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chronicallybookish's Reviews (1.53k)
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
If you’re a fan of Spin the Dawn or Six Crimson Cranes—you need to read this book right now. It’s the perfect mix of the two books.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a YA Fantasy standalone—which we always need more of—and it’s a retelling of a Korean folktale.
If that somehow isn’t enough to make you desperate to read it, let me just tell you that it’s incredible.
The plot was sweeping, adventurous, romantic, and so engaging. I was hooked from page one. Mina is an incredible character. She gives up her life for her brother on page one, and never stops fighting for her family. She’s brave and brash, but she’s also so kind and generally relateable. Shin is the perfect YA love interest. Brooding, a bit morally gray, but also a genuinely good person. And I was a sucker for the chemistry between him and Mina. Honestly, I’m in love with every single character who ever appeared on page in this book. They were all unique, and even if they only had a handful of lines, Axie Oh was able to make me care about them.
There were plenty of little plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat, but there were two big ones. One of which I guessed pretty early on, but the other totally caught me by surprise—and I loved both of them.
I highly highly highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to see what Axie Oh has in store for us.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
If you’re a fan of Spin the Dawn or Six Crimson Cranes—you need to read this book right now. It’s the perfect mix of the two books.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a YA Fantasy standalone—which we always need more of—and it’s a retelling of a Korean folktale.
If that somehow isn’t enough to make you desperate to read it, let me just tell you that it’s incredible.
The plot was sweeping, adventurous, romantic, and so engaging. I was hooked from page one. Mina is an incredible character. She gives up her life for her brother on page one, and never stops fighting for her family. She’s brave and brash, but she’s also so kind and generally relateable. Shin is the perfect YA love interest. Brooding, a bit morally gray, but also a genuinely good person. And I was a sucker for the chemistry between him and Mina. Honestly, I’m in love with every single character who ever appeared on page in this book. They were all unique, and even if they only had a handful of lines, Axie Oh was able to make me care about them.
There were plenty of little plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat, but there were two big ones. One of which I guessed pretty early on, but the other totally caught me by surprise—and I loved both of them.
I highly highly highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to see what Axie Oh has in store for us.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
From the moment I saw Six of Crows as a comp title, I was intrigued. The plot of the book was very different from Six of Crows, the characters were nothing like the crows, the writing style wasn’t similar to Leigh Bardugo… There is nothing that I can directly and explicitly pinpoint that is similar to Six of Crows, and yet I totally understand this comp. There is just some vibe that is so Six of Crows. Like, I’ve read other books that are similar to Six of Crows and often compared to it when it comes to tropes like heist, found family, and gangs, and I enjoyed them, but they never captured the essence of the book like this did.
I think that it has to do with the political aspects of the book. This book is intensely political in a way that doesn’t feel YA at all to me, and Six of Crows had a similar feel to me.
I think this book has a strong appeal to adult readers, and I think most of the aspects that I wasn’t able to really get into—the romance(s), especially, and the way the characters acted and spoke—felt forced and were only there to help the book appeal to teen readers. I think if this book had been rewritten for an adult audience, or just not tried to cater to teens, it could have been a five star read. And I say this as a teenager (19) and as someone who predominantly reads YA.
I want to dive into the plot a bit. So much happens in this book, I don’t know what to do with it all. The plot and Cayder’s goals change so much from page one to page 50, and then they do another 180 at the 50 or 60% mark. And I think that it is done very well, but the tag line of the book got in my head and didn’t really mesh with everything that happened. It ruined a lot of the tension, because it tells you things that would have been so much better, and the book would have read so much smoother, if you found them out as the story happened, instead of being confused because what’s going on doesn’t match what the story was pitched to you as, and then having one of the biggest moments of tension be underwhelming because you knew what was going to happen from the start. It also kind of spoiled Cayder’s character growth for the same reason and made it and his decisions later in the book underwhelming.
Also, another issue I have with the tag line—it says four teens are charged with murder and illegal use of magic, but there are actually only three?
Screw it. I’m rewriting the tag line.
League of Liars is a dark and twisty mystery set in a richly drawn world where nothing is as it seems, rife with magic, villains, and danger. In this political fantasy thriller, three teens are charged with murder and the illegal use of magic, band together with a goody two shoes law apprentice to expose the truth, no matter what.
Now it’s not spoilery, has the correct facts, and has an oxford comma—since the original one didn’t.
Anywayyyy I got a little off track.
The tension and intrigue of this book (if you ignore the whole tag line fiasco) is spot on. I truly never knew what was going to happen next, but I always knew it was going to be shocking, and draw me in even more. Astrid Scholte weaves an engaging story of magic, politics, and intrigue that had me gasping out loud more than once.
I have so many questions about the magic system of this story—which is like the whole point—and I can’t wait to watch it all come together in the next book. I’m quite sure this will be a series, though I don’t know how many installments, but I don’t doubt that the revelations about the Edem at the end of the book will masterfully weave together with the drama and politics of the world.
I really enjoyed the characters. Each character was strong and distinct. I liked that though Cayder was the main POV character, we got to see a bit from Leta, Eleanora, and Jey’s point of view as well. I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that Cayder’s chapters were in 1st person, and the other 3 were in 3rd person. It was hard for me to get used to, and I think the story may have been more cohesive if the whole book was in 3rd person, butI did eventually get used to it, and by the last half I barely even noticed it.
Cayder went through a lot of character development throughout the book, and it felt very natural and well done. He started out as kind of a prick, and I found him annoying, but as he grew as a person, I too grew to like him and connect with him. He was always a strong character, he just started out as an annoying one.
I must admit that Jey was my favorite character. I couldn’t figure him out. He was funny and full of charisma and vibrato, but there was something genuine and vulnerable about him as well. I think we got just enough of a look inside his head in the couple of chapters we had in his POV to really connect with him and start to get to know him, without giving anything away. We got a taste, and that got me hooked as I tried to figure him out.
The only thing I truly disliked about this book (aside from the tag line. Ugh.) was the romance. It was so unnecessary. I can’t say much, because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I felt absolutely no chemistry. The interactions that were supposed to be romantic just felt awkward and out of place, and I just cringed. It was only a few lines here and there, but I still feel like the book would have been so much stronger without it. It felt as if it was just there because “YA books need romance to sell”. I just felt nothing, and I feel like that lack of chemistry just undermined every interaction between those characters, because when they were supposed to be flirty or connecting romantically I just felt like cringing.
All of that is to say—whoever came up with the tagline sucks, don’t expect romance, read this book whether you’re a teen or an adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for book 2!
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
From the moment I saw Six of Crows as a comp title, I was intrigued. The plot of the book was very different from Six of Crows, the characters were nothing like the crows, the writing style wasn’t similar to Leigh Bardugo… There is nothing that I can directly and explicitly pinpoint that is similar to Six of Crows, and yet I totally understand this comp. There is just some vibe that is so Six of Crows. Like, I’ve read other books that are similar to Six of Crows and often compared to it when it comes to tropes like heist, found family, and gangs, and I enjoyed them, but they never captured the essence of the book like this did.
I think that it has to do with the political aspects of the book. This book is intensely political in a way that doesn’t feel YA at all to me, and Six of Crows had a similar feel to me.
I think this book has a strong appeal to adult readers, and I think most of the aspects that I wasn’t able to really get into—the romance(s), especially, and the way the characters acted and spoke—felt forced and were only there to help the book appeal to teen readers. I think if this book had been rewritten for an adult audience, or just not tried to cater to teens, it could have been a five star read. And I say this as a teenager (19) and as someone who predominantly reads YA.
I want to dive into the plot a bit. So much happens in this book, I don’t know what to do with it all. The plot and Cayder’s goals change so much from page one to page 50, and then they do another 180 at the 50 or 60% mark. And I think that it is done very well, but the tag line of the book got in my head and didn’t really mesh with everything that happened. It ruined a lot of the tension, because it tells you things that would have been so much better, and the book would have read so much smoother, if you found them out as the story happened, instead of being confused because what’s going on doesn’t match what the story was pitched to you as, and then having one of the biggest moments of tension be underwhelming because you knew what was going to happen from the start. It also kind of spoiled Cayder’s character growth for the same reason and made it and his decisions later in the book underwhelming.
Also, another issue I have with the tag line—it says four teens are charged with murder and illegal use of magic, but there are actually only three?
Screw it. I’m rewriting the tag line.
League of Liars is a dark and twisty mystery set in a richly drawn world where nothing is as it seems, rife with magic, villains, and danger. In this political fantasy thriller, three teens are charged with murder and the illegal use of magic, band together with a goody two shoes law apprentice to expose the truth, no matter what.
Now it’s not spoilery, has the correct facts, and has an oxford comma—since the original one didn’t.
Anywayyyy I got a little off track.
The tension and intrigue of this book (if you ignore the whole tag line fiasco) is spot on. I truly never knew what was going to happen next, but I always knew it was going to be shocking, and draw me in even more. Astrid Scholte weaves an engaging story of magic, politics, and intrigue that had me gasping out loud more than once.
I have so many questions about the magic system of this story—which is like the whole point—and I can’t wait to watch it all come together in the next book. I’m quite sure this will be a series, though I don’t know how many installments, but I don’t doubt that the revelations about the Edem at the end of the book will masterfully weave together with the drama and politics of the world.
I really enjoyed the characters. Each character was strong and distinct. I liked that though Cayder was the main POV character, we got to see a bit from Leta, Eleanora, and Jey’s point of view as well. I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that Cayder’s chapters were in 1st person, and the other 3 were in 3rd person. It was hard for me to get used to, and I think the story may have been more cohesive if the whole book was in 3rd person, butI did eventually get used to it, and by the last half I barely even noticed it.
Cayder went through a lot of character development throughout the book, and it felt very natural and well done. He started out as kind of a prick, and I found him annoying, but as he grew as a person, I too grew to like him and connect with him. He was always a strong character, he just started out as an annoying one.
I must admit that Jey was my favorite character. I couldn’t figure him out. He was funny and full of charisma and vibrato, but there was something genuine and vulnerable about him as well. I think we got just enough of a look inside his head in the couple of chapters we had in his POV to really connect with him and start to get to know him, without giving anything away. We got a taste, and that got me hooked as I tried to figure him out.
The only thing I truly disliked about this book (aside from the tag line. Ugh.) was the romance. It was so unnecessary. I can’t say much, because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I felt absolutely no chemistry. The interactions that were supposed to be romantic just felt awkward and out of place, and I just cringed. It was only a few lines here and there, but I still feel like the book would have been so much stronger without it. It felt as if it was just there because “YA books need romance to sell”. I just felt nothing, and I feel like that lack of chemistry just undermined every interaction between those characters, because when they were supposed to be flirty or connecting romantically I just felt like cringing.
All of that is to say—whoever came up with the tagline sucks, don’t expect romance, read this book whether you’re a teen or an adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for book 2!
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.75 stars
The Lost Dreamer is a sweeping fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica. I have truly never read anything like it. The magic system was fascinating. I really wanted to love this book.
But it just fell flat to me. Indir and Saya were interesting characters, but their voices weren’t unique enough from each other. The world was so diverse and interesting, but there was so much going on with the magic and the peoples and the geography, and the on page worldbuilding just wasn’t up to par with the ambitious world Lizz Huerta had written. I often found myself confused and/or overwhelmed.
I couldn’t connect with any if the interpersonal relationships, the exception being Indir and her sisters. But friendships and romances always felt shallow to me. I was told that Saya felt like she was becoming a part of Ruta and Kinet’s family, but I couldn’t feel it. The same goes for Indir and [redacted]. I felt no chemistry between Indir and her chosen.
The writing, too, was a little rough on almost a structural level (I’m not sure that’s the right term). The way the sentences connected felt choppy. I read a paragraph where 7/9 sentences started with “It”, and not in an intentional way. The writing just didn’t flow at times.
This is a story and a book that had so much potential, the execution just wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I’m honestly not sure whether or not I will continue with the series. I’m interested in the premise and general plot, and I admit the big twist did catch me by surprise, but I’m not invested in the characters or writing. I feel some curiosity towards where the plot will go next, but I dont think I will be motivated enough to pick up book 2 when it releases in a year.
The Lost Dreamer is a sweeping fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica. I have truly never read anything like it. The magic system was fascinating. I really wanted to love this book.
But it just fell flat to me. Indir and Saya were interesting characters, but their voices weren’t unique enough from each other. The world was so diverse and interesting, but there was so much going on with the magic and the peoples and the geography, and the on page worldbuilding just wasn’t up to par with the ambitious world Lizz Huerta had written. I often found myself confused and/or overwhelmed.
I couldn’t connect with any if the interpersonal relationships, the exception being Indir and her sisters. But friendships and romances always felt shallow to me. I was told that Saya felt like she was becoming a part of Ruta and Kinet’s family, but I couldn’t feel it. The same goes for Indir and [redacted]. I felt no chemistry between Indir and her chosen.
The writing, too, was a little rough on almost a structural level (I’m not sure that’s the right term). The way the sentences connected felt choppy. I read a paragraph where 7/9 sentences started with “It”, and not in an intentional way. The writing just didn’t flow at times.
This is a story and a book that had so much potential, the execution just wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I’m honestly not sure whether or not I will continue with the series. I’m interested in the premise and general plot, and I admit the big twist did catch me by surprise, but I’m not invested in the characters or writing. I feel some curiosity towards where the plot will go next, but I dont think I will be motivated enough to pick up book 2 when it releases in a year.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars. This was so much fun! I didn’t know it had a Greek mythology angle! I can’t wait for book 2 aaaaaaa
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and Storygram for an a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
First things first. This book is a YA contemporary novel. It is not a romance novel. While there are romantic themes, the focus of the story and Ophelia’s coming of age, coming out, and coming to terms with her identity.
So, please, don’t go into this book expecting a romance novel—but please read this book.
Every character, plot point, and paragraph of writing was masterful. And this is a debut! I love Ophelia. I love Wes. I love Sammie even when he’s an annoying asshole. I love Ags. I love Talia. I don’t exactly love Lindsay, but she’s a strong character.
I honestly could not put this book down. I stayed up well into the night to finish this book—which is something I never do and something that I honestly don’t think I’ve ever done before for a contemporary. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I needed to know how Ophelia’s story ended.
Racquel Marie is an author to watch. She is incredibly talented and skilled. This was one of my highly anticipated releases. I’m always cautious when it comes to debut authors, but this book blew my expectations out of the water. The writing was just so raw. I could feel everything that Ophelia felt. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and Storygram for an a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
First things first. This book is a YA contemporary novel. It is not a romance novel. While there are romantic themes, the focus of the story and Ophelia’s coming of age, coming out, and coming to terms with her identity.
So, please, don’t go into this book expecting a romance novel—but please read this book.
Every character, plot point, and paragraph of writing was masterful. And this is a debut! I love Ophelia. I love Wes. I love Sammie even when he’s an annoying asshole. I love Ags. I love Talia. I don’t exactly love Lindsay, but she’s a strong character.
I honestly could not put this book down. I stayed up well into the night to finish this book—which is something I never do and something that I honestly don’t think I’ve ever done before for a contemporary. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I needed to know how Ophelia’s story ended.
Racquel Marie is an author to watch. She is incredibly talented and skilled. This was one of my highly anticipated releases. I’m always cautious when it comes to debut authors, but this book blew my expectations out of the water. The writing was just so raw. I could feel everything that Ophelia felt. I cannot recommend this book enough.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Art: 5/5
So I loved this.
A sapphic (wlnb) romance. Witches and werewolves. Disability representation. Gorgeous artwork. A hint of mystery. What more can you ask?
There was a lot going on, and everything moved really fast. At times I wanted more elaboration and more development of relationships. Tam and Nova just flew into a relationship within like, 24 hours of reconnecting. That felt way too sudden to me. Not quite insta-love, since they had a history, but they’d been apart for a decade, and for them to just jump right into it without any build up was a bit abrupt. That’s honestly my only complaint.
Nova was adorable. I loved her, and the casual (#ownvoices) hearing aid representation was great to see. I also loved Tam. I felt for them and everything they went through.
Mooncakes was a very cute, quick, a super fun read and I highly recommend it.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Art: 5/5
So I loved this.
A sapphic (wlnb) romance. Witches and werewolves. Disability representation. Gorgeous artwork. A hint of mystery. What more can you ask?
There was a lot going on, and everything moved really fast. At times I wanted more elaboration and more development of relationships. Tam and Nova just flew into a relationship within like, 24 hours of reconnecting. That felt way too sudden to me. Not quite insta-love, since they had a history, but they’d been apart for a decade, and for them to just jump right into it without any build up was a bit abrupt. That’s honestly my only complaint.
Nova was adorable. I loved her, and the casual (#ownvoices) hearing aid representation was great to see. I also loved Tam. I felt for them and everything they went through.
Mooncakes was a very cute, quick, a super fun read and I highly recommend it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Emma Lord never misses. Her characters are real, her plots are the perfect mix of crazy, chaos, and so much fun, and her romances sneak up on you and melt your heart before you even realize it.
I loved Millie so much. Yes she’s a lot, but she’s sweet and earnest, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Oliver and Teddy, too were great characters. And Chloe was simply adorable. The Mama Mia style plot was super fun, and I was engaged. When I thought for a while there Millie was going to decide not to find out who her mother was, I was sorely disappointed, but I’m glad we do end up learning who she is.
Tons of fun. Perfect for those who love an engaging story and a dramatic but lovable heroine.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Emma Lord never misses. Her characters are real, her plots are the perfect mix of crazy, chaos, and so much fun, and her romances sneak up on you and melt your heart before you even realize it.
I loved Millie so much. Yes she’s a lot, but she’s sweet and earnest, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Oliver and Teddy, too were great characters. And Chloe was simply adorable. The Mama Mia style plot was super fun, and I was engaged. When I thought for a while there Millie was going to decide not to find out who her mother was, I was sorely disappointed, but I’m glad we do end up learning who she is.
Tons of fun. Perfect for those who love an engaging story and a dramatic but lovable heroine.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 12+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
I have said it before, and I will say it again: Kasie West is the Queen of fluffy YA romcoms. There really is nothing like a Kasie West book. It’s like being wrapped in a big fluffy blanket. ALL the warm fuzzies.
And Kate’s story is no exception. Podcast stories are very trendy right now, and their a little subset of books I’ve found myself really enjoying, so I was excited to see that this would also have that aspect! I feel like including podcasting in books has surged in the past year, but this book came out in 2018, so Kasie West was ahead of the game.
No matter how many books I read that use this sort of plot, they always have something unique to bring to it, and they always do it in different ways. Crime podcasts, romance podcasts, advice podcasts. Podcast books never disappoint.
I loved Kate. She was a realistic protagonist who you couldn’t help but relate to. She cared so much about her family and friends. Her little rivalry with Frank almost seemed out of character, but I think it actually brought more of her complexities to light. She’s relatively shy, very caring, and very protective of those she loves. She’ll do anything to protect her family and their marina.
All the minor characters, too, were unique and lovable. Alana, Diego, Liza, Max, and even Frank.
All that is to say, another amazing book by an amazing author that you absolutely need to check out.
Age Rating: 12+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
I have said it before, and I will say it again: Kasie West is the Queen of fluffy YA romcoms. There really is nothing like a Kasie West book. It’s like being wrapped in a big fluffy blanket. ALL the warm fuzzies.
And Kate’s story is no exception. Podcast stories are very trendy right now, and their a little subset of books I’ve found myself really enjoying, so I was excited to see that this would also have that aspect! I feel like including podcasting in books has surged in the past year, but this book came out in 2018, so Kasie West was ahead of the game.
No matter how many books I read that use this sort of plot, they always have something unique to bring to it, and they always do it in different ways. Crime podcasts, romance podcasts, advice podcasts. Podcast books never disappoint.
I loved Kate. She was a realistic protagonist who you couldn’t help but relate to. She cared so much about her family and friends. Her little rivalry with Frank almost seemed out of character, but I think it actually brought more of her complexities to light. She’s relatively shy, very caring, and very protective of those she loves. She’ll do anything to protect her family and their marina.
All the minor characters, too, were unique and lovable. Alana, Diego, Liza, Max, and even Frank.
All that is to say, another amazing book by an amazing author that you absolutely need to check out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Grief
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
I’m really loving graphic novels. Especially the sweet and wholesome ones. This was seriously just adorable. Keltie was so earnest and innocent and she balanced Reagan out well. It was a very quick read, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Despite how short and quick it was, every single character experienced a good amount of growth, and it all felt very natural.
The illustrations, as well, were gorgeous. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a graphic novel that didn’t have gorgeous illustration, but these were truly stunning. The colors, the lines, can you tell I have no idea what I’m talking about? I am not an art person. But I do appreciate pretty things when I see them
I really enjoyed this book, and I can definitely see myself picking up more of Molly Knox Ostertag’s work in the future.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
I’m really loving graphic novels. Especially the sweet and wholesome ones. This was seriously just adorable. Keltie was so earnest and innocent and she balanced Reagan out well. It was a very quick read, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Despite how short and quick it was, every single character experienced a good amount of growth, and it all felt very natural.
The illustrations, as well, were gorgeous. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a graphic novel that didn’t have gorgeous illustration, but these were truly stunning. The colors, the lines, can you tell I have no idea what I’m talking about? I am not an art person. But I do appreciate pretty things when I see them
I really enjoyed this book, and I can definitely see myself picking up more of Molly Knox Ostertag’s work in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing