I think this book had a lot of potential and an interesting idea, but very poor execution and development. It was too short, the characters too flat and uninteresting, and the conflict didn't nearly have the right amount of time to linger, build, and actually feel like a threat. The closest thing this book has to an antagonist pops up in one chapter and then that's all we see from her. And yes, the relationship is very instalove and comes out of  nowhere. If anything, we have no idea why Ashlinn finds Victoria appealing or even why she started talking to her brother in the first place. It just happened, and we're just supposed to believe that's enough reason.

Also, I'm so tired of best friend characters that are just assholes in disguise and, when they do get called out for their behavior, their apologies seem so insincere. Ellie didn't even try to understand where Victoria is coming from concerning her asexuality and it reads as if she doesn't even want to make an attempt. That and she seriously needed to understand boundaries and ugh, I could rant on about this character but it's really not worth the effort.

While the story itself wasn't very engaging, i have to say this is probably one of the better books that have asexual representation in them. We have two asexual characters, with their relationship being the focus of the book, and honestly I have RARELY seen two asexuals in a relationship in any media. Being asexual myself, I really appreciated Victoria trying to navigate her identity as an asexual person and even bringing up concerns and questions I had when I was figuring that part out of myself. The book does go out of its way to explain asexual relationships and the various nonsexual ways that people can be intimate with each other. The representation was the only reason I gave this book more than one star and I desperately wish it had the chance to be in a better story. 

I think this is such an important book in so many ways. The depiction of depression is probably the one that hits closest to home for me and I'm glad it was portrayed without any romanticization or even being fully explained. As Pan states in the author's note, depression affects people in different ways and, some of the times, it just happens. One doesn't  have to have experienced trauma to have depression and I think that's a message that needs to be told more.

I also loved the use of colors to describe certain feelings and settings. It really created an interesting palette for the entire book and was a wonderful way for readers to experience Leigh's feelings through a different lens other than being told about them. 

Going into it, I figured there would be at least a small bit of magical realism due to the premise, but the amount of it definitely builds over the course of the book. I personally like it, but I can understand how some people might be confused by certain things that don't necessarily have a logical explanation. There are some revelations towards the end that just amount to "and this was really was all along" and then we move past that plot point. Given that I expect this with this genre, I wasn't too thrown off.

Though I am totally ready to give this book five stars, something that did kind of keep me from reading too much of it at once was the slow pace. It takes a while for things to get moving, and then when it does we're suddenly thrown back into flashbacks, so the nonlinear storytelling kind of messes with the pace, but I understand that it's necessary for this kind of plot.

I was a little disappointed that we never get to see Leigh's portfolio. I would have loved to see what her art and style physically looks like, especially the pieces mentioned at the very end, but I know collaborating with an illustrator isn't always possible. Still, maybe for a later edition as bonus material?

Can't wait to see what Pan comes out with next!

Anything that Jason Reynolds pens is gold. There was so much history in this book that I was never taught, names I never learned and sides of historical figures that were never revealed to me in any classroom. Ibram and Reynolds' work here is necessary when learning about the history of racism in the United States and how it impacts our present. I especially love how readable this book is, especially since it was made to be more accessible to younger readers. It definitely felt like it could be read by a wide audience without coming off as condescending. Would love to see if any schools would teach or discuss it.

The art in this story is drop dead gorgeous, if you could forgive the pun. I love the subversion of the whole Snow White story, making her a creature to be feared than a frail beauty. I enjoyed seeing this monstrous side of a beloved princess figure and the gruesomeness of the tale really gives it that old, dark fairy tale charm. 

There is just WAY too much going on with this book. In the beginning, I was totally on board with the "creature in the woods" story and would have enjoyed the book just fine if that was all that it covered. But apparently throwing in superpowers, a "Men in Black" society that is also incredible misogynistic, and dimension hopping apparently were necessary. Really you probably could have cut this book down by 100 or 200 pages if a lot of these elements were cut and I think it would have made for a more tense and engaging story. At the halfway mark I couldn't wait to be done with this book, just so I could just move on. I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters, if anything maybe Zoey was the closest character I liked, but even then there were things about her that kept me from really relating to her, especially with her asexuality just poofing away at the end so that she could try at a "normal" relationship with her boyfriend. Just such a missed opportunity.

The fact the this book meant for teenagers gives such an aphobic definition of asexuality, deadnames several transgender historical figures, and the author clearly has not done any research or contemplation on gender issues past the 1980s leaves a sour taste in my mouth. It frequently condescends to its younger audience and leaves out and misconstrues so much information that it's staggering. I gave it an extra .5 for introducing me to figures I have not yet heard of, but that's all the positives it gets from me. Personally, when suggesting a nonfiction LGBTQ+ title, I'm going to stay far away from this one and try to find a resource that is more inclusive and respectful.

Such an accessible way to present historical fiction set in a time that was incredibly formative for the rights of women workers. Was hooked from beginning to end.

This book has been on my TBR for what feels like forever, since I distinctly remember a librarian giving me a free copy when I was in high school. Back then, I was super into paranormal romances and this was right up my alley. Now, well, I've kind of become more aware of the plot beats of that genre and this one doesn't really stand the test of time. It's definitely a book that feels like it's in the late 2000s, especially in how the main character acts and the mild "not like other girls" itis. I think it was refreshing to see the two male leads were neither an angsty broody boy, Keeran had a bit more personality than that (not a great one, mind you, but a different kind of personality) nor the "boy from next door" potential love interest, as Seth seems a bit more dedicated to her than a lot of other love interests. In fact, Seth was probably my favorite part of this book, though I wish I got more characterization than, "I love this girl and I would do anything for her." It's nice to see a respectful love interest, but I would have loved a little more depth. 

I don't think I'm really going to read beyond this installment in the series. After ten years, it doesn't seem like it's been worth the wait and I think I should just focus on series I feel more committed to. Not the worst thing I've read, but not compelling enough for me to stick around.

Probably the most raw, but inspiring memoir I have ever read. I loved that, in spite of all the tragedy and awful things in her life, Grimes was able to escape through her writing and hold onto hope. Influential and a must read for people that are struggling with their own darkness in their lives.