Katrina

I loved the queer history and the Austen vibes all together in wonderful color. Accurate, charming, and worth the read.

This was honestly so fun and I'm already excited about the next installment. Lots of action, clever use of myth, and an interesting premise. Couldn't put it down.

Wow this was a wild ride and it's not typical YA at all. This is definitely upper YA, gave me Academy of Liars vibes because it had all of this deep and completely unhinged morality and metaphor just bubbling up everywhere. Add in the African mythos, vampires, and violence and combine with a snappy and concise writing style that totally evokes the atmosphere of danger and uncertainty...and I guess you end up with this book! Not for the faint-hearted, but it's dark and weird and juicy and I would have to recommend. Couldn't put it down.

Some good banter between two rather bloodthirsty and damaged heroes. I would read another installment (I particularly liked the supporting cast) but it didn't blow me away.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the alc!

Another delightful journey with Ruby (and of course, Ruan). It was well-plotted with interesting characters and great atmosphere. Fantastic narration. I would happily listen to future installments!

Entertaining fantasy world with an unnecessarily convoluted plot. I really liked the cast of characters, and deeply appreciated the inherent queerness of the world. There was some very solid dialogue that occasionally got bogged down by confusing descriptions. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Another clever installment.

Overall pleased with how it wrapped up, although it was sometimes frustrating. The win did not come without loss, that's for sure.

Honestly just such a fun series.

I loved the characters, but the “mystery” was boring. I would read another book with these characters where they actually get to solve something.

I was so excited for this and honestly it let me down. I was frustrated because Inez just keeps getting betrayed over and over and she's really never in charge of her own story. She's always a victim, she's not great at solving her own problems, and it felt like she was in a perpetual state of shock which was frustrating to me. I was satisfied with the ending, but this book felt much less polished than the first.

An enjoyable heist novel with an interesting cast of characters. I'm not sure I totally bought into all of the motivations, and I did predict the twist. Still, it was a fun read and I liked the way it ended.

Beyond adorable. Thunder is my dog too.

Absolutely charming. I love books about food, and the whimsical elements were really well done. Writing felt a little stilted at some points, but overall plot and resolution were very satisfying. I'm familiar with Silva's work via social media, so it was really fun to see her style come to life in a sustained format. Would recommend.

Interesting and emotional journey of a group of girls at a dance school. Loved seeing the dance in art.

I have no idea why I started with the 5th book in the series, but I thoroughly enjoyed the atypical format and was heartily entertained. Solid plotting, an interesting twist, and it still retained all that “Midsomer Murders-esque” charm.

I adore this series. It always makes me laugh and these characters are pure gold. Readers of the previous books will not be disappointed. Great audio production.

Honestly just so cute and I need to see what happens next!

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for the alc!

This was an enjoyable mystery set in the world of comic book publishing. Mystery and comic fans will find plenty to dive into. The audio production was really one of a kind. I would recommend.

I really loved Amelie and I just wanted to hug her so hard. Well written, and I think a lot of teens will relate.

I thought this was a well done portrait of a teen with a genetic disorder. One of the things I found most interesting about the book was the relationship between Brynn and her family. She shares the Ehlers-Danlos gene with her father, so he can understand her in a way her mother and sister cannot. This creates a particular and complicated tension in the household. Brynn's grief over her condition is delicately discussed with compassion and honesty. Her relationship with Oliver also seemed realistic to me (plus he's a great character). There's a lot to appreciate here, and I feel confident that other young people with similar conditions would feel seen and supported by this novel. Worth a read.

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for the alc!

I enjoyed the twisty mystery with some light fantastical elements. Ruby is a great character, and the supporting cast made for a fun collection of people. I would pick up the sequel!

An interesting and intense plot. It was so horrifying to me that a few people in power can cause so much manipulation and destruction. There were a few plot points I thought were too obvious, and the characters could have used a little more fleshing out. A thoughtful but slow moving story. Solid audio narration.

A stunning novel in verse that deals with some tough topics like grief and loss of a friend. Will definitely be recommending this to my middle schoolers.

Another very enjoyable installment with perfect narration! I love Andy more with each book, but this one really hit close to home with the plotline. Free people read freely!!!