Customer Comments

Thank you Greenleaf Book Group Press and Book Publicity Services for the gifted book. Waiting is hard. Can Gus do it? Gus Davis is a most adorable French Bulldog that really wants things immediately. With the help of his best friend Bean, Gus learns how to be patient. THE VERY PATIENT GUS DAVIS captured the frustrated feelings that can come with having to wait. Using a simple yet effective story, children learn examples of how to cope with waiting and that having patience can be rewarding. The book is the perfect length to fit in enough of a tale without being too long that it risks losing attention. The beautiful illustrations wonderfully capture the spirit of a French Bulldog, making for an engaging read that highlights all the important parts. Pippin the bird was a cute addition. I loved seeing Gus proud of himself. This was a very enjoyable picture book.

Ella blames herself for an accident that killed her best friend, Haley. Back at school months later, Ella begins to fall in love with Haley’s boyfriend, Sawyer, as the two get closer to each other. Feeling guilty, Ella begins reading Haley’s journal in hopes of finding something that will make the situation feel better. Instead, she learns secrets about Sawyer and Haley’s relationship but somehow, she can’t seem to stay away from him. EVERYTHING WE NEVER SAID was a dark YA romantic thriller. It held a decent pace that made for a quick read. Despite many plot twists, it was mostly predictable. One thing that really bothered me was how Haley’s diary entries were overwritten. The entries were extremely detailed with lengthy passages of specific dialogue and details of situations written in a style as if one was writing a novel. Nothing about it was realistic for a teen’s diary, or anyone’s really unless they were perhaps a budding novelist practicing their writing skills. It felt so jarring and pulled me out of the story. On the whole, the plausibility of a lot of things in this book was questionable and required a sense of just going with the flow in order to get some enjoyment out of reading.

Thanks Roaring Brook Press for the gifted book. Thirsty is a perfect example of why I don’t immediately dismiss books solely based on the age-range of the target audience. This YA fiction was an absolute gem! Hammonds is so talented at writing realistic, deeply compelling characters that are well-developed. Though the premise centers on alcoholism/addiction, the story explores a range of important topics such as identity, racism, and mental health. Despite being an emotionally heavy read, this book was hard to put down. There’s a lot packed into it, but it works. It works really well. While those with a connection to teen drinking would be a likely audience, I think anyone who has experience with social pressure may find this book of interest.

Thanks Celadon for the gifted ARC book. Failing as a novelist and now a single parent and the sole detective of a small coastal town in Maine, Alex finds himself in a race to catch a killer after a local teen is brutally murdered. Well, this one was graphic! And I’m not quite sure that it needed to be to the extent that it was. I still would have gotten the same creepy vibes if things had been toned down a bit. I did figure out the killer well ahead of the reveal which was a little disappointing. I liked the police procedural aspect; however, the gratuitous areas dampened my overall excitement. The characters were pretty unlikeable and not in the fun love-to-hate them kind of way. I’m sure there’s an audience that will better enjoy this book. I do have another of Nichols’ novels, The Rocks, on my shelf which I plan to read at some point.

The Crestmont brothers are wealthy and handsome so their privilege ensures that they’re safe from convictions of wrongdoing in their ex-girlfriends’ deaths even though many people believe they did it. The new girl, Lauren, also has secrets and wants a fresh start. When she starts a relationship with one of the brothers, evidence against him comes to light, putting her in danger. THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY WITH MURDER was a YA mystery/thriller full of drama and teenage angst. The pacing was a bit of a mix, starting out slow and then becoming fast at the end. I didn’t find any of the characters to be particularly compelling – they all felt fairly average. This wasn’t an overly complex plot and didn’t “wow” me as I guessed the outcome quite a bit before the end, but it still made for an easy and fun read. I think this would do well with a YA audience.

Thanks Celadon for the gifted ARC book. LIKE HAPPINESS was gripping from the beginning and I couldn’t bear to put it down. I loved the author’s choice of a dual narrative for this coming-of-age tale which alternates between present day and Tatum’s letter to M. Reading her story of power dynamics and toxic relationship experience was gut-wrenching. Well-developed and with searing writing, LIKE HAPPINESS provided a nuanced exploration of gender, identity, race, power, and memory that made for an unforgettable read.

MJ is half-encanto, something she’s required to hide in order to live in the human world. When her estranged father suddenly dies, she must claim her rightful place as heir to the throne but there are objections to a half-human ruling. I was really excited to read THE ENCANTO’S DAUGHTER when I saw that it was YA fantasy based on Filipino mythology. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. World-building was lacking and the inclusion of Filipino mythology and cultural references was less than I expected. The main character was within the age range for a YA book, however the writing felt like it was geared toward a middle-grade audience. I appreciated that the topic of prejudice was explored, however the overall execution of the book didn’t work for me.

An ICU nurse cares for a patient in a coma due to jumping off a bridge. A witness comes forward stating the patient was pushed. The nurse mistakenly gets close to the patient’s family and fears she or her daughter could be the next victim. Despite figuring out what was happening beforehand on several occasions, I still enjoyed reading SHE’S NOT SORRY. It was a very bingeable thriller and just what I needed when I picked it up – something that I didn’t have to think seriously about and could just go along for the ride. The plot contained some dark themes and had a lot going on with multiple story lines and a lot of characters, but it all came together in the end.

I was excited to read A TEMPEST OF TEA with its premise including a tearoom, vampires, and themes including the exploration of impacts of colonialism. Unfortunately, I really struggled getting through the book. It felt like there was an overabundance of dialogue that wasn’t productive in moving the plot forward or aiding in character development. This made reading feel like a slog at times. Will I still read the second book in this duology? Yes. Despite the issues I have with the execution, the story is interesting enough for me to want to know the conclusion.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted ARC book. Rife with corruption, the LAPD lacks motivation to investigate the death of a Chinese movie star. Suspecting foul play, the Chow sisters launch their own investigation. KILL HER TWICE was a great historical mystery set in 1930s Los Angeles. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the dynamics between the sisters. I liked how aspects of Chinese culture were woven throughout the story. The historical setting of Chinatown in 1932 captured the discrimination and challenges Chinese Americans faced as well as the rampant corruption within law enforcement and political forces. There was mystery. There was romance. The pacing felt a bit uneven. Overall, I was entertained. I’d recommend this book to fans of historical mysteries.

A secret is uncovered in a blue-collar town that tests a roofing family’s loyalties. Though the drama of MERCURY had mystery, romance, and coming-of-age mixed in, at its heart it was a character driven exploration of family dynamics in small-town 1990s. The characters were compelling. The plot was simple yet engaging due to the writing style. When I first read the synopsis, I wasn’t sure if this would be a book I’d like. I’m glad I gave it a chance as I did enjoy it.

Thanks Penguin Teen for the gifted ARC book. Zara is determined to bring her sister back from the dead. Being the daughter of a billionaire doesn’t prevent Jude from being cursed with a necrotic soul. With a witch for a mom, Emer may be the answer to both of their problems and all three could be what it takes to stop a serial killer. THE INVOCATIONS combined dark academia with magic and horror. Each of the characters fell into a stereotypical role: the witchy one, the nerdy one, the rebellious one. This felt like a bit much at times and seemed like it prevented overall character development. The writing was atmospheric. There was some gore but not too much. Overall, this was an enjoyable read although not overly memorable as I am writing this a month after reading and am having difficultly recalling any specific details of the book. Even so, I’d still recommend this to fans of YA fantasy/horror who are looking for a witchy read.

Thanks Scout Press for the gifted ARC book. THE WIVES is a memoir of a woman’s experience becoming an army wife as her new husband joins an elite unit and is frequently deployed. While the author does well in portraying army culture, the writing was bland and failed to provide information that I didn’t already know, so I struggled to keep interest in reading. At 60% in, I began skimming to quickly get through the remainder. I was most surprised that for being a journalist, she presented as rather naïve and lacking insight. I suspect this book would best fit an audience that has little knowledge about the military or those who have lived similar army wife lives and are looking to read of their shared experience.

Thank you Roaring Brook Press for the gifted copy. Nhika has the ability to alter human biology but rather than being praised as a healer, she’s scorned as a monster – a bloodcarver. After being captured and sold to the highest bidder, she finds herself tasked with healing the witness to the murder of an aristocratic family’s father. As she learns more about the investigation, the wealthy society she’s in, and the physician’s mysterious aide, Nhika must decide where her allegiance lies. THE LAST BLOODCARVER was a fast-paced and engrossing YA fantasy full of magic, mystery, and romance. The worldbuilding was excellent and quickly pulled me into the fascinating magic system. Themes of identity, family, racism, classism, and generational trauma were explored in a way that was approachable for a YA audience yet still of interest to adult readers. The author’s bio states, “Her writing is an expression of her love for medicine and her Vietnamese heritage.” This truly shows through in this gripping story. As this is the first book of a duology, it ends on a cliffhanger, though I felt satisfied. I will absolutely be reading the second book, but if this was in fact a stand-alone, I’d be ok with how it wrapped up. If you enjoy fantasies, put this one on your TBR!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted ARC book. When Sorcerer Solomon is murdered, his apprentice, Tabatha, and son, Callum, team up to identify the killer in order to clear their names. The task is extra challenging due to the suspect list being full of rich magical members of the sorcerer’s family. Tabatha also isn’t sure she can trust Callum. Although I found the premise intriguing, THESE DEADLY PROPHECIES was a YA fantasy murder mystery that unfortunately fell flat for me overall. I had a hard time staying engaged as the plot felt pretty predictable and the pacing quite slow. The fantasy aspects of the sorcerer’s apprentice and the magic were fun concepts, but it didn’t seem like there was enough of that included, at least not as much as I’d have liked. It felt more like this was a murder mystery with a touch of fantasy. The ending was also a bit cheesy. I think this book will be enjoyed by the right audience – that just wasn’t me.

Named after Valentine’s Day, Valentina Tran loves the holiday until she finds out the truth of what happened between her parents. The spirit of Saint Valentine tells her she is cursed in love. She is ready to believe this until she receives a paper heart from a mysterious lion dancer one Lunar New Year festival, prompting her desire to change her destiny. Finding peace in lion dancing since his father’s death, Jae notices Val at the Lunar New Year festival and hands her a paper heart but his cousin Leslie also sees her and they end up dating. Jae feels a connection with Val. Both struggle with spirits haunting them. LUNAR NEW YEAR LOVE STORY was a fantastic graphic novel filled with gorgeous illustrations and an emotional love story on multiple levels. The characters were compelling. I loved the exploration of family and culture. Both poignant and heartwarming, LUNAR NEW YEAR LOVE STORY was an excellent read that I’d highly recommend to fans of graphic novels.

Having left chess years ago, Mallory is sucked back in when she wins against the current world champion, Nolan, in a charity tournament. Both can’t deny being drawn to the other. Mallory desperately needs the money from the cash prizes to supplement her dead-end job. Struggling to keep chess separate from her family as she moves up the ranks, Mallory begins to rekindle feelings for the sport that she hated for destroying her life. Mix the vibe of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ with a lot of YA angst and you’ve got CHECK & MATE. I wasn’t particularly fond of the main characters and so consequentially didn’t care very much about their relationship. I actually found one of Mallory’s younger sisters to be the most endearing. What carried the book for me was the exploration of gender stereotypes and the misogynistic world of chess. Following Mallory’s journey from that context is what kept my interest. CHECK & MATE is the first book of Ali Hazelwood’s that I’ve read. I have a couple of her adult novels on my TBR shelf. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the gifted ARC.

Miriam Darlington recounts her year-long journey through the wilds and countryside of Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, and England in pursuit of otters. I have been fascinated by otters for as long as I can remember, thus I was very excited to read OTTER COUNTRY: AN UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE IN THE NATURAL WORLD. It is clear that otters hold a very special place in the author’s life. Included in her journey are meetings with biologists, poets, conservationists, and hunting and fishing enthusiasts which add context to the otter/human connection. Unfortunately, it felt like I was often wading through tons of spraint to get to the most interesting and meaningful material, leaving the beauty of the writing somewhat diminished. Everywhere I turned, there was another passage about otter spraint. After reading this, I am clear on its importance within the world of otters, however the repetitious nature bogged things down. Though the execution of OTTER COUNTRY: AN UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE IN THE NATURAL WORLD didn’t work perfectly for me, it was still a good read that I’d recommend to fans of memoirs with a heavy emphasis on the natural world. Thank you to Tin House for the gifted ARC.

An ex-movie star spends Easter with her closest friends on her private island in Greece. The night ends in murder. THE FURY is the first book I’ve read by Alex Michaelides. I was intrigued by the premise, however after reading I was left feeling overall a bit underwhelmed. The narrator promises to tell an epic story of which he continues to hype throughout the book. I found this to be grating after a while rather than keeping things suspenseful. The pacing felt very slow which caused me to struggle with holding attention through much of the book until things picked up toward the end. Though the writing style wasn’t a great fit for me, I’d encourage anyone who finds the synopsis interesting to give THE FURY a try as it may be enjoyed more by others. I’m still interested in checking out the author’s other works. Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted ARC.

Protests are intensifying at Tehran University in 1977, but Amineh is not interested as her peers are. She would rather think about literature, rose harvests, and poetry. She meets Farzad, a disarmament activist, and her life changes in ways she didn’t want. HALF A CUP OF SAND AND SKY was a captivating and beautifully written portrait of a woman striving to find herself amidst the political turmoil of late 1970s Iran. Amineh searches for identity and love as her life becomes more complex. I was immediately engrossed in her story and felt much empathy for her. Her character was well-written and well-developed. The secondary characters were great as well. I have not read very much about Iran during this time period, so I appreciated the historical insights. The plot is slow at times, being more character-driven, though this did not impact my enjoyment in any way. I’d highly recommend HALF A CUP OF SAND AND SKY to fans of historical fiction. Thank you to Alder House Books for the gifted copy.

Henry Winkler shares his story from childhood through adult stardom in his memoir BEING HENRY: THE FONZ… AND BEYOND. I don't normally jump on reading celebrity memoirs but am glad that I took a chance on this one. Having only seen a few snippets of Happy Days and Henry’s appearance on Parks and Rec, I wouldn’t claim to be a huge fan based off of lack of really following him, not for lack of enjoying the work that I have seen. Even so, I was interested to read this memoir due to Henry’s reputation as “the nicest man in Hollywood.” What a nice read it turned out to be. I enjoyed learning about his childhood and how his career began and progressed over time, developing from acting to directing and producing. He shares his struggles with severe dyslexia and the impact that has had throughout his entire life. I love that he’s written a children’s book series centered on a boy with learning challenges, creating something positive for kids from his own difficult life experiences. BEING HENRY: THE FONZ… AND BEYOND was an enjoyable read that I’d recommend to fans of celebrity memoirs. Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted ARC.

After Nazis killed his daughter, Ezra uses the ancient magic kishuf to create a golem to avenge her death. WRATH BECOMES HER was an unputdownable historical fantasy with just the right amounts of thriller and horror mixed in. Right from the start, I was quickly engrossed in the captivating story of Vera, the golem created by Ezra to avenge his daughter Chaya’s death. Vera’s development as she learns about humanity, herself, and questions her purpose was excellent. The pacing moved at a good rate and kept me feeling engaged throughout. Most of the time, I forgot that I was reading a book targeted at a young adult audience, though there were some areas where it was fairly prominent. Even so, I can see this being enjoyed by a wider range of readers, especially those with interest in Jewish folklore. I appreciated that this book provided a perspective of WWII that is not typically seen in historical fiction. I’m undecided on whether I liked the ending or not. WRATH BECOMES HER was a great historical fantasy/thriller/horror book that I’d highly recommend. I look forward to reading other works by Aden Polydoros. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the gifted copy.

Andy’s business as a private detective is struggling. When an ex shows up out of the blue in need of help, Andy can’t turn him away despite his desire to since he really needs the money. What initially seems to be a simple case turns into something much more and Andy has to figure it out quickly before he’s in real trouble. After greatly enjoying LAVENDER HOUSE, I was very excited to see there was a sequel. THE BELL IN THE FOG is another queer historical fiction mystery that continues Andy’s story. I’d suggest reading them in order. While still a good read, I didn’t quite love THE BELL IN THE FOG as much. The pace was quite slow overall until the end which felt a bit rushed. I love the characters and they are what carried the book for me. There are so many feelings wrapped up in their stories. It’s heartbreaking to see the way they’re treated for just being themselves. Despite the slow pace, THE BELL IN THE FOG was a queer historical fiction mystery that I’m still glad I read. I’d be interested in continuing this series should there be additional books. Thank you to Forge Books for the gifted ARC.

Linden and her sisters each possess an unusual ability. Linden tastes others’ feelings. A year ago, Linden disappeared in the Forest and had no clear memory when she returned, only hazy nightmares. Another girl has disappeared in a similar fashion, though she is found dead. Linden is determined to find out what really happened. BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW was an atmospheric YA fantasy mystery filled with lots of twists. I really liked the premise and enjoyed how Linden and her family’s story unfolded. I loved the magical realism and didn’t feel like I had to stretch to suspend disbelief. It just all worked really well. It was easy to become invested in the plot and characters. For being such a dark story, the writing was beautiful with fantastic world-building. This was a great October "spooky season" read. BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW kept me turning pages. I’d definitely recommend to fans of YA fantasy mystery. This is the first book of Kate Pearsall’s Bittersweet in the Hollow series. I look forward to reading future books. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC.

Evan and Shosh’s lives are not turning out as they’d each planned. Both can hear a song sung by a mysterious voice that no one else hears. Their souls keep finding each other over and over throughout time. I LOVED YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE ultimately left me with very mixed feelings. I found myself either really loving beautifully written passages or speed reading to get past sections that I disliked. I felt pretty polarized throughout. The timeline is nonlinear and the narration changes perspectives a lot so it required quite a bit of attention to keep up with what was going on. Overall, the execution didn’t work for me but the concept was interesting. I LOVED YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’d consider reading his other works. Though not a hit for me, this may work better for others who are fans of YA fantasy romance.

Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest plans to run away from her life as a master thief, but plans change when her mother’s life is threatened. Ross enters an international heist competition, the Thieves’ Gambit, which grants the prize winner a wish for anything – a wish Ross could use to save her mother. The Gambit is trickier than Ross ever thought. Can she win? THIEVES’ GAMBIT is billed as “The Inheritance Games meets Ocean's Eleven.” Though I have yet to read The Inheritance Games to comment on that comparison, I can say that there are definitely Ocean’s Eleven vibes throughout this fast-paced YA mystery/thriller. If you’re into heist plots, this book will be right up your alley. Lots of twists and turns keep the reader entertained and engaged. I was eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. The diversity among the characters is great. The pacing and easy flow of the writing made for a quick read. The ending wraps up one plotline but leaves a cliffhanger on something else. THIEVES’ GAMBIT was a fun fast-paced YA mystery/thriller that I’d recommend. It’s the first book in the Thieves’ Gambit series by Kayvion Lewis. I look forward to the next book.

Ife isn’t excited to attend a prestigious boarding school. The tuition isn’t affordable for her parents. She is there because of the Urban Achievers scholarship program. The Changing Man is a decades-old legend of the school that Ife begins to seriously wonder about when another student starts acting strangely. Another classmate’s brother is missing. Is there a connection to the Changing Man? Is the legend true? Ife and two other classmates team up to find out before there are other victims. THE CHANGING MAN caught my eye as a promising YA speculative thriller read. I liked the premise and the story overall, however the pacing felt inconsistent so I had trouble holding interest at times. There was a lot of boarding school drama included that I kept wanting to get past to get to the thriller/mystery part of the story. Ultimately, this made the ending feel a bit underwhelming. The concept of THE CHANGING MAN was interesting, though the execution didn’t exactly work for me. I’d still recommend it to others who find the synopsis intriguing as it may be a better fit for them. I’d be interested in checking out future works by the author.

There are things about THE NAME DROP that are pretty absurd if you take them at face value, but suspending disbelief provides for a really enjoyable read. I loved how the story tackled topics of classism, misogyny, privilege, nepotism, and the education system. The social commentary throughout was spot on. Jessica and Elijah’s characters complemented each other well and NYC provided a great setting as well as taking a role as a character in and of itself. I wouldn’t jump to label this as YA romance as the romance aspect really took a backseat to everything else that was going on. I think that worked really well though. If it had been more prominent, I worry that the tone would have changed too much and undermined the exploration of the important topics discussed. THE NAME DROP felt a lot stronger overall compared to SEOULMATES. I really enjoyed THE NAME DROP and would recommend to fans of YA fiction. I look forward to future books from Susan Lee. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the gifted copy.

Highschool friends celebrate graduation with a 1920s-themed stay at the ritzy Ashwood Manor. One of them ends up dead. They are locked together while the investigation takes place. Is one of them a killer? SUDDENLY A MURDER was a quick enjoyable YA mystery. The 1920s-themed party was a fun setting and I liked imagining all of the period clothing and accessories based on the author’s descriptions. I love to hate rich kid parties. The cast of characters was diverse and there was a decent amount of social commentary throughout the book. I figured out the whodunit a while before the reveal but nonetheless still enjoyed reading the rest. There were some elements that surprised me as I hadn’t initially picked up on them. The dual timeline switches between first and third person narration which felt awkward at times. Overall, I liked SUDDENLY A MURDER and would recommend it to fans of YA mysteries. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC.

Living an impoverished life, Zilan performs illegal alchemy to raise the dead in order to keep her family fed. When the chance arises for exams to become a royal alchemist, she travels to the capital. After hearing rumors of Zilan’s abilities, the Crown Prince seeks her help as he believes there will be an assassination attempt. As Zilan’s success with alchemy progresses, so does the danger of political games. I absolutely loved THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST. The vivid writing was captivating from the first page and quickly swept me into a fascinating world of fantasy and political intrigue. Zilan was a wonderful character and I enjoyed watching her story unfold as she navigated challenges with such strength. The pacing of the book was perfect. Twists came at the right moments to always keep me on my toes. I was eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next and then disappointed at the end for the simple fact that it was over. I wanted more. I can’t wait for the sequel. THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST was an immersive YA historical fantasy read that I’d highly recommend. This is the first book I’ve read by Kylie Lee Baker. I’m definitely interested in reading her other works. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the gifted copy.

1968: Kevin protests on his college campus after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. 1995: With the Million Man March considered controversial by some, Gibran challenges hypocrisy at his prep school. Both students navigate racism and contemplate what they’re willing to risk as they work to discover themselves outside of what society and family dictates. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO was a phenomenal debut novel full of emotion. I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the dual timeline as the execution made for a wonderful connection between Gibran and Kevin’s stories while still allowing each of them to have their own individual voice and significant character development. This is historical fiction but the characters and plot felt so very real and genuine. The writing was powerful, both in topic and overall impact. This is a book that should be in classrooms. Despite being a YA novel, I hope ALL YOU HAVE TO DO finds a wide age-range audience as it’s a must read. The Author’s Note is not to be missed. I wholeheartedly recommend ALL YOU HAVE TO DO. I look forward to future books by Autumn Allen.

The police have all but called the missing person case of Wil Greene’s mom closed but Wil knows that her mom never would have just left. Something must have happened to her and Wil is convinced that her former best friend Elwood’s family is involved. On the cusp of turning 18, Elwood discovers that he is not to follow in his father’s footsteps of leading the Garden of Adam congregation, but rather be their sacrifice to the blood thirsty woods. Despite their estrangement, he turns to Wil for help in running from his family. What will become of Wil and Elwood when their new partnership uncovers secrets of a longstanding cult in their town? TOGETHER WE ROT had an interesting premise for a YA horrormance read but unfortunately the execution felt mediocre. I wish there had been more character development. The ending seemed very rushed after a somewhat slow pace throughout the earlier portion of the book. I really liked the concept and the atmospheric vibes were great, though it just fell flat for me overall. TOGETHER WE ROT didn’t quite work for me though fans of YA horrormance may enjoy it more.

Everyone in July’s small town has suddenly disappeared. The message “GET TH3M BACK” keeps appearing around town. July finds some objects that remind her of her loved ones while trying to piece together their mysterious disappearances. THE ONLY GIRL IN TOWN was a gripping YA mystery/thriller. I flew through reading this book as I didn’t want to put it down. The short chapters and writing style created a sense of urgency and agitation that characterized some of July’s feelings and really pulled me into her world. I liked the back and forth between timelines, learning things about July’s past and how they connected to the present as the story unfolded. I was satisfied with the ending; however, I can see why some readers may not be. Overall, this would be an excellent book for group discussion. I particularly liked the author’s exploration of mental health themes throughout the book. I really enjoyed THE ONLY GIRL IN TOWN and would highly recommend it to fans of YA mystery/thrillers. This is the first book I’ve read by Ally Condie. I’m interested in checking out her other books. Thank you to Dutton for the gifted ARC.

At 11-years-old, Ella begins at the Arcanum Training Institute. Ella is the first Conjuror there which comes with some difficulties. Not all Marvellers are welcoming to her. Even so, she is able to make some friends. Ella soon finds herself the target of terrible rumors. A teacher has gone missing and a criminal escaped from prison. Can Ella clear her name? THE MARVELLERS was a magical middle-grade fantasy. It took me a little while to get a handle on the fantasy world as there were a lot of pieces but once that smoothed out for me, I was engrossed in the story. I loved the diversity of the characters, each being compelling and truly adding to the narrative, not being one-dimensionally diverse for the sake of checking off a box. There are many great thought-provoking and teachable moments for young readers, though adults can also glean quite a bit. THE MARVELLERS is the first book of Dhonielle Clayton’s The Conjureverse series. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of middle-grade fantasy. I look forward to reading the next book, THE MEMORY THIEVES.

Spending her life on the run to hide her dark magic, Quell joins a debutant society to avoid an assassin that’s after her. If she can pass their membership rites, she can hide her secret forever. If not, she will die. HOUSE OF MARIONNE was filled with magic, dark academia, and action, making for an interesting YA fantasy read. While I enjoyed the world building, I wished there had been more character development. The pacing was a bit uneven at times, though I didn’t have trouble keeping interest overall once I got over the initial hump at the beginning of figuring out what was going on. Quell’s plight had me turning pages to see how she would fare. HOUSE OF MARIONNE is the first book of J. Elle’s House of Marionne series. I’d continue reading addition books in the series as they are released. I’d recommend this to fans of YA fantasy/romance.

After tragedy strikes their magical town, two teen friends’ relationship evolves into something more. The premise of FORTY WORDS FOR LOVE caught my attention but unfortunately, I didn’t end up liking the book as I anticipated. The impact of the themes of immigration, refugees, tolerance, acceptance, and community seemed to be diminished by the extremely slow pace, odd worldbuilding, and underdeveloped characters. I wish the overall execution had worked better as there were some meaningful messages that likely would have been stronger. I liked the concept of FORTY WORDS FOR LOVE but it unfortunately wasn’t a good fit for me. It may work better for other readers interested in YA fantasy/romance/magical realism. This is the first book I’ve read by Aisha Saeed. Despite this one not working for me, I’d still be interested in checking out her other works.

A massacre at a summer camp leaves Sloan and Cherry as the sole survivors, having been there as counselors. The girls search for answers as to the truth of what really happened when masked men wielding machetes wreaked havoc on the camp. As she digs deeper, Sloan finds evidence that leads her to believe her girlfriend, Cherry, was involved. Cherry denies it but Sloan becomes more frantic. What’s really true? I’m beginning to think that the final girls trope is really not my thing. I wasn’t a fan of THE LAST GIRLS STANDING. The toxic relationship and immense amount of gaslighting quickly became grating and given that that’s a large part of the premise, there wasn’t a whole lot for me to enjoy. The pacing was very slow which just added to my struggle to find interest. When I finally reached the end, the conclusion felt underwhelming. THE LAST GIRLS STANDING didn’t work for me. It would likely be better for an audience that enjoys the final girls trope and classic slasher movies.

Tara returns home to her siblings to rebuild her life after serving time for a drug conviction. The cop involved in her arrest keeps coming around. Her brother and sister each have their own problems. Everyone is keeping secrets. What happens when the secrets begin to unravel? I felt pretty so-so about my excitement for THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN when I first read the synopsis. It didn’t initially pique my interest very much but I decided to give it a try anyway and I’m glad I did as the book ended up growing on me. I enjoyed the writing style. Despite all of their problems and imperfections, the characters were quite endearing. The plot kept me turning pages to see how everything would turn out for Tara and her siblings. This book does well in exploring loyalty to family as well as loyalty to self. I unexpectedly enjoyed THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN and would recommend it, especially to fans of family dramas.

Paloma has psychic powers and dreams of being famous like her grandma, a medium to celebrities. Initially upset when her parents move her and her sister from Miami to Los Angeles, Paloma soon conjures up a plan to start her own psychic readings service and the move doesn’t seem so bad after all. After something goes terribly wrong with a reading, Paloma finds herself in a bad situation. Can she fix the mess? TOTALLY PSYCHIC was a fun middle-grade paranormal fantasy full of family, friendship, and ghosts. The writing was appropriately catered to the middle-grade level. Paloma’s flower premonition power was interesting and I liked how that was included throughout the story. Pacing of the book was quite slow. There were some good lessons within the coming-of-age story. One thing that did make me sad while reading was the focus that 12-year-old Paloma and her friends had on social media and the importance they placed on getting as many followers as possible. TOTALLY PSYCHIC would be a good read for the middle-grade audience that enjoys paranormal stories. While I do like reading some middle-grade books as an adult, this one was paced a bit too slow for me to really love it. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the giveaway copy.

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS was an interesting fantasy book based on Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death.” I’m not familiar with this work by Poe so I wouldn’t have known this book was a retelling without reading the author’s note. It has left me interested in seeking out the original piece to read and compare. I loved the premise and how fantasy was mixed with historical aspects and Jewish representation, particularly the exploration of antisemitism during plagues. The pacing was extremely slow for a long time before finally picking up speed toward the end. The ending felt a bit rushed like it was only tying up the immediate plot point and left me with questions about what was happening/would happen with other things. There is some romance included which felt awkward at times. If it hadn’t been included at all, I don’t think it would have been missed. Despite these few things that weren’t ideal, my interest was held throughout and I liked the book overall. I enjoyed A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS and would recommend it to fans of YA fantasy. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the gifted copy.

A widower takes in a lodger in a desperate attempt to provide for his daughter. The lodger is a law student that does housekeeping for a very wealthy couple. The wealthy wife never leaves the house due to illness. Her husband is extremely controlling. What happens when the couple ends up dead? Who killed them? I read THE WOMAN INSIDE eight weeks ago, rated it four stars, and didn’t have a chance to write something about it at that time. As I now sit here, I’m having trouble remembering much detail about the book. I recall getting a couple of the female characters confused in the beginning as the narration alternates between several people. After I got that squared away, it was a pretty quick and enjoyable read. Not overly suspenseful as far as thrillers go, but still felt worth reading. It wasn’t very memorable overall as evidenced by my lack of much else to note about it. I can’t remember who the murderer was nor their motivation. Despite my inability to recall much detail of THE WOMAN INSIDE weeks after reading it, I did enjoy it and would recommend to fans of thrillers. This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

Mrs. Plansky receives a call from a person stating he’s her grandson in the middle of the night requesting $10,000 to help him out of a situation. Of course, she helps as that’s what grandmothers do. In the morning, she finds that her life savings is gone. She’s been scammed and law enforcement says finding the perpetrators is hopeless. That doesn’t stop Mrs. Plansky from embarking on an adventure to Romania to find her money. MRS. PLANSKY’S REVENGE was a fun cozy mystery. I loved that the main character was in her seventies. It seems like most of the books I pick up have middle-age or younger characters so to be reading about an older main character was refreshing. Mrs. Plansky is surely spunky. I enjoyed following her on her journey to Romania and was cheering for her the entire time. I also liked Dinu even though he did some unlikable things. The pacing was quick and I would have been happy to read this in one sitting if I hadn’t had some things interrupting my time that forced me to put the book down. The writing was done well, bringing the setting and characters to life. I was sucked into the story right from the beginning. I laughed quite a few times but also felt sad at points since scams like this happen in real life. The ending of the book was satisfying. I loved MRS. PLANSKY’S REVENGE and would highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries. Thank you to Forge for the gifted ARC.

Nominated seniors participate in a week of events leading up to the Legacy Ball, a gala where they will be inducted into the exclusive and elite Legacy Club. The Legacy Club’s social circle opens doors to power and wealth but it also comes with secrets, lies… and murder. Despite the pacing of most of the book being fairly slow with the end speeding up significantly, THE LEGACY CLUB was overall a rather quick YA mystery read. It kept me turning pages as between all the lies and secrets, I couldn’t figure out who had been murdered until the reveal toward the end. Chapters flip flop between character narration and also time frame before and after the ball, though each is clearly labeled at the beginning so it was easy to keep things straight. Character development was lacking but didn’t bother me since the mystery aspect of the book held my interest enough. THE LEGACIES was an enjoyable YA mystery that I’d recommend. It had a lot of ‘Gossip Girl’ vibes. Thank you to Razorbill for the gifted ARC.

The Civil War recently ended. Naval Lieutenant Townsend discovers a shipwreck containing a locked cargo hold of dead Black men. Suspecting that they were freedmen kidnapped for re-enslavement, Townsend reports the incident and soon finds himself investigating on his own after his commander tells him to drop the subject. What will Townsend do when he uncovers a conspiracy and family ties to slavery? HIDDEN CARGO was an excellent historical fiction book. It’s clear that the writing was well-researched. There is content that is disturbing to read, even more so knowing that this is inspired by true events. Vivid imagery drops the reader into the middle of the action. Characters are compelling. I liked that the setting was only five months after the Civil War ended. This is not a time period that I typically see. I would recommend HIDDEN CARGO to fans of historical fiction. This is the first book I’ve read by Robin Lloyd. I’d be interested in checking out his other works. Thank you to Lyons Press for the gifted copy.

A short story collection exploring Asian and Asian American women’s lives in modern society infiltrated by technology. LET’S GO LET’S GO LET’S GO had me sucked in from the first paragraph and didn’t let up until the end. Wow! What an eclectic collection of short stories that oscillate between reality and the surreal. I found the characters and plots extremely engaging. No one story stood out as a favorite for me, which speaks to the author’s writing skill – each story was just as strong as the last, keeping me eagerly turning pages. Many different themes and emotions are explored throughout the book; though what stuck with me most were the topics of identity and longing. This is a book that will be on my mind for quite a while. I loved LET’S GO LET’S GO LET’S GO and would highly recommend it to fans of short story collections. I will surely revisit this book. Thank you to Tin House for the gifted ARC.

A short story collection examining Dearborn, Michigan’s Arab American community. I absolutely loved DEARBORN and had a hard time putting it down. Each of the ten stories was unique, yet had cohesiveness with the group due to the collective setting of the Arab American community of Dearborn, Michigan. A few of the themes explored were identity, trauma, and generational conflict. The characters were endearing and well-developed for being on page for such short durations. I really enjoyed the writing style. There was at least one point (if not more) in each story that made me stop and reflect. DEARBORN was thought-provoking and affecting. Overall, DEARBORN was an impressive short story collection that I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading future works by the author. Thank you to Tin House for the gifted ARC.

Lori is left with a traumatic brain injury that has wiped that last eight years of her memories when her teenage son is killed in her family’s tragic car accident. As Lori returns home a year later, she struggles to resume her life with her husband and daughter. Memories start to return and so do secrets. WITH EVERY MEMORY was an emotional read. Despite the slow pace, there was suspense in not knowing what secrets would be revealed and how the family would be affected. After reading the synopsis, I was surprised to find the book written in dual narrative with Lori and Avery being main characters. I had been expecting this to be focused on Lori as the sole main character but her daughter Avery has a major role in the book and it feels at times that Avery’s story is more prominent. For being Christian fiction, this book is pretty light on religious aspects. Though this may be disappointing to some, it has the benefit of making the book accessible to a larger audience. WITH EVERY MEMORY was a good read that I’d recommend. This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

Erika is willed property in Italy including a vineyard and bed-and-breakfast by a grandfather she never knew. She leaves her fiancé and successful life in New York to travel to Italy to deal with settling the inheritance with intentions of selling it all. She soon learns that regardless of whether she keeps it or sells, she must live there for five months and learn the business before making her final decision. I had mixed feelings about CASALVENTO: HOUSE OF THE WIND but ultimately found it to be a good beach read. Erika was a very unlikable character which normally wouldn’t be a problem for me, however there wasn’t much depth or development for her, so it was hard to have a vested interest in what was going on with her. The plot felt very familiar as I’ve read or seen movies of a similar fashion. Pacing was slow. The romance aspect was a little lackluster. The twist toward the end felt over-the-top and the ending left me saying “of course that would happen.” What really carried the book for me was the vivid imagery of Italy. I felt completely immersed in the location and when I finished reading, I had an intense feeling of longing for a place that I’ve never been to. I liked learning about the winemaking process and owning a vineyard. Finding out that Casalvento and Livernano are real places was great. The recipes at the end were a nice bonus. Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group Press for the gifted copy.

Though Marlow is skilled as a cursebreaker, the one case she can’t seem to solve is the disappearance of her mother. Adrius, a scion of an affluent spell-making family and an old friend, asks Marlow for help with a life-threatening curse. Marlow is hesitant to assist due to their troubled past, but her feelings change once she realizes that Adrius’s case may be tied to her mother’s. Though the premise of GARDEN OF THE CURSED instantly caught my attention, the book began slowly and it took a little while for me to really feel invested in the story. Once I did, it was hard to put down. It turned out to be an exciting and fantastic YA fantasy romance with great worldbuilding and interesting characters. Marlow gives off Veronica Mars vibes which I loved. I found the plot to be unique. I didn’t realize that this was book one of a series. When it ended with plot lines left unresolved, I was disappointed that I have to wait for the next book to find out what happens. I will definitely be reading future installments. GARDEN OF THE CURSED was a fantastic YA fantasy romance that I’d highly recommend. It is book one of Katy Rose Pool’s Garden of the Cursed series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I will be checking out her other works and look forward to reading the continuation of this series. Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for the gifted copy.

According to Madhuri’s family curse, she will spend happily-forever-after with her first boyfriend. Determined to live by her own free will, Madhuri convinces her best friend Arjun to be her experimental boyfriend, knowing she’ll never fall for her childhood friend. Will Madhuri prove the curse and her star chart wrong or is this experimental relationship more than she bargained for? KISMAT CONNECTION was an adorable and heartwarming YA romance. I loved the charming characters and the rich inclusion of Indian culture. Madhuri is caught between two worlds and this book looks at what that’s like for her and Arjun. The characters were a little on the under developed side, but overall, I still really enjoyed their story. Madhuri and Arjun complemented each other well. Themes of family, culture, coming-of-age, love, and destiny are explored. The fake-dating trope was different from what I typically see in romance books in that the dating was very brief, but it fit with what was happening in the storyline. I enjoyed KISMAT CONNECTION and would recommend it to fans of YA romance. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing more from the author. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the giveaway copy.

People are connected to life and that which they love by threads. The Fate-born have abilities to weave, draw, or cut threads. Io works as a private investigator, using her abilities to her advantage. When women start being abducted and their life-threads maimed, Io investigates, finding her estranged sister mixed up with a suspect. THREADS THAT BIND was an interesting blend of fantasy, mythology, mystery, and romance. I’ve read other books with some sort of “threads of fate” premise, but this one was quite unique and intriguing. I loved how Greek mythology was wrapped into the story. The world-building was fantastic and the characters compelling. The pacing did feel a little inconsistent overall, though that didn’t stop me from turning pages to find out what would happen next. The ending is a cliffhanger and left me wanting more. I’ll be waiting for the next book to be released. THREADS THAT BIND was a great YA genre-mixing book that I’d recommend. It’s book one of Kika Hatzopoulou’s Threads That Bind series. I’m looking forward to continuing to read future books.

After Bethany gets turned down when she asks her crush to Homecoming and Jacob is dumped twice in a row, they hatch a plan to “practice” date each other so that they’ll be confident when the time comes for a real relationship. Will they end up being a perfect match? HER GOOD SIDE was a cute and heartwarming YA romance. I really liked the strong healthy relationships portrayed and the positive messages regarding important topics such as body image, consent, and peer pressure. The characters were diverse and felt authentic especially in terms of the high school setting, though there could have been a bit more character development. It was easy to see where things were headed from early on in the book but it was still quite enjoyable. Overall, HER GOOD SIDE was a great read that I’d recommend to fans of YA romance. This is the first book I've read by Rebekah Weatherspoon. I'd be interested in checking out her other works.

Enclosed in a room beneath a stage by a trapdoor, teenage girls from Shakespeare’s works tell their stories in their own words. ENTER THE BODY uses an interesting format which caught my attention and was what initially made me pick up the book. Narration alternates between the characters with each girl having a different style of poetry used to highlight her story. Dialogue between the characters is written as a play. I really enjoyed the girls telling their stories and though it’s been a very long time since I’ve read Shakespeare, I followed along quite well. Where the book began to fall apart for me was with the dialogue. Much of it consisted of bickering between characters which became rather annoying and I found myself rushing to get past it as it detracted from my overall enjoyment. Nonetheless, I’m glad that I read ENTER THE BODY. It gives an opportunity to think about Shakespeare’s female characters in a different way and also consider the consequences of one’s voice being stifled.

Gil, a Black teen, transfers from his Brooklyn high school to a primarily white Manhattan prep school for senior year. After an incident with a racist student results in Gil being suspended, he enlists other Black students to wage war against the racist school administration, students, and parents in an effort to finally be heard. Can Gil balance his home life and school life while fighting this battle? TRUE TRUE was an emotionally charged YA novel that kept me turning pages. I felt angry throughout much of the book as I followed Gil’s journey as he, his friends, and classmates regularly dealt with racism. I wanted so badly for them to be successful in having their voices heard as no one should be treated that way. The character development for Gil was great. I enjoyed seeing how he evolved. He had flaws that created challenges, but he learned things about himself as he grew. I liked how Gil’s reading of Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ was wrapped into the plot. The author did a great job of addressing some important topics such as racism and education systems. Overall, the characters and the plot felt realistic. Though targeted for a young adult audience, TRUE TRUE could be enjoyed by a wider age range of readers. I really liked TRUE TRUE and would highly recommend it. It was a great debut novel. I look forward to reading future works from the author. Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books for the giveaway ARC.

Set in ancient Greece, CLYTEMNESTRA follows the rise to power of a fierce queen. I really liked that ancient Greece was the setting of this book as that’s an area that I’ve always had an interest it. It took me a little while to find a groove as I began reading. There are a lot of characters and despite the family charts and character lists given, I was getting tripped up on who several people were for quite a bit until everything finally seemed to click into place. After that, the pacing felt smoother and I became engrossed in the story. The plot jumps ahead in time in a couple spots which was nice in that it kept things moving along and also provided the opportunity to follow Clytemnestra throughout her life as she grows from a young girl to an adult. I liked seeing her journey and how she dealt with different obstacles as she rose to power as queen. I do wonder if there could have been more character development for her had there had been slightly less included on secondary character storylines. I did find the writing enjoyable overall. CLYTEMNESTRA was an enjoyable Greek mythology/historical fiction book that I’d recommend. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the giveaway ARC.

Seventeen-year-old Jessica is about to be teleported to a post-extinction planet in deep space to be reunited with her scientist parents that she hasn’t seen in six years as they embark on their latest research project. Something goes terribly wrong and Jessica wakes up alone in a lander that is destroyed from a crash, with bloody handprints everywhere. What happened? Why are there graves outside? STAR SPLITTER was a gripping YA science fiction thriller. I loved the dual timeline. All of the characters were fantastic. The title comes from Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Star-Splitter,’ a portion of which is included at the beginning of the book. References to the poem are weaved throughout the book and add depth to many of the thought-provoking questions that arise while reading. I guessed some of the major twists but still enjoyed the book very much as it’s well written. This is a book that I’m glad I didn’t read many reviews prior to starting as knowing less going into it is probably best. STAR SPLITTER was an unputdownable and very thought-provoking YA science fiction thriller that I’d definitely recommend. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’d be interested in checking out his other works. Thank you to Dutton Books for the giveaway copy.

After a shocking revelation during the funeral of the Williams family patriarch, the family members each struggle with their grief and individual personal dramas. As I was reading IF WE’RE BEING HONEST, I kept thinking of the show ‘Parenthood.’ So many family members. So many people constantly talking. So much drama and conflict and altogether messiness. This was a highly character-driven book. At the very beginning, the dump of information to introduce all the characters was slightly overwhelming but once the story unfolded, I didn’t have trouble following along with who was who. I enjoyed the exploration of family and interpersonal dynamics as well as the internal struggles that each of the characters navigated. There were some heartwarming moments. Although not a lot of action happens plot-wise, the dialogue and rotating narration focus between characters kept the pace moving along quickly. The ending was satisfying. I enjoyed IF WE’RE BEING HONEST and would recommend to fiction readers, especially fans of family dramas. Thank you to Celadon Books for the giveaway ARC.

International pop superstar Winter Young is recruited by an elite covert ops group to work with young spy Sydney Cossette on a mission to take down a major crime boss. Winter performs for the crime boss’s daughter at a private birthday party as Sydney poses as his bodyguard. Can the two get along and complete their mission? STARS AND SMOKE blends several genres of mystery, thriller, fantasy, and romance into a fun YA book. Going in, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. It looked a bit cheesy and while it did in fact turn out that way, the fast pace, witty characters, and far-fetched but fun world made for an enjoyable read. Some pretty ridiculous things happened, so this is not a book to pick apart thinking about the plausibility or it will really be ruined. The ending wrapped up what occurred in the storyline but left things open for a sequel. STARS AND SMOKE was a fun and quick YA spy thriller/bodyguard romance read that I’d recommend. It is book one of Marie Lu’s Stars and Smoke series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’d be interested in checking out her other works.

In a world where magic is outlawed, four girls are kept hidden to avoid being burned by religious sects. Gifting their unique magic via a kiss to those willing to pay, they learn that there are other girls like them. Are they destined to always live in a cage or can they be set free? NIGHTBIRDS was a fascinating fantasy that had me immediately swept up into the complex magical world. I loved the political intrigue and how the plot was skillfully paced. It kept me quickly turning pages, completely engrossed in what was happening. The world-building was excellent. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the different types of magical aspects, though the character development was slightly lacking overall. I liked that the story was told from each girl’s point of view. There was some romance but it didn’t feel overbearing and there wasn’t the typical teenage angst seen in many YA books which was a nice change of pace. The included maps were gorgeous and a lovely bonus. The epigraphs leading into each chapter were a great addition. The ending was not quite a full cliffhanger but not entirely satisfying. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book. NIGHTBIRDS is book one of Kate J. Armstrong’s Nightbirds series. I’d highly recommend it to fans of YA fantasy.

THE LIFE COUNCIL discusses ten types of friends for women to have, how to make and keep friends, how to be a better friend, and when to end a friendship. THE LIFE COUNCIL is written in a friendly easy-to-read tone that feels like you’re having a casual chat with the author. Being fairly short, it was a quick read. It can definitely be difficult to make and keep friends as an adult so I was interested to see what this book had to offer. Unfortunately, there’s not really any ground-breaking information given. I’m sure that for the right audience, this book could be tremendously helpful. I’m not sure why the book needed to be gendered and focus on the friends that specifically women need with examples being of other women. Friendship doesn’t need to conform to gender constructs. The author has a podcast and has previously written another book, both of which I am unfamiliar with. I don’t know if having prior knowledge of her work would have impacted my reading of this book. THE LIFE COUNCIL was ultimately a mediocre self-help book that I wasn’t the right audience for but may be of benefit for others looking to read about friendships specific to women. Thank you to Zondervan for the giveaway copy.

When poet Ickey Jerusalem is discovered dead in an airplane toilet, Ded Smith investigates. Billed as a “rollicking literary murder mystery” with “side-splitting humor,” WHO KILLED JERUSALEM? was anything but. I found the humor to be entirely distasteful which really put a damper on things and made me not care about the characters or the murder mystery. The book is based on the work of William Blake and states at the beginning that the reader doesn’t need to know about Blake or his work in order to enjoy the book. I’m not familiar with William Blake and can’t help but wonder what impact it would have had if I was. I suspect it does actually make a difference although, overall, I don’t think anything would’ve been enough to offset all the cringey parts that really ruined this book for me. The end felt like a huge info dump to make sense of the bizarre story and reveal the murderer. WHO KILLED JERUSALEM? was ultimately a disappointment for me. Thank you to Galbraith Literary Publishers for the giveaway copy.

A car crash leaves a 15-year-old dead. Eighteen-year-old Spencer, recovering from injuries, struggles to find out exactly what happened. Did her ex, Ethan, really cause the crash? THE HEADMASTER’S LIST was a mediocre to average YA mystery/thriller read. I figured out one twist at the very beginning and the second somewhere in the middle of the book, so that took a bit of the enjoyment out of it. A lot of the plot felt cookie-cutter predictable for the genre and the characters could have been more developed. I did like that snippets of the crime podcast were included. That interjected a fun change of pace. The introduction of the nonbinary character felt awkward and came across as though they were included for the sake of checking off a diversity box and not because the author felt that including nonbinary character(s) was actually meaningful. I was disappointed in the way posttraumatic stress was portrayed and the lack of medically addressing this for the character (i.e., professional mental health services) but rather throwing a service dog at the situation immediately, though I see why the dog was included (plot device). THE HEADMASTER’S LIST would be good for those who enjoy reasonably predictable mystery/thrillers and those who are fans of prep school settings.

After dating for three months, Kaylee dumps Dean without an explanation. Her life would go back to the norm of volleyball training and social media curation except for one huge problem – her family is friends with Dean’s family and they are about to go on summer vacation together. Trying to salvage the awkward situation, Kaylee helps Dean out with her plan on how to get over an ex, but as they spend time together, feelings get complicated. Will Kaylee take a second chance on love? NEVER VACATION WITH YOUR EX was a cute YA romance. The teenage angst started right from the beginning and never let up. The characters lacked much development. Topics such as family expectations, body image, social media, and teenage pressures were touched upon but not really given the depth that I would have liked to have seen. The writing flowed well and made for a quick and easy read. The ending wrapped things up to provide a satisfying conclusion. NEVER VACATION WITH YOUR EX was a light read and may be a good fit for fans of YA romance that enjoy the second chance romance trope. I mixed reading the e-book with listening to the audiobook.

CHAOS & FLAME is the first book in a YA high-fantasy duology. The first page had me pulled in, with its creepy mysterious vibe. I really liked the premise of the book after reading the synopsis. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me overall. The pacing was slow and within all that time, didn’t provide sufficient world-building or character development. The narration alternates each chapter between first-person of Darling and Talon. Normally, I like dual POV, but in this case the voices of the two main characters were so similar that I frequently had to stop to remember which character was the focus at the moment. Talon’s brother played a large role which makes me wonder what it would have been like had he been included as a narrator as well. The romance of the enemies-to-lovers trope happened too soon and too fast, verging on insta-love, so there wasn’t any tension left to carry interest in that plot line through to the end of the book. There’s some action but not a lot in total. I did like that there were a variety of magic aspects included. The book ends on a cliffhanger, though I didn’t feel very disappointed. I will likely read the second book at some point once it’s released, but it’s not high on my priority list. CHAOS & FLAME didn’t live up to my expectations but may be enjoyed more by other fans of YA fantasy. Thank you to Razorbill for the giveaway copy.

MADE OF STARS was a great Bonnie and Clyde inspired YA space science fiction. I really enjoyed how the pacing alternated between action and character focus to keep the plot moving while giving both excitement and insight into the characters and their motivations. The author created compelling characters to explore good versus evil and right versus wrong. I liked the writing overall, however, there were times where I forgot that this was YA-aged characters and I was thinking they were adults but then mention of their ages brought me back to their reality. There was romantic tension, though I didn’t feel like there was an overwhelming feeling of teenage angst that many YA books have. The plot held my attention and had me eagerly turning pages. I easily could have read this in one sitting if I wasn’t interrupted by things I needed to get done. This book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving me wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoyed MADE OF STARS and would recommend to fans of YA space science fiction. I hope there is a sequel. I look forward to reading future works by this author. Thank you to Viking for the giveaway copy.

BEYOND THAT, THE SEA tells the story of a girl torn between two worlds – the home she left in England and the home she’s come to accept as her own in America. This piece of historical fiction had a different feel from the typical WWII books I’ve read in that the war is an important aspect in creating the setting and for some factors of the plot, but takes a back seat overall to the characters as they are truly the main focus. The author has created compelling characters. I was immediately swept away into Beatrix’s story from page one and became equally enamored by the other characters. The chapters are short and rotate narration focus which I enjoyed. The timeline takes place over several decades. There is a running timeline printed at the bottom of each page indicating the year of the current chapter’s setting which is beyond fantastic. I wish more books would have this, especially those with nonlinear timelines as it’s sometimes hard to keep it straight when the only indication is at the beginning of the chapter. Themes including family, love, loss, regrets, coming-of-age, wealth, and secrets are explored. Characters navigate dynamics of their relationship with their family, those they are connected to through Beatrix, and their sense of self. BEYOND THAT, THE SEA was beautifully written and I had a hard time putting it down. Thank you to Celadon Books for the giveaway ARC.

When Katie is about to graduate high school, her brother Chris is brutally attacked. It haunts her into adulthood and now with her own child, she has difficulty determining what is real and what is in her imagination. She finds out Chris is missing. A gruesome murder leads the investigating detective back to cases that involve Chris and a serial killer that is said to be able to see the future. Can Katie find Chris and keep him and the rest of her family safe? THE ANGEL MAKER is the first book of Alex North’s that I’ve read. I found the premise to be interesting but once I got further into reading, I wasn’t fond of the writing style. The book jumps around a lot and it felt clunky and cumbersome. The bones of the story are definitely there, but for a thriller, it wasn’t holding my attention enough and keeping the suspense up. The execution fell flat for me. The ending seemed a bit rushed. There were some philosophy aspects that were interesting to think about. Fans of thrillers may want to give THE ANGEL MAKER a try. Even though it didn’t entirely work for me, I am still interested in checking out North’s other works. Thank you to Celadon Books for the giveaway ARC.

In UNDER THE NAGA TAIL: A TRUE STORY OF SURVIVAL, BRAVERY, AND ESCAPE FROM THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE, Mae Bunseng Taing details the difficulties and horrors he and his family faced during their escape from the Khmer Rouge regime. The book is written with Mae’s son James Taing. UNDER THE NAGA TAIL was heartbreaking but also inspiring. Going into this book, I did not have much knowledge about Cambodia and the genocides that occurred. I’m glad to have learned about Cambodian culture and the conflict in the area during the time period that Mae and his family were there, even though it was quite difficult to read emotionally. I know that atrocities such as this happen in areas of conflict and war daily, but it doesn’t make it any less affecting. The strength of Mae and the other refugees was incredible. It’s because of stories such as his that I continue to have faith in humanity despite the terrible things that occur in the world. I had a hard time putting this book down. UNDER THE NAGA TAIL was a deeply affecting memoir that I’d highly recommend. Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group for the giveaway copy.

When the principal of an urban prep school is murdered, three students are named as suspects. Can the boys work together to figure out who the real killer is… or is it actually one of them? I had read a sample of PROMISE BOYS weeks ago and wasn’t sure if it was going to be the right YA book for me. I love a good mystery; however, the synopsis didn't catch my attention in the way that other books have. Even so, I decided to give it a chance when I saw it available at my library. I liked that there were multiple narrators as that can make a book very interesting when you get to see multiple characters' perspectives. The problem I found was that many of the narrators sounded too similar. Additionally, some of them were inconsistent within their voice. The concept of having numerous characters tell their stories combined with transcripts of police interviews and text messages of the main characters was cool but ultimately wasn’t enough to hold my attention sufficiently. I found myself feeling bored during parts and wanting to get to the end just to find out what happens. It took a significant portion of the book to finally get to the boys investigating the murder themselves. The ending felt too fast and seemed like it resolved things almost too nicely. A great part of this book though is the keenly observed social commentary sprinkled throughout. This wasn’t a favorite read of mine, though I think PROMISE BOYS will hit better with a young adult audience.

I loved that THE DAVENPORTS was inspired by a real family, the C.R. Pattersons who owned C.R. Patterson & Sons Carriage Company. All of the main characters are Black which was great to have that representation as I haven’t read much historical fiction from this time period lately and liked that it was focused on African American history. The narration rotates between each of the four young women. The characters are well-developed and felt very genuine. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and their families and the ways they questioned their places in the family and society, daring to challenge status quo while they explored how they aimed to move forward in life. Despite having wealth, the young women as well as their families faced difficulties and dangerous situations, giving a reminder that the power of money only goes so far during this turbulent time in the U.S., especially for Black families. There were parts that were difficult to read but are pieces of history that are necessary to be acknowledged. The plot moved along at a good pace that had me eagerly turning pages. I liked how the romance aspects were written. When I reached the conclusion, my heart sank as I had forgotten that this is the first book of a series. I was disappointed to not find out how each of the girls’ plot lines resolved, but that just leaves me with something to look forward to in the next book. Thank you to Dial Books for the giveaway ARC.

Surrounded by a poisonous lake and living with a bloodthirsty forest, the residents of Endla will do anything to protect their island from outsiders including killing them. Anyone who doesn’t possess Endlan magic is banished from the island. Leelo’s brother is about to meet that fate and although it’s the way things have always been done, Leelo finds it difficult to accept. When Leelo discovers an outsider about to drown in the lake, she has to make a choice. Will she stay true to her community and walk away to let them die, or will she take a chance that not every outsider brings harm and help the person? THE POISON SEASON was an engrossing fantasy read. I felt immersed in the land of Endla, traveling along with Leelo and the other characters thanks to the wonderful worldbuilding. The characters were fantastic and well developed. For being in a fantasy world and having non-human characteristics, they felt very real – their actions, conversations, thoughts. There is some romance in the book along with quite a few dark but thought-provoking scenes. I enjoyed the progression of the plot and that it gave me things to ponder along the way. The ending wraps the story up satisfactorily. I really enjoyed THE POISON SEASON and would recommend it to fantasy fans. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking into her other works.

When geek club member Cameron and student council president Karla start hooking up over the summer, they think it’s just a fling between coworkers. But now it’s senior year and they’re hiding what they’re doing from their friends because each group does not mix well with the other. Cameron meets Mackenzie and is intrigued by her confidence in not caring what others think about her. Will he continue what’s going on with Karla or is there potential for something with Mackenzie? THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is full of teenage angst, nerdy fun, and romance. I liked that there was diversity amongst the characters. I wasn’t familiar with many of the anime references but from context could still grasp what was being conveyed. Someone who’s a fan of anime will likely have even greater enjoyment. The story bounces between fun rom-com, dramatic moments, and social commentary, ultimately leading to an ending with a meaningful message. Important topics that highschoolers face are discussed in a thoughtful manner. What didn’t work for me in the execution of this book was the amount of cursing found throughout. It didn’t seem necessary for plot or character development and after a while was making me cringe due to the volume. I found the writing to be enjoyable otherwise. THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is a nerdy YA rom-com, perfect for anime fans. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the giveaway copy.

Iselia “Seelie” and Isolde are not your average twin sisters. Seelie is an autistic changeling with unpredictable magic. When the pair end up in the middle of a heist gone awry, they make some new acquaintances and find themselves on a mysterious journey full of fae secrets. Will Seelie find a way to control her magic so she can keep her sister and herself safe? UNSEELIE was a very interesting YA fantasy book. I loved the premise, especially that the main character was a neurodivergent female. There was great character development for Seelie. I enjoyed the other characters as well, though they were less developed. The worldbuilding was well done and I liked the different fantasy aspects. The beginning and end of the book had quite a bit of action while the middle felt pretty up and down in pace. The book is advertised as being “swoony” which I didn’t get a sense of but perhaps there will be more of that feeling in the sequel. UNSEELIE is book one of Ivelisse Housman’s The Unseelie Duology. I’d recommend it to fans of YA fantasy and anyone looking for neurodivergent representation. I will be looking forward to reading book two in the future.

In an affluent suburb, a young woman is discovered dead. The three teenagers last with her are suspects of the investigation. What really happened while they were partying that lead to her death? What lengths will their parents go to in order to protect them? I was a bit taken aback by the opening of LOCUST LANE but am glad that I kept reading as it turned out to be a gripping mystery/thriller. I liked how the narration alternated the focus through a rotation of the adult characters. It was an interesting choice not to include the teens in this being that they are suspects in the death investigation. I liked the dynamics between the characters and the exploration of what parents are willing to do to protect their children and how privilege influences decisions. The characters felt real. The plot moved along rapidly and I was eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. I guessed the outcome of the investigation prior to the end of the book but still enjoyed finishing reading. LOCUST LANE was an excellent mystery/thriller. This is the first book of Stephen Amidon’s that I’ve read. I will definitely take a look at some of his other work. Thank you to Celadon Books for the giveaway ARC.

Set in Xin Dynasty year 414, Zephyr, a strategist of the warlordess Ren, infiltrates enemy camp to protect Ren and her followers. What happens when she encounters an opposing strategist? Does she know who her enemies really are? STRIKE THE ZITHER was an interesting fantasy read inspired by the Chinese literature ‘Three Kingdoms.’ I really liked the first half of the book with all of the war strategy. It kept me turning pages to see how the action was going to play out and what plans were going to be made next. Then around halfway through, a twist occurs that unfortunately changed my enjoyment of the book significantly and left me feeling like the later half was a slog to read. I lost all connection to the characters and didn’t feel the same excitement as when I first started reading. STRIKE THE ZITHER is the first book in Joan He’s Kingdom of Three duology. I will probably read the second book at some point out of curiosity to see what the conclusion is, though it’s not on the top of my list. While this wasn’t the best book for me overall, fans of YA fantasy may want to give this book a try as they may like the twist.

After being fired from his job as a police officer for being caught in a gay bar raid, Andy is offered employment investigating the death of the head of a famous soap empire. Andy finds himself staying at Lavender House, home of a queer family where no one hides who they are within the house but all fear what will become of them if the outside world finds out their secrets. As he works to uncover if there’s a murderer among them, Andy contemplates if the freedom of Lavender House is truly free. I greatly enjoyed LAVENDER HOUSE. The story sucked me in from the first pages with an immediate feeling like I was in a film noir. The setting of 1950s San Francisco was fantastic. I loved the queer representation amongst all the characters. There’s a lot of social commentary and thought-provoking moments which I found to make the book very engaging. The plot moved at a great pace. I didn’t have the murderer figured out right away which is always a plus. The ending was satisfying and also open-ended enough that it could smoothly lead into a sequel if the author does so. I would happily read a second book if this became a series. If my home responsibilities had not been in the way, this is a book that I easily would have read in one sitting as it kept me turning pages. LAVENDER HOUSE was a great queer historical fiction mystery that I’d highly recommend.

In FRIZZY, a middle-grade level graphic novel, Marlene struggles with the conflict between her family’s expectations of what makes her “presentable” and her desire to wear her hair as its natural curls. She hates going to the salon to have her hair straightened. Will Marlene figure out how to feel comfortable being herself and be able to convey this to her family? FRIZZY is a fantastic graphic novel with an overall positive message. Despite being simplistic in nature due to the middle-grade audience level, the writing conveys what needs to be said in an effective manner and can appeal to a larger audience. The graphics are wonderful and really pull the book together. Graphic novels aren’t usually my preference, but this one was really great. It’s hard to read this book and not feel empathy for Marlene. I’d recommend FRIZZY to anyone looking for a middle-grade graphic novel with a meaningful message.

Alice Sun is different from the other students at her elite boarding school. They come from rich families and Alice’s parents while once barely able to afford her tuition, now cannot afford to keep her in school. Something changes though and Alice becomes even more different – she turns uncontrollably invisible. Realizing that she can use this to her advantage, Alice discovers her classmates’ secrets and sells them. But how far will things go? IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN was filled with action, intrigue, and social commentary which made for an engaging read. I love academia settings so the premise of this book sounded interesting right from the start. I liked the writing style. The plot moved along at a good pace. I would have liked to see a bit more character development. The social commentary was nicely wrapped in and brought up some though-provoking subjects. I’d recommend IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN to those looking for an entertaining YA read with magical realism.

Giada’s family has magical powers that they use for healing. On the cusp of her thirteenth birthday, Giada must decide whether she will follow her family legacy of healing humans or follow her heart’s desire to heal animals, something that is not allowed. HOW TO HEAL A GRYPHON was a delightful middle-grade fantasy book. I loved the adorably spunky main character, Giada. I’m a fan of books that explore family dynamics and tradition especially when the conflict between characters leads to character development. The writing flowed well and the plot moved along at a good pace. I liked how the fantasy aspects of Giada’s world were created. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on Giada’s healing of animals. Given the premise of the story, I thought this would have played a larger role in the book than it did. HOW TO HEAL A GRYPHON is a well-written and appropriate/enjoyable book for a middle-grade audience. Despite being targeted for that age range, this is a book that I liked reading as an adult. I would recommend it.

Headed into senior year, Avery’s life abruptly changes as her family moves from DC to small-town Georgia to be with her grandmother who’s terminally ill. Things aren’t going well due to longstanding conflict between Avery’s mom and grandmother and no one is willing to talk to her about it. She finds solace in new friendships with her neighbor, Simone, and Jade, a classmate. As Avery begins to discover things about her family’s past, her friendship with Simone turns into romance. Will Avery keep searching for the truth about what happened years ago at the risk of affecting her relationships or will she let it go? WE DESERVE MONUMENTS was a fantastic YA contemporary fiction book. The author captured an array of emotions in a raw and vulnerable way that felt so real. The characters were great. I really loved Mama Letty and how her relationship with Avery developed. The story is very character-driven so for those used to action-packed books, it may be slow, but I felt the pacing worked well overall. Many themes are explored including family, racism, trauma, and coming-of-age. Something that was revealed toward the end surprised me and was completely not on my radar which made the conclusion interesting. Upon finishing reading and reflecting, it’s easy to see why the title chosen is the perfect fit. WE DESERVE MONUMENTS would be a great read for fans of YA or queer fiction. Thank you to Roaring Book Press for the giveaway copy.

Avril’s mother drowned when she was five years old. At seventeen, she returns to the scene of the incident – a theater camp – hoping to discover the truth of what really happened all those years ago. The death was determined to be an accident but Avril has always had the feeling that is not accurate. SECRETS SO DEEP was a slow burn, hauntingly atmospheric thriller. Despite the slow pace, I found myself quickly turning pages, engrossed in the story. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships with each other, though they didn’t always make the best choices. Theater settings can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes they are too over-the-top dramatic and it detracts from the story but in this case, I found the level of the theater setting and theme to be good. There were lots of little twists that kept the plot interesting. I’d recommend SECRETS SO DEEP to YA thriller fans.

THE PICTURE BRIDE was a fantastic historical fiction read. I found Willow’s story to be captivating and loved that her connections to her friends were also included so that we were able to see how other picture brides found their way as well. I can’t imagine being in Willow’s situation, uprooting my life and traveling so far away to marry someone I’d only seen a photo of. As if the disappointment in finding out the matchmaker lied to her about being able to attend school and that her husband was a land owner wasn’t enough, Willow faced challenge after challenge yet somehow still persevered. Her strength was phenomenal and kept me turning pages to see how she would navigate whatever was thrown at her next. The pacing was well done. There was a twist toward the end of the book that took me by surprise. I liked that the author noted how this book came to fruition and the translator gave notes on the methods of translation. Given that I do not speak or read in the original language, it’s difficult to comment on the quality of translation. I can say that I appreciate the careful thought and detail taken by the translator as described and I found the notes to be an interesting insight into the process. This is the first of Lee Geum-Yi’s books to be translated to English. I would certainly read others should they be translated in the future. I enjoyed THE PICTURE BRIDE very much and would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction.

The families that own two neighboring bakeries, Salt and Sugar, are in a feud that has spanned generations when big changes happen that threaten both businesses. Can Lari from Salt and Pedro from Sugar find a way to work together to save the bakeries despite the rest of their families at each other’s throats? SALT AND SUGAR is a YA romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope. The premise in the synopsis was enough to catch my attention but overall, this book did not deliver for me. I found the world building to be lacking. I kept forgetting where the book was taking place as the setting didn’t seem to strongly or consistently speak of Brazil outside of the food. There wasn’t significant character development and the family feud was overly dramatic. The constant yelling or miscommunication got to be a bit much. An overwhelming amount of time was spent detailing food. The first ¾ of the book was very slow paced and didn’t feel like much was driving the plot forward. It was great that themes of grief, family, and community were included, but it felt like they got lost within the drama and cooking descriptions. The last part of the book finally picked up in action, culminating in a somewhat rushed feeling conclusion. SALT AND SUGAR was a cute concept for a YA romance but ultimately wasn’t a favorite of mine. Fans of Romeo and Juliet retellings might enjoy it more.

It’s the summer before senior year and Hannah’s boyfriend has just broken up with her because he doesn’t think they have anything in common. He loves K-pop and K-dramas and Hannah has never embraced that part of her Korean identity. Her childhood best friend, Jacob, is the star of a K-drama and is visiting from Korea for the summer. They haven’t seen each other in years and had a falling out after he moved away. How will Hannah cope with having Jacob back in her life? Will she win her boyfriend back? SEOULMATES is a quick and cute YA childhood friends-to-lovers read. I liked the premise of the story. Having virtually no knowledge of K-pop or K-drama culture, I appreciated that the author gave snippets of info that helped a reader such as myself have a better handle on important aspects. I did find some of the dialogue to feel awkward and the character development a bit lacking. Overall, SEOULMATES was a good read for a YA romance.

A group of teenage semidioses are chosen for The Sunbearer Trials – a competition to determine who will be sacrificed to Sol to fuel the Sun Stones for the next ten years. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS started out on a good note but quickly went south for me. There were so many characters that all of the introductions began feeling cumbersome. I didn’t know if it was someone important to the story that I needed to remember or someone that was just being mentioned in passing. The largest issue I had with this book was not knowing whether it was trying to be middle grade, YA, or something else. The writing felt chaotic with respect to the target audience. There was far too much foul language to be middle grade and some of the topics discussed were more appropriate for YA or adult, yet the writing was often very simplified as if for a younger child. I find enjoyment in reading across a variety of genres and age groups but the inconsistency of this book definitely hindered my ability to really enjoy it. One redeeming quality was the abundant LGBTQIA+ representation. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is the first book in Aiden Thomas’ The Sunbearer Duology. It ends with “To Be Continued” to allow for continuation to the second book. It’s unlikely that I will continue reading this series.

Shay, a teenage witch, competes for a scholarship that will allow her to attend the college of her dreams – one that she couldn’t afford otherwise. When asked to star in the school’s musical, Shay feels pressured to say yes because the director is on the scholarship committee. Once rehearsals begin, Shay starts to experience unwanted behaviors from him. Can she put a stop to it without jeopardizing her scholarship hopes? HOW TO SUCCEED IN WITCHCRAFT was a great YA fantasy read filled with fantastic social commentary. Brophy created a high school world with realistic issues that teens experience and weaved in the magic of the characters being witches with the added witch-related problems they face. It was the perfect level of fantasy and romance. I liked the dynamics between the characters who were either love-to-love-them or love-to-hate-them. The setting of musical theater wasn’t over-the-top which was nice. Brophy writes in a way that invites the reader to have empathy for the characters even if they can’t personally identify with the same struggles. She’s hit the mark with this book for the YA audience, though it will still be appealing to some adult readers. HOW TO SUCCEED IN WITCHCRAFT is recommended for fans of YA fantasy, rivals-to-lovers romance, sapphic romance, queer rep, or witchy books. I really enjoyed this debut and will keep an eye out for future works by Aislinn Brophy. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the finished copy.

L.A. Times reporter, Paul Pringle, receives a tip that turns into a monster of an investigation into crimes, cover-ups and scandals involving high-profile employees of the University of Southern California. The corruption hits close to home when Pringle and his colleagues run into trouble reporting their stories in their very own newsroom. BAD CITY reads like a thriller but it’s horrifyingly nonfiction. Pringle is clearly a skilled investigative journalist. I’m not sure how anyone can read this book and not come away with an appreciation for the intense amount of work that those such as Pringle put into the pieces they research and write. I was angered the entire time while reading BAD CITY. I know that corruption runs rampant in many areas but to read such a detailed account just hurts. The only negative I can say about this book is that there were a few parts that started to feel a little tangential. Otherwise, this is an excellent read. I’d recommend BAD CITY to those looking for a nonfiction thriller.

After his wife receives some devastating health-related news, she makes him promise that they will go on a grand adventure. And thus begins YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE; a true story of the author and his wife’s journey to bike The Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath trails – all 350 miles. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE hit close to home for me in several ways, making it hard to put down. The author writes with such an easy-going tone that it feels like a good friend is telling you their story. He’s candid when speaking about his upbringing, family, religion, marriage, and feelings about the bike trip. The witty writing balanced out more serious parts. It’s hard not to think about your own relationships and how you respond to hardships while reading. This book is a nice reminder that humor can ease the burden of our difficulties and help us persevere. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, and what it means to truly keep a promise. I’d recommend this book. Thank you to Zondervan for the finished copy.

After Aria ends up in a bad position during a graduation party, her parents send her to live with her grandmother in California for the summer. Her disappointment in being away from her friends soon ends when she meets her grandmother’s gardener, Steph, and is introduced to the queer community that Steph is a part of. A SCATTER OF LIGHT is a companion novel to Malinda Lo’s LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB. I thought LAST NIGHT was fantastic and was very excited to read A SCATTER, however it fell somewhat short of my expectations. In LAST NIGHT, I felt completely swept up in the world Lo built as though I was experiencing things along with the characters. A SCATTER had more of a disconnect for me in that aspect. There were areas that I wish had gone deeper. I was left with an overall sense of superficiality which was disappointing because Lo certainly has the writing talent. With regard to being a companion novel – there’s minimal reference to LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB, so little that it really could have been cut and A SCATTER OF LIGHT could have been advertised as its own entity void of connection. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more that way. It’s possible that I’m too heavily comparing it to LAST NIGHT. A SCATTER OF LIGHT would be recommended for those looking for a queer coming-of-age book. I’m glad that I gave it a chance, though my preference is for LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB. Thank you to Dutton/Penguin Random House for the finished copy.

At sixteen years old, Selestra spends her days trapped in the king’s castle, awaiting her fate to become his next witch upon turning eighteen. Having always been told she is destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps of stealing souls to feed the king’s immortality, Selestra’s world is upended when she sees a prediction linking her death to that of Nox, a soldier in the king’s army. Selestra and Nox must join together to fight the king. PRINCESS OF SOULS is a YA fantasy romance inspired by the tale of Rapunzel. I liked how the Rapunzel aspect was weaved into the book ever so slightly, giving a touch of influence to the story but ultimately allowing PRINCESS OF SOULS to have its own uniqueness. There’s a lovely map of The Six Isles at the beginning of the book. The world building was fantastic. I felt like I was on the journey with Selestra and Nox. The characters were well written. Being dual POV narration, there was insight into both Selestra’s and Nox’s thoughts. The romance was slow burn, enemies to lovers, and included playful banter throughout. The action and the fantasy world kept me turning pages. I really enjoyed PRINCESS OF SOULS and would recommend to fans of YA fantasy romance. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I plan to check out some of her other works. Thank you to Feiwel and Friends for the finished copy.

“We all live in cages. Only those of us who are lucky get to choose which one.” After watching a murderer flee the crime scene, Catrin helps the investigator assigned to the case, Simon. They soon find themselves tracking a serial killer. Simon knows far too much about the mind of a killer and Catrin keeps her supernatural sight abilities secret. How long can secrets last when there’s a killer running around? BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT is a YA fantasy mystery-thriller that doesn’t read like a typical angsty YA book. I quickly became engrossed in Catrin’s world, turning pages to see if I could solve the mystery of who the murderer was. I was guessing up to the end. I enjoyed the world building. The idea of Catrin’s supernatural ability to have increased sight being granted by the moon was interesting and I liked how it was executed within plot. There are some deeper topics to think about when reading – how do we treat people with mental illness? How do we treat s3x workers? Our own actions towards these populations as well as society as a whole are called into question. I always enjoy when a book is thought provoking. BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT was an enjoyable read that I’d recommend to fantasy mystery-thriller fans.

SEND HER BACK is a collection of 16 short stories about black women’s immigrant experience in the US. Although fiction, the book seems as if it’s non-fiction. Munashe Kaseke excels at creating characters that feel real, making it hard not to empathize. Both poignant and hopeful, SEND HER BACK is a read that deals with some heavy topics including racism, sexism, and abuse. Kaseke chooses an interesting format of using first- and third-person narration as well as a couple of stories in the not often used second-person. A few things kept this from being a higher rated read for me. There was an inconsistency in the writing with some stories being significantly stronger than others. After a certain point, the protagonists meshed together. Though each story centered on a different Zimbabwean woman’s experience, many of the stories felt too similar. I may have preferred several novellas instead of this larger short story collection so that there could have been more character development and less overlap between story themes. Altogether, this was a good read to learn more about Zimbabwean culture and the immigrant experience. I will keep an eye out for any future books by this author. I’d recommend SEND HER BACK to anyone looking to read about black women’s immigrant experience in the US with an emphasis on Zimbabwean culture.

“ ‘If you don’t come with me, I might die.’ Those were the last words my sister ever said to me.” Nerdy horror movie lover Alice watches her sister’s murder on Halloween night in a corn maze. One year later, she’s set to testify against the accused but before she can take the stand, a Sidney Prescott look-a-like knocks her unconscious in the bathroom of the courthouse. Alice is transported back to the night of the murder and the clock starts ticking. Can she figure out who the killer really is before midnight and also save her sister? HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR MURDER is a fun YA horror book. The pace keeps up well throughout with some twists and turns that culminate in a surprising ending. Tons of horror/slasher movie references litter this book, so if you’re a movie buff, you’ll likely find extra enjoyment. The book reads a lot like a movie – I was yelling at the book in my head… “don’t do that” or “don’t go in there” and it felt the same as reacting to a movie. I’m not super huge into horror movies but still knew almost all the references so things made sense. Someone who is not a movie watcher at all may lose some of the context. There’s definitely a nostalgic feel. Some parts felt predictable but not so much that it ruined the book for me overall. I found HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR MURDER to be a fun horror read and would recommend to those looking for a YA horror book, especially anyone who is a fan of horror/slasher movies.

At seventeen-years-old, Adanna Nkwachi feels pressure in many areas of her life. Her parents have high expectations of her schooling. Her fellow debate team members rely on her to win. Her cousin needs help with her over-the-top Nigerian wedding to a celebrity. Her love life is beyond confusing. To top all of this off, her brother left home years ago with no explanation and since then she has felt extra pressure to please her parents. But what does dealing with all of this cost Adanna? “My name at school is Sophie. My name at home is Adanna. Everyone at school calls me Sophie, my middle name, and whenever I hear it, it’s my trigger to put away the Skeleboy and brazen Afrobeats playlists, to stop slipping in and out of pidgin English, and turn on my white voice.” TWICE AS PERFECT is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that explores what it means to grow up in two worlds and how to find a sense of self. The title fits perfectly with the theme of the book which was well developed. Louisa Onome has created characters that are hard not to empathize with, despite them being unlikeable at times. The Nigerian culture is wonderfully conveyed, including snippets of pidgin dialogue interspersed throughout the book. I found this to be a very satisfying read and would recommend it. This is the first book I have read from this author. I will be checking out her other work. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the copy.

Dr. Marks writes in a friendly tone, systematically presenting the material in a textbook-like format. Though this is an interesting read for anyone, the following readers specifically should find benefit from this book: those with anxiety looking to better understand their diagnosis, those who are undiagnosed and wondering if what they are experiencing is anxiety, those who are interested in exploring alternative treatment options/tools for managing anxiety, those who are unsure when to seek professional mental health assistance, family/friends of someone with anxiety looking to better understand what their loved one experiences. Overall, WHY AM I SO ANXIOUS? is an informative read. Thank you to DK Penguin Random House for the finished copy.

Mukana Press has put together an eclectic mix of short stories in its anthology of African writing entitled THE NEWLYWEDS’ WINDOW. In the Southern African language of Shona, “Mukana” means “opportunity.” With the goal to give underrepresented authors the opportunity for their work to be published and shared the world over, this anthology packs a good punch. The collection has a story for everyone and while the genres vary greatly – horror, mysticism, and speculative fiction to name a few – each story is connected by our shared human experience. These authors have unique voices, differing writing styles, hail from countries thousands of miles and oceans away from me, with cultures that I only know pieces of, yet I still feel a connection to their stories. Though we all experience things in our individual ways, there are still universals that are common everywhere – family, coming-of-age, tradition, superstition, fear, panic, curiosity, friendship. Some of the stories had cliff-hanger endings. I really liked this. I am not one to shy away from books that don’t give a happy-ever-after ending and the unsettling feeling that the end of several of these pieces gave actually made me appreciate them more. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I’d recommend THE NEWLYWEDS’ WINDOW to fans of short stories, African literature, or anyone looking to diversify their reading. Thank you to Mukana Press for the copy.

Ziva, an 18-year-old blacksmith with severe social anxiety, goes on the run with her sister, a hired mercenary, and a scholar after finding out her latest creation, an all-powerful magic sword, is intended to be used for evil by the warlord that commissioned it. I found BLADE OF SECRETS to be a mediocre YA fantasy read. Although the concept of the story was enticing, the world building was lacking. Though there was some action, none of it was very intense so I didn’t find the book to be a gripping page-turner. There is also a romance sub-plot. This is book one of a duology and does end on a cliff-hanger. Even so, I don’t feel very motivated to pursue the second book. BLADE OF SECRETS wasn’t the best fit for me but fans of YA fantasy or those looking for social anxiety character representation might like to give it a try.