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 …

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 …

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 …

DNF Review: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, an Interesting Concept, but Not For Me

I was definitely wowed by the pretty cover, and am honestly super sad I decided to DNF (Did Not Finish) this. I’m hoping to pick it up at a later date, but given how I have to be ruthless with what I read before I leave for college, it means House of Salt and Sorrows …

Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud: An #OwnVoices Royalty Romance Great for Younger Readers

There's a total dearth of diverse royalty romance in YA, and I'm so excited that Truly Madly Royally exists because it's so well needed and just an adorable read in general. It's definitely good for a younger YA audience--totally appropriate for middle school up--as it's super fluffy and cute. I think some older readers may …

Wilder Girls by Rory Power: A Sharp and Vicious Debut feat. Body Horror and Smart Subtext

Rory Power’s Wilder Girls is a sharp and biting debut full of high stakes, a vicious world, and the monsters inside teenage girls. I struggled a lot with this review because it’s so hard to accurately capture the sheer power that this novel has. It’s fierce, it’s vicious, and it’s so raw and real—I can’t …

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu: A Gutting Portrayal of Toxic Friendship in a Psychological Thriller

A gutting and honest portrayal of abuse and toxic friendship, Sarah Lyu’s debut The Best Lies is a psychological thriller with an alternating timeline and strong storyline of growth. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when reading this, but it absolutely sucked me in. As in, I was completely engrossed in the toxic friendship …

Natalie Tan’s Book of Love & Fortune: A Nuanced Look Into Culture, Grief, & Community

This is a book that demands to be savored. And savor, I did. It’s beautiful and a little heartbreaking and absolutely a masterpiece. Sentimental, but subtle in its execution, Natalie Tan's Book of Love and Fortune is something truly extraordinary with how Natalie explores grief, intergenerational family, and culture, all wrapped up with subtle hints …

Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen: Forced or Naturally Quirky?

This had so much potential, and the fake dating trope + meddling moms was such a cute concept and hook! I think there was a lot of cute things in this novel, and it does hold some appeal to certain YA readers who like quirkier books. The concept is appealing to most, but the writing …

Wicked Fox Phone & Desktop Wallpapers! + My Review of This Engrossing Fantasy Romance

I've had this post planned for--whatfeelslike--ever, and *primal screams* I've been working on all the illustrations for it for months, and I'm just overjoyed to bring everything to you! It's been A Struggle to keep things quiet, but I'm just so happy I finally get to share it all with you! Wicked Fox was such …