Clementine Chang has landed her dream job on Mars with Dr. Marcella Lin, working on Artificial Intelligence. On her first day of work, she meets Dr. Lin’s AI assistant, Kye, who is modeled after humans. Clem is used to robots, but she can tell that there’s something different about Kye. Something that seems more human than most robots.

As Kye and Clem start to collaborate on a project, it’s clear that there is chemistry there. However, Dr. Lim isn’t happy about Kye’s new desire for independence and tries to interfere. But Kye also causes Clem to question everything she knows about AI. If Kye has emotions, where does that draw the line between AI and humans? And doesn’t that mean that Kye should be able to make his own choices?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu to review! Wendy Xu is a favorite graphic novel creator of mine, and I couldn’t wait to read this one. So happy that it lived up to all my expectations.

It feels like, in the last couple of years, there has been an insurgence in fiction that focuses on AI and robots and how they relate to humanity. Not to say that hasn’t existed before, but I’ve just noticed so much more of it recently. It’s such an interesting subject to explore, especially as we think about emotions and characterization and humanity in general.

The art in this book is breathtaking, as is to be expected from Wendy Xu. There are just some really gorgeous panels and pages, with such an interesting color palette. I loved the way Xu used the format and the colors to portray emotions, and to portray the changes that were happening in Kye throughout the book. It just worked so well.

The characters were also well-developed and rounded out, even some of the side characters. Personally, I think this could be a series, because I would totally keep reading about Kye and Clementine. They could even go on adventures in space! I would totally be down with reading that.

All in all, I absolutely loved this graphic novel, and I can’t wait for more people to read it come August.

July Chen can see ghosts. However, according to her dad, ghosts aren't real. So she just pretends she can't see them and goes on with her day. But when it's Hungry Ghosts Month and the Gates of the Underworld are open, that's much harder to do. When July saves a boy from being consumed by a Hungry Ghost, they become friends. Little do they know, their fates have been intertwined since their births.

Thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Ghost Book by Remy Lai to review! I've read a few of Remy Lai's other books, and they're always a delight. And this one is no different! A little more spooky than her other books, I loved the folklore and the culture that was infused in this book from the beginning. Fans of Spirited Away will definitely love this graphic novel, full of ghosts, dumplings, magic, and friendship.

The art was fantastic, fully creating this underworld and July's world as well. The overall tone fits perfectly for a middle grade audience. especially with July's relationship with her father. He wants so badly to keep her safe that he really distances himself from her. Their evolving relationship was so heartwarming, as well as her friendship with William. The emphasis on friendship was perfect, as are their adventures to get there.

Kids will absolutely love this graphic novel when it comes out in August!

I am torn about this one! I don't usually find myself talking to the main characters in books, but I couldn't help myself in this one. Zack just makes some questionable choices. For a lot of the story, I didn't really understand his motivation behind taking the blame for Ryan's prank, aside from the fact that he thought it would make him popular. We'll just take the fact that he's a teenager into consideration when it comes to his decision making process. 

The romance was the shining start for me in this, as Chip was adorable and cute and I loved him and Zack together. They brought out the best in each other. The overall cast of characters were great, and you could also see growth in a lot of them.

Weber is defining himself as an expert in writing queer summer romances and I can't wait to see what he does next!

This graphic novel was such an interesting take on the idea of time travel, with the future pulling people from the past for teens to learn from. It feels like a fresh twist on the classic idea of time travel. Of course, not everything is as it seems. There are a lot of complex ideas in this book, but it didn't feel too bogged down by the world building or the science behind the time travel. The pacing felt good, and the characters were fantastic.

And, the art was great! There are some really beautiful panels in here. Plus, I appreciated how the characters progressed throughout the book, each of them growing in a different way. Furedi will definitely be a creator to watch in the future!

When Ferra Brickminder prayed to the gods, she hoped that they would make her beautiful beyond compare, so she could win back her ex. Which, they did. Kind of. Ferra might be uniquely beautiful now, but she has to deal with another problem: now she's made of porcelain.

Meanwhile on the seas, Brigantine is a disgraced orc pirate, desperate to get back in the good graces of the Flotilla, the home of the pirates. The two collide when Ferra attempts to escape to once again find her ex--and hires Brigantine and her crew to get her there. At first, Ferra and Brigantine are constantly at odds, but as they encounter more and more dangerous adventures, it's clear there might be a spark there after all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck to review! I was immediately hooked by the fact that this is compared to Our Flag Means Death, and it's a pretty good comp title for it. Pirates and reluctant romance and lots of adventure? This is the graphic novel that you need this summer.

Honestly, I was hooked into this story from the beginning. The characters are great and the art style! It fits so well for this particular story. The whole pirate crew is just a riot, adding to the overall entertainment of the story. Really, they're all just trying their best, even as they're still trying to be menacing pirates. If you love the crew from Our Flag Means Death, you'll definitely love this crew as well.

There were parts that felt a little difficult to follow, and at times, the story did feel like it was a tad too long. But even then, it was entertaining and enjoyable to read, and I would definitely read more about their adventures!

Well, this was quite a wild ride. For a good portion of it, it's kind of difficult to figure out what's going on, but I think that's purposeful for the mystery. There are quite a few twists and turns and red herrings, and every time you think you have it figured out, you probably don't. 

This actually would be a great read-a-like for [book:A Good Girl's Guide to Murder|40916679], with the podcast and just the way the story is formatted. I am curious how the audiobook deals with the audiobook aspect, because there is a lot of potential there!

The resolution feels a little quick at points, but overall, the plot moved quickly and it was difficult to put down towards the end. I had to know what happened next!

I haven't watch Outer Banks on Netflix, but from what I know about it, this does have similar vibes. A summer treasure hunt mystery, unveiling a darker past in their town. It really does have great summer vibes, and the treasure hunting aspect of it was fun. I haven't seen that very often in YA books. 

For the most part, the characters were pretty well developed. Casey in particular had a great character arc, learning the mistakes of her past and working towards coming to terms with what happened to her family. The new group of friends she made while treasure hunting were probably some of the best characters overall in the book.

There is a treasure hunt and some tense moments, but overall, the plot did feel a little slow. The stakes also didn't feel super high, even though they were? There was just a weird tension there. But other than that, this was still an enjoyable book.

 It’s the beginning of junior year of high school and Ben feels pretty happy with his life. Sure, his family life is a bit complicated, but he has two fantastic best friends and feels like he’s on the path he needs to be on. Until an experiment at science camp goes wrong.

Ben is going to be a father. A track his mother wasn’t expecting, since Ben just recently came out as gay. Now, he needs to make a plan, since he’s decided he wants to raise the baby on his own. But the whole process is more complicated than Ben expected, leaving him wondering: is this the best decision for the baby? Does he have what it takes to be a good father? 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of Unexpecting by Jen Bailey to review! One of the comp titles for this book is Heartstopper, which means I obviously had to read it. Is it a good comp title? Eh. But the Juno comparison is definitely spot on!

What I appreciated about this book is that it’s a teen pregnancy story that focuses on the father’s story instead of the mother’s. We don’t see that a lot in YA, and it’s refreshing to get that perspective. Especially for the situation that they’re in. It adds an interesting element to the story, and adds a complexity to the overall emotional core.

However, I do think the characterization of Maxie (the mom) does suffer a little in comparison to Ben. Because we are getting Ben’s perspective, and he is a teenager, he does write off some of the difficult things she has to go through. I do think this book would have benefited from having POVs from both of them, making the overall story more rounded.

The romance on Ben’s side is sweet, a kind of a friends to lovers situation. They have some cute moments (like the whole “let’s practice kissing” thing. Adorable). I appreciated the way that he supported Ben through this, and their relationship evolves realistically throughout the book.

I still don’t necessarily understand Ben’s motivation for wanting to keep the baby, so I think a little more exploration in that area would have been helpful. But all in all, this is a strong study of teen pregnancy, and it hits strong emotional notes by the end. 

Re-read to prepare for the second book coming out shortly, just as entertaining the second time around. I honestly can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
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Totally understand why this is getting all the hype on TikTok, becuase it's basically like How to Train Your Dragon (a personal favorite) for adults. With more violence and more sexy times. To be honest, I should have expected the sexy times but I didn't. That's on me (lol).

I did really enjoy the world building in this, and we have a protagonist who is definitely the underdog. Meant to be a librarian, really, but ends up as a dragon rider instead. Definitely a great premise for a story, and Yarros pulls it off really well.

Recently, I saw that this is supposed to be a 5 book series and I was not prepared for that kind of series commitment. But here we are. Definitely worth the hype, and I'm excited to see where the series goes next!

It’s been two years since the original Bayview Four had to prove they were innocent in Simon’s death. Then the next generation had to play their way through a deadly game of truth or dare. Now, everyone is home for the summer and ready to move on with their lives.

But someone else has different ideas. When a strange message shows up on a billboard in Bayview, at first no one thinks anything of it. However, when a member of the Bayview Crew disappears, they realize this is serious. A new game has surfaced. And everyone is a target.

Thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley for an advanced copy of One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus to review! I had to round out the trilogy, just to see how McManus ends it. Fans of the first two books will be pleased with this ending, giving everyone a send off in the most Bayview way possible.

You’ll find a lot of the classic Karen McManus elements in this book, with hidden family secrets, a few twists and turns, and of course, high stakes. I did like that as narrators, we got a mix of the original four and some of the characters in the second book. It added a nice variety, and help with the overall mystery of the story.

We also get some flashbacks in this one, which don’t make sense until the end of the book. I don’t think McManus will be returning to this set of characters, but I guess you never know! It did feel more final than the other two stories, though. Plus, McManus built on the character development from the previous two books, and I think that works to her advantage.

Do I think the story in this one was maybe a little far fetched? Perhaps, but I think that’s because this didn’t necessarily need to be a trilogy (but I get why it was). All in all, fans of McManus’s other books will still devour this story, and it acts as a good send off for these characters.