Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from Booktasters. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ela Green and the Kingdom of Abud
Author: Sylvia Greif
Book Series: Ela Green Book 1
Rating: 2.5/5
Diversity: Egyptians side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Publication Date: July 29, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (violence, gore, bullying, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: The book showcases a 14 year old character, but most of the book reads like a middle grade, so this would be a good book for tweens/in-betweeners in genres. There is some violence and gore in the book. There is also bullying in the book and some scary moments.
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Pages: 237
Synopsis: Ela Green and the Kingdom of Abud is book one of a trilogy and introduces Ela Green, a fourteen-year-old girl. Her first adventure reveals the mysterious bond she shares with Mother Nature and her encounter with Yggdrasil, the wise-tree, charting her own self-discovery along the way. With the help of her best friend, Jo, and her loving Uncle Archibald, who unwillingly has to lay bare an unbelievable secret, Ela summons all her courage to face the many dangers along the road.
The adventure starts in the present day at Waldegg Boarding School on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. As Mrs. Green drives her daughter back after the summer holidays, Ela has no idea that the discovery of an ancient bracelet and a scroll she found in an antique desk will change her life forever.
The formidable school is the connecting link in an adventure that will time-travel the reader through continents and centuries in search of the mysterious kingdom and the magical Book of Name, the most powerful manuscript ever written...
And for a prophecy that must be fulfilled.
Review: For the most part I felt like the book was ok. It had a really relatable main character and I liked the character development in the book. I also liked the overall premise and it was an ok story for the most part.
However, I really didn’t like this story. I was so confused through most of it and I felt like the book didn’t have a good sense of where the plot should have been headed. The book has some issues with what is happening in the book and I feel like it needs another pass of editing. The narration switches are abrupt and disorienting. The world building is also confusing and sometimes the way that it’s done is not very clear. I also felt very uncomfortable with the only portrayal of people of color, modern Egyptians, serving the white characters. Some of the descriptions of the characters or color read a bit micro-aggressive, if not racist, and it felt like the author didn’t have a lot of care regarding them. I think the book also needs a pass with sensitivity readers.
Verdict: It’s ok, but definitely needs more work.
Book: Ela Green and the Kingdom of Abud
Author: Sylvia Greif
Book Series: Ela Green Book 1
Rating: 2.5/5
Diversity: Egyptians side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Publication Date: July 29, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (violence, gore, bullying, some scary moments)
Explanation of Above: The book showcases a 14 year old character, but most of the book reads like a middle grade, so this would be a good book for tweens/in-betweeners in genres. There is some violence and gore in the book. There is also bullying in the book and some scary moments.
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Pages: 237
Synopsis: Ela Green and the Kingdom of Abud is book one of a trilogy and introduces Ela Green, a fourteen-year-old girl. Her first adventure reveals the mysterious bond she shares with Mother Nature and her encounter with Yggdrasil, the wise-tree, charting her own self-discovery along the way. With the help of her best friend, Jo, and her loving Uncle Archibald, who unwillingly has to lay bare an unbelievable secret, Ela summons all her courage to face the many dangers along the road.
The adventure starts in the present day at Waldegg Boarding School on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. As Mrs. Green drives her daughter back after the summer holidays, Ela has no idea that the discovery of an ancient bracelet and a scroll she found in an antique desk will change her life forever.
The formidable school is the connecting link in an adventure that will time-travel the reader through continents and centuries in search of the mysterious kingdom and the magical Book of Name, the most powerful manuscript ever written...
And for a prophecy that must be fulfilled.
Review: For the most part I felt like the book was ok. It had a really relatable main character and I liked the character development in the book. I also liked the overall premise and it was an ok story for the most part.
However, I really didn’t like this story. I was so confused through most of it and I felt like the book didn’t have a good sense of where the plot should have been headed. The book has some issues with what is happening in the book and I feel like it needs another pass of editing. The narration switches are abrupt and disorienting. The world building is also confusing and sometimes the way that it’s done is not very clear. I also felt very uncomfortable with the only portrayal of people of color, modern Egyptians, serving the white characters. Some of the descriptions of the characters or color read a bit micro-aggressive, if not racist, and it felt like the author didn’t have a lot of care regarding them. I think the book also needs a pass with sensitivity readers.
Verdict: It’s ok, but definitely needs more work.
.jpg)
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Dragon Heir
Author: Amelia Wood
Book Series: The Dragon Heir Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, high fantasy
Publication Date: March 12, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (violence, gore, abuse, trauma, political intrigue)
Explanation of Above: There is some violence and gore in this book. There is also abuse shown in the book and resulting trauma from it. There is also some political intrigue in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 334
Synopsis: Steel and vengeance…
Ember Ignis, the heir of House Draco, knows hatred. She’s grown up in it, reveled in it, under the watchful eye of her mother, Lady Verity. Second only in power to the royal family, Ember and Verity are practically untouchable.
That is, of course, until Verity goes missing, leaving Ember scrambling to find her mother as rumors of a powerful rebel group spread. Armed only with rumors and the assistance of a lesser son from a low house, she is willing to cleave the world apart to get her mother back.
All the while, the crown prince of House Phoenix, Asher Cinis, struggles with a crushing addiction that dulls the abuse he endures at his mother’s hands. He prepares to flee, to abandon duty and honor- until Juniper Farley, a new servant at the palace, steps into his life and sees him beyond the crown.
As Ember races to find her mother before the consequences turn deadly, and Asher struggles to choose between his head and his heart, they find enemies lurking in every corner, and that the brightest smiles hide the darkest secrets.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was intriguing and gave me a lot of Game of Thrones vibes and reminded me of House of Dragons. The book did good to keep the action coming and I really liked the character development. The book also kept me guessing as far as what was really going on underneath the story. I also felt the pacing was on point for the most part and the plot was good.
The only issues I had with the book are that the world building was a bit lacking in some areas of the book. I wanted a little more of that. I also got a bit confused in a few spots. The beginning of the book was a bit confusing as well as the some of the middle.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: The Dragon Heir
Author: Amelia Wood
Book Series: The Dragon Heir Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, high fantasy
Publication Date: March 12, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (violence, gore, abuse, trauma, political intrigue)
Explanation of Above: There is some violence and gore in this book. There is also abuse shown in the book and resulting trauma from it. There is also some political intrigue in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 334
Synopsis: Steel and vengeance…
Ember Ignis, the heir of House Draco, knows hatred. She’s grown up in it, reveled in it, under the watchful eye of her mother, Lady Verity. Second only in power to the royal family, Ember and Verity are practically untouchable.
That is, of course, until Verity goes missing, leaving Ember scrambling to find her mother as rumors of a powerful rebel group spread. Armed only with rumors and the assistance of a lesser son from a low house, she is willing to cleave the world apart to get her mother back.
All the while, the crown prince of House Phoenix, Asher Cinis, struggles with a crushing addiction that dulls the abuse he endures at his mother’s hands. He prepares to flee, to abandon duty and honor- until Juniper Farley, a new servant at the palace, steps into his life and sees him beyond the crown.
As Ember races to find her mother before the consequences turn deadly, and Asher struggles to choose between his head and his heart, they find enemies lurking in every corner, and that the brightest smiles hide the darkest secrets.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was intriguing and gave me a lot of Game of Thrones vibes and reminded me of House of Dragons. The book did good to keep the action coming and I really liked the character development. The book also kept me guessing as far as what was really going on underneath the story. I also felt the pacing was on point for the most part and the plot was good.
The only issues I had with the book are that the world building was a bit lacking in some areas of the book. I wanted a little more of that. I also got a bit confused in a few spots. The beginning of the book was a bit confusing as well as the some of the middle.
Verdict: It was good!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lemon Drop Falls
Author: Heather Clark
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: POC side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, mental health, camping, grief processing
Publication Date: February 14, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, grief, depression, anxiety, panic attack, parentification, trauma)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on the MC who witnessed her mother’s death, which is detailed later in the book. The book discusses depression, anxiety, and shows three panic attacks. The book also goes into detail about trauma and grief. There is also partification shown in the book, in which the MC is forced to take on a parent role around her younger siblings and father.
Publisher: North Star Editions
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Morgan is devastated by her mother’s sudden death. Before, Mom’s amazing organizational skills kept the family on track, and her bowl of lemon drops was always on hand to make difficult conversations easy, turning life’s sour into sweet. After, there’s no one to help Morgan navigate her new role caring for her younger siblings, her worries about starting junior high, and her increasingly confusing friendships. All she can do is try to fulfill her mother’s final request: Keep them safe, Morgan. Be brave for them. Help them be happy.
When Dad insists on taking the family on their regular summer camping trip, and Morgan’s efforts to keep her promise to Mom seem doomed to fail, Morgan’s anxiety spirals into a panic attack, and Dad treats her like she’s impossibly broken. Unable to share her fears and needs with Dad, and desperate to prove she’s got the strength to hold the family together, Morgan sets off alone to hike a flooding canyon trail. But somewhere on that lonely and dangerous journey, Morgan will encounter the truth about the final words her mother left her, the power in finding her own voice, and the possibility of new beginnings.
Review: I really liked this book! I loved how well the author described depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and grief. The book did well to discuss them in a sensitive manner and was very helpful to me in helping me with my anxiety, but also could be very helpful to younger readers to help them understand their own mental health and how to deal with big feelings and conflicting issues. The characters were well developed, the world building was well done, and the writing itself was amazing. I also loved the plot and wanted more and more as I went on.
The only issue I had with the book was one line that a side character said. The character stated something along the lines that boys and girls pair up, that’s what they do. The line wasn’t really challenged and the book didn’t contain any 2SLGBT+ pairings. While it’s not required that the book should have contained that, I felt like the line was a slight at 2SLGBT+ relationships and people. It’s not a big part of the book, but it made me pause and question the author as to why they would include that. The book is enjoyable otherwise, but if you’re reading this to your little one you just might want to be aware of that and to teach them better accordingly.
Verdict: I need a lemon drop to discuss my feelings of love on this book please =)
Book: Lemon Drop Falls
Author: Heather Clark
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: POC side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, mental health, camping, grief processing
Publication Date: February 14, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, grief, depression, anxiety, panic attack, parentification, trauma)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on the MC who witnessed her mother’s death, which is detailed later in the book. The book discusses depression, anxiety, and shows three panic attacks. The book also goes into detail about trauma and grief. There is also partification shown in the book, in which the MC is forced to take on a parent role around her younger siblings and father.
Publisher: North Star Editions
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Morgan is devastated by her mother’s sudden death. Before, Mom’s amazing organizational skills kept the family on track, and her bowl of lemon drops was always on hand to make difficult conversations easy, turning life’s sour into sweet. After, there’s no one to help Morgan navigate her new role caring for her younger siblings, her worries about starting junior high, and her increasingly confusing friendships. All she can do is try to fulfill her mother’s final request: Keep them safe, Morgan. Be brave for them. Help them be happy.
When Dad insists on taking the family on their regular summer camping trip, and Morgan’s efforts to keep her promise to Mom seem doomed to fail, Morgan’s anxiety spirals into a panic attack, and Dad treats her like she’s impossibly broken. Unable to share her fears and needs with Dad, and desperate to prove she’s got the strength to hold the family together, Morgan sets off alone to hike a flooding canyon trail. But somewhere on that lonely and dangerous journey, Morgan will encounter the truth about the final words her mother left her, the power in finding her own voice, and the possibility of new beginnings.
Review: I really liked this book! I loved how well the author described depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and grief. The book did well to discuss them in a sensitive manner and was very helpful to me in helping me with my anxiety, but also could be very helpful to younger readers to help them understand their own mental health and how to deal with big feelings and conflicting issues. The characters were well developed, the world building was well done, and the writing itself was amazing. I also loved the plot and wanted more and more as I went on.
The only issue I had with the book was one line that a side character said. The character stated something along the lines that boys and girls pair up, that’s what they do. The line wasn’t really challenged and the book didn’t contain any 2SLGBT+ pairings. While it’s not required that the book should have contained that, I felt like the line was a slight at 2SLGBT+ relationships and people. It’s not a big part of the book, but it made me pause and question the author as to why they would include that. The book is enjoyable otherwise, but if you’re reading this to your little one you just might want to be aware of that and to teach them better accordingly.
Verdict: I need a lemon drop to discuss my feelings of love on this book please =)
dark
emotional
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 book from Once Upon A Book Box Club as a part of their April 2021 box. Thanks! All opinions are my own and support your authors!
Book: The Mary Shelley Club
Author: Goldy Moldavsky
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Latinx MC and character, pansexual character mentioned, m/m romance and character.
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, murder mystery, horror
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Genre: YA Thriller Horror
Age Relevance: 16+ (Home Invasion, bullying, fatphobia, gore, violence, murder, stalking, drugs mentioned, language, grief, death, underage alcohol consumption, sexual content, romance, sexual assault, PTSD)
Explanation of Above: The beginning of the book shows a home invasion and the events of the traumatic incident replay in the MCs head throughout the book. There is a lot of bullying in the book and some mentions of fatphobia in the form of a term of endearment (the endearment term from the MCs mother means ham in English). There is gore, violence, and murder in the book, as well as stalking and death and grief. There is some cursing in the book. There is a scene where teenagers drink alcohol and drugs are mentioned a few times in that scene. There is some romance and small sexual content. There is also a very small sexual assault shown in the book where a character is touched without permission on her breasts.
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 466
Synopsis: New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.
To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.
When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.
Review: The book was really good! I loved this murder mystery thriller book. The twists were well done, the book had a great storyline that kept me guessing, and that ending was a WTF from me. I feel unnerved by the book but also curious as to what happens next and I hope the author makes a book 2. The characters are well developed and the world building was well done. I also loved the horror movie references and I firmly believe if you’re a horror movie lover than you need to read this book.
There were some issues with the book while I was reading it. There was a moment where I was uncomfortable with a description of a female presenting teenage body as “grown” and that “she was definitely on the menu and he was starving”. The book has a weird POV switching when the fear tests are shown. The ending also doesn’t have a lead-up but I think that makes it even scarier.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend.
Book: The Mary Shelley Club
Author: Goldy Moldavsky
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Latinx MC and character, pansexual character mentioned, m/m romance and character.
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, murder mystery, horror
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Genre: YA Thriller Horror
Age Relevance: 16+ (Home Invasion, bullying, fatphobia, gore, violence, murder, stalking, drugs mentioned, language, grief, death, underage alcohol consumption, sexual content, romance, sexual assault, PTSD)
Explanation of Above: The beginning of the book shows a home invasion and the events of the traumatic incident replay in the MCs head throughout the book. There is a lot of bullying in the book and some mentions of fatphobia in the form of a term of endearment (the endearment term from the MCs mother means ham in English). There is gore, violence, and murder in the book, as well as stalking and death and grief. There is some cursing in the book. There is a scene where teenagers drink alcohol and drugs are mentioned a few times in that scene. There is some romance and small sexual content. There is also a very small sexual assault shown in the book where a character is touched without permission on her breasts.
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 466
Synopsis: New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.
To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.
When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.
Review: The book was really good! I loved this murder mystery thriller book. The twists were well done, the book had a great storyline that kept me guessing, and that ending was a WTF from me. I feel unnerved by the book but also curious as to what happens next and I hope the author makes a book 2. The characters are well developed and the world building was well done. I also loved the horror movie references and I firmly believe if you’re a horror movie lover than you need to read this book.
There were some issues with the book while I was reading it. There was a moment where I was uncomfortable with a description of a female presenting teenage body as “grown” and that “she was definitely on the menu and he was starving”. The book has a weird POV switching when the fear tests are shown. The ending also doesn’t have a lead-up but I think that makes it even scarier.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend.
emotional
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:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Lucky Diamond
Author: Valinora Troy
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magic
Publication Date: September 27, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (some scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of Above: There was some slight violence in the book and some scary moments that might be too much for some younger readers.
Publisher: Disresponsible Nodpots Publications
Pages: 308
Synopsis: When 10 year old Cathy meets Lucky, a magical talking diamond, she and her orphaned siblings readily agree to help Lucky get home to the Rock of Diamonds, situated far from their home in the rundown town of Lowdar, in the furthest reaches of the country on the other side of the monster infested Great Forest.
What the five children don’t know is that Lucky’s enemy, the evil Queen Rose of Cassis, is hunting the Diamond princess and will do anything to stop her, and those helping her, from reaching the Rock of Diamonds.
With Lucky’s magic waning rapidly and Queen Rose determined to destroy her and the children, can five young orphans possibly succeed in their quest?
Review: Overall, I liked this one pretty well! The characters are well developed and likable and they feel like middle grade characters. The book did very well with the world building and I really liked the magic system as well. I also felt like the plot was well done.
The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like the book had a few slower pacing moments in it, which broke my immersion, and that the book had a cliffhanger.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: The Lucky Diamond
Author: Valinora Troy
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magic
Publication Date: September 27, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (some scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of Above: There was some slight violence in the book and some scary moments that might be too much for some younger readers.
Publisher: Disresponsible Nodpots Publications
Pages: 308
Synopsis: When 10 year old Cathy meets Lucky, a magical talking diamond, she and her orphaned siblings readily agree to help Lucky get home to the Rock of Diamonds, situated far from their home in the rundown town of Lowdar, in the furthest reaches of the country on the other side of the monster infested Great Forest.
What the five children don’t know is that Lucky’s enemy, the evil Queen Rose of Cassis, is hunting the Diamond princess and will do anything to stop her, and those helping her, from reaching the Rock of Diamonds.
With Lucky’s magic waning rapidly and Queen Rose determined to destroy her and the children, can five young orphans possibly succeed in their quest?
Review: Overall, I liked this one pretty well! The characters are well developed and likable and they feel like middle grade characters. The book did very well with the world building and I really liked the magic system as well. I also felt like the plot was well done.
The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like the book had a few slower pacing moments in it, which broke my immersion, and that the book had a cliffhanger.
Verdict: It was good!
emotional
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:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Every Variable of Us
Author: Charles A. Bush
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black Bisexual MC, Indian American Lesbian love interest, Autistic character, Asian character, Physically disabled background characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, 2SLGBT+, romance
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 16+ (violence, gore, gang related activity, poverty, romance, Islamaphobia, homophobia, transphobia, abelism, drugs, drug addiction, parental abandonment)
Explanation of Above: The book shows the MC getting shot in a gang-related incident and her injuries afterwards. The book goes into detail about the MC’s life, which includes living in poverty along with many other characters. The book has a romance in it, which is very sweetly done. There are incidences of islamaphobia, homophobia, transphobia, and abelism in the book. There are drugs and drug addiction shown in the book. There is also an incident of a character getting kicked out.
Publisher: North Star Editions
Pages: 400
Synopsis: After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her dreams of a college scholarship and pro basketball career vanish in an instant. To avoid becoming another Black teen trapped in her poverty-stricken neighborhood, she shifts her focus to the school's STEM team, a group of nerds seeking their own college scholarships. Academics have never been her thing, but Alexis is freshly motivated by Aamani Chakrabarti, the new Indian student who becomes her mentor (and crush?). Alexis begins to see herself as so much more than an athlete. But just as her future starts to reform, Alexis’s own doubts and old loyalties pull her back into harm’s way.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! The book was so well written and while I hated Alexis’ struggle I loved seeing how she handled it. The book did well with having so many diverse characters and the character development for each of them was well done. The book also had a sensitivity reader for the autistic community go through the book, which I highly appreciate. The book was honest and unashamed in how it displayed the story, which I appreciated greatly, and I also loved how well the world building was described.
The only issue I had is that the book got a bit slow in the middle and some of the pacing was a bit off, but other than that I loved the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Every Variable of Us
Author: Charles A. Bush
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black Bisexual MC, Indian American Lesbian love interest, Autistic character, Asian character, Physically disabled background characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, 2SLGBT+, romance
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 16+ (violence, gore, gang related activity, poverty, romance, Islamaphobia, homophobia, transphobia, abelism, drugs, drug addiction, parental abandonment)
Explanation of Above: The book shows the MC getting shot in a gang-related incident and her injuries afterwards. The book goes into detail about the MC’s life, which includes living in poverty along with many other characters. The book has a romance in it, which is very sweetly done. There are incidences of islamaphobia, homophobia, transphobia, and abelism in the book. There are drugs and drug addiction shown in the book. There is also an incident of a character getting kicked out.
Publisher: North Star Editions
Pages: 400
Synopsis: After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her dreams of a college scholarship and pro basketball career vanish in an instant. To avoid becoming another Black teen trapped in her poverty-stricken neighborhood, she shifts her focus to the school's STEM team, a group of nerds seeking their own college scholarships. Academics have never been her thing, but Alexis is freshly motivated by Aamani Chakrabarti, the new Indian student who becomes her mentor (and crush?). Alexis begins to see herself as so much more than an athlete. But just as her future starts to reform, Alexis’s own doubts and old loyalties pull her back into harm’s way.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! The book was so well written and while I hated Alexis’ struggle I loved seeing how she handled it. The book did well with having so many diverse characters and the character development for each of them was well done. The book also had a sensitivity reader for the autistic community go through the book, which I highly appreciate. The book was honest and unashamed in how it displayed the story, which I appreciated greatly, and I also loved how well the world building was described.
The only issue I had is that the book got a bit slow in the middle and some of the pacing was a bit off, but other than that I loved the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc, arc, and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Temperature of Me and You
Author: Brian Zepka
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1.5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, gay love interest, m/m romance, w/w romance
Recommended For...: can’t recommend DNF
Publication Date: January 25, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: can’t recommend, DNF
Explanation of Above: I did not finish this book for a variety of reasons, but some of them include fatphobia, sexism, misogyny, the only other queer characters being a mean girl, and other problematic queer content as well as Harry Potter references in the book.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 412
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who's literally too hot to handle.
Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan's revelations of why he's like this, where he came from, and who's after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.
Review: I DNFed this book at about page 220. The book has a strong premise and I wanted to like it a lot. The book had a great superhero aspect and I love the “normal person falls for the superhero/person with powers” trope. I also liked that it had a strong beginning. However, the book quickly faded after the beginning and it got very slow and boring quickly. The characters weren’t well developed and the world building is meh. The book also started to show a lot of problematic content that made me feel uncomfortable. There is a Harry Potter reference, which is hugely problematic given JK Rowling’s comments and that this is a queer book. There are multiple instances of sexism and misogyny, including making the only other queer character in the book the stereotypical “mean lesbian”, which I hate. The book also had a few other problematic elements, including a character who introduced himself with “male pronouns” and it wasn’t really called out or commented on. I skimmed this one to see the end and it’s very anticlimactic as well. I’m ultimately disappointed in this book because I really really wanted to like this one and I just feel very let down.
Verdict: It’s definitely not for me and I advise caution when going into this book.
Book: The Temperature of Me and You
Author: Brian Zepka
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1.5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, gay love interest, m/m romance, w/w romance
Recommended For...: can’t recommend DNF
Publication Date: January 25, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: can’t recommend, DNF
Explanation of Above: I did not finish this book for a variety of reasons, but some of them include fatphobia, sexism, misogyny, the only other queer characters being a mean girl, and other problematic queer content as well as Harry Potter references in the book.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 412
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who's literally too hot to handle.
Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan's revelations of why he's like this, where he came from, and who's after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.
Review: I DNFed this book at about page 220. The book has a strong premise and I wanted to like it a lot. The book had a great superhero aspect and I love the “normal person falls for the superhero/person with powers” trope. I also liked that it had a strong beginning. However, the book quickly faded after the beginning and it got very slow and boring quickly. The characters weren’t well developed and the world building is meh. The book also started to show a lot of problematic content that made me feel uncomfortable. There is a Harry Potter reference, which is hugely problematic given JK Rowling’s comments and that this is a queer book. There are multiple instances of sexism and misogyny, including making the only other queer character in the book the stereotypical “mean lesbian”, which I hate. The book also had a few other problematic elements, including a character who introduced himself with “male pronouns” and it wasn’t really called out or commented on. I skimmed this one to see the end and it’s very anticlimactic as well. I’m ultimately disappointed in this book because I really really wanted to like this one and I just feel very let down.
Verdict: It’s definitely not for me and I advise caution when going into this book.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher for a book tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Last Grand Duchess
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, Russian history, the Romanovs
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, death, violence, gore, religion, romance, mass death implied)
Explanation of Above: The book is about the endtimes of the last ruling Russian Tsar, so there is mentions of death, a murder shown, and grief. Their mass death is implied at the end and the gore is very very slight. The book also mentions violence. The book focuses on Olga’s romance and feelings with a Russian soldier. The book also focuses a lot on the religious aspects of the family and Rasputin.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The book did well to present the barebone facts and to show how the Russian princesses lives were before their tragic end. The topic is a special interest of mine and I liked reading about it. The characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also enjoyed seeing Anastasia from a different perspective as most books about this time period are from her viewpoint.
However, I found the book incredibly dull and boring. The book didn’t really grab my attention and I found it hard to continue reading it. The book was also so confusing with jumping back and forth between time periods and places. The book would have probably been better chronologically and better developed story and plot wise.
Verdict: It was ok, but not a fave.
Book: The Last Grand Duchess
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, Russian history, the Romanovs
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, death, violence, gore, religion, romance, mass death implied)
Explanation of Above: The book is about the endtimes of the last ruling Russian Tsar, so there is mentions of death, a murder shown, and grief. Their mass death is implied at the end and the gore is very very slight. The book also mentions violence. The book focuses on Olga’s romance and feelings with a Russian soldier. The book also focuses a lot on the religious aspects of the family and Rasputin.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The book did well to present the barebone facts and to show how the Russian princesses lives were before their tragic end. The topic is a special interest of mine and I liked reading about it. The characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also enjoyed seeing Anastasia from a different perspective as most books about this time period are from her viewpoint.
However, I found the book incredibly dull and boring. The book didn’t really grab my attention and I found it hard to continue reading it. The book was also so confusing with jumping back and forth between time periods and places. The book would have probably been better chronologically and better developed story and plot wise.
Verdict: It was ok, but not a fave.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher for a book tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 17+ (kidnapping, violence, gore, sexual content, missing children)
Explanation of Above: The book mentions and runs under the proposition that the children in the book are either kidnapped or are just missing and their disappearance is the central plot point. There is also violence and gore and mentions of sexual content.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Synopsis: An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.
Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.
Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.
Review: For the most part this was an okay book. The book had a decent premise and the story was pretty well done. The book had well developed characters and decent world building as well. Overall, I liked the story well enough.
However, I thought the book wasn’t suspenseful enough. The beginning gives away the ending and takes the suspense off the table. The book had a lot of moments where there was just useless information thrown around. And I didn’t really understand the issue with the parents, who were badly written and fighting constantly.
Verdict: It was ok, just wouldn’t read again.
Book: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 17+ (kidnapping, violence, gore, sexual content, missing children)
Explanation of Above: The book mentions and runs under the proposition that the children in the book are either kidnapped or are just missing and their disappearance is the central plot point. There is also violence and gore and mentions of sexual content.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Synopsis: An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.
Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.
Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.
Review: For the most part this was an okay book. The book had a decent premise and the story was pretty well done. The book had well developed characters and decent world building as well. Overall, I liked the story well enough.
However, I thought the book wasn’t suspenseful enough. The beginning gives away the ending and takes the suspense off the table. The book had a lot of moments where there was just useless information thrown around. And I didn’t really understand the issue with the parents, who were badly written and fighting constantly.
Verdict: It was ok, just wouldn’t read again.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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-book from the author for review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Wedding Tail
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Japanese American MC and Japanese character
Recommended For...: romance, murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Genre: Romance Murder Mystery
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, bullying, harassment, violence, gore, attempted murder, animal abandonment, romance, sexual content, death, grief, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book is a murder mystery, so there is some murder mentioned, an attempted murder shown, violence shown, and gore shown. There is also death mentioned and grief shown in the book. The book also shows some bullying and harassment towards the MC and there is one scene that shows animal abandonment at a shelter. The book is also a romance and shows romance and some sexual content, but the smut is fade to black for the most part. There is also mentions and showing of anxiety. I also want to note that I did have a note for “historical terms relating to Black people” and while I’m not 100% sure what I meant (I picked this book up off and on for 2 weeks), I believe it’s referring to some sort of old décor that was used at the first wedding shown in the book. The rest of the book does not mention those terms or any terms of offense that I know about currently, but if anyone sees some and it’s brought to my attention I will update this review to reflect that correction.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Wedding planner Zoe Plum will never risk love again. But when her latest meticulously organized event implodes, the dog-loving gal’s hopes for financial independence and the down payment on a house go up in smoke. And things only get worse when she’s forced to work with an overly laid-back wedding singer who just rolled out of bed.
Levi Dolson works hard to live up to his phony rock ’n’ roll charisma. So when he lands a gig that will put him side by side with the one woman who’s managed to resist his appeal, he vows to charm her into a sexy duet. And he certainly won’t stand by and watch her life snowball into a series of disasters, so he leaps at the chance to prove he’s better than advertised.
Dogged by inexplicable attempts on her life and a shadowy enemy, Zoe realizes Levi’s unwavering support is tempting her to end her six-year-long dry spell. But Levi’s persistence has its limits, and he’s prepared to hit the road if he can’t melt her heart.
Can the unlikely match drop their masks, survive the saboteur, and quench their own desires?
Review: Overall, I liked this book and I’m excited for the next one. I loved Zoe and I felt empathetic towards her plight. The romance was really well done and the character development was well done as well. I also really liked the wedding planner/rock band singer romance set-up and while it’s weird it worked really well. There are a lot of mentions of animals in the book as well, with most of the focus on dogs, and I loved seeing Zoe’s character development as she adopted and cared for Frankie. The world building was also well done and overall I really enjoyed this book.
However, if you’re going into this book looking for the sexual/smut content, this is not the book for you. The book focuses on the set up of the romance and the more emotional connection. The smut did not start until 76% into the book and, as my husband put it, “it’s like edging but in book form”.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: A Wedding Tail
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Japanese American MC and Japanese character
Recommended For...: romance, murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Genre: Romance Murder Mystery
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, bullying, harassment, violence, gore, attempted murder, animal abandonment, romance, sexual content, death, grief, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book is a murder mystery, so there is some murder mentioned, an attempted murder shown, violence shown, and gore shown. There is also death mentioned and grief shown in the book. The book also shows some bullying and harassment towards the MC and there is one scene that shows animal abandonment at a shelter. The book is also a romance and shows romance and some sexual content, but the smut is fade to black for the most part. There is also mentions and showing of anxiety. I also want to note that I did have a note for “historical terms relating to Black people” and while I’m not 100% sure what I meant (I picked this book up off and on for 2 weeks), I believe it’s referring to some sort of old décor that was used at the first wedding shown in the book. The rest of the book does not mention those terms or any terms of offense that I know about currently, but if anyone sees some and it’s brought to my attention I will update this review to reflect that correction.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Wedding planner Zoe Plum will never risk love again. But when her latest meticulously organized event implodes, the dog-loving gal’s hopes for financial independence and the down payment on a house go up in smoke. And things only get worse when she’s forced to work with an overly laid-back wedding singer who just rolled out of bed.
Levi Dolson works hard to live up to his phony rock ’n’ roll charisma. So when he lands a gig that will put him side by side with the one woman who’s managed to resist his appeal, he vows to charm her into a sexy duet. And he certainly won’t stand by and watch her life snowball into a series of disasters, so he leaps at the chance to prove he’s better than advertised.
Dogged by inexplicable attempts on her life and a shadowy enemy, Zoe realizes Levi’s unwavering support is tempting her to end her six-year-long dry spell. But Levi’s persistence has its limits, and he’s prepared to hit the road if he can’t melt her heart.
Can the unlikely match drop their masks, survive the saboteur, and quench their own desires?
Review: Overall, I liked this book and I’m excited for the next one. I loved Zoe and I felt empathetic towards her plight. The romance was really well done and the character development was well done as well. I also really liked the wedding planner/rock band singer romance set-up and while it’s weird it worked really well. There are a lot of mentions of animals in the book as well, with most of the focus on dogs, and I loved seeing Zoe’s character development as she adopted and cared for Frankie. The world building was also well done and overall I really enjoyed this book.
However, if you’re going into this book looking for the sexual/smut content, this is not the book for you. The book focuses on the set up of the romance and the more emotional connection. The smut did not start until 76% into the book and, as my husband put it, “it’s like edging but in book form”.
Verdict: It was good!