Olivia's an orphan at an orphanage that reminds me of the one at the beginning of Jane Eyre. I'm sure that's just one of the many Gothic tropes in this book. A letter from a mysterious uncle draws her to Gallant, the house that her mother's journal has always told her to stay away from. At Gallant, there's no uncle, and little information about what's going on. What has Olivia gotten herself into?

I found this one very readable and enjoyable. No romance at all, which is a welcome change for YA. 

I love stories about girls who are good at tech and making things!

Like most short story collections, there are good and bad stories. My favorite was by MJ King.

This is a prequel to Pet, an amazing book unlike anything I had ever read before. This is the story of Lucille while it was still dangerous. It's in the future from now, but perhaps not too far off. This story looks at the different ways to approach conflict, why one might not want to put their body on the line, and why one might say yes. This book shows the horror of angels, and the might. There's a lot to ponder here. 

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

Maeve Stephens has a life online as MauveCat, an anthropomorphic cat who does excellent artwork. In real life, she navigates her mother's hoarding and tries to just make it through high school. As a present for missing graduation, her father gives her tickets and a room to Furlympia, the local furry convention in Olympia, Washington. Her mother doesn't approve, so she runs away there with her friend Jade. But the real world and the world with her furry friends can't stay separated forever. Can she let them in?

I feel like I'm reading a lot of YA so far this year that I appreciate but don't entirely understand. Like, I'm still not sure about this furry community although it seems pretty tame in this book. Just people who like dressing up like animals--not that far off from being a mascot. I really appreciated the look at hoarding in this book, as well as what it is to be someone who wants to be a people pleaser all the time and always be happy. I can relate to that a lot. Other relatable things about this book include learning to trust your friends with your own self, as well as what it's like to live with someone who has a mental illness (and when you have to make boundaries with that situation.)

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Oooh gurl this is a messy book. Maggie is an out bisexual. She used to have a crush on her best friend, and she has an on again/off again ex, and there's a cute new girl in town. When her best friend and her ex start showing signs of feelings again when the cute new girl starts flirting with her, Maggie's world gets really confusing. Add in having to pick an escort to her sister's quinceañera, and what is a girl to do? Maybe make a finsta to work through her problems for a school project? No one will find out. 

Lots of teen drama in this one, which I guess maybe I am getting too old for? But if you've got teens who are into soapy shows, I bet they will enjoy this one. A great multicultural cast and loving family in this book.  

I got an ARC from Netgalley, thank you so much. 

Although I haven't had the same library experiences as the author, I can say that this is a more accurate look at public libraries today than many other stories. It's an important read, because libraries are not going to save us, and we need to fix other problems rather than just rely on libraries to save everything.

Decent projects, just not what I was hoping for when I read the book.

I think this is a good introduction to asexuality for anyone. To be honest, even after reading this I still feel like I don't entirely understand asexuality, mostly because it's hard for me to wrap my head around. There is a metaphor about cake in the book that I appreciated it. I think my lack of understanding is more due to me than the book. 

Such a powerful story about addiction and how it affects communities. A late read as a potential North Star Award title.