Read and To Read – Books by Black Authors

Hi everyone! I’ve finally found some time to write again, so in the next week or so I should be catching up with all my favorite books of the month (for May and June) and my ARC reviews (which will be a bit more frequent now, explanation coming soon). Hopefully I’ll be able to be a bit more consistent, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty, both in my personal life and in the world in general. I want to start this post off by saying I continue to be, and will forever be, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is still a prevalent issue no matter how the news coverage may have shifted. At the beginning of every blog post from now until significant change is seen, I’ll be including a link to resources, compiled by YouTuber StarlahReads, so if you are able to contribute in any way, please click here. Thank you for reading.

I fell back into the steady rhythm of reading at the beginning of 2019, after I graduated from college, passed my licensing exam, and started my new job. I was watching booktube consistently, always reading recommendations, and picking up anything I could get my hands on. Towards the middle of the year, I wanted to reflect on what I’d read the past few months, and I realized I had not picked up a single book by a POC author. Not one. I was also trying so hard to read everyone else’s favorites that I wasn’t focusing on what I loved. From that moment on I vowed to be more conscious of the books I read, and sure, even today I still read predominantly white authors, but I read as diversely as I can, uplift POC authors and their books, and continue to be mindful of the books I promote. People have made lists of their favorite books by Black authors since the Black Lives Matter movement surged a few months ago, and I wanted to take the time to talk about some great books I’ve loved, and ones I’m looking forward to. Maybe I’ll make this a series, do a post like this every few months, but even if I don’t this is still an important standalone piece. So here are three books from Black authors I’ve loved, and three that I’m so excited to pick up in the future:

#1 Read – Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson (published January 24th, 2017)
Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Well, allegedly. As a nine-year-old black child facing accusations of killing a white infant, she didn’t speak much at her police interview, and it didn’t take much for her to be charged with the murder and for media to plaster the story all over the news. Now, six years later and in a group home, there’s a major reason for her to revisit the case and try to learn the truth – the fate of her own unborn child depends on it. But in order to uncover the facts about what really happened that night, she has to face the one person she distrusts the most – her mother. This book. This book had me reeling from the very beginning. My distrust of all the characters made me distrust myself and the theories I had concocted with the evidence I’d been presented. And by the time I reached the ending I was too stunned to even comprehend what it meant. I did not pick this book up on my own – my local library was hosting a “blind date with a book” promotion this past Valentine’s Day. The blurb for this book that caught my eye was: A dark, suspenseful exploration of justice and perception. Gritty and realistic content. Young adult fiction that may appeal to an older audience. Allegedly certainly delivered on everything I was promised. If you’re interested in giving it a read, check it out on Goodreads and visit Tiffany D. Jackson’s website to see what else she has to offer.

#2 Read – How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters (published September 10th, 2019)
Everyone knows Remy Cameron. Well, at least they’ve assigned him labels in their minds to make him easier to understand. Gay, Adopted. Black. Good student. Outgoing. After his English teacher assigns an essay asking her students to describe themselves, it gives Remy the chance to dig past all the labels and stereotypes and figure out who he is, and who he wants to be. This was such a delightful read that packed a punch when it needed to. It’s a story that explores many aspects of a high school teenager’s journey to discovering his place in the world – being openly gay and crushing on a guy who may still be in the closet, grappling with adoption issues even though it’s been years and his family is nothing but supportive, having to hide secrets from those he holds dear because he doesn’t want to be a bother, but struggling to handle them on his own, and trying to write a paper about who he truly is as a person and not having a clue where to start – that’s just scratching the surface. It’s able to tackle a myriad of topics, and discuss them well, in less than 300 pages, which is incredible. I’ve read almost all of Julian Winters’ books and recommend them, so if they interest you at all check out How to Be Remy Cameron on Goodreads and visit his website to see more.

#3 Read – Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (published October 24th, 2017)
Fifteen-year-old Will’s brother, Shawn, has just been murdered. Will knows who did it. Will cannot sleep until the person responsible has paid the price. So he shoves his brother’s gun into the waistband of his pants and takes the elevator down to the lobby of his building. The elevator stops at every floor, and each time the sliding doors open someone from Will’s past is just behind them. Will he give them a listen? And will his mindset be changed by the time he reaches the first floor? This was the first book I ever read that was written in verse, and although the lines are short, sharp, and staccato, they pack a punch and leave you reeling after every page. According to my Kindle, the only phrase I have highlighted is, “People always love people more when they’re dead,” which in and of itself is a pretty impactful line, and I’m sure I would’ve had more if I wasn’t so engrossed in the story and what would happen next. Since then I have read several more novels in verse (primarily ones from Afro-Dominican author Elizabeth Acevedo), and I am incredibly grateful Long Way Down paved the way for me to expand my reading tastes. If this piqued your interest at all, check out the book on Goodreads and visit Jason Reynolds’ website to see what else he’s written.

#1 To Read – Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (published July 7th, 2020)
Two hundred years after Cinderella found her prince and lived happily ever after, teenage girls are expected to attend the Annual Ball in order to be selected as wives for the men of the kingdom. After three balls, if a girl isn’t chosen as a bride, she is never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia doesn’t want to give in to this idea of the Annual Ball. She’d much rather choose her best friend, Erin, to be with forever. After the decision to flee, Sophia meets Constance, the last living descendent of Cinderella, and the two team up to take down the king once and for all. I have been interested in this book as soon as the cover was revealed – it’s stunning, how could you not be intrigued? A YA fantasy debut that’s a loose Cinderella retelling and LGBTQ+? Ticks off a lot of my boxes. My copy should be on its way to me when this is posted, or soon after, so I can’t wait to pick this up and see what I think! Check it out on Goodreads, and author Kalynn Bayron’s site to keep up with what she releases next.

#2 To Read – Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest (published August 25th, 2020)
Eighteen-year-old Evie Jones has been dreaming about following her famous grandmother, Gigi’s (also known as Evelyn Conway) footsteps and being Hollywood’s next big star for as long as she can remember. And she’s on her way to do just that… until a close friend’s betrayal puts her name on the blacklist. The only way to save her reputation is to make a public appearance with her grandmother, who’s been out of the public eye for almost twenty years, but a few days before that can happen, Gigi disappears. Evie enlists the help of musician Milo Williams, the last person to see Gigi before she vanished, and while the two conduct a wild manhunt around New York City, Evie makes some important discoveries about her grandmother, and maybe, just maybe, about herself as well. I’ve been wanting to try out this author’s books for a while, and this one definitely seems right up my alley. I’ve preordered a copy, and August can’t come soon enough. Check out Now That I’ve Found You on Goodreads and Kristina Forest’s website to find something that suits your fancy.

#3 To Read – The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis (published October 1st, 2019)
The protector. The favorite. The medic. The fighter. The catalyst. Together, the make up the Good Luck Girls. Sold to a welcome house as children, the group seems trapped in a life that none of them would have chosen. But when one accidentally murders a man, the girls dangerously escape and head out in search of freedom, justice, and revenge in a country that provides them anything but. All they know is – it’s going to take more than luck for them to survive. I received this book as a part of an Unplugged Advent calendar promotion in December 2019 (which is a great book subscription company, I highly recommend checking it out) and I have been intrigued ever since. It’s giving me historical fantasy vibes, which isn’t a genre I typically gravitate towards, but I always find myself lingering over this book on my shelf. Since this is also going to be a series, I’m incredibly interested to see the journey this book takes. If the synopsis grabs your attention, check out The Good Luck Girls on Goodreads or check out Charlotte Nicole Davis’ website to keep up with what they’re doing.

And there you have it – three books I’ve read and three books I want to read by Black authors. There are actually tons more I want to read, but I didn’t want to make this list too long. If you want to check out any of these books, be sure to click the link I’ve included, visit the authors’ sites, and diversify your reading.

Cover art credits (from left to right in gallery above)
Allegedly: Photography direction by Erin Fitzsimmons
How to Be Remy Cameron: Cover illustration and book design by CB Messer
Long Way Down: Jacket photographs by Getty images
Cinderella is Dead: Jacket design by Danielle Ceccolini, illustration by Manzi Jackson
Now That I’ve Found You: Jacket design by Cassie Gonzales, illustration by Kat Goodloe
The Good Luck Girls: Jacket photograph by Jonathan Barkat

Favorite Book of April – Technically, You Started It

April was actually a really good reading month for me, both quantity- and quality-wise. Since I’ve been working from home, I’ve been able to read a lot of physical books from my TBR, which has been a positive. I also participated in a month-long Harry Potter-themed read-a-thon hosted by G at the YouTube channel Book Roast, in which I attempted to complete all twelve of my O.W.L (ordinary wizarding level) exams by reading twelve books associated with Hogwarts subjects. And I genuinely enjoyed pretty much everything I picked up to read, which made picking one book to talk about a bit difficult. Some notable mentions include: Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place, a memoir by Jackson Bird about “sorting out” his own gender and sexuality and the decision to transition in his late twenties, and Heartstopper: Volume 3, the latest graphic novel installment from Alice Oseman following boys Nick and Charlie as they navigate their new relationship. The book I ultimately decided to talk about in my favorite book of the month post is Technically, You Started It, a YA novel by Lana Wood Johnson written entirely through text message threads recounting the interesting summer before senior year for two high school students.

Cover art for *Technically, You Started It*. Designed by Baily Crawford and illustrated by Marcos Chin

On the day of the AP US History test, Martin Nathaniel Munroe II texts Haley Hancock to find out which essay question she chose. With a name like that, Haley should know who she’s talking to. But long story short, there are two Martins, with the same full name, and while she thinks she know who “the good one” is, she may be wrong. What starts out as simple conversations about AP scores and class projects soon evolves into an online friendship sharing secrets about familial troubles, nerdy guilty pleasures, and interesting facts about Canada. Will Haley finally figure out which Martin she’s talking to, or will things start to get messy and turn from a meet-cute to a meet-disaster?

It was surprising how much I enjoyed this book. Recently I’ve read several books where the two main characters communicate solely through letters – some were more successfully done than others, and one main critique I had was that the story became a bit unbelievable if the characters interacted in their day to day life, and their letters were just recounting their interactions for the reader’s sake. But this is the first one I’ve read written strictly through text messages, and I wasn’t sure how well this was going to go because I knew these characters had at least some real-life interaction, but what made it interesting was Haley is convinced she is talking to a completely different Martin, so them recounting their interactions through text didn’t feel unnatural to me. Additionally, it was highly entertaining how Martin was reacting to her accounts of meeting with “his cousin” when he knows full well it’s actually him. Especially at the convention – I think that was my favorite. This book is riddled with high school antics – people creating drama for no reason, summer jobs, the bro-code, and 4th of July parties – but it also tackled serious and important topics ranging from generalized anxiety disorder to failed familial relations to sexuality. I thoroughly enjoyed Haley and Martin’s banter, and how their relationship developed throughout the book. I listened to the audiobook while reading along, and while I overall thought the narrators did a good job conveying emotion, there were definitely some parts that were cringeworthy. And the only thing I found a bit unbelieveable was when the two of them were texting in an escape room – from my experience you wouldn’t be able to use your phone while trying to solve the puzzles.

I feel like I really have to talk about Haley for a second, because the more I thought about this book after finishing it, the more I saw of myself at 17 in her. She’s a girl who would much rather organize her entire bathroom than be forced to socialize for an afternoon, someone who can recount facts that no one really cares about, and a person who struggles being heard in a sea of voices trying to fight for attention. Her relationship with Jack also struck a chord – everyone was telling her to go out with Jack, that they’d be good together, and she really wanted to like him in that way, because she felt like it would’ve made everyone happier, but she just couldn’t. Senior year of high school, prom was fast approaching, and I had just planned to go with a group of friends – some were concerned I would be lonely in a sea of couples, but I would’ve been perfectly content “taking myself.” That is, until one day in my Spanish class, one of my friends asked me to prom using a magic trick. Partially because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and partly because my friends’ conversations had gotten to me, I said yes. And it was fine, he’s a sweet guy and everything, but I really feel like I would’ve had a better time if I hadn’t let my friends get to me all that much. Also like Haley, I fall somewhere on the asexual spectrum, and don’t feel certain attractions and connections the way other people do, which makes it difficult when asked “who’s your celebrity crush?” or “which guy in class do you secretly want to ask you out?” And that makes us different, sure, but not abnormal or weird or strange. Our other interests might make us weird, sure, but not our sexuality.

I think I’ve gushed enough about Technically, You Started It for one day. This book was just everything I needed right now – light and fluffy filled with teenage drama, mistaken identity, and a lot of burritos. Lana Wood Johnson made me fall in love with two teenage weirdos throughout text message threads, and if I ever need another pick-me-up, I’ll be sure to give this another quick read through.

Places to find Technically, You Started It
Amazon
Goodreads
Scholastic
Lana Wood Johnson’s website

ARC Review – The Extraordinaries

It may come as no surprise that T.J. Klune is one of my favorite authors. After discovering his How to Be series, I dived into many of his other worlds, and wrote a review of his newest release from Tor, The House in the Cerulean Sea, for my favorite book of January post after winning it in a Goodreads giveaway. When I heard he was coming out with a new YA release from Tor Teen titled The Extraordinaries, and it was about superheroes (or “superqueeros, as T.J. has phrased it) I was intrigued. I decided to press my luck and request to read an early copy of it on NetGalley, and wasn’t really holding out much hope, because I was pretty new to the platform and am still coming into my own book review style. Imagine my surprise when on March 17th, I get an email saying I’ve been approved. So I’d just like to first extend my thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. The original release date for The Extraordinaries was set to be May 5th (the day this review should be posted, if all goes well), but due to the current state of things in the publishing world (and, well, the rest of the world in general), it is now set to be released on July 14th, 2020.

Cover art for *The Extraordinaries*, Designed and illustrated by David Curtis

Nick Bell is the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom. As a high school teen living in Nova City, his daily routine includes taking his pill to help manage his ADHD in the morning, swoon at the television as newsanchor Rebecca Firestone recounts the latest heroic deed of local Extraordinary, Shadow Star, try to survive his junior year alongside his eclectic group of friends, and steadily come to terms with life After, as opposed to life Before, alongside his dad. When Nick has a real-life encounter with Shadow Star, he launches a three-phase plan to become an Extraordinary himself, to one day work alongside his greatest hero, and protect the city from his arch nemesis, Pyro Storm. The only problem is, his best friend, Seth, has been elusive all summer, and isn’t too keen on Nick joining the life of fighting crime. Will Nick be able to convince him to help?

I thought this was incredibly well done – I can’t wait for the remaining two books in this series to be released, and I’m upset that T.J. is making us wait all the way until 2022 for the conclusion. Nick is such a fascinating character. He may or may not be extraordinary, but he’s been able to overcome so much in his life, and he deals with an attention deficit disorder that oftentimes makes sitting down to think straight absolutely impossible. He’s also absolutely oblivious to anything and everything around him, and I can’t help but love him more for it – starting with his best friend’s obvious feelings for him and ending with, well, things I can’t say because of spoilers, but you as the reader will definitely be able to figure them all out before Nick does. Classic T.J. wit and charm is riddled throughout this book, and no doubt you’ll fall in love with at least one of the side characters. From Gibby and Jazz (a baby butch and her cheerleader girlfriend), to Officer Rookie (whose real name is Chris, but Nick can’t shake the nickname), and even Bob and Martha Gray (Seth’s aunt and uncle who have cared for him since he was little), the banter and personalization of each character will have you begging for more of their presence. I’m not the biggest fan of superhero stories, but falling in love with the characters made me interested in piecing together how they all fit alongside each other in this story of heroes, villains, things not being quite as they seem, and wanting to protect the ones you love at any and all cost. I am very intrigued as to how this story will progress.

I do want to highlight a specific relationship in this book: Nick’s relationship with his father, Aaron Bell. Aaron Bell is extremely protective of his son, for two main reasons. First, he is a police officer. As a former detective, Aaron has seen the worst the town of Nova City has to offer. On top of typical crime, there’s also the addition of Extraordinaries, of superheroes that, in his mind, pose as much of a threat as they do relieve it. Second, they have both experienced tragedy when Jen Bell, his wife and Nick’s mother, was killed in a bank robbery gone wrong prior to the start of the book. He’s already lost so much of his family, he’s trying to hold onto Nick tight and protect him as much as he is capable of. Sometimes he makes mistakes. He’s not perfect. Neither of them are. They both say things they don’t mean and accidentally hurt each other in the process. But they’re trying. Each and every day they’re trying to adjust to this new After. I believe it’s also the reason Aaron chooses to make certain decisions towards the end of the book. And Nick shares the same protective instinct as his father – one of the main reasons he even wants to become an Extraordinary in the first place (besides working along side his major crush, Shadow Star) is to make his dad’s job easier, to make sure he never falls within the line of fire. It was really fascinating to see their relationship develop throughout the book, and I’m excited to learn more in upcoming novels.

**edit July 2020 – With the book releasing soon, there has been much discussion among readers about the glorification of law enforcement officers in the novel. With everything going on in the world, specifically regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, the focus on police in the book might not sit well with many. I completely understand and respect that, as well as take into account my privelege as a white reader. While reading the novel, I was looking through Nick’s lens – his dad is a cop, he’s been one his entire life, the force has become such a family to him over the years, especially after his mom died, and he looks up to his dad, so it makes sense for him to want to follow in his footsteps. The problem arises when I use that lens to excuse what might be problematic representation in the book, and not take into account how that might make other readers feel, especially when it was mentioned how Aaron Bell assaulted a detainee when provoked after his wife’s death. I still stand by this review, I still like this book and what it offers and can recommend it, but it’s important to be critical, so we are not simply blinded by the things we love and become unable to see their flaws. I hope this can be handled better in further installments of the series**

According to a recent tweet, TJ said that he wanted to give a voice to people like him [people with ADHD] so they can point to a character and say “Hey, finally someone like me.” As someone who has felt incredibly seen by another one of his books, I hope that neurodivergent queer kids and teens (and adults who may stumble upon this book) are able to see a little bit of themselves in Nick. As Aaron Bell tells his son, you don’t have to be an Extraordinary to be extraordinary. And, as the tagline says, some people are extraordinary, some are just extra. I can’t wait for The Extraordinaries to be out into the world on July 14, 2020, so everyone can pick up and enjoy T.J. Klune’s YA debut.

Places you can find The Extraordinaries
Extended preview
Amazon
Goodreads
Macmillan
T.J. Klune’s website

ARC Review – Heiress For Hire

So back in February, I found out that a site called BookishFirst was hosting a giveaway for one of my most anticipated books of the year, The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. All you had to do to be entered was create an account for the site, read the preview provided, and write a first impression. I did not end up winning, but I was still very interested in the site itself. You earn points by writing reviews, and every week previews for several upcoming books are released, so you can enter a raffle by writing your first impression of the book. Rack up enough points (2000 to be exact) and use them to claim a copy from the current raffle. So that’s how I came across the book I’m talking about today, Heiress For Hire by Madeline Hunter, which is being released on April 28th, 2020 – the day this should be posted, if everything goes as planned.

When I finally earned 2000 points, I had two misconceptions – 1.) that I had to spend my points right away, and 2.) that I could claim a book from a previous raffle. Since I discovered I couldn’t pick a book from a previous raffle, I looked at the three books to choose from that week: a historical romance, a literary fiction, and a sci-fi/fantasy. Normally I would gravitate towards the literary fiction, but the premise really did not appeal to me, and so ultimately I decided to go with something completely out of my comfort zone – the historical romance. It arrived as a mass-market paperback arc on my door a few weeks later, and now I get to tell you what I thought about it!

One day, an intruder breaks into Minerva Hepplewhite’s home, and she responds in the only way she can – by hitting him over the head, tying him up, and questioning him while pointing a pistol in his direction when he regains consciousness. Said intruder, Chase Radnor, informs Minerva that she has been written into the will of the late Duke of Hollinburgh, and has inherited a large sum of money. Chase, nephew of the Duke, believes the circumstances of his death to be suspicious and decides to conduct a discreet inquiry – since no one in his family has ever heard of Minerva, he can’t help but add this peculiar, alluring woman to his list of suspects. Minerva and Chase find themselves wrapped up in this mystery, uncovering family secrets and trying to escape past events, and somewhere along the line the two of them discover that perhaps they wish to partake in a much deeper alliance.

For someone who does not typically pick up historical romance, I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I loved Minerva’s character – I found her to be a woman scarred by her troubled past, but able to heal and move on from it (through self-discovery and with the help of cherished friends, Beth and Jeremy) and learn to take care of herself. When she meets Chase and begins to feel some kind of attraction towards him, she doesn’t trust her instinct, as it had gotten her badly hurt in the past. But when she finally opens up to Chase, he isn’t perfect but is understanding of her boundaries and helps Minerva learn to trust him (and ultimately herself). Their banter was snarky and I liked it a lot. I also found the mystery plot around Minerva’s late husband, Algernon, to be an interesting addition to the story, and the outcome was a believable one (that had me saying “I knew it!” when I reached the point where things are revealed). I will say that what drew me in initially, and what made me want to pick this book up in the first place, was the investigation into the Duke’s death, and that was one point in the story I felt to be lacking, especially after the romance plotline had already been established. I found the conclusion of the investigation to be a bit unsatisfying (at least for me), but I do acknowledge that this is the beginning of a series, and we may revisit this aspect in future novels. Although I will say that I liked the fact that both main characters were conducting their own investigations, and with each person they talked to they gathered different information, so in order to paint the whole picture they just had to talk to each other about it – talk about a recipe for success. Overall, I found the romance between Minerva and Chase to be at the forfront of this book, and was not disappointed. I even enjoyed the sex scenes, while I’m typically not really a fan, and thought they were well written. I guess this means I’ll have to read more historical romance in the future to compare.

In conclusion, I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable historical romance between a strong female lead and the grandson of a lord. It was lighthearted and fun, and exactly what I needed to read during this period of uncertainty in the world. Madeline Hunter really did give me a nice introduction to a genre I would normally gloss over in recommendations, and hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some similar new reads soon. Happy book birthday to Heiress For Hire, and if you’re someone like me who needed a really simple introduction into the world of historical romance, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Places you can find Heiress For Hire:
Goodreads
Amazon
Madeline Hunter’s site

Favorite Book of March – Little Universes

So with everything that’s going on in the world right now, with the uncertainty growing every single day and updates coming in every single hour, it felt like the month of March would never end. I’m incredibly grateful to still be working from home during this time, because I know that others haven’t been so lucky, and I hope everyone is staying safe. On a lighter note, I was able to get some serious reading done in March (thanks in part to The Bookie Trials Royal Weekender, a weekend-long readathon hosted by Rachael Marie on YouTube **edit June 2020, I no longer support this creator due to her views on minorities and other creators, so I am removing all links to her channel and putting this disclaimer on all videos discussing her**), and it was pretty hard to decide which book to talk about as my favorite. So, I decided to combine two types of blog posts in one and talk about an ARC I received, which also happened to be one of the best books I read this month.

So I’ve primarily received ARCs from entering giveaways on sites such as Twitter and Goodreads, and sometimes I forget I’ve entered them until a publishing house messages me asking for my mailing address because I’ve won. Such was the case for Little Universes, a YA contemporary book by Heather Demetrios which releases on April 7th, 2020 – the day after this blog post goes live if everything works out. Fierce Reads messaged me saying that I’d won a copy of this book I’d heard little about, and when it arrived on my doorstep I was intrigued. I read little of the synopsis before diving in, and was absolutely blown away. I suppose now’s a good time to tell you what the heck this book is even about.

Cover of *Little Universes* and paper from Fierce Reads exclaiming “Congratulations! You won!” Cover art by Chung-Yun Yoo, design by Liz Dresner

In late August, the summer before their senior year of high school, Mae and Hannah receive devastating news: a violent tsunami has struck the island their parents were vacationing on in Malaysia. When it becomes clear that their parents won’t be returning home, these two sisters are forced to move across the country from California to Boston, while struggling with uncovered secrets that should have stayed buried, past events coming back to haunt them, and facing a future full of uncertainties at every corner. Mae and Hannah both have different ways to cope, and while this traumatic event should have brought them closer, cherishing the family they have left, the wave might be the one thing to tear them apart for good. **Trigger warnings: death of a parent, grief, substance abuse, discussion of abortion, attempted suicide, cheating. Please look up other reviews for additional warnings, because there might be some I missed**

I knew this was going to be a powerful novel about two sisters grappling with the loss of their parents in a tsunami. What I didn’t expect was to finish this 469-page book in under three days, while several experiencing several emotional reactions during that period. Heather Demetrios uses dual perspective, allowing each of her main characters to develop a distinct voice and signiture beginning their respective chapters – Mae, a hopeful-future-astronaut, begins her chapters with the International Space Station location, and the Earth date and time, while Hannah, a suffering poet, leaves us little acorns to read to understand how she’s feeling. I’m not usually one to read books that deal with heavier topics, especially in the current state of the world, however I do believe that they are important and necessary. This book tackled addiction pretty heavily, and I think the dual perspective helped to emphasize the fact that one person’s struggle can affect the people around them, in varying ways. Grief is also an overarching theme throughout the novel, and what I really appreciated was the exploration of indivual resposes to traumatic events, and how you are not “less than” if you do not grieve in the way everyone’s expects you to. While I did enjoy some parts of the story that love interests Ben and Drew brought to the table (Ben’s nerdiness to compliment Mae’s and Drew being able to make Hannah feel seen), I did find it unnecessary to give both girls a romance, especially so early on in their move to Boston. This book is not perfect by any means. It doesn’t shy away from the ugly, but underneath it all there is still a message of hope.

As the youngest of three sisters, this book made me want to call them to say “I love you,” and repeat it over and over because you never know where life is going to take you. I think the last line of the book’s synopsis sums it up pretty perfectly: “Little Universes explores the powerful bond of sisters, the kinds of love that never die, and the journey we all must make through the baffling cruelty and unexpected beauty of human life in an incomprehensible future.” Heather Demetrios does an incredible job at delivering a powerful novel full of loss, hardship, struggle, and recovery. Happy book birthday to Little Universes, and if you’re looking for a read that will have you hugging your family tighter than ever, I highly suggest picking it up today.

Places you can find Little Universes:
Goodreads
Amazon
Heather Demetrios Twitter
Macmillan

ARC Review – More Than Maybe

With all of the chaos going on in the world right now, and the anxiety-riddled news that comes with it, I figured the best way for me to survive cabin fever, and working from home (at least while my lab is still open), is to fully immerse myself in something I truly love: reading. I hope you’ve realized that by now. Since I’ve been more active on this blog recently, I decided to look more into NetGalley, and I noticed St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday Books was offering several of their titles as Read Now. One such title was More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn, a book whose synopsis caught my attention and whose cover solidified my desire to read it as soon as possibly could. This seemed to work out pretty perfectly for me.

Cover for More Than Maybe, design by Kerri Resnick, illustration by Marina Esmeraldo

Luke Greenly, son of former British punk rocker Charlie Greenly, would do anything to stay out of the spotlight. In fact, he’d much rather prefer anonymity. All he wants to do is co-host the locally-popular podcast with his twin brother Cullen, make fun of his brother for being sickly-sweet and adorable with his boyfriend Zack (who is also Luke’s best friend), and stay up in his room putting lyrics on a page while playing piano. Luke holds many secrets, and one of those is his [supposed] unrequited crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell. Vada has just recently been accepted into Berkeley’s prestigious music journalism program on the other side of the country. She’s learned everything she could at the Loud Lizard, the bar owned by local legend Phil Josephs (who is also her mom’s boyfriend), and taken over his music blog. She’s got a five year plan, and maybe a [supposed] unrequited crush on one of the Greenly brothers whose podcast is recorded at the bar. When the two find themselves partners in a composer-dance collaboration at school, and coworkers at the bar, it’s almost impossible to deny their connection. And when another dive bar announces an opening in town, threatening the Loud Lizard, Vada’s five-year plan is in danger and she has to work together with Luke to save it.

First and foremost, I’ve noticed that so many female protagonists in YA these days have red hair, and, as a redhead myself, I find it hilarious and would very much like for the trend to continue. I have been in such a mood for heartwarming young adult stories, and More Than Maybe was an excellent addition to my ever-growing list of favorites. I loved how connected to music Luke and Vada were: Vada’s passion for reviewing and Luke’s for writing allowed them to both to understand the essence of each individual song, and that brought them together in a way not many of the side characters could understand. I felt that all of the relationships, not just the one that develops between Vada and Luke, were well established – the platonic relationships of Vada/Meg and Luke/Zack, romantic ones of Zack/Cullen and Mary/Phil, and even the dysfunctional dynamic of Vada/Marcus (her biological father). All of the characters had a pre-established history that Erin Hahn let us catch a glimpse of from start to finish. The novel does tackle some deeper topics – dealing with familial expectations that don’t align with your own dreams, learning how and when to distance yourself from toxic family members, and working so much towards your goal only to find that it may be unattainable after all, due to something you cannot control. But it’s also hopeful, full of people doing anything for the ones that they love. And maybe, just maybe, it has a sweet happy ending that will have you smiling down at your book.

According to the author herself, this is a sunshine book about music nerds falling in love. It’s light, full of happiness, and scattered with pop culture references – the book earns an extra point in my book for the Panic! at the Disco reference. Things may not be the brightest in the world right now, but I’d like to thank Erin Hahn for bringing some sunshine into my life. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an early copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. If you’re in need of a YA read that will absolutely warm your heart, I highly recommend picking up More Than Maybe on July 21st.

Places you can find More Than Maybe:
Goodreads
Amazon
Erin Hahn’s website
Macmillan

ARC Review – Meet Me at Midnight

ARCs, or advanced reader copies, are copies of books in their pre-published state. These copies are often distributed to reviewers who can read the book, form thoughts around it, and share those thoughts with their respective audience. This helps expose the book to more people who may not have otherwise heard of the title, and can cause them to pre-order the book, or at least spread the word to other readers and pick up a copy once it’s released. Publishers and companies can also hold giveaways of ARCs on platforms such as Goodreads or through Twitter so that ordinary readers have a chance at reader an anticipated title before it is released. I won a copy of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune through a Goodreads giveaway back in December (and that book was my favorite of January if you want to scroll through to that blog post), and in February Tor Teen ran a week long OTP Sweeps giveaway for five new titles, which is how to came to receive a copy of Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington. I wanted to read the book before its release date, April 7th 2020, so I could share my thoughts, so allow me to do just that.

Cover of Meet Me at Midnight and promotion for Tor Teen that I received with the package

Sidney and Asher lead separate lives ten months out of the year. They’re not friends, not acquaintances – they might even consider themselves enemies. Once summer hits, both of their families spend 56 days in neighboring houses on the lake. Nothing can stop them from trying to find the ultimate way to prank each other. Well, almost nothing. When one fishy prank goes horribly wrong, and Sidney and Asher’s families are kicked out of their accommodations, Asher leaves a note for Sidney to find on her mirror: Meet me at midnight. They decide to put their feud aside and team up to retaliate against their one common enemy. But here’s the thing: they’ve spent nearly six years at each other’s throats, learning every secret and exploiting every weakness. Maybe, just maybe, something else has been brewing during this prank war, like undeniable attraction.

Out of all the books Tor was hosting giveaways for back in February, this was the book that I simultaneously knew the least about, but was most intrigued by. I had a really fun time reading it, and I think it is a perfect spring / summer YA read. Typically with summer romances, we really only get the perspective of one of the main characters (in a heterosexual romance, typically the female perspective) and once the summer ends, so does the book. So I was excited to see that we do get Asher’s perspective, and the story continues until they’re both at college as teammates on the same swim team. I just found the book extremely enjoyable and easy to read. The fact that Sidney and Asher felt like they were being so sneaky when the entire summer their parents pretty much knew they were together was so relatable — teenagers don’t give their parents enough credit sometimes (I certainly didn’t when I was a teen). It was a heartwarming story filled with pranks and love, but also important conversations about figuring out what you want to do after high school and dealing with familial expectations. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole there were a few things I wasn’t the biggest fan of. I thought some of Sidney’s friendships, aside from Asher, were underdeveloped, we could’ve spent more time with the parents, and, honestly, I wanted more pranking. I know the ultimate point of Sidney and Asher calling a truce was to realize they had been in love with each other the whole time, but I did miss the pranks a bit. Just a bit, though.

Overall, this book had the warm, cozy feel of a summer read, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. Highly recommend fans of Morgan Matson and Emma Mills to pick this up after it’s released in April 7th, 2020. You’re in for a roller-coaster of prank wars, painted rocks, 6AM swims, and summer love. Happy reading!

Here’s where you can find Meet Me at Midnight:
Amazon
Goodreads
Jessica Pennington’s Twitter
Excerpt

Favorite Book of February – Because You’ll Never Meet Me

Hi again. So yes, I’m aware it’s already halfway through March and I never wrote an entry for February. Things have been, a bit anxiety-inducing lately, and when my anxiety flares up I am either extremely motivated to do anything and everything on my to-do list, or extremely unmotivated and never get anything done. With all the chaos going on in the world right now, it’s been the latter, so please bear with me as I take it one day at a time. I have been able to get some reading done, as a sort of escape from reality, so there might be an increase in the number of book reviews I post in the next few months. Sorry, but not really.

This post is to talk about my favorite book that I read in the month of February. I reread a bunch of old favorites last month, so I decided to write about my favorite new read. February’s book was Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas. I had heard Julie (from the YouTube channel Pages and Pens) talk about this book in a TBR for a recent round of Contemporary-a-thon — a week-long readathon hosted by Julie and several other booktubers focused on reading books in the contemporary genre. I picked up the book on a recent trip to Barnes and Noble and found the premise and execution extremely interesting and well done. So without further ado, what is it about?

Book cover of Because You’ll Never Meet Me

Ollie is allergic to electricity — every time he’s near it, he’s prone to debilitating seizures. Moritz has an electronic pacemaker — without it, his weak heart would stop beating altogether. The two form an extremely unlikely friendship through written communication — letters passed between a German small town and a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Since they can never meet, and are both hermits of their own kind, Ollie and Moritz help each other work through problems from their past, confront issues in the present, and develop hope for the future.

I’ve realized that I often enjoy books with dual POV, or multiple points of view, and I was really drawn in by this synopsis. I was interested to see how these vastly different individuals would interact and form an unlikely friendship. I think Leah Thomas did an excellent job with developing the characters of Ollie and Moritz, and how she was able to craft such distinct voices for each of their respective chapters. While some might critique the book with the claim that the boys narrating their day to day actions to each other at times might seem extraneous, I found it necessary since, as the title suggests, these two can never meet in real life, so their only form of communication (i.e. discussing events of the past and the present with the other) is through these letters. I read another book in February that involved two boys writing letters to each other, but in that story the two main characters go to the same school and interacted on a daily basis, which made them recounting events that had occurred as unnecessary in my opinion. I grew attached to Ollie and Moritz, felt (for the most part) their feelings and reactions to certain situations was realistic, and felt the pace at which Leah Thomas revealed their pasts was great. It left me intrigued and wanting more at the end of each letter. There is a sequel currently out, titled Nowhere Near You, and after the way this book ended I’m interested to see where the next book picks up.

And there you have it, the best book I picked up in February. Well, the best new book at least — I reread my favorite series, How to Be (by T.J. Klune), and I could spend another blog post specifically dedicated to those, but I’ll save that for a different day. I’ve already picked up some great books in March, so I’ll be interested to see which one takes the cake as my favorite.

Places to find Because You’ll Never Meet Me:
Amazon
Goodreads
Bloomsbury
Leah Thomas’ Instagram

Favorite Book of January – The House in the Cerulean Sea

Welcome to the new series I’m working on where I gush about my favorite book of every month! We’re starting off strong with January, and I’m honestly so excited to talk about this book, because I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for it to be published so other people can enjoy it just as much as I have!

My favorite book of January was, in fact, The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This book will be released on March 17th, 2020 (a month away from the time this post is public), BUT Goodreads ran a giveaway at the end of last year and I was one of 100 people to win an arc (advanced reader’s copy) of it. I was SO excited when I received the email saying I was a winner, and even MORE excited when it arrived on my doorstep before I left for work on Christmas Eve. I’ve followed T.J. Klune pretty closely after I discovered his book How to Be a Normal Person, and this book is the first with his new publisher Tor Books. So, what’s the book even about? Well, I’m glad you asked.

**Cover art by Chris Sickels/Red Nose Studio (@rednosestudio) and designed by Peter Lutjen**

Linus Baker has been a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) for more than a decade. At work, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of magical children in government-sanctioned orphanages. At home, he lives a solitary life in his tiny house with a devious cat, his old records, and nosy neighbors – a rather exciting life for a 40-year-old man. He is a lover of routine, until one day he is summoned to the fifth floor of his work building for a meeting with Extremely Upper Management, who send him on a highly classified mission to the Marsyas Island Orphanage for one month. To do what? Evaluate the six children and caretaker living there and determine whether these individuals are capable of bringing about the end of days. Simple, right? He meets Talia, Phee, Theodore, Chauncey, Sal, and Lucy: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and, oh yeah, the Antichrist. There’s also Arthur Parnassus, the charming and enigmatic caretaker fully prepared to protect his wards from any proposed threat at all costs. Will Linus be able to survive the month, and what ever will he report back to Extremely Upper Management?

I absolutely loved this book. T.J. Klune has a way of weaving minor fantastical elements to appeal to both contemporary and fantasy readers. The beginning of this book is slow, but before I knew it I was falling in love with every single person on Marsyas Island (well, at the orphanage, some of the townspeople are rather unlikeable). I feel like a big part of this book is being able to overcome some of society’s misconceptions about things you don’t fully understand before you yourself are able to experience them. Linus had so many misconceptions about the children (and Arthur) because of how they are framed by Extremely Upper Management and their case files. But once Linus has had time to interact with them for himself, and get to know them for who they truly are, he begins to understand how his initial thoughts and feelings could be wrong. Each of the children in the orphanage has a personal struggle they’ve had to overcome, which I think will allow readers to relate to one, if not more, of them. For me, my personal connection with Sal, the were-Pomeranian, was the strongest. As the newest resident to the orphanage, he is a scared kid due to trauma from his past, and is often unable to trust new people until he’s gotten to know them better and he can be sure they won’t hurt him. He also had such a hard time being able to find his voice until being able to express himself through writing, and finding people who care about him – and his voice – and help to amplify it. Recently, in a blog entry, T.J. Klune posts a memo straight from the desk of Extremely Upper Management, and reader, I broke Rule #2 about halfway through this book.

In conclusion, The House in the Cerulean Sea is just another book that I will cherish forever, from its cast of characters to its emotional bonds and ultimate message of hope. I have no doubt it will be one of those books that I return to when I need to a little burst of happiness in an otherwise sadness-filled day. T.J. Klune continues to be one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait to see what other books we can expect from him and Tor Books in the coming years. If you are at all interested in heartwarming books with magical children and a message of hope, I highly suggest picking up The House in the Cerulean Sea when it is released on March 17th!

Thank you for checking out the first installment of my “Favorite Book of the Month” series, and I can’t wait to see what great ones are in store for me in February!

More ways to check out The House in the Cerulean Sea
Goodreads
Excerpt
Preorder
T.J. Klune’s Website

Quest Champion for the Bookie Trials!

**edit June 2020 – I no longer support the creator of this readathon due to her views on minorities and other creators, and she has since removed herself from all forms of social media. I will keep this post up, since at the time I enjoyed my participation, but am removing all links to her channel and adding this disclaimer on all videos about the Bookie Trials**

(HI, let’s just pretend the Bookie Trials just ended, so it doesn’t look like I took over a month to write this post. Cool? Cool.) Well well well, it seems as though I have achieved the near-impossible. I read 17 books in the month of July, and visited all the locations in the Queendom, which means I have achieved the status of Quest Champion for the Bookie Trials? If you didn’t see my last post, the Bookie Trials was a month-long readathon in July, created by ‘her royal majesty’ Rachael Marie, during which participants were separated into four teams (Scribe, Mage, Bard, and Outlaw), and are sent on a quest to find the Bookie Grail. I included more information about my team, as well as all the prompts and the books I chose for each prompt in my first post, so feel free to check that one out first. Below you will find my ratings and reviews for all 17 books I read in pursuit of the title of Quest Champion, so I hope you enjoy!

1.) Soft on Soft by Mina Waheed (3.5 star)
Soft on Soft is a sweet little story centered around introverted makeup artist June Bana, who is Middle Eastern, anxious, and pansexual, and extroverted model/actress Selena Clarke, who is black and demisexual. After years of doing Selena’s makeup, June can’t stop thinking of her as Sunshine reincarnated, and when both women realize that their romantic feelings may be reciprocated, they have to decide if their compatibility goes beyond the workplace. This was an adorable slice of life character driven female/female romance that is perfect for a short read. It does have an on-page panic attack, with a content warning at the beginning of the chapter.

2.) A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti (5 star)
Annabelle has been struggling to escape the nightmares of what happened last summer. She’s even willing to make a cross country trip from Seattle to Washington D.C. Even before she can convince herself that this feat is achievable, her brother is planning the route, her friends become her P.R. team, and her grandfather is gassing up his R.V. to follow. What started out as a trip to fight Annabelle’s personal demons becomes a journey connecting people nationwide. This was such a heart-breaking emotional read that leaves puzzle pieces in every chapter that are finally put together in its final pages. It’s hard to read at times, but that just makes pushing on to finish it even more rewarding. Without giving much away, I think this book is especially important to read given current U.S. events, and definitely Caletti definitely opens the door for conversation.

3.) The Night My Sister Went Missing by Carol Plum-Ucci (3 star)
A gun goes off, Casey drops off the pier, and her body is nowhere to be found. Now her older brother, Kurt, is stranded at the police station waiting for his parents, and tries to recount the exact events which transpired that night. Hearing differing accounts, bold-faced lies, and uncovered truths from people he thought he knew, the night seems to simultaneously drag on and move too quickly. He can only hope that Casey, wherever she is, can hold on until morning. This was a reread from early in my teen years, so while I did already know the outcome, there were still twists and turns that kept my attention. I think there were a few moments where the events were a bit too far-fetched, but it was sold as a suspense novel, and for what it was, it was a solid one.

4.) American Gods by Neil Gaiman (3 star)
From Goodreads: “Days before his release from prison, Shadow’s wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America. Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.” There is so much action and plot contained in this book, that the simple synopsis cannot simply do it justice. Shadow was such an interesting character, and it was so intriguing to watch him find out more about the world into which he was thrust into so suddenly. I read this on audio with a full cast recording, which definitely helped with character differentiation, and Neil Gaiman’s writing style is so incredibly unique, but after about a month I just don’t remember much about what happened in this book.

5.) Stardust by Neil Gaiman (3.5 star)
My second Neil Gaiman book of the month! Young Tristran Thorn from the tiny town of Wall has fallen in love with the beautiful Victoria Forester. In exchange for anything he wants (Victoria’s hand in marriage), Tristran promises to retrieve a fallen star that has recently crashed into the grassy meadow just beyond the town. What awaits him is a dangerous journey that is fantastical beyond his wildest imagination. This is certainly much more whimsical than American Gods, and I can appreciate Neil Gaiman’s approach to both of these novels. As the group book for the Book Junkie Trials, there were many differing opinions on it, and mine can be summed up by saying “it was cute, and I might read it again in the future to catch all the plot points I missed, but I didn’t love it.”

6.) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (4 star)
9-year-old Bruno comes home from school one day to find his family’s maid packing up his things because his father has just received a promotion and the entire family is moving away from Berlin. When Bruno arrives at his new home, he is disappointed by, well, just everything about it; he is especially disappointed that there are no other children around to play with, besides his sister, Gretel. From his window, Bruno can see a large camp enclosed with a wire fence, and all the people gathered there are wearing matching “striped pajamas.” One day while exploring, Bruno wanders by the fence and encounters a young boy his age named Shmuel, and the two form a unique and unlikely friendship. This is definitely a heartbreaking book about the German concentration camps during World War II, and what I found particularly interesting was that it was set through the eyes of a child of a German commandant. Bruno doesn’t know the full extent of what his father’s job entails, and refuses to believe he has any hand in the terrible things happening to the people at the camp. I remember reading this for school, and my heart still ached reading this ending the second time around.

7.) Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose (5 star)
When a small town in North Carolina is gripped with fear as a serial killer is in action, Special Agent Steven Thatcher is on the case. He vows to do whatever he can to protect the teenagers of his community. But when his own teenage son, Brad, starts acting aloof and failing chemistry, his concerned teacher, Jenna Marshall, reaches out to Steven to try and figure out what’s wrong. While Steven and Jenna are both trying to heal from events of the past, and trying to piece together what’s happening in the present, they begin to feel drawn to each other. Will Jenna and Steven be able to make things work despite being hurt in the past, or does the serial killer have other plans for the both of them? This is another reread, and even though I already knew the identity of the killer, it was still thrilling to relive the events of this book. I was able to follow different story lines more closely, connect so many more points, and catch all the hints Karen Rose laid out before the reveal. Extremely riveting, definitely adult, and would highly recommend.

8.) Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy (4 star)
Iris feels like she’s the only one in the entire world who doesn’t care about the high-fantasy Elementia series. The problem is, the books are written by M.E. Throne, and M.E. Thorne just happens to be Iris’ late grandmother. So when Iris and her little brother, both haunted by events of the past, wind up in Ireland for the filming of the movie adaptation, she wants everyone on set to know she wants nothing to do with the process. But can the magic of Elementia, the passion of the crew, and even the persistence of the rascally-cute actor Eamon O’Brien, convince her to fight for something she’s detested her entire life? I first read this book in May, and absolutely flew through it because I’m such a sucker for contemporary romances, so I thought it would be a great reread for this readathon. Plus, Eamon is delightfully charming and makes me wish I could be wooed by an Irishman 🙂

9.) Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (5 star)
15-year-old Will’s brother, Shawn, has just been murdered, and Will is fully aware of the rules: Rule #1: no crying, rule #2: no snitching, and rule#3: get revenge. So Will gets on his apartment’s elevator on the seventh floor with Shawn’s gun in his back pocket, on the way to kill the person he is certain is responsible for his brother’s death. As the elevator slowly descends, Will is visited by ghosts of his past. Can they convince him to change his plan of action, or has Will’s fate already been decided? This is such a powerful story about the cycle of violence, and the first book I’d ever read written in verse. I was captivated from the very first page, and even the closing lines had me questioning what I’d just read. Completely worth the read.

10.) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (2 star)
Dorian Gray has found himself to be the subject of talented artist Basil Hallward’s infatuation while sitting for a full-length oil portrait. When the portrait is finished, Dorian is enchanted by its beauty, and soon becomes disappointed that he will not retain any of this beauty as he ages. In a whisper, Dorian expresses that he would do anything, even sell his soul, to ensure that the portrait, rather than he, would age and fade. I was a part of a production of The Picture of Dorian Gray in college, and I did not have a good experience, so I have to attribute some of my dislike to that association. Additionally, I personally prefer Oscar Wilde’s plays to his novels, because his novels tend to be over-descriptive. Overall, did not enjoy this, but I can say that I read it.

11.) How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (2.5 star)
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is known as “the Dragon Whisperer” throughout the Vikingdom, but it wasn’t always so. This story encompasses the young childhood of the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, starting from the early days of his dragon training. This is vastly different from the movie adaptation, which I am extremely fond on, so maybe I was a bit disappointed with this book, but it wasn’t bad by any means. I just feel as if I might have enjoyed it more as a younger ready. I will also not be continuing on with the series.

12.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinback (3 star)
George and Lennie have nothing but each other and a dream that one day they’ll have enough money to own land of their own and stop having to rely on others. When they find work on a California ranch, things seem like they’re finally falling into place. But Lennie has been a victim of his own strength his entire life, and can George live the rest of his patching up the holes? I originally read this in high school, and, like many other stories read for class, I don’t think I really got to sit with the source material or grasp what any of it meant. While I can appreciate John Steinback’s contribution to literature since his books’ publication, I can’t say I enjoyed this one too much, or cared for the problematic view of people that may be suffering from mental disorders.

13.) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (2.5 star)
From the Goodreads description: “Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who’s ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.” Now, this book was published in 2014, and there were things I did like about it. The anecdotes brought real-life experiences into the discussion topics, and the author was able to shine a light on several stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, and biases some people may have. However, I believe that this book would be most useful to people who are gay, or who parents of gay individuals looking for answers/advice, not necessarily “for everyone” as the description states. There is also a heavy reference to gender as a binary state (male/female) with little to no mention of non-binary individuals, which I found a bit odd. And one thing that was particularly bothersome for me was that while it did have the definition of “asexual,” there were lines that stated “if you ask someone if they’re thinking about sex and they say no, they’re probably lying” to a degree. If I read this book as someone who was questioning my asexual identity, I would not have found this book helpful, but I do hope that other people can use this as a resource, because it does have some useful information.

14.) How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune (5 star)
Josiah Erikson, a demisexual stoner hipster living in Los Angeles, wants to be an actor. Some might even call him “an actor of the highest caliber.” So far he’s well on his way to fame with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he’s looking for is a his big break, which may or may not come at the hands of Q-Bert, an enigmatic novelist with a butch body guard, who Josy may or may not have a huge friend-crush on. In Abby, Oregon, the town of his best friend Gustavo Tiberius, Josy is on his way to making all his dreams come true, even the ones he never thought possible. I never shut up about this book, or its “prequel” How to Be a Normal Person, or its author T.J. Klune, because I’m just so in love with the world and characters that are developed. Josy is a ball of sunshine, and Q-Bert needs to be protected at all costs. I relate to both characters on so many levels: Quincy, in terms of struggling with mental thoughts that kick my butt every once in a while, and Josy in terms of not being able to decipher my feelings until my friends are ready to punch my face in with an explanation. I will cherish these books forever, and thank T.J. Klune for making me feel seen and understood in the best way.

15.) Song For a Whale by Lynne Kelly (4 star)
Twelve-year-old tech-genius Iris is the only deaf person at her school, and she often feels like people don’t think she’s very smart. She feels very isolated from her classmates, and even her family sometimes, because she can’t communicate the same way they can. So when she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who sings at a higher frequency than other whales of his kind, Iris feels such a connection. And she starts to concoct a way to communicate with Blue, to sing in a way they can both feel connected to. The only problem is that Blue is three thousand miles away. Will she be able to share her song with him? I was not expecting to feel so moved by a middle grade book, and I am so glad I picked this up. While I needed to suspend my disbelief a bit, the story was incredibly enjoyable, and it was so interesting to read a story with deaf culture by a sign language interpreter. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a short, inspiring read.

16.) The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (3 star)
Mia Thermopolis already has enough on her plate, being an unpopular, flat-chested, five-foot-nine freshman who’s currently flunking algebra. Her mom tells her to write down all her feelings in a diary, and she does not hold anything back. So when her mother informs her that she has a date with Mr. G, Mia’s algebra teacher, she has a lot to say. And don’t even get her started on the bombshells her father revealed: he cannot have anymore children, so Mia is the sole Princess of Genovia, a small principality between France and Italy. How is she going to survive now? This series was the first one I can remember completing in middle school, and returning to it brought back all of the warm fuzzy feelings. It also made me realize how different the books are from the movies.

17.) Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot (3 star)
This is the second installment of Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series, which picks up right after the events of the first. Mia is still dealing with the fact that she’s a Princess, and sometimes she feels like the entire world is against her. But she takes it one day at a time. I can’t wait to complete my reread of this series, it brings back so many memories of checking the books out of the library one by one, and being so excited to go back and pick up the next one because I was dying to know what happened next.