Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: These Fleeting Shadows
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Anxiety disorder charcter, queer MC, Bisexual character, gay character, Black character, sapphic romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, horror, mystery, thriller, LGBT, generational trauma
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: YA Horror
Age Relevance: 15+ (animal gore, death, cursing, gore, violence, sexual content, racism, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight animal gore shown in this book with a skeleton of a fox being dug up. There is a lot of violence, gore, and death in this read. There is some slight cursing and slight and vague sexual content. There is some racism mentioned and there is some romance.
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.
There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night?And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?
With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The book is a great and horrifying horror read and I loved how the book made commentary on how women/girls are often sacrificed for the success of men. The book did well to be fairly unique and it was a page turning mystery. I thought the twists and turns were well written and the book kept me on my toes for the entirety of the read. I thought the character development was well done and the world building was amazing as well, considering we’re pretty much trapped in the same house throughout the book and it’s kind of an elevator book/movie.
The only issues I had with the book are that I thought the pacing was a bit wonky in a few places. It felt like it was a little too slow in a couple of areas and a little too fast in others. I also thought that the book didn’t do a stellar job at explaining the how of the mystery. I was still a bit confused in a couple of parts of the book, but it was enough information for me to get through it.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: These Fleeting Shadows
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Anxiety disorder charcter, queer MC, Bisexual character, gay character, Black character, sapphic romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, horror, mystery, thriller, LGBT, generational trauma
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: YA Horror
Age Relevance: 15+ (animal gore, death, cursing, gore, violence, sexual content, racism, romance)
Explanation of Above: There is some slight animal gore shown in this book with a skeleton of a fox being dug up. There is a lot of violence, gore, and death in this read. There is some slight cursing and slight and vague sexual content. There is some racism mentioned and there is some romance.
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.
There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night?And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?
With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The book is a great and horrifying horror read and I loved how the book made commentary on how women/girls are often sacrificed for the success of men. The book did well to be fairly unique and it was a page turning mystery. I thought the twists and turns were well written and the book kept me on my toes for the entirety of the read. I thought the character development was well done and the world building was amazing as well, considering we’re pretty much trapped in the same house throughout the book and it’s kind of an elevator book/movie.
The only issues I had with the book are that I thought the pacing was a bit wonky in a few places. It felt like it was a little too slow in a couple of areas and a little too fast in others. I also thought that the book didn’t do a stellar job at explaining the how of the mystery. I was still a bit confused in a couple of parts of the book, but it was enough information for me to get through it.
Verdict: It was good!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
medium-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 e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Daredevils
Author: Rob Buyea
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, 80s movie fans, those who made secret forts in the woods and had summer adventures among the trees.
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 13+ (violence, anger issues, bullying, pregnancy talk, HP references, fatphobia, harassment, gore, depression, death, war)
Explanation of Above: There is some physical violence shown in this book along with blood and vomit gore. The book talks about anger issues and bullying and harassment, especially done by a teacher to a child. There is some slight pregnancy talk and where babies come from. There are 2 HP references. There is one instance of fatphobic comments made about a character. There is some depression shown and death and war are also mentioned.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Loretta and her twin brother, Waylon, are headed to middle school. Loretta has always been quick with her fists and her wits. Since Waylon is on the small side, Loretta doesn't let anyone mess with him. But now she worries he won't survive without her by his side. Her secret plan: bulk him up with muscle over the summer. Little does she know that Waylon has a plan of his own. He'll show his sister he can take care of himself.
As each puts their strategy in motion, Loretta and Waylon spend the summer going into the woods behind their house, even sneaking there in the dead of night. That's where they first encounter Louie, who is about their age but noticeably bigger. Louie is homeschooled, he explains when Loretta gives him the third degree. Loretta, Waylon, and Louie soon fall into a comfortable friendship and continue their nightly forest adventures. When they unearth a mysterious box, the past collides with the present, propelling the trio on a quest that will forever change their lives.
Rob Buyea's spirited dual narrative drives this funny, touching brother-sister story, where even the best-laid plans sometimes backfire and feelings may get bruised, but family and friends always count. Letting go of childhood means boldly taking risks to face the future while learning from the past.
Review: For the most part this is an ok book. The book is very reminiscent of older 80s tween/teen movies. It has a Bridge to Terabithia feel to it and it’s a good book about growing up and branching out into your own things, but set against the backdrop of solving some real life issues. The book is definitely a nostalgia feel book and would be awesome for older adults who would appreciate the many older movie references, but it might also appeal to kids who are also into those movies. The book had great character development and the world building was amazing.
However, I believe that the book tries too hard to appeal to younger audiences and it’s a bit confusing in that regard. It’s awkward when it calls adults boomers, but the rest of the lingo of the children are that of children of a bygone era. The book also has 2 HP references, which is really confusing because it doesn’t match the era of the other movie references made in this book. I think it plays into the “adult trying to write kids of today” thing, but it again falls short in that regard. The references are not only out of place but also potentially hurtful to children who have been targets of JKR’s hatred. I also didn’t like the fatphobic comments made about a character. While the character is a bully and goes out of his way to hate on children, villainizing him by making him fat feeds into the “fat people are horrible” mentality. I believe his physical features could have been described in a less harmful manner than “I wonder how he fits into his sports car with a belly like his”.
Verdict: It was ok, but there’s some kinks to work out.
Book: The Daredevils
Author: Rob Buyea
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, 80s movie fans, those who made secret forts in the woods and had summer adventures among the trees.
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 13+ (violence, anger issues, bullying, pregnancy talk, HP references, fatphobia, harassment, gore, depression, death, war)
Explanation of Above: There is some physical violence shown in this book along with blood and vomit gore. The book talks about anger issues and bullying and harassment, especially done by a teacher to a child. There is some slight pregnancy talk and where babies come from. There are 2 HP references. There is one instance of fatphobic comments made about a character. There is some depression shown and death and war are also mentioned.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Loretta and her twin brother, Waylon, are headed to middle school. Loretta has always been quick with her fists and her wits. Since Waylon is on the small side, Loretta doesn't let anyone mess with him. But now she worries he won't survive without her by his side. Her secret plan: bulk him up with muscle over the summer. Little does she know that Waylon has a plan of his own. He'll show his sister he can take care of himself.
As each puts their strategy in motion, Loretta and Waylon spend the summer going into the woods behind their house, even sneaking there in the dead of night. That's where they first encounter Louie, who is about their age but noticeably bigger. Louie is homeschooled, he explains when Loretta gives him the third degree. Loretta, Waylon, and Louie soon fall into a comfortable friendship and continue their nightly forest adventures. When they unearth a mysterious box, the past collides with the present, propelling the trio on a quest that will forever change their lives.
Rob Buyea's spirited dual narrative drives this funny, touching brother-sister story, where even the best-laid plans sometimes backfire and feelings may get bruised, but family and friends always count. Letting go of childhood means boldly taking risks to face the future while learning from the past.
Review: For the most part this is an ok book. The book is very reminiscent of older 80s tween/teen movies. It has a Bridge to Terabithia feel to it and it’s a good book about growing up and branching out into your own things, but set against the backdrop of solving some real life issues. The book is definitely a nostalgia feel book and would be awesome for older adults who would appreciate the many older movie references, but it might also appeal to kids who are also into those movies. The book had great character development and the world building was amazing.
However, I believe that the book tries too hard to appeal to younger audiences and it’s a bit confusing in that regard. It’s awkward when it calls adults boomers, but the rest of the lingo of the children are that of children of a bygone era. The book also has 2 HP references, which is really confusing because it doesn’t match the era of the other movie references made in this book. I think it plays into the “adult trying to write kids of today” thing, but it again falls short in that regard. The references are not only out of place but also potentially hurtful to children who have been targets of JKR’s hatred. I also didn’t like the fatphobic comments made about a character. While the character is a bully and goes out of his way to hate on children, villainizing him by making him fat feeds into the “fat people are horrible” mentality. I believe his physical features could have been described in a less harmful manner than “I wonder how he fits into his sports car with a belly like his”.
Verdict: It was ok, but there’s some kinks to work out.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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-audiobook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Where You’ve Got To Be
Author: Caroline Gertler
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Jewish MC and side characters, Anxiety disorder MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, Jewish rep
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 8+ (sibling fights, bullying, anxiety and anxiety attack, eating and dieting, microaggressions, antisemitism, assimilation, vomiting)
Explanation of Above: There are a couple of fights between the siblings in this book. There is some bullying, microaggressive comments, and antisemitism is discussed. The MC has anxiety and it is shown throughout the book, along with an anxiety attack. There is eating shown and dieting mentioned in this book. There is some discussion about assimilation. There is some vomiting shown in the book.
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Nolie's sister, Linden, may be only fourteen months older than she is, but suddenly that feels longer than it ever has before. Linden is growing up. She cuts short their Cousins Week at Grandma's beach cottage to focus on excelling in her ballet auditions, and she throws away the seashell necklace Grandma gave each of them--though Nolie secretly saves it. Even Nolie's best friend, Jessa, is suddenly trying to act older and cooler, and she wants Nolie to be someone different, too.
With everything and everyone changing around her, Nolie starts to feel adrift. Should she be changing, too? Who does she want to be? One impulsive decision leads to another and another . . . until Nolie has a secret collection of things that don't belong to her. Now, Nolie must face the fact that she may have ended up on the wrong path so she can start to find her way back.
Review: This was such a cute book! I loved the story and I loved how well it well for middle graders, who are in that awful in-between stage of being a kid and being a teen, with friends on either side that are influencing their decisions. The book did well talking about peer pressure and alluding to why children may act out. In my studies of childhood crime and in seeing it in my former workplace, it’s very apparent that the vast majority of children use petty crime as a way of trying to get attention or to call attention to a big problem that they’re having. It was nice that the book handled that situation well and it took care to get the details right. The book did well with the character development and world building as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt like it was a bit too slow paced in spots and that it stalled out on some parts that weren’t as important as others.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Alliana, Girl of Dragons
Author: Julie Abe and Shan Jiang
Book Series: part of the Eva Evergreen series
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, high fantasy, fantasy, dragons, Cinderella, Japanese Cinderella, fairy tales
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: MG High Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (child abuse, death of parents, grief, slavery, animal harm, murder, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of showing of child abuse, allusions to slavery, slight violence, and mentions of murder (murder by omission and sabatoge). The book heavily revolves around grief and loneliness and shows the deaths of the MC’s parents and parental figures. There is also a dragon fight and some harm to a dragon.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great read that is a callback to other great fairytales like Cinderella and Repunzel (it is inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story after all), except with a dragon-y twist! The book is a great HP replacement and has a lot of Eragon vibes, so this would be perfect to help get your little one ready for Eragon. The book is also kinda a side story from the Eva Evergreen series! I loved the characters and thought they were well developed. I also thought the world building was good and I really thought the book was well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought it was a bit slow, but overall I loved it and I hope to see more of Alliana in future books.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
Book: Alliana, Girl of Dragons
Author: Julie Abe and Shan Jiang
Book Series: part of the Eva Evergreen series
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, high fantasy, fantasy, dragons, Cinderella, Japanese Cinderella, fairy tales
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: MG High Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (child abuse, death of parents, grief, slavery, animal harm, murder, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of showing of child abuse, allusions to slavery, slight violence, and mentions of murder (murder by omission and sabatoge). The book heavily revolves around grief and loneliness and shows the deaths of the MC’s parents and parental figures. There is also a dragon fight and some harm to a dragon.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great read that is a callback to other great fairytales like Cinderella and Repunzel (it is inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story after all), except with a dragon-y twist! The book is a great HP replacement and has a lot of Eragon vibes, so this would be perfect to help get your little one ready for Eragon. The book is also kinda a side story from the Eva Evergreen series! I loved the characters and thought they were well developed. I also thought the world building was good and I really thought the book was well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought it was a bit slow, but overall I loved it and I hope to see more of Alliana in future books.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
.jpg)
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Broken Blade
Author: Melissa Blair
Book Series: The Halfling Saga Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Diversity: Sapphic couple mentioned, Bisexual MC
Recommended For...: fantasy, LGBT, new adult, romance
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Age Relevance: 18+ (racism, violence, gore, alcohol consumption, death, war, sexual assault, colonizing, “blood purity”, cutting, slavery, cursing, romance, alcohol addiction, withdrawal, human trafficking, sexual content)
Explanation of Above: The book has a running theme and allusion to racism and discusses things like colonizing, “blood purity”, slavery, and human trafficking based on ones birth. There is a lot of violence, war, death, and gore in this book, specifically blood, corpses, and vomiting. Alcohol is consumed by the MC and other characters, but the MC is suffering from alcohol addiction and goes through withdrawal in the book. Sexual assault is alluded to but not specifically mentioned or shown. Cutting, specifically cutting names of people the MC murders onto her skin, is shown in the book. There is some cursing. There is some romance and some sexual content with scenes/body parts described in detail.
Publisher: Union Square Co
Pages: 431
Synopsis: Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the King’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure called the Shadow starts making moves against the Crown, Keera is forced to hunt the masked menace down.
She crosses into the magical lands of the Fae, trying to discern if her enemy is Mortal, Elf, or a Halfling like her. But the Faeland is not what it seems, and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she discovers and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is…
The King that destroyed her people? The Prince that tortures them? Or the Shadow that threatens her place at court?
As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago. A promise not only to save herself but an entire kingdom.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it did so well talking about real life atrocities, such as Indian Boarding Schools, slavery and running away to freedom, and the creation of cops to stop run away slaves. The book focused a lot on the political/humanitarian side of the issues, a lot like Ash Princess, and it did well with the enemies to lovers romance (and there’s even a one bed trope!). Overall, I felt like the character development was well done and the world building was great. The book is very well written and I can’t wait for book 2!
However, I did have issues with the slow pacing of the book overall and I felt like the action build up was super slow as well. There were some time skips as well that I felt didn’t help further the plot. But my biggest issue is that I don’t understand why this book is shelved as young adult fantasy. The MC is 68 years old in the book and there are some graphic sex scenes in the book. There’s also a character in the book who is a teen that the MC sees as a child, which is a great indication of this not being a YA book. While the book could definitely be passed off as NA because the MC says that due to her slow aging, I don’t agree with the YA shelving because it contain NA/adult themes rather than YA.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: A Broken Blade
Author: Melissa Blair
Book Series: The Halfling Saga Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Diversity: Sapphic couple mentioned, Bisexual MC
Recommended For...: fantasy, LGBT, new adult, romance
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Age Relevance: 18+ (racism, violence, gore, alcohol consumption, death, war, sexual assault, colonizing, “blood purity”, cutting, slavery, cursing, romance, alcohol addiction, withdrawal, human trafficking, sexual content)
Explanation of Above: The book has a running theme and allusion to racism and discusses things like colonizing, “blood purity”, slavery, and human trafficking based on ones birth. There is a lot of violence, war, death, and gore in this book, specifically blood, corpses, and vomiting. Alcohol is consumed by the MC and other characters, but the MC is suffering from alcohol addiction and goes through withdrawal in the book. Sexual assault is alluded to but not specifically mentioned or shown. Cutting, specifically cutting names of people the MC murders onto her skin, is shown in the book. There is some cursing. There is some romance and some sexual content with scenes/body parts described in detail.
Publisher: Union Square Co
Pages: 431
Synopsis: Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the King’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure called the Shadow starts making moves against the Crown, Keera is forced to hunt the masked menace down.
She crosses into the magical lands of the Fae, trying to discern if her enemy is Mortal, Elf, or a Halfling like her. But the Faeland is not what it seems, and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she discovers and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is…
The King that destroyed her people? The Prince that tortures them? Or the Shadow that threatens her place at court?
As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago. A promise not only to save herself but an entire kingdom.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it did so well talking about real life atrocities, such as Indian Boarding Schools, slavery and running away to freedom, and the creation of cops to stop run away slaves. The book focused a lot on the political/humanitarian side of the issues, a lot like Ash Princess, and it did well with the enemies to lovers romance (and there’s even a one bed trope!). Overall, I felt like the character development was well done and the world building was great. The book is very well written and I can’t wait for book 2!
However, I did have issues with the slow pacing of the book overall and I felt like the action build up was super slow as well. There were some time skips as well that I felt didn’t help further the plot. But my biggest issue is that I don’t understand why this book is shelved as young adult fantasy. The MC is 68 years old in the book and there are some graphic sex scenes in the book. There’s also a character in the book who is a teen that the MC sees as a child, which is a great indication of this not being a YA book. While the book could definitely be passed off as NA because the MC says that due to her slow aging, I don’t agree with the YA shelving because it contain NA/adult themes rather than YA.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Honeys
Author: Ryan La Sala
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gender Fluid MC, POC characters, lesbian character, gay characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, horror, bees, summer camp, LGBT
Publication Date: August 16, 2022
Genre: YA Horror Thriller
Age Relevance: 16+ (gore, violence, death, illness, cursing, grief, micro aggressions, transphobia, suicide, sexism, bullying, harassment, psychological torture, alcohol consumption, sexual harassment, sexual content, romance, kidnapping, animal attack)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore and violence in this book, containing blood and graphic depictions of injuries, and there’s death seen in this book along with a theme of grief throughout the text. Illness is also mentioned briefly. There is some cursing throughout the novel and there are mentions and showings of bullying, harassment, and psychological torture. There are a couple of scenes with micro aggressions in them towards the gender fluid MC, a couple of them being a refusal to use their preferred name, but there’s also some transphobia as well. Suicide is mentioned briefly, as an accidental suicide. There is a theme of sexism throughout the book. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned and one scene with a kidnapping. There is also some sexual harassment shown and mentioned in the book, as well as one scene with a little bit of sexual content. There is also an allusion to sexual assault in one minor scene, but it’s not confirmed. There is a slight romance in this book and there are animal attacks done by bees.
Publisher: PUSH
Pages: 340
Synopsis: Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.
Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.
What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.
But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.
Review: Ok this book sent me on one of the wildest rides of my reading journey. I instantly fell in love with the book from the beginning and I wasn’t expecting what I was given. The book did amazing to talk about binary “roles” in society and sexism. The book also frequently challenged gendered norms and showed that they’re completely fabricated by society. The book is a great summer camp horror/thriller read and it did so well with the cult aspect of it. The last few chapters of this one will have you going “wtf?” but stay with it! I promise it all comes together in the end, kinda like Cabin in the Woods. The character development was great, the world building is phenomenal, and it’s another 5 star read from me for a fave author of mine who proves they can write multiple different genres!
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt that the pacing was off in some places and it felt like there was a lot of filler, but overall I highly enjoyed this one.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!
Book: The Honeys
Author: Ryan La Sala
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gender Fluid MC, POC characters, lesbian character, gay characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, horror, bees, summer camp, LGBT
Publication Date: August 16, 2022
Genre: YA Horror Thriller
Age Relevance: 16+ (gore, violence, death, illness, cursing, grief, micro aggressions, transphobia, suicide, sexism, bullying, harassment, psychological torture, alcohol consumption, sexual harassment, sexual content, romance, kidnapping, animal attack)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore and violence in this book, containing blood and graphic depictions of injuries, and there’s death seen in this book along with a theme of grief throughout the text. Illness is also mentioned briefly. There is some cursing throughout the novel and there are mentions and showings of bullying, harassment, and psychological torture. There are a couple of scenes with micro aggressions in them towards the gender fluid MC, a couple of them being a refusal to use their preferred name, but there’s also some transphobia as well. Suicide is mentioned briefly, as an accidental suicide. There is a theme of sexism throughout the book. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned and one scene with a kidnapping. There is also some sexual harassment shown and mentioned in the book, as well as one scene with a little bit of sexual content. There is also an allusion to sexual assault in one minor scene, but it’s not confirmed. There is a slight romance in this book and there are animal attacks done by bees.
Publisher: PUSH
Pages: 340
Synopsis: Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.
Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.
What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.
But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.
Review: Ok this book sent me on one of the wildest rides of my reading journey. I instantly fell in love with the book from the beginning and I wasn’t expecting what I was given. The book did amazing to talk about binary “roles” in society and sexism. The book also frequently challenged gendered norms and showed that they’re completely fabricated by society. The book is a great summer camp horror/thriller read and it did so well with the cult aspect of it. The last few chapters of this one will have you going “wtf?” but stay with it! I promise it all comes together in the end, kinda like Cabin in the Woods. The character development was great, the world building is phenomenal, and it’s another 5 star read from me for a fave author of mine who proves they can write multiple different genres!
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt that the pacing was off in some places and it felt like there was a lot of filler, but overall I highly enjoyed this one.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
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: Cake Eater
Author: Allyson Dahlin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asexual love interest, gay character, lesbian character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, retelling, Marie Antoinette, historical fiction, sci-fi, LGBT
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: YA historical fiction sci-fi retelling
Age Relevance: 15+ (alcohol consumption, romance, sexual content, animal violence, body image issues, pressuring for sex, vaping, gambling, panic attack, death, climate disaster, violence, gore, pregnancy)
Explanation of Above: There is some alcohol consumption shown and mentioned, along with vaping and gambling. There is some romance and some sexual content, but that is mostly fade to black with just a few mentions in non-descriptive terms in the book. There is also some pressuring for sex on both parties and a mention of teen pregnancy. There is some animal violence mentioned against some holo deer. Body image issues are shown and discussed in the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. Climate change and crisis are mentioned and shown in the book. There is some violence mentioned and some gore with vomit shown.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 448
Synopsis: She has a million followers on social media.
She uses her fashion-forward eye to pick the perfect angle and filter on every photo.
She’s iconic.
She’s a trend-setter.
She’s Marie Antoinette, the year is 3070, and she’s arrived in the Franc Kingdom to marry the prince, secure an alliance, and rake in likes from her fans.
Versailles is not the perfect palace Marie’s seen on The Apps. Her life is a maze of pointless rules, and the court watches her every move for mistakes. Her shy husband Louis is more interested in horses and computer-hacking than producing heirs. Versailles seems like a dream full of neon-lit statues, handsome android soldiers, and parties till dawn. Under the surface, it’s a creepy den of secrets: surveillance in Marie’s bedroom, censored news feeds, disappearing courtiers.
When Marie and Louis become king and queen long before they’re ready to rule, any efforts to aid their suffering subjects are stamped out by the mega-corporations of the First Estate. Between riots in Paris and image-wrecking social media firestorms, Marie can’t afford to lose her head. Using her social media savvy and Louis’ hacking knowledge, they try to fix their reputations and change their kingdom for the better, but the royals may find it’s already too late. They’re ruling over the end of an era.
Review: I really liked this book! At first it read like the Royal Diaries version of Marie Antoinette but soon it took on a life of its own. The book does good to talk about a lot of underlying issues, two of the most prominent are social media commentary and how information is presented to people. The book had a great conversation about capitalism and the elite on social media and how the AI/algorithm can keep them from seeing real issues. The book also did so good to talk about a similar issue in further detail, and that’s in how information is given. If you were paying attention to the media during 2020 and 2021, you saw a lot about how officials talked down COVID and how that caused people to stop taking it seriously (along with other issues, but the media played a huge role in COVID information distribution). The book has a ton of great quotes about information that is sent to coddle people and calling it “gentle information” which I really loved. I also loved how the book talked so well about how officials and media can be used to intentionally keep people ignorant because it’s easier to control those in power and those not when you keep them ignorant of important matters or of vital information. The book also discussed the power of influencing and how it can be used for good, but how it can also lead to misinformation being spread and how easy the public opinion can sway due to one bad video of you. The book is extremely well written and had amazing world building. I also thought the character development was good and the book was well paced. I really loved this futuristic take on Marie Antoinette and I hope the author does similar things with other historical figures. I, for one, would love to see Elizabeth I and Anastasia.
However, the book did have a lot of confusing moments because it doesn’t 100% line up with the original Marie Antoinette “tale”/life story, but once I got past those I thought the book was super well done.
Verdict: It was great! I recommend for history and sci-fi fans!
Book: Cake Eater
Author: Allyson Dahlin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asexual love interest, gay character, lesbian character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, retelling, Marie Antoinette, historical fiction, sci-fi, LGBT
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: YA historical fiction sci-fi retelling
Age Relevance: 15+ (alcohol consumption, romance, sexual content, animal violence, body image issues, pressuring for sex, vaping, gambling, panic attack, death, climate disaster, violence, gore, pregnancy)
Explanation of Above: There is some alcohol consumption shown and mentioned, along with vaping and gambling. There is some romance and some sexual content, but that is mostly fade to black with just a few mentions in non-descriptive terms in the book. There is also some pressuring for sex on both parties and a mention of teen pregnancy. There is some animal violence mentioned against some holo deer. Body image issues are shown and discussed in the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. Climate change and crisis are mentioned and shown in the book. There is some violence mentioned and some gore with vomit shown.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 448
Synopsis: She has a million followers on social media.
She uses her fashion-forward eye to pick the perfect angle and filter on every photo.
She’s iconic.
She’s a trend-setter.
She’s Marie Antoinette, the year is 3070, and she’s arrived in the Franc Kingdom to marry the prince, secure an alliance, and rake in likes from her fans.
Versailles is not the perfect palace Marie’s seen on The Apps. Her life is a maze of pointless rules, and the court watches her every move for mistakes. Her shy husband Louis is more interested in horses and computer-hacking than producing heirs. Versailles seems like a dream full of neon-lit statues, handsome android soldiers, and parties till dawn. Under the surface, it’s a creepy den of secrets: surveillance in Marie’s bedroom, censored news feeds, disappearing courtiers.
When Marie and Louis become king and queen long before they’re ready to rule, any efforts to aid their suffering subjects are stamped out by the mega-corporations of the First Estate. Between riots in Paris and image-wrecking social media firestorms, Marie can’t afford to lose her head. Using her social media savvy and Louis’ hacking knowledge, they try to fix their reputations and change their kingdom for the better, but the royals may find it’s already too late. They’re ruling over the end of an era.
Review: I really liked this book! At first it read like the Royal Diaries version of Marie Antoinette but soon it took on a life of its own. The book does good to talk about a lot of underlying issues, two of the most prominent are social media commentary and how information is presented to people. The book had a great conversation about capitalism and the elite on social media and how the AI/algorithm can keep them from seeing real issues. The book also did so good to talk about a similar issue in further detail, and that’s in how information is given. If you were paying attention to the media during 2020 and 2021, you saw a lot about how officials talked down COVID and how that caused people to stop taking it seriously (along with other issues, but the media played a huge role in COVID information distribution). The book has a ton of great quotes about information that is sent to coddle people and calling it “gentle information” which I really loved. I also loved how the book talked so well about how officials and media can be used to intentionally keep people ignorant because it’s easier to control those in power and those not when you keep them ignorant of important matters or of vital information. The book also discussed the power of influencing and how it can be used for good, but how it can also lead to misinformation being spread and how easy the public opinion can sway due to one bad video of you. The book is extremely well written and had amazing world building. I also thought the character development was good and the book was well paced. I really loved this futuristic take on Marie Antoinette and I hope the author does similar things with other historical figures. I, for one, would love to see Elizabeth I and Anastasia.
However, the book did have a lot of confusing moments because it doesn’t 100% line up with the original Marie Antoinette “tale”/life story, but once I got past those I thought the book was super well done.
Verdict: It was great! I recommend for history and sci-fi fans!
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
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: Into The Sublime
Author: Kate A. Boorman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Korean character with parasomnia, MC with asthma
Recommended For...: young adult readers, psychological thriller, mystery, horror, cave exploration, urban legends
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Age Relevance: 13+ (death, gore, drugs, violence, cursing, panic attack, animal death, animal injury, animal attack)
Explanation of Above: There is death mentioned and shown in this book, along with violence mentioned and some gore involving blood, dead bodies, injury description, and vomit. There are some drugs briefly mentioned and a panic attack shown. There is some cursing and there are depictions of a dog having died in the book, along with a rabid dog injury to a human and animal attacks from both bats and a dog being described.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 368
Synopsis: When the cops arrive, only a few things are clear:
- Four girls entered a dangerous cave.
- Three of them came out alive.
- Two of them were rushed to the hospital.
- And one is soaked in blood and ready to talk.
Amelie Desmarais' story begins believably enough: Four girls from a now-defunct thrill-seeking group planned an epic adventure to find a lake that Colorado locals call "The Sublime." Legend has it that the lake has the power to change things for those who risk—and survive—its cavernous depths. They each had their reasons for going. For Amelie, it was a promise kept to her beloved cousin, who recently suffered a tragic accident during one of the group’s dares.
But as her account unwinds, and the girls’ personalities and motives are drawn, things get complicated. Amelie is hardly the thrill-seeking type, and it appears she’s not the only one with the ability to deceive. Worse yet, Amelie is covered in someone's blood, but whose exactly? And where's the fourth girl?
Is Amelie spinning a tale to cover her guilt? Or was something inexplicable waiting for the girls down there? Amelie's the only one with answers, and she's insisting on an explanation that is more horror-fantasy than reality. Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between?
After all, strange things inhabit dark places. And sometimes we bring the dark with us.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it was an excellent horror book that incorporated the back and forth methods of storytelling well and read like a horror movie like The Descent. It reminded me a lot of The Rules for Vanishing actually! The book had great writing and the world building was very well done and atmospheric. I also liked that the greatest enemy the reader and the characters face is their own psyche.
However, I did have some issues with the character development and I wished it was a bit more brought out. I was also a little confused by some of the motives, but I think it’s because this type of book requires a reread.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: Into The Sublime
Author: Kate A. Boorman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Korean character with parasomnia, MC with asthma
Recommended For...: young adult readers, psychological thriller, mystery, horror, cave exploration, urban legends
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Age Relevance: 13+ (death, gore, drugs, violence, cursing, panic attack, animal death, animal injury, animal attack)
Explanation of Above: There is death mentioned and shown in this book, along with violence mentioned and some gore involving blood, dead bodies, injury description, and vomit. There are some drugs briefly mentioned and a panic attack shown. There is some cursing and there are depictions of a dog having died in the book, along with a rabid dog injury to a human and animal attacks from both bats and a dog being described.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 368
Synopsis: When the cops arrive, only a few things are clear:
- Four girls entered a dangerous cave.
- Three of them came out alive.
- Two of them were rushed to the hospital.
- And one is soaked in blood and ready to talk.
Amelie Desmarais' story begins believably enough: Four girls from a now-defunct thrill-seeking group planned an epic adventure to find a lake that Colorado locals call "The Sublime." Legend has it that the lake has the power to change things for those who risk—and survive—its cavernous depths. They each had their reasons for going. For Amelie, it was a promise kept to her beloved cousin, who recently suffered a tragic accident during one of the group’s dares.
But as her account unwinds, and the girls’ personalities and motives are drawn, things get complicated. Amelie is hardly the thrill-seeking type, and it appears she’s not the only one with the ability to deceive. Worse yet, Amelie is covered in someone's blood, but whose exactly? And where's the fourth girl?
Is Amelie spinning a tale to cover her guilt? Or was something inexplicable waiting for the girls down there? Amelie's the only one with answers, and she's insisting on an explanation that is more horror-fantasy than reality. Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between?
After all, strange things inhabit dark places. And sometimes we bring the dark with us.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it was an excellent horror book that incorporated the back and forth methods of storytelling well and read like a horror movie like The Descent. It reminded me a lot of The Rules for Vanishing actually! The book had great writing and the world building was very well done and atmospheric. I also liked that the greatest enemy the reader and the characters face is their own psyche.
However, I did have some issues with the character development and I wished it was a bit more brought out. I was also a little confused by some of the motives, but I think it’s because this type of book requires a reread.
Verdict: It’s good!
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-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?
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!