I love Talia Hibbert and was so excited to see that she had written her YA debut! Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute follows Brad and Celine as they compete for a prestigious opportunity- a full scholarship to help them pursue their dreams. Yet they have unresolved history that is bound to make itself known as they are forced to rely on each other and adventure through the great outdoors. 

I devoured this book! Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is funny and heartfelt. Talia Hibbert can truly write it all! Of course, the romance is scaled back from her adult books, but there is just as much pining and tension. Celine and Brad are the type of characters you wish you could be friends with in real life- they’re delightfully nerdy and relatable. Having a friendship break-up is rough and I loved how they had to work together to repair that damage, before they could move onto something more. 

There is great OCD rep and LGBTQ+ rep (bi/queer) as well. Brad has many strategies that help him deal with his OCD, while showing how difficult it can be to manage. Celine is considering therapy as she works through the complex reasons behind her planned career choices. The entire book is extremely inclusive and shines a positive light on mental health and self-care. On a personal note, I was THRILLED to see a (side) character with celiac thriving and living her best life! Better than gluten-free bagels that don’t taste like cardboard. 

Read Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute for a hilarious, heartwarming romance! I can’t wait to read whatever Talia Hibbert writes next!  Thank you so much to Talia Hibbert, Joy Revolution, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lost in the Moment and Found is the newest installment in The Wayward Children series! I absolutely love The Wayward Children series and this is no exception. When Antsy’s father dies unexpectedly, the last thing she wants is for her mother to remarry. Yet she can find no tangible reason to protest, aside from a sickening sense of dread. When the threat escalates, Antsy is forced to run away from home and straight into a world where children who have been threatened by an adult may find sanctuary. Yet all is not as it seems in this fairy-tale world…

Seanan McGuire is an expert at infusing horror into the bones of a story, without anything explicit happening on page. The ominous threat is enough for readers to immediately understand Antsy and wish for her protection more than anything. I definitely recommend you check the trigger warnings, but as Seanan McGuire says in her opening note: Antsy runs before anything happens.  

I quite literally couldn’t put this book down and read it in a single sitting. The Wayward Children series feels like coming home. In a world of magical Doors, Lost in the Moment and Found explores a new adventure where travelers can slip between worlds from the confines of a mysterious shop. This magical shop holds things that people across worlds have lost and may come seeking. Antsy is such a fierce and determined heroine! I was spellbound watching her uncover the toll of the world she landed in. In classic McGuire fashion, there is always a twist and magic always comes with a price. Antsy is one of my new favorite heroines in the Wayward world. I cannot wait to see how the story continues!

This story could be read as a standalone, but I would highly recommend reading the entire series. Lost in the Moment and Found is perfect for readers who love portal fantasy, dark adventures, and brave heroines. I would highly recommend it to anyone! Thank you so much to Seanan McGuire, Tordotcom, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unseelie is a tale of two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Iselia “Seelie” and Isolde are twins, but Seelie is a changeling with hidden powers while Isolde longs to be an adventurer. When a heist goes wrong, they become intertwined with a ragtag group of misfits. Seelie and Isolde will find their bond tested more than ever before. Together, will they be able to uncover the secrets of magic and faeries? 

Unseelie immediately caught my attention from the opening line. Reading further, I love how Ivelisse Housman wrote Seelie as an autistic character, which is rare to see in high fantasy. I really look forward to seeing more autistic characters in high fantasy going forward! Seelie and Isolde are tightly bound together despite all their differences and it is fun to watch them bring out the best in each other. Raze is also a compelling character; I hope to learn more about him and other side characters in the sequel. I particularly enjoyed fun details such as the traveling wagon and the brownie! The twist at the end was fantastic and I didn’t see it coming! 

Unseelie is an inclusive and adventurous tale of the fae. While readers who enjoy fae stories will recognize many tropes, Housman excels at writing neurodivergence in fantasy- I loved it! I would recommend this for readers of Gail Carson Levine and Mara Rutherford. Thank you so much to Ivelisse Housman, Inkyard Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.