caseythereader's Reviews (1.84k)

Thanks to Dell Romance for the free copy of this book.

 - Tehlor Kay Mejia is lowkey one of the best romance writers out there. Their books are brimming with love and hope and queerness and I want to scoop everyone up into a big hug.
- CASH DELGADO IS LIVING THE DREAM deals with a later in life queer awakening, and I am so so glad it exists. I think regardless of when you come out, you’ll relate to a lot of Cash’s confusion, justifications, and ultimately feelings of freedom.
- Plus, Sammy from SAMMY ESPINOZA’S LAST REVIEW plays a key role in this book, which I loved! 

Thanks to Nancy Paulsen Books for the free copy of this book.

 - WE SHALL BE MONSTERS is Frankenstein by way of Indian mythology, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
- The characters are all multilayered and morally gray, each chasing their own goals and giving us a few good plot twists along the way.
- I enjoyed how the further we got into the the book the more detailed the world of the story became. More information and backstory was unspooled at just the right rate, and the ending left me excited for the sequel.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free copy of this book.

 - This book is a delight. If you are into the cozy fantasy genre, THE SPELLSHOP is a must. What’s not to love about a rogue librarian, an anxious spider plant, and an attractive merhorse herder, along with the rest of the island’s inhabitants?
- I also liked the conversation layered into the story about whether libraries are for keeping information from or sharing it with the people.
- I read the audiobook, and narrator Caitlin Davies is super engaging, managing to do slight voices for each character without making it cartoony (even when said character is a sentient plant). 

This is just going in insufferable circles. 

Thanks to Del Rey Books for the free copy of this book.

 - Saara El-Arifi is so good at creating dark fantasy worlds that are full of both war and love. I also love how she seamlessly includes queer and disabled people throughout her stories.
- Yeeran and Lettle are a great pair of sisters, loving each other and also being annoyed as heck with each other because they don’t see eye to eye.
- Here’s the thing about FAEBOUND - I could see exactly where the plot was going at every turn and I loved reading it anyway. Everything was predictable, but I enjoyed by time in this world and am looking forward to the sequel. 

Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.

 - POVERTY, BY AMERICA is facts on facts on facts. Literally. It’s a short book, but it’s packed with detailed research, laying out exactly why poor people stay poor in America.
- I knew the outlines of a lot of this going into the book, but to hear it laid out, one aspect after another, was still shocking and enraging. This is boosted by audiobook narrator Dion Graham’s ability to convey the information clearly but also with emotion.
- The best part about this book is what sets it apart from a lot of nonfiction like this: Desmond lays out solutions and plans at the end, rather than simply dropping a bunch of facts and leaving. 

Thanks to Tor Dot Com Books for the free copy of this book.

 - Do you ever read a book and you absolutely could not explain what happened but you loved it, five stars? That’s RAKESFALL for me. It took me thirty or forty pages to grasp what was happening, but after that I was locked in.
- Truly, I can’t explain much more than the synopsis gives you. Each section of this novel is a glimpse at these two souls in a different life, so the book swings wildly around various settings and premises, leaving you to guess at everything from where we are to who is who to what threads connect the vignettes.
- The prose, however, is take your breath away stunning. I could not put this down, even when I was confused. I learned a lot of new words and was happy to just let the beauty wash over me. 

IDK, I was just kind of bored by it. Read closer to middle grade than YA.