Sapphic Pride & Prejudice, astrology, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, fake dating??? Absolutely, please and thank you. This had amazing, heartfelt characters and sweet plotline that was easy to fall in love with. This was leaps and bounds better than my initial introduction to this author. I actually enjoyed the spice in this which I hadn't in a long time, definitely surprised me.

This was absolutely stunning. I loved this. LOVED. Loved doesn't convey how much this has been living in my head rent free. The prose is clear and concise, making Yara a relatable character with a story you can't help but be invested in. The mental health rep and conversations in this was top tier and Yara's growth was impeccable. I already know this is a 2024 favorite.

Etaf Rum is truly a master of prose. This was stunning and raw and emotional, but it was so heavy and triggering. The abuse was definitely hard to listen to and my heart hurt for Isra. The different timelines helped to show the whole picture that led to Deya's decisions. The ending about what really happened to Isra and Adam wasn't exactly a shock, but oh boy did it hurt, especially through Deya's eyes.

I really did enjoy the first half of this book. It was funny and I loved the characters and I loved the cozy vibes. But then someone did something horrible and unforgivable imo and someone else let it slide too easy and it made my stomach hurt. I almost didn't finish.

I've seen reviews that describe this as "haunting" and "darkly whimsical" and I have to agree. The idea that there were monsters but now they're gone and what some monsters actually represent is a complex unit of this story. Not everything is what it seems and that includes monsters. The ending showcased some good old vigilante justice and it is heavy in my mind. I have a new favorite author.

There's just something so sweet and cozy about this story. Anne is such an imaginative and happy child and her brightness rubs off so easily. I love reading about Anne and her adventures and rereading this is giving so much nostalgia. This is one of those books that just feels like sunshine.

I'm a sucker for multigenerational stories and this one was emotional and raw and the author did a wonderful job at giving each character their own voice. It almost felt like a personal look at how horrific and ugly war is and how it tears people apart and how it affects those, even many years down the road. I loved watching the family grow and evolve and learn their customs and traditions. All they want is to go home and that remains very clear throughout. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far.

This is a middle grade that's been on my list to read for awhile. And it had it's heartfelt, beautiful moments and I can definitely understand the aspect of grief in this story. That being said, Coyote's father, Rodeo pulls her away from home and keeps her on the road and doesn't let her see anyone she cares about after his wife dies. This man definitely had a mental break and the author tries to paint this as a rosy story but Rodeo needed help with this trauma. It's just...not what it could've been.

Immigration, military coups/dictatorship, and displacement are all aspects of this book being shown through the eyes of a child and that makes it especially heart wrenching. We spend time learning about Chile and it's culture and getting to know some of it's people before something terrifying happens and she has to flee to America while a political upheaval is going on. I loved this story so much and the writing was lovely. 100% should read this!

"his skin is so tan he looks dirty." "The slaves prefer to be called brownies." I actually don't give a shit what this author addressed (people are sticking up for her...yikes) you cannot tell me these statements don't have incredible amounts of racial tones. Peter is an actual piece of trash and so is Jamison Hook who is counting down the days for Daphne to turn 18 so they can fuck... Uh predator much?? And Daphne is the least horrible person out of the three but she's this annoying fucking pick me girl who can't uphold her boundaries. This is not dark romance or whatever the girlies are trying to pass it off as. It's just actual shit. You can't change my mind.