Hello, world!
As 2021 is wrapping up, I thought I’d do a brief “what I read this year” post. This year, I set a new record for myself and read 160 books! There are still so many books that I want to get to, but I know I won’t for a while. It’s a struggle, but I’m trying to stop putting so much pressure on myself. But it’s so hard when there are so many books! Here are my Top 15 of 2021 (in no particular order) and a little bit about why I loved them: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen I’m not a big romance fan and usually fake-dating storylines make me roll my eyes, but for whatever reason I absolutely loved this book. Sky Blues by Robbie Couch I loved this book! It was so refreshing to read a queer book that focused on the support the character received, not the trauma. Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide This book was so stressful, but I could not put it down! The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag This was just such a sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales Biphobia is real and it is BS. While I enjoyed a lot about this book, the message that bisexuality is valid, regardless of your partner’s gender, is what really made me love it. Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller A magical bladesmith with anxiety– that’s all I needed to pick up this book. I usually say I’m not a big high fantasy fan, but I devoured this book, so maybe I just wasn’t reading the right ones? This one was definitely the right one. The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity and Christopher Baldwin I just had so much fun reading this. As an English major who had to read a lot of Gothic romance/literature, I was laughing out loud. The Passing Playbook By Isaac Fitzsimmons With the topic of trans youth in sports being in the news so much, this book was very timely and I really loved it. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, et.al. I’m honestly not sure how many volumes of Lumberjanes I read this year, so I’m just including them in general. The series is finished and I am in denial. I have loved Lumberjanes so so so much. The representation, the friendship, the humor-- I just love everything about it and I know these will remain a favorite of mine for a very long time. Okay, forever. My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi I read volumes 1-19 this year and have really been enjoying them. I watched the anime for a bit, and plan to go back and finish that as well. I love the story and the characters (FROPPY) and it’s a nice break between other books. How to Be Ace by Rebecca Burgess There’s not a lot of ace rep in books, but this is my favorite so far. It’s a great story about what it’s like to discover and accept your asexuality. The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta A teen with magical baking powers who works in a queer bakery. Yes, please. This book was just so queer and so sweet. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron This book was so unique and interesting and I need book two like yesterday. I loved all the mythology and horticulture weaved throughout the book. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Anyone who knows me knows that I am a major Jennifer Lynn Barnes fan. This was the second in her Inheritance Games trilogy and I am so excited for the third next year! Survive the Night by Riley Sager I read mostly YA, but I always make sure to read Riley Sager’s new books. This one was a wild ride and I loved it! And there’s my Top 15 of 2021! I hope to continue my monthly wrap-ups and occasional full reviews in the new year, but we will see if I can keep it up! Thank you to anyone who has ever read one of my posts. I’m still very self-conscious about this blog, but I’m going to keep going!
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Hello, world!
Since I don't write full reviews for every books I read (at least not yet), I decided that I'm going to do monthly wrap-ups. Generally, I try to do a short Goodreads reviews so I remember what I liked/didn't like about each book. So at the end of each month (or beginning of the next, depending on how well I keep on top of things), I will compile those little reviews and post them here! Here is my December 2021 Wrap-Up! 1. Himawari House by Harmony Becker 4 out of 5 stars I really, really liked this book. It tells the stories of three girls living in Japan, all for different reasons. I loved the discussions on cultural identity throughout the book. I also really liked that the speech bubbles included multiple languages (i.e. if they were speaking in Japanese, the bubbles had Japanese and English). This was an interesting and fun detail. I wasn't sure about the use of accents until I read the author's note at the end. She wrote the characters' accents as a way to fight against the harmful stereotyping Asian people have faced for so long. I love that she says that having an accent isn't a bad thing, it shows that you know more than one language. 2. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron 5 out of 5 stars This book was so interesting and so unique. I loved all of the plants and the idea of a secret garden. I also really enjoyed he mythology throughout. But I need book two like, yesterday. 3. You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow 5 out of 5 stars This book is really powerful. It illustrates what it's like to have someone you love struggle with addiction. It's emotional, honest, and just really, really good. 4. You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus 4 out of 5 stars Karen M. McManus really knows how to write a good mystery. After I read The Cousins, it was my favorite of hers, but this one might have taken that spot. 5. The Jasmine Project by Meredith Ireland 4 out of 5 stars This book is so fun. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll be hungry. Jasmine is a very relatable character. Her relationship with her boyfriend really hit close to home for me, which left me feeling a lot of emotions. Overall, it's a sweet, funny book that tackles family, friendship, relationships, and finding yourself. 6. Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter by Veronica Chambers 5 out of 5 stars This book is a great explanation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Honestly, I didn't know how it had started or who had started it. It's a great overview and really looks at the different types of activism in the world and how important young voices are to the movement. 7. Drawn That Way by Elissa Sussman 4 out of 5 stars This book shines a light on the sexism and misogyny that runs rampant in the world of animation. While Hayley is frustrating and self-centered at times, she kind of has to be. She has to fight for her right to take up space in this animation internship, along with the other girls. 8. My Hero Academia, vol. 16 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars I always enjoy getting to see more of the other characters, and we get to see Kirishima and Tamaki in this one, which I loved. The action is so packed into this volume, it's stressful, but it was great. 9. Passport by Sophia Glock 2 out of 5 stars This book just didn't really hit the mark for me. The illustrations are beautiful and it was an interesting premise (imagine finding out your parents are actually spies for the CIA???) but it was mostly just about her going out and partying. It wasn't bad by any means, but just kind of fell flat for me. 10. Huda F Are You? By Huda Fahmy 4 out or 5 stars I enjoyed this one. It's a really quick and humorous read about cultural identity and finding yourself. 11. My Hero Academia, vol. 17 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars This volume is an emotional roller coaster. First off, I love Mirio. So much. We finally learn more about Eri and her quirk. And Nighteye. He has never been one of my favorites, but still. And good grief does this end abruptly! I finished it and immediately had to start the next. 12. My Hero Academia, vol. 18 by Kohei Horikoshi 5 out of 5 stars This volume shows the aftermath of the mission to rescue Eri, which has been an intense arc. I love that it's followed up with Todoroki, Bakugo, and others attempting to win over little kids. It was a hilarious situation and provided some much needed comic relief after the past couple volumes. 13. After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor, John Jennings, & David Brame 2 out of 5 stars This was a really weird, creepy story. I'm not familiar with the source material, but I felt a little lost reading this. Sometimes the text and images didn't seem to match, which was a bit confusing. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I just wasn't really feeling it. 14. Across the Tracks: Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre by Alverne Ball and Stacey Robinson 3 out of 5 stars This is a good overview of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The focus is really on the individuals who built up the Greenwood District, rather than the tragedy that followed. It's definitely geared toward a younger audience, so it's a good introduction. 15. Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi 3 out of 5 stars This is a really good story about cultural identity and learning how to be yourself. It really emphasizes the importance of representation and seeing others who look like you in media. I kept having to stop myself though, because I just wanted to yell "YOU'RE ONLY FOURTEEN" every time she talked about boys. But overall, it really is a good book. 16. On the Hook by Francisco X. Stork 4 out of 5 stars This book made me cry multiple times, but it was worth it. It's a really great book about what is means to have courage. 17. Lumberjanes Vol. 19 by Shannon Watters, et.al. 5 out of 5 stars I love seeing the Lumberjanes going after their final goals at camp, whether it's going to the alternate dimension one last time or finally getting that last badge. It was also great to see characters from the whole series return! 18. Lumberjanes Vol. 20 by Shannon Watters, et.al. 5 out of 5 stars I am in denial that this is the final volume. But it was such a great conclusion to the story. I have loved Lumberjanes so so so much. The representation, the friendship, the humor-- I just love everything about it and I know these will remain a favorite of mine for a very long time. Okay, forever. Hello, world!
Since I don't write full reviews for every books I read (at least not yet), I decided that I'm going to do monthly wrap-ups. Generally, I try to do a short Goodreads reviews so I remember what I liked/didn't like about each book. So at the end of each month (or beginning of the next, depending on how well I keep on top of things), I will compile those little reviews and post them here! Here is my November 2021 Wrap-Up! 1. Bad Girls Never Say Die by Jennifer Mathieu 5 out of 5 stars I LOVED this book. It's a gender-swapped retelling of The Outsiders, and it's done so well. There's great commentary on misogyny, racism, and more. It was engaging and I just really, really loved it. 2. Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert 5 out of 5 stars I was born and raised in the Tulsa area and I'd never even heard of these events until recently. It breaks my heart to think that I've been to this area and had no idea what took place there. Everyone needs to read this. Whether you grew up in Tulsa, another city in Oklahoma, or anywhere, read this. This story needs to be known. 3. A-Okay by Jarad Greene 3 out of 5 stars This book was good. But it kind of felt like an ad for Accutane at points. I wish there had been more exploration of Jay's asexuality, too. But overall, it's a good story about the struggles of middle school. 4. Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas 2 out of 5 stars I honestly don't know what I think about this book. I liked the discussion of the debate club and how do you debate against your own basic rights. But there were parts of this book that were just...cringey. There are a lot of diverse characters, but they are often written into stereotypes. Or they themselves use racial slurs. It was just weird and left me feeling uncomfortable. 5. An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi 3 out of 5 stars This book is beautifully written and so emotional. It portrays racism and post-9/11 islamophobia. I really enjoyed it, but the end was a bit lacking for me. I was in it for the discussion of grief, but it turned into more of a love story. 6. Go with the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Scnheemann 5 out of 5 stars YES. This book was SO GOOD. The strong female friendships! Period equity! How periods should not be shameful! Everyone's periods are different and that's okay! YESSS! I also really liked that there was a character with suspected endometriosis. And that they acknowledge how difficult a process it is to get a diagnosis. As someone who has endo, I thought it was great. And they portray it realistically. I also loved that all the illustrations were done in varying red tints. Just a great detail. 7. How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess 5 out of 5 stars GIVE ME ALL THE ACE BOOKS. If you don't know anything about asexuality, this book is a great start. It shows her trying to navigate life as an ace in a hypersexual society. As someone who it ace, I thought it was done super well. Especially the time spent feeling like there's something wrong with you, because sex is everywhere. I also liked the portrayal of OCD and anxiety. Everything was handled with respect and it was just great. Probably the best ace book I've read so far! (though there aren't that many to choose from) 8. Your Heart, My Sky by Margarita Engle 3 out of 5 stars This book is really beautifully written. I never knew that there was a food crisis in Cuba, and this book tells the story of two teens living through it in raw, emotional verse. 9. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna 5 out of 5 stars This book is INTENSE. I laughed, I cried, and I was filled with rage. The action starts pretty quickly and it is consistent. Some parts were predictable, but there were still surprises (I literally gasped at one point). It took me a while to get through because it was difficult to read the horrible things the characters were put through, but overall I really loved it. 10. Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things by Amanda Lovelace 5 out of 5 stars I think I've said this in every review I've done of Amanda Lovelace's books, but I just love her poetry so much. There are some that I read and just have to stop for a minute because they hit me so hard. 11. Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe 3 out of 5 stars I absolutely love the illustrations for this book. Possibly some of my favorite artwork ever. As for the story, it was good. I didn't love it, but I also felt like maybe I just didn't quite get enough in this volume. I plan on trying to continue on Webtoon. 12. The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta 5 out of 5 stars An agender teen who has magical baking powers and works at a queer bakery? Sign me up! I really loved this. I laughed. I cried. I really want to bake now. I've never read a book with an agender character before and I love how this book explores that. And there is so much queer rep in this book, it's amazing. I also love all the recipes sprinkled through the book. I know I'll be talking about this book for a long time. EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to add that there's a demisexual character and discussion of asexuality, which made me very, very happy. |
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AuthorI'm HaileyAnne! I'm a queer librarian who loves books and kpop. Archives
August 2023
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