I feel mixed about this book. On the one hand, there are some good iscussions in here about mental health and about how even if you feel like you're the only one going through something, you're not. You can find help and support in others who might be going through similar things. I also appreciated that it showed that mental illness isn't something that's just healed once and you never struggle with it again. That's an important message for teens that are reading this book.

My main issue with the story was with the "mystery" element. It's mentioned in the summary, but it actually doesn't happen until at least halfway through the book (one of my pet peeves!). I also don't think it was really necessary to the story. I would have appreciated it more if Dani and Camila maybe came together without that element to the story. Honestly, I think they were on their way there before they came across the letters.

All in all, I do think this is an important teen book, I just wish the story took a different direction.

This is going to be the perfect October book, honestly! I loved the witchy vibes and the way that the story was framed overall by tarot cards. I learned a lot about tarot cards that I didn't know before, and I loved the setting of Salem. Given what Salem is associated with, seeing Eleanor's perspective and the way it's been made so commercial really gave the book a fall feel. I loved that.

There's a lot of a buildup in this book to something, but not a ton of resolution? A lot of the reviews on here are mad about the excessive marijuana smoking and it not being addressed, but that honestly didn't really bother me. I think I just wanted to see a little more of Eleanor's healing process there at the end; it overall just felt a little rushed to me.

But, if you're looking for a sapphic witchy book to read this fall, I'd definitely recommend this one!

My second time reading this, this time for a book club! I also listened to the audiobook, which I think enhances the experience. Especially with different sound effects and narrators. It really brings you into the story, and I'd definitely recommend listening to it if you enjoy audiobooks!
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All her life, Maddy Washington has been the victim of bullying in her hometown of Springville. However, until a fateful rainstorm, it wasn’t because of her race. It was just because of her upbringing. But when rain reveals that Maddy is biracial, everything changes.

A video of Springville students bullying Maddy goes viral, forcing them to rethink their separate proms. So, they come up with a plan to host the school’s first integrated prom. After getting asked to prom by the quarterback, Maddy thinks things could be normal. But her classmates have other plans. Little do they know, Maddy has more power than meets the surface…

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Weight of Blood to review! Tiffany D. Jackson is a favorite author of mine, and I was immediately pulled in by the cover of this book. I mean, look at it! Pulls you into the story just from that image.

This is a retelling of Carrie by Stephen King, which I actually haven’t read. But from what I know, I enjoyed the way that Jackson played with the original story. Like in most of her novels, she takes the story and puts a social justice spin on it. A large part of this book is about the ways that white people perpetuate racism. In fact, the segregated prom thing is actually something that’s happened recently in the United States (sadly). Jackson doesn’t flinch away from the difficult topics, and will leave you thinking long after you finish the book.

Throughout the book, there are also excerpts from news outles and podcasts that add to the mystery of the overall story. My only complaint about them is I wish they occured at the beginning and ends of chapters, instead of in the middle. Sometimes it took me out of the story. But these sections also helped to flesh out some of the characters, and I appreciated them for that!

All in all, if you’re looking for a new horror book to read this fall, I’d definitely recommend this one!
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I still think Mondays Not Coming is Jackson's best book, but this one was well done! Maybe not as horror-y as I thought it was going to be, but still a good read. Stay tuned for a full review!

I honestly think this book is longer than it needs to be. The concept is intriguing and I can see why a lot of people are drawn to the story. But by the time you get to the end, it kind of feels like it all falls apart. I wasn't a huge fan of the explanation as to why everything was happening the way it was, and the explanation itself just felt really dragged out. That last third of the book was definitely a bit of a slog for me.

It would make for good book club discussions, though! I am interested in seeing what other people thought about it.

What an emotional ride! Apparently 2022 is the year of music themed gay books, and so far, I've been here for it. What starts as a marching band story transforms into a sort of boy band story about art and following your dreams. The evolving relationship between Santi and Suwa was beautifully done; you can almost feel the the chemistry come off the page. 

The book itself is set up sort of like a music album, with an a-side and a b-side. The structure lends itself to the story, especially since music is at the core of Santi and Suwa's story. It ends up giving them both the confidence they need to move forward into the future.

My only complaint is that I think Santi falls a bit flat in the second half of the book, when we switch to Suwa's point of view. I think part of that is because of what happens between the two of them, but Suwa was more fleshed out in the first half. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the little found family in it.  

Definitely a topic that I don't see covered in YA almost ever. About a girl who decides to become a smoke jumper to help fight wildfires. And she has type 1 diabetes and is interested in women! We are here for that representation. I actually didn't a lot about the way that people fight wildfires, either, so that whole aspect of the book was interesting.

Outside of that, the main plot wasn't super original, and it was a bit predictable. But I think this book would be a great recommendation for teens that are reluctant readers. It's fast-paced with a lot of action, and there's a bit of a survival aspect to it as well. Not a bad overall read!

An entertaining YA mystery that will definitely hook you from the beginning. This book fleshes out some of the things that I thought were lacking in the original book, which is good! It also meant that we got a little more character development, even if I wanted just a little more. Give me well-rounded characters any day.

These are definitely great read-a-likes for something like The Inheritance Games or A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. YA mystery/thrillers are currently thriving, and I think teens are here for it. Let's keep them on their toes!

Candace Fleming always has highly rated nonfiction, though I don't think I've ever actually read any of it? I read most of this book yesterday in one sitting, impressed by the amount of research that was put into it. Fleming also has a writing style that's really easy to get pulled into, especially in that first half when she's builidng a picture of what happened during this crime.

I felt the second half of the book dragged a little more, even though some of the news coverage and the psychological analysis was interesting. Especially when looking at how Leopold and Loeb might have been tried in present day.

Apparently, this is a really popular true crime case that I knew nothing about. But it was interesting to learn about! And true crime fans will definitely dig it.

Such a beautiful middle grade book about changing families, dealing with parental expectations, grief, and figuring out your identity. All set at a summer music camp! Andi and Zora are absolutely relatable narrators, and they're both struggling with their own things. They form a kind of kinship while they're at camp, something that eventually transforms into something more.

You can just feel the emotions behind the story in this book. Andi is struggling with her mother's death, trying to figure out where she fits into this new family with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Zora is trying to balance her parents' expectations with her true passion, dance. I love that they found each other and encouraged each other to follow their passions. It was the best thing about this book, hands down.

This middle grade was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise and the ability of the main characters to grow, but the writing felt a bit off to me overall. Stay tuned for a full review to come!