Review of “Darling” by K. Ancrum

October 31, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Ancrum, K. Darling. New York: Imprint, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1250265265 | $18.99 USD | 282 pages | YA Thriller

Blurb

A teen girl finds herself lost on a dangerous adventure in this YA thriller by the acclaimed author of The Wicker King and The Weight of the Stars—reimagining Peter Pan for today’s world.

On Wendy Darling’s first night in Chicago, a boy called Peter appears at her window. He’s dizzying, captivating, beautiful—so she agrees to join him for a night on the town.

Wendy thinks they’re heading to a party, but instead they’re soon running in the city’s underground. She makes friends—a punk girl named Tinkerbelle and the lost boys Peter watches over. And she makes enemies—the terrifying Detective Hook, and maybe Peter himself, as his sinister secrets start coming to light. Can Wendy find the courage to survive this night—and make sure everyone else does, too?

Acclaimed author K. Ancrum has re-envisioned Peter Pan with a central twist that will send all your previous memories of J. M. Barrie’s classic permanently off to Neverland.

An Imprint Book

Review

5 stars

Darling might just be K. Ancrum’s best book, and I say that as someone who loved The Wicker King and was disappointed when I heard this book would be a departure from that book’s vignette-style. However, it’s still fast-paced and instantly engaging, with chapters that aren’t too long, even if it is more structurally conventional.

I also love that it digs into the darker undertones of the Peter Pan story from a dark contemporary lens. What with Disney and some other adaptations distilling it down to a whimsical escapist fantasy, I love that this one tackles Peter as a predator, and even a murderer, head-on.

I loved the way Ancrum updates the characters, paying respect to the original and all it gave us, while also remedying some of the problematic elements. The cast is full of BIPOC characters, including proper indigenous representation, and there’s also lovely queer rep, including bisexuality and asexuality.

Wendy having a connection to Peter that neither is aware of at first was a great twist, especially given the emphasis on family, and mothers in particular, in the original. I liked how there was a twist on Tinkerbelle, where she’s not really trying to compete with Wendy, but rather warn her off. And the fact that Hook is a detective…I don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but I got the image of Colin O’Donoghue’s Hook in my head, as Hook became a detective in season 7 of Once Upon a Time (coincidentally, another piece of media that casts Peter Pan in a more villainous light).

I will say that your expectations will most likely determine whether the book will work for you. If you’re expecting a nostalgia trip or something in the vein of the Disney version, you’ll be very disappointed. But if you’re open to something that respects and pays homage to the darker nature of source material, while acknowledging its fatal flaws, then I think you’ll enjoy it.

Author Bio

K. Ancrum, is the author of the award winning thriller THE WICKER KING, the interstellar lesbian romance THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS and the upcoming Peter Pan thriller DARLING. K. is a Chicago native passionate about diversity and representation in young adult fiction. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.

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Review of “The Spinster’s Swindle” (Arcane Tales #2) by Catherine Stein

October 31, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Stein, Catherine. The Spinster’s Swindle. [Place of publication not identified]: Steam Cat Press, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1949862300 | $3.99 USD | 192 pages | Victorian Romance

Blurb

Revenge is in her future. But falling for her enemy’s son is one fate this spiritualist could never have envisioned.

Playwright Maxwell Millerson would rather spend his days dreaming up stories than cleaning up his father’s messes. But a trendy renovation has the family’s gaming club on the brink of ruin, and not even Max’s imagination can conjure a way out. Desperate, he turns to the multi-talented—and alluringly audacious—Madame Xyla to help him spin gold from straw.

Lydia Weaver, professionally known as spiritualist Madame Xyla, has long sought revenge on the man responsible for her cousin’s imprisonment. When her enemy’s son visits her seance room seeking advice, Lydia leaps at the opportunity for vengeance. Until Max’s easy charm and poetic words threaten to turn her plans upside-down.

As their friendship grows and they give way to their mutual attraction, Lydia and Max must weigh family duty with their hearts’ desires. And only when they confront old wounds and new feelings can a happy ending be in the cards.

In the series

#1 The Scoundrel’s New Con

Review

5 stars

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

The Spinster’s Swindle is the stand-alone follow-up to The Scoundrel’s New Con. It’s not necessary to read that previous book first, however, I do recommend it, as it’s equally fun.

This story follows Lydia Weaver, cousin to the previous book’s hero, Jack, in a loose retelling of “Rumplestiltskin.” I loved that she’s the one who wants revenge for what happened to her and Jack years ago. I also love the bi rep! She mentions her past relationships with women, and how they’re likely to be remarked upon by the moralistic society, who mistake them for only friends.

And then there’s Max…such a sweetheart! I loved his literary tendencies, and the fact that he’s a secret playwright, used to cleaning up after his wastrel father only to unknowingly cross paths with someone he conned.

I loved this execution of the diverted revenge plot, where she finds herself falling for Max in spite of who his father is, and he comes to know her heart, so he’s conflicted when he finds out the truth of her initial intentions.

This book is pure perfection, putting a fresh new spin on both the fairy tale that inspired it and some familiar tropes. If you love fairy tale retellings, stories with Gothic aesthetics, or a swoon worthy historical romance, you’ll absolutely enjoy this one.

Author Bio

Award-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love and that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic technologies.

Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious girls. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea.

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Review of “Not Here to Be Liked” by Michelle Quach

October 31, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Quach, Michelle. Not Here to Be Liked. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0063038363 | $18.99 USD | 374 pages | YA Contemporary Romance

Blurb

“A smart romance with heart and guts and all the intoxicating feelings in between.” —Maureen Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Emergency Contact meets Moxie in this cheeky and searing novel that unpacks just how complicated new love can get…when you fall for your enemy.

Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat because inexperienced Len—who is tall, handsome, and male—just seems more like a leader.

When Eliza’s frustration spills out in a viral essay, she finds herself inspiring a feminist movement she never meant to start, caught between those who believe she’s a gender equality champion and others who think she’s simply crying misogyny.

Amid this growing tension, the school asks Eliza and Len to work side by side to demonstrate civility. But as they get to know one another, Eliza feels increasingly trapped by a horrifying realization—she just might be falling for the face of the patriarchy himself.

The New York Times New and Upcoming Young Adult Book to Watch For * A Junior Library Guild Selection – Read Less

Review

4 stars

Not Here to Be Liked proudly declares that it contains an “unlikable female character” in a “warning” on the back, and I love that. Female characters often get much more flack than than their male counterparts for “unlikable” behavior, and I like the subtle ways the marketing was playing into that, while also hinting at the feminist messages of the book.

I personally found Eliza extremely sympathetic. She works hard to be seen, and when a guy with less qualifications gets the position she wants, of course she’s upset. But I love that there’s room for her to grow without completely distorting the message. There’s a distinct transition, especially after Eliza falls for Len, toward the book distinguishing between being a feminist and being anti-men, which is an important distinction.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about Len at first, but he won me over. I like that, even if he did step on toes, he did so (largely) unintentionally, and he worked to make it right. He ultimately has a good heart, and comes through for Eliza in the end. I particularly loved the symmetry of him bailing her out of trouble in the beginning, and her doing the same for him at the end.

I loved the different discussions that get brought up over the course of the book through interactions between Eliza and the supporting cast. There’s questions about the impact of race in relation to feminism, which I especially liked in relation to the character of Winona. There’s another discussion about Macbeth, both in relation to casting (can a woman play Macbeth?) and whether Lady Macbeth is truly a feminist character. Eliza’s response in regards to the latter is awesome, and a sign of her growth. And then, there’s Eliza’s parents and what they sacrificed as immigrants, with Eliza feeling that pressure to succeed as a result. None of the topics are super heavy handed, but I love how they were interwoven into the narrative.

This is a fun, yet nuanced story, exploring what feminism and intersectionality look like for young people. Fans of multicultural contemporaries and/or books with “unlikable,” yet sympathetic female leads will enjoy this book.

Author Bio

Michelle Quach (rhymes with “rock”) is a graphic designer and writer living in Los Angeles. She’s Chinese-Vietnamese-American and a graduate of Harvard University, where she studied history and literature. She loves rom-coms, characters who don’t always do the right thing, and any dog that kind of looks like her dog.

Her first novel, NOT HERE TO BE LIKED, is available now from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins in the US and Usborne Books in the UK.

Michelle is represented by literary agents Jenny Bent and Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency), as well as film agent Mary Pender-Coplan (UTA).

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Review of “A Clash of Steel” (Remixed Classics) by C.B. Lee

October 30, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Lee, C.B. A Clash of Steel. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1250750372 | $18.99 USD | 409 pages | YA Historical Fiction

Blurb

Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang’s father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool’s journey.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

Praise for A Clash of Steel:

A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2021

“This deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Vividly realized and brimming with romantic adventure. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih, C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel is richly imagined and thrilling to the end.” —Malinda Lo, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club

“Lavishly drawn and studded with jewels from the original, C.B. Lee has written a remix that delves deep into questions of family, love, and treasure. This is a book I wish I’d had as a young, queer teen and it deserves a spot in any collection.” —Natalie C. Parker, author of the Seafire trilogy

Review

4 stars

A Clash of Steel is the second of two books kicking off the new Feiwel and Friends Remixed Classics series (the other being So Many Beginnings, which I’ve read and enjoyed). And while I was much less familiar with the source material this time around, I think that’s the beauty of the series as a whole: if you love the original, it offers you a different lens through which to see the story through. And if you’re unfamiliar with it, as I was with Treasure Island, there still a lot you can take away from it.

I love pirates, and I love the vibes of 19th century China and Vietnam, and the inspiration in the life and career of Ching Shih, known as a “pirate queen.” And given the way most mainstream pirate-focused media centers men, with a few token women thrown in, I love the way this one centered not just her, but badass lady pirates in general.

Speaking of which, I really liked the major characters, Xiang and Anh. Xiang begins the book incredibly sheltered and naive, and I loved seeing her go on this adventure and acclimate to life at sea. Anh, meanwhile, is a bit more used to life at sea. I loved the relationship that grew between them, and it’s the most beautiful slow burn romance.

Pacing and plot wise, it did feel a bit off, especially in the first hundred pages or so. It felt like a lot of page time elapsed without much happening. It does help to establish who Xiang is as a character, and it does feel more consistent after that first hundred pages. However, I do wonder if it could possibly have been condensed.

In spite of any minor quibbles I have, this is another fabulous book in that Remixed Classic series/line, and I’m excited for the upcoming books next year, as well as to read more from C.B. Lee in the near future.

Author Bio

C.B. Lee is a Lambda Literary Award nominated writer of young adult and middle grade fiction. Her works include the Juinor Library Guild selected A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix (Feiwel and Friends), the Sidekick Squad series (Duet Books), Ben 10 graphic novels (Boom! Studios), Out Now: Queer We Go Again (HarperTeen), Minecraft: The Shipwreck (Del Rey Books), From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back (Del Rey Books). Lee’s work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.

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Review of “I Hate You More” by Lucy Gilmore

October 29, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Gilmore, Lucy. I Hate You More. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1728226002 | $14.99 USD | 272 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Discover what makes Lucy Gilmore an instant fan favorite with this unforgettably funny enemies-to-lovers romcom starring:

• a grumpy dog show judge

• a determined former beauty queen

• and a Golden Retriever more interested in stealing bacon than winning Best in Show.

Ruby Taylor gave up pageant life the day she turned eighteen and figured she’d never look back. But when an old friend begs her to show beloved Golden Retriever Weezy at the upcoming Canine Classic, Ruby doggedly straps on her heels and gets to work.

If only she knew exactly what the adorably lazy lump of a dog was getting her into.

If there’s one thing veterinarian Sam Wilson knows in this world, it’s dogs. Human beings are a different story. Especially gorgeous women clearly in way over their heads. As judge for the local dog show, Sam advises Ruby to quit while she still can, but her old fervor for winning has returned―and she wants to show the stern, broody-eyed judge that she’s more than just a pretty face. In the end, she’ll show him who’s best in show.

“AS APPEALING AS A PUPPY.” –Publishers Weekly STARRED for Puppy Christmas

Review

3 stars

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

I Hate You More is another fun Lucy Gilmore dog-oriented romance. It’s charming and fun, and a fun read between more intense books.

Wheezy the golden retriever is the cutest thing. He’s ill-suited to be a dog-show champ, given his bacon-stealing ways, but that’s what made me love him.

Ruby is also a surprise and a delight. I love her enthusiasm for romance novels (can you say meta?!), one she shares with others, although admittedly, I did find the joke about the cheesy covers ironic, given this book’s cover, as well as the direction a lot of mainstream romance covers are trending toward (not that the shirtless guy/clinch has completely died, but still, the joke would have probably landed better a few years ago).

But the romance was weirdly written. While I did know Spencer was meant to be the love interest, thanks to the blurb, it was odd the way his brother, Caleb, was positioned in the story. It’s not a love triangle by any means, but I found myself very…distracted…by him…and much more so than you’d typically be by a secondary character, even one you’d expect to get their own book at some point down the line. Spencer isn’t a bad guy, and I actually really liked the brotherly relationship between the two. But it was weird seeing Spencer and Ruby develop a relationship, as I didn’t fully buy into their chemistry.

This book is cute, in spite of any flaws in execution. If you love cute, fluffy romcoms that include dogs, you might enjoy this more than I did.

Author Bio

Lucy Gilmore writes fun and funny romance that centers on man’s (and woman’s!) best friend. You’ll find lots of laughs, a little heat, plenty of heartwarming sentiment, and all the cold noses you could ask for.

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Review of “The Last Legacy” by Adrienne Young

October 28, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Young, Adrienne. The Last Legacy. New York: Wednesday Books, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1250823724 | $18.99 USD | 322 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with The Last Legacy, a captivating standalone about family and blood ties, reinventing yourself, and controlling your own destiny.

When a letter from her uncle Henrick arrives on Bryn Roth’s eighteenth birthday, summoning her back to Bastian, Bryn is eager to prove herself and finally take her place in her long-lost family.

Henrik has plans for Bryn, but she must win everyone’s trust if she wants to hold any power in the delicate architecture of the family. It doesn’t take long for her to see that the Roths are entangled in shadows. Despite their growing influence in upscale Bastian, their hands are still in the kind of dirty business that got Bryn’s parents killed years ago. With a forbidden romance to contend with and dangerous work ahead, the cost of being accepted into the Roths may be more than Bryn can pay.

Review

4 stars

The Last Legacy is a stand-alone follow up to the Fable duology, set in the same world, but following a different protagonist. I would recommend reading those first, especially as those books have more fleshed-out world building, but it’s not absolutely necessary to understand what’s going on on a plot or character level.

I liked getting more insight into the guild system introduced in the duology, especially as we’re following the Roth family, who made their on-page debut in Namesake. It’s a great expansion on the world a reader of those prior books would already be familiar with, without the other books being contingent on the enjoyment of this story.

I was also intrigued by the Roth family dynamics. Bryn is an orphan, whose parents were killed due to one of their schemes and she was raised away from it all as a result…but now she’s being welcomed back into the fold by her uncle and the patriarch of the family, Henrik. Despite not having grown up in that life, I admire how Bryn acclimated to the cutthroat expectations, facing off against trickster cousins and inter-guild hostilities in her new role.

The romance was a nice surprise. Ezra deals with similar expectations to Bryn, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other in the midst of all the treachery and deceit.

This world is such a fun one, and while this is a stand-alone, I hope this means there could be more stories further fleshing out other aspects. If you enjoyed the previous series, this is a great addition to the world. And if you haven’t, but like pirate-y themed YA fantasy, I also recommend picking this up.

Author Bio

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Fable duology and the Sky in the Deep duology. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, sipping wine over long dinners or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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Review of “The Virgin Who Bewitched Lord Lymington” (The Swooning Virgins Society #4) by Anna Bradley

October 28, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ 1 Comment

Bradley, Anna. The Virgin Who Bewitched Lord Darlington. New York: Lyrical Press, 2021.

ISBN-13: 9781516110407 | $7.99 USD | 396 pages | Regency Romance

Blurb

In the heart of Mayfair lies the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls, where a secret society of extraordinary young women conspire to bring England’s wickedest aristocrats to justice . . .

In London’s brothels and bawdy houses, sin and scandal run rampant. Yet as Emma Downing knows, far worse perils often lurk within the lavish homes of high society. Emma has been tasked with uncovering secrets at the Lymington family’s country estate—the scene of a rash of mysterious disappearances. Samuel Fitzroy, Marquess of Lymington, is no easy mark, and Emma fears he may see through both her disguise and her feigned indifference to his seductive charm . . .

Recently returned to England after a long absence, Samuel finds his family in chaos amid disquieting rumors floating about town. His young cousin has become a worthless rake, several housemaids have gone missing, and then there is Emma, who is clearly not the naïve debutante she pretends to be. Yet irresistibly attracted despite his mistrust, he joins her in a daring game of cat and mouse. For Emma will unearth the truth even if it brings ruin to Samuel’s family—but the threat is as inescapable as their mutual desire . . .

Praise for Anna Bradley and The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray

“A sparkling Georgian romance . . . Bradley expertly balances excitement, humor, and heat to create a rollicking romance headlined by a pair of irresistible protagonists. Readers will be eager to see what comes next.”
—Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

In the series

#1 The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray

#2 The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington

#3 The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere

Review

3.5 stars

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

The Virgin Who Bewitched Lord Lymington is the fourth and final book in Anna Bradley’s Swooning Virgins Society series. It can be read as a stand-alone, although all the previous books are fairly enjoyable, and I also recommend checking them out.

Emma is one of the more intriguing characters in the series so far, given that she dealt with a lot of adversity in her past. She was taken to a brothel as a teen, where her virginity was auctioned off, and the person who won her subsequently abused her. While I am dismayed to see another dark portrayal of sex work as a facet of the heroine’s story, given how common it is, I appreciate what it means for Emma’s character as she tries to look out for other women in the present.

Samuel took time to grow on me, as he is outwardly gruff and standoffish. But he has his reasons to be distant, and as his walls came down and he began to understand Emma, I warmed up to him more.

I enjoyed seeing them navigate the mystery, first in opposition, then as a team. That part of the plot is well executed with a decent amount of twists and turns.

This is a satisfactory end to the series, complete with an epilogue that shows the couples from all four books in their respective HEAs together. If you like your historical romance with a generous helping of mystery/suspense, you’ll enjoy this one.

Author Bio

Anna Bradley writes steamy, sexy Regency historical romance. Anna’s first book, A WICKED WAY TO WIN AN EARL, won a Romantic Times Review’s Choice Award for Best First Historical. Anna lives with her husband and two children in Portland, OR, where people are delightfully weird and love to read.

Readers can get in touch with Anna via her contact page or, for all things romance (and an occasional “hot hero” pic!) please visit Anna on Facebook.

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Review of “The Shaadi Set-Up” by Lillie Vale

October 27, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Vale, Lillie. The Shaadi Set-Up. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0593328712 | $16.00 USD | 352 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

In this witty and heartfelt rom-com debut for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Emily Henry, and Tessa Bailey, an Indian American woman signs herself and her boyfriend up for a matchmaking site to prove they’re a perfect match, only to be paired with her ex instead.

High school sweethearts Rita Chitniss and Milan Rao were the golden couple, until the day he broke her heart. Now, six years later, Rita has turned her passion for furniture restoration into a career and has an almost-perfect boyfriend, Neil. The last thing she needs is for Milan to re-enter her life, but that’s exactly what happens when her mother, an unfailing believer in second chances, sets them up. Milan is just as charming, cocky, and confident as he was back in school. Only this time, he actually needs her business expertise, not her heart, to flip a hard-to-sell house for his realty agency.

While Rita begrudgingly agrees to help, she’s not taking any risks. To prove she’s definitely over him, she signs herself and Neil up on MyShaadi.com, a Desi matchmaking site famous for its success stories and trustworthy enough to convince everyone that she and Neil are the new and improved couple. Instead, she’s shocked when MyShaadi’s perfect match for her isn’t Neil…it’s Milan. Ignoring the website and her mother is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves much more difficult, especially when she promises to help him renovate the beach house of her dreams. And as the two of them dive deeper into work—and their pasts—Rita begins to wonder if maybe her match wasn’t so wrong after all….SEE LESS

Review

3 stars

The Shaadi Set-Up is a cute romcom which I more or less liked, albeit with some caveats. There is a lot to enjoy here, from the house-flipping to the subtle infusion of Indian-American culture (vs. them serving as a dominating force in the plot and character identity), although I feel some elements came up a little short.

I did more or less find Rita a pretty engaging heroine. I feel the pressure from her parents was well-conveyed, and I liked that she had this idea of what she wanted for her love life, only to have fate (and the algorithms) surprise her, while reminding her she was still in love with her ex.

I did struggle a bit with the romance at times. Neil is obviously meant to be her “just for now” guy, and while I did wish she wasn’t so determined to make it work, even when she kept seeing signs they might not be right for each other in the long run, I could somewhat understand. But I didn’t get any of the warm fuzzies with Milan either…the connection wasn’t there, even if the text claimed it was.

I did appreciate the nuanced portrayal of gender fluidity with Raj’s character. While I understand it might not come across the same for everyone, I appreciate how Vale discussed it in context with her own experience as a queer person, as noted in this thread on Twitter.

While this book is flawed, I did enjoy it for what it is, and would encourage anyone who is interested in it to give it a try for themselves.

Author Bio

Lillie Vale is the author of The Shaadi Set-Up and the young adult novel Small Town Hearts. She writes about secrets and yearning, complicated and ambitious girls who know what they want, the places we call home and people we find our way back to, and the magic we make. Born in Mumbai, she grew up in Mississippi, Texas, and North Dakota, and now lives in an Indiana college town.

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Review of “Skin of the Sea” by Natasha Bowen

October 27, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ 1 Comment

Bowen, Natasha. Skin of the Sea. New York: Random House Books For Young Readers, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0593120941 | $18.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Historical Fantasy

Blurb

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata—a mermaid—collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable—she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Review

4.5 stars

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

Skin of the Sea caught my attention with its beautiful cover art. And when I found out it was inspired by The Little Mermaid and West African mythology, I was sold.

I love the balance between the depiction of the rich culture and mythology and the darkness of what occurred during the time period the story was set, what with the origins of the transatlantic slave trade in the 1400s. Bowen notes in her introductory author’s note how stories of Yemoja comforted those who had been captured, and I love how this story captures that through bringing the myths to life within such a bleak time.

Simi is such a wonderful, compelling protagonist. I felt for her, especially with all the challenges she dealt with throughout the book. The romance is a bit on the instalove-y side, but given it’s one facet to the larger story, I didn’t mind it too much.

This is an absolutely beautiful book, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of these characters. If you love culturally rich historical fantasy, you won’t want to miss this one!

Author Bio

Natasha Bowen is a writer, a teacher, and a mother of three children. She is of Nigerian and Welsh descent and lives in Cambridge, England, where she grew up. Natasha studied English and creative writing at Bath Spa University before moving to East London, where she taught for nearly ten years. Her debut book was inspired by her passion for mermaids and African history. She is obsessed with Japanese and German stationery and spends stupid amounts on notebooks, which she then features on her secret Instagram. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, watched over carefully by Milk and Honey, her cat and dog. Follow her on Twitter at @skinofthesea.

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Review of “The Donut Trap” by Julie Tieu

October 26, 2021 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Tieu, Julie. The Donut Trap. New York: Avon Books, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0063069800 | $15.99 USD | 368 pages | Contemporary

Blurb

Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all.

Review

4 stars

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

Full disclosure: The Donut Trap is less a pure romance, and more so a coming-of-age story with romantic elements. That’s not to say it’s not worth reading, especially if you go in with that mindset early on.

I really liked the exploration of the family dynamics between Jasmine and her parents. The book touches on the divide that often exists between immigrant parents and their children who were raised in the US. Her parents expect certain things, and she struggles in meeting them, but I love that she also acknowledges what they went through to ensure she had a happy life.

This feeling of being lost in the shuffle as a new college graduate, losing contact with friends and seeing them prosper while you fall behind is incredibly relatable. I loved seeing her find her feet. While some elements of this process are a little unrealistic, this is one area in which wish-fulfillment is absolutely welcome.

I had mixed feelings about the romance. If I wasn’t aware beforehand that it wouldn’t be the main focus, I’d have felt very disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Alex is a lovely character. He and Jasmine have lovely interactions, and I feel like there was room for him to have some great conflict and growth, what with his issues with his own mother. However, he isn’t fleshed out super well, and he even disappears for a good portion of the book. And the book definitely centers Jasmine’s personal growth and relationship with her parents more than the romantic arc.

I really liked this book, and am excited to see what Julie Tieu writes next. If you’re into new adult/coming-of-age contemporary, you’ll like this book.

Author Bio

Julie Tieu is a Chinese American writer, born and raised in Southern California. When she is not writing or working as a college counselor, she is reading, on the hunt for delicious eats, or dreaming about her next travel adventure. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her high school crush husband and two energetic daughters.

Buy links

Bookshop (affiliate link)

Vroman’s Bookstore (signed & personalized copies)