Crier’s War by Nina Varela: Romance, Revolutionaries, and ALL the Angsty Fluff

I’m honestly so overwhelmed by just how much I enjoyed this book. High fantasy isn’t normally my jam, but from the very beginning of this, I was obsessed. There’s a timeline at the start of the story that in itself was such an entertaining and interesting read for me, and I couldn’t get enough of …

The Tea Dragon Society & The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill: Soft, Precious, and Lush

I knew this was going to be cute, but I never imagined just how cute it would be. Everything about this series is so lovely, it’s such a sweet and heartfelt experience. The reading experience of these books is genuinely so pleasant and calming, I can’t recommend it enough. If you want a quick and …

Not a Romantic Comedy: Frankly in Love by David Yoon & Why I Cried

There are so many layers to this book, and I’m not sure if I can adequately talk about them in a review. A jumble of thoughts is running through my mind, like a tangle of wires. At its core, Frankly in Love is not a romance. It’s a story about family, set against the quirky …

She’s the Worst by Lauren Spieller: A Day-Long Story of Sisterhood, Friendship, & Family

I sped through this in the span of a few hours on the trip to college and honestly really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially because Spieller’s debut leaned a lot more on the romance side, and this leans a lot more on the friendship and sisterhood side, but wow, this was …

Caster by Elsie Chapman: A Thriller feat. Dangerous Magic Games, Diasporic Subthemes, & Gangs

Caster is one of those books that only gets better as you continue reading. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew there was magic, fights, and gangs in this story, and I was all in. And Chapman really pulled through in bringing an engaging and extremely entertaining thriller featuring a giant web of …

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi: A Relatable and Modern Contemporary feat. 20 year-old Characters

Mary H.K. Choi's Permanent Record is not a love story. It's a coming of age story. Choi's writing style is refreshing and extremely appealing to an infrequently catered to market. It's labeled as YA by Simon and Schuster (14+), but I think the people who will enjoy and relate to this the most are college …

Eclipse the Skies by Maura Milan: A Heartbreaking but Perfect Ending (spoiler-free)

I am just. Wow. This was terrible and heartbreaking and ten levels of crushing, but it was also . . . pretty perfect for this series. It’s the type of book that makes me want to write fanfiction. I just need more of these characters, this world, this story. Even though it’s a perfect ending, …

Color Me In by Natasha Diaz: An Honest Coming-of-Age Story of a White-Passing Teen

I knew this was going to be good, but I didn't expect such a unique and individual story about identity. Color Me In revolves around Neveah who is a biracial Black and Jewish fifteen year old girl who's trying to understand her identity, how she fits in the world, and deal with her parent's divorce …

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee: Another Amazing Historical Novel About A Chinese Girl in 1890 Atlanta

I loved reading Outrun the Moon, and can’t believe Stacey Lee managed to outdo herself with another stunning novel. The Downstairs Girl is an immediate new favorite and I absolutely adore not only the entire story, but Jo Kuan herself and her innate spunk. From Jo to her questions about her past to Lee’s intricate …

Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza: A Geeky Story of Discovery feat. Modern Activism Subtext

I loved reading Priemaza's debut Kat and Meg Conquer the World back in 2017 and have been anxiously waiting for Fan the Flame. And wow--Priemaza brings all the geeky goodness with some familiar names (remember LumberLegs?) but fresh new stories. We have three protagonists and they're at a gaming convention, and throughout the story, each …