Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Iris Oxtabee has managed to navigate the tricky world of unspoken social interactions by reading everything from neuroscience journals to Wikipedia articles. Science has helped her fit the puzzle pieces into an understandable whole, and she’s sure there’s nothing it can’t explain. Love, for example, is just chemistry. Her best friend Seth, however, believes love is one of life’s beautiful and chaotic mysteries, without need for explanation. Iris isn’t one to back down from a challenge; she’s determined to prove love is really nothing more than hormones and external stimuli. After all, science has allowed humanity to understand more complex mysteries than that, and Iris excels at science. The perfect way to test her theory? Get the popular and newly-single Theo Grant, who doesn’t even know Iris exists, to ask her to prom. With prom just two weeks away, Iris doesn’t have any time to waste, so she turns her keen empirical talents and laser-focus attention to testing her theory. But will proving herself correct cause her friendship with Seth—and the tantalizing possibility for something more—to become the failed experiment? This sweet spring romance is perfect for anyone seeking a fluffy YA contemporary with an experimental side. Iris Oxtabee believes love is all chemicals, and her understanding of neurochemistry and evolutionary biology is all she needs to get a prom date. Of course, life gets in the way. I loved this one! Let me start by saying I love the neurodiversity rep here—Iris has NVLD, a learning disorder that affects her understanding of social cues. I don’t share her diagnosis, but have a condition that can also affect socializing and induce anxiety. We don’t get a lot of neurodiverse rep in YA romance, and it’s something I always love seeing more of. At the end, there was a particular plot point that relied on Iris's humiliation which I didn't love, but LaBar handled it very well and it's clear to readers no joke was had at Iris's expense for that. Her scientific approach made her an interesting narrator, and the dramatic irony from some of her obliviousness to her own romantic attraction was actually kind of sweet. She made some poor choices (experimenting on other people, for a start) but Iris had so much heart that I couldn't help but root for her. Iris's science experiments were a favorite part of mine! I'm a future scientist, and I’m actually taking some classes related to her research right now, so it was doubly interesting for me because of that. I know non-scientists may not love the mentions of hormones and evolved chemical responses to stimuli, but I found them charming (and educational). I don’t entirely believe Iris is right—love can be a spiritual and emotional experience not entirely quantifiable—but the concept of the book hooked me from the start and I was eager to see where Iris’s conclusions led. If you liked Meredith Goldstein's Chemistry Lessons, you'll like Prom Theory. Check out my STEM YA list for more recs! Believe me, it’s hard to spoil a romance novel, so let me just say that I was swooning for the love interest. I think you can tell from the synopsis that this is a childhood friends to lovers novel. Seth is the absolute sweetest, and clearly cares so much for Iris. All their little habits, and the way they’re so protective towards each other made every page they weren’t together truly angst-filled. Esther, their other best friend / occasional third wheel, was so much fun and a great foil to Iris. I liked that her side plot had depth and she wasn't dismissed for her knowledge of the stereotypically "feminine" things that Iris dislikes. Overall, I'm giving Prom Theory 4.5/5 stars as an adorable new romance release which you should definitely pick up! Out today!
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Terminal Tours has a new blog tour sign up out, and we're so excited!! Come sign up for Dustborn by Erin Bowman!! This postapocalyptic novel is sure to be magical, and we're looking for a selection of US and International book bloggers to participate.
Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this postapocalyptic Western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl. Delta of Dead River has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumored paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it—even if no one can read it. So when raiders sent by a man known as the General attack her village, Delta suspects he is searching for her. Delta sets out to rescue her family but quickly learns that in the Wastes no one can be trusted—perhaps not even her childhood friend, Asher, who has been missing for nearly a decade. If Delta can trust Asher, she just might decode the map and trade evidence of the Verdant to the General for her family. What Delta doesn’t count on is what waits at the Verdant: a long-forgotten secret that will shake the foundation of her entire world. Thank you to Abrams for sharing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Apologies for late review!
The first book in an epic and romantic YA series following the fictionalized descendants of the only officially recognized empress regent of China Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost. Heiress Apparently is a sweet new contemporary novel centering Gemma's relationship with her family--previously shrouded in mystery that evaporates when she travels to Beijing. I loved Gemma and Alyssa's relationship. They're strangers at the beginning of the book, but as they learn more about their family they grow closer and it's so adorable. As they acknowledge, they're more than cousins--they're sisters. They share a glamorous heritage which Gemma knows little about but Alyssa is eager to share. I'm really hoping the next book in the series is about Alyssa! The ending moments especially... I don't have much to say other than it just made me feel all the warm and fuzzy feelings. I was just so happy for Gemma, because I'd grown to care for her so much throughout the novel. I hesitate to call this found family, because technically Gemma is learning about her blood family, but it operates on a similar premise. So much of the novel finds Gemma bringing people together and expanding her family from the small group she'd had in the US. I also enjoyed her narration through the hard time she faces as a Chinese-American and not feeling fully accepted by either community. This really resonated with me because as an Indian-American, I feel the exact same way. Not Indian enough for some, not American enough for others. It can be so difficult to be part of a diasporic experience, and even more so in Gemma's case where she's got this pressure on her as an actress to represent millions of people on the silver screen. I couldn't imagine how tough that must be--but I don't have to, since Ma narrates it brilliantly in the novel. There's also a bit of a romance! It's not quite a Romeo-and-Juliet situation (if you want R&J set in China please check out These Violent Delights) but there IS a family feud and many complicated feelings. Love interest Eric is interested in sustainable fashion (to the benefit of our girl Gemma--I would LOVE to see fan art of her in that suit!) and protecting his sister Mimi from being manipulated by Alyssa (no spoilers, but that's so far from the truth of what's going on). He's so sweet with Gemma, and just all-around amazing. I totally shipped them, and always hoped she'd break up with her jerk of an LA boyfriend to get with Eric instead. Overall, I'm giving Heiress Apparently 4/5 stars for general adorableness and also being a wonderful permutation of the modern-royalty trope. Will definitely be recommending this one in the future. Bit of a busy week for me, what with my return to class and all that. HOWEVER!! I've just received some incredible news and y'all... I'm really happy. I can't share for fear of compromising my privacy (which I value, despite cultivating online relationships with my readers and other bloggers), but please know that I'm elated and hopefully this opportunity lives up to its reputation. I've been blogging for five years, and I'm proud of everything this website has become--I love seeing the effort recognized by those outside the community and if I'm correct in my assumption that that's part of what led to my good news... well I'd be pleased.
In bookish news... nothing. I'm taking far more courses than I was earlier and much to my displeasure, that's led to a lack of time to read and write posts. Through the end of April I'll be quite occupied, so please forgive me for the lack of multiple reviews per week. I'm hoping to write up more Release Radar posts to show off the amazing releases happening this spring, but other than that I might be scarce. A slick, twisty YA page-turner about the daughter of a con artist who is taken hostage in a bank heist.
Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape. For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems: #1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris. #2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because: #3: Right after they enter bank, two guys start robbing it. The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage… This is one of the most interesting and original thrillers I've read in a while! It takes place over the course of a bank heist, and centers on Nora O'Malley (I loved her immediately). I checked The Girls I've Been out from the library with middling expectations and I've just been blown away by everything about it. I'd hesitate to call Nora an unreliable narrator, since she's interested in telling the truth and unraveling past lies she's told her friends. The triple timelines make for an interesting read (and lengthen the book) as we see Nora's past lives, her arrival to Lee, and the bank heist simultaneously. This could be a lot to handle for a reader, but Sharpe uses short chapters to the best effect and I ended up enjoying her narration. The con-woman angle was fresh. Nora's mother committed and permitted all kinds of abuse, which was horrifying to read about in the chapters where Nora explains some of the girls she's been. Sharpe includes a positive portrayal of talk therapy and mental health treatment, which I always take time to appreciate in a book. What was more interesting to me was the "lessons" she gained from those girls, and the creative action-packed sequences she leads. I couldn't put the book down once I'd started. This is both because it reads so fluidly I kept wanting to find out what's next, and also because the formatting led the 336 pages to fly by. In terms of writing style and voice, I waffled between "into the drama" and "over it." A lot of Nora's narration was overblown, but as I became more invested in her backstory I began to understand why. Her struggles with identity and feeling comfortable in her new life were a central theme in the book and definitely merited some of the more overdramatic lines. What really made the book for me was the chapter sequencing and the sharp turns of the story. Also just have to give a shoutout to Nora being bi--we have been BLESSED with this character. I love a good morally grey queer story and Tess Sharpe absolutely delivered. Her girlfriend Iris is the sweetest (with the best fashion sense) and her ex Wes deserves a whole book of his own. Their group dynamic is funny and heartfelt, an excellent counter to the high-octane violence of the heist. 5/5 stars for this dark, twisty story. I'm very intrigued and will definitely be buying a copy for myself soon. Deep in the wood lives a witch queen and her eight tree siren daughters. For centuries they have harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow their ever-reaching kingdom of ash, birch, and oak.
Owen Merrick lives at the edge of the forest, mapping the stars for the king in his father's observatory. For years, he has resisted venturing over the garden wall, until one day he must enter the woods to find his missing sister. But one of the witch's tree siren daughters, Seren, decides to save his life instead of end it. Now, no matter how hard he tries, he can't stop thinking about her--the birch-bright hue of her skin and the way violets bloom in her hair. Every night, he goes into the wood to meet her, and their love for each other grows. But when the constellations shift, the stars foretell an inevitable war between the witch queen and the king. With Seren compelled to fight for her mother, and Owen forced to join the king's army, they are plunged into the heart of a conflict that seemingly no one can win and that might destroy both their kingdoms forever. The prose is EVERYTHING! That's the first (and almost only) intelligent thing I have to say about this novel. Every line was beautiful. I loved the switch between verse and prose as Seren works towards humanity. Her chapters alternate with Owen's as he describes life on the edge of the woods and she narrates being her "mother's youngest monster." This is the most poetic horror story/romance tale I've possibly ever read. Every sentence is a masterpiece, and I can appreciate all of it on a craft level. I especially loved what I labeled the "recall moments," where Owen would repeat lines of text from his observations about Seren or other powerful phrases. We also get a gorgeous monster girl & scientist boy dynamic that I am living for. Seren is a very specific brand of nature horror--if you loved the body horror of Wilder Girls but wanted that book to be set in a fantasy world, then Heartless Wood is for you. Again, the magic of Meyer's writing only adds to this. Seren is so beautiful but so monstrous, and all intimately connected to the forest in such a visceral way. She's made of bark and sap, birch and violets. I was fascinated by all of her, just like Owen. Think Wicked Saints Nadya/Malachiasz but with less religion and more forest. Into the Heartless Wood is an introspective book. There's just as much dedication to showing Seren and Owen growing together as the war between the witch queen and the king. I'd liken this to an enemies-to-lovers romance, but the problem those two face is that they recognize each other as kindred even when they should be enemies. I loved this pull against destiny as a plot device--I really rooted for them to be together and overcome the violence in their circumstances. Maybe this wasn't the direct intention, but I also think the novel did a great job of portraying abuse. Seren and the Gwydden (her mother) have a twisted relationship based on the Gwydden's immense power and control over her tree siren daughters. Seren works so hard to overcome the doubt her mother sows, and to be more than she was born for. I have deep admiration for how Meyer tackled this narrative. I'm giving Into the Heartless Wood 5/5 stars. It's an absolutely gorgeous novel that you'll want to crawl into forever. Remember when I did a foodie fiction rec list? Well, I think it needs an update! Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet brings together romance, family, and food in what's bound to be a delicious confection. Out April 6th from Little, Brown. I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong. As an aspiring pastry chef, Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans -- leaving Pen to choose between disappointing her traditional Mexican-American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself. Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that -- a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his new found family and himself. Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong -- both within their families and their fiercely loyal Chicanx community -- in order to save the place they all call home. The past two weeks have been a mess of computer issues! That's why I can't remember the last time I published this series--my queue has been rolling out these past couple of weeks. I went through a reading/blogging slump, and I'm behind on my OwlCrate reading journal--one of these days I'll get around to filling in the March trackers. I'm trying to put myself on a budget, but I've just bought two books to complete my set of The Lady Janies. I've already read My Lady Jane as an ebook, and I got My Plain Jane from OwlCrate, but My Calamity Jane is new to me and I'm very excited! Historical is one of my most under-read genres, and I eagerly await My Contrary Mary this summer, as Mary Queen of Scots is one of my favorite historical figures.
In my other media life, I watched the Grammys on Sunday! As you all know, I'm a massive Taylor Swift fan, and I have been for her whole career, so I really felt like I was celebrating the Album of the Year award right alongside her. The first woman to win three AOTYs?? The *only* performer to win them for three different genres of music?? She's a GOD!! I am so so excited for April 9th and Fearless (Taylor's Version)--expect live-tweeting while I listen and probably another lifestyle blogging post from me here when I'm a sobbing mess. Thank you to Wednesday Books for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Trader. Fighter. Survivor. With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems. As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found. Namesake just hits hard. Even months after I finished reading, I'm still obsessed with the characters and world (*cut to me staring lovingly at my preorder artwork of Fable and West*) so much that I recommend this series to everyone I meet. I don't often review more than one book in a series, but Wednesday Books has so generously shared an ARC with me that I am elated to shout all possible praise into the internet void. It's a bit challenging to find different points to remark on from my first review, since one thing Young does so well is continuity. I read Namesake only a few months after Fable, and it felt like I was stepping into a familiar embrace. If you haven't read my Fable review, then that's a good place to start since I'll be touching on a few ways Namesake does well as a sequel. Of course, if you haven't read Fable... what are you doing?? Go! My review will still be here when you come back! All that I loved from the first book continues here--Fable is beyond reproach as a narrator. She navigates trader politics and the open ocean in Namesake, taking everything on with courage and confidence. I'd wilt in the face of half of Fable's adventures, so I think this is a mark in her favor. She makes missteps but atones for them, like any good character does. I'm not upset that Fable isn't morally grey--I love that type of character but I think her style is perfect for the novel, and we need a healthy balance in YA. I'm not saying some of her actions aren't... dubious... but she's not exactly Kaz Brekker and I love her for it. At any rate, I think you're all here to see me talk about... West!!! If I thought this series couldn't get any more swoon-worthy, I was dead wrong. He remains one of my favorite YA love interests. Even in an established relationship, there was enough tension riding on Fable and West's relationship to keep me on my toes. I do love a good swashbuckling romance, and Namesake certainly delivered. I'm hoping and praying that there's another art print preorder campaign because I would sign up in a heartbeat! (Review written in January 2021, campaign not yet announced) I need Fable/West like I need air. These two found each other at the perfect moment in their lives, and I'm a sucker for stories that explore what it means to look for a home outside of your circumstances. They put so much on the line for each other always, so that the whole story has a deep emotional core rooted in finding love. That just gets me every time. The other element I enjoyed about Namesake is the fast-paced plot. We continue exploring with the Marigold's crew, and meet some new characters, but this novel is plot-focused and less introspective. It ties seamlessly into Fable, as I mentioned earlier, so that they both feel like two halves of the same book. If you liked The Bone Witch and Rin Chupeco's integrated storytelling (minus the flashbacks), you'll definitely enjoy Fable. The one major character-development arc we get is more of Fable's relationship with her father. This aspect intrigued me in the first novel, but in Namesake gets so much more depth and page time that I simply couldn't leave it out of my review. Since it wasn't what originally hooked me on Fable, I never mentioned it in that review and I'll call it a pleasant surprise for Namesake. As you might expect from the synopsis, this is a complex duo that certainly benefitted from the extra scenes. You won't be surprised to hear that I'm giving Namesake another 5/5 stars. It's a perfect novel, and you all should go order Fable (and preorder Namesake) right now.
Really excited to be on the blog tour for Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley! Thank you to TBR & Beyond for choosing me, and McElderry for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review. If you'd like to check out the rest of the tour schedule, check here, and enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!
The Book and its Author
In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.
Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others. Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret. When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father. Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don’t kill each other first..
Adrienne Tooley was born and raised in the desert suburbs of Southern California. She grew up in the theater, earning her B.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She and her wife currently live in New York City where she works in hospitality tech. In addition to writing novels she is also a singer/songwriter and has released several EPs which are available on Spotify & other streaming sites. Her debut novel, SWEET & BITTER MAGIC, will publish from S&S/McElderry in Spring 2021. Her second novel, SOFI AND THE BONE SONG, will release from S&S/McElderry in 2022.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads Photo credit - Sylvie Rosokoff Review
Slow sapphic romance! Enemies-to-lovers! Heck yeah!! This is basically everything I'd want out of a new fantasy book, so I really enjoyed this novel. Tooley hit the nail on the head with the intrigue--I especially enjoyed the development of Wren and Tamsin's relationship. It's slow burn as I just mentioned, so we get to see that tenderness blossom through their hardships. Also, I couldn't go without mentioning the "only one bed" trope is involved, one of my absolute favorites in romance.
Tamsin's curse is fairly unique--her loss of love is complete: not just affection for other people, but also just enjoyment in general. I don't think I've ever seen that for a character before. At first the link was unclear to me, but I became invested in what that meant for her character quickly. I'm willing to buy into a sense of suspension of disbelief for the sake of a good romance, and I get the sense that's necessary here. If you're the sort of reader who likes to pull plot threads to try and find holes... yeah, you might have a bit of an issue. But I'm not that type, so I was content to sit back and watch the brooding turn to real love. I saw this connection on someone's Instagram story (I'm so sorry, I've forgotten who! If this was you, please let me know and I'll credit!) and I think it's apt: Sweet & Bitter Magic is sort of a high-fantasy version of These Witches Don't Burn. Sapphic romance, reluctant allies, stopping a plague (S&BM)/dark magic (TWDB). Fans of one will enjoy the other. I'm giving Sweet & Bitter Magic 4/5 stars. MoodboardGiveaway |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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