Tag: contemporary

ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla

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Book Review: If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla

I wasn’t big on contemporary YA when I was younger, as I associated it with those sad books. You know the kind I mean. And those books generally don’t appeal to me. But though If I Can Give You That gives off similar vibes, something about it had me curious. This wasn’t an easy read topic-wise, but it was fast to get through, and I’m glad I’ve read it.

Seventeen-year-old Gael attends a local LGBTQA+ support group for teens at the urging of his best friend, but as a trans teen in a conservative school, he didn’t plan to say much. That’s until he meets Declan and winds up absorbed by his friendship. As their relationship deepens, Gael starts to discover himself. Still, back at home, things are getting worse with his mother’s declining mental health and his dad trying to get back in touch. Gael must decide whether lowering his guard is safe or will make things worse.

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: Out of Character by Jenna Miller

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Book Review: Out of Character by Jenna Miller

I’ve had this book for a while, and I’ve been very excited to read it with it being about a queer teenager who rps. But I decided to wait until HarperCollins had come to an agreement with the union. But now they have, and this review is only a few days late, ha! I was lucky enough to get a physical proof of this from the Harper360 blogger email, so thanks to the team there.

In this book, we follow Cass, a 17-year-old fangirl of the Tide Wars books who’d proudly describe herself as a fat lesbian. But what people don’t know is that she likes spending her free time roleplaying with her friends online. It might be nerdy, but it’s her escape from the world, whether she’s stressed over her parents fighting or how difficult it can be to date the resident cool girl. Her roleplay is becoming an addiction, though and as well as that, she thinks she might be falling for her online bestie, Rowan. As her lies build up, she has to decide whether, to be honest about everything and lose her safe space or be honest and watch everything change.

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: All The Jingle Ladies by Beth Garrod

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Book Review: All The Jingle Ladies by Beth Garrod

I won’t lie, it is a little early to be reading Christmas books. But when I got the email from Scholastic about this one, I thought it sounded like a lot of fun. And I’m definitely glad that I read this one. It was an easy read that had me smiling quite a lot.

In this book, we follow Molly Bell, a teenage girl who tries to avoid anything and everything to do with Christmas. When she was little, her parents released a Christmas single where she dressed up as a little green elf and spoke up at the end. So embarrassing! She’s done so well making sure no one would connect her to the role until a new hit rom-com decides to use the song on its soundtrack. Going to the premiere is the last thing Molly wanted, but while there, she meets a cute boy, and suddenly? Things seem to spiral out of control.

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Adult, ARC, books, Review

Book Review – Mika In Real Life by Emiko Jean

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Book Review – Mika In Real Life by Emiko Jean

I think I’ve at least attempted all of Emiko Jean’s books at this point. Her fantasy didn’t work for me, but her YA contemporary duology is a recent favourite. So when I saw that she was releasing an adult contemporary, I knew I had to give it a go. I’ll be honest, with this book being focused on adoption, I wasn’t sure what I’d expect but what I got was a very well-thought-out, very emotional and enjoyable book.

Just a quick warning before I go into the review but this one will contain some spoilers.

Mika in Real Life follows Mika, a 35-year-old Japanese-American woman who gave up her daughter for adoption when she was only 19. Now her daughter has contacted her. Mika feels like she’s a failure, so she does what she thinks is best. She lies to her so Penny won’t be embarrassed to be related to her.

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Adult, books, tbr, Young Adult

New Job? New TBR

by Rosina @ Lace and Dagger Books7 Comments on New Job? New TBR
New Job? New TBR

Whenever you start a new job, you’re going to be busy and stressed for at least the first week. Reading can be a great hobby in the evenings to help you relax, but finding the time? Yeah, that can be a bit of a pain.

I should be starting my next job next week – still waiting on a start date as I write this – and I’m so excited to do so. But with all the stress of learning new processes and meeting new people, I wanted to be kind with my reading choices.

So I’ve made a whole new TBR for the first few weeks of the job, and today I want to share it with you in case my blog posts slow down for a little bit. These are mostly books I’ve chosen to read, but I’ve also picked a couple from my jar just to get some variety. I just let myself put the book back if I pulled a thick one, ha!

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt

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Book Review: Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt

As someone who likes to read and promote queer books, a book about a group of ace teenagers committing a casino heist together was obviously going to be my thing. I’ve known this book would be a load of fun from the second I heard of it, and I’m glad to say I was right.

Jack Shannon is the son of a Las Vegas casino mogul, and he spends his school days running a secret blackjack ring. Until the day his mum is arrested for the family’s ties to organised crime. Jack knows who would have ratted her out, and he wants revenge. But that’s not something he’s going to be able to do alone. Luckily his only friends, an asexual support group he met online, join him in his plans. Jack has to try to save his mum, whilst also learning what it means to be in love when asexual.

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Adult, ARC, blog tour, books, Review

Blog Tour: Duckling by Eve Ainsworth

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Blog Tour: Duckling by Eve Ainsworth

I love finding authors I’ve not read before and getting to read their books. Especially if they’ve been around before now, and I get to pick up a new book by them. It means there’s more for me to go back and explore when I’m done. That was my plan when I heard about the blog tour for Eve Ainsworth’s Duckling. It’s her first adult book, and it looked like it would be very cute and emotional. That was far from all I got though, and I clearly didn’t know what I was getting in for with this book. Thanks so much to Marie-Louise from Penguin Random House for letting me be part of this tour. I’m so glad that I had an opportunity to read this book.

Lucy’s always had the nickname Duckling, and though it bugs her, she can’t help but think that it fits. She’s reluctant to leave her nest, and when a neighbour asks her to look after her little girl for a bit, Lucy agrees as it isn’t supposed to be for long. Then when she doesn’t come back that night, Lucy has to start taking care of this little girl, and her life is turned upside down.

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

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Book Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

You all expected me to read this book, right? I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a highly anticipated book for many. I wouldn’t say I was excited as some people, but as soon as I saw it on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it. I’ve currently only read Red, White and Royal Blue, but One Last Stop is also on my TBR. I wanted to try McQuistion’s first YA book as soon as possible, and I’m glad I did. However, I didn’t love this book quite as much as I’d hoped.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler follows Chloe Green, who was shocked after being randomly kissed by the principal’s daughter, Shara Wheeler. Chloe and Shara have been academic rivals for years, but after she tries to track her down at prom, Shara promptly disappears. Now Chloe is having to follow clues alongside Shara’s boyfriend and next-door neighbour as they try to find out where she’s gone and how to bring her back. Chloe has a bone to pick, and she’s determined to prove she’s better than Shara.

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

by Rosina @ Lace and Dagger Books2 Comments on Book Review: My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth
Book Review: My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

These days I love a good YA contemporary or romance. Especially when they’re nerdy. So My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth, aka Olivie Blake, sounded like a perfect read for me. I might not know much about robots or STEM. That’s not the type of nerd I am, but I was eager to check it out, and I’m all for supporting women in STEM.

This book follows Bel and Teo, two seniors at a prestigious high school where science is pretty cool. That’s not quite Bel’s scene, and when it comes to college applications, she’d rather than die than think about them, much to the school’s chagrin. Teo, on the other hand, has everything planned. He is going to be the best ‘soccer’ captain, win at the Robotics Nationals and get into MIT. When Bel accidentally proves she’s a mechanical genius in a class project, she is pushed to join the robotics team. At first, she was not happy about it. But as sparks begin to fly between her and Teo, she realises that within that club, she’s found two things she loves.

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ARC, books, Review, Young Adult

Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

by Rosina @ Lace and Dagger BooksLeave a Comment on Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Both Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich are authors who each have a book that I adore and another that didn’t work for me. But this first project they’ve worked on together? I loved it! If you’re looking for a fun contemporary about two boyband members falling in love, then this will be the book for you.

Ruben and Zach are two members of the band Saturday. Ruben is gay but hasn’t been allowed to come out, and when things start to happen between him and Zach, it seems unlikely that things will change. As well as their blossoming romance, they have their bandmates to contend with, and the path to success has never been rougher. This was a super fun book but one that deals with darker elements. So if you’re looking for a new queer contemporary that you won’t be able to put down? This is the book for you.

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