Trade Secrets: A fun, contemporary romance about the cutthroat love business

Love, Inc. #2

by Yvonne Collins

Kali Esposito, matchmaker extraordinaire, couldn’t be happier that Love, Inc., the relationship management service she created with best friends, Syd and Zahra, is back in business. After a brief setback, the girls are once again using their skills to help the lovelorn break-up, make-up or take-up with someone new.

Fun, flirtatious Kali is a little gun shy about commitment—no big surprise when your mom’s racked up four divorces and your dad’s permanently AWOL—but she’s a diehard romantic when it comes to bringing others together, and her end-to-end makeovers can transform the most socially-challenged client into a confident charmer. The “Kali Method” she develops is helping Love, Inc. grow by leaps and bounds.

But when a competitor steals the Kali Method and corrupts it to turn regular guys into wicked players, Kali is forced to rethink her views on love, and come up with a plan to reclaim Love, Inc.’s trade secrets before every girl in Austin gets her heart broken.

Genres: Young Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2011

About the author

When I'm not writing books with Sandy, I can usually be found on a film set, where life is anything but dull. I've hung off the side of Toronto's CN tower, faced down a Grizzly bear, danced with Gregory Hines, and shared a beer with Ireland's Lord Guinness.

In 2003, Panavision Canada recognized my camera skills with the coveted Woody Award. It's an honor. Really.

And to think I almost became a cop. Fortunately for the citizens of Toronto, I flunked the psychological profile. Then, there was my brief stint as a bank manager, but I don't want to dwell on that.

Better to dwell on the restaurant job where I met the man who became my husband. I was the bartender; he was the busboy. It's still a perfect match: I get to call the "shots" and he cleans up after me. More importantly, he cleans up after our schnauzer, whom we affectionately describe as a four-bagger (Note: Dog-owners, you know what I'm talking about here).

I am a tea granny and a home dècor magazine junkie. I play the piano, although I don't own one. I own two guitars, although I don't play them. I sing to my dog, wear fleece even in summer, and never miss an episode of Coronation Street.

I could go on, but my tea is cold. And let's face it, you probably stopped reading after I mentioned the Woody Award.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

New year, new read, new review! This book is just the easiest read in the world. In addition to challenging myself with books from different genres and nonfiction with lots of info this year, I want to keep making space for these reads.
---------------------------------------
Same praise to this second book in the series too. It is odd, though, re-reading books as you age past the characters. When I first read these books (in middle school maybe?) 16 years old felt 100% old enough to be delving deeply into serious relationships, (mildly) sexualizing other 16 year olds, and being (quite a bit) sexualized by them. Now I feel like I read the characters in my head as being closer to 22 because some of this feels wrong among people so much younger.

[Anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I could have liked Trade Secrets more, because I remember really liking Love, Inc. This book, however, just didn't capture me. The entire thing just had a sort of "meh" aspect that I couldn't get past, and I didn't really like Kali all that much. For one, it took me really long to read it (at least, longer than my normal pace). Also, I felt that the plotline lacked direction, and that I was just sort of following along with it like a mindless zombie. It was cutesy, sure, but it just didn't make me feel anything for the characters. Oh, well. (Side note: I wonder if the authors will ever write Syd's story. If they do, I will read it, regardless of how I felt about this book).

[Mercedes Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was interesting to read from Kali's perspective as she's very different from Zahara. Kali feels very different in this book when we're looking at her though her own point of view than Zahara. I love Love Inc, and owned the book for years before even learning there was a sequel so that was amazing. One thing which frustrated me throughout the book was Kali's mom and Brody and how they treated her, I was happy they wised up by the end but in the first book I loved Brody as he was through Zahra's eyes but in this book I was starting to dislike him until the last couple of chapters. I was so happy to see Luke return because I was a big fan of him in the first book, I wish we would have seen more of Lauren because she was one of my favorite characters in the first book but I get why she wasn't around as much. At the end of the book the authors ask if the readers would be interested in a 3rd book from Syd's perspective and my answer is absolutely yes. Please write another book I would buy it in a second.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yvonne and Sandy are easily one of my favorite writing duos to ever grace the YA world with their presence. Well, if I’m being perfectly honest, they one of the very few writing duos I have ever read books from, but that is aside from the point. Their books just make me smile like a goonie from ear to ear and cause me to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I first started out reading Girl v. Boy and it is safe to say that I loved it. I quickly moved on to Love, Inc. and even though I didn’t think it was possible, their books got even cuter, funnier, and all around better. I wasn’t nervous to read Trade Secrets but I was anxious. I had no idea what to expect. No worries lovelies because Yvonne and Sandy are totally awesome and they have created their most adorable story yet!

I loved getting to meet Syd, Zahra, and of course Kali in Love, Inc. While the focus was mostly on Zahra in the first book, we got to learn about ALL of their super fabulous personalities! Syd is a tough cookie on the outside but really sweet and gooey on the inside. Zahra is the calm, serene voice that keeps the group together. And then there’s Kali. In Love, Inc. we learn she has a very vibrant personality and while reading Trade Secrets we get to learn even more about her!

Kali is definitely a one of a kind character. She is a musician, an environmental activist, a girl with a singing arch enemy, she is trying to cope with her family issues while also balancing her friendship and first “real” relationship. Kali has a lot going on and she handles it with confidence, humor, and the most infectious personality! She is just a bright ray of sunshine everywhere she goes. I love that she is so confident and such a hard worker. She isn’t just some airhead blonde trying to make it into the showbiz. In fact, she is a bit of a genius and it is her amazing skills that gets Love, Inc. up and running again!

The girls are back in business and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course there are more hilarious situations (I was caught laughing more than a few times during class when I was supposed to be doing homework), quite a bit of drama, a new company ruining their business, lots of secrets hidden from the parentals, a few secret missions, some costumes, and let’s not forget the romance!

Some of the relationships that started in Love, Inc. are blossoming even more in Trade Secrets which obviously makes me super excited! I am going to resist spoiling anything for those who have not read the books yet, but you will not be disappointed by the couple(s) that you see reappearing in this story. And speaking of romance, Kali finds herself amidst some (Yes I said “some.” As in PLURAL) despite her “independent, free-bird” type of personality she tries to pull off. Kali really struggles in the love department in this book but I think it shows just how human she is. She makes mistakes, gets hurt, even hurts others but trust me, it all turns out for the best in the end!

Basically this book is so dang adorable and I think you need to go read it right now…unless you haven’t read Love, Inc. yet! Then you need to smack yourself silly, go read THAT book, then pick up Trade Secrets!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Kali, Syd and Zahara when I read Love, Inc. and I am so glad I got to read more about them in Trade Secrets. This book is focuse more on Kali and her story than the other girls and I enjoyed that. Though I have to admit I think Zahara is my favorite. One thing I love about both of this series is that it focuses not just on the girls high school drama and friends; it also really focuses on their family lives. I think this choice is a good one because it gives a more complete picture of who they are. I think a lot of YA stories only include parents and family as much as is necessary to maintain believability and sometimes not even that much. As young adults, these girls are still very much shaped by their parents and siblings and I am glad that is something that is included in Trade Secrets.

Don't worry though, there is plenty of boy drama! These girls get back to their business and drama quickly follows. There is much continuation from the first book but I think you could read this one easily without having read the first. I do love being able to see how the relationship between Zahara and Kali's brother develops in this one. I loved when they finally decided to get together in the first one. Syd has some great things going on this time as well. I love her angsty personality.

BOTTOM LINE: If you enjoyed Love Inc you should for sure check out Trade Secrets.

[Samantha]

THERE IS A SECOND ONE?!?!? I NEED THIS NOW.