Batch Reviews #21

You Should See Me in A Crown by Leah Johnson (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 336

My overall thoughts and review:  I haven't read a ton of YA this year, and this book was such a treat. I found myself flipping through it so quickly, but also stopping to just savor it because I did not want it to end. It is the perfect blend of light-heartedness that will make your heart want to explode, but also grapples with a lot of important topics such as racism and homophobia. The story follows Liz Lighty who has always kept her head down and blended in at high school. She has her little group of friends, her part-time job at a music store, her grandparents, and her brother Robbie, and that seems to be enough. Her dreams are crushed though when she learns that the college of her dreams is not offering her the scholarship for a full ride that she hoped they would. In fear of bringing it up to her grandparents, and how they might sell the house to fund her college tuition, she decides to run for Prom Queen/Prom Court because the prize is not just the crown, but also a monetary gift that could fund her college tuition.

As she starts to get more into campaigning, she finds herself reconnecting with an old friend, dealing with a vindictive nemesis, and possibly also falling for the new girl at school, who also happens to be running for Prom Queen/Court as well. You see Liz grapple with her sense of self, and how she begins to alter aspects of herself to suit the situation. The relationships in this book though were what made the book for me. I loved seeing Liz reconnect with Jordan again because reading about flashbacks, you really got to see how special Jordan was to Liz. The other friendships were great too, and I loved how it touched on anxieties in situations you feel are beyond your control. It also showed the messy side of friendships too. I loved the romance between Mack and Liz SO MUCH! I knew I liked Mack from the first scene we met her, and seeing how she just made Liz come alive and be her authentic self was a really lovely thing to see. I think my favorite relationship though was the relationship Liz had with her younger brother, Robbie. The book also deals with sickle cell disease, and you see Liz grappling a lot with her role as a sister, but also taking over to make sure her brother was doing what he needed to do. She had to work through finding balance there.

All in all, I loved this book. One of my coworkers had told me how much she loved it, and based on past experiences, I always trust her judgement, but seriously y'all, this book exceeded my expectations and was a real treat. I loved it so much. It made my heart explode in the best way. Please read it! You will love Liz's story so much!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository

Shine by Jessica Jung (✮✮✮½ - 3/5 stars) 
Publishing Date: September 29, 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352

My overall thoughts and review: When I read the premise of how this novel was CRA meets Gossip Girl in a Jenny Han way, I was definitely intrigued since I loved all of those things. I also love the world of K-Pop a lot too! The author is actually a former kpop star in the group Girls' Generation (which I've listened to briefly and really enjoyed their music), so I was def curious about this inside look into the kpop world.

The story follows Rachel Kim, who has been a trainee for 6 years now at DB - one of the biggest labels. Her whole family moved from New York so that she could follow her dreams of one day debuting. However, life of a kpop star is intensive and a lot of work. Her mom often bugs her about maybe considering the college route instead. We learn from the beginning of the book how competitive the world is and the double standard there is between girl performers and guy performers. We also see the toxic nature of this world too and how not everything is as it seems.

This book definitely read like something from Gossip Girl, because it had that drama dynamic between the main character and other characters. However, there's more to it than just the drama components. Jung delivers first love, family dynamics, fan culture, and what it means for someone to uproot their life from North America to come to Korea to pursue their dreams. I loved Rachel as a character because she ultimately just wants to do right by her family, her loved ones, but most importantly, herself.

All in all, it was a really fun read and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm excited to see how it will all unravel in book two!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for consideration/review from Simon & Schuster Canada - all opinions are my own. 

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: October 6, 2020
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 336

My overall thoughts and review: Reading this holiday read in August was the best idea ever. I've been a fan of Christina Lauren's books for a while now, and while I do miss that their books as steamy as the Beautiful series and the Wild Seasons series, one thing that I will ALWAYS love from their books is how they write characters, the banter between the love interests, and just their ability to write such great social circles surrounding their main characters. Also.. this book got quite steamy at some moments, so YAY ;)

I love me a good christmas feel good movie, and this seriously felt like it. Mae has been spending Christmas at a cabin with her family and her mother's best friend's family for as long as she can remember. Her parents are divorced and her mother has remarried, but they both still attend this christmas extravaganza every year at the cabin. Mae has also been super close with her mother's friend's son, Theo, for a long time, and she has also harboured a massive crush on Theo's brother, Andrew. On this one particular christmas when she finds the vacation ending, there is a car accident, and Mae finds herself jumping back in time and reliving the vacation from the beginning again. She takes this as a sign that whatever happened the "first" time around was a sign from the universe that it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. It is absolutely hilarious seeing this groundhog day scenario with Mae and certain days being relived certain ways.

It's some serious christmas magic because it has all the stuff you would want from a christmas romcom - a bit of tension, some family dynamics, incredibly swoooooony male lead, and just a really romantic story. This is definitely going down as one of my favorite CLo reads ever and I know what I'm definitely giving as a gift to many of my family and friends this holiday season ;)

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for consideration/review from Simon & Schuster Canada - all opinions are my own. 

Blog Tour: I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi - Review

I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

Publishing Date: October 22, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 432
Young Adult Sci-Fi

The Premise of the Book: "Seven days. Seven days. The Earth might end in seven days. When news stations start reporting that Earth has been contacted by a planet named Alma, the world
is abuzz with rumors that the alien entity is giving mankind only few days to live before they hit the kill switch on civilization.
For high school truant Jesse Hewitt, though, nothing has ever felt permanent. Not the guys he hooks up with. Not the jobs his underpaid mom works so hard to hold down. Life has dealt him one bad blow after another — so what does it matter if it all ends now? Cate Collins, on the other hand, is desperate to use this time to find the father she’s never met, the man she grew up hearing wild stories about, most of which she didn’t believe. And then there’s Adeem Khan. While coding and computer programming have always come easily to him, forgiveness doesn’t. He can’t seem to forgive his sister for leaving, even though it’s his last chance. With only seven days to face their truths and right their wrongs, Jesse, Cate, and Adeem’s paths collide even as their worlds are pulled apart" (HarperCollins).

My overall thoughts and review: When I first read the premise of this book a while back, I was intrigued because I mean, if a higher power, or aliens deemed that humans were treating the planet badly and that they would come and wipe out humanity, I wouldn't say "you're wrong" - I can definitely see it, and this book right off the bat reminds us that maybe how we treat the earth is not so particularly great. The story follows 3 main characters and how they all deal with the news that the world is ending soon. You are first introduced to Jesse who hasn't really known some permanence, and it's always been easiest for him to just not get close to someone, and the book began with him having to come to terms with another hook up ending. He attempts to stay strong, but it's clear that it does hurt him. Financially, Jesse and his mother are struggling, so when news comes of the world ending, he simply says that they are too broke to worry about it anyways. On the other hand, we have Cate, who is struggling with her mom who is a schizophrenic. With the impending news of the world ending, she decides to venture out and look for her father. And lastly, we have Adeem, who is great at computer science and programming, and despite the anger he feels towards his sister, he decides to go look for her. I will say the representation in this book was handled really well (there's a lot here in terms of race, sexuality, class, mental health, etc), and I genuinely was pleased that they were all able to cross paths in some way. I will say, out of all the characters, I definitely cared most about Jesse and I kept reading quickly to get to his chapters. He's a character that I just really empathized with, especially his relationship with his mom. Overall, I enjoyed Rishi's writing. I liked that despite the impending fate our characters faced, there was some lightheartedness thrown in the mix, and of course, a sort of hopefulness, that it could work out in the end, but even if it didn't, we'd all be ok anyways. If I could accurately comp this, it definitely had some Scythe vibes with the aliens being a sort of higher power, and the some aspects that tug at your heart strings were reminiscent of Adam Silvera's books. I look forward to seeing what Rishi tackles next in her writing!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮½ - 3.5/5 stars

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository

About the Author

Farah Naz Rishi is a Pakistani-American Muslim writer and voice actor, but in another life, she’s worked stints as a lawyer, a video game journalist, and an editorial assistant. She received her B.A. in English from Bryn Mawr College, her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, and her love of weaving stories from the Odyssey Writing Workshop. When she’s not writing, she’s probably hanging out with video game characters. You can find her at home in Philadelphia, or on Twitter at @far_ah_way.

Disclaimer: An advanced e-reader's copy of the book was provided by Glasstown Entertainment for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own. 

Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin 

Publishing Date: September 3, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 528
YA Fantasy

The Premise from the Publisher: "Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage. Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all" (HarperCollins)

My overall thoughts and review: Full disclosure before I write my review: I have not read a lot of YA this year. My reading interests definitely shifted more towards contemporary romance and manga, and I found myself not loving all of the YA fantasy I was picking up, so I really did take a break from YA fantasy. I had heard really good things about this book at two book events now and they comped it to Sarah J. Maas in a way where it was mature/sexy, and I'll be honest that kind of sold me alone. The lovely team at Indigo Teen also sent me a copy so I dove in, and I knew from the first two chapters I would be hooked. I found myself trying to pace my reading, to savor it so I didn't finish it so quickly. And when I finished, I wanted to flip right back to the beginning and start all over again.

FRIENDS. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I knew that it would be an interesting dynamic because you follow the lead, Lou, who is a witch on the run, and of course she finds herself in a weird predicament: married to a Chasseur, a witch hunter no less! Mahurin gives us dual perspectives and that honestly made the reading experience so much better for me. If you are going to write about a romance, you need two perspectives!! Lou is on the run from her mother and you don't really know why in the beginning, but it is a heist to steal a ring that may protect her and hide her that starts off the book. From there, a series of events happen that lead her to Reid, our witch-hunter. I loved their dynamic right from the start! They were both from different worlds, but as they had to be around each other often, they softened up around each other, and just got to know one another. I love the enemies to lovers trope so much, and Mahurin did a great job executing it here. Their story was incredibly swoonworthy, and I just loved how sex positive the book was. This may be something to flag for younger readers, since it does mention sex explicitly, but for those romance and YA readers, this is definitely a treat for you all.

In addition to that, the world building was fantastic in the book. It felt like France and all the lore surrounding the history of the Church and the witches really tied the story up nicely. The story was more than Lou and Reid's relationship, and it also emphasized the broken relationship between man and witch. The end of the book hinted at another coven which we'll see in the second book of this duology, so I'm super excited to learn more about this world.

Lastly, you know I'm all for a good group of friends to go alongside the main characters, and I just loved, loved, LOVED the secondary characters Coco and Ansel. They added so much to the story, but they were also such lovable characters on their own. I can't wait to see more of them next book.

All in all, like I said above, I LOVED this book. I'm a little bit sad that I have to wait for the second part of this duology, but I honestly can't wait to dive back into this world. This was a fantastic YA fantasy read, and truly, I haven't loved something like this since SJM, so well done, Mahurin! If you haven't read this yet, what are you waiting for? This is a MUST read. And if you have read it, please come talk to me about it on twitter or email. I want to talk all things Serpent & Dove, and I'm about ready to make t-shirts that say Lou & Reid 5eva.

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)

Available for purchase at:
Indigo OR Indigo Book Box feat. Serpent & Dove

Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.* #IndigoEmployee 

Review: Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Publishing Date: September 10, 2019
Publisher: first second
Pages: 320
Young Adult Graphic Novel

The Premise from the Publisher: "The graphic novel Are You Listening? is an intimate and emotionally soaring story about friendship, grief, and healing from Eisner Award winner Tillie Walden. Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak-and a startling revelation about sexual assault-culminating in an exquisite example of human connection. This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated comics creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page" (first second).

My overall review and thoughts: It's been a while since I've read a graphic novel since I primarily read manga. But when they pitched this book at the #TeensReadFeed Raincoast Preview not too long ago, I was definitely intrigued by it! They described it as a magical realism text, drawing inspiration from Miyazaki. The story follows Bea and Lou, who end up on a road trip together. Bea is running away from home and Lou is trying to take some time to get over the death of her mother. They knew of one another from the neighborhood they grew up in, but not much more than that. As they travel together, they get to know one another and their anxieties, and just really open up to one another. They also pick up a furry friend along the way, D, a cat. They make a pact to get the cat home safely, but they are followed by some strange men. It's when the book definitely blends into that magical realism territory. The ARC copy I got was mostly in black and white with some teaser color pages, so I had a look through the finished copy in-store and it's just stunning. The black and white was lovely, but seeing the final product, it's definitely worth picking up. It follows two people who were running away from something and in the trip together, they just find themselves, but also a new friend in each other which was really nice to see. The book tackles themes of family, friendship, sexual assault, sexuality, and loss. I think fans of Walden's previous books will definitely enjoy this one. It kind of reminded me David Arnold's Mosquitoland!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮½ - 3.5/5 stars

Available for purchase:
Indigo/Chapters - Kobo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Raincoast Books in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.

Most Anticipated Releases for Fall/Winter 2019 | YA + Fiction Edition

Hi everyone! Similar to the romance edition of this post, I decided to make a YA and fiction edition featuring releases coming out in the second half of this year that I'm looking forward to! :D 

Containment by Caryn Lix

PUB DATE: August 6, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

In the thrilling second book in a series best described as Alien meets The Darkest Minds, Kenzie and her friends find themselves on the run and up against another alien invasion headed towards Earth. They may have escaped Sanctuary, but Kenzie and her friends are far from safe. Ex-Omnistellar prison guard Kenzie and her superpowered friends barely made it off Sanctuary alive. Now they’re stuck in a stolen alien ship with nowhere to go and no one to help them. Kenzie is desperate for a plan, but she doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Everyone has their own dark secrets: Omnistellar, her parents, even Cage. Worse still, she’s haunted by memories of the aliens who nearly tore her to shreds—and forced her to accidentally kill one of the Sanctuary prisoners, Matt. When Kenzie intercepts a radio communication suggesting that more aliens are on their way, she knows there’s only one choice: They must destroy the ship before the aliens follow the signal straight to them. Because if the monstrous creatures who attacked Sanctuary reach Earth, then it’s game over for humanity. What Kenzie doesn’t know is that the aliens aren’t the only ones on the hunt. Omnistellar has put a bounty on Kenzie’s head—and the question is whether the aliens or Omnistellar get to her first.

The QB Bad Boy and Me by Tay Marley 

PUB DATE: August 20, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Book Depository

Everything changed the day Drayton Lahey crashed into Dallas's life? Sparks fly between Dallas Bryan, a no-nonsense cheerleader with her eyes on a CalArts dance scholarship, and Archwood High's bad-boy quarterback, Drayton Lahey. She's convinced they're wrong for one another and is intent on proving that she can resist his brooding attitude, impressive abs, and all-around hotness. But when Drayton falls for her, their relationship takes a turn for the intense in ways neither could have anticipated.

I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson

PUB DATE: September 3, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository

Jemma knows who the murderer is. She knows because he told her. He thought his secret was safe because Jemma can''t speak or move. But Jemma observes all kinds of things about everyone around her. His secret is just one of them. And when a new technology means she may be able to communicate and reveal all she knows, Jemma no longer feels powerless in the face of this deadly secret. It''s a race against time before the killer acts again. . . or tries to stop her.

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

PUB DATE: September 10, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Book Depository

Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou. This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak-and a startling revelation about sexual assault-culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

PUB DATE: October 1, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents'' house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That''s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby. When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she''s started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available. This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever . . . or is it?

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

PUB DATE: October 1, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us. Single mother Kate Reese is on the run. Determined to improve life for her and her son, she flees an abusive relationship in the middle of the night with Christopher at her side. Together, they find themselves drawn to the tight-knit community of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. It''s as far off the beaten track as they can get. Just one highway in, one highway out. At first, it seems like the perfect place to finally settle down. Then Christopher vanishes. For six awful days, no one can find him. Until Christopher emerges from the woods at the edge of town, unharmed but not unchanged. He returns with a voice in his head only he can hear, with a mission only he can complete: Build a tree house in the woods by Christmas, or his mother and everyone in the town will never be the same again. Soon Kate and Christopher find themselves in the fight of their lives, caught in the middle of a war playing out between good and evil, with their small town as the battleground.

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh

PUB DATE: October 8, 2019 

PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she''s forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city''s glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group''s enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien''s own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 
PUB DATE: October 8, 2019
PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale''s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she''s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world''s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What''s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale''s secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street''s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

What releases are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below! 

Batch Reviews #15

Defy Me (Book #5 of Shatter Me Series) by Tahereh Mafi (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: April 2, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368

My Review: I put off reading this for a few months because I knew I would devour it instantly and wanted to set aside time for myself to just savor it. I was able to read it all in one sitting and I'm already feeling the withdrawal and wanting the next book. I was a bit hesitant when Mafi announced the return of these books, but as I said in my previous review for Restore Me, I love this world and the characters that Mafi has created, so she can do no wrong in my eyes. This picks up after the insane finale from the last one, and I don't want to say too much to spoil, but you do get Kenji's POV now which is awesome. I loved seeing the other characters through his eyes. And if you thought you loved Juliette and Warner before, you'll love them even more in this book. The risks they take, the strength that they both have is simply astounding. I ship them even more (how is that even possible?) now, and I can't wait to see how it all ends next book. This installment was an easy 5 stars.

Available for purchase:
Indigo/Chapters - Kobo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository

Queen of Ruin (Grace & Fury #2) by Tracy Banghart (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: July 2, 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336

My Review: **This is the sequel to Grace and Fury - you can find my full review here! Please proceed knowing that there are some slight spoilers** If you read my previous review for the first book, you'll know that I absolutely loved the first book. As someone who isn't reading as much YA fantasy as before, I loved this historical fantasy duology. It was such a strong feminist text in my opinion, so my expectations for the second installment were quite high. I'm happy to report that Banghart did not disappoint. The book opens with both sisters reuniting on the island, only to separate once again to do what was best for their loved ones. I loved seeing Serina kind of take charge of everything at Mount Ruin. I also really liked seeing her relationship with Val grow as well. She truly becomes a leader among all the women of Mount Ruin. On the other hand, you see Nomi teaming up with Malachi to deal with Asa. You also seeing her change as well, and how she adapts to wanting to guard her heart a little closer. I really loved this sequel and thought it was such a satisfying conclusion to the overall duology. It is hands down one of my favorite YA historical fantasy series and I can't recommend it enough! You've got strong female leads and really supportive male counterpoints, what more do you need?

Available for purchase:
Indigo/Chapters - Kobo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Hachette Canada in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: June 11, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400

My Review: This was my first book by Tessa Bailey, and friends, I love her writing so much! I really did not know what to expect going into this book, but from the very beginning, I fell in love with it. It opens with Travis Ford hitting rock bottom after returning to his hometown because his baseball career has ended, and his best friend Stephen's younger sister, Georgie, comes over to give him a bit of a wake-up call. I knew I liked her right away, because she mentions "I just bought a house. My own house. I'm not a kid anymore, but even if I was? I'd have my shit together more than you do. And I'm a children's birthday party clown--let that sink in" (Chapter 1). She is such a unique female lead, but also super relate-able at the same time. Both Georgie and Travis are dealing with other people's perceptions of them, and certain expectations. They have both been pigeonholed a certain identity their whole life: child & a player. And they both want to be more than that. I loved seeing them fall in love with one another and just bring out the best in one another. Bailey's writing is funny, sweet, and incredibly honest and authentic. I loved that she was able to capture both of their inner struggles and anxieties in a way that made me appreciate the characters a lot. Her books are also quite steamy ;) Like I said, this was my first Tessa Bailey book, but it won't be my last. There is also another book to come which follows a character we were introduced to in this one, so I can't wait to get my hands on that one. This was the perfect summer RomCom and I would highly recommend you go out and get yourself a copy. It was so much fun!

Available for purchase:
Indigo/Chapters - Kobo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository

Blog Tour: Birthday by Meredith Russo - Review

Birthday by Meredith Russo

Publishing Date: May 21, 2019
Publisher: Flatiron
Pages: 288
Young Adult Contemporary

The Premise from the Publisher: "Two best friends. A shared birthday. Six years... ERIC: There was the day we were born. There was the minute Morgan and I decided we were best friends for life. The years where we stuck by each other's side-as Morgan's mom died, as he moved across town, as I joined the football team, as my parents started fighting. But sometimes I worry that Morgan and I won't be best friends forever. That there'll be a day, a minute, a second, where it all falls apart and there's no turning back the clock. MORGAN: I know that every birthday should feel like a new beginning, but I'm trapped in this mixed-up body, in this wrong life, in Nowheresville, Tennessee, on repeat. With a dad who cares about his football team more than me, a mom I miss more than anything, and a best friend who can never know my biggest secret. Maybe one day I'll be ready to become the person I am inside. To become her. To tell the world. To tell Eric. But when? -- Six years of birthdays reveal Eric and Morgan's destiny as they come together, drift apart, fall in love, and discover who they're meant to be-and if they're meant to be together" (Flatiron).

My overall thoughts and review: I remember a lot of people raving about Meredith's previous book If I was Your Girl, which I haven't read yet, but I've recently learned that Russo, as a transgender woman, her objective is to "write books about a transgender character that has a happy ending." This was my first book by her, and I've already put her previous book on hold at the library to read next. I really liked this book. It follows two best friends over the span of 6 years. They've been best friends for even longer than that. They also share the same birthday. Every year they always spend it together and each section of the book shows their birthday of the corresponding year.

Morgan has always felt uncomfortable in her own body. She's been holding this secret for a long time, and with the passing of her mother, it gets harder and harder each day to tell someone. To her, after losing her mother, all she has left is Eric and her father, and she worries that her secret of wanting to be a girl will change that. And that she'll lose them. Russo takes us through the painful journey of what Morgan feels and experiences. There is a lot of bullying that happens, which unfortunately is very true for trans individuals today. In those moments, I'm taken back to a conversation I had with a trans friend of mine and they explained that despite having a supportive friend group, the stigma and stereotypes still exist, and because people cannot comprehend something that is 'different' from their own norm, they often turn to bullying. It's absolutely heartbreaking to read it from Morgan's perspective, but also the fact that it still happens today to many individuals going through what Morgan did. Morgan tries so hard to even push away this need and desire for her true self, only because she thought at the time that it was best to be what everyone thought she should be or how she should to be. When she is able to come to terms with everything and share her secret with Eric and her father, my heart absolutely burst with happiness. It was such a long journey for her and I'm so pleased she was able to have her happy ending and a sense of peace.

I love Morgan and Eric's story so much. Gender wasn't even a factor for Eric, because he simply loved Morgan. He has always loved Morgan. I really loved reading about their friendship, but also seeing their dynamic change when they fell in love with each other. This book is definitely one that punches you in the gut with everything, makes you want to reach out and hug the characters, but most importantly, reminds us that we still need to do a lot more for our LGBTQ community. What Morgan goes through bullying wise happens on a regular basis for many trans individuals, and in some cases, it is possibly a lot worst as well. This book reminds us that someone else's gender shouldn't be a deciding factor on how we treat them, and during difficult times of where someone is struggling with finding their true self, we should be allies and respectful of that choice. This is definitely a story that will stick with me for a long time, and I highly would recommend this as a great YA read that is both beautiful but also educational.

*Warning: there are instances of transphobia, homophobia, bullying and abuse, suicide, and alcoholism. 

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository

Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by Raincoast Books for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own. 

Blog Tour: In The Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen - Review and Author Q&A

In The Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen

Publishing Date: April 9, 2019
Publisher: Running Press
Pages: 304
Young Adult Contemporary

The Premise from the Publisher: "Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion. As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama. But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible" (Running Press).

My overall thoughts and review: I was intrigued by the premise of this book when I first heard of it because I always enjoy a book about an individual who takes the risk and courage to chase after their own dreams. I find that as a child of an immigrant, there's a certain pressure that is present to always work hard and be the best. As someone who grew up with a parent who wanted me to pursue a medical degree, I found a lot of the pressure that Nira faced in the book relatable. I saw aspects of my own family in Nira's family, and I think a lot of readers reading this would find aspects that they can find similarities in as well. I will say, brace yourself to feel some frustration, similar to the kind youi would feel around those relatives that drive you up the wall at family events. At times, I wished I could reach into the book and shake characters like Nira's uncle Raj or Farah. They were incredibly frustrating, and I'm proud of Nira for always holding her ground with them and not letting them get the best of her. I liked that despite a lot of issues she faced with her parents, they were able to overcome them and come to a compromise. I will say that Nira's grandma was definitely my favorite character. I loved her interactions with other characters and just her overall fighting spirit. In addition to family dynamics, the book focuses a lot on friendship and cliques. Nira has a best friend named Emily, but things start to shift when Mac is introduced, and a possible love interest, Noah. It reminds you that first impressions can alter the way you look at someone in the long run, and how to not judge a book by its cover. Lastly, music is a big component in the book as it's the driving force for Nira. She finds herself in her passion for music and it was nice to see what a big role music played for her. The parts that I found frustrating were mostly certain characters. Like I said earlier, her uncle and cousin drove me absolutely bonkers. I understand that they added to the overall plot, but they were still frustrating. Overall though, despite frustrating characters, I really did enjoy the book. It's a good own voices story that focuses on finding yourself, family, and friendship dynamics. If you are looking for a YA diverse contemporary read, then this is the book for you!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮½ - 3.5/5 stars

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository

Author Q&A

What is your writing process?  

Is it too honest to confess my writing strategy consists of a lot (a lot!!) of staring at a blank page, inhaling tea, and eating way too many cupcakes?
Luckily, I also do a few other things. I re-read story-writing books (think of Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, Robert McKee’s Story, and the like), then I go back to the reams and reams of writing outlines I have printed off from conferences.
I sketch out the characters, their arc, and plots. For me, writing a novel is like trying to cross the ocean—an impossible task if I try to do it in one jump. I find that having an outline breaks a big job into small, achievable goals.
Once I have my outline and scenes, I start in, and I give myself daily/weekly/monthly deadlines, as well as daily/weekly/monthly rewards for putting in a good-faith effort. (I concentrate on effort over output, because as writers know, sometimes you can try very, very hard, but at the end of the day, all you have is a sentence).
After the draft is completed, I let it rest, then it’s time for edits! And when that’s done, it’s beta readers, then off to my agent, then off to the publisher, then the world. :-) 

Were there any particular scenes you found really difficult to write?  

Truly, I find everything about writing difficult—and Nira was tricky because there’s a line where my growing up and her story blurred.
I really loved Nira’s story, I loved her and her eccentric family, and I think that’s important for writers. If we love the idea, the story, then it’s easy (easier) to remind ourselves that it’s okay if the story takes time to unfold, and it’s okay to take the breath and go slowly.
I think the ending was probably the most difficult because I had lived with these characters for so long, and now, it was time to say goodbye.   

What are some of your favorite scenes? 

Hands down, any time Grandma was in the scene. She is **so** based off my grandmothers. It was a joyful experience to imagine them talking and then shifting it to Grandma’s voice.
I also loved writing Emily’s scenes. She is such a great friend and I loved the slightly off-kilter way she filters life.
The other scenes I loved were the moments when Nira’s worldview shifts. It was a lot of fun creating those scenes, giving her a chance to grow and expand, and to see the world as a nuanced creation rather than a simple black-and-white experience.

Thank you so much, Natasha for stopping by today on the blog tour! Be sure to stop by the other stops for more reviews and content from Natasha! :D 

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Hachette Book Group for consideration/review and participation in the blog tour. All opinions are my own. 

Blog Tour: The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena - Review and Author Guest Post

The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena

Publishing Date: February 26, 2019
Publisher: PRH Canada Young Readers
Pages: 368
Young Adult Contemporary

The Premise from the Publisher: "Susan is the new girl -- she's sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents' expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy -- he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since. Susan hasn't told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn't know what he wants -- until he meets her. Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are" (PRH).

My overall thoughts and review: If you look back over a year ago, I had read Tanaz's debut novel A Girl Like That, and it still remains one of my favorite reads to this day. To say I was excited to read more by Tanaz is an understatement. I still think about AGLT often, with how powerful the story was and just the beautiful way it was written. AGLT is mentioned a bit in this book which was nice to see! If you are curious for my review of that book, be sure to click here! This story takes place in Mississauga which isn't too far from me so it was nice to see some familiar sights mentioned. Susan is the new girl at school and she finds herself wanting to pursue art in her future, while also struggling with her parent's expectations. They want a different life for her, one that is either in medicine or engineering. She misses life back home, but she's also dealing with the fact that her parents may be separating. She finds herself becoming friends with Malcolm, who is a bit of a hellion. I really liked how they hit it off immediately, and even though it's first love, Tanaz wrote their relationship blossoming in a very authentic way, which didn't feel too insta-lovey for me. On paper and to their parents, they can and could never work, but I loved seeing them grow more comfortable with the other and bringing out the best in the other. The book tackles so many themes in terms of how family and relationships are presented. It also tackles senior year of high school struggles, in terms of doing well in your classes to get into post-secondary education, but also struggling to decide what you actually want to do when you get to post-secondary education. Tanaz nicely highlights the struggle that I'm sure a lot of students face, and that is deciding between what you want to do and love, and what you are expected to do by your parents. It's like a kind of limbo you are in, and I'm sure many people can relate to that moment many times over the course of their life. It was more than just Susan and Malcolm falling love, it was their individual stories and how they were able to move on from certain things in their lives. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a YA contemporary read that's really well written, and highlights first love, family, and friendship!

"Nothing lasts forever. Not this snowflake. Not our homes, not our families. But it doesn't mean you can't live in the beauty of the moment" (221). 

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository

Author Guest Post - Be a little stubborn by Tanaz Bhathena

Dedicated to my friends in THG Fandom (you know who you are) 

The greatest challenge I faced in my writing career happened in 2014-15. I had been working hard to get a book published for around 7 years. I had started off with a short story collection, which helped me find an agent, but the book did not sell. Short story collections by debut writers rarely ever do, and though people told me this in the past, I didn’t listen. You see, I can be a little stubborn at times. 

Predictably, publishers told me to write a novel instead. So I took a short story from the collection and expanded it to a novel for adults. As my agent submitted the book and new rejections began pouring in, I began working on another book...and came up blank.  

Ideas came aplenty, but executing them was a different thing altogether. For several months, I wrote myself into several dead ends. Turned off writing, I found refuge in reading The Hunger Games fan fiction and eventually was encouraged by fandom writers online to give it a try.  

I really loved it. (Putting a Bollywood twist on Peeta and Katniss and setting it in India may have something to do with that.) To my surprise, readers liked my story as well; strangers I didn’t know asked me to write more chapters. Fan fiction reminded me of how much I loved writing and how much I missed it.  

However, after a few months of writing fan fic, I grew dissatisfied again. There were certain rules you have to follow to write good fan fic and, when it came to writing, I always resisted following the rules. I knew that as fun and rewarding as it had been to explore fan fiction, I had to begin writing my own stories again.  

The day I decided to wind down my fan fic journey and begin working on my own fiction again, my agent called. “We have some interest,” she told me. “It’s from a YA editor and she wants you to revise your book for teens.” 

Hope battled with reluctance. I had heard such things from editors before only to be rejected later on. But then I decided to give my beaten up story one more shot.   

I revised the first three chapters and wrote a synopsis for the book and submitted it.  

In the summer of 2016, my agent called me. We had an offer for my first novel, now known as A GIRL LIKE THAT.  

A year later, I pulled out another short story from my old collection and wrote my second novel, THE BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT.  

It took fan fiction to remind me how much I love writing—and more so, writing my own stories. The greatest challenge we face as writers apart from rejection is self-doubt. Does my story matter? we wonder. Does anyone care? 

The answer, which took me a while to realize, is simple: If I don’t care about my story, no one else will.  

Have faith in yourself and your story, especially when it’s difficult to do so.  

Or if you’re anything like me, just be a little stubborn. 

Thank you so much, Tanaz, for stopping by the blog today and sharing about your writing process! 

We are only just kicking off the tour, so please be sure to go check out the other stops for reviews on the book and more special content from Tanaz! :D

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada for consideration/review. All opinions are my own. 

Blog Tour: Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan - Review

Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy #1) by Emily A. Duncan 

Publishing Date: April 2, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 400
Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

The Premise from the Publisher: "A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself. A prince in danger must decide who to trust. A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war. In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light" (SMP).

My overall thoughts and review: I will say that in the beginning of the book, I found it a little hard to get into. You are immediately thrown into this world and while the character development is great, I would've liked some historical context ahead of time in an easier fashion for me to digest it all. That said, once I got about 100 pages into the book, I started to enjoy the perspectives of the characters a lot more. It's definitely a book that I would recommend taking your time reading because there is a lot to digest in terms of names and places, so it can get confusing. The book follows Nadya, who is an incredibly valuable cleric, because she has the gift of communication with the gods, and she wants to save Kalyazin from Tranavia. And in contrast, there's Serefin, who is the High Prince of Tranavia, and he is tasked with capturing her. However, Nadya finds some unlikely allies and makes a plan to assassinate the mad king to stop the war to save her country, while Serefin is called home suddenly because he needs to marry? I wasn't sure what to think of Nadya to begin with, and unfortunately, she wasn't what kept me reading the entire book. It's like she knows she's important, but can't help being a bit arrogant about that fact? On the other hand, the character of Serefin is definitely my favorite. I liked his voice, and just his overall approach to things. I found myself eagerly turning the pages so I could read more from his perspective. The book does well in terms of the fast moving plot that picks up in the 2/4 of the book and carries on until the end of the book. It also does well tackling some really dark themes while surprising the reader at every turn. It does make you think the bigger questions that can often come when discussing religion, like is this right or wrong? and the actions people sometimes do in the name of faith. It's definitely unlike any other fantasy YA I've read before, and I did like that it felt like some elements of the Middle East and Russia were kind of taken to build the world. I'm intrigued by what comes next in this series. If you are a fan of YA fantasy books, but you always wanted a darker element or aspect to the text, I would definitely recommend you pick this up.

For an exclusive excerpt from the book, click here!

Available for pre-order/purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository
There's also an Indigo Book Box featuring the book: here!

Be sure to check out the other stops on the blog tour! :D 

Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by Raincoast Books for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own. 

Blog Tour: Chicken Girl by Heather Smith - Review and Author Guest Post

Chicken Girl by Heather Smith

Publishing Date: March 5, 2019
Publisher: PRH Canada Young Readers
Pages: 240
Young Adult Contemporary

The Premise from the Publisher: "Poppy used to be an optimist. But after a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter is mocked online, she's having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. There, Poppy meets six-year-old girl Miracle, who helps Poppy see beyond her own pain, opening her eyes to the people around her: Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition. As the summer unfolds, Poppy stops glorifying the past and starts focusing on the present. But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal" (PRH).

My overall thoughts and review: This was my first time reading something from Heather Smith, and I can definitely say, she now has a fan for life. I love her writing. There's more emphasis on dialogue and the character's internal thoughts, but I still found the world building quite good. I could easily picture the school, the restaurant of Chen's Chicken, the bridge, and the houses. The story follows Poppy, who used to be a big 40s lover, but when someone photoshops a hamburger on her Rosie the Riveter photo as part of a fat-shaming subreddit, she loses her confidence, and even quits derby, which was her passion. While working outside of Chen's Chicken, as the chicken who holds the sign, she meets a young eccentric girl named Miracle, and Miracle introduces Poppy to some people who live under the bridge, homeless people. There, she meets Buck, Thumper, and Lewis. She's immediately drawn to Buck, and they form a relationship, but she learns quickly, that he can be quite mean when he drinks. She also finds herself drawn to Lewis as well, who walks her home from the bridge time and time again. In a way, the relationships she forms with these people, brings out her old self again. All the while, she's finding herself struggle with her twin brother, Cam, and how she thinks he should be. I really loved their relationship and their cute little puns. I think it felt really authentic in terms of the struggles you may face with your siblings (this coming from an only child, but I grew up with cousins, so I can relate), and what happens when you do something you think is right for the people you love, but you may end up hurting them instead. This book is on the shorter side, but it's highly readable. I found myself unable to put it down and finishing it in one sitting. It definitely packs a punch. There's so much present here in terms of themes, but the big focuses are on anxiety, body image, and sexuality. As someone who regularly struggles with body image, this book felt like a good friend reminding me that it's not what others think of you, but rather what you think of yourself, and what makes you as a person feel comfortable. That comfort can be found in many ways, but it's also a firm reminder that it can be found in the people you love, and that love you. If you are in the mood for a wonderful YA contemporary read that focuses on identity, friendship, family, and love, this is definitely the one for you!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars

Available for pre-order/purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository

Author Guest Post - On Writing 

My writing process involves the three M’s: motivation, music, and movement. 

Motivation: The first thing step to any writing process is finding motivation.  For me, motivation comes from within. When I have a story brewing I get antsy and the only way I feel settled is when I’m writing my ideas onto the page. That said, sometimes procrastination is stronger than motivation and getting myself into my writing chair can be a challenge. That’s when routine comes into play.   Every morning, once my house is empty, I sit down to write.  Enforcing this self-imposed rule was tricky at first – there always seemed to be other things that needed to be settled away before I started my work day. To combat this I gave myself a start time –10 am. This simple decision did the trick. My writing day starts at 10 am and that’s all there is to it. I’ve been doing it for so long now it’s a well-established routine – I’d be lost without it.  

Music: Some people need silence to write but my creativity is greatly improved by music. Plugging in my earbuds puts me in “the zone.” Each project has a different soundtrack and each soundtrack is curated with songs that move me in some way. Music churns up a variety of emotions, and writing while being moved emotionally can churn up a lot of interesting things in your storytelling.  

Movement: As with music, my creativity is greatly improved by movement. Breaking up my writing day with a walk or a run always sparks a new idea or two. I don’t know how many stories I have “written” while out in the fresh air.  Just as different soundtracks can affect the creativity of my ideas, so can the weather. I like to get out in all conditions – whether it’s windy, rainy, snowy, or sunny. Like music, the weather can churn up different emotions that can impact storytelling. Sometimes, the most miserable days can spark the most interesting ideas.  

Thanks so much for swinging by and sharing that, Heather! Music is definitely a big aspect just for getting work done and it's cool to learn how soundtracks played into your work. 

There are many other stops on the blog tour, so be sure to stop by the other blogs for more content from Heather! 

Monday, February 25

Vicky at Vicky Who Reads

Lisa at Remarkablylisa

Jaaron at Worn Pages and Ink

Tuesday, February 26

Malanie at malanie loves fiction

Chelsea at Twirling Pages

Alexa at Alexa Talks Books

Wednesday, February 27

Nancy at Tales of the Ravenous Reader

Kaitlyn at Midsummer Night’s Read

Wendy at A Cupcake and a Latte

Thursday, February 28

Summer at Butter My Books

Christine at Padfoot’s Library

Olivia at The Candid Cover

Friday, March 1

Kate at Snarky Yet Satisfying

Taylor at A Book Nerds Paradise

Zuhra at Venus Reads

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.