Emily

Will Kostakis, what a beautiful storyteller.

This book wrapped me up in two timelines like a big, chaotic Greek family hug and didn’t let go until I was crying, smiling, and laughing out loud

Two generations of Greek boys figuring out who they are, what they love, and where they belong- creating a dual narrative that felt both grounded and soaring. The contemporary struggle with identity, love, and ambition weaved through both stories and yet, it never felt heavy. It felt human.

The writing was sharp but tender, funny but deeply emotional. Kostakis captures the weird limbo of being “in between”—cultures, expectations, generations—and turns it into something beautifully relatable.

Also: queer joy, family drama, bookstore dreams, and THE BEST intergenerational parallels. The way the stories wove together? Chef’s kiss.

Put simply: I loved it. We could be something? This book already is.

Looking forward to reading other titles by Will very soon... added to the very tippy top of my TBR

I grew up riding the highs and lows of Judy Moody like she was my moody middle-grade spirit animal. I was there for the Me Collage. The infamous “I Ate a Shark” shirt. The school project on Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman doctor. The Scab Club. Even the Great TTPC (The Toad Pee Club). So when Sunny-Side Up rolled in, I thought — yes! Classic Judy chaos, right?

Well… not quite.

She’s still got her sass, Stink is still Stink (bless his encyclopedia loving-heart), and Mr Todd remains the most patient teacher in fictional history. But this time around, the drama felt a bit dialled down. Less "Judy Moody Declares Independence!" and more "Judy Moody Sorta finds good news.

It’s warm, nostalgic, and has its moments — but where’s the girl who turned her mood ring jet black over summer holiday envy? The one who bought her man killing plant to school??

I smiled, I reminisced, but I didn’t feel it. Maybe Judy’s growing up. Maybe I am too. Either way, I’ll always save her a seat at the band-aid collector table.

AND...Megan McDonald will ALWAYS have my heart — her books shaped my childhood, and meeting her in real life? Pure magic. I’ll cherish that moment forever.

Mood ring reads: light blue – calm, with a tinge of wistful and nostalgia...