Hello! I am so excited to finally write about the short little author interview I did with author Phil Stamper back at the beginning of December! **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

Back in October, Phil Stamper (author of YA novel The Gravity of Us published in February 2020 and upcoming YA novel As Far as You’ll Take Me to be released in February 2021) put out a call on Twitter saying that any book blogger, no matter how small, could fill out a form to submit some interview questions. I had recently been approved for an arc of As Far as You’ll Take Me on NetGalley, so as soon as I finished reading (review will be up at the end of this week, don’t worry), I sent off three questions and waited to see what would come of it. In December I had three responses and a link to a media kit, so now I’m here to give you some insight into this YA author’s mind.

But first, some backround because he sounds like such a cool guy! “Phil Stamper grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. While it could be seen as a boring lifestyle to some, he kept himself entertained through playing the piano and writing stories that stretched his imagination. He has a B.A. in Music from the University of Dayton and an M.A. in Publishing with Creative Writing from Kingston University. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of student debt. When he first left his home state, he landed in Washington, DC with no job prospects, $800 in graduation money, and the promise of a walk-in closet to live in. Not long after—and he’s not totally sure how—he was jumping headfirst into a career in non-profit PR and sleeping in a real bed. He loved writing for a living, even if he was writing press releases and news stories… and hundreds of emails to annoyed journalists. But after a while, the dry writing started to get to him, so he thought he’d finally work on that book he always wanted to write… Years later, with a new degree and two new cities under his belt, he works in publishing development for a major book publisher in New York City. He lives in Brooklyn with his husband and their dog. That book he always wanted to write never sold, and neither did the second or third. But at the intersection of hard work, talent, and luck, his best selling debut novel was published by Bloomsbury YA in February 2020, and you can expect more from him in February 2021.”

Question 1: What is your favorite part about getting to write queer stories?
I love hearing from queer teens who have read my books! Writing books is such a solitary experience, and it’s terrifying once it’s “out there”—especially since I write so much of myself into my books! But with The Gravity of Us, I received so many messages from queer teens who fell in love with the book, and those messages are worth way more than all the starred trade reviews in the world!

Question 2: Has your mindset leading you to your second release changed (as opposed to leading up to your debut?)
I really love this question. I was an entire wreck leading up to the launch of The Gravity of Us. Our industry puts so much pressure on authors for their debuts, and everything feels very make-or-break, like if our first weeks sales aren’t astronomical, our careers are over. Of course, I spent all that time worrying about other things not realizing my book was about to launch into a literal global pandemic.

With As Far As You’ll Take Me, my mind is a little clearer. I still promote the hell out of the book, of course, but I’m confident about the book and I’m really happy with the feedback so far. With book two, it feels like I’m setting the groundwork for books three, four, and beyond. And sometimes that means taking a step back, looking at the limited amount of time I have, setting boundaries, and making strategic decisions.

As I go to launch my second book into this pandemic, I feel like I’ve started a really solid career as an author, and that’s something that’s put my mind at ease. Hopefully, I can enjoy the leadup to this launch a bit more!

Question 3: Marty leaves his small town in Kentucky and books a one-way ticket to London to start a new life. If you were handed a one-way ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Ooh, a one-way ticket? Assuming the pandemic is over, I’d choose London any day. I lived in London while in grad school a few years ago, and I would love to do it again. Plus, as you’ll see in As Far As You’ll Take Me, there are so many European cities you can easily visit from London. I miss traveling so much!

The Gravity of Us is about a successful social media journalist, Cal, who is relocated to Houston with his family after his father is selected for a NASA mission to Mars. There he meets another Astrokid, Leon, and while the frenzy around the mission grows, so do their connection. As Far as You’ll Take Me is about young Marty, who books himself on a plane to London from his small American town with nothing more than his oboe and a dream to live free of his family’s expectations. From the outside, Marty’s life looks like a perfect fantasy, but he soon finds the fascade is cracking and starts to wonder if he’ll ever find a place that truly feels like home. I just want to give a quick thank you to Phil Stamper himself, for giving us bloggers the opportunity for an interview and taking the time to answer my questions. I am very excited to pick up his debut, and a review for his sophomore novel will be posted here next week!

Where to find Phil and The Gravity of Us:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
The Gravity of Us buy links

Hello! January 5th sure is the day for new relases, as here’s my second review of the day. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

2020 really was the year for publishers and booksellers to move conferences and panels to a virtual setting. While nothing can really compare to gathering physically in one place with a bunch of other book nerds to hear authors gush about their books and books they love, virtual conventions and panels have allowed for a lot more accessibility for those who previously could not attend. The virtual conventions I’ve been able to attend this past year were the Social Distance Book Fest (which was created and run entirely by creators on YouTube), BookCon, and YALLFEST / YALLWRITE. I also entered to win various copies of books from these events, and I was able to get early copies of books through NetGalley and physically mailed to me. Lore by Alexandra Bracken, a new YA urban fantasy centering Greek mythology, was one such book that showed up at my door in the middle of December. I had heard a bit of early buzz about it, and was curious to pick it up – plus I really love standalone fantasy novels so I can have a pretty definite conclusion at the end of the book. I immediately became immersed in the story, and can’t wait to talk about it.

Every seven years, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals for seven days as a part of the Agon, punishment for a past rebellion. They are hunted by the descendents of ancient bloodlines – if the god falls victim, the mortal will seize their divine power and immortality, only to be forced to complete themselves in seven years. Lore Perseous turned her back on the hunt after her family was brutally murdered by one of the false gods ascended to power. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, she finds herself pulled back into the world of the Agon by Castor, her childhood friend she presumed to be dead, and Athena, the wounded goddess who shows up on Lore’s doorstep. She is promised revenge on the man who murdered her family, but Lore’s alliance comes at a deadly cost, and at the end of seven days it may not be enough to save humanity.

I had heard of Alexandra Bracken before, particularly The Darkest Minds series, but I’ve never picked up any of her books. I didn’t know what to expect going in – I knew it was urban fantasy set in New York (which as a New Yorker I always love to see books set in the city) and Greek mythology was involved. I won’t say that you need to be super familiar with the Greek myths in order to follow the story, but it will be a little extra special if you are. The story really explored themes of grief, love, trust, and betrayal, was action packed for a book that takes place over one week, and I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen next or if our cast of character was going to make it out unharmed. I really enjoyed exploring Lore’s story – of how all she’d ever known when she was little was the hunt, how she feels guilty for telling her parents she hated them the night before they died, and struggles with feeling like everything bad that’s ever happened has been her fault. Miles was an absolutely perfect sidekick, and I loved how he was just completely on board with their mission and shot down anyone who tried to tell him he wasn’t knowledgable about the hunt. His knowledge about New York City, his loyalty, and his courage were truly more valuable than anyone gave him credit for. And Castor – I’ll keep it vague to avoid spoilers but I loved seeing him grow so much more into his power as the week progressed when he realized he could use them to protect the ones he loved. He struggles with several things – not knowing the full story around his powers and how they came about, feeling like he’s always starting at a disadvantage when compared to everyone else, and dealing with Lore coming back into his life after he thought she had been dead (granted she thought the same of him, so there’s that). Castor remained humble, lovable, loyal, and so very protective throughout the entire Agon, and they truly could not have accomplished what they did without his help.

When it comes to high action books, as in books where I’m not sure what the outcome is going to be or who is going to make it out alive, I tend to find myself skipping lines to ease myself of the heartache early or allow myself to be relieved. Which ultimately means I lose some of the story during my read – however, I do go back and reread those books, and already knowing what is going to happen, I can let indulge myself in all the prose and finally have the full scope of the story. That was definitely the case with Lore, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy in a few weeks so I can truly enjoy the book for what it was. I thought this was a wonderful book by Bracken, and while I’m not entirely sure I’ll go back and read her backlist, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for any new releases she has in the future. Lore is set to be released on January 5th, 2021 (which is the day this post goes live, if everything goes well), so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday, and if you’re in the mood for Greek gods roaming New York City trying to avoid being murdered, maybe pick up a copy of your very own. *Thank you to YALLWRITE and the publisher, Disney-Hyperion for the copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

There is a note about the book from Alexandra Bracken’s website, which I will include here: (Please Note: Given the darkness of the source material, this book contains more mature content than my past work in the form of more graphic depictions of violence and discussion/mention of sexual assault, and therefore may not be the right fit for all readers.)

Places to find Lore:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Alexandra Bracken’s site
Disney Books

Hello! Welcome to one of my first ARC reviews of 2021! I know I’ve been slacking lately, but I’ve taken the time off to better prepare myself so hopefully I can get right back on track (though with the way 2020 took a turn, I’m just hoping for no surprises, honestly). **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

Towards the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, Reverie, Ryan La Sala’s debut novel, was all over the YA internet sphere. It was pitched as Inception meets The Magicians, and while that’s all fine and good, and I’m sure there’s an audience for that, it didn’t particularly draw me in. But flash forward to when the premise for Be Dazzled was announced, and Project Runway goes to Comic Con was pitched I lunged for that request button on NetGalley. I wasn’t expecting much, as I was still new to the site and trying to build my blog presence up, but a few months later an email popped into my inbox saying I was approved. I dived in right away and my goodness was I not disappointed. This book is pure joy, filled with competition hijinks, friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and cosplay. So much wonderful cosplay.

Raffy’s dream is to win the Controverse Cosplay Competition and prove to everyone, including his art director mother, Evie, that he is capable of achieving greatness. He walks into the convention center beaming, knowing his work will earn him and his teammate, May, top scores. That is, until Raffy spots some of his competition – Luca (his ex-boyfriend) and Inaya (his former friend). It’s been five months since their breakup, but Raffy is still bent up about their failed relationship. They tried to make it work, but their insecurities and his inability to accept anything but perfection left them scrambling apart. But Trip-C has some big twists and turns in store for its competitors, and maybe, just maybe, it could help both boys realize how good it feels to work together side by side again.

This was such a cute YA contemporary that is immersed in the cosplay and convention scene. The detail and thought that went into descriptions of their outfits and the aspects of the competition made me imagine myself as an audience member watching everything unfold onstage. I appreciated how even in the last hour, Raffy didn’t go back on his promise to May, because even though she offered to lend a hand, both would have been miserable knowing what was sacrificed in the process. The split timeline did surprise me, though it was interesting to see both how Luca and Raffy’s relationship started, fell apart, and came back together all simultaneously. Raffy and Luca both had their own obstacles to overcome, and even though their relationship hit a bit of a tumultuous end, in their time apart (even if Raffy didn’t realize it) they both came to understand why they didn’t work as a couple before, and how their mindset can be adapted to allow themselves to work in the present. I feel like this book is a love letter to nerd culture, to people who may not be accepted elsewhere but find what they do best and the people they want to share it with and make the most of it. It was great to read.

If there was anything I would have changed, I’d say I would have liked to see the growth that Luca’s and Raffy’s parents undergo. In the timeline detailing the past, we are shown how unsupportive Evie is of Raffy’s passion for cosplay. There is even a moment when she screams and humiliates him in front of a Craft Club, where she calls his pursuits “childish” and cuts off access to his workspace, proclaiming its only for “real artists” to use. From Luca’s actions and choices, we are able to surmise that his parents are opposed to him pursuing any future in cosplay, especially if that future involves Raffy (as they are also seemingly unsupportive of their son’s sexuality). Towards the end of the novel, their attitudes have changed, and both Luca and Raffy are delighted by the support, as they very well should be – it isn’t easy knowing that those who are supposed to love you unconditionally are displeased with who you are and what you do. I just wish we could have seen more of that growth (though I will acknowledge there is a gap of five months between the past and present timelines, which is certainly enough time for someone to change their perspective, especially if they have been educated).

All in all, I am rooting for Luca and Raffy every step of the way. 2020 was a rough year, so to start off the new year with a queer novel full of hope, acceptance, and nerd culture is really all I could ever want. Hopefully we can all go back to conventions soon (when it’s safe, of course), as I would love to see some real-life cosplay in action. I can’t wait to see what people think of La Sala’s second novel. Be Dazzled is set to release on January 5th, 2021 (which is the day this post goes live, if things go right), so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday, and pick up a copy if you’re in the mood for a geeky con story, and crafty queer romance. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Places to find Be Dazzled:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Ryan La Sala’s site

Hello! Happy New Year to all! 2020 really took us all for a ride. I don’t think anyone escaped unscathed from the damage of last year. And no, not everything is going to be solved now that the year is 2021, and there are many things that are never going to be the same. Here’s hoping that we can come together to learn from last year and make 2021 as good as it can be.

Since the first Tuesday of the year (which means the first major book release day) is tomorrow, I just wanted to start the year off by talking about some goals. I started this blog with the intention of talking about whatever my mind drifted towards, and I found much better direction focusing my time reviewing books. I read 152 books in 2020, started reviewing advanced copies I received through NetGalley and BookishFirst, and even became a reading reprensentative for a book subscription company in my spare time. I have fallen back in love with reading and if the books on my radar for this year are any indication, there is no slowing me down. So as I continue with another year of gushing about books, I hope you’ll join me for the ride. I never wanted to write these posts for an audience, but if someone stumbles upon my review and makes them more excited to read a book, I can’t say I’ll be upset about it. That being said, there are some goals I want to strive towards in order to make things better and easier for me.

1.) Diversify my reading – I mean this in the types of books I’m reading (i.e. genre-wise), and who I’m reading from (i.e. reading more BIPOC authors/protagonists)
2.) Getting through my physical TBR
3.) Unhauling books I don’t think I am going to reread (I know I don’t talk about this much on my blog, but I want it written out to keep myself accountable)
4.) Keep on top of my NetGalley arcs, and get reviews up before or on release date
5.) Read more of what makes me happy
6.) Taking a break when I’m stressed or I need one

I have no idea what twists and turns 2021 is going to take me through. But I do know that a lot more reading is in my future. We’re starting off strong with reviews for two books coming out tomorrow, and things probably won’t stay strong for too long, but hey, I’m human and will be doing the best I can. I wish you a safe and happy new year, reader, hoping for nothing but the best for 2021.

Hello! I’m here for what will probably be my last blog post of the year to review my latest win from BookishFirst. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

2020 truly is the year I’ve surpassed so many of my reading goals. I might dive into specifics and statistics in another post, but since I’ve used books as my clutch to get me through this heinous year, let’s just say I’ve read a lot. This year I also discovered BookishFirst, which truly has allowed me to keep track on some new releases and gave me the chance to win a few early copies for myself. I’ve already discussed several of my prior wins and claims, so today I’ll be talking about Fairy Godmothers, Inc. a hilarious romance [first] in a new series by Saranna DeWylde. The week this book was up for grabs there were some other terrifc options (true crime novel We Thought We Knew You and mystery/thriller Every Last Fear), but I tend to gravitate towards the romance genre. I’m really glad I picked this one up – I had a great time while reading and now I have more books in this world to look forward to in the future.

Ever After, Missouri is in dire need of some magic. Fairy godmothers Petunia, Jonquil, and Bluebonnet realize that love is the source of all magic in the universe, and what better way to bring some love back into the town than a wedding. Yeah, it may be a fake wedding, but it’ll bring some business back to town. They recuit their godchildren, Lucky Fujiki and Ransom Payne, to help with their mission. However, their chances for success seem somewhat slim, as Lucky and Ransom tried their chance at love before, with disasterous results. Plus, Lucky has a bit of an unlucky streak (or a lot, but who’s counting), so she’s afraid to let herself get close to Ransom again, for fear of hurting him, his reputation, and his business even more than she already has. Can the power of love truly save the couple and the town? Only the fairy tale will tell.

This book truly was delightful. There were certain events that were borderline ridiculous (especially with Lucky’s curse, I started to roll my eyes a bit), but the author really leaned into the antics, and the book didn’t try to take itself too seriously. I’m usually not one to root for second chance romances, but Lucky and Ransom truly had my heart. They both made mistakes in college, and have learned to grow and move on from them, or have tried to since their reputations seem to follow them everywhere. But I thought a really important turning point for Lucky was when she stood up for Ransom against those reporters, and said what ever reader was secretly thinking – that sure, they messed up in the past, but people change and shouldn’t be [solely] judged for their past actions. I really enjoyed the chapters from the godmothers perspective, as their sisterly banter was relatable and enjoyable, and they truly wanted what was best for their town and their godchildren (even their informal ones). Once I grew accustomed to Lucky’s streak of god awful luck, I started realize there was so much more to her storyline – here’s someone who brings out the worst in everything, sometimes on purpose but most times accidentally, and through it all she feels like removing herself from other people’s lives, even those she cares so deeply about, is truly the only solution. But she doesn’t take into account what they want – they choose to embrace Lucky for all that she is, flaws and all. And I think that’s just plain wonderful. I also found something the godmothers said to Ransom quite interesting – he was wondering if he and Lucky were going to get their happily ever after, and what they told him was that sure, if they have fairy godmothers it’s practically a given, but the path to get there is all up to them. The book isn’t perfect, and there was a character reveal towards the end I found personally unnecessary, but overall I found the story bingeable, the characters likeable, and the world unforgettable.

I’m primarily a reader of young adult fiction, but whenever an adult book (whether from BookishFirst, other contests, personal purchase, etc.) comes in the mail, my mom will want to read it so we can discuss. I can gladly say she was a fan of this book as well (though occasionally she said it was “driving her crazy” and “she would have liked to see [something different plot-wise but spoilers]”). I’m glad I decided to pick up Fairy Godmothers, Inc. as I needed something fun to light up my life this holiday season. I can’t wait for the next book, Men are Frogs, where we follow Phillip – I truly do hope he finds his true love in Ever After. Fairy Godmothers, Inc. will be released on December 29th, 2020 (which is the day this post should go live if everything goes well) so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider picking up a copy if you’re at all interested. *Thank you to BookishFirst and the publisher, Kensington Books, for the copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Places to find Fairy Godmothers, Inc.:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Saranna DeWylde’s site
Kensington Books

Hello! I’m finally here to write about my favorite book of last month. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

As I am struggling to get myself back in order, I get to sit down and talk about my favorite book that I read in November. Last month was actually a really great reading month, and I have to credit that to my participation in the Clear Your Shit Readathon, happening over on Twitter. The goal is to read books you already own in order to get your TBR down, so I picked a physical book from my to-be-read shelf to fit every prompt. I must say I’ve been reading a few gems, but my favorite will have to be awarded to Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor, a YA debut queer science-fiction novel. We follow three perspectives who must come together to decide to follow their hearts, or go against everything they’ve ever known. I picked this book up for the prompt to read a book with a gorgeous cover, and, I mean, it fits perfectly.

It is the year 2892. Earth as we know it has been destroyed by technology, so the council on the Settlement, led by the Commissioner, has put a ban on all technological advances to prevent further destruction. He has also set out to find the Technician, who works against his tyrannical laws to supply medical technology to those who need it most. Nathaniel, the Commissioner’s son, strives to earn his father’s respect and takes it upon himself to catch the “criminal.” Until he meets Anna, a girl who may be more than meets the eye, and they share one thing in common that he’s never fully understood – an illegal clockwork heart. Things become even more complicated when Eliza, the Queen’s spy and Nathaniel’s bride-to-be, arrives at the Settlement from Earth Adjacent, itching to discover what the Commissioner has been hiding. They will uncover the most dangerous secret of all, and will have to work together to save an entire settlement from a deadly epidemic. **click here to view a full list of content warnings, provided by the author.**

I’m still pretty new to the sci-fi and fantasy genres, and this seems like an intriguing place to start. The concept of illegal clockwork hearts in a world [attempting to be] devoid of technology piqued my interest. I found the switch of narrative kept me engaged (we get to see all three characters perspectives while remaining in third person, which made things easier to follow especially in times of heavy action). And for me the strongest points of this novel were the intertwining internal struggles our main trio face, which have a great impact on their motivations and actions throughout the story. For Anna, she feels like she’s never quite had a family of her own. Her parents were killed, and even though her grandfather raised her, she believes he’s never gone above and beyond to show he cares. When things gets hard, she finds herself running away, and then when confronted by her best friend she realizes that she’s never understood how her actions had truly affected those around her. Nathaniel has conflicting emotions about his father – he is a tyrannical ruler who is contantly talking down and physically abusive, and has kept secrets or lied about the past to constantly keep everyone in the dark about his true motivations. But he’s the only parental figure Nathaniel has ever known, as his mother passed away when he was young, and he specifically went against his own ant-technology declaration to save his son (although he didn’t inform Nathaniel about how to maintain his clockwork heart, which could have caused it to stop working prematurely). Eliza is put into a situation where her heart is torn – she’s strived to be seen in good standing with the Queen, and has obeyed every order (even those to harm her first love) to make it happen, and wants to follow her orders and report back all she knows, but Nathaniel and Anna make her truly feel like a part of something important, something greater than even the Queen’s mission. She also feels hers attraction to Anna, against all odds (I mean, their first encounter is a legitimate knife fight), and wants to be able to give in, but doesn’t know if her love can be worthy of reciprocation.

Now, I am always looking for more books that offer the asexual representation that deserves to be seen throughout YA and adult fiction. Nathaniel and Eliza have been arranged to be married as part of a political agreement between the Queen and the Commissioner. But when Eliza arrives, and Nathaniel notices her attraction towards Anna, he starts to realize he never thought about Eliza in that way. In fact, he’s never thought about anyone in that way. When conversing with Eliza about how he feels, she mentions the terms “asexual” and “aromantic” – how people can be one, both, or neither, and how they are just labels and words he can use if he wants to, but there is no pressure to use them. Nathaniel knows himself and his feelings better than anyone else, and only he should decide how he wants to show it. Their conversation brought me to near tears because it can be incredibly hard to see other people express themselves so freely, and to be so unsure about how you feel yourself, but there is no time limit to figure things out, and there is no “right” way on how you choose to label your feelings. Labels aren’t mentioned after that conversation, so I am not sure if Nathaniel will use those words for himself explicitly, but I am proud of him for learning it’s ok to be different, and love differently – it does not make you broken.

It wasn’t a perfect book by any means, and even though it was my favorite of the month  I did have a few issues with it. I wish we could’ve delved into how exactly the TICCERs work to help the heart keep beating. I hoped there would be more explanation with Anna’s grandfather, especially when he was  mistakenly captured in place of her. I found the ending a bit rushed, and hoped Nathaniel could have gotten more of an explanation from his father. I’m happy this book is a standalone – typically I like when things wrap up nicely after one book – but here I wish there was more in this universe so the author could have spent more time building the world into something even more incredible. I would say more, but that would be going into spoiler territory.

Still, with all it’s flaws, I can see myself going back to reread Tarnished are the Stars and falling even more in love with this trio of characters. I can’t wait to see Rosiee Thor has in store for her readers in the future (I believe her next release is another queer YA story – a fantasy with Jazz Age spark, please count me in). I found this book to be an excellent introduction to the sci-fi genre, so anyone who’s itching for a story about queer characters coming together for the greater good and trying to save the world, I highly recommend picking this up. I bought my copy using Bookshop and it helped On the Side Books who sent me an adorable thank you card, so please go check out their site! I hope to see more people talking about Tarnished are the Stars, and if you do pick it up I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did!

Places to find Tarnished are the Stars:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Rosiee Thor’s site
Scholastic

Hello! A little later than usual (things have been a bit extra hectic at work lately so that’s taken up more of my time) but I’m here to talk about my favorite book of October. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.**

My favorite book that I read in October (which seems like so long ago now, as I’m writing this in the middle of December) was Tweet Cute, a debut YA contemporary by Emma Lord. This book was released back in January, and I heard a lot of early buzz from people who got to read advanced copies. The synopsis made it sound like an awkward and adorable contemporary romance between two teens whose family are rivaling business owners, and gives high comparisons to the well-loved story You’ve Got Mail. It definitely did not disappoint with the cuteness, but it also discusses topics that any teenager ready to take the next step into their future will be able to relate to. It debuted on January 21st, 2020, and has garned some more pretty positive reviews since its release.

Meet Pepper – overachiever, swim team captain, bakery blogger, and handler of Big League Burger’s Twitter page. Enter Jack – class clown, creater of Weasel, an online app that allows students to chat anonymously with one another, and worker at Girl Cheesing, his family’s diner. When Big League Burger announces their new grilled cheese recipe, and it happens to look just like the one Girl Cheesing has been serving for years, queue the ongoing Twitter feud which brings national attention on both restaurants. Pepper and Jack start to figure out that they’re each behind their family’s accounts, and while fighting to the death over grilled cheese online, they may just be falling for each other in real life.

This book is filled with teenage shenanigans, adorable moments, and just the right amount of cheese. Pepper and Jack are both trying to figure out their place in the world – Pepper feels like her family is falling apart after her and her mom moved to New York to handle the success of their restaurant, and struggles with telling her mom how the Twitter feud is affecting her mentally, while Jack is constantly in his twin brother’s shadow, wondering if his parents will ever see him as anything other than second place. Jack has been going to school with the same group of people for years, and some still can’t tell him apart from Ethan (or choose not to try), but Pepper came in and could clearly see him for all that he was – his own person. Pepper was thrown into a group of teens who had grown up together, had already formed cliques and opinions of outsiders, so she threw herself into hard work, trying to be the person they needed to beat for the best grades, which required a rival (Jack). Both found what they needed through the other. It became a story of “they fight all the time, but when will they finally realize they love it too much to stop and just get together already?” Honestly, those are some of my favorite stories to read. There was also some commentary towards the end about how the actions of your parents can come back to haunt you (their kids) even years later, but I won’t get into that too much because of spoilers. Plus, who doesn’t love a good meme war? In times of quarantine and a majority of interactions occuring over social media, I would have loved to watch the war between Big League Burger and Girl Cheesing play out in real time.

All in all, I loved the way this book played out, I thought it was an incredible debut, and I hope to read more from Emma Lord in the future. She has a new book releasing in January, You Have a Match, that I’ll be itching to get my hands on. If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted contemporary about a Twitter war, feuding restaurants, and teenagers just trying to be teens, I highly recommend picking up Tweet Cute. Be sure to grab a snack, though, because the descriptions are bound to make you hungry.

Places to find Tweet Cute:
Amazon
Goodreads
Bookshop.org
Emma Lord’s site
Macmillan

Hello!

I just thought I’d pop in to write about my plans for posting in the month of December, as it’s the last month of the year. These past few weeks (and this week especially) have been incredibly draining in terms of work and familial obligations. My mental health has also taken a hit as I’ve lost some important people in my life, and I’m trying my best to deal with that while during a pandemic and under the stress of work and keeping up with things.

So here’s where my mind is at. I will post about my favorite books of October and November, and one book review as it is being released at the end of December. I am keeping track of my reviews for early copies of books I’ve read, and will be posting them closer to their release date. I’m also really looking forward to including an author interview I did recently, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

This past month has really taken a toll on my mental state, even more so than the beginning of the pandemic, and I know I need to take care of myself before everything I do starts to become effected. I know things are not magically going to get better when 2021 hits, but I still need to take a bit of a break to get myself back in gear. So look out for those three new posts this month, and I’ll be fully back in the new year with (hopefully) a good plan to tackle all that needs to be done.

Thanks for understanding. Stay safe, readers.

Hello! I am back again to review an arc I read back at the end of last month of an adult book that is simultaneously heartwarming and heart-wrenching. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.**

As I was scrolling NetGalley a few months ago I came across an illustrated cover for Minus Me, an adult fiction novel (which fell under NetGalley’s category of Women’s Fiction) by Mameve Medwed. The synopsis pulled me in – a story about a women who, after hearing grave news about her health, takes it upon herself to write a manual for her husband to follow after she’s she’s gone. I had no idea what the story would entail, and I can say the book simultaneously warmed my heart while wretching it in places. So let’s talk about it.

When Annie Stevens-Straus receives grim news from the town’s physician, she sets out to create a manual instructing her husband, Sam, on how to live on after she’s gone. Sam, her seemingly incompetent but incredibly sweet husband who has been nothing but loving and supportive through years of highs and lows, of celebrations and heartbreaks. Against the suggestion of her physician, Annie keeps her news from Sam, choosing instead to carry the burden on her own shoulders. And things takes a turn when Annie’s famous mother, Ursula, takes a step back into her life and whisks her away from the simple Maine town to the bustling New York City on a mission. Can Annie handle this all on her own, or will she realize that sometimes, it’s ok to let someone else lend a helping hand?
**content warnings for discussions of miscarriage and stillbirth, mentions of abortion, discussion of infertility, illness, and one scene (chapter 8) of unwanted advances**

I think one of the strongest aspects of this book was getting to experience Annie’s internal struggle. When she first receives news of her illness, she is conflicted as to whether she should relay it to Sam. Sam does deflect during their conversation, perhaps sensing her dire tone or maybe he’s just as clueless as Annie pegs him to be, so her decision is made, but you can tell it still pains her hiding doctor’s visits and calls and for Sam not to know the truth. Later, she is torn between wanting to hold Sam close – to enjoy the time she has left with him – or push him away – to make things easier for them both when she’s gone. Annie truly feels alone in this, as she wants to protect the ones she cares about while also planning for them to get by after she’s passed. I found Annie’s humor while writing the manual itself interesting, as she is trying to find solutions for every possible situation Sam might find himself in alone, and she tries to make things lighthearted while she is fighting back tears after every addition. This book also captured what it’s like to live in a small town quite well, in my opinion, as Annie and Sam learn a lot from the gossip in their shop, most people are regulars, and people like to stick to a routine, refusing to embrace certain things that are new in town (like the new barbor shop), and the stark contrast when Annie finally does leave her small town in Maine and go to New York City with her mother was very nice to see. And even though Megan, Annie’s goddaughter, doesn’t have a lot of page time, I thought she brought plenty of comic relief and a younger perspective to an otherwise serious and older-centric read.

That being said, I did have some issues with the read. To start, the entire premise off the book is based off the trope of hiding a secret from your spouse, no matter if the act is intentional or otherwise. Annie also has moments of being hypocritical, because she gets angry at Sam for hiding a big secret from her, while having full knowledge she has not been entirely truthful to him (and in my opinion Sam’s secret pales in comparison to what Annie has kept from him). For a couple that everyone in town praises for being so in love, ever since high school, I didn’t find their comminication (at least for the duration of the book) very good at all – Sam was continually very dismissive of Annie, especially when he was distrustful of her and she was simply trying to explain her side of the situation. While I understand the manual was important for Annie’s journey through her diagnosis, it was used to solve two main conflicts in the exact same way – the act of “discovering” the manual was done twice, and needed little to no further explanation until all was right again, which felt very repetitive. This last point will just be personal preference, but I felt like the inclusive of Ralphie as a character was unnecessary and was only used to create a conflict that differed from that of Annie’s diagnosis. Scenes with him (especially chapter 8) made me uncomfortable, and while nothing bad does occur I felt he could have been omitted entirely.

The tagline for this book is “a poignant and hilarious novel about the bonds of marriage, the burdens of maternal love, and the courage to face mortality,” which I would find extremely accurate. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some good insight, small-town vibes, and resolution of familial conflict. If you’re looking for  a quick read with some witty banter and tough discussion sprinkled in, I recommend picking up the book up. Minus Me will be released on January 12th, 2021, so please consider preordering a copy, because those sales greatly help the author in the long run (and support local indie bookstores, especially in these difficult times – find one near you here), or picking up a copy when it’s finally out in the world. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Alcove Press, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Places to find Minus Me:
Amazon
Goodreads
Mameve Medwed’s site
Penguin Random House

Hello! I’ve been a bit behind on my arc reviews lately, so here’s one for an exciting sci-fi book I read back in September, but won’t be released until next April. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.**

While scrolling through books being released through Tor / Tor Teen on NetGalley a few months ago, I came across Victories Greater Than Death, a new YA science fiction / fantasy novel written by Charlie Jane Anders. As someone who is still pretty new to the sci-fi genre, I’d say this was pretty easy to get through and by the time the ending sequence came and went I was already intrigued enough for the sequel, which at this point I’ll have to wait a few years for. I’m pretty excited to share my thoughts about it.

Tina has known since she was very young that she was different – after all, she has a rescue beacon that, once activated, will allow the aliens who left her on Earth sixteen years ago to find her again, bring her to space on an adventure of her wildest dreams. The only question: is she ready? With her best friend by her side, a faction of fellow Earthlings, and a crew of a Royal Fleet spaceship, Tina may find that all her preparation may not have been enough.

Again I’ll say as someone who does not often pick up science fiction novels, or particularly books set in space, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I will admit I was a bit confused about some of the plot points and characters, as this book is jammed packed full of action and an array of characters, both human and of varying alien species, but I caught a lot that I missed on a second read-through. A key thing I noticed was that almost every time a character is introduced, their pronouns are stated. This was cery helpful in keeping track of who was being addressed. Additionally, if they are from a new alien species, our narrator, Tina, will also give us some random factoids (as her knowledge from a past life truly makes her the queen of random factoids), which I also thought were fascinating and really helped with world building. Tina was such an interesting and relatable character to read from, because she’s felt so out of place her entire life, and when she finally gets to the one place she’s always known she belongs, she comes up short. Everyone’s expectations, including her own, get the better of her, and she often feels stuck in a rut. There is so much diversity, not only with the plethora of alien species but among the six Earthlings as well. I found the storyline surrounding the history of the Shapers to be extremely fascinating – beings that needed humanoid creatures to excel so they did their best to wipe out as many outliers as possible. What for? What were they planning? It certainly got me curious. And I really liked how the characters of Keziah and Elza, who both had issues in the past regarding parental figures, were able to strive everyday to prove that they are capable of receiving love and using forces other than violence to achieve their goals. I hope there is more character development for them, and the remaining group of Earthlings, in future installments.

There were a few aspects of the novel which I didn’t quite enjoy, but most of them can be chalked up to personal taste. I felt the pacing was a bit off, which might have been due to shorter chapters (there were about 55 in what I’m thinking is a 300-page book). Sometimes I felt that there was so much going on and that the book was trying to accomplish more than it could successfully do within its page count. And the topic of grief is handled in a very interesting way due to a specific way people die – I cannot explain too much without giving away spoilers, but I’m not entirely sure how I felt about it. And similar to my last point, sometimes I felt as though I didn’t have a connection to the characters, so when one would die I couldn’t quite grieve their death in the way I should have.

Overall, I was pretty pleased to find a YA space adventure sci-fi novel that caught my attention. I hadn’t heard of Charlie Jane Anders before finding this book, but now I am even more interesting to take a look at some of her earlier adult work. I can’t wait to see what readers think of Tina and her group of human + alien task force. Victories Greater Than Death will be released on April 13th, 2021, so please consider preordering a copy, because those sales greatly help the author in the long run (and support local indie bookstores, especially in these difficult times – find one near you here), or picking up a copy when it’s finally out in the world. I’m excited to hear what you think. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Tor Teen, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Places to find Victories Greater Than Death:
Amazon
Goodreads
Charlie Jane Ander’s Twitter
Macmillan