This is a great anthology of #OwnVoices fantasy stories based on the myths and legends of East and South Asia. Like with any anthology, some of the stories grabbed me more than others, but it's a great one for checking out new authors. Also Melissa De La Cruz's story was a spin-off of her Blue Bloods series and I think I want to read that now!?

This is a sweet story, and of course I'm glad to have more comics on offer with QPOC characters.

I've seen a lot of raves about this and I didn't love it as much as many others did--partly, of course, I'm a straight white woman, so who cares? The whole story did feel a little rushed to me--I know this was originally produced via Kickstarter and I wonder what this might have been like if Tee Franklin had had some more pages to get the story across? It felt a little abrupt. Also a bummer that society of 2038 apparently has apparently made no progress re: homophobia? I kind of wish that the story's present day was just...the present day, and maybe Hazel and Elle met at an earlier time in history? idk idk

Still: a sweet love story and clearly one that's resonating deeply with a lot of readers.

lol no thanks

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-100-ready-player-one/

Britta Lundin is a writer for Riverdale, which is a fact I had in the back of my head the whole time I was reading this. Riverdale is constantly one of the most bonkers shows I've ever seen, while also being...problematic in its attempts to bite off too many issues at a time... and this book is...true to that legacy.

anyway this book is bonkers and has some extremely cringey moments (some intentionally cringey, some not) but overall a fun addition to the YA trend of fandom-centered books. Would definitely hand to fans of Riverdale. (Also fans of Supernatural, since it seems to be based on Supernatural fandom? Except that Supernatural also exists in the universe of this book, in addition to the made-up "Demon Heart." Whatevs.)

this was...fine. It felt to me like it was relying a lot on the general premise of "teen exorcist" to be compelling without doing much legwork. Similarly the romance wasn't particularly developed either? It feels like an outline of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfiction.

The cover art is really cute though.

This feels like fanfiction for Riverdale that was sent back from the future. I barely remember anything about Glee anymore but when I found out that this was a real book that existed, and was held by a library in my consortium, I obviously had to check it out.

Honestly it was really fun. However I would also read the dark version where Riverdale crosses over with Glee and the Serpents stone-cold murder someone and the River Vixens put on their funeral uniforms for a special performance.

hell yeah I'll read any YA novel about a cult

this one was fine, it simultaneously felt a little too long but also like everything resolved too quickly? I loved the flashbacks about life within the cult (based on the Branch Davidians), and I was interested to read about Moonbeam's recovery process but it did seem to gloss over uhh a lot.

It's no Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly but still a fine choice for the cult enthusiast reader.

This was super fun! I'd never read it as a kid but it felt surprisingly fresh even now. I think it would still have appeal for middle-grade mystery readers (once they get past the microfilm).

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-101-the-ghost-in-the-third-row/

mmm I was pretty late to the party in reading this but I did read it awhile ago and apparently never added it to GoodReads? This shit is why I'm behind on my GoodReads challenge, stop yelling at me, website

anyway it was a sweet, fun read with a great protagonist to root for!

This is a really engaging fantasy with a unique magical worldbuilding that feels fresh, and I always love a story about an oppressed teen girl fucking shit up. I'm excited to check out the sequel.