This would make for an absolutely wonderful romcom movie. I can just picture it: the glitter and glamour of the drag performances, the hilarious hijinThis would make for an absolutely wonderful romcom movie. I can just picture it: the glitter and glamour of the drag performances, the hilarious hijinks to keep Rex' drag persona a secret, and the heartfelt message of embracing everything about yourself. Not to mention an absolutely lovely romance, with possibly the sweetest love interest of all time. It all worked incredibly well on paper too (or, well, on my Kindle screen), and I finished most of it in one sitting because I was too immersed to put it down....more
Meet my new obsession. Within the first two chapters I immediately knew this would be a new favourite. I've been craving an urban fantasy like this soMeet my new obsession. Within the first two chapters I immediately knew this would be a new favourite. I've been craving an urban fantasy like this so much, and this very much delivered. It's absolutely hilarious, the writing is SO fun, and I loved the morally grey characters. And then the further in you get, the better the romance becomes, until the epilogue just absolutely blows you away....more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
Starting this, I was immediately charmed by the fresh, funny but heartfelt writing style. AishaMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
Starting this, I was immediately charmed by the fresh, funny but heartfelt writing style. Aisha is a hilarious, relatable, loveable main character. There's the exact right amounts of chaos and heart, of coming of age and romance, to keep things balanced and interesting. I could easily picture this as a romcom movie, or a Netflix show....more
I really want to love Zen Cho's books, but her writing feels bonedry to me, even in a romance. I was having so much trouble focusing on the story, andI really want to love Zen Cho's books, but her writing feels bonedry to me, even in a romance. I was having so much trouble focusing on the story, and to be honest I found this very boring. Not even the romance could spice things up for me. I guess this was just firmly not for me....more
This started off so strong, but I ended up with mixed feelings. Usually I have a hard time enjoying very plotdriven books, because they don't always gThis started off so strong, but I ended up with mixed feelings. Usually I have a hard time enjoying very plotdriven books, because they don't always give you enough opportunity to really build a connection with the main characters. But from the start, I absolutely loved the characters, and I felt so connected to them. They were fleshed out and interesting, and very loveable.
But the more the story continued, the more I felt like it spun out of control, and in the process, it lost me more and more. The plot was just too chaotic and farfetched for me to keep suspending my disbelief, which made me feel less connected to the story as it went on.
I would have loved more focus on the characters with a little less chaos in the plot, because I feel like that just completely took over....more
There's a lot to love about this. The art work is absolutely beautiful, from the illustrations to the use of colour. And I loved the format of journalThere's a lot to love about this. The art work is absolutely beautiful, from the illustrations to the use of colour. And I loved the format of journal pages.
I had some trouble understanding Ash's motivations though, mainly because I wouldn't survive a day out in the woods and I can't comprehend why you would want to. I understood Ash wanting to find their grandad's cabin, but after they found it, the story quickly went downhill for me as it just all seemed very rosecoloured and unlikely.
The book finally lost me when Ash coming back home felt really glossed over. Everyone seemed to get over the whole situation very easily. I would have wanted a meaningful conversation between Ash and their family, at the very least....more
Even if you're not a YA romance person, I'm convinced you're bound to love Ann Liang's books. Her writing is just so good and she writes such convinciEven if you're not a YA romance person, I'm convinced you're bound to love Ann Liang's books. Her writing is just so good and she writes such convincing, relatable characters. Not to mention the absolute loveliest romances.
And she's done it again! I was so hyped to get to read this early, and I absolutely flew through it. This book reminded me a lot of early 2000s romcoms, with its supernatural twist. But it also had a lot more depth to it than I remember from those movies.
Yes, this is a romance, and such a wonderful romance at that. I was afraid there would be a lot of lying, so I was really glad to see Jenna open up to Aaron very early on, and them trying to fix the situation together. They were truly so precious together.
But I also loved the focus on dealing with the pressure to be a high achiever, struggling to feel like you're enough, not feeling seen for who you really are. Both Jenna and Jessica deal with these issues in different ways, and I loved how this situation made them learn they're more alike than they thought....more
This book truly does have a lot of potential, and there's a lot of things I enjoyed, or even loved about it. But after DNFing All the Right Reasons anThis book truly does have a lot of potential, and there's a lot of things I enjoyed, or even loved about it. But after DNFing All the Right Reasons and struggling to finish this, I think it's safe to say I struggle with this author's writing. I loved the disability rep, and the honest conversations surrounding disability. I loved the romance, which was very sweet and I could tell they genuinely loved each other deeply. I liked the writing a lot less, but I particularly struggled following the main character's motivations and emotions. There was something that felt off about them - her motivations or (lack of) emotions often came on very suddenly, and the way they were written didn't feel well-paced....more
At this point I know I'm guaranteed a fun, comforting time when I pick up a Jackie Lau book.At this point I know I'm guaranteed a fun, comforting time when I pick up a Jackie Lau book....more
While I did enjoy this at first, by the end I'm a little disappointed. This is a well written read, and there's a lot to love about it. There's heart While I did enjoy this at first, by the end I'm a little disappointed. This is a well written read, and there's a lot to love about it. There's heart and humour, and Lucia's struggles are understandable. I just didn't feel like the book fully lived up to its potential. Lucia acts pretty mean at times towards other people. I understand that she's hurting, but she sometimes hurts the people who don't deserve it, instead of the ones who've caused her pain. I would have loved to see a little more accountability and self awareness, and by the end I didn't feel like I'd seen quite enough growth....more
This was my second Cathy Yardley book, and I again really enjoyed it. It was exactly the comfort read I needed, and I loved seeing two 40-something maThis was my second Cathy Yardley book, and I again really enjoyed it. It was exactly the comfort read I needed, and I loved seeing two 40-something main characters. The mmc is a single dad with adult children, and I thought he was an amazing dad. He takes amazing care of others, including the fmc, which were some of my favourite scenes, but I also loved seeing him realize he gets to do things for himself as well....more
Ohh this was so much fun! I love fantasy standalones, it's amazing to get a well-rounded story in one installment. This was such a fast-paced read, buOhh this was so much fun! I love fantasy standalones, it's amazing to get a well-rounded story in one installment. This was such a fast-paced read, building up to an absolutely amazing ending. But for such a fast-paced read, it did feel fleshed out enough to make me feel really invested in the characters and what was going to happen to them. This definitely has rereading potential for me....more
This was a 5 star prediction for me, but unfortunately, it didn't entirely live up to my expectations.
I loved seeing Marley's medical journey detailedThis was a 5 star prediction for me, but unfortunately, it didn't entirely live up to my expectations.
I loved seeing Marley's medical journey detailed in this book, because I think it does a lot to raise awareness, eradicate any stigma, and help people who are going through the same or a similar thing.
I became really excited to read this book because the synopsis detailed Nikhil taking care of her after her surgery, and he very much did, but I expected a little more from this in terms of the hurt-comfort it could have provided. The story, and Nikhil as a character, just didn't land for me as much as I wanted them to....more
Many thanks to Levine Querido for the review copy!
I love graphic novels like this that look so deceptively simple. The text, art style and use of coloMany thanks to Levine Querido for the review copy!
I love graphic novels like this that look so deceptively simple. The text, art style and use of colour are all sparse, but together they create something larger, rich in feeling.
Kit has passed away, and her soul goes on a 49-day journey after her death, following Buddhist tradition. We follow her journey, as well as her looking back on her life through flashbacks. And we follow her family in their time of grief, working through this loss together.
At first, the family's perspective felt the most touching to me, but admittedly, I might have shed a tear or two when reading Kit's storyline at the end. This is a true example of when less is more, and invoked so much emotion in me....more
At first I wasn't really sure what the tone of this book was going to be, but it quickly turned out to be such a sweet story, very much living up to tAt first I wasn't really sure what the tone of this book was going to be, but it quickly turned out to be such a sweet story, very much living up to the adorable cover. It was a quick read, but it never felt rushed. You get to know the main characters pretty well, but some of the side characters as well, which I appreciate, since side characters can sometimes feel pretty flat. I loved seeing the romance slowly build up, and especially the second half made me feel so soft....more
This sounded like the perfect Pride Month read, so I'm glad I still got around to it this month. This is very much an "it's me, not you" situation thoThis sounded like the perfect Pride Month read, so I'm glad I still got around to it this month. This is very much an "it's me, not you" situation though, because it simply didn't work for me as well as I was hoping. I didn't really click with the humour or the writing style, and it felt needlessly long. I'm disappointed because of course I want to love all the super queer, super autistic books, but this one did not live up to my expectations....more
I love being reminded of why I love queer YA contemporary. Grace is such an interesting main character, because she's gone through a lot, which is undI love being reminded of why I love queer YA contemporary. Grace is such an interesting main character, because she's gone through a lot, which is understandably difficult, but she's also often in the wrong, and she doesn't always make the right choices. It would be easy to lose sympathy for her as a reader, but she never becomes unlikeable, because she's written in this raw, honest way that makes you care about her so much. This book is almost 400 pages, and it has so many different themes, but this just makes it feel like you get to know Grace so well....more
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