Oh this was so lovely! It definitely gave me House in the Cerulean Sea vibes, but with witches instead. Always love a good found family trope, and it's strong in this book. Mika thinks she can go on living her life without any connection or relationships, but the little family at the Nowhere House shows her that's not true. 

The characters were absolutely the best part about this book, but the magic and the magic system was also so interesting. Plus, the sunshine witch falls in love with a grumpy librarian? Sign me up.

If you're looking for a cozy fantasy featuring found family to read as the weather gets colder, I definitely recommend this one!

I'm glad I re-read this one in particular because we get the description of Haymitch's Games in this one, so they'll be fresh in my mind for Sunrise on the Reaping. Also all of the hints we get about his past seem devastating, so I'm sure that book will also be devastating. But also, when is a Hunger Games book not devastating? 
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This is a lot of people's favorite book in the trilogy, and I can definitely see why. It drives the story forward in a way that a lot of people weren't expecting. I still remember reading this for the first time and being absolutely shocked; I read the entire book in one night. Having that cliffhanger ending was the worst at the time, because it's such a great ending, but you need to know what happens next. Very much like the Scythe trilogy from Neal Shusterman. They both definitely have you hooked.

Other than the fact that I felt like this needed to be a tad longer (the storylines felt like they moved too quickly), I enjoyed this! The art was fun, the characters were relatable and well developed, and there are plenty of teens who will definitely relate to this story. I would definitely read more from Kate Leth!

It did feel like there was a lot jam packed into this fairly short book, so I think either cutting some of that out or expanding the book would have helped some of the plot lines breath a bit more. Especially since the book felt like it ended a tad abruptly. Nevertheless, a good story and good art will always win out!

After years of working in the music industry, Colton Gentry finally got a break opening for big country star Brant Lucas. Mostly thanks to his country star wife, but still. However, having lost his best friend Duane in a mass shooting a few weeks earlier, he’s not at his best. With the help of alcohol, Colton makes his thoughts on guns known in front of a sold-out crowd. Which isn’t exactly the place to talk about gun control.

Overnight, Colton not only loses his music contracts, but also his wife. Now, he’s back in his Kentucky hometown trying to put the pieces back together. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself face-to-face with his high school sweetheart–who also offers him a job at her new farm-to-table restaurant. Will he be successful this time?

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner! A rare adult fiction review from me, purely because I absolutely love Jeff Zentner. And I was definitely going to jump on the chance to read his book early!

If you enjoy Zentner’s YA stuff, you’ll definitely enjoy his jump into adult fiction. His poetic writing style is one of my favorite things about his books, and it’s on full display in this book. There are just some gorgeous lines that hit right at the emotions the characters are feeling like: “Grief is an arsonist, stealing in under cover of dark to reduce you to ashes” and “Silence is fertile soil for grief to grow like creeping vines and cover you up.” 

Characters are another thing that Zentner excels at, and your heart will ache for Colton right from the first page. Including flashbacks not only helps you to get his whole story, but also the other characters who play a major role in his life. What I appreciated about this book is that it shows that it’s never too late to start over; especially if you have people who are in your corner.

Also, much appreciated for the footnotes that assure you that Petey (the dog) will not die by the end of the book. In comparison to Zentner’s other books, this one is definitely not quite as sad, though that doesn’t mean you won’t feel a spectrum of emotions while reading it. Colton has plenty of ups and downs, but the running current through it all is hope. Hope that things will look up eventually.

All in all, Zentner’s foray into adult fiction is definitely a success, and I can’t wait for other people to read this book next spring!

I have definitely read this book more than 3 times, and each time I'm reminded as to why it stands up so much better than other YA dystopia at the time. Katniss is not the most likable protagonist, but her narration makes the story so engaging. Plus, a lot of the issues hit on in this book are still very applicable today, and I think that's why people return to it over and over again.

This was one of the books that I included in my MA thesis way back when, and there are still things I notice while reading that I either forgot or didn't notice in previous reads. From a gender theory perspective (which is part of what I did my thesis on), Katniss is such a fascinating character. And man, do I miss that kind of academic writing. I'll have to find a way to get back into it somehow!

Anyway, all this just to say: this book series will definitely forever be one of my favorites. If you haven't read it yet, the new movie coming out might just make it the perfect time!

I absolutely think there is so much in this book that teens will relate to, from the crushes to the changing friendships to the insecurities about how you look. Plus, the combo illustration and text format is not one that you see often in YA, but is wildly popular in chidlren's fiction and middle grade. It could be a good gateway into YA for tweens who are into that, especially since the protagonist is on the younger side (being 15).

I have seen this book classified as a graphic novel a lot, and I don't think it qualifies as that. Phoebe Wahl's illustrations are great, and do add to the overall story in diary format. There's a lot to like here, and I honestly hope we get more YA books in this kind of format.

If you're looking for a YA horror that will appeal to the younger side of the YA market, this is definitely the book for you. It's more of a thriller with ghost elements, with social justice themes woven throughout. I appreciated the fact that the main characters were trying to fight the fact that the haunted house was using Indigenous culture. Bringing attention to the fact that so many Indigenous women go missing and no one really fights for them.

This is a pretty quick read, and definitely one that will leave you thinking. It is a bit slow moving in parts, but I think that's purposeful. Makes you slow down and think about the message behind the story. All in all, not a bad book if you're looking for a book on the lighter side of horror.

Wade usually finds himself in the spotlight, so when he’s passed over for the lead in the school musical, he’s shocked. Especially because his ex-boyfriend gets the part instead of him. Meanwhile, Elijah is used to blending into the background. In an effort to make more friends, he joins the stage crew for the musical.

After a mishap backstage, Elijah asks Wade for help in being more outgoing. In exchange, Wade realizes he can use it as an opportunity to get his ex-boyfriend back. But as the two boys start spending more time together, they realize that there might just be a spark there. 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and Balzer + Bray for an advanced copy of My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy to review! I was definitely in the mood for a cute little rom-com, and this book definitely fits the bill. Especially if you’re a theater nerd! You’ll love all the little references scattered throughout this book.

Kennedy does a pretty good job showing character growth, through our main characters Elijah and Wade. At the beginning, Elijah is just a timid cinnamon roll of a character, desperate to make friends but extremely socially awkward. You’ll just want to wrap him in a hug. Wade, on the other hand, is on the more self-centered side, but as you get to know him, you realize there’s a reason for it. They’re both just really well-developed, and you know I love a good, well-developed character.

In addition to Elijah and Wade, the side characters fill out the cast pretty well too. I think Wade’s friends are a bit more developed than Elijah’s, but chalk that up to the fact that overall, we hang out with them more.

This book does hit a lot of your typical romance beats, pretty well for the most part. My only complaint really is that I wanted to feel a little more of the romance for Elijah from Wade. Something about it didn’t feel quite all the way there, and just a few more details really would have pushed it over the edge.

Overall, if you’re looking for a sunshine romance to combat winter, definitely pick this one up when it comes out in January! 

I'm not sure how to rate this book, honestly. On the one hand, there are some absolutely beautiful quotes throughout this book, and it's sort of meta in the way it's commenting on literature analysis. As a literature major, I definitely enjoyed that about the story. Effy and Preston have some great conversations about literature and what it means to them.

However, the world-building is a bit confusing. It's hard to follow at the beginning and took awhile for me to gte into it. I also wish there had been a map included, because they talk about going all these places, but I couldn't really get an orientation for where they were going. Even by the end, the overall world was still a bit unclear to me.

The romance also could have used a bit more development, which might have been because the timeline was also a bit unclear. But! If you're looking for a very atmospheric, dark academia kind of fantasy that's more focused on the academic aspect, this book might be for you.

Finally picked this one up since the companion just came out! It's been on my to-read list for a while, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. If you want pirate sapphic fantasy, this is definitely the book for you! It has a little bit of everything you could want in a sea fantasy book: magic, mermaids, sea fighting, epic ships. Plus a little bit of romance.

The world-building was so interesting, with a lot of small details adding to this world Tokuda-Hall has created. And the characters were just as well-developed. I appreciated the way that this book also focused on figuring out your identity and finding your way in the world. While the pacing felt off a couple of times, for the most part, I didn't particularly mind. I was hooked until the end and can't wait to see what the next book brings!