I love a cute librarian book!

This was a fine YA thriller that teens may enjoy. 

For me, I thought the premise was interesting and not something I’ve read a ton in for YA, but the execution was just meh. I also felt like the main romance felt really forced. It was kind of a bummer book for me, but, again, I think teens may still enjoy it.

Thought-provoking moments for relationships after high school, health and safe sexual relationships, and how to prioritize yourself while still being in a healthy partnership. 

Looking forward to volume 6!

Next time you are in the mood for a quirky, outrageous contemporary with a dash of light romance, you should absolutely consider picking up You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan.

Telemarketer Vanessa Blair is called into her boss’s office to find out that she is being fired. The reason? Her face…her boss feels that Vanessa’s RBF and “dark soul” are going to drag the company down, not taking into account her stellar sales numbers and the fact that she put up with all the unique office events.

When another colleague is fired and a third knows she’s on her way out, the trio drunkenly agree to seek revenge and gain justice. Their inspiration? The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Insert a cat-loving unemployment representative, a gang of crime-busting Bridge players, and a house full of calico kittens. Chaos ensues.

I had fun reading this one! I was laughing out loud, rolling my eyes and 🤮 over Xavier Adams, and cheering on the team of women determined not to be undermined.

I recently finished this one for a book club. Were the events in the book wildly unrealistic? Sure. But it was a wild ride I’m glad I picked up!

This was a phenomenal YA book celebrating aro/ace characters while also being funny and witty. 

We need more books with aro and/or ace rep, and I am so happy this one exists. 

I felt seen. I felt heard. I hope this makes many readers feel the same way. 

I am hoping to get my hands on a physical copy to annotate and have a more thought-out review soon 😅

While two college freshmen begin forming a meaningful friendship, they never suspect either could be involved in their online feud. A lovely story with platonic friendship and aro/ace main characters that is fun and witty.  

Another book I wanted so much more from. 

Historical fantasy sounded great, but there was so much telling and not a whole lot of showing. I wanted more about the booksellers. I wanted more about the magical creatures. Instead, it just seemed to be a whole lot of traveling and planning. 

I was super excited to dive into this book. Dark retelling. Group therapy. But…it all just felt flat. I didn’t feel like I got enough of each character to invest in them. I feel like a story or two could have honestly been left out with how little it impacted the plot. A neat concept with poor execution. 

I enjoyed Lynn Painters YA novels better, but this is a fine light romance! 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Similarly to what a lot of other folks have said, I have struggled in the past to really engage with and enjoy anthologies. For the most part, I feel like it’s because I don’t get enough of the story and am left with more questions than I want. 

The Black Girl Survives in This One, though…my attention was held. I was engaged in almost every single story as the authors wrote just enough to develop characters and build a plot while keeping the stories to short-story length. 

The stories are mainly creepy with some body horror and medical horror. It’s a good mix that keeps each story unique.

I also need to take a moment for the cover of this work. A+.