The Winter Duke – Claire Eliza Bartlett

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: March 3rd, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Politics, LGBTQIA+

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REVIEW:

Better step back, because there’s nothing to see here.

Unless you like bland heroines that few people respect in positions of power, whose character developments are almost nonexistent or forced. Unless you like to see romantic pairs have little conversation and almost no romantic moments. Unless you like to hear conversations repeated over and over again.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me – Mariko Tamaki

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Library
Published: 2019
Publisher: First Second
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+, Toxic Relationships, Friendship

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REVIEW:

This was messy and beautiful. A beautiful mess. Just like life, I guess. The illustrations are soft, neat and gorgeous in a hypnotic way. The characters are unique and complex and some completely ordinary and yet interesting nonetheless. Some are shitty and hurtful and yet so charismatic that they pull you in, making you feel special to be in their presence, but oh so very wrong for you.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel – Sara Farizan

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Borrowed
Published: 2014
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, LGBTQIA+, Romance, High School, Friendship, Family

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REVIEW:

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been in a book slump since the beginning of this whole confinement situation. Sure, I’ve finished a couple of books and enjoyed a few too, but it just hasn’t been the same at all.

Snapdragon – Kat Leyh

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: February 2020
Publisher: First Second
Recommended Age: 9+
Genres & Themes: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Magic, LGBTQIA+, Friendship, Animals

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REVIEW:

I love books that make me feel like the nastiness in the world is nothing compared to the beauty and magic that can be found in it. SNAPDRAGON was just that book for me.

Snapdragon doesn’t like to gossip and she doesn’t like rumours but she still can’t help but be afraid and wary of the old woman who lives alone, isolated by the forest, and who might just be a witch.

Most Likely – Sarah Watson

Most Likely by Sarah Watson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: March 10th, 2020
Publisher: Poppy
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Feminism, Coming of Age, Friendship, Romance, LGBTQIA+, High School

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REVIEW:

This is an empowering YA coming-of-age story about four different close female friends who are each dealing with their own independent life situations while still supporting one another to the best of their abilities. If you’ve watched The Bold Type – a feminist TV series created by this author – you know exactly what I’m talking about and you will love this to bits.

The Deep & Dark Blue – Niki Smith

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: January 7th, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 8+
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Siblings, Adventure

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REVIEW:

This is a hard one to review. I received an advance copy of this book, and while the final copy is supposed to be in full colour, there was no colour in my copy and half of the book had unfinished illustrations. So my experience with the advance copy and your experience with the finished copy will be undoubtedly different.

Blog Tour: Reverie – Ryan La Sala

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

My rating: TBD
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: December 3rd, 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+

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THOUGHTS:

Hi, everyone! Normally, when I do blog tours, I share a review of the book in the post, but it’s exam period so I have not had the time to finish reading this gorgeous-looking book.

However, I did start it and I am quite curious about where it’s going. I like the writing – it’s well-edited – and the contemporary + fantasy combination. It’s a really cool vibe. I haven’t gotten to know the characters too well yet, but it’s an LGBTQIA+ story so if that’s something you usually go for and are excited about, definitely give it a try.

Are You Listening? – Tillie Walden

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: September 2019
Publisher: First Second Books
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+, Sexual Assault, Magic Realism, Death

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REVIEW:

This is an odd graphic novel.

It’s one of those stories you read because they’re fast-paced, mysterious and atmospheric, but you have no actual idea what the hell you’re reading about and what the point of everything is. It takes a while to even understand the link between the two main characters, let alone the plot itself.

The Last True Poets of the Sea – Julia Drake

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: HBG Canada
Published: October 1st, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Recommended Age: 14+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, LGBTQIA+. Romance, Mental Illness, Family, Friendship, Siblings, Summer

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REVIEW:

Character-driven stories are tricky. It may take time to recognize them for what they are. In the beginning, we all expect some kind of plotline to unfurl. But slowly we realize that the story is the protagonists and that we better love them, otherwise we might just put the book down right away.

The Infinite Noise – Lauren Shippen

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: September 24th, 2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Fantasy, High School, Bullying, Mental Health

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REVIEW:

This is a story that is centered on human emotion, and we all know that teenagers have a lot of them as they are struggling to figure out who they are and where they belong and who is a friend and an enemy. This book brought me back to being a high school student and unsure of anything but still trying hard to find myself and stand out from the crowd. Caleb and Adam are two such young souls who need guidance and whose presence helps the other tremendously. Watching them grow closer made me very happy.