Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a review copy of Slip in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warning: Suicide Attempt
SlipThank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a review copy of Slip in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warning: Suicide Attempt
Slip is an LGBTQIA+ graphic novel centering around mental health, art, confronting your problems head-on, and learning that it’s okay to keep going. The time has come for Jade to head off to her exclusive summer art intensive, but right before she leaves she discovers her best friend, Phoebe, is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. While at this intensive, Jade deals with the grief and feelings of guilt that if she continues moving forward with her life, she’d be leaving Phoebe behind.
In terms of the heavy subject matter, Slip is a pretty tough read — at least in the beginning. However, as the story progresses we get to witness Jade’s growth & I think the lessons that she learns along the way are really important.
There’s a magical realism bit that lends a hand in the growth of Jade, while also showing us the relationship between Jade and Phoebe; which ultimately helps us really feel for the characters and understand the feelings that Jade has.
And, as mentioned above Slip is an LGBTQIA+ read! There’s a precious romance that I am more than here for!
As I read a review copy, I’m unsure as to if the art style is finalized and completed. My copy still appears to be sketchy with very little color. If this is how the final copy will look, I think the style is very neat and fits well with the story. However, if this is not the finished look, I still get the jist of what they’re going for & can still vouch that the art style is still phenomenal & will be amazing upon completion, and can’t wait to see the finished copy. Basically to sum up my thoughts, A+ for the art that I’ve seen regardless to if it’s complete or not.
I definitely recommend picking up Slip by Marika McCoola and Aatmaja Pandya. Very meaningful story and a perfect addition to your TBR!...more
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Coven!
Here's a case of I have absolutely no feelings at all for this book. It's a perfectlThank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Coven!
Here's a case of I have absolutely no feelings at all for this book. It's a perfectly fine graphic novel, however, I doubt it's something that's going to stick with me. The art is absolutely gorgeous & the story is totally fine. At times I enjoyed relationship dynamics (i.e. Emsy with Ben & Emsy with Ash), however, as separate characters, none of them really worked for me. In fact, Emsy drove me nuts throughout the story.
There's really nothing wrong with Coven, but unfortunately, it's not a stand-out story for me....more
Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for providing me with a complimentary audiobook of 30 Things I Love About Myself!
-- I'm going to be honest, tThank you to Penguin Random House Audio for providing me with a complimentary audiobook of 30 Things I Love About Myself!
-- I'm going to be honest, there's nothing mind-blowing about 30 Things I Love About Myself. The story is fine, but it's not one that's going to live with me or make me want to come back. It was just an average read.
However, with that being said, there are some wonderful things in this book that make me still consider this a must-read.
Nina is going through some things. A recent break-up with her ex-fiance & having to move back to her old childhood home with her depressed brother & traditional Indian mother. And we can't forget that she spent her 30th birthday in a jail cell!
It's this time in a jail cell where Nina receives a self-help book & realizes it's time to change things. 30 Things I Love About Myself is Nina's journey to falling in love with herself. Of course, to get there, she'll have to jump over a few roadblocks & shenanigans.
I'm always here for some self-love & a strong believer that you have to fall in love with yourself before falling in love with others. The message in this book drives that point home & definitely makes for an inspiring read! So, yes, although this didn't land in my favorites, I still thing this is a book to add to your TBR! ...more
Thank you Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Melt With you!
2.5 rounded up!
absolutely adorable idea of two girls going on a road trip in anThank you Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Melt With you!
2.5 rounded up!
absolutely adorable idea of two girls going on a road trip in an ice cream truck!! when will this happen to me?!@!
Unfortunately, too much miscommunication kills this read. I ended up not being able to stand the characters nor care for their relationship by the end. ...more
Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-ARC of Harley Quinn: Reckoning!
As a pretty big Harley Quinn fan I was kinThank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-ARC of Harley Quinn: Reckoning!
As a pretty big Harley Quinn fan I was kind of nervous to read a new take on the character, but at the same time, new Harley content?! Yes. Please. Consuming HQ content is what I'm here for. Turns out, I had no reason to be nervous because I ended up falling in love with Rachael Allen's take.
Love the Girl Gang in Harley Quinn: Reckoning along with the female x female romance! Plus fans of DC Comics, especially Harley, will love all the references in this one. Oh! & an introduction to a certain character at the end has me extremely excited to check out Harley Quinn: Ravenous when it comes out next year! ...more
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook of BLACK BOY JOY!
Are you looking for a positive read featuring some Black boy joyThank you Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook of BLACK BOY JOY!
Are you looking for a positive read featuring some Black boy joy? BLACK BOY JOY edited by Kwame Mbalia is a middle-grade book that features 17 stories celebrating Black boyhood! Authors such as Jason Reynolds, Jay Coles, George M. Johnson, P. Djèlí Clark & more contribute to this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ collection!
We get to see characters who are picking out their fresh first day of school outfit, baking with their family & even creating the perfect superhero team for their school’s cafeteria tradition. Each story will leave you cheesin’! Plus there’s some amazing Queer representation in these stories as well.
I definitely recommend picking up BLACK BOY JOY & checking out the audiobook if possible! The narration truly brings these stories to life....more
Thank you to Del Rey Books & Netgalley for the e-ARC of Hide in exchange for an honest review!
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I am 100% here for this premise! & even more so when I started reading it and discovered what was REALLY going on in this amusement park. This is one of those things that can’t really be discussed without giving spoilers, but I will say that it is Stressful, but in the most exhilarating way possible. I adored some of the characters, especially Golden Retriever Energy Brandon! There’s a Sapphic romance & an action-packed finale. Kiersten White’s adult debut is definitely worth being hyped up! ...more
Thank you to Underlined for providing me with an e-ARC of Horror Hotel in exchange for an honest review!
Can we get some commotion for that cover?! HolThank you to Underlined for providing me with an e-ARC of Horror Hotel in exchange for an honest review!
Can we get some commotion for that cover?! Holy gorgeous.
As the synopsis mentions, Horror Hotel is The Blair Witch Project for the TikTok generation. This YA Horror is fairly fast-paced, filled with more blood than I originally imagined (that ice machine scene?! If you know, you know.) & has some Queer rep. In all honestly, it's hashtag winning.
Some of the characters annoyed me -- looking at you Chase -- but in the end, these are YA characters & I, at one point, probably behaved the same way. Nobody's perfect, you live & you learn it.
One thing that irked my nerves is the ever-so-obvious twist. But the characters who come in for the resolution were solid & in a strange way, heart-warming?
Anyway. It was a fairly enjoyable read & it was so easy to keep flipping those pages until the end! ...more
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Kings of B'more!
Who wants to have a Ferris Day with me?!@!!
Also, wow, I Feel ancient thatThank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Kings of B'more!
Who wants to have a Ferris Day with me?!@!!
Also, wow, I Feel ancient that these characters had no idea what Ferris Bueller's Day off was when I watched it so many times throughout high school thanks to substitute teachers who had no other idea what to do with us.
Anyway, I loved the idea of Kings of B'more! & there were some scenes/adventures that I was absolutely living for. But after a while, I just found myself over it. Also, I recommend checking out reviews from Black reviewers who discuss how this isn't the Black Boy Joy book they wanted -- because those reviews are much more important than mine....more
Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook of Too Bright to See!
Too Bright to See, at the surface, is a ghost story. But Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook of Too Bright to See!
Too Bright to See, at the surface, is a ghost story. But there's much more going on in this Middle-Grade book than a few spooky scares. Too Bright to See is about discovering who you are & truly owning it. & yes, maybe I cried a few times while reading this. 10 out of 10 recommend. ...more
Thank you to Oni Press & Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Chef's Kiss in exchange for an honest review!
Not to be dramatic but this is one oThank you to Oni Press & Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Chef's Kiss in exchange for an honest review!
Not to be dramatic but this is one of the cutest things that I've ever read.
Before I dig into what I really loved, let's get the basics out of the way: the story is good. The art is good. This book is good.
Okay, now that we're done with that, CHEF'S KISS IS SO GOOD.
At this point, anyone who knows me knows how much I love food-related stories. They're usually instant wins for me. A little background info: I previously worked in a kitchen & my IG stories could show you how much I love cooking. So, obviously, this graphic novel has already earned a special place in my heart. I'm even considering replicating one of the dishes in Chef's Kiss!
Chef's Kiss follows recently graduated Ben Cook as he attempts to find a writing job; his parents are throwing on the extra pressure, because "HELLO WE JUST PAID SO MUCH MONEY FOR UR EDUCATION YOU BETTER FIND A JOB RIGHT NOW!@!!" Things are just not going so great for Ben. That's when he notices a hiring sign for an assistant cook (& unlike other jobs he tried out for, no experience was needed for this one!)
Chef's Kiss addresses growing up & breaking out of this idea of doing what others expect of you & instead doing what makes you happy. There's a story of friendship & having a wonderful support team. There's a Queer romance (& oh my gosh, the love interest even makes me swoon!) Oh & there's a taste-testing pig that really holds Ben's fate in his... hands? ...Claws? ... Feet?
I absolutely love this one & will be snagging my own physical copy when it's released into the world. ...more
Thank you to Grindhouse Press & Samantha Kolesnik for providing me with a review copy of Waif in exchange for an honest review!
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Let's get directThank you to Grindhouse Press & Samantha Kolesnik for providing me with a review copy of Waif in exchange for an honest review!
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Let's get directly to the point: I love women. Probably not a surprise to some, but when it needs to be said it needs to be said. & in the case of Waif, it needed to be said.
If you've read Samantha Kolesnik's debut novella, True Crime, you already know that her writing is incredible. Her writing feels bleak & truly puts you in this weird mind-setting that may feel uncomfortable, but gives you the full experience needed to enjoy (but using that word loosely, because hello emotions) it.
Waif is Weird, which is exactly what I look for in a book. I like when authors push the boundaries & make you say "wtf?" multiple times during your read. There were scenes in this book that made my mouth drop, because really?! It was absolutely insane & I absolutely loved every second with it.
Kolesnik's character writing & exploration is insanely good. When I liked a character, I loved them & when I hated a character -- welp -- I was okay with all of the bad things happening to them. The journey we're taken on, along with development? Chef's kiss.
Let me end this with, this book is Queer & we love to see it....more
DNF @ page 88. I’ve been trying to get through this for about a month and it’s just not working for me. :(
I want to give credit to the gore-y scenes &DNF @ page 88. I’ve been trying to get through this for about a month and it’s just not working for me. :(
I want to give credit to the gore-y scenes & the action that really kicks this book off. I just don’t think I was able to vibe with the writing style & some trigger-y things (i.e rape)
Thank you to Tor Nightfire for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC of Such a Pretty Smile in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings: Gaslighting, Animal Death, ViolThank you to St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC of Such a Pretty Smile in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings: Gaslighting, Animal Death, Violence, Sexual Assault, Violence towards children.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It's extremely graphic.
I started getting a bit nervous while reading Such a Pretty Smile, because the beginning felt a bit dragged out -- I wanted to get to the nitty & the gritty & I was kinda just stuck with thirteen-year-old Lila Sawyer. But, once we got to the movie theater scene (if you know, you know!) things start poppin' off & I was almost all in.
Because, yes, it still took a bit to get me invested.
I think it was once we started getting flashbacks of a 2004 Caroline (Lila's mother) & finally started getting some answers on the mysterious Jazzland that this book started taking off. So, yes, I found it to be incredibly slow.
But it did have me in all of my emotions -- especially anger. Ugh, men. Amiright? And it's this stir of emotions that really had me in Such a Pretty Smile. Sure, the story is laced in horror imagery but the base of the plot is something very real. A woman being told she's just being overreacting? It's in our imagination? We must behave? The list goes on & on, but it happens, and seeing it unfold on the page made me want to rage.
Any book that can stir that must emotion in me is a winner in my book. ...more
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Right Where I Left You in exchange for an honest review!
It's the bisexual rep that made thThank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Right Where I Left You in exchange for an honest review!
It's the bisexual rep that made this book for me.
I absolutely adored Right Where I Left You; I saw an author (I cannot find the receipt to this & can't remember who said it!) describe Julian Winters' books as a warm hug & yes, yes! I agree, 100%. The characters are so soft & sweet, the relationships are so good, & there's so much geekery in this one!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Kiss & Tell in exchange for an honest review! I also got a complimentary audiobook from PeThank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of Kiss & Tell in exchange for an honest review! I also got a complimentary audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio!
3.5 rounded up.
For audiobook fans: If you're like me & love multiple narrators in an audiobook, this one is worth checking out!
Me? Still on the 4-Town kick?! & reading Kiss & Tell?!@! A book with a CANADIAN BOY BAND!?@!! It's meant to be, amiright?
Kiss & Tell takes us on tour with the band & has us going through drama, romance, break-ups & all that fun stuff. There's insight on the pressure boy banders (& honestly any popstar) go through when it comes to having a certain image & maintaining that image for their fanbase. Plus, Kiss & Tell is a Queer YA so we love to see it.
I couldn't necessarily get behind the romance in this book, but Kiss & Tell was still an enjoyable read & I think I need more boy band themed books in my life....more
I received an e-ARC of The House of Little Bones in exchange for an honest review!
The House of Little Bones is dressed up as a classic haunted house sI received an e-ARC of The House of Little Bones in exchange for an honest review!
The House of Little Bones is dressed up as a classic haunted house story, but the content inside goes way deeper than that. We have a Queer romance that will have your heart shattering at ALL times, a very sad relationship between father & son, and an author (who’s a skeptic — which skeptics in horror stories are my FAVE) who’s finally seeing that his partner might have been onto something when he talked about ghosts.
I definitely recommend The House of Little Bones. Beverley Lee’s writing is absolutely GORGEOUS & I can’t wait to read her entire backlist + anything that releases later....more
Thank you to Graphic Universe & Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Artie and the Wolf Moon in exchange for an honest review!
What makes Artie Thank you to Graphic Universe & Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Artie and the Wolf Moon in exchange for an honest review!
What makes Artie and the Wolf Moon so darn special is that deep down -- past the wolves & the vampires -- this story is about family. I absolutely love that aspect, and watching as Artie connects with wolf relatives she didn't know about before. Artie and the Wolf Moon is also unique in the way that it takes on werewolf lore -- such as what a full moon means & how someone becomes a wolf. This graphic novel even takes on vampire lore! Olivia Stephens really did a great job at making something so classic her own. ...more
I received ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny-A-Hop-calypse as a part of the Books Forward BFF program in exchange for an honest review!
To get to know I received ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny-A-Hop-calypse as a part of the Books Forward BFF program in exchange for an honest review!
To get to know me, you must know two simple words: adorable and spooky. Those two adjectives are the things I try to uphold in my personal image/internet branding. I love adorable and I love spooky. Mix those things together & you have a Becca! Apparently, my caffeine levels aren’t where they should be yet, because I have zero ideas what I’m going on about. What I do know though is that when I see things that I deem adorable and spooky, I have to jump on it — which is where ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse comes in.
This middle graphic novel sure does hit the adorable & spooky tick boxes (side note: how many times will Becca use the terms adorable and spooky in one review?) With no questions asked, this book was an easy five-star read for me.
Let’s start with the art by Mari Costa. We have a color scheme that screams Fall vibes & there’s just so much cute. Character designs are beyond perfection; I fell in love with all of the characters based on both the aesthetic and in general, the fact that these characters are absolutely lovely. All of the artwork inside this graphic novel is beyond stunning. Costa and Cooke, together, brought the universe of ParaNorthern alive & I am living for it.
One of the things that really sticks out in ParaNorthern is the story of friendship. Mistakes, as one can expect, are made and this gang — which consists of a witch, wolf-girl, ghost & a pumpkinhead — come together to defeat the evil. My heart grew two sizes too big while reading ParaNorthern, as no matter what, this group stuck together. Love that for them.
There are many people who arrive where they don’t belong, but life is about finding your way when you’re lost.
ParaNorthern has moments where we dive a bit deeper into the characters & discover that it’s not just spooky and adorable times; these characters have much more to them. But mixed in, we also have so many laugh-out-loud moments; I caught myself cheesing so much while reading this.
If you vibe with adorable and spooky content, I 100% recommend checking out ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse. & if you’re a parent of spooky cuties, pick this book up for them! They’ll love it & that’s a Becca guarantee!...more
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook of The Chosen and the Beautiful in exchange for an honest review!
A GREAT GATSBY RETELLThank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook of The Chosen and the Beautiful in exchange for an honest review!
A GREAT GATSBY RETELLING?!@!!! WITH AN ASIAN LEAD!?#!@!!! AND IT'S QUEER?!@!@! Yes, please. This book is razzle-ly & it's dazzle-ly & I just vibed with the aesthetic. I absolutely adored our main character Jordan, the writing was absolutely gorgeous & there are bits of magic involved sooooooo, yep. This is The Great Gatsby that the world deserves....more
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of The Girls Are Never Gone in exchange for an honest review!
Listen, listen — I love YA horroThank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an e-ARC of The Girls Are Never Gone in exchange for an honest review!
Listen, listen — I love YA horror so much, but I will be the first to admit that they don’t always hit. They’re good, they’re fine, but I move on pretty quickly after closing the book. The Girls Are Never Gone, however, is one that I can guarantee will stick with me. It’s probably my biggest surprise of the year — not that I thought it’d be bad, but I just didn’t think that it’d become an instafave.
Let’s start with the horror elements, yeah? One of my favorite things is when a skeptic is forced to become a believer — in order for someone who’s so strong within their beliefs that ghosts are not real, something majorly terrifying would have to happen. & friends, that’s obviously what happens in The Girls Are Never Gone. There are a couple of horror scenes in this one that left me with chills & as someone who’s so desensitized when it comes to the horror genre, this is wild.
The Girls Are Never Gone is perfect for fans of haunted houses & small towns with a secret trope.
On the not-so-scary side of things, The Girls Are Never Gone is such a fantastic story about friendship. We have three girls who come together for this internship and bond over the strange occurrences happening at this house; it comes to a point where they're willing to sacrifice their own safety for the safety of the other girls & my heart. I was so here for this trio. Plus! Two of the girls are romantically involved, and yassss, we are here for it.
We can't forget to discuss one of my favorite characters, Waffles. Waffles is a service dog & he plays just as much as a character as the humans in this story. Which, btws, he's a service dog for our main character, Dare, who has diabetes -- so not only is there LGBTQ+ rep in this book but also Type 1 diabetes rep -- which is something I don't think I've seen previously in a book.
As can be expected, The Girls Are Never Gone has a lot of mystery & plot twists. A lot of things go over my head, so you can take this with a grain of salt — but I didn’t see any of the plot twists coming. And the ending left me with GOOSEFLESH. Loves it.
I definitely recommend picking up The Girls Are Never Gone! & it’s out just in time for spooky season!
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