The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sunny St. James is ready to start her life as the New Sunny after receiving a heart transplant and meeting her estranged birth mother after 8 years of separation. She’s also on a mission to find a new best friend and a boy (definitely a boy) to kiss. It’s a lot for one girl over … Read more
Until You Fall Away series, book # 1.5 by Penelope Douglass Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Jared’s point of view from the book, “Bully.” Jared’s never really hated her, he only used her as somethin to take out his anger on. He regrets it. However, when he sees her after she comes back from France, he can’t help but love her. He needs to find a way to get … Read more
Bully Fall Away series, book #1 by Penelope Douglass Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Tate and him were best friends once. Soulmates, even, until he turned on her. He made her life a miserable hell. He’s become a bully. Tate goes to France for a year, and when she comes back from France, she starts to fight back. This only provokes him more, but thins take a turn in … Read more
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Rowan and Roth have been academic rivals all of their high school careers. Today is their last day of senior year and Rowan has been defeated. Neil has won Valedictorian and not her. When night comes and the Howl game awaits them, Rowan is determined to win and beat Neil for the last time ever. However, they … Read more
Tokyo Ever After book #1 by Emiko Jean Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Izumi has always felt like she’s never fit in and seen as different due to her racial features. Since Izumi lives in a mostly white, northern part of California. She and her friends stumble upon the hidden identity of her father when curiosity gets the best of them. They figure out her father’s identity as the … Read more
Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Lucy and Olivia are sisters and best friends – they even have their own secret code. Once Olivia becomes a teenager, though, things start to change. She becomes anxious and depressed and obsesses over her body/how she looks. Worst of all, she no longer has time or energy or patience for younger Lucy. When Olivia is officially diagnosed … Read more
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Young Adult Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Marin’s grandfather passed away and she learned some uncomfortable truths about secrets he had been hiding from her, she immediately cut ties and left her old life, friends, and relationships behind. She spent the week before her college classes officially started living in a motel room and thinking and simultaneously trying not to think about what … Read more
Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) When Annabelle returns for her final year at school (6th grade) there are two surprises waiting for her. The first is a new teacher who is interested in students’ input to create their social studies curriculum for the year. The second is a new student – Bailey – who uses they/them pronouns and helps Annabelle learn more about … Read more
Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette Mystery Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book takes place on an island off of the Carolinas with a young adult named Callie. She just lost her job as a writer and has returned home with a heavy heart. As her mom died here by jumping off the lighthouse. When returning, there is another person who ends up jumping, and while it … Read more
Heartstopper #3 by Alice Oseman Graphic Novel LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The evolution of the relationship between Charlie and Nick and how they navigate being part of the LGBTQ+ community. This book has great illustrations and an amazing plot! For older teens and adults.