I Wish My Words Tasted Better

by Kris Abel-Helwig, Cori Tanner (editor), Mikesch Muecke (editor)

2020 SPARK Honor Award for excellence in independent publishing for children, in the Novel category, I WISH MY WORDS TASTED BETTER is 82k words, most of them delicious. Impetuous Sofi, a sarcastic seventeen-year-old military brat is on a Road To Redemption Tour. Her best friend Shelley has mapped out their adventure, knowing Alex, who's frustrated by his attraction to Sofi despite her past indiscretions, is key to Sofi's journey. After a bumpy start, friendship switches gears fueled by witty banter on the dance floor and lacrosse field. On a semester abroad in England, Sofi takes a dangerous detour. An exciting sting and upbeat playlist enhance this fast-paced, fun-filled, meet-cute adventure. Second in the Hero Series, the trilogy final, MY WINGS AREN'T READY TO FLY, is now available on Amazon!

Genres: Romance, Fiction

316 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2023

About the author

Kris Abel-Helwig is the author, graphic designer, photographer, and illustrator of multiple picture books and young adult novels. Fictional characters inhabit her dreams and haunt her nightmares. Their stories emerge while swimming laps, walking pups, and drinking espresso. Substitute teaching inspired her young adult Hero series, including the award-winning I WISH MY WORDS TASTED BETTER. Her newest endeavor, a captivating modern crime fiction novel, RULE OF ODDS: FRESH CUT, is about a twenty-five-year-old crime scene photographer with botanical knowledge who is drawn into the hunt for a serial killer that leaves victims clutching flowers with dark meanings.

Originally from Illinois, she and her husband Mike have moved coast to coast and many states in between. They now live on the side of a mountain in Colorado with a herd of animals and look forward to visits from their three sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandkids, and friends near and far. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, a benign brain tumor in 2022, and breast cancer again in 2026, she advocates early detection, aggressive treatments, and thriving happily ever after...

Reviews

[GHawkinson]

Kris Abel-Helwig has continued her writing prowess in the second book of her Heroes series, by upping her game with I Wish My Words Tasted Better. Fade to Black & White, Heroes Series Book One, was a great debut but this companion title raises the bar. It focuses on shiny, pink & sparkly Sofi Halsted, younger sister of lacrosse legend Jason from Book One, as she rockets through the last two years of her high school experience. The characters are three-dimensional and relatable, each with moments of angst, failures, flaws, caring, silliness and resilience.

Kris weaves the story line with great care including pairing a song that serves as a counterpart to each chapter. The playlist is perfect for detailing the emotions of the story, plus dancing, more dancing & road trips. (It’s available on Spotify - access details included in the book) I enjoyed her use of realistic teenage sarcasm, quick wit and puns in the narrative as well as her weaving subtle variations of the interesting title throughout. Her description of school life via academics, athletics, volunteerism and social activities allows readers to be absorbed into the highs & lows of high school culture. Her inclusion of Shakespearean quotes and students using the school library was also a brilliant strategy (at least in the opinion of this retired school librarian;)

I Wish My Words Tasted Better offered me emotional connections with the characters. I laughed out loud, cried tears of loss and felt the nerves of excitement, fear, tension and the stress of next steps for the friends I had made. Read this novel and be uplifted! Enjoy!

Glenda, Retired High School Librarian

[PAL]

I Wish My Words Tasted Better is filled with romance and wit that will delectably echo in your head long after you read it.” It's such a fun read! Super enjoyable! It's one of those books you are sorry when you have finished reading it because you want it to keep going.
P.S. The playlist is amazing!

[Chanelle Gruca]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway!

It was cute, and funny! Following a group of girls as they conquer high-school. Some parts seemed alittle off and hard to read due to the writing. But over well I enjoyed this and caught myself laughing more than I thought I would be!

[Kristine Keil]

A fun read! So fun to follow these friends along on their often confusing and hilarious high school journeys.

[Deishima]

I received this Kindle book through a Goodreads giveaway. I was not familiar with the author and did not realize this was #2 of a series but the author did an awesome job of writing that makes it as a standalone because the MC was a different character from the MC in the first book. The author focused on the MC in the second book with a tad mention of the first book’s characters but not to the point where I would feel lost since I didn’t read the first book

The book was a coming of age YA book and I laughed but this is the first book that brought tears to my eyes, too. There were experiences that touched my heart because of my own memories like being part of a high school team and the feeling of belonging with purpose. Community cheering you on and having pride knowing that you are part of your high school and community’s history. I remember the moments of being part of a choir and doing musicals. So much fun!! I connected with these characters.

I give a 4 star because sometimes the writing lost its flow of transitions; yet, I understood it is coming from a teenager’s mind which can be all over the place, but other than that, I enjoyed this book.

Thank you for the opportunity by awarding me this book.

[Luc]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!!

[Marianne]

Kris is an amazing writer/storyteller who creates characters that immediately draw you in and make you want to go on their journey. There is a sophistication to her young adult fiction that makes her books a must read for all ages.

[Kiley Pautzke]

I read the first book and LOVED it. I didn't get this one for a while after I finished the first which made it hard to track at first. I think this book is great for a lot of readers and I truly enjoyed reading it! Well done! :)

[Leslie]

We read this YA book for a club I'm in. The characters were very well developed and I enjoyed the witty dialogue and event/situation descriptions.

[Melissa Sly]

A fun positive read for young adults. Lots of witty banter and surprises as Sofi and the cast of characters maneuver high school and evolve into better people.