Okay I loved this. Yes, some of the time jumps were weird, because at points I was like, how did you do so much in so little time?? I didn't actually realize that much time was passing. Which also could have been because I was listening to the audiobook. But Alice felt so real, and her struggles with her sexuality also felt real. And Takumi! Her relationship with Takumi was adorable. I loved it. 

This was quite lovely! As a lover of baking competitions, this was a fun sort of behind the scenes look at what might happen on your favorite British baking show. Rosaline was my absolutely favorite, and Harry! He was such a sweetheart. I've only read one other Alexis Hall book, but he is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, I think!

Honestly, I'm really unsure how to rate this book. There were good moments, but also a lot of moments that just made me cringe. There is *a lot* of transphobia in this book, and for the most part, it's just kind of brushed aside? Mostly, it's the adult figures I had a problem with. Jules' mom masquerades as being supportive, but she most definitely is not. I just wanted to speed through every single scene with her because it was just...bad.

The reception of this book is really divisive, and I totally get why. As a cis person, I recommend scrolling through and reading some of those reviews. Also be warned that this is being marketed as a romance, but the romance definitely takes more of a backseat to the rest of the issues presented in the book. 

Basically, I'm not sure who I recommend this book to, but it would be an in the moment type of book. I don't know! I will say, the narrators for the audiobook do an excellent job bringing these characters to life.

This was so lovely! All of the characters drew you in, there were a lot of great discussions, and the flow and art worked well together. I read the entire thing in one sitting, and I definitely want more! I absolutely can't wait to see where this story goes from here.

 Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for an advanced copy of this to review! I thoroughly enjoyed the first volume in this series, so I was excited to jump into Quin's latest adventures. And it didn't disappoint!

What I liked about this volume was the way history was tied into this story. Specifically, a history I don't think is talked about a lot in comic form. Voodoo is always seen as such a negative thing, and Barnes really worked to provide a different angle. Honestly, this is woven seamlessly into the plot line, and it worked so well with Quin's own journey. I enjoyed that this book turns the focus from activism to cultural history. I'm excited to see where they go next.

The art in this is also really well done! The way it's used to tell the difference between dreams, reality, and history works so well. It also helps in telling Quin's story and setting the stage for his place in New Orleans. The art and writing work well together in telling this superhero story.

However, I did find myself a bit confused at the beginning. Until I re-read a summary of the first volume. I will say, it might be helpful to refresh your memory of the first volume so this doesn't happen to you! The beginning sequence seems to be a flashback of some kind, and that might help to know when you're diving into this one!

All in all, a good follow up for a promising comic series! 

So this is one of those books where you're dropped into this new world without much context and you get the details the further you get into the story. Let me just say that this works extremely well for this story, particularly for the driving mystery between the two sisters. 

I desperately want someone I know to finish this book because I want to discuss it with someone! Much of this dystopian world that He has created is based on climate change and the fact that humanity is to blame for the destruction of the planet. This could have gotten too heavy handed, but I think it blended well with Kasey and Cee's own storylines. It's because of the state of the world that they're in the situation they're in, and while you think you might know what's going on, you probably don't. Or, you at least don't know the whole story.

Fair warning, this book might also break your heart. That ending! I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time, and it's also a book that would benefit from a re-read because I'm sure there's stuff I missed. I didn't want to put this book down the further I got into it because I needed to know what was going to happen next. 

I know this book is hit or miss for some people, but it was definitely a hit for me. Now I just need to find someone else to read it and discuss! Maybe I'll suggest it at my next book club. 

I will say, listening to this wasn't the best idea because I found it a little hard to follow in the beginning. Though that might also be because it's been forever since I read The Raven Cycle. But Ronan is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed getting to see his world expanded. And I'll still probably read the rest of the trilogy when they come out! I'm intrigued to see what happens next.

 Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! While short story collections can be hit or miss for me, it helped that this included so many of my favorite authors. Each story brings something different to the table. But, I enjoyed how they were all connected, too.

This is a quick read, and it’s one you very well could read in one sitting. I know I almost did! I enjoyed the fact that Tiffany D. Jackson's story “The Long Walk” bookended the entire collection. It definitely helped in creating transitions and connecting all of the stories. Nic Stone’s “Mask Off” is a second favorite, though. I love how she captured the voice in that story.

Additionally, even though these are short stories, the characters fill the pages. As someone who is a character reader, I appreciated the fact that each story had characters that leapt off the page. They have all this stage of New York, but they aren't swallowed up by their setting. Likewise, each author plays off each other to create an interwoven story that's contagious.

What’s also great about this book is the way it presents different paths to love. The presentation of romance has such variety! And probably something for everyone! This is very much a book about love and joy, and that’s just what we need right now. Honestly, this is the perfect time for this book to come out! If you're making a summer TBR, this book should definitely be on it.

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Okay, this was great! I loved the way the stories worked together. Stay tuned for a full review next week!

This may be a short book, but it packs a punch for sure. Bug is the sweetest main character, trying to solve the mystery behind Uncle Roderick staying behind as a ghost. Not only is this a book about ghosts, it is also a book about grief, about finding your identity, and of course, about the transition to middle school. All of the characters in this were great, and the character arcs were well done. This will be a great book to put in any middle grade readers' hands.

 Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this to review! I’ve enjoyed the other Leah Thomas books I’ve read, so I was excited to dig into this one. Just be warned, this book does deal with a lot of heavy topics like: sexual assault, domestic abuse, rape, murder, addiction, suicide, deadnaming, child abuse, and child death. And just death in general. This is definitely one of those books that you’ll want to pay attention to trigger warnings for.

Despite the heavy nature of the book, the characters stand out to me. Not only does Dani have depth, but so do the two ghosts he befriends. One of my favorite things in the book was his evolving relationship with Seiji. Like Dani, Seiji is just misunderstood and accepts Dani as Dani figures out who he is. Their relationship grew into such a supportive one, and I loved seeing it unfold in the book.

While I loved the characters and the relationships, the pacing did feel a bit off to me. The beginning felt especially slow, and it took me a while to really get into the book. Once we meet Patricia and start getting into ghost mystery solving, the book picks up its pace. It doesn’t necessarily get easier to read, but the story feels more engaging.

As far as the representation goes, I will leave that to trans reviewers (you can read one here). Most of the time, it wasn’t explored a lot unless it related specifically to the plot.

All in all, I’m here for the relationships and the ghostly-ness of this book. I would probably only recommend it to certain people, due to the trauma involved, but it can be a helpful metaphor for that. 

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This is a seriously heavy book, and it took me a little to get into it. Stay tuned for a full review to come on Thursday!