This is exactly as described, a sweet, queer love story. Love and Pompoms is about two unlikely cheerleaders, Annie- a self described cranky and antisocial kid who needs an extracurricular for college applications, and Bebe, a trans girl who is just trying to be herself with a whole lot of people paying too much attention. 

Annie and Bebe used to be friends, and I love how that past weaves in and out of the present story. Bebe coaches Annie through cheerleading, and Annie coaches Bebe back about life and standing up for herself. 

This is a truly lovely graphic novel, the only thing I wanted was more time with these characters and a little more at the end. Content warnings for lots of transphobia, proceed with care- it has it's dark moments while also being filled with love and hope! 

The Eden Test was a quick reading domestic psychological thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish. I’ve never read from Sternbergh before, so I was pleasantly surprised by the realistic characters in a somewhat far fetched plot.

Daisy and Craig have been together for three years and married for two. Their relationship is already rocky so Daisy has booked a one week isolated getaway to a relationship retreat called the “Eden test.” Each day brings up a difficult question for them both to answer. I loved how the book shifts from relationship tension to more traditional thriller tension. I don’t want to spoil anything, this was a fun ride. 

I found some of Daisy and Craig’s interactions cheesy and annoying in the beginning but I decided to lean into it and laugh. I’m so glad I did because the twists and character development were so much fun. I think there are a few small plot holes so go into this expecting fun and drama and with a casual attitude. If you do, this thriller has great entertainment potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. 

His Only Wife gripped me from it's first lines.  Afi Tekple is a bride on her wedding day, marrying her husband who is not there. Married in absentia, apparently not uncommon in Ghana. What an unheard of concept in my world, I was immediately drawn into empathy for Afi and curiosity for where this marriage would take her. 

Afi longs to meet her husband and then she longs for him to live with her. While this isn't a mystery or a thriller, I do think the reader benefits from not reading a deep synopsis before diving in. I loved being surprised at every turn that  Afi's relationship took. Through this challenging marriage and her thirst for love, Afi also realizes her own skills and learns to be a seamstress and then fashion designer. 

This is a story of a woman realizing her worth and yearning for so much more than she gets. It has some romance, a wonderful side cast of characters, and so much subtle wisdom. This short contemporary fiction really packs a punch. 

A super solid YA heist story about a girl who has been raised a grifter. Just as charming and dark as I hoped for, this is a really solid book. 

Janice Hallett has written another epistolary-ish mystery novel and it did not disappoint. I read and enjoyed The Appeal last year, so I eagerly placed a hold for The Twyford Code. This one is shorter than The Appeal and written in voice memo transcriptions. The short "audio file" format propels the story forward and keeps it engaging in a way different from most other thrillers as the story builds. 

Much like The Appeal, I did find this book lagged a bit in the middle. I have decided that Hallett must do this on purpose, getting us lost in the build and the mundane that every story needs to get to the big reveals and payoffs at the end. I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing and quite liked that, but I'll tell you it's about Smithy. He's recently been released from a long prison sentence and is looking into the disappearance of one of his favorite teachers from Remedial English many years ago. In his search for her, he discovers another mystery and goes down the rabbit hole. 

If you like stories told in unconventional formats, this is well worth a try. I wouldn't place it in the thriller category; this is a solid mystery with many layers revealed in the final quarter. Excellent characters, clever writing, I recommend. 

Gracefully Grayson is such an amazing debut novel. I read A World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky first and I highly recommend that book as well. She is definitely an auto-read author for me now. So let's get into this one. 

Grayson was adopted by his aunt and uncle when his parents died in a car crash when he was 4. He's never really felt at home in his body or with his cousins, but his aunt and uncle are caring and kind. Lately, Grayson has been feeling lonely in the sixth grade and when he sees a sign for play try outs, he decides to give it a go. After reading through the script, Grayson tries out for a female character. 

This story follows what happens to Grayson and what happens behind the scenes at school when a kid challenges the gender norms that the adults all hold dear. Without giving too much away, I want to say that I loved how supportive his uncle is, the nuance that the author shows with his aunt's reluctance, and the portrayal of a teacher just trying to do their best but being held to unfair standards by hateful parents. And throughout all of that, Polonsky tells us the tender story of a boy who wants to wear dresses and isn't sure what that means. 

By the end of the novel, there is tremendous and beautiful character growth for Grayson and for a few of the supporting characters as well. This is a story that I want to own for when my son is a bit older. It's clear that he is very cis, and I know this book will help him see what it's like for kids who don't feel that way and will be a conversation starter for building empathy. Sometimes a beautiful book is more than just that, sometimes it is also a force for empathy and greater good. Gracefully Grayson is one of those special books. 

Rabbit Chase is an Anishinaabe retelling of Alice in Wonderland with a non-binary main character named Aimée. When Aimée goes on a field trip with their middle school, they are worried about  problems like what all the white kids think of the Indigenous kids, being misgendered, and fitting in.  But when something strange happens in the forest,  Aimée must focus on solving riddles and finding help to get back to the bus and away from all of these very real but fantastical beasts! 

Ya'll, this one is a gem. It wraps up so much into a small, beautifully written and illustrated package. I didn't know an author could do this much in 120 pages. It really is amazing. 

Well I didn't read this one for the longest time because of mixed reviews and ALL OF THE HYPE. Can you relate? Sometimes when a book is everywhere you turn, you have to read it and other times it makes you want to read it less. 

So I finally picked this up when my husband's aunt recommended it and she was right. I didn't have high expectations and I knew not to expect a thriller, but this was so good. I loved the character development and the slow build of the connection between our narrator and her step daughter. There were so many quotes that stood out to me and so many moments that felt so genuine, even in a highly unlikely (but very compelling) plot. 

I won't rehash this plot. You've seen reviews or you can look them up. What I will say is if you're on the fence, give it a shot.