Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc for an honest review. 

In the conclusion to the Earthseed duology, Butler's work comes to life with unflinching social commentary that is ripe with parallels of our time. 
 
There was SO many passages I wanted to highlight. So many scenes that I see and feel mirror the reality of our time. My heart was heavy while my mind raced with how dangerously close we are in a religious fascist regime. Lauren is fierce fmc. Unforgettable, resolute, and strong. She is unlike anyone you'll ever meet, and be the blueprint to finding solace in one's belief in the goodness and partnership of community. 
 
Beautifully illustrated, if you find yourself wanting to read the text and can't, this is the perfect supplement to start your journey of reading Butler's work. 

Say You'll Remember Me is a love story for the ages.
 
How can anyone forget the first time that Xavier set eyes on Samantha? I mean, I definitely won't! And neither did Xavier. Their meeting rockets them through a romance, starting with an unforgettable first date that lasts hours with neither party wanting it to end. They try to forget one another, but there is an unexplainable force, pulling them together even when they are thousands of miles apart. It's a spark that ignites one of my favorite love story's to date. 
 
I struggled with the Rhys comment, especially because it reminded me of the last season of Love is Blind when one cast member mentioned they looked like Megan Fox ... it's the same kind of energy. I would have liked to imagine Xavier in my own way and not another bookish character. Additionally, even though there was a content warning regarding the animal abuse/harm, it was still EXTREMELY difficult due to the level of detail that I was just not expecting. Because of this topic, it was difficult to fully be emotionally invested in this story, and due to this wariness, I did not feel the full weight of emotions for the main characters. It would have been a perfect 5 star read if I had cried like I have cried for all the books in the Part of Your World series. 
 
Even so, I still very much enjoyed this love story with highly memorable mcs and pets! 
 
CWs: mentions of animal abuse/harm, childhood abuse, loss of a family member, dementia + role of caretaker, allegations of cheating partner 

A queer YA enemies to lovers that will have you crying and laughing and be envious of all the food mentions. 

Told from both Theo's and Gabi's perspective, Café Con Lychee is a fun, drama filled story of two families and their rival shops. But when their shops are threatened by a fusion cafe, Theo and Gabi join forces to save their respective family businesses. As they spend time together, they realize that maybe they never really hated one another at all. 
 
I really liked watching Theo x Gabi's relationship unfold. They learned so much of from one another and found solace in each other. Neither of their family life was perfect, and at times, it was really heavy on my heart to read about the homophobia they each experienced. And I love how it's called out and later transformed to love. 
 
 It ends on a sweet and uplifting note for the HEA lovers out there. 

A heartfelt story of belonging and found family. 
 
The colors for this graphic are fantastic and Rebis literally pops off the page with coloring that defines them well as an albino kid. When we first meet our titular character, their name is different and they are ostracized by the town and their father for being different. Upon a chance meeting in the woods, Rebis meets Viviana, who instantly takes a liking to the small child, granting them a safe place to exist. As time passes, Rebis and Viviana form a bond that will test the bounds of blood as they form their own family unit, doing whatever it takes to keep one another safe. 
 
The story ends with a slight cliffhanger that may signal for more to come. And if so, sign me up for the next installment! 

Another sweet and inclusive graphic novel hit from K. O'Neill. 
 
I absolutely adore O'Neill's work. They navigate identity with so much care and authenticity. It's subtle yet packs a punch full of meaning and belonging. It's these kinds of stories that make the reader feel. 
 
12/10 recommend. 

A sweet queer retelling set in 19th c England. 
 
I love that this is an ode to Jane Austen, but make it queer! The style and color pop off the page with vibrant hues reminiscent of the era. Queer teens will love being seen in this one, knowing that they have always existed.