Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise

by Laura Silverman (Editor)

When everyone else goes to bed, the ones who stay up feel like they’re the only people in the world. As the hours tick by deeper into the night, the familiar drops away and the unfamiliar beckons. Adults are asleep, and a hush falls over the hum of daily life. Anything is possible.

It’s a time for romance and adventure. For prom night and ghost hunts. It’s a time for breaking up, for falling in love—for finding yourself.

Stay up all night with these thirteen short stories from bestselling and award-winning YA authors like Karen McManus, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nina LaCour, and Brandy Colbert, as they take readers deep into these rarely seen, magical hours.

Genres: Short Stories, Young Adult, Anthologies, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Fiction

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2021

Reviews

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a fantastic collection with very few duds for me. All taking place from sunset to sunrise... what a fun concept that left the authors with a LOT of wiggle room.

For anthologies, I love to do a short breakdown for each story with individual star ratings. They're listed below!

Also, as a note, I am in love with the diversity in topics, sexuality, gender, race, physical abilities, wealth, and more in this collection. This truly felt like a representation for teens anywhere in the country. (All stories were USA based.)

Never Have I Ever - Karen M McManus (4 stars)
A classic game, an overnight party with band nerds...when one dare ends up with the group discovering their neighbor has been murdered, what's next?

Like Before - Maureen Goo (3.5 stars)
Three high school girls have fallen apart, and one third of their triangle is desperate to bring then back together. If she can just make them relive their memories, then everything will work out, right? RIGHT?

Old Rifts and Snowdrifts - Kayla Whaley (5 stars)
A wheelchair-bound teen and her ex-best friend are caught in his mom's florist shop during a dangerous snowstorm—it's time to unpack what led to their issues, and if there's something they can do about it.

Con Nights, Parallel Hearts - Marieke Nijkamp (5 stars)
The first, but not the last, story that made me tear up. One night, three friends are camping out before a convention. One of them wants to share their childhood trauma... and we see three parallel versions of that situation.

Kiss the Boy - Amanda Joy (2.5 stars)
A personal dud for me, but then I'm not a teen and my days of fretting over kissing boys and high school drama are behind me. A cute story amongst some harder-hitting ones.

Creature Capture - Laura Silverman (3 stars)
An overnight adventure featuring a Pokemon Go lookalike game, one girl who's convinced she's too weird to be a friend, and a very on-the-nose message about realizing that sometimes it's up to you to play the first move.

Shark Bait - Tiffany D. Jackson (5 stars)
Jackson's readers will know this story was always going to be a deep cut—and of course it was. A Black teen escaping reality at Martha's Vineyard with her boyfriend who can pass for white. A late-night accident. What now?

A Place to Start - Nina LaCour (4 stars)
Two new stepsiblings are left alone in their new, combined household while their moms go off to their honeymoon. Will they break down the walls, metaphorically or physically, before the morning?

When You Bring a Dog to Prom - Anna Meriano (4.5 stars)
Very cute post-prom situation that shows the blended and ever-complicated dramas of teens today. With some angst with a happy ending thrown in for some fun. This one made me tear up in a happy way.

Missing - Kathleen Glasgow (4.5 stars)
Even though this collection's concept was about stories taking place at night, for some reason I was surprised to see a horror story in here. I shouldn't have been! This creepy asylum adventure was chilling, seriously sad, and completely absorbing.

What About Your Friends - Brandy Colbert (4 stars)
An all-night dance marathon at a college takes a turn when our main character discovers one of her old best friends—who she ghosted the year before—is on the opposing team. Will emotions dance themselves out too?

Under Our Masks - Julian Winters (5 stars)
A cute and adorable geek story about a teen boy superhero and his crush, who is determined to stake out said superhero one night. Is it time for romance, or the truth about his identity? (Fans of TJ Klune's The Extraordinaries will LOVE this one.)

The Ghost of Goon Creek - Francesca Zappia (3.5 stars)
A loner "ghost hunter" girl ends up taking a group of teens out to a haunted spot one night. She thinks they're humoring her for weird reasons, when really they just want to get to know her. Cute, but a bit of let down after the earlier spooky story if I'm honest.

Thank you to Algonquin for Young Readers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[CW ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like anthologies, but this anthology unfortunately didn't quite work for me.

- A young adult anthology with a range of genres (romance, contemporary, and even horror!) with a common theme that they all take place between sunset and sunrise.
- Thematically, I loved how the stories were centered on vulnerability, decisions, and the discovery that comes with night-time.
- My favourite stories: Like Before by Maurene Goo (this was just so bittersweet and a refreshing take on friendship), Creature Capture by Laura Silverman (I loved how this reminded me of the blissful days of Pokemon Go), Under Our Mask by Julian Winters (I want Julian to write superhero stories now).
- My least favourite stories: Never Have I Ever by Karen M. McManus (the plot twist and sudden tonal shift did not work for me), and Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson (this didn't quite land).

I received a digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

[jenny✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i've always been intrigued by stories that take place in the span of a day - or a night. as a kid, being up all night felt fresh and daring and exciting, like so many things were possible in the liminal space between sunset and sunrise. now that i'm older, it's a hard pass on staying up all night; early bedtime and memory foam pillow are calling my name! but the appeal of stories that unfold in those liminal hours, that still holds for me.

though this anthology wasn't a particular standout for me personally, i think what i liked best about this collection were the themes of (re)connections and revelations that occur in the softness of the night.

many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

1: Never Have I Ever by Karen McManus — ★
this story very much reminded me of the hashtag #crimingwhilewhite: white kids being all bonnie and clyde “hot” while getting away with shit that could’ve had brown and Black kids incarcerated or brutalized is not my idea of a good story. (this story left a poor taste in my mouth, actually.) not to mention, of course the east and south asian girls are cast as “tightass” and uptight? it's 2021. can we move beyond this tired stereotype?

2: Like Before by Maurene Goo — ★★★★
stories about friendship always hit me in my softest parts - and friendships on the verge of breakup? an earnest protagonist scrabbling to piece them back together? my heart’s a little sore after this one, in a good way.

3: Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley — ★★★½
i LOVE the casual diverse rep in this story - the narrator is a disabled bisexual girl who uses a wheelchair, and her love interest is japanese american (with a south asian side character).

also, a personal point of resonance: this is the first time i’ve encountered casual rep/discussion in a YA story of how sleeping arrangements can be complicated/difficult for disabled people. i really relate to this, as someone with primary lymphedema and needs to wear a specialized garment to bed while elevating my leg - it makes spontaneous sleeping arrangements really uncomfortable (sometimes painful), and i appreciated seeing a character in a YA story mention that we have to consider these things!

on a different note, i think i struggle with romantic short stories because it really takes me time to build up connections and investment and chemistry with the characters/their pairing. it’s why i’ve always vastly preferred slow-burns to (abominable) insta-love - and short stories don’t really give me the space to percolate in my feels.

4: Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp — ★★★★
this one also hurt my heart, and i think marieke nijkamp blends disparate elements—so effectively: it’s short but packs an emotional punch. reading the words “i’m not doing okay” written on the page

5: Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy — ★★½
again with what i mentioned earlier, i have a hard time connecting to romantic short stories! i personally don’t get as invested in the characters’ stakes and i’m left wanting more from the story.

6: Creature Capture by Laura Silverman — ★★★
cute!!! though this story didn't leave as much of an emotional imprint on me, i nonetheless love the similarities of creature capture to pokemon go - and the camaraderie that can come out of playing the game.

7: Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson — ★★
wasn’t really the story for me? but seeing others’ reviews, this one was quite moving for different readers. i think the ending/resolution was a little abrupt for me, and didn’t leave me feeling great.

8: A Place to Start by Nina LaCour — ★★★½
this one unfolded quietly but meaningfully, and i enjoyed the way that the two characters spent their night redecorating their new house and forging a closer bond as new siblings. i’m realizing throughout the course of this collection that i’m really favouring the stories that talk about forging (re)connections between people in non-romantic contexts

9: When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano — ★★½
again, i just don’t really connect to short stories centred around romance! this one left me a little wanting, though i did like the casual BIPOC and queer rep.

10: Missing by Kathleen Glasgow — ★★★
this one genuinely creeped me out and then ended on a quieter note than i was expecting

11: What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert — ★★★
again again: stories about friendships really touch me. especially when it involves friends working through conflicts messily but still ultimately with compassion. though this wasn’t my favourite show of brandy colbert’s writing (i fell IN LOVE with the voting booth), i still enjoyed it!

12: Under Our Masks by Julian Winters — ★★★★
okay okay, i know i said i don’t really vibe with romances - but this one really touched me in a soft spot! i fully credit julian winters’ easy-to-fall-into writing, and the parallels he drew between coming out as a superhero and coming out as gay.

13: The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesca Zappia — ★★★★
this was such a feel-good story for me, even though it wasn’t necessarily as fluffy as some of the others in this anthology - and that’s what i love about this final story in the collection. the feelings just emerged in me as i read about the bonds being forged in the graveyard, new friends on a spontaneous adventure.

[Sofie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the eARC for review!

I'm no stranger to anthologies; I devoured My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories, Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories and Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet, which were, for the most part, cute and fluffy and atmospheric.

Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise is a fun addition to my anthology collection! Like all of these types of books, it had some stories I loved, some I didn't, and some that bored me. I've made some verrrry rudimentary notes on each story, and have included my personal star rating.

Never Have I Ever - Karen McManus
3.5 Stars
- good plot twist

Like Before - Maureen Goo
2 Stars
- a bit boring. sad.
- friends can grow apart but not sure why Alma and Britt were making Pepper feel bad about trying to fix their friendship?

Old Rifts and Snow Drifts - Kayla Whaley
4 Stars
- so dang cute.
- wheelchair rep!! bi lead!!

Con Nights, Parallel Hearts - Marieke Nijkamp
4 Stars
- so sad and lovely. loved the friendship.
- a bit jarring but once I understood what was happening, it was so sweet

Kiss the Boy - Amanda Joy
4.5 Stars
- LOVE.
- Actually made me nostalgic for hs?? somehow??

Creature Capture - Laura Silverman
3 Stars
- super cute but felt incomplete

Shark Bait - Tiffany D Jackson
3 Stars
- poignant and very sad.

A Nice Place to Start - Nina LaCour
3.75 Stars
- really cute.
- loved the new-sibling dynamic (ngl thought it might get into gross lovey territory)

When You Bring a Dog to Prom - Anna Meriano
3.5 Stars
- cute but wanted more. that’s the romance lover in me

Missing - Kathleen Glasgow
3 Stars
so creepy. started slow but ended up very intrigued!

What About Your Friends - Brandy Colbert
3 Stars
- not the most exciting of all the stories

Under our Masks - Julian Winters
5 Stars
- lovveeeddd this one. got the tingles.

The Ghost of Goon Creek - Francesca Zappia
3.5 Stars
- nice story of perceptions and new friendships. hopeful

I was expecting a few more romance focused stories, given the title and cover - looks so gorgeous!! Wish there had been a few more. I can think of plenttyyyy of lovey-dovey things that happen between sunset and sunrise. But LOVED how diverse every single story was. It was so seamless. Honestly, would love to see a few of these as full-length books!

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up All Night , the YA short story collection edited by Laura Silverman, contains stories that take place between sunrise and sunset. (Literally, not metaphorically.)

I recently read a collection of YA short stories called Blackout, which took place during a blackout, so when I saw Bookstagram friends reading one called Up All Night , how could I resist?

The 13 stories in this collection all take place between late afternoon/early evening and sunrise. They’re a mixed bag—some are love stories, some are about friendship, and there are even a few creepy stories.

There are a lot of YA authors whose work I enjoy in this collection—Julian Winters, Nina LaCour, Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen M. McManus—and some I’ve either never read before or I’m not familiar with. I loved the diversity in these stories—racial, gender, sexual, even characters with disabilities—but I never felt like those stories threw that in for effect.

As with any short story collection, there are some stories that were stronger or resonated more with me. My favorites included “Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters, about a young superhero whose crush is the same person determined to reveal his identity; “Con Nights, Parallel Hearts” by Marieke Nijkamp, which reflected on a young woman’s desire to share her darkest secret with her best friend; “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley, about getting stranded during a snowstorm with your former best friend; and “Never Have I Ever” by Karen M. McManus, in which an innocent drinking game turns into something else.

I continue to be amazed by the depth of talent among YA writers. There’s a reason why it’s among my favorite genres to read. We can debate the effectiveness of short stories for each of us—I’m clearly a fan—but it’s great to see so many writers sharing stories which might eventually become full-length works. (And even if they don't, they're still fun to read.)

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I cracked the spine of my ARC I was delighted to be greeted by an author whose work I had enjoyed. The first story Never Have I Ever by Karen McManus rocked me with its ending. I thought to myself if the rest of the stories are this good then this is going to be a delicious treat. But there was a part of me that was nervous. I put the book down and paused, What if the other stories aren't this good? I needn't have worried. There was not one story in this collection I did not like.

When I got to Silverman's Creature Capture the Pokenerd in me leaped for joy. But the game was just the setting. The real spark comes from this story's message:

"Look." Emily leans toward me, eyes conspiratorial, voice lowered. "I'll let you in on a little secret. No one really cares about you--"
My stomach drops. Wait? What--
"--and no one really cares about me, and no one really cares about anyone all that much except for themselves. We're all too focused being worried about what people think of us to spend time judging others, you know? So, like screw it. Be who you are."
No one really cares.
. . .
I've spent so much of high school worried what other people will think of me, that I'm not like them, but maybe Emily is right. Maybe no one cares that I play Creature Capture or like knitting glow-in-the-dark scarves or think a wild Saturday night involves a Scrabble tournament with my parents. Maybe I should say screw it and just be me. And maybe, maybe then if someone does care, it'll be in a good way.

There was a moment after reading Shark Bait where I turned the page to the next chapter, excited to see what would happen next. I got so lost in the story I forgot that was it. That was the end. Those characters were gone from me. I had to remind myself that this was a short story collection.

Up All Night was not only representative of many genres, but also had characters of different abilities, cultures and sexualities. There was a range of themes covering friendship, blended families, first love, new horizons, letting down your mask and being genuine to yourself and your feelings. There is something for everyone here young and old. I am glad that I got the chance to check out 11 new-to-me authors. My TBR just got larger and richer for it.

[Hsinju Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

Short stories are always really tricky since the limited word count doesn’t allow a lot of space for an elaborate plot line. In Up All Night, I’d say about half of the stories were cute and well written and the other half of them were too random for me to care.

But I appreciate the range of representations; the editor has definitely made an effort to balance the stories. There is one with a disabled m-spec MC and another with a gay boy, a few with Black MCs, non-binary SCs, sapphic SCs, Asian SCs, etc. The book reflects the world teens want and need to see.

Some of the stories are romance, and others are about new or long-lost friendship and family. While I don’t want to individually rate each story, I’m highlighting a few I enjoyed, most of them toward the end of the book:
– “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley: a disabled m-spec MC snowed in with a (presumably) Japanese LI and ex-friend
– “What About Your Friends” by Brandy Colbert: two Black girls reconciling their best-friendship during a 24h dancing marathon
– “Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters: a gay, Black teen with metahuman abilities and a (presumably) Indian LI

Though Up All Night was overall a slight letdown, it was still worth reading for the several well-done and sweet stories.

content warnings: underage drinking, trespassing, accidental murder, rape (pedophilia, incest), HP references (2 stories), gore, body horror, loss of parent, racism, sexism

I received a digital review copy from Algonquin Young Readers via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average Rating: 3.158 Stars

Most Anticipated Stories: "Kiss the Boy" by Amanda Joy; "What About Your Friends" by Brandy Colbert; "Like Before" by Maureen Goo

Favorite Stories: "Old Rifts and Snowdrifts" by Kayla Whaley; "Kiss the Boy" by Amanda Joy; "When You Bring a Dog to Prom" by Anna Meriano; "The Ghost of Goon Creek" by Francesca Zappia

Least Favorite Stories: "Never Have I Ever" by Karen M. McManus; "Missing" by Kathleen Glasgow

As a night owl, I was beyond excited for this anthology set between dusk and dawn. I am happy to say that I enjoyed this and found some great stories by authors I love, and a few by some new-to-me authors as well -which I always my favorite part of anthologies!

Never Have I Ever by Karen M McManus | ★★☆☆☆ (Mystery/Thriller)
I have to say, I think the anthology had a bit of a weak start for me. While the premise of Never Have I Ever is a classic, and the addition of a 'haunted' house was fun. I think the story just didn't deliver on the build up - it was a bit rushed. Grace Finch sneaks out to a party and wants to shed some of her good girl image, but things take an unsuspected (and deadly) turn as the game progresses.

Like Before by Maureen Goo | ★★☆☆☆ (2.5 Stars) (Contemporary)
This story features a sleepover, a scavenger hunt, and a group of friends who have drifted apart over high school. And while I do think it was done well, and paced well, it was a bit of a downer and I didn't love that.

Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley | ★★★★☆ (Romance)
Eleanor works in her best friends, Melanie's family floral shop, and has been crushing on Melanie's twin brother Owen for ages. But the two have barely spoken since a fall out the year before, but Nori's crush remains strong. When an unexpected snow storm leaves the two stranded in the florist greenhouse, a new romance might just bloom. This was just so adorable! And it was amazing to see Eleanor use a wheelchair in the story!

Con Nights and Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp | ★★☆☆☆ (SciFi)
Quinn and her two best friends, Clara and McKenna, are camping out for meet and greet tickets to one of their favorite shows, Parallel Hearts. I was a bit confused by the story structure at first, but we get to see parallel 'what-ifs' showing Quinn confiding in McKenna or keeping her struggles to herself. Trigger Warning for parental abuse

Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy | ★★★★★ (Romance)
Class president Ayanna is determined to make this year's senior game night great - and finally complete her kiss pact she and her two best friends started at the beginning of high school, to kiss their crush before graduation. And with only hours to go before the school year ends, Ayanna and Khalil grown closer over the night. I would love a full story of them in college living their best life.

Creature Capture by Laura Silverman | ★★★☆☆ (Contemporary)
Abby and her best friend Curtis stay out all night playing this world
s version of Pokemon-Go, called "Creature Capture" and Abby only needs the very rare Loch Ness monster to beat the game. They run into some classmates on their journey and Abby learns a lesson about unapologetic passions.

Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson | ★★★☆☆ (Contemporary)
This story was a wild ride. Candice and her mother are spending the summer in Martha's Vineyard, trying to get away from her father's cheating scandal. But she finds that being one of the only Black people on the island can be isolating. And after a bonfire party turns bad, Candice has some decisions to make about where she's going to spend her next school year.

A Place to Start by Nina LaCour | ★★★☆☆ (3.5 Stars) (Contemporary)
Claude is moving into her new house while her mom and new stepmom are away on their honeymoon. With new step-sibling Jaime, the two decide to redecorate the house a bit and make it a more homey and welcoming space. This was a sweet bonding, family story that I really enjoyed.

When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano | ★★★★☆ (Romance)
After being ditched on prom night (so her date could go to the queer anti-Prom with his boyfriend) Noemi is hoping that her long-standing crush on Jayden (her best friend Jayla's twin brother) might actually go somewhere. I really liked this entire group, I got a great feeling form them and the friendship felt genuine. There was also some good humor too!

Missing by Kathleen Glasgow | ★☆☆☆☆ (Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal)
This story just felt like it was all over the play. I couldn't pin down the characters ages, their relationships to each other. And none of them was likeable at all. But these four friends, along with a younger sibling in tow, decide to mess around with ghosts and break into an abandoned asylum.

What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert | | ★★★☆☆ (3.5 Stars) (Contemporary)
Michaela comes back from her gap year early and runs into her former best friend Eleanor at a charity dance marathon at the school. The two start to reconnect and Eleanor shares about the community she found with her Black Sorority. It was nice to see a former friend story where the two reconnect - and while it's not what it was before there's hope.

Under Our Masks by Julian Winters | ★★★☆☆ (3.5 Stars) (SciFi)
Tristian Jackson is a vigilante, who wants a break from some of the confining rules of his superhero family. Tristian decides to help Arash catch Raven (aka Tristian) in the act so he can interview him. As the two boys spend the night on a rooftop, they bond and are just all around super cute.

The Goon Creek Ghost by Francesca Zappia | ★★★★☆☆ (Contemporary)
Self proclaimed loner and local lore expert, Sydney Endrizzi agrees to help Gracie Cheng try and capture the local ghosts. A few unexpected people show up along the way and the group spends the night sharing stories and waiting for a ghost to show up. This was a great friendship story and had a lot of heart.

I feel like this is the perfect anthology to read right before bed. You can read a story a night and it would feel all the more perfect. While I don't think I can say this is my favorite anthology, I had a great time with the stories and look forward to more from all of these amazing and talented authors.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This anthology was okay. Not my favorite, but still pretty good overall. Some stories were a lot better than others. However, there was a TON of diversity and representation, and that's always cool to see.

Never Have I Ever by Karen McManus - ☆☆.5 - This story was a lot shorter than the others, and there was a big plot twist that felt rushed, random, and very incomplete.

Like Before by Maurene Goo - ☆☆ - This one was pretty sad and I wasn't a big fan of the storyline in general.

Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley - ☆☆☆☆.5 - I really enjoyed this one! It was sweet and simple, and I loved the HEA!

Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp - ☆☆ - I was pretty confused until I understood how the story was being told, but I just didn't click with it. Had a really good message, though.

Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy - ☆☆☆ - A really cute, fluffy story about high school and senior night!

Creature Capture by Laura Silverman - ☆☆☆☆☆ - My favorite out of all the stories! It was really sweet and had a great message about friendship.

Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson - ☆☆ - Had a lot of really important messages about the fight against racism, but the story had a really sudden plot twist and no HEA. 😥 I just didn't really like the sudden change in the story.

A Place to Start by Nina LaCour - ☆☆☆.5 - This was a great story about new siblings, and I enjoyed reading about the growing sibling relationship between two strangers forced to be family.

When You Bring Your Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano - ☆☆☆.5 - This was a sweet story about a night at prom and finding love.

Missing by Kathleen Glasgow - ☆.5 - A really creepy ghost story about friends trying to find out the secrets of an abandoned women's asylum. Very scary and kinda disturbing.

What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert - ☆☆☆.5 - Sweet story about forgiveness, friendship, and misunderstandings. Eleanor and Michaela's relationship was inspiring and I loved how the story ended.

Under Our Masks by Julian Winters - ☆☆.75 - This was a sweet story about heroes in disguise and requited love.

The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesca Zappia - ☆☆☆☆.5 - One of my favorite stories in the anthology, this was a wonderful story about finding friends in unexpected places and learning how to put yourself out there.

So, that's it. Some great stories, and some not-so-great stories. There's something for everyone in this anthology set from dusk till dawn.

[BookNightOwl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Algonquin for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This anthology contains 13 stories that all take place overnight. It is also written by 13 different authors such as Tiffany D. Jackson and Kathleen Glasgow. I loved the variety of stories the book contained along from all different Genres.

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. A-

[Sarah {The Clever Reader} · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. I enjoyed each of the stories and appreciated how different each one of them was. There was a broad selection of topics from lighter to more seriously themed. The collection of stories are relatable to a variety of readers and I thought that was well done.

I discovered new authors and revisited some of my favorites. I picked up the audio and the variety of narrators also lent so much to each individual story and I could hear the tone of each author in each story. I would recommend the audio for those who are avid audiobook listeners because it was a great experience.

If you're not sure what you're looking for something to read but aren't sure what you're in the mood for than I definitely recommend this anthology. These stories range from romantic to spooky to emotional to comedic. There's even a story that makes a play on Pokemon Go but with monsters. You'll get a taste of different genres which made this a great experience.

I definitely recommend this!!

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Individual story ratings:
Never Have I Ever by Karen M. McManus: 3.5 stars
Like Before by Maureen Goo: 3 stars
Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley: 4.5 stars
Con Nights and Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp: 4 stars (TW for discussion of parental abuse)
Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy: 4 stars
Creature Capture by Laura Silverman: 3.5 stars
Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson: 3.5 stars
A Place to Start by Nina LaCour: 4 stars
When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano: 4.5 stars
Missing by Kathleen Glasnow: 2.5 stars
What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert: 3 stars
Under Our Masks by Julian Winters: 4 stars
The Goon Creek Ghost by Francesca Zappia: 4 stars

General thoughts:
This was such a fun idea for an anthology and I’m really happy with the stories that were included. Being a night owl myself, I definitely think there’s something a little magical about the nighttime; everyone’s a little bit braver, everything is a little bit more potent. I felt that this anthology captured that feeling really well.
I think this has something for everyone! There’s a good mix of stories from different genres from contemporary and romance to sci-fi and thriller. The diversity represented with race, disability and LGBTQ rep throughout all of the stories was really great and it’d so important to see more of this in literature, especially the YA genre.
Some of the stories had surprising twists that kept me on my toes and changed my whole outlook on the story in the very last sentence.
I’ve only recently started reading anthologies and this one made me want to check out more!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Algonquin books.

Up All Night is a fantastic collection of short stories (13 in total) based at different times of the day between sunrise and sunset. I loved the representation within this book making it such a diverse read and collection of stories such as POC, LGBTQ+ and disability reps too.
The stories range from spooky to emotional reads and everything in between. I loved this book from start to finish and will definitely read it again in the future. My favourite stories were Con Nights- parallel Hearts and Never have I Ever. If your looking for something different I highly recommend giving this book a go! I'll be checking out the featured authors other works too.

[Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely little collection of YA short stories all set in the very early hours of the morning. I loved the diversity of both authors and characters as well as genres, from romcom to fantasy to even spooky ghost stories. I think there’s a story here for everyone.


Breakdown:

Never Have I Ever by Karen M McManus: 5⭐️
-hoooooooly shit that was amazing

Like Before by Maureen Goo: 4⭐️
-damn this is so realistic and sad

Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley: 3⭐️
-cute and fluffy

Con Nights, Parallel hearts by Marieke Nijkamp: 4⭐️
-this one was heavy but lovely, tw for child sexual abuse

Kiss The Boy by Amanda Joy: 3⭐️
-cute and sweet and innocent

Creature Capture by Laura Silverman: 4⭐️
-like Pokémon Go but with all the Natalia is of senior year

Shark Bait by Tiffany D Jackson: 4⭐️
-ummmm excuse me what was that ending!!!???

A Place To Start by Nina Lacour: 4⭐️
-this was so fun and sweet

When You Bring A Dog To Prom by Anna Meriano: 4⭐️
-this one made me miss high school and prom

Missing by Kathleen Glasgow: 3⭐️
-spoopy

What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert: 3.5⭐️
-I kinda want a whole book on this one and not just a short story

Under Our Masks by Julian Winters: 5⭐️
-gay superheroes are my weakness

The Ghost of Goon Creak by Francesca Zappia 4⭐️
-I love ghost stories and I love friendship stories

[soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice set of stories, all happening in the middle of the night, sometimes for a short time, sometimes all night long. I really liked the diversity of the stories, all different from one another, and also in terms of queerness, POC, disabilities or mental illness. A nice bunch of representation, not necessarily the main aspect of the story. I really liked the last two ones, by Julian Winters and Francesca Zappia

[Athena of Velaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

There is something magical about midnight. It is a time of ghosts and goblins, of slippers and spells, of chaos and creation. It is the hour between one story and the next—a pause as the old vanishes into memory and the new shimmers into reality. It is whimsical, and just a bit frightening: an hour for fairy tales and horror stories. Midnight is a mystery longing to be solved, a prologue and an epilogue all at once. Is it any wonder then that a collection of midnight moments would be bound into an anthology?

Up All Night is a collection of short stories taking place between sunset and sunrise, written by some of YA’s top realistic fiction authors. Like most anthologies, some stories wowed others bored. While the anthology itself was genre-bending, the tales that stood out are those that catalog ordinary moments. The ghost stories were nothing special—the shock and surprise held no value when I didn’t care about the characters—but the stories of ordinary moments were nothing short of extraordinary.

Though Up All Night was held together around a time rather than a central idea, certain themes stood out. I love how many of the short stories contained within had casual queerness. Characters were allowed to be themselves without their gender and sexuality overshadowing their personalities: they loved and lost as individuals instead of stereotypes. Especially considering how short each story was (under 30 pages), causal representation was crucial.

Since anthologies themselves are rather serialized, so too will this review be.

Never Have I Ever by Karen McManus was a disappointing start to Up All Night. It lacked any real emotion or shock value, instead playing with perception in the most mediocre way.

Like Before by Maurene Goo was a heartbreaking reminder of how not all friendships last. It echoes the feelings so many people experience as they close certain chapters of their lives and move on to better things. It was bittersweet in the best way and an anthem for anyone who has ever felt left behind.

Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley was by far my favorite story in this anthology. Though not without conflict, it felt like a glimpse into an ordinary life in the most extraordinary way. Full of first love and reluctant flirting, I mourned when the last page was done.

Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Mariekee Nijkamp was my second favorite story in this collection, especially with how it focused on fan culture and the home audiences can find in creative mediums. Following a girl as she tries to open up to her best friend, readers are taken through three different outcomes and left to ponder which is the true one.

Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy needs to be turned into a Netflix rom-com (a high compliment, I assure you). It had all the elements of a teen flick: romance, coming of age, a great group of friends, the end of high school, and witty dialogue. My cheeks hurt after smiling through every page.

Creature Capture by Laura Silverman was a throwback to the days of PokemonGo. An avid gamer hunts for a rare LochNess in a game while meeting unexpected friends along the way. Frankly, this story was fine. Not good, not bad, just fine.

Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson had the potential to be better than it was. I enjoyed the initial concept but found the ending to be unnecessary and rather random when compared with the rest of the narrative.

A Place to Start by Nina LaCour was short, sweet, and simple. It was very much a middle story, neither overshadowing its predecessors nor setting the bar too high for what came next.

When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano also needs to be turned into a teen movie. Following a group of friends attending a rather rocky Prom, it was hilarious and lighthearted, with enough substance to keep it grounded in reality. The dialogue was funny, and the ending was swoonworthy.

Missing by Kathleen Glasglow was my least favorite part of the collection. Simply put, it was unfinished, lacking in any real direction or purpose. The narration style was sometimes third person limited, and other times third person omniscient, leading to a jarring and clunky read.

What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert was fun. Nothing special, just fun.

Under Our Masks by Julian Winters followed a teenage superhero burdened by the weight of his identity as he joined his crush on a stakeout. I loved the dynamic between the two boys but felt like the superhero element was an accidental add-on once the main story had been cemented.

The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesa Zappia read like a midnight twist on the Breakfast Club. Though the friendships the story focused around developed rather quickly, it was a sweet, albeit rose-tinted, version of what a gathering of classmates can become.

Overall, Up All Night was a mixed bag. There were some stories that I wanted to frame and others that I barely remember. Like most anthologies, you’re taking a gamble going in, but I can assure you that most of what you’ll find will keep you up all night reading.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-ARC Review - Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

4.5⭐️

“We’re all too focused being worried about what people think of us to spend time judging others, you know? So, like screw it. Be who you are.” - My new life motto, but also a quote from one of the several amazing stories included in this anthology.

I had such a great time reading this glorious collection. It had a little bit of everything: romance, friendships, coming of age stories, mysteries, superheroes, you name it! But the best part about all of these stories was the constant LGBTQIAP+, POC, and disability rep. They were such awesome, personal, lovely, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyful stories that I know I will carry in my heart for a long time. Can’t wait to read more from all of these authors!

Here’s a bit more about each of the stories featured in this collection:

- Never Have I Ever, by Karen M. McManus

A good girl, a bad boy, and a game of Never Have I Ever gone all the way wrong. It was equal parts funny, tense, and surprising! I thought I knew where the story was going, but nope! Loved the ending!

- Like Before, by Maurene Goo

It’s the summer before senior year, and Pepper plans one last Hail Mary sleepover to save her friendships. This story packed a punch, it was sweet and raw and super emotional. Get your tissues out for this one!

- Old Rifts and Snowdrifts, by Kayla Whaley

An unexpected snowstorm traps Eleanor at her job in the flower shop, alongside someone she swore she’d never speak to again. This was such a heartwarming story and I adored Eleanor’s POV. Loved the disability rep, especially when portrayed as the love interest! I could read a whole novel with Nori as the main character.

- Con Nights, Parallel Hearts, by Marieke Nijkamp

Friends camp out overnight outside the big Con center to meet the creator of their favorite show. The city air feels full of possibility, and Quinn wonders if tonight will finally be the night she shares her deepest, darkest secret with them. This story was so damn gut wrenching. Many a hot, angry tear was shed. But I loved the parallel universe theme, it gave the story a really cool twist!

- Kiss the Boy, by Amanda Joy

As president of student council, Ayana’s in charge of making sure the school’s most anticipated event of the year goes without a hitch. But she and her friends have a more important plan to see through: finally get Ayana to kiss her longtime crush. This adorable “will they/won’t they” love story is the perfect amounts of funny, nostalgic, and sweet. It almost made me miss high school! Almost!

- Creature Capture, by Laura Silverman

Abby likes the game Creature Capture. A lot. And on the night they release the long sought after Loch Ness, Abby drags her best friend Curtis along in the hopes of catching one to complete her index, and finally putting away these so-called childish things for good. My younger inner self has probably never identified with a character more than with Abby. This “day in the life of a shy, nerdy girl” story was like looking into my past! I adored it! Especially the important lesson she learns at the end of the story. A+ for originality.

- Shark Bait, by Tiffany D. Jackson

Candice and her mom moved to Martha’s Vineyard to start a new life after an awful split with her dad. And that’s where she meets blue-eyed, blond haired Hunter. He’s a peaceful place for Candice to land, but is he really everything he seems? And is this new life what she really wants? This story touched on some great discussions about race and family dynamics. I enjoyed the premise a lot, though I feel like it would have fit better in a longer format, because I wanted to know so much more about the main characters! Also, that ending was excellent!

- A Place to Start, by Nina LaCour

Claude and Jamie are new stepsiblings, and after their mothers’ long wedding day, all they want to do is head home. But what do they do when their brand new, perfectly decorated house doesn’t make them feel at home? I’m such a sucker for sibling stories, so this was a real treat. It was a little sweet, a little sad, and a lot relatable. Nina LaCour painted a really vivid picture with her words.

- When You Bring a Dog to Prom, by Anna Meriano

Noemi is helping her best friend Jayla pull off her vision of the perfect prom, even though Noemi’s version of that included Jayla’s twin brother Jayden as her prom date. But Jayden shows up with a last minute date, and their emotional support golden retriever. Will this end up being the perfect prom or a perfect disaster? This story was really fun, it had great pacing, and I loved seeing a diverse cast of characters just letting loose and not having the story center around their diversity. Just a group of friends having the perfect, chaotic night. I want more stories like this!

- Missing, by Kathleen Glasgow

Kate had just lost her mother, which was why the idea of ghost hunting with her group of friends, or ghosts in general, intrigued her. Their destination was the local abandoned Lunatic Asylum, and Kate had to drag her quiet, weird little sister Lissy along with them while their dad worked. But their visit to the asylum started off strange and only got stranger from there. This story was such a great break from the lighter, happier stories in this collection. It was so spooky and weird, and I wanted to know so much more!! Kathleen Glasgow set the eerie scene beautifully, and the way the story ended was perfection.

- What About Your Friends, by Brandy Colbert

In her freshman year, Michaela joins Brockert College’s annual dance marathon, but she didn’t expect to run into her former best friend Eleanor there... whom she had completely ghosted while traveling through Europe. Can these two friends find a way to bridge the gap between them after Michaela’s failed gap year? This was such a sweet friendship story, and the awkward “are we still friends” situation is so relatable. The dance marathon was a really creative setting for this story. Also, now I’m going to have TLC’s What About Your Friends stuck in my head, so thanks Brandy!

- Under Our Masks, by Julian Winters

Tristan Jackson is a masked vigilante, studying for Algebra by day and fighting supervillains by night. But when his school crush asks for his help to stake out Tristan’s alter alter-ego Raven, he seizes the opportunity to get closer to him. Will Tristan reveal his true identity to Arash? Or, more importantly, his true feelings? Ok, this is it. This is my favorite story in this collection. A teenaged superhero hanging out with his crush all night? I need someone to make this into a TV show. Also, I adored Julian’s writing. Those lines about feeling obligated to announce ourselves to make others comfortable? I felt those words in my sternum. More of this, please!

- The Ghost of Goon Creek, by Francesca Zappia

Sydney Endrizzi is known all over Goon Creek as the resident expert on the paranormal, which always made her feel like an outsider at school. So when a few of her classmates ask to tag along on her yearly outing to find the Ghost of Goon Creek, she’s very confused and a little apprehensive. But Sydney quickly learns appearances can be deceiving, and that making friends may actually be easier than finding a ghost. This story is one I wish my younger self had read. I kind of want to buy a copy of just this story and distribute it across all my local high schools, so kids can realize sooner how many more friends they could have if they just put themselves out there! I loved this story and the spooky setting! I kind of wanted it to be a little spookier, but the fact that it ended up being the origin story of a Scooby-doo-like gang was enough for me. I would love to follow them on more adventures.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC on blog.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy. I really enjoyed all the stories.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up all night composes of thirteen different stories that tell about some of the adventures young adults do when their parents are away, and let’s admit it been there done that, right? Lol. Anyway, these have paranormal stories, family, friendship, adventure, prom, and even superheroes! Never have I ever, and Missing are my favorite; both are creepy and entertaining. The rest of the stories are delightful, and the characters are all likable. Ge your copy today!⁣

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

3.5 Stars

Up All Night by Laura Silverman (editor) is an exciting collection of short stories that all take place between sunset and sunrise. This open-ended prompt leaves room for many unique interpretations, and I was impressed with the wide range of stories within the anthology as well as its diversity. This is a great read for summer nights with a story to satisfy any reader.

Featuring stories from 13 stellar authors, the Up All Night anthology centres around the moments between sunset and sunrise. I found the concept of late nights to be a great one for an anthology, as it leaves a lot of room for different interpretations of the prompt. Within the book are stories about scavenger hunts, parties, ghost hunts, and more, and I loved the way each author captures the atmosphere of being the only one awake in different ways. There is a great mix of lighthearted stories with more serious ones, and I was impressed by the anthology’s ability to keep me surprised with each contribution.

❀ A MIX OF DIVERSE STORIES

Something I always value in anthologies is diversity, and I was so thrilled by the mix of stories within this one. There are contributions from a wide range of genres, from horror to romance, and there is representation for different genders, sexualities, races, and abilities. I was particularly excited by the disability rep in Kayla Whaley’s Old Rifts and Snow Drifts, as this is unfortunately not something I encounter very often in anthologies.

❀ UNDER OUR MASKS IS A FAVOURITE

Within this anthology, I enjoyed many of the stories. My favourite would have to be Under Our Masks by Julian Winters, a story about a superhero who spends the night on a stakeout with his crush, who is determined to uncover his identity. This was such a cute read, and I loved the superhero concept. I was also impressed by Karen McManus’s contribution, Never Have I Ever. This one features a game of dares gone wrong and kept me hooked until the final, shocking twist.

❀ AN ENJOYABLE COLLECTION

Up All Night by Laura Silverman (editor) is an enjoyable collection of short stories that are all set at nighttime. I loved the wide range of directions the contributors took this prompt, and the diversity was lovely to see. I came away with many favourites, and I found this book to be great way to sample new-to-me authors as well.

[Laura Silverman]

Hi y'all!

I'm so thrilled for readers to experience Up All Night! This anthology was an absolute joy to work on. Every single writer created magic on the page. I am so proud and grateful. These stories all hold a special place in my heart, and I hope they will find their way into your hearts as well.

A TW for those reading ARCs - there is a Harry Potter reference in my story Creature Capture. This story was written before J.K. Rowling opened her transphobic mouth. As soon as she did, I requested the line be removed from the story. It was too late to remove it from ARCs, but it won't be in the final copies. I 100% support the trans community and reject J.K. Rowling's hate and bullying.

Thank you,
Laura

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the biggest fan of YA, but I like it for something different once in a while. And now I have a list of authors to check out. Every story here showed creativity and talent, enough to make me want to consider more by every author. And most of the stories themselves were charming, or fun, or intense, or whatever they were intended to be.

[The Reading Raccoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Up All Night is an anthology of different YA stories that take place from dusk to dawn. I like anthologies to seek out new authors but I usually find the stories are too short to really pull me in. Overall my favorites were by: Karen M McManus, Maureen Goo, Kayla Whaley and Tiffany D Jackson. Although I only had four stands outs out of thirteen I think there is enough diversity in plots (thrillers, romance, ghosts, family issues, superhero and friendships) and in characters (LBGQT, non-binary, POC and a wheel chair user) for every reader to have relatable content and a few favorite stories from the collection.

“Never Have I Ever” by Karen M McManus- a truth or dare type game at a party turns into a daring trip to a haunted mansion with the local cute bad boy. Fun little story with a surprise. Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Like Before” by Maureen Goo- a trio of girls who have grown apart try to have an epic adventure before they go their separate ways after high school. This short story did a nice job showing the complicated dynamics between young women growing up and moving on.
Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley- a pair of former best friends are stuck together in a snow storm and are forced to dissect their relationship. This one has a lot of romance plus the representation that readers might be looking for (LBGQT, POC, main character in a wheelchair)
Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Con Nights, Parallel Hearts” by Marieke Nijkamp- two teenage roommates wait outside a Comic Con type event and discuss their past, relationship and closely held secrets. Readers may enjoy seeing a non-gender conforming character on the page but I found the endless quotes and discussions around a fictional Sci Fi tv show too niche.
Two stars ⭐️⭐️

“Kiss The Boy” by Amanda Joy- light, fluffy story about a girl who made a goal to kiss a certain boy by the time they graduated. Too many descriptions everyone’s physical appearances and clothes which took me out of the story
Two stars ⭐️⭐️

“Creature Capture” by Laura Silverman- this is fictional video game type story (a similar game to Pokémon Go” about a girl feeling out of step with her contemporaries while she goes on the hunt for digital creatures. I find it really hard to connect to these super niche type plots about nerdy stuff and get bored quickly.
Two stars ⭐️⭐️

“Shark Bait” by Tiffany D Jackson- a girl is forced to decide between her new home on Martha’s Vineyard with her boyfriend vs her old private school in the city. Beautiful descriptions of the island and a thought examination of teen relationships and racism.
Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A Place to Start” by Nina LaCour- story about two new step siblings that use a long night after their mom’s wedding to make their new home their own
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“When You Bring a Dog to Prom” by Anna Mariano- a group of teens have an epic prom night
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Missing” by Kathleen Glasgow- a group of girls explore an abandoned asylum. Very creepy and scary.
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“What about your friends” by Brandy Colbert- two young women that were once best friends reunite at a college dance-a-thin after. Very character driven and not a lot happens
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters- superhero comes out to a new friend (and love interest) as both being gay and a vigilante. Not really my kind of story, a lot of chat chat chat and not much happening
Two stars ⭐️⭐️

“The Ghost of Goon Creek” by Francesca Zappia- group of high school kids go on the hunt for an urban legend and a girl realizes that it’s time to make some friends. Lots of introspection and talking but not a lot of action
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

I mean, did you see this author lineup? Was there even a doubt that these stories would slay? In case there was, I am here to tell you that this collection absolutely lived up to (and exceeded) my expectations. Anthologies can be iffy, right? Some stories are hits, some are misses? Not so here! I enjoyed each and every story, which is kind of bananas for an anthology! I think that the setup of the stories taking place in a single night lends itself perfectly to short stories, which helps. 

There was a great mix of story genres as well. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, but I was so glad to see the variety of stories. Also, there was a lot of diversity from many diverse authors, which was a huge win of course. None of them completely stuck with me after reading, hence the four stars, but they were all solidly good, and that is good enough for me! I was entertained throughout, and always excited for the next story, so this anthology is certainly a win. 

Bottom Line: This anthology benefitted from a perfect setup and some incredible authors. If you're looking for some awesome short stories, look no further!

[Florence Migga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I only really liked maybe 2-3 stories. Some I liked okay. A few ended too abruptly. A few were ehhh, okay. I did appreciate the range of experiences — it was not just romance, but friendship, family issues, and other topics.

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite stories were:

"Creature Capture" by Laura Silverman
"A Place to Start" by Nina LaCour
"Missing" by Kathleen Glasgow

[Luke Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review (1/2/21, received through Edelweiss+)

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This was a super fun and sweet collection, full of surprises, adventures, and heart-stopping romances beneath the dusky night sky.

"Never Have I Ever" by Karen M. McManus-4 out of 5 stars: A cliche romantic comedy about an innocent game of Never Have I Ever goes south when the bad boy shows up, a murder scene is uncovered, and the sheriff's daughter reveals she might not be so lawful after all. This story surprised me a lot; it was entertaining and fun in a predictable but fun way.

"Like Before" by Maurene Goo-4.5 out of 5 stars: One girl's attempt to reignite the friendship between her and her two best friends goes from hilarious to heartbreaking as she realizes it might be impossible, maybe even selfish, because she's scared of a future without them. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Alma, one of the friends, who is gay.

"Old Rifts and Snowdrifts" by Kayla Whaley-5 out of 5 stars: An adorable short story about an unexpected January snowstorm in Georgia and two friends realizing their unvoiced feelings for each other led to a lack of communication. It's awesome to see an author with a disability writing, especially to see a lead character with a disability present in a story and in a romantic one at that. I also loved the apron bit LOL. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Eleanor, our leading lady in a wheelchair, who is bi or pan (never stated on page directly).

"Con Nights, Parallel Hearts" by Marieke Nijkamp-3 out of 5 stars: Three friends wait outside a convention on a rainy night, and one girl's confession to her closest friend play out in three alternate endings. I've always found writing about fictional fandoms a little clunky, but I like how the concept of the fictional TV show integrated into a place where Quinn, the protagonist, could decide whether or not she wanted to tell McKenna, the friend who stays awake, about the abuse she faced at the hands of her father. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Quinn, who is gay, and McKenna, who is non-binary.

"Kiss the Boy" by Amanda Joy-3 out of 5 stars: This was a cute one! A senior graduation game night becomes a quest to fulfill a best friendship pact: kiss the boy. It was really surprising to see a Black fantasy author writing realistic fiction, but it worked well! LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Malcolm, one of the BFFs, who is gay, and Detroit, his boyfriend.

"Creature Capture" by Laura Silverman-2.5 out of 5 stars: This story reeked of "I'm not like other teens, WAH" energy. A nerdy girl and her best friend are joined by a soccer star and her younger sister on a quest to find the Loch Ness Monster in a fantastical creature version of Pokémon Go. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Abby, the narrator, who is bi.

"Shark Bait" by Tiffany D. Jackson-2.5 out of 5 stars: An innocent love story between a Black girl who wants to prove that she's more than just a token and a biracial boy who's white-passing turns into a discussion of racism and a gory ending.

"A Place to Start" by Nina LaCour-3.5 out of 5 stars: After a slow beginning, this story really opened up in a sparse and emotionally resonant way, per LaCour's style. Two step siblings adjust to their moms getting married after they've left for their honeymoon, working together to make some changes to make home feel more like home. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Jamie, the stepsibling, who's non-binary and queer, and both of the moms, who are both gay.

"When You Bring a Dog to Prom" by Anna Meriano-2 out of 5 stars: Although refreshingly diverse and adorable by the end, I couldn't stand Noemi's jealousy and cared more about Dodge and their dog than her. Regardless, a classmate with an emotional support dog is Noemi's crush's date, for some reason, and she wants to spend more time with him. Cue miscommunication and shenanigans. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes Jayla, Noemi's queer bestie, Dodge, who is non-binary, and Austin, Noemi's ditching gay date.

"Missing" by Kathleen Glasgow-5 out of 5 stars: An absolutely terrifying and gut-wrenching horror story about four girls who begrudgingly bring along one of their little sisters to a women's mental asylum full of ghosts.

"What About Your Friends" by Brandy Colbert-4 out of 5 stars: Two childhood friends that separated once one went on a (surprisingly parent-funded and encouraged) gap year cut short due to racism reunite at a college all-day dance marathon.

"Under Our Masks" by Julian Winters-3 out of 5 stars: Despite some cringy dialogue, this was really cute! A vigilante hides his secret identity as he and his crush scout for said vigilante. LGBTQIAP+ rep includes the lead and his love interest, who are both gay.

"The Ghost of Goon Creek" by Francesca Zappia-3.5 out of 5 stars: Although filled with the sort of popularity judgment in Silverman's story, I liked this one more. A social pariah gets asked to be interviewed for the school newspaper about a local ghost, and a group of the interviewer's friends join the party. It leads to more friendship.

[Pine Reads Review]

“‘I’ve never stayed up all night before.’” -“A Place to Start” by Nina LaCour

I’ll admit it: I’m a night owl. More often than not, I’m awake—and likely reading—in the secret hours after midnight, those moments when it feels as if I’m the only person awake in the entire city. And while that is usually true of my household, it’s definitely not true in a city of half a million people.

Still, there’s something special about being awake when most people are sleeping…and that is exactly the premise of editor Laura Silverman’s new anthology: Up All Night: 13 Stories Between Sunset and Sunrise.

Set in the hours between dusk and dawn, each story in this anthology is wonderfully unique. From a game of Never Have I Ever gone wrong to step-siblings rearranging their new house to a dance marathon raising money for a children’s hospital, every single story brings amazing representation, fun plots, and beautiful messages to the table. While I enjoyed all of the stories, six in particular stood out to me: “The Ghost of Goon Creek” by Francesca Zappia, “Creature Capture” by Laura Silverman, “Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters, “Kiss the Boy” by Amanda Joy, “When You Bring a Dog to Prom” by Anna Meriano, and “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley.

Let’s explore them together, shall we?

“‘When I go, I stay out all night. That’s part of the story. You have to stay until sunrise.’” -“The Ghost of Goon Creek” by Francesca Zappia

Two of my favorite stories, “The Ghost of Goon Creek” by Francesca Zappia and “Creature Capture” by Laura Silverman, became my favorites because they tackle the idea of a character not “fitting in,” something I’ve experienced in my own life. In Zappia’s self-proclaimed ghost story, Sydney Endrizzi thinks that everyone at school considers her weird because she loves ghost stories and is usually by herself, now that her brother has left for college. When the school newspaper feature editor, Grace Chang, asks Sydney to be her guide to a supposedly haunted cemetery and three other popular students end up tagging along, Sydney discovers things about herself—and her newfound friends—that she never realized before.

“The Ghost of Goon Creek” emits such campfire story vibes that I wanted to break out the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. I loved the transformative journey Sydney goes on throughout the story as she learns that there’s more to everyone than how they may seem at school. Zappia’s story ended the anthology, and it left me with such warm feelings of hope. Sydney may not be like everyone else, but as she discovers at the cemetery, there is no one “right” way to be.

Meanwhile, Silverman’s story “Creature Capture” takes readers back to the hey-days of Pokémon Go with a super cool game called Creature Capture where players capture mythological creatures. As a huge fan of mythology, I wish I could play this game! The story centers around Abby Kleinman who’s been playing Creature Capture for years, even though it’s no longer that popular anymore. She’s self-conscious about how much she plays it instead of “chilling” like everyone else her age, but she just needs one more creature to complete her index. Unfortunately for her, Loch Ness Monsters are hard to catch, so she teams up with her best friend Curtis, a new friend Emily, and Emily’s little sister. As the night wears on with no sign of a Loch Ness Monster, Abby has to decide what’s more important: trying to fit in and losing a part of herself or being who she is unapologetically.

I needed this story. Silverman expertly combines the fun of Creature Capture with Abby learning to accept herself, and it’s just perfect. We can all get in our heads, wondering how people see us and what they think of us, but as Emily tells Abby: “‘We’re all too focused being worried about what people think of us to spend time judging others, you know? So, like screw it. Be who you are.’” And as Abby responds, “‘That’s weirdly comforting.’” Silverman’s story is perfect for those nostalgic for Pokémon Go or for those—like myself—who need just a little boost of self-esteem mixed with adventure.

“Sunrise blooms in rose and tangerine, sweeping the purple from the sky. A golden sun backlights all the buildings until they’re only fuzzy, dark silhouettes. It’s all a cruel reminder that morning is here.” -“Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters

One of the best elements of Up All Night is the mix of genres. While most reside solidly on the contemporary side of YA, some—like “Under Our Masks” by Julian Winters—stretch the boundaries of YA by adding a little bit of magic. In “Under Our Masks,” the protagonist, known to everyone at school as Tristan Jackson, has a secret second identity: Raven, a superhero with powers “only slightly above human standards.” No one except his family knows his true identity, which is how Tristan ends up on an all-night stake-out for Raven with the boy he has a crush on. As the night goes on, Arash and Tristan bond over food and homework, but with morning approaching, Tristan must decide how much he wants to reveal to keep Arash in his life.

With a cute romance, an endearing protagonist, and superhero shenanigans, “Under Our Masks” is the story I didn’t know I needed. But don’t let the cuteness fool you. Winters also includes some discussions on deeper topics that many teens face. “People expect us to take off our masks and reveal our secret identities so they can decide if we’re heroes or villains,” Tristan says as he’s deciding whether or not to come out to Arash. Yes, Tristan has to deal with superhero problems most teens don’t, but the heart of this story is in Tristan realizing that there is more to him than a boy with a few supernatural abilities.

And speaking of abilities, hats off to Amanda Joy for her phenomenal story “Kiss the Boy!” Classes have just ended for the seniors at Hoffman High, and class president Ayana Parker has a plan for Senior Game Night. Her two best friends are holding her to completing a promise they made as freshmen to pick out a boy and kiss him by the end of their senior year, and now Ayana is the only one left who has yet to do so. But we all know what happens with the best laid plans, and soon it’s up to Ayana alone to face her fears or leave high school behind without trying.

“Kiss the Boy” is swoony, fun, and somehow made me nostalgic for those final days of high school. Senior Game Night sounds like an absolute blast, and I wish I could pop into the pages to play a few games myself. But it’s Ayana’s character that really takes the prize in this one. Classic overachiever but also nervous introvert, Ayana has to conquer her fears in order to have a chance with her crush, Khalil. As an overachiever and introvert myself, I really connected to her and appreciated how Joy chose to write her character. Overall, this story is cute, enjoyable, and perfect for those just graduating high school or those nostalgic for it.

“I don’t want more of the same. I want something risky and untested, and I want to face it unafraid.” -“When You Bring a Dog to Prom” by Anna Meriano

We can’t complete a discussion of this fantastic anthology without talking about the wonderful representation within. Almost every single story includes representation of BIPOC characters, queer characters, disabled characters, and more. I especially appreciated the disability and queer representation in the stories “When You Bring a Dog to Prom” by Anna Meriano and “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley.

“When You Bring a Dog to Prom” is about…well, prom. Right off the bat, protagonist Noemi lets us know that she’s aware school dances are full of “compulsory heterosexuality,” but her best friend Jayla is super excited about prom. Noemi is sort of looking forward to it too, until she learns that her date has ditched her to go to the queer anti-prom with his boyfriend and that her other best friend—aka Jayla’s twin brother and Noemi’s unrequited crush Jayden—has decided to bring someone as well: Dodge Jenkins who has an emotional support golden retriever. Prom hijinks ensue, and Noemi has to decide how far into the spotlight she’s willing to go with her heart on the line.

This story has it all: disability, queer, and BIPOC representation. Meriano handles it all beautifully, and I just have to say for the record that I really want to meet Suka the golden retriever. I love how the friend group in this story is so understanding of each other, and Noemi’s very real worries about how they will all change when they graduate high school hit me hard. But once again, this story is full of amazing messages. “I didn’t ruin everything,” Noemi says. “I messed up, but my mistakes aren’t permanent… Maybe I should trust myself a little more.” And I think we can all learn a lesson from that.

I saved one of the best for last. If you’re looking for a feel-good, break-out-the-hot-cocoa, best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type of story, “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” by Kayla Whaley is for you. It features Eleanor who uses a wheelchair and works in her best friend’s mom’s flower shop. What should be just a normal winter day in Atlanta suddenly turns into the snowstorm of the decade, and Eleanor ends up alone in the flower shop with only her ex-best friend and crush, Owen, for company. As the snow keeps falling and the power goes out, Eleanor learns that there’s more to the story when it comes to Owen and their past.

Reading this story made me feel like I too was in the middle of a record-breaking snowstorm, even though it’s sweltering here in sunny Arizona. Whaley’s writing is so immersive, and I absolutely loved the super-cute romance. As I mentioned before, the representation is also freaking amazing. “Old Rifts and Snowdrifts” includes both disability and queer representation in the protagonist, as well as BIPOC representation with a side character. Like I said, freaking amazing.

“It’s a start. And the sun rises and warms us.” -“A Place to Start” by Nina LaCour

Just as night turns to day, so too must this blog come to an end. Moral of the story: read Up All Night, and when you do, expect the unexpected. Everything about the secret hours between dusk and dawn is unexpected, from a scavenger hunt between friends to exploring an old asylum to whispered secrets in line the night before a convention. All that and more lies between the pages of this book, so do yourself a favor and find a copy right away.

And don’t forget: to get the best reading experience possible, you have to stay up all night.

Content Warnings for Up All Night: Parental abuse, strong language, murder, ableism, blood, divorce, infidelity, anxiety, car accident, depression, underage drinking, death of a loved one, racism, homophobia, sexism, dismemberment

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

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[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many reasons to burn that midnight oil. Maybe you want an evening filled with drinking games, bonfires, or scavenger hunts. Perhaps the night is spent waiting in line for a fan convention, chasing virtual creatures, hunting ghosts, or exploring abandoned buildings. Those late night hours could also be used to get that first kiss, make new friends, say goodbye to old friends, or mend relationships. What would you do if you were up all night?

I don’t know if I have changed or anthologies are just getting better, but I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I admit, I was drawn to it due to the stellar line-up of authors involved. I have read work from most of the authors in the past, so I was confident I would like many of the stories, and I was right.

I honestly believe there is something for everyone in this collection. Not only did the authors feature a wide range of diverse characters, the stories were very diverse in genre as well. Karen McManus left me with my mouth gaping at the end of her mini-mystery, while Tiffany D. Jackson left me in tears. Julian Winters‘ story put a big stupid grin on my face(as his stories always do), and Laura Silverman‘s Pokemon Go inspired hunt made me warm and fuzzy.

Sort of surprising, but not wholly based on my love of contemporary romance, two of my favorite stories were from new-to-me authors. Amanda Joy‘s grad night kiss-pact fulfillment tale was so cute and fun. I absolutely loved it! Kayla Whaley‘s story of being snowed in with your former best friend/crush was also a winner. It checked every box for me. Adorable, sweet, and who doesn’t love the snowed-in trope. Seriously, I adored every line of this story. Both these authors impressed me, and I look forward to reading more of their work.

Overall: A solid collection of stories to keep you up all night.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

rep:
Never Have I Ever by Karen McManus: East Asian American side character, South Asian American side characters
Like Before by Maurene Goo: Korean American mc, lesbian side character
Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley: bi disabled mc, Japanese American li
Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp: sapphic mc, nonbinary li(?)
Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy: Black mcs, gay side characters, side m/m
Creature Capture by Laura Silverman: Jewish bi mc
Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson: Black mc, biracial li
A Place to Start by Nina LaCour: lesbian character, bi character, side f/f, nonbinary character
When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano: Latina mc, Filipino American li, Filipino American bi side character, nonbinary side character, side f/nb, gay side character
What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert: Black mc
Under Our Masks by Julian Winters: Black gay mc, Indian American gay li
The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesca Zappia: Arab American side character

tw:
Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp: child sexual abuse, domestic abuse
Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson: infidelity, car crash
Missing by Kathleen Glasgow: death of a parent, self harm