I personally find it difficult to enjoy books that don’t have a lot of drama thrown in, but Out on a Limb was just so pure and YOUR HONOR I LOVE THEM.
I personally find it difficult to enjoy books that don’t have a lot of drama thrown in, but Out on a Limb was just so pure and so wholesome, and I ate it up!
This story is definitely too perfect, to an extent. The MCs, who are both physically disabled, don’t go through a whirlwind of fights, didn’t have crazy exes, and didn’t have the world’s worst parents… But sometimes we just need a good, sweet pick-me up featuring lovable characters and a squeal-worthy romance, and this book was that. I saw it more as if it was life’s best case scenario. ...more
Twelfth Night is the PERFECT read for anyone looking for something fun and charming but also... socially relevant. This book delt with so many topics Twelfth Night is the PERFECT read for anyone looking for something fun and charming but also... socially relevant. This book delt with so many topics like sexism, sexuality, social and familial responsibility, dealing with self-worth issues, etc., but incorporated everything so realistically into a light-hearted romcom.
I don't want to be considered beautiful without being seen as capable, too.
I'm both so similar and so different from the MC Viola Reyes that it's kind of comical to me. She's a self-proclaimed nerd (same) with very strong feminist views (also same)... but the difference is, she is so firm with her own self-worth that she is willing to put her friendships on the line so that she doesn't ever get stepped on as a woman, which is something I can only aspire to be.
I don't know how any girl can exist in the world without being perpetually furious.
I can understand people who would hate Viola. She's definitely a bitch who just assumes the worst of everyone. BUT! While I was reading from her perspective, I constantly found myself thinking, Yup, this is what being a woman is like. She basically voiced out everything I keep hidden in the depths of my brain.
Then we have our hero, Jack Orsino. He's charming, sweet, and has everything figured out... until he doesn't. He's definitely not the most memorable character, but he's likeable and does grow a lot in the book.
Twelfth Knight wins in the side character department, though, which is so rare for a contemporary romcom. We have Olivia, who is so charismatic and deep. She's a fantastic friend and a wonderful sister. There's also Bash (Viola's twin brother) who is lively and unexpectedly caring.
"I think we're lonely. Like, as a species." "So what does that mean?" "That we can like who we are and still like being alone and still want to feel connected."
We have so much character and relationship growth in this book from all angles -- we have characters who learn to look at life differently, and characters who we realize are truly the garbage of society; we have relationships that make it through complicated situations, and relationships that are formally broken for good reason. I really appreciated how this book showed both the good and bad in society.
There are only a few minor qualms I have that turned this book from a 5-star to a 4-star: - Jack felt more like a side character than a main character to me. Normally, I'd be more than fine about the heroine taking the spotlight, but this book was written in 2 POVs, so I would have liked to feel more connected to him. - I needed more romance! Like I said, there were so many things dealt with in this book that it felt like the romance did take the back seat sometimes. - One of the MCs (Viola) was... Filipino? This felt so random and unexplored. She didn't feel Filipino at all, so I didn't even realize this until she started calling her grandmother lola. I wish they'd either incorporated more culture into her character.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic read. Here's to all the feminist nerds of the world who need to be seen! ❤...more
This was surprisingly really charming. ♥ I fucking loved the banter between the two main leads, and the thrill of waiting for them to finally get togetThis was surprisingly really charming. ♥ I fucking loved the banter between the two main leads, and the thrill of waiting for them to finally get together was just so much fun! ♥ I also liked that we saw two very different -- but both very loving -- family dynamics between the Pepper's and Jack's families. ♥ There was some depth to the story as well! Aside from all the Twitter wars, there was a subplot about following your dreams, and doing what you love.
Whether or not you're interested in K-pop, I can assure you that Comeback will still tug at your heartstrings and pique your interests! If you're a sWhether or not you're interested in K-pop, I can assure you that Comeback will still tug at your heartstrings and pique your interests! If you're a sucker for sweet romances and are curious about Asian culture, do yourself a favor and pick this book up.
I'll admit, I'm pretty picky when it comes to reading self-published novels, so I tried to lower my expectations when I got into this... But believe me, I really didn't have to! I've come up with a list of what I wanted to see in Comeback, and I'll tell you whether or not this beautiful book delivered.
🎤 Wholesome leads with interesting backstories? Comeback is told from two alternating perspectives: from K-pop artist Emery Jung's, and music lover Alana Kim's, both of whom I appreciated a lot.
Emery, especially, became a quick favorite for me. He's charming towards everyone, driven towards his goals, and passionate towards his music. He's funny and sweet, but more than that, he's just your regular boy-next-door, doing everything he can to be the best that he can be.
Alana was a more closed-off, quiet lead, which is totally understandable given how much this character has gone through. She's hard-working, soft, and extremely considerate, even to the people who don't deserve her kindness. She grows a lot in the novel, and I'm so happy that she eventually realizes that she has to think of herself sometimes, too.
🎤 Intriguing side characters who actually help the MCs grow? Ashwood and Rose gave us a fantastic cast of characters, and while the Korean names made it harder for me to remember people, I eventually got the hang of it and loved all the secondary characters as well.
Emery's support system consists of the rest of his boy group's members--Yongnam, the caring older-brother-figure; Jaehyun, the confident sort-of asshole; Stu, the supportive best friend; and Sungil, the adorable group baby. Emery didn't always have the best relationships with them throughout the book. But somehow, they all helped him love and accept himself, which was just absolutely beautiful.
"It's time to stop playing the martyr."
Alana had her amazing cousin, Stephanie, who was sassy and persistent. Stephanie always gave the best advice, and was always ready to step up to anyone who tried to put Alana down. The sisterhood they shared was just amazing.
🎤 An adorable romance--with some depth? I already mentioned how Emery's such a sweetheart, yeah? Him trying his best to get close to Alana was just cute as fuck. Their awkward encounters and entertaining text exchanges just made me want to squeal into a pillow!
Of course, their relationship wasn't always great. Both the main characters had their own shit to deal with, and weren't always in the best state to be in a relationship. I don't want to spoil anything here, so just read it and you'll understand what I'm trying to say. But the romance was fabulous, and I was totally on board for it.
🎤 Realistic, honest family dynamics? Yes, Asian families are scary. They're intense, and sometimes they make you want to give the fuck up. I love how Comeback didn't shy away from that. Emery's parents never wanted him to give up a "better future" for his music career. (This is something I know a lot of Asian kids can relate to!) Sometimes it's no one other than your family that's trying to bring you down, and I think Ashwood and Rose did a great job showing that this is actually a reality that a lot of Asian kids go through.
Luckily he had his boys, and this just proves that blood isn't always thicker than water. Sometimes you need to surround yourself with people that will support you, rather than tear you apart.
🎤 Loooots of K-artist culture? Well, I wouldn't say lots, but we're presented with enough to get a gist of how much Korean celebrities have to go through to really shine and get to where they want to be. It isn't all glamor and glory. This book did a lot for awareness--awareness of how our idols are people like us, too, and have to go through so much crap and hard work, and how all of that can sometimes take a toll on them. Being famous isn't all sunshine and rainbows!
THE VERDICT While the pacing wasn't too great, and there was a lot of telling rather than showing, I can guarantee you that you're going to appreciate the fuck out of Comeback. Whether you're an Asian who wants to see some realistic representation, or a hopeless romantic who wants to see something sweet, or just your regular book lover who wants to read a well-crafted story, Comeback is a great read to get your hands on. You won't regret it--get your copy right here....more
Y'ALL SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS HERE GEM. 💎 💘 It's so fucking relatable. I was (still am?) Ariel, and I empathized so hard with his academic and tiY'ALL SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS HERE GEM. 💎 💘 It's so fucking relatable. I was (still am?) Ariel, and I empathized so hard with his academic and time-related struggles. 💘 This book wins at diversity. The characters are of different races, religions, and sexualities. 💘 AMIR IS THE SOFTEST LOVE INTEREST EVER CAN I HAVE HIM? 💘 The friend- and family- relationships went through so much development and I reveled in it all. 💘 There's a loooot of Harry Potter references if you're into that. 😉
"Spiritual power isn't just or merciful. It's fair. That's what makes it so dangerous."
Any YA book based around a Chinese myth will just GET ME. I
"Spiritual power isn't just or merciful. It's fair. That's what makes it so dangerous."
Any YA book based around a Chinese myth will just GET ME. I've had The Epic Crush of Genie Lo for years, and it wasn't until recently that I found out it was centered around the Chinese classic, Journey to the West (西游记). (You can find out about my odd fascination with this story in my post about Asian stories in YA!) I'm a bit half-and-half about the book after reading it, generally:
LIKES
🔥 Genie was such a feisty, realistic young teen! She said things and made decisions like I would. She was snarky, witty, and untrusting. She was also driven, and worked really hard to achieve her goals.
🔥 I LOVED THE NEW SPIN ON JOURNEY TO THE WEST! Of course, I know this story as a historical fantasy, so reading a modern, urban fantasy take on it was really intriguing. It provided me with a fun way to re-learn the classic tale!
🔥 The family dynamics were really honest. Genie's mom was a typical, overbearing tiger mom, but she was also constantly concerned about Genie. She truly cared, despite having some high expectations of her.
DISLIKES
🔥 The Epic Crush of Genie Lo read more like a middle grade novel than a YA one. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I would've appreciated the book more and would've been less picky about it if it were marketed as middle grade.
🔥 Quentin (AKA Sun Wukong) was just okay. He may not seem like the thousand-year old dude he actually is, but if you put that at the very back of your mind, you'll like his sassy character enough. It just bothered me that sometimes, he even sounded more like a child than Genie did.
🔥 This one was extremelyinfo-dumpy. For the most part, Genie would learn about the world of demons via huge info-dumps from Quentin or from her mother. While the writing was still fun, I did not enjoy looking at huge chunks of text.
Thanks so much to Amulet Books for sending me a finished copy for review!
1. The world-building creates a plot that's really timely and relevant. This book shows a world of trash--literally. In this dystopian world, everythin1. The world-building creates a plot that's really timely and relevant. This book shows a world of trash--literally. In this dystopian world, everything we haven't done to save Mother Nature has taken its toll. Global warming went to an extreme; all the icebergs in the world melted; miles and miles of trash make the seas almost inhabitable.
2. The heroine was strong, fierce, and smart. At first, Marin was just your typical, I-need-redemption-so-I-need-to-be-badass heroine. She grew a lot throughout the novel, proving to be loyal, compassionate, and resourceful. She always had the welfare of the common people in mind, and she always put them before herself. And she always stayed true to her word!
3. The hero was always either knocked out or useless, but I loved him anyway! See, there's a legitimate reason as to why the main dude, Ross, is this way--he's the President's son, so obviously, he grew up shielded from the harsh realities of the world. He didn't know how to sail a boat; he didn't know how to fight on the streets. But he tried his best!!! His desire to serve his people well was so obvious, and so genuine. He was such a pure, loving soul.
4. The writing could have been better. The writing was alright, technically, but it made me feel a bit disconnected from the characters and from the story. It took me a while to finally get into the book, and it was mostly because of the lovely characters, and nothing to do with the zero-personality writing.
5. The romance was cute, and it took a backseat! It took me a while to finally tell myself, "Yup, this one has a romance!" I didn't think it would have, based on the first 50% of the book or so, which was okay. BUT!!! The romance actually made things a bit better. Okay, okay. It was a little bit too fast-paced to be amazing, but I did like the dynamics between the two characters. They were respectful towards each other, and never pushed the other too far.
6. The friendship dynamics get an A+ from me! Ross has this best friend, Adam, who was a Shoreling--AKA he wasn't born wealthy. When he was bullied, or when other people looked down on him, Ross always stood up for him. And when Adam was kidnapped, Ross never considered sitting back and letting someone else find him. He went out of his way, doing things he knew he couldn't really do, just to find his best friend.
7. The ending was a bit too convenient!? I'll try not to spoil anything, but this is one of those books where some things happen behind the scenes, so we don't really know how things got to the ending, and we just know what the actual ending was. This wasn't really a big issue for me, though. This book was still a really solid, and relevant read.
1. Lots of mindless reading. Out of Left Field definitely doesn't hFind this review and more on my book blog.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUT OF LEFT FIELD
1. Lots of mindless reading. Out of Left Field definitely doesn't have a lot of substance. It's incredibly shallow and typical--which was fine by me! Y'all have to admit: We have these certain moods where we just want a fun read that doesn't require any thinking! This was definitely one of those books.
2. A best-friends-turned-lovers trope à la cheesy local rom-com. AGAIN I WAS TOTALLY FINE WITH THIS!!! Best friend romances (with lots of angst and denial in between) are my guilty pleasure, and the one in Out of Left Field was cute and genuine.
3. Awesome non-romantic relationships. Marnie had a positive and empowering friendship with her girl-BFF Sara. She also had a supportive dad, a mother who doesn't know what to think, and a brother who stands up for what he believes in. I thought the relationships were pretty realistic!
4. Baseball talk! This is something I'm not familiar with, but I love sports in contemporary YA.
5. You'll either love it or hate it. Like I said earlier, this book doesn't really have a lot of Substance™, but it really depends on the reader's preferences!...more
It’s been so long since I read a book this fast! ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS was so addictive.
What you should expect: 🌻 Confusing heroine 🌻 LOVABLE AF main dIt’s been so long since I read a book this fast! ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS was so addictive.
What you should expect: 🌻 Confusing heroine 🌻 LOVABLE AF main dude 🌻 Adorable little brothers 🌻 Realistic parents 🌻 FANDOM LOVE!!! 🌻 Important issues tackled (anxiety & suicide) 🌻 AWESOMENESS
1. There were too many stereotypes and girl-on-girl hate. This book is literally drowning in thin, blond, rich, bitchy Queen Bees, and yes, they all we1. There were too many stereotypes and girl-on-girl hate. This book is literally drowning in thin, blond, rich, bitchy Queen Bees, and yes, they all wear skimpy, barely-there clothes. The ultra-rich and high-class school the heroine goes to is there for the sake of judging others, and putting shame on girls. The heroine herself should be guilty of this!
2. This book is predictable. There is literally zero mystery in this book. We're supposedly supposed to guess who Jessie's secret email-pal is, but it's pretty obvious from the start. Sure, I did second-guess my original assumption a few times, but those moments of doubt lasted for a grand total of 5 seconds.
3. There are some unrealistic things. I have no idea how no one's questioning how Secret Email-Pal Dude (this isn't what he's actually called in the book--don't worry) got the Jessie's email. Despite him claiming right off the bat that he's not creepy, I find this to be incredibly shady and unrealistic. I, for one, would run for the hills if someone I don't know would randomly email me, claiming to want to help!
Also, Jessie assumes things WAAAAY too much, and way too fast. YOU'RE SHAMING THE NAME OF WOMEN, JESSIE.
4. The friendships and sibling love were fabulous! Exhibit A: Jessie and her step-brother, Theo, start off on the wrong foot. They hate each other at first, and ignore each other at all costs, but eventually learn to help each other out and to be good support systems to each other!
Exhibit B: Jessie has a long-time friend from before she moved, who she loves dearly. She never "replaces" her with someone else, despite making new friends in her new home. They also go through some fights, which is very realistic. Overall, their friendship is solid and I love that.
2. The ending was TOO CUTE. There might be no mystery as to who Secret Email-Pal Dude is, but it's sort-of okay because he is one adorable "secret admirer." He says lots of sappy stuff that will melt your heart at the end of the book!...more
OVERVIEW If you've already read and loved Legend, definitely pick up a copy of the graphic novel! It'll be enough to bring back your feels and memoriesOVERVIEW If you've already read and loved Legend, definitely pick up a copy of the graphic novel! It'll be enough to bring back your feels and memories. If not, skip it. There isn't enough details for you to get a complete Legend experience.
No, seriously. I'm a HUGE fan of Legend, and I legitimately got the feels before Day and June even met. I can't help being a fangirl, okay? It's in my system.
ART AND COLOR The art felt a lot like manga for me, which of course won me over. The artwork wasn't detail-heavy, and there were a few awkward-looking parts, but it was smooth and clean. Also, I don't like my guys with long hair, but the artist managed to make Day look like a lovely anime character, so bonus points for that! And June is gorgeous. That hair. #goals.
The coloring's pretty simple. There are a few parts where it's bit light, as if there was this sort of slight fog over everything, but for the most part, it's just normal coloring.
[image][image] [image][image]
DETAILS Like I said earlier, you won't understand the story too much if you haven't read the actual novel yet. There's enough details and dialogue to get the gist of things, but there will be important details you're going to miss. The story's still the same, no changes, but really just lacks some parts.
PACING The pacing is horrid, mostly because of the lack of details. This is a general downside of graphic novels, so it didn't really bother me too much. It made the romance extremely rushed, and there were many scenes that just popped out of nowhere and had no foreshadowing. Just a fair warning to anyone who plans to read this but hasn't read the actual book yet.
Laini Taylor is a master of crafting darkly gorgeous and deliciously unique tales with all sorts of unearthly creatures. Each story featured sOverall:
Laini Taylor is a master of crafting darkly gorgeous and deliciously unique tales with all sorts of unearthly creatures. Each story featured strong heroines with very different personalities, and the same goes for the men they touch lips with.
As usual, it was hard to get into her very flowery and descriptive writing, but nevertheless I enjoyed Lips Touch: Three Times as a whole.
Goblin Fruit: (4 stars)
Laini Taylor works magic with this story. I mean, who else can create such beautiful, eerie tale with depth in just 54 pages?
The actual story was so dark and whimsical; you can't not get sucked into it. We're told of goblins, ghosts, swan wings in coffins with the dead--all of those disturbing bedtime stories rolled into one.
Our main character, Kizzy, was so well-developed and realistic. She's a girl with dreams and so many wants, just like all of us. She also has a "love interest" here, and I did ship them pretty early on.
Again, the only reason I didn't love this was because of the writing. The flowery writing worked well with the story, but not with my brain, and the humor was lost on me.
Spicy Little Curses Such As These: (2 stars)
Short Story Syndrome (I'm totally making this up) has finally caught up, and the insta-love in this story hits me hard.
The writing was somewhat harder to get into in this one as well, probably because a lot of it also takes part in the real world (AKA not Hell) so the flowery writing didn't work for me in those parts.
I couldn't get a sense of the characters too much, either. Anamique lacked a strong personality for me, and I can't say anything much about her aside from the fact that she's gorgeous and has a lovely singing voice. I found James to be dull as well.
Despite those, as usual, Laini Taylor weaved together an absolutely stunning story. It started off and ended equally fabulously--no spoilers though!
Hatchling: (3.5 stars)
"Hatchling" is the longest of the short stories featured in Lips Touch: Three Times, and it's certainly the one with most depth as well. It was weird, odd and disturbing, but in a totally holy-cow-how-are-you-such-a-genius-Laini kind of way.
It features Esme, a young heroine with a dark past--and a dark present. You're going to discover the truth behind her "condition" along with her, not before or after.
There were three romances in this story, two that I didn't care for, and one that didn't really play a big role in the story but I adored dearly. The romances were realistic, though, although I don't think I can mention in what way in fear of spoilers.
Laini Taylor weaves such unique mythology and intricate details in this short story, sometimes a bit too detailed for a reader with goldfish attention span like me, but enchanting for the most part.
On a more serious note, I think this is a book not everyone will enjoy--it's got lots of drama, angst, and mistMY TEARS. MY EMOTIONS. SOMEONE HOLD ME.
On a more serious note, I think this is a book not everyone will enjoy--it's got lots of drama, angst, and mistakes that are repeated over and over again. But it's also heartfelt, emotional and honest. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written romance!
We can probably change the title of this book to Holy Mother of Adorableness and it would still be totally appropriate. My cheeks still hurt from all We can probably change the title of this book to Holy Mother of Adorableness and it would still be totally appropriate. My cheeks still hurt from all the smiling I just did!
Right off the bat, you could feel the chemistry radiating between Robin and Carter. I was surprised by how well Anderson played the insta-attraction card--she managed to make it both sweet and realistic. It was the kind of cute that will make you want to reminisce on all the guys and girls you've crushed on before.
Individually, I love how both main characters had their own support systems. While she may not have had the most present parents, Robin had her co-workers and friends who were very supportive of her and wanted to be happy. Carter had his amazing, sweet, and very caring family. I wanted to hug his parents and his sisters so hard!
Anderson's writing was really easy to read, and I found my heart palpitating and clenching in the perfect moments. I could really feel what the author intended for the reader to feel, which earned her a spot on my Author Nice List.
One of my little qualms, though, is about how this book is being marketed. The synopsis makes it clear that music will play a big part of this book, but whenever Robin and Carter were together, it was just a topic that was always glossed over or put to the side. It could've made this book extra awesome, and without it, the book just lacked some depth at some points.
Andthere's this one scene close to the end of the book where Robin tested my patience. She was really quick to judge and made some stupid mistakes, but I guess that just made her more of a person--a bitchy person, but a person nonetheless.
If you're curious, the book ended in an open ending. It might not be the HEA you're looking for, but it was realistic and made me daydream about a beautiful future for our two main characters.
Overall, if you're just looking for a quick contemporary read to make you smile, definitely consider picking up Song of Summer!
Contemporary books with mixed-race MCs tend to be a hit-or-miss for me, so I was scared that my anticipation (and I mean extreme anticipation) for thiContemporary books with mixed-race MCs tend to be a hit-or-miss for me, so I was scared that my anticipation (and I mean extreme anticipation) for this book might go to waste--I mean, pretty much everyone has been loving this book, but I'm often one of the black sheep.
BUT!!! My So-Called Bollywood Life was absolutely the read I needed to lift my mood! It was super cute, and it'll be the perfect summer read for all of you who haven't read it yet. I promise.You can hit me with a bat if you don't enjoy it (but please surround me in bubble wrap before you do so).
"Destiny needs to be believed in for it to come true."
This book is all about Winnie, a film enthusiast who dreams of getting her Bollywood-style happily ever. Being Indian, her family believes in a lot of traditions, and it was absolutely lovely seeing some very Asian practices here. I really enjoyed being immersed in their culture!
Winnie doesn't always agree with her family, since she grew to be really independent-minded in the book. Despite her growing into her own person, she and her family never grew apart. The family love was consistent, beautiful, and will actually make you really jealous of them! It made me incredibly happy to read about such a put-together family. (Bonus: Winnie's grandma was awesome. Remember how I talked about grandparents in diverse books!?
Aside from family, the friendship is so spot-on in this one. I rarely see true best-friendship in YA, but this book has just that. Winnie and her BFFL Bridget always looked to each other for advice, and they cared about the other's happiness. (view spoiler)[I did have an issue with Bridget (and other friends) told Winnie that she had to choose a guy over college--something that really baffled and irritated me. (hide spoiler)] That aside, I loved the solid friendships in this book.
The last relationship on the list: the romance. My So-Called Bollywood Life totally WON on this aspect as well. Dev was a sweet, charming hero who will get you all to swoon. He does all of these cute gestures for Winnie, just to prove how much he likes her. We need more guys like this in real life, yes!?
The gist of my review is that, while this book doesn't really have a lot of substance, it's still a fantastic, light-hearted read for when you're looking for a cutesy book to fawn over!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for giving me an opportunity to review this wonderful title!
It's been almost a year since I've read this, but it stuck to me in a way that I can still remember a lot about what I loved about it. In this gloriouIt's been almost a year since I've read this, but it stuck to me in a way that I can still remember a lot about what I loved about it. In this glorious piece of heaven you will find:
1. A realistic heroine -- Amani's fierce AF. She has a huge mouth that she can't shut, is incredibly sassy and fierce. At first she was too into herself and a bit stuck up, but her development was amazing and she turned into such a compassionate, loving heroine by the end. (Not that her original murderous self wasn't awesome or anything, because it was.)
2. A kick-butt world... and MAGIC -- It was so easy to get lost in Miraji, with its djinn, ghouls and magical horses. But we've also got guns, trains, and those tech things that make the world a bit more complex and intriguing.
3. A super cute love interest and romance -- Jin is just a mixture of mysterious, witty and charming (yes, feel free to ask for my hand in marriage, Jin darling), who isn't afraid to back down. He compliments Amani and they're just so annoyingly cute together.
4. BEAUTIFUL pacing -- IT WAS FAST. It wasn't too fast that you wouldn't get any of the stuff that went down, but it wasn't slow in a way that you wouldn't get any substance from the plot. It was just fast enough for a lot of things to go down, remain totally investing, but still understandable.
aimee (aimeecanread)
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