Hello! I’m here to talk about my August 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 eighth 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 August was “time of day” words in the title, and I realized I there are so many books with the word “night” in the title. I tried to switch up the words for my recommendations this time, so without further ado, let’s get into my August Buzzword-a-thon post.

Read in August – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
*content warning for suicide attempt (overdose), mentioned on page but not described in detail*
-This book made its way around the book sphere when it was released last year (it even won the Goodreads choice award for Fiction in 2020), and there were varying thoughts around it so I picked it up to see for myself. The story follows Nora Seed, a woman who one day, after she believes that nothing in her life has gone right, decides she does not want to live any longer. After taking matters into her own hands, she wakes up in a library with shelves filled with infinite books – each book providing a chance to try another life she could have lived, if she made a different choice. When Nora has the chance to change her past, and find a life she would rather have lived, will she take it? I found myself wishing this book was both longer and shorter: I wish it was shorter because with every book Nora pursues, the setup started to feel a bit repetitive, and I wish it was longer because the discussions about regrets and life and morality, with Nora’s knowledge of philosophy and Mrs. Elm’s lessons from wisdom, were super interesting. I really loved how this book highlighted that no matter what path you choose in life, or decisions you make, there will always be something you regret. I got my thinking about what would be in my own book of regrets, and the ways my life could have gone if I made different choices – it isn’t the best to dwell on it for extended periods of time, but I find it interesting to imagine a world where instead of pursuing clinical lab science I never changed my major from biochemistry, or I decided to pursue theatre in college, or I went on another date in junior year. Sometimes thinking about what could have been [in moderation] can make you appreciate the choices you do make, even if they seem insignificant in the moment. I guess I got a lot more out of this book than I initially realized, now that I’m writing it all down, so I’d recommend it if you’re interested.

Recommendation – Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
-I first encountered Spin the Dawn when it was included in a monthly OwlCrate box. The pitch was “Mulan meets Project Runway,” and honestly I was intrigued. The story follows Maia Tamarin, a girl who dreams of being one of the greatest tailors to ever live, but unfortunately the profession is reserved for men only. When her father is summoned by a royal messenger, she poses as a boy and takes his place against eleven others competing for the grand title of imperial tailor. She must combate backstabbing liars and hope that her skill will be enough to achieve her dreams. But nothing has prepared her for the final task – sewing three gowns so dangerous and beautiful it will take a journey of a lifetime to complete. I picked this up at a time where I was beginning to dip my toes into YA fantasy, and Elizabeth Lim certainly made the story enjoyable and easy to understand. There are times of info-dumping, especially when Maia begins her quest away from the Summer Palace, but she is learning the dangers of the task itself, which then informs the readers of what’s at stake. I wish the competition lasted a bit longer, and that some of the circumstances around her success throughout it were different, but I was intrigued with how Maia’s journey to collect what she needed from the sun, the moon, and the stars. With the way this book left on, I picked up the sequel (Unravel the Dusk) and found it a little less enjoyable than the first, but still a satisfying conclusion. The Blood of Stars duology is perfect for any YA fantasy fans looking for a story steeped in Chinese culture, sprinkled with romance, and shimmering with all-encompassing magic.

Want to Read – And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
-Since I’ve been more connected to the bookish internet, I’ve heard some pretty glowing reviews of everything Fredrik Backman has written. The two that I’m most intrigued about (and that I would be able to handle, given the content discussed) would be his newest release, Anxious People, and the book [novella, actually] that works for this prompt, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. Translated to English by Alice Menzies, the story is a multi-generational one about preparing for and dealing with the death of loved ones. In college, I lost a very close family friend to dementia, and this seems like a story I wish a would have had back then to help me through my feelings. I’ll be sure to have tissues on hand when I pick it up.

In conclusion, eight months of the year have already flown by. Let’s see how the remaining four hold up.

Where to find all these books:
Bookshop: The Midnight Library Spin the Dawn And Every Morning the Way Home…
Amazon: The Midnight Library Spin the Dawn And Every Morning the Way Home…
Goodreads: The Midnight Library Spin the Dawn And Every Morning the Way Home…
Author sites: Matt Haig Elizabeth Lim Fredrik Backman

Hello! I’m here to contribute to the blog tour for an exciting addition to a well-loved historical mystery series by bringing you an excerpt! **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.**

The folks over at Wednesday Books have invited me once again to be a part of their blog tour, and I cannot express how immensely grateful I am to take part (if you want to check out my previous blog tour post, an excerpt for Hurricane Summer, you can check it out here). This time around I’ll be sharing an excerpt of the newest addition in the YA mystery Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer – Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, which releases in the U.S. on August 31st, 2021. The series began with The Case of the Missing Marquess in 2006, which follows a young Enola Holmes who, after discovering her mother has disappeared, disguises herself as a grieving widow and travels to the heart of London to find clues, all while eluding her older brother, Sherlock. A movie adaptation based on this first book was made and released on Netflix in 2020, staring Millie Bobby Brown as Enola, and a sequel is slated for production. While you might be better acquainted with the characters if you have read the previous six books, Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche has been called a great entry point, and you can read it without delving into the backstory if you so desire.

The story follows Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, but do not let her age fool you. At fifteen she has all the wits, skills, and sleuthing abilities as her brothers, and is quite the independent individual living on her own in London. When she is visited by a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, Enola is tasked with uncovering the fate of her twin sister. Felicity (or “Flossie” for short) had been happily married to the Earl of Dunhench, but when Letitia receives a letter sparsely detailing her sister’s demise, along with an urn of ashes, she refuses to believe it as truth. It is up to Enola to decipher the true meaning of the Earl’s letter, and his intentions with Flossie, and to do that she will need the help of her brother, their colleague Dr. Watson, Letitia Glover herself, and a dear friend young Viscount Tewkesbury, the Marquess of Basilwether.

Please enjoy this excerpt from chapter 5 of Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche:

********************************************************************************************************

“Is she fainted?”

Indignant, I wanted to sit up and say I was not so easily killed and I never fainted, but to my surprise my body would not obey me. I merely stirred and murmured.

“She’s moving.”

I saw the clodhopper boots of common men surrounding me and smelled alcohol on the breath of those leaning over me.

“Let’s get ‘er inside.”

“Somebody go fer the doctor.”

Strong hands, not ungentle, seized me by the feet and shoulders. I could have kicked and yelled—I felt strong enough now—but my mind had started to function, realizing that I was about to be carried into a pub, for only in a public house, or pub, would workmen be drinking in the daytime. And normally no woman of good repute would enter a pub, or if she did, she would be jeered at until she retreated. But, my avid brain realized, fate in the form of Jezebel had given me opportunity to spend some time inside a pub—no, in the pub, most likely the only pub in Threefinches! So I closed my eyes and pretended to be rather more helpless than I was as the men hauled me inside and laid me down on a high-backed bench by the hearth.

Someone brought something pungent in lieu of smelling salts, but I shook my head, pushed the malodourous hand away, opened my eyes, and sat up, acting as if it were a great effort for me to do so. A burly, bearded man in an apron, undoubtedly the publican who kept the place, came running with a pillow for my back, and I thanked him with a gracious smile.

“Will ye have a nip of brandy, lydy?”

“No, thank you. Water, please.”

“Jack! Water for the lydy!” he bellowed to some underling, and he remained nearby as I managed, with hands that genuinely trembled, to remove my gloves. Their thin kidskin leather was ruined by the mauling it had taken from Jezebel’s reins, and my hands were red and sore; doubtless they would bruise. Grateful for the cool glass, I held it in both hands and sipped, looking around me. Half of the denizens of the place, like the owner, stood in a semicircle staring at me not unpleasantly, while the rest did the same from seats at the rustic tables—all but one. A tall man with beard stubble on his chin and quite a shock of coarse brownish-grey hair hiding his forehead had withdrawn to a table by the wall, where he devoted his attention to his mug of ale, or stout, or whatever noxious brew he might fancy. I said brightly to the tavern-keeper, “I believe I would like to stand up.”

“Now, why not wait for the doctor, lydy–“

But taking hold of his arm, as he stood within my reach, I got to my feet with reasonable steadiness. There were muted cheers from the onlookers. Nodding and simpering at the men all around me, I lilted, “Thank you so much. Do you suppose anyone could go out and fetch my bag, and my hat and parasol? I believe they fell along the—”

Already half a dozen would-be heroes were stampeding towards the door. Yet, if I had walked in here under my own power, any request for help would have been met with deepest suspicion. Such is life: odd.

********************************************************************************************************

I’ve just finished my copy, and I’ll say that this was a rather enjoyable read. I hadn’t read the rest of the series, but during the prologue we get narration from Sherlock detailing some of the adventures Enola has been on in previous installments, which helped establish her character for me pretty early on. I appreciated how headstrong and independent Enola was, for such a young girl she did not hesitate while placing herself in danger if it meant finding a clue or discovering the truth. She did not allow others to make her feel inadequate, and was always the first person to dispel any doubts from her partners in crime. It did take me awhile to adjust to the writing style, as I don’t often read books that take place in a historical setting, but felt the tone was completely appropriate for its time period. I enjoyed the mystery aspect, Enola piecing together exactly what happened to Flossie, but felt the ending was a bit rushed for all the build-up that had been established. Still, I was satisfied with the ending, and am interested to see what adventures are next for these characters.

I’d just like to Wednesday Books once again for inviting me to participate in this blog tour. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche will be released on August 31st, 2021, which is only a few days away from when this post goes live, and I believe fans of the series and newcomers alike will come to find something to enjoy within this book’s pages. If the excerpt above strikes your interest at all, I highly recommend picking yourself up a copy. *Additionally, thank you to NetGalley for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche:
Macmillan
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Nancy Springer’s site

Hi there! I’m here today to talk through my thoughts about 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.**

Last year, one of the first books I got the chance to read early was More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn. The release was delayed because of the pandemic and Wednesday Books had some of their titles as “Read Now” on NetGalley. It’s a YA contemporary about two music nerds falling in love, and I absolutely adored it (you can find my review of it here). Afterwards, I picked up Hahn’s debut novel You’d Be Mine, which is about teen country stars and I also enjoyed it. When I heard she was releasing a new book this year, Never Saw You Coming, and realized it would follow Meg, a character we’d been introduced to before, and would discuss some of the toxicity that can come from the church, with a particular focus on the toxicity of purity culture, I knew I needed to pick it up. I have a lot of thoughts, and I might get a bit more personal with this review, but stick around if you want to read about how much I needed this book in my life.

A week ago, Meg Hennessey was ready to begin heading west away from her parents and Ann Arbor, first working at a Bible camp and spending her gap year finding herself. That was until she found out her mother had been lying to her for the past 18 years, her parents are getting a divorce, and she has an entire family that she’s never met but wants to be a part of. So her best friend Vada drives her to Marquette, a town which should help bring answers to the questions piling up in her head. There, Meg meets Micah Allen, a former pastor’s son who has a complicated relationship with the church after his dad ended up in prison and his family was just shy of shunned from their community. The two of them are the king and queen of having complex feelings about the church as a whole, and as they help each other navigate feelings towards harmful childhood beliefs forever ingrained in their minds, a relationship of their own begins to develop, and Meg and Micah come to discover that sometimes all it takes is a leap of faith to find yourself.

First I would just like to commend Erin Hahn, as she is able to explore very complex family dynamics in every single on of her books. In You’d Be Mine, Annie is afraid she will end up just like her parents, consumed by the pressure and fame and ultimately died tragically, and Clay feels like everyone that’s ever cared about him, especially his brother, has died and left him. In More Than Maybe, Vada’s perception of what a father should be is tainted by her birth dad bringing heartbreak to her life and refusing to help pay for college, while Luke is set on his idea for his future, which varies greatly from what his father thinks and that causes household tension. In Never Saw You Coming, Meg finds out that her mother had gotten pregnant outside of marriage when she was a teen, her birth father had died in a car accident before she was born, and the father she’d known her whole life married her mother to hide his own secrets. This causes Meg to really grapple with everything she’s been taught – was her mother truly an advocate against sex before marriage because she believed that to be the right way to live, or did she not want Meg to make the same mistake she did? Micah’s had a complicated relationship with the church and his father ever since he went to prison – it was discovered he was abusing his power as a pastor, sleeping with women outside his marriage, and stealing from the church. After the sentencing, Micah and his family were essentially shut out by the community, which confused him as he was always taught that you help and protect people in their time of need. He also struggles with the concept of forgiveness – people in Micah’s life say he needs to forgive his dad, but his worldview was genuinely shattered and his heart still needs to be healed before he can even begin to consider it.

I really loved the friendship, and eventual relationship, that develops between Meg and Micah. They are both dealing with familial issues, and while they may lean on each other to help them through it’s never a case where they are magically fixing the problems and making things ok. This is also the first time they both have been in a serious relationship, so they’re constantly navigating boundaries, comfort zones, and new experiences, which is done with care. And while Meg is exploring these new experiences, there are times when she feels responsible for other people’s actions – an example is it’s her fault that Micah is attracted to her on Halloween, because she’s been drinking and wearing a costume that came be perceived as “revealing.” It shows that even through self-reflection, there can still be instances when it’s hard to deviate your way of thinking from how you’ve been taught your entire life. And sticking with Meg for this last point, her fairy wings are a big part of her identity. When we’re first introduced to her character in More Than Maybe, not a page goes by where her wings are far behind. So when she leaves home at the beginning of this novel, before she starts her journey to find the family of her birth father, she leaves those wings in the past. I think Meg needed to find herself, and be able to reconnect with her past in a way that didn’t bring more pain and anger into her life. And when she finally gets to that place, or at least a better headspace that allows her to consider her parents actions more clearly, those wings make a reappearance in a really beautiful way. Without spoiling anything, Meg is able to hold onto that part of herself that makes her unique, while being able to grow into the person she knows she’s capable of being.

I went to school at a Catholic institution for about 15 years – up until college, where I attended a state university, it was all I’d ever known. It’s difficult to distinguish harmful ideologies when that’s what you’re exposed to most often, but once you start to distance yourself from them and parse through what is being taught, you might start asking questions. At school I was sometimes praised as a “model student” – I never had my uniform skirt rolled up, I studied a lot, I never went to parties or drank or talked back to teachers, I didn’t date and therefore didn’t engage in any actions that would be considered inappropriate. Maybe in the moment that made me feel good, but looking back people, especially those in positions of authority, could simply have been using me as an example to push their own narrative of how a person, specifically a young girl, should behave. And most of the time my actions weren’t simply me “following the teachings of the church” – I didn’t roll my skirt because even though I’m short and it was too long, I am uncomfortable with my body, I didn’t drink because I don’t like alcohol, even now when I’m legally allowed to drink it, and I didn’t date because I don’t feel romantic or sexual attraction towards any individual. It has been such a struggle to decipher my romantic and sexual identity, because for a long time I’d been told I would feel a certain way towards certain people when I reached a certain age, and I just didn’t, which made me feel broken. A lot of this has to do with society as a whole, more so than just the church, but that was the environment I grew up in. As a young girl in the eyes of the church, I was everything they could have asked for, and so was Meg. But just like her, I still have my own relationship with God, and how I handle that should matter to no one else but me. I truly believe there are people working at the church willing to adapt the way things are taught, but there will always be people who are resistant to change and unable to see the harm these things perpetuate, which is highlighted very prominently in this book.

In conclusion, this book will speak to people differently. It’s dedicated to to church kids, and I hope those who read it will be able to question the harmful rhetoric used in teachings and be able to understand how much they are loved their creator, no matter what. It might not be the book for some people, and that’s perfectly fine, but I hope that it reaches those who need it most. I, for one, shall be screaming about it until release day, and probably for long after as well. Thank you, Erin Hahn, for saying the things that I and many others needed to hear, wrapped around a precious romance that I will forever cherish. Never Saw You Coming will be released on September 7th, 2021, which is four weeks from when this is posted, so I hope that if I’ve inspired you even just a little to pick this book up, you check it out and put a preorder in. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Never Saw You Coming:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Erin Hahn’s site
Macmillan

Hello! I’m here to talk about my July 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 seventh 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 July was “last.” My plans at the beginning of the month were thrown out the window a bit, due to some present circumstances, but I still managed to at least pick up one book to fulfill this prompt.

Read in July – The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka
-So I was originally planning to read One Last Stop by Casey McQuisten to fulfill this month’s prompt. I have a physical copy and I wanted to get the audio from my library to follow along. However, a few different things happened – apparently several other people had the same idea as me to get the audiobook so I had to place a hold, my older sister and nephews (who are both under the age of 2) came to visit for two weeks, and when I was asking for recommedations as a part of LGBTQReads Patreon, the book I was sent was The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka. I was really in the mood for a mystery, or at least something fast-paced to keep me engaged, so my agenda was rearraged and I picked this one up instead. It’s the beginning of a mystery series and this first book follows Roxane Weary, a private investigator who has just been contacted by the sister of a man who has been sentenced to death. Fifteen years prior, Brad Stockton was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Sarah’s, parents, but neither Sarah nor her body has been seen since. His sister, Danielle, approaches Roxane saying she saw Sarah at a gas station and asks for help to clear Brad’s name before his execution day (two months away). Roxane is still grieving the death of her father, killed while on duty as a police officer, and finds connections to previous unsolved cases he worked on while trying to fulfill this job. Soon she’ll have all the pieces, but can she put them together in time to save several people in danger, including herself? I was sucked in to this book from the first few chapters. If you asked me who was responsible for all this, I would have given you a different answer ever 50 pages. Roxane is a strong female lead, unconventional in her ways and can hold her own in a fight, and she doesn’t give up when she feels something is wrong, even if no one will believe her. The book isn’t perfect, as detective / private investigator books do have their flaws, but I’m so glad I picked this one up and an interested to see where the rest of the series goes.

Recommendation – Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron
-I don’t quite remember where I first saw this recommended to me, but I do know I picked it up from my library back in February of last year, and managed to read it in just a few days (which was significant for me, at the time) because I just had to know how things turned out. The story follows Brody Fair, a young boy who always feels like an outcast, even within his own family – his parents are overworked, his brother is a genius and can do no wrong [in his eyes], and there are other kids set on making his life miserable. One day, another boy named Nico saves Brody from his bullying, and tells him to meet him at exactly 11:21pm the next Thursday. What Brody finds is a door, a door that appears every week for misfit kids of the world to escape to Everland. It’s finally somewhere he feels he can belong. But then doors start disappearing, and talk of escaping across the sea to the unexplored areas of Neverland put Brody in a position to choose – will he escape to Everland once and for all, or never see it again? While I can’t recall everything about this plot of this book, I remember reading it and relating so much to Brody – he feels so incredibly insignificant, all of the time, like nothing he ever does will make a difference, even if he leaves his family forever and never returns. His internal struggle with deciding whether or not to follow Nico and abandon everything he’s ever know was really powerful, and the conversations Brody finally has with his brother and his parents tugged at my heartstrings. It was one of the first books that truly moved me last year, and I hope that when the price drops a bit for the ebook version I can pick up a copy and return to the world of Everland myself, at least for a little while.

Want to Read – The Last 8 by Laura Pohl
-While I already mentioned that I want to pick up One Last Stop, I also had a look around my shelves and found that The Last 8 by Laura Pohl was still around waiting to be read. I picked up a copy after hearing Laura Pohl talk on a panel at Social Distance Book Fest last April (the panel was for queer voices in science fiction and fantasy, and can actually be viewed here if you’re interested). The story follows Clover Martinez, a human survivor after aliens have invaded and destroyed Earth as she knows it. When she learns that other survivors have gathered together at Area 51, she immediately joins the group in hopes for retaliation against the forces that have attacked her home. The group is initially more interested in hiding, but Clover soon finds a hidden spaceship, and she starts to wonder who to trust, and if she’s truly better off alone. I believe this book first came onto my radar after I heard there is ace rep, which I can’t fully confirm but am interested to find more books with that kind of rep. And it is the beginning of a duology, so when I pick it up (and if I enjoy), I will definitely be eying that second book.

In conclusion, I can’t believe we’ve already made it over halfway through the year, and I can’t wait to see what the five remaining prompts have in store for me.

Where to find all these books:
The Last Place You Look: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Last Bus to Everland: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
The Last 8: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Authors’ sites: Kristen Lepionka Sophie Cameron Laura Pohl

Hello! I’m here to talk about a new YA story that’s coming out in just a few days. **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.**

When I was still reviewing books as a reading representative, I requested various YA and adult titles on NetGalley whose covers looked and synopses sounded interested. Most of my requests have either been denied or the books have released with no answer, but there have been a few which were approved which I have read and reviewed as necessary. So when I received an email from NetGalley saying I’d been approved to read Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance, a YA contemporary by Nisha Sharma, I had to refresh my memory as to what the book was about. I wanted to make sure I had my review out before release day, and I’m glad I gave this book a chance because it was such a pleasant surprise.

After a family betrayal costs Radha the biggest Kathak competition of her life, she leaves Chicago to live with her mom in New Jersey. There she decides to leave dancing in her past, reinvent her life from scratch, and discover more about her culture (and in turn become closer to her dad) through food. She also meets Jai, captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team, and someone who has decided to make the most of high school and all it has to offer considering his dreams of medical school are unattainable. Jai is in desperate need of a choreographer his team to compete in the Winter Showcase, and when Radha learns she’ll need to perform in order to pass her class, she’ll find a way to help out Jai while maybe, just maybe, rediscovering her passion for dance she’s lost over the years.

I had no idea what to expect going into this contemporary, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the family dynamics and romance it explored. Radha is known to be one of the best Kathak dancers, but when she overhears her competitors talking, details come to life that make her world come crashing down and cast doubt on all her prior victories. Her parents separate and she moves to New Jersey, refusing to perform in front of an audience again, much to the disdain of her mother (also a former dancer). The book explores her anxiety she has developed as a result, and explores therapy and medication she uses to help her live with it. Radha’s father also sends her cooking supplies and a recipe book her dadaji (paternal grandfather) used when opening his dhaba (roadside restaurant in India) and has since been passed on after his death. Her chapters start off with a translated Punjabi recipe and Radha’s notes / conversations with her father and/or cousin about how to improve her skills. What Radha has to eventually discover is if her cooking has truly been a way to reconnect with her culture, or if she has been using it as a distraction and a way to avoid confronting her complicated feelings about performing. On the other hand, Jai is slated to graduate as valedictorian of his high school class. He’s captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team and has dreamed to attend Columbia to study medicine and become a doctor. But ever since his father father was injured in an accident, he knows that after high school he will be working full time in his family’s convenience store to help out, and not burden anyone with the cost of schooling. While others think he may be foolish, Jai knows that his brothers’ dreams of expanding the store will be delayed if they have to hire more help to take his place, and he refuses to see his family struggle with any financial responsibilities. When his team’s choreographer moves back to India, and Jai recruits Radha in a deal to have her fulfill a class requirement without fully participating, he knows he finally has a chance to win at the senior showcase and potentially win a regionals, which comes with a substantial cash prize. But the one thing that can ensure everyone’s victory is Radha getting back on stage to perform, which she has established will not happen. Radha and Jai truly grapple with determining if their actions will be for their own benefit, or for the benefit of others, and whether they are willing to listen to their hearts and take a chance.

I absolutely loved the layers of culture that Nisha Sharma decided to incorporate. The first chapter begins at a Kathak competition, which is something I had never heard of before. After further research, I found that Kathak is one of the eight major forms of classical dance, and the name is derived from Vedic Sanskrit words “Katha” and “Kathakar,” which mean “story” and “the one who tells a story / to do with stories” respectively. I found this video which is a great introduction to the dance form if you’d like to watch. Radha is also tasked with choreographing a Bollywood routine for Jai’s team to perform at the school’s winter showcase, and her knowledge of the Kathak dance form, and her eye for assessing the talent and skill of her peers, allows her to craft an intricate performance piece capturing the essence and stages of an Indian wedding. The recipes at the beginning of Radha’s chapters will also have you itching to prepare them yourself, or at least have others more skilled prepare them for you – some of my favorites include Suji Ka Halwa and Paneer. There is also a Diwali celebration that the characters attend in the book – Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is a festival of lights celebrated between mid-October and mid-November lasting five days and symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Sometimes fiction novels set out to teach people about cultures different than their own, and other times authors are simply writing within their own culture so others can see themselves in books. It isn’t solely the responsibility of the author to educate on the intricacies of an entire culture in less than 400 pages, and that leaves it up to us as readers to do the work and fill in any gaps if we want to learn more.

Overall, Meg Cabot’s words on the cover ring true – this was an absolute delight to read. I know this is not Nisha Sharma’s debut novel, so I’ll have to check out her other work soon. Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance (which I constantly have to correct myself, thinking it’s recipe for ‘love’ instead of ‘romance’) is set to be released on July 13th, 2021 – which is the day after this post goes live since I had trouble getting it out earlier, so please give it a look and pick up a copy if you’re at all interested! *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Nisha Sharma’s site
Penguin Random House

Hello! I’m back today to talk about my June 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 sixth 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 June was “books that have a name in the title.” I think this is the first month so far where I’ve read more than one book to fulfill the prompt, so it’s been fun to narrow down my choice to talk about, and here are the ones I finally decided upon.

Read in June – Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
-In the month of June, I read a total of three books with names on the cover (if we’re strictly talking about names of characters, if we include places that increases to places and/or royalty, that increases to five). I reread Keeping Casey, the first book in the “Keeping Him” series by Amy Aislin so I could read the new release Keeping Kellan – I’ve really enjoyed these characters and while I liked Casey and Ethan’s story a bit more, I’m glad Brant and Kellan finally got their happy ending after all. The one book I read in the technical Buzzword-a-thon week (always the first week of the month) was Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. It’s an adult contemporary / fiction novel that I received as a part of a mystery box from an independent bookstore earlier in lockdown. The story follows Evvie Drake, who, a year after her husband’s death, is barely seen in public. Members of the seaside town in Maine believe she’s been overcome with grief, and she does’t correct them – in reality, she was running away the day she received the phone call. Meanwhile, Dean Tenney was former major league baseball player whose downfall was suddenly losing his ability to pitch. As a former Yankees player, New York City leaves him with little to no privacy. So he rents out Evvie’s spare room for the year to find himself again. They agree to some ground rules, which include not discussing Evvie’s husband or Dean’s career. Rules, though, have a way of begging to be broken, and as a friendship forms, the secrets of the past can find their way to the surface. I am a fan of baseball, so I found Dean’s chapters interesting when he discussed his career, stats, etc. He talks about how learning how to pitch isn’t something you forget to do overnight, but all of a sudden those pitches that were previously right above home plate now end up in the stands. It’s also extremely hard having your downfall spotlighted and highlighted by media outlets, to the point where praise from former fans has turned into hatred. What was interesting with Evvie’s chapters is the discussion of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband – she was being emotionally abused and gaslit by the only man she’d ever been with, and when he died she was, perhaps, glad it was over, but had to play the part of a grieving wife. She wanted so much to be free and be on her own, that she kept those who loved her in the dark, and never, for one second, consider their feelings. It was certainly an interesting read with great conversations about wanting to be someone’s savior, going to therapy, and finding out where you want to be in later life. While it wasn’t a new favorite, I’m still glad I gave it a chance.

Recommendation – The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper
–The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney came out in 2007. I first read it as a part of an after-school book club in 8th grade, which was started by my 7th grade English teacher. This is the only book I can distinctly remember reading (and enjoying) as a part of that club, and I lent my physical copy to someone in high school who has never returned it and I’m still just a bit mad about it, but hey, at least now I have the ebook. This YA contemporary follows Sparrow Delaney, the 7th daughter of a 7th daughter who is supposed to possess enormous psychic talent but hasn’t shown any natural abilities as a medium in her life. At least, that’s what she wants her family to think. In reality, she’s been demonstrating all four kinds of psychic ability since childhood – she can see ghosts, hear them, feel or sense the presence of them, and sense smells or tastes associated with them. Obviously not ideal. When she starts attending a new high school, Sparrow is finally out of the shadow of her six older sisters, makes a new friend, and has perhaps caught the eye of an irritatingly cute guy in her history class. But when another boy, a spirit boy, also catches her attention, he won’t leave her alone until she’s helped him Move On. Now, is this book spectacular beyond belief? No. Do I wish some aspects would have been explored or explained a bit more? Of course. Did I want more page time with Jake and Luke? Certainly. But I recently reread it and still find it a unique and solid read that brings me so much nostalgia. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone talk about this on the bookish-internet, so here you go!

Want to Read – Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
-Since lockdown has begun, I have attended several virtual book events and panels, and author Adib Khorram always is a joy to see on screen. I’ve had his debut novel, Darius the Great is Not Okay on my Kindle for a while now, and I honestly have absolutely no idea why I haven’t picked it up yet. Maybe I’ve just been looking for the right time, and to be in the right headspace to appreciate all the book has to offer, so hopefully I’ll get to it soon! This YA contemporary follows Darius Kellner, a Persian-American teen dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving father, and an almost nonexistant social life. When he makes his first trip to Iran, he gets to know his mother’s family he’s never known, including his ailing grandfather and loving grandmother. He also meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything. Soon, Darius is finally starting to feel like the true version of himself, and hopefully that will remain the case as he heads back to his home in America. This sounds like such a great read, and I can’t wait to finally get around to it.

In conclusion, apparently I’ve read a lot of books with names in the title. I’m honestly astonished I’ve made it through half a year fulfilling these prompt,s and I can’t wait to see what the remaining half has in store for me.

Where to find all these books:
Evvie Drake Starts Over: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Darius the Great is Not Okay: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Authors’ sites: Linda Holmes Suzanne Harper Adib Khorram
(H.C. author page)

Hello! I’m here to talk about one of my most anticipated sequels coming out in 2021. **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 seems like June has gotten away from me once again. Some personal things have come up preventing me from posting as much as usual, but it has given me some time to reflect on how I want to handle reviewing going forward to ensure that I don’t overwhelm myself or fall out of love with reading. That being said, I’m really excited to talk about Flash Fire. In 2020, author T.J. Klune released his first young adult novel The Extraordinaries with Tor Teen, which is a humorous action-packed superhero novel with a solidly queer cast of characters. The book certainly captivated readers and ended with a reveal that had most people questioning what would be next. I was extremely grateful when my request to read its sequel, Flash Fire, early on NetGalley was granted, and now I get to talk about it here! I do believe this is my first review of a strict sequel (though I have reviewed subsequent companion novels before), so I’ll try to be careful not to give too much away.

The Extraordinaries follows Nicky Bell, a teen with ADHD and just a little crush on the city’s superhero Shadow Star. After an attempted robbery leads Nicky to a chance encounter with his hero, he decides that he’s through with being “normal” (as normal as Nicky can be) and launches several attempts to gain extraordinary powers. After the Battle at McManus Bridge, the city was saved, identities were revealed, and secrets may have begun to come to the surface. Flash Fire picks up in February a few months later, where Nicky, his boyfriend Seth, and their friends, Jazz and Gibby, try to finish off junior year (senior year for Gibby) of high school. But things are building in Nova City. And when new Extraordinaries show themselves, the group must face a dangerous threat on a day that is supposed to be nothing but magical.

When Klune threw in a coda after the acknowledgements of The Extraordinaries readers were hoping there would be answers to the questions running through our heads. There was certainly more to the Bell family than Aaron (Nicky’s father) had been leading on. I love the dynamics between Nicky and his friends, and we even get to see Gibby and Jazz’s parents introduced in this book, which bring about some interesting perspectives and conversations to the mix. Klune really makes you feel things for his characters, whether that is love, admiration, or pure hatred (I feel all three for different characters in this series, and I can’t wait to see what they’re going to go through in the finale). What I really appreciated about this installment is the discussion around how to gain back someone’s trust, especially someone you care for deeply, after they feel you have betrayed them, and if that is even possible. It can be a sore subject, and even if you give an honest apology and vow to due better it is ultimately up to them whether or not to accept it. There’s also discussion about the lengths a parent will go to protect their child and keep them safe, even if that means keeping something from their or working with the enemy. And, when they find out, dealing with the consequences. I’m always amazed at how fast Klune can cause me to go from laughing out loud to bawling my eyes out – I guess that’s his signature along with his humor present throughout. There are moments when the narration hints at something big, and event you know will be coming and will be significant, and the entire time you’re wondering if your favorite characters will be able to make it out alive or unharmed. Well, I guess you’ll just have to pick up the book to find out (and don’t forget to read after the acknowledgements, there’s something you won’t want to miss).

Before I end, I do want to bring up some discussions that arose after the publication of The Extraordinaries in 2020. Many readers found the portrayal of the police force in the novel as less than satisfactory, especially since the release came around the heightened Black Lives Matter movement last June. Klune did acknowledge this in a blog post (which you can read here) and vowed to make his stance, and his characters’, abundantly clear in the sequel. I am not a person who this apology is directed towards, and some people may not pick up the sequel due to their strong negative feelings from the first book. Those people would be entirely within their right to do so. I will say that because the book is written from Nicky’s perspective, the entire outlook on police is a bit clouded. He’s grown up around them, his father being an officer, and has only seen the good, or at least has only wanted to see the good. But now he’s forced to face the fact that this is not reality, that there are people on the force who are responsible for causing harm, especially to minorities. I appreciated how we got to see Nicky grappling with this, but coming to understand these truths and no longer make any excuses for his father or the police as a whole. I’m interested to see the direction this goes, especially with how the epilogue wrapped things up, and hope that readers who pick up this installment enjoy it more than the last.

After the last page has been read and the book has been closed, readers will be wondering how things could have happened the way they did and scramble until next year when we finally get to know how things in Nova City are going to turn out. There have been a few shocks and surprises that have kept me curious as to how this series is going to wrap up. Until then, I’ll be rereading to find any moments of foreshadowing I may have missed the first time around. Flash Fire will be released on July 13th, 2021, which is two weeks from when this post goes live, so be sure to preorder yourself a copy if you’re interested in continuing on with The Extraordinaries series. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Tor Teen, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find Flash Fire:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
T.J. Klune’s site
Macmillan

Hi! I’m here to talk about a paranormal mystery / thriller that I loved and it’ll be out in just a few months! **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**

When I was younger, I used to watch Ghosthunters all the time with my sister and my dad. We weren’t sure if we actually believed in ghosts, but we had a good time watching the overly dramatic team make their way through “haunted” locations and try to catch evidence of spiritual beings with their high-tech equipment. I have really fond memories of our TV nights. So when The Dead and the Dark, a debut YA paranormal mystery by Courtney Gould, starts off with a scene from ParaSpectors, I knew I was going to have a good time. The episode snipets throughout the story help the main characters discover what truly is wrong in this small town in Oregon, and the characters, the mystery, the representation, and the message all blew me away in the end.

Something isn’t right in Snakebite, Oregon. Things haven’t been normal since the return of Brandon Woodley, co-host of ParaSpectors and former Snakebite resident. When his husband, Alejo Ortiz, and daughter, Logan, join him in Oregon, it’s under the guise of location scouting for their television show. But Logan isn’t convinced, and the second she steps into town she has a feeling secrets are buried there. Ashley Barton, who has lived in Snakebite her entire life, has been out searching for her boyrfriend, Tristan, who disappeared without a trace six months ago, just a week after Brandon arrived in town. Since the family reunion, more teenagers have gone missing, and some have even turned up dead. Logan is convinced something far more sinister is behind these disappearances, and teams up with Ashley to uncover the truths about Snakebite and unravel the dark forces at play.
*content warnings, as listed on the author’s website, include homophobia (verbal, non-physical), child death, murder, claustrophobia (buried alive), drowning, and slurs*

As I stated above, this book really blew me away. It was dark, sinister, atmospheric, full of characters you may want to hit over the head with a shovel (I mean, I’m not condoning violence per se, I’m just saying…) and at the heart of it all there is Logan, a girl who knows she doesn’t belong and isn’t accepted in the unforgiving town but is forced to find the being behind the madness. Then enters Ashley, a girl who has lived in a conservative small town her entire life, surrounded by like-minded people who aren’t as loving to outsiders as they are to each other. She is conflicted about associating with Logan because the entire town thinks her dads are behind the murders, and additionally they don’t approve of a relationship that may form between the two of them. Even when things come to a head, and violence is inflicted towards Logan for nothing more than being who she is, Ashley’s mother still makes it a point to express how disappointed and humiliated she is at Ashley’s actions and developing feelings. I felt the tension in that scene, and it was heartbreaking yet beautifully done. The mystery itself, especially interludes from the Dark’s point of view, had me itching to know what would happen next, wanting to warn the characters before they met their untimely fate, and overall kept me guessing as to who or what exactly I was dealing with here. The force itself became such a metaphor for the hatred and discrimination that can fester for generations in a place where people just aren’t open to the idea that others can be different from them – that being different does not inherently mean bad or less-than. This book showed how a place filled with that hatred was able to push Alejo and Brandon, two men who loved each other and just wanted to raise a family, fully outside its boundaries, and did not welcome them back. This book was tough to read at times, because I could see how the adults’ world view of people who are different rubbed off on their children, who tried to incite violence upon Logan and her dads any chance they could, and in turn people who associated with them. I found it to be excellently crafted, and I will say I did not guess then ending, nor was I even confident about how the book was going to end 90% of the way through. I was terrified that the characters I’d come to care for would not make it out alive.

I’m not going to spoil here, so I guess if you want to find out who does make it out alive, you’ll just have to pick up The Dead and the Dark when it releases in just a few months on August 3rd, 2021. It will have all the atmospheric vibes to transition your reading from summer to fall, and it will truly keep you engaged the whole way through. I cannot wait to see what other books Courtney Gould has in store for the future, because if they’re anything like this one, I’m going to enjoy myself. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Where to find The Dead and the Dark:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Courtney Gould’s site
Macmillan

Hello! I’m back today to talk about my May 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 fifth 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 May was “house” or “home.” I’m just getting progressively worse with finding books with a specific word on my existing TBR (I had to stretch my “want to read” selection, but I’m picking it anyway and no one can stop me), and I don’t think I’m doing much better the rest of the year, so just warning you for the complaints every other month at this point! Anyway, on that note, let’s just get into the books, shall we?

Read in May – Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
-To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Cindy at the YouTube channel withcindy hosted the Asian Readathon, which encourages readers to pick up books by Asian authors and featuring Asian protagonists. We should be picking up diverse books all year round, but it is nice to come together as a bookish community and share some of our favorite reads from these authors. One of the books I picked up in May was Other Words From Home, a middle-grade novel in verse by Jasmine Warga, who is a Jordanian-American author. The story follows Jude, a young girl who, at the start of the novel, lives with her parents and older brother in Syria. But when her hometown becomes volatile, Jude and her mother fly across an ocean to live with her uncle and his family in Cincinnati. Things take a little getting used to at first – America seems to be too loud and move too fast – and sometimes people can be ignorant, but life throws Jude some surprises that allow her to embrace who she is and be proud. I’m not typically a reader of novels in verse, or middle-grade for that matter, but I couldn’t let that prevent me from picking this one up. I listened to the audiobook through my library, which I highly recommend. At its core, Other Words for Home is a powerful and important story about a Syrian girl with a big heart, bigger dreams, and a desire above all else to find love, understanding, safety, and happiness. I loved how there was a spotlight on just how much a problem Americans’ perception of Middle Eastern countries – or anyone they believe to be different – is, and how Jude just simply existed and there was hatred directed towards her. One of my favorite scenes was when Jude began to cover, and she was admiring the way she looked in her scarf, and even though her aunt tried to suggest no wearing it, Jude held her head up and said she was proud, because it means she was growing up. There’s absolutely so much to unpack in this short book, and I’m glad to have given it a chance.

Recommendation – The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
-If anyone was expecting me to talk about a different book here, I think I’ve let you as my audience down, because I really can’t stop recommending The House in the Cerulean Sea to everyone I can. It was released in March of 2020, precisely when the world started to take a nose-dive for the worst. But this book brings about such a calming energy that I’ve read it, or at least parts of it, multiple times over the past year. We follow Linus Baker, a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who keeps to himself and his schedule, is good at what he does, and he may be a bit lonely (but only a bit, maybe). Then one day he’s tasked by Extremely Upper Management to evaluate the orphanage of Marsyas Island for one month, and Linus is in for a bit more than he bargained for (but again, just a bit). Throughout his month on the island, when he’ll truly see color for the first time, he’ll encounter six magical children, a protector of the island, and a caretaker who will do anything to keep his wards safe. I absolutely adored every single second of this book. I’m not quite sure on how to sell it to you, and chances are you’ve already read it by the time this post goes up. But if you haven’t, and you’re in need of a warm hug in the form of a book, please pick up The House in the Cerulean Sea. You’ll thank me later.

Want to Read – Christmas Lane (Lighthouse Bay #1) by Amy Aislin
-So technically the word house is in the series title here, but I’m counting it anyway and the month is already over so you can’t stop me! Christmas Lane is a part of a two book romance series set in Lighthouse Bay by Amy Aislin. I recently read a new release by this author, Keeping Casey, which involves characters and an organization established in Gingerbread MIstletoe (the second book in the Lighthouse Bay series). Christmas Lane follows recent college graduate Zach Greenfeld planning Lighthouse Bay’s Christmas parade, which goes smoothly until the most important float, Santa’s sleigh, gets damaged. Enter Holland Stone, Zach’s unrequited crush who volunteers to fix it, though it may jeopardize his own float he needs in order to win the competition and grow his own doll-making business. This sounds like a delightful holiday romance that I can’t wait to dive into, and maybe I’ll explore more of Amy Aislin’s work to see an overlapping cast of characters.

In conclusion, I need to read more books with house/home in the title. That’s five months down for the Buzzword Readathon, only 7 more to go.

Where to find all these books:
Other Words for Home: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
The House in the Cerulean Sea: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Christmas Lane: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Authors’ sites: Jasmine Warga T.J. Klune Amy Aislin

Hello! I’m here today to talk about an exciting YA debut that releases today! **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’ve started becoming extremely picky to the books I request on NetGalley and claim / enter the raffle for on BookishFirst. I simply have too many books to read and not enough time in the world to read them, and I want to make sure I give the books I do request / receive the attention and hype they deserve. Now, when I saw that The Passing Playbook, a debut YA contemporary sports novel by Isaac Fitzsimons, I could not resist redeeming 2,000 of my points to claim it. I have been intrigued ever since the cover reveal, and am so glad that a book like this even exists. According to an article from the Human Rights campaign (found here), “2021 has officially surpassed 2015 as the worst year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent history.” It is important to stay informed about this introduced legislation and do our part as constiuents to ensure that every individual’s rights are seen as equal. While this book is incredibly lighthearted and humorous at times, it does touch on bills and bans that can affect everyday people just trying to live their authentic lives.

After transitioning at his old school led to a year of bullying culminating in a school-wide lockdown, fifteen-year-old Spencer Harris starts his sophomore year at Oakley, a well-known liberal private school in Ohio. He is surrounded by more accepting classmates, but is still careful to who he comes out to – making the choice to pass unless absolutely necessary. A well-placed kick of a dodgeball in Spencer’s first gym class alerts the coach to his potential, and when he aces the tryouts he has a decent chance at earning a starting position on the boy’s soccer team. There might even be a spark of romance with a fellow teammate, Justice. But there’s a problem – the state of Ohio doesn’t allow gender markers on birth certificates to be changed, and a discriminatory law will not allow Spencer’s coach to let him play without risk of disqualification from the league. So Spencer has a decision to make – watch his teammates fulfill his dream and cheer them on, or fight for his right to play, even if that means coming out to everyone.
*content warnings for mentions of past bullying, religious-motivated homophobia, and mention of drug overdose, main representation = biracial trans mlm MC, gay LI, non-binary side character, autistic side character*

This was such a charming read that captivated me so much I was able to read all in one sitting. In it’s 299 pages, it tells an intricate story of a trans teen who wants a sense of normalcy after complete chaos, and has dreamed of playing on the boy’s soccer team, where he knows he truly belongs, only to be told he cannot play because of a marker on his birth certificate. Spencer has the full support of his parents, and younger brother Theo, who have strived to understand and do what is best for their son ever since he came to them and said he was a boy, which includes getting him puberty blockers and allowing him to transition. He is confident in his identity, and the only time he ever faulters in the book is when he is deciding to tell other people he’s trans, like his new friends, the guy he’s crushing on, and his teammates/coach. There was such a balance between light-hearted & sweet moments and heart-wrenching serious conversations that neither overshadowed the other and the book flowed incredibly nicely. One aspect I appreciated from the plot was that a lie Spencer tells his parents does not go unresolves for the entire book, which might be a pet peeve of mine. Spencer does not inform his parents that he attended tryouts for soccer, and subsequently made the team, because when he broached the subject with them after his first day, they were less than enthusiastic and advised against it. Though about halfway through the book Spencer is forced to miss a weekend game due to doctor’s appointments, causing the coach to call his mom, the truth to be revealed, and Spencer to be grounded. This also sparks a discussion between him and his parents regarding his passion for soccer, and that their concern for his protection is ultimately causing more harm then good, which I thought was really well done. Especially after Spencer’s harsh bullying, it’s understandable for his parents to be over-protective, but they have to come to understand that sometimes the person who will know what’s best for Spencer is himself.

I also really wanted to talk about Spencer’s relationship with Justice. While it was lovely and adorable to see, it also highlights two individuals at different parts of their journey to explore their identity. Spencer has transitioned, is confident in his identity, and has the support of his family so he does not have to hide who he is. Justice, on the other hand, comes from a religious family, who has made it clear by their words and their actions that they will not be accepting if he comes out to them. It causes conflict for Spencer, feeling as if Justice understands and accepts him but knowing he still cannot outright object his family’s harmful rhetoric in order to protect himself. I also appreciated how the book points out that sometimes, people’s minds can’t be changed. You can try to explain, show them the error of their ways, but sometimes people are too one-track minded. Justice’s family does not have an epiphany and suddenly become accepting of people who are different from the societal norm. But Justice finds comfort in knowing that he can find family in Spencer, his friends, his coach, and even Spencer’s parents on holidays like Thanksgiving. It certainly is bittersweet, but it is, unfortunately, the reality for so many teens today.

If I could buy this book for everyone in my life and make them read it, I would. I have already passed on my finished copy to my friend, who I hope will enjoy it just as much as I did, and I look forward to our discussions whenever they get around to reading it. I applaud Isaac Fitzsimons for his incredible debut, and I hope it spreads all the trans joy the way it certainly should. The Passing Playbook is set to release on June 1st, 2021 (which is today, if I’m able to get this post up in time), so please consider picking up a copy if you’re at all interested. I promise you won’t regret it. *Thank you to BookishFirst and the publisher, Dial Books, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Where to find The Passing Playbook:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Isaac Fitzsimons’s site
Penguin Random House