Dewdrop is an adorable picture book that features an axolotl with other creatures that are preparing for a sport festival. The other animals are feeling discouraged and Dewdrop is their cheerleader. This book showcases growth mindset and healthy goals in a sweet way. My son gave it five stars and especially loved the creature facts at the end. 

Again and Again is loveable story of an elderly man in a nursing home, reflecting on his past lives. Yes, you read that correctly. Eugene Miles has lived numerous lives, all the way back to the time of the Moors when he met and was separated from his true love Gaya. 

Now nearing the end of this life, Eugene befriends a new custodian, Angel. Angel and Geno develop a deep and wonderful friendship, I truly loved every moment of it while I admit it may read as trite and twee to some. Angel is in his early twenties and his pregnant girlfriend just dumped him. Geno gives him relationship advice while also reflecting on his many past lives, grateful for someone to finally listen without rejecting him full stop. 

Of course, you may have guessed that this is a case of an unreliable narrator. It's done in such a lovely way that weaves together Eugene's truths and fictions to create something relatable for the reader. Eugene's lives have often been dark, and Evison doesn't shy away from some vivid descriptions that while important to the story, may be challenging for some readers. That said, I couldn't recommend this one more. I love an unlikely friendship and a search for meaning in life story that can make me laugh and not wallow. This did all of that and then some. Absolutely charming, I think this book belongs on your TBR. 

This book will teach you a lot about the history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the displacement of the Palestinian people. It is scathing in its reflection on the hypocrisy in American liberal politics and if you identify in that way, it will prompt you to think much harder about your views on this topic. Highly recommend. 

People Like Her is a deliciously juicy Insta-influencer drama full of unlikeable characters that are each just relatable enough to keep you reading through their less than admirable decisions. Emmy Jackson is the newly minted mom of two (her youngest is just five weeks old as the story begins) and she's turned her skills into over a million Instagram followers as she does the typical mommy blog stuff and attracts numerous sponsorships. But of course, all is not as it seems. 

Told from numerous perspectives including Emmy, her husband, and a mysterious older woman, this full cast audiobook was tremendous and definitely a fun way to inhale this dramatic and at times thrilling book. I saw some of it coming, but some of it was a much bigger train wreck than I expected. My only quip is I don't think you should call it an epilogue if it's an hour long. That's a big ass chapter, ya know? 

So if you like influencer stories, unlikeable characters, and seeing behind the curtains, this book is definitely worth your time! 

Last Girl Breathing got my attention because I adored Dress Codes for Small Towns by the same author, Court (Courtney) Stevens. Dress Codes for Small Towns is a moving, queer coming of age story about Billie and her group of friends in a small rural town with a conservative preacher as a father. Dress Codes encapsulates the uncertainty of exploring your gender and sexual identity in that kind of pressure cooker environment. So I went into this book with high expectations of good writing, deep characters, and space for queer identities beyond the binary.

NOPE. That's not what this book is. Honestly, the fact that both of these books are by the same author makes me furious. Last Girl Breathing is chock full of unnecessary gendering ("him and her self" when it would have been so easy to say "themselves"), frequent and extended Harry Potter references and romanticizing, and an inappropriate step sibling relationship. The characters and plot excludes any kind of diversity. And the story should have touched more on the role of class in rural towns impacted by millionaires, but that opportunity was completely ignored.  Then add in that this book was painfully slow until the 70% mark and had little character development throughout, and I can no longer read from this author. 

We deserve better from YA authors. This is NOT it. 

This is absolutely a five star, heart breaking book about three teens trying to cross the southern border and make it safely into the United States. Pulga, Chico, and Pequena have all been through so much trauma at home and decide it is worth all of the sacrifices and risks to try to leave home for the US. 

The teens cross from Guatemala to Mexico to the US, following the infamous La Bestia, a perilous and deadly train that has taken as many to a new life as it has taken lives. With so many realistic layers of emotion, trauma, and love, this book was one I could not put down. It reminded me very much of Sanctuary which is a dystopian novel about immigration, but this is very grounded realistic fiction. 

I'm so glad for bookstagram friends who recommend books I've never heard of, which is how I found this gem. Now it's your turn! 

Poverty, by America is an incredibly well researched and moving nonfiction from the author of Evicted. Much shorter than Evicted, I think this is a very accessible title with clear and concise presentation of facts and data around the systemic and cyclical poverty that America allows to flourish. This book won't lift you up, but it will arm you with information. The audiobook is fantastic. Don't miss this one. 

Advika and the Hollywood Wives is a refreshing twist on the Me Too style novel that has been greatly popular in recent years. By taking the perspective of a young woman of color, Ramisetti looks at the toxic male from a slightly different angle that deserves attention. 

Advika is down on her luck and an aspiring screenwriter. One night while bartending a high society event in LA, Advika meets the very famous and much older Julian Zelding. Nearly forty years her senior, they begin a quick and hard love affair and end up married within months. Julian's primary request is that Advika never Googles him. And for quite some time, she complies with this ask. 

The racial microaggressions and toxic relationship dynamics are tough to read, but also so realistic. This is the kind of book that has you wishing you could shake Advika to save her from Julian, and don't worry there is justice in the end. 

If you like a Hollywood story and a sweeping story about how one man has been able to ruin the lives of so many women finally being torn as he deserves, this one is well written and enjoyable. I think it's best quality is approaching the topic from a BIPOC perspective.