Hello, world! I can't believe July is already over. Summer is so busy for public libraries, and I am ready for a break!
I read a lot of graphic novels/manga in July, and I reread the entirety of Heartstopper, because why not? Overall, I don't think I rated anything under 3 stars, so that's a pretty good month! So, here we are! My July 2023 Wrap-Up! 1. Nimona by N.D. Stevenson 5 out of 5 stars I love everything N.D. Stevenson does. I was not expecting this to be so sad, but it was also funny and heartwarming and I loved it. 2. Big Ethel Energy, Vol. 1 by Keryl Brown Ahmed and Siobhan Keenan (Illustrator) 4 out of 5 stars This was a really cute first volume! I will definitely continue reading.. 3. Big Ethel Energy, Vol. 2 by Keryl Brown Ahmed and Siobhan Keenan (Illustrator) 4 out of 5 stars I really really liked this volume! Ethel is such a relatable character. I really want to know how things work out! 4. The Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World, Vol. 2 by Kyouka Izumi, Oumiya, Reiko Sakurada (Illustrator) 5 out of 5 stars I just love this series so much. Tsukina is incredible. I'm not always one for romance, but this one is just so ridiculously sweet. 5. Pearl of the Sea by Anthony Silverston 4 out of 5 stars This is a really sweet story about letting go. And the illustrations are beautiful! 6. The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan 4 out of 5 stars See full review here. 7. The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent, Vol. 1 by Fujiazuki (Illustrations), Yuka Tachibana (Original Creator), Yasuyuki Syuri (Character Design) 4 out of 5 stars I am loving this very specific genre of "average 30-something is reluctantly sent to another world and becomes ridiculously powerful in magic." 8. Tegan and Sara: Junior High by Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Tillie Walden (Illustrator) 4 out of stars This was so good! It follows identical twins Tegan and Sara as they navigate twinhood, junior high, and all the complicated feelings and changes that come with it. I used to listen to Tegan and Sara a lot, and this made me want to go back and listen to all their music. 9. Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong 4 out of 5 stars See full review here. 10. You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron 4 out of 5 stars I didn't really know what to expect from this, but I definitely didn't expect whatever this was. But in a good way. It was thrilling from the start, I didn't want to put it down, and it creeped me out. It's short, and I would have finished it faster if I hadn't been reading it on lunch breaks at work (bad idea, I didn't want to go back to work). But overall a solid, campy, twisty horror. 11. Ham Helsing #3: Raising the Stakes by Rich Moyer 4 out of 5 stars The Ham Helsing series is truly one of the greatest things to exist in this world. 12. None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney 4 out of 5 stars Updated: I don't know why I originally only gave this 3 stars? It's really intense and thrilling, with lots of twists. It's a bit long, but it's still fast-paced. If you like Criminal Minds, give this book a try. Original: This was a really intense thriller. The characters were great, the plot was strong. Overall I really enjoyed it. 13. Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman 5 out of 5 stars Updated: Rereading the series for fun and for the second season of the show. I still just love it so dang much. I don't know why I only gave it 4 stars the first time. Also, Nick taking a bunch of internet quizzes to try to find out if he's gay/bi is so relatable. Original: I'm not a big romance fan, but this one was just too cute. 14. Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman 5 out of 5 stars Just finished rereading. I seriously love this series so much and I don't know why I only gave it four stars originally. 5 stars, all the way. 15.Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman 5 out of 5 stars Reread: Why is this series the sweetest thing in the world? And seriously, I gave these only 4 stars originally? What was wrong with me? 16.Heartstopper: Volume Four by Alice Oseman 5 out of 5 stars Reread: I forgot how intense this volume gets. Charlie's struggles with mental health hit even harder this time around. But it's such a beautiful story of learning how to help those you love, and understanding that sometimes the help they need is beyond what you can do. UGH. I love this series so much.
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Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong 4 out of 5 stars Laney is a teacher and writer, struggling after a pandemic-fueled divorce, the death of her sister, and becoming the guardian of her teenage niece. To help make ends meet, she decides to rent out the private island her tech company CEO ex-husband bought for her. But renters can be a nightmare, and she keeps finding hex circles and other acts of ritualistic vandalism left behind. When the latest renters flee in the middle of the night after finding bloody scratches on the inside of a closet– as though something was trying to get out– Laney decides it’s time to take a look for herself. When Laney and her niece, Madison, go to check things out, she is less than thrilled to find her ex and his sister (and her former best friend). And then another old high school friend and her brother (now a cop) join, uninvited. Once they get to the island, Laney and crew expect to just find some pranks former renters left to spook other guests. Instead, they find more ritualistic drawings, vandalism, and a disembodied hand. As the situation escalates, the tensions among the group rise and the danger increases. Will Laney and the rest make it off the island alive? Y’ALL. I was expecting this to be another Kelley Armstrong thriller, but HOLY MOLY. It immediately had me enthralled, I didn’t want to put it down, and it was SCARY. I’m not usually one to find books particularly scary. Unsettling? Yes- but not really scary. This book? It had me afraid I was going to have nightmares. I loved the creepiness and the horror. While it was pretty graphic at times, it didn’t feel as gratuitous as some horror seems, but still beware if you don’t like gore. I would give this book 5 stars, but there were some side plots that created long explanations and conversations between the characters so they could work it out– which is fine. But when it’s thrown in the middle of a book filled with horror and jump scares and the tension is off the charts? It kills the mood a bit. Even though, I guess if you’re facing unspeakable horrors, you might as well finally have all the conversations with your loved ones that you’ve been putting off. Overall, this is a solid horror. Aside from the lulls when the conversations are happening, the action does not let up and it is just so gripping. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others, so they can have nightmares, too. The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan
4 out of 5 stars Sloan and Cherry are inseparable. Turns out you form pretty close bonds when you’re the only two survivors of a massacre at your summer camp. On that horrific night, 8 others were brutally murdered, but somehow Sloan and Cherry survived. Months later, the two have become like a single entity. They are always together because they understand each other better than anyone else. Sloan trusts Cherry completely– especially since Sloan has no memory of the traumatic events and relies on Cherry’s account of what happened that night. But as new evidence emerges, Sloan starts to question what really happened. Is Cherry telling the truth? Or is she hiding something? Could this person Sloan loves with all her heart have played a part in the murders? Whatever direction you think this book is going to go, I guarantee it will surprise you. There were multiple times I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong every time. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending, but I appreciated that it diverted from my expectations. I also liked that this book was less slasher and more psychological thriller. There are so many summer camp slasher books, it was interesting to read about how the characters cope (or try to) after the fact. Sloan’s inner dialogue was exhausting at times, as she kept debating whether she could trust Cherry or not. It got a bit repetitive, but it was also realistic inner dialogue, so it’s hard to critique that. I would say I didn’t like the characters, but this is a book filled with unreliable characters, so that’s kind of the point. This is all to say I was frustrated with the characters as I was reading, but that also made me read more because I wanted to know what they were going to do. So while it sounds like negative criticism, it’s actually not. I have so much more I want to say, but it’s all spoilers, so I will just say that the more I think on it, the more I think I like this book? I can tell I will be going back and forth a lot. But either way, I will be thinking about this one for a long time. Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
2 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Jade is ready to set sail on Campus on Board, a luxurious semester abroad on a cruise ship. She is ready for the escape- from her mom and their tiny house, and from her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend, who got together and ghosted Jane. Unfortunately Jade’s escape is going to be a bit difficult, as the new happy couple are also on board. While Jade first tries to ignore them, she soon finds herself obsessed. Why did the two people she loved the most betray her? Did she do something wrong? Just when the tension is at its highest, a shocking murder casts suspicion on Jade. Will she be able to clear her name before she becomes the next victim? Okay. I have liked all of Diana Urban’s books in the past. The twists might not always be shocking, but they were fun. This one? I may have been a little surprised, but I just didn’t particularly care. While I sympathized with Jade at first, I quickly became tired of her. She was supposed to be sympathetic and empathetic, but she was mostly annoying. The same goes for the side characters. So when they started being killed off, it just didn’t have the right effect. There were also a couple points where I was convinced that Jade might be the dumbest protagonist I’ve ever read. Usually books involving people trapped in isolated settings while being killed off one by one are my jam, but this one just missed the mark for me. Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler
4 out of 5 stars Natalya has 24 hours to make a decision that will change her summer, and possibly her life. She could stay in NYC with her father, her friends, and finally work up the courage to talk to the cute girl she’s had a crush on for months (who she calls The Redhead). Or she could go to LA to stay with her estranged mom, maybe fix their relationship, and try new things, including working an internship at her mom’s company, alongside her grumpy but handsome co-intern. So, which will she choose? I thought this book was a lot of fun! We get to see both decisions play out in alternating chapters: Nat goes to LA to be with her mom and falls for Adam, while Tal stays in NYC and falls for Elly. It was so interesting to see both of these stories play out and the similarities/differences in Natalya’s growth. In some cases, the same event or conversation would happen in both stories, but the circumstances that led to it were different. I love a good bi love story, and this one was just unique. Instead of there being a love triangle, both romances play out individually. And regardless of who Natalya is dating, she is a proud bi individual. I also feel like I learned a lot about Jewish culture. I know I’ve read books featuring Jewish characters before, but I really liked that this one went further into detail about holidays and traditions outside of Hanukkah. I won’t spoil the ending, but I also really loved it! I think it was pretty perfect for the book. Overall, this was just a really fun, interesting, and happy queer book! The Night in Question (The Agathas #2) by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
4 out of 5 stars Alice and Iris are back with their Agatha Christie-inspired detective skills in this follow-up to The Agathas! Last fall, Castle Cove was rocked by the shocking murder of Brooke Donovan. Unlikely duo Iris and Alice were able to crack the case, and now have a taste for detective work. But Brooke’s murder wasn’t the first mysterious death in Castle Cove. In the 1940s, movie star Mona Moody died at Levy Castle, and though it was ruled an accident, rumors continue to circulate. So when their school dance takes place at the infamous castle, Alice can’t help but poke around. But instead of finding clues, Alice stumbles upon the aftermath of a brutal assault. And while the police rule it an open and shut case, Alice and Iris aren’t so sure. They know from their experience in the fall that things are not always as they seem. In order to find the truth, Alice and Iris, along with their trusty friends, decide to band together once again. However, they soon find that to solve this case, they must also uncover what happened at Levy Castle all those years ago. Will they be able to solve the case that has haunted Castle Cove for decades? I just love these books so much. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and I LOVED The Agathas. I think this is a really solid follow-up, as it explores what the two feel after solving Brooke’s murder. Alice feels accomplished for solving the case, but she’s still mourning her former best friend. Similarly, Iris is proud of their accomplishment, but can’t help fixating on other cases that have yet to be solved. Iris is also dealing with the trauma of her father’s assault on her and her mother. I really appreciated that this book didn’t gloss over the traumas the characters faced in the previous book. They went THROUGH IT and that is not something they can just gloss over. There were a couple points that I feel like didn’t get fleshed out quite enough, especially Iris and Cole’s potential relationship and the hinted at love triangle involving Spike. The same goes for Iris’s fixation on the murder of Raf’s cousin (I think?). Maybe that will come in a book three? Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have a thing for amateur teen sleuths and Agatha Christie-inspired stories, so this series is a winner for me. Hello, world! April was a big reading month for me! I was worried it would be hard to get back into reading for fun, but I crushed it this month! Lots of novellas and manga!
So here is my April 2023 Wrap-Up! 1. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers 5 out of 5 stars This might be the most wholesome and comforting book I've ever read. In this world, all the robots woke up one day and decided they were done working and retreated to the woods. Dex is a tea monk who travels from city to city, listening to people's problems and brewing them the perfect tea. Mosscap is a robot who returns from the wild with a simple question: What do humans need? These two partner up to help each other on their missions and it's just so sweet and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 2. How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano 2 out of 5 stars I went into this hoping for a fun/wacky thriller. While I did want to see it through to the end, I really didn't like some of the twists. Overall, it was just meh. 3. My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 by Gengoroh Tagame 5 out of 5 stars Excuse me while I cry. This volume is so beautiful. Yaichi's character growth is incredible. He has so much homophobia to unlearn, but he's getting there. He contemplates the possibility of his daughter coming out and if she would feel comfortable telling him, or if society would force her to remain in the closet. It's all just so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. 4. Expedition Backyard by Rosemary Mosco and Binglin Hu 4 out of 5 stars This was very cute and educational. I love the guides at the end on how to keep a nature journal, how to compost, and more! 5. The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith 5 out of 5 stars Such a beautiful graphic novel. I love the illustrations, the magic is interesting, and it's such a heartwarming story of finding your true self. 6. Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years by Joy Harjo 2 out of 5 stars I know that many, many people find her poetry beautiful, and I respect that. I have nothing but respect and awe for this poet. But it was just not for me. 7. El deafo by Cece Bell 5 out of 5 stars I don't know why it took me so long to read this. Author Cece Bell became deaf at age four, after an illness. This book shows how she coped with this, specifically focusing on her superhero alter ego, El Deafo. I really liked the way this was illustrated. The text would fade to show Cece was having trouble hearing, or it would be gibberish to show that she could hear, but not understand. Overall, this is a really interesting read about trying to fit in as a kid and accepting yourself. 8. Cosmoknights, Vol 1 by Hannah Templer 5 out of 5 stars This was really cool! The illustrations of the galaxies are so beautiful. The cosmoknight battles remind me of anime/manga. I love the queer, feminist spin. I'm not usually a big sci-fi fan, but I loved this and can't wait to read the next! 9. Cosmoknights, Vol 2 by Hannah Templer 5 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This was an excellent follow up to the first volume! I love the illustrations (especially the galaxies). We see the crew grow (both as characters and actually adding more people to the crew). It's just such a fun, queer space adventure and I love it! 10. Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall 5 out of 5 stars This may be a short book, but it packs a punch. It's based on the story of the author's grandparents meeting at the library while living in a Japanese internment camp. It's a beautiful story that somehow shows hope while also bringing to light horrible injustices from the pa 11. Dinosaur Sanctuary, Vol. 1 by Itaru Kinoshita 4 out of 5 stars This was basically like daily life of a zookeeper, but for dinosaurs. It was a really sweet story, but still had a cliffhanger ending. Between each chapter, there was a little blurb about dinosaurs written by a research consultant. While some of them were a bit too scientific for me, it explained why dinosaurs were drawn sitting certain ways, which I found very interesting. I will definitely check out the rest of the series! 12. Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1) by Seanan McGuire 5 out of 5 stars What happens to the kids who travel through doorways to magical worlds after they return? I really enjoyed this. It's interesting, has a good mystery, and it's under 200 pages. Also, the main character is ace and I love that representation and how she describes it. I'm excited to read more of this series! 13. Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama 4 out of 5 stars I want to live in this magical world! The magic was interesting and there's a nice mystery to it. I will definitely be reading more of the series. 14. Thinking of You (but not like in a weird creepy way): A Comic Collection by Beth Evans 4 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I love Beth Evans inspirational doodles on Instagram, and because this book is a collection of them, I of course enjoyed it. If I'm ever feeling down, I would pick this back up to make me feel better. 15. The Gender Book by Cassandra Jules Corrigan and Jem Milton 5 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book! It's a picture book, but the language leans older, as it explains AMAB/AFAB, agender, and more. It's very informative and I think it would be a great introduction to gender for kiddos. There is also an activity at the end to encourage exploration and discussion, which I really liked. 16. Real Account, Vol. 1 by Okushou and Shizumu Watanabe (illustrations) 5 out of 5 stars Hoooooooly crap. This was INTENSE and I LOVED it so much. I need more of this series. Right. Now. 17. Dinosaur Sanctuary, Vol. 2 by Itaru Kinoshita 4 out of 5 stars This is such an interesting series. I love the staff's relationships with the dinosaurs. I like the info included about dinosaurs between each chapter. It's unique and a lot of fun. 18. Lumberjanes: Somewhere That's Green #1 by Seanan McGuire, Mari Costa (illustrations) 5 out of 5 stars Well this was just delightful. I love the Lumberjanes and I just read the first Wayward Children book by Seanan McGuire and loved it. Put those two together? Perfection. Hello, world! March felt like a slow month for reading, but I still managed ten books! Lots of comics/graphic novels this month, along with a couple NetGalley ARCs.
So here we go: March 2023 Wrap-Up 1. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 5 out of 5 stars This book is so wholesome. It took me a while to get through, because it's not as fast-paced as the books I'm used to reading. But it just made me feel warm and fuzzy inside and I loved it so much. Also, Thimble is the CUTEST. 2. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger 5 out of 5 stars UPDATE: This was just as good on a second read. I just really love this book. Original Review: Lipan Apache, asexual main character can summon ghosts and is trying to solve her cousin's murder. Enough said. The representation, the story, the world-- everything about this was SO GOOD. 3. The Baw-ness Monster by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter 3 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a really cute story about friendship, family, and cryptids. It was sweet, funny, and very weird. I really liked all the different cryptids throughout the book. Overall, it’s a fun read. Protect Bessie! 4. My Hero Academia, Vol.. 21 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars This volume contains the climax of an epic battle, some twists, and Classes A and B going head to head in test trials. A lot to try to follow, but always entertaining. 5. The Witch's Throne, Vol. 1 by Cedric Caballes This was really fun! It's very clearly inspired by manga and RPGs, so if you're a fan of those, definitely give this a try. 6. The Evil Secret Society of Cats, Vol. 1 by Pandania 4 out of 5 stars As a cat owner, I now realize that everything my cats do, they do because they are plotting the downfall of humanity. We are all doomed. 7. Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson and David Wilson 3 out of 5 stars It's refreshing to read about a girl playing football who has a supportive family and coach. This graphic memoir is a quick read about the trials of middle school and finding yourself and your people. 8. My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 by Gengoroh Tagame & Anne Ishii (Translator) 4 out of 5 stars This was so sweet. It's heartwarming to see Yaichi unlearning the homophobia he was raised with. Seeing his daughter so openly accepting Mike and the idea of same-sex couples allows him to work through the homophobia of Japan. 9. Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic by g. haron davis, et.al. 5 out of 5 stars I cannot express how happy this book made me. Sure, like all short story collections, I liked some stories more than others. Some of the stories just weren’t really my cup of tea. But this isn’t just any short story collection– it’s a collection of all trans/nonbinary stories by trans/nonbinary authors. Nonbinary rep is becoming more common, but it’s still hard to come by sometimes, so reading so many stories with that representation made my heart so happy. It’s difficult to really write a review of this collection, since there are 14 stories, so I’ll keep it brief. Each of these stories revolves around magic of some sort, so it was really interesting to read so many different takes on fantasy. Some of the stories centered on being trans/nonbinary, some were stories that just happened to feature trans/nonbinary characters. Overall, I just really loved this. As a nonbinary person, this book meant a lot to me. I can't believe February has already come and gone! The beginning of the month also marked the end of my term on a reading committee, which is very bittersweet. I loved reading all the awesome YA books, but I'm also excited to be free to read a little bit of everything again!
For now, here's my February 2023 Wrap-Up 1. Only a Monster by Vanessa Len 3 out of 5 stars I loved the premise of this book. It was interesting and fast-paced. And it was good. But I just don't really have strong feelings about it. I know it's setting up a trilogy, but I don't know if I'll read the rest. 2. Rooster Fighter, Vol. 1 by Shu Sakuratani 4 out of 5 stars A rooster who travels, fighting demons in order to avenge his sister's death? It was super weird, but also very fun. 3. Rooster Fighter, Vol. 2 by Shu Sakuratani 4 out of 5 stars A demon fighting rooster, his new number one fan, and his scorned ex (who is also a badass demon-fighting hen) join forces to fight giant demons. This series is ridiculous. 4. City of Dragons: The Awakening storm by Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong (Illustrations) 4 out of 5 stars When Grace moves to China with her mom and new step-dad, she soon learns that the myths her father used to tell her are more truth than fiction. This was a fun and interesting graphic novel about Chinese culture, featuring a very cute dragon. 5. Yellow Stringer, Volume 1: Fake News Provocateurs by Goeffrey Jean-Louis and Frederick L. Jones 3 out of 5 stars This was an interesting premise. The last couple chapters were a little disjointed, but I would read more of this series. 6. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra (Illustrations) 5 out of 5 stars This is just such a beautiful story about learning to love your hair and yourself. 7. The Wondrous Wonders by Camille Jourdy 2 out of 5 stars This was like a mash-up of Where the Wild Things Are and Narnia. The art style is beautiful, but overall it was just kind of weird and not really my thing. 8. The Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World, Vol. 1 by Kyouka Izumi, Oumiya, Reiko Sakurada (Illustrations) 5 out of 5 stars I have never related to a character more. Tsukina is told that she must travel to a magical world to become its savior. Instead, she opens a book café at the edge of a forest. This was so cute and fun and I can't wait to read more. 9. Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie 4 out of 5 stars I spent like, half of this book kind of mad because I had it figured out. But this is Agatha Christie, Queen of Mystery, so no, I did not. It was full of twists, but the clues were still all presented and explained at the end. I'm trying to make it a point to (finally) read more Agatha Christie, and this one definitely makes me want to read more. 10. Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson 5 out of 5 stars This was so much fun. It was hilarious, twisty, and so meta. I loved it. 11. She-Hulk, Vol. 1: Jen, Again by Rainbow Rowell, Roge Antonio (Illustrator), Luca Maresca (Illustrator) 4 out of 5 stars This was a lot of fun! There were a lot of references to other volumes/arcs, but it provided enough context most of the time. I'm ready to read more! 12. My Hero Academia, Vol. 19 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars Finally getting back to this series! After such an intense couple of volumes, it's nice to see the students preparing for the festival. Gentle Criminal is a fun (but weird) villain. And poor Eri is finally getting a bit of a break. 13. My Hero Academia, Vol. 19 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars I loved the lightheartedness of the band performance. But man. This volume ends with a gut punch cliffhanger. 14. Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie 4 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book of short stories. Because of that format, they were all fast-paced and wrapped up quickly. |
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AuthorI'm HaileyAnne! I'm a queer librarian who loves books and kpop. Archives
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