'Tilly in Technicolor' by Mazey Eddings

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings's sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.

Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.

As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end."


My Review:

This book and its lead characters are neurodivine! I love all of author Mazey Eddings' neurodiverse characters, but Tilly and Ollie are my favorite. Messy, larger-than-life Tilly is vibrant and practically vibrating out of her skin as her mind swirls and runs laps and is never calm. Oliver is quiet, tidy, and meticulous. They are (seemingly) total opposites thrown together for a summer internship involving frequent travel and a shared hotel room.

Their neurodivergence brings them together, via mutual sensory overload in a loud and crowded town center. As they each stim to self-regulate, they see parts of themselves reflected in each other, and their slow-burn romance takes off from there. They are so sweet and caring with each other, it's truly beautiful to watch their relationship bloom.

I hope this wonderful book reaches each and every single neurodiverse reader of YA Contemporary books.

Pre-order here - 'Tilly in Technicolor' releases on August 15, 2023.

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Cursed Crowns' (Twin Crowns #2) by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"The second book in the swoony and high-stakes fantasy rom-com series that began with Twin Crowns, about twin princesses separated at birth—from bestselling authors Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber.

Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns…but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne.

Coolheaded Rose plans a royal tour to establish goodwill throughout the kingdom. But Wren balks—how can they gallivant around Eana when their grandmother Banba is imprisoned in Gevra?

Impatient Wren steals away on a ship to the icy north, where King Alarik offers a deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom. Desperate, Wren agrees. But her spell has unexpected consequences….

Meanwhile, when Rose's royal tour is interrupted by a mysterious stranger claiming to be from the long-lost Sunkissed Kingdom, the strands of destiny pull her south to the ancient Amarach Towers, where only the Seers of Eana know why the Restless Sands are erupting—and why Shen-Lo himself might hold the key.

But back in Anadawn, rebellion is brewing. And if Eana is to stand a chance at peace, the sisters will need to reunite once more and convince their people to forsake old loyalties for new ones."

Non-spoiler review:

Really enjoyed being back in Wren and Rose's world! Readers get to see how Wren reacts to palace duties and how Rose manages in another adventure out in the world. We learn more about Shen Lo and King Alarik's families and past, and we spend time with Tor and Elske.

Pre-order 'Cursed Crowns' before its release on May 9, 2023!

#CursedCrowns #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Gwen and Art Are Not in Love' by Lex Croucher

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, they make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love."


My Review:

A fantastic tale, packed with witty banter and humor. Highly recommended for fans of King Arthur as well as Fantasy and even Romantic Comedy readers.

Princess Gwen and her betrothed, Arthur, take turns narrating each chapter. Arthur's family is supposedly descended from King Arthur's line and he's about to marry into the royal family. We start following him just as he's about to spend the entire summer at the castle. He and Gwen hate each other, both have eyes for other people, and his body man and Gwen's lady in waiting instantly fall for each other.

What follows is a summer of self discovery, royal obligation, and humorous, drunken shenanigans. Don't miss this one!  Grab it here!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'The Prince & the Apocalypse' by Kara McDowell

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"An American teen stranded in London is forced to team up with the British crown prince if she wants to make it back home before the end of the world in this delightfully rompy high-stakes rom-com.

Wren Wheeler has flown five thousand miles across the ocean to discover she’s the worst kind of traveler: the kind who just wants to go home. Her senior-year trip to London was supposed to be life-changing, but by the last day, Wren’s perfectly-planned itinerary is in tatters. There's only one item left to check off: breakfast at The World’s End restaurant. The one thing she can still get right.

The restaurant is closed for renovations—of course—but there's a boy there, too. A very cute boy with a posh British accent who looks remarkably like the errant Prince Theo, on the run from the palace and his controlling mother. When Wren helps him escape a pack of tourists, the Prince scribbles down his number and offers her one favor in return. She doesn’t plan to take him up on it—until she gets to the airport and sees cancelled flights and chaos. A comet is approaching Earth, and the world is ending in eight days. Suddenly, that favor could be her only chance to get home to her family before the end of the world.

Wren strikes a bargain with the runaway prince: if she’ll be his bodyguard from London to his family’s compound in Santorini, he can charter her a private jet home in time to say goodbye. Traveling through Europe by boat, train, and accidentally stolen automobile, Wren finds herself drawn to the dryly sarcastic, surprisingly vulnerable Theo. But the Prince has his own agenda, one that could derail both their plans. When life as they know it will be over in days, is it possible to find a happy ending?"


My Review:

It was a lot of fun to follow Wren and Theo through Europe, racing against the clock as the world was set to end in the span of 8 days. There was a slow-burn romance that built up between them as all of Wren's careful plans and itinerary lists went up in smoke.

Hilarious witty banter features in most scenes, as Wren and Theo had decided early on to skip pleasantries and be (sometimes brutally) honest with each other. Relatable secrets, family conflicts, and self-esteem issues are revealed as they get closer.

Grab a copy here!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Unseelie' by Ivelisse Housman

4 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Twin sisters, both on the run, but different as day and night. One, a professional rogue, searches for a fabled treasure; the other, a changeling, searches for the truth behind her origins, trying to find a place to fit in with the realm of fae who made her and the humans who shun her.

Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde… but as an autistic changeling trying to navigate her unpredictable magic, Seelie finds it more difficult to fit in with the humans around her. When Seelie and Isolde are caught up in a heist gone wrong and make some unexpected allies, they find themselves unraveling a larger mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike.

Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister, and herself?"


My Review:

This YA Fantasy novel has fairy magic, a mysterious quest, and excellent representation in the autistic main character. Twin sisters attempt a simple treasure heist and find themselves wrapped up in a journey towards even greater treasure, teaming up with a broody, privileged companion and his quick-witted friend. Close quarters and magic training help the four to set aside their differences, and about halfway through the book, the action picks up. Way up. Fairy realm glamor, hi-jinks, and tricks of magic make for entertaining tests for our adventurers.

Grab your copy here!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Stardust in Their Veins' (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian

5 magical stars!

Book Blurb:

"Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.
Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother's grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress's control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What's worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother's sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can't trust anyone--least of all each other. If they've learned anything, though, it's that the Empress's game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses' favor . . . if they manage to avoid meeting their sister's fate before they can make their next move."


My Review:

'Stardust In Their Veins' is a solid second entry in the 'Castles in Their Bones' series, featuring even more twists and turns, uncovered secrets and court intrigue, and a new POV to follow. Eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

I highly recommend this series for fans of YA Fantasy books with magic, royals and court intrigue.

Grab 'Stardust in Their Veins' on February 7th, 2023!

#StardustinTheirVeins #CastlesinTheirBones #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s

'You Wouldn't Dare' by Samantha Markum

5 stars!

Book Blurb:


"A rom com about trying to have the summer of your life before everything changes – only to realize change might be exactly what you need…

When Juniper Nash Abreheart kissed Graham Isham for the first time, she had no idea it would nearly be the end of their friendship.

More specifically, she had no idea that the terrible, unforgivable thing she did to keep their summer fling a secret wouldn’t just ruin their friendship, but also Graham’s entire life. Now, months since the fallout, Junie and Graham spend most of their time sidestepping conversational landmines on the journey back to normalcy.

Junie is sure the strangeness between her and Graham is her biggest problem – until her mom hires Tallulah, her boyfriend’s surly teenage daughter, to work at their family café, and then announces they’ll all be moving in together at the end of the summer. The only bright spot ahead is Junie’s dad’s upcoming visit, just in time for her community theater production. And then poor turnout soon threatens that.

But when Junie starts to realize the feelings she swore to take care of last summer have lingered, saving her production and managing her hostile relationship with Tallulah might be the least of her problems. Graham isn’t just off limits – their friendship has been mended to barely withstand a breeze, and the gale force of Junie’s feelings could be just what breaks them.
Samantha Markum’s You Wouldn’t Dare is about the risks and triumphs that come with being brave enough to take a chance at what you really want, including love."

My Review:

This is a lighthearted YA Contemporary, full of beachy summertime vibes, in which we follow Junie through a summer full of strong friendships and changing family dynamics. She is an enthusiastic theater kid and is involved in the summer's Community Theater program, to which she and her friends recruit lots of people from their high school to fill the cast of the Shakespeare comedy. Between the cast and crew, there's enough drama and comedy to create a whole second play.

Junie's busy summer also includes working at her mother's restaurant, where she is forced to spend time with Tallulah, the mother's boyfriend's daughter, as a way to manipulate the girls into getting along. Junie does get to enjoy the beach, and theater rehearsal, with her closest friends, including the handsome and witty Graham; her long-time friend and the previous summer's summer fling. Graham's family changed in a drastic way the previous summer and he and Junie are still ironing out the details of their 'friendship' or 'relationship' and it is so much fun to read!

Grab a copy on March 28, 2023!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

‘The Do-Over’ by Lynn Painter

5 stars!


Book Blurb:

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

My Review:

This is a fun and fabulous time-loop YA Contemporary read, highly recommended!

Readers follow our narrating main character, Emilie, as she re-lives Valentine's Day on a loop, trying desperately to reach February 15th. First, four major things seem to fall apart that day; with her car, her boyfriend, her summer plans, and her family. So the first time she gets to re-live the day, she tries a different approach, tries to fix something. Then she tries to fix all of the big things. Emilie is already a people-pleaser and a straight-A student, so she's resourceful and she has ideas, but it seems that the universe, and the time-loop, are out to teach her that not everything is within her control to fix.

Emilie's friends, family, and a fellow student named Nick, play major supporting roles in her day and it's really fun to watch the different interactions she has with them all. Emilie is really easy to root for.

Grab a copy on November 15th!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Begin Again' by Emma Lord

 5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Begin Again is an unforgettable novel of love and starting again.”

My Review:

It has been an absolute joy to get lost in this world with these relatable, easy-to-root-for characters. As always, I love Emma Lord's writing style and will gladly read anything and everything she ever writes.

'Begin Again' is a coming-of-age story in which we follow Andie through Spring semester of her freshman year at college. She arrives at the school of her dreams with a boyfriend, a plan, and a ton of determination to make everything work. This college is where her parents met and where they left their mark, and Andie is determined to become part of the secret society that her late mother belonged to. For Andie, it's personal, it's about connecting to her past, and she has a plan to achieve it all.

Immediately, her careful plans start falling apart. But her roommate Shay becomes her BFF and their grumpy, coffee-addicted RA helps connect her with a much-needed Work Study job, and Andie discovers fun and found-family in places she wasn't expecting.

'Begin Again' is a heartwarming, fun read and it gave me all the feels. Highly recommended YA Contemporary read.  Grab a copy by January 24, 2023!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Always the Almost' by Edward Underhill

5 stars

Book Blurb:

"A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, Always the Almost.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles’ new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he’s playing like he “doesn’t know who he is”—whatever that means.

Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine’s party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it's not like he’s cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He’s not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing’s ever been as easy for him as for other people—other boys. He’s only ever been almost enough.

So why, when he’s with Eric, does it feel like the only person he’s ever really not been enough for...is himself?"

My Review: 

This is a lovely coming-of-age story in which Miles, our main character, finds queer joy with the help of his piano teacher, love interest, and his friends.  He begins the New Year with two goals; to win upcoming piano competitions and to get back together with his ex-boyfriend.  Readers follow his narration as he learns more about what makes him happy and what music means to him, all while stumbling through messy friendships and relationships, as all teenagers do.

Highly recommended LGBTQIA YA Contemporary read. Out February 14th, pre-order here.

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.