This was so cute, and absolutely perfect for spring! I loved Kimi. She was such a vibrant character from the start and a pleasure to follow. I loved wThis was so cute, and absolutely perfect for spring! I loved Kimi. She was such a vibrant character from the start and a pleasure to follow. I loved watching her journey of self discovery as she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, dealt with the pressures of expectations, and finally found her footing and realized something she loves as a hobby could be a career as well. The setting of Japan was very immersive. I felt transported there and it made me really want to visit one day. There is a bit of insta love with Kimi and Akira, more like insta like really, but I still enjoyed their little love story. Watching Kimi come to realize who she is and bonding with her grandparents was my favourite part though. It really warmed my heart. If you're looking for a cute, fluffy, quick read that will just make you feel all warm and fuzzy, check this one out!...more
I was soooo excited for this book and I'm so glad I wasn't disappointed! This was everything I wanted and more. Rich in Japanese culture, I was totallI was soooo excited for this book and I'm so glad I wasn't disappointed! This was everything I wanted and more. Rich in Japanese culture, I was totally transported alongside Izumi as she learns she is actually a princess. She comes to know her father and also assume the role in a monarchy and culture that she is still learning about. She has to deal with the scrutiny of the press, and with a blooming romance between her and her guard. This was fun, light, fluffy, and heart warming, and just so dang good. I loved Izumi and how she took everything in stride. I felt like she had a positive outlook on things which was nice. I liked the direction the story took with her father. I expected that relationship to be rocky but it was lovely to see how he took in Izumi as if he had known about her her whole life. The romance is kind of an enemies to friends to lovers deal and it was a lot of fun to read. It is kind of insta love-ish, but I think it worked in this situation. I just honestly had a blast reading this. It had a lot of characters you couldn't help but love, seeing Izumi's friends bolster her in difficult situations, seeing her mom caring for her, and her father ultimately, it was a book that kept me smiling. There isn't a ton of conflict, though there is definitely enough to keep the plot going, but I liked how it was a more joyful read. Definitely a book to pick up when you need something heartwarming!...more
It feels like it's been a very long time since I've read a retelling, so it felt appropriate to start with an Alice in Wonderland one that I've been sIt feels like it's been a very long time since I've read a retelling, so it felt appropriate to start with an Alice in Wonderland one that I've been so excited about. Now bear in mind, I obviously have a fond love for Alice in Wonderland, so the fact that I really loved this may stem from that, or you could also see it as being a success since my expectations were obviously really high going in. But honestly, this was everything I wanted it to be. While my expectations were high, I was also super super nervous about being let down. But this captured all the whimsy and charm of the original Disney adaptation of Wonderland, but also added some more. I loved that you got to see an older Alice. She did read as younger than 18 but, I think that's just the nature of who she is. She's always inquisitive and imaginative and has a lovely childlike quality that I enjoy her bringing into adulthood. I thought her views on the world seemed fitting for the Alice I know. You got to see more of the real world here and that was such a cool added touch. I loved the addition of photography, it was clever and really timely. I wasn't expecting the discussions about prejudice against immigrants but it was a really nice addition. I was easily able to picture all of the Wonderlandian characters that I know and love as their characterization seemed on par with what I knew. It was like coming home reading this honestly, the nostalgia and nonsense just made me smile the whole time I was reading. My one thing is that I did find the pacing to be very slow. For the first 300 or so pages I didn't mind it so much, but around that point it did start to drag a bit. But overall I'm so glad this didn't disappoint, and now I have to go watch the original Disney Alice in Wonderland for the millionth time!...more
I am so sad that this one didn't work out for me because I was so excited. But honestly, I was bored, and I didn't care for the writing, and DNF @ 56%
I am so sad that this one didn't work out for me because I was so excited. But honestly, I was bored, and I didn't care for the writing, and the characters felt kind of flat, so I couldn't push myself through. To start with the positives, this book features some great Vietnamese American representation. It depicts the trauma of the characters as refugees and how that experience shaped their parents. The Vietnamese culture overall permeated every word of this story and that was a pleasure to read about. I think that's where it really shone. There also was so much food and the descriptions of it, my goodness did it make me hungry. However, the narrative was really clunky overall. It's dual perspective which normally I love, but in this case I think it bogged the story down. The two love interests were just too similar. Their voices were impossible to differentiate other than the differing hobbies. I had to keep flipping back to see whose perspective I was reading from, especially once they started to spend more time together. There also wasn't a whole lot going on throughout the story. It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling with these families having rival Vietnamese restaurants and the main driver is why are they enemies? But I didn't really have enough else to keep me going to find out the answers. I think the book was a bit too long for me personally. I'm so sad I didn't end up enjoying this one, but I think a lot of people will. I think it's a story many will see themselves in which is so important. ...more
I really enjoyed this! It was filled with charming characters, children and adults alike, so much whimsy, a hint of romance, and was just an overall sI really enjoyed this! It was filled with charming characters, children and adults alike, so much whimsy, a hint of romance, and was just an overall sweet read. However, I can't help but wonder how I would have felt about it had I not seen so much hype surrounding it. I think I would have liked it a bit more because while I enjoyed it a lot, my expectations were too high going in. That being said, I think that it was a very unique and fantastic read. Kind of like Miss Peregrine's but for adults in a way. I particularly enjoyed watching the main character contemplate what really matters in life and if the drudgery and routine of what he does every day is what he really wants, or if he can break out of that. Overall, a great read, but I do wish I hadn't had expectations going in. ...more
This was really sweet! It’s a gay high fantasy romance story. I was expecting a historical romance but the fantasy was a nice surprise. It’s a lot morThis was really sweet! It’s a gay high fantasy romance story. I was expecting a historical romance but the fantasy was a nice surprise. It’s a lot more than a prince/pirate love story, and I’ll leave at that because I think it might be spoilery if I elaborate. Pirates aren’t even really a *huge* part of the story honestly. But I enjoyed the direction it took. It took me a bit to get into because I felt the world building was lacking. I think I may have enjoyed it more if that had been expanded upon. You kind of dive head first into the story and I found that a bit jarring so it took some time for me to find my footing. But it definitely is a love story. Tal and Athlen were both such adorable characters and I loved watching their romance blossom, even if it did happen quickly. I also loved the familial love. Pretty much all of the characters in here cared for and loved each other fiercely. I think the plot was interesting but with it being based in the world politics, it suffered a little from the sparse world building. Mostly it was driven by the romance but I didn’t mind that. Overall a fun, sweet, and fluffy fantasy read!...more
Another great instalment in this graphic novel series! This is the most emotional and difficult to read I would say, but Alice Oseman does a great jobAnother great instalment in this graphic novel series! This is the most emotional and difficult to read I would say, but Alice Oseman does a great job of dealing with the topics. Eating disorders, depression, and self harm are central to this story. The conversations surrounding these things were dealt with in a really healthy manner. Watching the relationship between Nick and Charlie continue to blossom even with such difficulties was really nice. I think there was a lot of character growth individually from both of them and they stopped the relationship from going down a not so healthy path. There were still a lot of cute and heartwarming moments between the two of them, and of course with their friend group as well. I just can't help but love these characters!...more
I think this book has a lot to offer and really is an important story. It deals with race relations in the US after WW1. You follow the daughter of a I think this book has a lot to offer and really is an important story. It deals with race relations in the US after WW1. You follow the daughter of a prominent African American family and see her grappling with the difference in societal standing and how other people like her are treated just because they are "common folk." You got to see a lot of prominent Black historical figures and their contributions. It was a really interesting to see them in the story and then have more information in the author's note at the end. It's set during the Red Summer in D.C. which is something I had never heard of before but the author provided a lot of factual information in the author's note and I did my own research too. It was a terribly violent time where white supremacist terrorism ran rampant in numerous cities in the States. This story presents a lot of information and I'm glad for what it taught me and exposed me too, but there is really no plot. My personal preference is that a story has either a stronger plot or stronger characters, but this one had neither. Savannah provided a lens to see everything through, but it wasn't much of a story and she wasn't developed enough for me to really fall in love with the story. I also didn't care much for the writing style. It is VERY much a tell don't show narrative, which worked as far as the informative nature of the story but it also made it so it took a really long time for me to figure out what I was reading about and for things to get going, as much as they did, which wasn't much. I do still think this is an important read for sure and it's so nice to see more YA historical fictions with POC main characters because the genre has a ways to go with that. But I just personally felt like I wanted more from the story in the way of storytelling. ...more
I have some pretty mixed feelings on this one. I had a love hate relationship with the main character because while I think she was realistically flawI have some pretty mixed feelings on this one. I had a love hate relationship with the main character because while I think she was realistically flawed which was nice, I don't always want to read about a perfect character, but it did also make the book really frustrating. Enjoyment wise, that's where it did kind of suffer. However, I think the book did a lot of great things as well. It's a love story but self love is also at the forefront and that was a really nice touch. I think a lot of people could benefit from this read as you watch the main character learn to love who she is without the lies. This was a really fast read overall and I think it had a great message, you just have to accept the fact that the main character isn't the most readily likeable as she can be really judgmental and still has a lot of growing up to do, but that does make for a lot of room for character growth....more
Holy shit this was so good. This is definitely a new favourite. I wasn't sure about it going in just because I didn't quite understand the synopsis buHoly shit this was so good. This is definitely a new favourite. I wasn't sure about it going in just because I didn't quite understand the synopsis but oh my god did it work. It literally took me like 10 minutes of the audiobook and I instantly knew I was in love. The family dynamics are incredible, I loved each of the Aunties and Meddelin's relationship with them. The story is so rich in Indo-Chinese culture. I alternated between the audiobook and physically reading, mostly audio though since I'm packing, and the narrator was perfect for the story! I loved each other love stories in here. I didn't expect second chance romance but I was soooo happy when that was what I got. This book is just steeped in so much love, wrapping in a little hilarious bow. I laughed out loud at multiple moments, and just couldn't stop smiling pretty much the whole time I was reading this. I'm obsessed with this book and definitely am going to pick up more from this author!...more
This was so different and fun and adorable! I'd say this is a favourite of their recent releases. There was something about the concept of the data baThis was so different and fun and adorable! I'd say this is a favourite of their recent releases. There was something about the concept of the data based dating app and the 98% match that totalllly hooked me on the chemistry between the characters! It took awhile for the relationship to get going which is my only complaint, but once it did I couldn't stop reading. But besides the romance, I loved the support system Jess had. Her grandparents, her best friend Fizzy, they all were so supportive of her as a single mother raising her daughter. It was so nice to see such loving relationships all around. Fizzy especially was a great character. This book also had twists I didn't seem coming and wasn't expecting at all. I never guess plot twists but especially with romances I always feel like I know exactly what's coming, so it was interesting to be surprised! This was really readable and enjoyable and exactly what I was hoping for!...more
When I was a kid I had a fascination with shipwrecks and literally couldn't tell you why. I just remember learning about the Edmund Fitzgerald and theWhen I was a kid I had a fascination with shipwrecks and literally couldn't tell you why. I just remember learning about the Edmund Fitzgerald and then spending hours googling and on the phone with my friend talking about it in grade 3. I also loved the Magic Tree House Tonight on the Titanic book. This preamble is all to say that I spent a lot of time googling while reading this, and because of my fascination with shipwrecks I was kind of predisposed to like this. But, Stacey Lee did a fantastic job of exposing the untold stories of the Chinese survivors of the Titanic. Obviously it's a fictional account, but it still taught me about the 6 Chinese survivors who weren't given the same respect as their white counterparts. I loved Valora and Jamie, the British-Chinese acrobatic twins. Valora is hoping to gain passage to America as part of the Ringling Brothers circus. I liked that a lot of the book was life on the Titanic, giving you a chance to get attached to these characters even though you know things won't end entirely happy for them. You know it's going to be tragic but it didn't read like a tragedy. It was very easy to forget where the story was actually set. The ending, speaking off, definitely is divisive but I enjoyed it. As heartbreaking as it was, it felt right. This also touches upon the Chinese Exclusion Act and you see how that is a major obstacle for these characters. The prejudice they experience is hard to read, but the story is still brimming with family and love. Those platonic relationships were the focus of the story and I enjoyed that. It was a refreshing change from the Titanic movie which is obviously this epic love story. This had a romance but very much as a side plotline. It was more about family, both biological and found. Overall I think this was such a well done historical fiction. I was so excited for it and I'm glad it didn't disappoint me at all....more
This was like 0% what I had been expecting, but it was super cool! I was sent this unsolicited and had thought it was a fantasy, and then I kept heariThis was like 0% what I had been expecting, but it was super cool! I was sent this unsolicited and had thought it was a fantasy, and then I kept hearing a lot of buzz about it and thought it was like a competition thing, but it's more like a puzzle game, kind of like Clue. It was really interesting to try and put together the pieces of the mysterious puzzle. The story is filled with questions from the beginning and as you get answers, you also get more questions. The biggest question is why and I enjoyed watching Avery and the disinherited grandsons puzzle that out. The setting of Hawthorne House was really cool. It was a great backdrop for all the puzzles and riddles of the story. I also liked how there wasn't an overload of intense action scenes. It was a really interesting mind game more so with lots of inaction, if that makes sense. I had thought this was a standalone when reading it but I think I will definitely check out the sequel because as much as I think it provided a satisfying enough conclusion, there are still some things I'm interested in. Overall this was a really unique mystery and I had a great time reading it! It also reads incredibly fast, so that was a plus. I think a combination of the writing and the fact that you're kept on the edge of your seat wanting to know what's going on makes it a breeze to get through....more
DNF @ 50% I’m super sad I just couldn’t bring myself to see this through. I don’t know why it didn’t work for me, it wasn’t bad, but I just couldn’t geDNF @ 50% I’m super sad I just couldn’t bring myself to see this through. I don’t know why it didn’t work for me, it wasn’t bad, but I just couldn’t get into it. It was interesting, but nothing special I guess. It just felt like there was something missing and I kept waiting to start loving it but I just came to a point where I didn’t want to pick it up, which to me means it’s time to DNF. Sad I didn’t like this one. To be fair I don’t really like zombies and this story is kind of zombie-esque, and sci fi isn’t my favourite. Red’s character was cool and intriguing, as was Talin. But that just wasn’t enough for me unfortunately....more
I went into this book with little to no expectations because I hadn't heard of it before. I just saw it on sale at Indigo one day and decided to go foI went into this book with little to no expectations because I hadn't heard of it before. I just saw it on sale at Indigo one day and decided to go for it, but it was actually so cute! This was the perfect amount of fluff and heart. I also loved that the romance story went an entirely different way than I was expecting. It ended up being an enemies to lovers plot line, and even though that's not usually my favourite, this one was really cute. You're watching a character find herself again after losing herself after the death of her mother. She goes to Ireland, France, and Italy as she did when she was younger to try and find the happiness she experienced there again. Her adventures in the countries were a lot of fun. It was a transportive read, exactly what I need right now. It did get a little cheesy at times but overall it was just the cute read I was looking for at the moment!...more
I love a collection of fairy tale-esque stories, especially when it pairs with the world of a book I've already read. These tales were dark and creepyI love a collection of fairy tale-esque stories, especially when it pairs with the world of a book I've already read. These tales were dark and creepy and all of that, so I did enjoy it overall. But, it got to be really repetitive. They all follow the same basic structure of a female protagonist being oppressed, mostly by males, and then rising above it in a creepy, weird way that gives a not so happy ending. That doesn't mean I didn't like them but I just knew where it was going to end up after awhile. The writing is great and suits the stories, it's very atmospheric and pulls you in. It read like a real book of fairy tales, with a feminist twist. I do think if you liked the Hazel Wood you'd definitely love the sinister nature of this, it's worth the read. Or just if you want something unsettling for a dreary day. Particularly I enjoyed The Skinned Maiden the most, and The Door That Wasn't There made me think of Coraline so that was extra unsettling for me. The Clockwork Bride was also interesting. Think dark and twisted Nutcracker....more
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