Hi there! I’m back at it again with my Buzzword-a-thon 2022 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 first 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 January was “question words” (who, what, when, where, why, and how), and I’m going to tell you all about the book I read myself this month, while also recommending two books for each question word I’ve read and enjoyed sometime in my life.

Book Read in January: This is How We Fly by Anna Meriano

This is How We Fly follows Ellen, a recently high school graduate who wants to spend the entire summer before freshman year hanging out with her two best friends before they all go in different directions in the fall. But when one argument too many with her ‘evil’ stepmother leaves her grounded, Ellen finds herself cleaning the garage and yearning to be out of the house. Until she finds quidditch, a sport not with brooms or flying but PVC pipes and a whole lot of dodging. An all-gender full-contact game may be just what Ellen needs when she feels her friends slowly slipping away, and as the summer slips away she finds what she needs most – a sense of belonging. There are a lot of things I love about this book. First, Ellen is a vegan feminist who is not afraid to speak her mind, and constantly challenges her parents’ (father and stepmother) views when they come across ignorant, even unintentionally. She’s constantly made to feel powerless (“you’re just one person, you can’t possibly change the world”) but that does not stop her from trying. Next, the quidditch team itself – it’s made up of so many different personalities that sometimes clash but come together on the pitch to be the best they can. Every character’s voice was distinct and the writing was simplistic that I found myself absorbing everything and finishing in two days. And finally, the sense of loneliness portrayed simply hit way too close to home. I remember being in that in-between high school and college state, wondering if I would still keep in touch with my friends, and even after college there will people I wouldn’t see on a daily basis anymore, and worried they wouldn’t still want to be my friend. It’s hard, and I’ve encountered enough friendship breakups to know that it never gets any easier. But you will make time for the people you care about, and if they care about you they’ll do the same.

Quidditch has been the name of the game since it was coined by the source material, the Harry Potter series. However recently, two U.S. Quidditch leagues (U.S. Quidditch and Major League Quidditch) have made it know they’re looking to change the name. It seems there were two major reaons for a name change to be considered. First, Warner Bros. owes the copyright to the word “quidditch,” which makes sponsorship and broadcast opportunites somewhat difficult for teams and competitions. Second, the leagues hope that a name would continue to help distance themselves from J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter‘s creator. Rowling has recently made her views on the transgender community known, including criticizing an article for using the term “people who menstruate” instead of “women” (as not all individuals who undergo menstruation are women), and publishing an essay in response to criticism stating that trans activism is “seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class,” which is just simply not true. She continues to double-down on her views, and her words have even caused progressive legislation to be blocked as recently as 2020. Quidditch is known as one of the most inclusive sports and has fostered such a community around people who identify so differently but come together and enjoy the game for what it is. I, for one, encourage the name change, as the sport deserves to stand on its own for and be recognized for the great sport it is, without having a tainted association.

In conclusion, this was a solid first month for the Buzzword Readathon, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store. Scroll down for more recommendations for books with question words in the title!

Where to find This is How We Fly:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Anna Meriano’s site

Additional Book Recommendations
–The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert (Adult Romance)
–Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen (Non-fiction)
–Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun (Graphic Novel)
–I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest (YA Contemporary)
–Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (YA Contemporary)
–#Churchtoo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing by Emily Joy Allision (Non-fiction)
–Who? by Algis Budrys (Adult Sci-fi)
–What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter (YA Contemporary)
–When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship by Martha Teichner (Memoir) – review
–Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (YA Contemporary/Classic)
–I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Memoir)
–How to Be a Normal Person / How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune (Adult Romance)

Hi there! I’m here to talk about a sophomore novel being released by an author I’ve read and loved from before. **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.**

I was first introduced to Rosiee Thor’s work in November 2020, when I read their debut YA sci-fi novel Tarnished are the Stars – you can read my review in my “favorite book of the month” post here. I found the plot and politics intriguing, the characters realistic and relatable, and the themes of familial abandonment, betrayal, loyalty, and identity heartfelt. While I acknowledged its flaws, I still loved it all the same. So when I heard their sophomore novel, Fire Becomes Her, was releasing in February, I knew I had to find a way to read it early. It wasn’t available on NetGalley, but after filling out Thor’s review interest form, I was able to obtain an early copy using the review site Edelweiss. It’s a fantasy tale with commentary of class, a tense political climate surrounding an important election, and a Jazz-age flare (quite literally). I’ve already preordered a copy coming in February’s RainbowCrate (which is a monthly subscription box supporting books with LGBTQ+ representation, which is incredible) and I hope I can sway you to pick yourself up a copy if you’re still on the fence.

Flare is power – in this world, flare has the ability to light the night sky with fireworks or burn a building down with just one drop. And seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis won’t stop until she’s earned her fair share. Her plan is to rise to the top on the arm of Linden Holt, heir to the largest fortune of flare known to date. But his father refuses to acknowledge Ingrid as anything more than the daughter of a thief. When Senator Holt announces his run for presidency, Ingrid agrees to spy on an opponent’s campaign to gain his trust. But the information that she uncovers starts to be more than she bargained for, and Ingrid begins to doubt where her true allegiances lie, and who she can trust.

I’ll be honest, it did take a while for me to truly become invested in the story, and I will credit some of that to the formatting of my e-arc copy – sometimes the line structure threw me out of the story and I had to really concentrate. But once Ingrid joined Gwendolyn Meyers and her campaign, and events started to unfold, I was able to to push the formatting aside and let myself get sucked into the story. I really enjoyed seeing Ingrid progress as a character – she is the daughter of a thief who was sent to an orphanage after her father was arrested and sent to prison for stealing (which he did in order to provide for the two of them). Ever since, people see her as less-than, and she works hard to put her past aside so others will forget that side of her. She’s top of her class and dating, if not secretly, the most influential boy in her class, Linden Holt, hoping for a spot on Senator’s Holt’s presidential campaign to show the world she is serious. She even avoids the town where she grew up, as it’s seen as a poorer area and does not want to associate herself with it, even though that time of her life will always be a part of her. She blames her father for abandoning her, but learns to be just as angry at the system that forced his hand to thievery to provide for his family, and then punished him for it. I also found a lot of commentary in the voting system for this presidential election – flare, which provides its drinker with a temporary high of power and is used for show just as much as heating homes, is collected from each county’s residential population (they vote for their preferred candidate with as much flare as they are expecting in return) and the one with the highest reserve wins that area [I’m sure I’m not explaining this right, but you get the gist]. This highlights the disparity of resources among counties, as those with less access to flare either won’t vote, because they want to preserve what little flare they have, or those with the most in that area will sway the vote to a particular candidate who may not represent the ideals most wanted by the county. I was impressed by how well this political climate mirrored the current one in the United States, and how much discussion Thor presented as to the issues we face as a nation. We should all be doing our best to ensure the officials we elect have our best interests at heart.

I also wanted to talk about the representation of relationships and their complexities presented in the novel, because my goodness was there a lot to love and unpack. First, familial relationships – Ingrid and Linden both express wanting to distance themselves from their fathers’ reputation. Ingrid feels like her father has disgraced their family name, and Linden finds himself imbedded in his father’s political schemes even though he isn’t sure he wants to follow in the Senator’s footsteps. By the end, both have to accept that their past can define their futures, to an extent, but only the parts that they allow themselves to embrace. Next, friendships – Ingrid and her roommate, Charlotte, present one of the prominent friendships in the novel. Charlotte is read as aroace (aromantic and asexual), and for her platonic relationships are some of the most important bonds she forms. I also identify in this way, and seeing Charlotte protect her friends, worry about them in times of distress, and still put their feelings first after she’s been hurt by them was refreshing to see, because friendships do not have to be read or treated as “less-then” simply because they are not romantic. Next, romantic relationships – while Ingrid and Linden enter the novel in a romantic relationship, Ingrid struggles throughout the book to decide how she really feels about Linden. She loves him – has, and probably forever will – but what kind of love does she feel? Is it romantic? After an intense scene in the book, Ingrid sits down and talks to Alex, a fellow member of the Meyers campaign, and discusses love and identity, and that scene nearly had me in tears. He said “you don’t have to fall in love in order to love. You don’t have to fall in love to be loved… You haven’t missed your shot at love, because love isn’t just one thing.” He couldn’t be more right.

In conclusion, Rosiee Thor hits my heartstrings yet again with complex character relationships, political intrigue, and magic that just might set the world (as we know it) ablaze. It has its flaws but I have a feeling so many readers are going to love it all the same. Fire Becomes Her is set to release on February 1st, 2022, which is the day this post goes live, so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday by picking up a copy and experiencing the story’s wonders for yourself. *Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher, Scholastic Press, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Fire Becomes Her:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Scholastic
Rosiee Thor’s site

Hi there! I’m here with my first ARC review of the year, and it’s for one of my most anticipated romance releases of 2022! **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 got to read Alexandria Bellefleur’s debut romance novel, Written in the Stars. It was a sapphic, fake dating romance following Elle and Darcy set around the holidays, and I absolutely fell in love with the entire cast of characters that was introduced (you can find my full review here). When I heard that there was going to be more books following other couples, I knew I needed to get my hands on them. I requested to read the second novel Hang the Moon in 2021, which follows Darcy’s younger brother Brendon and her best friend, Annie, in a friends to lovers romance and it warmed my heart (you can find my full review here). And now I’m ready to review the final book in this romance companion series Count Your Lucky Stars, which follows Elle’s best friend, Margot, and the girl who got away, Olivia, in a steamy second-chance romance. It’s certainly bittersweet to say farewell to these characters, as I’ve been following them and their stories for about two years now, but I’m glad we got to see Margot have her happily ever after as well.

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships – she’s tried, they’ve failed, so she sticks to casual hookups and that works just fine for her. But now her entire friend group has found their person, and she’s starting to feel them slowly slip away. When touring a wedding venue for a last-minute change, the unexpected happens – she locks eyes with Olivia Grant, her first love, her first everything. Olivia wanted to start fresh after a divorce, and becoming a wedding planner in Seattle sounded like the perfect plan. She never thought she’d Margot again, it’s been over a decade since they last spoke, and never imagined she’d be her new client’s Best Woman. When unexpected circumstances leave Olivia without a place to stay, and Margot needing to find a roommate, things may be falling right back into place. Will history repeat itself or will both be thanking their lucky stars that they get another chance at first love?

The fact that I was able to finish this book all in one day should tell you everything you need to know regarding my enjoyment. I will most likely reread when I receive my finished copy, which I have preordered, just so I can savor each and every moment. Margot and Olivia both fondly remember the week they spent together senior year of high school, but both have very different ideas of why it ended, which has caused a decade of wondering what could have been. The attraction is certainly still there, and once they allow themselves to give in to that attraction, their passion is almost explosive (I’m not sure if this book is more steamy than the other two or I was just more aware/my tastes regarding those scenes have changed, but it was incredibly well done). Towards the beginning of the book, Margot is feeling quite left out as the single one in her friend group, and she feels bad for feeling bad – she is so happy for her friends that they’ve finally found love, but is afraid that they will leave her behind and start to do “couple-themed” things. I can relate to Margot’s feeling to an extent – I’m at a point in my life where almost everyone I know seems to be settling down, finding a partner, starting a family, etc. And while I am so happy that they’ve found someone to spend the rest of their lives with, I definitely feel a bit left out at times, as that doesn’t seem like the path that I will follow. I also appreciated Olivia’s storyline – understanding what she wants from a relationship and leaving, even after years, if she feels her wants and needs are no longer compatible with her partner’s. It wasn’t easy, and it took a lot of strength, but she chose happiness and knew she put herself first.

I also want to touch on the topic of trust, because it becomes an important part of the third-act conflict. Margot and Olivia had a misunderstanding about what their week together meant for either of them, and, in order to preserve their friendship, both go on as if nothing happened. And then Olivia left, away to another college with her boyfriend, Brad, leaving Margot without her best friend and confused as to why Olivia didn’t feel the same. Then Margot’s friend all find partners, get engaged, and it slowly starts to feel like they’re slipping away. When Olivia finds her way back, pieces start to fit together again, until news from her ex-husband gets Olivia packing her bags and heading home for the night. Margot gets scared, and both her and Olivia need to learn to trust, and let each other know they will keep showing up and can be a shoulder to lean on when necessary. Margot realizes that communication seems easy in media, but talking to your partner, and sometimes saying things you know they need to hear, isn’t always a walk in the park. But relationships are built on trust, and knowing there is someone you can always rely on.

And with that [I believe] the Written in the Stars series has come to an end. I have enjoyed all the time I have spent with these characters – learning their quirks, seeing their struggles, and watching them succeed in life and in love. While I’m sad to see the series end, I can’t wait to read whatever Alexandria Bellefleur has in store for her readers next. Count Your Lucky Stars is set to release on February 1st, 2022, which is two weeks from when this post goes live, so please consider pre-ordering yourself a copy if you’re interested, the supply chain issue has been prevalent these past few years and pre-orders really help authors out immensely. *Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Count Your Lucky Stars:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
HarperCollins
Alexandria Bellefleur’s site

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the start of 2022 has treated you well. It certainly hasn’t been great for me, but crossing my fingers that better things are to come. Since it’s a new year, I wanted to just make some new goals for my blog to give myself some direction. So, at the time (on January 3rd, 12:25pm), here’s what I have in mind.

1.) Continue reviewing early copies when I receive them
-While I’m no longer a reading rep for Once Upon a Bookclub, I still have a NetGalley account and occasionally request a book to read and review before it’s release. I’ll be much more selective about my requests, but hopefully that will allow me ample time to get my thoughts out before the release date.

2.) Catch up on my 2021 release reviews
-Ha, so yeah, there are still two books I received early copies of in 2021 that I didn’t get around to reading before their release. Both had a lot of hype around them, but I just wasn’t in the mood to read anything for review towards the end of last year and didn’t want these books to suffer on my behalf. So the two I still need to read and review are You’ve Reached Sam, a debut YA contemporary by Dustin Thao which is sure to make me cry, and If This Gets Out, a dual-authored YA contemporary by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich which centers boybands and exploring sexuality. You can expect posts about them in the next few months.

3.) Continue with my Buzzword-a-thon posts
-I really had so much fun choosing books to fulfill the Buzzword Challenge prompt to read and/or write about every month. I’m definintely continuing the challenge into 2022, and I want to document my reads whether in the same capacity or in a differently formatted post. But either way I’m excited to pick 12 more books with these buzzwords.

4.) Introduce a new re-occuring post set
-Since I’d been enjoying the Buzzword Challenge posts, I was considering starting a new series where I talk about… well… book series, actually. I’m keeping track of which series I DNF, want to continue, and finish, and thought it would be fun to talk about the ones I’ve finished and loved (and maybe some that I continued but didn’t enjoy as well). I’m still trying to work out how, but I’m excited to give it a try!

5.) Not put any pressure on myself to post
-At the end of the day, this blog is really just for me. Sure, I post these reviews on social media and sometimes other people click on them to read, but mostly this is just a place to put down my thoughts about the books I’ve read. So unless I’m obligated to post, like a publisher has asked me for a review or I’ve received an ARC, I’m not going to push myself to put out posts that I don’t feel fully express my full thoughts.

I have a few bookish goals that don’t necessarily pertain to this blog, so I’ll keep them to myself for now and see how this year goes. I’ve accomplished a lot in 2021, and I’m really proud of so many posts I’ve put out in the past year. Here’s hoping there’s more good to come in 2022, and if you’re sticking around for the ride, I thank you with my whole heart.

Hello! I’m here to talk about my December reads for the Buzzword Readathon! **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 twelfth and final post in my “Buzzword-a-thon” series (at least for 2021). In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon is a read-a-thon originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This year, all prompts were selected in advance and it’s been loosely hosted once a month. I’ve made a yearly challenge for myself to at least read one book with the buzzword each month, and also include one recommendation and one anticipated read in my monthly post. To wrap up the year, December’s theme was “days, months, or seasons,” and while I have read a fair few books that could fulfill this prompt, I haven’t necessarily enjoyed them. But I was able to stay on track for my three book posts – one read, one recommendation, and hopefully one future read.

Read in December – Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
-I received a special edition of Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw in an OwlCrate monthly subscription box back in 2019, and it’s been patiently sitting on my shelf in my room waiting to be read. I thought this month would be a great time to finally dive in, given the prompt and the fact that it’s just getting colder where I live. The story follows Nora Walker, the youngest Walker living in Fir Haven, and the full-mooned night she enters the woods and finds a boy, a boy presumed to be missing since the day of the big storm, a lost boy who needed to be found. I didn’t quite know what to expect, it’s my first Shea Ernshaw book, but I really loved the writing style – descriptive and captivating, while also leaving the reader wanting more at the end of each chapter. I appreciated getting both Nora and Oliver’s perspective, and loved getting hints throughout the story to figure out the true plot and exactly what happened. I was able to decipher things pretty early on, but I don’t fault the book for that – it actually gives me a sense of accomplishment when the book spells it out and I am correct. There were also darkened pages that give a little history to Nora’s ancesters – older Walker women who have lived and died in the same town, and what they had been capable of. Overall I really enjoyed my reading experience with Winterwood, and am actually looking forward to picking more books up by Shea Ernshaw in the future.

Recommendation – Not Our Summer by Casie Bazay
-I was pretty torn between using Not Our Summer by Casie Bazay and The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters for my recommendation. Both are 2021 releases by indie publishers, and I was lucky enough to read both and review them here on my blog. I think I enjoyed The Summer of Everything more, but decided to go with Not Our Summer because I don’t see as many people talking about it on the bookish internet, and think it deserves some more attention. The story follows Becky and KJ, cousins who haven’t spoken since their mothers had a falling out years ago. But after the death of their grandfather, their sent along on five trips throughout the spring and summer which they must complete if they (and their mothers) are to receive any inheritance. Another story in dual perspective, I loved getting to follow both Becky and KJ, who have had very different upbringings which shape their judgement of each other and the world around them. Sprinkled in are letters from their grandfather, Elijah Walker, explaining why he chose certain excursions and his thought process towards the end of his life. I found the imagery to be vivid, and the progression of the cousins’ relationship to be believable and relatable. It’s a solid debut read I would highly recommend (and if you want to see my full thoughts, my extended review can be found here).

Want to Read – Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
-I know I pretty much only talked about seasons in this post, but ever since I heard about Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell early in 2021, it’s been on my radar. The story follows the Iskat Empire, which recently has had trouble with some planets, including one called Thea, chafing under its rule. When Imperial Prince Taam tragically dies, his widower, Jainan, is thrown into a politically arranged marriage with Taam’s cousin, Kiem, in order to try and keep the peace between the two worlds. But when Taam’s death is looked into as something other than an accident, and fingers are pointed at Jainan as the main suspect, he must work with Kiem to uncover the truth, all while trying to surpress their growing feelings for each other. I have started to get more into sci-fi in the past few years, and when I heard this pairs sci-fi and romance (especially a queer romance) pretty evenly, I knew I had to pick this up. I hope to dive into this one soon.

And there you have it! Twelve months of Buzzword-a-thon posts – 12 books read, 12 recommendations, and 12 reads I hope to get to in the future. I’m planning on participating in the 2022 challenge, with an entirely new set of prompts, but I’m not sure if I’m going to continue this format, track my reading in a different type of post, or just have a wrap up at the end of the year. I guess you’ll have to stick around to find out. I hope you’ve found some new books to read or have at least enjoyed my commentary, and hope your year has kicked off with a bang.

Where to find these books:
Winterwood: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Not Our Summer: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Winter’s Orbit: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Authors’ sites: Shea Ernshaw Casie Bazay Everina Maxwell

Hello! I’m here to talk about my November reads for the Buzzword Readathon! **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 eleventh post in my “Buzzword-a-thon” series. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon is a read-a-thon originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This year, all prompts were selected in advance and it’s been loosely hosted once a month. I’m making a yearly challenge for myself to at least read one book with the buzzword each month, and also include one recommendation and one anticipated read in my monthly post. The word for November was “lost,” and for a while I can attest I was a bit lost as to what I would pick up for this month’s challenge. I think it all worked out in the end, though.

Read in November – The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey
-Earlier this year, I picked up A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a YA contemporary about a girl struggling after the loss of her abuela, and her parents send her to spend three months in England where she not not only charmed by a local boy, but also by the countryside, and she is able to honor her grandmother’s memory by helping out the inn’s grumpy cook. After I realized the book wasn’t Laura Taylor Namey’s debut, I was interested to pick up her earlier work, and The Library of Lost Things worked perfectly for this month’s prompt. The story follows Darcy Wells, a literary genius who escapes into the world of books in a way to escape the reality of her mother’s hoarding. But when a new property manager becomes more active than the last, Darcy is worried hermother’s secret will be harder to contain. And when Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot in recovery after an accident, walks into the bookstore where Darcy works, she doesn’t know what to think for the first time in her life. Something about him makes Darcy want to open up, but after protecting her heart for so long, maybe she needs to accept life’s messiness and let people love you for all that you are. There were some times this book tugged at my heartstrings. Asher and Darcy have both been victims of circumstance – Asher’s pilot future has been shattered after a terrible car accident, and Darcy’s life has been spent parenting the one remaining adult in her life. They both need to learn to let others in and see how life can be when you have others in your corner. While I was afraid cheating was going to be involved, as Asher does have a girlfriend at the beginning, I did appreciate the direction that his relationship with Darcy took throughout the book. I would steer away if you are sensitive to the topics of hoarding and parental abandoment, but otherwise I feel like this is a great YA novel and would recommend.

Recommendation – The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke
-There were a few recommendations I could have gone with, but every time I think about The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke I just want everyone else to read it. I originally read this book pre-publication in October of 2020 (and you can see my original thoughts here), but to be brief, I think it’s an incredible novel involving grief, finding love after you think all is lost, and the power of music and the community it can create one single note at a time. I went into this book without knowing too much, and I think that enhances my reading experience, so I’ll say that the story follows Diana Clare’s love song, overheard one night at a hotel when she’s on tour, making its way back to its intended recipient, Arie Johnson in Austrailia, after tragedy strikes and its journey around the world. It truly is an incredible story and I can’t wait to give it a reread soon.

Want to Read – Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
-Again, I was going to pick up Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas this month to fulfill this prompt, but time just got away from me. Aiden Thomas debuted with Cemetery Boys back in September of 2020 (which I have reviewed, so you can check out my thoughts here) and I was very excited to see what’s in store for their 2021 release. Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling, following Wendy five years after she returned from the woods with no memory of what happened to her brothers, who are missing. When the town’s children start disappearing, Wendy tries to escape her past and encounters an unconscious boy in the middle of the road. Peter, a boy she thought only lived in her stories, claims if they don’t do something, the children will meet the same fate as her brothers, so Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods. As soon as I’m in the mood for a retelling again, this will be the first one I reach for.

In conclusion, there’s only one month left of this year’s challenge, and I hope to make the most of it.

Where to find these books:
Bookshop: The Library of Lost Things The Lost Love Song Lost in the Never Woods
Amazon: The Library of Lost Things The Lost Love Song Lost in the Never Woods
Goodreads: The Library of Lost Things The Lost Love Song Lost in the Never Woods
Authors’ sites: Laura Taylor Namey Minnie Darke Aiden Thomas

Hello! I’m here to talk about my October reads for the Buzzword Readathon! **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 tenth post in my “Buzzword-a-thon” series. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon is a read-a-thon originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This year, all prompts were selected in advance and it’s been loosely hosted once a month. I’m making a yearly challenge for myself to at least read one book with the buzzword each month, and also include one recommendation and one anticipated read in my monthly post. The theme for October was “words that somehow involve the elements” and this is probably the prompt for me that could be interpreted the most. So read on for my October Buzzword-a-thon bok choices!

Read in October – Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz
-I veered a bit from my planned TBR and actually picked up Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz again in October, which happened to work out for this particular Buzzword prompt. I originally read this book pre-publication back in August of 2020 (and you can check out my post with my original thoughts here) but I had acquired an early copy of its sequel Dragonblood Ring through an auction and wanted to read it before its release on October 12th, so I decided to pick up Blazewrath Games again in order to fully immerse myself in the world again, and I’m glad I did. The story follows Lana Torres who dreams of nothing more than representing team Puerto Rican as its Runner in the Blazewrath Games tournament. When a dangerous encounter with a Dragon Knight occurs on the day of her audition, Lana finds herself fulfilling everything she’s always wanted. But as time goes on, she finds that maybe, the circumstances were too good to be true, and she (along with her entire team) might just be pawns in an even more dangerous game. I loved going back through this book knowing how it ended and putting pieces together in my mind, rooting for the characters to succeed even when I knew how things unfolded. Team Puerto Rico, and truly all the players we meet at the Blazewrath Games, just warmed my heart with their loyalty, teamwork, and dedication to their craft, their countries, and their dragons. Lana Torres is such a stubborn girl, strong-willed and determined to do what’s right and protect those she cares for. She doesn’t always get it right, but her actions come from a good place. I also loved how in the sequel, we gain Victoria’s perspective. It was interesting to see things through her eyes, as her experiences and feelings differ so greatly from Lana’s. I highly recommend picking up this duology – and I wouldn’t even mind if we got more books in this world following these characters, I would read them in a heartbeat.

Recommendation – Elemental Haiku by Mary Soon Lee
-I knew from the second this prompt was released I was going to make this joke and choose Elemental Haiku: Poems to honor the periodic table three lines at a time. A few years ago I was strolling around Barnes and Noble and found this gem sitting at a table near the front. As someone who was made to memorize the first forty elements and their symbols in high school, and who loves short poetry, I had t pick this up. And it was exactly what was promised in the subtitle (which I just realized is written as its own haiku on the cover) – a collection of poems for the 119 elements on the periodic table (at the time of writing no know synthesis of 119 has occurred, so it has a temporary name, waiting to be named by those lucky enough to discover it). After the first 40 it did get a bit repetitive, but I did have a great time going through these poems with a little paragraph about the element at the bottom, and really cute illustrations drawn by Iris Gottlieb. So while this book might not exactly fit with what the prompt was going for, I would still recommend picking it up if you’re interested.

Want to Read – This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria
-I was originally planning to pick up This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria in October, until I won an ARC of Dragonblood Ring and I veered a bit off course. Still, it is a book I would like to pick up, hopefully sometime in the near future. The sole focus of the Scriptorium is unlocking the the magic of an ancient automaton army. The story follows Karis, who wants nothing more than to find her brother who was shipped away long ago. In her search, Karis awakens a hidden automaton, Alix, something that should have been seemingly impossible. Alix has a conscience of his own, but has no idea why he was made, or why his father once tried to destroy the automatons. Suddenly, Karis is being hunted, and must work with Alix to find her brother, and together they might just discover the secret that has kept her country in its power for centuries.

In conclusion, there’s only two more Buzzword prompts to complete, so let’s see what I make of them.

Where to find all these books:
Blazewrath Games: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Elemental Haiku: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
This Golden Flame: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Author sites: Amparo Ortiz Mary Soon Lee Emily Victoria

Hi there! I’m here today to talk about this newest book in a self-published m/m romance 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.**

So, I never thought I’d be able to read and review books by Anyta Sunday early. I discovered her books in 2019 with the Signs of Love series, and have fallen in love with her characters ever since. In March of 2021, she has started releasing m/m romance retellings of Jane Austen novels – she’s covered Emma, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park so far – as a part of a new Love, Austen series, which I have been reading and adding to my ebook collection. About a week ago, an opportunity arose and I seized it, and I can say that I received the chance to read the newest installment, Elliot, Song of the Soulmate, a retelling of Persuasion, a few days early to talk about here on my blog! I’ve been so excited ever since the first chapter was included at the end of the last book, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts!

Elliot Anneston, high school debate champ, has always been a master of persuasion – that is, until he encounters Scottish transfer Wentworth McAllister at a party. When the Scot proclaims interest in being his husband, Elliot finds himself whisked away in a whirlwind romance. But something causes Elliot to lie and break both their hearts. Fifteen years later, while working at Ask Austen studios as a consultant for a new film, Elliot finds that the new musical talent hired is his very own high-school sweetheart, Wentworth. Can soulmates who have been separated truly find their way back to each other?

This is probably one of my favorite stories and couples from the series so far. The story starts out with Elliot and Wentworth’s chance encounter, and we get to see them slowly fall in love and rely on each other before it all comes crashing down when Elliot breaks both of their hearts with his lie, before jumping fifteen years into the future when suddenly they cross each others’ path once more. I felt this was a really strong choice for the narrative, as opposed to starting fifteen years after they’d broken up and we’re left to learn about their story strictly through flashbacks and/or conversations, as some of the second-chance romances I’ve read recently have been done. Even though the two haven’t seen each other in over a decade, the second their eyes meet you can feel all of the emotions flood back – the anger, frustration, sadness, and hurt, but also the love, so so much love. There are so many small moments between Elliot and Wentworth throughout the novel where any onlooker can just see how much they care and appreciate each other. And Sunday, the master of slow-burn, makes us wait for the moment where the two heroes are finally ‘reunited’ once more, but it is so incredibly worth it. I also loved getting to see [or have mention of] all the previous couples from prior Love, Austen novels – I just might need to reread the whole series when it’s done and create an ongoing character list to keep track of how everyone is connected. There’s also an adorable dog named Honey who Elliot and Wentworth can take care of on their yacht and live happily ever after, and honestly? Who needs more motivation to read than a cute dog?

Whenever a retelling is written, it seems that some readers will already have some sort of expectation. It can help (by allowing the reader to enjoy the aspects from the original work that are included), but it can also hinder (because some might be upset about things that have changed). What I have enjoyed about Sunday’s Love, Austen series so far is that as an non-Austen fan myself [I’m sorry, I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice because it was required reading in my AP English class] I can appreciate the similarities and references included, but can also enjoy the work individually on it’s own. I think Austen fans and non-fans alike can find something to love about this series, and I can’t wait for the next one, a Sense and Sensibility retelling, to be released.

In conclusion, Anyta Sunday remains one of my favorite romance authors with this newest Austen retelling. I think everyone who enjoys Persuasion, or just loves second-chance romances, will want to pick up Elliot, Song of the Soulmate. The book is set to be released on October 11th, 2021 (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! *Thanks to the author for the early e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Elliot, Song of the Soulmate:
Amazon
Goodreads
Anyta Sunday’s site

Hello! I’m here to talk about my September reads for the Buzzword Readathon! **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 ninth post in my “Buzzword-a-thon” series. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon is a read-a-thon originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This year, all prompts were selected in advance and it’s been loosely hosted once a month. I’m making a yearly challenge for myself to at least read one book with the buzzword each month, and also include one recommendation and one anticipated read in my monthly post. The word for September was “dark” and while I only had a few options to choose from, they were all books I’d been excited to finally read. So, let’s get into what I picked for this month.

Read in September – We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
-I was first introduced to Tehlor Kay Mejia’s writing when she co-authored Miss Meteor with A.M. McLemore, which is a YA contemporary [with soft magical elements] that I loved (and reviewed here). I needed to add another book to my cart when purchasing online a few months ago, and scrolling through the fantasy section I came across her debut We Set the Dark on Fire so I picked up a copy and thought it would be perfect to read for this prompt. It is set in a polarized society where, when girls graduate from the Medio School for Girls, two are promised to every man – one (a Primera) will run the household, the other (a Segunda) will raise the family, and both will be comfortable and protected from the uprisings of the lower class. Dani Vega is the top of her graduating class and set to marry an important politico’s son, but she’s keeping a secret – her parents risked everything when she was four to forge paperwork and ensure a better life for their daughter. But when a rebel group contacts Dani, telling her they know the truth and asking for information that will help spark a revolution, Dani must decide between the life her parents laid out for her, or ensuring no one ever has to take those risks again. I was expecting more of this to take place at the school, but the first few chapters are the days leading up to graduation. I really liked the discussion of class, and how people discuss those who are “lower” than them when they believe to be in the presence of those similiar to them. There is so much political intrigue, and it showed how far police forces and those in power will go to convince the public that peaceful protesters are actually the agressors. I loved how strong of a character Dani is, and how she did her best to prove those who doubted her that she was capable of holding her own. And the ending! That ending made me glad I decided to also pick up the sequel, We Unleash the Merciless Storm, because I need to know what happens! I definitely recommend picking up We Set the Dark on Fire if the synopsis interests you!

Recommendation – The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
-I’ve only read a handful of books with the word “dark” in the title, but I think by far the one I would recommend the most is The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould. I actually wrote an early review back in June (which you can check out here) so I’ll keep my thoughts brief, but I found it to be a thrilling and suspenseful YA mystery that I was not expecting to love but I did. If you are a fan of those ghost hunter shows and movies, and even if you don’t believe in it but still watch them for their charm, then I would consider picking this book up. I also can’t wait to see what else Courtney Gould has to offer for the future, and hope it’s just as chaotic (and sapphic) as The Dead and the Dark. I actually might pick it up for a reread this month, as it’s perfect for the fall / spooky season.

Want to Read – In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
-Back in July I asked my friend, Emily, to randomly pick a book for me to read based on the titles, and she picked Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland, which is a YA fantasy following a soul-walker, Kamai, who always sees a black door no matter whose soul she enters and has been told by her mother never to open it, but when tragedy strikes and she longs for something familiar, Kamai turns the knob. It was such an intriguing dark fantasy which left me questioning what would happen after every chapter, and it also explored gender in sexuality i. Then I found out A.M. Strickland had released in May of this year, titled In the Ravenous Dark, so I was immediately interested in picking it up. A tagline on Goodreads reads “a pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead,” and honestly I didn’t really need to know much else before placing an order. I can’t wait to delve into another rich fantasy world when I finally pick this book up.

In conclusion, I can’t believe nine months have already gone by. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.

Where to find all these books:
We Set the Dark on Fire: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
The Dead and the Dark: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
In the Ravenous Dark: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Author sites: Tehlor Kay Mejia Courtney Gould A.M. Strickland

Hi there! I’m here today to talk about another one of my most anticipated 2021 releases. **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.**

T.J. Klune has appeared on many more readers’ radars since his publication of The House in the Cerulean Sea in March of 2020 (it was the first book I ever reviewed on this blog, and you can check out my thoughts here). The story seemed to capture a pure essence of hope that the world could be a better place, which is honestly what we’ve needed in the past year. His second adult title with Tor Books, Under the Whispering Door, comes out on September 21st, 2021, and while his signature humor and writing style is present throughout, he’s made it extremely clear that this will not be a carbon copy of Cerulean. In a blog post released this month, Klune states that he wrote Under the Whispering Door while wrestling with grief, and used at least some of the writing process to make sense of his own feelings around loss. You can tell that this book is deeply personal, and while I did find some similarities between these two works, I hope readers will be able to appreciate it for its own individuality.

Wallace Price is a no-nonsense man who has lived a life with little more than his work. And then he dies, and realizes at his sparsely attended funeral that maybe he hadn’t impacted anyone in a positive way. Then a Reaper named Mei comes to collect him, albeit not without answering a few of his questions, and brings him to a way-station between life and the afterlife. Off a path through the woods, in a little village Wallace has never visited, they arrive at a rather peculiar tea shop, Charon’s Crossing, run by a man named Hugo. Loved by the locals, Hugo is more than just a master of tea – he is a ferryman, tending to the souls of the dead until they are ready to cross over. While Wallace does not want to accept his fate at first, the more time spent at the shop, and with Hugo, the more he realizes just how much he’s missed out on. And when the Manager, a curious and powerful being, makes an unexpected appearance, time for Wallace to cross over may be running out.

Ok, I’ve tried and failed to write my review for this several times now. There are so many things I want to say, but can’t quite write the proper words to articulate them correctly. So, my dear readers, I’ll leave you with this to start: Under the Whispering Door explores, life, love, death, and grief in such an intimate and personal way that I found myself speechless after many passages throughout. It takes Wallace’s death for his bubble to pop and for him to realize that the life he once lived was not fulfilling, and that those he had surrounded himself with pale in comparison to the companions and, eventually, family he finds for himself at Hugo’s tea shop. As he comes to acknowledge his flaws, shortcomings, and regrets, and begins to make any amends he can after death, Wallace finally finds himself in a place where he belongs, where those around understand him in a way no one has before. In terms of the relationship between Wallace and Hugo that develops, I felt the exact same way about Linus and Arthur in Cerulean – at first, Wallace is stubborn and set in his ways, and Hugo is amused and fascinated by his stubbornness, and what develops is a mutual appreciation for each others’ company while they both can learn new things from each other, where everyone else seems to realize what’s happening before they do. It was absolutely lovely to see. The pacing at the beginning seemed a bit slow, as the reader is being introduced to the idea of Reapers and ferrymen, and I found that sometimes phrases and/or actions were being repeated to/by Wallace multiple times. While some may find that off-putting, and I can see why, I thought it worked in Klune’s favor as he captured an individual experience of grief – repetition can be connected to a person in denial, as they try to carry on as if nothing is amiss and when realization hits, the cycle continues. I’m not sure if anything will be changed in the finished copy, but I still stand by my thoughts that the repetitive nature was purposeful and suited the story quite nicely.

*There is an author’s note before chapter 1, informing readers that there are discussions of death in different forms – quiet, unexpected, and death by suicide. While the topics are handled with care throughout the book, sensitivity to reading about them will vary, so please take that into consideration before picking it up*

I’m truly interested to hear what other people will think of this story. Everyone’s life and experiences with grief will shape what message truly shines through for them. It’s what I love most about reading – hundreds of people can read the same text and interpret it hundreds of different ways, and those interpretations will always make for great discussion. Under the Whispering Door is set to release on September 21st, 2021, which is just two weeks from when this post goes live, so if you’re interested in picking up the newest T.J. Klune novel, and are ready to have your heartstrings pulled at, I highly recommend preordering a copy for yourself or picking one up once released. *Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Tor Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Under the Whispering Door:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
T.J. Klune’s site
Macmillan