This is one of my favorite books I read this year. I loved how the author switched between Kalyn's and Gus's perspectives. I loved how prickly Kalyn was, and I could see how living with her grandmother and her other life experiences would make her see Gus differently than everyone else. Phil's family reminded me of people I know. I also knew that the murder would end up being more complicated than it was but I was still surprised by some parts of it.

I like the premise of this book, with its critique of influencer culture. I had a hard time with some things (does makeup really hide your face enough from an algorithm? What's up with brain scans?) I just felt like maybe it wasn't for me.

I didn't know a ton about Charles Lindbergh, other than that he was a pilot who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and his baby was stolen. I had known who he was married to, as she was a Smith College graduate (best school ever) and her book A Gift from the Sea is often given out as a Smith College Book Award to high school students.

I'm not sure that book that should be given out any more.

I mean, yes, Charles Lindbergh did an amazing thing, and helped move air travel along. He just...doesn't seem like a particularly nice person? And that's before he agreed with Nazis and fell for all their propaganda, and didn't seem to think the way they were treating Jewish people was that bad, and he never apologized for it. It was scary to see how much of it was similar to today in the United States, and the book made me think that we really need to fight fascism even more.

This one was a little slow to grow on me, but by the end I was crying. Adelaide has just been broken up with by Mikey L-L, and she meets a cute boy named Jack at the dog park. From there, different scenarios spin out. If that had been the whole book, I might not have been able to keep up with it. In between these chapters that show different universes, there are linear chapters that show just one aspect of life. That helps anchor the book for me. I also think it has an excellent description of dealing with a sibling struggling with narcotics abuse.

I read this all in one setting. I think it works as an intergenerational tale, about what our grandparents and parents choose to share, and how traumas are still felt later. I also think there are plenty of teens who don't know a lot about history, and I think learning about it firsthand is neat.

I really really liked this one. I can't say enough about the use of colors and panels.

So good, but it was dark. Darker than I normally read. I'm not sure if it contributed to my mood when I came home, but while I was listening to it, I would get in the house and be angry. I'm glad I read it.

Slow and steady did I read this one. It was the book on my phone, which almost always takes a backseat to whatever I'm reading in print. I did enjoy this one quite a lot. I wasn't as familiar with the characters as I would have liked, but it gives me something to research later. Mbalia does an excellent job as a debut author, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

This book introduces my favorite duo, Nishinoya and Asahi. I still love them so.

I thought this was a really cute skating sports novel with romance. Olivia's parents are retired figure skaters who own an ice rink, that is struggling to stay afloat. A speed skater comes in and is willing to pay for private time and improvements to the rink. Although they initially don't get along, Jonah (the speed skater) and Olivia do find a lot in common, as both understand what it takes to be Olympic level athletes. I've seen some reviews call them stuck-up, but I read it more as "this is how it has to be if you want to be at the pinnacle of your sport at a young age. Also, the book made me hungry, despite Jonah's hatred of "simple carbs."

One complaint I had about the book:

Spoiler

this book was sold to me as a book about someone who realizes that they won't be able to have the Olympic dream they want and how they deal with that. I don't know that I would call this book a description of that, as Olivia decides to go solo for the Olympics at the end.

Not my favorite cover, either.