Reading Updates! What Have I Been Up To?

Hey y'all! This is a very impromptu post, but my posting schedule has been out of sorts as I transition into ~college life~. It's been very busy and all sorts of unique stresses, but overall I'm having a really good time. I have really good friends, a beautiful campus, and classes I'm excited about, which …

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, …

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 …

What to Read for #YARC2019 This August? We’ve Got You Covered!

There are only five months left in 2019 and we've passed the halfway point! I hope y'all are on track with your reading challenge! We have a lot of exciting things going on for YARC that we can't wait to share with y'all soon . . . If you haven’t heard about it, #YARC2019, or …

Writer Wednesday: Author Interview with Derek Milman on Swipe Right for Murder (+Giveaway!)

Today I'm really excited to have the wonderful Derek Milman on the blog today talking about his sophomore novel, Swipe Right for Murder. Swipe Right for Murder is a gay, on-the-run, fast paced thriller that doesn't hold back on the action--and it's out on August 6th! If you're looking for something darkly comedic, compelling, and …

Immunity by Erin Bowman: An Underappreciated Sci-Fi Thriller Duology

I read Contagion last year (spoilers ahead for Contagion, book 1, of course!) and enjoyed it, but frankly, I don’t think I appreciated this series enough back then. I think Contagion and the sequel Immunity bring something special to YA’s science fiction table. I’d categorize it as crossover fiction, branching YA and adult well. I …

Writer Wednesday: Author Interview with Kalyn Josephson on The Storm Crow (+INTL Giveaway)

A little birdie dropped this post off, and wow, I'm excited to share it! I know we've been getting a lot of bird books recently (crows! ravens! idk eagles!) but this is one you definitely do not want to miss out on. Kalyn Josephson's The Storm Crow features magical elemental crows, invading empires, and dangerous …

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 …

This Is Not a Love Scene by S.C. Meagale: Had Potential, but Ended Up Being Hurtful

I had been really excited for this book. It sounded fantastic—a girl who loves filmmaking, cute romance, teenage dating! I was really excited. And then I started reading, and there were some things that I was so-so about. So I put it down for about two months, and picked it back up again closer to …