Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

This is the fifth post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword catagories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I am challenging myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previsously that would also fufill it within these posts. The theme for May was “directional words” and I had some good options to choose from. I ultimately decided to continue a series, as a part of the 48-hour readathon I participated in.

Book read in May: Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, where we encounter them in Every Heart a Doorway. Down Among the Sticks and Bones follows their lives before. Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter – polite, quiet, dressed like a princess, and strictly disciplined. Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter – curious, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy, though her father would have preferred a son. They spent the first twelve years of their lives trying to play their parts in their parents perfect roles. Then they found an impossible staircase which brought them to the dark and enchanted world of the Moors, a land filled with mad scientists and death and, perhaps most importantly of all, choices.

When I was reading Every Heart a Doorway, I was fascinated with Jack and Jill as characters. They’re twins, vastly different from each other, and while they do share a sisterly familial bond it always felt like some sort of tension was present between them. And the events and revelations towards the end of the book really sparked an interest into figuring out what exactly went wrong. I knew this second installment of the Wayward Children series was not going to be a continuation, and instead focus on the backstory of Jack and Jill – their lives with their parents leading up to finding their door to a world that welcomed them both in different ways. These books always pack so much in so few pages, I often find myself itching to reread them as soon as I finish. I loved the discussion of parental expectations in the beginning – Jack and Jill’s parents had a very solid set of ideals they placed on their daughters, without considering what their daughters truly wanted out of life, which placed them in bubbles excluding them from each other, and harboring a bit of resentment for what the other had. So when they entered the Moors, and were faced with a choice, Jack, who had never been able to be the one expected to be reckless, made sure to choose the path for the future she wanted. The book also talks about loneliness – Jack and Jill had felt neglected by their parents since they were young, and when Jack makes her choice to become a scientist’s apprentice it leaves Jill left with almost no one to confide in. Her Master makes it so anyone she interacts with disappears, and that resentment she’s harbored for Jack bubbles back up to the surface. She is jealous that Jack can show her face in town without other people cowering in fear, and feels anger when she sees her sister’s happiness. It causes Jill to react in ways that have consequences for both of them, and it helps to better establish the tension between them at Eleanor West’s Home. I know there is another book that focuses on Jack and Jill’s story later on in the series, one that follows the events of Every Heart a Doorway, so I can’t wait to see how the story progresses from there.

In conclusion, we’re almost halfway through the year, and I can’t wait to see what the next few months of this readathon brings.

Where to find Down Among the Sticks and Bones:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Seanan McGuire’s site

Additional Book Recommendations:
–All the Right Mistakes by Laura Jamison (Adult Fiction) [review]
–All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle (YA Contemporary)
–Get it Right by Skye Kilean (Adult Romance)
–Shake Things Up by Skye Kilean (Adult Romance)
–Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters (YA Contemporary)
–How it All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi (YA Contemporary) [review]
–Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place by Jackson Bird (Memoir)
–Down with this Ship by Katie Kingman (YA Contemporary)
–Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (YA novel in verse)
–Upside Down by N.R. Walker (Adult Romance)

Hello again! I’m here to talk about my participation in a really cool read-a-thon for the second year in a row! **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

This past weekend (May 21st – May 22nd) brought about the second live 48-hour Becca’s Bookopolathon. Last March I also documented my reads (which you can check out here) so I thought I’d do the same this year. For those who are unaware, the read-a-thon was created by YouTuber Becca at the channel Becca and The Books. In December 2018, she began a series on her channel called “Bookopoly,” a game based on Monopoly [with bookish prompts] which she has used to choose the books she’d read in the next month ever since. In July, 2020, she hosted a 48-hour read-a-thon so that people who watched her channel could join in on the fun, with prompts being revealed every 12 hours on the read-a-thon’s Twitter page, and then a full month-long event in September complete with a special “Bookopolathon” board. For the 48-hour readathon, she gathers several of her booktube friends to volunteer to host reading sprints in four-hour slots so that at every point throughout the weekend, someone is live. 8 prompts in total are chosen from two of Becca’s boards, and (besides the initial two in the announcement video found here) are revealed two at a time at 12pm, 12am, and 12pm BST, so it’s very much a “plan as you go” type readathon. Honestly, I’ve been in need of some motivation to read (well, something other than romance) so I gladly took the chance to be involved, when I wasn’t too preoccupied with work. I tried to pick at least one book for each roll drop, to read (and try to finish) 4 books over the course of the weekend. And if you’re ever in need of more reading sprints, the playlist has been saved and can be accessed here.

Roll drop #1: small book (< 300 pages) / gods
-Ok so these were the only two prompts I had to plan going into the readathon, and it ended up working perfectly because I had just about 250 pages left to read [listen to] of Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, which features an alchemist, James Reed, wanting to ascend to godhood. I guess I technically crossed off both of these prompts, even though the entirety of the book is definitely not under 300 pages. Middlegame follows Roger and Dodger, twins who aren’t quite human as they were created by Reed to embody the Doctrine of Ethos, which would make him essentially able to control reality. Roger’s specialities are words and language, and Dodger excels in mathematics and computation – together they just may have the ability to change the world. I wanted to do a reread of Middlegame because its sequel / companion novel Seasonal Fears was just released and I wanted to become reaquainted with the writing style for this series. It’s certainly a complicated book to explain, especially plot-wise, and even upon reread I’m not sure I understand absolutely everything that happened, but there’s so much I can appreciate about what this book was trying to do and the messages it was trying to convey – there is conversation about loneliness, expectations, consequences, abandonment, and so so much more. There are some pretty intense content warning (you can find several in a thread from the author here) so please take care before picking it up, but I’m glad I asked for it in my office’s secret Santa 3 years ago, I know it’s a book I’ll come back through to ponder often.

Roll drop #2: ebook or audiobook / color in the title
-Last year, I’m not sure why but I had the weekend off which made it a lot easier to participate and be around for the roll drops. But since I had to work on Saturday, I hopped onto sprints quickly before I left home to check and see if I could fulfill at least one of them while at my lab (I work primarily in analysis so in between projects and on breaks I have some downtime). I ultimately decided to go with the ebook of Out of Character, a new adult romance and the sequel to Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert which I read earlier in March. Looking back now, the series title is actually “True Colors,” so if I wanted to stretch it this actually fulfills both prompts, but I’ll stick with just ebook for now. Out of Character follows Jasper and Milo, childhood friends until a falling out in high school. Jasper works at a store dedicated to the card game Odyssey, and one day Milo walks in asking for his help because he recently lost a few of his brother’s rare cards in a bet when he was drunk. Although he is still upset about what went down years ago, Jasper agrees to help only if Milo partakes in a cosplay group to cheer up kids at the local hospital. While the two start spending more time together, old feelings start to arise and both will have to decide what they truly want – from each other and for the future. I found this to be a pretty cute story, and I really appreciated how Milo struggles to cope with the actions of his past and trying to prove he can change and be a better person. Jasper also needed to learn how to trust his best friend again, and be open to the fact that sometimes there is more to someone’s actions than we may know outright. I still don’t fully understand Odyssey as a game, but I would still recommend this series if you’re looking for something emotional and sweet.

Roll drop #3: young adult / spooky vibes
-I didn’t get a chance to tune into the 3rd set of roll drops, as my parents and I were out to dinner after I got home from work, so I was trying to figure out a short book that would be able to work. Turns out that Down Among the Sticks and Bones, the second installment in the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire gave me just the right amount of spooky vibes I was looking for, and a book under 200 pages never hurts for a readathon. I won’t speak too much about my thoughts here, as I’m also using Down Among the Sticks and Bones to fulfill my Buzzwordathon prompt of “direction words” (and when that’s posted I’ll link it here) but this book follows Jack and Jill, two characters we meant in the first book Every Heart a Doorway. We see their childhood, growing up with parents with set expectations and little knowledge about what their children really wanted, we see them find a door in their attic and enter the Moors, a dark and logical world where one stays with the Master and the other becomes a scientist’s apprentice. After the events of Every Heart a Doorway I was so intrigued to see what became of Jack and Jill before they found their way to Eleanor’s Home for Wayward Children. The series can be quite intimidating, with all the love and hype that surrounds it, but I’m definitely interested to see what comes next.

Roll drop #4: water / feed scroll
-And last but not least, the last roll drop gave me some rather interesting options. When I scrolled down my Goodreads feed, the first book I came across was Hell Followed With Us, which comes out in June but I have an arc of from NetGalley. While I do really want to read it, and do it before release day, it seems like the kind of book I really want to sit with, and not rush through just for the sake of a readathon. I’m sure Sam will forgive me. So looking through the covers for books on my TBR I finally came across Weather Girl, Rachel Lynn Solomon’s newest adult romance release. I’d say the rain on the cover and the fact that the MC is a meteorologist, fulfills the water prompt quite nicely. Weather Girl follows Ari Abrams, who finds that working for her childhood idol Torrance Hale isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Especially when they work at the same station as Torrance ex husband, Seth, and the two just can’t seem to get along. After a disasterous holiday party, Ari teams up with her coworker, a sports reporter Russell Barringer, to rekindle a romance between their bosses. Ari never feels like she’s opened up to anyone outside her family, so working closely with Russell will truly tell if she’s ready to let someone else see her real self. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read so far from Rachel Lynn Solomon (my favorite so far has to be Today Tonight Tomorrow) and Weather Girl was honestly no different. I absolutely loved the mental health rep in both Ari and Russell – Ari (and her mother) have struggled with depression, Ari was diagnosed in college and has been on medication and in therapy for it, while her mother never wanted to address the underlying issues of her mental health until she ends up admitted to a hospital for treatment a few chapters into the book. Ari struggles to let anyone see the ugly sides of her, because she fears that people will leave her just like her dad did years ago. Russell also struggles with opening up at work about his daughter, who he had young so he fears judgement from his fears. Russell is also fat, and says he has been all his life so he is afraid Ari won’t want to see all of him. I found this book just really sweet, with a nice helping of steam, and communication that doesn’t always go right the first time around. I think I’ve been gushing a little too much but I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it and all other Rachel Lynn Solomon books if you’re interested.

In conclusion, I’d say another successful 48-hour Bookopolathon is in the books. I can’t wait to see what prompts the next full-length one will bring.

Where to find these books:
Middlegame: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads Author’s site
Out of Character: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads Author’s site
Down Among the Sticks and Bones: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads Author’s site
Weather Girl: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads Author’s site

Hi there! I’m here today to talk through my thoughts on a new queer historical romance release! **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about a historical romance on here. Historical in not a genre I gravitate towards in general, and the only other time I’ve reviewed a historical romance was when I discussed Heiress for Hire, my first book I received from BookishFirst (you can read that review here). But after requesting Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall as an LGBTQReads Patreon book and really enjoying it, I saw that he was coming out with another historical romance featuring a trans heroine. I requested it on NetGalley not thinking much of it, and was so excited to dive in when I got the email saying my request was approved. I didn’t know what to expect, but childhood friends coming together after years apart sounded really great to me.

When Viola Caroll was presumed dead at Waterloo, she fled and took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But as she gained her freedom, she lost her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. When their families reconnect years after the war, Viola comes to know how deep that loss truly was – Gracewood, shattered without her, has retreated so far into his grief he is barely recognizable to his old friend. As she strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, Viola recognizes old desires bubbling to the surface, lending way to new feelings that would have been impossible once, and may be impossible still, but which she can’t deny.

*the author has provided content guidance for this book on his website, if you would like to see the full list please click here*

I’ll start off by saying that I found this to be incredibly accessible to those who may not typically read historical romance. People and roles and places were introduced and while there may be a larger cast of characters than usual, it was easy to keep track of those who play significant roles. Something I worried about was that Viola’s identity would be kept a secret for the majority of the book, ultimately causing a third act conflict when Gracewood found out, but that wasn’t the case. He is kept in the dark for a while, but I thought, given how much work he needed to do for his healing, it might have been detrimental to him if Viola had mentioned it when she first arrived at his residence. I also really loved the representation of grief in both main characters. Viola took the chance at Waterloo to live her life as her true self, and while she is much happier living authentically she acknowledges all she had to leave behind. Gracewood believes his best friend to be dead, assumes the fault to be his own and becomes a recluse relying on alcohol and opium to ease his pain. They both had to find each other and work through their grief together, because they know each other better than anyone else in the world. I really felt for Viola throughout the book because while she acknowledges her feelings for Gracewood, she feels as if she doesn’t deserve him, and conversely that he deserves better – someone who he can start a family with, to give him an heir for the family line to continue. But what I loved about Gracewood is he knows who he is – he isn’t ashamed to live unconventionally, as long as he is happy, and is willing to forgo tradition if it means being able to be with who he wants.

One other thing I’d really like to mention is the representation of PTSD. Both Viola and Gracewood fought at war, even sustained injuries that will be around their entire lives. At several points, when Gracewood hears loud noises (specifically fireworks) he has flashbacks of being at the front line, and thinks he is being attacked by gunfire. Viola comes to assist him, and he wonders why he was so affected by the sound and she was not, when she had also been at war. PTSD can affect people in various ways, even if they’d been present for the same traumatic event, but that doesn’t mean he is weaker for reacting this way, and I really liked that discussion. If I had to mention a critique, it’s that the book is long, and there are times when you will feel that it’s long. It doesn’t mean that what you’re reading at the time isn’t important, there is just a lot going on. A lot of the side characters who added comedic relief can certainly be expected to have their stories expanded, and I would love to see further installments discussing their lives in the future.

In conclusion, I may not be a historical romance reader on the regular, but this is one I can say I truly enjoyed. Alexis Hall did a fantastic job at making me care about his characters, and their story, even when it pained me to see them making a choice they thought they had to but would only bring them further heartbreak. In the end, the story worked out in our main characters’ favor, and Viola and Gracewood truly deserve a life where they can be happy together, with their past behind them and the future just over the horizon. A Lady for a Duke is set to be released on May 24th, 2022 (which is the day this post goes live) so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday, and consider picking up a copy for yourself if you’re interested! *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find A Lady for a Duke:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Publisher (Forever)
Alexis Hall’s site

Hi there! I’m here again to talk about an exciting YA release I got the chance to read a little early. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

Back in 2019, Casey McQuiston took the bookish sphere by storm when she released Red, White, and Royal Blue. Everyone, including me, fell in love with Alex and Henry and their story. Then in 2021, they struck again with One Last Stop, where August and Jane find themselves falling for each other on the New York City subway. I’ve loved following these love interests, and of course the side characters that may look harmless but will not hestitate to defend everyone they care about. When I heard McQuiston was releasing a YA novel, I was very interested to see where this next story would go, because their previous works have been clearly marked as adult (or new adult, in some spaces). Wednesday books as an imprint has been incredibly good to me when it comes to arc requests on NetGalley, but I was still surprised to see the email where it said I was approved to read I Kissed Shara Wheeler before its release. I am so incredibly grateful, and now I get to share all my thoughts here.

After being moved across the country from California to a small Alabaman town where one of her moms grew up, Chloe Green spent four years dodging gossipy classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. On her mission to obtain the top class spot, her only rival is the principal’s perfect progeny, Shara Wheeler. Then, one month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe, and vanishes after prom night. When Chloe starts to investigate where Shara could have gone, she realizes she’s not the only one who’s been kissed – there’s also Smith and Rory, Shara’s quarterback sweetheart boyfriend and her bad boy neighbor respectively. Together, through all of their differences, the trio must begin to decipher the cryptic notes Shara left behind during the weeks before her disappearance. All the while, Chloe begins to realize just how much about this small town, and maybe even Shara, she doesn’t know.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when picking up this newest book from Casey McQuiston. Her previous novels have featured romance pretty heavily, and while there are certainly important discussions to be had, a lot of time is dedicated to the couple on-page. While Shara Wheeler’s name is in the book’s title, we get more time exploring her through the eyes of our other main characters and the letters she leaves them to discover. The characters and the dynamics they have with each other is, in my mind, where this book truly shines. Before the novel begins, the main trio – Chloe, Smith, and Rory – know of each other, but spend their high school days in very different spheres. But when Shara disappears, it brings them together and forces them to see things through the eyes of each other, at least when they’re trying to decipher her clues. Chloe starts to see just how focused she’s been on beating Shara for valedictorian, and how much Shara’s work ethic has forced her to be the best in everything she’s done. Smith realizes that just because society sees him in one particular way, it doesn’t mean he can’t stay true to his heart and deviate from their expectations. And Rory, sweet Rory (he’s probably one of my favorites of the book), comes to terms with his feelings and sees that at least some of them seem to be displaced. There are so many secondary characters that just add to the reality of a high school environment, especially a religious one, and seeing how the last month of their senior year played out made me wish I went to school with some of them.

What I also appreciated was the discussion around being queer in a small town rooted in the bible belt. When religious ideals about who you should be and what you should do with your life are pushed onto you for years, you start to question everything when things don’t seem to fit. And through Chloe’s point of view, as an outsider who has lived most of her life in a more liberal area and is confident and proud of who she is, we see just how difficult deviating from those ideals can be from those who have known nothing else their entire lives. Trying not to give anything away, I loved how the ending events brought together so many individuals who have just wanted to live their lives as their true authentic selves come together to spite the very institution that has tried to suppress them all along.

In conclusion, I Kissed Shara Wheeler is another fantastic book from Casey McQuiston, full of found family, flawed characters, interesting dynamics, and overall positivity and hopefulness powerful enough to overcome difficult themes that may be discussed. It’s easily readable and full of humor and heart. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad to have read it all the same. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is set to be released on May 3rd, 2022 (the day this post goes live), so join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider picking up a copy if you’re interested. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find I Kissed Shara Wheeler:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Macmillan
Casey McQuiston’s site

Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

This is the fourth post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword catagories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I am challenging myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previsously that would also fufill it within these posts. The theme for April was “size-related words” and this had to be the hardest prompt I’ve had to fulfill when attempting to complete this challenge by far. Thankfully, I did have one book with a size-related word in the title on my TBR that I was excited to pick up, and I’m glad I get to talk about it here.

Book read in April: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Rosemary Harper didn’t know what to expect when she climbed aboard the tunneling ship the Wayfarer. The patched-up vessel has seen better days, but for someone trying to escape a past she wants desperately to forget, it offers Rosemary a place far away from the only planet she’s known all her life and a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy. It also gives her the chance to be a part of a multi-species crew, learning about the history and customs that come with each lively member aboard the ship. When the Wayfarer is offered the job of a lifetime, life is about to become much more hectic and dangerous – unexpected adventures and thrilling mishaps will force the crew to rely much more on each other, and Rosemary comes to realize that maybe it isn’t so bad to be a part of a family.

I’ve heard a lot of things about this book, and the series as a whole, since it came out. It was such a character-driven sci-fi that explored the mind-set of every member of the Wayfarer crew. I listened to the audiobook, and while some of the informational paragraphs may have gone a bit over my head, I loved being with these characters and their journey across the galaxy. Seeing them come together in times of distress or grief, even through all of their differences, just warmed my heart. There is tension, there is conflict, there is discrimination, and there are bad people who do bad things in almost every species mentioned. It offers commentary on existence, relationships, love, family, and what actually makes us different from one another. It’s not something where I was turning the page wondering what was going to happen next (although there were a few chapters where trouble hit and I had to kep reading) but the world and the characters welcomed me back every time I picked the book back up. It’s such a difficult book to describe, because you don’t want to set up comparisons and expectations for people to ultimately be disappointed, and it’s not going to be for everyone, especially those who are looking for more action-packed warring worlds guts and glory science fiction, but it’s a story of hope and unity and getting through the toughest things with the people you trust the most. I don’t want to get into the plot too much, as things progress slowly over the course of the entire book, but let’s just say that in times of need I’d want the crew of the Wayfarer looking after me.

In conclusion, I got a little off track in April – I finished the book rather late in the month (due to work and getting rather sick) and didn’t quite have the time to finish this post to get it up on my typical schedule. But I’m still having a blast and can’t wait to see what May’s prompt has in store for me.

Where to find The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Becky Chambers’ site

Additional Book Recommendations: (I’m sad to say it’s only one this month)
–Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney C. Stevens

Hi there! I’m here to talk about a highly anticipated memoir I got the chance to read early. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

Since I get most of my early review copies through NetGalley, it’s been a while since I’ve talked about BookishFirst. I still browse the site every week to see what books are going to be featured and submit first impressions to bolster my total number of points, but it’s been a while since I’ve wanted to enter a raffle. That is, until I saw that Paul Holes’ memoir Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases was going to be up for grabs. Over the past few years I’ve become a bit more interested in true crime, and I knew that the capture of the Golden State Killer was an enormous team effort that finally paid off, so I was incredibly intrigued to hear about it through the eyes of one of the lead detectives of the case. While that is a key point of the book, there was just so much more to it – from the progression of Holes’ career to coworkers he’s lost to marriage (and divorce) due to pressures at work, this memoir is a striking peek into the lives of those who strive to solve the unsolvable.

Those who are tuned into the true crime scene will probably recognize the name Paul Holes if they hear it. He is most known for his contributions to solving the Golden State Killer case using advanced methods of identifying the culprit with a combination of DNA and genealogy technology. Holes attended the University of California, Davis receiving a B.S. in biochemistry, and he served Contra Costa County from 1990, working his way up the ranks from forensic lab rat to criminal profiler to investigator for the Sheriff’s office until his retirement in 2018. Since then, he has contributed to various media outlets discussing the breakthroughs in the Golden State Killer case, as well as other true crime anecdotes. Unmasked recounts some of the various cases he’s worked, some that haven’t been solved to this day, as well as discusses how much the work of a detective can affect one’s family life.

What I loved so much about this book is all the little details. When we hear the word “detective” or “investigator” I think most people think someone just assumes that position, but we don’t learn about them climbing the ranks and working in labs to gain the experience. As a clinical toxicologist I appreciated all the time dedicated to discussing Holes’ time working as a lab rat, because while clinical tox can be vastly different than forensics, in terms of chain of custody and serving as experts on case trials, I could relate. There was also plenty of discussion about how a job like criminal profiler or crime scene investigator affects your brain and how you process information, which might make conversations with those who aren’t in your line of work awkward or displeasing. There is also the aspect of wanting to spend every minute of every day trying to solve a case you can feel you’re on the right track to crack, and overworking yourself to the point of exhaustion. This book doesn’t shy away from the grisly details of being a detective, and knowing that some cases just aren’t going to be solved so some families will never get the justice they deserve. I think one of the hardest chapters for me to read was about Michelle McNamara. Michelle had a long-term fascination with true crime and became intently keen on trying to solve the case of the Golden State Killer, who’s name she had actually coined. She collected information from various jurisdictions and shared that information with people who would later connect all the dots and capture the culprit with genealogical technology. Holes and McNamara often chatted about the case and struck up a friendship after she interviewed him for articles she penned for Los Angeles magazine. Michelle passed away in her sleep in 2016, following an overdose of prescription drugs, and a book she had been writing I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer was released posthumously in 2018 – just a few months before the breakthrough that led the the killer’s arrest.

Although my advanced reader copy of Unmasked comes in at under 300 pages, I took my time and broke it down to consume over several days. Personally, I think this is a good way to go when picking up this book. Some chapters can describe a gruesome crime scene in vivid detail, as it’s probably burned into Holes’ memory, or the stories of victims who have lost their lives and never seem to have received any justice. No matter how small a mention, these are all real people who have in some way been wronged by terrors of the world. While it might seem tempting to read through all at once, I do believe that each of these individual chapters, and the stories within them, deserve their own time to be read and appreciated.

In conclusion, I believe true crime readers and those who are interested in the Golden State Killer case are going to be intrigued by Paul Holes’ words and the stories he’s relived through his memoir. It is truly a striking book that sheds light on so much that is unknown about the lives of those solving crime in America – the good, the great, the bad, and even the ugly. I am so incredibly glad I was able to read this early and share my thoughts. Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases is set to be released on April 26th, 2022 (which is the day this post goes live, if I finish writing it in time) so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider picking up a copy if you’re interested – I, for one, preordered a signed copy from Barnes and Noble, so I can’t wait for it to arrive in the mail. *Thanks to BookishFirst and the publisher, Celadon Books, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Unmasked:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Macmillan

Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

This is the third post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword catagories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I am challenging myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previsously that would also fufill it within these posts. The theme for March was “locations / attractions,” which I had to think about for a bit but at the end of the day I’m really happy with the book I chose to read for this prompt.

Book read in March: The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta

Syd works as a baker at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. And the morning after Syd is broken up with, Syd may have accidentally made a batch of break up brownies. And anyone who eats Syd’s brownies… may break up with their significant other(s). This includes Vin and Alec, Proud Muffin’s owners, and their split has the ability to take the whole bakery down with it. Syd has to fix things, but doesn’t think anyone will believe a story about magic baking. Except maybe Harley, the adorable bike delivery person who’s been flirting with Syd for a while. He [today] believes Syd about the break up brownies, and also has a feeling Syd can bring people together with magical baking just as easily, one recipe at a time.
*In the story, Syd is agender and does not feel like any pronouns fit well, so anytime I reference the character I will use the name Syd. It will be often, as evident in the description, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable using any pronouns when that is a prominent part of Syd’s identity in the story

This was such a heartwarming story that I desperately needed in the month of March. I loved that the Proud Muffin was a place where everyone felt like they belonged, and that at the first sign of trouble the community came together to make sure that place was not taken away. I didn’t expect the magical baking aspect to actually be, well, magical, but I really liked how Syd realizes this ability and tries to hone it by trying out so many recipes (some with rather disasterous results). There was so much diversity whether it be a poly relationship, deaf students (and teachers at a deaf school), an agender MC (who start the books off in a [perceived] “same sex” relationship), a love interest whose pronouns change (just look at the pronoun badge, it’s usually on the messenger bag), and so much more. Since Syd is trying to undo the work of the break-up brownies, Syd and Harley play the part of investigators, and they both learn a lot about love and different kinds of relationships. Throughout the book, while Syd starts to realize that Harley’s banter is more on the flirty side than previously thought, Syd also begins to dissect Syd’s previous relationship and notices that things may not have been all sunshine up until its last legs. The lighthearted tone sprinkled with important conversations and emotional moments made me so attached to the characters and the story until the very end. I will admit, I’ve started to forget some of what’s happened, as I read it more towards the beginning of the month, I would still highly recommend picking it up, and I’ll definitely be doing a reread at some point later this year.

I also wanted to highlight that throughout the course of the book, Syd struggles to decide whether or not to come out as agender. Syd, assigned female at birth, is still addressed with she/her pronouns by family members and close friends, partially because Syd doesn’t want to have the long explanatory conversation about “what agender means,” but also because Syd doesn’t quite know what pronouns to use or fully why none of them feel right. Harley seems to grasp the complexity of this struggle, and navigates around not using pronouns at all when referring to Syd and giving space for Syd to decide when, how, and if it feels right to breech that conversation with those close. I really appreciated this aspect because it’s really such a personal decision whether or not to come out, even if it’s to your family or close friends, and there’s no easy answer on whether or not you should or when. And it can be even tougher if your identity is more fluid than most. No one should make you feel bad about feeling as though it would be easier to stay in the closet. Your identity is still valid, no matter if you’ve told another soul.

In conclusion, that’s three months down. I won’t say I haven’t already struggled a bit for far this year, but I’m still working towards getting these out every month.

Where to find The Heartbreak Bakery:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
A.R. Capetta’s author page

Additional Book Recommendations:
–Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green (YA Contemporary)
–Beach Read by Emily Henry (Adult Romance)
–Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas (Adult Contemporary)
–Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (YA Fantasy) – review
-Lighthouse Bay series by Amy Aislin (Adult Romance) – Christmas Lane and Gingerbread Mistletoe (plus new third book releasing in 2022)
–The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz (Sci-fi short story)
–The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede (Non-fiction)
–Didn’t Stay in Vegas by Chelsea M. Cameron (Adult Romance)
–The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (YA Sci-fi dystopian) – review
–Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs (YA Contemporary)
–Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron (YA Contemporary Fantasy)
-When in Rome series by Marina Adair (Adult Romance) – RomeAntically Challenged (review) and Hopeless Romantic (review)

Hi there! I’m back today to talk about a sequel I didn’t know was releasing so soon and got the chance to read early. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

Back at the beginning of 2021, I read a book called Float Plan, an adult romance about a woman (Anna) who, after losing her husband to suicide, leaves on a sailing trip they were supposed to take together and embarks on a journey to find herself again. Looking back, I thought I had read an early copy of it through NetGalley, but it turns out I was actually declined but later purchased a signed copy through a local indie. Recently, I was looking through the site and realized that Float Plan had a sequel coming out, The Suite Spot, which features Anna’s sister. I requested to review it, but honestly didn’t think I would be approved (since I was denied access to the first one), but was surprised to find myself approved a week before release date. So I put my current read aside to pick it up and now I’m here to talk about what I thought!

Rachel Beck feels like she’s hit a brick wall – she’s a single mom still living at in her childhood home trying to keep a dying relationship alive. When she is wrongfully fired from her job at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach, it seems like she’s running out of options. When a friend approaches Rachel with a management position at a brewery hotel in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island, she inquires about the job on impulse, and when she’s hired immediately packs up her daughter and embarks on a cross-country move. But what Rachel finds on Kelleys Island is a building not much more than foundation and studs, and handsome, moody Mason who knows everything about brewing beer but nothing about running a hotel. It’s not at all what Rachel had been expecting, but Mason offers her the opportunity to help build a hotel – and, in turn, rebuild her own life – from the ground up.

*as per the author’s note, be advised some of the themtic content within the novel contains sexual assault and mentions of child death and suicide*

I really loved Rachel and Mason and what they came together to build on Kelleys Island. There was such a small town feel, where almost everyone in town was convinced that Rachel and Mason were together considering the positive changes in Mason’s behavior after Rachel arrived. Both are so knowledgeable about their fields but need each other to succeed, because you can’t create a a brewery hotel lacking in either aspect. It was lovely seeing them geek out about their passions, and be encouraged by the other to pursue them. We also got to see how Anna and Keane are doing, as they pop in for Rachel’s trip back home to help her mother pack and celebrate Maisie’s birthday. I think Rachel needed to get away from Florida for a while, after not being believed as a victim and getting fired from her job and to really make her ex wake up and decide if he wanted to be a part of his daughter’s life, and in what capacity. And Mason really needed some guidance as well, both with the hotel (he is hopelessly clueless and left everything pretty much up to Rachel) but also with opening up again after losing so much. It was absolutely sweet to watch them grow and their relationship progress. I also appreciated the conversation when Mason’s family came around to visit – they talk about how when they first came to Kelley’s island, the residents weren’t so open to newcomers, especially people of color. Small-town mentality can be detrimental sometimes to those who are different, as long-time residents might feel threatened by them. But they owned land and deserved to be there just as much as anyone, and it was great to see how the town’s mindset has shifted in the years that Mason has lived there.

Both The Suite Spot and Float Plan have been slow-burn romances, and, in my opinion, that slow burn has fit the pace for these novels, because the main characters both have their own issues that need to be addressed before they feel comfortable commiting to another person. Rachel has been a single mom putting her daughter’s needs before hers ever since Maisie was born, and has often felt like her ex is checked out from his parental responsibilities. Mason is dealing with the loss of his own daughter (prior to the start of the novel) and divorce from his wife, after the grieving led to fighting and it benefitted them both to separate. He wants to allow himself to love being around Maisie, but it hurts when she does something to remind him of his own daughter. He also wants to open his heart to Rachel, but the first time he admits his own attraction he is hesitant. Rachel tells him the attraction is mutual, but she doesn’t want to start anything until he means it, until they both can mean it. And I think it’s incredibly important to acknowledge when you’re not emotionally or mentally ready to be in a relationship, not matter if attraction is present or not, because it wouldn’t be fair to you or your partner if you entered into one prematurely.

In conclusion, I have loved seeing the Beck sisters get their happy endings after dealing with so much hurt in the past. These romances are sweet and slow-burn, and I can’t wait to readers to pick them both up. The Suite Spot is set to release on March 8th, 2022, which is the day this post goes live so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider checking it out if you’re interested! And stay tuned, because I hear that Trish Doller is working on another installment with Anna’s best friend, Carla, and Keane’s brother, Eamon (and it’s a whole lot steamier than the previous two, if that’s more your thing). *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find The Suite Spot:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Macmillan
Trish Doller’s site

Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

This is the second post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword catagories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I am challenging myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previsously that would also fufill it within these posts. The theme for February was “pronouns / possession words,” which gave us a lot of freedom in terms of books to choose, and books to recommend from me. So there are plenty of other books with pronouns and possession words to choose from, I’m only choosing a few for my last section of this post. But I’m really excited to talk about my pick to fulfill this month’s prompt.

Book read in February: Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky

When Essie’s dad takes a temporary teaching position in a different city, she starts counting down the 110 days until she can return to her old school, and be with her friends again. Then she meets Ollie, a nonbinary classmate who has blue eyes, a confident smile, and who makes her feel zaps whenever they’re around. Soon Essie realizes she’s no longer rushing for those 110 days to be over, but trying to make the most of the time she has with Ollie. Meanwhile, Ollie is experiencing a crush of their own, on a girl who they know isn’t there to stay, while also trying to juggle school, queer advocacy, and just being a kid. “Can the two unwind the merry-go-round of feelings before it’s too late?”

I’ve had this book on my kindle for a while now, and didn’t re-read the synopsis before diving in, so it was such a pleasant surprise when halfway through the book it resets things so we get to follow the events through Ollie’s point of view. I loved how this book was able to capture the essence of being a kid – trying to balance school and extracurriculars, trying to still connect with friends even if you’re far away from them, realizing your parents don’t understand you as well as you think they should, and maybe dealing with those pesky things called feelings. I really hope other kids, especially those who may be questioning their gender, can pick up this book and feel connected to Ollie in some way, and I appreciated that while they do feel it’s important to be an advocate, especially when they’ve felt so unseen before, there was so much more to them. All the adults in Ollie’s life are incredibly informed, understanding, and loving, so that was also nice to see. Kids can be mean when they don’t understand things, and it was good to see Essie’s friends come to her defense and educate each other so that no one says anything hurtful, intentionally or unintentionally. I will say I wanted more from the story at times – some of the chapters are incredibly short, and the next one may pick up days later so we really don’t get to see much action. It allowed me to get through the story relatively quickly, but, in my opinion, left much to be desired. I do understand that this is a middle grade novel, and I am not the target audience, so I will say that this does increase accessibility, so more readers who may not be able to get through long chapters at a time can still enjoy and get a lot out of it. Overall, I’m extremely glad I picked this up, and truly hope it gets into the hands of young kids who may need to feel seen and understood.

In the “about the author section” at the end of this book, it says that Ami Polonsky is a parent of two kids, one of whom exists happily beneath the trans umbrella. When I looked at this book on Goodreads, I found a review by E. Polonsky, where it says that the character of Ollie was based off of them (you can find the full short and sweet review here). I appreciate the love that went into the character of Ollie and I truly hope that other kids like them can pick up this book and see themselves represented.

In conclusion, that’s another month in the books. Can’t wait to see what other reads this read-a-thon has in store for me this year.

Where to Find Spin With Me:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Ami Polonsky’s site

Additional Book Recommendations:
–Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place by Jackson Bird (Memoir)
–You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (YA Contemporary) – review
–As Far as You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper (YA Contemporary) – review – interview with author
–Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn (YA Contemporary) – review
–Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee (YA Sci-fi/Fantasy)
–You Will Get Through This Night by Daniel Howell (Self-help)
–She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (YA Contemporary)
–Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor (YA Fantasy) – review
–His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto (Adult Romance)
–I Knew Him by Abigail de Niverville (YA Contemporary)
–The Genome Odyssey: Medical Mysteries and the Incredible Quest to Solve Them by Dr. Euan Angus Ashley (Non-fiction) – review
–Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf (YA Fantasy)
–The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver (YA Contemporary)
–Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles (YA Contemporary)
–Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert (YA Contemporary)

Hi there! I’m here to talk about an emotional sophomore novel that I have been highly anticipating. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**

Back in 2020, I was approved for a YA contemporary debut titled Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher. It centered a girl, Amelia, who, after losing her best friend suddenly and unexpectedly, travels to a bookstore and finds how to make a future for herself. It was such an incredible book and I couldn’t wait for it to be released so I could share more of my thoughts with the world (you can find my review here). So when I heard Schumacher was releasing another book, revolving around band kids that promised to be even more heartbreaking than Amelia Unabridged, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And that’s how I found myself reading Full Flight, a YA contemporary about first love, loss, and life late into the night, and it truly fulfilled its promise of breaking my heart.

Fall may be football season for most residents of Enfield, Texas, but for the members of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band, it’s contest season. And for Anna James, junior and new saxophonist, it’s a chance to prove herself as the great musician who deserves to be there as much as anyone else. She’s having a hard time finding the right notes when assigned her first duet, so she turns to her piece partner, Weston Ryan, mellophone player, for help. Weston is the boy her small town has deemed nothing but trouble, but as the two spend hours practicing and the notes slowly fall into place, they both find there is more than meets the eye. As Weston and Anna spend more time together, they have to deal with other people’s misconceptions and learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. But when the unthinkable happens and tragedy strikes, one is left to deal with picking up the pieces of shattered hearts.

I’m so glad that the writing style and character development that I loved so much in Amelia Unabridged made its way into Schumacher’s sophomore novel. A difference I noted pretty early on was that this book is told in dual perspective, with chapters alternating between Weston and Anna’s points of view. I think this really helped the reader get inside the heads of the two main characters. I really appreciated the portrayal of loneliness that is present in both points of view – both Weston and Anna feel ostracized at some point, whether from their family, school, town, or band, and handle it in different ways, with Anna putting on a smile and acting as if nothing is wrong and trying her best to fit in while Weston embraces his loner status and keeps to himself, letting everyone else form opinions about him. Also, the musical descriptions and marching band elements are done so well, that every band geek is going to be laughing at the relatability (while some readers a lit more unfamiliar may find it a bit much at times, but that’s ok, marching band kids can be extra sometimes). I played flute in my middle school orchestra, and while I was never in marching band, I was around plenty of people who were in college and I can definitely see where the inspiration came from. I really enjoyed delving into Weston and Anna’s family lives to see some comparisons when they’re pretty vastly different – Weston is an only child, the son of divorced parents who aren’t present for much of the novel, while Anna has a younger sister and stricter parents who are more involved in her life, even if to a detriment sometimes. There is certainly some discussion as to whether there is a balance between “too present” and “not present enough” when it comes to parenting, and trying to do what you think is best for your kids while also taking into account what they think is best for themselves. I knew to expect tragedy, and I could almost see it coming, but even that didn’t stop me from feeling all the emotions when it happened. I was there, right alongside the characters, grappling with the aftermath, and that, truly, is what I’d constitute as good writing.

I’ll be honest, I think a chapter might have been missing from my review copy which may have affected my reading experience. If it’s intentionally left out, I think we need some context and I hope it’s just an error, so I’ll check this with the finished copy and update this post if it is, indeed, missing unintentionally. [Update from the future to say that only the POV marker from that chapter is missing, the rest is left intentionally blank for reasons that will become clear in the following chapter]. From the synopsis we know that something tragic occurs in this book. I tried to make my description a bit vague, because some listings give more detail that, I feel, may make the moment less impactful. And I want to talk briefly about the ending, without giving too much away, because I have some pretty interesting thoughts. Lately I’ve been picking up books that center grief and loss, and how someone (a person or a fictional character) goes through the grieving process. Sometimes, when loss happens unexpectantly, your brain does not fully process the events that have transpired, so you can go through the motions of attending the funeral, dealing with arrangements, etc. while it’s all a blur. But in moments of solitude, when you’re truly alone with your thoughts, that’s when sadness can creep in and take over, giving way to a variety of emotions. While initially I thought the ending was a bit rushed, reading it through a second time solidified how well, in my opinion, this book portrays that process. *I will note that all individuals can process grief differently, and all emotions felt during this time are valid*

In conclusion, Ashley Schumacher has a way of making me care about her characters and breaking my heart when they come into harm’s warm or are dealing with the effects of loss. I cannot wait to reread this book upon release and feel those emotions all over again. Full Flight is set to be released on February 22nd, 2022, which is the day this post goes live, so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider picking up a copy yourself if you’re at all interested. *Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Full Flight:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Macmillan
Ashley Schumacher’s site