disclaimer: i received a finished copy of the book from the publisher as part of a book tour hosted by bibliolifestyle. this did no2024 reads: 234/250
disclaimer: i received a finished copy of the book from the publisher as part of a book tour hosted by bibliolifestyle. this did not affect my review/rating.
content warnings: genocide, racism, war
coa has been captured and subjected to public humiliation and potential execution as part of the great hunt, a gruesome spectacle held by the nationalist regime known as the allied force. if she doesn’t survive, neither will her family, so she has to find allies quickly.
while i haven’t seen this being compared to the hunger games, i do think this is one of the few books that deserve a comparison to it. a lot of hunger games comparisons have a deadly competition without the social commentary, but this had both. we get the perspectives of coa, a forced participant in the hunt, and princess ife, who comes from a conquered nation and is hoping to take the empire down from the inside following her marriage to a man who ranks high in the allied force. seeing these two different, yet similar, points of view helped put the whole story into perspective.
i highly recommend this book, and i can’t wait for the sequel!...more
content warnings: bulimia, fatphobia, death of parent
valerie chu just wants to be a good daughter. she’s quiet, studious, and thin.2024 reads: 214/250
content warnings: bulimia, fatphobia, death of parent
valerie chu just wants to be a good daughter. she’s quiet, studious, and thin. no one, not even her best friend, knows that she stays thin by purging. but when tragedy strikes, valerie finds herself questioning if being thin really is the key to being happy.
i loved seeing valerie’s journey of healing, with her own body and mind and with her mother, who, unfortunately, fostered the fear of food in her. though this was a short book, i think the topics were explored well. as pointed out in the author’s note, eating disorder recovery takes a long time, but i thought this did a good job of showing the start of that journey....more
all riley cares about is theatre, with dreams to eventually become a broadway director. as a punishment for stealing her mom’s car,2024 reads: 208/250
all riley cares about is theatre, with dreams to eventually become a broadway director. as a punishment for stealing her mom’s car, though, she is forced to spend her afterschool hours at the last place she wants to be: her dad’s game shop. working here takes away from her planning time to save the spring musical, and what’s worse, she gets off on the wrong foot with her coworker, nathan. after her ex brings his new girlfriend to the shop, she makes a deal with nathan: they’ll fake date to show riley’s ex she’s moved on, and to get nathan’s crush interested in dating him.
from the pink illustrated cover to the punny title, this book looked so cute, and i could not wait to read it! we start the book with riley being a bit immature (as expected from most any teenager). she can’t understand why she’s in so much trouble for stealing her mom’s car and driving it to columbus without a license. (as a side note: i am a licensed driver and would not want to drive to and around columbus, but i digress.) what in columbus was so important, you might ask? a show she and her best friend wanted to see, of course. this is just one example of how important theatre is to her. through working at her dad’s store and joining a d&d campaign, though, riley learns responsibility and to care about things in addition to theatre. i loved seeing her personal growth and how the romance played out. i’d recommend to YA romance readers!...more
first sister, who has no name and no voice, spends her days traveling alongside the soldiers of earth and mars, who own the rights 2024 reads: 227/250
first sister, who has no name and no voice, spends her days traveling alongside the soldiers of earth and mars, who own the rights to her body and soul. her hopes for freedom are dashed when her captain abandons her and she’s forced to remain on the ship with no friends and a new captain, saito ren. the sisterhood forces her to spy on captain ren, but first sister finds herself falling in love instead.
lito val lucius worked hard to become an elite soldier of venus, but was defeated by captain ren, resulting in his partner, hiro, disappearing. when he learns that hiro is alive and a traitor, his new shot at redemption involves hunting him down, though his allegiances become confused.
i’ve been wanting to read this ever since learning it features non-speaking representation. all the sisters undergo an operation that leaves them unable to speak. they communicate through their own form of sign language, which is unknown to those outside of the sisterhood. to get into specifics would be to venture into spoiler territory, but i would say this representation was done well.
one complaint i have would be that the switching of viewpoints was a bit hard to follow along with at times. the only clear distinction between narrators were for the “recordings.” with that said, this still wasn’t too hard to follow along with, so it didn’t affect my reading experience that much!
overall, this was an interesting sci-fi book, and i’m excited to read book two!...more
kalyn spence has returned to samsboro, kentucky, the town in which her incarcerated father killed someone. for her own safety, she 2024 reads: 185/250
kalyn spence has returned to samsboro, kentucky, the town in which her incarcerated father killed someone. for her own safety, she adopts a new identity as rose poplawski. gus peake is only known by two things in samsboro: “the disabled kid” or the kid whose dad was murdered, but he just wants to be known as himself. when kalyn and gus meet, they become friends, but things get rocky when their families’ histories are uncovered.
this was a pretty interesting book. when i started it, i just thought the two mcs would become friends, find out kalyn’s dad murdered gus, have a falling-out, then become friends again. while that did indeed happen, there was also a mystery aspect to this. kalyn’s mom is determined to get kalyn’s dad out of jail, and the more kalyn and gus talk, the more they realize their dads’ real stories may not line up with what they’re been told by their moms and by the news.
i also appreciated how gus’s disabilities, cerebral palsy and aphasia, were represented. i am not an expert in cerebral palsy, so i can’t speak to that too much, but i think it was pretty accurate compared to real-life people i know with cerebral palsy. his aphasia was also represented very well! so far, i’ve only read three books with aphasia rep, but this one is definitely on the top. as a graduate student in speech-language pathology, i was not surprised to read in the acknowledgments that the author got help from her slp sister for this aspect.
unfortunately, there were several moments of ableism, but these were mostly challenged.
i’d recommend this to anyone wanting to read a YA book focusing on a platonic friendship and a decades-old mystery....more
content warnings: suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, ptsd, sexual assault, self-harm
nathaniel conti is in his second semester of col2024 reads: 183/250
content warnings: suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, ptsd, sexual assault, self-harm
nathaniel conti is in his second semester of college and has made his reputation as a troublemaker. but then he finds a friend group, and wonders if he can stop acting out. when a ghost from his past shows up, though, he feels like his progress might just come to a halt.
i absolutely loved this book. i could tell that so much care went into nathaniel as a character, from the way he presented himself to his inner thoughts. i also loved his friend group and how supportive and caring they were! they kind of made me miss my first year of college...more
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating2024 reads: 204/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: emotional abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, past death of parent
after four years of dating alana, and with high school graduation around the corner, maya is scared to consider the idea of life outside her toxic relationship. finally, she finds the courage to break up with alana on a hiking trip. but while maya comes back from the trip, alana doesn’t…now, alana’s ghost is haunting maya, pressuring her into helping her possess someone, or else maya will go down for alana’s death.
when i first read the description of this book, i was immediately hooked. i’m so grateful i got a chance to read and review this book early, and it’s not one i’ll soon forget. i really felt for maya. she’s centered her life around alana these past years, even cutting some people off because alana told her they were bad for her. and of course, maya wanted to be done with alana, but she didn’t want her dead. even in death, though, alana manipulates and abuses maya. i appreciated how this subject was handled with care and how maya grew into her own person throughout the story....more
when elizabeth lavenza is taken into the frankensteins’ home to befriend the young victor, she does everything she can to make h3.5
2024 reads: 202/250
when elizabeth lavenza is taken into the frankensteins’ home to befriend the young victor, she does everything she can to make herself indispensable. soon, she and victor are inseparable…to her own detriment, as she eventually comes to realize.
i wasn’t a huge fan of the original frankenstein (love the story, but the gothic writing style doesn’t always click with me), but i love retellings/reimaginings of it, so i was drawn to this book. i thought victor’s monstrosity was explored well throughout this book, especially as elizabeth begins to realize for herself that he’s not the tortured boy she thought he was. i will say that the book went too slowly for my liking, hence the lower rating, but i still did enjoy it....more
this is a graphic novel adaptation of the great gatsby. the great gatsby is one of my favorite classic novels, so i was excited to 2024 reads: 194/250
this is a graphic novel adaptation of the great gatsby. the great gatsby is one of my favorite classic novels, so i was excited to see how this adaptation compared. i think the art style matched the story, and i’d say most of the plot points that i can remember from the original were included here. i’d recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the original and likes graphic novels!...more
mattie j.t. stepanek was not even fourteen years old when he died from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. this collection contain2024 reads: 206/250
mattie j.t. stepanek was not even fourteen years old when he died from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. this collection contains poetry he wrote, but never published, throughout his lifetime. i had never heard of mattie or his story prior to finding this book in a little free library, but i’m glad i picked it up! i loved his poetry and his love for Jesus....more
fia is a changeling in a mostly-magicless kingdom. she’s raised by the queen, whose birth daughter was swapped with fia, to be a sp2024 reads: 121/250
fia is a changeling in a mostly-magicless kingdom. she’s raised by the queen, whose birth daughter was swapped with fia, to be a spy. now, she’s sent on a mission to retrieve princess eala and break her curse. rogan, fia’s estranged childhood friend and eala’s betrothed, tags along, and they find they must confront their past to move forward.
going into this, i had no idea what to expect, besides that it contained a changeling. i really enjoy the changeling myth, so i was intrigued! i did think that this stood out from other books with changelings i’ve read in that the characters were adults and that the switch happened not when fia and eala were babies, but young children. i also loved the inclusion of celtic mythology, and it was nice that there was a glossary in the back because i definitely have to work on my pronunciation skills...more
i received an advanced review copy as part of the epicreads insiders program. this did not affect my rating.
mira is one of the seven2024 reads: 49/250
i received an advanced review copy as part of the epicreads insiders program. this did not affect my rating.
mira is one of the seven wreckers who plunder shipwrecks. her people never admit the truth, that they intentionally cause the wrecks, but the council watch lays a trap to catch them in the act and arrests mira’s father. mira has nine days to save her father from the noose, spurring her to take risks and form dangerous alliances.
this book initially caught my eye due to the pirate aspect, which i do not see enough of in books! i really liked this aspect of the book, especially the fact that these shipwrecks were not on accident. i also liked how fast-paced this book was, as i needed a quick read!
something i didn’t really care for was the romance. i didn’t feel enough chemistry between the characters and it moved too quickly to make sense, in my opinion. still, i enjoyed the book, and this aspect did not take away from that enjoyment....more
in this memoir, speech-language pathologist (SLP) laura baskall smith details her daughter ashlynn’s journey with c2024 reads: 116/250
2024 tbr: 52/120
in this memoir, speech-language pathologist (SLP) laura baskall smith details her daughter ashlynn’s journey with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). the journey of ashlynn’s delayed speech, diagnosis, and social development are all discussed. as a speech-language pathology graduate student, it was really interesting to see into a parent’s perspective on CAS. i also think this would be good for parents of children with CAS since it explores the SLP and medical sides of the disorder....more
nita has never had a problem dissecting the bodies of supernatural beings her mom brings home. she finally decides 2024 reads: 225/250
2024 tbr: 81/120
nita has never had a problem dissecting the bodies of supernatural beings her mom brings home. she finally decides enough is enough, though, when the next body her mom brings home belongs to a living being. she lets this victim go, but she ends up being sold on the black market in his place. now that she’s on the wrong side of the bars, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to escape.
i’ve been wanting to read this series + the webtoon version of it forever, so i’m very glad this made its way onto my 2024 tbr thanks to a friend!
after starting this book, i realized the blurb says it’s comparable to dexter and this savage song. i have not seen dexter, but i love the monsters of verity duology and would say that’s a very valid comparison. i would also say this reminded me of hannibal, and i very distinctly remember reading one of nita’s lines and thinking, “okay, will graham.” funnily enough, hannibal was even mentioned in this book, though i wish it hadn’t been, since the context it’s mentioned in is a completely incorrect interpretation of it.
overall, this was an interesting book, and i’m looking forward to reading the second one....more
following a scandal, the montrose family has moved to new oldbury. soon, things go wrong, as a dark force preys upon2024 reads: 62/250
2024 tbr: 33/120
following a scandal, the montrose family has moved to new oldbury. soon, things go wrong, as a dark force preys upon the girls.
this book was pretty interesting! our main character, lydia, knows something is different about her but doesn’t necessarily know what. as she learns more about herself, though, she’s determined to keep it suppressed to avoid further subjecting her family to public scrutiny. i really enjoyed reading about lydia, her family and relationship drama, and her coming to terms with being a witch....more
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
this novella2024 reads: 177/250
2024 tbr: 72/120
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
this novella follows our beloved spring family set during christmas. we get viewpoints from all three spring siblings, and i absolutely loved this because i was not expecting a pov from oliver...more
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
joy is less 2024 reads: 169/250
2024 tbr: 68/120
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
joy is less than a year away from graduating and has her sights set on becoming caldwell prep’s first disabled valedictorian. as she works to defeat her academic rival, nathaniel, she can’t help but notice that everyone else around her seems to be pairing up. she’s asexual, but that doesn’t mean she has to miss out on a high school love story. she writes about her feelings to caldwell cupid, who’s set up so many couples at her school, and finds herself slowly falling for this person.
i adored this book!! i loved how joy and caldwell cupid fell for each other through their emails. i also loved how joy’s disability (she has cerebral palsy) was expressed throughout the book, being an integral part of her rather than something mentioned a handful of times. i also loved that we got caldwell cupid (nathaniel)’s point of view, too. his story was so much more than just that of an academic rival or love interest.
overall, this was a sweet book (but don’t get me wrong, it did have its heavier moments) and i would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romances....more
athan has long been warned by his yiayia that his power of using a reflection to see the past is a curse. however, w2024 reads: 19/250
2024 tbr: 14/120
athan has long been warned by his yiayia that his power of using a reflection to see the past is a curse. however, when he accidentally uses this power at a party, he’s swept up in a conspiracy that may just lead to him using his power to save his own life and others’.
this is my first book by ryan la sala, though his books have been on my radar for a long time. at first, some of the language used (“sun un-rises” and “unalive,” for example) made me wary, but this became a chilling and enticing read quickly enough. i thought that athan’s power was really cool and unique, and i liked how he came to terms with something he was taught was a curse. overall, this was an interesting book, and i will be picking up more from the author in the future....more
the last thing eila das expected to do this summer was attend a camp hosted by a tv show she hates. secretly, though2024 reads: 69/250
2024 tbr: 36/120
the last thing eila das expected to do this summer was attend a camp hosted by a tv show she hates. secretly, though, she’s excited when she learns that her sister has signed the two of them up, as this might break her into the world of acting. as she finds friends, enemies, and maybe even love, she begins to realize that maybe the camp isn’t as bad as she thought it would be.
i’m going to be honest: i almost DNFd this not too far in. the dialogue and narrative were too cringey. this was my second book by the author so i wasn’t expecting this writing style going in. i had a feeling that it would get better, though, and it did! i’m glad i finished this book because it was so fun. i loved the regency vibes in a modern setting, all the overly dramatic theatre (and some non-theatre!) kids, and the relationship drama.
i would recommend this to any YA readers looking for a quick, mostly lighthearted (but check content warnings) book....more
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