Reviews by betweentheshelves

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betweentheshelves

Incredible Doom

3.5

dark tense fast-paced

I really enjoyed the art in this, and it's nods to the beginning stages of the internet. The art really fits the overall tone of the story, with its sort of dark undertone. There were times that I wanted a bit more character development, but this is a first volume, so maybe we'll get it with time. I'm not sure about its overall appeal to teens, but the cover might make them pick it up!

Content Warnings

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This

Rachel Lynn Solomon

4.0

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Another adorable Jewish rom-com from the lovely Rachel Lynn Solomon. Stay tuned for a full review next week!

Content Warnings

The Girl from the Sea

Molly Knox Ostertag

4.5

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Oh I loved this so much! It's the perfect graphic novel to kick off Pride Month, since it comes out on June 1st. Ostertag's art style is just lovely, and the romance here was adorable. Honestly, summer is the absolute best time for this to come out. I might just have to buy it!

Jay's Gay Agenda

Jason June

4.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to HarperTeen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! I was looking for something fun to read to ring in June, and this was the perfect thing. A sex-positive gay rom-com perfect to kick off your Pride reading lists!

What I liked about this is the way that you can feel Jay’s emotions throughout this book. June does a great job writing his emotions and the way he reacts to everything. It feels real and authentic and I think it will resonate with a lot of teens. Jay fumbles his way through a lot of romantic firsts in a very teenage way.

The supporting characters also take the show in this book, especially Max. There’s a lot of diverse representation throughout, and there’s just as much emphasis on platonic relationships as there is romantic. There’s so much to love about the ways these characters interact.

The main reason this didn’t get five stars is because the book gets a bit repetitive at times, with the lists. COVID is also mentioned once, so it’s not really clear if that’s going on here? Maybe it will be taken out in the final copy.

All in all, if you’re looking for a funny, light-hearted gay summer romance, definitely check out this book!

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This is the gay summer rom-com we all needed. Sure it's not perfect, but it was fun! More in a review to come next week.

Content Warnings

The Gilded Ones

Namina Forna

4.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There is so much to love about this book! The world felt fresh to me, even if some of the tropes are repeats from other YA fantasies. Deka's voice was strong and really helped to carry the story. Even if the ending was slightly predictable for me, I didn't mind. The plot and the characters really helped to balance that out.

Content Warnings

Blue Flag, Vol. 3

Kaito

4.5

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

We pick up right where the last volume left off, and oh, my heart! Taichi needs all the hugs, and he knows Toma will forgive him. Futaba trying to help him is also so adorable. I love them and I need the next volume now!!

Content Warnings

Blue Flag, Vol. 2

Kaito

4.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow, this took a turn for the tragic there at the end. I didn't know this was going to get so emotional! I definitely feel like I'm getting to know the characters more in this book, and I love them so much. They tug at your heartstrings!

This Place: 150 Years Retold

David A. Robertson, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Jen Storm, Katherena Vermette, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Chelsea Vowel, Brandon Mitchell, Richard Van Camp, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sonny Assu

4.0

emotional informative fast-paced

Each of the stories in this book includes a timeline highlighting important events for the Native Canadian population, which means I learned a lot! This is a nonfiction graphic novel, so it reads different than fiction, which isn't a bad thing. For me, it just means slowing down to ensure that I really get everything that the book is offering.

For the most part, I enjoyed the art styles in this book and the writing helped in bringing these events to life. If you want to incorporate more Native history into a classroom, I think this book would work really well!

Content Warnings

King of Scars

Leigh Bardugo

3.5

adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Not my favorite Grishaverse novel (that still goes to Crooked Kingdom), but I like seeing what's happening with some of the characters after that! I'll admit, there's definitely a cliffhanger here and I've heard that Rule of Wolves is even better. My library copy needs to get in now so I can read it!!

Content Warnings

Ace of Spades

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

4.5

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of this to review! I know Ace of Spades is getting a lot of buzz, and definitely for good reason. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of this book, desperate to know what happens next!

If thrillers are what you like to read in the summer, this is definitely the one for you. This book gives me a little bit of One of Us I Lying vibes with the rumors swirling around the school. However, it gets a lot darker towards the end, especially since Àbíké-Íyímídé deals specifically with racism. This may be a fictional book, but it’s scary that it’s something you could likely see happening in the real world.

Àbíké-Íyímídé is skilled at pacing her book so that just when you think it’s over, it’s not. Something else happens. While there were elements of the mystery that I guessed, the way it unfolds makes up for it. Devon and Chiamaka both had unique voices, and even if they might not be the most likeable in the beginning, you’re rooting for them to uncover who’s been putting them in danger.

There are also some great side characters here that act as foils for our two main narrators. I think my only complaint would really be that I don’t think the epilogue was necessary. It could have ended before that, and I still would have been happy as a reader.

All in all, if you’re looking for your next thriller, definitely pick this one up June 1st!

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This was tense, twisty, and definitely gave me those <i>Get Out</i> vibes that were promised in the blurb. Stay tuned for a full review next week!

Content Warnings

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