This book is *DEVASTATING*. It's full of trauma, from that of adoption, sexual assault, and familial stress. We follow Mika, a young aspiring artist who's reconnecting with her daughter Penny after giving her up for adoption 16 years prior. Mika constantly finds herself lying to Penny in part to impress her, but also to compensate for her failures in life. But these lies come out early (thankfully), and the story is really about how to build trust after so many years apart and how to process trauma together. I loved how the narrator characterized Mika and Penny so differently, from the chipper attitude to the innocence in her voice. I also really liked how she portrayed the lasting effects that Mika's rape had on her, and the contrast to how Mika's mother views it.

This is by no means an easy read, but it is a great one.

*Thank you to Harper Audio for an ALC, as well as William Morrow and BiblioLifestyle for the gifted finished copy*

This is a cute and fast read, though there are definitely darker elements in the flashback chapters. Hannah's Olympic dreams are shattered (like her ankle) and, after a year away at boarding school, she's back and trying to prove herself to her parents. My favorite part about the entire book was the haven that is Bonanza. This flashy adventure zone is reminiscent of the arcades and funplexes of our youths and just emanates good vibes. At times it got a bit dark, but it's contrasted nicely with the burgeoning summer romance between Hannah and Ethan.

*Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was certainly a funky one. I waffled throughout as to who I thought the killer was - I knew the location about halfway through, but wasn't quite sure who perpetrated the crime. Things feel mysterious and suspenseful throughout, determining who Layla's father is, what exactly transpired on the night of Nate's murder, and why the heck we have a chapter from Oksana to kick off the book. My favorite chapters were Tonya's, as she has the most to hide out of anyone, but seeing Melissa and Imani's perspectives were nice too. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a quick thrill but doesn't want to be kept up at night thinking about it.

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is an absolute dystopian mind fuck. In the lighter moments, it reminded me a lot of Orange is the New Black, and more like Black Mirror in the darker ones. Throughout the book, we hear mantras about how the mothers are narcissists, have them refer to themselves by their name and their crime, and watch as their visitation privileges are stripped away for meaningless reasons. What's worse is that this sort of facility is easy to imagine. I felt actual pain for Frida as she labored to restore her life with her daughter through performing well with Emmanuelle, only to have to give up her as the program ends. Everything we come to love in Frida's life ends in pain, by it being wrenched away from us or destroyed by society. But man if it doesn't punch you in the feels...

It's the season of second-chance romances, but this one is definitely unique! Gen and Evan were an on-again off-again couple in high school, but turned into permanently off when Gen fled Avalon Bay with little to no warning. Now she's back and dealing with all of the trouble left in her wake. I loved the themes of redemption and forgiveness in the book, especially for Evan. Plus we get to meet precious characters like Riley and Harrison who are just the sweetest cinnamon rolls. There's a nice amount of steam as well, focused mainly on the LOOOOONGING between Gen and Evan (which you know this girl loves). I really hope there's a third book coming because I want to see what happens with Alana and Liz!

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Yes, I got misty about an octopus. And I am unashamed by this fact. We follow Marcellus in the last year of his life as he develops an unlikely friendship with the aquarium's cleaner Tova. And honestly? It's better to go into this book blind (in terms of plot). This book is ultimately about the relationships we form across a lifetime and how we're all connected. It's also incredibly hopeful and uplifting, while also delving into tough topics like addiction and loss. There are elements of literary fiction, magical realism, and mystery throughout, creating a book unlike any I've ever read. There was laughter, anger, tears... just AMAZING. I want to live in the Sowell Bay, thank you.

I am a melty mess, egads. I'll admit that this book is problematic - it's a retelling of the 60's Scoop with little care shown to the original history. But at the same time it felt like a big found family hug so I'm conflicted.

It's a bit slow to start and feels like a satire of some government organizations at times. We follow Linus as he undertakes a mysterious assignment that sends him to Marsyas. There he meets a strange lot of children and their caretaker Arthur Parnassas. This is the sort of book where it wouldn't be the same if you dropped a single character - Theodore was my favorite of course. And Linus truly gets to see the effect that his actions (and inactions) have had on this world. When I was reading it in the moment, I loved every minute of it. It's only after that I learned about his appropriation that I find issue...

This feels like a perfect plot for a teen movie. I loved the rep for bisexual, fat, and anxious characters throughout and the vivid descriptions of Kat's photography process. And who hasn't catfished someone at once in their life? (No? Just me? Okay..)

But better than in a movie, Kat's actions actually have consequences. And she's stacked all of these fibs and half-truths into a dangerous jenga tower that has to fall. I kept finding myself cursing at the book as characters made stupid decisions - Kat's mom most of all. But I couldn't put the book down, I had to see all of this drama through.

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

There's nothing like an Abby Jimenez hangover - that feeling when you finish the newest book and have to wait MONTHS to talk to someone about it and you're just filled with EMOTION. Bri was one of my favorite characters in Part of Your World and I'm so happy that she got a book of her own. And mannnnnnn does this book turn the fake dating trope on its head. It is the slowest of burns, like a crockpot left on overnight. They don't even kiss for half of the book and I wouldn't change a thing.

As someone with generalized anxiety disorder, Jacob's experience reads true to me. I constantly need to see the menu of a restaurant before I go, and have contingency plans for most social situations. Jacob and Bri are perfect together and probably my favorite match thus far. BIEBER it's good!!

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

It's rare that I find the movie/book comparisons accurate for a new novel, but this really IS They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen's Gambit with a Scrabble twist. It's a strategic YA mystery with a few thrills tossed in. I really loved the wordplay and puzzles throughout as Najwa tries to decode the hacker's taunts. I also enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, as she did a great job distinguishing between the *many* characters and establishing tension. And now I kind of want to play Scrabble?? That's something I haven't said since I was 9.

*Thank you to Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*