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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Devil Makes Three
Author: Tori Bovalino
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, paranormal, thriller, mystery, demons, possession
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Genre: YA Paranormal
Recommended Age: 16+ (child abuse, self harm TW, gore, violence, romance, possession)
Explanation of CWs: Child abuse, in both emotional and physical manners, is shown. There is unintentional self harm by a character. Lots and lots of gore. Possession also happens in the book and the devil is a strong opponent.
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library's grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot's face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her... and he'll have her, dead or alive.
Review: I really liked this book! It was so atmospheric and I loved how it set my Halloween tone for this year. The book was a lot gorey, please be aware, but it was so good. The book also had a lot of comic relief, which really made the book kind of perfect in a way. The book did well with the character development and the world building. The book was also so well plotted and well written.
The only downside I had with the book is that I felt like the story was a bit slow in places, but it was perfection otherwise.
Verdict: It was great! A must read for Halloween this year.
Book: The Devil Makes Three
Author: Tori Bovalino
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, paranormal, thriller, mystery, demons, possession
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Genre: YA Paranormal
Recommended Age: 16+ (child abuse, self harm TW, gore, violence, romance, possession)
Explanation of CWs: Child abuse, in both emotional and physical manners, is shown. There is unintentional self harm by a character. Lots and lots of gore. Possession also happens in the book and the devil is a strong opponent.
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.
Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library's grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.
The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot's face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her... and he'll have her, dead or alive.
Review: I really liked this book! It was so atmospheric and I loved how it set my Halloween tone for this year. The book was a lot gorey, please be aware, but it was so good. The book also had a lot of comic relief, which really made the book kind of perfect in a way. The book did well with the character development and the world building. The book was also so well plotted and well written.
The only downside I had with the book is that I felt like the story was a bit slow in places, but it was perfection otherwise.
Verdict: It was great! A must read for Halloween this year.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Mark of the Wicked
Author: Georgia Bowers
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: witches, young adult readers, fantasy, magical realism, horror, paranormal
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Recommended Age: 16+ (Animal Death, Violence, Gore, Romance, Scars TW)
Explanation of CWs: Animal Death plays a huge role in this book and it did upset me. There is also romance, which plays a big role in the book, and the MC has scars on her from spells, but please be weary if that’s a trigger of yours.
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Magic always leaves its mark.
All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn't interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds.
When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic - and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn't responsible -- at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth...before anyone else turns up dead.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was ok. I loved the idea behind it and I thought that the book had a great idea behind it. The plot was fairly solid and the world building was good. I also really liked how dark it was.
However, this book was so so slow and I struggled so hard to get through it because of how slow it was. I think, if sped up, the book would probably be about 150 pages, so I’d love to see more written. I also thought the characters were not well developed and kind of flat on the page. I also did not appreciate the dead animals.
Verdict: It’s good, just not for me.
Book: Mark of the Wicked
Author: Georgia Bowers
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: witches, young adult readers, fantasy, magical realism, horror, paranormal
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Recommended Age: 16+ (Animal Death, Violence, Gore, Romance, Scars TW)
Explanation of CWs: Animal Death plays a huge role in this book and it did upset me. There is also romance, which plays a big role in the book, and the MC has scars on her from spells, but please be weary if that’s a trigger of yours.
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Magic always leaves its mark.
All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn't interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds.
When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic - and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn't responsible -- at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth...before anyone else turns up dead.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was ok. I loved the idea behind it and I thought that the book had a great idea behind it. The plot was fairly solid and the world building was good. I also really liked how dark it was.
However, this book was so so slow and I struggled so hard to get through it because of how slow it was. I think, if sped up, the book would probably be about 150 pages, so I’d love to see more written. I also thought the characters were not well developed and kind of flat on the page. I also did not appreciate the dead animals.
Verdict: It’s good, just not for me.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc and a finished copy of the book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe
Author: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: twin, fat, Mexican American MC rep
Mexican American side characters
Latinx characters
Disabled character
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, contemporary
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 415
Recommended Age: 15+ (Sexual content, Body shaming, Slut shaming, Abelism, Racism, Colorism, Violence, Child abuse TW, Emotional abuse, cyberbullying, homophobia, Suicide TW, Fatphobia, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: Mentions of sex and sexual activity. Fatphobia and body and slut shaming are integral to the story. There's also abelist, racist, and colorist comments made to the characters. Child abuse is mentioned as well as threats of institutionalization.
Synopsis: When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible.
Most notable is her bunkmate and new nemesis, Santiago Phillips, who is grumpy, combative, and also the hottest guy Moon has ever seen.
Moon is certain she hates Santiago and that he hates her back. But as chance and destiny (and maybe, probably, close proximity) bring the two of them in each other’s perpetual paths, Moon starts to wonder if that’s really true. She even starts to question her destiny as the unnoticed, unloved wallflower she always thought she was.
Could this summer change Moon’s life as she knows it?
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. The book is so sweetly wrote and I love the rep in it. I also love how well the characters are developed and the world building was wonderfully well done. I also thought that the book did well to discuss Fatphobia in today's world and how social media influences that. I also love the sex positive message in this book and it was one I definitely needed to read.
However, the book is really hard to get into. The style that it's wrote in is a little hard to get used to and the pacing is slow. The book also goes back and forth a lot in the time line so it makes it hard to keep where you are.
Verdict: It's good just took a lot for me to get into.
Book: How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe
Author: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: twin, fat, Mexican American MC rep
Mexican American side characters
Latinx characters
Disabled character
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, contemporary
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 415
Recommended Age: 15+ (Sexual content, Body shaming, Slut shaming, Abelism, Racism, Colorism, Violence, Child abuse TW, Emotional abuse, cyberbullying, homophobia, Suicide TW, Fatphobia, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: Mentions of sex and sexual activity. Fatphobia and body and slut shaming are integral to the story. There's also abelist, racist, and colorist comments made to the characters. Child abuse is mentioned as well as threats of institutionalization.
Synopsis: When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible.
Most notable is her bunkmate and new nemesis, Santiago Phillips, who is grumpy, combative, and also the hottest guy Moon has ever seen.
Moon is certain she hates Santiago and that he hates her back. But as chance and destiny (and maybe, probably, close proximity) bring the two of them in each other’s perpetual paths, Moon starts to wonder if that’s really true. She even starts to question her destiny as the unnoticed, unloved wallflower she always thought she was.
Could this summer change Moon’s life as she knows it?
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. The book is so sweetly wrote and I love the rep in it. I also love how well the characters are developed and the world building was wonderfully well done. I also thought that the book did well to discuss Fatphobia in today's world and how social media influences that. I also love the sex positive message in this book and it was one I definitely needed to read.
However, the book is really hard to get into. The style that it's wrote in is a little hard to get used to and the pacing is slow. The book also goes back and forth a lot in the time line so it makes it hard to keep where you are.
Verdict: It's good just took a lot for me to get into.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then bought my own copy of the book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Firekeeper's Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Biracial MC (Ojibwe/White French ancestry)
Canadian born MC
Part Ojibwe side character
Biracial Cherokee love interest
Anxiety rep MC
Black/Ojibwe side characters
Gay side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, indigenous reads, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Pages: 488
Recommended Age: 16+ (Colorism, Sexual content, Language, Underage alcohol consumption, Drugs especially meth, Death, Grief, Suicide TW, Gore, Boarding schools for indigenous children mentioned, Racism, Bigotry, Sexual assualt/Rape TW, Violence, Kidnapping TW)
Explanation of CWs: Colorism is discussed in the book in regards to the MCs biracial background. There is sex mentioned and sexual content described as well as a sexual assault and a rape taken place in the text. Meth plays a huge role in this book but other drugs are also mentioned. Underage alcohol consumption only mentioned and shown briefly. There is a murder/suicide shown and replayed throughout the book. Boarding schools are mentioned occasionally throughout the book. Racism and bigotry are shown throughout the book by white characters. There is also a very descriptive kidnapping shown.
Synopsis: As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.
The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.
Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Review: So I thought this book would be something different, I can't remember what, but this is why I don't read the book blurb before I read a book. I was absolutely blown away by the story weaved by the author. The characters were amazing, I was kept on my toes the whole time, and the world building was impeccable. The plot was amazing and I loved how the author set the book during 2004 during the height of the meth crisis (at least that's when it became big in my hometown area) because I think the book does well to show how beautiful the Ojibwe tribe is but also show how it's not perfect, but give it a somewhat good resolution at the end (I wanted to see that Blanket Party not gonna lie but I understand why that can't happen). The book turned into one of my 2021 faves and I loved how it was a murder mystery thriller book but so lyrical as well. The book just sings to your soul and commands you to listen.
My only real issue is that for the first 50ish pages the book is a little hard to get into, but not in a bad way. The book uses a lot of French and Ojibwe words in it and for the first 50ish pages you're going to need Google until you figure out and memorize what the words mean. But please keep at the book, you'll not be sorry when you do.
Verdict: Highly recommend and should be required reading for schools.
Book: Firekeeper's Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Biracial MC (Ojibwe/White French ancestry)
Canadian born MC
Part Ojibwe side character
Biracial Cherokee love interest
Anxiety rep MC
Black/Ojibwe side characters
Gay side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, indigenous reads, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Pages: 488
Recommended Age: 16+ (Colorism, Sexual content, Language, Underage alcohol consumption, Drugs especially meth, Death, Grief, Suicide TW, Gore, Boarding schools for indigenous children mentioned, Racism, Bigotry, Sexual assualt/Rape TW, Violence, Kidnapping TW)
Explanation of CWs: Colorism is discussed in the book in regards to the MCs biracial background. There is sex mentioned and sexual content described as well as a sexual assault and a rape taken place in the text. Meth plays a huge role in this book but other drugs are also mentioned. Underage alcohol consumption only mentioned and shown briefly. There is a murder/suicide shown and replayed throughout the book. Boarding schools are mentioned occasionally throughout the book. Racism and bigotry are shown throughout the book by white characters. There is also a very descriptive kidnapping shown.
Synopsis: As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.
The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.
Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Review: So I thought this book would be something different, I can't remember what, but this is why I don't read the book blurb before I read a book. I was absolutely blown away by the story weaved by the author. The characters were amazing, I was kept on my toes the whole time, and the world building was impeccable. The plot was amazing and I loved how the author set the book during 2004 during the height of the meth crisis (at least that's when it became big in my hometown area) because I think the book does well to show how beautiful the Ojibwe tribe is but also show how it's not perfect, but give it a somewhat good resolution at the end (I wanted to see that Blanket Party not gonna lie but I understand why that can't happen). The book turned into one of my 2021 faves and I loved how it was a murder mystery thriller book but so lyrical as well. The book just sings to your soul and commands you to listen.
My only real issue is that for the first 50ish pages the book is a little hard to get into, but not in a bad way. The book uses a lot of French and Ojibwe words in it and for the first 50ish pages you're going to need Google until you figure out and memorize what the words mean. But please keep at the book, you'll not be sorry when you do.
Verdict: Highly recommend and should be required reading for schools.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then got my own copy of the finished book from a book box. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Nature of Witches
Author: Rachel Griffin
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bisexual MC, Asian love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, magic, witches, LGBTQIA+
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 363
Recommended Age: 14+ (Death, Slight sexual content, Romance, Slight Language)
Explanation of CWs: Death is apart of Clara's story and comes up frequently. There is an occasional swear word and I did see the f bomb get dropped once. Fade to black is used for the slight sexual content.
Synopsis: For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves... before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
Review: Is it possible to fall in love with a book so hard that you change your Instagram bio to reflect an aspect of the book so that, in hopes, it'll remain with you forever? I think so, because it happened with this book. I fell hard for this book and how easily it became a part of my life. I loved every aspect of it. The word building was wonderful and I loved the not so subtle messaging of climate change in this book. The characters were well developed and I absolutely loved that there's a Paige in this book who's a central figure to the plot. I adored the use of the chosen one and the magical school tropes and how the author flipped the script on usual chosen one tropes. The book did well with the plot too and the writing was just so well done.
If I had to name one issue with the book it's that the book is slightly predictable. Although I was wrong with my prediction (yes it happens lol) I still saw some of the ending coming. However, this did not deter me from enjoying the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
Book: The Nature of Witches
Author: Rachel Griffin
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bisexual MC, Asian love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, magic, witches, LGBTQIA+
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 363
Recommended Age: 14+ (Death, Slight sexual content, Romance, Slight Language)
Explanation of CWs: Death is apart of Clara's story and comes up frequently. There is an occasional swear word and I did see the f bomb get dropped once. Fade to black is used for the slight sexual content.
Synopsis: For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves... before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
Review: Is it possible to fall in love with a book so hard that you change your Instagram bio to reflect an aspect of the book so that, in hopes, it'll remain with you forever? I think so, because it happened with this book. I fell hard for this book and how easily it became a part of my life. I loved every aspect of it. The word building was wonderful and I loved the not so subtle messaging of climate change in this book. The characters were well developed and I absolutely loved that there's a Paige in this book who's a central figure to the plot. I adored the use of the chosen one and the magical school tropes and how the author flipped the script on usual chosen one tropes. The book did well with the plot too and the writing was just so well done.
If I had to name one issue with the book it's that the book is slightly predictable. Although I was wrong with my prediction (yes it happens lol) I still saw some of the ending coming. However, this did not deter me from enjoying the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Flash Fire
Author: T.J. Klune
Book Series: The Extraordinaries Book 2
Diversity: M/m romance, bisexual grandpa, Black side characters, Black lesbian side character, Bisexual side character, Bisexual love interest, Gay ADHD MC, Puerto Rican drag queen side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, superheroes
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 374
Recommended Age: 15+ (Sexual content, Porn mentions, Police brutality mentioned, Panic attacks, Death, Violence, Gore)
Explanation of CWs: Police brutality is mentioned and there is a lot of discussion about how race plays into policing and policies. There is some sexual content and porn is mentioned.
Synopsis: Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.
Review: I fell in love with this book so hard. The book did well to continue the story and keep me on my toes. The book also did well to present more mature teenagers, which I think is a demographic lost in most YA books speaking from experience as someone who was more mature than her peers. I also loved the mirroring of the two books, the loss of trust and the rise and revelation of the heroes. The character development is amazing, I loved the commentary on police brutality and race, and I loved the world building.
The only issue I had with the book overall is that it sometimes felt that the teen characters were a bit too mature in some parts, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: It's amazing, highly recommend.
Book: Flash Fire
Author: T.J. Klune
Book Series: The Extraordinaries Book 2
Diversity: M/m romance, bisexual grandpa, Black side characters, Black lesbian side character, Bisexual side character, Bisexual love interest, Gay ADHD MC, Puerto Rican drag queen side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, superheroes
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 374
Recommended Age: 15+ (Sexual content, Porn mentions, Police brutality mentioned, Panic attacks, Death, Violence, Gore)
Explanation of CWs: Police brutality is mentioned and there is a lot of discussion about how race plays into policing and policies. There is some sexual content and porn is mentioned.
Synopsis: Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.
Review: I fell in love with this book so hard. The book did well to continue the story and keep me on my toes. The book also did well to present more mature teenagers, which I think is a demographic lost in most YA books speaking from experience as someone who was more mature than her peers. I also loved the mirroring of the two books, the loss of trust and the rise and revelation of the heroes. The character development is amazing, I loved the commentary on police brutality and race, and I loved the world building.
The only issue I had with the book overall is that it sometimes felt that the teen characters were a bit too mature in some parts, but I loved it regardless.
Verdict: It's amazing, highly recommend.
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer:. I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Radar Girls
Author: Sara Ackerman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, WW2 novels, feminist
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexism, racism, slight language)
Explanation of CWs: Some sexist and racist remarks, especially since this is set in the 1940s.
Synopsis: Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time.
Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.
But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way.
With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail.
From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.
This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.
Review: For the most part this was a good read. The book did well to showcase the WARDs and how women had an important part during the war effort. The world building was great, the character development was solid, and overall if you love historical fiction reads then you'll love this book.
However, the book is a bit slow paced for my liking and it also doesn't really have anything that struck my interest. I loved the women empowerment and everything, but I just didn't find anything special with the story.
Verdict: It's good! Highly recommend.
Book: Radar Girls
Author: Sara Ackerman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, WW2 novels, feminist
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexism, racism, slight language)
Explanation of CWs: Some sexist and racist remarks, especially since this is set in the 1940s.
Synopsis: Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time.
Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.
But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way.
With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail.
From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.
This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.
Review: For the most part this was a good read. The book did well to showcase the WARDs and how women had an important part during the war effort. The world building was great, the character development was solid, and overall if you love historical fiction reads then you'll love this book.
However, the book is a bit slow paced for my liking and it also doesn't really have anything that struck my interest. I loved the women empowerment and everything, but I just didn't find anything special with the story.
Verdict: It's good! Highly recommend.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny
Author: Frank L. Cole
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 10+ (scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Some moments might be a bit scary for some readers.
Synopsis: Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
Review: For the most part this was a fun read! The book did well with the world building and the story. The book would be a fun read for younger kids and kids who want to get into fantasy.
However, I did think that the characters weren't developed that well and that the pacing was a bit slow for me.
Verdict: It's good! Definitely recommend for younger kids.
Book: Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny
Author: Frank L. Cole
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 10+ (scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Some moments might be a bit scary for some readers.
Synopsis: Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
Review: For the most part this was a fun read! The book did well with the world building and the story. The book would be a fun read for younger kids and kids who want to get into fantasy.
However, I did think that the characters weren't developed that well and that the pacing was a bit slow for me.
Verdict: It's good! Definitely recommend for younger kids.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Grenade Bouquets
Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg
Book Series: Runaway Train Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: August 5, 2021
Publisher: Wise Wolf Books
Pages: 286
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight sexual content, slight language, drugs/drug usage mentioned, alcohol/alcohol usage/underage alcohol usage mentioned, grief)
Explanation of CWs: Grief is a big part of the novel, as is the progression of the character from childhood to adulthood. There is some cursing, some sexual content, and then drugs and alcohol are mentioned.
Synopsis: I had stars in my eyes and I couldn't see around them...
The year is 1995 and my parents have finally allowed me to take the summer to tour in a VW van across the country with my boyfriend Evan and our band. Yes, my dream to be a singer became reality. Even with Clarissa, Evan's jealous ex-girlfriend, as the lead singer, it's my presence on stage that led us to a major record deal. There are moments you'll always remember in life, but I can't imagine anything more cool than hearing your song on the radio for the first time.
But being a Rockstar isn't as easy as it sounds. Using alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, nothing but tension surrounded me, hurting my still blossoming relationship, and continued grieving over my sister's death.
A love letter to the nineties and a journey of a girl becoming a woman, Grenade Bouquets charts the rollercoaster ride of a band primed to explode on the scene, as long as they keep from actually exploding.
Review: Overall, this was a pretty good book. The character development was amazingly well done as was the world building. The story was well plotted and the writing was good. I also loved all of the 90s references.
However, I did think the book was too fast in pacing and I just didn't really connect with this book.
Verdict: It's good, just wasn't for me.
Book: Grenade Bouquets
Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg
Book Series: Runaway Train Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: August 5, 2021
Publisher: Wise Wolf Books
Pages: 286
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight sexual content, slight language, drugs/drug usage mentioned, alcohol/alcohol usage/underage alcohol usage mentioned, grief)
Explanation of CWs: Grief is a big part of the novel, as is the progression of the character from childhood to adulthood. There is some cursing, some sexual content, and then drugs and alcohol are mentioned.
Synopsis: I had stars in my eyes and I couldn't see around them...
The year is 1995 and my parents have finally allowed me to take the summer to tour in a VW van across the country with my boyfriend Evan and our band. Yes, my dream to be a singer became reality. Even with Clarissa, Evan's jealous ex-girlfriend, as the lead singer, it's my presence on stage that led us to a major record deal. There are moments you'll always remember in life, but I can't imagine anything more cool than hearing your song on the radio for the first time.
But being a Rockstar isn't as easy as it sounds. Using alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, nothing but tension surrounded me, hurting my still blossoming relationship, and continued grieving over my sister's death.
A love letter to the nineties and a journey of a girl becoming a woman, Grenade Bouquets charts the rollercoaster ride of a band primed to explode on the scene, as long as they keep from actually exploding.
Review: Overall, this was a pretty good book. The character development was amazingly well done as was the world building. The story was well plotted and the writing was good. I also loved all of the 90s references.
However, I did think the book was too fast in pacing and I just didn't really connect with this book.
Verdict: It's good, just wasn't for me.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Like a Love Song
Author: Gabriela Martins
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Brazilian Anxiety Rep MC, F/f side character romance , Lesbian side character, Bisexual side character, Jewish bisexual love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, Brazilian, LGBTQIA+, fake dating trope, one bed trope
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 12+ (Slight Language, Slight drug reference)
Explanation of CWs: There's probably less than 5 times where there's swearing in the book and there's one mention of drugs in passing.
Synopsis: Fake boyfriend. Real heartbreak?
Natalie is living her dream: topping the charts and setting records as a Brazilian pop star…until she’s dumped spectacularly on live television. Not only is it humiliating—it could end her career.
Her PR team’s desperate plan? A gorgeous yet oh-so-fake boyfriend. Nati reluctantly agrees, but William is not what she expected. She was hoping for a fierce bad boy—not a soft-hearted British indie film star. While she fights her way back to the top with a sweet and surprisingly swoon-worthy boy on her arm, she starts to fall for William—and realizes that maybe she’s the biggest fake of them all. Can she reclaim her voice and her heart?
Review: I really loved this book. I really liked the two tropes that were used in the book, fake dating and the one bed, and I felt like overall the book did well to discuss not feeling connection to your culture as I've heard from immigrants friends and friends of immigrants parents sometimes feel. I really loved how the author added commentary about calling countries third world (it's elitist especially when you're an American calling a country third world when we have so many issues ourselves) and I loved how the main focus of the book wasn't the romance but ultimately was the adventure of getting Nati to accept who she was and to not listen to what others say. I also loved how the book didn't fall into the trope of "main character needs to relearn her culture and be proud of where she came from" because the main character already is proud and knows the culture. She just needed to accept it as part of herself and learn she didn't need a persona to play up for the American audience and I think that's more relatable to the targeted audience. Furthermore, the writing was well done, the message was subtle and sweet, the character development was amazing, and overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Lastly, if you're a Swiftie, this book gives major Taylor Swift vibes.
The only issue I had with the book is that the book is super short. It's 304 pages but it feels like it's 150. The story goes by so fast and I'd love it if it was slowed down or if there was more. I'd love to see Nati reunite with her family and speak with them in Portuguese and have that special bond be reenforced again. I'd also love to see more of the anxiety rep play through as there wasn't a real conclusion with that rep.
Verdict: It's so good. Highly recommend.
Book: Like a Love Song
Author: Gabriela Martins
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Brazilian Anxiety Rep MC, F/f side character romance , Lesbian side character, Bisexual side character, Jewish bisexual love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, Brazilian, LGBTQIA+, fake dating trope, one bed trope
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 12+ (Slight Language, Slight drug reference)
Explanation of CWs: There's probably less than 5 times where there's swearing in the book and there's one mention of drugs in passing.
Synopsis: Fake boyfriend. Real heartbreak?
Natalie is living her dream: topping the charts and setting records as a Brazilian pop star…until she’s dumped spectacularly on live television. Not only is it humiliating—it could end her career.
Her PR team’s desperate plan? A gorgeous yet oh-so-fake boyfriend. Nati reluctantly agrees, but William is not what she expected. She was hoping for a fierce bad boy—not a soft-hearted British indie film star. While she fights her way back to the top with a sweet and surprisingly swoon-worthy boy on her arm, she starts to fall for William—and realizes that maybe she’s the biggest fake of them all. Can she reclaim her voice and her heart?
Review: I really loved this book. I really liked the two tropes that were used in the book, fake dating and the one bed, and I felt like overall the book did well to discuss not feeling connection to your culture as I've heard from immigrants friends and friends of immigrants parents sometimes feel. I really loved how the author added commentary about calling countries third world (it's elitist especially when you're an American calling a country third world when we have so many issues ourselves) and I loved how the main focus of the book wasn't the romance but ultimately was the adventure of getting Nati to accept who she was and to not listen to what others say. I also loved how the book didn't fall into the trope of "main character needs to relearn her culture and be proud of where she came from" because the main character already is proud and knows the culture. She just needed to accept it as part of herself and learn she didn't need a persona to play up for the American audience and I think that's more relatable to the targeted audience. Furthermore, the writing was well done, the message was subtle and sweet, the character development was amazing, and overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Lastly, if you're a Swiftie, this book gives major Taylor Swift vibes.
The only issue I had with the book is that the book is super short. It's 304 pages but it feels like it's 150. The story goes by so fast and I'd love it if it was slowed down or if there was more. I'd love to see Nati reunite with her family and speak with them in Portuguese and have that special bond be reenforced again. I'd also love to see more of the anxiety rep play through as there wasn't a real conclusion with that rep.
Verdict: It's so good. Highly recommend.