I've read a lot about Scientology (maybe...too much about Scientology?) but this is the first thing I've read that made me understand how a basically #normal person might become a Scientologist. Also it's beautifully written and expresses a lot of very #relatable #ennui . I'd recommend it to anyone who feels vaguely adrift in life even if they aren't extremely interested in Scientology.

This was a super sweet, fun read with lots of great fashion and a genderfluid prince. I think the other themes of struggling with responsibility and career make this overall a better fit for teen/new adult readers but I think younger readers, especially those exploring their own gender identities, could get something out of it as well, and there isn't any especially inappropriate content.

This was a really satisfying, fun read that also packed in some Big Ideas about microaggressions in the workplace, the condescending paternalism of Western countries toward African nations, and whether or not there will ever be a cure for fuckboyitis.

Also, this book's emoji game was on point.

It's definitely full of popular, familiar tropes (Mistaken identity! Fish out of water! Snowed in & forced to huddle together for warmth! ETC) but with some twists that keep you reading. I tend not to pick up adult romance as a genre but this was very enjoyable and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a solid pick-me-up.

(also yes we read it for WBS but we're filing it under #BestBestsellers, don't worry!)

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-96-a-princess-in-theory/

I barely remembered anything that happened in any of the earlier books (I checked Wikipedia multiple times) so I feel like some of the shocking reveals were not as effective on me because I was just like WHO? WHAT?

Still I very much enjoyed all of their very horny adventures.

Also I'm outraged because it ends on such a cliffhanger but apparently book 6 does not follow up on this at all?? And instead is about a character who I, shocker, do not remember at all?

Spoiler

also okay can we just talk about how in this and her other horny fairies series there's this concept of the mating bond, but also the concept that like, one person in the mating bond can be unaware that you have a mating bond? Like? What the fuck is a one-sided mating bond?

also btw the end of this book is that the 2nd most powerful magical person outsmarts the most magical person with like basic Oliver Twist level pick pocketing, which is.....hilarious

anyway don't get me wrong, I'm definitely all in on this bullshit but WHEW it's a lot

This was fairly entertaining. I did take umbrage at Zelma the librarian's statement that she's not used to weird things because she's a librarian? GIRL PLS

Also this is the first time I've read a Doctor Strange comic (tho I've seen him pop up in other books) and I was entertained at how horny he is. Calm down STEPHEN

I enjoyed it enough and it ends on enough of a cliffhanger that I'll pick up Volume 2.

This is a super sweet YA romance! As with Dumplin, it's great to see fat YA heroines living their lives. I loved all the friendships as well, including a realistically diverse crew of characters.

Another fun YA romance! I love Clara as a character, her Too Cool for School attitude is very #relatable and her character arc is sweet. Also a great book for armchair travel!

I stayed up all night to read this all in one sitting (which yes I did regret in the morning). it's super funny and sweet, and I think an especially great look at those last few months of high school.

DANG this was so good. It's such a complexly layered story and the faux-journal format works SO WELL and the ballpoint pen on lined paper artwork is INCREDIBLE. I couldn't put this down.

Also FYI, something that I wasn't aware of before reading (and that I always like to know about books for readers advisory factors) is that the main character and her brother are biracial, and the main character, Karen, is also exploring her queer sexuality.

There's some fairly graphic and fucked up content in here but I think older teens could get a lot of out of it.

I read this a 2nd time for the podcat; it didn't hold up well.

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-97-wonder/

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1st review 10/2012

First of all, I definitely think this would have higher appeal for kids and for teachers who want to use it in the classroom than it does for just plain adult readers. Some of the things that I think might appeal most to kids were the most boring to me. Like, Augie, the main character, is super fucking nitpicky about Star Wars character names & the like. Minutes of audio narration are dedicated to him correcting people about the difference between Boba Fett and Jango Fett. This feels accurate to the way kids talk, and would appeal to kids who are tired of grownups getting character names wrong. But as a (marginal) grownup I was like, move on already.

Anyway. It's the story of August Pullman, a kid born with severe facial deformities, who's been homeschooled through 4th grade but is about to start 5th grade at a private school. I was nervous that this would be too "afterschool-specialy" and it is, a little, but not as bad as I was dreading. Initially most of the other kids are grossed out by his face and don't give Augie a chance. Eventually, you guessed it, everyone learns that it's what's on the inside that matters.

I liked that it shifted between a lot of character's POVs--Augie, his sister, his friends, his sister's friends, etc. I would have been interested in at least one adult POV but I guess kids (the actual target audience) probably wouldn't have been. I also would have been interested to get inside the main bully, Julian's, head. It sounded kind of like his mom was horrible but we didn't get a whole lot about him.

Anyway, I especially liked having so many narrators for audiobook since there were 3 different readers who collectively did a great job bringing everyone to life. Augie's voice takes a bit to get used to--he's described as having kind of a raspy, weak voice, and that's how his parts are read.

Something this book handled well: the idea that you don't have to be an outright bully to hurt people's feelings. It's clear on the fact that kids can hurt each other's feelings with accidental reactions to things, and that's not something that gets discussed as often as actual bullying.

Something this book could have done better: many characters defend Augie by saying that even though his face is ugly, at least he's really smart. But... what if Augie had a cognitive disability? Then would it be OK to be mean to him?