Category: Young Adult

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by. Holly Black | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5)

Author: Holly Black

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 200 pages

Publication Date: 11/24/20

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Series, Illustrated, Novella, Fantasy, Young Adult

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame.

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue.

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, his tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective.

This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.

Content Warning: Abuse

I’ve been wanting a copy of this for awhile. I don’t have the physical copy (will have to get it for my collection) but I did borrow the ebook and it was exactly as I expected it would be. The story brings us back to Elfhame but we get to know Cardan much better. We get a glimpse into Cardan’s childhood and his relationship with Nicasia. And I absolutely adored all the scenes he has with Jude, with her as his Queen. They are seriously too cute together. I enjoyed this installment very much.

Why you should read it:

  • if you love The Folk of the Air series, this is a must read
  • it’s short, a quick read and has illustrations
  • the magical writing of Holly Black

Why you might not want to read it:

  • it’s too short and you may want more lol

My Thoughts:

I absolutely enjoyed this illustrated novella and need it on my shelf!

📚 ~ Yolanda

A Deadly Education by. Naomi Novik | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)

Author: Naomi Novik

Format: eBook (owned)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 9/29/20

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Categories: Series, Young Adult, Dark Academia, Romance

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. 

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students. 

Content Warning: Violence

This one did not work for me even though there were some parts I actually did like about the story.

I like how appropriate the title of this book is. It is a deadly education indeed! I like the tone – there are monsters everywhere, I don’t even see how these kids survive and not a lot do. El is the perfect main character for a place like this school – she is grumpy, sassy, rude, not someone you will like or relate to, definitely not a likable character but she’s smart and aware of her surroundings, she knows how to survive this school, I give her credit for that! Her relationship with Orion the hero of Scholomance is one of my favorite parts. They become reluctant friends, and eventually more than friends but that was the only time the story held onto my interest. I did think the world building is great, a school infested with monsters – sounds pretty crazy and they have to use their magic skills to stay alive and graduate.

What didn’t work for me is we are seriously in El’s head the whole time! This book is only 336 pages and took me 2 weeks or more to finish! 😳 It’s a lot of info dumping and rambling and I could not get through it fast enough. It would have been nice to have more dialogue with other characters. I skipped a lot of her rambling. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Why you should read it:

  • you are a fan of the author (this was my first book from her)
  • dark academia – these kids can’t leave the school unless they survive by killing monsters and then graduate!
  • El and Orion are such an unlikely pair, she’s the grump and he’s the nice guy

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you are in El’s head a lot, a lot of rambling

My Thoughts:

This did not work for me, I skipped a lot when all I was getting from the book was El’s thoughts. It might have been due to my mood as well because I did love the world building and concept. Also the action parts were great but the rest was just not working for me. I’m not sure if I will continue the series but I am curious to see what happens next.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Monday’s Not Coming by. Tiffany D. Jackson | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Monday’s Not Coming

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 5/22/18

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Categories: Coming of Age, Young Adult, Teen, Abuse, Mental Health, Dyslexia, Mystery

Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone? 

Content Warning: Sexual Harassment, Abuse, Bullying, Homophobia

I love Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing. This is the third book I’ve read from her and I just love how her writing flows and how her stories are mysterious, thrillers with some horror, and yet infused with stories about friendship, community, abuse, growing up/coming of age, and family. The setting of the story is in the city of Washington D.C., and we get a good sense of the community and the difference of where Claudia lives in her own home and where Monday lives in a public housing. The girls both go to a charter school to get a better education.

Claudia is only in the 8th grade and on the verge of going to high school. As the new school year starts her best friend Monday has not shown up to school at all and she is worried. She doesn’t know why anyone else isn’t worried but she knows something is wrong. We see through Claudia’s memories how close she and Monday is, like sisters! Then we really see how important Monday is to Claudia as the story goes on. Claudia is going through so many changes, like dealing with boys, being bullied at school, pressure to do good in school – but without Monday that’s difficult. All she wants is to know what happened to Monday.

Claudia and Monday are as close as sisters, or so Claudia thinks from all their time spent together. You could really feel their bond in the story just through Claudia’s memories. Monday is vibrant, smart, talented and beautiful. Claudia also has another friend in the story, Michael, who is someone she knows from church and I liked how he stayed by her side through it all.

The mystery about Monday intensifies when Claudia doesn’t let up her search for her best friends and we find out some pretty horrific things about what went down in Monday’s house. It’s chilling because we know these things do happen, and heartbreaking because I wish children in these situations had a better chance at life.

The one thing that didn’t work for me in this story was the chapter titles which made some parts confusing. There is a major twist to the story and I think that’s why the chapter titles are worded the way it is but it was confusing. The confusing timelines are in line with Claudia’s mental state when she finds out what happens to Monday and I can sympathize with her mental breakdown.

Also Claudia and Monday are meeting boys in this story even though they are only 8th grade – now this seems young, but to me it’s realistic.

Why you should read it:

  • the story is inspired by real events – important read
  • Claudia and Monday’s friendship
  • Claudia’s journey without Monday

Why you might not want to read it:

  • the chapter titles are so confusing because the timeline jumps around

My Thoughts:

Despite the confusing chapter titles, I love this author’s work! This was a heartbreaking read because you do get an idea of what happened to Monday – but just how and why it happens is just so sad. It’s an important read not just because we find out what happens to Monday but Claudia’s personal journey also is rife with challenges that she overcomes. In a tragic story there is hope through Claudia who never stops to find her friend Monday. I look forward to reading more from this author!

📚 ~ Yolanda

American Street by. Ibi Zoboi | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: American Street

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/14/17

Categories: Young Adult, Haitian Immigrant, Family, Romance, Abuse, Magical Realism, Own Voices

The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream? 

Content Warning: Violence, Physical Abuse, Death

This is the second book I’ve read from Ibi Zoboi and once again she drew me into a story with compelling characters. This time the story is gritty, set in Detroit, with a family who have seen tough times and has a reputation in the neighborhood for it. But the main character Fabiola is starting off her journey from Haiti to Detroit without her mother – she got detained in New Jersey and all Fab wants to do is have her mother back with her.

I loved getting to know Fabiola’s cousins who are all very different from one another. There are three sisters, Chantal – the oldest and in college, Pri and Donna who are twins: Pri is the tough girl at school who has a crush on another girl and Donna is the beautiful one and in an abusive relationship with Dray – a drug dealer. His best friend, Kasim has his eyes set on Fabiola.

Fabiola navigates her first days in America fairly well even though she has an accent and her use of American slang isn’t the best. She doesn’t even really curse but in Detroit around her cousins and new friends, she is surrounded by a lot of crude language. Fabiola starts to dress the way her cousins do, even more so when she starts dating Kasim. But she hasn’t forgotten her mom in New Jersey and she’s trying to find a way to bring her back to her. Opportunity presents itself but it will mean going behind her family’s back.

I thought the magical realism in the story was fascinating because it tied so much into Fabiola’s Haitian culture. I loved learning about the Lwas (spirits) and how one was outside their house, guiding Fabiola with his songs. I loved all of Fabiola’s memories of Haiti although sometimes they were sad and scary memories, like the earthquake – she always mentioned that even with misery, there were neighbors and community to share that misery with and in turn it helped them move on, cope and love life despite the bad things. Another thing I enjoyed was getting a bit of perspective from each character, even if it was just a snippet.

Some issues with the book I had: I wish there was more about getting Fabiola’s mom back to her. Maybe too many things happening at once in the story? Also…Donna and Dray…he physically abuses her and I know her family doesn’t like him for her and yet they can’t do anything about it. Hard to read but so realistic.

Why you should read it:

  • it’s an OwnVoices story Haitian rep, diversity
  • it’s a raw story about family and trying to survive in the American Dream
  • Fabiola’s separation from her mom and acclimating to life without her a new country is powerful

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you don’t like magical realism
  • some tough subject matter like physical abuse

My Thoughts:

I liked reading the female perspective in American Street, this story is full of strong females. Fabiola, who was born in America but raised in Haiti has to find her way in American culture and without her mother. Her cousins, the Three Bees, are tough Hatian-American girls from Detroit, all with different personalities and roles to play. Their loyalty to the family is rock hard. Nothing can seem to break them up, not abusive boyfriends, debt, or drug dealers and I love their bond. This is an important story about the cost of trying to live the American Dream.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“No one would be left alone in a tiny house with only their regrets and sorrows to keep them company.”

― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“In Haiti, with all its problems, there was always a friend or a neighbor to share in the misery. And then, after our troubles were tallied up like those points at the basketball game, we would celebrate being alive.”

― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“But then I realize that everyone is climbing their own mountain here in America. They are tall and mighty and they live in the hearts and everyday lives of the people.”

― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

Dear Martin by. Nic Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 224

Publication Date: 10/17/17

Categories: Young Adult, Racism, Police Brutality, Coming of Age, Contemporary

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Content Warning: Racism, Violence, Death

This is a very short book, barely over 200 pages but it is impactful.

It tells the story of Justyce, a boy who is going to a really good high school even though he is from a rougher neighborhood. He has dreams of going to Yale and he has the grades and test scores to do it. His best friend is Manny, a rich black boy who hangs out with the other rich kids at their high school but all of those guys are white. He writes letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. just to make sense of himself. When Justyce has a scary experience with a cop, he sees his world in a different light, questions a lot of things, is more aware of the racism happening around him and wonders how to move forward in life as a young black man in America.

Justyce and Manny have an amazing friendship that is tested by the racism happening around them. Manny chooses to ignore it but after Justyce’s traumatic experience it makes him question Manny’s friends. I really liked how they brought up race issues in Justyce’s classroom and seeing how it pertains to his life outside of the class. But this isn’t only about Justyce’s life in high school trying to be a dutiful student, a good best friend and falling in love. There is a very shocking event that makes the news, there is a trial – Justyce goes through a lot and we see if his letters to Martin help him deal and make sense of his situation. Honestly that moment in the book took my breath away, I really like how that part was written.

The book made me feel all kinds of emotions, especially angry and and frustrated for Justyce. He is trapped from all sides.

One of my issues with the story that threw me off at times was the way the characters spoke and the way it was written like a script. It mostly happened when they were in the classroom. I kept wondering why it was done that way! Couldn’t that have just been written as dialogue? I just chalked it up to Justyce seeing these moments as a play and he’s in the background or something…not sure. But it was distracting and making me question what was the point. Also this book is short – I kind of would have love more in the second half of the story where things really go down.

Why you should read it:

  • important and impactful story about racism in America and police brutality
  • Justyce and Manny’s friendship
  • Justyce’s story

Why you might not want to read it:

  • some parts of dialogue is written like a script and I don’t know why
  • wish second half of the story was more fleshed out and longer

My Thoughts:

This one is short and quick but it is powerful. We get to watch Justyce’s journey from somewhat having the things in life going for him (hot girlfriend, good grades, good school) to him realizing he will always struggle as a black man in America, no matter how smart he is, what school he goes to and what job he gets. Justyce will have to decide what type of man he wants to be and maybe writing to Martin will help him figure it out.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”

― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave. “

― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?” 

― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Donut Trap

Author: Julie Tieu

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/9/21

Categories: Romance, Family, Contemporary, Young Adult, Coming of Age

Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all.

Content Warning: Anxiety, Family Pressures, Drug Use

Many of the books by Asian authors that I’ve been picking up lately has featured a main character whose parents/family are immigrants to the USA. It’s very relatable. What I love about the books I’ve read is that I’m learning about different Asian cultures and in this story Jasmine Tran’s parents journey to the USA is fascinating. They fled Cambodia because of the Khmer Rouge, ended up in Vietnam and changing their name to fit in and then fled Vietnam as refugees and made it to California. But at their family root, they are Chinese. In that essence, Jasmine isn’t fluent in Khmer, Chinese Mandarin or Vietnamese, all the languages her parents can speak. She also knows about their history but never lived through the trauma and doesn’t know why she feels so punished for it. There is the ever present feeling of not living up to her parents expectations.

I like how we see Jasmine go from feeling stuck in her situation working at their family owned donut shop to finding some self-confidence and taking a step out on her own. She grows a lot and I like the moment when she tries and communications everything she feels to her parents. It’s not easy but at least by then they made an effort to try and understand her.

The romance between Alex and Jas is really cute and realistic. I could relate to being hounded by my mom about when I was going to get married when I was in my early twenties. I had to constantly point out how they forbade me from dating in high school (and yes I had the whole secret boyfriend that Jasmine had LOL)…I’m telling you this book was so relatable. I like how it progressed naturally and the drama between was slight, yet still realistic. I did wish there was more chemistry between them – it seemed a bit lackluster but still, sweet.

My issue with the story is about Jasmine’s past, which we get no hint about until she remembers and reflects about that moment in time. It comes near the end of the book and was such a surprise but then it made sense why Jasmine was so stuck and afraid to make a move in her life. But it would have been nice to get glimpses of her past throughout the beginning of the book, then I would have understand why she was so hesitant in making certain decisions in her life.

Why you should read it:

  • relatable immigrant family issues
  • Cambodian, Chinese, Vietnamese rep
  • sweet romance

Why you might not want to read it:

  • needs more chemistry between Alex and Jas

My Thoughts:

The strongest parts of this book was how we get to see Jasmine’s struggles with living up to her parents expectations. I found Jasmine totally relatable when it came to dealing with pressures from her family and not really knowing where she fits in, or how to please them. As for the romance, it was sweet but lacking chemistry – this was more a coming of age story than a romance but still overall an enjoyable read as we see Jasmine grow.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“My parents weren’t heartless, but the trauma they had endured hardened them in ways I didn’t fully understand.”

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

“If the measure of success was that I was living a more comfortable, easier life than they had, then why was I simultaneously penalized for it?”

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

“My parents had rarely told us that they love us verbally. It wasn’t like we didn’t know. They showed us love in many ways, but hearing the actual words was a new feeling I had to break into.”

The Donut Trap by. Julie Tieu

Blade of Secrets by. Tricia Levenseller | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Blade of Secrets

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 5/4/21

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.

Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims’ secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.

Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world’s known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.

A teenage blacksmith with social anxiety accepts a commission from the wrong person and is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she’s ever made.

Content Warning: Anxiety, Violence

I finally got my hands on this book and I think my expectations were too high. It turned out to be an enjoyable book regardless of my expectations though.

What I love the most about this story is the group of four traveling companions: Ziva, her sister Temra, Petrik the scholar and a mercenary named Kellyn. Ziva is a magical blacksmith – she has the power to infuse weapons with magic, which I love. I love characters who have a trade or craft skill. Temra is her younger sister and assistant, who is also a sword fighter. Petrik has lived mostly in a library so he has no fighting skills, but he wants to know about Ziva’s magic. Kellyn is confident with his sword skills and looks. Put them all together and we have an engaging group that bring humor to this story. I really love them.

Now Ziva isn’t only a blacksmith, but she has anxiety. We see her struggle in social events, or just even talking to new people. She second guesses herself in this situations, which is the opposite when she is working alone on a blade. Her anxiety is relatable. Having Temra by her side as her sister and assistant helps her a lot, and she can’t imagine a world without her.

The romance between Ziva and Kellyn is a slow burn because of her anxiety, which is great because it fits her character.

As for the story, I enjoyed the world-building and getting to know the kingdom of Ghadra but it’s not as detailed as I wanted. We meet a warlord who is power hungry and wants to take down the current rulers but we haven’t met the rulers yet. I’m hoping in the sequel we get more. Ziva and her friends go on a journey across Ghadra to run from this warlord and hide the blade so there is a lot of action in the book that keep the story moving. At times I thought the story felt like a light fantasy, maybe because the characters are so funny together, but then the fight scenes would have Kellyn cutting someone clear in half, making Ziva queasy. Even her sister gets pretty hurt…yet the story lacked intensity to me.

Why you should read it:

  • fun cast of characters
  • Ziva is a great anxiety rep, I could definitely relate
  • slow burn romances

Why you might not want to read it:

  • I just wanted the story to have a little bit more intensity but that’s a personal preference

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story about Ziva and her sister and new found friends as they try to do the right thing and keep their kingdom safe. There is action, humor, romance, friendship and so much room for this story to grow. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I hate feeling as though I don’t fit right in my own skin. As though the anxiety takes up too much space, pushing me aside.”

Blade of Secrets by. Tricia Levenseller

“I am more than my fear and weaknesses, but so much of the time, they’re all I can think about.” 

Blade of Secrets by. Tricia Levenseller

“As for not liking people, that’s fine. I don’t really like people, either. Maybe we could not like people together.” 

Blade of Secrets by. Tricia Levenseller

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Counting Down with You

Author: Tashie Bhuiyan

Format: eBook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 5/4/21

Categories: Romance, Family, Contemporary, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Fake Dating

A reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.
How do you make one month last a lifetime?

Karina Ahmed has a plan. Keep her head down, get through high school without a fuss, and follow her parents’ rules—even if it means sacrificing her dreams. When her parents go abroad to Bangladesh for four weeks, Karina expects some peace and quiet. Instead, one simple lie unravels everything.

Karina is my girlfriend.

Tutoring the school’s resident bad boy was already crossing a line. Pretending to date him? Out of the question. But Ace Clyde does everything right—he brings her coffee in the mornings, impresses her friends without trying, and even promises to buy her a dozen books (a week) if she goes along with his fake-dating facade. Though Karina agrees, she can’t help but start counting down the days until her parents come back.

T-minus twenty-eight days until everything returns to normal—but what if Karina no longer wants it to?

Content Warning: Anxiety, Family Pressures

All immigrant families want is a better life for their children and Karina knows this with all her heart. Her parents want her to be a doctor but she wants to major in English after high school and she is trying her best to make them happy. Karina gets a breather when her parents go to Bangladesh for a month.

First off, this story is relatable to a lot of immigrant or first generation American children. Parents uproot their whole lives in their motherland country to give their children a better life somewhere else. My parents were very strict as well, so I related to Karina a lot in that aspect. I love that she had her dadu for support and telling her she’s a good kid and loved – that’s so important because it’s so easy for teens to fear disappointing their parents and think they are loved less because they don’t stand up to their standards. Being a perfect child is so hard and such an unreasonable expectation. I loved that this story was about a Bangladeshi and Muslim girl and we got to see her family dynamics. Also Karina has major anxiety because of these family pressures and it was good to see how she suffers and deals with it. **I can’t comment much on the Muslim representation, I see a lot of reviews on Goodreads marking this book a low rating because of it. **

Karina had her dadu for support and her girlfriends. They are a tightly knit group of three girls just surviving high school and everything that comes with it.

She also has support from her new fake boyfriend and guy she’s tutoring for English, Ace. He’s popular, white and rich. Ace being white though wouldn’t fly with her parents but the heart wants what it wants. For a romance story I thought it was teen appropriate and so emo. Cheesy emo at times but this is definitely the kind of book I would have eaten up as a teenager! The whole fake-dating aspect was the main focus of this book, it was cute but nothing serious.

My favorite parts of this story was when Karina and her dadu were together. When Karina finally tells her parents that she doesn’t want to study medicine her dadu’s support made me want to cry because grandparents are just so amazing that way. I love how dadu stood up for Karina and made her parents listen to her.

Why you should read it:

  • teens can totally relate about dealing with family pressures
  • Bangladeshi and Muslim representation, anxiety rep
  • it’s a very teen romance, has fake dating but that’s not the focus of the story

Why you might not want to read it:

  • might appeal more to teenagers

My Thoughts:

The beginning of the book reads like a teen romance with the whole fake-dating trope thrown in but the real story for me was Karina dealing with the pressures from her family and trying to please them and yet want a little happiness for herself too. I love her dadu and the unconditional love and support she gets from her, it makes me wish I had someone backing me up that hard when I was Karina’s age. My grandparents were amazing but pretty much stayed out of my family dramas – they had enough drama I suppose with their own grown children! This story is relatable and perfect for teens who can relate trying to deal with family pressure.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“I’m expected to be this perfect daughter that I don’t know how to be.”

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

“I am not Atlas, born to carry the weight of the world I am Icarus, wanting and wanting and wanting at the risk of exploding when I fly too close to the sun…”

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

“Nothing I ever do is enough.”

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

““The older I am, the more I realize it’s not worth it to prioritize things that make you miserable…”

Counting Down with You by. Tashie Bhuiyan

Edgewood by. Kristen Ciccarelli | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Edgewood

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/01/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark. The scent of damp earth curls into her nose when she sings and moss creeps across the stage. It’s as if the woods of her childhood, shrouded in folklore and tall tales, are trying to reclaim her. But Emeline has no patience for silly superstitions.

When her grandfather disappears, leaving only a mysterious orb in his wake, the stories Emeline has always scoffed at suddenly seem less foolish. She enters the forest she has spent years trying to escape, only to have Hawthorne Fell, a handsome and brooding tithe collector, try to dissuade her from searching.

Refusing to be deterred, Emeline finds herself drawn to the court of the fabled Wood King himself. She makes a deal—her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. Little does she know, she’s stumbled into the middle of a curse much bigger than herself, one that threatens the existence of this eerie world she’s trapped in, along with the devastating boy who feels so familiar.

With the help of Hawthorne—an enemy turned reluctant ally who she grows closer to each day—Emeline sets out to not only save her grandfather’s life, but to right past wrongs, and in the process, discover her true voice.

Haunting and romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Edgewood is an exciting novel from a bold, unforgettable voice in fantasy.

Content Warning: Dementia, Alzheimer’s

This was an interesting story and at first I wasn’t sure it was working for me. It’s about a girl who’s a musician but she comes from a place called Edgewood where everyone knows the woods are enchanted – she grew up with stories about the forest, even neighbors had visited the court of the Wood King so this is very much contemporary fantasy.

As a character, Emeline is a musician and independent. She is on her own trying to make a big splash in the music world. She seems to have issues with guys, always having a new boyfriend to push away whatever memories or feelings she feels like she is running from. Her grandfather is her only living family and he has Alzheimer’s. When he is tithed to the Wood King, Emeline goes to rescue him but bargains with the Wood King herself.

My favorite part of this story though was how it unraveled and the romance between her and Hawthorne Fell. It at first starts off as an enemies to lovers romance but then we dig deeper and find out the truth of what happened and it comes full circle. The reveal at the end was magical and unexpected.

World-building wise I thought it was pretty good but lacking on details of the faerie court, which I generally look forward to because I love the Fae. But it’s a standalone book so I can understand why it wasn’t so detailed.

The beginning was slow as we get to know Emeline and her musical ambitions but it definitely picks up when she returns to Edgewood to rescue her grandfather.

Why you should read it:

  • contemporary fantasy with a forest that takes you into the world of the Wood King
  • Emeline and Hawthorne’s love story
  • love how music and memory was entwined with the story

Why you might not want to read it:

  • slow beginning

My Thoughts:

This story grew on me and I couldn’t put it down even though I was doubting how I felt about it at the start of the book. But by the end I was captured by the romance story of Emeline and Hawthorne and how it was revealed.

📚 ~ Yolanda

The New Girl by. Jesse Q. Sutanto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The New Girl

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 288

Publication Date: 2/01/22

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Young Adult, Prep School, Thriller, Mystery, Contemporary

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. When she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she’s determined to make it work even though she’s never felt more out of place. But on her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security. Her new schoolmates and teachers seem unfazed, but it leaves her unsure of what she’s gotten herself into. As she uncovers the secrets of Draycott, complete with a corrupt teacher, a golden boy who isn’t what he seems, and a blackmailer determined to get her thrown out, she’s not sure if she can trust anyone–especially when the threats against her take a deadly turn.

Content Warning: Murder, Drug Use, Bullying

This is my second Jesse Q. Sutanto book and I can definitely see a theme with her stories. Murder! The New Girl is a thriller mystery filled with prep school drama filled with beautiful people, brand names, bullies, wealth and drug use.

I love that the main character is half Indonesian and half Chinese-Indonesian. We get to learn some Indonesiand and Chinese-Indo culture. She attends Draycott Academy where the rich kids drive very fancy cars, wear designer clothes, pay for good grades, use drugs and basically do whatever they want. But when Lia gets a mean girl mad by taking her spot on the track team, she has to do everything she can to fight back and keep her spot at the school. And this is when things go haywire.

Lia is not scared, I gotta give her credit for that. She stands up to Mandy, the girl on her track team but that gets Lia into deeper trouble. The story is full of teen drama, scandals and even murder. I’m usually into teenage drama, but there was something about this one that was turning me off at times and I think it’s all the teen speak going on – it just wasn’t working for me.

Pacing was a little off for me also. It started off slow with her meeting a cute boy and falling for him and then it really picks up as the drama between her and a certain teacher begins. Then it gets wild but I felt that way about her other book, Dial A for Aunties. There are some twists and turns, so with a story like this you just have to hang on and enjoy the ride.

Why you should read it:

  • you like ya mystery thrillers that take you on a wild ride
  • Lia’s experience being Indonesian and Chinese-Indo
  • twists and turns keep you on your toes

Why you might not want to read it:

  • slow beginning, fast ending
  • lots of rich teen drama
  • teen speak wasn’t working for me

My Thoughts:

It took me awhile to get into this book but the twist and turns did keep me intrigued. Also I like the Indonesian and Chinese-Indonesian representation. The book overall wasn’t a book for me because I’m not the right audience for it but I think teen readers would enjoy this one.

📚 ~ Yolanda