The Vibrant Years is the latest from Sonali Dev. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover. I really loved her previous book series featuring The Rajes. The Vibrant Years is a funny, multi-generational story of love and family. It follows Bindu (mother-in-law to Aly/grandma to Cullie), Aly (Cullie’s mom), and Cullie (grandma/daughter) as they deal with romance and work challenges. Bindu is living in a condo alone for the first time, Aly is navigating discrimination at work, and Cullie is fighting to save a mental health app that she is passionate about. The three women are so connected and will do anything to help each other- but Bindu has been hiding a secret for many years that is about to come to light...

Bindu was my favorite character! I appreciated the slow unraveling of her deeply-held secret. No matter what issues she faced, she managed to prioritize her family and independence. I loved how she was always there for Aly and the strong role she took in raising Cullie. The dialogue was lighthearted and funny. Sonali Dev excels at crafting intricate family stories that are compelling to read. The Vibrant Years is a hilarious and romantic story. I would recommend it to anyone! Thank you so much to Sonali Dev, Mindy’s Book Studio, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ace Notes: Tips and Tricks on Existing in an Allo World is an informative and hopeful guide. While this could be a useful guide for someone who is not familiar at all with asexuality, I think some of the concepts are more advanced and could have done with more explanation. The organization of the book felt a little disorganized at times. However, the overall message of inclusiveness and positivity is extremely well-done.  My favorite part was the interviews throughout with members of the asexual community. I loved how they described their journey both with discovering their sexuality and where they hope to see the asexual community in the future. It was both interesting and inspiring to read. There is so much nuance to asexuality and it is so great that these type of books are being written. The book includes many additional resources and helpful links to the community.  

Thank you so much to Michele Kirichanskaya, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Joy of Saying No is a guidebook for recovering people-pleasers and a love letter to the power of boundaries. Natalie Lue includes relevant personal anecdotes as she strives to show others how to take back their time and power. Lue describes the different roles and strategies that readers may have grown up doing. She invites reflection and teaches methods to change stagnant dynamics that could be toxic. I think almost everyone I know could learn something from this book, myself included. The Joy of Saying No promises to give new life back to readers by establishing boundaries, recognizing patterns, and inviting reflection. 

Thank you so much to Natalie Lue, Harper Horizon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfamiliar is such a cute graphic novel! I previously saw Haley Newsome’s work on Tapas and really enjoyed this compilation. The art conveys spookiness and slice-of-life problems at the same time. My favorite characters were Sun and Babs; I can’t wait to see how their journeys continue! I want to learn more about Sun's curse and how she got it. 

Newsome has designed a world with unique mythology and yet characters still need to deal with everyday events like shopping at the local Hex-Mart. I like how Newsome shows the emotions of her characters through the irises of their eyes or familiars. This is a delightfully spooky and sweet graphic novel! I’m excited to read more of Haley Newsome’s work! 

Thank you to Haley Newsome, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lunar Love drew me in with a beautiful cover and classic romance premise. Olivia has recently become the owner of Lunar Love, a family-run Chinese matchmaking business. Bennett is the owner of ZodiacCupid, an app that threatens to undermine Lunar Love’s business. Can two rival business owners with completely different opinions find a way to compromise or something more? Olivia and Bennet find themselves connecting over matchmaking, being mixed race, and what true compatibility looks like. 

Lunar Love made me more curious to learn more about the Chinese zodiac and I enjoyed how they both used it in different ways. There is a great discussion guide and Q&A with the author at the end of the book. At times Olivia could be pretty rigid in her point of view, to the point where it was tedious to read. Bennett was always charming and I loved watching him convince Olivia that he was genuinely someone she should take a chance on. Lunar Love was a lighthearted and enjoyable romance. I’ll look forward to reading more from Lauren Kung Jessen! I would recommend Lunar Love to fans of Roselle Lim and Jackie Lau. 

Thank you so much to Lauren Kung Jessen, Forever, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Urbanshee is a compelling compilation from poet Siaara Freeman. It’s a celebration, a funeral, and a reckoning all rolled into one. It’s a love letter and lament of the Midwest, what it means to be queer and Black while in these spaces. Urbanshee is a recounting of painful memories and ghosts that haunt. Freeman conveys both grief and healing in a beautiful and raw style. I couldn’t put it down and look forward to reading more from her! Thank you so much to Siaara Freeman, Button Poetry, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Risen City returns to Lantistyne amidst numerous challenging political battles. I appreciated the character guide to refresh my memory at the beginning of this book. You absolutely should read the first two books before picking up The Risen City. While I usually give a bit of a recap at the beginning of my reviews, I would recommend reading the official synopsis for a refresher. 

The Risen City is a delightful high fantasy read. There is a truly impressive ensemble cast in this book, as characters from every level in the nation are incorporated into the story. At times this was difficult to follow, as there were so many people to keep track of efficiently. The characters have come so far from book one and Steiger’s writing has grown as well. From the royals, the thieves, the guards, the exiles, the betrayed etc, readers will not struggle to find at least one character who they are interested in seeing through to the finale. There is subtle queer rep, though romance is not a focus in these books; which I honestly think makes sense. It would be too much to include into an already action-packed book! 

While there is still a good amount of telling not showing, Steiger navigates extremely tricky political situations and battles with ease. Her characters tend to be filled with honor, strict morals, and fighting for a cause that they are willing to risk it all for. This create compelling characters, sky-high stakes and tense politics. The Risen City is the perfect book for readers who seek complex writing that challenges them to unravel chaotic politics. I would recommend it for fans of Game of Thrones and Jenn Lyons. 

Thank you so much to Isabelle Steiger, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Strike the Zither is the latest adventure from Joan He. I love Joan He’s writing! I also listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.  Zephyr is a complicated character with a hidden past. Zephyr is one of the best strategists and she is tasked with assisting Ren, a warlordess with complicated plans. But when Zephyr must take on a spying role, she is faced with enemies like she’s never known before.  A sweeping, vibrant, and epic tale begins in Strike the Zither.

I love the strength of Joan He’s story-telling; there is such a strong sense of pacing as the story unfolds. Politics, romance, and battles are all balanced extremely well. My favorite part was the twist when Zephyr’s past was revealed and how she dealt with it. I also loved the battles between Crow and Zephyr as they tried to undermine each other. Zephyr is such a fantastic character and I can’t wait to see how the story continues in the sequel! Thank you so much to Joan He, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and BookishFirst for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.