Book Review: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 421
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First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

Red, White & Royal Blue is a humorous story about America’s First Son, Alex, falling for the Prince of Wales, Henry. After the ruination of a wedding cake at a royal wedding, Henry and Alex were forced by their respective heads of family, heads of state, and PR teams to be “best friends” in public. A schedule of public events they’d attend together was devised by their teams and they were forced to play ball. Predictably, their fake, Instagram-worthy friendship becomes real somewhere along the way; and then this real friendship turns into a real relationship. While it’s easier for the First Son to be in a same-sex relationship, it is much more difficult for the Prince of Wales to be in a relationship of his choosing. This is a coming-of-age story full of laughter, heartbreak, friendship, love, and self-discovery and I loved every second of it.

This was a five star read for me. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. This book does get pretty steamy, but it’s not YA so unlike Jay’s Gay Agenda, it didn’t make me uncomfortable because of my age. I’m extremely disappointed to admit that this was only the second same-sex relationship romance novel I’ve ever read, seconded to She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen a few months ago. I’m privileged enough to have never had to struggle with my sexual identity, but so many people do and that’s why stories like Alex’s are important. It’s important for LGBTQ+ people to see themselves represented in the literary world and I can’t wait to see what LGBTQ+ romance novel is coming out next.

Book Review: Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June

Title: Jay's Gay Agenda
Author: Jason June
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
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There's one thing Jay Collier knows for sure—he's a statistical anomaly as the only out gay kid in his small rural Washington town. While all this friends can't stop talking about their heterosexual hookups and relationships, Jay can only dream of his own firsts, compiling a romance to-do list of all the things he hopes to one day experience—his Gay Agenda.

Then, against all odds, Jay's family moves to Seattle and he starts his senior year at a new high school with a thriving LGBTQIA+ community. For the first time ever, Jay feels like he's found where he truly belongs, where he can flirt with Very Sexy Boys and search for love. But as Jay begins crossing items off his list, he'll soon be torn between his heart and his hormones, his old friends and his new ones...because after all, life and love don't always go according to plan.

From debut novelist Jason June comes a moving and hilarious sex-positive story about the complexities of first loves, first hookups, and first heartbreaks—and how to stay true to yourself while embracing what you never saw coming.

Another great 5 star read! I want to start this review off by saying I am absolutely loving this trend of main characters who are list makers. I’m not a list maker but, I swear, one more good book with list makers and I’m going to become one. There will be a mini spoiler in this review because it’s a complaint I’ve seen in multiple reviews.

Jay’s Gay Agenda is about Jay Collier, a high school student from a very small, rural, suffocating town in Washington. As the only openly gay student at his school, and probably in his entire town, Jay made it to senior year with no first kiss, no first hand hold, and not even a romantic hug. Jay could only dream of a time when he’d be able to have romantic relationships and he kept his dream in list form in his notebook. To Jay’s excitement, he and his family moved to Seattle for his mom’s job. Unfortunately, he had to leave his best friend, but for the first time in his life he wouldn’t be the only openly gay kid around. Jay quickly starts living his best life and crossing things off of his Gay Agenda. Ultimately, Jay gets in over his head dealing with his hormones and his heart and trying to keep his best friend happy while trying to enjoy his new life.

The biggest complaint I’ve seen about Jay’s Gay Agenda is that while Jay was dating one boy, he was sleeping with another. People are calling this cheating but, they seem to be skipping over the fact that Jay was not in an exclusive relationship. Therefore, he was not cheating. Romance as a teenager is complicated. Romance as a teenager at 17/18 when you’ve never even held someone’s hand is arduous. People may argue that Jay should have told his love interest, Albert, that he was sleeping with someone else while they were going on nonexclusive dates, but that was not information he was obligated to share. Albert was not entitled to that information because again, they were not exclusively dating. I also saw a complaint that Jay’s narration is “teenagey”. *Insert HUGE eyeroll here because Jay is a TEENAGER*

My personal complaint, that isn’t really a complaint, about this book is the semi-explicit sex scenes. This is only a complaint because I’m personally far too old (26) to explicitly read about teenagers having sex. I try to keep all of my smut in adult books.

Other than that, I thought this book was amazing. It was funny, it was insightful, and the characters were very flawed. In short, it was an authentic coming-of-age story and I can’t wait to see what Jason June puts out next!

Book Review: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Midnight Lie (The Midnight Lie #1)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 358
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Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.

Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.

But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, beloved author Marie Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.

It has been quite awhile since I read the Winner's Trilogy and absolutely fell in love with its world and characters. When I heard that Marie Rutkoski was releasing a new book set in the same world I was eager to dive back in! Alas, the world began to end and this beautiful book sat on my shelf for two months before I finally picked it up. When I did, though, I couldn't put it down!

The Midnight Lie is the story of Nirrim, a girl living in the Ward where the the lowest class on the island are contained within a wall. Nirrim's people are not allowed outside the wall - ever. Nirrim has learned to be content with her life working for Raven, the woman who has raised her since she was abandoned as a baby. But when her paths cross with Sid, a traveler from far away, everything begins to change in more ways than one.

Like in The Winner's Trilogy, the romance is absolutely the standout of this story. Don't get me wrong! It's amazing in several other ways, but the majority of this book explores the relationship with Nirrim and Sid, as Nirrim comes to terms with her feelings. Although I sometimes have issues with fantasy that's romance-heavy, I was absolutely here for it! The relationship between these two was so sweet and heartbreakingly real. Both characters made me fall in love with them by the end and I am dying to get my hands on the sequel to continue their story!

But the rest, the rest! The Midnight Lie is technically set in the same universe as The Winner's Curse, but this island is something different and new. There's magic on the island and a whole new mythology that I can't wait to explore more. The island is divided into three distinct parts and each one is interesting in its own way, but the High Kith's world was especially fascinating. The way magic is interwoven into their society was unique and terrible and amazing.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book, but it has earned a spot on my favorites shelf! The ending was perfect, but brutal, and I can't believe I'm going to have to wait so long to see what happens next! I'm hoping the two series intertwine a bit more in book two. This is definitely a book you don't want to miss!

ARC Review: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu

Title: Mooncakes
Author: Suzanne Walker
Artist: Wendy Xu
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Publisher: Lion Forge
Pages: 256
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//I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review//

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

I spotted Mooncakes for the first time at ALA where my friend Erin told me that I absolutely HAD to read it! I missed out on grabbing an ARC of it there but thankfully received one from Netgalley later. The art style was what really made me want to pick this one up and I couldn't wait to dive in! Unfortunately, once I started reading it took me way too long to get through this relatively short graphic novel.

Mooncakes is a story about a witch named Nova and her friend Tam, who happens to be a werewolf and may also be more than a friend. First let me say there is so much amazing rep in this book! Nova wears hearing aids, Tam is non-binary, both are Chinese American, and they're in a relationship with each other.

I adored watching Nova and Tam learn about their magical sides and the friendship between these two was so cute, although their romance was a bit instalovey. I know that there was already history between them before the start of the book, but I wish there had been a bit more lead up to their romance.

While I did enjoy the art style and the story was fun, I did wish there had been a bit more depth to it. The plot was a bit generic and surface level and the villain was underwhelming. It definitely felt like younger YA than I expected. I did find myself a bit bored at times, but it was still a cute read. I'd definitely give it a try if you're in the mood for a cute, witchy, and diverse graphic novel!

ARC Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Title: Loki: Where Mischief Lies
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Publication Date: September 3, 2019
Publisher: Marvel Press
Pages: 416
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This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.

Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy and depravity . . . except for Amora. Asgard's resident sorceress-in-training feels like a kindred spirit-someone who values magic and knowledge, who might even see the best in him.

But when Loki and Amora cause the destruction of one of Asgard's most prized possessions, Amora is banished to Earth, where her powers will slowly and excruciatingly fade to nothing. Without the only person who ever looked at his magic as a gift instead of a threat, Loki slips further into anguish and the shadow of his universally adored brother, Thor.

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, Odin sends Loki to investigate. As he descends upon nineteenth-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect, putting him on a path to discover the source of his power-and who he's meant to be. 

I have never read a movie or comic tie-in book in my life, at least that I can remember. I know a lot of people enjoy the recently published DC novels, but I have always been skeptical of them. Then I saw Loki on the cover of a book and that trend was destined to change. I am a massive Marvel fan and fan of Loki in particular, so this immediately shot to the top of my TBR list.

This book begins with Loki on Asgard and struggling with his magic in a family that doesn't welcome it. Odin doesn't allow Loki to master his skill and instead regards his magic as a threat, but Loki sees hope in Amora, Asgard's sorceress-in-training. The two predictably get into mischief, though, resulting in Amora's banishment to Earth to die a slow, human death. Later, Loki is sent there against his will to investigate magic that has been detected and more shenanigans ensue.

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! Loki is such a fantastic character, but I was hesitant to get more of his backstory. Mackenzi Lee did such an amazing job weaving this tale and tying it into the current MCU Loki that I fell even more in love. It was strange to see him as an insecure teenager unsure of his abilities and watching him grow into the arrogant villain we all know and love made him so much more relatable.

All of the relationships in this book were so well written. The banter back and forth between Thor and Loki was exactly what you'd expect and I loved the new level it brought to their sibling rivalry. It was also interesting to get even more insight into Loki's relationship with Odin. It has always been obvious that Loki didn't feel he lived up to his father's expectations, but it was eye opening seeing that from his point of view as a younger character. There was also a bit of romance in this story and I LOVED it! I won't say anything more about it so as not to give anything away, but it was so nice to see such a beloved character get a moment of happiness.

The ending of Loki: Where Mischief Lies seemed to lead straight into the MCU stories we already know, which I thought was a really nice touch. I loved how this book took a character everyone already loves and brought a new level of understanding to why he is who he is. I really can't wait to read the next instalment in this series whether it continues Loki's story or moves onto a new character. If you're a Marvel fan, I definitely recommend grabbing this one as soon as possible!

Book Review: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Title: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2)
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 450
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Review for book 1

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor—even if she has to scheme her way across Europe to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

Last year I read The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and absolutely fell in love! I loved Monty and Percy and their romance together. I loved Felicity and the adventures the trio went on. Every single thing about Gentleman's Guide was amazing and I was over the moon when I found out there would be a second book! I was so thrilled to get my hands on an ARC and immediately dug in... then found myself putting it down until the audiobook was available.

As everything about this book suggests, this time we get to follow Felicity's story. Felicity dreams of being a doctor but finds herself thwarted at every opportunity. Men laugh at her and her friends act as if they're indulging a fantasy. When she's given the chance to meet and possibly work with her favorite doctor, she immediately boards a ship with some questionable people in order to make her dreams come true.

Sadly, Felicity just couldn't quite win me over. She is okay as a character and I appreciated the asexuality rep, but in the end I found her a bit boring. Felicity spent the entire book lamenting how she would never be a doctor, but beyond talking to one group of men and chasing around one other man, not much happened in the way of pursuing that particular dreams. Instead, Lady's Guide is mostly Felicity running around after other people. In a way, this really didn't feel like Felicity's story at all.

The other two main characters in this book are Johanna and Sim and they were both fantastic! This book is really all about girl power and these two really helped drive the point home. All three women have distinct aspirations, but all three go about getting them in different ways. While I loved the feminist tone of the book, it was also a bit exhausting after awhile. Lady's Guide really is just a book about three women doing women things and damn the men. Which is mostly fun, but seems a bit heavy handed.

There were many parts of this I enjoyed, of course! My favorite bits were the ones with Monty and Percy and sadly there weren't many of them. I loved their banter and humor and romance and kind of wish we could have a second book of their adventures together. I also loved the pirate parts when they actually did come up, which didn't happen until nearly the end of the book. I will say that the fantasy elements of this book was weird and didn't really work for me. I'm not sure why it needed to be included and I don't think it added anything.

I thought that Lady's Guide was an okay second book, but frankly it paled in comparison to Gentleman's Guide and that's a shame. The plot dragged a bit and I do wish Felicity had been a bit more engaging, but I loved all the other characters and the piracy! If you enjoyed The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.

Book Review: Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Title: Leah on the Offbeat (Creekwood #2) 
Author: Becky Albertalli 
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 343
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Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.

When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.

So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.

Back about a month or so ago I had the chance to read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and really liked it.  The humor that Becky weaved into that book made me want to read absolutely everything that she has ever written.  When I heard that this book was coming out I knew I just had to get and read it!  I also got to hear her talk more about this book at Epic Reads day which made me want to read it even more!

I tried to read Leah on the Offbeat a bit slower and try to take it in, but I ended up finishing it in two days as I wanted more yet didn't get it.  Don't get me wrong, there were some fantastic bits to this book, it just didn't live up to its predecessor.

The humor was fantastic yet again!  I really need to start taking lessons from Becky so I can add some humor like hers into my writing.  I often found myself laughing out loud, in the weirdest of places, because this book had parts that were just that funny. Leah has the best sense of humor ever.  Such a typical Slytherin!

I also loved that we got to see all the characters from the first book as well.  Simon is the cutest little cinnamon roll ever!  He will forever be one of my favorite characters ever.  This book also had so much diversity, which is really nice to see now-a-days.

One of the things I really didn't care for was the fact that the plot line was everywhere.  It went from one character doing something that affected Leah, to Leah complaining about her life, and then she would hurt somebody or make somebody mad, and the cycle would start again.  It got a bit redundant and predictable.

I couldn't stand how Leah treated some of the characters in this book.  There were times that she genuinely was nice, but other times she would bite their head off for what seemed like no apparent reason.  She also could have given her mom and her new boyfriend a chance.  They really tried to be nice to her and she was downright nasty back.  On top of that, I hated that she dragged Garrett around and toyed with his feelings.  It made me want to reach through my book and beat some sense into her.

I also felt absolutely nothing when it came to this romance.  There was very little build up at all and then it's over.  It was almost nonexistent for a large majority of this book.  To me it felt like she didn't know what to write at the end and was like, crap, I didn't do the romance yet, *writes it in*.

Plus, there are so many loose ends in this book.  I have been left with so many questions that I really want answers for.  I won't get into too many details as I don't want to prevent spoiling any of y'all, but it's a bit ridiculous.  I need answers!  It frustrates the crud out of me when a book leaves me with way more questions than answers.

With that said, I still did kind of like Leah On the Offbeat, but it really just wasn't my cup of tea.  I do wish that it could have been done a bit better.  Even with my dislike of this book I won't just give up on Becky's writing just yet.

Audiobook Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Title: The Upside of Unrequited
Author: Becky Albertalli
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 336
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Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

I feel like I am a total black sheep in regards to this book and might get torn apart for this review. But here we go...

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. Maybe hate is too strong a word. I loved so many things about this book, but there were a couple things that completely disappointed me and even upset me a little.

First of all, before you bite my head off, I adored Molly. I saw myself and a lot of teenage girls in her. She struggled a lot with insecurity and fitting in and, to be honest, just about anyone who has been to high school can find something to relate to in her experience. Molly was perfect in her imperfection and her journey was a delight to watch. Reid was amazing as well. I love Reid. Give me more Reid.

The character that all my problems stemmed from was Molly's twin sister, Cassie. Cassie was the biggest jerk in the world and treated Molly like absolute garbage. And acted like she was doing it out of love! Molly has had many crushes over the years and Cassie never missed an opportunity to make fun of her for never acting on these crushes. WHAT IS WRONG WITH NOT TRYING TO MAKE OUT WITH EVERY BOY YOU THINK IS CUTE????? Answer: Absolutely N O T H I N G. It bothered me so much that Cassie repeatedly made Molly feel horrible about herself by making fun of her crushes. If anyone - friend, relative, or total stranger - had spoken to me that way when I was a teen, I would have retreated even farther into my hole of insecurity and I may have never returned.

And let us not forget: In this book, Cassie enters into a relationship with her first girlfriend. So what makes her the expert on what to do with crushes? Just because she made out with a few people before Molly did, suddenly she is the be all and end all in relationships? You better check yourself before you wreck yourself, Cassie.

Speaking of Cassie's new girlfriend, as soon as Mina appears in Cassie's life, she completely ditches Molly. Yup, she has found another way to treat her like a doormat. She is horrible to Molly because she would rather spend time sucking face with Mina. AND THEN, she turns the whole situation around to make Molly feel like she did something wrong and makes her apologize for being jealous of Cassie's relationship. Seriously, Cassie, I'm done with you. Get out of my life.

Another thing that made me soooooooo sadddddddd was a revelation Molly had toward the end of the book. Now, I truly adore and respect Becky Albertalli. She is a wonderful author and human being who has done and continues to do amazing things for the book community and teens in general. But Molly got a boyfriend and then looked in the mirror and finally felt beautiful.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

That scene just broke my heart. I really didn't expect that to be something that happened in a book like this. Dramatic crying emoji.

Speaking of emojis (never thought I'd say that in a review), I have one more note to make about this book, but it applies to a lot of books that are being released lately. As I was reading, I realized that there were A LOT of current cultural references: emojis, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Netflix and chill, etc. This is something we see in a ton of the books that we are reading today. And while these current references make these books super appealing right now in this moment, I think it will also date these books dramatically in the future (and maybe even the near future). Our times are changing faster than we can write about them. These books will appear dated and old-fashioned by next year when the latest social media craze is bound to take over.

Ok, before I get too long-winded, here's my conclusion. I do think this is a good book. It is diverse and important in today's society. Despite my complaints, I do think you should read it. Molly is a true gem and we can all find something to relate to in her. Cassie may be one of my most hated characters of all time, but you need to read this book for Molly, Reid, and Molly's moms (who are also WONDERFUL and I'm sorry I didn't mention them sooner.)

Audiobook Review: None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

Title: None of the Above
Author: I.W. Gregorio
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 328
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A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self? 

Krissy has it all. She is a track star, the homecoming queen, and she has the most amazing boyfriend and best friends. But one day, what should be a normal trip to the gynecologist changes her life forever. Krissy discovers she is intersex. She has androgen insensitivity syndrome, meaning that she has XY chromosomes, but she has lived her whole life as a female.

I feel that I should note that I am a cisgendered female before I begin this review. I have no experience with what Krissy is going through, so I cannot claim whether her story is accurate or not. However, it is clearly obvious throughout the book that it was written by someone who has also never had these experiences. I.W. Gregorio is a doctor who has worked with numerous intersex teens, so there is a lot of great information present. But the story itself feels forced and like it was trying to fit into a typical contemporary novel mold

Plot-wise, this was a very standard, teen's-life-gets-turned-upside-down-but-then-she-meets-a-boy-and-everything-is-good-again type of story. You could see the ending coming from a mile away. I don't need intrigue in my contemporaries, so this was ok with me. I liked the boy a lot, so I didn't mind too much. I did have a problem with the fact that suddenly everything in Krissy's life was fine again when a boy liked her. That is one of my most hated tropes of all time. That is not the way life works and I hate it when books and movies put that ideal on such a pedestal.

Boring plot development aside, the biggest problem with this book is the repeated use of slurs towards intersex, trans, and really any LGBT people. Krissy has a discussion with her doctor about what intersex really means and what slurs should not be used to describe those with AIS. Yet Krissy immediately starts using those slurs against herself, telling others those slurs and letting them think it is ok to use them, and using those slurs against others with AIS. She is horribly transphobic and repeatedly makes derogatory comments about trans people.

And now for the saddest part. I don't do this often, but I really feel the need to include a trigger warning for this book. Suicide is joked about multiple times throughout the book and sexual assault is used as a plot device for the main character to have an "epiphany" about herself. In addition to the large amount of sexuality-related slurs, this book could be really harmful to someone who is questioning their identity (or really to anyone in general).

It was really sad to see a book that was meant to be enlightening and encouraging go so wrong. Do I think this book is important? Yes. Intersex is not a term we see very often and I definitely think more people should read about it. This valuable information is the only thing that brought up my rating slightly. Can I recommend that people read this book? Maybe. Take my warnings into consideration and read this story with a grain of salt. Learn about intersex and AIS from it, but don't treat it as a comprehensive guide to the intersex experience.

Audiobook Review: We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Title: We Are Okay
Author: Nina LaCour
Publication Date: February 14, 2017
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256
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You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…

Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.

Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart. 

I had heard a lot of people praising We Are Okay, but I still wasn't convinced it was a book I should pick up. Contemporary is something that is very hit or miss with me....usually miss. It takes quite a lot for me to really love a contemporary novel. While I didn't completely love We Are Okay, I did enjoy it and I am glad that I finally picked it up.

This is definitely more of a character-based novel. You will not find much action happening here. The reader is meant to become absorbed in the characters lives - feel their pain, understand their actions, comprehend their motivations. The characters definitely feel human. I saw myself in Marin and felt like I could see myself making the same decisions she did. That being said, however, I didn't find myself really connecting with any of the characters. They were great, real characters, but they were missing that extra something that makes you feel like they don't just exist in the pages of a book.

We Are Okay told a beautiful story that was heartbreaking and real. Unfortunately, Marin's story was a bit too real for me at the time I was reading it. I had just gone through something similar in my life, and I may not have been ready to read this book. (My life had far less twists and turns than the book, but the sadness was there just the same.) I may have been able to appreciate the story a bit more at a different time in my life, but I still enjoyed it.

I can definitely understand why so many people love this book. It may not be one of my new favorites, but I can appreciate that it is a well-written and beautiful story. Contemporary is just incredibly hard for me to get behind, especially when the story is so close to something in my real life. However, if you do like reading contemporary works, I definitely recommend We Are Okay. It is a lovely book with wonderful LGBTQ+ representation (which is always an A+ in my book) that I think a lot of different readers will be able to enjoy.

Book Review: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee

Title: This Monstrous Thing
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Publication Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
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In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…

Alasdair Finch has brought his brother back from the dead. Alasdair and Oliver lived their lives in hiding as Shadow Boys, using clockwork to repair men who had lost limbs during the war. But when Oliver dies tragically, Alasdair believes he can attempt the impossible. He tries using clockwork to bring Oliver back from the dead, and he succeeds - with consequences. Oliver is not the same, and now Alasdair is tied to Geneva to care for him, his dreams of going to school crushed. Until Frankenstein is published, and the city goes on a rampage to find the real Dr. Frankenstein and his monster.

This. Book. Was. So. Good. It has been sitting on my shelf for a while now, and I have been trying to save it to read during the fall. I read it during Halloween time this year, and it was an absolutely perfect read. There were so many wonderfully amazing things about this book. It might become one that I read over and over again.

The characters were perfect. Alasdair and Oliver's relationship was beautiful, even through their more trying times. Even the smaller side characters were given such distinct personalities. It made the story so vibrant. What I personally loved was that there was no real romance in the book. Alasdair was hung up on an old love, Mary, but it was a small detail of the story and didn't distract from the main plot line.

My absolute favorite part of This Monstrous Thing was the historical fantasy aspect. I adored the way the story took the classic of Frankenstein and turned it on its head. It was both a retelling of the original and an explanation of the story's origins. I was completely fascinated by the world that Mackenzi created, and I want to spend more time there. It is always fascinating to learn what an author's motivations were for their book, so it was so cool to see an interpretation of how Frankenstein was born.

One aspect that I found really interesting was how much trouble the publication of Frankenstein caused. I couldn't believe how the people reacted to the book, saying that it destroyed lives. I kept thinking to myself that it's just a book. How could they be making such a big deal out of it? How could they read this work of fiction and believe so whole-heartedly that it was real? Then I remembered all the times that books have caused a stir in real life. When I was younger, my parents put me in Catholic school. When The da Vinci Code was released, I heard so many lectures about how it was sacrilegious to even pick it up and read it. It amazes me what a book can do in our world. It was so much fun reading Mackenzi's interpretation of the commotion Frankenstein would have caused in her world.

This book covers so many genres and interests that a wide variety of readers can enjoy it. If you like history, literature, steampunk stories, or retellings, you will love This Monstrous Thing. It made me want to learn more about Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, and Europe in the early 19th century. I can't recommend this book enough. I hope you decide to pick it up. I'm off to do some research.

ARC Review: Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Title: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 384
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Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale.

At sixteen, Mina's mother is dead, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the king’s heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that she’ll have to become a stepmother.

Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. But despite being the dead queen made flesh, Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother, Mina. She gets her wish when her father makes Lynet queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina. Now Mina is starting to look at Lynet with something like hatred, and Lynet must decide what to do—and who to be—to win back the only mother she’s ever known…or else defeat her once and for all.

Entwining the stories of both Lynet and Mina in the past and present, Girls Made of Snow and Glass traces the relationship of two young women doomed to be rivals from the start. Only one can win all, while the other must lose everything—unless both can find a way to reshape themselves and their story. 

I have very rarely met a retelling I didn't like. Girls Made of Snow and Glass immediately caught my eye when I heard that it was a Snow White retelling. I love that fairytale (even if I don't love the film from the 30's) and I'm always looking for a unique take on it! I'm fairly confident that the Frozen comparison wasn't on the original synopsis I read, but I love that one too so I was excited to dig in!

There are two MCs in this story - Mira and Lynet. It was a little jarring to read this book from both their perspectives. Mira's POV began during her childhood and each time she had a chapter it came closer to merging with the present. Lynet's chapters began in the present and stayed there. While this style did end up working okay, it was hard to get used to at first.

Lynet is approaching her sixteenth birthday when this book begins. She has always been physically compared to her mother and is forever expected to become her, both in demeanor and occupation. As her birthday approaches she learns that her father is about to give her control of the southern territories, a responsibility she really doesn't want. Not only will this assignment force her into a role she's never wanted for herself - it also has the potential to ruin her relationship with her stepmother, Mina.

Mina has spent her life grappling for power in an attempt to make people love her after a lifetime of being told she cannot be loved. Her rise to power is a very interesting and heartbreaking one and made me feel more strongly for Mina than Lynet in the end. I've read other reviews that claim this book doesn't pit the stepmother against the stepdaughter because of looks, but that really isn't true - Mina definitely spends a fair amount of time worrying that Lynet is more beautiful and will be more loved because of it. Although this is the case, Mina doesn't fall into every Snow White trope. This story definitely diverges enough to be very unique among retellings.

I want to take a minute to discuss the romance in this book. If you're interested in Girls Made of Snow and Glass, you're probably aware that it's marketed as F/F Romance. There are two romances in this book and the main one is not between Lynet and Nadia - it's between Mina and her male love interest. Without getting into spoiler territory, the romance between Lynet and Nadia might be the absolute slowest burn I have ever seen and nothing romantic happens until near the end. Let me tell you friends, if you go into this looking for a swoon-worthy lesbian love story, you might be disappointed.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass truly has an incredibly concept to work with. I love the Snow White and Evil Queen characters being so close before things go south. I love the feminist angle of both women working towards what they want instead of what's expected. And I love the idea of Snow White falling for a woman instead of Prince Charming! Unfortunately, this story was just a little bland. It was extremely (ex-treme-ly) slow and even the big, exciting moments kind of meandered across the page. There was no real sense of urgency or danger, even when lives were on the line!

While I did enjoy parts of the world building in this book (mostly Whitespring Castle and its snowy surroundings), it did ultimately leave me wanting more. Characters in this book seem to have Fast Travel skills and we learn next to nothing about Lynet's journey or the South other than people wear different clothes. Something else I really liked was the magical elements, although they weren't very logical, but I won't dig into that here. It was fun and I can totally see why the Frozen comparison is there now.

I really wanted and fully expected to love Girls Made of Snow and Glass! I think there are great ideas here and some parts of the story were great, but this turned out to be just an okay read for me. The characters were fine, the world was fine - everything about this book was just fine. If you love retellings and don't mind books that are on the slower side, you may very well enjoy this one!

ARC Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings #1) 
Author: Mackenzi Lee 
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 513
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Review for book 2

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. 

Monty (really named Henry Montague, but never ever call him that), is about to embark on his European Grand Tour with his best friend, Percy, and his sister, Felicity. Only one thing stands in the way of Monty having the best year of his life - he is completely and hopelessly in love with Percy and Percy has no idea. Oh, and Monty's father has decided that he needs to learn to be a respectable citizen and has taken all the drunken debauchery out of his Tour. Now Monty must suffer through a year of acting like a gentleman and keeping his feelings hidden. But there is never a dull moment with Monty, and he manages to find plenty of trouble to get tied up in...and to drag Percy and Felicity into as well.

What a lovely adventure this book turned out to be. It managed to be historically accurate without feeling like a history lesson. Even though the characters were galavanting around 17th-century Europe, they felt so vivd and real - like you could run into them walking down the street in today's world. Monty is a hilariously stubborn teen who refuses to grow up. He is set to inherit his father's lands and title when he returns from his Grand Tour, and he wants absolutely nothing to do with responsibility. Percy has had to deal with multiple social stigmas for his entire life, and just wants everyone to see him as he truly is. Felicity is a woman, and is therefore stuck with all of the restrictions that her gender entails. She sets her sights higher than what society has to offer her, and surprises everyone with her strength and intelligence. The characters were wonderful and lovable despite their flaws. They were so relatable, and everyone can find something of themselves in our trio of characters.

One of the best things about The Gentleman's Guide was that although it was set in the 17th century, it explored topics that were both interesting to learn about from a Victorian perspective, and still incredibly prevalent in today's world. It explored identity, sexuality, race, friendship, responsibility, and the troublesome time between childhood innocence and becoming a respectable adult. No matter what age or time period, these are topics everyone has encountered and can relate to. It brought numerous social issues (of then and now) to light and faced them straight on. It was a powerful book with an important message, which it managed to deliver through adventure and hilarity.

Obviously, I really loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and can't say enough good things about it. It was hilarious, light-hearted, powerful, intense, and meaningful all at the same time. The writing was superb and the story was engaging and amazing. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't like historical fiction. There is something in this book that will appeal to everyone. We can all find ourselves in The Gentleman's Guide and find something to learn from it.

Audiobook Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Narrator: Michael Crouch 
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
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Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met. 

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda has received a heck of a lot of hype since it's release in 2015, and after listening to this audiobook, I am jumping right on that hype bandwagon. The praise this book has received is so well-deserved, and Simon vs. has become one of my go-to contemporary recommendations now.

Simon Spier is gay, and not exactly out yet. The story opens with Simon being confronted by Martin, a classmate who has stumbled upon some email conversations between Simon and his anonymous internet friend, Blue. Martin threatens to out Simon and Blue unless Simon helps him get a date with the girl he likes. And thus, calamity ensues. We get to watch Simon and Blue falling in love (which is one of the most adorable things in the universe) and discovering what kind of person they want to be. Meanwhile, Simon has to deal with Martin (who is seriously annoying) and the chances of his friends and family finding out about his sexuality before he is ready.

There are so many things to love about this book. The writing was quirky and funny and lighthearted, despite dealing with sexual identity and the acceptance (or lack thereof) of homosexuality in a high school setting. Important and serious topics were dealt with, but not in a way that made them feel like they were the only aspect of the book. Which is exactly as it should be. The LGBT aspects of the story were mixed right in with everyday things like discussions of Oreos and Simon's favorite singer, homework and drama rehearsal. Yes, Simon vs. is a story about a gay teen. But Simon is so much more than his sexual preference.

Simon is....well, he's pretty much awesome. I think literally everyone can find something in Simon that they can relate to. Whether it's his sexual identity or his fear of his mom finding his dirty magazines, his odd sense of humor or his desire to be loved and accepted the way he is. Simon says things throughout the story that most of us have thought as some point in time, no matter our age, gender, race, or sexuality. Simon is in all of us. And he can help us to recognize that no matter who we are, we all just want a little happiness (and maybe some Oreos).

If you haven't figured it out already, I absolutely adored this book. I am normally someone who goes into a contemporary book kicking and screaming; I really don't enjoy romance and I have found very few contemporaries that I actually enjoy. But, boy oh boy, this one melted my ice cold heart. I still get a warm and fuzzy feeling thinking about Simon and Blue. I feel like they are friends of mine that I will never forget. If you love cute romances, this is definitely the book for you. But even if you are a cynic like me, I think you will really like this one. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Twelve amazing books to diversify your shelves

I'll start this post by admitting that I don't read nearly enough diverse books. Part of that is simply because I don't see as many that are as hyped as a lot of new releases I end up reading and part of it is just because I don't take the time to search for them. I welcome any recommendations!

The last week has been rough. I won't make this a political post, but there are a lot of bad people out there feeling justified in doing a lot of really bad stuff. People of color, religious minorities, and the LGBT community are being openly targeted at an alarming rate (look here for more information). 

While we all fight back in whatever ways we can, I'd also like to respond with a list of some of my favorite diverse books! These are twelve of my favorite books featuring POC, LGBT, and religious minority main characters. 

Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Beast by Brie Spangler

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Stygian by Santino Hassell

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

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Have you enjoyed any of the books on my list?
What diverse reads do you love that I should know about?
Let me know in the comments!

ARC Review: Timekeeper by Tara Sim

Title: Timekeeper (Timekeeper #1)
Author: Tara Sim
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pages: 368
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//I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review//

Two o’clock was missing.

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.

It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.

But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

Timekeeper is a book that I have heard a LOT of blogger friends talking about. Over the summer I finally read the blurb and then I realized what all the fuss was about. There aren't many good LGBT fantasies out there and this one sounded really intriguing! Alternative histories? Clocks with hours gone missing? Clock spirits? Steampunk is not a genre that I have a lot of experience with, so when I saw Timekeeper I knew I wanted to read it, but wasn't quite sure what exactly I was getting myself into.

This book's protagonist is Danny, a young clock mechanic whose father is trapped in a Stopped town and who just wants him back. In fact, his entire life's work as a clock mechanic has been working towards getting on the crew of builders who will attempt to re-start the town, something that has never been tried before. Instead he is assigned to a clock that seems to be in constant disrepair and it's here that Danny meets Colton, the spirit of Enfield's clock.

I loved these two characters so, so much! I'll admit I was a little skeptical of how Tara Sim could make a relationship between a human and a spirit work, but she did a fantastic job pulling it off! I feel like Colton in this situation could have easily come off as too naive or helpless, but instead he was adorable and certainly able to hold his own. Although Danny had his problems, I ended up loving him as well. His problems were easy to sympathize with, even if they weren't always easy to understand. I also really enjoyed Danny's relationship with his his best friend Cassie and thought she was a fantastic secondary character! I can't wait to see what role she plays in future books.

While the characters are fantastic, the world building is where Timekeeper really shines. Like I said, I'm not incredibly familiar with steampunk alternate universes, but I really felt like I could see this one! The clocks and their mythology could have been really confusing and hard to imagine, but it's all so intricate that it seems almost like some forgotten piece of our own world mythology.

This book has a little bit of everything - fantasy, romance, mystery, it's all here. There were times when I had no idea what was going on and I was surprised by more than one twist! This book had me on the edge of my seat! My one complaint is that the writing seemed a little bit too simplistic. I loved the whimsical nature the story had at times, but it is almost written as if it is aimed at a younger audience. As a result it seemed too cute, losing some of the urgency that I think was intended. This didn't necessarily take much away from my reading experience, but it's something to keep in mind.

Timekeeper is an incredibly unique book in a sea of high fantasy, dystopia, and retellings (not that I have a problem with any of those, of course). The world building and characters were amazingly well done and the story kept me guessing until the very end! It wasn't a perfect book, but it was a really great read that I'd definitely recommend for fans of alternate history and fantasy. I cannot wait to get my hands on book two!

ARC Review: Beast by Brie Spangler

Title: Beast
Author: Brie Spangler
Publication Date: October 11, 2016
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
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//I received this book at ALA in exchange for an honest review//

A witty, wise, and heart-wrenching novel that will appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan.

Tall, meaty, muscle-bound, and hairier than most throw rugs, Dylan doesn’t look like your average fifteen-year-old, so, naturally, high school has not been kind to him. To make matters worse, on the day his school bans hats (his preferred camouflage), Dylan goes up on his roof only to fall and wake up in the hospital with a broken leg—and a mandate to attend group therapy for self-harmers.

Dylan vows to say nothing and zones out at therapy—until he meets Jamie. She’s funny, smart, and so stunning, even his womanizing best friend, JP, would be jealous. She’s also the first person to ever call Dylan out on his self-pitying and superficiality. As Jamie’s humanity and wisdom begin to rub off on Dylan, they become more than just friends. But there is something Dylan doesn’t know about Jamie, something she shared with the group the day he wasn’t listening. Something that shouldn’t change a thing. She is who she’s always been—an amazing photographer and devoted friend, who also happens to be transgender. But will Dylan see it that way?

Beast is one of those books that I knew I had to have as soon as I saw it! The cover is gorgeous and, well, it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling (sort of)! In case you're new to my reviews, I am obsessed with retellings. Even though I'm not a usual reader of contemporary fiction, this combined with a trans main character made this one a must-read for me!

Dylan is the protagonist of this story and he has some problems. For reasons unknown he is huge and won't stop growing. He's also plagued with way too much hair and it's everywhere, hence why he's called Beast by the kids at school. One day Dylan goes onto the roof and falls off, breaking his leg and landing him in group therapy where he meets Jamie. Dylan was a difficult character to like at times. His decision making was not always sound and he was sometimes an asshole to everyone around him. Somehow I think I actually liked him more because of it, though. It's nice to see a character evolve.

Jamie was a fantastic character! She is unlike any girl Dylan has ever met and he quickly falls head over heels. Although I clearly have no idea what it would be like to be transgender, I felt it easy to sympathize with her throughout the book. I also loved how fearless and unapologetically herself she was. She took no crap from anyone and didn't let the haters bring her down for long, and her reactions always felt sincere.

The story in Beast, while adorable, wasn't really Beauty and the Beast to me. Other than the fact that one character was literally called "Beast" and the other was really pretty, I couldn't see much of a connection. Still, the story was amazing, and this is coming from someone who doesn't usually care for contemporary fiction. I loved the evolution of the relationship between Dylan and Jamie. Watching it was kind of like a train wreck at times, but I loved it so much! I laughed, I cried (okay, not really)!

Brie Spangler did a wonderful job of creating a world and characters who were incredibly strong, yet imperfect enough to be sympathetic. She handled the multiple issues presented in Beast, including death and substance abuse, in such an amazing way. Although this book is totally adorable and a really fun read, the messages Beast drives home are also important and I think (and hope) they'll make an impact with YA readers.

Beast was a really great read that I can't recommend enough! I loved almost every second of it and was actually sad when the story ended. I'm really excited to see what Brie Spangler writes next - she has been added to my auto buy list! If you're a fan of contemporary fiction or are looking to diversify your bookshelf, this one is definitely for you!

Series Review: Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat

Title: Captive Prince Trilogy 
Author: C.S. Pacat
Publication Date: 2012 - 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 1045
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Captive Prince:

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.

Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else...

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Prince's Gambit:

With their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master, Prince Laurent, must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.

Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow...

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King's Rising:

Damianos of Akielos has returned.

His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.

On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor’s forces are massing. In the north, the Regent’s armies are mobilising for war. Damen’s only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers.

Forced into an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen’s identity—can it stand against the Regents final, deadly play for the throne?

I picked up Captive Prince after seeing it reviewed on several blogs pretty much back to back. I have read a few LGBT romances in the past and am reading more diverse books, so when I saw that this series was listed as fantasy, I knew I had to give it a try!

This story begins when Damen, prince of Akielos, is forced from his home and into slavery. Even worse, he is a slave to an enemy prince, Laurent of Vere. Because Damen is intent on getting back to Akielos to defeat his brother and reclaim his throne, he must keep his identity hidden from his Laurent at all cost or risk death. Obviously I felt sympathy for Damen and really disliked Laurent for quite awhile because what else could I possibly feel? Laurent did grow on me throughout the series, but he always came off as cold, even once the two were (kind of?) together.

I'll be honest... I expected romance. Mostly because this series is listed as Fantasy/Romance on Goodreads and I tend to trust that site. But this isn't romance. At least not for a long, long time. I waited. I was 75% through the second book before I finally found the romance. If you're looking a three book long fantasy romance, you are going to be sorely disappointed. The first book is mostly about Laurent being terrible to Damen and taking all of his issues with Akielos out on him. The second book is mostly about them hating each other while still having to depend on each other to survive their enemies. It wasn't until the final book that I really started to enjoy it.

Although I was extremely irritated by the lack of romance in the first 1.75 books of this series, there were other things that I did like. I was certainly kept guessing, which is something I love in a series! There were several twists that left me totally shocked. Of course there were amazing battles and many times I wasn't sure who would live or die, so that was exciting. There were definitely times when the story lagged and the angst was sometimes ridiculous between Damen and Laurent, but again, I really started to enjoy it towards the end. I also loved the world building and really appreciated that the last book in the series came with a map so I could figure out what was going on! It definitely felt like a fantasy world based on Ancient Greece or Rome, both of which I love.

One of my major issues with all three books is their endings. This really feels like one big book just split into three random parts. The author likes to end her books very abruptly and even the last book in the series seemed to end in the middle of the action, which I didn't like. I prefer a little more resolution when I've spent over a thousand pages invested in a story.

For me this series started off really shaky and slowly got better as it went. By the end I was really enjoying it, but that doesn't discount the issues I had with the first two books. I went into this series expecting an epic fantasy romance told in three parts and spent a lot of the experience a little confused and irritated. As a whole I still enjoyed the series and I would recommend it for someone looking for an LGBT fantasy series, especially since there aren't many of those out there.