I do not know when exactly I learned about Mooncakes, but my curiosity about them goes back as far as I can remember. Living in a tiny town in the Midwest, they weren't something I had the opportunity to try, but as a child was the entirety of my knowledge of Chinese baked goods and left me amazed because I knew they were difficult to make.

My knowledge since then has obviously grown, first with Milk, Bread, and then Dim Sum.

This book, however, covers everything my childhood would have wanted to know and so much more. So much so I have every intention of buying this book as a birthday gift to myself.

Normally I'd stray away from saying the Kristina Cho covered everything that my mind can think of, but this woman has included recipes to Ice Cream Mooncakes to her own version, "Danish Sewing Tin Cookies." (Which will be becoming a trademark of holidays in my home)

Cho also does savory recipes of many kinds in her book, enough dim sum recipes to cover my cooking adventures for at least a year. Along with dishes I've never heard mentions before, like Fan Tuan and "Savory Soy Milk with All the Fixings." I'm excited to try if I can find Chinese Donuts (Youtiao) in my area (or brave making them).

I am glad that I didn't pick this up last night as soon as I finished re-reading Lobizona because? I wouldn't have been able to put this book down and subsequently wouldn't have been able to sleep because Garber had me crying through the last quarter of this book.

I personally think Cazadora would best enjoy this right after Lobizona, but Manu downs give a fairly good recap at the beginning if you feel you have a good recollection of what went down.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions, from beginning to end. However, you will not want to put it down.

I loved seeing both the repercussions of Septima Society, how others worked to live within it while being different, and how important it is to find that space you belong to even if you are only occasionally able to be there because you can be your true self.

At its core, I would say that this book is an ode to Found Families and defending those you love.

While not the ending I wanted to this book, I do think it was the ending it deserved

I am not sure what I was expecting going into this book. The title was enough to intrigue me but the description sealed the deal.
This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. The romance in this book was honestly wonderful, and to be honest the way it depicted how love isn't always simple or straight forward.

The way spirituality of the characters is both depicted is incredibly unique. I don't think I have ever picked up a piece of Historical Fiction that has it woven into every fiber of the book. It was refreshing and intriguing. It made the characters feel like they had more depth, while also bringing so much more to the story as well.

Everything in this book has a purpose, upon finishing it, I wasn't left feeling like anything existed just to pad out the book. Things that may have just seemed like they were there for that ended up being important to the story later.

I honestly want to curl up and listen to this books again, because it is incredibly beautiful. But also because I feel like there is so much that I may have easily missed more of the story.

The level of cuteness in this book was nearly overwhelming, and as the oldest sister of my family there were many of these comics I found myself grinning at in memory of similar situations with my own siblings. It made me nostalgic for the days spent with my small siblings, while they were an annoyance at the time. There are memories from then that I would never get back.
If you are an only sibling, I am not sure this book is for you. But if you have siblings, especially siblings with a large age gap you will find comradery and nostalgia in this book.
I honestly cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book in my hands.

This book left me way happier then "Gudetama: Surviving the Holidays" did but that honestly comes down to timing. Gudetama talking about mindfulness feels Poignant as the Pandemic continues to go on and on. As well as with the state the world is in currently. Gudetama has some great advice on dealing with others on the internet, even if they are family.

What I didn't like, was the specific call out to not take time when you are overwhelmed at work to practice mindfulness. Especially when that level of stress can in reality make you much less productive than you would have if you had just taken that time to reorientate and center yourself would have.

Props though for the use of the singular they. I got butterflies reading it. It still feels incredibly rare so seeing it used here felt awesome.

With the 20th anniversary of September 11th coming up. This isn't the first work I've seen covering the topic.

This one is unique as it takes on telling the story from the perspective of someone who is experiencing it in the present rather then as someone looking back on how that event has shaped what we understand as the present.''

I feel like this could be a better introduction to the topic, the other pieces of work I've picked up. It is a lot more light handed it's descriptions of the gore and tragedy. (What I think of Specifically is people jumping out of the towers)

Content Warning: Body Horror, Self Harm, Drowning, Racisms, Violence, Mentions of AIDs and Adult/Child Relationships.

Finishing this book, left me feeling empty in a way that is difficult to explain. It was such an oddly fantastical and harrowing journey. Following Vern as she grows into herself is intensely interesting and often times heart wrenching as she tries to be a good mother, and to also come to terms with what she is.

This books reflection of Gender interested me quite a bit, its laissez faire attitude brought me so much joy as someone who does not feel like they fit within the binary. It is something I haven't really seen in other books I've read.

While I enjoyed this book, their was a part where I had to put it down (pause the audiobook) because I had been trying to eat some ice cream, and the depictions of body horror paired with food were not a good pair.
Outside of trying to eat, I did often find the cause of the body horror, to be incredibly intriguing and unique.

I found this dreadfully full, I really tried to enjoy it. Even gritted my teeth thru nearly half of it in an honest attempt to find something I liked.
And outside of the vintage look of the comics I found nothing that I enjoyed in reading this.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book, I think for me this comes down to just how deeply Brremaud relies on Pathos to make his point resonate. But also there are some points that feel out dated and others that don't feel like they are actually addressing issues or giving solutions that will make a difference.

I struggle to understand who the target audience of this book is, because it seems to graphic and the issues much to large for most children, and is it vague for teens. So I can only guess that it is supposed to fit in a middle grade niche

DNF 40%
I honestly don't care what happens after this. This scene made me so physically ill that this book can not be redeemed.
The scene that caused me to quit is the main character committing suicide right next to the sex worker he spent an intimate night with.
I should have turned back when I first began to doubt this book.

WORSE YET! It is marked as YOUNG ADULT.
This is trash no ifs, ands, or buts.