CW: graphic depictions of child abuse and physical abuse, mention of cults and detailed depictions of cult life, graphic depiction and mention of car accident death, death of a parent, infidelity, cancer, and some ableist language.

I have complicated feelings on this book. I liked the writing and enjoyed the story but it felt like too much was happening at once plot-wise.  Also the abuse scenes were very triggering for me. There should've been a warning at the beginning of the book or at least the beginning of those chapters because it was definitely a surprise for me. There are graphic depictions of physical abuse from Gus's father that he recounts and details. It really threw me for a loop and I was unprepared for that to be mentioned at least 2-3 times. There's a way to mention that he's been a victim and survivor of child abuse without going into detail, in my opinion. 

I liked January at the beginning but as I read her more,  she started to feel like a red flag.  I HATED how January just didn't communicate with Gus AT ALL. She would get mad at him but not tell him why and that made me SO ANGRY. Then, toward the end, I thought I knew the characters pretty well but then their choices just confused the hell out of me. 

However, I liked Gus a lot. I love a brooding character and his character development was stellar. I just felt like these characters had too much going on mentally & internally that it wasn't the right time for either of them to date which really took away from me rooting for their romance. It was a rollercoaster ride pretty much! 

Some word choices were questionable and I felt like the sex scenes writing wise were recycled? She uses the word "skating" so much in every sex scene. Besides that, I really liked the sex scenes and the book was well written. 

This a book about community as a cookie maker makes cookies for all events in town but doesn't reveal himself. However, at the start of the story a young boy, Rory meets him. Once Benedict (The cookie maker) falls ill, the community rallies around him. I thought it was fine! I like the message but it seemed a little short & rushed. However, I did really enjoy the illustration style. 

CW: mention of COVID/pandemic toward the end, transphobia, internalized transphobia, depictions of gender dysphoria, mention of top surgery and scene at the hospital, homophobia, racism, self harm, unaccepting parent, underage drinking, alcohol

I received a digital galley from Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Man O' War is a book every trans teen needs. It is a story about trans rage and how living in a small town that perpetuates harmful ideologies keeps LGBTQIA+ kids in the closet. We follow River, a transmasc Arab-American non-binary person throughout their journey of gender exploration from senior year of high school to their college yeears. This book shows the rawness and hardships that go along with exploring your gender and finding the words to fit you as River grapples with their own internalized homophobia and transphobia and feeling immense hatred toward themselves.  

 This book was so cathartic and I am really glad it exists. 

CW: Death, blood, ableism, graphic depictions of self harm and suicidal thoughts, addiction

I received an ALC from LibroFm of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

CW: Ableist slur and language, child abuse, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, cancer, death of a parent, loss/grief, schizophrenia/psychosis, anorexia, bulimia (graphic), mention of cheating, description of blood (related to bulimia), vomiting, alcoholism.
 
*There is also an instance where she uses outdated transphobic language.

This was a quick yet heavy read. I read this via audio in one day.  I'm Glad My Mom Died goes through Jeanette's childhood as an actress from the age of six to age twenty-six. She talks graphically about her experiences with anorexia and bulimia as well as child abuse and sexual abuse.  Please read with caution, if any of these are sensitive subjects for you.

I want to preface my review by saying I did enjoy this book. As a fan of iCarly and Jeanette's work, I'd been wanting to pick up her memoir. I think stories from child actors are important and need to be told to make the industry safer for other child stars coming in. It's a topic I'm passionate about and like learning about, so for that alone, this memoir did a great job sharing Jeanette's life events. It is an easy read and I do recommend the audio as it is narrated by her. 

A big turn off for me was that the book has an ableist tone. Ableist language is used throughout the book including TWO instances of the r-word on page as she shares a memory with her mother and uses her mother's words. However, you could've easily written around that. There was no need to include this word. 
The book could've been edited down more to make it more inclusive for a book that talks a lot about her mother's cancer. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it was well done besides the qualms I had with it. 

If you like fake dating, enemies to friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, or there’s only one bed set at a wedding & boarding school, you’ll NEED to read Mason Deaver’s newest release, The Feeling of Falling in Love! 

I love the fake dating trope and a grumpy main character, so it was inevitable I would fall in love with this book. But, it did make me cry uncontrollably. Thanks Mason 😒

I’m so glad I got a chance to read this book because it was a wild ride. At first, we learn how much of a jerk Neil, our main character is after he ends things with his childhood best friend who he has been hooking up with. Then, he proceeds to bribe his roommate, Wyatt (who he loathes) to come to his brother’s wedding with him so his best friend will get over him. Yes, Neil does NOT make good decisions. 

However, throughout the course of the story, Neil does so many hurtful things. But, what I loved most is how he grows and develops as a sixteen year old and we, the reader learn why he acts like this. He’s just so angry. 

After reading this, my first thought was, “I am so, so glad trans kids get stories like this.” It is very important to read different perspectives from trans characters because we are not a monolith. Seeing a trans boy who is so mad at the world and at his family is some of the best representation I could ask for. This book also talks about classism as Neil is born into a family of wealth versus Wyatt who is going to their boarding school under a scholarship. 

Neil has gotten top surgery and is on T patches. I love seeing trans characters who are medically transitioning and not just taking shots. 

This book has a queer & trans friend group and it is a queer romance. Wyatt comes out as non-binary and tests their pronouns throughout the book and I really enjoyed that storyline. It’s so important to see a kid just thinking about gender and not being 100% sure. Gender is confusing!

Wyatt and Neil's story is so complex but so fun to witness. One Direction fans will LOVE Wyatt for his love for Niall Horan and his southern charm while Neil may get on your nerves, he will hold a soft spot in your heart.

This book is so special and I’m so glad I got to read it. Please go and read it!