In a snapshot, Portrait of a Thief sounds mesmerizing: we’re following a group of Chinese American college students attempting to pull off five heists, reclaiming pieces of stolen art - and becoming millionaires in the process. Unfortunately, it fell quite flat compared to its initial pitch.

 

There are five characters, and chapters alternate viewpoints: each student is grappling with diaspora in their own way. Generally, this was where the book shone. Li captured painful feelings of belongingness, home, societal pressure, living up to familial expectations, and so much more. And at a first glance, each character had a very distinct voice and way of relating to their culture. 

 

However, while I felt like I could rattle off facts about each of the characters, I didn’t get to know any of them well enough. The repetitive nature of the writing and chapters made it so each character grappled with the same problem each time we circled back to their POV, and nothing changed or evolved. Every character could be described in a single sentence, and that sentence wouldn’t change over the course of the book.

 

There were some wonderfully written moments, but so many phrases were overused that I found myself having to force my attention back to the page. The pacing was often excruciatingly slow (which would be forgivable save for the repetition issue), and the heists and setup were distractingly unbelievable. 

 

Look, I’m always down for a fun adventure. But honestly - who would ask five random kids to pull off heists at famous museums around the world? Who would take that personal & financial risk and genuinely believe they would succeed?

 

After the initial pitch, we veer into even more laughable territory. It’s straight up magic. I know nothing about how to break into a museum, hack a security system, or fix up a car in order to win a street race. But the writing of the action scenes were so unbelievable that I wasn’t able to forgive my misgivings and immerse myself in the fun. Probably because it wasn’t really fun (the stakes never felt that high) and it just made no sense. For any readers out there looking to plan an extravagant heist: probably don’t use Zoom and Google Docs??

 

And to zoom out and look at the bigger picture theme of art history and colonialism … I found this quite weak. Beyond saying that art is powerful and restoring looted art to its country is good (like … yes, of course), the conversation was shallow and again, very repetitive. We didn’t really get any details about the art itself, which, uh, seems like it should have been important? 

 

Overall, while I loved the idea of Portrait of a Thief, I found the execution to be lacking. 

 

I’d love to hear more from Li in the future on the parts that rang true: the diaspora experience of young Chinese American students. 

 

CW: racism, colonization, death of parent (before the story begins), cultural appropriation, grief, xenophobia, alcohol, terminal illness, classism

A charming memoir that will both comfort and challenge middle grade readers. 

 

A First Time for Everything follows author Dan Santat’s first time traveling internationally as a 13-year old - on a 3-week class trip to Europe. He’s a sweet, awkward 8th grader dealing with bullies, quietly exploring his growing artistic talent, and feeling invisible among his peers.

 

He’s pushed into this trip by his well-meaning mother … and can’t help but have low expectations. But his journey ends up expanding his worldview for the best & becoming a highlight of his childhood.

 

Dan experiences his first flight, his first coffee, his first time attempting to communicate in a new language … and his first love. Throughout all this, we get flashbacks to specific events with his fellow students, giving insight into his current fears (and giving us readers even more to celebrate as he knocks down old barriers). 

 

The stories are incredibly relatable and the messaging is earnest. The illustrations were perfect: capturing both the wonder of famous destinations and the intensity of teenage emotions. Each character was drawn in a memorable, defined style. 

 

I can definitely see this story inspiring young readers to step outside their boundaries and try something new. They’ll be comforted to know that they aren’t alone in their middle school misery .. but also that new experiences are right around the corner, and braving the unknown can be quite amazing.

 

CW: bullying, chronic illness, alcohol (Dan tries his first beer)

 

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

Singer Distance is a beautiful meditation on love and relationships. It’s about tackling the unknown with curiosity and wonder. And really, it’s about the great journeys we take to stay connected with each other.

 

What if we knew for a fact that we weren’t alone in the universe? That fellow intelligent life was practically next door – right on Mars?

 

It’s 1960. Our story begins with a group of five brilliant & eager graduate students, crossing the country in a grungy van in an attempt to respond to Mars’ latest mathematical challenge. Crystal Singer is a mercurial genius, and her boyfriend Rick is both practical and deeply loyal. But after Crystal’s proof is presented, she disappears … and Rick will do anything to keep his love alive and grounded.

 

While Singer Distance creeps into sci fi territory with its galactic plot, its real charm and strength lies in the moments that are earthbound. Yes, it features a slightly alternate history with interplanetary communication … and yet the distance to other intelligent life still feels uncrossable. 

 

Instead, we focus on all the known languages spoken between humans: math, science, poetry, music, and so on. Rick is fighting for his relationship and captivated by his love. The scope is both magnificent and minute, but it is all driven by curiosity, and obsession, and wonder of the unknown. 

 

Chatagnier ruminates on detachment & connection, loneliness & companionship, and the tensions and paradoxes between these concepts. 

 

It’s messy at times, but I found it thoroughly charming and was swept into the ocean of the story. I found this little book to be transportive and emotionally touching. I loved it.

 

CW: grief, abandonment, mental illness, suicide attempt, death of parent, stalking, mental illness

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

The Art of Insanity is an honest & earnest dive into the experience of a high school senior struggling with mental illness, shifting friendships, familial expectations, and all the other pressures of being a teenage girl.

 

Natalie is starting off her senior year with two major secrets: her car accident this summer wasn’t really an accident, and she’s just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her mom can’t decide which is more important to keep under wraps in order to preserve their seemingly picture-perfect family life. 

 

But when someone at school discovers the truth, Natalie finds herself adopting a quirky & fluffy new family member to keep her secrets hidden. Add in the fact that she’s got to prepare for a prestigious art show (in the hopes of a scholarship offer from her dream art school) and she’s got a brand new crush … and this school year is going to be a pretty big challenge.

 

I found this story relatable in so many ways. Christine Webb writes in a simple way, but doesn’t numb heavy topics and plot points. I think teenage readers will appreciate this honest storytelling and normalization of tough yet real issues that many young people deal with (from cliques and judgment to parental loss to mental health and suicide). 

 

I enjoyed reading from Natalie’s perspective, and her thoughts felt truly realistic (both in terms of age and diagnosis). I also felt the arc of her & her brother’s relationship was beautiful and really well done. Her developing crush was sweet, and new friend Ella was a charming supporting character. I would have loved to see more growth from her two “best” friends, but other side characters truly did shine in their places. 

 

The book challenges readers: how comfortable are you engaging with mental health? Are you tolerant of others? Would you be accepting of your own diagnosis?

 

Overall, I think The Art of Insanity is an excellent read for young audiences. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. 

 

CW: suicide attempt, mental illness, ableism, misogyny, grief, car accident, death of a parent, abandonment, panic attacks, toxic friendship

 

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

beautiful. chilling.

CW: rape, self harm, suicide, child abuse, emotional & physical abuse, homophobia, transphobia, death, blood, violence, cannibalism, medical trauma

A master violinist must trade seven musical souls to a demon in order to escape her own damnation. She’s had 49 years to complete her contract, and she’s on her last soul … but she has to find the perfect prodigy to offer Hell.

 

A young trans girl - with a natural gift for the violin - has run away from an abusive home, seeking acceptance and a way to cultivate her music. 

 

The captain of a starship has recently settled down on Earth to escape her home’s undoing … and she has to figure out how to successfully run a family donut shop.

 

Now how exactly do these 3 stories connect? You’ll have to read Light from Uncommon Stars to find out. It’s wildly imaginative, with a wonderful cast that you’ll care about deeply (with maybe the exception of one or two players). There are so many contrasting, quirky tableaus that somehow just WORK when placed side by side. 

 

The novel is filled with exquisite descriptions of home and belongingness through art (whether that is music or baking or craftsmanship or so on). Characters learn how to reclaim their place in their family history, grapple with their own identities, and grow tremendously. 

 

It is a hard read. Katrina (the young trans runaway) has a powerful arc, but for 85% of the book she lives in deep anguish and fear and self-loathing. She is also faced with a lot of external triggers: intense hate speech and transphobia in many forms. If reading about transphobia makes you feel unsafe, this book may not be a good fit for you. While her arc is ultimately precious, it takes a very long time to get there.

 

The final performance (and description of music) was breathtakingly transformative. I felt immersed and held and captivated. The overall ending to the book I wasn’t quite as sold on; it dipped into cheesiness a little too much for my personal taste. But I was grateful for the choice to leave us with tender joy.

 

The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read for me were a few moments of joltingness - of plot points that felt like a tear to the beautiful structure and added unnecessary pain. But overall this was a gorgeous book, and I’ll be recommending it as often as I can!

 

CW: transphobia (including hate speech & slurs & deadnaming; very intense and a prevalent theme in the book), queerphobia, sexual assault & rape (including a brief mention of incest), death & murder, sex work, domestic abuse (physical & emotional), child abuse (physical & emotional), racism, self harm, blood, religious bigotry, gaslighting, war, sexism, outing (as trans), xenophobia

The Cloisters offered up an enchanting gothic atmosphere with a delightful twist of tarot. But while I enjoyed the writing style and academic knowledge, much of the actual plot and scenes fell flat.

 

We’re following Ann, a young woman desperately trying to leave her grief behind her and find her footing in the world of museum curation and research. She ends up spending her summer at The Cloisters - where she works amidst an eccentric staff of researchers and gardeners alike. But their studies into the occult soon turn dangerous, and they all begin to question how much power the tarot cards hold. Can Ann escape her fate? Or is her future predetermined? 

 

It checks the academia boxes, but never seems to challenge or expand them. The antagonists are not given enough life or depth. The plot seems to have been outlined and then followed without actually giving the characters believable motivations for their thoughts and actions.

 

But the setting is created brilliantly - and I was captivated alongside Ann with the alluring tarot cards. I actually wanted more of a focus on the tarot; I felt like I didn’t have enough of an understanding of the cards’ meanings and references. The focus was SO overtly on fate – I hoped for slightly more subtlety there.

 

Overall, I did enjoy my time with The Cloisters. I would read more from this author because I enjoyed the flow of her writing and the dark imagery. But I was never truly surprised, and I’m not sure I would recommend this to anyone who isn’t already very into this sort of material.

 

Additional bonus: I briefly lived across the street from Fort Tryon Park; it sure was fun to read about areas that I had personally frequented! 

 

CW: death (incl. death of parent), murder, grief, drug use, car accident, toxic friendship, eating disorder, suicide, gaslighting, injury, classism, sexual content

 

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

The Housemaid was a fun & slightly absurd page-turner.

 

We’re following Millie, who somehow lands a dreamy job as a live-in housekeeper for a rich family. Considering she’s been freshly-released from prison and has been staying in her car for weeks … things couldn’t seem more perfect. But her new boss Nina is - in a word - unpredictable. She throws tantrums and switches up manipulative stories, and her creepy young daughter and hot-yet-docile husband are no help. 

 

Millie just wants a fresh start and a normal life. But more is going on at the Winchester house than meets the eye, and they don’t know the full breadth of Millie’s history …

 

Is this plot illogical? Yes, definitely. But is it a mesmerizing way to spend a chilly evening? That’s another resounding yes from me. 

 

The writing flows well and builds up atmospheric unease. There’s a splash of wit and dark humor. Millie’s got some big ole dramatic angst, and it’s fun to watch these events unfold through her eyes.

 

While the plot will be very familiar to any thriller-lover, the speedy chapters and engaging writing keeps this feeling fresh. And the ending is particularly delightful - it’s satisfying for sure.

 

CW: domestic abuse, emotional & physical abuse, torture, gaslighting, violence, confinement, murder, death, infidelity, mental illness, forced institutionalization, child abuse, infertility, self harm, psychosis

 

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

I don’t even want to TALK about how difficult it will be to wait for the next installment of the Legendborn Cycle. Like … now what am I supposed to do?

 

Bree’s journey with loss & grief & identity power is so, so good. She’s got to be one of the best YA fantasy main characters out there. 

 

A spoiler-free reaction thread:

🩸😱 finding out the meaning of the title … 

🥰 😭 cariad

🏠 ❤️ volition & healing & home

🔥🔥 burn the world, Bree

 

CW: death & murder, racism & racial slurs, grief, violence, death of a parent, forced institutionalization, kidnapping, slavery, rape, war, sexism, torture, gaslighting, colonization, classism

I couldn’t tear myself away from this poetic, vulnerable, beautifully crafted memoir. 

 

Carmen Maria Machado intimately shares her experience in a queer abusive relationship. Each chapter is titled with a specific trope that she uses to frame her memories and further explore the nuances of her experience with care & wit. 

 

 

Folklore and fairytale references are used throughout as Machado questions the stories we tell, who they highlight, and who they harm. She discusses legal justice, queer villains, and the abused queer folks who came before her and shouted their stories into the void.

 

It was chilling and mesmerizing and expanded the boundaries of memoir-style writing. I was particularly haunted by the Choose Your Own Adventure segment that highlighted the tiptoeing-around-explosive-anger and cyclical nature of abuse.

 

I think I could read this book many more times and discover something fresh with each journey.  

 

CW: abuse (domestic & emotional & physical), toxic relationship, gaslighting, sexual content, queerphobia, violence, sexual assault & violence, mental illness, body shaming & fatphobia, suicidal thoughts, grief, infidelity, alcohol, car accident, fire accident, animal cruelty & animal death