Note to self: always read everything H.E. Edgmon writes.
I'm not typically a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, because they make me SO anxious. But I'veNote to self: always read everything H.E. Edgmon writes.
I'm not typically a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, because they make me SO anxious. But I've loved what I've read from H.E. Edgmon previously, so I still wanted to give this a try, and I'm so glad I did.
This is pretty brutal for a middlegrade novel, but it's also full of heart and hope. Millie and Rose were both very different and have very different ways of coping with what's happening to them, which was interesting to read and I think will help middlegrade readers understand that people respond to similar situations differently and that's okay. I absolutely loved the Lost Boys, particularly Ben, and the story became so much more hopeful once Millie and Rose met them.
This isn't quite 5 stars for me, though, because I was honestly expecting a little more from this. I felt like the ending was a little rushed, and this book didn't do much that felt inventive to me - I feel like it's a fairly standard post-apocalyptic story....more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
Petition for people to stop sleeping on Michael Gray Bulla's books.
Having loved his debut, If IMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
Petition for people to stop sleeping on Michael Gray Bulla's books.
Having loved his debut, If I Can Give You That, and having loved The Ghost of You now, I think it's safe to say I can add a new author to my list of favourites. I'm so impressed with his ability to write books with super heavy themes in a way that gives them space to exist while still remaining hopeful.
The Ghost of You is about grief, following trans teen Caleb who's lost his brother to addiction. Caleb is really struggling to process this enormous loss, and he doesn't always use the healthiest of coping mechanisms. I love how real this book felt, with Caleb portrayed as a realistic character, instead of a rolemodel. Caleb doesn't know how to deal with his grief, particularly how to talk to others about it, and I empathized with him so much.
But in the midst of all the grief, this book is also filled with so many different kinds of love, which really made this story feel hopeful. Caleb is surrounded by so many loving people, like his parents, best friend, and new-found partner Emmett, who is an absolutely wonderful love interest....more
There's a lot to love about this. The art work is absolutely beautiful, from the illustrations to the use of colour. And I loved the format of journalThere's a lot to love about this. The art work is absolutely beautiful, from the illustrations to the use of colour. And I loved the format of journal pages.
I had some trouble understanding Ash's motivations though, mainly because I wouldn't survive a day out in the woods and I can't comprehend why you would want to. I understood Ash wanting to find their grandad's cabin, but after they found it, the story quickly went downhill for me as it just all seemed very rosecoloured and unlikely.
The book finally lost me when Ash coming back home felt really glossed over. Everyone seemed to get over the whole situation very easily. I would have wanted a meaningful conversation between Ash and their family, at the very least....more
I was hopeful that this would be a 5 star read, and I did enjoy a lot of elements, but I've ended up with such mixed feelings.
My main issue is that I I was hopeful that this would be a 5 star read, and I did enjoy a lot of elements, but I've ended up with such mixed feelings.
My main issue is that I just can't make sense of what the book was aiming to do, exactly. There's so many incongruences in what the main character wants and is striving for. At the start of the book, he travels back to his hometown from New York after getting laid off and losing his appartment. He leaves his friends behind and goes pretty much no contact with them for the duration of his stay home. This immediately means we don't see what his connection with New York truly is.
In his hometown, he reconnects with his childhood best friend and gets to meet a lot of queer people who've stayed behind in this small town instead of leaving like he did as a teen. Now, he has to figure out if he wants to stay in this small town, or go back to New York.
This is an understandable dilemma, except I never felt like the main character was really thinking about anything and growing in any way, shape or form. By the end of the book, I was surprised at the choices he makes, because we just never get any depth into why he'd want to make this choice.
There's also a time travel element, with the main character travelling back in time in the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and meeting his old self. I thought this element was incredibly underused, and I didn't feel like it had all that much impact on either the main character or the story.
I was a little taken aback by the ending, because I'd expected this to be a romance novel. I think that's because it's published by Avon, but I did check and saw it isn't being marketed as a romance, so that's on me for assuming! I just wanted to mention it in case you're making the same assumption....more
Every book in this series has been so sweet, and this one especially so. I loved seeing asexual, non-binary and autistic rep in this book, because I sEvery book in this series has been so sweet, and this one especially so. I loved seeing asexual, non-binary and autistic rep in this book, because I share all those identities, and it's rare to see them together....more
First off, I really appreciate the author for sharing his story so openly and getting so personal in this book, which I think will be a great startingFirst off, I really appreciate the author for sharing his story so openly and getting so personal in this book, which I think will be a great starting point for cis people who want to read from trans perspectives, which is exactly this book's goal.
But this book could have used a lot more structure. The narration felt choppy, and I felt like we were going from one topic to another quite suddenly all throughout the book. While Kenny shared a lot of personal stories and valuable insights, these didn't come together in a way that made the book feel cohesive....more
Robin Gow's main characters always have a way of stealing my heart, and B was no different. I thought this was a really heartwarming story. It's not aRobin Gow's main characters always have a way of stealing my heart, and B was no different. I thought this was a really heartwarming story. It's not a full 5 stars for me though, because Gooseberry's situation and training seemed a little too rose-coloured....more
At first I wasn't really sure what the tone of this book was going to be, but it quickly turned out to be such a sweet story, very much living up to tAt first I wasn't really sure what the tone of this book was going to be, but it quickly turned out to be such a sweet story, very much living up to the adorable cover. It was a quick read, but it never felt rushed. You get to know the main characters pretty well, but some of the side characters as well, which I appreciate, since side characters can sometimes feel pretty flat. I loved seeing the romance slowly build up, and especially the second half made me feel so soft....more
So far so good with this series, I also quite enjoyed this second installment! This novella again felt like a fully fleshed out novel, which is so funSo far so good with this series, I also quite enjoyed this second installment! This novella again felt like a fully fleshed out novel, which is so fun. The romance was a little slower to start but this gave a lot of room to the small town atmosphere and interacting with lots of interesting side characters. I also thought the main characters were both really interesting, especially Carey with their visible mending work, which sounded super creative....more
Genderfluid shapeshifters will always hit the spot for me. I loved Dami so much, and this was an incredibly fun read. I ended up reading it in one sitGenderfluid shapeshifters will always hit the spot for me. I loved Dami so much, and this was an incredibly fun read. I ended up reading it in one sitting because it was so engaging. This was my third book by Gabe Cole Novoa and I'm craving more!...more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
Having read three of Nita Tyndall's books now, I think it's safe to conclude they're a really gMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy.
Having read three of Nita Tyndall's books now, I think it's safe to conclude they're a really good writer. Especially since all of their books have been so different from each other.
This is their first YA thriller and I was drawn in from the start. The writing is so engaging, making me finish the book in almost one sitting. Sid is such an intriguing main character, because at points, you're really not sure if you can trust them, but you also sympathize with them so much....more
If a new Anita Kelly lands on your Kindle, you know you have to stay up until midnight to start it. Nevertheless, I did take my time with this, becausIf a new Anita Kelly lands on your Kindle, you know you have to stay up until midnight to start it. Nevertheless, I did take my time with this, because it's on the slower side for a romance, and I had a great time.
I loved how queer this was, with Mae and Dell both being some flavour of non-binary in such a casual way that's never questioned or explained, which felt very relatable. It was amazing seeing some characters from Anita Kelly's previous books, both self-published and traditionally published, and seeing Mae carve out a space for herself in this small beach town. And of course, who wouldn't love a book about a bookshop??
It's not a super lighthearted book, but not a super heavy one either. It does have its heavier themes, like grief, queerphobia and PTSD, but there's also community and support and of course romance. I think this is a great summer read, seeing as this is set by the beach, if you love your summer reads a little more melancholic.
This is one of those books I might enjoy even more on a reread, and you can bet I WILL reread it. Some specific books just click for me more the second time around, and I feel like this will be one of those, because the tone of the book took a while for me to adjust to, and I think I'll appreciate it more on a second read....more
With a sweet artstyle similar to Heartstopper, this memoir in graphic novel format is the kind, open, and honest story of Theo's figuring out they're With a sweet artstyle similar to Heartstopper, this memoir in graphic novel format is the kind, open, and honest story of Theo's figuring out they're non-binary. This is one of those books that make you feel like you are not alone. I love the message the title was based on, that your body is not just some house for your brain that you simply ended up with, but one you deserve to make into your home....more
This stunning debut is immediate all-time favourite material for me. It's a somewhat unconventional romance for a number of reasons. The main reason bThis stunning debut is immediate all-time favourite material for me. It's a somewhat unconventional romance for a number of reasons. The main reason being, of course, that our MC's family runs a Jewish funeral home, and he can see ghosts. It also took a little while for the romance to become a main focus, because there's a large space carved out for family drama. And this family has a LOT going on.
There's so much going on in this book, but all of it is talked about gently and thoughtfully, never making anything feel like too much. It's very much a romance, and I absolutely loooved Jonathan. It was amazing seeing Ezra and Jonathan slowly and carefully connect, and I loved how maturely the communicated, which absolutely oozed care for each other. But the book also never loses track of other relationships that are important in life, of friendship, family, and community, and even the joy and love a pet brings us.
Death is a large theme in this book, between Ezra and his family running a funeral home, Ezra seeing ghosts, and Jonathan having lost his husband a year before. I thought this theme was handled with a lot of love and care. Between Alison Cochrun's newest book and this one, I'm very impressed with how I've seen death handled in romance books without feeling too overwhelmingly sad or depressing. I do of course still urge you to treat yourself with care if this is a difficult theme for you to read about.
Like I said, Ezra's family runs a funeral home, and they're a large part of the book. I loved how this book didn't shy way from showing how messy and complicated family can be, all the while never making us doubt they love each other. One of Ezra's major learning curves in the book is how he can accept help and care from people when he's grown up always taking care of others. Jonathan and all of Ezra's new roommates play a huge part in this, which was so lovely to see....more
This is such a special book, and I hope it does extremely well and there will be many more aroace books to follow.
Essentially, this is a platonic romcThis is such a special book, and I hope it does extremely well and there will be many more aroace books to follow.
Essentially, this is a platonic romcom. It follows two aroace main characters, and it uses so many romcom tropes for their budding friendship. This truly felt like a love letter to aroace people, and it was amazing seeing a beautiful friendship like this centered in the story. We need more friendship books!
I loved how funny this was, how lowstakes but very introspective, how many wonderful characters there were, and especially seeing these two aroace people find community, and all the wonderful conversations about their experiences....more
This was a solid middlegrade contemporary, but it didn't stand out to me, and I don't think it will really stay with me. I liked both main characters,This was a solid middlegrade contemporary, but it didn't stand out to me, and I don't think it will really stay with me. I liked both main characters, but I felt like I got to know Linus a lot better throughout the book, and he just felt more fleshed out. I gave Skating on Mars 3 stars too, so maybe Caroline Huntoon's books aren't entirely for me, which is absolutely fine since I'm not the target audience. I would absolutely recommend this to kids who want to read about trans main characters!...more
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