“A Right Worthy Woman” by Ruth P. Watson (ARC Review)

Watson, Ruth P. A Right Worthy Woman. New York: Atria Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1668003022 | $27.99 USD | 304 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

In the vein of The Engineer’s Wife and Carolina Built, an inspiring novel based on the remarkable true story of Virginia’s Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.

Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her mother’s affluent white clients. She vowed to not only secure the same kind of home and finery for herself, but she would also help others in her community achieve the same.

With her single-minded determination, Maggie buckled down and went from schoolteacher to secretary-treasurer of the Independent Order of St. Luke, founder of a newspaper, a bank, and a department store where Black customers were treated with respect. With the help of influential friends like W.E.B. DuBois and Mary McLeod, she revolutionized Richmond in ways that are still felt today. Now, her rich, full story is revealed in this stirring and intimate novel.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review, All opinions are my own.

A Right Worthy Woman tells the story of Maggie Lena Walker, the first Black woman to start a bank, additionally rising to become the first Black woman to serve as bank president. With this book compared to Carolina Built, it has the similar style of biographical fiction, following Maggie in her rise from “humble” beginnings in post-Civil War Virginia, and how she begins her determined rise to greatness. She had obstacles that stood in her way, but she never let that stop her from trying, starting small and growing from learning how to run a business from her mom to becoming a teacher to establishing and running her own bank. 

This book did fall into some of the pitfalls of biographical fiction, where it has a lot of ground to cover in a concise number of pages. It results in some of the story feeling very surface-level, while covering a long period of time. It’s very much a personal preference, but I do sometimes struggle with this style of book for this reason, as it results in there being a level of distance between the reader and the characters. I can appreciate the reasons for why Ruth P. Watson chose to tell the story this way, to capture the major high (and low) points of Maggie’s story, however. 

In spite of my personal issues, I enjoyed this book for the most part, and love that love that this book exposed me to Maggie’s life and contributions. If you enjoy biographical historical fiction about lesser known people, especially from Black women’s history, I’d recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio

Ruth P. Watson is the author of Blackberry Days of SummerAn Elderberry FallCranberry Winter, and Strawberry Spring. A musical stage play, Blackberry Daze, is based on her debut novel. She is the recipient of the Caversham Fellowship, an artist and writer’s residency in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where she published her first children’s book in Zulu, Our Secret Bond. She is a freelance writer and member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and has written for UpscaleAtlanta Journal-Constitution, and other publications. She is an adjunct professor and project manager, who lives with family in Atlanta, Georgia.

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“Kismat Connection” by Ananya Devarajan (ARC Review)

Devarajan, Ananya. Kismat Connection. Toronto, Ontario: Inkyard Press, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1335453686 | $19.99 USD | 304 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

“A warm, feel good read.” —Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

“A gorgeous debut.” —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners 

In this charming YA debut, a girl who’s determined to prove her star chart wrong ropes her longtime best friend into an experimental relationship—not knowing that he has been in love with her for years.
 
Is it possible to change your fate?

Madhuri Iyer is doomed. Doomed for her upcoming senior year to be a total failure, according to her astrology-obsessed mother, and doomed to a happily ever after with her first boyfriend, according to her family curse.

Determined to prove the existence of her free will, Madhuri devises an experimental relationship with the one boy she knows she’ll never fall for: her childhood best friend, Arjun Mehta. But Arjun’s feelings for her are a variable she didn’t account for.

As Madhuri starts to fall for her experimental boyfriend, she’ll have to decide if charting her own destiny is worth breaking Arjun’s heart—and her own.

Review

4 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Kismat Connection is a sweet debut romance, and I love how it explores interesting cultural themes, with a dominant one being faith/mysticism vs practicality/science. I love how it leads into this interesting twist on “fake dating,” with Madhuri determined to break tradition and run an experiment to prove everyone wrong. Madhuri feels so realistic in her struggle to navigate her place within her family and culture, when she doesn’t necessarily buy into a lot of their beliefs, and I loved her journey to figuring out when it was worth it to rebel, and when to let fate take the wheel. 

I loved her connection with Arjun, because they have known each other for years as friends. And it was so sweet that he was already in love with her, and she was the one who took time to really see how he felt, and realized she reciprocated (and maybe the prophecy wasn’t as ridiculous as she thought). 

While the romance is the central arc of the book, I liked how the family dynamics shined through. Arjun is very much an honorary member of the Iyer family, and while Madhuri has her differences with the rest of her family, there’s generally positive vibes of love and acceptance between them. 

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to what Ananya Devarajan writes next! If you’re looking for a sweet YA multicultural romance, I recommend checking this one out! 

Author Bio

Ananya Devarajan is in her fourth and final year at the University of California, Irvine, where she is pursuing a major in Neurobiology and Behavior as well as a minor in English. After graduation, she will be attending medical school at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown, New York. Like many of her characters, Ananya is a second-generation Indian American young adult.

Her love for storytelling began on Wattpad, where she grew her audience as a Featured Author, and she later went on to win first place in TeenPit 2019. Now, Ananya writes young adult romance novels featuring chaotic Desi teenagers, swoon-worthy banter, and lighthearted drama with a speculative twist. In her free time, she can be found watching her favorite Bollywood movies or studying for yet another Anatomy exam. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @ananyad12.

Her debut novel, KISMAT CONNECTION, will be published on June 13, 2023 by Inkyard Press and HarperCollins. She is represented by the wonderful Ann Leslie Tuttle at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret LLC.

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“Forget Me Not” by Alyson Derrick (Review)

Derrick, Alyson. Forget Me Not. New York: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1665902373 | $19.99 USD | 308 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Perfect for fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Five Feet Apart, this tender solo debut by the coauthor of New York Times bestseller She Gets the Girl is a romantic ode to the strength of love and the power of choosing each other, against odds and obstacles, again and again.

What would you do if you forgot the love of your life ever even existed?

Stevie and Nora had a love. A secret, epic, once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. They also had a plan: to leave their small, ultra-conservative town and families behind after graduation and move to California, where they could finally stop hiding that love.

But then Stevie has a terrible fall. And when she comes to, she can remember nothing of the last two years—not California, not coming to terms with her sexuality, not even Nora. Suddenly, Stevie finds herself in a life she doesn’t quite understand, one where she’s estranged from her parents, drifting away from her friends, lying about the hours she works, dating a boy she can’t remember crushing on, and headed towards a future that isn’t at all what her fifteen-year-old self would have envisioned.

And Nora finds herself…forgotten. Can the two beat the odds a second time and find their way back together when “together” itself is just a lost memory?

Review

4 stars

I’ve been curious to see what Alyson Derrick would release next after I really enjoyed the book she co-authored with her wife Rachael Lippincott. And while Forget Me Not is Derrick’s solo debut, it blew me away. 

Amnesia romance  plots can be hard to pull off, especially when you have to convey both the disorientation of the person who lost their memory and the feelings of abandonment of  the person who retains their memories, which is what the blurb of this book promised. But I was satisfied with how Derrick made it work. 

The narrative is conveyed mostly through Stevie’s perspective. I loved how the story conveyed her journey to finding herself again, rediscovering the aspects of herself that she had first articulated in the past two years which she had now lost. To see her assert herself again in what she wants, from her desire to be with Nora to going off to LA and pursuing her dreams there, was beautiful. 

While Nora isn’t a main POV character, I can understand why this choice was made. She does still get a chance to speak in the diary/letters she writes to Stevie. And ultimately, while she does still have problems in her life, like her own unsupportive family, she has come into her own already, and I like that she tried to help Stevie find herself again without overstepping. 

The issue of their families and rural, conservative community not accepting, or even shunning them, is a threat that comes into play, and I like the way this was resolved. While there are some people who are more closed-minded, I was impressed by how things turned out with Stevie’s parents, with them only wanting their daughter to be happy. 

This is such a heartfelt read, and hits home in a time where LGBTQ+ people are increasingly being targeted. If you’re looking for a book that provides hope in these troubling times, I enthusiastically recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio

Alyson Derrick was born and raised in Greenville, Pennsylvania, a town where burn barrels take the place of recycling bins. After making her great escape to Pittsburgh, where she earned her bachelor’s in English writing, Alyson started her own food truck, but soon realized she much prefers telling stories over slinging cheesesteaks. She is the coauthor of New York Times bestseller She Gets the Girl and author of Forget Me Not. Alyson currently resides in Pennsylvania with her wife and their dog, Hank.

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“A Crown of Ivy and Glass” (The Middlemist Trilogy #1) by Claire Legrand (ARC Review)

Legrand, Claire. A Crown of Ivy and Glass. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1728231990 | $25.99 USD | 560 pages | Fantasy Romance

Blurb

New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, makes her stunning adult debut with A Crown of Ivy and Glass, a lush, sweeping fantasy-romance series starter that’s perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She’s young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.

Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.

Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d’Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She’ll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families’ blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.

But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.

Review

3 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

A Crown of Ivy and Glass is Claire Legrand’s adult debut, and from what I’ve seen, it’s received rather polarizing responses. Having now finished it, I understand why, as while there’s potential here, it didn’t blow me away. 

The world building is one of the standouts, and I would be open to seeing what Legrand does with it going forward. The pitch of “Bridgerton meets ACOTAR” captures the vibe pretty well, as the world feels somewhat Regency-inspired, but also fairy tale-esque. The world is fun to explore, and if it weren’t let down by some other aspects, I’d have enjoyed it a little more. 

Gemma was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I didn’t care for her as much at the beginning, but she grew on me as the book went on. I enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between her chronic pain and her inability to do magic, and how it wasn’t a story that demonized disability. I also enjoyed her complex relationships with her sisters, and they reminded me a little of the aspects of ACOTAR I liked before giving up on that series. 

Talan was fine…he’d typically be the type of character I like, being a softer sort of character. But he didn’t feel as well developed to me, and she ended up falling in love with him pretty quick for some inexplicable reason. 

The  main downfall for me is that this book  was so long, and it didn’t feel like it needed to be. It was unevenly paced, droning on in places, and it didn’t feel like a single coherent story, but a couple different loosely connected ones crammed haphazardly together instead. 

I do see potential in this series, and I may check out future installments to see how Legrand grows as a writer. And as flawed as this book is, I’d recommend anyone looking for more fantasy romance to give it a chance to see what they think. 

Author Bio

Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now she is the New York Times bestselling author of eleven published novels, with more on the way.

Her first novel is The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012. She is also the author of The Year of Shadows, a ghost story for middle grade readers; and Winterspell, a young adult re-telling of The Nutcracker. Some Kind of Happiness, her middle grade novel about mental illness, family secrets, and the power of storytelling, is a 2017 Edgar Award Nominee. Claire’s latest middle grade novel, Thornlight, is a classic fantasy-adventure and a companion novel to the acclaimed Foxheart, a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection. She is one of the four authors behind The Cabinet of Curiosities, an anthology of dark middle grade short fiction that was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street Best Book, and among the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2014.

Her first young adult horror novel, Sawkill Girls, received five starred reviews. It was also a 2018 Bram Stoker Award finalist and a 2019 Lambda Literary Award finalist. Her second young adult horror novel, Extasia, was a Spring 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List pick.

Furyborn, an epic fantasy novel for young adults, debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the first book in the Empirium Trilogy. The next book in the series, Kingsbane, was also an instant New York Times bestseller. The final book in the series, Lightbringer, released October 13, 2020.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass—the first book in her debut adult series, the Middlemist Trilogy—will release in spring 2023.

When not writing, Claire enjoys tending to her many plants, learning about fashion and interior design, and quoting Star Trek to anyone who will listen.

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“Viva Lola Espinoza” by Ella Cerón (Review)

Cerón, Ella. Viva Lola Espinoza! New York: Kokila, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593405628 | $19.99 USD | 392 pages | YA Contemporary/Magical Realism

Blurb

A debut young adult novel that’s Pride & Prejudice with a dash of magic, about a booksmart teen who spends the summer in Mexico City, meets two very cute boys, attempts to learn Spanish, and uncovers a family secret that changes her life forever.

Lola Espinoza is cursed in love. Well, maybe not actually cursed — magic isn’t real, is it? When Lola goes to spend the summer with her grandmother in Mexico City and meets handsome, flirtatious Rio, she discovers the unbelievable truth: Magic is very real, and what she’d always written off as bad luck is actually, truly . . . a curse. If Lola ever wants to fall in love without suffering the consequences, she’ll have to break the curse. She finds an unlikely curse-breaking companion in Javi, a seemingly stoic boy she meets while working in her cousin’s restaurant. Javi is willing to help Lola look into this family curse of hers, and Lola needs all the help she can get. Over the course of one summer — filled with food, family, and two very different boys — Lola explores Mexico City while learning about herself, her heritage, and the magic around us all.SEE LESS

Review

3.5  stars

Viva Lola Espinoza wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I admit that “Pride and Prejudice with a dash of magic” feels quite vague. Some of the basic P&P plot elements are there, but aside from a bit of a rivalry and somewhat of a love triangle thing, I didn’t see much of it. It’s also been compared to Booksmart, which I haven’t seen, so I can’t say whether that is a better comparison. 

But as a story in its own right, it’s pretty good. I liked Lola, and I can understand her complex relationship with her family’s culture, even though she’s fairly smart and excels in other areas. While the premise of not being able to come home until you speak your family’s native language feels a bit far-fetched, it’s still easy to roll with it for the most part. 

I love that this book provides a true immersion in Mexican culture, and Lola coming from an Americanized perspective makes her a great protagonist for this, as she’s learning about all of this along with the reader. That being said, I appreciate that Ella Cerón doesn’t translate the Spanish phrases, allowing them to speak for themselves through context. 

As this book has a “slice–of-life” vibe, even with Lola’s ultimate goals over the course of the narrative of figuring out how to break  the curse, reconnecting with her culture, and learning about life in general, the pacing is rather slow at times. It meanders in places, focusing on the mundane, and I admit to questioning if I should continue. However, I did ultimately feel like this book was worth it, in spite of the moments of lull. The choice to try to juggle Lola’s personal arc with the curse dragged the book down a lot too, when I feel like some of the excess could have been cut by making a choice to have a more magic-focused story, or more straightforward coming-of-age narrative. 

While the romance didn’t feel as prominent as I initially expected, and the ending in that regard felt a bit ambiguous, I did enjoy it overall. Javi plays a great role in Lola’s growth, and complements her on a personal level. 

While I didn’t exactly care for the way some aspects of this book were executed, I enjoyed what this book was trying to do for the most part. If you’re looking for a multicultural coming-of-age story that also has light magic aspects, I’d recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio

Ella Cerón is a writer and editor from Los Angeles, California. She lives in New York City with two black cats.

Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, GQ, InStyle, and other major publications. Viva Lola Espinoza is her first novel.

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“The Last Lifeboat” by Hazel Gaynor (ARC Review)

Gaynor, Hazel. The Last Lifeboat. New York: Berkley, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593440315 | $17.00 USD | 384 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

A Most Anticipated Book by Real Simple ∙ SheReads ∙ BookBub ∙ and more!

Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

 
1940, Kent: Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas.
 
1940, London: Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible choice: keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away.
 
When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Last Lifeboat is another engaging read from Hazel Gaynor. And once again, she provides insight into a part of history that I didn’t know much about (although it is a topic that has become quite a hot commodity with authors as of late). While the evacuation of children in Britain to the countryside in Operation Pied Piper is much more well-known, I was fascinated to find out that there were efforts to send children overseas, with similar complications for the families involved, and even more complications for the people trying to orchestrate it, thanks to the greater potential for maritime disasters, especially during wartime. 

Gaynor captures two perspectives of this situation beautifully. While the ship and characters are fictional, Gaynor draws on real events to depict what happened to the SS Carlisle, and you get a sense of the harrowing nature of the events they faced. Alice, one of the women accompanying the children on the voyage, is inspired by a real person, and I admire how she put herself in a situation outside her comfort zone a bit by taking on this position as the childrens’ teacher, and has to take on even more responsibility in taking care of them for days when the ship sinks and they’re forced to go off into a lifeboat for days. 

Lily, meanwhile, is mother to one of the children sent overseas, and I love how her perspective captures the complicated choices wartime and other difficult situations prompt parents to have to make for the sake of their children. Parents like Lily put their trust in others, and don’t anticipate that their children will essentially be left to their own devices in the event of disaster. 

Gaynor masterfully intertwines the two women’s narratives, displaying the connection between them even though they don’t interact. Both are dynamic characters who are easy to root for, and it’s one of those books where I felt the book was well balanced between them, and the arcs of Alice and the children fight for their survival and Lily’s concern over her children’s fate are equally engaging 

I really enjoyed this, and I’d recommend it to fans of historical fiction about parts of history that aren’t as well-known/talked about/depicted in fiction and media. 

Author Bio

Author Hazel Gaynor. 07/09/2021 Photograph: ©Fran Veale Please credit

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York TimesUSA TodayIrish Times, and international bestselling author. Her most recent historical novel, set in China during WWII—published in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand as The Bird in the Bamboo Cage and in the USA and Canada as When We Were Young & Brave—was an Irish Times bestseller, a national bestseller in the USA, and was short-listed for the 2020 Irish Book Awards.

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“Chaos & Flame” by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland (Review)

Gratton, Tessa, & Justina Ireland. Chaos & Flame. New York: Razorbill, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593353325 | $19.99 USD | 325 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

From New York Times bestselling author Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton comes the first book in a ferocious YA fantasy duology featuring ancient magic, warring factions, and a romance between the two people in the world with the most cause to hate one another.

Darling Seabreak cannot remember anything before the murder of her family at the hands of House Dragon, but she knows she owes her life to both the power of her Chaos Boon and House Kraken for liberating her from the sewers where she spent her childhood. So when her adoptive Kraken father is captured in battle, Darling vows to save him—even if that means killing each and every last member of House Dragon.
 
Talon Goldhoard has always been a dutiful War Prince for House Dragon, bravely leading the elite troops of his brother, the High Prince Regent. But lately his brother’s erratic rule threatens to undo a hundred years of House Dragon’s hard work, and factions are turning to Talon to unseat him. Talon resists, until he’s ambushed by a fierce girl who looks exactly like the one his brother has painted obsessively, repeatedly, for years, and Talon knows she’s the key to everything.
 
Together, Darling and Talon must navigate the treacherous waters of House politics, caught up in the complicated game the High Prince Regent is playing against everyone. The unlikeliest of allies, they’ll have to stop fighting each other long enough to learn to fight together in order to survive the fiery prophecies and ancient blood magic threatening to devastate their entire world.SEE LESS

Review

4 stars

I was massively excited for a collaboration between Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton without even knowing anything about it. Justina Ireland is becoming one of my favorite Black YA SFF writers, and while I’ve read less of Tessa Gratton’s work (I think my only exposure to her was in an adult romance anthology), I was still interested to see what these two would do together. And while Chaos & Flame isn’t necessarily mind-blowing, it’s a lot of fun. 

The world building is one of the most fun parts of the story for me. I love how the endpapers of the book contain the sigils of each of the six family Houses, capturing a similar vibe to the world of Game of Thrones, with similar levels of political intrigue, but less blood and gore. With the main characters from two of these Houses, it was cool to see how these different Houses interacted and how the history of the world shaped the inter-factional politics. 

The two protagonists are both pretty interesting. Darling, in spite of her ridiculous name, is pretty compelling, especially with her story. She’s from House Sphinx, but was orphaned and taken in by House Kraken, training to be a warrior. She has a vendetta against House Dragon, who not only killed her family in the past, but are responsible for kidnapping her adoptive father. 

Talon’s story is pretty much the mirror of Darling’s, with his mother having been killed by House Sphinx, although the scions of House Dragon also happen to be  the High Prince Regents, the current one being his brother, Caspian. 

Caspian’s characterization is perhaps the most interesting part, as the questions around his sanity linger throughout, what with him obsessively painting images of Darling, which are a manifestation of his prophecy boon. The question around his state of mind kept me on edge throughout, especially as he demonstrated moments of clarity. 

Darling and Talon’s relationship is another highlight, with it surprising me in some ways just as often as it felt a little formulaic. While Talon appears initially as a bit prickly, I loved how soft he was and how open he was to his emotions and a connection to Darling. Darling is a bit more complex in her emotions, but she feels pretty believable, given what she’s been through. 

The one real weak spot is the pacing. Despite the book not being long (especially for a fantasy book), it does feel rather slow in places. But that could easily be because it is the first book of a series, and it’s also trying to ground readers within the fantasy world. 

This is a strong start to a series, and I’m curious to see where the next book(s) take the story. If you’re looking for a fun YA fantasy with a generous helping of political intrigue, I’d recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio

Tessa Gratton has wanted to be a paleontologist or a wizard since she was seven. Alas, she turned out to be too impatient to hunt dinosaurs, but is still searching for someone to teach her magic. After traveling the world with her military family, Tessa acquired a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Kansas. She went on to graduate school, but halfway through ditched the program in favor of the blood, violence, and drama of Anglo-Saxon poetry and to focus on writing fiction. She doesn’t have a master’s degree, but did translate her own version of Beowulf. Tessa lives in Kansas with her partner, her cats, and her mutant dog. You can visit her online at tessagratton.com.

Justina Ireland is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books, including Dread Nation, Deathless Divide, and the Scott O’Dell Award winning middle-grade, Ophie’s Ghosts.  

She is also the author of many Star Wars books and one of the story architects of Star Wars: The High Republic. You can find her work wherever great books are sold and you can find her on Instagram as @justina.ireland

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“We Could Be So Good” by Cat Sebastian (ARC Review)

Sebastian, Cat. We Could Be So Good. New York: Avon, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063272767 | $18.99 USD | 384 pages | Historical Romance

Blurb

Colleen Hoover meets The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in this mid-century romdram about a scrappy reporter and a newspaper mogul’s son—perfect for Newsies shippers.

“A spectacularly talented writer!” —Julia Quinn

Nick Russo has worked his way from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood to a reporting job at one of the city’s biggest newspapers. But the late 1950s are a hostile time for gay men, and Nick knows that he can’t let anyone into his life. He just never counted on meeting someone as impossible to say no to as Andy.

Andy Fleming’s newspaper-tycoon father wants him to take over the family business. Andy, though, has no intention of running the paper. He’s barely able to run his life—he’s never paid a bill on time, routinely gets lost on the way to work, and would rather gouge out his own eyes than deal with office politics. Andy agrees to work for a year in the newsroom, knowing he’ll make an ass of himself and hate every second of it.

Except, Nick Russo keeps rescuing Andy: showing him the ropes, tracking down his keys, freeing his tie when it gets stuck in the ancient filing cabinets. Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings they can’t deny. But what feels possible in secret—this fragile, tender thing between them—seems doomed in the light of day. Now Nick and Andy have to decide if, for the first time, they’re willing to fight.

Review

4 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

I was ridiculously excited about We Could Be So Good, because I’ve enjoyed Cat Sebastian’s pivot to more “modern” historicals lately. And while this book is set against the backdrop of the intensely homophobic 1950s, and there are “Certain Readers” who will say a time period like this “doesn’t hold potential for romance,” Cat Sebastian proves these naysayers wrong. She not only explores the more progressive/transgressive side to the 50s as far as queer culture, but also grounds it by imaging how these influences would impact her characters. 

Nick and Andy are both wonderful characters, and a perfect execution of “opposites attract” an “grumpy/sunshine.” The two of them complement each other beautifully, and I love how they take care of each other. There are simple, little things, like making each other soup (!) that warmed my heart. 

The pace is a bit slow at times, but I think Cat Sebastian masters the balance of a more “vibes-based” central romance against a sometimes turbulent time period. I am more than willing to sacrifice a “bit” of plot and pacing for the sake of a book that doesn’t revel in traumatizing queer characters, especially if you can make the impact of institutional homophobia clear without  it, which Sebastian absolutely does. 

This is an enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy queer romance and/or a historical romance set with a different time period beyond the standard Regency/Victorian. 

Author Bio

Cat Sebastian lives in a swampy part of the South with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Before her kids were born, she practiced law and taught high school and college writing. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s doing crossword puzzles, bird-watching, and wondering where she put her coffee cup.

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“The Gay Best Friend” by Nicolas DiDimozio (ARC Review)

DiDomozio, Nicolas. The Gay Best Friend. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1728270296 | $16.99 USD | 352 pages | Contemporary

Blurb

He’s always been the token gay best friend. Now, stuck between a warring bride and groom hurtling toward their one perfect day, he’s finally ready to focus on something new: himself.

Domenic Marino has become an expert at code-switching between the hypermasculine and ultrafeminine worlds of his two soon-to-be-wed best friends. But this summer—reeling from his own failed engagement and tasked with attending their bachelor and bachelorette parties—he’s anxious over having to play both sides.

The pressure is on. The bride wants Dom to keep things clean. The groom wants Dom to “let loose” with the guys. And Dom just wants to get out of this whole mess with his friendships intact.

But once the rowdy groomsmen show up at the beach house—including a surprise visit from the groom’s old frat brother, handsome and charming PGA star Bucky Graham—chaos (and unexpected romance) quickly ensues. By the time Dom returns for the bachelorette party, he’s accumulated a laundry list of secrets that threaten to destroy everything—from the wedding, to Bucky’s career, to the one thing Dom hasn’t been paying nearly enough attention to lately: his own life.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Nicolas DiDimozio is a new-to-me author, and I snapped up The Gay Best Friend when it was available to “Read Now” on NetGalley on a whim. While it was a bit more than I initially expected, I did mostly enjoy it. 

I really like how the story explores the trope of the “gay best friend” in a sort of meta way, with DiDomozio actively interrogating some of the tropes associated with this stereotype. The portrayal of what it’s like to be the token gay friend to two straight people (and having those people be in a relationship) felt realistic, and I liked how there were nuances to Dom being fairly confident when pursuing romantic relationships, but more reluctant to rock the boat with his friendships. 

This book is quite messy in some of the dynamics, especially with Dom’s friends and the myriad bad decisions everyone makes. However, the story does do its job at putting Dom (and the reader) in an uncomfortable position with these other people, and while there are some intense moments, it’s a case where the end mostly justifies the means. 

The romance is also pretty well fleshed out, and I liked how it highlighted Bucky’s struggle as a closeted queer man in sports, while also navigating his relationship with Dom. 

While the book was a bit more intense than I expected initially, I enjoyed it for the most part. I would recommend it to anyone looking for queer fiction with a messy cast of characters. 

Author Bio

Nicolas DiDomizio holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University and a master’s degree from NYU. His debut novel, Burn It All Down, was published in 2021 and praised as “unforgettable” by James Patterson. He lives in upstate New York with his partner Graig and their smooshy bulldog Rocco. The Gay Best Friend is his second novel.

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“Furious Heaven” (The Sun Chronicles #2) by Kate Elliott (Review)

Elliott, Kate. Furious Heaven. New York: Tor, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250867001 | $30.99 USD | 736 pages | Science Fiction

Blurb

Furious Heaven is Kate Elliott’s highly anticipated sequel to the thrilling space adventure Unconquerable Sun!

The Republic of Chaonia fleets, under the joint command of Princess Sun and her formidable mother, Queen-Marshal Eirene, have defeated and driven out an invading fleet of the Phene Empire, though not without heavy losses. But the Empire remains undeterred. While Chaonia scrambles to rebuild its military, the Empire’s rulers are determined to squash Chaonia once and for all. They believe their military might is strong enough to defeat the enemy, but they also secure a secret alliance with a deadly religious sect skilled in the use of assassination and covert ops, to destabilize the republic.

On the eve of Eirene’s bold attack on the rich and populous Karnos System, an unexpected tragedy strikes the republic. Sun must take charge or lose the throne. Will Sun be content with the pragmatic path laid out by her mother for Chaonia’s future? Or will she choose to forge her own legend? Can she succeed despite all the forces arrayed against her?

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own. 

Furious Heaven is a great second installment for this series. The historical parallels are becoming more and more apparent, and I continued to enjoy it for the most part, although it did kind of mess with the pacing a bit. There are some plot developments early on that shake up the narrative, and I think that does help to set the tone and create more intrigue for the story going forward. There are some points where the book lags, but the overall narrative feels worth it. 

The characters continue to develop in interesting ways. That major twist has major implications for Sun, and helps to illustrate the parallels between her and Alexander the Great as well as a leader in the making in her own right. Persephone also continues to stand out as a fun major supporting character/secondary lead, and I also enjoyed getting to know the supporting cast a bit more. 

While this book does fall into some of the pitfalls of “middle book syndrome,” I am intrigued to see what will happen going into the third book. If you enjoy epic, space-opera style science fiction with inspiration from Greek/Macedonian history, I’d recommend checking this series out! 

Author Bio

As a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. She currently lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes and spoils her schnauzer.

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“Reuben’s Hot and Cold” by M. Arbon (ARC Review)

Arbon, M. Reuben’s Hot and Cold. [Place of publication not identified]: Thirteen Flowers Press, 2023. 

ASIN: B0C3JQ3R4L | $2.99 USD | 149 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

The unlikely attraction between cafe owner and reluctant ice cream entrepreneur Reuben and bartender/tarot card reader/collector of paranormal kitsch Van reminds them that work isn’t everything. If only there were enough hours in the day to put their new understanding into practice…

Reuben Dragovich, owner of a premium coffee shop and accidental ice cream empire, should have known better than to bring a promotion idea to the Clover Hill Chamber of Commerce. For his sins, he gets roped into doing something about it. The assignment: an information-gathering day trip with pub proprietor Van, a gregarious bundle of excessive ear piercings and cheer.

Van Parsons enjoys pulling pints and giving tarot readings in The Mysterious, his pub and museum of supernatural oddities. Reuben’s got a taciturn appeal, but no way is he Van’s kind of casual hookup material. Anyway, Van has his hands full keeping his slightly chaotic staff in line and his pub afloat.

To the astonishment of both men, their afternoon together turns out to be more fun than they’ve had in a long time. Interest turns into attraction, then dating. Or a relationship. Or whatever it is that they’re doing.

But physical chemistry is no match for the busy tourist season, when to-do lists overflow and there’s always one more damn thing to do right-the-hell-now. As they juggle their other responsibilities, the initial connection between Reuben and Van is in danger of wilting from lack of attention. Can Reuben and Van find space to fit into each other’s lives, or will their spring fling melt away like a scoop of single-source Venezuelan cacao ice cream in the summer heat?

In the series

#1 Winning Move by Skye Kilaen 

#2 Visible Mending by M. Arbon

#3 Rooting for You by Roz Alexander

#4 The Heartbreak Handshake by J.R. Hart

#5 Sotto Voce by Suzanne Clay

#6 A Milky Way Home by Hsinju Chen

#7 Go Truck Yourself by J.R. Hart

#8 Changing Spaces by Karmen Lee

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Reuben’s Hot and Cold is M. Arbon’s second contribution to the Clover Hill Romance world, and the ninth book overall. As before, it works as a standalone, although I have enjoyed each book in the series thus far. And this book is the perfect late-spring/heading-into-summer read. The prominence of the coffee/ice cream shop as a setting makes for a nice touch. 

Reuben and Van are super-sweet together, and I liked how they played off one another. I love how both of them run very creative businesses (Van runs a pub/supernatural museum), and they are as different as their businesses (at least on the surface), with Van being sweet, if a bit chaotic, and Reuben being more straitlaced. They complement each other well, and their relationship evolves believably from a temporary fling to something deeper. 

This is another fun installment in this wonderfully cozy series, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for small-town queer romance. 

Author Bio

M. Arbon writes stories, mostly queer, often sexy, sbout people who try hard not to be jerks. M. lives and works in Ontario, Canada. M.’s stories have been published in the anthologies His Seed and Best Gay Stories 2017.

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“Throwback” by Maurene Goo (Review)

Goo, Maurene. Throwback. New York: Zando Young Readers, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1638930204 | $19.99 USD | 355 pages | YA Contemporary/Time Travel

Blurb

A time-hopping, big-hearted adventure about a teen who travels back to the ’90s to team up with her teenaged mother.

Samantha Kang has always butted heads with her mom. Priscilla is first-generation Korean American, a former high school cheerleader who expects Sam to want the same all-American nightmare. Meanwhile, Sam is a girl of the times who has no energy for clichéd high school aspirations. After a huge blowup, Sam is desperate to get away from Priscilla, but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back.

To her shock, Sam lands in the ’90s . . . alongside a seventeen-year-old Priscilla. Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive ’90s attitudes, and a time-crossed romance with the right guy in the wrong era.

With the clock ticking, Sam must figure out how to fix things with Priscilla or risk being trapped in an analog world forever.

Sam’s blast to the past has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. One thing’s for sure: Time is a mother.

Blending the time-bending thrills of Back to the Future with the nuanced themes of The Joy Luck ClubThrowback explores exactly what one loses and inherits in the immigrant experience.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own. 

I’ve enjoyed some of Maurene Goo’s prior work, so I was very curious about this pivot into new genre territory with Throwback. Granted, it’s not super technical in terms of the rules of time-travel, with that aspect simply existing to serve the overall fun of the plot, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, and feel it made for a more natural transition as opposed to something more science-heavy. It’s a lot of fun, with a lot of it focused on the little details about how much has changed, especially technologically. And time travel via rideshare is also a nice touch. 

And with one of my favorite things about Maurene Goo’s books being how she develops parent/child relationships, I loved the exploration of that here. Sam’s relationship with her mother is challenging at the beginning, contrasted by her more close relationship with her Halmoni. And while it’s hinted early on that her mother, Priscilla doesn’t have the best relationship with Halmoni, I loved that juxtaposition between how Sam views them as adults vs. seeing them when she’s the same age as Priscilla and being able to understand her mother’s perspective a lot more, as well as gaining more insights into what made Priscilla into the woman she ultimately became. And with a health scare for Halmoni being a driving force in the present, I love how going back in time also helps Sam to evolve in her perspective about her grandmother. 

There’s also a pretty cute romance, and while it didn’t blow me away, I liked how it (like Sam’s relationship with her mom in some ways) also transcended time. 

This is a fun read, and I love that Maurene Goo tried something a little bit different. I recommend this to anyone who wants both a fun time-travel story and a moving narrative about mother-daughter relationships. 

Author Bio

Maurene Goo is the author of several acclaimed books for young adults, including I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Somewhere Only We Know.

She has also written for Marvel’s Silk series.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son and cats.

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“The Chaperone” by M. Hendrix (ARC Review)

Hendrix, M. The Chaperone. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1728260006 | $11.99 USD | 448 pages | YA Science Fiction–Dystopian

Blurb

Like every young woman in New America, Stella knows the rules:

Deflect attention.

Abstain from sin.

Navigate the world with care.

Give obedience.

Embrace purity.

Respect your chaperone.

Stella can’t go out by herself, or spend time with boys except at Visitations. Girls in New America must have chaperones at all times until they marry, so Stella’s lucky that Sister Helen is like a friend to her. When Sister Helen dies suddenly, she’s devastated, especially when the Constables assign Stella a new chaperone just days later.

Sister Laura is… different. She leaves Stella alone and knows how to get into the “Hush Hush” parties where all kinds of forbidden things happen. As Stella spends more time with Sister Laura, she begins to question everything she’s been taught. What if the Constables’ rules don’t actually protect girls? What if they were never meant to keep them safe?

Once Stella glimpses both real freedom and the dark truths behind New America, she has no choice but to fight back against the world she knows. She sets out on a dangerous journey across what was once the United States, risking everything.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Chaperone is a dystopian novel for this present moment. While there are aspects that are reminiscent of the extreme patriarchal control and bondage of women in The Handmaid’s Tale, I love how it also develops on the insidious ways our society could regress, including the restriction of knowledge in the form of book bans, along with the extreme policing of women’s reproduction. The portrayal of New America is so harrowing, because of how real the possibility is that we as a society could end up in this place. 

Stella is easy to root for, and I love how she slowly develops from someone heavily entrenched in this society to finding avenues to break away with the help of the rebellious Sister Laura and her connection to “Hush Hush” parties and an underground resistance. It was wonderful to see her come into her own and end up becoming an instrumental part of the resistance, paying it forward in a similar manner that Sister Laura did for her. 

The choice to tell the story in relatively short, snappy chapters definitely helps with pacing. I remained consistently engrossed, and the pages flew by as I remained engrossed in what was going on with these characters. 

I really enjoyed this book, and appreciate how it attempts to unpack these timely themes. If you enjoy dystopian fiction and/or books that draw from current political issues, I’d recommend checking it out! 

Author Bio

M Hendrix (she/her) is the author of The Chaperone, forthcoming with Sourcebooks Fire on June 6, 2023.

Photo by James Weems

M earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Indiana University before studying literature and creative writing in graduate school, receiving her master’s degree from Miami University and her doctorate from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a Taft Fellow. She has been nominated five times for the Pushcart Prize and was shortlisted for the Aesthetica creative writing award. She is represented by John Cusick of Folio Literary. 

Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Aesthetica, The Independent, USA Today, The Vestal Review, Psychology Today, The Satirist, Nzuri, The Haven, Letters to Dead Authors, Medium, 2nd & Church, Word Salad, Quirk, Cairn, Gravity Hill, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Bowling Green Daily News, and more. She is also the author of two previous books. For a complete list of publications, click here.

Born in Baltimore and raised in New Jersey, she is an adoptee who has lived in twelve states and now makes her home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with her husband, New York Times bestselling author David BellThe Chaperone is her first novel.

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“Darkhearts” by James L. Sutter (ARC Review)

Sutter, James L. Darkhearts. New York: Wednesday Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250869746 | $20.00 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Red, White, & Royal BlueDarkhearts is a hilarious, heartfelt, enemies-to-lovers romance about love, celebrity, and what happens when the two collide.

When David quit his band, he missed his shot at fame, trapped in an ordinary high school life while his ex–best friend, Chance, became the hottest teen pop star in America.

Then tragedy throws David and Chance back into contact. As old wounds break open, the boys find themselves trading frenemy status for a confusing, secret romance—one that could be David’s ticket back into the band and the spotlight.

As the mixture of business and pleasure becomes a powder keg, David will have to choose: Is this his second chance at glory? Or his second chance at Chance?

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

I took a chance on Darkhearts on the strength of the premise alone, and while it is one of those books that suffers from the unfortunate trend of trying to shoehorn everything into the romcom genre lately (spoiler alert: its heavy themes are not compensated for with any recognizable humor), I still enjoyed it, and respected that the blurb was at least honest about the role the tragedy of a friend’s death plays in the plot. 

I definitely resonate with David in terms of feeling left behind by people I consider friends, and while his jealousy and bitterness is not admirable, it feels believable. His path of self-discovery of his identity as bisexual, while reconnecting with his former best friend, Chance, was also really sweet. 

Chance’s story also really resonated. I felt for him as he described the difficulty of being friends with Eli as Eli was struggling and not knowing what to do, and shouldering the blame for not doing “enough” to help him. And some of his (and Eli’s) decisions did play a role in the destruction of their friendship with David, so I appreciate how it was about both of them coming to terms with the loss, and making amends with each other as they got reacquainted. 

 While this is my first book by James L. Sutter, it definitely won’t be my last. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys queer YA with messy main characters. 

Author Bio

James L. Sutter is a co-creator of the Pathfinder and Starfinder Roleplaying Games. From 2004 to 2017, he worked for Paizo Publishing, starting out as an editor on Dungeon Magazine, moving on to do foundational work for Pathfinder, and eventually becoming the Creative Director in charge of launching Starfinder, as well as the Executive Editor of the Pathfinder Tales novel line for Paizo/Tor.

James is the author of the forthcoming young adult romance novel Darkhearts (June 6, 2023 from Wednesday Books), as well as the fantasy novels Death’s Heretic—a finalist for the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel—and The Redemption Engine, which won the 2015 Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel. His short stories have appeared in such venues as Nightmare, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Escape Pod, and the #1 Amazon best-seller Machine of Death. In addition, he’s written comic books, essays in venues like Clarkesworld and Lightspeed: Queers Destroy Science Fiction, a wealth of tabletop gaming material, and video games—most recently the Starfinder audio game for Amazon’s Alexa, featuring Nathan Fillion and Laura Bailey.

When not writing, James has performed with musical acts ranging from metalcore to musical theater. He lives in Seattle.

James is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

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“Warrior Girl Unearthed” by Angeline Boulley (ARC Review)

Boulley, Angeline. Warrior Girl Unearthed. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250766588 | $19.99 USD | 396 pages | YA Contemporary/Thriller

Blurb

An Instant New York Times bestseller!
#1 Indies Bestseller!
An Amazon Best Book of the Month!
An Indigo Teen Staff Pick of the Month!
An Indie Next Pick!

FIVE STARRED REVIEWS FOR WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED!

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island in this high-stakes thriller about the power of discovering your stolen history.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is – the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won’t ever take her far from home, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything.

In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot – will not – stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.

Sometimes, the truth shouldn’t stay buried.

Review

4 stars

Angeline Boulley’s debut was fabulous, and she follows it up with an equally impactful sophomore novel, Warrior Girl Unearthed. While it’s set in the same community as Firekeeper’s Daughter,  it’s set ten years later, following a new protagonist, Perry Firekeeper-Birch. She’s part of  the same family as Daunis, with Daunis being her aunt, and I loved seeing a more grown-up Daunis through the perspective of the next generation. Perry’s family dynamics stand out in other ways, especially her relationship with her twin sister, Pauline, and how they support each other, in spite of their surface-level differences. 

Just as in Firekeeper’s Daughter, the story highlights issues impacting indigenous communities, particularly how girls and women are exploited both externally and internally, both during their lives and posthumously. It makes for a great cause to motivate Perry, and I liked following her arc as she grew and became more self-aware about the issues her people face, and then coming up with proactive ways to fight back and bring about change. 

And with that in mind, Boulley perfectly balances the elements of YA contemporary coming-of-age and a page-turning thriller. There’s a great balance of personal moments between Perry and the people in her family and community, tied in immaculately with these people coming together in force in response to myriad crimes, like stolen Native artifacts and missing girls. 

This is another winner from Angeline Boulley, and proves her talent and staying power within YA publishing. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with strong suspense elements and emphasis on social issues impacting Native Americans. 

Author Bio

Angeline Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Angeline lives in southwest Michigan, but her home will always be on Sugar Island. 

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“Single Dads Club” by Therese Beharrie (ARC Review)

Beharrie, Therese. Single Dads Club. Seattle: Montlake, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1662511783 | $16.99 USD | 303 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

In this warmly funny romance about finding your way, opposites attract when an ex-heiress and a single dad cross paths, only to find that their separate roads may lead them to the same destination.

Rowan Quinn knows fatherhood is a role he doesn’t want to take on—until he unexpectedly finds himself a single dad. He uproots his perfectly constructed life to move to a tight-knit coastal community in South Africa where, with the help of his grandmother, Rowan has a shot at giving his son the family he never had.

Once footloose and fancy-free, former heiress Delilah Huntington is now a waitress in Sugarbush Bay determined to build a better life and a better self. So when she meets introverted Rowan, she makes it her personal mission to induct him into the town’s circle of single dads to give him the support he needs.

The more Delilah lends her help to an out-of-his-depth Rowan, the more Rowan begins to realize that family is what you make it…and, just maybe, Delilah could be part of his.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Single Dads Club is a heartfelt new contemporary romance from Therese Beharrie, and while I haven’t enjoyed the direction some of her other works have taken of late, this one was pretty great. I always love Therese Beharrie’s depiction of South Africa, and her description of the Cape Town town of Sugarbush Bay was delightful, along with its delightful cast of characters, including the titular single dads club, who I hope get their own books as well. 

Both leads have complex histories and meet each other with their respective shares of baggage. Delilah is a former heiress whose mother’s past crimes resulted in her current situation, and she’s currently trying to atone for the pain her mother caused. Her quest for self-improvement and giving back is beautiful, standing out in a genre that occasionally uncritically glorifies selfish wealth and consumerism. 

Rowan is equally compelling, being a single dad as the result of a brief fling. I appreciate how everything is explored, from his amicable, if somewhat complex relationship with his ex, to his adventures with single parenthood, to his secret sexual dysfunction which complicates any romantic relationship he has. 

These two are wonderful together, and I liked how their relationship built gradually in a sweet slow-burn. There are complications that arise because of their respective pasts, but I appreciate how the two of them ultimately navigate them. 

This is a sweet, heartfelt read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys Black romance, especially if it’s set outside the U.S./the West. 

Author Bio

Therese Beharrie is a South African romance author of several acclaimed novels, including And They Lived Happily Ever After and her One Day to Forever series. She takes pride in writing diverse characters and settings, and her books are often recommended for their heart and banter. She lives in Cape Town with her husband―her inspiration for every hero―and two adorable baby boys. You can follow her on social media (@ThereseBeharrie) or visit her at www.ThereseBeharrie.com.

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“Camp Sylvania” by Julie Murphy (ARC Review)

Murphy, Julie. Camp Sylvania. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063114029 | $18.99 USD | 288 pages | MG Horror

Blurb

Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight…if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.

But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be patented Scarlet Diet.

When Maggie arrives at camp, things are…weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.

Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad…until campers start going missing and suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark.

The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place….  

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

While Camp Sylvania is a pretty different book for Julie Murphy genre-wise (from my perspective, anyway), I was drawn to the premise, and how it seemed to draw parallels between actual,  “campy, vamp-y” horror  and the more subtle, insidious horror of living and growing up as a fat kid and dealing with the judgments of everyone, from society at large to “concerned” family. And, while the narrative stops short of fully interrogating these themes, I did enjoy this book a lot. 

I really liked the subtle way the horror was built up, with the weirdness coming in gradually. Initially, the system at camp seemed based around internalized fatphobia, and while that is part of it, it went much deeper than that, and I love how each twist and reveal contributed to the overall parallel between vampirism and the toxic obsession with perfection. 

Maggie is very relatable, as I saw a lot myself in her, as a fellow fat person who also had big dreams of performing that were impacted by stage fright. And while I’ve never been to “fat” camp, I can relate to her struggle dealing with the external pressures with self-acceptance when those around her aren’t accepting. 

With the external danger of the camp, I really liked that Maggie formed some like-minded friends. She already had a friend from her home/school life who she originally planned to go to the nearby performing-arts camp with, Nora, and she plays a role in the story. Her new camp friends, Eelyn and Kit, make for great companions and allies as she tries to unravel what’s going on, and the unexpectedly sympathetic Coach B is also a great source of insight into Sylvia and the camp. 

  This is a great read to send chills up one’s spine in multiple ways, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and just a bit creepy to read over the summer. 

Author Bio

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time. When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure. She is also the author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. You can visit Julie at http://www.imjuliemurphy.com/.

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“The Secret Service of Tea and Treason” (Dangerous Damsels #3) by India Holton (Review)

Holton, India. The Secret Service of Tea and Treason. New York: Berkley, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593547267 | $17.00 USD | 368 pages | Historical Fantasy Romance

Blurb

wo rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen.

Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice’s capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she’s immediately assigned to the case. 

But she’s not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice’s greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life— pretending to be Alice’s husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans. 

Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target.SEE LESS

In the series

#1 The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels 

#2 The League of Gentlewomen Witches

Review

4 stars

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason promises the same rollicking good time that the first two books in the trilogy did. With the return  of some old friends in supporting roles and Alice and Bixby, supporting players from the prior book, are now front-and-center, I loved seeing how they all ended up coming together. The off-the-wall prose is the standout as usual, and I couldn’t help but laugh. 

Holton’s world keeps growing bigger, with espionage in the form of the unfortunately named Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A.U.N.T.) in the mix, in addition to the off-the-wall characters. This time around, it makes for a fun blend of historical, spy escapades, and fantasy, with spies mingling with both the witches and pirates of past installments. 

While the other elements mean the character work is the weakest element, I definitely found these two the most endearing of Holton’s couples. Alice and Daniel already interacted in the prior book, and seeing them together in action this time around is super cute. And both are pretty relatable, with both of them being sort of lone wolves who are thrown together who find they have a lot in common. Of note is their shared interest in reading, and their discussions of the popular fiction of the time were among my favorite bits of the book. 

This was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and I can’t wait to see what India Holton writes next! If you enjoy historical fantasy and/or spy romance,. I’d recommend checking this one out! 

Author Bio

India Holton lives in New Zealand, where she’s enjoyed the typical Kiwi lifestyle of wandering around forests, living barefoot on islands, and messing about in boats. Now she lives in a cottage near the sea, writing books about uppity women and charming rogues, and drinking too much tea.

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“The Dos and Donuts of Love” by Adiba Jaigirdar (ARC Review)

Jaigirdar, Adiba. The Dos and Donuts of Love. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250842114 | $19.99 USD | 336 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

A pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush – perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and She Drives Me Crazy!

“Welcome to the first ever Junior Irish Baking Show!”

Shireen Malik is still reeling from the breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Chris, when she receives news that she’s been accepted as a contestant on a new televised baking competition show. This is Shireen’s dream come true! Because winning will not only mean prize money, but it will also bring some much-needed attention to You Drive Me Glazy, her parents’ beloved donut shop.

Things get complicated, though, because Chris is also a contestant on the show. Then there’s the very outgoing Niamh, a fellow contestant who is becoming fast friends with Shireen. Things are heating up between them, and not just in the kitchen.

As the competition intensifies , Shireen will have to ignore all these factors and more— including potential sabotage—if she wants a sweet victory!

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Dos and Donuts of Love promised to be a delicious confection of a book from the title alone, and it absolutely delivered! From the punny chapter titles (e.g. I Knew You Were Truffle When You Walked In!) to the myriad descriptions of baking and baked goods, it’s an absolute delight. 

Shireen is a fabulous protagonist, especially in how she navigates some pretty difficult issues, like racism, fatphobia, and her struggle with anxiety, all of which resonated with me in various ways. I also love the bold statement, consistent with Adiba Jaigirdar’s work as a whole, of having Shireen’s queer identity be accepted by her family, even if their wider community isn’t as open. 

The baking competition premise, with multiple potential love interests, promised drama, and it delivered. I was pleasantly surprised at how things evolved with Shireen’s ex, Chris, especially as their breakup was so recent and didn’t happen on the best note. Niamh presented a very interesting prospect at first, but she was very different than she initially seemed as the story went on. 

This is a super sweet book, interwoven perfectly with weighty issues, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves food-oriented romances. 

CWs: Mentions of racism and fatphobia, depictions of anxiety (specifically anxiety and panic attacks and spiraling thoughts), and online harassment

Author Bio

diba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, A Million to One, and The Dos and Donuts of Love. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies from the University of Kent, England and a BA in English and History from UCD, Ireland. She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection. She can be found at adibajaigirdar.com or @adiba_j on Twitter and @dibs_j on Instagram.

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“Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang (Review)

Kuang, R.F. Yellowface. New York: William Morrow, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063250833 | $30.00 USD | 336 pages | Contemporary/Thriller

Blurb

White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel. 

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable. 

Review

5 stars

R.F. Kuang never misses, and her streak of wins continues as she transitions into the genres of comedy and thriller with Yellowface. A searing commentary on the publishing industry (made ironic because of it being released by HarperCollins, thankfully after the conclusion of their union strike), I loved the satirical exploration of the common question concerning diversity in publishing, including a completely over-the-top, out-of-touch protagonist, references galore to the difficulties within publishing on various fronts, and Book Twitter being a prominent player in the drama (as it is in many real-life author “cancellations”). While it’s easy to see parallels in this story to stories like the author of American Dirt (which gets a mention in-text), I appreciate how Kuang’s purpose isn’t to call out a single author as the problem, but more how the ignorance and complacency of publishing and its players on all sides play a role in letting this cycle continue to play out ad nauseum. 

Almost all the major players are delightfully, comically unlikable, and this works to the story’s benefit. I knew from the outset I wouldn’t like June, as she’s a caricature of the type of vaguely liberal white woman who believes she can’t be racist, because they don’t support Trump and/or voted for Obama/Biden, while lacking self-awareness in  how their behavior might be making people in underrepresented groups (chiefly BIPOC in this case) uncomfortable. There are many scenes where June asserts her white-woman privilege in an off-putting way, and not just in book-related spaces. And she has the nerve on many occasions to act like she’s the injured party. And despite literally feeling like she’s being haunted by Athena after what she did, June still doesn’t learn a lesson by the end, and everyone else is wrong for wanting justice. 

I also like that Kuang wasn’t tempted to make Athena into a pure, angelic martyr figure. She’s done questionable things in the past, and while some of them are things June uses to justify her own behavior, there are some ethical questions around Athena’s identity within her community. She wasn’t not exactly welcome within the Asian-American writing and scholarly spaces, and was very isolated, with many others in the community disagreeing with her writing and even personal choices (like her relationship with a white man and fellow writer, as well as her perspective as a part of the Asian diaspora). I did wonder about how Mrs. Liu’s discomfort with her daughter’s writing and their ties to their tragic past might play into it, and wish that might have been explored more, but perhaps June wasn’t the right perspective to navigate that.

While it’s largely satirical in tone throughout, the mystery of whether someone could be after June becomes an ever-present possibility. And while there is an initial fakeout reveal that left me feeling a bit perplexed, especially as that person is hardly a saint himself, the knowledge that more danger was to come reassured me. And the final reveal, after a very crafty misdirect, was very satisfying, especially with how unassuming that person had initially seemed from June’s perspective. 

As an avid reader who frequently engages with conversations about this topic online, I loved this book. If you’re interested in a book that is part social commentary of the publishing industry, and part mystery/thriller, I’d strongly recommend checking this out!

Author Bio

Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, Chinese-English translator, and the Astounding Award-winning and the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of the Poppy War trilogy and the forthcoming Babel. Her work has won the Crawford Award and the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.

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“Mortal Follies” by Alexis Hall (ARC Review)

Hall, Alexis. Mortal Follies. New York: Del Rey, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593497562 | $18.00 USD | 416 pages | Fantasy Romance

Blurb

A young noblewoman must pair up with an alleged witch to ward off a curse in this irresistible sapphic romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material.

“Fresh and delightful . . . All the interpersonal drama of Jane Austen meets all the complex treachery of Greek mythology.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

It is the year 1814, and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider, and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers.

Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into high society hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at a high-profile ball, a scandal she narrowly manages to escape.

However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore must seek out aid, even if that means mixing with undesirable company. And there are few less desirable than Lady Georgiana Landrake—a brooding, alluring young woman sardonically nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale”—who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune. If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress. Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs.

With the Duke’s help, Miss Mitchelmore delves into a world of angry gods and vindictive magic, keen to unmask the perpetrator of these otherworldly attacks. But Miss Mitchelmore’s reputation is not the only thing at risk in spending time with her new ally. For the reputed witch has her own secrets that may prove dangerous to Miss Mitchelmore’s heart—not to mention her life.

Review

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Mortal Follies sees Alexis Hall once again straying into fantasy territory (the last time having been with one of my favorites, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter), and needless to say, I had high expectations. But given my somewhat more mixed experience with Hall’s work of late, I really should have gone in with more measured expectations, especially as what this book is sold as doesn’t exactly fit with what the book necessarily is. Is there a sapphic romance  as a central part of the story? Yes, but it never felt like the main thing that grabbed me. 

And a lot of that is down to the choice of narrator. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s perfectly possible for a narrator/POV character  to be different from the protagonist. And the narrator is a lot of fun, being a character who constantly makes references to things the reader would know from our world, such as the fact  that he’s obviously Puck from Midsummer Night’s Dream, on the outs with Oberon, based on a reference early on. And his (and Hall’s) intent is clearly a satirical one, to lovingly take the piss out of the historical romance genre, as he makes jabs at modern readers’ love for the genre, due to being “nostalgic for the staggering social inequality.” And that’s without even getting into the ways the story itself plays with some familiar tropes, like the broody rakish duke with a mysterious past. 

But having that narrator puts an imaginary wall of distance between reader and characters you don’t have with either first-person or third-person limited. I just don’t know that Hall was able to define either of his leading ladies enough to give them much impact. Did I enjoy hearing about them and their adventures? Yes, sure. But there was a real lack of intimacy that made me care for them. 

Whether it works for you will depend on what you’re looking for. If you’re expecting a romance, especially one where you feel connected to the main characters, you might come away somewhat underwhelmed. But if you’re looking for a satirical fairy tale that has a romantic plot, and you don’t mind a very present narrator along with said romance, it’s worth the read. 

Author Bio

Alexis Hall is the mortal pen name of a wandering fairy spirit cruelly exiled to the physical world for reasons that were not at all his fault. He is slowly coming to terms with his predicament and feels fortunate that he has found a way to monetise his contempt for humanity.

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“The Girl Next Door” by Cecilia Vinesse (ARC Review)

Vinesse, Cecilia. The Girl Next Door. New York: Quill Tree Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063285873 | $19.99 USD | 368 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb 

Part To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, part Everything Leads to You, this queer rom-com puts a smart spin on all the YA tropes we can’t get enough of.

Film club nerd Cleo Ferrara’s senior year was like a storyboard waiting to be filmed. She knew the scenes, the players, and the eventual happy ending. Attend film school with her boyfriend, Daniel Sheridan. Become a film-making power couple. Take Hollywood by storm. Cut. Print. Fade to black.?

But in a plot twist Cleo never saw coming, Daniel dumps her for Kiki Pearson, the head cheerleader. This would be the point in the movie where the Sad Girl Music plays while the protagonist looks longingly out her window, but when Cleo looks out hers, she sees Marianne Lacerda, her former best friend…and a new storyboard unfolds.

Marianne is also nursing a heartache. When Daniel was dumping Cleo for Kiki, Kiki was dumping Marianne for Daniel. So instead of watching their exes parade around school, Cleo and Marianne start fake dating each other to ignite a little chaos in this bizarre love square. But any movie buff knows that when you introduce fake dating in Act I, it’s going to get real by Act III. With friendship, the future, and love on the line, can Cleo script a happy ending for herself—or will she get her heart broken again?

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Girl Next Door is a fun sapphic romance with a great mix of tropes, chief among them fake dating. I’m a sucker for two people coming together to fake-date to get back at exes who dumped them or cheated on them, and this book absolutely met my expectations. Combined with the childhood-friends trope, it made for a great story. 

I love Cleo’s interest in film and how it comes through in everything from her ultimate goal of going to film school to the little references she makes in conversation and in her internal monologue. While it can be a bit much to someone who isn’t as much of a film buff, I personally enjoyed seeing her be so passionate about something. 

The romance was really cute too. She and Marianne drifted apart over the years, but I like how they came back together due to their common goal, and reconnected in the process. And even though the premise is that they’ve both been cheated on/left for the other’s ex, I like how the dynamics for their relationship and their interactions with their respective exes are nuanced, and it’s not a clear case of one side being the good guys, and the others pure villains. 

The one weakness is that it does take a little bit to get into the story, especially initially, what with grasping Cleo’s internal monologue and the overall pacing of the narrative. However, once I got into the flow of the story, I really enjoyed it. 

I really enjoyed this book, and I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a sapphic YA romcom, especially if you enjoy the fake-dating trope. 

Author Bio

Cecilia Vinesse is the author of young adult novels SEVEN DAYS OF YOU and THE SUMMER OF US, and the forthcoming THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. She was born in France but grew up between Tokyo, Japan and Greenville, South Carolina. Her obsession with Nora Ephron movies led her to New York City to attend Barnard College and then to live in New York for three years afterward, working in children’s book marketing and living in an apartment furnished mostly by stacks of novels. Now she’s in a small Edwardian house in England where she splits her time holding late-night writing sessions, daydreaming in libraries, and having Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathons with her girlfriend Rachel and a pup named Malfi.

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“When the Vibe Is Right” by Sarah Dass (ARC Review)

Dass, Sarah. When the Vibe Is Right. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063018570 | $19.99 USD | 336 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

From the author of Where the Rhythm Takes You comes a delightful enemies-to-lovers, contemporary romance set during Trinidad’s Carnival celebration. 

There are two things Tess Crawford knows for sure: 

  • She’s destined to be a great Trinidadian Carnival costume designer like her renowned uncle, Russel Messina, and will one day inherit leadership of the family’s masquerade band, Grandeur. 
  • Her classmate, the popular social media influencer, Brandon Richards, is the bane of her existence. Everything about him irks her, from his annoying nickname for Tess (“Boop”) to his association with David, her awful ex. 

But when the future of Grandeur nears the brink of collapse in the face of band rivalry, Tess finds to her chagrin that she must team up with Brandon in a desperate attempt to revive the company. 

As Tess and Brandon spend more time together, Tess begins to wonder if everything she thought she knew might not be so certain after all…. 

Set in lush, gorgeous Trinidad, this is a novel about finding love in the most unexpected places. 

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Sarah Dass does it again with her second YA romance, When the Vibe Is Right. Once again drawing from classic literature (Much Ado About Nothing, which I’m admittedly a bit less familiar with), she injects it with some  Trinidadian cultural flavor by setting the story around Carnival, something I’ve heard a bit about, but never experienced. The excitement around the event and everything that goes into it radiates through the pages, and I’d love to experience it in person one day. 

Tess is a strong, yet sympathetic protagonist. I loved her relationships with her family, and her shared passion for design with her uncle, as well as her interest in the fate of the family band. It was great to read about someone who knew her own mind, but also loved her family and their heritage and wanted to uphold it. 

I also liked getting to know Brandon. He’s different from Tess in a lot of ways, and she has some understandable reasons to dislike him (the nickname thing rubbed me the wrong way), but underneath that he has issues of his own that mean he has more in common with her than she initially realizes. 

And as it is Much Ado inspired, there are some side stories that pay homage to certain side character arcs, like Hazel and Chris’ romance. I did feel at times that this took away from the main romance and the plot with the band rivalry, but I can also understand what Dass was trying to do. 

In spite of these minor issues, this is another winner from Sarah Dass, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for Black YA romance, especially if you’re looking for stories set outside the US. 

Author Bio

Sarah Dass is a young adult fiction author from Tobago that is best known for her debut work of fiction Where the Rhythm Takes You.

While she was born in Trinidad, her family moved to Tobago when she was two years old. Dass has been telling stories since she was a young child. At the age of eight years old, when she ran out of “Nancy Drew” novels to read, she tried to pen her own. She would later go on to attend the University of the West Indies and University College London.

Sarah grew up in a seaside resort in Tobago and her debut novel draws inspiration from her experience living there. She has described Where the Rhythm Takes You as the book she would have wanted to read when she was growing up – a romantic, contemporary YA story set in her home country. She hopes readers like her, who love Trinidad and Tobagonian or Caribbean-set fiction enjoy and connect with her characters.

Sarah’s most recent YA novels When the Vibe is Right will be published by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins on May 30th, 2023, and It Waits in the Forest will be published by Disney / Rick Riordan Presents in 2024.

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“The Melancholy of Summer” by Louisa Onomé (ARC Review)

Onomé, Louisa. The Melancholy of Summer. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250823564 | $19.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary 

Blurb

After her parents go on the run, a teenage girl placed in the care of a cousin she barely knows learns to trust and open up in The Melancholy of Summer, a lyrical YA contemporary coming-of-age story by Louisa Onomé

Doesn’t she see? I can do this on my own.

Summer Uzoma is fine. Sure, her parents went on the run after they were accused of committing a crime, leaving her behind. Sure, she’s been alternating stays with her friends’ families. Sure, she sometimes still secretly visits her old home. And sure, she has trouble talking about any of this. But she’s fine. She has her skateboard and her bus pass. She just has to turn eighteen in a few weeks and then she’ll really and truly be free.

So it’s extra annoying when a nosy social worker gets involved. Summer doesn’t expect any relative to be able to take her in, so she’s very surprised to hear that she’ll now be living with her cousin Olu—someone she hasn’t seen in years, who’s a famous singer in Japan last she heard, and who’s not much older than Summer.

Life with Olu is awkward for many reasons—not least of all because Olu has her own drama to deal with. But with her cousin and friends’ efforts, maybe Summer can learn to trust people enough to let them in again?

Review

4 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

I really enjoyed my previous experience with Louisa Onomé’s work, and enjoyed The Melancholy of Summer just as much. The narrative here is a great spin on the coming-of-age and teen drama narratives, and A lot of what worked really came down to the way Summer was written. She’s in a dire situation, having been abandoned by her irresponsible parents and not really having a stable environment after that, and it was easy to feel for her, especially with the mix of emotions she feels, chiefly, as the title suggests, melancholy. But I enjoyed seeing her find  her way, forming connections, and ultimately finding that some of those were more valuable than the ones she lost. 

I particularly enjoyed the relationship she formed with her cousin, Olu. Olu not only is making an adjustment to being part of Summer’s life and being responsible for her until she turns eighteen, but she’s also a Japanese pop star, and I enjoyed what complications that brought to the dynamic between the two of them. 

This was a great read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for coming-of-age stories with Black protagonists. 

Author Bio

Louisa Onomé is a writer of books for teens. She holds a BA in professional writing from York University and is represented by Claire Friedman at InkWell Management.

A part of the Author Mentor Match round 3 cohort, she is also a writing mentor and all-around cheerleader for diverse works and writers. When she is not writing, her hobbies include picking up languages she may never use, trying to bake bread, and perfecting her skincare routine. She currently resides in the Toronto area.

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“The Future King” (Emry Merlin #2) by Robyn Schneider (Review)

Schneider, Robyn. The Future King. New York: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593351055 | $19.99 USD | 416 pages | YA Historical Fantasy

Blurb

Welcome back to the great kingdom of Camelot! Scandal, betrayal, and courtly crushes abound in this highly anticipated sequel to The Other Merlin, one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year!

Emry Merlin should be living her best life as a wizard’s apprentice. Now that she no longer has to pretend to be her brother to study magic, she and Prince Arthur are closer than ever. Except King Uther has warned her to stay away from his son, and Emry’s magic is growing more unpredictable by the day.

Meanwhile, Arthur’s prophesied future as the One True King is closing in. And as his wedding to Princess Guinevere draws nearer, he discovers she’s hiding a shocking secret. When Emry learns that the only hope to fix her increasingly dangerous magic is an eccentric Parisian alchemist, Arthur has his own reasons for accompanying her to French court, and for befriending an infamous crowd of young nobles.

But it’s going to take a lot more than a depressed gargoyle, some obscenely tight trousers, and a deadly sports match to keep our young heroes from their destiny. Can these reluctant royals and wayward wizards set aside their drama and save their kingdom, or is Camelot doomed?SEE LESS

In the series

#1 The Other Merlin

Review

4 stars 

After really liking The Other Merlin recently, I was both eager and nervous for what was to come with The Future King. Thankfully, I need not have worried, as this one was just as good. It’s a fun adventure in its own right, while also dropping some breadcrumbs for what’s to come in the final book. 

The character growth  and development in terms of their roles and responsibilities was great. Arthur is grappling with his father’s poor health and an unwanted arranged marriage to Guinevere, who is equally unhappy about it for reasons of her own. Emry continues in her magical studies, including working alongside  Nicolas Flamel. And the friendships continue to be a standout part of the book. Emry and Arthur’s bond remains strong, despite not always being on-page together and going on distinct, yet connected journeys. I also really liked seeing how they interacted with the others. Emry and Guin had some nice moments, making up for the fact that  Emry didn’t interact with other girls much in the last book. And given how Emmett was portrayed in the last book, I enjoyed seeing a bit of a different, more heroic side to him. 

I also really enjoyed how things developed on the magic side of things, with characters like Morgana, Nimue, and Merlin. I have a lot of questions, especially given the nature of how that particular arc concluded in this book, and I’m hoping there are some answers in book three! 

This is another fun installment, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes cozy fantasy, anachronistic historical fiction, and/ores.  retellings. 

Author Bio

Robyn Schneider grew up in Southern California, where she spent her childhood reading fantasy novels and searching for secret passages. She’s a graduate of Columbia University, where she studied creative writing, and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where she earned a Masters of Bioethics. Robyn is the bestselling author of The Other Merlin, The Beginning of EverythingExtraordinary MeansInvisible Ghosts, and You Don’t Live Here. Her work is available across the world in over a dozen languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV producer husband, their tiny puppy, and far too many books.

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“That Summer Feeling” by Bridget Morrissey (ARC Review)

Morissey, Bridget. That Summer Feeling. New York: Berkley, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593549247 | $17.00 USD | 336 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

One of…
Real Simple’s Must-Reads of Summer 2023
Book Riot’s Best Romance Books of Summer 2023
Buzzfeed’s Romance Books To Look Out For In 2023
Paste Magazine’s Most Anticipated Contemporary Romance Books of 2023

When a divorced woman attends a sleepaway camp for adults, she reconnects with a man from her past—only to fall head over heels for his sister instead. 

 
Garland Moore used to believe in magic, the power of optimism, and signs from the universe. Then her husband surprised her with divorce papers over Valentine’s Day dinner. Now Garland isn’t sure what to believe anymore, except that she’s clearly never meant to love again. When new friends invite her to spend a week at their reopened sleepaway camp, she and her sister decide it’s an opportunity to enjoy the kind of summer getaway they never had as kids. If Garland still believed in signs, this would sure seem like one. Summer camp is a chance to let go of her past and start fresh.
 
Nestled into the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Camp Carl Cove provides the exact escape Garland always dreamed of, until she runs into Mason—the man she had a premonition about after one brief meeting years ago. No matter how she tries to run, the universe appears determined to bring love back into Garland’s life. She even ends up rooming with Mason’s sister Stevie, a vibrant former park ranger who is as charming as she is competitive. The more time Garland spends with Stevie, the more the signs confuse her. The stars are aligning in a way Garland never could have predicted.
 
Amid camp tournaments and moonlit dances, Garland continues to be pulled toward the beautiful blonde outdoorswoman who makes her laugh and swoon. Summer camp doesn’t last forever, but if Garland can learn to trust her heart, the love she finds there just might.

Review

3 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

That Summer Feeling is a lighthearted coming-of-age summer-camp romance for adults, and while the book didn’t really work for me for other reasons, I love the concept overall. You don’t stop learning and growing because you reach “a certain age,” and even older people sometimes don’t have it all figured out (don’t I know it). And while I’ve never been married or divorced, I did like that it was the springboard for Garland to begin her path of self-discovery. And her character arc is perhaps the best part of the book. I liked seeing her try something new at camp, while also being confronted both by aspects of her past and a related possibility of new love for the future. 

While there’s nothing wrong with Stevie as a love interest, I found her pretty underdeveloped by comparison. And while I don’t mind the insta-love (the timeline kinda necessitates it for it to be a romance with the obligatory “happy ending”), I’d have liked there to be some substance to explain their connection. Even if you’re only together for a week, there are ways Stevie could have been fleshed out to show her potential as a long-term love interest, as opposed to someone who happens to be attractive. 

While this book didn’t entirely work for me, I do appreciate it for what it is, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something fun to read to kick off the summer, especially if you enjoy sapphic romance with older (30s) protagonists. 

Author Bio

Bridget Morrissey lives in Los Angeles, California, but hails from Oak Forest, Illinois. When she’s not writing, she can be found coaching gymnastics or headlining concerts in her living room.

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“Snow & Poison” by Melissa de la Cruz (Review)

De La Cruz, Melissa. Snow & Poison. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023. 

ISBN-13:978-0593326688 | $18.99 USD | 273 pages | YA Historical Fantasy

Blurb

Love is stronger than poison in this lush retelling of “Snow White” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Known as Snow White, Lady Sophie has led a sheltered life in the mountains of Bavaria. Until now. Her father, the widowed Duke Maximilian, is at last remarrying, and on the day of his historic wedding, Sophie is making her high-society debut.

At the ball, Sophie charms the dashing Prince Philip, heir to the Spanish throne. But as Philip and Sophie start falling deeply in love, the king of Spain loses his temper. His wish is that Philip would marry a princess. And now, his command is Sophie’s death.

In a quest for survival, Sophie seeks refuge in the home of seven orphans, the counsel of a witch, and the safety of her blade. With the looming threat of war upon her duchy, Sophie must ponder: Can she do right by her home and honor her heart’s desire?

“[A] beguiling historical fantasy.” —Publishers WeeklySEE LESS

Review

4 stars

Snow & Poison is the second of Melissa de la Cruz’s standalone historical fantasy fairytale retellings, this one reimagining Snow White. And while she is taking massive liberties with the historical record and even some real people (think Ever After or Bridgerton for comparison), it was fun looking at how the historical record compared. The historical politics also was super interesting, especially with mentions of the Spanish Armada in recent memory in relation to thwarted plans for Prince Philip’s planned marriage to an English princess (ironically also named Elizabeth). And I also liked how the alt-historical landscape fed into some of the choices de la Cruz made to subvert expectations regarding some of the character dynamics, while also paying homage to  

I really liked that Sophie’s relationship with Claudia was such a positive one throughout the narrative, even when there are rumors to the contrary. While Sophie still has a powerful connection to her birth mother, she and Claudia still have a mutually friendly relationship, and I love how Claudia really asserted herself to protect Sophie when she realized Sophie was likely the one in danger, even if it meant people would speculate the worst even more. 

Sophie’s romance with Philip is really sweet, and while it didn’t blow me away at first, I did like how they end up navigating immense obstacles to be together. After all they faced, I truly felt their happy ending was earned.

I enjoyed this book just as much as her last retelling, and hope she continues writing them. If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings or historical fantasy, I’d recommend checking this one out! 

Author Bio

Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her books have topped USA TodayWall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and been published in more than twenty countries. She is best-known for her Blue Bloods series (with more than three million copies in print), The Descendants books based on the Disney Channel films, and the Witches of East End novels, which were turned into a two-season drama series on Lifetime Television. Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.

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“Chef’s Choice” (Chef’s Kiss #2) by TJ Alexander (ARC Review)

Alexander, TJ. Chef’s Choice. New York: Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13:978-1982189105 | $17.99 USD | 336 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

A fake dating arrangement turns to real love in this deliciously delightfulqueer rom-com from the author of the sweetly satisfying Chef’s Kiss.

When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she’s a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don’t pay the bills.

Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire—which he’ll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play…for the right price. She’s got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn’t even know how to crack an egg, but she’s not going to let that—or any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierre—stop her.

Another swoon-worthy and heartwarming queer love story from a charming new voice in romance.

In the series

#1 Chef’s Kiss

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Chef’s Choice is a standalone followup to TJ Alexander debut novel, Chef’s Kiss, and while the first book felt very catered to the mainstream cis reader, this one felt a bit more subversive, especially as both leads are trans, and there’s a lot of nuance and both leads have different perspectives on being trans, due to their varied lived experiences, and it’s a reminder that trans people are not a monolith. 

Luna and JP are both such compelling characters. JP is grumpy in the best way, and it just made it better when he started to fall for Luna. Luna’s financial situation is very relatable, and I could not help but root for her to find her feet in the world. Their relationship is very beautiful, and I love how they complement each other and help each other grow. 

I liked the nuance of the varied experiences with their respective parents. From the well-meaning, yet somewhat out-of-touch to the more overtly unaccepting, I appreciated how it showed that there’s a spectrum of behaviors that can be alienating to trans people, and that even self-proclaimed “allies” can still make missteps. 

This is a great book, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for contemporary romances with trans rep. 

Author Bio

J Alexander writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants. They are represented by Larissa Melo Pienkowski of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.Connect with them at TwitterInstagram, or Goodreads.

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“The Electrical Affairs of Dr. Victor Franklin” by Catherine Stein (ARC Review)

Stein, Catherine. The Electrical Affairs of Dr. Victor Franklin. [Michigan]: Steam Cat Press, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1949862447 | $4.99 USD | 278 pages | Historical Romance/Steampunk 

Blurb

Sometimes all love needs is a spark.

Victor Franklin has two goals in life: finishing his mechanical man and hiding his feelings for his erstwhile-and sadly married-scientific collaborator, Mary Clay. After Victor inadvertently slights Mary, she shocks him by demanding a place in his laboratory. The charged atmosphere creates new opportunities for the Mecha-Man project, but every second spent with Mary tightens her hold on Victor’s heart.

Forced from her family’s copperworks by her odious, perpetually absent husband, Mary takes solace in her scientific pursuits and the kindness of friends. But days working alongside handsome, charming Victor ignite sensual feelings she dares not succumb to. Worse yet, Mr. Clay’s abrupt reappearance in her life threatens everything she holds dear.

When a murder at the copperworks makes Mecha-Man a suspect, it endangers Mary and Victor’s work, their reputations, and even their lives. As they hide from prying eyes, the crackling tension between them builds to an electric passion and the dream of a future together. Can they prove their innocence, evade the killer, and conquer old fears to bring their dream to life?

In the series

#1 The Courtesan and Mr. Hyde 

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Electrical Affairs of Dr. Victor Franklin is the second book in Catherine Stein’s Mad Scientists Society series. It can be read as a standalone, as while the two primarily share recurring characters, the two are standalone romances. However, I really loved book one, and would recommend it. 

Like its predecessor, this book reimagines a Gothic classic as a romance, with the morally gray protagonist of the original being reimagined as a more admirable character. Victor Franklin bears even less parallels with his classic counterpart beyond the superficial, with the main recognizable traits being his fascination with science and new ways to create life, which fortunately does not see him going down a more inhumane path. While Dr. Frankenstein disowns his creation when it turns monstrous, Victor Franklin is determined to believe the best in his Mecha-Man when it is accused of a heinous crime. He’s not perfect, as while he’s in love with Mary Clay, he takes her for granted at times, but he grows over the course of the book and shows how much he values her. 

Mary is a great heroine, and I sympathized with her immediately, being stuck in a marriage with a greedy husband who took control over her father’s company and got involved in shady smuggling operations, and I loved that she at least had an escape in her scientific work, even if the men (including Victor at times) didn’t fully respect her. 

The story proceeds in a great balance of suspense and steamy romance, with the murder of Mary’s husband posing great danger to the major characters, and simultaneously Mary and Victor grow closer as they investigate and continue work on Mecha-Man. They were easy to root  for and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all work out. 

 This is another fabulous read from Catherine Stein, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with paranormal/steampunk elements and/or loose retellings of classic tales. 

Author Bio

Catherine Stein started reading at age two, when her mother noticed that she could tell the difference between words that started with the same letter. Ever since, she has wandered around with a book in her hand, her backpack, her purse, or even tucked down the back of her pants. A few years after she began to read, she also began to write. She spent the majority of her school career writing non-school-related stories in her notebooks.

In college she took the daring step of majoring in art history, the ultimate “do you want fries with that” degree. Thankfully, however, her degree did allow her to study abroad. In a small town in Tuscany, she participated in an archaeological dig and found copious amounts of Etruscan roof tiles. She had the distinction of being the only student to enjoy cataloging the artifacts.

As an adult, Catherine continues to read and write during whatever spare time she can scare up. She takes frequent long walks, no matter what the weather, and does a lot of her best thinking during these times. She plays the trumpet in multiple groups and loves art of every genre. She is a sports fanatic who will literally watch any sport, though she does prefer football and hockey. She plays beer league hockey on Friday nights with a team that has a sheep for a mascot. She may not play well, but she plays fiercely.

Catherine can often be found dressed in clothing that was purchased at a Renaissance Festival, drinking copious amounts of tea.

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“While You Were Dreaming” by Alisha Rai (Review)

Rai, Alisha. While You Were Dreaming. New York: Quill Tree Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063083967 | $19.99 USD | 425 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

In this debut contemporary YA romance by bestselling author Alisha Rai, a girl with undocumented family members goes viral after saving her crush’s life in disguise. A must read for fans of Sandhya Menon and Nicola Yoon. 

A Phenomenal Book Club Pick!

It’s a classic story: girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy finally notices girl when he sees her in a homemade costume. At least, that’s what Sonia Patil is hoping for when she plans to meet her crush at the local comic-con in cosplay.

But instead of winning her crush over, Sonia rescues him after he faints into a canal and, suddenly, everything changes. Since she was in disguise, no one knows who the masked do-gooder was . . .but everyone is trying to find out. Sonia can’t let that happen—her sister is undocumented, and the girls have been flying under the radar since their mother was deported back to Mumbai.

Sonia finds herself hiding from social media detectives and trying to connect with her crush and his family. But juggling crushes and a secret identity might just take superpowers. Can Sonia hide in plain sight forever?

Review

4 stars 

I admit I was very nervous when I heard Alisha Rai was writing a YA novel. While her style has changed a bit of late, I still associate her with higher heat, and perhaps more importantly, her last adult romance was very much not for me. But just like Witt Talia Hibbert, whose YA debut wowed me, I found myself impressed with Alisha Rai’s While You Were Dreaming. While I still haven’t seen While You Were Sleeping, this is the second romance retelling that is suggesting that perhaps I really should (the first being Sophie Jordan’s While the Duke Was Sleeping). I love how Rai plays with those fun tropes of secret/mistaken identity and a love triangle, while also exploring the  theme of identity as a South Asian person, especially within the current climate of xenophobia that has separated families based on immigration status. 

While I’m not South Asian, Sonia’s story still spoke to me in a lot of ways. Her body image and anxiety issues were particularly relatable to me, and I like how that, and the related instability about her family’s situation with her mother having been deported, ties into her love for cosplay and it being a disguise to hide from the world. It was beautiful to see her come into her own and find a way to be herself, in spite of the external challenges and the internal emotional battles she dealt with along the way. 

The romance is quite cute. I’ve come to really like the concept of suddenly being noticed by someone you’ve liked (even loved forever), but finding it much more validating when someone else (even if that someone else is that person’s brother) notices you for you without needing to be prompted, meaning the romance doesn’t have the same baggage of a long-unrequited crush. Sonia and Niam are really cute together, although I did like the way the love triangle in all its complicated glory was executed overall. 

This was a great read that beautifully balanced touching on serious social issues with a cute romance. I recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet YA multicultural romance. 

Author Bio

Alisha Rai pens award-winning contemporary romances and her novels have been named Best Books of the Year by Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. When she’s not writing, Alisha is traveling or tweeting. To find out more about her books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.alisharai.com.  

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“The King’s Pleasure” (Tudor Rose #2) by Alison Weir (ARC Review)

Weir, Alison. The King’s Pleasure. New York: Ballantine Books, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-0593355060 | $30.00 USD | 608 pages | Historical Fiction 

Blurb 

The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the private side of the legendary king Henry VIII and his dramatic and brutal reign in this extraordinary historical novel.

Having completed her Six Tudor Queens series of novels on the wives of Henry VIII, extensively researched and written from each queen’s point of view, Alison Weir now gives Henry himself a voice, telling the story of his remarkable thirty-six-year reign and his six marriages.

Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. He had all the qualities to make a triumph of his kingship, yet we remember only the violence. Henry famously broke with the pope, founding the Church of England and launching a religious revolution that divided his kingdom. He beheaded two of his wives and cast aside two others. He died a suspicious, obese, disease-riddled tyrant, old before his time. His reign is remembered as one of dangerous intrigue and bloodshed—and yet the truth is far more complex.

The King’s Pleasure
 brings to life the idealistic monarch who expanded Parliament, founded the Royal Navy, modernized medical training, composed music and poetry, and patronized the arts. A passionate man in search of true love, he was stymied by the imperative to produce a male heir, as much a victim of circumstance as his unhappy wives. Had fate been kinder to him, the history of England would have been very different.

Here is the story of the private man. To his contemporaries, he was a great king, a legend in his own lifetime. And he left an extraordinary legacy—a modern Britain.

In the series 

#1 The Last White Rose 

Review 

4 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

At long last, after having written novels for each of Henry VIII’s wives, Alison Weir has dared to tackle the life of Henry himself in The King’s Pleasure. It’s not an easy task, with the book covering the majority of his life from the death of his mother (where Weir’s precious fictional work about Elizabeth of York left off) and going through his life and times, including his six eventful marriages. The result, as expected, is of truly epic proportions. 

Henry is a truly fascinating figure, and Weir does a great job fleshing him out and depicting the complexities that made the glorious, virtuous prince of his youth turn into the infamous tyrant that he has gone down in history as. From his upbringing by his father who came to the throne based on a claim of conquest and worked to establish a new dynasty, even as claimants from the old one still remained to threaten both their power, to the real dynastic issues Henry’s inability to have a legitimate son caused, I appreciate how all this was explained from his perspective, especially with the stakes rising as he aged. While a part of his character is also very self-serving, he does try to make it so that his own personal interests and that of the realm align. It can be hard to root for someone who is able to justify anything for that purpose, even executing people he once deified, but if you know anything at all about Henry VIII,  you pretty much know what you’re getting with this story. 

Having read most of Weir’s Six Wives novels and read a lot about his marriages elsewhere, it was fun to get his perspective on things, as I had never read that angle before in any other book. His complex emotions as his wives in succession disappointed him were interesting as well, as it added an element of humanity to him amid the romantic dramas (even if I did seriously question his logic at various times, even though I admit to having the benefit of hindsight and modern knowledge of things science and medicine). 

I do have issues with how Weir’s bias has informed some of her choices, and that has impacted my reading experience with her fiction in the past. The anti-Anne Boleyn bias was much less pronounced this time around (an obstacle to my being able to finish Weir’s Anne Boleyn novel), however I object to the theories that carry over from Weir’s book on Anne’s execution, The Lady in the Tower. The idea that Cromwell framed Anne, and Henry believed Anne guilty doesn’t quite fit for me, especially when other historians have pointed out the swiftness with which Henry moved on (actually he’d already moved on to Jane) and the brief timeline from arrest to trial to execution, compared to the long, drawn-out process of the fall of Kathryn Howard. It’s especially startling when the book depicts him being taken off-guard by both his allegedly unfaithful wives’ behavior, with the only difference being Henry still had tender, wounded feelings for Kathryn (vs frustration with Anne). Weir also  repeat some other claims, such as Jane Boleyn’s involvement in the fall of Anne and George, while she attempts to at least partially rehabilitate Mary Boleyn. But she has written about the Boleyns before, I assume readers would know what to expect if they’ve picked up any of her Boleyn-related titles in the past. 

Other than that, Weir has gained her reputation as a reputable historian of Tudor history for a reason, and she clearly knows her stuff. She blends the facts with fiction expertly here, and brings to life the story of one of the most infamous monarchs in British history perfectly. If you’re interested at all in historical fiction about Henry, the Tudors, or the British monarchy, I’d recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio 

Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous historical biographies, including The Lost Tudor Princess, Elizabeth of York, Mary Boleyn, The Lady in the Tower, Mistress of the Monarchy, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and the novels Anne Boleyn, A King’s Obsession; Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen; The Marriage Game; A Dangerous Inheritance; Captive Queen; The Lady Elizabeth; and Innocent Traitor. She lives in Surrey, England, with her husband.

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“You Bet Your Heart” by Danielle Parker (ARC Review)

Parker, Danielle. You Bet Your Heart. New York: Joy Revolution, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593565278 | $18.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

A riveting, swoon-worthy teen romance centered on two high achievers fighting for the title of high school valedictorian and falling in love along the way, from debut author Danielle Parker.

Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian.

At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering news: they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached…

This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexamine why they drifted apart but also to figure out who they’ve become since. With her future hanging in the balance, Sasha must choose: honor her family’s sacrifices by winning (at all costs) or give her heart a shot at finding happiness?

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Joy Revolution imprint once again delivers another winner, this time with a YA contemporary from debut author, Danielle Parker. Parker is a delightful new voice in YA romance, putting a fun spin on familiar tropes, like academic rivals-to-lovers and friends-to-rivals-to-lovers. 

Sasha and Ezra are such wonderful characters, and I love the dynamic between them. Both are ambitious, and want to be the top of their class, but the tension between them because of their shared history adds an extra layer to the story that I liked. There was a great balance between the ruthlessness of the competition between them and making a believable transition to a stable relationship. Both are flawed, and make mistakes, but are endearing in spite of their flaws. 

I also loved the cultural nuances to both characters, influenced by their backgrounds and the social issues that impact them. Both are Black, and the narrative reckons with the impact of gentrification. Both also are from multicultural backgrounds, with Sasha also being part Korean, and Ezra being Jewish. 

This is a great book, and I’m looking forward to more from Danielle Parker in the future. If you’re looking for a multicultural Black romance, I recommend checking this one out! 

Author Bio

Danielle Parker has over ten years of experience as a high school English teacher, during which her greatest pleasure was helping reluctant readers find a novel they absolutely loved. Danielle now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. You Bet Your Heart is her debut novel. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found looking for a pool to splash in, thinking about dessert, or taking a quick nap.

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“The Porcelain Moon” by Janie Chang (Review)

Chang, Janie. The Porcelain Moon. New York: William Morrow, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063072862 | $30.00 USD | 352 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

From the critically acclaimed author of The Library of Legends comes a vividly rendered novel set in WWI France about two young women—one Chinese, one French—whose lives intersect with unexpected, potentially dangerous consequences.

“East meets West in World War I France. In The Porcelain Moon, Janie Chang exhibits her signature trademarks—lyrical prose, deftly drawn characters, and skillful excavation of little-known history—to give us a rare jewel in a sea of wartime fiction!”

— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

France, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But it’s not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.

Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.

Review

4 stars

Having enjoyed the previous book I read from Janie Chang, I was excited to try more from her. The Porcelain Moon did not disappoint, adding a new perspective to World War I I didn’t know about before, involving the Chinese Labour Corps, which was established by the British government to provide labor during the war, so their men could be free for the front lines. Chang’s research into the topic is immaculate, capturing this part of the war in vivid, poignant detail, in spite of the scant records available (for likely very obvious reasons, if the current political climate around issues like this tells us anything). 

While fictional, I love how the major characters are depicted, and how their backstories demonstrate their motivations for joining the CLC. Pauline wishes to avoid an unwanted arranged marriage, and has a CLC connection through her cousin, Theo, who is working with them as a translator. She was easy to resonate with, especially given how pronounced the themes are filial duty and the potential loss of her reputation, compounded by her illegitimate birth, are. 

Camille is reckoning with romantic turmoil, as she’s hoping to escape both her abusive marriage and a love affair that further complicates things. She’s also easy to understand for the most part, especially as I got to know more of her secrets and complexities. And with both women longing for escape from the patriarchal norms of their society, I liked how this formed a great basis for their friendship as well, and I remained invested in both their individual stories, and how they would impact their growing bond. 

This is another solid offering from Janie Chang, and I’m excited to continue to read more from her going forward. I recommend this book if you’re looking for more historical fiction about Asian history and/or about aspects of World War I that you haven’t read about before. 

Author Bio

Born in Taiwan, JANIE CHANG has lived in the Philippines, Iran, Thailand, New Zealand and Canada. She writes historical fiction with a personal connection, drawing from family history and ancestral stories. Chang has a degree in computer science and is a graduate of the Writer’s Studio Program at Simon Fraser University. She is the author of Three Souls, Dragon Springs Road and The Library of Legends.

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“Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko (ARC Review)

Kiyoko, Hayley. Girls Like Girls. New York: Wednesday Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250817631 | $20.00 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Trailblazing pop star, actor and director, Hayley Kiyoko debuts her first novel, a coming-of-age romance based on her breakthrough hit song and viral video, GIRLS LIKE GIRLS.

It’s summertime and 17-year-old Coley has found herself alone, again. Forced to move to rural Oregon after just losing her mother, she is in no position to risk her already fragile heart. But when she meets Sonya, the attraction is immediate.

Coley worries she isn’t worthy of love. Up until now, everyone she’s loved has left her. And Sonya’s never been with a girl before. What if she’s too afraid to show up for Coley? What if by opening her heart, Coley’s risking it all?

They both realize that when things are pushed down, and feelings are forced to shrivel away, Coley and Sonya will be the ones to shrink. It’s not until they accept the love they fear and deserve most, that suddenly the song makes sense.

Based on the billboard-charting smash hit song and viral music video GIRLS LIKE GIRLS, Hayley Kiyoko’s debut novel is about embracing your truth and realizing we are all worthy of being loved back.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

While I’ve enjoyed Hayley Kiyoko’s acting work in TV movies like Scooby-Doo and Lemonade Mouth, and her guest role on Wizards of Waverly Place (belated Stalex shipper here!), I’ve never followed any of her other ventures, although I was of course aware of her growing popularity as a musician. Nonetheless, I was excited to try her first book, Girls Like Girls, inspired by the song of the same name (which I’ve since listened to and fallen in love with!), and I ended up flying through it and being delighted with the results. 

Setting-wise, it sits in that delicate area between being historical and contemporary, as it’s set in 2006. I suppose for the target demographic, there will be an element of the historical to it, but for me, having lived through it, it felt more nostalgic, what with the references to older forms of communication, like AIM, and blogging through LiveJournal being a means through which one of the the leads communicates her thoughts. I can understand why Hayley Kiyoko made the choice she did, as this would reflect her own experience as a queer teen more accurately, as opposed to trying to imitate the experience of modern teens (something older writers don’t often do well). And, other than the aesthetics, the story does still feel fairly applicable to the modern audience in how it explores its central themes of self-acceptance, healing from grief, and reckoning with heartbreak. 

Coley’s an incredibly sympathetic protagonist, and going through a lot. I felt for her as she reckoned with her mother’s death, but also appreciated the relationship she developed over the course of the book with her father, working through all the intense issues between them. She has a lot of baggage, and I appreciate that the narrative didn’t shy away from delving into her complex feelings. 

Sonya took some time to grow on me, as she definitely had toxic moments. But she’s also similar to Coley in that she carries her own baggage and scars that she has to reckon with throughout, and I definitely understood her more as the story continued. 

I enjoyed this book a lot, and while it isn’t perfect, I would read more from Hayley Kiyoko in the future, as well as following more of her career going forward. If you’re a fan of her other work (especially the song and video of the same name), this is absolutely worth your time. And even if you’re not, I’d recommend this book if you’re looking for sapphic YA contemporaries with flawed protagonists. 

Author Bio

HAYLEY KIYOKO is an award-winning American singer, dancer, and actress. “At the forefront of an unapologetically queer pop movement” according to Rolling Stone, Hayley is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her debut novel, Girls Like Girls, is based on her hit single and music video of the same name.

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“The Accidental Bride” (The Spinsters of Inverley #2) by Jane Walsh (ARC Review)

Walsh, Jane. The Accidental Bride. Valley Falls, NJ: Bold Strokes Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 9781636793450 | $17.95 USD | 264 pages | Regency Romance

Blurb

Miss Grace Linfield has resigned herself to life as a lady’s companion as the only path to respectable security. At least it allows her to visit the beautiful seaside town of Inverley with her charge, Lady Edith. Passions flare when botanist Miss Thea Martin whirls into town —and into Grace’s bed for a scandalous night of passion.

Disaster looms when Lady Edith elopes with Thea’s brother. Prim-and-proper Grace and wildly outrageous Thea each wish it was anyone else by their side as they race after them to Gretna Green. In the midst of attempting to stop a wedding that will incur the wrath of both their families, they discover their passion for each other is too strong to resist.

A chance at a real relationship was the last thing either of them expected. When Grace and Thea return from Scotland, will the honeymoon be over? Or will love finally be in full bloom?

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Accidental Bride is the second book in Jane Walsh’s sapphic Spinsters of Inverley series. It can be read as a standalone, and while I didn’t find the prior book to be the strongest, I do generally like what Walsh brings to historical and sapphic romance. 

The strength of the story is in its compelling main characters. Thea is a great spin on the common bluestocking trope, with a family who does not approve of her unmarried state. Meanwhile, Grace is illegitimate, and is resigned to life as a lady’s companion. I loved how the dynamics between the two evolved, playing into some common tropes, from the initial passionate entanglement between the two, to a gradual development into something more as the rest of the plot plays out.

Some aspects of the external plot initially seem a bit convoluted, but I like how the structure allows for a somewhat different take on a romance while providing the same feels. The first part is about them figuring out the semantics of their relationship, amid some of  the other issues in their respective lives, and the second half sees them living out their happiness, in spite of the obstacles that come between them. Walsh is great at playing with reader expectations, and I was not disappointed in her twists on genre tropes and expectations to deliver a truly satisfying ending. 

This is a generally fun, light read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic historical romance. 

Author Bio

Jane Walsh is a queer historical romance novelist who loves everything Regency. She is delighted to have the opportunity to put her studies in history and costume design to good use by writing love stories. She owes a great debt of gratitude to the local coffee shop for fueling her novel writing endeavors. Jane’s happily ever after is centered on her wife and their cat and their cozy home together in Canada.

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“I Am Ayah: The Way Home” by Donna Hill (ARC Review)

Hill, Donna. I An Ayah: The Way Home. Shrewsbury, PA: Sideways Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1649371683 | $12.49 USD | 368 pages | Women’s Fiction

Blurb

Set amid Sag Harbor’s vibrant African American history, bestselling author Donna Hill weaves a stunningly rich story about finding the way home…no matter how long the journey takes.

Alessandra Fleming has spent most of her life running from her past. Her budding photography career, her life in Manhattan, all serve to distract from the secrets and guilt she’s never been able to face. Then the call. Her estranged father is in the hospital…and Alessandra must return home to Sag Harbor, crumbling the first wall between her past and her present.

For some, coming home is a relief. For Alessandra, it’s a reminder of the family she’s lost, of the time she’ll never regain. But the answers—the secrets—of her family are hidden in the house, waiting for her. And the only one who may be able to help her uncover them is her father’s neighbor, Zach, who brings with him an attraction that’s intense and instantaneous, yet oddly familiar.

Now Alessandra is being pulled back not only into her own complex family history, but into the richly documented lives of four extraordinary women. Generations touched by tragedy and triumph, despair and hope. And it’s in these aching echoes of the past that Alessandra’s own story—her mistakes and her capacity to love—will take shape, guiding her to the life she’s meant to live…and the extraordinary person she will become.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

I Am Ayah: The Way Home is a touching tribute to the history of Black people throughout generations. The central narrative follows Alessandra, a woman who finds herself reconnecting with her past after years of running from it. It’s beautiful to see her reconnecting with her family’s history and trying to make up for the time she’s lost. I enjoyed seeing her growth, especially as she bonds with Zach, who works for the Smithsonian. I appreciated her growth as she learned more about her family’s past, and really liked her and Zach together as a couple. 

But the real standout parts are the excerpts for the historical documents with journals and letters of the people from generations past, from the time of slavery through Jim Crow (notably the Tulsa Race Massacre) and into the near past, following her mother’s experiences. All of these moments are poignant to read about, capturing each of these moments vividly and demonstrating their continued relevance to this particular family’s legacy and to Black history on a grander scale. 

This is a moving read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for Black fiction with a multigenerational family saga and romantic side plot. 

Author Bio

Donna Hill began her career in 1987 writing short stories for the confession magazines. Since that time she has more than100 published titles to her credit since her first novel was released in 1990, and is considered one of the early pioneers of the African American romance genre.  Three of her novels Intimate Betrayal, Masquerade and A Private Affair have been adapted for television. The only Arabesque /BET Books author that can claim that distinction. She has been featured in Essence, the New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others. She has appeared on numerous radio and television stations across the country and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists. She has received numerous awards for her body of work—which cross several genres– including The Career Achievement Award, the first recipient of The Trailblazer Award, The Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award, The Gold Pen Award among others, as well as commendations for her community service, during her tenure as Coordinator for Kianga House—a transitional residence for homeless teen mothers and their children. Donna co-wrote the screenplay Fire, which enjoyed limited theater release before going to DVD.

As an editor she has packaged several highly successful novels, and anthologies, two of which were nominated for awards.  She began her ‘teaching” career as  a writing instructor at The Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in New York in the early 90s. Several of her students have gone on to publish novels.  Donna also served as a writing instructor with the Elders Writing Program sponsored by Medgar Evers College through Poets & Writers, and successfully worked to compile and publish the memoirs of the elders.  While Donna may not be recognized on national bestsellers lists, she has maintained a solid  30-year writing career, supported by her devoted fans, which she celebrated in June 2020 in commemoration of the release of her first novel Rooms of the Heart.

Donna holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and is in pursuit of her D.A. degree from Murray State University in English Pedagogy and Technology. She is an Assistant Professor of Professional Writing at Medgar Evers College, and former Adjunct Instructor at Baruch College, Essex County College and the College of New Rochelle. Donna currently lives in Brooklyn with her family.

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“Ripples in Time” (Kendra Donovan #6) by Julie McElwain (Review)

McElwain, Julie. Ripples in Time. [Place of publication not identified]: Seshat Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 979-8987381014 | $16.95 USD | 394 pages | Historical Mystery/Time Travel

Blurb

July 1816—Kendra Donovan could use a distraction. The FBI agent has been dealing with a serious case of cold feet after impulsively agreeing to marry Alec, the Marquis of Sutcliffe. And if that isn’t enough, there is also the tantalizing possibility that maybe, just maybe she could return to her own timeline as the one-year anniversary of her shocking arrival in the early 19th century approaches.

When Reginald Lansing, the Earl of Craymore, is found mortally wounded on the Duke of Aldridge’s land, Kendra gets the distraction that she’s been looking for. At first glance, it appears as though the aristocrat is the victim of a highwayman. After all, Lansing had been traveling with the Anahita Pink, a priceless pink diamond that can be traced to the lost treasure of King John, and has since vanished. However, some things aren’t adding up, and Kendra begins to suspect that there’s more to the crime than a simple robbery.

Certainly, Craymore’s life proves to be complicated. He had his sister, Lady Evelyn, committed to a madhouse to prevent her from marrying a fortune hunter, and recently he’d been heard arguing with his radical cousin, who is next in line to inherit the title and Craymore fortune. Both could benefit from the earl’s untimely death. On the other hand, anyone who managed to get their hands on the Anahita Pink would benefit.

No one knows better than Kendra that humanity’s darker impulses can cause devastating ripples. And when the killer strikes again, Kendra realizes that her investigation is more than a puzzle, more than a distraction—it is a terrifying game of cat and mouse against a ruthless killer, who will stop at nothing to win.

In the series

#1 A Murder in Time

#2 A Twist in Time

#3 Caught in Time

#4 Betrayal in Time

#5 Shadows in Time

Review

4 stars

Ripples in Time continues Kendra Donovan’s adventures in Regency England once again, and it was definitely worth the wait. I loved becoming reacquainted with the main cast, from Kendra herself and her fiance, Alec to the delightfully eccentric Duke of Aldridge and more. Despite about a year’s time having elapsed since she first came, Kendra continues to grapple with being a woman in a different time period than the one she’s from, and feeling a bit out of place within it. However, I also love that, in spite of the reminders of the inequalities for women, which are starkly present in this particular case, she makes the conscious choice to avoid pursuing opportunities to try to return home, because of her love for Alec, as well as her strong bonds with the few others she’s become close with. It’s fun to see the insights she brings to the case this time around, from the modern perspective about mental health to little asides to herself about the fate of certain jewels, like the Koh-i-Nor, which was quite ironic, given it being a topic of conversation due to the Coronation recently.

The mystery is so darkly fascinating this time around, because of it being centered largely around an asylum for women who are declared “mentally unstable.” The main victim of the story, Reginald Lansing, is connected due to having left his sister there, due to an improper relationship she had formed with someone who was only after the family’s money. I enjoyed how the story balanced between digging into the victim’s past, as well as what was going on at the asylum with the women beyond Lady Evelyn, as it ended up being much more complex than it initially appeared. The twists and turns and red herrings kept me guessing, and ultimately, the only people I truly felt sorry for were the women institutionalized against their will. 

This is another solid installment, and I’d recommend the series thus far to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, Regency romance, and/or stories with time travel. 

Author Bio

Julie McElwain began her journalistic career at California Apparel News, a weekly Los Angeles based trade newspaper. She has freelanced for numerous publications from professional photographers magazines to those following the fashion industry. Currently, Julie is West Coast Editor for Soaps In Depth, a national soap opera magazine covering the No. 1 daytime drama, The Young and the Restless. Julie lives in Long Beach, CA.

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“Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball” by Jason June (ARC Review)

Jason June. Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball. New York: HarperTeen, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063260030 | $19.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Femme, gay teen podcaster Riley Weaver has made it to junior year, which means he can finally apply for membership into the Gaybutante Society, the LGBTQ+ organization that has launched dozens of queer teens’ careers in pop culture, arts, and activism. The process to get into the society is a marathon of charity events, parties, and general gay chaos, culminating in the annual Gaybutante Ball. The one requirement for the ball? A date.

Then Riley overhears Skylar say that gay guys just aren’t interested in femme guys or else they wouldn’t be gay. Riley confronts Skylar and makes a bet to prove him wrong: Riley must find a masc date by the time of the ball, or he’ll drop out of the Society entirely. Riley decides to document the trials and tribulations of dating while femme in a brand-new podcast. Can Riley find a fella to fall for in time? Or will this be one massive—and publicly broadcast—femme failure?

This new novel from Jason June explores how labels can limit and liberate us, and shows just what can happen when you bet on yourself.

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I’ve really liked Jason June’s prior books, but  Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball is probably my favorite from him thus far. It’s an incredibly queer-affirming book, exploring a queer teen as he navigates the stereotypes that come with being in the LGBTQ+ community, some of it being reinforced by the community itself. This idea of what allegedly makes someone “gay/queer enough” has been discussed ad nauseum, but I love Jason June’s unique perspective on this through Riley Weaver’s eyes. I adore the way the narrative fights back against the labels and pigeonholing of what it means to be “masc” or “femme,” and which makes the person “really” gay, and how the gatekeeping of queerness can be harmful to those who don’t fit neatly into a binary gender identity (or identify with one that is considered invalid). 

The Gaybutante Ball also sounds like such fun, and how it’s part of an initiative to help queer teens with their careers and give back to the community. The promise of queer chaos is absolutely met with some aspects of this book. 

Riley is a fabulous protagonist, and I love that he doesn’t let the naysayers try to dictate who he is. He takes on the challenge of finding a date for the big Gaybutante Ball and documenting the process on his new podcast, and I couldn’t help but find him endearing throughout as he shared his musings and little updates on his progress on his journey. 

The romance was super-cute, and I liked who it ended up being with, given the way it was built up throughout the book. It also was quite satisfying to have it be with someone Riley already trusted, given the premise of fighting back against someone he had animosity with. 

This is such a beautiful book, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for books with positive queer, gender-nonconforming rep.  

Author Bio

Jason June has planned to be a merperson ever since he first saw The Little Mermaid and strongly identified with King Triton’s daughters. While he waits for his fin to appear, Jason June is a New York Times bestselling author who writes young adult works full of queer joy and love and lust and magic. He is the author of Jay’s Gay Agenda, and can be found on social media @heyjasonjune, and on his website at heyjasonjune.com.

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“His Study in Scandal” (A School for Scoundrels #2) by Megan Frampton (ARC Review)

Frampton, Megan. His Study in Scandal. New York: Avon Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063224223 | $9.99 USD | 384 pages | Regency Romance

Blurb

Megan Frampton’s deliciously witty A School for Scoundrelseries follows the adventures of five gentlemen who navigate life—and love—in London. Here, a dashing young businessman enters into a liaison with a widowed Duchess. Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and anyone who loves Bridgerton!

Alexandra, Duchess of Chelmsworth, is tired of pretending to mourn a husband who squandered a fortune and never bothered to give her the time of day, much less any attentions at night. So, the still-beautiful duchess cuts up her mourning gowns, deciding to experience the pleasures long denied her by daringly visiting the Garden of Hedon. It is there the ton anonymously gives in to their deepest desires, and where Alexandra finds herself in the arms of a mysterious man. She willingly gives in to the passion he offers her, fully believing she would never see him again.

But she is shocked to soon discover he is none other than Theo Osborne, who is continually being pushed forward as a husband—for Alexandra’s own stepdaughter! While his wealth would save the family from financial ruin, his intentions are clear: he has no interest in anyone but Alexandra. And though he tempts and teases her, she is determined not to give her heart to any man. But what started as a sensuous game turns into something much more…

Review

3.5 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley kitt and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

His Study in Scandal is the second book of Megan Frampton’s current series. A School for Scoundrels. It can be read as a standalone, and I personally read this one with no issues, after abandoning the first early on due to having issues with some of the stylistic choices. And while I liked aspects of this book, I found the execution failed to live up to the premise. 

I’ve been in the mood for a widowed heroine lately, especially as Lady Danbury’s arc in the Queen Charlotte show was one of the highlights for me. And that likely colored my perceptions going into this book, as Alexandra also is a survivor of a terrible marriage she was forced into against her will and relishing her freedom after his passing and the two long years of forced mourning that followed. I loved her spirit, and her desire to not want to be controlled again. 

Theo is equally compelling, being born illegitimate and  taken in by a wealthy man and has made a name for himself in his own right. He’s disdainful of the aristocracy and their excesses, and is unfailingly noble in character, sometimes fatally so. I also adore his openness about his romantic interest in Alexandra, including easily admitting to being in love with her. 

I love the way the narrative shows how both of them don’t quite fit in the aristocratic world, despite their initial perceived differences (her being older and mother to a daughter who is considered as a possible wife for him being one of the major sources of tension). She has been ill-used by all the men in her life, and her world feels like a gilded cage, while he has never belonged to this world, and has had to scrape by to get to his current position, and their mutual cynicism allows them to relate to each other, as they also explore the passion between them. However, I felt conflicted as things progressed, culminating in a third-act conflict and resolution that showed his underlying patriarchal traditionalism (even if he did not mean to be overbearing in his expression of it) and her inconsistency in her desire for independence. I saw no reason for her swift one-eighty, simply because she found the “right” man who seemed to consider her desires for once in her life. Why can’t romance characters (including in historical romances) be allowed to have complicated feelings about marriage and domesticity without them magically changing by the end of the book because “twue wuv?!” 

While I was disappointed with the direction of this book, the positives make me inclined to still recommend it in spite of my issues, especially if those things don’t bother you as much.. If you’re looking for historical romances that explore class and age differences. 

Author Bio

Megan Frampton writes historical romance under her own name and romantic women’s fiction as Megan Caldwell. She likes the color black, gin, dark-haired British men, and huge earrings, not in that order. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and kid. You can find her at meganframpton.com at facebook.com/meganframptonbooks/ and @meganf.

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“The Luis Ortega Survival Club” by Sonora Reyes (ARC Review)

Reyes, Sonora. The Luis Ortega Survival Club. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0063060302 | $19.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Contemporary 

Blurb

From the bestselling author of the National Book Award Finalist The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School comes a revenge story told with nuance, heart, and the possibility of healing. An ideal next read for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson.

Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers—despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen.

Luis’s attention soon turns to something more, and they have sex at a party—while Ari didn’t say no, she definitely didn’t say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumor mill begins churning—thanks, she’s sure, to Luis’s ex-girlfriend, Shawni. Boys at school now see Ari as an easy target, someone who won’t say no. 

Then Ari finds a mysterious note in her locker that eventually leads her to a group of students determined to expose Luis for the predator he is. To her surprise, she finds genuine friendship among the group, including her growing feelings for the very last girl she expected to fall for. But in order to take Luis down, she’ll have to come to terms with the truth of what he did to her that night—and risk everything to see justice done. 

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review, All opinions are my own. 

The Luis Ortega Survival Club caught my eye due to the promise of wronged girls coming together to get revenge on the guy who wronged them, and while I think the Speak comparisons are apt, I’d also say it also feels like a much more hard-hitting take on  John Tucker Must Die or “what if the protagonist from 13 Reasons Why had received support from her peers after the initial inciting incident?” These elements together make for a powerful story about hope and the possibility for justice against abusers, even if said abusers and their enablers hold all the power. 

I really loved Ari and all the little nuances of her story. She doesn’t realize at first that what she went through was sexual assault, and that is due to how society talks about what rape supposedly is and isn’t. But the journey of her coming to realize that “not saying no doesn’t imply yes,” and working to take her power back was beautiful. I was also deeply impacted by her descriptions of her autism with selective mutism, as those felt very similar to my own. And the idea that Luis was able to get close to her because of her vulnerability made it especially creepy. 

I loved how the Luis Ortega Survival Club came together, formed by his ex-girlfriend, Shawni, and composed of some other girls he’s wronged due to his abuse and manipulation. It was wonderful to see them bond over this shared experience and figure out ways to get their story out there and get him held accountable for his wrongdoings. And the fact that it was not just the handful of girls, but one of the girls came with a guy friend, who’s an incredibly supportive ally for all the girls, is also great. 

While not primarily a romance, there is a romantic subplot between Ari and Shawni. I liked seeing them slowly bond over their shared past experiences, and coming to like each other for reasons beyond that as they and the others start supporting each other’s extracurricular activities. 

While this book is a heavier read, it’s balanced by moments of light humor and an underlying theme of hope. If you’re interested in hard-hitting YA contemporaries, I recommend checking this out! 

CWs: bullying, slut shaming, rape culture, sexual harassment, aftermath of an off-page rape

Author Bio

Born and raised in Arizona, Sonora Reyes writes fiction full of queer and Latinx characters in a variety of genres, with current projects in both kidlit and adult categories. Sonora currently lives in Arizona in a multi-generational family home with a small pack of dogs who run the place. Outside of writing, Sonora loves dancing, singing karaoke, and playing with their baby niblings.

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“The Battle Drum” (The Ending Fire Trilogy #2) by Saara El-Arifi (ARC Review)

El-Arifi, Saara. The Battle Drum. New York: Del Rey, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593356975 | $29.99 USD | 544 pages | Fantasy

Blurb

Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice: Three women seek the truth of the empire’s past. And the truth they find will have the power to ignite a war, in the sequel to The Final Strife, the continuation of a visionary fantasy trilogy inspired by the myths of Africa and Arabia.

Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens’ Empire. But when she is accused of a murder she didn’t commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah.

Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home. But in finding answers, she must make a decision: Should she sacrifice her old life in order to raise up her sword once more?

Hassa’s web of secrets grows ever thicker as she finds herself on the trail of crimes in the city. Her search uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire’s past and present. Now she must guard both her heart and her land.

The three women find their answers, but not the answers they wanted. The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.

And it sings a song of war.

Ready we will be, when the Ending Fire comes,
When the Child of Fire brings the Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum.
Ready we will be, for war will come.

In the series

#1 The Final Strife 

Review

4.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Battle Drum is another excellent installment in Saara El-Arifi’s debut Ending Fire trilogy. I loved seeing more of the cultural influences from Ghana and Arabia come through in the world building, especially as the narrative takes us to new places on the world map. The prose is vivid and transformative, immersing the reader in the world of the story. I continue to be impressed with the caste system and blood color system, and how it draws parallels to the real world while still feeling original. 

The central characters remain interesting, and I was once again won over by their developing dynamics. Anoor remains somewhat naive, in spite of what she’s been through, but I like that she continues to be balanced by the more emotionally mature Hassa. These two play off each other well, and while there are some things that present cause for concern for their fates going into the final book, I still feel pretty satisfied with where they ended up at the end of this book. 

Sylah was also great in this one, especially as she’s the one whose journeys give the reader more access to different parts of the world. The exploration of her complexities, especially her struggle with addiction, are also well-rendered. 

This book is on the longer side, but that just means it has a lot to offer. There’s a lot of politics and freedom-fighting, and even a bit of murder-mystery. While there were some moments when I did feel the length, it was more or less a read where every word earned its place in the narrative. 

This is a stunning sequel, and I am eager for what’s to come in the final book. I recommend the series thus far to anyone looking for African/Middle Eastern inspired fantasy. 

Author Bio

Saara El-Arifi is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ending Fire trilogy and the upcoming Faebound. Her work is inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs and owned many more cats.

She was raised in the Middle East until her formative years, when her family swapped the Abu Dhabi desert for the English Peak District hills. This change of climate had a significant impact on her growth—not physically, she’s nearly 6ft—and she learned what it was to be Black in a white world.

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“Last Chance Dance” by Lakita Wilson (Review)

Wilson, Lakita. Last Chance Dance. New York: Viking, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593525616 | $18.99 USD | 326 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

n utterly charming YA romance perfect for fans of Elise Bryant and Leah Johnson.

“An ode to love in all its beautiful chaos. Leila is funny, irreverent, and next-level charming, and her story is an actual joyride. Sheer delight through and through.”–Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda


Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.

A high school tradition, the Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices—and with someone she never expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis. 

Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission—trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn’t her true love—then maybe someone else is. She knows it’s definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he’s right for her.

But as graduation and the dance approaches, and each date seems to change her mind (and her heart)—Leila must figure out what—and who—she really wants. It’s her last chance, right?SEE LESS

Review

4 stars

Last Chance Dance is my first book by Lakita Wilson, but I won’t be my last. It’s such a cute book, with such a fun concept. While a character having romantic interest in multiple people at the same time can be a hard sell, I think this one worked because of the strength of both the premise and execution. 

Leila is a great protagonist. She’s flawed, but she’s also quite endearing and easy to root for. She’s still figuring things out before she graduates, and I enjoyed following her as she unraveled all of it. 

Tre was a solid love interest, and I love how obvious it was he liked her, even pretty early on. The evolution on her part from finding him to be a bit of a nuisance to seeing his good qualities was wonderful. 

And then there’s Dev. I actually ended up really liking the trajectory of their breakup, as while he’s a bit flaky, their relationship history plays a key role in Leila’s character development. She doesn’t resent him for what he did in the end, but she has the self-worth to not wait around while he figures his own stuff out. 

The supporting cast were great, especially Leila’s mom and best friend, Bree, and I loved how they supported and encouraged Leila after her breakup and in her Last Chance Dance endeavors. 

I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone looking lighthearted YA contemporaries with Black queer leads. 

Author Bio

Lakita Wilson is the author of several novels and nonfiction projects for children and young adults, including What is Black Lives Matter? and Who is Colin Kaepernick? part of the New York Times bestselling Who HQ Now series. She is also the author of the YA novel Last Chance Dance and the upcoming MG novel Sparkle

Lakita was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Prince Goerge’s County, Maryland. A 2017 recipient of SCBWI’s Emerging Voices Award, Lakita received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is currently on faculty at Prince George’s Community College in the education department. Lakita lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland, with her two children. She can be found online at lakitawilson.com.

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“Something Like Possible” by Miel Moreland (ARC Review)

Moreland, Miel. Something Like Possible. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250845818 | $20.99 USD | 384 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

In this compelling YA contemporary from author Miel Moreland, a bisexual teen’s path to political staffer stardom is in jeopardy, until she convinces a cute new candidate to team up with her on the campaign trail.

On the worst day of her life, Madison is dumped by her girlfriend, then fired as said (ex)girlfriend’s campaign manager… plus she accidentally rear-ends the student government advisor—the one person whose good word might help her win a spot at a prestigious youth politics summer camp.

But Madison is nothing if not a girl with a plan, and she isn’t going to let a little thing like heartbreak (or a slightly dented bumper) get in her way. Soon, she has a new junior class president candidate to back—although the two of them might be getting a little too close on the campaign trail. Between navigating her growing crush and corralling a less than enthusiastic election team, Madison has had it with unexpected changes to her carefully laid plans. But when she and a group of queer classmates discover a pattern of harassment within the student government, Madison’s forced to shift gears once again.

Something Like Possible is a love letter to ambitious girls, queer solidarity, and how to keep moving forward when the world seems set on pushing you back.

“For every ambitious girl who has been told that they are “too much,” Something Like Possible is a validating promise that you are enough.” —Marisa Kanter, author of As If On Cue

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

I didn’t care much for the direction of Miel Moreland’s debut, but I was willing to give her work another chance, and Something Like Possible sounded promising. And while it wasn’t entirely what I expected, there was a lot to like here. 

The protagonist, Madison, is very flawed, and has her unlikable moments. But I appreciated reading about a girl who was a little “too much,” and seeing her fight to succeed. 

I also appreciated the generally positive portrayal of queerness, especially in terms of acceptance in a charter-school environment. The story showed queer girls supporting each other, and how that was more important than the competition at the end of the day. 

I also appreciate the inclusion of various other issues, from homophobia and biphobia to bullying and even a prominent subplot concerning advocacy for sexual assault. Given the political slant of the book, it was great to see these issues discussed, even if the main event is just a school election. 

The romance was a bit meh for me, as while they had some cute moments, I wasn’t super-blown away. It definitely was overwhelmed by some of the other more prominent elements, which I felt were better fleshed-out. 

While I had some issues with this book, they are relatively minor and specific to my preferences. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for queer YA contemporaries. 

CWs: non-graphic depictions of sexual assault and self-harm, bullying homophobia, biphobia, nonconsensual outing

Author Bio

Miel Moreland is the author of It Goes Like This and Something Like Possible. When not writing—and sometimes while writing—she is likely to be found drinking hot chocolate and making spreadsheets. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she has a Midwestern heart but wandering feet, and currently resides in Boston.

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“The Poisoner’s Ring” (A Rip Through Time #2) by Kelley Armstrong (ARC Review)

Armstrong, Kelley. The Poisoner’s Ring. New York: Minotaur Books, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1250820037 | $28.00 USD | 368 pages | Historical Mystery/Sci–Fi-Time Travel

Blurb

A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker’s assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion.

Edinburgh, 1869:
 Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell—even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body—and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead.

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong is known for her exquisite world building, and this latest series is no exception. The Poisoner’s Ring brings the intricacies of Victorian Scotland alive as Mallory again searches for a 19th-century killer as well as a way home.

In the series 

#1 A Rip Through Time

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Poisoner’s Ring is the second book in the Rip Through Time series. I do recommend reading book one first, as while the mystery is fully self-contained, you’ll have more sense for the background for the characters. This is an equally intriguing installment, and I love the balance between the modern woman continuing to attempt to get her bearings in Victorian Scotland, while helping to solve murder cases. She continues the intriguing blend of having her fish-out-of-water protagonist set against the more repressed, yet no less morbid  world of the Victorians, perfectly blending twenty-first century sensibilities and nineteenth century norms. 

Mallory continues to be a delightful character in that respect. She’s very opinionated, which makes her stick out, but she’s also very much an asset for her mystery-solving abilities. I enjoyed seeing her relationships with the other major characters evolve, especially Gray, as he’s now aware of who she really is. The two of them have a great dynamic, and I love how they play off each other and work together.

The mystery was a bit of a slow burner for me. I was drawn to the initial premise, and while there was a bit where the story lost me in the middle, I ultimately enjoyed the resolution and how it came together. The case tackles a number of social issues related to race, gender, sexuality, poverty, and more, demonstrating how these issues were as relevant to the people of the past as they are to people today. 

This is another solid installment in this series, and I’d recommend the series to anyone looking for Victorian-set mysteries and/or stories with time travel. 

Author Bio

Author Kelley Armstrong standing on the porch of her writing cottage

Kelley Armstrong believes experience is the best teacher, though she’s been told this shouldn’t apply to writing her murder scenes. To craft her books, she has studied aikido, archery and fencing. She sucks at all of them. She has also crawled through very shallow cave systems and climbed half a mountain before chickening out. She is however an expert coffee drinker and a true connoisseur of chocolate-chip cookies.

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“The Rachel Experiment” (From Sunset Park, with Love #2) by Lisa Lin (ARC Review)

Lin, Lisa. The Rachel Experiment. San Clemente, CA: Tule Publishing, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1958686836 | $4.99 USD | 293 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Who knew that one night out would change everything?

As a financial analyst, Rachel Bai is more comfortable with numbers than people. When her boss promotes her to head a team in San Francisco, his message is clear—she has one year to build a successful team and become an effective leader. Rachel sets out to discover how to be more comfortable interacting with people, but a drunken night meant for research results in a mechanical bull ride and a one-night stand with a sexy stranger—definitely not part of her plan.

Attorney Luke Trudeau is intrigued by the mysterious woman who’s determined to put their night together firmly in her rearview mirror. So when Luke sees Rachel again, he proposes a deal: he’ll smooth out her rough social edges and teach her to charm clients if she’ll help him devise a financial plan to open his own practice.

It seems like a win-win, but Luke breaks the rules by falling in love. Can he convince Rachel that what they have is real and, when it comes to love, there are no set rules?

In the series

#1 The Year of Cecily 

Review

3 stars

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

While I wasn’t blown away by Lisa Lin’s debut, I chose to give her second book, The Rachel Experiment, a chance. However, I am once again left with lukewarm feelings. There is a lot to enjoy on an objective level, but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me. 

Rachel and her character arc was the strongest aspect of the book for me. I found her struggles in her social life vs. things directly related to her work relatable, as a socially awkward person myself, and I always admire when characters like her step out of their comfort zone just a little. 

Lisa Lin’s male leads seem to be the weak link for me with her work, as Luke failed to draw me in. And while I had issues with the hero of the previous book, I feel he at least had some substance, while I found Luke to be almost a nonentity. The conflict and sparks between them also felt pretty weak throughout. 

I don’t think I’ll be reading Lisa Lin’s work in the future, at least for a while, as I don’t think she’s really the author for me. However, I would still recommend her work to others looking for contemporary romances with Asian leads, in hopes that they work out better for you. 

Author Bio

Lisa has been an avid romance reader and fan since she read her first Nora Roberts novel at the age of 13 after wandering the aisles of her local bookstore. Lisa loves that romance has the power to inspire, and believes that HEAs are for everyone. 

Lisa writes light contemporary romantic comedies with a liberal dash of snark and banter. She enjoys delving into the complexity of Asian and immigrant family experiences, and celebrates female friendships in her trademark dry, witty style. As an Asian-American author writing own voices Asian American stories, Lisa hopes that her books will show the diversity of the Asian-American experience, and the importance of every reader being able to see themselves represented on the page. 

Having grown up in Pennsylvania and helping out at her parents’ restaurant, Lisa has never bothered to learn to cook. She has two liberal arts undergraduate degrees and a J.D, and in her former life she was an intern, then Legislative Assistant for a PA State Representative. She also worked as a paralegal at a boutique law firm. Lisa is a politics junkie (don’t get her started on the wonder that is The West Wing!), indulges in naps whenever possible, and believes Netflixing in her pajamas and ordering take out qualifies as the perfect weekend. As a self-described Twitter addict, you can tweet her @laforesta1!

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“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Series Review)

I admit that I, along with many Bridgerton, period drama, and historical romance fans, viewed the original announcement for the Queen Charlotte series with apprehension. She wasn’t even a book character to begin with, and her presence in the show was linked to a lot of the issues related to race relations that BIPOC critics described as a major issue. Princess Weekes, for one, made a video recently discussing the issues with the Queen Charlotte show, and how its attempts to create an egalitarian alternate reality are problematic, especially for characters linked ot upholding the slave trade. And while there is much to be said about the issues with color blind casting (Hamilton, period dramas like Mr. Malcolm’s List) which cast based primarily on the actor’s talent, vs. the Bridgerton-verse’s touted “color-conscious” casting, which claims to reckon with the period’s racial politics, there’s a question of whether the latter is done well enough to satisfy both the more cynical critics and those who may want a more escapist experience of “historical fantasy.” 

All these thoughts, among a few others, led to my delaying my viewing of the series. However, while I did have some qualms upon watching it, they were things I was prepared to be critical of. And in spite of these flaws, I still found a lot to love here. 

Royalist Propaganda?

A lot has been made of the decision by the powers that be to release the show during the leadup to the real-life coronation of Charles III, even if the show had been in development prior to him becoming King. I’ve seen some comments questioning whether it’s propaganda of sorts for the monarchy. And while I think there’s some truth to that statement, Netflix has been pretty even-handed when it comes to the issue, with them also featuring the Harry and Meghan docuseries, which was somewhat critical of the institution. And recent seasons of The Crown have also drawn ire from those close to the Royal Family for its portrayal of certain key events that continue to put a stain on their legacy. 

With that in mind, while I do think it does perpetuate the idea of monarchy as a good thing, it also highlights the very human side to the fictionalized historical figures it’s depicting, and the tremendous weight being the monarch can have on one’s personal well-being, as demonstrated through the portrayal of George III’s mental health. 

Historical Fantasy and World Building

One of the big issues going in for some was how it would address the big elephant in the room brought up by Lady Danbury in Bridgerton season 1, that essentially love cures racism. I very much believe this is a case of historical fiction being inspired by the moment in which it was created as much as it pulls from the historical periods it depicts (early 1760s and 1817-18 Britain). And given the amount of coverage Charlotte received as the reputed “first biracial queen” (regardless of how exaggerated those claims were) when Meghan and Harry married, it’s easy to see how Shonda and the other writers and producers she works with, both on Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, were inspired. But it’s hard to view the choice uncritically, especially with the passage of time. By 2020, when Bridgerton season 1 premiered, there was already a rift in the Royal Family, and in the following year, Harry and Meghan would publicize their allegations about the racism within the Royal Family in their interview with Oprah, and through several other ventures since, including the aforementioned docuseries and Harry’s recent memoir, Spare. And while there are many who ridicule them, it’s quite likely that many who are fans of Bridgerton, especially BIPOC fans, are supportive of Harry and Meghan. So, to say that an interracial marriage solved racism in an alternate-timeline eighteenth century when we still have issues with it in the twenty-first? 

And the way the show grapples with it definitely is the one thing that disrupts the illusion for me. So many society people are casually racist, and while there are some “good eggs,” like Lord Ledger, Violet Bridgerton’s father, his wife is just casually awful, and Princess Augusta, George’s mother, is the actual worst at times. She does get better later into the series, but there are some awful moments, with her even being the instigator of a scene with Charlotte that echoes a very problematic body inspection scene from Bridgerton season 1 with Marina. 

And this idea that Black people aren’t automatically equally entitled to peerages that work the same way as their white counterparts forms a big part of Lady Danbury’s arc. I like what it does for her character development, but to see all the ins and outs of how Black people were casually discriminated against until George and Charlotte were able to come together as a united front bothered me. 

Characters and Relationships

While I didn’t think much of Charlotte as a character in the first two seasons of Bridgerton, I did really like her here. While her older counterpart in the previous seasons of Bridgerton struck me as very apathetic, this added a lot of context to her. Her younger self is very spirited, if a bit naive in the ways of the world, and she comes into a situation she isn’t entirely prepared for. I love how India Amarteifio captures young Charlotte, and she carries herself in a way that you’d believe she’s a younger version of Golda Rosheuvel. Charlotte’s relationship with George, played in his younger years by Corey Mylchreest and briefly as an older man by James Fleet (who I remember most as John Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility). The chemistry between India and Corey is electrifying, and they absolutely heat up the screen together, competing with previous seasons’ couples wonderfully. And while Golda’s Charlotte was often seen anticipating older George’s death, I loved that they were also given their own sweet moments together, mirroring that of their younger counterparts. 

Lady Danbury was who I was most curious about ever since her “I became frightening” speech in season 1, and my expectations were very much met. While I wasn’t a fan of the characterization of her husband as a boorish Black man, I appreciate the sentiment of what they were trying to do with her. Like India, Arsema Thomas  takes on the challenge of playing a younger version of a previously established character, exploring the  hidden nuances and vulnerabilities from her past. While her mannerisms are initially less obvious, the transformation throughout the series, juxtaposed alongside bits with Adjoa Andoh’s established portrayal, make the transformation evident. 

I already mentioned my antipathy toward Augusta, and hats off to Michelle Fairley for playing a royal matriarch with such an overbearing personality and making it work. I liked her prior performance as Catelyn Stark on Game of Thrones, and while this character is somewhat different, it shows her range for sure. And there are moments where you can see how she influences who both Charlotte and Lady Danbury become. With Lady D, it’s a little more direct, with their covert chats culminating in some advice-giving on Augusta’s part, while the overall dual-timeline plot structure serves to highlight how Charlotte becomes like the mother-in-law who once oppressed her, fussing over the marital and childbearing prowess of her own children (and hinting at the intergenerational familial spats that have plagued the British Royals since the Hanoverians). 

The Bridgerton-verse finally gets some main-cast LGBTQ+ representation, with Brimsley, Queen Charlotte’s loyal longtime secretary, being confirmed to have had a romance in the past with  King George’s secretary, Reynolds. While a lot of the onscreen interactions between young Brimsley and Reynolds include concern over the domestic issues concerning their respective employers, there are a few romantic and even sexual encounters that are absolutely worth savoring. 

I also loved the acknowledgment that older women aren’t immune from sexual attraction and longing for love (or just sex) in their life. Lady Danbury is shown as a fully sexual being in her youth, and she is critical of the belief that older women are unable to have that again. Violet, in a nod to the novella about her “Violet in Bloom,” describes her garden being “in bloom” at one point in the series. While she is still uncertain if she plans to marry again, and Julia Quinn has said she doesn’t plan on giving Violet a second shot at love, who knows at this point, given how this series’ existence contradicts what she said in the past. 

Structure and Storytelling

The narrative pivots seamlessly between the early 1760s, when King George and Queen Charlotte are first married, and 1817-18, in the midst of a succession crisis following the death of the only legitimate grandchild of King George and Queen Charlotte. I love how the two timelines inform each other, especially as the issues of the King’s mental state and the instability of the succession are relevant to both timelines. And while I’m by no means an expert in film, I noted some brilliant visual choices to bring that point, and the various issues the characters are facing, across. The ending, flashing back between the two timelines in deeply delicate moments, was particularly beautiful, highlighting the enduring love between George and Charlotte, in spite of all the obstacles they faced. 

However, the time jump does pose some interesting questions for the future of Bridgerton. While timeline issues are a factor in the next few books, I’m not sure how they play logistically with how things were left at the end of season 2. That season covered the 1814 season, while this one follows 1817-18, and Violet mentions she only has two children married off and she also alludes to the rift between Eloise and Penelope. It does make me wonder what the writers’ plans are for the forthcoming third season and possibly beyond (a fourth is all that’s been confirmed up to this point). 

Final Thoughts

While there are some issues, these were the result of the choices the writers made, and I’m not sure if there was a way to further address the issue that would work for everyone.It’s enjoyable for what it is, and everyone involved did a great job, even considering some of the more problematic aspects. It’s worth watching for some decent alt-historical drama, as long as we don’t forget about the real Black stories (including the many historical romances) out there written by Black authors that absolutely deserve their time to shine too.

“Fake Dates and Mooncakes” by Sher Lee (ARC Review)

Lee, Sher. Fake Dates and Mooncakes. New York: Underlined, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593569955 | $10.99 USD | 272 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.

Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

Review

4 stars 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a cute queer debut YA romance. Coming out in the middle of AAPI Heritage Month, I love how it honors Chinese culture and all the little nuances of the experience from different people’s perspectives. As the title suggests, food is prominent, and it’s impossible to read a chapter without craving some of the delicacies described. 

Dylan is an easy character to like and root for, and I really like his investment in his family’s Chinese takeout business, not to mention his interest in crafting the perfect mooncake. He’s a bit oblivious when it comes to love, but it comes off as charming, rather than annoying. 

Theo’s a great love interest, and I like how he was into Dylan right away, even if Dylan didn’t really notice at first. Theo’s family dynamics are a bit more complex, coming from a wealthy, mixed-race family, and I appreciate the sensitivity with which those aspects were explored. It brings some conflict to the budding romance, but I appreciate how Dylan provided Theo with the support he needed to navigate these issues. 

This is a fun read with a lot of heart, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for multicultural queer romances, especially if they also love reading about food. 

Author Bio

Sher Lee writes rom-coms and fantasy novels for teens. She lives in Singapore and has an abiding love for local street food (including an incredible weakness for xiao long bao).

Her debut YA rom-com, FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES, will be published in May 2023 by Penguin Random House (US) and Macmillan (UK).

Her YA fantasy, LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE, will be published in Summer 2024 by HarperCollins (US) and Macmillan (UK).

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“House of Salt and Sorrows” (Sisters of the Salt #1) by Erin A. Craig (Review)

Craig, Erin A. House of Salt and Sorrows. New York: Delacorte Press, 2019. 

ISBN-13: 978-1984831958 | $12.99 USD | 416 pages | YA Fantasy/Horror

Blurb

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Get swept away by this “haunting” (Bustle) YA novel about twelve beautiful sisters living on an isolated island estate who begin to mysteriously die one by one. This dark and atmospheric fairy tale inspired story is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

“Step inside a fairy tale.” —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Caraval


In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last–the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge–and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister’s deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who–or what–are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family–before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Be careful who you dance with…

And don’t miss Erin Craig’s Small Favors, a mesmerizing and chilling novel about dark wishes and even darker dreams.SEE LESS

Review

4 stars

While I’ve had House of Salt and Sorrows on my TBR for a while, I didn’t pick it up until now, in anticipation of the second book. And while I didn’t gel with the other Erin A. Craig book I read, a standalone, I enjoyed this one. It’s dark and atmospheric, with just the right amount of weirdness to suit my current mood, which had fallen into a mini-slump with some of my recent reads. 

While I am somewhat familiar with the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” story, I’ve never read the original Grimm text, so while I was able to pick up some parallels to the story I was familiar with, it’s possible there are some nuances I missed. However, that just makes the story equally accessible regardless of your familiarity with the source material. There’s also a somewhat similar vibe to the world and style to some other YA dark fairy tale retellings, but Craig’s take also feels like her own take on the trend as opposed to retreading familiar territory verbatim. 

Annaleigh is a pretty interesting character, especially given the complex family dynamics and the creepy things she’s had happening around her. Her relationships with her surviving sisters are a highlight, and her curiosity drives the story forward. The romance is a bit of a weak spot, especially at first, as it’s a love triangle, but I liked the way the progression of the external forces involved colored my perceptions of her romantic prospects.

And similarly, as the story progressed, the narrative got darker, especially towards the end. The suspense built gradually, and while the ending left a lot left unanswered, leaving the door open for the sequel, it was still fairly satisfying. 

I really enjoyed this book a lot, and I’m excited for the forthcoming sequel. If you’re interested in dark, Gothic-style fairy tale retellings, I recommend checking this out! 

Author Bio

New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows and Small Favors, Erin A. Craig has always loved telling stories.

After getting her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, in Theatre Design and Production, she stage managed tragic operas with hunchbacks, séances, and murderous clowns, then decided she wanted to write books that were just as spooky.

An avid reader, embroidery enthusiast, rabid basketball fan, and collector of typewriters, Erin makes her home in West Michigan with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, House of Salt and Sorrows, has sold over 100,000 copies since it burst onto the scene in 2019 and her sophomore book, Small Favors, was selected as one of Barnes and Noble’s Best Books of 2021.

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“The Late Mrs. Willoughby” (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #2) by Claudia Gray (ARC Review)

Gray, Claudia. The Late Mrs. Willoughby. New York: Vintage, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-0593313831 | $17.00 USD | 400 pages | Historical Mystery

Blurb

The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby’s new wife.

“An absolute page-turner full of well-plotted mystery and hints of simmering romance…. More of the Jane Austen characters we love (as well as those we love to hate).” —Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo

Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who’s returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh scandal—made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride.

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan—who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept—has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby’s new wife—whom he married for her fortune—dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town.

With rumors flying and Marianne—known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman’s newly made widower—under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine.

In the series

#1 The Murder of Mr. Wickham 

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Late Mrs. Willoughby is the second in Claudia Gray’s Jane Austen mystery series. I’d recommend reading the first book first, as it provides a lot of context for who the major players are, especially the original central characters, Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney, as well as the histories of what various Austen characters have gotten up to since the end of their respective books up to this point. 

Generally, I enjoyed this book as much, with my experience being somewhat more enjoyable this time around thanks to Gray avoiding “period accurate” instances of bigotry, which were not universal to the time period and did not add much to the overall narrative. And I liked the balance of catching up with some of the major players of the last book, while also encountering some “new” people as well. And as before, she perfectly mixes the central murder mystery with myriad interpersonal dramas of its central characters. 

Given the title, the Willoughbys play a major role. I really liked how Gray imagined their dynamic, with Sophia trying to leverage her position as his wife as she can, but also being miserable, and Willoughby being as callous as ever in his pursuit of his own pleasure, including trying to renew things with Marianne, both before and after his wife’s murder. A big part of the mystery concerns which of the Willoughbys was the true target of the murder, and even before I knew who did it and what their motives were, I truly wanted Willoughby to suffer. He, like Wickham (the “victim” of the last book) is a truly terrible human, but I like that Gray keeps the story fresh by not treading the same ground twice. Many people have motives to want to mess with either of the Willoughbys, and I was left constantly in thrall, wondering who it was.

Speaking of which, I really liked the character development for Marianne. She has gone through a lot since the end of the last book, and I truly felt for her being under suspicion both due to her connection to the Willoughbys and her actions in recent events. But her growth shows what a strong person she has become that she does not collapse under all that scrutiny, nor does she feel tempted by Willoughby at any point. And while her marriage to Colonel Brandon goes through its challenges, I love how they reaffirm their love for each other (including a beautiful meta “always” moment)! 

And while Marianne only had her husband (and her new friendship with Juliet) to support her in the last book, I enjoyed seeing her interactions with her family this time around. Her relationship with Elinor remains as solid as ever, and I love that Marianne can now also provide moral support when Elinor needs it, as well as the other way around. And the other Ferrars relations, from the brief cameo from Fanny Dashwood to the vapidness of Lucy, are all so well written to capture their absurd snobbishness, they almost match Austen’s own depiction of them. 

Beth, Colonel Brandon’s ward and mother to Willoughby’s child, plays a significant role here, and I loved seeing her come into her own, as she too shakes off the shackles of her past. It was beautiful to see her bond with Marianne over their shared past with Willoughby, as well as confronting Willoughby for his offenses against her. And her relationship with Brandon is beautiful, as there really is mutual familial; love between them despite the lack of blood connection. 

As for amateur sleuths Juliet and Jonathan, I really liked getting to spend more time with them. There isn’t much in the way of progress in their “will-they-or-won’t-they” romance, but they are much more cognizant of their own feelings for the other, even if they are unaware of the other returning their feelings. But the ending makes it very clear that there will likely be at least one more adventure for them to perhaps share their feelings with one another. 

This was another fun installment for the series, and I cannot wait for more. If you’re a Jane Austen fan who also loves Agatha Christie-esque mysteries, I recommend checking this series out! 

Author Bio

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy and the Constellation trilogy. In addition, she’s written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline. Her debut adult historical mystery, The Murder of Mr. Wickham, released in May 2022. She makes her home in New Orleans with her husband Paul and assorted small dogs. You can keep up with her latest releases, thoughts on writing and various pop-culture musings via TwitterTumblrPinterestGoodReadsInstagramPatreon, or (of course) my own home page or newsletter.

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“Planning Perfect” by Haley Neil (Review)

Neil, Haley. Planning Perfect. New York: Bloomsbury YA, 2023. 

ISBN-13: 978-1547607495 | $19.99 USD | 324 pages | YA Contemporary

Blurb

In this charming, heartfelt YA romcom about being on the asexual spectrum, a girl tries to craft the perfect wedding for her mother but discovers that sometimes the best parts of life can’t be planned.

Felicity Becker loves watching an event come together. Whether it’s prom, graduation, or just the annual Arbor Day school dance, there’s something magical about crafting an experience that people will remember. So when her mom gets engaged, Felicity sees the wedding as the perfect opportunity to show off her skills.

After Felicity’s long-distance friend Nancy offers up her family’s apple orchard as a venue, wedding planning gets even better. But the more time Felicity and Nancy spend together dress shopping and hunting for just-right mismatched china, the more it starts to seem like there might be something besides friendship between them. Felicity isn’t sure how she feels. As someone on the asexual spectrum, what would dating even look like for her? And would Nancy be open to dating when Felicity doesn’t even know what she wants from a relationship?

Suddenly the summer is a lot more complicated. Especially when Felicity finds out that one of the wedding guests is an event planner with a prestigious internship available. Can Felicity wrangle her irresponsible mom, juggle her judgmental grandmother, figure out her feelings for Nancy, and plan the perfect wedding? Or will all of her plans come crashing down around her?

Review

4 stars

I picked up Planning Perfect when I heard it had asexual rep, and I was not disappointed. I feel like it’s still fairly common in fiction for “asexuality” to be paired with a book that isn’t romantic in any respect, and while I wouldn’t call this a pure genre romance, I respect how this book explores the shades of gray of the asexual spectrum through Felicity’s character. 

I relate a lot to Felicity in all her anxious ace glory. While I am nowhere near as Type-A as she is, I definitely like certain things a specific way, and it was great to read about someone coming to realize she doesn’t have to be in control of everything, and there are certain things she can let go of and just go with the flow. That also worked beautifully with her arc of not having everything entirely figured out (or at least articulated) in terms of her sexuality. 

While not central to the story, as a friends-to-lovers fan, I did like the uncertainty Felicity felt around her feelings for Nancy, and how both those feelings and her sexuality will impact their relationship going forward. And their bond was believable, especially in the context of how Felicity expresses her parameters for romantic and sexual attraction to other people. 

Felicity’s relationship is also pretty great, and there’s also some great additional dynamics with her grandmother as well. Felicity being an obsessive planner, her mother is the more chaotic of the two, and it makes for a wonderful dynamic. I also really liked seeing how supportive Felicity is of her mom’s happiness and getting married again, with the structure of the book largely being built around planning for the mother’s wedding. 

This is a sweet read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a coming-of-age story with asexual-spectrum rep. 

Author Bio

Haley Neil is the author of YA Novels ONCE MORE WITH CHUTZPAH (Bloomsbury / out now!) and PLANNING PERFECT (Bloomsbury / February 2023). She graduated from The New School, where she specialized in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She previously obtained her Masters in Education while working full time as a preschool teacher. 


Haley now spends her days writing and working in the children’s department at her local library (when she isn’t walking her fluffball of a rescue pup through their Massachusetts town). 

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