Iron Widow Iron Widow #1 by Xiran Jay Zhao Dystopian Fantasy LGBTQ+ Romance Science Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) 18-year-old Zetian’s sister has just been killed during one of the fights against the plague of aliens that lurk outside the Great Wall. Her sister, like many others, was a concubine to a male mech pilot and her consciousness was sacrificed for the sake of the male pilot. Zetian vows to seek … Read more
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen Romance Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Ruby Cooper has just been hauled off to live with her sister, Cora and her husband Jamie after 10 years of not a peep from her. All she did was live in a house by herself since her mom had left her, but she was doing fine! Even though the yellow house was infested with bugs and the water didn’t … Read more
Icebreaker Maple Hills series, book #1 by Hanna Grace Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) In this book Anastasia Allen and Nathan Hawkins are forced to share an ice rink when one of the two melts thanks to a prank. Soon they meet again at a party and both Stassie and Nate’s best friends start dating, leading Anastasia and Nate to be closer as well. Anastasia pretends to hate Nate after … Read more
The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew at His Side by Damien Lewis Adventure Nonfiction Review #1 * * * * * (Amazing!) In the winter of 1939-40, a French pilot and his Czech gunner are shot down over the German front lines while trying to gather photos for reconnaissance. Robert needs to find shelter, and fast: Pierre’s leg is bleeding and he … Read more
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Emilie Hornby, a teenage high schooler, lives through a repeating time loop nightmare that occurs on Valentine’s Day. After a stressful day at school watching her boyfriend Josh cheat on her, she escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and consolation. She passes out on the couch for the night, but when she wakes up, she’s back in … Read more
Moongarden Plotting the Stars #1 by Michelle A. Barry Fantasy Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) In the future, on the Moon, where humans were forced to flee when the Earth’s plants turned against them, Myra Hodger is attending boarding school. Everyone expects her to follow in the footsteps of her Number Whisperer parents, but her talents lie elsewhere. If she doesn’t discover her particular brand of magic soon (she hasn’t shown any … Read more
Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto Funny Realistic Fiction Romance Rom-Com * * * * Stars (Great!) Sharlot and George find themselves at the center of a teenage rom-com entirely fabricated by their well-meaning parents, after each is discovered in an embarrassing sexual situation. To get some distance from her boyfriend, Sharlot is whisked off to Indonesia where her mother creates an online dating profile for her and starts exchanging messages with “George.” … Read more
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Adina Walker had her whole future revoked when she got in a fight with her former best friend. The scandal got out and her acceptances to Yale and all her other college options were recinded. Now, the only option left to her is to somehow get herself into “The Finish,” a competition sponsored by the founders (the Remingtons) of her very … Read more
A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac written by Aaron Hwang, illustrated by Qu Lan Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) The Chinese Zodiac is much more complicated than I’d thought. Previously, I’d only ever looked up my “animal” using my birth year, and since I’m born in January, before the Chinese calendar/New Year officially starts, it’s actually a different animal than I’d thought. In addition, predictions and horoscopes can be plotted out depending … Read more
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer Wimpy Kid series, #18 By Jeff Kinney Funny Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars Great! Greg Heffley’s middle school is in trouble. There have been a lot of budget cuts and the state is threatening to close the school if they don’t bring up their test scores. Greg relays – in hilarious detail – all of the ways the school administration has attempted to cut expenses as … Read more