After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name. Laura illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter.
Early Book Review: Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name. Laura illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter.
Book Review: Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
Book Review: Igor by Francesca Dafne Vignaga
Book Review: The Secrets of the Heart (School of Love) by BeKa, Maya
Book Review: Something Fabulous (Something Fabulous) by Alexis Hall
Book Review: Love, Only Better by Paulette Stout
Early Book Review: Tidesong by Wendy Xu
Tidesong by Wendy Xu is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on November 16 2021. Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy—the best magic school in the realm—even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met. Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir. Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t—beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?
Book Review: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Ghosted Cozy Mysteries, #1) by Jessica Arden
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is the first book in the Ghosted Cozy Mystery series by Jessica Arden. New Orleans ghost tour gift shop manager, Paige Harrington makes a wish for her twenty-fifth birthday: to find the one thing she can be as passionate about as her cancer researcher parents. She doesn’t, however, expect her calling to come in the form of a mysterious app on her phone that matches her up with the ghost of a cute bartender who wants her to solve his murder. Nor for her pet hedgehog, Auguste, to start talking to her with a French accent. When her favorite professor turned cafe owner, Liz Pickett is framed for the murder, Paige can’t sit by and let all of this happen. Even if uncovering the truth means tangling with the Enclave, a secret society with the power and connections to make someone like her asking too many questions disappear without a trace. With the Enclave and their dark secrets dogging at her heels, Paige will have to step up her sleuthing skills and unmask the real killer before she ends up their next victim.
Book Review: Weekend Girl by Alex Powell
Weekend Girl by Alex Powell is a contemporary romance. Ashley Kingston is a gender fluid university student with a major crush on attractive and charming Nolan. He seems just too perfect to be true. What happens when Ash meets Nolan while dressed as both a man, and a woman? And even more confusing, what happens when Nolan seems enamored of both versions of Ash? A twisty-turny romance filled with fun and shenanigans.
Weekend Girl is a book that entertained, while also leaving me wanting more from the whole friend group. I really enjoyed getting to know Ash, and going along with them on their journey of self discovery and realization. I could relate to their anxiety and avoidance, and it was great to get a personal understanding of how one person experienced being genderfluid- since like most everything each individual's path is unique. I thought t was very well written, giving me a better understanding of how some individuals feel and what they experience without ever feeling performative- which sometimes happens. I liked the group of friends here, and the amount of support they offer each other, even when they are not necessarily getting along. There were so many times that I thought something big and bad was about to happen, but was thrilled with the reality and the solutions that Ash and Nolan discuss and work out together. The only thing that I wanted but did not get from this book was some of the story from Nolan's perceptive. There were several moments when how he felt was pivotal, and I thought I knew but would have loved confirmation.
Weekend Girl is an engaging read that had me rooting for Ash, and feeling some significant sympathy anxiety.
Early Book Review: The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Early Book Review: Villainous by Stonie Williams, Jef Sadzinski
Book Review: Martian Ghost Centaur by Mat Heagerty, Steph Mided
Martian Ghost Centaur, written by Mat Heagerty and illustrated by Steph Mided, is a young adult graphic novel. The town of Southborough used to be a major tourism destination, drawing folks from all over in the hopes they’d spot the famous Sasquatch, reportedly seen in the town many times over the years. But it’s been ages since anyone’s spotted the ‘squatch, and tourism is starting to dry up. A tech company called Start-up.com (a start-up that helps people start their own start-ups) decides to begin buying up places all over town in order to build their techie headquarters, driving out all the local townspeople. Luckily, Southborough is also home to Louie O’Connor, firm believer in the Sasquatch’s existence and all-around, mega ’squatch fan. When Louie’s dads’ restaurant, Squatch Burger, starts to go under and fall prey to the techie start-up, Louie and her best friend Felix decide they’ll do whatever it takes to save the town from losing all the people and places that make it special. In hopes that convincing people the Sasquatch is real and to drive back tourism, Louie and Felix plan an elaborate hoax in hopes of saving the town from the dot-com takeover. But when Felix starts talking about leaving their hometown for college in LA, Louie will have to face some tough questions about herself, her future career, and her place in her beloved hometown.
Martian Ghost Centaur is not quite what I went in expecting, but it was exactly what it needed to be. Louie is a teenager with a love of a good story, and her hometown. She wants the stories she has believed in since childhood, and the town she loves, to survive the incoming technology and has plenty of plans to do so. I loved her determination and willingness to do anything for the people and places that she loves. She also has to deal with the upcoming transition to adulthood- and all that goes with it. None of the things she faces are easy, but when coming at her all at once it is no wonder she becomes overwhelmed. I thought the relationships ad reactions were realistic and well written, making the more unrealistic aspects of the story seem that much more likely. I loved the art style and think it lent itself perfectly to the quirkiness of the characters and the town. I liked some of the details that were added to the story via the artwork, and thought that moods, expression, and motion were very well conveyed. I can think of one or two little things I would have liked to see a little different, but they are more things that would have just made me smile rather than anything that would be important to the story. I enjoyed this read, and think that this book can be enjoyed by a much bigger reading market than young adults, as those both older and younger that the target audience can get enjoyment and more from the read.
Martian Ghost Centaur is a graphic novel that is an enjoyable read, with a nice balance of feels and fun.
Early Book Review: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert is the third book about the Brown sisters, and while fantastic as a series they do each stand up on their own. It is currently scheduled for release on March 9 2021.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown is a thoughtful look at romance between two characters that have never felt like they fit in. I loved watching Eve come into herself, exploring her own wants, skills, and needs rather than trying to fit into the roles others have tried to shove her into, and that she willing tried to fit into because it was less drama that way. Similarly, Jacob has his own struggles and issues, and seeing Eve and Jacob figure things out together was an enjoyable ride. Clearly, not everything goes smoothly so there are some moments that had me shaking my head or dreading the next sentence- but everything fit the characters and situation. I really enjoyed the read and the honest way neurodiversity and some of the struggles that come with it can affect people. I also liked that the range that diversity is acknowledged- and that there is some much possibility and joy that can be found if only we take the time to understand ourselves and each other.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown had me grinning from the start, and took me on a wonderful ride. Hibbert is now on my must read list after two fantastic reads in a row (I still need to go back and read the first Brown sister book).
Book Review: Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen
Accidentally in Love is a story that is more about Katherine figuring out what she really wants and making it happen than about her relationship with. I did enjoy seeing the banter, and thought the conversations and self doubts on all ends were relatable and engaging. I liked that everyone had struggles- friendships and relationships that seemed iron clad at the start of the book faced realistic struggles. I felt for Adam, was rooting for Katherine's grand plans, and was hoping that friendships could be mended but that people could stand up for themselves and stand firm. For those looking purely for romance, you might be a little disappointed, since there were several moments when I would not have strictly labeled the book as romance. However, the book was well written and I came to care for the characters as I read.