Ciao

Stories About Melissa #3

by Bethany Lopez

Melissa has had a fantastic summer hanging out with her friends and making new ones. Life as she knows it will change when they all come together to begin their sophomore year at Dearborn High. Connections will be made and friendships will be tested. Will Melissa’s family and friends be able to help her through the challenges she will face in the upcoming months?

The Stories about Melissa series is a coming of age series that follows Melissa, her family, and her friends. Similar to Sweet Valley High, each book is novella length. There will be eight books in the series.

Stories about Melissa reading order:

Ta Ta for Now!
xoxoxo
Ciao
TTYL
With Love
Adios ~ Coming Dec 16th.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

166 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Sign up for my Newsletter for more information about my writing: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61969e...

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than seventy published works, as both Bethany Lopez and DJ Bryce, and has been publishing since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.

When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.

Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!

Literary Agent - Amanda Wooden, SBR Media amanda@sbrmedia.com

Reviews

[Dalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This was my favorite of the series. I think Melissa has grown up a lot, even though it’s only been a year, but there was also so much happening to her that was more than just a 14 year old would have in her life. I love the friends she has and how they are so involved.The story revolves around their summer and events that take place among them.

I still really enjoy the family. They are my favorite part of this series. I think this book portrays a really strong family. They are hard hit with events in this book. How they deal with them and each other, shows how amazing family.

I recommend this book to all readers. However, I do suggest beginning with book one, but realize this is the best book of all three.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

At this point, I feel redundant writing a review for another book in this series. I just can't say enough, how AMAZING these books are! Check out the links, here, for my reviews of Ta Ta for Now! and xoxoxo.

Okay, but please, oh PLEASE, don't let my redundancy dissuade you from reading these books! For those of you who are new to this series, let me give you a little info.

Ms. Lopez uses a journal-style of storytelling. Meaning, reading these books is like reading a teenager's diary. There are sporadic entries--all of which are pertinent to the story. Melissa--or Missy, as her friends call her--gives the reader a peak into her life through her, very-realistic, teenaged writing. There are moments of self-indulgence and there are moments of such a sweet sincerity that I couldn't help but fall in love with Missy, her family, AND her friends from the beginning.

For anyone who has spent time around teenagers, you know that they are so completely back-and-forth that to write a character that is shallow isn't fair. Missy is so multi-faceted a character that I can't help but feel like Ms. Lopez has a brilliant understanding of the teenaged-girl's mind.

Add to that, that the story is clever and poignant, and this series is a sure-hit!

Ciao takes up pretty much after xoxoxo left off, and the reader is left wondering what we're going to experience next with Missy. From boy troubles, to family issues this story does not disappoint.

After reading Ta Ta for Now and xoxoxo I learned to not take anything in this series for granted. I learned to expect greatness from Ms. Lopez's mind. Let me tell you...Ciao takes these expectations and crumbles them...In a GOOD way! Instead of being a simple light, fluffy read, I got to experiece pain and heartache with Missy in a way that I never would have thought could happen.

Ciao is a delightful and beautiful read with everything going for it! Now, I suggest catching up on this series before Stories About Melissa #4 comes out!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Christy @ Captivated Reading

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I LOVE BETHANY LOPEZ! Her writing never ever ceases to amaze me. She has this writing style that draws you in and you can't help but want to finish the story to see where the character has gone. The world she describes has you right there waiting and wanting like nothing you have read before. A huge thank you to YA Bound for hosting this great tour and allowing me to once again be on it. Trish and the girls at YA Bound host the best tours!

In Ciao we pick up right where XOXOXOXO left off. Melissa is enjoying her summer with her family and friends. Ben has gone off to the army and her and Layla are semi friends but her and Jess, Jimmy and Brian are close. Her baby brother Max is doing great and she has made a new friend that moved down the street. Life couldn't get better for Melissa. She is excited because she is going into her Sophomore year in high school and she is really enjoying writing in her journal.

As the summer comes to a close she is excited to be starting school again and can't wait to see what everyone has been doing. This year is different because they have two new friends on the scene and one of them is an exchange student from Italy Giovanni who is a riot through out the book and Cassie who quickly becomes friends with Mis and the gang.Things start off right but they quickly start to go down hill for Mis and she will go through a lot of stuff before winter break.

What is a girl to do when she loses someone she loves? What will she do about Brian? Love him or leave him? What will she do about Jimmy? She will fall in love in this book but it is with someone you least expect it to be. ALso Melissa will have to grow up and learn what true friendship is and what it means to put it all out there no matter the outcome.

I love this series and I can't wait for TTYL which is the fourth book to come out in 2013. Happy Reading and enjoy Melissa and the gang!

[Phaedra Seabolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick read. The third book in the Stories About Melissa series takes place at the beginning of Melissa's sophomore year. This year looks to be shaping up to start off really well since Melissa has had a group of friends over the summer that she is now very close to. She was friends with them previously, but their time together over summer has brought them together even more. Also, a new girl moved in down the street from her that became her newest friend. She just happens to fit in with her group perfectly as well.

The year is going pretty well until the newest member of the group, Cassie, admits to liking Jimmy. At the end of freshman year, Melissa was given the opportunity to start a relationship with either Jimmy or Brian. However, over the summer she was unable to decide between them because she did not want to risk ruining her friendship with either one of them. When Cassie admits her crush, Melissa is faced with the normal teenage pain of not wanting to see a guy she cares about with another girl, but not necessarily wanting to be with him either. Instead of standing in Cassie's way, she tries to give her blessing and starts dating Brian.

What you will not believe is when Melissa ends up losing a really close friend in a car accident. I am not saying who it is, but the way Melissa deals with it shows great strength of character. The event is going to change her and her group of friends forever. I felt it was handled very well and at one point I even shed a tear. I don't know of too many people who did not lose someone in either middle school or high school. It seems to be the natural order of things, but I was surprised when it happened in this story. Definitely worth reading, especially if you have read the first two.

Read more reviews at Identity Discovery blog.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve been to high school and experienced its ups and downs…managed to survive the highs and lows of first love…dealt with the giddiness of great friends and the disappointments of betrayal…then you’ll relate to this series of short stories just as I did. Ciao is the third book in the Stories about Melissa series and allows you once again to enter Melissa’s world and experience it with her. Written in a journal format, Melissa’s (or Missy’s) entries are typical to a young girl. That is, one entry will be filled with glee, the next full of confusion and sorrow. Ms. Lopez captures the emotions that so completely envelop Missy perfectly, putting you right back into those times in your life and allowing you to remember times where you were so enveloped by a situation that the rest of the world didn’t matter.

With each subsequent book, Missy must deal with increasing difficult situations and in this book she experiences something that I am thankful I have never had to experience…the loss of a friend. It is in this situation that we see how strong Missy truly is and how she’s changed from the girl she was in the first book. This event changes her and her outlook on life. And, even though this is a very short story, the author manages to not only convey the feelings that Missy has around this situation but also manages to fill us with certainty that she will be able to handle difficult situations throughout her life.

These books are quick reads that somehow manage to have substance to them in such short numbers of pages. They are more than just a fun read, they provide life lessons. And, even though the main character is in high school, this series can be enjoyed by everyone!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ciao is book #3 in the Stories About Melissa series. The series is about a young teenager, Melissa, or Mis as her friends and family call her. It is written in a journal or diary style, in which Mis tells about her life, her family, her friends, her boyfriends, pretty much everything that goes on with her. This book begins with Melissa's 15th birthday party, and goes into her sophomore year in high school. Melissa and her group of friends, Jimmy, Jess, and Brian are back together and everyone seems to be getting along pretty well. She experiences typical brother and sister issues. In the last book, her baby brother Max was born, who has Down Syndrome. In this book, she meets some new friends, Cassie being one of them, who becomes part of their tight knit group. She isn't sure how she feels when Cassie begins to like Jimmy, but she isn't ready to declare him as more than a friend either. She talks about typical teenage issues, dances, hanging out, being grounded, school, boyfriends, and especially clothes. She really loves clothes. In this book, Missy and her friends have to deal with the death of one of their close friends, and the aftermath of that, so even though this is a light and fun read, it does address a series issue also.

Ciao is a really cute and fun story, and brings back memories of being a young teenager again. Personally, I would much rather read about it that actually do the teenage years again. It is much more fun that way. I think this is a book that young tweens and teens would really enjoy and it is a great story, which that age group to relate to.

[Autumn Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ciao is the third book in the series. What I like about the series is that it is written like a journal. I used to keep journals, so it reminds me of myself in some ways. A few months ago, I went back and read through some old journals. While I was a little less naive and more experienced in some areas, I still had some of the same issues that Melissa faces with friends, boys, school, and family.

Melissa takes us through her summer break between freshman and sophomore year, continuing through that year. I'll say without details, that I was a surprised in the direction the story went. After XOXO, I had certain expectations and found that nothing that I had anticipated happened. A major shock is delivered and changed the tone of the story.

I was surprised to realize that I missed Ben. I liked the letters he wrote to Melissa and hope he will come back into the story in a more active role later. I also missed Jimmy. He's in the book, but more in the back ground of the story.

Overall, I did enjoy seeing what happened with Melissa, her friends, and family. I almost feel like I'm watching a family member growing up. This is a great series for pre-teens and teens. I would definitely let my 11 year old niece read the series. At least up to this point. I imagine as Melissa gets older, her trials will undoubtedly become more mature in nature. If you're looking for a fast, easy read, or something to recommend to a teen, this is a great pick for you.

[Tânia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa’s story begins on the day of her 14th birthday when her 12-year-old sister, Megan, gives her a diary as a birthday present. It was funny seeing her reaction, because I remember reacting the same way when I found myself with a diary in hand, looking at the empty white pages, with no idea about what to do with it. Like Melissa, the pages were soon filled by detailed entries about what’s like being a teenager. This book, written as journal entries is incredibly nostalgic because it evoked my own teenage years, and it’s so well-written from a teenager’s point of view that the pages flew by and now I can’t wait read Melissa’s next diary. Her voice is authentic and very realistic, she truly seems like a teenager rambling about school, family, friends, and the first crushes.

Ciao, the third volume in the series, takes an unexpected turn as Melissa is faced with various dilemmas. She’s trying to understand her feelings towards both Jimmy and Brian, while at the same time nurturing a new friendship with Claire, the girl who just moved to the neighborhood and that will change these friends forever, making them question the value of their lives.

Overall, Stories About Melissa is a great series of books. It’s a quick, easy and comfortable read that left me wanting to read more and more. An ideal read for teens and pre-teens that will easily identify with Melissa and her story. I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series!

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be quite honest I had never heard of this series until I signed up to be a part of the tour for Ciao. And at first glance these books appear to be really quick, light reads. And while they are quick, I would most definitely say that they aren't light reads because each book touches upon some pretty deep subject matters. But it's done in a way that I'm sure we can all relate to!!

Ciao is written in the same style as the first two books. They are told from the perspective of Melissa as she writes down her thoughts in her journal. Melissa is now 15 years old and heading into her Sophomore year at Dearborn High. Her and her friends are having the normal teenage experiences until completely out of the blue something happens which will put their strength to the test!!

Ciao is a book that deals with friendship, love, loss, guilt, jealousy, pain and family. It's a book that tugs at your emotions because it's dealing with real life issues. As in the previous books there is that BAM factor that manages to throw you for six. That element that you just don't see coming. It's a book that is also filled with lots of feel good moments!

Ciao is filled with a wonderful group of characters and is written in such a way that it can be read by a whole range in age groups. I'm so glad that I have had the chance to read this series and I really look forward to reading what comes next!!

Find more of my reviews at http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot....

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by the first half of it. That is my recommendation when it comes to this book. If you had asked me to write a review of this book based on the first half of the book, I would have barely given it a rating of a three. I felt like I was inside of a selfish teenage girl that only cared about boyfriends, fashion, and appearances. I was not impressed at all with Missy. She was the kind of teenager I never was.

Everything changed a little over halfway into the book. I will not tell you what happened, but everyone changed for the better. I cannot imagine having to deal with the situation at her age or any age, and I can only hope that I would have handled things half as well as she did.

The writing of this book is unique. I have not read the other two books in the series, but I had no trouble jumping into Missy's journal. And she wrote just like a teenager would. A few minor issues of profanity, but I was so glad she was not sexually active!

I rated this book five stars because for what it is, the book deserves this rating. It is a short enough book to keep the attention of teens and adults, and I think it would be a book that teens should read. It speaks their language, and they could find a character with whom to identify. I think it could be used to start some very good discussions amongst teens.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and even though it is book #3 of the series it could easily be read a stand alone book. The book is diary entries in Melissa’s diary. Melissa is a high school student about to begin her sophomore year with her friends. After a summer of hanging out with friends two of them being boys she is in a situation where she likes both of them but doesn’t want to ruin the friendship so goes back out with the boy who has messed her around in the past.
The other boy Jimmy starts dating her friend and she is jealous and then tragedy strikes.
The book was what you would expect a typical teenager to write in their diary. Friends, relationships, how they really feel.
It was really well written and I enjoyed the book as it was completely different in the way it was written than other books I have read in the past.
I really liked Melissa’s character and her friends seemed really nice too. She also had a great family.
The story flowed really well without any jumping around and I thought it was fabulous.

[Raine Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sooner did I read xoxoxo than I had to start Ciao. I've gotten addicted to Melissa's exploits! I feel like a teenage girl again as I read her journal, which speaks very highly of the author's writing style.

Ms. Lopez's YA Contemporary books touch on topics relevant to teens, which makes them exceptional reads for youth and adults alike. Parents who want to revisit their teen years or just better relate to teens today should absolutely check out these books.

Ciao has an even more serious turn of events than the previous two books in this series. Seriously, folks, have a box of tissues handy! Ms. Lopez does an excellent job of balancing out the tragedy with hope and love, which is a message that I think anyone can get behind. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Stories About Melissa Series. I recommend you read book one and two before you read this little gem.

We read about Melissa growing up through her entries in her journal. In this book we read about how she spent her summer as well as all the joys and tears that come with growing up.

Personally this is my favourite read out of the three.

The author did a great job with these books. I've not read a book that was told from a fourteen year old before. I've not read a book told through journal entries either.
This is a great refreshing read that I'll be recommending especially to teenagers.

[Shayna Varadeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I was so shocked at the turn of events in this book! I cried seriously!

I encountered alot of things in my teen years but never this sort of thing and it is so relevant and a brave subject to broach. I want to congratulate the author on capturing true life and putting it into these stories. This book in the series drew me in and I could not put it down! I am so proud of our MC right now and everything she has accomplished. It ends on a pretty good spot but I was happy i had the next book to read.

I love this series and the characters are some of my favorites for sure!

[Courtney Spronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story in the Stories About Melissa series by Bethany Lopez. I love how it is told as diary entries by Melissa.
'Ciao' covers all the things that a teenager goes through in her life - loss, love, friendship, family, pain and jealousy. I loved reading this book and I definitely recommend that others read it as well!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ciao" is the third book in the Stories about Melissa series. A quick easy read that is written in a diary format where you find yourself thinking back and relating, to when you were high school. I totally enjoyed reading "Ciao" and recommend it to everyone.

This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the 3rd book in the Stories About Melissa, series and I loved how much Melissa has grown.
This is one of my all time favourite series, and I can't wait to see where book four goes.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great third part to Melissa's coming of age story. I'm addicted. Great characters, lots of emotions, and all around awesome read. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how these are fairly light, fun reads yet each one includes a serious event or topic, so they're still realistic.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ciao (Stories About Melissa #3) was another great read by Bethany Lopez. Melissa spent the summer hanging out with her friends while making new ones too. Life changes again as they start their sophomore year. I really enjoyed reading more of Melissa's story and can't wait to read more by Bethany Lopez.

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland]

Ciao is a cute read that looks into a high school girl's life from friendship to family to crushes and love through the journal that she keeps. There is a fabulous cast of characters with people that you want for your group of friends: cool guys (with two vying for your attention), the best girl friend who knows everything (Jess), and gorgeous Cassie who's so sweet you can't grudge her good lucks. It was fun watching them go through the high-school drama that seems like it means the world at the time but don't in reality, the kind you look back at and laugh over with your friends. Jess and her Giovanni are especially cute and so protective of Melissa together.

The story is nice overall, but the plot didn't really stand out to me. It is simple and predictible. Mostly, it's about Melissa being at a standstill with her heart torn between two guys but not wanting to ruin her friendship with them. With the story being as short as it is, it is more of the length of a middle-grade book and something I can see both tweens and younger teens reading. Nothing overly exciting happens until the end, and even then it didn't wow me.

Girls will be able to relate to Melissa as she navigates the beginning of her sophomore year, deals with the awkwardness of friends crushing on the same guy, and comes to terms with her growing feelings for a guy who's always been a friend. The story is short and makes for a pleasant read when you don't want an overly complicated plot and just want to relax.

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Ciao we see Melissa getting to know herself and owning her decisions. Still immature and even selfish, we see her as a teenage girl trying to connect with her friends. She outgrows sad experiences from the past and keeps going. She begins a new chapter where incertitude dominates her. Is love a priority for her? Is friendship what she values the most? It is a new year and she needs to decide. She is between the boy she has forever loved and the boy who is a great friend. Maybe she cannot have both.

A new character is introduced to the equation, Cassie. She is a great friend for Melissa and quickly becomes part of Melissa's group. Cassie will be a character who will begin changes in Melissa. Melissa will see life different. I still think Melissa is a self-centered girl, and sadly it cannot be explained by her age. Since the beginning of the series she is portrayed as that. What redeems her is how we can detect a slow progressing maturity in her. Painful events make her grow.

Ciao is a story written in a simple way but shows interesting twists. I read it during two afternoons and enjoyed my time. It is well written but sometimes the epistolary style is exhausting. Sometimes, Melissa writes too formal and in that instances it is difficult to connect the journal entry to one a teenager would write.

I appreciate the author using as a setting a place where she lived and experienced life. I think many of us used to keep journals or diaries, in that way Melissa becomes a character we can feel empathy with.

Rating: 3 stars of 5, The journal style kept us from seeing Melissa on an active role, while interacting with her surroundings.

I recommend this series for Middle School and up

Review copy received from publisher via YA Bound/ Blog Tour for review purposes. This book was reviewed according to its merits.

[Carmen Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Thoughts:
Such a quick and easy read!

Ciao is about a 15 year old girl named Melissa who is just starting her sophomore year in high school. She finds two new friends, Carrie and Giovanni, and they quickly become apart of the her group. We follow the gang as Jess finds her first boyfriend; Melissa is put in an awkward position of choosing who to be with romantically; and accepting a fate they may not want.

What I liked about this book:
This book was written in a journal entry format. Every page was Melissa's entry to her diary/journey and we would follow along through her telling us what happened on that day in her life. I had never read a book like that before so it was actually nice to see a change.

Also, the writing in this book was very crisp and clean. I clearly understood everything that was going on and I didn't have a problem imagining anything.

What I disliked about this book:
One of the downsides of writing a book like someone's journey entries is that the reader could easily feel disconnected to the plot because it's not really happening, we're just reading about it. So I thought that was an important fact to be careful about.

Verdict:
This was a very effortless novel that still managed to have difficult topics included into the plot.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book but I will warn you, it is heavier and more sad than the first two books. It was another quick read that had me glued to my Kindle until I finished the last page. In fact, it only took me a few hours to finish this book. (Which, while staying at home with two kids, is a feat and says something about this book!)

This book continued with the journal format and Melissa is growing up even more...perhaps faster than she should have to as well. I don't want to spoil anything in this book, so I won't give any details. I will say that I loved how 15 year old Melissa handled everything that happens in this part of her young life.

The emotions and situations were very real and very believable. The ending left me hanging and anxious for the next installment in the Stories About Melissa!!

Would I recommend it: If you have read the first two books in this series - Ta Ta For Now! and XOXOXO - how could you not read this next book!?!?!

Will I read it again: I will not.

http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Ciao' is the third book in the young adult contemporary series 'Stories About Melissa'. The book is told as journal entries written by the main character, Melissa. They chronicle her fun summer, her problems at school, friendship and family issues, and other teen concerns. I thought that the voice of Melissa was very realistic and believable - it seemed like the journal entries were right out of a teenage girl's diary. The problems that Melissa faces in the book are all things that readers can identify with, which makes Melissa easy to identify with. I felt that this book was well written and had a great flow - like I mentioned, it felt like I was reading an actual diary written by a teenager. This was a fairly light and easy read, but it was interesting to see how the main character and her friends/family dealt with the issues that came about throughout the book. Overall, this was a good read and I enjoyed it.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Destiny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay in the first half of the book. The second half of the book it definitely picked up and the main character did not seem so superficial. It was a cute read and honestly I have not read the 1st two in the series due to not being able to find them as a nook download. I dont' feel that I really missed much having not read the first two books but still intend to read them to see if they change my perspective on this installment and then I can change my rating accordingly.
I think this would be much better written as a story instead of a journal, to me it seemed that there was some journal writing and some story telling within the journal which I just don't see happening in a personal journal.
The characters definitely are likeable and the series does have great potential.

[Bethany Lopez]

Ciao is Now Available

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[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming soon...