more books about Devan. ;)

[Brin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have nothing but good things to say about Amy Spalding's debut The Reece Malcolm List. It was completely what I was in the mood to read right now being just the right mix of a light fluffy read but with some serious undertones - the perfect balance of both really.

This is the story of 16 year-old Devan. Devan is sent to live with her mother following the death of her father in a car accident. Her step-mother barely tolerated her when her father was around but after he dies she is shipped off to live with her mother, Reece Malcolm, who is a famous but somewhat elusive writer. Devan has never even met her mother prior to this and she finds herself thrust into a new living arrangement with a woman who is a stranger to her. Her mother's boyfriend Brad has also recently moved in and Devan feels that she is intruding on their new life together. Luckily Bran is a decent and friendly guy, and Devan warms more quickly to him than to Reece who comes across as a little difficult and anti-social.

After discovering that Devan is interested in musical theatre, Reece enrolls her in a performing arts school and Devan soon blossoms in this environment. She soon meets some like-minded friends and there are even a couple of romantic possibilities (happy to report no dreaded love triangles present in this novel). Devan is a shy and withdrawn young girl but when she is performing you see another side to her, her confidence really shines when she is on stage. Devan is talented - immensely so - and this is one area of her life where she feels free to be herself (ironically since she is playing someone else).

The strengths of this novel lies in the characters and their relationships with each other though. The dialogue is very realistic (Devan sounds like a 16 year-old girl but never in an annoying way - her voice is very authentic) and the situations and issues raised encounters are realistically depicted. The strongest element is the novel is the building of the mother-daughter relationship between Devan and Reece.

Reece was very young when she had Devan and is still in some ways quite immature. She clearly finds it difficult having to deal with a teenage daughter and does not seems overly equipped to handle it. It was interesting seeing their interactions with each, initially very awkward and stilted, but soon developing a rapport with each other as they discovered their similarities and differences. Devan keeps a 'list' about her mother (hence the title). She jots down all the new things she learns about her, often snooping around trying to find clues about her instead of just asking Reece about herself. You can see why she goes about it in this manner though as Reece is certainly not the most approachable person. I was rooting for both characters to overcome their differences and the baggage they carry about with them and was not disappointed with the resolution.

Overall a very strong debut. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and the characters. The supporting characters were all fun and interesting but it was Devan and Reece's story and I related to them both the most.

Five stars *****

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devan's voice in this book is knock-out and one of the most authentic teen voices I've read in a long time. Readers who love theater, who love performance, and are looking for the kind of family story that will make your heart break and then swell will want to pick this one up.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/02/t...

[Trish Doller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in draft form and you guys, it's SO good. I can't wait to see it on shelves and re-read the finished version.

Added 2/3/13: This book gets SO many things right.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devan's voice is perfect.
Wonderful balance of emotions.
Music and theater.
Friendships and romances.
Amazing mother-daughter story. (This is my favorite thing about it.)
Flawless ending.

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty I wasn't sure what I was going to get with The Reece Malcolm List. The cover makes it kind of look like a cute summer read... which it totally could be, but it could also be a snuggle on the couch under layers of blankets in the middle of winter kind of read, which is exactly what it was for me.

Devan, our main character, knows very little about her birth mother, Reece Malcolm. But at the age of 16, with the death of her father, she finds herself traveling with her Reece's lawyer, from Missouri to California to live with her.

As a theater junkie and aspiring musical actress, she finds herself in a world so different than the one she left behind her. Attending a performing arts school she meets people who like the things she does and manages to make some friends, but the problem is that they are all vying for the same things.

Devan attempts to traverse the waters of high school friendships, fights, relationships and jealousy all while attempting to get to know the woman who is her mother... the woman who she struggles to understand and make sense of.

Devan's voice in this story is wonderful, she's modest and kind of sweetly wonderful. The girl who you think has everything she could want, when in fact, she herself feels as though she's missing the most basic of things... someone to love her. In order to figure out her mother, she starts a list... adding the things she knows about Reece and with each new reveal we learn a bit more about both of them.

A chance meeting with Sai when she first arrives at school for her audition leaves her wondering if maybe he could be someone who's interested in her.

If it were a musical we would totally be kissing soon, but I'll probably find out that, despite my instincts, he's gay.

I really loved the secondary characters in this book... From Sai, the incredibly nerdy but cute, popular boy... to Mira to Travis to Lissa and even Elijah. They were all wonderfully written and had a purpose!

There were times that I disliked Reece...I won't lie. She's basically been a recluse her whole life, writing her novels and she doesn't know how to be a mother...especially to a sixteen year old. BUT her actions and her reactions were written wonderfully when you're given the full picture of her life. And also... I loved Brad. He was the perfect complement character wise to her.

Ultimately, the story really focuses on finding your 'home' and realizing where you're supposed to be. Oh... and the importance of talking about things!

Fans of theater and quite possibly Glee and Smash might really like this as there is a lot of theater talk and overall this was a fun, sweet, quick read and I would recommend it to anyone!

This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:

[Marla Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Actual Rating: 4. 5stars
(This is what happens when I don't expect much from a book and it ends up not disappointing even a tiny bit of me at all.)

Oh man, this book is just.. I don't know, I can't really elaborate further but it sure had its moments. The Reece Malcolm List is heartwarming and full of emotions and even though it had its flaws, wow did it sure hit me and made my heart hurt. (I admit, I may have shed a tear or two.)

The book isn't perfect and there were some shortcomings but the book really did leave me sated so that's why it gets a 4.5

A great and satisfying summer read for all you guys out there. :)

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot believe I have only just now read this adorable book! I bought it on sale for Kindle ages ago. It was endearing and the voice was just perfect. Also, I related to Devan and her insecurities and anxiety of always saying or doing the wrong thing, and I loved seeing her grow past that, especially as someone who never really did. The mother-daughter relationship is so central to this book, too, and I couldn't have loved it more. It was genuine and not at all what I was expecting, which is to say that Reece Malcolm ended up being this really above board character who made Devan better. It as just so well done...traversing first loves and first heartbreaks, high school, and family. I'm so glad I decided to peruse my Kindle library to stave off the boredom at work one day.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters: At first I liked Devan because her passion for musical theatre and her mission to get to know her mother made her interesting, and she made some smart observations. However, she seemed too perfect - Devan is such an amazing singer and so fashionable, and pretty much every character reiterates this multiple times throughout the book. Her mother, Reece, was interesting because she was really not a stereotypical mother and she had certain quirks - though Devan can't seem to accept her the way she is despite expecting Reece to accept her. Reece's boyfriend Brad is funny and nice and also a little too perfect. Her new friends seem like token characters apart from Sai, who at least has some depth, and Mira, the supposedly 'mean' girl who was actually the only one of Devan's new friend group who actually had some personality. I wasn't invested in Devan and the only characters I actually liked were Reece and Mira.

Plot: I thought this book had so much potential, but it just didn't deliver. After her father's death, Devan has to move to LA to live with her mother, who she has never met. She starts writing a list of everything she learns about her mother Reece Malcolm, and most of them seem to be negative things because she isn't the way Devan wants her to be (it was frustrating the way Devan didn't even try to see it from her mother's point of view and had to have it spelled out to her at the end that a pregnant fifteen year old isn't ready to be a mother). Despite the title's suggestion that the relationship between Devan and Reece is the story's focus, apart from a few half-hearted attempts snooping through Reece's bedroom and e-mail and never actually asking Reece anything, the story is taken over by Devan's experiences at her new stage school. Devan gets the female lead in the musical (of course), and spends her time angsting over kissing Elijah and having a crush on Sai. The use of strikethroughs showing her confusion over her emotions was somewhat irritating. The story gets monotonous with dinners with Reece and Brad and choir classes and Elijah-vs-Sai. There were maybe a few subtle special moments but they were far too rare to redeem it for me. I was expecting something big to happen as implied in the blurb, but sadly the ending was more of a fizzle. I finally finished the book with mingled relief and disappointment at the lack of any spark.

Other comments: I really wanted to like this book, but I had a really hard time finishing it. It's very typically high school with a typical ending, so I would recommend it if you like that and musical theatre.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is really, really compelling. It separates into a bunch of disparate elements in my head, and yet the elements mesh well.

1. Devan's voice manages to be young and inexperienced and smart, which feels like a rare combination. I like the way she vacillates between confident and shy, the way she looks for herself in her mom, the way she sometimes meets her reflection in a mirror and wonders who she is.

2. I love that she wasn't close with her dad, and feels guilty for that; I love that her mom isn't recognizably famous and so this isn't a "relatable teen suddenly goes to Hollywood" book; I love how far Reece is from being a great mom and I especially love her relationship with Brad.

3. Devan's talent can be a bit over-the-top, particularly when described out of context, but it's tied into her narration and character so well that it feels like the one thing that's her lifeline and her constant support system. It feels like her character would form around that talent, which grounds it. It feels real.

4. I appreciate the way her new friends are nice people, but like Devan, I'm so accustomed to the trope of mean teenagers that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

5. The writing is essentially invisible, which is great for a first-person teenage account. It doesn't strike me as too young or too old or too judgmental; it fades into the story very well.

6. What I didn't love: all the bad parenting. Sai's parents and Tracie, in one book? It's a bit of a stretch. (Reece's bad parenting makes sense, though, and Reece is also balanced out by Brad.) Devan's dad, too - I like that she wasn't his best friend, but he should have made a greater effort.

7. Elijah and Sai aren't my cup of tea, either. I like the way they're depicted - through the haze of teenage hormones - but I don't like their choices very much.

Still, I finished reading The Reece Malcolm List and immediately started rereading it. I haven't done that in a long time. Flaws and all, the voice is electric.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasons I loved The Reece Malcolm List:

1. Devan! The heroine is smart and funny, but also a little lost and confused, and I loved watching her figure a few things out about herself and her life and others.

2. Reece Malcolm! Oh Reece, she is so mysterious and difficult and generous and cranky and aMAzing.

3. Reece and Devan! I love their relationship and the way they figure things out and how to be a mother and daughter (and how not to be), and how scared they are of each other.

4. Brad! Reece's boyfriend is great in every way possible, and I love that it's a step-parent like person who is done well and has a good relationship with both Devan and Reece.

5. Devan's friends: Travis and Mira and Lissa and Elijah! I love that Devan has distinct relationships with all four of them, and I especially love her process of figuring out how to make friends and then how to BE friends, which is something that we often have to figure out from ages 3 to 103.

6. Sai! Oh Sai. He is so talented and warm and cute and kind and confused and sad, and I just want to give him a hug and a kiss and a smack all at once. Just like Devan.

7. Musical theater! Reading this book made me want to go be in a musical immediately, and I am a terrible singer.

There are many many more things, but I will let you all come up with your own Lists about the Reece Malcolm List.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devan knows very little about her birth mother. At sixteen, she has never met her and her father never spoke of her. By chance, Devan reads a book by Reece Malcom and notices the dedication at the front to Devan. She pieces it together and determines that Reece is her mother. When Devan's father is suddenly killed, she is sent to live with Reece Malcom, the mother she has never known. Devan isn't sure what to expect, and her initial hopes of a joyous, tearful reunion are dashed. Instead Devan and Reece do a slow dance as they try to get to know one another. It is awkward, difficult and emotional, but slowly Devan is able to add more and more things to her list of what she knows about Reece Malcom. Can Devan and Reece somehow become a family?
What I Liked:
*I picked this one up expecting it to be a light, fluffy read, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book had breadth and depth. It isn't a simple mother-daughter reunion with plenty of feel good feelings. Instead it chronicles all the stumbles and awkwardness that occurs when two complete strangers are suddenly thrust together and expected to forge a relationship. This isn't exactly easy when Reece Malcom is often incapable of showing her feelings and she masks her emotions. Reece isn't the friendliest person and she is very closed off and difficult to get to know. Even though I was frustrated with her standoffishness, over time I appreciated her character because it was realistic. It isn't always easy when you must come face to face with the mistake you made as a young teenager and suddenly you are an instant mother. I thought the story was very well done, and I appreciated the range of emotions that this book conveyed.
*I liked both Devan and Reece's characters. Devan is a somewhat shy sixteen year old with an insatiable love for musical theatre. She is an incredibly talented singer, but she doubts her abilities. She is lonely and desperate for love and acceptance, and she loves singing and being in the spotlight. Reece is the opposite. She is an accomplished writer who shies away from the spotlight. She is somewhat cold and distant and at times she is rather bitchy. At first, I was so frustrated with her because she never talked to Devan about her feelings and what happened in the past, but over time I got it and I grew to love the complexity of her character. The beauty of the book is watching how the two slowly forge a relationship. It isn't easy, but in the end it works. I truly loved the journey.
*I loved watching Devan grow. She spent her entire life moving from place to place while living with her father. She and her father don't have a close relationship, and she doesn't get along with her stepmother. Devan is somewhat of a loner, and she only has one close friend. Once she arrives in L.A., things begin to change, and Devan begins to come out of her shell. Her transformation into a more confident girl is very nice.
*I adored Brad Reece's boyfriend. He is so kind and patient, and he puts up with a lot of crap from Reece. He never once resents Devan moving into the house and he treats her with nothing but kindness. He is all around a good guy and I thoroughly enjoyed him.
*I was worried this was going into love triangle territory because at the beginning, Devan meets another new boy at her school, and she immediately develops a crush on him. For all of you concerned about insta-love, don't worry it doesn't go there, either. The boy Devan likes starts dating the popular, beautiful girl and Devan's hopes are crushed. Then another guy who Devan wasn't interested in at first starts showing interest in her and then begin to date. Even though Devan is dating someone else, she still has those butterfly feelings for the first guy, but she never acts on them. Instead she forges a close friendship with him. I won't say anymore, but I was pleased the way this all worked out, and I can assure you it doesn't turn into a love triangle. I loved the way the romance unfolded in this one. It was well done and realistic and, in my opinion, a refreshing change from the typical YA romances.
*I very much appreciated that Devan at sixteen was still very hesitant and unsure about sex. She admits that she is not comfortable with a sexual relationship, and never once does she waver from her feelings. Even when in situations where it could easily move into something more, she backs off. I liked her mature attitude and appreciated that she was willing to admit that she was scared and not ready for something more.
*I love that this is a stand alone. Everything wraps up nicely at the end, and even though I longed for more story, I was pleased with the way it ended. It is nice to find a good solid stand alone.
And The Not So Much:
*I was disappointed that the details on Devan's father are very scant. I wanted to know just a bit more about him and what he was like. Devan admits they were never close, but there really isn't more on this aspect. I wanted details on the father's background, and on Devan's life with her father. I felt like I was missing something when it came to this part of the story. Why didn't her father ever talk to her about her mother? Why he decide to take his illegitimate daughter instead of letting her be adopted?
*I waited the entire book for Reece to reveal what happened in the past as far as the pregnancy and giving up Devan. When it finally got around to that portion of the story, it was a bit glossed over. Reece got pregnant at fifteen. I would love for the author to expand a bit more on this part of the story. I wished that Reece had shared a bit more about her feelings and how she came to the decision to give up Devan and how she worked it out with Devan's father. I wanted her to tell how she felt about the pregnancy and what happened after. I think this is such an important topic for teenagers and I wish that it was expanded upon. I was expecting a bit more depth and emotion on this part of the story. I guess in actuality, though, Reece's admission is more in line with her character.

The Reece Malcom List ended up being a nice refreshing read in the YA genre. This is an interesting story with realistic characters and genuine relationships. I appreciated the awkwardness that Reece and Devan endured as they learned to live together and get to know one another. The romance is done right and everything wraps up neatly at the end. If you are needing a a book to help get you out of reading slump, I recommend trying this one. For those of you looking for clean reads for your teenager, this one is perfect. There is only one small scene with a bit of drinking but nothing terrible. I thought it was a lovely little book!

Favorite Quotations:
"I'm more than a little convinced L.A. is the epicenter of everything superficial and overly tanned."
"And, anyway, I'm not a blue skies and sunshine person. Life is just life, no matter the weather."
"I feel the past days' events rise off of me like steam on a cold day. Nothing feels wrong or bad or hopeless when I'm singing. The whole world is just music."
"It isn't fair that you can never go back to not seeing something."
"There's a lot I'm afraid to tell people, but I don't want to be a mystery in my own room."
"I wonder if there's one right thing to say when you feel your friendship isn't what it's supposed to be anymore."
"Everyone's got their own speed, and mine is currently set to Doesn't Totally Feel Comfortable Even Taking Off Her Jacket In Front of Her Sort Of Boyfriend."
"Sometimes honesty is by far the more honorable choice, but I believe people lie to protect each other all the time. And I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with that."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@ Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Brittany S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Initial Impressions:For the main theme of this book being all the choir and all the musicals, I felt like I should have liked it a lot more but I just didn't like Devan all that much! I DID like feeling like I was reliving my musical days though!

Another thing was, I never really liked Sai. I always felt like there was something a little shady about him for some reason!! I had a hard time rooting for Devan to end up with him.

Review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: I have to admit that THE REECE MALCOLM LIST didn’t quite impress me as I’d hoped. I was expecting a cute contemporary, which yes it was, but I had heard so many different reviews about how this book was about a choir/musical nerd and I was like “NERDVANA! I will love this!!!” See, if you didn’t already know, now you do. I am a choir geek. Hardcore. I adore musicals as well, so I was banking on being BFFs with our MC, Devan. Only… that never happened.

Okay, I feel like I have to dissect THE REECE MALCOLM list in parts in order to get my thoughts out there:

1. The Reece Malcolm part: So Devan is “shipped” to L.A. after her father dies to live with the mother she never knew: famous writer Reece Malcolm. I gotta say… I kind of loved Reece. I love that she was figuring out how to be a good mother to this teenager that was dropped in her lap and awkward as she normally is with adults, trying to adjust to even figure out how to TALK to her teenage daughter. Reece was definitely my favorite part of the book! I liked the storyline too. It was really interesting to see these two characters try to figure each other out after barely knowing about each other their whole lives.

2. The choir/musical part: This is the part where I burst into song and flail some jazz hands at you *JAZZ HANDS!* (Okay, we didn’t have a show choir, but I can pretend) I really did love the musical aspect of this book! I really felt like I was reliving some of my own high school experiences through the descriptions of the choir classes and the excitement of waiting behind the curtain while the overture plays… The excitement of the very beginning of the production! It was a ton of fun to read about all those events which were really the best times of my high school career. Amy Spalding really nailed the specifics and I absolutely loved it! The only downside? I’m sure she picked Merrily for the musical either because it’s not well-known (aka overdone) and/or because of a personal connection to it, but I felt like a lot of the specific scene references/character names/costumes were lost on me whereas if it were a production I was a bit more familiar with, I could have had a better connection with the book. Maybe I wasn’t geeky enough to get there! Ha.

3. The romance part: Say what you will, but I never came around to liking Sai. I don’t know what it was! Maybe because he was kind of blowing Devan off and leading her on all at the same time throughout most of the book? His character always felt a little slimy to me and I felt like he was hanging out with Devan for the wrong reasons. I actually was NOT rooting for Devan to end up with her crush.

4. Devan’s singing talents: Devan was an awkward main character for me. There were so many times that she was timid, shy, soft-spoken, humble, etc – You name it, but when it came to singing, it was the thing she excelled at so naturally she was confident, right? Right! Buuuut… There were so many times that I felt like she was being boastful about her talent. From personal experience (I mean, my high school wasn’t anything flipping fascinating or anything but) EVERY kid had to work really hard to be as good as they were. My parents never wanted to shell out the money for voice lessons (I don’t really blame them, but still wish I could have taken them), but that was THE THING to do if you were serious about music. I felt like Devan’s talent was TOO perfect. She never did anything wrong as far as singing/acting goes in the whole book. Not even during auditions, which yes, okay… Some people thrive in auditions instead of choke (like I do), but not even a hint of nerves. It didn’t come off as confident to me – It came off as bragging and I just didn’t like it one bit.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to reading The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding ever since first seeing the synopsis. A mother the protagonist has never met! Performing arts school! Cute boys! I am happy to say that this book more than lived up to all my high hopes.

So, when Devan’s dad dies she has to move to L.A. to live with the mother she has never met. Who just so happens to be a best selling author. Ever since finding out who her mother is, Devan has kept a list of facts. As the book unfolds and she gets to know more and more, she keeps the list going. (You know, this is where the whole The Reece Malcolm List title thing comes in.) You guys, the growing relationship and lingering tension between Devan and her mother throughout the book is FABULOUS. Like, pure awkward-are-you-my-mother-why-are-you-buying-me-pity-ice-cream-thanks-for-calling-me-your-biggest-mistake-wow-maybe-you-do-care-about-me-after-all chaos.

Devan is also a ridiculously talented singer who is thrilled to have the opportunity to flourish at a distinguished performing arts school. For the first time in her life, she has friends and boys that are interested in her. I loved LOVED seeing her come to life as the book progressed. She grew up in a small town without the opportunity to really show her talents (and boy can I attest to the fact that choirs and the performing arts don’t really make you a popular kid in high school in this part of the country).

When she moves to L.A., her personal style makes her a quirky fashionista instead of a weirdo. Her talent makes her respected and meeting people who share her interests gives her a chance to show her personality. And yeah, for the first time, boys are interested. And she is definitely interested in them!

You guys, the way Devan handled the men in her life basically made her one of my all time favorite protagonists in YA contemporary. She is really interested in one of her good friends, but he has a girlfriend so she agrees to date the guy that is showing interest in her. Then, she ends up in a long, revealing phone call with the other boy, realizes he is basically THE ONE regardless of anything else and immediately goes home and breaks up with the guy she had been dating.

Um, can you say AWESOME? Holy bananas, you guys. A female in YA who actually knows her heart and makes decisions instead of waffling back and forth between two guys for an entire book. Amy Spalding, I could kiss your feet.

Unfortunately, the fact that the main love interest had a girlfriend for the majority of The Reece Malcolm List is the one glaring issue that left me a little meh. He is pretty clearly interested in Devan from the beginning, so the fact that he ends up with another girl seems more like a glaring plot device than something this guy would actually do. He is pretty wonderful, but it is really hard to respect a character that plays the ‘idiot’ card so hard. Sigh, too bad.

Basically, regardless of dumb boy behavior, The Reece Malcolm List is pretty spectacular. Devan is an insanely amazing character, and her interactions with her mother, her friends and herself all made me love her more and more. You have got to meet this girl for yourselves, y’all!

To Sum it Up:

-Awkward-but-wonderful mother daughter tension runs high throughout, you guys. The play-by-play is amazing. You can’t help but love Reece Malcolm even though you want to punch her throat for not being in Devan’s life growing up.

-Devan is THE COOLEST. No joke. I would pay her to be my friend.

-+10 bonus points for a performing arts school that is awesome instead of ridiculous.

[Isamlq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly smart and cute but then sometimes not so smart and not so cute as well; I be contradictory yet again! Loving this comes as a surprise to me mostly because I didn’t know what to expect… what it does, however, is read funny, fast and almost always authentic. All that plus it leaves me smiling (smiling hard.)

I’ve been on GR some time now and come across one or two curious questions, one in particular has me wondering still. Given the popularity of YA with the adult reader right now would it be a fair assessment that more and more authors are throwing issues for the YA lead to deal with, issues that are likely beyond the scope of the intended YA reader to not connect with? I do get where the question is coming from, what with all those for seventeen-and-up’s being so common. Really now, I too want a youngish something or other with the rockin’ bod and locks to die for (growing up, all I had to pick from were guys unfamiliar with the concept of combing.)

It seems a valid point as some scenarios people come up with feel more than unrealistic, yet there are other books too that have me hoping the next read will be like it (or be better than it even,) as those reads that hit everything just so. Those that contain emotion and experience and “real sounding” individuals with the people being people and more often people being screwed up people. Reece Malcolm falls under the second… and that’s precisely why enjoyed it.

Never mind the whole famous mother, separation and ‘woe is me’ sounding little orphan Annie that things could have been because this read so far from that. She read smart girl who knows who she is and what she could do… in certain respects at least, as there were moments too of her being unsure and insecure. I enjoyed that contrast. First take the girl who knows what she likes and how she stands apart and knows her strengths using the same to get where she wants to. (Smart, see?) Then factor in her in boy world/social world that had the ‘cute’ factoring in. Sure, I didn’t dislike her being so terrified almost all the time as being fearful of not saying the right thing and feeing as if she’d imposed on one all or any of them felt like the things most likely to be true.. but the things she said, and the things others had me reading at a steady pace.

At the core of this is the whole family you’re born with vs. family you choose thing. At first, them together read awkward and new… as it should have. But, there’s progression there as well, with girl doing things she shouldn’t have, so that she (and we) learn more and more. Some not so nice things some other things that were. There’s a rightness in seeing that certain people are just people not larger than life so and so’s. There’s also a truthfulness in the feelings of mistrust and regret when it comes to others. She’s not all sunshine, for sure, but she’s not all sad all the time either. If there be one fly in this one, it’s that she’s chock full of “like’s” and “seriously’s.” The girl did not let a sentence pass without using one of those.

Of course, there’s he with the rest of them, they read surprisingly believable… that life for new kid need not be so hard (at least all the time) and that those hard times (if any) come from less dramatic sources than mean girl or hot boy! They all read normal… some ambitious, some overdramatic, some going through sadder things than she. Then all them together? I could picture them.

This was so cute and though I would have typed, “..that I have no words” that’s not true at all.

3.5/5

[Henrietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could you possibly understand love when you’ve never experienced it?

Devan has never felt loved in her life. Her dad is dead and she’s going to live with her biological mother. The problem? She has never met her mother. Reece Malcolm has never been in Devan’s life. The only thing that she did was gave birth to Devan. Not even once has she contacted Devan and if Devan’s dad didn’t die, Devan suspects Reece would never have reached out to connect with her. Living with Reece seems weird as Reece keeps pampering her with material stuff. Everything feels kind-of-a-little-too-good-to-be-true and Devan struggles to learn her position as a daughter in the family. She feels extremely insecure as she doesn’t know whether or not the good times are going to last. When Devan finds out Reece has been hiding secrets from her, she doesn’t know what to do. Will it be for her own good to start thinking for the worst or is there something she can do to help to prevent anything bad from happening?

At first, I wasn’t sure if I could understand Devan. She seemed smart, polite and kind but I couldn’t tell if she had a warm personality or not. No one really knew what she was thinking or how she was really feeling and she didn’t seem open enough to share much about herself with anyone. And while she seemed observant enough to find flaws in others, she sometimes behaved in ways that made me wonder if she could see the flaws in herself. I wasn’t happy about the way she behaved when she was around her mother but as I got to learn more about her past, I began to understand her. While I still wouldn’t say I’d agree with her, I learned that she was just doing what she believed she could to help to make her safe.

I find Reece an interesting character. She’s a brilliant writer but her people skill was really not that great. Because words often came out of her mouth before she could stop them, she had her share of saying not-so-nice things when she was around Devan. Reece wasn’t someone who was good at communicating her love but through her action, I could see how much she genuinely loved and cared about Devan. It was such a relief to see them make the effort to finally sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk. And the ending? I like that it’s an ending that made me giggle and feel warm in all the right places.

A heartwarming story about the love between a mother and daughter, The Reece Malcolm List is funny, charming and surprisingly moving. If you’re pondering on reading a YA contemporary or you simply feel like wanting to lose yourself in a good story about mother and daughter, get hold of a copy of The Reece Malcolm List. I have a good feeling that you’ll like it.
--
Originally posted on Leisure Reads.

A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: This debut was so freaking cute! Seriously!

We are introduced to Devan whose father died and she was forced to move from the midwest to California. What a change! A drastic crazy change! She is moving in with her mother who she has never met. And on top of that, her mother is a famous bestselling author named Reece Malcolm. Devan doesn’t know what to think because she’s never had any interaction with her and she knows pretty much nothing about her.

Devan is also really into musicals. Her mother enrolled her into a musical arts school right away. Devan has never really fit into the popular crowd. She’s always been good at musicals but she is geeky and always had a few friends and just kind of kept to herself. She finds herself fitting into quite the group of friends at her new school. I loved them all. They had such different personalities and I loved getting to know each one of them. My favorite was probably Sai.

There were a few love interests in this one, and I loved getting to know the boys and trying to figure out who was a better fit for Devan. I could see her attraction to both boys though. Different but each cute in their own way.

I loved how this novel focused so much on family, relationships, and the theater. I loved seeing how Devan had to juggle it all and try to figure out how to have a relationship with her mother and her mothers boyfriend. It was a lot of fun. She was getting to know her new family while getting to know her real self.

I also loved her list of facts about Reece Malcolm! So freaking cute and awesome!

I loved the plot of this one, Devan's realistic and funny voice, and all the characters!

Overall: I recommend it! If you are a fan of musicals, romance novels, family drama, or young adult books in general you’ll probably enjoy this one. I did! This novel is delightful and made me giddy.

Cover: Like it! Love how she’s just laying back and chillen! Very cute cover.


What I’d Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com

[Limonessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story but it didn't give me any particularly strong emotion.
There's also the fact that I don't seem to bond with books about musicals in general - I HATE that there's always a gay sidekick and voilà! here there was one too...
It's clear that the author is good at characterization; even with a bunch of side characters, all of whom could have bee cardboard-made and just made to support the MCs, I found their stories and their personalities well portrayed and with lives of their own. The only character I didn't care for was Sai, who I found predictable and slightly... plain.
The relationship between Devan and her mother was cleverly thought as the author found a way to make it unobtrusive without it being plagued by the absent parent syndrome. I didn't particularly liked the ending as I would have expected it more layered and complicated... you can't just erase 16 years of silence with a good cry and a talk.

All in all not a bad read at all, it just wasn't fantastic for me. It might have been Devan's naiveté and subdued character to which I couldn't well connect as she seemed more representative of an early teenager rather than a more mature one. Her goody two-shoes attitude grated on me a bit, I would have liked to see her throw some more punches. She definitely lacked charisma.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Devan’s father dies, she’s shipped off to LA to live with her mother, novelist Reese Malcolm, whom she’s never met. Reese is prickly at best, kind of a bitch (albeit a likable one), and Devan is understandably consumed with wondering why her mother’s never once reached out to her. The ups and downs of their complex relationship are handled very deftly. Devan is a wonderful, hilarious narrator who actually sounds like a teenage girl and reminds me a bit of Ruby Oliver. But my favorite thing about this book is Devan’s new performing-arts school. Devan’s been gifted with a great voice and big dreams, and she lands a fantastic part in the spring musical. I think any past theatre nerd (*waves hand*) will recognize the all-consuming drama of the day the cast list goes up, the friend who’s a dick because he didn’t get a good part, and the hookups and revelations that occur at the cast party. Speaking of hookups, the romances feel spot-on as well, from kissing someone because you like the attention to calling out a friend who’s been giving mixed signals to the questionable behavior of dating a friend’s ex. In short, I loved this book so much it makes me want to write a theatre book of my own. Highly recommend! (read via NetGalley; bought)

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally caught up in Devan's quest to learn anything and everything about her mysterious mother, Reece Malcolm.

Devan is a very quiet, solitary girl, and her move to LA to live with Reece Malcolm is written with much affection and dry wit. Her love of and talent for singing provides readers with a glimpse into the lives of teenagers who love show choirs, musical theatre and performance. I liked Devan's mish mash of friends and her acceptance into this tight group.

Devan and Reece Malcolm's relationship is more bumpy, more unexpected and more challenging. I liked Reece. She is a flawed yet wonderfully unique character. I especially enjoyed Brad's inclusion in this strange family situation.

I think teenage girls will love this. Highly recommended.

[Nadja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I'd really enjoy this book beccause I love musicals as much as Devan (well listening to them/seeing them on stage) but unfortunately I simply didn't like Devan at all. And it's kind of difficult to enjoy a book if the first person is really... arrogant?! Most of the time she wallows in self-pity because of her father/Reece/family situation and at the same time bragging about how amazing she is in singing/acting etc. I have to admit with the time she's getting less annoying (until the pregnancy thing.. come on it's not as if you're going off to college anytime soon?) but all in all I was quite disappointed with a lot of things. (Don't let me start with the Sai thing, urgh) (1.5 stars)

[oliviasbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Read and quick-reviewed first in 2013 *** 4.5 stars. Maybe I'll lower my rating later. At the moment, I rather feel emotional. Probably because I simply dig that mother-daughter-stuff.

By the way: I'd like to know: What's up with Americans (in fiction?) and their love for musical theatre? I think I only know "Cats", "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera" (or are these from London?), but I can only recognize melodies from the meow-one. And if our schools have a choir at all, it's a noteworthy thing. But four choirs or more? Unreal.