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Friday, February 6, 2026

BOOK REVIEW: LADY TREMAINE BY RACHEL HOCHHAUSER

GOOD READS SUMMARY:

A widow twice over, Etheldreda is now saddled with the care of her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon. Her entire life has become a ruse, just like the manor hall they live grand and ornate on the exterior, but crumbling, brick by brick, inside. Fierce in the face of her misfortune, Ethel clings to her family’s respectability, the lifeboat that will float her daughters straight into the secure banks of marriage.

When a royal ball offers the chance to secure the future she desperately desires, Etheldreda must risk her secrets, pride, and limited resources in pursuit of an invitation for her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the heir of the kingdom unfolds with unnerving speed, she discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she’s sought for years and the well-being of the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.

As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.

TEE'S THOUGHTS

I am not much of a fantasy reader ( I say that now, but I seem to be reaching for more every time I buy a book; maybe it is because the world is a shitshow at this moment, and it takes me to other places ), but I have always loved retellings of fairytales or mythology.

A fellow bookstagrammer was highlighting Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser on her account a week or so ago, and I liked what she had to say about it, so I was off to NetGalley to see if I could get a hold of a copy of it. Lucky for me, I was able to ( Thank you, McMillan Audio ), and she was right, it is a good story.

It is a retelling, sort of, of Cinderella, except there is no fairy godmother, no pumpkin coach, or glass slippers. In fact, it was a bit of a dark story, and even though it took place in a land long ago, it was fairly modern.

I liked how the author spun her story; she kept the basics of Cinderella, but remade it from the Stepmother's POV. It is a story of pushing through and surviving what has come your way.

Lady Tremaine has had it hard; she has two daughters by her first husband and is taking care of her stepdaughter ( Ella ) from her last husband. She wants the best for them, despite the lot they have been given with the death of each husband. She does lean a bit more toward her own daughters, which I am sure most parents might, over Ella. Ella isn't the Cinderella of the fairy tale; she was given much growing up and has a tendency to be a bit lazy, while the other two girls work hard helping their mother. While I wasn't a fan of Lady Tremaine, I did question how I might be if I were in her situation, but I will say she is not the stepmother we often see her as.

The one thing that I did not enjoy, and it is minor, is that I felt at times the author got bogged down in detail, making the story lag in places, but I kept listening, refusing to hit the pause button on the audio ( and stay up until after 2 one morning ) so it is hard to say it bothered me a lot. What I did like was her details on Hawking. I always like watching the Hawks at our annual Medieval Festival, and she did teach me a lot. The ending? Well, let me just say, I did not see it coming, and it was a bit of a surprise to me.

Lady Tremaine is well written, enjoyable, and full of strong women, the perfect retelling of a loved fairytale.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Book Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.

They’re everything everyone wants to be.

Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.

But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.

TEE'S THOUGHTS

BOOM... The Trashers start right off with a suicide. Emily Mills, 17, takes her life in her bathtub on prom night, wearing her formal gown. THIS is the right way to catch readers' attention and pull them into the story. No building up...straight to the problem, and the reader is left NEEDING to know how it happened.

The Trashers are the " it " crowd in their school. They are privileged and popular. They get their name from the group's presumed leader, Zach Thrasher, the guy every girl wants to be noticed by, especially Jodi, another member of the elite group. Jodi is different from the rest of the Thrashers; she does not come from money, and she isn't as beautiful as the other girls in the group, Paige and Lucy. In fact, she lives with her truck-driving father, who is an alcoholic and at times abusive to her. The only way she secured her spot in the Thrashers is that she has been best friends with Zach long before high school, because of that fact, she definitely does not feel secure in her spot and fears being " thrashed " by her friends for that reason.

Emily has always wanted to be a Thrasher; she wanted Zach to like her, but the only one of the group who seems to give her the time of day is Jodi. I think Jodi gave her attention more out of pity than actual friendship. Maybe deep down she understood the draw to the group since she herself is a bit of an outsider, but I did not like the way Jodi stood quietly while the rest of the group teased and bullied Emily.

The police who are investigating the suicide zero in on the Thrashers after they find a diary of Emily's. In the diary they find an entry where AEmily claims she was raped by one of the Thrasher boys, along with relentlessly teased and bullied by the rest of them. At this point, Jodi feels uncomfortable and begins to question some of the group's actions.

I really enjoyed The Thrashers, which has kind of a Cruel Intentions vibe going on with the group. None of the characters are particularly likable, even Jodi, but like me, I am sure many of us have known these people in high school, so the book can be very relatable, no matter which side you were on at the time.

It is a slow burn, but the realism of the characters keeps you turning the pages, plus, I won't lie, I wanted to see their downfall; you could feel it coming, there were just a lot of twists before you figured out the actual facts.

I feel like this book gives you a lot to think about, but there are also many triggering subjects, as you can imagine. Despite that, it is well written, keeps you engaged, and oh, the ending! All together, this is a solid YA thriller

Friday, November 29, 2024

Book review: Dead Below Deck by Jan Gangsei

GOODREADS SUMMARY

When an heiress disappears from her superyacht and security footage shows her getting pushed, the main suspect has to prove her innocence in this thrilling mystery at sea told in reverse chronological order, perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Genuine Fraud.

It was supposed to be the best-ever girls’ trip: five days, four friends, one luxury yacht, no parents. But on the final night, as the yacht cruised the deep and dark waters between Florida and Grand Cayman, eighteen-year-old heiress Giselle vanished. She’s nowhere to be found the next morning even after a frantic search, until security footage surfaces . . . showing Maggie pushing her overboard.

But Maggie has no memory of what happened. All she knows is that she woke up with a throbbing headache, thousands of dollars in cash in her safe, a passport that isn’t hers, and Giselle’s diary. And while Maggie had her own reasons to want Giselle dead, so did everyone else on board: jealous Viv, calculating Emi, even some members of the staff.

What really went down on the top deck that night? Maggie will have to work her way backward to uncover the secrets that everyone—even Giselle—kept below deck or she’s dead in the water.

Jan Gangsei crafts a compulsively readable tale of privilege, family, and identity wrapped in a wholly original mystery that will keep readers on the edges of their seats until the final twist.

KAIT'S REVIEW

On the last night of her luxurious yacht trip with three friends, teen heiress Giselle Haverford went overboard, and security footage shows Maggie pushed her. Maggie doesn't remember a single thing about that night. Her odd, tenuous friendship with Giselle doesn't help her case, either. But Giselle wasn't universally beloved and Maggie wasn't the only person who might have wanted her dead. There's the best friends with secret grudges and jealous streaks, the father who sees Giselle as a liability to his political aspirations, the much younger influencer stepmom who wants her out of the way, and the ex whose life she tipped upside down for her own gain, for starters. Not that any of that matters if Maggie can't find a way to prove she's innocent… IF she actually is.

Dead Below Deck pulls readers in with a truly enticing narrative structure: Maggie's POV is told in reverse chronological order from the moment she's detained and accused of murder on Giselle's superyacht. This is interspersed with diary entries from Giselle in chronological order starting from the day she and Maggie met. Combined, the truth lies somewhere in the middle (but still mostly toward the end, because this is a mystery novel, after all!) We're able to see red herrings and slivers of reveals come together from both the present and past simultaneously. The only downside is that there's just no effort to make the voice of Giselle's diary entries actually sound like a diary entries— They're just narrative fiction that we're told is part of a diary and it really pulled me out of the story.

Dead Below Deck does a solid job of maintaining its mystery. You may suspect a vague version of the true ending, but there will also be many, many other suspects. Everyone has their own problems with Giselle, and many of those wounds were deep enough for someone to seek revenge. It felt like a new possibility was introduced every few chapters and that really kept me glued to the pages! Gangesi has some tricks up her sleeve, plot-wise, particularly toward the end of the novel. That being said, not every little twist lands super effectively.

Unfortunately, the character development wasn't fully there. The novel felt like it wanted to say something about the ultra-privileged with Giselle, but never fully committed. Separately, there are so many hints at Maggie's dark, scandalous past. It was constantly teased, yet ultimately was revealed to be pretty underwhelming. I liked but didn't feel super strongly about either narrator, both of whom had the potential to be the good guy or a deliciously cunning unreliable narrator, but never felt that way despite some inevitable scheming. The novel still had lots of merit besides, but I do wish the characters were a little more fleshed out.

If you like mysteries and twisty storytelling, there's plenty in Dead Below Deck to keep you on board. There may be some rough seas when it comes to character relationships, but the mystery element is all smooth sailing. Okay, okay… I'm done with the puns now! Seriously, this one's an enjoyable mystery!

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Book review: Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron

GOODREADS SUMMARY

A missing student. A singular investigation. A new romance. Every bit of it is a mystery in a delightful novel of cosmic twists by the author of How to Win a Breakup.

East House is the oldest and least desirable dorm on campus, but it has a draw for lonely university freshman Aleeza Kassam: Jay Hoque, the hot and broody student who vanished from East House five months ago without a trace. It’s irresistible to an aspiring investigative journalist like Aleeza.

But when she starts receiving texts from Jay, the mystery takes an unexpected turn. To put it mildly. His messages are coming not only from Aleeza’s own dorm room but from the past—only weeks before he disappeared. Sharing space, if not time, Aleeza and Jay are living the impossible, and they start working together to prevent his inevitable disappearance. Causing a temporal paradox that could blow up the universe is a risk they’re going to have to take.

Aleeza digs through Jay’s suspicious friends, enemies, and exes, determined to find out what happened to him. Or what will happen to him. But it’s becoming more than a mystery. Aleeza is catching feelings for her charming new roommate. Wherever, and whenever, he may be.

KAIT'S REVIEW

When Aleeza Kassam leaves her former roommate situation at top speed, she doesn't expect her NEW dorm room to cause much trouble. But Aleeza's single room most recently belonged to Jay Hoque, a student who's been missing for 5 months, and her new dorm mates think she's the pinnacle of a true crime fanatic come to stake out the room as part of a campus-wide obsession with Jay vanishing.

Then something even stranger occurs: Through the roommate-based ResConnect app, Aleeza starts receiving messages from Jay. He's frustrated that he now somehow has a new female roommate in his single. Aleeza brushes it off as a prank, but the pair eventually realize the disturbing truth: Jay is writing to her from the past, a handful of weeks before his disappearance. Together, through the temporal anomaly that only exists on a university app when in their “shared” room, the two team up to discover exactly what happened to Jay and why before it happens to past Jay again.

Remember Me Tomorrow is part enigma, part time warp, and part simmering romance steeped in wealth, envy, and corruption. Aleeza is a bright, relatable MC who's willing to risk her quiet life to save someone else's. Jay is a bit broody and mysterious, but also very charming. The chemistry between the two is felt right from the get-go and maintains its shine throughout the novel. I do think the characters went from “let's help each other out” to “I'm madly in love with you” a little too suddenly, but anyone who reads the description knows that the book was going there anyway.

The secondary characters are memorable and help propel the personal narratives for each MC, from Aleeza's ex-best friend Mia to her new neighbor and biggest skeptic, Grace. I especially loved Jay's friend Jack, a party boy socialite who surprised me a lot, and in a good way! I did think a few character points needed more dimension, like Aleeza and Mia's pretty flimsy reason for falling out that felt very middle school, followed by Mia going full mean girl for no particularly good reason. While I loved Jack's character, there was a plot point specifically involving him that felt really superfluous and took away from the main premise. I liked (or appropriately disliked) all of the characters all the same.

The mystery itself is a fun one. I was able to predict an integral part of the mystery very early on, but I certainly didn't figure out the full breakdown before it came to light. Some hints were a little heavy-handed, but it didn't some me from enjoying the big reveal.

If you enjoy romance with a side of mystery, Remember Me Tomorrow will scratch the itch with charming characters and a side of the supernatural!

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Book review: Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

GOODREADS SUMMARY

From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

KAIT'S THOUGHTS

As a longtime reader of Maureen Johnson books, I'm a huge fan of the Truly Devious series. So I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that Death at Morning House wasn't the sixth book in the popular series. Then I “met” Marlowe Wexler on the page and that all changed!

Sure, Marlowe and Stevie have some things in common— Their urge to solve mysteries and their quirky nervousness, to start— but this new MC really breathes fresh life into a fresh mystery! Marlowe is clever and observant with a heaping teaspoon of awkward. Unlike Stevie, she's not trying to dive headlong into a mystery. Instead, she finds herself thrust into a summer job where the mystery unfolds around her after an attempt to impress a girl she likes goes horribly, HORRIBLY wrong. Marlowe could be any one of us. Who wouldn't want to do some digging into the mysterious decades-old deaths at their place of work to distract themselves from a life-altering social faux pas, after all?

Marlowe works and lives on the island with a group of teens who grew up together, though their overall closeness seems to be in question these days. While they all have distinct personalities and traits, I appreciate that they didn't feel quite as much like caricatures as the Truly Devious characters can sometimes feel. I really struggle with one TD character, but I really enjoyed this whole lineup. They have drama and secrets that only seem to be exacerbated by their isolated setting and its gruesome past, sometimes putting Marlowe in compromising positions. Of the group, Riki was very favorite because of her excellent socks and her important role in unraveling the secrets of a seemingly cursed mansion alongside Marlowe. My second favorite character was Van, for his *immaculate vibes.*

The novel flirts with the romantic storyline, starting with Marlowe’s massive crush on her co-worker Akilah and their budding relationship, which was all going so well before the incident. While there's always a potential for romance, it's not a super strong element. This was actually very refreshing to me, because some mysteries get too bogged down with interpersonal drama. There are sweet, charming moments, but they don't overpower the actual plot.

But wait, there's more! Death at Morning House is a dual timeline story! That means that on top of Marlowe's misadventures, we get the point of point-of-view of the Ralston children, mainly Clara, as you discover the tragedies that befell the family in the 1930s. The Ralston patriarch was a scientist and famed eugenicist who raised his children to an unreasonably strict standard. This POV is a little more subdued as we explore the lives of children trapped under the thumb of a dangerous ideology, yet still aching to impress their celebrated father. It’s not as fun as Marlowe’s POV, but it's heartbreaking and captivating in it's own right. I think the conclusion to this timeline's drama was even more satisfying than the conclusion to the modern story, but I loved both.

My subgenre of choice has been described as “murder-y,” so I've consumed a lot of mysteries ranging from predictable slogs to riveting puzzles. Thankfully, Death at Morning House is certainly one of the latter. There are hints, if you're looking for them, but Johnson remains a master of doling out answers in small batches and planting red herrings. Even if one of the reveals was among my theories, it certainly wasn't the only one.

Death at Morning House takes a loveable, chaotic protagonist, summer camp vibes gone sideways, and an old-fashioned mystery among the obscenely wealthy to create something this is fresh but still distinctly Maureen Johnson. if you love her books, run, don't walk to snag your copy!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

BLOG TOUR: Study Break, edited by Aashna Avachat

Book Summary

College...the best time, the worst time, and something in between.

What do you do when orientation isn't going according to your (sister's) detailed plans? Where do you go when you're searching for community in faith? How do you figure out what it means that you're suddenly attracted to your RA? What happens when your partner for your last film project is also your crush and graduation is quickly approaching?

Told over the course of one academic year, this collection of stories set on the same fictional campus features students from different cultures, genders, and interests learning more about who they are and who they want to be. From new careers to community to (almost) missed connections — and more — these interconnected tales explore the ways university life can be stressful and confusing and exciting and fulfilling.

Gen Z contributors include Jake Maia Arlow, Arushi Avachat, Boon Carmen, Ananya Devarajan, Camryn Garrett, Christina Li, Racquel Marie, Oyin, Laila Sabreen, Michael Waters, and Joelle Wellington.

Flo's Mini Review

Full disclosure: I am still reading this. But I'm enjoying it! The great thing about anthologies is that at the end of a busy day, you can read one story and feel like you've really made a dent in the book. My favorite story so far has been the one by Aashna, actually -- it's so cute and right up my alley! Cute, awkward boy falling first, a set time frame, all the stuff I love in my romance stories. But one cool thing about this anthology is that it runs the range of protagonists and topics. I love the diversity of characters and story lines. It's definitely giving me all the nostalgia for my college days, which really were such a formative and fun time for me. All the stories I've read so far have ended with possibility and hope and anticipation, and I just love that. What a good overall feeling to capture. It's the one constant in these different stories and I'm here for it. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the stories.

Just for fun: comment with a favorite college memory. Or, if you haven't been to college, comment with a favorite college movie.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

BLOG TOUR: An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves

I'm so happy to be a part of the official blog tour for this delightful book! It's been a while since I've done a blog tour and I've forgotten how much fun they are. Today, I'm going to share a review. First things first, here is the summary:

Book Summary
When Thalia, Kalliope, and Charis set off to Regency London for their first Season, they each have clear goals—few of which include matrimony. Thalia means to make her mark among the intelligentsia and publish her poetry, Charis hopes to earn her place among the scientific elite, and Kalliope aims to take the fashionable ton by storm. But this Season, it doesn't take long for things to fall apart. Kalli finds herself embroiled in scandal and reliant upon an arranged marriage to redeem her reputation, Thalia's dreams of publication are threatened by her attraction to a charming rake, and Charis finds herself an unexpected social hit—and the source of a family scandal that her heart might not survive. Can this roller-coaster Season find its happily ever after?

Flo's Review
I'm going to be honest -- historical fiction is not really my jam. Usually. So it's pretty crazy that this is the second Regency romance I've read this year, and the second one that I've loved.

The book started off a little slow for me. With 3 POVs, I found it hard to keep track of which girl was which (like, "Thalia, that's right, she's the poet) and travel to then the first few weeks in London were pretty rushed.

But then it hit its stride.

I was so sad for Kalli! I think, with her big heart, she was my favorite character. Even though the outcome of two of the storylines was pretty evident, it was still a fun journey to get there. The third one actually surprised me! I think there could have been some more clues and some more buildup to it so that it didn't seem to be a sudden thing at the end. I also wished that the sisters, who have a falling out pretty early in the book, resolved their right more quickly.

By the end of the book, I literally could not put it down. Did I stay up past my bedtime because I legit could not stop reading? I sure did! Do I have regrets? Well, 10:30 a.m. lull at work Flo did, but current Flo who is remembering how much fun she had with this book does not. I love, love, love it when a book is unputdownable and I'm so happy that was the case here.

I also really enjoy that in a world of duologies, trilogies, and series that this was a standalone. That being said, if Rosalyn wanted to revisit the world -- say, some of Thalia's and Kalli's younger sisters Seasons, with these three making cameos, I would 100% read it.

In conclusion, this book is a fun escape that kept me wanting to turn pages. Recommended!

Monday, January 2, 2023

Book Review: No Accident by Laura Bates

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

No matter how you try to hide it, the truth will always come out . . .

When a small plane crash ends with a group of seven teens washed up on a deserted island, their first thought is survival. With supplies dwindling and the fear of being stranded forever becoming more of a reality, they quickly discover that being the most popular kid in high school doesn't help when you're fighting to stay alive.

And when strange and terrifying accidents start to occur all around them, the group realizes that they are being targeted by someone who was on the plane and that the island isn't their only danger. A terrible secret from a party the night before the flight has followed them ashore--and it's clear that someone is looking for justice. Now survival depends on facing the truth about that party: who was hurt that night, and who let it happen?

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

I had visions of Lord Of The Flies when I read the summary that seven teenagers were stranded on an island after a plane crash, but let's face it, nothing can quite compare to that book.

The first part of the book focuses on their will to survive, but it soon turns into a mystery as accidents begin to happen and a mystery unfolds.

The story is told to us by Haley, who is more of a storyteller slash observer than an actual character in the events of the story.

The story has a big build-up throughout most of the first half. This helps propel you through the pages and makes the book a very quick read. You feel the anticipation of something coming, however, even with all the build-up I found the ending to be a bit rushed and would have liked it to play out a bit more.

I had mixed feelings about the book, I felt it was very predictable and the characters were all a bit cliche. There were several triggering aspects to the story, such as rape and toxic male behavior, so if you are bothered by that kind of thing, use caution while reading. I do think the author used the book as a platform for getting a point across about several important issues, and at times I felt preached at, but for the most part, I think she did a good job.

I won't lie, I read this quickly, and there were parts I enjoyed and parts I just forced my way through, but all in all, it was pretty good.

** THANK YOU NET GALLEY FOR THE ADVANCE COPY

NO ACCIDENT BY LAURA BATES WAS PUBLISHED DECEMBER 6, 2022

Friday, May 28, 2021

Book Review: Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

A Sliding Doors -Esque novel reveals how our choices define us and how love can find its way no matter the road.

Stevie Rosenstein has never made a true friend. Never fallen in love. Moved from city to city by her father’s unrelenting job, it’s too hard to care for someone. Trust in anything. The pain of leaving always hurts too much. But she’ll soon learn to trust, to love.

Twice.

Drew and Shane have been best friends through everything. The painful death of Shane's dad. The bitter separation of Drew's parents. Through sleepaway camps and family heartache, basketball games, and immeasurable loss, they've always been there for each other.

When Stevie meets Drew and Shane, life should go on as normal.

But a simple coin toss alters the course of their year in profound and unexpected ways.

Told in dual timelines, debut author Jennie Wexler delivers a heartbreaking and hopeful novel about missed opportunities, second chances, and all the paths that lead us to where we are

TEE'S REVIEW:

Drew, a popular boy at school, and Shane, a quieter and a music prodigy, have been best friends for years. Stevie, the new girl in school, has trouble connecting with friends due to consent moving high schools due to her father’s coaching career. But she meets up with the two boys and they all connect over their love of music.

Both of the boys find themselves crushing on Stevie, and instead of fighting over her and ruining their friendship, they allow fate to make the decision on who will date her…by flipping a coin.

The story is told in a parallel timeline, almost like two stories with Stevie possibly dating each boy. Stevie and her relationship with Drew in the first half of the book and Shane in the second half. It plays out showing us that just one change can alter things tremendously. Seeing both sides of the story was interesting and kept you reading, the characters felt real and their emotions played well into the story.

The one thing I really disliked about the story was the instalove of the boys and Stevie. I really feel a relationship should grow, but this did not happen here. One of my favorite things about the book was the music of course, which plays a big part in the story.

There were triggering points in the book…infidelity, divorce, death of a character, etc. so if those bother you, take heed, they are in the story.

Where It All Lands is Jennie Wexler’s debut book and will certainly make you think. It is about first love, second chances, and friendship. If you take anything from this story, let it be that the choices we make matter in so many lives, so make good ones.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Book Summary

Seventeen-year-old Mia, an American girl at an elite summer ballet program, has six weeks to achieve her dreams: to snag an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. But there’s more to Paris than ballet—especially when a charming French boy, Louis, wants to be her tour guide—and the pair discover the city has a few mysteries up its sleeve.

In the vein of romances like Love and Gelato, this is the perfect summer adventure for anyone looking to get swept away in the City of Love.

Flo's Review

This was such fun! Through and through, it was a love story to Paris. I loved seeing the city through Mia's eyes. It was so romantic, so beautiful, so exciting, so fresh, so unique. She loved it and I think it would be hard for the reader of this book not to love it as well. Next to the Paris love, my favorite thing about the book was the fun, happy tone. It wasn't a big, dramatic all this stuff happens, there's drama between ruthless girls and backstabbing and melodrama -- none of that. Mia's friends were fun and supportive and I loved reading the friendships. Toward the end I couldn't put it down, but then the climax...I don't know...didn't sit well with me? I definitely understand why it happened as far as the story, but I also feel like it didn't quite fit in with the light, happy tone that the rest of the book had. But that was my only complaint. All in all, this book was a perfect escape. I truly enjoyed getting to spend time with Mia falling in love with Paris and in Paris, and I can't wait to see what else Anne-Sophie writes.

Monday, September 9, 2019

EXCLUSIVE: Miami Book Fair YA Author Reveal!

The Miami Book Fair is one of my most anticipated events of the year. Every November, tons of amazing authors descend upon the 305 for panels and autographing, vendors sell great books new and old, and I have the opportunity to just have a blast with my bookish friends. So I am *beyond the moon* excited to be partnering with the Miami Book Fair this year on their YA author lineup reveal!

First, here is some general information for this year's Fair:

36th Miami Book Fair

Nov. 22-24, 9am-dusk

Downtown Miami MDC Wolfson Campus, 300 NE 4th Street, Miami

FREE for children 12 & under; Teens 13-18 & Seniors: $5 and adults: $10

Parking: FREE, Building 7, block sized garage between NE 1 & 2nd Avenues & between 5 & 6th Streets (6th one way going West, and 5th Street is one way going East)

For more information, visit miamibookfair.com.

And now, without further ado--

2019 Miami Book Fair YA Authors

Brittney Morris, Slay “The YA debut we’re most excited for this year.” —Entertainment Weekly “A book that knocks you off your feet while dropping the kind of knowledge that’ll keep you down for the count. Prepare to BE slain.” —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out Ready Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther–inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for Black gamers.

Cecil Castellucci, Girl on Film insightful memoir of making art, the nature of memory, and being a teenager in 80s New York City. One thing young Cecil was sure of from the minute she saw Star Wars was that she was going to be some kind of artisté. Probably a filmmaker. Possibly Steven Spielberg. Then in 1980 the movie Fame came out. Cecil wasn’t allowed to see that movie. It was rated R and she was ten. But she did watch the television show and would pretend with her friends that she was going to that school. Of course they were playing. She was not. She was destined to be an art school kid. Chronicling the life of award-winning young adult novelist, and Eisner-nominated comics scribe Cecil Castellucci (Shade the Changing Girl, Star Wars: Moving Target), Girl On Film follows a passionate aspiring artist from the youngest age through adulthood to deeply examine the arduous pursuit of filmmaking, while exploring the act of memory and how it recalls and reshapes what we think we truly know about ourselves.

Kat Cho, Wicked Fox An addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul. Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret--she's a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt. But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead--her gumiho soul--in the process. Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl--he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to men. He's drawn to her anyway. With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous and reignite a generations-old feud . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon's.

David Yoon’s Frankly in Love  One fake dating scheme. What could possibly go wrong? Frank Li is a high school senior living in Southern California. Frank's parents emigrated from Korea, and have pretty much one big rule for Frank - he must only date Korean girls. But he's got strong feelings for a girl in his class, Brit - and she's not Korean. Frank Li has two names. There's Frank Li, his American name. Then there's Sung-Min Li, his Korean name. No one uses his Korean name, not even his parents. Frank barely speaks any Korean. He was born and raised in Southern California. Even so, his parents still expect him to end up with a nice Korean girl--which is a problem, since Frank is finally dating the girl of his dreams: Brit Means. Brit, who is funny and nerdy just like him. Brit, who makes him laugh like no one else. Brit . . . who is white. As Frank falls in love for the very first time, he's forced to confront the fact that while his parents sacrificed everything to raise him in the land of opportunity, their traditional expectations don't leave a lot of room for him to be a regular American teen. Desperate to be with Brit without his parents finding out, Frank turns to family friend Joy Song, who is in a similar bind. Together, they come up with a plan to help each other and keep their parents off their backs. Frank thinks he's found the solution to all his problems, but when life throws him a curveball, he's left wondering whether he ever really knew anything about love—or himself—at all. In this moving debut novel—featuring striking blue stained edges and beautiful original endpaper art by the author—David Yoon takes on the question of who am I? with a result that is humorous, heartfelt, and ultimately unforgettable.

Liz Braswell, A Part of Your World: A Twisted Tale What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula? It's been five years since the infamous sea witch defeated the little mermaid... and took King Triton's life in the process. Ariel is now the voiceless queen of Atlantica, while Ursula runs Prince Eric's kingdom on land. But when Ariel discovers that her father might still be alive, she finds herself returning to a world--and a prince--she never imagined she would see again. Liz Braswell, author of The Nine Lives of Chloe King, a series that was adapted as a 2011 television show of the same name.

G. Willow Wilson, The Bird King (YA) An epic journey set during the reign of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition, which tells the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker. Hassan has a secret―he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate. G. Willow Wilson’s debut novel Alif the Unseen was an NPR and Washington PostBest Book of the Year, and it established her as a vital American Muslim literary voice.

Maritza Moulite, Maika Moulite, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine  Thanks to “the incident” (don’t ask), I’m spending the next two months doing what my school is calling a “spring volunteer immersion project.” It’s definitely no vacation. I’m toiling away under the ever-watchful eyes of Tati Estelle at her new nonprofit. And my lean-in queen of a mother is even here to make sure I do things right. Or she might just be lying low to dodge the media sharks after a much more public incident of her own…and to hide a rather devastating secret. All things considered, there are some pretty nice perks…like flirting with Tati’s distractingly cute intern, getting actual face time with my mom and experiencing Haiti for the first time. I’m even exploring my family’s history—which happens to be loaded with betrayals, superstitions and possibly even a family curse.

F. C. Yee & Michael Dante DiMartino- Avatar: The Rise of Kyoshi  The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.

Nina Moreno, Don't Date Rosa Santos For fans of GILMORE GIRLS and TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, this effervescent love story from debut author Nina Moreno will sweep you away. Rosa Santos is cursed by the sea-at least, that's what they say. Dating her is bad news, especially if you're a boy with a boat. But Rosa feels more caught than cursed. Caught between cultures and choices. Between her abuela, a beloved healer and pillar of their community, and her mother, an artist who crashes in and out of her life like a hurricane. Between Port Coral, the quirky South Florida town they call home, and Cuba, the island her abuela refuses to talk about. As her college decision looms, Rosa collides-literally-with Alex Aquino, the mysterious boy with tattoos of the ocean whose family owns the marina. With her heart, her family, and her future on the line, can Rosa break a curse and find her place beyond the horizon?

Stephanie Garber, Caraval #3, Finale: 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.

Walter Naegle’s Troublemaker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March on Washington A biography for younger readers about one of the most influential activists of our time, who was an early advocate for African Americans and for gay rights. Congressman John Lewis Bayard Rustin was a major figure in the Civil Rights movement. He was arrested on a bus 13 years before Rosa Parks and he participated in integrated bus rides throughout the South 14 years before the Freedom Riders. He was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., teaching him the techniques and philosophy of Gandhian nonviolent direct action. He organized the March on Washington in 1963, one of the most impactful mobilizations in American history. Despite these contributions, few Americans recognize his name, and he is absent from most history books, in large part because he was gay. This biography traces Rustin’s life, from his childhood and his first arrest in high school for sitting in the “whites only” section of a theater, through a lifetime of nonviolent activism.

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