I don't quite know what to think about this book. I'm not a horror buff by any means, and I frequently avoid horror movies and the like. I decided to try this out, though, because the premise seemed interesting, and I love a good mystery. 

I liked the first half of the book a lot more than the later half - and that has to do with plot rather than writing or pacing. I will say there were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing what was going on. But I didn't really like Lynnette, the main character much. I don't think I ever really felt connected to her (which, is probably a good thing, considering what she went through), but it made it hard for me to root for her. I honestly couldn't tell if this was an unreliable narrator situation, which was fun in a way, I suppose. 

There were moments that caught me off guard, that I felt were a bit too graphic for my taste - but that's honestly just my taste. Again, I don't really do horror/gore, but for those that don't mind it would probably enjoy that aspect of this book.

I'm finishing this book with a weird feeling, like it's not quite done? I'll at least say that it's going to stay with me for a while.

Things got a little deeper in this volume of Giant Days, which lent itself to greater character arcs and development. 

I love reading about Daisy, Susan, and Esther. They are such different people and personalities, but they mesh together so well. I love the illustrations and the quips and wittiness of the stories. I’m looking forward to continuing the series. 

Reread of Giant Days 2! I’m still loving these characters and the growth they’ve had even from just vol 1. It’s funny and I’ve definitely snorted a couple times while laughing. 

Ready to read vol 3 now! 

Reread of Giant Days! I’m starting the series over, and i love it so much. I love these characters and how different they are. The illustrations are so great, and the wittiness and humor of the situations and characters are amazing. 

I’m looking forward to Daisy’s journey to find her identity. 

 SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO 2022: ESTABLISHED COUPLE

I love the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, and I love Legend of Korra. This was a great continuation of the series and world I love so much. I'm overjoyed at the relationship of Korra and Asami as well. It was a very short story, and I'm interested in reading the next parts, so there's not much to go on at the moment. I'm interested in this new villain and the rising conflict of the new portal into the spirit world.

 SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO 2022: SAPPHIC CLASSIC

Wow, this was a delight. I wasn't expecting much from this book, as I'm not one to read "classics", but this book just warmed my heart. The way the book is written makes you believe everyone in Whistlestop is a real person. When I had to stop the book, I found myself wanting to return to Whistlestop to see what Ruth and Stump and Idgey and Smokey Lonesome and Dot and everyone were up to. It was similar to the people in Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls in that everyone knew everyone and their own world was enough. I'm happy I got to be a part of their world.

 SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO 2022: MEET-CUTE

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night set in a high school that both magical fairies and humans attend and almost everyone is queer. I love the nods to Shakespeare's work with the names and magical elements. Vi is such a great character that goes through an endearing character arc in such a short time, but it's well done and well illustrated. I love the effortless bond of the friendships that form. 

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it didn’t disappoint! Jeannette is so honest in a refreshing way. Writing her story in this memoir must have been difficult, yet therapeutic, and you can tell. It’s well worded, well organized, and well depicted. She doesn’t shy away from the gross and abusive situations in her childhood and life, which ends up shining an enlightening realization on the hard truth she eventually finds. I was so happy to read her journey and relate it to my own life. I’ll definitely be thinking of this book for a while. 

Read for Kid Book Club: Book with Snow on the Cover.

This is my first introduction to The Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly, and it reminded me of my childhood obsession with dragons. Reading this, I found myself slipping back into my obsession, and I loved it. 

I loved the different dragon characters, I love the illustrations, and I loved the story. The idea of a curse that only one person (or dragon) can cure, while pretty standard, is a great plot - easy to follow filled with anticipation. Ruskin was such a fun character with personality. I loved Groth as well - such a cute and harmless character you just want to give a big hug to. Cinder was the dragon I loved most - determined, responsible, passionate. 

I'm so invested in this story and what will happen next with the Witch Dragon. I was expecting this book to be a one-and-done for me, but I'm about to search out the next book now!

Read for Kid Book Club: Book with Snow on the Cover (#2)

Fans of Scooby-Doo will love this short holiday story. It's very plot-heavy, so there isn't much the characters give you (I would have loved to see more personalities from the gang. Even from Scooby - he never even ate a scooby snack!). It reads like a graphic novel with comic panels, and while the illustrations are a great representation of the hit tv show, it felt very forced and quick. Yes, this is for children, and a great book for helping them learn to read, but the plot points were just that...plot points. There were little to no "in between" panels that really helps create the atmosphere of a story. It honestly sounded like a child a created a story because the text had a very "then this happened. Then that happened. Then this happened" energy to it. There would be one panel where the evil snowman showed up, and then next panel would be a picture of the gang crashed into a pile of snow or something. It felt like there were missing panels. In this one, for instance, a chasing scene or a simple single panel of the snowman actually chasing them instead of the text telling us "then the snowman chased them into a snow pile".

That's just me being picky, though. It really is just a book for elementary school readers who love Scooby-Doo, and they will definitely like this holiday special story. It just could have been a little better and thought out a little more, in my opinion.