American Royals III: Rivals returns to the convoluted lives of America’s royal family. While Beatrice is trying to make her late father’s policy dreams come true, Sam and Jeff are holding down the throne in the States. Sam is forced to consider whether she can move forward with her beau Marshall, when they may have no long term future. Jeff continues to be oblivious to Daphne’s schemes, while Nina finds herself unexpectedly threatened by a conniving social climber.

The American Royals series is like eating a sugary cupcake. It’s fun, sweet, and always leaves you wanting more. This last point is both a strength and weakness- while always leaving us on the edge, it can feel like no storyline is truly concluded in a meaningful way. Like a cupcake, the series is also not particularly deep or filling. Still, it’s a lot of fun! I enjoyed the inclusion of the Princess of France! I would’ve loved it if she and Beatrice suddenly took things in a sapphic and unexpected direction, but that seems like wishful thinking.

I struggled with the Jeff and Daphne storyline. Jeff feels very simplistic to me and it’s hard to feel any type of way about him. I loved Nina and for the first time began to understand some of why Daphne is the way she is. Seeing Daphne and Nina begrudgingly team up was a huge highlight! However, a staple of this series is miscommunication-one of my least favorite tropes. I’m excited to see where Sam and Marshall decide to take their relationship. After that ending, I will definitely be reading the next book to see how the series wraps up. I’m hoping that in the fourth and final book, many plot lines are satisfyingly concluded at last.

Thank you to Katharine McGee, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lulu and Kai were next-door neighbors. Until one day, Kai was whisked away to South Korea to become a K-pop singer. Lulu hasn’t heard from Kai, whose stage name is Kite, in years. When his band Karnival announces he will be taking a break for health reasons, the last thing Lulu expects is to see him back in her neighborhood. With the help of an adorable kitten and meddling best friends, will Lulu and Kite find their way back to friendship and maybe more? 

Fireworks is an extremely cute and lighthearted romance. Alice Lin does an amazing job of incorporating LGBTQ+ representation into the novel. Lulu is bi, with additional LGBTQ+ representation casually worked in throughout the story. I enjoyed how Lulu’s identity is still vitally important, but not necessarily the focus of the romance. Instead, Kite and her friends accept her unconditionally and instead focus on the perils of dating a K-pop star. 

Fireworks does not shy away from how invasive fandom can become, creating many obstacles for Lulu and Kite to work through. The ending felt a bit rushed, I wanted to have Kite and Lulu work through more of the challenges between them. Fireworks is a charming and endearing romance! Fans of K-pop, YA contemporary, and lighthearted summer romances will enjoy Fireworks. This is the perfect book for younger YA readers who have wondered what it might be like to date a K-pop star. 

Thank you to Alice Lin, Underlined, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Home Field Advantage follows cheerleader Amber and new quarterback Jack when they form an unlikely connection. Amber McCloud has only wanted one thing since freshman year- to become cheer captain. When their quarterback dies in a car accident, new student Jack is tapped to play QB. Except Jack is short for Jaclyn, and the school revolts. Jack is forced to endure bullying and hazing from the team; while Amber must hide her crush on the incredibly cute new QB. With sexism and homophobia running rampant at the school, Amber and Jack decide to keep their growing relationship a secret. As the lies and pressure mounts, they must decide who and what they will risk it all for. 

This is SUCH a sweet and heartwarming story. Jack and Amber are an adorable sapphic couple and I loved the LGBTQ+ representation throughout. Dahlia Adler’s writing is smooth and inviting. She effortlessly balances tense action scenes with swoony romantic moments. Home Field Advantage has a sapphic cheerleader and quarterback pairing, queer found family, and hilarious writing. Home Field Advantage addresses serious topics such as homophobia, bullying, sexism, and complicated grief. This felt realistic and handled well, especially the complex ways that imperfect people are mourned and remembered. 

Home Field Advantage is one of my new favorite queer contemporary reads! I highly recommend it, especially for fans of The One True Me and You and I Kissed Shara Wheeler. 

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

For the Throne is the outstanding sequel to For the Wolf! I really enjoyed For the Wolf, but I have to say that For the Throne somehow got a tighter grip on my heart! Neve and Solmir are two morally gray characters who have made questionable decisions in the past. When they are unexpectedly bound together, they go on an epic journey for redemption to save the world as they know it. Yet in the worlds of the Wilderwood and the Shadowlands, magic always comes with a price. Neve and Solmir’s romance and quest is a twisted, dark journey with echoes of Hades and Persephone. Needless to say, I loved it! It was wonderful to see Red, Eammon, and the supporting cast again as well. 

Hannah Whitten’s writing is lyrical and mesmerizing. Every sentence is filled with vivid descriptions that bring the scenes to life. For the Throne tackles redemption, what it means to be a monster, lovable villains, and the bond of sisterhood. Each careful detail of the book is stunning, from Solmir giving Neve his jacket to only calling her Neve when she is truly in danger. Deeply flawed though he may be, Solmir’s protective instincts and mysterious secrets make him serious book boyfriend material. And Neve is equally swoonworthy - always choosing to search for a way back to her sister and take on darkness so she can find the light. 

For the Throne is a beautiful conclusion to the Wilderwood series, though I hope we see this world and characters again someday! I already can’t wait to reread it. Readers who enjoy epic sequels, great world-building, twisted magic, and spellbinding romance will love For the Throne!

Thank you to Hannah Whitten, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.   

Ordinary Monsters is a peculiar book. It’s unsettling, filled with dangerous magic, and spans across oceans and time. The sheer amount of world-building and number of characters immediately places this book in a category of its own. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Ben Onwukwe did an incredible job. Not only did I never get tired of listening to his voice during this 24 hour audiobook adventure, he did all the voices!! He gave each character a distinct voice, which helped bring them to life. The sheer amount of range displayed in his performance deserves some sort of award! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook of Ordinary Monsters, the production is outstanding.

J.M. Miro tries to do so much within these pages and it was a lot to take in. This is a book that ignores convention and instead embarks on a wild and fast-paced adventure. Miro creates a compelling story about dangerous magic, racism, and the mysterious people who are hunting the children with Talents. I found the characters lovable and beautifully fleshed out, especially the children. The world-building is intense and filled with details. I look forward to re-reading this book, as I think I will get even more out of a second read. Ordinary Monsters is a brave and daring fantasy debut. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel and seeing how the story continues. I hope Ben Onwukwe can narrate again! I would recommend to readers seeking dark fantasy, found family, and epic adventure.

Thank you to J.M. Miro, Ben Onwukwe, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Together We Burn follows Zarela, a fierce flamenco dancer who must make impossible decisions when tragedy strikes her home. She has always danced flamenco in the arena, while her father fights dragons for show. It is an ancient tradition which she has never questioned- until the day the dragons are released from their cages and wreak havoc. With her family name on the line, Zarela finds an unlikely ally in mysterious dragon tamer Arturo. Together, can they put on one last show to restore the family name? 

Together We Burn was a very enjoyable, lighthearted fantasy. I really liked Zarela and Arturo, they had a beautiful slow-burn romance. Zarela is fierce and determined to succeed. Her inability to give up on her family or settle for less makes her a particularly compelling character. Arturo is a great character as well, showing Zarela that traditions can evolve and dragons are more complex than she believes. I loved the final solution that Zarela created to save her family name! The ending felt a little bit rushed, but this did not impact my overall enjoyment of the story. 

Ibañez fills the pages with stunning descriptions- especially of food! She paints scenes with vibrant colors, delicious smells, and marvelous sights. Ibañez will absolutely make you wish that you could eat some of the food within! Together We Burn is a beautiful and lighthearted fantasy. I would recommend this for readers who love dragons, determined characters, and slow-burn romance. Together We Burn is out now. Thank you to Isabel Ibañez, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.