First chapter was fine but I think it is not the book for me. Reviews echo that and warn of animal cruelty. 

The Magnolia Palace is excellent historical fiction, strongly rooted in facts and actual people from the time periods it is set in. The dual timelines of the story follow Lillian in 1919 and Veronica in 1966. Lillian is known as Angelica and she models nude for great artists in NYC. When her mother dies from the flu epidemic, she is caught in a murder scandal and finds a job in the ultra-wealthy Frick home. There she is able to hide and end up in another tricky situation. 

Nearly fifty years later, Veronica is a model visiting NYC from the UK. She finds herself stuck at the Frick museum in the middle of a blizzard after a modeling call gone wrong. As she looks for an escape, she discovers old clues for a scavenger hunt. The way Fiona Davis brings the storylines together is truly well done, and the mystery that is solved is emotional and intriguing. 

This is certainly a slow paced historical fiction, but the character development is exceptional and the descriptions of the art work in the Frick home/museum keeps it engaging. If that's what you are in the mood for, this book is a delight. 

A very average YA thriller that was enjoyable because of the production quality and full cast narration that went into the audiobook. I saw pretty much everything coming but the audio kept me going. 

Seven Days in June is so many things at once and it succeeds at all of them. Eva Mercy is a thirty something single mom who writes supermarket erotica. She has a huge fan following, and the story opens with her speaking to fans. The introduction is hilarious, full of references to her fantasy world and adult toys. From there, the book slowly launches us into Eva's emotional and traumatic past. 

Years ago, Eva had a lust and love filled week with Shane. They were young and it did not end well. Now, they meet again at a literary event. As they get to know each other again, old feelings reemerge and past questions rise as well. I loved how Tia Williams wrote about the emotions of both of the main characters, with such tenderness and complexity. There are some spicy scenes, but this book is as much lit fic as romance. There are serious looks at what it is like to be a single parent and at the relationship dynamics as the adult child of a toxic parent. Williams also writes about the Black experience in a honest way, especially what it is like to be a Black author. 

I loved the character development, the intricacies of relationships, and the realism of healing in this book. If you enjoy character driven stories, this is one to pick up. I wish I had read it sooner. 

Sonora Reyes has done it again! Her sophomore novel, The Luis Ortega Support Club, is just as phenomenal as her first- perhaps even more so. I was so delighted to get an ARC copy of this from Harper Collins and NetGalley; all opinions are my own. 

Ariana is a neuro diverse teenager that wants desperately to be noticed and loved, even if she is often too nervous to speak. When she gets attention from Luis, Ariana feels so happy until he uses her shy personality against her to be intimate. When the rumors start flying all over school, Ariana is devastated. But then she receives an anonymous message from someone who wants to get revenge on Luis. What should Ariana do?

As Ariana tries to learn more about the mysterious message sender, what blossoms is a beautiful and deep group friendship where everyone can be themselves. The found family in this book is one of my favorites I've ever read. I love how Reyes writes believable, loveable, flawed outcasts and brings them together to support each and themselves. I really can't put into words how beautiful Ariana's transformation through trauma is in this book. 

And it's not just the sexual assault storyline, there is so much richness and so many layers to this story. Ari struggles to communicate with her mom and dad who are at a rocky point in their marriage. The other friends in the novel have their own very well developed stories and problems as well, and they receive adequate and well written attention too. 

The way this novel resolves is absolutely something you have to read to experience yourself. Do they get revenge? Will Luis' pattern of sexual assault be revealed? Will Ari and her friends be silenced by people with more power and influence? What does the future look like regardless of the outcome? 

Read this book and soak up Ari's story, don't miss this one friends. 

Mooncakes is such a delightful graphic novel! Here's a list of what it delivers: 
Deaf and NB representation
Magical problems
Good and bad witches
Werewolves
Containment spells that may or may not hold 
Queer friends to lovers
Great illustrations
Fantastic pacing 

Highly, highly recommend! 

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is a quick read about grief and found family. Written in a way that is both accessible and quirky, Allen tells us the story of many characters living on a fictional (but mostly realistic) island near Charleston, SC. If you are from or love that area, the descriptions in this novel will almost certainly appeal to you. 

Zoey is our main character. She is 19 and is returning to the island that she has been to but has no memories of. Her mother died 12 years ago, and Zoey is going to live in her mother's old apartment- a condo at the Dellawisp. The Dellawisp is an interesting place with a few long time residents and some newer arrivals. In this book, we read from the perspective of almost all of them. Allen swiftly changes perspectives so you'll need to read closely to follow those shifts- something I both enjoyed and found confusing. 

Charlotte is another central character in this book, one of the newer arrivals to the Dellawisp. I loved her storyline with her past trauma and what she was running from. There are also other characters- Mac, a chef, Oliver, the 20 something son of Lizbeth who dies early in the book, Lucy, Lizbeth's reclusive sister, and Frasier, the elderly landlord of the Dellawisp. And of course, there are the ghosts. 

I liked how this book played with magical realism and the idea/reality of ghosts. What I didn't like is the very serious topics that were brought up in the final third of the book and in my opinion not properly explored. I was especially disappointed when the final chapter introduced new conflict but not for the purpose of an open ending. It felt like something that could have been fleshed out or alluded to earlier on for more cohesion. 

Overall, I think this book is enjoyable and endearing but I also see lots of room for Allen's future books to improve. I'm eager to read from her again in the future. 

Maame by Jessica George is an absolutely delightful, poignant character study of Maddie- a 25 year old woman living in the UK who is trying to find her own way and meet the expectations of her Ghanian family. Maddie is often called "maame" by her mother, it is a name with many meanings including woman and mother, often bestowed upon the eldest daughter. As the maame of her family, Maddie is saddled with many responsibilities including being the primary caregiver for her father who has Parkinson's. 

When her father's health rapidly declines, we journey with Maddie through her grief whilst she also has to deal with employment, flat mates, and attempts at dating. I loved how accurately and tenderly this book showed what it feels like to be in your twenties, the true mess that that time is for many of us. I also loved the complex and nuanced depiction of a family that is grieving, loving, and dysfunctional. Maddie learns to stand up for herself as she finds her own worth in this story. 

Maame is a hands down five star read for me, excellently written and beautifully narrated. The audiobook was top notch; the narrator seamlessly transitioned from a UK accent to a Ghanian accent to portray all of the characters. This book is a real treat, full of the range of emotions. I have not a single criticism. 

White Tears/Brown Scars is an examination of how white women damage women of color in their interpretation and actions of feminism. I found the content important, compelling, and complex- there are no easy answers here and there’s so much to chew on as a white person who wants to learn and improve. 

I found some sections of this book to be better organized and explained than others. The sections on slavery and the white woman as damsel in distress were very well written. Sometimes it felt repetitive, but I think that often in this style of nonfiction so I’m coming to view that as part of the genre. My biggest critique is that some ideas were introduced in the conclusion that deserved elaboration (white supremacy and climate change) and I just don’t think that’s effective writing. The conclusion is not a time to add new ideas. 

But I’m glad I read this. I think it’s a must read for anyone in education or service roles, and truly I can’t think of while women who couldn’t learn from this book. 

Refugee is an absolute must read middle grades novel. Told from the perspectives of three young refugees, a Jewish boy in the late 1930s, a Cuban girl in the 1990s, and a Syrian boy in the 2010s, this story shows the trauma and brutality that is the refugee experience. It was eye opening to see the similarities in each story and Gratz wove them together beautifully. Voiced by a full cast, this audiobook is exceptional. I think everyone should have to read this book.