Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho to review! One of the things that drew me to this graphic novel was the art on the cover by Deb JJ Lee. It is stunning, just like the art in the rest of the book. There are some truly beautiful panels in this book, even if the story itself isn’t always the most beautiful.

Reading this, you might think that it happened a long time ago, but it isn’t as long ago as you might think. Because North Korea is so closed off from the rest of the world, it isn’t focused on as much in history or social studies classes. Putting this story in graphic novel form definitely makes it accessible to teens, and the story is sure to hook you from the beginning.

The emotions throughout this journey also come through beautifully. It’s not an easy subject to tackle, and Cho and Lee do it in a way that is easily accessible for teens and adults alike. Definitely a heart-wrenching, gripping story you’ll want to have on your TBR! 
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Review to come!

We get more spy action in this one, which is always fun! Some of those sequences were a bit hard to follow, though, with Loid in disguise. There were definitely times I forgot which one was him. But all in all, not a bad volume! I loved the part where Yor got drunk and basically insisted on finding was to argue with Loid. 

This is such an interesting sci-fi, time travel, futuristic story, grounded in its characters. So much of Cherokee culture is imbedded into this story, and though it starts out slow, there are plot twists throughout that will definitely keep you hooked. The main focus is on community and relationships as the world starts to fall apart around them. If you like sci-fi, apocalyptic stories, definitely check this one out!

Just like the first volume, the drama and the secrets and the mysteries had me hooked from the beginning. Things start to slowly unfold in this one, but it definitely ends on a cliffhanger for the next one. There's such a strong cast of core characters as well. Maybe not always the most likable, but so fun to read about. Can't wait to see what happens in the next one!

This is such a good look at grief, the supernatural, and why people might look towards ghosts and other things when they lose a loved one. Natalie's emotional journey in this book is so strong, from thinking she's gotten over Imogen's death to realizing grief isn't a straight line. It's something that can come back in unexpected moments. 

In addition to Natalie, we also get to see Leander struggle with his own grief from his dad's death, leading to his own struggles with his mom. We got to see two different sides of the grief journey, and there are a lot of teens that will relate to both of them for different reasons.

I wasn't overly fond of the narrator for the audiobook, because it did take me out of the story at times. But besides that, definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a strong examination of grief.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this book!

If you like sort-of cheesy Christmas movies with a touch of deeper emotional connections, you'll definitely want to add this one to your holiday TBR. Lippincott and and Derrick are such a fabulous writing pair, and their books are always sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. So happy they decided to write a holiday themed romance!

The plot does follow your typical fake dating romance, but I loved how it allowed Arden and Caroline to reconnect throughout the story. It had been years since they had talked to each other, but their "fake" dates allowed them to revisit why they were such close friends in the first place. That is, close friends with something more simmering underneath.

As usual, Lippincott and Derrick have crafted well-rounded characters you'll fall in love with by the end of the book, as well as a cast of supporting characters that just make a fun, small town community. It's definitely a feel good holiday story, mixing Hanukkah and Christmas together in a town that's always enthusiastically celebrated Christmas.

As we move into the holiday season, definitely keep this one in mind for your winter TBRs!

Emily Lloyd-Jones doesn't disappoint, especially when it comes to folkloric, slightly dark fantasy. This one had a cast of fascinating characters and a hunt that takes some unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend the audiobook for this one, as the narrator does an absolutely fantastic job.

Thanks to Atheneum Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy of Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno to review. This book is marketed as Red, White & Royal Blue meets A Darker Shade of Magic, which sounded right up my alley. While it doesn't have the rivals to lovers vibes of Red, White & Royal Blue, it's a royalty romance with magic which I thoroughly enjoyed!

From the beginning, I fell in love with Edmund and Aubrey. They have some bumps in their relationship at the beginning, but they are so cute together. We flip between both of their points of views throughout the book, and getting to see each of them fall for each other adds to the overall romance. Though they're unsure about their future, the love they have for each other is clear.

However, their romance does take a bit of a backseat when war breaks out in their country. For that reason, I do wish that a map had been included because following some of the movements during the war was a tad confusing. We do get to see Edmund and Aubrey grow, coming into their powers and fighting for the greater good.

If you like more political fantasy with a strong core romance, definitely pick this book up! You'll be cheering for Edmund and Aubrey the entire way through. 

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Review to come!

Still lamenting the fact that Adrienne Tooley wrote a duology instead of a standalone. This wasn't a bad follow up to the first book, but it took me a while to get into it because I couldn't necessarily remember what happened. We got there by the end, though!

There are some twists and turns in the plot in this one, and I think I would have liked a little more from Elodie and Sabine's relationship. But Tooley digs into the emotional side of the conflict, and that was probably the best aspect of the book for me. All in all, not a bad duology!

This is a comprehensive look at the history of voting in the United States up to the present day. Dyson does a good job making connections between history and what's happening in present day United States. The overall tone is accessible to teens, and those interested in history and politics will definitely be drawn to this book.