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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: Pet
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black, trans MC! LGBT friendly!
Publication Date: September 1, 2019
Genre: MG Dystopian
Recommended Age: 12+ (some small scary scenes and some violence, a little gore)
Publisher: Make Me A World
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Pet is here to hunt a monster.
Are you brave enough to look?
There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question-How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?
In their riveting and timely young adult debut, acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi asks difficult questions about what choices a young person can make when the adults around them are in denial.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was the right amount of dystopian with an amazing dash of trans/LGBT friendliness all books should strive to be! The writing was absolutely amazing, the characters were well developed, and I was definitely intrigued throughout the whole of the novel.
However, I do feel that this book is wrote younger than what it was originally marketed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing at all, but some readers might be turned off by that. And because of that, I felt like some of the solutions weren’t as well as they could have been. They’re kind of obvious, and that’s not because it’s for a younger audience. I’ve read some middle grade books that had complex solutions that worked, but this one was just a bit simple in my opinion.
Verdict: An amazing book that I definitely recommend!
Book: Pet
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black, trans MC! LGBT friendly!
Publication Date: September 1, 2019
Genre: MG Dystopian
Recommended Age: 12+ (some small scary scenes and some violence, a little gore)
Publisher: Make Me A World
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Pet is here to hunt a monster.
Are you brave enough to look?
There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question-How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?
In their riveting and timely young adult debut, acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi asks difficult questions about what choices a young person can make when the adults around them are in denial.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was the right amount of dystopian with an amazing dash of trans/LGBT friendliness all books should strive to be! The writing was absolutely amazing, the characters were well developed, and I was definitely intrigued throughout the whole of the novel.
However, I do feel that this book is wrote younger than what it was originally marketed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing at all, but some readers might be turned off by that. And because of that, I felt like some of the solutions weren’t as well as they could have been. They’re kind of obvious, and that’s not because it’s for a younger audience. I’ve read some middle grade books that had complex solutions that worked, but this one was just a bit simple in my opinion.
Verdict: An amazing book that I definitely recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Kiss & Tell
Author: Adib Khorram
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, M/m romance, Gay characters, Black character, Iranian American gay character, Iranian American characters, Brazilian character, Indian character, Vietnamese character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, LGBT, boy band, music
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (Language, Sexual content, Homophobia, Death threats, Alcohol consumption, Panic attack, Gore, Romance, Racism, Attempted Sexual Assault)
Explanation of Above: There is cursing in the book. The book discusses sexual content such as masturbation and sexting. There is homophobia and racism shown in the book and mentioned. There are death threats mentioned in the book. There is alcohol consumption mentioned and I am unsure if this is underage. There is a panic attach shown in the book. The gore in the book is vomiting but it is a very brief scene. There is a brief scene where an older person who is an adult attempts to have sex with our MC who is a minor. There is romance in the book as well.
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend–leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all–and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.
But Hunter isn’t really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T’s shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the star of the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.
Review: I really liked this book! It was a fun read with the fake dating trope used and it reminded me of If This Gets Out. The book utilized the mixed media format and I loved seeing the blend of what people were saying about the MC and what the MC was saying. The mixed media format also adds a level of panic in how the MC is receiving criticism for his every move. The book did very well discussing intersectionality in the queer community. While our MC faces criticism and certainly deals with homophobia, a separate character who is Iranian American and queer also faces that backlash plus racism. The book did well to discuss that and to make the MC, who is white, understand it as well. The book has great character development and world building. The book is also well paced and very well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I would have liked for the mixed media format to be better designed artistically to better separate it from the rest of the book.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one! Loved it so much!
Book: Kiss & Tell
Author: Adib Khorram
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, M/m romance, Gay characters, Black character, Iranian American gay character, Iranian American characters, Brazilian character, Indian character, Vietnamese character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, LGBT, boy band, music
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (Language, Sexual content, Homophobia, Death threats, Alcohol consumption, Panic attack, Gore, Romance, Racism, Attempted Sexual Assault)
Explanation of Above: There is cursing in the book. The book discusses sexual content such as masturbation and sexting. There is homophobia and racism shown in the book and mentioned. There are death threats mentioned in the book. There is alcohol consumption mentioned and I am unsure if this is underage. There is a panic attach shown in the book. The gore in the book is vomiting but it is a very brief scene. There is a brief scene where an older person who is an adult attempts to have sex with our MC who is a minor. There is romance in the book as well.
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend–leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all–and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.
But Hunter isn’t really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T’s shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the star of the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.
Review: I really liked this book! It was a fun read with the fake dating trope used and it reminded me of If This Gets Out. The book utilized the mixed media format and I loved seeing the blend of what people were saying about the MC and what the MC was saying. The mixed media format also adds a level of panic in how the MC is receiving criticism for his every move. The book did very well discussing intersectionality in the queer community. While our MC faces criticism and certainly deals with homophobia, a separate character who is Iranian American and queer also faces that backlash plus racism. The book did well to discuss that and to make the MC, who is white, understand it as well. The book has great character development and world building. The book is also well paced and very well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I would have liked for the mixed media format to be better designed artistically to better separate it from the rest of the book.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one! Loved it so much!
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Squire
Author: Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Middle Eastern inspired characters, amputee character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel, fantasy, historical fiction, Asian Literature
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 15+ (child soldiers, war, Classism, Colonization, Racism, Famine, Language, Abelism, Violence, Gore)
Explanation of Above: The theme of the book involves war, racism, classism, colonization, and child soldiers, all of which are shown in the book and described. The book mentions famine and has a handful of curse words. There is also abelism shown but it is quickly dealt with. There is violence with swords shown and gore with some blood shown as well.
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.
It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.
Review: I really liked this read! It reminds me a lot of Blood Scion and it was an informational and fun graphic novel. I absolutely love the illustarations and it did well to convey the story. The book had a very well detailed story and I really enjoyed it. The character development was super well done. The world building was amazing. The book is well written and is a new favorite read of mine.
The only issue I had with the book is the way it ended. It kinda leaves off on a cliffhanger and I hope that the book has a sequel in the future.
Verdict: I highly enjoyed this book! Highly recommend!
Book: Squire
Author: Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Middle Eastern inspired characters, amputee character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel, fantasy, historical fiction, Asian Literature
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 15+ (child soldiers, war, Classism, Colonization, Racism, Famine, Language, Abelism, Violence, Gore)
Explanation of Above: The theme of the book involves war, racism, classism, colonization, and child soldiers, all of which are shown in the book and described. The book mentions famine and has a handful of curse words. There is also abelism shown but it is quickly dealt with. There is violence with swords shown and gore with some blood shown as well.
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.
It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.
Review: I really liked this read! It reminds me a lot of Blood Scion and it was an informational and fun graphic novel. I absolutely love the illustarations and it did well to convey the story. The book had a very well detailed story and I really enjoyed it. The character development was super well done. The world building was amazing. The book is well written and is a new favorite read of mine.
The only issue I had with the book is the way it ended. It kinda leaves off on a cliffhanger and I hope that the book has a sequel in the future.
Verdict: I highly enjoyed this book! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo
Author: Kana Wu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Smut: 0/5
Diversity: Japanese character, Wheelchair mobility user, congenital heart defect character
Recommended For...: adult readers, contemporary, romance, enemies to lovers, Japanese
Publication Date: March 31, 2022
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (language, pregnancy and near miscarriage, violence, alcohol consumption, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight language in the book. There is a scene where pregnancy and near miscarriage is shown with a side character, but nothing bad happens. The book also has slight violence with a slap scene, slight alcohol consumption between adults, and some romance.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 340
Synopsis: Bella Bell lives a perfectly ordinary life with a perfectly ordinary office job in suburban California, where she longs to break free from her perfect sister's shadow. So when Little Bear Café chooses her to train its new franchisee in Tokyo for the summer, she jumps at the chance.
But even a dream come true can get complicated. From the moment she steps on the plane, she annoys her pompous, handsome seatmate, insults her apartment manager, and gets caught up in her new neighbors' drama. And everywhere she turns, she keeps running into the arrogant stranger from her flight—and she can't seem to get him out of her head.
Ryo Yamada is at the top of his game: a high-powered job, no shortage of potential girlfriends. But his life is turned upside down when his family asks him to return to Tokyo for good because of his sister's failing health. And now he finds himself avoiding his childhood friend whose feelings he doesn't return. And bumping into the irritating, pretty redhead from his flight—who may not be so bad after all. The last thing he expects is to fall in love.
As the new café opening and the end of Bella's time in Tokyo draw near, Bella and Ryo grow close—until they discover their circumstances may tear them apart. Can they find their way back to each other for good?
Review: Overall, I really liked this book. I loved the romance for the most part and I loved the story. I love that the author included that the main character had to take education classes in Japanese culture and manners and language before she went to Japan, which is something I think every company and tourist should be doing for any vacation or business trip they’re trying to take. The book is a enemies to lovers romance and it’s overall really sweet. The book has well done character development and world building. The book is also well paced and very well written. The book also is an adult contemporary romance, but there is no smut. The romance only goes to kisses and hand holding. If this is something you like in a book, then this will be perfect for you!
The only issue I had with the book is that I feel like the progression from enemies to lovers was a bit too quick compared to the rest of the book.
Verdict: It was so sweet and cute! Love it!
Book: A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo
Author: Kana Wu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Smut: 0/5
Diversity: Japanese character, Wheelchair mobility user, congenital heart defect character
Recommended For...: adult readers, contemporary, romance, enemies to lovers, Japanese
Publication Date: March 31, 2022
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (language, pregnancy and near miscarriage, violence, alcohol consumption, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight language in the book. There is a scene where pregnancy and near miscarriage is shown with a side character, but nothing bad happens. The book also has slight violence with a slap scene, slight alcohol consumption between adults, and some romance.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 340
Synopsis: Bella Bell lives a perfectly ordinary life with a perfectly ordinary office job in suburban California, where she longs to break free from her perfect sister's shadow. So when Little Bear Café chooses her to train its new franchisee in Tokyo for the summer, she jumps at the chance.
But even a dream come true can get complicated. From the moment she steps on the plane, she annoys her pompous, handsome seatmate, insults her apartment manager, and gets caught up in her new neighbors' drama. And everywhere she turns, she keeps running into the arrogant stranger from her flight—and she can't seem to get him out of her head.
Ryo Yamada is at the top of his game: a high-powered job, no shortage of potential girlfriends. But his life is turned upside down when his family asks him to return to Tokyo for good because of his sister's failing health. And now he finds himself avoiding his childhood friend whose feelings he doesn't return. And bumping into the irritating, pretty redhead from his flight—who may not be so bad after all. The last thing he expects is to fall in love.
As the new café opening and the end of Bella's time in Tokyo draw near, Bella and Ryo grow close—until they discover their circumstances may tear them apart. Can they find their way back to each other for good?
Review: Overall, I really liked this book. I loved the romance for the most part and I loved the story. I love that the author included that the main character had to take education classes in Japanese culture and manners and language before she went to Japan, which is something I think every company and tourist should be doing for any vacation or business trip they’re trying to take. The book is a enemies to lovers romance and it’s overall really sweet. The book has well done character development and world building. The book is also well paced and very well written. The book also is an adult contemporary romance, but there is no smut. The romance only goes to kisses and hand holding. If this is something you like in a book, then this will be perfect for you!
The only issue I had with the book is that I feel like the progression from enemies to lovers was a bit too quick compared to the rest of the book.
Verdict: It was so sweet and cute! Love it!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Loteria
Author: Karla Valenti
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magical realism, Mexican mythology and lore
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 8+ (poisoning, scary moments, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The MC is poisoned by a scorpion at one point in the book, but is ok. The book shows a character’s death and the grief after it. There are also some scary moments, including a moment with a spider.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Review: I loved this book! It was a fun read that reminded me a lot of Coco. The book is Mexican Mythology and Lore inspired and had so much culture in it as well. The book is also very informative and offers a ton of information in the back about the card game that is played throughout. The book is also very adventurous and younger children who are just beginning their fantasy reading journey would love this book. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the POV switching was a bit confusing for me as the voices were not that different, but it was still a fun read.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: Loteria
Author: Karla Valenti
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magical realism, Mexican mythology and lore
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 8+ (poisoning, scary moments, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The MC is poisoned by a scorpion at one point in the book, but is ok. The book shows a character’s death and the grief after it. There are also some scary moments, including a moment with a spider.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Review: I loved this book! It was a fun read that reminded me a lot of Coco. The book is Mexican Mythology and Lore inspired and had so much culture in it as well. The book is also very informative and offers a ton of information in the back about the card game that is played throughout. The book is also very adventurous and younger children who are just beginning their fantasy reading journey would love this book. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the POV switching was a bit confusing for me as the voices were not that different, but it was still a fun read.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Bookseller’s Secret
Author: Michelle Gable
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, WW2
Publication Date: August 17, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 400
Synopsis: In 1942, London, Nancy Mitford is worried about more than air raids and German spies. Still recovering from a devastating loss, the once sparkling Bright Young Thing is estranged from her husband, her allowance has been cut, and she’s given up her writing career. On top of this, her five beautiful but infamous sisters continue making headlines with their controversial politics.
Eager for distraction and desperate for income, Nancy jumps at the chance to manage the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is away at war. Between the shop’s brisk business and the literary salons she hosts for her eccentric friends, Nancy’s life seems on the upswing. But when a mysterious French officer insists that she has a story to tell, Nancy must decide if picking up the pen again and revealing all is worth the price she might be forced to pay.
Eighty years later, Heywood Hill is abuzz with the hunt for a lost wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford. For one woman desperately in need of a change, the search will reveal not only a new side to Nancy, but an even more surprising link between the past and present…
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23% in. The book is just really unbearable for me. It’s slow in a lot of places and the main character is not likable at all. There also seems to be a lot of plot points in the book that don’t seem related to the story whatsoever. I also didn’t know about the main character’s ties to Hitler (through her sisters Unity and Diana) before looking into the book and I don’t think I’ll be making another attempt at this book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Book: The Bookseller’s Secret
Author: Michelle Gable
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, WW2
Publication Date: August 17, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 400
Synopsis: In 1942, London, Nancy Mitford is worried about more than air raids and German spies. Still recovering from a devastating loss, the once sparkling Bright Young Thing is estranged from her husband, her allowance has been cut, and she’s given up her writing career. On top of this, her five beautiful but infamous sisters continue making headlines with their controversial politics.
Eager for distraction and desperate for income, Nancy jumps at the chance to manage the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is away at war. Between the shop’s brisk business and the literary salons she hosts for her eccentric friends, Nancy’s life seems on the upswing. But when a mysterious French officer insists that she has a story to tell, Nancy must decide if picking up the pen again and revealing all is worth the price she might be forced to pay.
Eighty years later, Heywood Hill is abuzz with the hunt for a lost wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford. For one woman desperately in need of a change, the search will reveal not only a new side to Nancy, but an even more surprising link between the past and present…
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23% in. The book is just really unbearable for me. It’s slow in a lot of places and the main character is not likable at all. There also seems to be a lot of plot points in the book that don’t seem related to the story whatsoever. I also didn’t know about the main character’s ties to Hitler (through her sisters Unity and Diana) before looking into the book and I don’t think I’ll be making another attempt at this book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Girl Overboard
Author: Sandra Block
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Queer side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, cruise ship, travel
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (suicide, underage alcohol consumption, language, sexting, drug use, poisoning, kidnapping, rape)
Explanation of Above: Suicide is mentioned as a possibility a few times in the book. There is alcohol consumption by minors mentioned, not shown in the book. There is some slight sexting shown in the book and drug use is mentioned by adults. There is a poisoning scene shown and kidnapping is also shown. Rape is also mentioned.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Izzy is reaching peak boredom on a cruise with her parents until she meets daring new friend Jade, with whom Izzy can barely keep up. But a shock wave runs through the cruise ship when Jade goes missing in the middle of the night, leaving behind a cryptic note.
Izzy digs deeper into Jade’s disappearance, but someone doesn’t want to find the truth. And if she’s not careful, Izzy might not get off this ship alive . . .
Review: For the most part I thought the book was really good. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and I thought it was a well thought-out plot with a lot of good twists. The book had a great moment that showed the incompetence of cops, showing that a well known trope is not factual at all which is very important for teens to learn nowadays. I also liked how the book didn’t have the typical romance aspect and it really focused on the tight friendship the girls develop with each other in the span of a couple of days, also I love the girl helping girl message behind the book. The book had a great premise and the story kept me hooked until the end. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the most random thing of the book is what keeps me from making this a 5/5. I thought it was so strange that the book had so many days at sea. Why are there so many days at sea in this book for it to be set in the Caribbean on a cruise ship? Like… I feel like I missed something but at the same time I don’t. There were only 2 days at port… for a cruise ship… in the Caribbean. I felt like the real mystery of this book is why the cruise ship captain keeps sailing around in what appears to be circles. Maybe that was a hint as to the twist at the end but it was very weird choice and makes me think that the book wasn’t as well developed as I thought. I also felt the book was super fast paced and while it was a great read, I thought it could have been slowed down for a bit.
Verdict: It’s great!
Book: Girl Overboard
Author: Sandra Block
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Queer side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, cruise ship, travel
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (suicide, underage alcohol consumption, language, sexting, drug use, poisoning, kidnapping, rape)
Explanation of Above: Suicide is mentioned as a possibility a few times in the book. There is alcohol consumption by minors mentioned, not shown in the book. There is some slight sexting shown in the book and drug use is mentioned by adults. There is a poisoning scene shown and kidnapping is also shown. Rape is also mentioned.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Izzy is reaching peak boredom on a cruise with her parents until she meets daring new friend Jade, with whom Izzy can barely keep up. But a shock wave runs through the cruise ship when Jade goes missing in the middle of the night, leaving behind a cryptic note.
Izzy digs deeper into Jade’s disappearance, but someone doesn’t want to find the truth. And if she’s not careful, Izzy might not get off this ship alive . . .
Review: For the most part I thought the book was really good. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and I thought it was a well thought-out plot with a lot of good twists. The book had a great moment that showed the incompetence of cops, showing that a well known trope is not factual at all which is very important for teens to learn nowadays. I also liked how the book didn’t have the typical romance aspect and it really focused on the tight friendship the girls develop with each other in the span of a couple of days, also I love the girl helping girl message behind the book. The book had a great premise and the story kept me hooked until the end. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the most random thing of the book is what keeps me from making this a 5/5. I thought it was so strange that the book had so many days at sea. Why are there so many days at sea in this book for it to be set in the Caribbean on a cruise ship? Like… I feel like I missed something but at the same time I don’t. There were only 2 days at port… for a cruise ship… in the Caribbean. I felt like the real mystery of this book is why the cruise ship captain keeps sailing around in what appears to be circles. Maybe that was a hint as to the twist at the end but it was very weird choice and makes me think that the book wasn’t as well developed as I thought. I also felt the book was super fast paced and while it was a great read, I thought it could have been slowed down for a bit.
Verdict: It’s great!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Nate Plus One
Author: Kevin van Whye
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Gay Black (South African ancestry) MC, Black characters, South African characters, bisexual/queer characters, M/M romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, travel ,school band, Wedding plus one trope, LGBT, m/m romance
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, underage alcohol consumption, racism, parental death, grief, homophobia, animal death, language, sexual content, apartheid, child abuse)
Explanation of Above: There is romance in this book, as it’s a YA contemporary romance. There is some small scenes and mentions of underage alcohol consumption. Racism is mentioned in the book and some slight homophobia is shown. There is a parental death mentioned in the book and grief is shown occasionally in the text. There is an animal death shown in the book and it’s a goldfish. There are a couple of curse words in the book. There is slight sexual content, with one fade to black sex scene. Apartheid is mentioned in the book and there is some exploration into what happened in South Africa. There are also allusions to child abuse in the book.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Nate needs a date to his cousin's wedding. Jai is Nate's best friend and secret crush. Could Jai be Nate's plus-one--and only?
Nate Hargraves is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. That's why he dreams of being a songwriter instead of a singer. But things change the summer after junior year as Nate gets ready to fly to South Africa for his cousin's lavish destination wedding. The trip is bound to be epic. Except--Nate just found out that his ex-boyfriend will be at the reception. Ugh. He does not want to face this one solo.
Jai Patel, Nate's best friend (and secret crush), has his own problems. The lead singer of Jai's band, Infinite Sorrow, quit weeks before a contest that promised to be their big break. But Nate rocks Jai's world when he agrees to sing with the band. Even though Nate's not one for the spotlight, he knows this is the kind of stuff you do for . . . friends. In return, Jai volunteers to be Nate's travel buddy around South Africa, a buffer against his ex, and his plus-one at the wedding.
Maybe this summer will be epic after all. Now that Nate's crush is on board, will love crash the party? Fall in love with this joyful, swoon-worthy rom-com by the author of Date Me, Bryson Keller.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. It was a cute romance and it contained a lot of things I love: school bands, wedding plus one trope, and getting over an ex/reconciliation with your past. I thought the messages in the book were well done, especially in dealing with homophobic family members and exes who want to get back together. The book was sweet and it showed an adorable romance. I also really appreciate that this book showcases two BIPOC queer male characters and I hope to see a lot more in the future. Every reader should be able to see themselves in a multitude of books. The character development was good and the world building was great. I loved the premise of the book and it’s a book I could see myself rereading if I needed a pick-me-up.
However, I thought while the book was good, it really struggled with an overall plot. There were about 3-4 different plot points in the book and they weren’t that cohesive. The book would solve one and there would be an awkward lull until we got to the next one. The plot issue really hurt the book and it felt more like a collection of stories about this character’s dating journey than an overall novel.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
Book: Nate Plus One
Author: Kevin van Whye
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Gay Black (South African ancestry) MC, Black characters, South African characters, bisexual/queer characters, M/M romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, travel ,school band, Wedding plus one trope, LGBT, m/m romance
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, underage alcohol consumption, racism, parental death, grief, homophobia, animal death, language, sexual content, apartheid, child abuse)
Explanation of Above: There is romance in this book, as it’s a YA contemporary romance. There is some small scenes and mentions of underage alcohol consumption. Racism is mentioned in the book and some slight homophobia is shown. There is a parental death mentioned in the book and grief is shown occasionally in the text. There is an animal death shown in the book and it’s a goldfish. There are a couple of curse words in the book. There is slight sexual content, with one fade to black sex scene. Apartheid is mentioned in the book and there is some exploration into what happened in South Africa. There are also allusions to child abuse in the book.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Nate needs a date to his cousin's wedding. Jai is Nate's best friend and secret crush. Could Jai be Nate's plus-one--and only?
Nate Hargraves is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. That's why he dreams of being a songwriter instead of a singer. But things change the summer after junior year as Nate gets ready to fly to South Africa for his cousin's lavish destination wedding. The trip is bound to be epic. Except--Nate just found out that his ex-boyfriend will be at the reception. Ugh. He does not want to face this one solo.
Jai Patel, Nate's best friend (and secret crush), has his own problems. The lead singer of Jai's band, Infinite Sorrow, quit weeks before a contest that promised to be their big break. But Nate rocks Jai's world when he agrees to sing with the band. Even though Nate's not one for the spotlight, he knows this is the kind of stuff you do for . . . friends. In return, Jai volunteers to be Nate's travel buddy around South Africa, a buffer against his ex, and his plus-one at the wedding.
Maybe this summer will be epic after all. Now that Nate's crush is on board, will love crash the party? Fall in love with this joyful, swoon-worthy rom-com by the author of Date Me, Bryson Keller.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. It was a cute romance and it contained a lot of things I love: school bands, wedding plus one trope, and getting over an ex/reconciliation with your past. I thought the messages in the book were well done, especially in dealing with homophobic family members and exes who want to get back together. The book was sweet and it showed an adorable romance. I also really appreciate that this book showcases two BIPOC queer male characters and I hope to see a lot more in the future. Every reader should be able to see themselves in a multitude of books. The character development was good and the world building was great. I loved the premise of the book and it’s a book I could see myself rereading if I needed a pick-me-up.
However, I thought while the book was good, it really struggled with an overall plot. There were about 3-4 different plot points in the book and they weren’t that cohesive. The book would solve one and there would be an awkward lull until we got to the next one. The plot issue really hurt the book and it felt more like a collection of stories about this character’s dating journey than an overall novel.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Summer’s Edge
Author: Dana Mele
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Queer character and MC
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, LGBT, paranormal, horror
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 14+ (language, death, grief, involuntary committal, underage alcohol consumption, arson, murder, romance, animal death, animal gore, PTSD, suicidal ideation, sexual content, gore, drowning, violence, drugging)
Explanation of Above: The book contains some slight cursing and shows of death, arson, murder, drowning, and drugging. There is some slight blood gore and violence with fights. There is grief, PTSD, and involuntary committal shown and mentioned in the book. There is a lot of underage alcohol consumption. There is slight romance and slight mention of suicidal ideation. There is one scene that shows an animal death and blood animal gore, both to a rabbit.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 325
Synopsis: Emily Joiner was once part of an inseparable group—she was a sister, a best friend, a lover, and a rival. Summers without Emily were unthinkable. Until the fire burned the lake house to ashes with her inside.
A year later, it’s in Emily’s honor that Chelsea and her four friends decide to return. The house awaits them, meticulously rebuilt. Only, Chelsea is haunted by ghostly visions. Loner Ryan stirs up old hurts and forces golden boy Chase to play peacemaker. Which has perfect hostess Kennedy on edge as eerie events culminate in a stunning accusation: Emily’s death wasn’t an accident. And all the clues needed to find the person responsible are right here.
As old betrayals rise to the surface, Chelsea and her friends have one night to unravel a mystery spanning three summers before a killer among them exacts their revenge.
Review: For the most part the book was pretty thrilling. The book reminded me a lot of Until Dawn and I Know What You Did Last Summer, but with a more horrific twist. The book had a lot of good twists and turns and for the most part it had a great premise. The world building was fairly well done and the book is definitely one that will keep you intrigued throughout.
However, I felt like the character development was very poor. The book didn’t explain everyone’s motives well and they just weren’t well formed. I also thought the book was confusing, which I think can be a good plot device, but wasn’t well executed in this book. While I know now about this friend group, in the beginning there are just too many things off about the group and it can deter readers from continuing the book. I think if the twist was shown earlier in the novel and then played with a bit more, than it wouldn’t have been so off-putting in the beginning. The book also had a great deal of an info dump at the end and I didn’t like that. I think if the flashbacks were scattered more throughout the book then it would have worked better.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: Summer’s Edge
Author: Dana Mele
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Queer character and MC
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, LGBT, paranormal, horror
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 14+ (language, death, grief, involuntary committal, underage alcohol consumption, arson, murder, romance, animal death, animal gore, PTSD, suicidal ideation, sexual content, gore, drowning, violence, drugging)
Explanation of Above: The book contains some slight cursing and shows of death, arson, murder, drowning, and drugging. There is some slight blood gore and violence with fights. There is grief, PTSD, and involuntary committal shown and mentioned in the book. There is a lot of underage alcohol consumption. There is slight romance and slight mention of suicidal ideation. There is one scene that shows an animal death and blood animal gore, both to a rabbit.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 325
Synopsis: Emily Joiner was once part of an inseparable group—she was a sister, a best friend, a lover, and a rival. Summers without Emily were unthinkable. Until the fire burned the lake house to ashes with her inside.
A year later, it’s in Emily’s honor that Chelsea and her four friends decide to return. The house awaits them, meticulously rebuilt. Only, Chelsea is haunted by ghostly visions. Loner Ryan stirs up old hurts and forces golden boy Chase to play peacemaker. Which has perfect hostess Kennedy on edge as eerie events culminate in a stunning accusation: Emily’s death wasn’t an accident. And all the clues needed to find the person responsible are right here.
As old betrayals rise to the surface, Chelsea and her friends have one night to unravel a mystery spanning three summers before a killer among them exacts their revenge.
Review: For the most part the book was pretty thrilling. The book reminded me a lot of Until Dawn and I Know What You Did Last Summer, but with a more horrific twist. The book had a lot of good twists and turns and for the most part it had a great premise. The world building was fairly well done and the book is definitely one that will keep you intrigued throughout.
However, I felt like the character development was very poor. The book didn’t explain everyone’s motives well and they just weren’t well formed. I also thought the book was confusing, which I think can be a good plot device, but wasn’t well executed in this book. While I know now about this friend group, in the beginning there are just too many things off about the group and it can deter readers from continuing the book. I think if the twist was shown earlier in the novel and then played with a bit more, than it wouldn’t have been so off-putting in the beginning. The book also had a great deal of an info dump at the end and I didn’t like that. I think if the flashbacks were scattered more throughout the book then it would have worked better.
Verdict: It was ok.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions my own.
Book: The Merciless Ones
Author: Namina Forna
Book Series: Deathless Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black main character and MC, trans and non-binary characters, gay characters, lesbian characters, bisexual characters, mobility aid character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, feminism
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, Religion, Religious Trauma, Romance, Sexual Assault, Rape, Xenophobia, Abuse, Misogyny, PTSD, toxic masculinity, torture, homophobia, abelism, grief, anxiety attacks, panic attacks)
Explanation of Above: There are themes of racism, colorism, xenophobia, homophobia, abelism, and misogyny mentioned and shown in this book and it’s a theme of the series on overcoming those institutions. There is a lot of death and gore, including lots of blood, and violence with weapons. There is some romance in this book. Religion and religious trauma are mentioned and shown throughout the read. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned in the book. Abuse, PTSD, and toxic masculinity are also mentioned and shown in this book. There are showings of the MC having anxiety and panic attacks. There is some torture shown in the book. There is also grief shown in the book.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
Synopsis: It's been six months since Deka has freed the goddesses and discovered who she really is. There are now wars waging across the kingdom. Otereans now think jatu are traitors to the nation. Deka is called a monster.
But the real battle has only just begun and Deka must lead the charge. Deka is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. Only as she begins to free them, she begins to see a strange symbol everywhere in places of worship and worn on armor. There's something unnatural about that symbol; just looking at it makes Deka lose her senses. Even worse, it seems to repel her powers. She can't command or communicate with the new deathshrieks. In fact, she can't even understand them when they speak.
Deka knows freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. She can tell whatever dark force out is powerful and there is something sinister out there threatening the kingdom connected to that symbol--something merciless--that her army will need to stop before humanity crumbles. But Deka's powers are only getting stronger...and her strongest weapon could be herself.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a good sequel to the first one and the action picked up immediately where we left off in the first book. Overall, I loved the feel of it and the book makes me want to reread them both immediately after finishing them. I also enjoyed the discussion about gender identity and sexuality. There’s also so much representation in this book! The character development was good, the world building was well done, and overall I enjoyed this book.
However, I did have a few issues with the read. The book immediately jumped into the plot of this book and it took me a hot second to remember what all was going on. The book had a lot of romance in it and there were so many people who were just paired off immediately. It was quick and wasn’t well developed in my opinion. The pacing was also a mess. It was incredibly fast paced the entire time and it was hard to keep up in some spots. While I liked the book, I just wanted it to be a bit more slowed down and have some more detail.
Verdict: It was good, just a bit too fast for me.
Book: The Merciless Ones
Author: Namina Forna
Book Series: Deathless Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black main character and MC, trans and non-binary characters, gay characters, lesbian characters, bisexual characters, mobility aid character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, feminism
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, Religion, Religious Trauma, Romance, Sexual Assault, Rape, Xenophobia, Abuse, Misogyny, PTSD, toxic masculinity, torture, homophobia, abelism, grief, anxiety attacks, panic attacks)
Explanation of Above: There are themes of racism, colorism, xenophobia, homophobia, abelism, and misogyny mentioned and shown in this book and it’s a theme of the series on overcoming those institutions. There is a lot of death and gore, including lots of blood, and violence with weapons. There is some romance in this book. Religion and religious trauma are mentioned and shown throughout the read. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned in the book. Abuse, PTSD, and toxic masculinity are also mentioned and shown in this book. There are showings of the MC having anxiety and panic attacks. There is some torture shown in the book. There is also grief shown in the book.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
Synopsis: It's been six months since Deka has freed the goddesses and discovered who she really is. There are now wars waging across the kingdom. Otereans now think jatu are traitors to the nation. Deka is called a monster.
But the real battle has only just begun and Deka must lead the charge. Deka is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. Only as she begins to free them, she begins to see a strange symbol everywhere in places of worship and worn on armor. There's something unnatural about that symbol; just looking at it makes Deka lose her senses. Even worse, it seems to repel her powers. She can't command or communicate with the new deathshrieks. In fact, she can't even understand them when they speak.
Deka knows freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. She can tell whatever dark force out is powerful and there is something sinister out there threatening the kingdom connected to that symbol--something merciless--that her army will need to stop before humanity crumbles. But Deka's powers are only getting stronger...and her strongest weapon could be herself.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a good sequel to the first one and the action picked up immediately where we left off in the first book. Overall, I loved the feel of it and the book makes me want to reread them both immediately after finishing them. I also enjoyed the discussion about gender identity and sexuality. There’s also so much representation in this book! The character development was good, the world building was well done, and overall I enjoyed this book.
However, I did have a few issues with the read. The book immediately jumped into the plot of this book and it took me a hot second to remember what all was going on. The book had a lot of romance in it and there were so many people who were just paired off immediately. It was quick and wasn’t well developed in my opinion. The pacing was also a mess. It was incredibly fast paced the entire time and it was hard to keep up in some spots. While I liked the book, I just wanted it to be a bit more slowed down and have some more detail.
Verdict: It was good, just a bit too fast for me.