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popthebutterfly
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Charlie Hernandez and The Golden Dooms
Author: Ryan Calejo
Book Series: Charlie Hernandez Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican American MC, Mexican American characters, Mexican characters, and Hispanic characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Mexican folklore and mythology, Percy Jackson vibes
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (violence, peeping tom references, pet kidnapping)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight violence in the book. There is a reference to a peeping tom that some younger kids might not understand. There are scenes where pets are said to be kidnapped.
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 384
Synopsis: After hitchhiking across Central and South America to rescue the Witch Queen and face off against La Mano Peluda, Charlie Hernández is pretty much grounded for life. But after all he’s been through, some quiet time at home with his parents might be nice. Though it would be better if he didn’t have to share his room with his obnoxiously perfect cousin Raúl, who’s staying with them.
But quiet is hard to come by when you’re the fifth and final morphling, and it’s not long before death walks back into Charlie’s life. Or at least, the dead do, starting with a mysterious young calaca who corners him at school, dropping cryptic hints about trouble brewing in the 305. With the League of Shadows focused on repairing fractured alliances and tracking gathering armies, this one’s up to Charlie to solve.
Following the clues only leads to more questions, and not even teenage investigative journalist extraordinaire Violet Rey can figure out how a sudden rooster infestation, earthquakes, missing persons, and a pet-napping gang of lizard-men—whom Charlie doesn’t recognize from any legend—are all connected. Most concerning of all is when they learn a map has been stolen that reveals the locations of the Golden Dooms, the twelve ancient calaca watchmen who form the magical barrier between the realms.
To stop the impending invasion, Charlie and Violet must outwit an ancient evil and unravel the most sinister of schemes. That is, unless they’d rather watch the Land of the Living get overrun by the dead.
Review: This was such a sweet book and a good addition to the Charlie Hernandez line up! I loved the continued story and how the characters continued to develop. The book did well to have a lot of light hearted moments in what is probably a bit of darkness in the book. The author also crafted a well done mystery in this book. The book had well developed characters and world building.
The only thing I can really critique about the book is how it was a bit wonky in pacing, but otherwise it was a well done book!
Verdict: It was great! I recommend this series!
Book: Charlie Hernandez and The Golden Dooms
Author: Ryan Calejo
Book Series: Charlie Hernandez Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican American MC, Mexican American characters, Mexican characters, and Hispanic characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Mexican folklore and mythology, Percy Jackson vibes
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (violence, peeping tom references, pet kidnapping)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight violence in the book. There is a reference to a peeping tom that some younger kids might not understand. There are scenes where pets are said to be kidnapped.
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 384
Synopsis: After hitchhiking across Central and South America to rescue the Witch Queen and face off against La Mano Peluda, Charlie Hernández is pretty much grounded for life. But after all he’s been through, some quiet time at home with his parents might be nice. Though it would be better if he didn’t have to share his room with his obnoxiously perfect cousin Raúl, who’s staying with them.
But quiet is hard to come by when you’re the fifth and final morphling, and it’s not long before death walks back into Charlie’s life. Or at least, the dead do, starting with a mysterious young calaca who corners him at school, dropping cryptic hints about trouble brewing in the 305. With the League of Shadows focused on repairing fractured alliances and tracking gathering armies, this one’s up to Charlie to solve.
Following the clues only leads to more questions, and not even teenage investigative journalist extraordinaire Violet Rey can figure out how a sudden rooster infestation, earthquakes, missing persons, and a pet-napping gang of lizard-men—whom Charlie doesn’t recognize from any legend—are all connected. Most concerning of all is when they learn a map has been stolen that reveals the locations of the Golden Dooms, the twelve ancient calaca watchmen who form the magical barrier between the realms.
To stop the impending invasion, Charlie and Violet must outwit an ancient evil and unravel the most sinister of schemes. That is, unless they’d rather watch the Land of the Living get overrun by the dead.
Review: This was such a sweet book and a good addition to the Charlie Hernandez line up! I loved the continued story and how the characters continued to develop. The book did well to have a lot of light hearted moments in what is probably a bit of darkness in the book. The author also crafted a well done mystery in this book. The book had well developed characters and world building.
The only thing I can really critique about the book is how it was a bit wonky in pacing, but otherwise it was a well done book!
Verdict: It was great! I recommend this series!
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and physical finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Take-Over Friend
Author: Carol Dines
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Jewish descent MC, Jewish descent character, Bipolar character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, younger YA readers, contemporary, friendship, emotional manipulation, growing up
Publication Date: September 27, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 15+ (depression, cheating, death, sexual content, drugs, emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, mania, underage alcohol consumption, attempted suicide, self harm, eating disorder, animal harm).
Explanation of Above: Depression is mentioned in the book and there are scenes of mania shown in the book. Cheating is mentioned in the book. There is death mentioned, an attempted suicide is vaguely mentioned, an eating disorder is vaguely mentioned, and the after effects of self-harm are shown. There are a couple of scenes where there is a joke that has sexual organs mentioned in it. Drugs are mentioned in the book. There are scenes of emotional abuse and manipulation, as well as stalking, bullying, and harassment shown. Underage alcohol consumption is shown and mentioned. There is one scene where animals, dogs, are harmed but they are ok!
Publisher: Fitzroy Books
Pages: 205
Synopsis: On the second day of ninth grade, introverted Frances meets Sonja, a wildly funny newcomer from France, and the girls form a fast friendship. Frances adores Sonja’s worldliness, and Sonja adores Frances’s family, especially her older brother, Will. Frances and Sonja immediately declare themselves “The Poets” and rally their homeroom to enter the homecoming parade with a poetry-mobile built from Frances’s father’s old band bus. But respective family crises begin to escalate, and tensions come to a head when Sonja temporarily moves in with Frances's family—forcing each friend to decide how close is too close. Alternatingly funny and poignant, The Take-Over Friend is a smart page-turner that focuses on the importance of finding your own voice in relationships.
Review: This was not what I was expecting the book to be. I thought the book was going to detail friends drifting apart or not being as close as they were, but the book is actually a cautionary tale on emotional abuse and manipulation, with a bit of stalking thrown in there for flavor. The book was very well written and I loved how well it explained emotional abuse and manipulation that you might receive from friends. The character development was well done as was the world building. I also want to empathize that this book would be good for younger YA readers. The contents of it aren’t that mature and it’s a great conversation to have early on so that children are aware that some friends aren’t true friends.
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast paced and the time skips weren’t well defined. I was also thought that the book didn’t have a great resolution and I would have liked to see something more empowering for a character who had been continually torn down.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: The Take-Over Friend
Author: Carol Dines
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Jewish descent MC, Jewish descent character, Bipolar character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, younger YA readers, contemporary, friendship, emotional manipulation, growing up
Publication Date: September 27, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 15+ (depression, cheating, death, sexual content, drugs, emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, mania, underage alcohol consumption, attempted suicide, self harm, eating disorder, animal harm).
Explanation of Above: Depression is mentioned in the book and there are scenes of mania shown in the book. Cheating is mentioned in the book. There is death mentioned, an attempted suicide is vaguely mentioned, an eating disorder is vaguely mentioned, and the after effects of self-harm are shown. There are a couple of scenes where there is a joke that has sexual organs mentioned in it. Drugs are mentioned in the book. There are scenes of emotional abuse and manipulation, as well as stalking, bullying, and harassment shown. Underage alcohol consumption is shown and mentioned. There is one scene where animals, dogs, are harmed but they are ok!
Publisher: Fitzroy Books
Pages: 205
Synopsis: On the second day of ninth grade, introverted Frances meets Sonja, a wildly funny newcomer from France, and the girls form a fast friendship. Frances adores Sonja’s worldliness, and Sonja adores Frances’s family, especially her older brother, Will. Frances and Sonja immediately declare themselves “The Poets” and rally their homeroom to enter the homecoming parade with a poetry-mobile built from Frances’s father’s old band bus. But respective family crises begin to escalate, and tensions come to a head when Sonja temporarily moves in with Frances's family—forcing each friend to decide how close is too close. Alternatingly funny and poignant, The Take-Over Friend is a smart page-turner that focuses on the importance of finding your own voice in relationships.
Review: This was not what I was expecting the book to be. I thought the book was going to detail friends drifting apart or not being as close as they were, but the book is actually a cautionary tale on emotional abuse and manipulation, with a bit of stalking thrown in there for flavor. The book was very well written and I loved how well it explained emotional abuse and manipulation that you might receive from friends. The character development was well done as was the world building. I also want to empathize that this book would be good for younger YA readers. The contents of it aren’t that mature and it’s a great conversation to have early on so that children are aware that some friends aren’t true friends.
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast paced and the time skips weren’t well defined. I was also thought that the book didn’t have a great resolution and I would have liked to see something more empowering for a character who had been continually torn down.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author and then bought my own e-copy! Thanks and support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lucien and I
Author: Sasha Clinton
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 5/5
Diversity: Indian American MC, Lesbian character
Recommended For...: romance, steamy romance, contemporary, medical romance, rivals to lovers, fake dating, one bed trope, miscommunication
Publication Date: September 26, 2022
Genre: Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (death, violence, gore, sexual content, drugs, harassment, parental death, depression, emotional abuse, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual assault, cancer, grief, romance)
Explanation of Above: The book is a medical romance and mentions death, parental death, violence, drugs, cancer, and gore. There is some blood and surgery gore also shown in the book. Grief is shown and mentioned in the book. There is a lot of sexual content in the book and romance. There are some scene of harassment, sexual harassment, and one scene of a sexual assault (a butt is groped against the butt owner’s will). There are mentions of depression and self-harm. There are some scenes of emotional abuse and some mentions of it as well.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 356
Synopsis: Mira Krishnan is a cardiothoracic surgery fellow whose three big goals in life are:
1. Achieve superstardom in the field of heart surgery
2. Crush Lucien Stone by showing him that she’s the superior heart surgeon.
3. Fall in love with someone who is NOT Lucien Stone so she can erase her years-long crush on him.
Lucien and Mira have been rivals since high school, and she’d like nothing more than to wipe that smug, overconfident smirk off his devastatingly handsome face.
But when their rivalry goes too far and they’re caught in the middle of a fight by the program director, Mira’s life changes. To avoid being expelled from the fellowship for failing to conduct themselves in an appropriate, collegiate manner, Lucien and Mira are forced to lie about dating each other so they can dismiss their behavior as extreme flirting. But going on fake dates, vacations, and spending time together makes them realize that underneath all the jibes and rivalry, there's potential for something more…and perhaps, instead of looking into other people’s hearts, they need to look into their own.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was a really fun medical romance and it featured the tropes of rivals to lovers, fake dating, one bed, and miscommunication. The book was about two fellowship doctors who are working together in a hospital but have had an ongoing rivalry for years. When they are caught in a compromising position, they both must fake date to save their fellowship. This book would be a great companion to other medical romance books like A Brush With Love and I was surprised by how cute of a book it was. The writing was well done and the world building and character development was as well. The book was also well paced.
The only hang-up for me was that I felt like the book didn’t have a strong hook as to why they had to start fake dating. It was a bit weird but I appreciate how that was called out later in the book.
Verdict: It was adorable! I love it!
Book: Lucien and I
Author: Sasha Clinton
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 5/5
Diversity: Indian American MC, Lesbian character
Recommended For...: romance, steamy romance, contemporary, medical romance, rivals to lovers, fake dating, one bed trope, miscommunication
Publication Date: September 26, 2022
Genre: Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (death, violence, gore, sexual content, drugs, harassment, parental death, depression, emotional abuse, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual assault, cancer, grief, romance)
Explanation of Above: The book is a medical romance and mentions death, parental death, violence, drugs, cancer, and gore. There is some blood and surgery gore also shown in the book. Grief is shown and mentioned in the book. There is a lot of sexual content in the book and romance. There are some scene of harassment, sexual harassment, and one scene of a sexual assault (a butt is groped against the butt owner’s will). There are mentions of depression and self-harm. There are some scenes of emotional abuse and some mentions of it as well.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 356
Synopsis: Mira Krishnan is a cardiothoracic surgery fellow whose three big goals in life are:
1. Achieve superstardom in the field of heart surgery
2. Crush Lucien Stone by showing him that she’s the superior heart surgeon.
3. Fall in love with someone who is NOT Lucien Stone so she can erase her years-long crush on him.
Lucien and Mira have been rivals since high school, and she’d like nothing more than to wipe that smug, overconfident smirk off his devastatingly handsome face.
But when their rivalry goes too far and they’re caught in the middle of a fight by the program director, Mira’s life changes. To avoid being expelled from the fellowship for failing to conduct themselves in an appropriate, collegiate manner, Lucien and Mira are forced to lie about dating each other so they can dismiss their behavior as extreme flirting. But going on fake dates, vacations, and spending time together makes them realize that underneath all the jibes and rivalry, there's potential for something more…and perhaps, instead of looking into other people’s hearts, they need to look into their own.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was a really fun medical romance and it featured the tropes of rivals to lovers, fake dating, one bed, and miscommunication. The book was about two fellowship doctors who are working together in a hospital but have had an ongoing rivalry for years. When they are caught in a compromising position, they both must fake date to save their fellowship. This book would be a great companion to other medical romance books like A Brush With Love and I was surprised by how cute of a book it was. The writing was well done and the world building and character development was as well. The book was also well paced.
The only hang-up for me was that I felt like the book didn’t have a strong hook as to why they had to start fake dating. It was a bit weird but I appreciate how that was called out later in the book.
Verdict: It was adorable! I love it!
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: When in Rome
Author: Sarah Adams
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 1.5/5
Diversity: Black character, character with Alzheimer’s Disease
Recommended For...: romance, contemporary, Audrey Hepburn lovers, food, small town romance, famous person/normal person romance
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Genre: Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (cursing, alcohol consumption, romance, sexual content, parental deaths)
Explanation of Above: The book has some slight cursing and mentions of parental deaths. There is some alcohol consumption shown in the book. There is a romance in the book and there are comments of a sexual nature, but all romance is closed door and it’s mostly regulated to kisses and small romantic moments.
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her "princess of pop" image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.
When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn't have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He's too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room--but only until her car is fixed--then she's on her own.
Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose--she's Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can't help but get close to her. Soon she'll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she's been missing, and she'll help him open his heart to more.
Amelia can't resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.
Review: For the most part this was a cute book. The book was an adorable romance about a famous singer who lands in the lawn of a grumpy baker. She has to stay with him while her car gets repaired and sparks fly. The book was adorable and pretty well written. I thought the character development was good and the world building was good as well. The book is also a closed door romance, so no sexual things are shown.
However, there were some things in the book that I didn’t like. The book was Multi-POV but I think we could have done away with Amelia’s POV as Noah’s was much more interesting. The characters in this book are from Kentucky and none of them talk with an accent, except for one character. I believe the character is stated to be Black, but I could be wrong? But it was a bit weird that only one character was written to have an accent while the others were not. And if the character was Black then that opens up a bunch of ick. The time skips in the book aren’t that evident, which made reading it confusing at times. There is a lot of teasing in this book and sexual pining, but it wasn’t my favorite thing. It just felt annoying after awhile.
Verdict: It was good.
Book: When in Rome
Author: Sarah Adams
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 1.5/5
Diversity: Black character, character with Alzheimer’s Disease
Recommended For...: romance, contemporary, Audrey Hepburn lovers, food, small town romance, famous person/normal person romance
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Genre: Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (cursing, alcohol consumption, romance, sexual content, parental deaths)
Explanation of Above: The book has some slight cursing and mentions of parental deaths. There is some alcohol consumption shown in the book. There is a romance in the book and there are comments of a sexual nature, but all romance is closed door and it’s mostly regulated to kisses and small romantic moments.
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her "princess of pop" image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.
When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn't have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He's too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room--but only until her car is fixed--then she's on her own.
Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose--she's Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can't help but get close to her. Soon she'll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she's been missing, and she'll help him open his heart to more.
Amelia can't resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.
Review: For the most part this was a cute book. The book was an adorable romance about a famous singer who lands in the lawn of a grumpy baker. She has to stay with him while her car gets repaired and sparks fly. The book was adorable and pretty well written. I thought the character development was good and the world building was good as well. The book is also a closed door romance, so no sexual things are shown.
However, there were some things in the book that I didn’t like. The book was Multi-POV but I think we could have done away with Amelia’s POV as Noah’s was much more interesting. The characters in this book are from Kentucky and none of them talk with an accent, except for one character. I believe the character is stated to be Black, but I could be wrong? But it was a bit weird that only one character was written to have an accent while the others were not. And if the character was Black then that opens up a bunch of ick. The time skips in the book aren’t that evident, which made reading it confusing at times. There is a lot of teasing in this book and sexual pining, but it wasn’t my favorite thing. It just felt annoying after awhile.
Verdict: It was good.
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Dreadful Beauty
Author: L.M. Rapp
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy readers
Publication Date: February 28, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (illness, racism allegory, romance, violence, gore, death, abandonment, sexual content, attempted rape, abuse, misogyny)
Explanation of Above: There are illness allegories and racism allegories in this book as the main theme. The book also has some violence, slight blood gore, and mentions of death. There are scenes of abandonment, an attempted rape, and abuse in the book. There is some misogyny shown in the book and there is some very slight sexual content in the form of comments. There is some romance in this book.
Publisher: Atoll
Pages: 364
Synopsis: A girl undergoing a terrifying transformation goes on an epic quest to find a refuge from her ruthless father.
Nymphosis, a disease that turns Humans into Chimeras, is ravaging the land of Gashom. The More-Than-Pure, determined to protect themselves, have seized power and enacted segregationist laws. The daughter of a high dignitary, young Neria learns she is afflicted by the very disease her father is determined to eradicate. Forced to surrender her privileges, she must flee her home in the capital and traverse the strange wilds to seek refuge with her fellow kind. Will she have the courage to fight oppression to emancipate the Chimeras from the yoke of the More-Than-Pure?
Review: For the most part I thought this was a good book. The book had some well done moments, such as with the character development and world building. The book did so good to discuss discrimination and segregation in this fantasy world. The book was a great study on those topics as well and I enjoyed the journey the main character took on from wealthy daughter of the leader to revolution member. The book was hard to read at some points due to some of the nature of the book, but if you’re looking for this type of read I recommend this one.
However, I did feel like the book was a bit too fast paced and the romances were a bit pace-breaking. I would like it if it was slowed down a bit more and that there was more commentary and effect from the abuse and attempted rape. It just kind of felt swept aside.
Verdict: It was ok!
Book: Dreadful Beauty
Author: L.M. Rapp
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy readers
Publication Date: February 28, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (illness, racism allegory, romance, violence, gore, death, abandonment, sexual content, attempted rape, abuse, misogyny)
Explanation of Above: There are illness allegories and racism allegories in this book as the main theme. The book also has some violence, slight blood gore, and mentions of death. There are scenes of abandonment, an attempted rape, and abuse in the book. There is some misogyny shown in the book and there is some very slight sexual content in the form of comments. There is some romance in this book.
Publisher: Atoll
Pages: 364
Synopsis: A girl undergoing a terrifying transformation goes on an epic quest to find a refuge from her ruthless father.
Nymphosis, a disease that turns Humans into Chimeras, is ravaging the land of Gashom. The More-Than-Pure, determined to protect themselves, have seized power and enacted segregationist laws. The daughter of a high dignitary, young Neria learns she is afflicted by the very disease her father is determined to eradicate. Forced to surrender her privileges, she must flee her home in the capital and traverse the strange wilds to seek refuge with her fellow kind. Will she have the courage to fight oppression to emancipate the Chimeras from the yoke of the More-Than-Pure?
Review: For the most part I thought this was a good book. The book had some well done moments, such as with the character development and world building. The book did so good to discuss discrimination and segregation in this fantasy world. The book was a great study on those topics as well and I enjoyed the journey the main character took on from wealthy daughter of the leader to revolution member. The book was hard to read at some points due to some of the nature of the book, but if you’re looking for this type of read I recommend this one.
However, I did feel like the book was a bit too fast paced and the romances were a bit pace-breaking. I would like it if it was slowed down a bit more and that there was more commentary and effect from the abuse and attempted rape. It just kind of felt swept aside.
Verdict: It was ok!
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Girl From Guernica
Author: Karen Robards
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Spanish characters and Spanish/German MC and characters
Recommended For...: historical fiction, War World II, Spain, Nazi Germany
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (war, rape, violence, gore, animal death, animal gore, bombing, religion, death, grief, PTSD, antisemitism, nazism, abelism, bullying, romance, cursing, animal injury)
Explanation of Above: The book revolves around the whole of World War II and there are some bombings shown in the book. There is a lot of violence with guns and bombs and gore involving blood. There is death and grief shown in the book. There is some animal death and gore mentioned with dogs and sheep. There are also a couple of animal injuries to a dog shown as well. The Catholic religion is referenced and shown a couple of times. The book shows PTSD and abelism, as well as antisemitism and nazism involving Aryan ideals and Nazis. There is some bullying and some cursing in the book. There is also a slight romance in the book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 464
Synopsis: On an April day in 1937, the sky opens and fire rains down upon the small Spanish town of Guernica. Seventeen-year-old Sibi and her family are caught up in the horror. Griff, an American military attaché, pulls Sibi from the wreckage, and it’s only the first time he saves her life in a span of hours. When Germany claims no involvement in the attack, insisting the Spanish Republic was responsible, Griff guides Sibi to lie to Nazi officials. If she or her sisters reveal that they saw planes bearing swastikas, the gestapo will silence them—by any means necessary.
As war begins to rage across Europe, Sibi joins the underground resistance, secretly exchanging information with Griff. But as the scope of Germany’s ambitions becomes clear, maintaining the facade of a Nazi-sympathizer becomes ever more difficult. And as Sibi is drawn deeper into a web of secrets, she must find a way to outwit an enemy that threatens to decimate her family once and for all.
Masterfully rendered and vividly capturing one of the most notorious episodes in history, The Girl from Guernica is an unforgettable testament to the bonds of family and the courage of women in wartime.
Review: I found this book to be very informative and eye opening. The book starts with the bombing of Guernica, which was done at the behest of the Nationalist faction by Nazi Germany forces. The incident was horrifically detailed in the book and it helped set the tone for the novel as Nazi Germany denied and continued to deny their involvement in the incident. The MC was compelling and while we all know what the true solution was for her predicament, her dilemma was understandable and it makes the reader empathetic to the plight of Germans who were caught in the middle of the War. The book was written beautifully and the book was fairly accurate from what I know and briefly researched about the incident. The book did well for character development and world building. I also thought the pacing was well done.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like the horrors of what Nazi Germany was truly doing wasn’t discussed in the book well. I would have liked to see that in the book more.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: The Girl From Guernica
Author: Karen Robards
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Spanish characters and Spanish/German MC and characters
Recommended For...: historical fiction, War World II, Spain, Nazi Germany
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (war, rape, violence, gore, animal death, animal gore, bombing, religion, death, grief, PTSD, antisemitism, nazism, abelism, bullying, romance, cursing, animal injury)
Explanation of Above: The book revolves around the whole of World War II and there are some bombings shown in the book. There is a lot of violence with guns and bombs and gore involving blood. There is death and grief shown in the book. There is some animal death and gore mentioned with dogs and sheep. There are also a couple of animal injuries to a dog shown as well. The Catholic religion is referenced and shown a couple of times. The book shows PTSD and abelism, as well as antisemitism and nazism involving Aryan ideals and Nazis. There is some bullying and some cursing in the book. There is also a slight romance in the book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 464
Synopsis: On an April day in 1937, the sky opens and fire rains down upon the small Spanish town of Guernica. Seventeen-year-old Sibi and her family are caught up in the horror. Griff, an American military attaché, pulls Sibi from the wreckage, and it’s only the first time he saves her life in a span of hours. When Germany claims no involvement in the attack, insisting the Spanish Republic was responsible, Griff guides Sibi to lie to Nazi officials. If she or her sisters reveal that they saw planes bearing swastikas, the gestapo will silence them—by any means necessary.
As war begins to rage across Europe, Sibi joins the underground resistance, secretly exchanging information with Griff. But as the scope of Germany’s ambitions becomes clear, maintaining the facade of a Nazi-sympathizer becomes ever more difficult. And as Sibi is drawn deeper into a web of secrets, she must find a way to outwit an enemy that threatens to decimate her family once and for all.
Masterfully rendered and vividly capturing one of the most notorious episodes in history, The Girl from Guernica is an unforgettable testament to the bonds of family and the courage of women in wartime.
Review: I found this book to be very informative and eye opening. The book starts with the bombing of Guernica, which was done at the behest of the Nationalist faction by Nazi Germany forces. The incident was horrifically detailed in the book and it helped set the tone for the novel as Nazi Germany denied and continued to deny their involvement in the incident. The MC was compelling and while we all know what the true solution was for her predicament, her dilemma was understandable and it makes the reader empathetic to the plight of Germans who were caught in the middle of the War. The book was written beautifully and the book was fairly accurate from what I know and briefly researched about the incident. The book did well for character development and world building. I also thought the pacing was well done.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like the horrors of what Nazi Germany was truly doing wasn’t discussed in the book well. I would have liked to see that in the book more.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received an arc and e-arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: It Looks Like Us
Author: Alison Ames
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asexual MC with Anxiety Disorder, Asian character, Gay character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, horror, science fiction, thriller, LGBT, queer
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: YA Horror
Age Relevance: 14+ (gore, death, grief, cursing, panic attacks, violence, drugs, suicide)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore, involving burns and blood and body parts, and violence involving weapons in this book. There is death and grief mentioned and shown in this book. There are 3 instances of panic attacks shown on screen. There are some slight mentions of drugs and suicide/suicidal ideation.
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 277
Synopsis: Shy high school junior Riley Kowalski is spending her winter break on a research trip to Antarctica, sponsored by one of the world’s biggest tech companies. She joins five student volunteers, a company-approved chaperone, and an impartial scientist to prove that environmental plastic pollution has reached all the way to Antarctica, but what they find is something much worse… something that looks human.
Riley has anxiety--ostracized by the kids at school because of panic attacks--so when she starts to feel like something’s wrong with their expedition leader, Greta, she writes it off. But when Greta snaps and tries to kill Riley, she can’t chalk it up to an overactive imagination anymore. Worse, after watching Greta disintegrate, only to find another student with the same affliction, she realizes they haven’t been infected, they’ve been infiltrated--by something that can change its shape. And if the group isn’t careful, that something could quickly replace any of them.
Review: This was such an amazing book! I loved it from start to finish. The book reminded me a lot of The Thing due to the setting and how the monster worked a bit. I loved the twist at the end, even though I had already guessed it near the beginning. The book did so well with world building and character development. I loved every moment of the book and, I’m probably wrong, but is Asha from this author’s other book To Break a Covenant? Is everything set in the same universe given the same cover palettes being used? Is there a monster multiverse from Alison Ames? I’m not sure but I’m here doing my impatient dance for her next work of horror.
The only issue I had with the book is how predictable the book was. I felt like it was a bit too obvious for a twist, but I loved it nonetheless.
Verdict: It was so good! Recommending for Halloween Recs!
Book: It Looks Like Us
Author: Alison Ames
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asexual MC with Anxiety Disorder, Asian character, Gay character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, horror, science fiction, thriller, LGBT, queer
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: YA Horror
Age Relevance: 14+ (gore, death, grief, cursing, panic attacks, violence, drugs, suicide)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore, involving burns and blood and body parts, and violence involving weapons in this book. There is death and grief mentioned and shown in this book. There are 3 instances of panic attacks shown on screen. There are some slight mentions of drugs and suicide/suicidal ideation.
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 277
Synopsis: Shy high school junior Riley Kowalski is spending her winter break on a research trip to Antarctica, sponsored by one of the world’s biggest tech companies. She joins five student volunteers, a company-approved chaperone, and an impartial scientist to prove that environmental plastic pollution has reached all the way to Antarctica, but what they find is something much worse… something that looks human.
Riley has anxiety--ostracized by the kids at school because of panic attacks--so when she starts to feel like something’s wrong with their expedition leader, Greta, she writes it off. But when Greta snaps and tries to kill Riley, she can’t chalk it up to an overactive imagination anymore. Worse, after watching Greta disintegrate, only to find another student with the same affliction, she realizes they haven’t been infected, they’ve been infiltrated--by something that can change its shape. And if the group isn’t careful, that something could quickly replace any of them.
Review: This was such an amazing book! I loved it from start to finish. The book reminded me a lot of The Thing due to the setting and how the monster worked a bit. I loved the twist at the end, even though I had already guessed it near the beginning. The book did so well with world building and character development. I loved every moment of the book and, I’m probably wrong, but is Asha from this author’s other book To Break a Covenant? Is everything set in the same universe given the same cover palettes being used? Is there a monster multiverse from Alison Ames? I’m not sure but I’m here doing my impatient dance for her next work of horror.
The only issue I had with the book is how predictable the book was. I felt like it was a bit too obvious for a twist, but I loved it nonetheless.
Verdict: It was so good! Recommending for Halloween Recs!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow
Author: Zoulfa Katouh
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Syrian Muslim MC and characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, romance, war, Syria, Middle East
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (war, starvation, gore, violence, pregnancy, religion, death, depression, torture, infanticide, rape, human trafficking, cursing, PTSD, romance, attempted sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: The book takes place during the war for freedom in Syria, so there is a lot about war in the book. There is also gore, including blood and some surgery, and weapons violence. There is also death mentioned frequently in the book and there are mentions of torture as well. There is starvation mentioned and shown in the book and pregnancy is also shown and discussed, as well as some infanticide committed by opposing forces. Religion (Islam) is discussed a lot in the book. There are depictions and mentions of depression and PTSD. There is some slight cursing in the book and some romance. Rape is mentioned a couple of times in the book, there is a scene with an attempted sexual assault, and human trafficking is mentioned as well.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Synopsis: Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.
Review: This was an excellent read! I absolutely loved the story and I thought it did well to talk about the struggles of living in Syria during the majority of the fighting. I loved the world building and character development. The pacing was on point and the writing was very well done. The twist in the book was so well done and I could NOT put the book down. I cried, I screamed, I fell in love. And this story will stick with me for a long time. It’s definitely changed me for the better.
The only thing I think could be a bit better is that I wanted a little bit more of the romance and I wanted a bit more resolution with Khawf.
Verdict: It was amazing! Highly recommend!
Book: As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow
Author: Zoulfa Katouh
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Syrian Muslim MC and characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, romance, war, Syria, Middle East
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (war, starvation, gore, violence, pregnancy, religion, death, depression, torture, infanticide, rape, human trafficking, cursing, PTSD, romance, attempted sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: The book takes place during the war for freedom in Syria, so there is a lot about war in the book. There is also gore, including blood and some surgery, and weapons violence. There is also death mentioned frequently in the book and there are mentions of torture as well. There is starvation mentioned and shown in the book and pregnancy is also shown and discussed, as well as some infanticide committed by opposing forces. Religion (Islam) is discussed a lot in the book. There are depictions and mentions of depression and PTSD. There is some slight cursing in the book and some romance. Rape is mentioned a couple of times in the book, there is a scene with an attempted sexual assault, and human trafficking is mentioned as well.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Synopsis: Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.
Review: This was an excellent read! I absolutely loved the story and I thought it did well to talk about the struggles of living in Syria during the majority of the fighting. I loved the world building and character development. The pacing was on point and the writing was very well done. The twist in the book was so well done and I could NOT put the book down. I cried, I screamed, I fell in love. And this story will stick with me for a long time. It’s definitely changed me for the better.
The only thing I think could be a bit better is that I wanted a little bit more of the romance and I wanted a bit more resolution with Khawf.
Verdict: It was amazing! Highly recommend!
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Flip Turns
Author: Catherine Arguelles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: MC with Anxiety Disorder, Sapphic couple characters, Mixed Latino character, Character with Alopecia
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, mystery, romance, relationship violence/stalking
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: MG Mystery
Age Relevance: 11+ (relationship violence, sexual harassment, gore, stalking, vandalizing, romance, cancer)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on a failed relationship between a boy and the MC, in which she sees the signs of relationship abuse and stalking. There is also one scene where there is some very slight sexual harassment. There is some gore mentioned, like poop and blood and surgery. It’s very slight. There is some property destruction shown in the book. There is some small romance. Cancer is briefly mentioned.
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Pages: 272
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Maddie just wants her classmate, Lucas, to leave her alone. He keeps asking her out—as if she hasn’t already said no a thousand times! Focusing on her competitive swim team, the Electric Eels, Maddie tries to ignore him, hoping he’ll go away.
But then, when someone starts sabotaging Maddie’s family-owned pool—glass on the deck, ketchup in the pool, followed by a “code brown”—Maddie worries it’s her “admirer” trying to get even. After Maddie’s parents rule the problems at the pool just harmless pranks, Maddie and her best friend Ez decide to investigate on their own. Could it be Lucas? And how can Maddie get him to leave her alone once and for all? The future of the Electric Eels and Maddie’s family legacy are on the line.
Review: I didn’t expect the book to be what it was, but I’m very impressed by it! I loved the story and I felt like it did so well to explain the signs of relationship violence and stalking to younger children. It’s a horribly unfortunate thing that happens, but the sooner your young children who are dating/starting to see their friends going out know what signs to look out for, the better prepared your young one will be if that situation comes up with themselves or their friends. It can be very slight and look a lot like children picking on each other, but things like this should not be ignored for numerous reasons and victims should always be heard and believed. The book is so impressive that I’m going to get a copy for when my friends young child becomes of that age range, because I’d rather her be educated and weary than hurt and afraid. The book also did well to be a well crafted mystery. The character development was well done and the world building was stupendous.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like the perpetrator of the relationship issues should have been told as going into therapy or some other consequence, but it was resolved and the most important part of the book (the education) was solid.
Verdict: I absolutely love this one! Highly recommend!
Book: Flip Turns
Author: Catherine Arguelles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: MC with Anxiety Disorder, Sapphic couple characters, Mixed Latino character, Character with Alopecia
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, mystery, romance, relationship violence/stalking
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: MG Mystery
Age Relevance: 11+ (relationship violence, sexual harassment, gore, stalking, vandalizing, romance, cancer)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on a failed relationship between a boy and the MC, in which she sees the signs of relationship abuse and stalking. There is also one scene where there is some very slight sexual harassment. There is some gore mentioned, like poop and blood and surgery. It’s very slight. There is some property destruction shown in the book. There is some small romance. Cancer is briefly mentioned.
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Pages: 272
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Maddie just wants her classmate, Lucas, to leave her alone. He keeps asking her out—as if she hasn’t already said no a thousand times! Focusing on her competitive swim team, the Electric Eels, Maddie tries to ignore him, hoping he’ll go away.
But then, when someone starts sabotaging Maddie’s family-owned pool—glass on the deck, ketchup in the pool, followed by a “code brown”—Maddie worries it’s her “admirer” trying to get even. After Maddie’s parents rule the problems at the pool just harmless pranks, Maddie and her best friend Ez decide to investigate on their own. Could it be Lucas? And how can Maddie get him to leave her alone once and for all? The future of the Electric Eels and Maddie’s family legacy are on the line.
Review: I didn’t expect the book to be what it was, but I’m very impressed by it! I loved the story and I felt like it did so well to explain the signs of relationship violence and stalking to younger children. It’s a horribly unfortunate thing that happens, but the sooner your young children who are dating/starting to see their friends going out know what signs to look out for, the better prepared your young one will be if that situation comes up with themselves or their friends. It can be very slight and look a lot like children picking on each other, but things like this should not be ignored for numerous reasons and victims should always be heard and believed. The book is so impressive that I’m going to get a copy for when my friends young child becomes of that age range, because I’d rather her be educated and weary than hurt and afraid. The book also did well to be a well crafted mystery. The character development was well done and the world building was stupendous.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like the perpetrator of the relationship issues should have been told as going into therapy or some other consequence, but it was resolved and the most important part of the book (the education) was solid.
Verdict: I absolutely love this one! Highly recommend!
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Bad At Love
Author: Gabriela Martins
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Brazilian and Brazilian American MCs and characters, Pansexual MC, Demisexual MC
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, music, boy band, LGBT
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 14+ (sexual content, romance, microaggressions, death, illness, underage alcohol consumption)
Explanation of Above: There is some romance in this book and a very vague sexual remark ala 50 Shades of Grey. There is one incident of microaggressions being said. There is a death mentioned. There is some illness mentioned. There is one scene of underage alcohol consumption.
Publisher: Underline/Delacorte
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Ever since Daniel moved to L.A. from Brazil to join the band Mischief & Mayhem, he’s become the tabloids’ bad boy. Paparazzi follow him and girls swoon over him . . . except for Sasha, who hates bad boys. When a chance encounter brings them together, Sasha sees an opportunity to get close to Daniel and write a story that will make a name for herself at the celebrity gossip magazine where she interns. But Daniel is surprisingly sweet and extremely cute—could she be falling for him?
The truth is: Daniel is hiding something. When Sasha discovers his secret, will she follow her heart or deliver the hottest story of the summer?
Review: I thought this book was okay overall. This is another band book, which I am not getting tired of in the YA world. I loved the discussion on immigration and Diaspora and how race and ethnicity are perceived in different parts of the world. The book reads really young, which is perfect for beginning YA readers. The book also did okay with the character development and world building.
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast pace. It felt like a Wattpad fanfic about Harry Styles, which isn’t a bad thing but I wished it either fully leaned into it or was a bit less like it. The book also didn’t do well to convince me that this is a serious reporter who is close to getting this tough-to-get scholarship cause the piece she was writing on was kinda weird. I also thought the makeup scene was way too quick and honestly I’d never have forgiven someone who did that to me.
Verdict: It was good, just not my cup of tea.
Book: Bad At Love
Author: Gabriela Martins
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Brazilian and Brazilian American MCs and characters, Pansexual MC, Demisexual MC
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, music, boy band, LGBT
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 14+ (sexual content, romance, microaggressions, death, illness, underage alcohol consumption)
Explanation of Above: There is some romance in this book and a very vague sexual remark ala 50 Shades of Grey. There is one incident of microaggressions being said. There is a death mentioned. There is some illness mentioned. There is one scene of underage alcohol consumption.
Publisher: Underline/Delacorte
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Ever since Daniel moved to L.A. from Brazil to join the band Mischief & Mayhem, he’s become the tabloids’ bad boy. Paparazzi follow him and girls swoon over him . . . except for Sasha, who hates bad boys. When a chance encounter brings them together, Sasha sees an opportunity to get close to Daniel and write a story that will make a name for herself at the celebrity gossip magazine where she interns. But Daniel is surprisingly sweet and extremely cute—could she be falling for him?
The truth is: Daniel is hiding something. When Sasha discovers his secret, will she follow her heart or deliver the hottest story of the summer?
Review: I thought this book was okay overall. This is another band book, which I am not getting tired of in the YA world. I loved the discussion on immigration and Diaspora and how race and ethnicity are perceived in different parts of the world. The book reads really young, which is perfect for beginning YA readers. The book also did okay with the character development and world building.
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast pace. It felt like a Wattpad fanfic about Harry Styles, which isn’t a bad thing but I wished it either fully leaned into it or was a bit less like it. The book also didn’t do well to convince me that this is a serious reporter who is close to getting this tough-to-get scholarship cause the piece she was writing on was kinda weird. I also thought the makeup scene was way too quick and honestly I’d never have forgiven someone who did that to me.
Verdict: It was good, just not my cup of tea.