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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Little Bit Country
Author: Brian D. Kennedy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: 2 Gay MCs, Mexican American character, Hispanic characters, character with Multiple Sclerosis, f/f romance mentioned, Lesbian character, m/m romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, LGBT, m/m romance, country music
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (sexism, sexual harassment, sexual content, romance, micro aggressions, language, homophobia, gore, underage alcohol consumption, religion)
Explanation of Above: There are some mentions and comments about sexism. There is one brief sexual harassment comment made by an obvious slimey character to a side character. There is some sexual content in the book in the form of jokes and mentions, and there is one fade to black scene. There are a few curse words throughout the book, but not a lot. There is some slight homophobia in the book and homophobic comments. There is one moment with gore, blood, where two characters are hurt. There is one small scene of underage alcohol consumption. There is a brief mention of religion.
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Pages: 351
Synopsis: Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.
Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.
Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.
Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?
Review: Overall I absolutely adored this read. It was a sweet romance between two gay characters and how country music/small town life affected that for both of them. The book is kind of a band book, but definitely a coming out journey and it’s perfect for fans of It This Gets Out or Kiss and Tell. Honestly, I don’t know what we did to deserve 3 gay boy band books this year but I’m loving it! There are a lot of pop culture references to country music in this, which is perfect for fans of the genre. The book is also Multi POV and the author did well to make sure that the characters had distinct voices, especially in how they talk (subtle northern/southern differences). The book is an insta-love romance with a happen chance meeting. The characters are well developed and the world building is good. I loved the writing and the book is definitely a page turner!
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt like some of the plot was a bit slow in the middle. I felt it dwindled down significantly and then really picked up about 15% left in the read. It really rushed the character development of a few people and I think some of that and a little of the plot was still left unresolved by the end. I think it would have been better a bit slower throughout or a bit faster throughout.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: A Little Bit Country
Author: Brian D. Kennedy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: 2 Gay MCs, Mexican American character, Hispanic characters, character with Multiple Sclerosis, f/f romance mentioned, Lesbian character, m/m romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, LGBT, m/m romance, country music
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (sexism, sexual harassment, sexual content, romance, micro aggressions, language, homophobia, gore, underage alcohol consumption, religion)
Explanation of Above: There are some mentions and comments about sexism. There is one brief sexual harassment comment made by an obvious slimey character to a side character. There is some sexual content in the book in the form of jokes and mentions, and there is one fade to black scene. There are a few curse words throughout the book, but not a lot. There is some slight homophobia in the book and homophobic comments. There is one moment with gore, blood, where two characters are hurt. There is one small scene of underage alcohol consumption. There is a brief mention of religion.
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Pages: 351
Synopsis: Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.
Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.
Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.
Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?
Review: Overall I absolutely adored this read. It was a sweet romance between two gay characters and how country music/small town life affected that for both of them. The book is kind of a band book, but definitely a coming out journey and it’s perfect for fans of It This Gets Out or Kiss and Tell. Honestly, I don’t know what we did to deserve 3 gay boy band books this year but I’m loving it! There are a lot of pop culture references to country music in this, which is perfect for fans of the genre. The book is also Multi POV and the author did well to make sure that the characters had distinct voices, especially in how they talk (subtle northern/southern differences). The book is an insta-love romance with a happen chance meeting. The characters are well developed and the world building is good. I loved the writing and the book is definitely a page turner!
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt like some of the plot was a bit slow in the middle. I felt it dwindled down significantly and then really picked up about 15% left in the read. It really rushed the character development of a few people and I think some of that and a little of the plot was still left unresolved by the end. I think it would have been better a bit slower throughout or a bit faster throughout.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: I Want To Be A Vase
Author: Julio Torres, Julian Glander
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: This book can be read as an analogy for trans rights and thus the characters can be trans!
Recommended For...: children’s readers, picture book, LGBT
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Age Relevance: 0+ (a little rudeness)
Explanation of Above: There is a rude vacuum who says some unkind things to other household appliances.
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 48
Synopsis: Shapes. You’ve heard of them. You might have even interacted with a few. But do you really know them? From plucky Plunger, who wishes to defy his shape and become a beautiful vase, to other household objects with dreams of a life beyond their predestined roles, I Want to Be a Vase takes readers on an essential and visually stunning journey through the lives and intimate dramas of often-overlooked household appliances.
Review: I really liked this picture book! The artwork looks computer animated and I loved how colorful it was. The book focuses on inanimate objects and how they don’t feel like who they were made to be, but they feel like other objects. It’s their journey to being accepted by some of the ruder members of the household and understanding themselves. The book can be read as an analogy for trans rights, which is how I’m reading it, but the most important message that you can take away from the book is to just be accepting to others as they view themselves. It’s not for you to police how others define themselves.
Verdict: It’s such a great book! I highly recommend this one!
Book: I Want To Be A Vase
Author: Julio Torres, Julian Glander
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: This book can be read as an analogy for trans rights and thus the characters can be trans!
Recommended For...: children’s readers, picture book, LGBT
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Age Relevance: 0+ (a little rudeness)
Explanation of Above: There is a rude vacuum who says some unkind things to other household appliances.
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 48
Synopsis: Shapes. You’ve heard of them. You might have even interacted with a few. But do you really know them? From plucky Plunger, who wishes to defy his shape and become a beautiful vase, to other household objects with dreams of a life beyond their predestined roles, I Want to Be a Vase takes readers on an essential and visually stunning journey through the lives and intimate dramas of often-overlooked household appliances.
Review: I really liked this picture book! The artwork looks computer animated and I loved how colorful it was. The book focuses on inanimate objects and how they don’t feel like who they were made to be, but they feel like other objects. It’s their journey to being accepted by some of the ruder members of the household and understanding themselves. The book can be read as an analogy for trans rights, which is how I’m reading it, but the most important message that you can take away from the book is to just be accepting to others as they view themselves. It’s not for you to police how others define themselves.
Verdict: It’s such a great book! I highly recommend this one!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Murder for the Modern Girl
Author: Kendall Kulper
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, fantasy, thriller, paranormal
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Historical Fiction Fantasy
Age Relevance: 15+ (murder, alcohol consumption, domestic violence, child abuse, death, gore, violence, language, child sexual assault, suicide, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is murder, death, violence, and gore shown in the book. There is some alcohol consumption shown in the book. Domestic violence, child sexual assault, and child abuse are vaguely mentioned in the read. There is a couple of curse words in the book. There are mentions of suicide. There is some romance.
Publisher: Holiday House
Pages: 464
Synopsis: A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.
A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.
It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.
Until now, eighteen-year-old Ruby’s penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago “justice.” When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.
Review: For this most part this book was ok. It had a lot of interesting moments and you could say this is a darker, more villain version of Stalking Jack the Ripper. The book had some good character development and the overall story was somewhat interesting. The book was a fun twist on the late 1920s and had some interesting fantasy moments.
However, this book was not for me. The book overall was confusing and feel really rushed and unedited. The book had a lot of interesting things happening all at once, but there was a lack of context. The pacing was fast, but also super slow in a few parts and at certain parts of the book you can completely skip whole segments of conversation and not need any of it for context as to what’s happening in the next chapter. It’s also told in multi-POV and I think the story would have been much better in a single POV narrative. The book does require you to read the synopsis before you can even attempt to read the book, which I found very disheartening and unnecessary. I actually had to reread segments of this book because I only found out the female MC is a mind reader from the synopsis. I feel like, overall, the book was trying to do too much with its story and make it more complex than it needed to be.
Verdict: It’s ok, but not for me.
Book: Murder for the Modern Girl
Author: Kendall Kulper
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, fantasy, thriller, paranormal
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Historical Fiction Fantasy
Age Relevance: 15+ (murder, alcohol consumption, domestic violence, child abuse, death, gore, violence, language, child sexual assault, suicide, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is murder, death, violence, and gore shown in the book. There is some alcohol consumption shown in the book. Domestic violence, child sexual assault, and child abuse are vaguely mentioned in the read. There is a couple of curse words in the book. There are mentions of suicide. There is some romance.
Publisher: Holiday House
Pages: 464
Synopsis: A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.
A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.
It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.
Until now, eighteen-year-old Ruby’s penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago “justice.” When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.
Review: For this most part this book was ok. It had a lot of interesting moments and you could say this is a darker, more villain version of Stalking Jack the Ripper. The book had some good character development and the overall story was somewhat interesting. The book was a fun twist on the late 1920s and had some interesting fantasy moments.
However, this book was not for me. The book overall was confusing and feel really rushed and unedited. The book had a lot of interesting things happening all at once, but there was a lack of context. The pacing was fast, but also super slow in a few parts and at certain parts of the book you can completely skip whole segments of conversation and not need any of it for context as to what’s happening in the next chapter. It’s also told in multi-POV and I think the story would have been much better in a single POV narrative. The book does require you to read the synopsis before you can even attempt to read the book, which I found very disheartening and unnecessary. I actually had to reread segments of this book because I only found out the female MC is a mind reader from the synopsis. I feel like, overall, the book was trying to do too much with its story and make it more complex than it needed to be.
Verdict: It’s ok, but not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Author: A.F. Steadman
Book Series: Skandar Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, unicorns, mythology, magic
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 13+ (parental death, poverty, depression, animal violence, animal death, panic attack, death, gore, emotional abuse, suicide)
Explanation of Above: There is parental death mentioned and poverty alluded to. There are mentions of depression and there is one panic attack shown. There is also some emotional abuse of a child shown and there is one very VERY vague mention of a suicide (throwing themselves off a cliff is how it’s stated). There is some animal violence shown toward the unicorns and there is animal death mentioned throughout the book in regards to unicorns. There is some death mentioned or alluded to the in the book and some very slight gore in the form of body parts seen and rotting flesh mentioned.
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call.
Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.
Review: I really love this book! I think it’s a great HP replacement book and it’s got such a great story and adventure. The book has amazing world building and the characters are very lovable and well developed. I thought that the book also did well when it talked about equality and prejudice, which I think kids in the middle grade age range can understand.
The only issue I had with the book is that it does read young, so if you’re an older reader then you might have a few issues reading this book, but it’s very age appropriate.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!
Book: Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Author: A.F. Steadman
Book Series: Skandar Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, unicorns, mythology, magic
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 13+ (parental death, poverty, depression, animal violence, animal death, panic attack, death, gore, emotional abuse, suicide)
Explanation of Above: There is parental death mentioned and poverty alluded to. There are mentions of depression and there is one panic attack shown. There is also some emotional abuse of a child shown and there is one very VERY vague mention of a suicide (throwing themselves off a cliff is how it’s stated). There is some animal violence shown toward the unicorns and there is animal death mentioned throughout the book in regards to unicorns. There is some death mentioned or alluded to the in the book and some very slight gore in the form of body parts seen and rotting flesh mentioned.
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call.
Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.
Review: I really love this book! I think it’s a great HP replacement book and it’s got such a great story and adventure. The book has amazing world building and the characters are very lovable and well developed. I thought that the book also did well when it talked about equality and prejudice, which I think kids in the middle grade age range can understand.
The only issue I had with the book is that it does read young, so if you’re an older reader then you might have a few issues reading this book, but it’s very age appropriate.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Void Fate
Author: Susan G. Hakobyan
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, thrillee
Publication Date: June 17, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 303
Recommended Age: can't recommend DNF
Synopsis: Empty streets are littered with stalled-out cars, buses, and motorcycles. A sunless and moonless sky is covered with an enormous barrier that prevents any view of the heavens.
Nothing stirs. The air is oppressive and there is no wind, not even the softest breeze.
It was supposed to be a typical day for the five friends, but they wake up to discover that they are left alone on earth. The world that they knew is gone. All that is left is silence, pervasive, absolute silence.
What happened while they slept? Are they the only ones left? As the theories start to fly, and their imaginations run wild, they wonder if they are still on Earth at all, possibly abducted by aliens, trapped in a simulation, or claimed by the afterlife.
Aram is the only one who can see deep into the silent world. That’s why, from the very beginning, he starts to look for a way out of this new reality. If he can convince his friends to stay focused, as the whispers begin, and fight against the evil of the silent world, the fog-shaped beings that wander the empty streets, they may stand a chance.
If not, the only thing that lies ahead is the fate of the void.
Review: I dnf'd this book at about 43% of the way through. I felt like I had read this format before. And this format is really only intrigued me one time that I have read it, and unfortunately it couldn't keep my attention in this book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Book: Void Fate
Author: Susan G. Hakobyan
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, thrillee
Publication Date: June 17, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 303
Recommended Age: can't recommend DNF
Synopsis: Empty streets are littered with stalled-out cars, buses, and motorcycles. A sunless and moonless sky is covered with an enormous barrier that prevents any view of the heavens.
Nothing stirs. The air is oppressive and there is no wind, not even the softest breeze.
It was supposed to be a typical day for the five friends, but they wake up to discover that they are left alone on earth. The world that they knew is gone. All that is left is silence, pervasive, absolute silence.
What happened while they slept? Are they the only ones left? As the theories start to fly, and their imaginations run wild, they wonder if they are still on Earth at all, possibly abducted by aliens, trapped in a simulation, or claimed by the afterlife.
Aram is the only one who can see deep into the silent world. That’s why, from the very beginning, he starts to look for a way out of this new reality. If he can convince his friends to stay focused, as the whispers begin, and fight against the evil of the silent world, the fog-shaped beings that wander the empty streets, they may stand a chance.
If not, the only thing that lies ahead is the fate of the void.
Review: I dnf'd this book at about 43% of the way through. I felt like I had read this format before. And this format is really only intrigued me one time that I have read it, and unfortunately it couldn't keep my attention in this book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: We Made It All Up
Author: Margot Harrison
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: m/m romance… kinda?
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, murder mystery
Publication Date: July 12, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, cursing, abelism, underage alcohol consumption, sexual content, bullying, death, parental death, child abuse, child sexual abuse, gore, fetishization, homophobia, suicide, sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: There is some romance in the book. There is a lot of cursing and some mentions and showings of underage alcohol consumption. There is some slight abelism mentioned, child abuse mentioned vaguely, child sexual assault mentioned vaguely, slight homophobia, and one mention of suicide. There is a very brief scene of sexual assault mentioned. There is some bullying shown in the book and death and parental death are mentioned. There is some blood gore shown in the book. Finally, there is a LOT of fanfic about these two boys and it leans into fetishization of the characters as them being in a gay relationship with each other but with the MC and another girl constantly wanting them to get together/seeing them as a sexual object/using their stories about them to write about their own personal trauma and personifying it onto them.
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 370
Synopsis: Celeste is the talk of the town when she moves to Montana from Montreal, but the only friend she makes is Vivvy, the heir to the town’s name and a social pariah. Inspired by a passion-fueled school incident, they begin writing a love-story fan fic between the popular guy and the school stoner, one that gradually reveals Celeste’s past. While their bond makes Celeste feel safe and alive again, Vivvy keeps prodding Celeste to turn fantasy into reality. When they finally try, one drunken night on a dark mountainside, Celeste is the one who ends up kissing golden boy Joss. And Joss ends up dead.
Celeste doesn’t remember the end of that night and can’t be sure she didn’t deliver the killing blow. Could she still be that scared of getting close to a boy? Secrets are hard to keep in a small town, and even Vivvy seems to suspect her. Exploring the winding passages of the cave where Joss died, Celeste learns he had his own dark secrets, as does Vivvy. The town isn’t as innocent as it appears.
Review: This was an ok but strange book. For the most part I thought the book had an ok plot line and the story would have been great if a few things had changed in my opinion. I liked the creepy atmosphere of the book and I thought that the book did well to show how obsession can lead to some bad things.
However, this book was an absolute train wreck. The book is told in this back and forth style and it gets so confusing so quickly. It would have been better if a few chapters were in the past then one or two in the future, but constantly switching was awful. The book is also really hard to get into, but it’s also really hard to get back into. I left the book for a couple of days and when I came back, I couldn’t figure out what was going on for the life of me. The story didn’t stick with me and even with all of my notes I was completely at a loss as to what was happening and who people were. It’s an easily forgettable book in that regard. The book also made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t like the fetishization culture that was happening in the book and the book didn’t really resolve that issue in my opinion. The way the MC was writing about these two boys and then fetishizing them in public was awful and for it to be unresolved really made me not like the author. There’s a huge problem with fetishization in the book community and I just think that it could have been better done as a cautionary tale.
Verdict: Overall, I didn’t like it. I think that there are some salvageable aspects and this book could be something great, but it was not put together in my arc so I don’t have hope for it in the final version. It’s definitely not for me, but it could be for you!
Book: We Made It All Up
Author: Margot Harrison
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: m/m romance… kinda?
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, murder mystery
Publication Date: July 12, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, cursing, abelism, underage alcohol consumption, sexual content, bullying, death, parental death, child abuse, child sexual abuse, gore, fetishization, homophobia, suicide, sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: There is some romance in the book. There is a lot of cursing and some mentions and showings of underage alcohol consumption. There is some slight abelism mentioned, child abuse mentioned vaguely, child sexual assault mentioned vaguely, slight homophobia, and one mention of suicide. There is a very brief scene of sexual assault mentioned. There is some bullying shown in the book and death and parental death are mentioned. There is some blood gore shown in the book. Finally, there is a LOT of fanfic about these two boys and it leans into fetishization of the characters as them being in a gay relationship with each other but with the MC and another girl constantly wanting them to get together/seeing them as a sexual object/using their stories about them to write about their own personal trauma and personifying it onto them.
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 370
Synopsis: Celeste is the talk of the town when she moves to Montana from Montreal, but the only friend she makes is Vivvy, the heir to the town’s name and a social pariah. Inspired by a passion-fueled school incident, they begin writing a love-story fan fic between the popular guy and the school stoner, one that gradually reveals Celeste’s past. While their bond makes Celeste feel safe and alive again, Vivvy keeps prodding Celeste to turn fantasy into reality. When they finally try, one drunken night on a dark mountainside, Celeste is the one who ends up kissing golden boy Joss. And Joss ends up dead.
Celeste doesn’t remember the end of that night and can’t be sure she didn’t deliver the killing blow. Could she still be that scared of getting close to a boy? Secrets are hard to keep in a small town, and even Vivvy seems to suspect her. Exploring the winding passages of the cave where Joss died, Celeste learns he had his own dark secrets, as does Vivvy. The town isn’t as innocent as it appears.
Review: This was an ok but strange book. For the most part I thought the book had an ok plot line and the story would have been great if a few things had changed in my opinion. I liked the creepy atmosphere of the book and I thought that the book did well to show how obsession can lead to some bad things.
However, this book was an absolute train wreck. The book is told in this back and forth style and it gets so confusing so quickly. It would have been better if a few chapters were in the past then one or two in the future, but constantly switching was awful. The book is also really hard to get into, but it’s also really hard to get back into. I left the book for a couple of days and when I came back, I couldn’t figure out what was going on for the life of me. The story didn’t stick with me and even with all of my notes I was completely at a loss as to what was happening and who people were. It’s an easily forgettable book in that regard. The book also made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t like the fetishization culture that was happening in the book and the book didn’t really resolve that issue in my opinion. The way the MC was writing about these two boys and then fetishizing them in public was awful and for it to be unresolved really made me not like the author. There’s a huge problem with fetishization in the book community and I just think that it could have been better done as a cautionary tale.
Verdict: Overall, I didn’t like it. I think that there are some salvageable aspects and this book could be something great, but it was not put together in my arc so I don’t have hope for it in the final version. It’s definitely not for me, but it could be for you!
Disclaimer: I received this physical arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: It’s All In How You Fall
Author: Sarah Henning
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: MC has spinal stenosis
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, sports romance, gymnastics, tennis
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 13+ (romance, injuries, cursing)
Explanation of Above: There is romance in this book; it’s a sports romance/in love with the brother’s best friend trope. There are injuries mentioned throughout the book from spines to other body parts but nothing is gorily depicted. There is some slight cursing, but it’s very sparring.
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 303
Synopsis: Gymnast Caroline Kepler has three state balance beam titles, a new trick even most elites can’t do, and chronic, undeniable back pain. While she might never be an Olympian, she has dreams of leveling up to elite, making Nationals, and competing in college. But when one epic face-plant changes all that and Caroline’s back pain goes from chronic to career-ending, her dreams are shattered and her life is flipped upside down.
Enter Alex Zavala, a three-sport athlete who’s both incredibly cute and incredibly off-limits. He offers to give Caroline a crash course in all the sports she’s missed, and she has an offer for him in return: For every sport Alex teaches her, she’ll play matchmaker for him. Deal done, Caroline “dates” new sports with Alex for the rest of the summer, which is loads more fun than wallowing in despair. Just as Caroline starts to see herself as more than her past athletic successes, she picks up something she didn’t bargain for: a big fat crush on Alex. Turns out life was way easier when it was just layout-fulls and beam burns....
Review: This is a great palate cleanser read or a great read for anyone who is craving some sports romance. The book was well written and it immediately grabs your attention from the get-go. The book does great developing the romance and I didn’t feel like it was too rush. I loved the tropes and the book did well to play into them. The character development is amazing and the world building was well done as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish there was a bit more in the book. I wanted to see more of Caroline’s journey after gymnastics, but I’ll just remain hopeful that we eventually get a side sequel with Sunny or Peregrine or Nat. I also wanted to see more of Caroline trying different sports and them going into how to play them.
Verdict: It was so good! I recommend for those looking for sports romance books!
Book: It’s All In How You Fall
Author: Sarah Henning
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: MC has spinal stenosis
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, sports romance, gymnastics, tennis
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 13+ (romance, injuries, cursing)
Explanation of Above: There is romance in this book; it’s a sports romance/in love with the brother’s best friend trope. There are injuries mentioned throughout the book from spines to other body parts but nothing is gorily depicted. There is some slight cursing, but it’s very sparring.
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 303
Synopsis: Gymnast Caroline Kepler has three state balance beam titles, a new trick even most elites can’t do, and chronic, undeniable back pain. While she might never be an Olympian, she has dreams of leveling up to elite, making Nationals, and competing in college. But when one epic face-plant changes all that and Caroline’s back pain goes from chronic to career-ending, her dreams are shattered and her life is flipped upside down.
Enter Alex Zavala, a three-sport athlete who’s both incredibly cute and incredibly off-limits. He offers to give Caroline a crash course in all the sports she’s missed, and she has an offer for him in return: For every sport Alex teaches her, she’ll play matchmaker for him. Deal done, Caroline “dates” new sports with Alex for the rest of the summer, which is loads more fun than wallowing in despair. Just as Caroline starts to see herself as more than her past athletic successes, she picks up something she didn’t bargain for: a big fat crush on Alex. Turns out life was way easier when it was just layout-fulls and beam burns....
Review: This is a great palate cleanser read or a great read for anyone who is craving some sports romance. The book was well written and it immediately grabs your attention from the get-go. The book does great developing the romance and I didn’t feel like it was too rush. I loved the tropes and the book did well to play into them. The character development is amazing and the world building was well done as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish there was a bit more in the book. I wanted to see more of Caroline’s journey after gymnastics, but I’ll just remain hopeful that we eventually get a side sequel with Sunny or Peregrine or Nat. I also wanted to see more of Caroline trying different sports and them going into how to play them.
Verdict: It was so good! I recommend for those looking for sports romance books!
Disclaimer: I received this e-audiobook arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Curse of Spectacle Key
Author: Chantel Acevedo
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, horror, paranormal, ghosts, lighthouses
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 11+ (death, grief, ghosts, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: Death and grief are slightly discussed in the book and mentioned. There are ghosts in this book and there are some scary moments that might be a little much for some sensitive readers.
Publisher: Balzar & Bray/HarperTeen
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Frank Fernandez's family never stays in one place for long. His parents renovate unusual buildings and turn them into homes, which means the family moves--a lot. This makes it hard for bookish Frank to make friends. So when his parents announce they're moving to Spectacle Key, Florida, to live in a lighthouse--this time for good!--Frank is thrilled.
But Spectacle Key isn't the perfect forever home they'd imagined. The lighthouse is falling apart. There are knocks on the door--but no one is there--and mysterious sighs and sniffles from nowhere. There's even a creepy doll that seems to move on its own. Could Spectacle Key be haunted?
Then one day while exploring, Frank meets a girl in old-fashioned clothes, with no memory of who she is. What she does know, though, is that the island is under a curse--and she needs Frank's help to figure out how to lift it. But what if learning the truth about Spectacle Key means losing the first real friend he's ever had?
Review: I really loved this sweet horror story! This book is very well written, combining horror, along with some classical horror elements, and messages about the importance of family and community. The book talked about English subtext, which is slightly featured throughout the book, and the MC is a little book nerd, which makes my heart happy. The book also discussed moving and had a lot of fun and comedic writing in it. The character development was well done, the world building was great, and I am now a fan of Chantel Acevedo’s writing!
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish some of the loose ends at the end were talked about. I would have loved to see more about the ghosts!
Verdict: It’s so well done! Highly recommend!
Book: The Curse of Spectacle Key
Author: Chantel Acevedo
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, horror, paranormal, ghosts, lighthouses
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 11+ (death, grief, ghosts, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: Death and grief are slightly discussed in the book and mentioned. There are ghosts in this book and there are some scary moments that might be a little much for some sensitive readers.
Publisher: Balzar & Bray/HarperTeen
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Frank Fernandez's family never stays in one place for long. His parents renovate unusual buildings and turn them into homes, which means the family moves--a lot. This makes it hard for bookish Frank to make friends. So when his parents announce they're moving to Spectacle Key, Florida, to live in a lighthouse--this time for good!--Frank is thrilled.
But Spectacle Key isn't the perfect forever home they'd imagined. The lighthouse is falling apart. There are knocks on the door--but no one is there--and mysterious sighs and sniffles from nowhere. There's even a creepy doll that seems to move on its own. Could Spectacle Key be haunted?
Then one day while exploring, Frank meets a girl in old-fashioned clothes, with no memory of who she is. What she does know, though, is that the island is under a curse--and she needs Frank's help to figure out how to lift it. But what if learning the truth about Spectacle Key means losing the first real friend he's ever had?
Review: I really loved this sweet horror story! This book is very well written, combining horror, along with some classical horror elements, and messages about the importance of family and community. The book talked about English subtext, which is slightly featured throughout the book, and the MC is a little book nerd, which makes my heart happy. The book also discussed moving and had a lot of fun and comedic writing in it. The character development was well done, the world building was great, and I am now a fan of Chantel Acevedo’s writing!
The only issue I had with the book is that I wish some of the loose ends at the end were talked about. I would have loved to see more about the ghosts!
Verdict: It’s so well done! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Violet Made of Thorns
Author: Gina Chen
Book Series: Violet Made of Thorns Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Lesbian character, f/f romance alluded to
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, magic, high fantasy
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (death, sexual content, gore, cursing, abelist language, romance, alcohol consumption, war, violence, blood magic)
Explanation of Above: There is some sexual content in this book, but nothing too graphic and what does take place is a little vague. There is death shown and mentioned in the book and there is some gore involving blood and blood magic. War is also mentioned in this book a lot and there is some violence shown. There is some cursing in this book and there are two instances of abelist language being used (mad). This is a romance heavy book and the trope is enemies to lovers. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned as well.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.
But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.
Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.
Review: Overall, I loved this book! It’s tropey and predictable, but it’s very well written and well paced, also sometimes it’s nice to have something that you can predictably understand. The book did well with the tropes and predictability, and even had a bit of an unpredictable ending! The book also mentioned periods and contraceptives, which I thought was very good for young teens. The book definitely has an enemies to lovers trope and a besting each other trope going on. The character development is well done and the world building is good as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought the ending, while good, was a bit confusing especially the epilogue. I’m really confused as to what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue and I hope there’s a sequel in the works cause… I have questions…
Verdict: It’s very well done! I love it!
Book: Violet Made of Thorns
Author: Gina Chen
Book Series: Violet Made of Thorns Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Lesbian character, f/f romance alluded to
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, magic, high fantasy
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (death, sexual content, gore, cursing, abelist language, romance, alcohol consumption, war, violence, blood magic)
Explanation of Above: There is some sexual content in this book, but nothing too graphic and what does take place is a little vague. There is death shown and mentioned in the book and there is some gore involving blood and blood magic. War is also mentioned in this book a lot and there is some violence shown. There is some cursing in this book and there are two instances of abelist language being used (mad). This is a romance heavy book and the trope is enemies to lovers. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned as well.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.
But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.
Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.
Review: Overall, I loved this book! It’s tropey and predictable, but it’s very well written and well paced, also sometimes it’s nice to have something that you can predictably understand. The book did well with the tropes and predictability, and even had a bit of an unpredictable ending! The book also mentioned periods and contraceptives, which I thought was very good for young teens. The book definitely has an enemies to lovers trope and a besting each other trope going on. The character development is well done and the world building is good as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought the ending, while good, was a bit confusing especially the epilogue. I’m really confused as to what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue and I hope there’s a sequel in the works cause… I have questions…
Verdict: It’s very well done! I love it!