As a society, we have become trained to love all things serial. TV shows, podcasts, movies, books! I have to admit, I have serial fatigue. My favorite tv show is going on 12 seasons, Sarah J Maas just announced like 50 billion more sequels to her series, and I just listened to a podcast on episode 86. But when I came across Remade, I was like, WHERE DO I SIGN UP!? Apparently my fatigue does not apply to serialized novels, which are an intriguing concept.

Each release is called an "episode", with 15 episodes making up the full "season". They're written by different authors, including Gwenda Bond and Kiersten White. The first episode is 32 pages long, which means a lot of story has to be packed into a short amount of time. Pack it they do. I can't believe they get so much story into 32 pages! The description above does not describe the first 32 pages, which I imagine are setting the tone for the post-apocalyptic world we are about to enter.

In episode one, we meet Holden and Seyah, who are driving to a cast party after they finish the latest run of a play they're both in. I won't say more than that because then I would be retelling what happens in those 32 pages but really, the story had me hooked from the minute we met them both and now I'm waiting for the entire season to come out. WAITING. The anticipation is killing me, in the best way.

I am the biggest Gayle Forman fan and yet I had so much hesitation over reading Leave Me. I've actually had the book for quite some time now but I was so worried that I wouldn't like it that I put it off till pretty much the last second.

Boy, was that a mistake!

Leave Me is the perfect adult book for YA readers, because it's pretty much about an adult who says I QUIT to adulting for a bit. Maribeth doesn't rage quit her life; she carefully decides to take a pausey from it. Well, first a heart attack forces her into a quasi-pause and later she actively decides to put the brakes on...After she lacks the support she needs to actually recover.

"Would it surprise you to learn that one of the top fantasies for women is a prolonged hospital stay?"

Today's women often juggle the pressures of performing 110% in a work environment that doesn't honor the need for balance with a home life, which is still not even close to equitable (side note: if you're ever feeling like the need to rage, just google that concept...The internet is appalling at times). Sleep, friendships, and personal time are lost in trying to be the main caregiver for the children (and partner), the household (which increasingly includes finances and other nuances), the work atmosphere. Gayle creates a setting where most women can insert themselves and come out on the other side feeling like a hospital stay sounds heavenly (because, let's face it, going on vacation usually means coming back to chores or work undone).


This is an easy book to to get all judgy with the main character. What do you mean she just up and left her husband and kids without notice? How could she do that! You know what? They manage. That's not to say it's the best solution but sometimes removing yourself from the situation is the best thing you can think of. I'd be lying if I didn't have that fantasy at times (and I don't even have kids).

You can expect solid writing, overall solid story building, and engagement that keeps you till the end. I read this one in one sitting, which says something (because I was supposed to be packing for vacation...).

I read a few reviews who said the problem with this and other books by Gayle is the perfect HEA at the end. But really, is it so inconceivable that there are people out there who experience a HEA even in the worst situations? I like to think there are.

We are back again this month with the second of four issues in Girl Over Paris. Girl Over Paris #1 was freaking amazing (along with both of the Cirque American books) but Gwenda, Kate, and Ming really outdid themselves this issue.

Jules had quite a fright last issue with something not of this world caused her to nearly lose her balance on the wire. This issue opens with her sharing her concern with Remy, a concern he doesn't quite buy. Jules' panic is only exacerbated when she sees the same apparition behind Remy while he's flying. Talk about scary! But is Jules' imagination is overdrive or is there a real cause for concern? You'll have to read on for yourself.

The creative team on this book really works. I haven't enjoyed a team this much since the Batgirl New 52 team and I can't get enough! The art is extremely pleasing and it's nice to see Kate and Gwenda taking the Cirque world and building it out. I'm firmly a Valentine!

Jules is barely keeping it together while trying to balance her responsibility to her Valentines and her responsibility as the girlfriend of missing Remy Garcia. A quick call home only serves to heighten her fear...Can she save Remy without giving up too much of herself? Who is this masked apparition who appears when bad things happen?

As always, Gwenda's Cirque American series brings the supernatural elements of the circus to life, an element perfectly captured in Kate Leth's storytelling and Ming Doyle's art. I really love how the supernatural elements are displayed compared to the characters in the regular world.

Isn't the cover positively creepy? It's completely telling of the story inside. We are 3/4 of the way through with this series and I'm not ready to be done with these characters!

I like this series a lot more than I thought I would. Suzanne Young has created a fascinating world that's set within ours and seems like the train station we are quickly crashing into.

Super glad I'm next in line for the next book...and then we wait for #3.

Cuuuuute. Exactly what I expected and the beginning had me laughing so much!

I'm always amazed at a comic book's ability to tell a story in a few short pages - and now I'm completely awed by the ability of this team of writers to do just the same...and without graphics. When you only have 39 pages to suck a reader in and keep them guessing for a whole dang week, well, best of luck to you. It's no short feat in the YA world.

But it isn't luck that's keeping my attention; it's the curiosity and characters that have me coming back weekly. Space elevators? Giant alien spiders? Zombie (?) teens? What in the heck is going on here? Episode two opens where episode one left off, with Holden and Seyah jamming the elevator and coming across another group of teens. They're all wondering what is going on - and were they dead? Because that's what they last remember

What I love about this story is how intentional everything is, including the cast of characters. When I mentioned that to Andrea, she shared how important it was to the group of authors to develop a diverse cast. These are real teens, not the white washed group that is far too often pervasive in YA. They have to find a way to work together, including May, the main character in this story, who is allergic to everything and unsure of where her next meal will come from.

What I love about the Firebird series is the fact that the semantics of interdimensional travel are negated by jumping into that dimension's version of yourself. None of the worry of a paradox.

I may also love the romance aspect. Just a bit.

Oh, and that last 10%, where I was totally like O M G WHAT SAY WHAT.

This is the mental health book that every teen and adult needs. It's straightforward and doesn't promise all kittens and rainbows at the end. These are real young adults sharing how far they've come in a relatively short amount of time, when their brain has formed a bit more and perhaps they've developed their identity has an "adult".

I've been waiting forever to read this book only to find myself disappointed. This book did NOT deliver. It's such an interesting premise but reads like a western rather than a post-apocalyptic book. Will not be reading the second one