These books. I wait for them so patiently for so long, only to devour them in one night. And it's so worth it, every time.

I love the glimpses into other worlds and the chance to get to know characters from Every Heart a Doorway better. This installment features the beautiful imagery and turns of phrase that I love and that I expect from this series, along with pops of humor that were at times jarring but, overall, a welcome addition.

I sincerely hope that we get the opportunity to travel through other doors in future books. I need a whole book about Christopher and his world of dancing skeletons, and I need more Kade.

I liked this book, though not as much as I expected to, and I ended up enjoying the build-up far more than the fantasy payoff at the end. The literary (and missing person) mystery was my favorite part, and at times it reminded me of a YA version of Night Film, just with fairy tales instead of David Lynch-esque films. I'm glad that a collection of the tales is forthcoming, because I was disappointed about how few of them we get in their entirety in this book.

This was my first time reading James Baldwin, and it should have happened a lot sooner. Baldwin takes a hard, steady look at racism that will make you sad about how little has changed, reinvigorate your dedication to dismantling white supremacy, or both.

If there are moments of hokiness, they’re a small enough price to pay for a queer love story that persists despite decades of separation. Or maybe I’m just too cynical and cold-hearted. Even so, I read this all in one sitting when I should have been asleep, and I cried at least twice.

It took awhile for me to get around to this one. It’s weird to read John Green now, with the awareness I have of how ardently people hate him, which makes me more critical of his work than I was when I first discovered it. I felt like I should dislike this book, and I was suspicious of myself when I didn’t. There were moments when my People Do Not Act Like This alarm pinged, but those moments don’t significantly mar what is a pretty spot-on depiction of one manifestation of anxiety. I saw a lot to relate to in Aza, and I enjoyed the eloquence that casts the mundane in the soft light of meaning and that characterizes all of Green’s books. Solid writing, and a good audio performance, though I hated having to imagine Rey and Chewbacca in a romantic relationship.

Issues of Archie and Betty & Veronica (and the odd issue of Cheryl Blossom) bought at my local Piggly Wiggly got me into comics as a kid. That’s not particularly unique or interesting, but it does provide context for why I put off reading this. I was either going to love it or hate it, and luckily it was the former. I think “hot Archie” as I’ve heard it called gets it right; there’s a clear respect for the source material that prevents huge deviations or bad decisions, while a more modern eye draws out depth and relevance in the characters. Betty and Jughead stand out, but I also liked Archie’s conversational, fourth-wall-breaking narration and endearing klutziness (both physical and emotional). Reading this just downright felt good, and I want more.