bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

Daughter of Calamity is a vivid and atmospheric debut. Set in Shanghai, Jingwen is a cabaret dancer who never expects to find violence on the dance floor. When a dancer has her lips stolen by cruel magic, Jingwen decides to investigate. Jingwen must choose whether to sink into the secrets her grandmother and friends have been keeping from her. As a surgeon to gangsters, Jingwen’s grandmother has many mysterious connections. Jingwen must decide whether to trust her new connections as more dancers across the city are targeted. 

I loved how Rosalie M. Lin’s writing is filled with sensory description. Readers will feel that they’re walking beside Jingwen as she explores the secrets of Shanghai. There are lots of twists and red herrings to the mystery of who is stealing body parts of the dancers. While Jingwen doesn’t always get along with her fellow cabaret dancers, no one is going to get away with harming them. 

Lin explores complex themes of sisterhood and family bonds. I appreciated the clever parallels to the real-world stealing of culture and fetishization of certain features. At times the pacing of the book felt a little off, but I still really enjoyed the story. Daughter of Calamity is perfect for readers who seek a dreamy and atmospheric tale with twists. I’m looking forward to seeing what Rosalie M. Lin writes next! 

Thank you to Rosalie M. Lin, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

I really loved book one in the series, Bend Towards the Sun, so I was thrilled to read this sequel. Temperance (TJ) and Duncan have always been in each other's orbits. They dated when they were younger, before separating. Now as they find themselves back in the same place for a summer wedding, sparks fly between them. Can TJ and Duncan find a way back to each other? 

Right Where We Left Us is a charming second-chance romance. Jen Devon balances the large cast of characters with ease, creating a strong sense of family (both blood and found). Duncan’s struggles with getting his family to take him seriously and to follow his own dreams were very relatable. TJ also has her own family struggles, including finding the balance between making her parents proud and living her own life. 

TJ also deals with a chronic and rare disease called ITP, which seemed thoughtfully written and researched. The diagnosis never stops TJ from pursuing her dreams and she uses her knowledge to help as many people as possible.  I enjoyed the cameos from book one and I love the affectionate chaos of the Brady family. I really love the distinct characters that Devon has created and I hope to see more books in this series! I hope Mal and Frankie are next! Readers who enjoy second-chance romance, lovable characters, and a strong sense of family will enjoy this book. 

Thank you to Jen Devon, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Queen B was spectacular! I love Juno Dawson's writing and am fascinated by Anne Boleyn, so I was thrilled to read this. Queen B is an intricate and sapphic take on Anne Boleyn. In this novella, the seeds for magic and the society of witches as we know it in the "Her Majesty’s Royal Coven" trilogy are planted. Queen B is a compelling tale about the mysteries and questions that remain to this day about Anne Boleyn from her sexuality to whether she was a witch. Juno Dawson writes such crisp and meaningful sentences that pack a punch.  I love the HMRC series and this novella was fantastic to read while I wait for the third book in the trilogy. I would highly recommend Queen B to anyone and if you haven’t read the HMRC series then this is your time to start! 

Thank you to Juno Dawson, Penguin Group, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

The One That Got Away With Murder is a thrilling and fast-paced adventure perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus. When new girl Lauren meets Robbie, she has no idea the controversy she is creating in her small town. Each previous girlfriend that Robbie and his brother Trevor have dated ended up dead. When Lauren finds a clue to the mystery, she must use all her skills to try and untangle the truth before they come for her. 

I enjoyed this! It's a fast-paced thriller that is very hard to put down. The slow reveal of Lauren's past trauma created many questions and problems for her in the town. Lauren deals with romance, family drama, and cruel gossip. I wish the romance had been a little more developed, but this was tricky because part of Lauren also wonders if Robbie was involved in his past girlfriend's murder. There were a lot of red herrings and this made it difficult to guess who the real murderer is. 

The One That Got Away with Murder is a great fast-paced thriller that you could devour in an afternoon. Looking forward to what Trish Lundy writes next! Thanks to Trish Lundy, Macmillan Children's Publishing, and Bookish First for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

        

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a lovely slow-burn second chance romance. Wil lives in Green Bay, WI after the death of her dad. An insurance adjuster by day, at night she films intimate kisses with strangers. When her childhood friend (who has since become a huge celebrity) returns home for Christmas, Wil wonders if they will reconnect. Katie has never forgotten Wil and regrets falling out of touch. Sparks fly as they reconnect, but will their newfound relationship last past the holidays? 

I really enjoyed this! Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous had a bit of a slow start and it took me a bit to feel invested. But once I was hooked on the characters, I couldn’t put it down. Wil is a very interesting character who has a lot of guilt and complicated feelings about her dad’s death. She struggles to find what her next steps in life should be. Meanwhile, Katie is grappling with the price of fame and an egregiously terrible ex. I loved the side characters, including their moms and the many cats. While this second chance romance is a slow-burn at first, when it heats up there are delightfully steamy scenes. I look forward to seeing what Mae Marvel writes next! 

Thank you to Mae Marvel, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

The Calculation of You and Me is the story of Marlowe, a girl who is determined to win back her ex at any cost. When she is dumped for not being romantic enough, Marlowe tries to think of answers. Being paired for a class project with new student Ash completely throws her out of her routine, but she soon realizes that Ash understands romance. As Ash begrudgingly teaches Marlowe about romance, Marlowe starts to re-examine her past relationship.

I absolutely loved this book! The Calculation of You and Me is filled with so many great tropes and fantastic moments. Serena Kaylor creates such a realistic and lovable character in Marlowe.  I loved how Ash and Marlowe connected and became so close. They had some lovely “fieldwork” dates including laser tag, a fall festival, and sharing book recs. Marlowe also has loving friends and family who are always there for her. 

Kaylor’s writing is laugh out loud funny, with lots of quick wit and banter. I loved the autistic and bi rep in this book. I also loved the realizations Marlowe has about what it means to be in love vs feeling comfortable with someone in knowing what to expect. Josh (Marlowe’s ex) was the actual worst and without giving away spoilers, the ending was very satisfying. If you romanced Sebastian in Stardew Valley, check this out! 

Readers who enjoy lovable characters, neurodivergent rep, classic romance tropes, and hilarious dialogue should read The Calculation of You and Me. 

Thank you to Serena Kaylor, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.