Are You Listening by Tillie Walden

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
Published September 10th, 2019 by First Second
Source: Publisher
Genre: contemporary fantasy, graphic novel
Goodreads
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Are You Listening? is an intimate and emotionally soaring story about friendship, grief, and healing from Eisner Award winner Tillie Walden.

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.

This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak—and a startling revelation about sexual assault—culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.

This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page.

Trigger warnings for off-the-page sexual assault mentioned and parental death mentioned

I haven't read any of Walden's previous work but I can say that after reading this, I need her entire backlist. The art was beautiful, the characters even more so, and the story hit lots of buzzwords for my particular reading taste.

Are You Listening? follows Bea and Lou as they journey across Texas. There are some surreal elements, like the people who are tailing them and the semi-magical cat, but really this story is about piecing yourself back together. There is trauma in here, which is hard to read, but nothing graphic or on the page at all, just mentioned. I don't usually gravitate toward queer pain but this was made beautiful by two queer women holding each other up and helping to heal one another. I just absolutely love that. I love the idea of an older queer woman taking a younger queer girl under her wing and supporting her. We need more LGBT+ elders in our fiction, please! The friendship between these two women was cathartic for me to read about. I loved everything about their relationship.

I read an ARC copy of this, so only the first couple of pages were in color. I can't wait to get a finished copy so I can see the whole thing as it was intended, because the color pallette in the beginning was just gorgeous. I loved the art style as a whole though a few frames felt rushed and unfinished when it came to the details, particularly the character's faces.

I knocked the book down one star because I felt it could have been longer. I love the breezy pace of the graphic novel, but there were some loaded, heavy topics that could have used more pages to flesh out. Some of Lou's decisions in particular seemed rushed, and even though I know the book was mainly from Bea's point of view, I think more clarity about Lou's mindset could have helped.

All in all I really loved this and if you're ready to see more queer elders and wlw supporting each other, you need to pick this up! You'll fall easily for Diamond and the end will leave you in awe.

Seven Settings I'd Like to See More

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week we're talking about settings we want to see more often. I always feel like this topic is a self-call out lol. I'm so sure there are lots of settings like the ones I'm about to mention, it's just that I'm unaware of the books or I just haven't read widely enough. Anyway, let's just get to it.

1. Mountains. I read Even the Darkest Stars around the time it came out, and I loved how involved the setting was with the story. The main characters are making treacherous climbs through harsh terrain, and I hadn't really seen anything like that before. I also would love to see some small mountain towns. I live in the Smoky Mountains in a very small town and I think it'd be a great setting for a YA contemporary. 

2. New York City. Almost in complete contrast with the previous point, I want to see NYC more often. Lots of books set in cities are usually made up cities in UF books. But I want some contemproary YA there, or some magical realism/fabulism. I'd even take some futuristic sci-fi, or even break my dystopian ban for that genre set in NYC. 

3. Space. Somehow almost all the sci-fi I read is more set on Earth or even on some other planet instead of in space ships. I want more space traveling in my life. I'm aware there are plenty of these and when I see them, they catch my eye. But like Ariel, I want more.

4. Non-US contemporary. Particularly not even about American characters. I want characters who live in countries that aren't the US. Or characters with dual citizenships. 

5. Islands. I love islands of all kinds! Shipwreck survival islands, contemporary vacation islands, fantasy floating islands, claustrophobic thriller islands. Give me all the islands you've got. I know you heard me say "give me a lot of islands" but I really do mean to give me all the islands you've got.

6. High fantasy cities. I LOVE me some high fantasy cities! I can only really name one and it's not by an author I even like lol. I'm used to small villages or like, never even leaving the palace. I want high fantasy port cities and hubs of culture. I know there are authors out there with this in them, let it out.

7. Snowy wintry settings. Especially historical or fantasy, though I'm not opposed to avalanches or blizzards in my contemporary either. I just love the aesthetic, the potential for forced cuddling for body heat, and just the simple magic that comes with the first snow of the season.

Can you recommend any titles with these settings?

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Her Royal Highness (Royals #2) by Rachel Hawkins
Published May 7th, 2019 by Penguin
Genre: contemporary romance
Pages: 304
Source: Scribd
Goodreads
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Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better.

Millie can't believe her luck when she's accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.

The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.

She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland.

At first, the girls can barely stand each other--Flora is both high-class and high-key--but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn't a fairy tale . . . or is it?

This was soooo good. I had no idea I needed a contemporary lesbian princess in Scotland story until I read those words all in a sentece together for the first time. I knew I needed it immediately. And oh my goodness, the cover. I am so happy to say this delivered on all its promises!

HRH is the enemies to lovers, tropey, boarding school f/f delight that we all have been waiting for. It's just so much fun to see queer girls getting their chance at stories that are just happy. There are some sad or heavy moments in this book (particularly surrounding Flora's family who are obviously not the most accepting of her sexuality.) But for the most part, these girls are out, happy, enjoying themselves, and experiencing all the awesome romance tropes that straight couples have been getting for years.

I loved Millie and Flora's first interatcion, how the disdain was instant and deep.  Millie has no idea who Flora is, and immediately judges her as, well, a princess. And Flora sees Millie as a problem to get rid of. Watching them grow to like and trust one another was just so great. Particularly the "wee camping trip" and the stag and the river, all the silly shenanigans that brought them closer. I absolutely LOST IT during a couple romantic moments; we're talking stopping what I'm doing, gasping, holding my breath, and literally squealing. The big romantic gesture that Flora did? FORGET ABOUT IT.

My only real gripe with this book was that the Big Conflict around the end seemed manufactured and could have easily been solved with some communication. It wasn't necessarily a miscommunication plotline (thank god, those are the worst) but it didn't feel real or organic. It felt like Millie was making up excuses but with her characterization, it didn't make any sense. The problems the couple had were easily solved, in my opinion.

I listened to the audiobook and it definitely heightened the experience. Now, I'm not great with language or placing accents, so I don't actually know how accurate they were. But I really liked the narrator and her different voices for each character. I was afraid the many Scottish, English, and even Southern accents would be distracting or awful (they usually are) but this narrator was excellent. I easily fell into the story and got swept away with the romance and I do think the narrator had a lot to do with this.

I am loving the string of happy, fun queer romances that have been coming out this year. This was so much fun, the perfect f/f princess escapsim I needed when I read it. I also highly recommend the first book in this companion series, though this one was definitely better.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
Published on June 11th, 2019 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: contemporary romance
Pages: 320
Source: LGBTQReads Patreon
Goodreads
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Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win.

Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana.

There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since.

Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strongwilled young women falling for each other despite themselves.

I loved this! I absolutely flew threw it the day I got it. That hardly ever happens anymore but I actually sat down and read this cover to cover while only stopping a few times to pump or eat. I was immediately taken by Sana (though I had a harder time getting to like Rachel) and I couldn't put it down.

This is "inspired by" Gilmore Girls, a what-if kind of story about Rory and Paris. Now, if you haven't seen Gilmore Girls, you absolutely will not notice the GG references, and the story absolutely stands on its own. You do not need former GG knowledge at all. In fact, if you are as familiar with Gilmore Girls as I am, that may even be detrimental to your reading experience. There were moments I had to run over to my group chat and tell them "Wow! This is STRAIGHT out of an episode of GG." Even the dialogue felt similar in some ways, though definitely not the rapid fire banter of Rory and Lorelai. More like the dialogue between Sana and her father. It felt a lot like Rory and Christopher. Of course there were also the family dinners, the paid-for education, the private school, the "family disappointment" mother, the high expectations, and the tense relationship between the two leads. I think the author did a great job of incorporating all these elements while keeping her characters and story as their own thing, if that makes sense.

Like I said, I loved Sana from the drop. She tried to project this Perfect Girl image because of the high expectations set upon her by her family. This is a character type we see a lot of, but there were some things about her I found genuinely unique and relatable. Sana actually enjoyed a lot of the activities and classes she was "forced" to take on her path to becoming a doctor. Yes there was this huge expectation that she would grow up to be a doctor, but she liked it too. I feel like, very often, this kind of character just hates what they're doing, hates having to impress their family, but Sana loves her family, loves what she does--she just wants more freedom. I also related a lot to her relationship with cheerleading and athletics in general, in a way I never have before with athletic characters.

Rachel was a tougher nut to crack. Our first impression of her is not the best one; her opening scene involves being a total control freak and yelling at the younger students around her. She's been hurt really badly in the past by her mother abandoning her family, and that means she has really high, thick walls built up around her. I get that, but that doesn't mean I like a blatantly mean character all the time. She does eventually soften up a bit, and I did love her by the end. I enjoyed watching Sana niggle at the cracks in Rachel's veneer. There's something to be said about the softy/grump relationship type, that's for sure.

One thing this book had going for it that hardly any other books do: I laughed out loud, multiple times. Usually I can just acknowledge a funny moment and move on. At most you'll get a snort. But I was full on cracking up, a lot, while reading this book. It was so great and so much fun to read. I also loved the feminist messages in here; too often stuff like that can feel very heavy handed or over the top, like inserting a Tumblr post right into the book itself. But with Tell Me How You Really Feel the discussions of women in the workplace, particularly Hollywood, and how women are perceived because of their looks, felt organic and natural. I really loved how many powerful women existed in this little book, and all the different ways they were powerful and strong.

I do with the ending had been a little longer. It wrapped up pretty quickly. But then, I say this about all my romance reads. The couple get over the big conflict, and that's a wrap. I always want just a little bit more.

Anyway, if you're looking for a diverse, feminist, adorable, and funny F/F book, this is for you. It's shippy and tropey in ways F/F hasn't been allowed to be for the most part. Everything about the ship from the "meet cute" to the last kiss was excellent. I also think it would make THE BEST movie. Please @ Hollywood!

Ten Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week we're talking about our auto-buy authors.

1. Leigh Bardugo. Even though the Grisha trilogy was not my favorite, I decided to give her a second chance with Six of Crows and I'm so glad I did. From now on, I want everything Leigh writes because she just seems to get better and better.

2. Holly Black (with the caveat that she's writing alone, not with Cassandra Clare.) I've been reading Holly Black since I was in middle school and Tithe came out. I've been obsessed since then. When the Folk of the Air books came out, well, you've never seen anyone as excited as I was. All her books in between have been right up my alley also. It's like Holly Black took a peak at my heart and wrote her books just for me.

3. Nova Ren Suma has been a favorite since she released Imaginary Girls. No one writes quite like she does, with her unique voice and even more unique worlds and plots. Her books are so unlike anything else I've ever read and as long as she's writing, I'm reading.

4. Kiersten White writes books that just speak to me. Between her female Vlad the Impaler, her Elizabeth Frankenstein, and now her Guinevere book coming this fall, she's retelling all the things in the new, darkly feminst ways we're all craving.

5. Amie Kaufman. Whether she's writing with Jay, with Meagan, or by herself, Amie's books speak to me. I don't know what it is, but her high concept science fiction books and her soft boy middle grade are wildly different but still hold the same Amie quality she brings to everything she writes.

6. Madeline Miller. After reading The Song of Achilles I knew that I would want to read anything and everything she would ever publish. Of course I still haven't read Circe, but I've got to be in the right head space to be crushed in that particularly Madeline Miller way.

7. Robin LaFevers. Lately she's been publishing His Fair Assassin and the new spin-off books, but even if she quits this series and this world, I know whatever she cooks up next will have a nice little spot on my shelves because HFA is so deeply important to me.

 

8. Caleb Roehrig. I haven't actually read any of his books but I have read all of his tweets and I love him. So yeah, I'm supporting him and buying all his books. It helps that they are definitely my jam and I know I'll love them. Plus the covers are my faves.

 

9. Ngozi Ukazu. I've only read Check Please, and I'm not exactly sure if she's written any other webcomics, but I will find out and read all of them, and then I'll read any new material she puts out. Check Please is THAT GOOD YALL.

 

10. Dahlia Adler. So Dahlia is a friend of mine, OF COURSE, I'm gonna buy her books. ALL of them. But her books are also awesome and feature the beeeest friend groups and the BEST love interest. If you haven't read her romance yet, I HIGHLY recommend reading Last Will and Testament. It's so beautiful and sweet and moving and sexy and funny. 

 

Do we share any of the same auto-buy authors?

The Greek Book Tag

I am obsessed with Greek! It's one of my favorite shows ever, with one of my favorite couples ever. Cappie and Casey 4eva! It's been gone from Netflix forever but finally showed up on Hulu recently and I am living! As I was binge watching season 1 the other day while working on the blog, I thought, I should totally make a Greek-inspired book tag. I had a lot of fun coming up with the questions and I hope you all have fun answering them!

Casey Cartwright

She tends toward sarcasm and witty comebacks and doesn't take crap from anyone. Tell me your favorite snarky heroine.

 For this, I'm going with Rose from Vampire Academy. She has a sarcastic comment for everything, even in the middle of a fight or on the brink of death. 

Cappie

I shipped them right from the beginning and they will always have a place in my little shipper heart. Tell me your favorite couple.

Fresh from reading Finale by Stephanie Garber, I have to say, Jacks and Tella still do it for me. All the love interests in that series are terrible, but he is my garbage prince and I love their chemistry. 

Evan

 Evan is the third side to this love-triangle, a trope I absolutely love. Tell me one of your favorite tropes.

Well, other than love triangles, I really enjoy the lost princess trope. Especially ones who are Back and ready to kick ass to reclaim their throne.

Ashleigh

Ashleigh and Casey are friendship goals. What book features your favorite friend group?

I LOVE the Rampion Crew from The Lunar Chronicles. Each and every one of those characters adds something to the group that would be sorely missing without them there. I love how they came together, I love their absolute faith in one another, and I love their banter. 

Rebecca

You start out hating Rebecca, and with good reason. But as the series goes on, your heart softens to this bad girl. Which fictional character do you think goes through the most character development? 

I think American Panda did an excellent job at this. At the beginning of the book Mei is shy and naive and very much under her parents' thumb. But as the story goes on, she comes out of her shell, learns things about her family she hadn't known before, and breaks out to make choices for herself. She chases her ambitions a bit and learns to put herself first sometimes. 

Rusty

Rusty is Casey's nerdy little brother, and a science major. Recommend a science fiction book.

I just read Wilder Girls and it was amazing. It's not space-focused science fiction. Instead it's more speculative and deals with a strange toxin that is changing the girls at a boarding school located on a mysterious island. They're growing scales and gills and extra spines. It's creepy and gross and gory and perfect.

Frannie

Frannie eventually breaks out on her own and starts her own sorority. What is your favorite spin-off?

I really had to think about this, as I don't read many spin-off series apparently. But it turns out, this is actually easy! Technically, Six of Crows totally counts and that's my answer. It's even better than the Grisha trilogy, in my (and everyone's) opinion and if you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?

Calvin

It was kind of a big deal at the time to have a black, gay main character on TV. What's the last book you read with an LGBT+ main character?

Well, right now I am listening to the audiobook of Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins and really enjoying it! I haven't gotten to the romance yet, but I really like the main character and the friendship dynamics. I also think it's a great depiction of a young bi girl navigating her first relationships.

Dale

Dale is definitely strong in his convictions, and holds onto that part of himself throughout the series, while softening in other regards. Who is your favorite religous character?

I absolutely love Tovah from You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone. I feel like there's a real dearth of faith and religion in YA contemporary, and Tovah is a character who embraces her beliefs and finds strength in her religion. I especially loved her devotion in juxtaposition to her sister's relationship with Judaism.

Beaver

 

 Beaver looks big and scary, but really, he's just a (very hot) teddy bear. Tell me about a character who looks tough on the outside but is actually a cinnamon roll.

Sybella is the first character that came time mind for this. I don't even know if she necessarily looks scary, but she gives off an air of Don't Fuck With Me. But on the inside she's hurting and very soft and wow does she ever LOVE her sisters. 

Jen K

No one suspected Jen K was behind the harsh article attacking the Greeks on campus. What book has the best plot twist? Be sure to avoid spoilers!

Hands down, the best thriller with a twist is Dangerous Girls. The best series game changers? Those belong to The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King. Also I have to say I was SHOOK about the "revelation" in Prince's Gambit.

Heath

The fact that Heath has a sister named Heather cracks. me. up. Who are your favorite fictional siblings?

 

Blanca and Roja from, you guessed it, Blanca and Roja. I love them. I feel like so often when sisters in YA are at odds with one another, it's 100% tocix. And if they're not that, then they're the Best Friends Who Ever Existed. The relationship between Blanca and Roja felt so much more realistic than those stereotypes, even though they were best friends and they were at odds with one another.

 

Teegan

 Teegan is here to get the ZBZ girls in line, and in doing so, fills an antagonistic roll to Casey. Who is your favorite antagonist?

 

I know I said The Lunar Chronicles already for an answer, but when thinking of true villains, with no grey areas at all, Levana is my fave. She's JUST bad. There's nothing to like in her at all. And that's what I like about her, if that makes sense. Meyer didn't try to humanize or sympathize with her. Levana is awful in every way, but she's also terrifying and powerful, too. A great villain with a believable motivation.

 

Max

Max dated Casey for a while, and he was the most likable boyfriend for me. (I liked him as much as I could like someone who wasn't Cappie.) Anyway, when they broke up, he left for Europe. What book do you love that features travel?

This has to go to The Girl With the Red Balloon. There is not only a trip to Berlin, but there is also a trip across time, when Ellie, the main character, grabs a balloon and is transported to 1988 East Berlin and has to get herself home. I love this book, the characters, and the relationships, as well as the magic system! Magic and science coming together always intrigues me.

Katherine

Katherine is far and away one of my favorite characters. She's just so fully herself. And one of her best qualities is her drive, her ambition. She's a total Slytherin. Who is one of your favorite Slytherin characters?

 

This goes to my bad bitch, Lada, from And I Darken. I mean, she's Lada the Impaler, so there's that. But she's ambitious and willing to do whatever it takes, even when the odds are against her, to get exactly what she wants. She pulls together an army from absolutely nothing, and if that's not resourcefulness then I don't know what is. She's everything.

 

Consider yourself tagged! Whether or not you've seen the show (which you should do ASAP) I hope you enjoyed this tag.

 

 
 

Finale by Stephanie Garber

Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber
Published May 7th, 2019 by Flatiron Books
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 478
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
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 A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…

First of all, this review is going to contain spoilers not just for the first two books, but for Finale itself as well. It's impossible to untangle my thoughts and get my points across without spoilers. I'm sorry!

Caraval is always going to hold a special place in my heart. It was the book I was reading when I was in labor with Rosie. I reread it soon after and it was the first book I read after she was born. There's no way for me to look at that book and not remember where I was when I experienced it. I love having visceral memories of reading like these, and this one is particularly special to me.

Legendary was everything I wanted it to be and then some. It was perfection and I won't hear a negative word against it. Tella was bold and brash and exciting, and the love triangle was e v e r y t h i n g. It was like Stephanie had me in mind when she crafted it.

I wish I could give such glowing praise to Finale but I just can't. Unfortunately, this book just brought into focus the glaring flaws this trilogy has as a whole. It was obvious when reading this one that this story was never meant to be a trilogy and it's my sincere belief that it would have been much better as a carefully constructed duology. Alas.

I really, really liked the first half. It's action-packed and well-paced and very exciting. I loved being back in the world, especially with Tella. Jacks is the absolute love of my life so I had to actually pause what I was doing (working, oops) to really LISTEN when he made his first appearance. I love him dearly and have Thoughts about him that I'll share later. I liked where the story was headed. Overall, I really did enjoy the plot and the characters, but there was some strange and major disconnect between them that I couldn't reconcile. It genuinely felt like the characters were experiencing a whole different plot than the one I was reading. It was disconcerting and surreal at times.

Regarding the relationships, there really was just no good way for any of them to go. To get it out of the way early: Julian and Scarlett were great in Caraval, but the last two books were just meh to me. Julian is a compulsive liar for no good reason, and it's frustrating and unhealthy. But he looks like an absolute dream compared to Tella's two options.

On one hand, we have Dante, who I genuinely enjoyed in the first two books. I was even excited by his reveal as Legend. But in Finale, it was impossible to reconcile the two characters. Dante felt like a character that Legend played, like a mask he put on. Legen still felt like a mysterious figure that no one could really get close to. I couldn't really understand why Tella was so convinced she loved him; she didn't know him. She could be enamored by him and even care for him, but they didn't know one another. He also constantly lied and manipulated her, like all of the time. Jacks, my trash son, was no better, even if he and Tella are my OTP of this series. He was just as manipulative and slimy as Legend/Dante, but he at least had chemistry with Tella and his feelings always felt genuine. He didn't ever lie to her, he was always on her side, and yes he is terrible, but there's something to be said for knowing one's own nature and owning it. All of this is to say, plainly, that there wasn't a single decent love interest in this whole trilogy except for the poor count. (I do have to say major props to the author here for not just killing him to fix Scarlett's love triangle woes.)

The relationship between Tella and Scarlett has always felt kind of off to me, but it was, well, strange in this book. Just like everything else apparently. Scarlett was in mortal peril for basically the entire second half of the book and what was Tella up to? Running around making out with different boys. Worrying about her romantic future instead of the actual possibility that her sister, her friends, and everyone in the Meridian Empire could be DEAD soon. We YA readers like to joke that Now Is Not The Time For Kissing, but WOW can that really be said for this book. Too often the sisters were separated and the one who wasn't about to freaking die would be hooking up with her boyfriend. I know danger does things to our hormones, but damn girls.

Finally: the villain. My problem with this series as a whole is that things don't get introduced until the moment they appear on the page and we're all just supposed to roll with it. This can usually come off as whimsical and magical, but when it's the Big Bad? It doesn't work quite that well. The Fallen Star, the main villain, doesn't even really make himself to be the main villain until like halfway through. His whole thing is that love is his weakness, so he wants Scarlett, HIS DAUGHTER??, to control her powers of emotional manipulation and then use those powers to rid him of the capacity for love. So we're introduced to a few things all in one blow: 1) Scarlett's purple prose is actually a synesthesia thing that's also a magical ability because 2) one of the Fates, the Head Fate if you will, is her biological father. There was no real time given to this revelation, first of all, and second, it felt wildly out of place. Add all of this nonsense to the fact that Jacks is literally RIGHT THERE, with the exact ability the Fallen Star is torturing Scarlett to control, and it's all just ridiculous.

I know all of this talk sounds like a big old gripe about this book, but I did like it. I have overall positive feelings looking back on my reading experience. I like the magic system, the Deck of Destiny, the different Fates and Fated Places and Fated Objects. I really, really loved following Tella to the market and the library. I love Legend as a mystical, magical figure, and I love Jacks more than life itself. The scenes with Tella and Julian unraveling the Fates' schemes were creepy and cool. Stephanie Garber can write a kissing scene like you couldn't believe. The aesthetic, the clothes porn, the layer of gilt and glitter and glamour over the whole book is just decadent. I love so much of it, I really, really do. I wish I could say that Finale stole the show and was the perfect ending I was hoping for. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. But I can't wait to see what this author gives us next because I can see her growth throughout this series and she already has such a talent for creating my perfect kind of character.

Fictional Characters Go to a Theme Park

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week is a character freebie, and let me tell you, I am terrible at coming up with my own topics. So I asked the Twitterverse and Nicole gave me the BEST idea. I'm sending some iconic YA characters to an amusement park and these are the rides they'll go on.

The Carousel - Manon from the Throne of Glass series

I mean, obviously, right? The ironteeth witches ride brooms and wyverns, it would make sense that Manon would try a carousel horse, too. If she ever learned to let go, she might enjoy herself too.

The Games - Kestrel from The Winner's Trilogy

I thought for a while about which YA characters screamed "competitive" to me and Kestrel was an obvious choice. For no reason AT ALL, she insisted on winning that auction. And then all her later displays of wagering and game-playing. She's the obvious choice here.

The Tilt-a-Whirl - Kaz from Six of Crows

If Kaz was *forced* to go to a carnival or an amusement park, he would ride the tilt-a-whirl and here's why: control. This is one of the few rides you control yourself: how much spinning is involved, who you're sitting with. Maybe Inej would be allowed on but there would be no tilting or whirling at all.

The Food - Ron from the Harry Potter series

Can you all just IMAGINE Ron let loose at a Muggle amusement park!? He'd be in Weasley heaven. 

The Ferris Wheel - Legend from the Caraval series

 I would be extremely remiss to leave out Legend on a carnival/amusement park post. He'd ride the Ferris Wheel because when you're at the top, you can see the whole park spread out below you. He's the master of the games, after all, and it makes sense that he'd want to see his creation in all its glory.

The Roller Coaster - Jude from the Folk of the Air series

Jude would be terrified of that roller coaster, which would piss her off, and she'd ride right in the front seat, hands in the air, just to prove that she could. 

The Swings - Cress from The Lunar Chronicles

Swings are fun and whimsical, and for me, kind of hearken back to my childhood. They also give you a great vantage point so you can see the whole park for a little while, while sending a breeze flowing through you hair - controlled freedom. Just the perfect balance for Cress after living in a satellite for 7 years.

The Haunted House - Alina from the Grisha Trilogy

Alina was brave enough to go into the Unsea. Now that she's the sun summoner, she'd definitely be brave enough for the haunted house. 

The Bumper Cars - Ezra from the Illuminae Files

While wracking my brain for a bumper cars rider, I was trying to think of reckless and obnoxious but still lovable characters. Ezra definitely fits that bill. I can 100% imagine him crashing into Kady on purpose (and Nik too) and just having a blast. 

The Log Flume - Finnick from The Hunger Games trilogy

My friend Kevin and I definitely agreed that this had to be a character who was drawn to the water but wasn't necessarily an undersea creature lol. Finnick, from District 4, with his trident and his wetsuit, riding the log flumes is the ending he deserves and I'll accept nothing less.

Try a Chapter Unhaul

I am running out of space for books. I live in a small house anyway, but the shelves I have are crammed. I'm talking books shoved haphazardly in any direction they can fit. I sort by genre but the genres are starting to bleed together. It's a whole mess of something like 700 books or more. And I've had enough!

The other day I went through my YA shelves (a big built-in unit in my living room) and took down the ones I knew I wasn't going to read (or reread, in some cases.) The total ended up being 44! 44 books off my shelf, instant space! But I couldn't just stop there. Oh no, I wanted to Try Something.

I've seen creators on YouTube do the try-a-chapter challenges to help they figure out which book to read next. I know for certain my next like, 5 reads, so I don't need help in that department. However, I do need to make room. So I took down a stack of 10 to read the first chapter from. If I like the first chapter, I'll keep it. If I don't like it, onto the unhaul pile it goes. Oh, one more thing? I have to read the kept books within the next 9 months, or they're gone too.

First of all, sincerest apologies for the mess that is this photo. I snapped it for my friends and forgot to take a blog-worthy picture later. The books have been donated so I can't just reform the stack.

Kept

 The Cage by Megan Shepard. I decided to keep this one for a number of reasons. 1) It's signed and personalized. 2) The opening chapter was just intriguing enough to make me need more. The MC served time for manslaughter, so I have to know what's up with that.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore. I love historical fiction set in this era, so it's weird that I even had this on the pile. But I've had it since release day and still have no read it. I'm keeping it because it's well-written, but the time has come to get it done already.

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson. This one is against my better judgment, but hello, I love werewolf stories. I just do. I'm also intrigued by the potential conflict of Claire becoming a werewolf while her father is a scientist trying to capture and/or cure them.

Acid by Emma Pass. This opens with an attempted sexual assualt (the guy gets literally nowhere, the MC kicks his ass instead) and it's kind of a dystopian. Both of those things aren't what I'm usually into but something about this is enticing. I like the writing style and I like Jenna, so I will be keeping this for now.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. I LOVE Xifeng. I love bad girls and hello, the whole premise of this book is Xifeng is the Baddest Bitch. I can't wait to read more. I loved it instantly.

Tossed

Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass. I was the least excited about this book, so I'm not surprised here. I think I've outgrown this subgenre anyway, but the writing itself was dated and the voice was cringe-worthy.

Fateful by Claudia Gray. I couldn't even get through the first chapter, so that's a big old nope from me. I'm not sure I've ever read anything from this author and actually enjoyed it, so while the premise is promising, I don't think I'm missing out on much.

Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster. This one just kind of tosses you into the lives of the character with very little introduction. I didn't understand what was happening on the page right from the start. Plus, it's a dystopian, so I'm kind of over that genre anyway.

Compulsion by Martina Boone. At first I was going to keep this, but I wasn't sure. I am intrigued by the main character's powers, but the more I thought about it, the more I just knew it wouldn't be for me. I don't love big sprawling mansion stories and I really just never enjoy books where a character is going to live with their long lost, never before even heard of, family. Maybe this is good but it's not for me.

Winterson by S. Jae-Jones. I've been really interested in this for a while, since the romance seems exacty up my alley. But when I finally sat down to read this first chapter, I don't know. It was kind of a letdown. Kind of boring. And I just don't have time for boring.

Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin

Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin
Published July 16th, 2018 by Wednesday Books
Genre: Contemporary
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
🌟🌟.5

In this hilarious follow-up novel to the New York Times bestseller I Hate Everyone But You, long distance best friends Ava and Gen have finally made it to the same time zone (although they’re still over a thousand miles apart).

Through their hilarious, sometimes emotional, but always relatable conversations, Ava and Gen are each other’s support systems through internships, relationship troubles, questionable roommates, undercover reporting, and whether or not it’s a good idea to take in a feral cat. Please Send Help perfectly captures the voice of young adults looking to find their place in the world and how no matter how desperate things seem, you always have your best friend to tell it like it is and pick you back up. 

Content/Trigger warnings: alcoholism, disordered eating

I read the first book, I Hate Everyone But You, spring of last year and while I don't remember specifics, I do know I have a generally icky feeling when I think back to it. I remember some rep stuff not sitting well with me, and honestly just disliking both of the main characters. I couldn't tell you why I picked this one up except that book 1 had some funny moments and epistolary novels tend to fly by so quickly. I'm happy to say I did enjoy Please Send Help a lot more but it wasn't perfect.

First, this book was just genuinely funnier than the first volume in the series. These characters are now college grads and they're trying to navigate the adult world on their own for the first time. I obviously could relate more to their situations, so the humor struck me more often this time. I had some laughing out loud moments while reading this book. Both the subtler attempts at witty humor and the in-your-face toilet humor worked for me.

The characters were less asshole-ish this time, too. Gen in particular was such a snob in the last book, but she mellowed out a lot here. I found Ava's anxiety to be incredibly hard to read about last time, and while the representation was still on point here, it wasn't so hard to read. I was overwhelmed by her being overwhelmed in IHEBY, but in PSH it was just relatable, if not a little over the top.

So while the reading experience was overall enjoyable and fun, I found the book to be lacking in depth in some more important areas. One of the characters is diagnosed with an incurable STD, and while she spent a good amount of time freaking out about it, I felt like it was brushed off rather easily. Yes, stigma around STDs should end, however, it's still a big deal and a life-changing moment. The other main character was making very questionable drinking choices to the point where the word "alcoholism" was being used, but again, it was brushed off. I think these books would have been better without the two very serious issues thrown in, instead of going the other way and fully unpacking them. Keep this as a comedy.

Anyway, I don't find this series to be absolutely remarkable, but they're easily digested even with my quibbles. I love reading epistolary novels and these, with their text and email formats, go down quick and easy. I didn't love the unexplained time jump, but I did enjoy these characters a bit more grown up with more relatable issues for me. If you're looking for a light, funny read, check these out from the library.

Five of Rosie's Favorite Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's top is childhood favorites. I decided instead to share my daughter's current favorites. One of the many joys of becoming a parent is passing down my love of reading. Rosie can't get enough! She has stacks on stacks on stacks of books, flung far and wide around my house. We can spend hours reading, and it's seriously one of the best things in my life. I'm excited, too, to share this with Lachlan, though right now he's much more interested in chewing on his books than reading them.

Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi and Samantha Cotterill

I don't know exactly what sparked Rosie's interest in this one--it could be the repetition or the rhyming or just how FUN this is to read. Either way, we've read it so many times she can basically recite it herself. She even knows which page the normal pacing of the narrative stops and we have to shout, "oh no, stop!" It's freaking adorable.

Feminist Baby by Loryn Brantz

This one is a family favorite. And it's actually part of a three-book series, now! When I saw it in the bookstore, I knew I had to bring it home, and I'm so happy I did. The art is bold and simple and the colors are pretty and bright. I obviously love the ideals this series teaches, and Rosie loves the naked butts. 

Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli and Tim Zeltner

Years ago, before Rosie was even conceived, I saw the publisher tweet about this book and I knew I had to have it if I ever had children. This, I think, is Rosie's absolute favorite. The story itself is a lot of fun to read, with the tiny seed chasing after its neighbors in the garden, shouting, "BOO!" It goes through the four seasons, covers lots of nature and weather, and of course, Halloween! It was meant to be a seasonal read, but Rosie keeps it out year round.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

A classic, I think. We all read this growing up, right? The ritual of saying goodnight to our surroundings has left the book and bled into our bedtime routine. Rosie and I both find comfort in this little story, and we love saying goodnight to her bedroom, the mountain we live on, the animals and plants outside, and finally to each other. I love this book so, so much and we have multiple copies throughout the house. I can't wait to get Lachlan in on the fun.

Peekity Boo What You Can Do! by Heidi Bee Roemer and Michael Wohnoutka

My friend Gaby sent this to us and I'm so thankful! It's another bedtime story, this one incorporating dinner, bath time, and the before-sleep rituals. Its rhyming scheme and rhythm keep Rosie engaged and she absolutely loves the illustrations. Whenever I ask her to pick out a book to read, she runs right for this one first. Personally, I find it absolutely adorable. 

What books do you want to share with the children in your life?

June Wrap-Up

June has been kind of a strange month for me. I felt like I was very busy all the time, but when I look back, it doesn't really seem like I did too much. I think it's that I'm still adjusting to working now, even if it's only two days a week. It's been ten years since I last had a job, so it's been a big change for me. But it's nice, even if it's hard work. Especially since it makes time for audiobooks.

I was sick twice this month, dealt with a major drop in my milk supply, and also had to deal with my wedding anniversary last weekend. Coupled with roll-over from last month, I'm just ready to put this half of the year behind me, already.

One fun thing that happened was Rosie getting her first haircut. Not so fun was that the stylist did not listen to anything I asked of her, so Rosie (and I) left with.. well, we'll call them Looks. Rosie has bangs now, which I am not a fan of. But she did such an amazing job sitting in the chair and getting her hair done. So stoic and concentrating hard.

Wrap-Up

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. My first Christina Lauren, but certainly not my last! This really got me, emotionally. Several times while I listening I had to stop because I started crying. I didn't exactly love the ending and I thought the characters were acting unlike themselves. But I still really enjoyed this and I can't wait to read more of their books.

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden. I will eventually have a full review up for this one closer to the release date, but it's safe to say I loved this! I especially loved the relationship between the two main characters and seeing an adult queer woman support a younger queer girl through a very trying period in her life.

The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson. I've been wanting to read this forever and I figured since the sequel is coming soon, now was the time. I read this in one sitting in the bath (it's a novella, so it's not like it was hard lol) and it was really entertaining and gripping. There were some gory scenes and some creepy scenes. I loved the ending and can't wait to see where it goes.

Cress by Marissa Meyer. A reread and the best decision ever. I love this book but I forgot exactly how much. Thorne is perfection, the love of my life. Levana is a great villain. This series is just so cinematic and exciting. I'm FINALLY going to finish it wow.

Memento by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Even though Goodreads says this isn't a book, I'm counting it, dammit. I loved this. Of course I did. It was fantastic and creepy and honestly, Jay and Amie did it again. In just 85 pages I was totally attached to the characters and when it was over, I immediately thought, "Wow, I need more." And then I realized. 

What was the best book you read this month?

June Book Haul

So last month I went entirely too far with the book-acquiring and told myself I absolutely needed to slow down. For once, I actually did! I am so proud of myself for this tiny little stack lol. Just 6 books in June, including one pre-order incentive. Not too shabby!

Pre-order Incentive

Memento by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Purchased

Deaths for the Ladies (and Other Disasters) by Norman Mailer

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black

Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (I actually got 3 copies of this! OwlCrate, FairyLoot (shown here) and the original US version, sent from S&S)

That's it! What's the prettiest book you acquired this month? Let me know in the comments!

Books I Plan to Read This Summer

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week we're discussing the books we plan to read this summer. I already talked about five yesterday in my 5-star Predictions post, so if you want to see the first half of this TBR, head that way.

1. Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Berube. I don't totally know what this is about but it's being pitched as The Blair Witch Project meets one of my favorite books ever, Imaginary Girls. That's all I really need to know. Sisters, secrets. I'm ready for some YA horror in my life.

2. Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone. I recently picked this one because there was a lot of yelling on Twitter. That's it. I knew nothing except that it is supposedly feminist sci-fi. I already started it and I'm already in love with Viv.

3. The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring. This is another one I don't know too much about. As with any thrillers or horror novels, I just like to be as blind as possible going in because I don't want to guess the twist too early. I love this cover though, and I'm excited to get scared.

4. Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre. So the publisher tweeted about this and said it was a YA thriller with a bit of a sci-fi edge? I'm here for it. Let me unravel all the mysteries.

5. The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen. My friend Gaby raved about this one so obviously I had to grab myself a copy. I've been sort of struggling with fantasy this year but I'm hoping this can rope me back into my love for the genre.

What books are you planning to dive into this summer? Let me know in the comments!

5-Star Predictions

Approximately seven thousand years ago, I wrote my first 5-star predictions post. I picked out five books I thought I'd love to pieces and set out to read them. Reader, it did not go well. There were DNFs. There were low ratings. I still haven't even touched the final book on the list. What we're going to do today is pretend that never happened, and start fresh. I present to you five new 5-star predictions.

Winter by Marissa Meyer. This is probably cheating because I'm currently reading it already, but it actually was what inspired me to write this post to begin with. I'm having so, so much fun finally finishing The Lunar Chronicles, and it made me nostalgic for the period of time in which they were published. I was reading more back then and just having a really good time doing so, and I've been getting that feeling back through Cress first, and now Winter.

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers. Every other book in this series was a 5-star read for me so it stands to reason that this will be, too. I'm excited to get to know new characters as well as revisit the old ones, Sybella particularly. I really can't wait and I don't know why I've been putting it off.

Circe by Madeline Miller. I mean, we've all read The Song of Achilles by now, right? If you haven't, stop reading this post and go pick it up right now. That's one of my all-time favorites and so I'm sure Circe will be just as amazing.

Finale by Stephanie Garber. This is the only one I'm actually a little bit iffy about. I have a particular ship and I just don't know how I'd react if it sunk. Say what you want to say, but my enjoyment of this book will really hinge upon who Tella ends up with. Hopefully, it will still be an enjoyable read for me, but it won't be 5 stars, I can tell you that much.

Bright We Burn by Kiersten White. I think this is a given. No matter what happens in this I will be both happy and SUFFERING and I will be thankful for it.

I'm really looking forward to reading all of these sometime very soon! I'm hoping that along with writing this post, the fact that all of these are likely to be extremely positive reading experiences will keep me motivated and accountable. I will have a wrap-up/conclusion post for this, I swear!

Mid-Year Book Freakout

I've done this tag every year since it came out. I love it. It's not quite the middle of the year yet, but I am halfway through my reading challenge so I thought now would be a good time. Plus this is just a really fun post to make. 

First, some stats. I've read 28 out of 50 books toward my challenge so far. That's 7,300 pages, and 700 minutes of audio listening. I've reread 2 books so far this year and currently reading my 3rd reread.

questions

1. What has been the best book of the year so far?

Easily. I love everything about this series, honestly, and The Wicked King just upped the ante in all the best ways. Jude is a new all-time favorite heroine and Cardan is a new all-time favorite.. love interest? Antagonist? Both? Who knows! Give me The Queen of Nothing right now please.

2. What has been the best sequel you've read this year?

After experiencing a bit of a disappointment with Beneath the Sugar Sky, I was a little bit wary going into this one. But WOW did I love it. It brought back all the beautiful feelings of Every Heart a Doorway. How Seanan is able to perfectly capture feelings of longing and homesickness, all in just 150 pages or so. This was incredible and heartbreaking and poignant and I loved it so so much.

3. What are some new releases you want to get to soon?

Okay, so, I am notoriously bad at getting to new books in a timely manner. Either I read things well before they come out, or like four years later. There's no in between lol. Some 2019 releases that come to mind are These Witches Don't Burn, Finale, We Hunt the Flame, The Candle and the Flame, Wicked Saints, and Nocturna.

4. What books are you most anticipating in the second half of 2019?

SO. MANY.

Don't even speak to me until I've read this, okay?

I'm also pumped for Technically You Started It, The Merciful Crow, The Guinevere Deception, Gideon the Ninth, and Ninth House. 

5. What book has been the biggest disappointment for you this year?

I thought this was going to be charming and helpful like the blog was to me but it fell flat in pretty much every way. This book spent way more time telling you who it was for than it did giving any sort of cleaning tips. It droned on and on about how cleaning sucks and life is busy but we gotta do it anyway, and then that was it. It was frustrating and not even funny.

6. What book was the biggest surprise?

Not really a book so much as an entire genre. I was never one for romance books before. I don't have anything against them but I am much more of a fantasy reader who enjoys a romance as the subplot. I need romance in books! But I just never really read contemporary romance. But I've read a few this year so far and I've been having so much fun. You'd think with my own love life woes that I'd stay away but I'm actually really enthusiastic about trying even more.

7. Who is your newest favorite author?

I haven't read any authors more than once this year except Holly Black, who I've been a fan of for almost 20 years yikes. Anyway, there are some authors I'm excited to read more from: Christina Lauren, Rachel Hawkins, and Lily Anderson being chief among them. 

8. Who is your newest fictional crush?

Cardan. And Jude too if I'm being honest. 

9. Who is your newest favorite character?

I know I'm about thirty years late to this series, but listen. It's long. I'm tired. But I finally read book one (and am reading book 2 right now) so I can finally say I am a fan of Dany. I stan. 

10. Has any book made you cry this year?

This book yes is a contemporary romance but it is not at all light and fluffy. It deals a lot in grief, specifically with the main characters' loss of her parents. She grows up without her mother, and her mother left a sort of guide/list of rules for her father to follow. I sobbed so many times when Macy would talk about her mom. As the mother of a daughter my chest aches thinking of Rosie having to deal with the things Macy does.

11. What book made you happiest this year?

This may seem like a strange choice, given that this book is mostly about exploring grief, but hear me out. You know that feeling when you're reading exactly the kind of book you're in the mood for, exactly the kind of book you love? I had that feeling when I read this book. It was just so good and so perfectly what I like in my books, that I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. It made me happy.

12. What is the best adaptation you watched this year?

I watched The Hate U Give on Valentine's Day as a way to get me away from any romantic anything, and that movie was amazing! It was such a loyal adaptation as well as being its own thing. It was entertaining and engaging and just, so so good.
 

13. What is the most physically beautiful book you bought this year?

 Technically this was a trade not a purchase, but it's SO STUNNING. The blue-sprayed pages are an extra nice touch too. I love it.

14. What are some books you need to read by the end of the year?

I have an extensive list that will most certainly not get done in time. But here are a few: I want to reread the Scarlet trilogy by A.C. Gaughen, reread the His Fair Assassin books so I can get to Courting Darkness. Winter, Stars Above, Finale, Lady Smoke, Wicked Saints, Bright We Burn, Sorcery of Thorns, Aftercare Instructions, Somewhere Only We Know. Whew, wish me luck!

What's the best book you read this year?