While I was intrigued by this book’s premise and opening chapters, only the first 25% truly held my attention. The other 75% was excruciatingly slow, and I found many of the twists predictable. Although I liked Simi and Kola, I never really got attached to them or invested in their story.

This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped, either. Going in, I hadn’t known there would be a sequel, so there were a few minutes where I was confused by the cliffhanger. I’m currently unsure whether or not I’ll read said sequel.

Despite my criticisms, I would recommend this book to anyone interested. It’s a historical fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid inspired by West African history and mythology, and Bowen’s writing is good. I definitely think she has potential, and just because most aspects of the story weren’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean they won’t be someone else’s.

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I started reading this on a whim while waiting for The Sims 4 to load so I could spend my evening playing. I was only on chapter two when the main menu appeared, but was already so engrossed that I turned the game off without doing literally anything in it and proceeded to do absolutely nothing else until finishing the book. Reading it only took about three, maybe three and a half hours, and I honestly don’t remember the last time I marathoned a book without even stopping to check Instagram.

You’ve Reached Sam is a book that’s gotten a lot of hype around the online book community both for being an amazing debut and an extremely heartbreaking book that caused a lot of tears. As someone that has yet to actually cry over a book, I wondered if this would be the one to finally make me shed tears; while that wasn’t the case, I came very close, particularly in the prologue and again in the final chapter. And even though I didn’t cry, I can confidently say that this is one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve read, second only to Starworld; if not for my personal connection to that book, this one would likely have claimed the top spot.

Despite not ever personally experiencing the degree of loss that Julie is in this book, I felt her pain in every page. I empathized with her and with those around her, grieving in their own ways but still trying to support each other. Dustin Thao did a brilliant job describing the uncertainty that follows losing someone you thought you’d have so much more time with, how isolating it can be when you grieve differently than those around you, and how impossible it seems that other people are continuing their lives when yours seems to have veered irreparably off-course.

I know I briefly mentioned the final chapter already, but I’d like to return to that, to reiterate just how much it broke my heart. You know that lump in your throat you get when you’re about to cry? That’s what I had going on as I read the last few pages of the book. And yet, despite that, despite how bittersweet the ending is, it’s also undeniably hopeful, and I think that it’s incredibly impressive for Thao to fit all of that into his debut novel. I can’t wait to read more from him in the future.

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I knew a story about the Titanic wouldn’t have a happy ending, but cheese and rice, it was so much sadder than I imagined. It’s been over eight hours since I finished the book and my heart still hurts. ☹️

That aside, this was my first Stacey Lee book and it won’t be my last. Although it was a rather slow, very much character-driven story, I was never bored. It was so easy for me to become attached to the characters. I really liked Valora and admired her determination, and how she refused to let any of the numerous obstacles she faced stop her from doing what she wanted. And, though it took some time to warm up to some of them, I really liked the seamen crew too—Beau, Wink and Ollie in particular. What sweethearts. 🥺

I had actually planned to stop with about two hours left of the audiobook so I could go to sleep, and then finish it in the morning. But to say the story intensified when the Titanic hit the iceberg would be an understatement; I was nervous and I absolutely could not stop. So I was up until four a.m. finishing this, but honestly, I’m not even mad about it.

And speaking of the audiobook, props to the narrator, Rebecca Yeo. She did a brilliant job bringing the story to life. She did different voices for each character, but made it sound authentic and memorable rather than cringey. There were lines describing instrument sounds and a crowd cheering, and there was even a song at one point; she didn’t back down from any of it. It made the experience more entertaining, and she’s quite a good singer too. I’m impressed.

I’ve gotta say something about the ending. In the beginning of the book, it was mentioned that only six of eight Chinese passengers aboard the ship survived, so I knew at least two people would die. I didn’t expect one to be Drummer, and while that was sad, it didn’t effect me much. Sorry not sorry.

I was fully expecting either Jamie or Beau to sacrifice themselves so the others could get on a lifeboat, or something along that line. It would’ve been so painful for Val—hell, even for me—to lose either of them. I never expected Lee to pull the death trope card and have Val sacrifice herself for Jamie. Ouch. And the fact that the epilogue was a letter Jamie was writing to the sweetheart he’d met onboard, with a new narrator, detailing his and his friends’ lives after losing Val? Double ouch. Much sad, very pain.

I’m so glad Charlotte adopted Wink and Ollie, and that all of Jamie’s crew members are going to have relatively good lives. But I’m sad that Jamie lost his last biological family member, and more than anything, I feel bad for Beau. I was hoping that he and Val could try out a relationship, because their casual flirting on the ship was adorable and their kisses nearly ended me. I know this isn’t a romance, I get it, but my hopeless romantic heart was still hoping. And because I like hurting myself, I can’t help but wonder if Beau still has the carved whale figurine Val told him to keep safe… 🥲

I definitely recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a sad historical fiction story, and I definitely want to read more of Lee’s books in the future. Hopefully they aren’t all this painful. :))

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This was one of the most interesting historical fiction novels I’ve read, as, if I recall, it’s the only one not set in a western country. I’d never heard of damos, so in addition to reading an intriguing story, I also learned a few new things.

Hur’s writing was easy to read, and the combination of that and the surprisingly complex mystery kept me turning pages. What seemed like a simple murder case ended up being a complicated one of religion, family and shame with multiple victims, and even though I thought more than once that I’d figured it out, I never had. Props to Hur for that, as I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting twists and solving mysteries.

Another thing I particularly liked was that Seol, the protagonist, was sixteen. While this is ultimately insignificant, it was nice to see a YA book with a main character under the age of seventeen; I can only think of a couple others that do.

Overall, I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

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This has been on my TBR for ages, and I’m so glad I finally read it! The Lost Coast is a nonlinear story of queer witches that blurs the line between fantasy and reality, and I had such a great time reading it. There’s a lot of magic, a bit of a mystery, and an amazing sapphic coven where they always support and occasionally kiss each other.

It’s the kind of story where you don’t always know what’s going on, but you stick around because the vibes—the eerie forest, the small town, the magic and mayhem and making out—are immaculate. I never knew what to expect, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold. I loved Danny and the Grays, especially Rush. Their dynamic was brilliant, as was their magic, which manifested in unique ways.

If you liked Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle or any of Anna-Marie McLemore’s books, I urge you to give this one a try. They’re all very queer, vaguely chaotic, and overall a great time.

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This is my second book by Solomon, and honestly, I think she’s one of the best YA contemporary writers out there. She excels at writing complex characters you can’t help but root for, and this applies not only to the protagonist, but also the love interest and side characters. Not only is there plenty of humor in her stories, but much-needed conversations about mental health and life after high school. I also appreciated that this book is very sex-positive, something more YA books need if they’re truly going to represent modern teens. I definitely want my own copy of this, and recommend it to anyone looking for their next contemporary read. I look forward to reading more from this author, both in and beyond YA! :)

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I’m honestly really bummed, because I’ve read so few fantasies with non-cis protagonists and I was so excited for this. There’s nothing actually wrong with this book, other than its extremely slow pacing. Although I liked the characters, I just got bored, and I feared I’d push myself into a reading slump if I tried to push through to the end. Whenever I think of reading a book and realize I don’t really want to, it’s time for me to be done with that book.

I’ll definitely be reading more from Capetta in the future, because some of their books sound incredible. I’m hoping this was just a weird one-off situation, and that I like their other work more.

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Dust was amazing, and Shadow still blew it completely out of the water. What a spectacular sequel! It has all of the best parts of the first book, plus a fast-paced story that managed to be both fun and stressful and a positively adorable romance. I love these characters so, so much, and my god, the nerves and emotions were running rampant from the very first chapter. I didn’t calm down until the final chapter, which was so sweet and better than anything I could’ve hoped for. Turns out, there’s calm before and after the storm, and the after makes all the hell of the storm worthwhile. My heart is happy, and this duology is definitely one of my all-time favorites. I’m talking top three favorite retellings of all time, top five books read this year, books I need a copy of yesterday. Add it to the list of books I’ve made it my life’s goal to hype up, because these are CRIMINALLY underrated. ❤️❤️❤️

I just wanna take a second to gush about how much I freaking adored the last chapter!! I’m so glad that Claire is alive—my heart would’ve been absolutely broken if she wasn’t—and that Neverland is healed. She and Peter are married, which is the absolute CUTEST THING EVER; I swear, these two are gonna give me cavities because they’re just that sweet. I love that Peter is bringing new kids to Neverland, and Lily is the queen of her tribe, and I’m just happy because everyone is happy.

Also, I really like that a) Hook had a change of heart in the end and b) he, his pirates and Connor are all still alive. Connor is healing, and Hook, Claire and Peter are all actually friends. It’s better than anything I could’ve hoped for, and honestly, props to Swanson for not killing Hook, because I was fully expecting that. I love when retellings stay true to the original characters and story but still manage to be their own story and surprise me too. It’s the best!! Literally no disappointments here!!! :)

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I’d literally never heard of this book until I found it on Libby and was intrigued by the cover. Impulsively, I added it to my TBR and put the book on hold. I started reading as soon as it came in, and as soon as I started, I was hooked. (No pun intended.)

I don’t know exactly what it is about Dust that captivated me so quickly, but I had a feeling from the very first chapter that it would be a five-star read and I was right. It’s a much darker retelling of Peter Pan than any I’d seen before, starring not Peter and Wendy but Peter and Claire, the latter being a girl with mysterious, unbeknownst-to-her ties to Neverland. Wendy has come and gone, grown up several generations ago; instead we follow Claire as she searches for her lost twin brother, and Peter as he tries to get back to Neverland. For her, it’s a story of recovering from past trauma and realizing she’s not the broken girl she sees herself as; for him, it’s one of acknowledging mistakes and righting wrongs. For both of them, it’s one of self-doubt, healing, friendship and love.

I loved the two of them instantly, and that love only grew as I kept reading, as did my love for Peter’s friend Tiger Lily, who was also on Earth. I admired Claire’s dedication despite the odds against her, both physical and emotional, and found that even though there was some heavier content in them, Peter’s chapters were so fun to read. For most other characters of his age (nineteen), I’d chide his immaturity and tendency to make jokes out of everything, to pout when things didn’t go his way, but it felt appropriate for his character. I appreciate that Swanson, though she did make him a bit older than is canon for various reasons, didn’t take away his childlike playfulness and naïveté. That’s a core part of his character, and it fit well into his character development over the course of the book.

While some parts of the story were predictable, partially due to my knowledge of the original fairytale and partially due to my ability to read incessantly between the lines, it didn’t matter. I had so much fun reading this, more fun than I’ve had with most of my reading—rereads aside—lately. I was fully invested and unwaveringly eager to read more, but I wasn’t stressed; my heart didn’t pound, I didn’t feel like crying, it was just a good time, and that was a nice change of pace.

The last thing I want to touch on—albeit briefly, to avoid spoilers—is how much I loved Claire and Peter’s relationship. Their friendship was lighthearted and fun to read, especially the banter, yet when it counted, they were still there for each other. And maybe their progression to crushing on each other will seem too much like insta-love for some, but to me, it was just adorable. I felt that they had a good platonic foundation first, rather than just immediately being tempted by infatuation or lust. I love them so, so much. Also, I found it particularly amusing when Peter didn’t know how to handle his crush and was mentally panicking about the possibility of him experiencing puberty. XD

I’ve got high hopes for the sequel, for which I may or may not be ditching the rest of my monthly TBR so I can read it immediately. Dust is definitely one of my top books of 2021—quite a feat, given how late in the year it is and how many other spectacular books I’ve read—and if Shadow is anywhere near as fun, phenomenal and exciting, this duology may very well end up one of my all-time favorites.

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[Early copy from Netgalley. This doesn’t affect or influence my opinions or review.]

I’m immediately intrigued by any story as soon as the word “sapphic” is mentioned, and in this case, the more I learned about The Midnight Girls, the more my interest was piqued. Though the story Jasinska spins is a slower one, her strength lies in complex, morally grey characters and plot twists you’ll never see coming. It’s easy to get sucked into her intricate, Polish-inspired world, to get invested in Marynka and Zosia’s quick banter and devious scheming.

Though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more in terms of romance, the slow-burn rivals to lovers arc was nonetheless very satisfying; the tension between the girls at every turn, every showdown, was palpable, and I ate it up like a freaking holiday feast. And really, the mildly excruciating build-up worked out well, because I was about ready to cheer when they finally kissed.

If you like character-driven stories, magic, and monstrous girls, I highly recommend you check this out when it releases on December 28. Come for the banter, stay for the kissing. Personally, I can’t wait to buy my own finished copy, and read Jasinska’s debut while I wait for her next release. ✨

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