Lightlark by Alex AsterDark Fantasy for TeensRecorded BooksAugust 23, 2022 Review by Jen When I first started listening to Lightlark by Alex Aster, I had no idea of the controversy around the book, the author and TikTok. I did hear about the book from BookTok and was super intrigued. I’ll spill the tea in a minute, but first my review. Every 100 years the island of Lightlark invites six leaders from the six different cursed realms to compete against each other to break the original Continue Reading
Audiobook Review: Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler
Home Field Advantage by Dahlia AdlerContemporary YAJune 7, 2022, by Wednesday BooksARC Review by Melinda Home Field Advantage is a twist on the classic love story between the High School Quarterback and the Head Cheerleader. Jaclyn (Jack) Walsh is recruited to play football at Amber's high school but Jack doesn't exactly fit in right away. The previous quarterback was killed in a car accident and everyone looks at Jack as a not-nearly-good-enough replacement for him. So things are super Continue Reading
Audio Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuistonLGBTQ+ Romance for TeensMay 3, 2022, Wednesday Books ARC Review by Jen This book was such a delight! I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston brought tears to my eyes in the very best way. I’ve had Red, White, and Royal Blue on Kindle, and while everyone loves it, and I want to read it, I just haven’t yet. Now, I will. Same author as this gem. Set in a small conservative town in AL, the story follows senior queer girl, Chloe Green Continue Reading
Review: A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
A Show for Two by Tashie BhuiyanYoung Adult May 10, 2022, by Inkyard Press Review by Melanie I don’t read a whole lot of YA but Tashia Bhuiyan’s voice really speaks to me and she is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me. I adored her debut, Counting Down with You (you can read my review here), and this book, while dealing with topics that seem a bit heavier than the previous book, is also delightful and romantic. As Tashie explains in her author’s note at the end of the book, Continue Reading
Review: The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (The Bone Spindle #1) January 11, 2022 by Razorbill Young Adult Fantasy The Bone Spindle is a young adult fantasy retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, but with gender swapped main characters. Briar Rose (the Sleeping Beauty of the story) is a prince, and Filore, a treasure hunter, is the one destined to rescue him from his one hundred year sleep. Now, a fairytale retelling is enough to get me in the door, but gender swapped and with a comparison to Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins and Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
Love at First Spite by Anna E CollinsContemporary Romance1/4/2022 by Graydon HouseARC Look, I'm always here for a good revenge, spite book so when I saw Love at First Spite offered up for review I jumped at the chance to read. There were things about this book I really loved and a few things that I didn't. Dani is our heroine and she realizes just a few weeks before her wedding that her fiance is cheating on her. After a spectacular time paintballing in her wedding dress with her cousin, Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske and Along the Saltwise Sea by A. Deborah Baker
A Marvellous Light by Freya MarskeThe Last Binding Book #1LGBTQ Historical FantasyNovember 2, 2021, by Tordotcom This was such a unique fantasy world that I'm still thinking of it days after I finished reading. The world-building is just so superb. This magical, mysterious England where families pass down their abilities and are bound to their estates, where secret government agencies manage to keep all of these things hidden to the masses. Robin Blyth doesn't know anything about Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao and A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay ZhaoIron Widow #1Young Adult LGBT FantasySeptember 21, 2021, by Penguin TeenARC This cover, y'all. Absolutely gorgeous. It sets my cover-loving heart on fire. There was so much buzz about this book on Twitter that I couldn't help but go looking for a blurb. So when I saw it described as "Pacific Rim meets Handmaid's Tale" I knew I just had to read. I would say the description is right on the money. Iron Widow introduces Wu Zetian, an 18-year-old woman who is Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson and Gutter Mage by J.S. Kelley
White Smoke by Tiffany D JacksonYA Mystery/Horror9/14/2021 by Katherine Tegen BooksARC I want y'all to know I started this before bed, fully intending on reading just a few chapters, and then stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to finish. I literally could not put it down. If you want a creepy mystery, this book has it all. - A blended family with lots of tensions who is moving to this new town for REASONS.- Their new house happens to be located right smack dab in the middle of a Continue Reading
Review: The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison
The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison Contemporary Young Adult July 13, 2021 by Inkyard Press Reviewed by Kate The Right Side of Reckless is the very first young adult contemporary novel I've reviewed, and as I was reading it, it occurred to me I have no idea how to review YA contemporary! I've reviewed plenty of YA fantasy before, and there's a lot to talk about there in terms of world building and such, and I've reviewed adult romance novels, but I feel sketchy talking about Continue Reading