A re-read for a book club, and it's just as good the second time (and also a very quick read!). Gino has since set more books in this universe, and I recommend them too if you're looking for some quick, great things to finish out your 2023.
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I have been meaning to read this book for forever, and I'm glad that I finally did! It's such a great character driven story, and I'm so happy that they changed the title. It also makes me even more excited to read Alex Gino's newest that just came out this year!

This really is a story about Melissa trying to find herself, and the support that she finds in her friend Kelly is so beautiful. I loved their friendship, and would love to see it evolve even more as Melissa gets the chance to come out as herself. A lovely, needed middle grade book for sure!

All of the classic YA romance elements are here, with a little bit of a twist! Overall, I really enjoyed the characters in this, and the way that Zyla and Kai's relationship unfolds throughout the book. It felt very end of high school, very teenager-y, and that aspect was very well done. Forest nails the overall feel of the book and the characters for sure.

What got me is that it felt like was too long. There is a bit of a mystery behind the romance, even if the end result is a bit predictable. I think some of the relationship drama could have been cut out and the book would have still worked as an overall story. Also, it has my least favorite miscommunication/assumation about something without talking, so there's that. Out of all the romance tropes, I dislike that one the most. Just talk to each other!!!

Anyway, this is a great, fun romance read for the summer, especially if you don't mind them a little on the longer side!

Well, that was rightfully sad and tragic. As I knew it would be, but it's been a weekend for sad, tragic things I guess. Time for something fun and happy! 

Anyway, even though the writing style in this takes a little bit to get used to, it's actually very well done. It feels like a piece of classic Greek literature, but with more character and more emotion. You could feel the connection between Achilles and Patrolus, and even though you know it's not going to end well, you're still rooting for them.

Now that I've read this, can't wait for my hold on Circe to come in!

 Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for an advanced copy of this to review! Always on the lookout for new YA graphic novels, so I was excited to start this one. If you’re a fan of slow burn horror, this one should definitely be on your TBR!

What I appreciated about this book is the way the spookiness kinds of winds its way into the story. It doesn’t happen outright, it’s subtle. Little things here and there put into the frames. It’s definite a slow build, which is okay in graphic novel format! I was intrigued about where the story was going to go, even if a lot of the other characters seemed oblivious.

I don’t think I read the entire graphic novel because the ending felt kind of abrupt. The story was over too soon! For that reason, I’ll definitely check out a final copy when it comes out to give it my full opinion. I also wanted a bit more interaction between Eli and Tony. It’s clear there’s something there, but their relationship isn’t at the forefront. There should be more of it!

All in all, I think there’s a lot of potential here, and I’ll definitely check out the final version when it comes out later this month. 
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There's a lot of build up in this, and then it ends on a cliffhanger. Hopefully that's not where it's actually going to end? But stayed tuned for a full review to come!

Why is this book not getting more buzz?? Especially in this time after the love of Heartstopper has swept the internet. This is such a great read-a-like for Heartstopper, and 100% I would watch a show about Yami and her friends and family. They were well-rounded, each had their own complexities, and just added to the entire atmosphere of the story.

For a lot of this book, Yami is struggling with the fact that she's a lesbian, which doesn't fit into the version of Catholocism that she grew up with. It certainly doesn't fit with her family's views. I think her relationship with her brother, Cesar, was one of the best parts of the book. They support each other, through everything their family has been through. Oh my god, I just loved them so much. Always a sucker for strong sibling relationships, and this book has it.

Yami and Bo! They are coompletely adorable, and I loved every moment of their friends-to-lovers realtionship. The way it unfolds is adorable, especially with Yami getting to know Bo's family. Their transforming relationship also parallels Yami's own journey in accepting her queerness and it was so well done. 

Seriously, everyone read this book! I loved it from beginning to end, and I think it deserves way more hype than it's getting. Now go find a copy and read it!!

After striking a devastating blow to Godolia, the Gearbreakers have falled back to recover. Now, those same rebels are being hunted by Zenith. The last surviving leader of Godolia. Since the attack, Eris has been Godolia's prisoner. When discovers Sona, the girl she loves, also survived, she has a moment of hope. Until she realizes Sona has once again become a brainwashed soldier of Godolia. And Eris's mortal enemy.

With the rebellion barely holding on and Godolia moving forward inducting children to their cause, the odds have never been stacked higher against the Gearbreakers. Their only hope is Sona and Eris finding their way back to each other. From opposite sides of the war.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an advanced copy of Godslayers to review! I loved Gearbreakers last year and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. Especially with that cliffhanger! Thank goodness this is just a duology.

Where Mikuta really excels is her characters. Not only are the heroes fully developed, but we get complex development from the villains as well. Honestly, that's a mark of a good character writer. If you can get us to care about the villain in some capacity. I loved the development between Eris and Sona in this book as well. While Sona might be brainwashed for part of it, you can feel their strong connection despite it all. You're still rooting for them even though the odds might be stacked against them.

My only complaint is that at times, it was a bit difficult to follow everything that was going on. However, this very well could be attributed to it being awhile since I read the first book. Science fiction and fantasy books with this much detail are always hard to read with a gap between them. There are so many details you forget! Reading them back to back would actually help to clear up any confusion!

Despite that, I was invested in the story. If you like battles in your science fiction, there are quite a few in here! In generall, Mikuta did a good job wiwth the action scenes. The action itself was easy to follow, which is always a bonus in a novel like this.

All in all, this is a strong follow up to the first book! If yo'ure looking for a new sci-fi duology for the summer, I'd recommend picking this one up.

This was cute! The writing sometimes felt a little clunky to me, but the story was fun and I loved the recipes included throughout! Kind of wished I would have saved some to try because they sounded really good. Rose and Fred make a good team, and they made you root for the underdogs. Plus, the baking competition they enter into was exciting and a bit different. All in all, if you're looking for a fun, quick read, I'd definitely recommend this one!

Not a bad Spider-Man story! Has a lot of the elements that you know and love, plus the art style was pretty great as well. I always love when Spider-Man gets to interact with Daredevil. And this situation was entertaining! Borrowing his suit. Always hilarious. Especially when Peter had all those little bandaids on his face at the end. It's always the little details that get me.

So the blurb for this book is a bit misleading because it seems like it might be a battle of the bands kind of book. While that is an aspect of the story, it's definitely way more focused on Nate and Jai in South Africa for a wedding. Which is fine! I just think the summary could have been worded a bit better!

That being said, this is absolutely a fun rom-com kind of book, even if it has one of my least favorite romance tropes. Miscommunication (AKA noncommunication). This is definitely a trope employed in a lot of romance books, but it just drives me crazy. Stop assuming things and just talk! I was literally yelling that at the book as I was listening to it.

Nate was a pretty full developed character, I just wish some of the side characters had gotten the same treatment. Jai especially. We only really get to see one side of him, and I wish he could have been fleshed out a little more.

All in all, if you're looking for a fun summer read, this book is entertaining! Just be warned it might not be what you were expecting.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! It kind of reminded of a mix of The Social Network and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down! I read a good chunk of it all in one sitting. For a time travel book, I did feel like the ending was maybe a little predictable, but I did still enjoy the journey getting there! It was entertaining and engrossing.

The format of letters, emails, and other articles made the book read really quickly and reflected the subject matter well. It will definitely make for an interesting book club discussion, too!