Hana is starring in a K-Drama, something she's always wanted. When it doesn't get the rating the producers want, they start a fake relationship between her and her co-star, Bryan. They also invite Minjee to make a love triangle on the show. What happens when Hana starts having feelings for the second lead instead of Bryan? This book explores the world of Korean entertainment, touching on acting and on K-Pop stars. It's got some excellent bisexual representation, which is appreciated. I really enjoyed it. 

I knew this book would be for me when I first heard about it--historical fiction sword-wielding lesbians in Potosi (which I thought was Peru but is actually Bolivia)? Sign me up! This book delivers, with dueling perspectives from Kiki and Ana, society ladies by day and swashbucklers by night. Their world is upended when Kiki's engagement is announced, and her brother dies. Now it comes time to figure out that mystery, before someone kills them. 

I really, really enjoyed seeing both perspectives and how all the characters interacted. I didn't know a lot about Potosi, but I learned a little about it and there's an author's note at the end to learn more. It's inspired by true events (I haven't fully vetted this website, but it gives a rough idea. https://culturacolectiva.com/history/the-valiant-ladies-of-potosi-ana-lezama-eustaquia-de-sonza/) There were a few moments where I missed the tip from one event to another, but overall, excellent.

It's a summer of first loves on Fire Island. You're dropped into the world of the island that isn't the Pines or Cherry Grove, which honestly I thought was the whole island. Jazz is very excited to reunite with her best friend Macy, who is still obsessing over her love from last year. Everyone thinks it's just harmless until they start to add up all the different things Macy is doing. It also covers changing friendships. Frothy with a hint of bite.

It's a pretty impressive achievement, to turn what is essentially a three-sentence poem into a whole book and have it still feel cohesive. This is a gorgeously made book too, so heavy. I personally liked the words more than the art overall, but there are a few places that just really capture the words so well. 

I really enjoyed this look into the brains of someone who has ADHD and someone with dyslexia, as well as explanations of trans and nonbinary feelings in a brown body. For me, as a cis white woman with a neurotypical brain, this was useful. I know that McLemore has a magical realism aspect, this went a bit too far for me. I couldn't always picture the world under the lake (it always felt over the lake to me), and why it suddenly started up again. The cover isn't my favorite either.

I learned a lot about different animals, including how common bisexuality is in the animal kingdom. This book definitely shows how much the "homosexuality doesn't occur in other animals" argument is wrong. It also made me want to become a vegetarian. I'm not sure I can pull it off quite yet, but definitely I will be looking at more sustainable options.

This book is a mix of poetry and prose. The prose seems to explain the poems a bit. I feel like Zoboi really cares for her subject (Octavia Butler) and I learned about her life, but it didn't entirely click for me. 

I really enjoyed this one. It's sort of like The Scorpio Races mixed with a dash of Hunger Games. Koral and her brother Emrik catch maristags for the Glory Race, an event that happens every 4 years and is usually reserved for the upper class. If they don't catch maristags, they don't get paid, and then they starve and can't afford medicine for their sick younger sister. When they lose the last maristag of the season, Koral makes a desperate bid to enter the Glory Race. Can she win despite all the odds?

It's definitely a hard book to read at times. There's an upper class determined to hold onto their place at any cost, and the lower class is balanced between trying to survive and being resentful of anyone who earns a little more. There's a rebellion happening, but it's complicated. The way the rebellion is portrayed I actually really enjoyed, because it felt very realistic. The ending leaves space for a sequel. 

I read an ARC of this title.

Renie's sister disappeared into a vampire house a few months ago, and no one will tell her what happened. Renie decides to volunteer herself as a vampire donor to figure it out, despite hating vampires and how everyone is obsessed with them now. She tries to unravel the mystery, while also not falling in love with Edmund, one of the vampires living in the house. 

With names like Renie and Edmund, it was hard for me to not compare this to Twilight. I liked this take on how vampires would act in our world (almost being social media influencers). The vampire politics parts were kind of neat too, with them realizing how precarious their situation was. I also had a hard time with the ending. 

I read an ARC of this book.