Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying deals with difficult topics, especially eating disorders, grief, and fatphobia, but in a nuanced, well thought-out way. You can tell Ying took her time to deal with these topics carefully, being sure not to romanticize it in any way. It is one of the better teen books I've read that specifically deal with eating disorders, though it doesn't seem like as many have been published in recent years.

My absolute favorite thing about this book was the art and the color palette. The tones are kind of subdued throughout, but it matches the subject matter almost perfectly. There are some really beautiful panels throughout, and I'd definitely read something from Ying again!

All in all, an emotional, reflective, beautifully illustrated story that's sure to hit home for its teen audience.

Suggs' debut graphic novel memoir is a delight to read! I read the entire thing in one sitting, last night before I went to sleep. The art is vibrant and captures their summer in Mexico, and I even though I am not fluent in Spanish, I always appreciate when Spanish is included without giving a translation. It really transports your more into the culture. 

This book is about figuring out where you belong, figuring out your identity, and feeling at home in your body. And it features so much about Mexican culture! The food, the art, their language. There is just so much to love about it.

I think so many teens wil also find a home in this story.

What I thought was going to be a very sad novel (which it was at points), but it really ends on quite a hopeful note, taking a turn that I didn't expect. In a good way! It maybe wasn't the most realistic of endings, but it is a romance novel after all. 

Stevie, our main character, is probably the best developed, as most of the side characters felt pretty one dimensional to me. We do get to hear some from Nora through the forms of letters, but we really only see her through Stevie's. That was really my only complaint about the story, though, that I wish some of the side characters would have been more developed.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way Stevei's friendship with Ryan kind of happened because of her accident. He becomes such a great ally for her, and I imagine that their friendship will continue long after this story is over. 

There was also a sense of tension due to Stevie's amnesia, because we know something happened between her and her parents but we don't really know what, just like Stevei doesn't know what. It adds to the plot and helps make it a better overall story, in my opinion.

All in all, this is a touching romance that will leave you with a sense of hope by the end.

This was such a different way to tell a Spider-Man story, but you can just tell that it's a Jason Reynolds book. A mix of poetry and prose and illustrations. This story picks up where the previous Miles Morales book left off, focusing on Miles' day in In-School Suspension as things start to get kind of weird. As is expected when you're Spider-Man, naturally.

There are tones of the current political climate in relation to book banning in here, focusing on giving kids access to all kinds of stories. Miles tries to take a stand, but it ends up putting him in trouble, and a lot of the poetry is him reflecting on that. Overall, this is a masterpiece of a Spider-Man novel, and I don't expect anything less from Jason Reynolds.

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an advanced copy of Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow to review! Robin Gow has a knack for writing emotionally packed novels in verse. Even though this is only their second YA book, I can tell that we can probably expect more to come from them. They have a knack for what they do!

Sometimes, character development can suffer in novels in verse, but that's not the case here. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the relationship between Claire and her brother, who is also coming to terms with his own sexuality. They both are so supportive of each other and hatch plans for the ways they think they can come out to their parents. It works well in this format, and good sibling relationships are just one of my favorite things to read about anyway.

I think the pacing overall was a little off, in that maybe it felt too long at moments? Even though it is a novel in verse. Claire is very much a messy bisexual, and this is reflected in the overall plot of the book. But outside of that, I was still engrossed in the story and there were so many endearing moments between all the characters. I can't wait to see what Robin Gow does next! 

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Family Style by Thien Pham to review! There have been a slew of graphic novel memoirs being published recently, and so far, they have all been phenomenal. I especially enjoyed that this one was so centered around food, with each stage of Pham's life tied to an important food or dish from that moment. It's a unique way to structure a memoir!

Pham captures his family's journey from Vietnam to America through his food journey, focusing on details that I think a lot of people won't necessarily know. The illustration style felt sort of printmaking-esque to me, with so much detail. It also helps in emphasizing the food throughout, showing how they impacted Pham and his family.

The little comics included at the end, where Pham asks his family about making this book, are such a great addition to the story. I love when authors include personal little details like that, so definitely don't skip it! It gives even more characterization to his family as well.

All in all, this is a strongly written, wonderfully illustrated graphic novel memoir that you should definitely pick up when it comes out in June! 

This book has all of the elements necessary for a great romance; fantastic characters, interesting premise, good setting. And a large dash of Bangladeshi culture! Zahra is trying hard to have everything, working to save money to go to college, helping to support her family. Just when two boys enter her life and love throws a wrench into all her plans.

On the one hand she has her momo's choice for her: Harun. A kind of aloof, devishly handsome boy from a good family. On the other hand, there's Nayim, the new boy at Chai Ho, inspiring her to follow her dreams. As you'd expect, rom-com elements follow, and it's just an overall joy to read. 

Outside of Zahra, the side characters are just as fleshed out and have their own things to contribute to the plot. Definitely a great romance to add to your summer TBR!

When David quit his band in high school, he never imagined the fame his ex-best friends would achieve. Now he's living a normal high school live while Chance, the ex-best friend, lives a life of stardom and fame.

However, when tragedy strikes, David and Chance are thrown back together. As they reconnect, they throw away their enemy status for a newfound, secret romance. And a chance for David to possibly rejoin the band. As things start to get serious, David finds that his opportunity to get back in the band might also mean losing his new romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Darkhearts by James Sutter to review! It's pitched for fans of Alice Oseman and Red, White, and Royal Blue, and it may be the first book in a while that actually fits the vibes of those two things.

The characters and the romance are really at the center of this book, focusing on the way David realizes his feelings for chance--and thus, realizing aspects of his own sexuality. There are some great moments between them, and the texting exchanges add some lightheartedness to the darker moments found throughout the book. 

The story itself does have a little bit of a rough start, but once you get into Chance and David's romance, it is smooth sailing. Not necessarily for them, but for the writing style. You'll be swept up into this secretive, boy band romance, referencing moments from both of their pasts. It's not a true enemies to lovers, but more best friends turned enemies turned lovers. Which really is a fantastic trope in and of itself.

All in all, if you are a fan of Red, White, and Royal Blue and looking for a more YA alternative, this is a book I'd definitely put in your hands!

Natalya Fox has a decision to make about her summer: stay with her dad in New York, or spend time with her mom in Los Angeles. Both have their pros and cons, but with only 24 hours to make the decision, Natalya is struggling.

Since Natalya can't choose, both timelines play out in a choose your own adventure kind of style book. We get to see what happens in LA and in NY, both with different romances and different options for her future. And at the end, you get to decide: which way did Natalya go?

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler to review! Always a fan of Dahlia Adler, so I was excited to pick this one up! And I am happy to say that I wasn't dissapointed.

I would like to note, I didn't notice the part about both timelines playing out and I was a bit confused at the beginning. But once I got into the groove, it was smooth sailing. This book is a bit like getting two books in one, both with adorable romances to boot. Nat's summer in NY is all about music, and her summer in LA is all about food. What isn't to like about that?

Even though it is two separate stories, they both feel evenly developed, in that I didn't feel like one story suffered at the expense of the other. Both had great side characters, and we get to see Nat's character development in different (but also kind of similar ways). It's actually a good example of excellent writing! And really, I'd recommend it just for that.

If you're looking for a fun, different YA queer romance to read this summer, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.

This was just an absolute delight to read! It was great to bring on vacation, and I really had fun with the way that Payne adapted Pride and Prejudice to the present day. Reading it as a reading swap book also enhanced the experience because I always find it fun to see other people's thoughts while they are reading. 

Not only were the main characters developed well, but there were also side characters that were a delight and enhanced the reading experience. I definitely think I would read something by Nikki Payne again!