I’ve been reading quite a few books in French lately, and I’m planning on making a separate post about that. The last time I made a blog post in French was in September and I have quite a few finds I wanted to share. On top of that, it makes more sense to talk about books written in English when I share with English so anyway. The last book I read that fits this category is one I fell in love with: it’s One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston. It’s a story about two girls who fall in love on a train, it has bits of time travel (of sorts?), it has a found family, an amazing queer community, and it’s about figuring yourself out during & after college. I absolutely loved it, and expected no less from Casey McQuinston!
I’m currently reading:
I’m listening to the audiobook for The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed, and I’m also reading Malice by Heather Walter. I’m really enjoying both of them, and hoping to finish them before Wednesday to include them in my June wrap up!
What I want to read next:
I mentioned The Gilded Ones in my last Monday reading update, and I haven’t gotten the chance to read it yet because I am a mood reader and ended up picking other things. But hopefully, this will be my next read!
With June coming to an end, I’m only now realising that I still didn’t take the time to post my May reading wrap-up. So without further ado, here we go. May was a good reading month. I read 19 books and I found some new favourites.
Middle grade books:
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency vol.2: The Edge of the Ocean by LD Lapinski ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The sequel was just as good as the first book. We travel to new worlds and meet new characters, and I can’t wait for book three in this series!
Aru Shah vol.4: Aru Shah and the City of Gold by Roshani Chokshi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I simply adore this series. Aru is a compelling main character, and the story is full of both adventure and humour. I simply can’t get enough. Looking forward to book 5, although I have to admit that I will be sad to let the Potatoes go!
Young adult books:
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was really looking forward to reading this one, as King of Scars was my favourite in the Grishaverse so far, and well what can I say, it was excellent. I am smitten with this universe at this point! I know some people didn’t like the path the story took, but I personally loved it, and though this was a brilliant conclusion to the Nikolai duology.
As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper ⭐⭐⭐ This one is the story of a gay teenager who runs off to London to follow his dream of being a professional musician. I really liked the concept but some things rubbed me the wrong way namely the toxic family and friendships. And honestly I was expecting a cute romance but it turned out to be yet another toxic relationship. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to talk about it, but it didn’t sit entirely right with me. On top of that, this book deals with eating disorders a way that made me rather uncomfortable. So yeah, I guess it wasn’t the thing for me. One thing I loved though was the beautiful friendships Marty eventually managed to build! [TW: homophobia, eating disorders, anxiety, self-harm, toxic friendships & relationships]
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dread Nation is a zombie novel/historical fiction and it had been on my TBR for quite some time. I honestly didn’t expect to like it as much as I did because, well, zombies, but I ended up loving it. It’s full of badass female characters and I can only recommend it.
Literary fiction:
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it ended up being one of my favourite reads so far. It’s basically about two girls who accidentally get married in Vegas, and what they will make of this relationship. The writing is beautiful and poetic. It has excellent friendships, the found family trope and also deals with the topic of what to do with your life after you finish up your studies, as the main character just got her PHD. I loved it with my whole heart, and I can only recommend it. [TW: mental illness, discussions of anti-Blackness, racism and homophobia]
Normal People by Sally Rooney ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Normal People is another book that had been on my radar for a while now. I was worried that I might end up disappoited, but I actually really loved it. It is worth the hype in my opinion. Through the story we follow Connell and Marianne through the years, as they grow apart and closer over and over again, from high school to college. This book is raw and beautiful, and I just really vibed with it (Sorry it seems I can’t review books anymore… But I just really liked it okay. And I’ll definitely be reading Conversations with Friends sooner or later as well.) My friend had warned me that it could get quite heavy, and it did, but I’m really glad that I read it in the end. [TW: toxic relationships, depression, eating disorders, abuse, suicide]
Livres en français :
La carte des confins de Marie Reppelin ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Celle qu’il attendait de Baptiste Beaulieu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fille perdue d’Adeline Yzac ⭐⭐ La vie est un cirque de Magne Hovden ⭐⭐.5
Mangas and graphic novels:
Your name vol.3 by Makoto Shinkai ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Joe la Pirate ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Heartstopper vol.4 by Alice Oseman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our Precious Conversations vol.5 by Robico ⭐⭐⭐
And finally I reread one of my absolute favourite reads of 2020 which was This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. I listened to the audiobook this time and it was fabulous. I think I enjoyed it even more this time! If I were to make a list of books that everyone should read, then this one would definitely be on it. Obviously, my rating is still ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ .
Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted on Goodreads. Feel free to join the group here. The theme for today was something among the lines of “books that get you in the mood for summer” but I’m not really one to rearead books so I don’t exactly have books that I read get in the mood for summer. One thing I know for sure is that when I think of summer reads, I tend to think of cute contemporaries, and as it turns out, I’ve already made at least one such post in 2020 and one in 2021. So I decided to shift it a little bit this time, and talk about books I loved that take place in the summer. I also decided not to mention Percy Jackson because that’d be pretty basic, but that’s still a totally valid choice.
What I will mention however is City of Ghost aka the first book in Victoria Schwab’s Cassidy Blake ghost series, which takes place in Edinburgh during the summer. As you can expect it from the title, it’s a book about ghosts, but also about friendship! Basically, it’s about Cassidy whose parents are animating a show about famous haunted places, and plan on visiting a bunch of those. What they don’t know is that after a near-death situation, their daughter developped the ability to see ghosts, which means that actually taking her to the most ghost infested places in the world may not be the best idea ever! Book two takes place in Paris, and book 3, which I am dying to read, takes place in New Orleans.
After setting up the mood with a middle grade novel, I’m jumping to literary fiction with a book that I read the summer I started this blog. I’m talking about Us by David Nicholls, which is the story of a family that takes a trip all round Europe while the parents are on the verge of divorce. This book hits a bit different from what I usually read, but I loved it SO MUCH.
Then I am moving back to queer YA because I’m always in the mood for it. First we have The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth, which is the cliché summer romance, except it isn’t… Except it kind of is but that’s okay. Basically it’s about Saoirse and Ruby who meet and decided to date over the summer, while knowing perfectly that it will end at the end of it. Except they start doing all of these cliché romantic dates ironically, swearing that they won’t actually fall for that falling-in-love-montage… Until they do? This was absolutely predictable but also 100% adorable and worth it.
Then we have Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender which takes place around an art school summer program (as I write this, I am beginning to doubt that it actually takes place during the summer? I am 99% sure it does, and the cover has the strongest summer vibe seriously). Anyway, this is a book about first love and finding yourself, and it’s absolutely precious.
And finally, Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno (at least I am SURE that this one takes place during the summer). I feel like I don’t see this book around enough, and it definitely deserves more hype. It has a cute romance as well as a magical, mysterious atmosphere, and on top of that, a mystery to solve. I really liked the characters as well, and I would definitely recommend this one if you haven’t read it yet!
And that’s it for today! Please feel free to recommend your favourite books that takes place during the summer! I’m always looking for new recommendations, although I don’t actually need them ~ Hope you have a wonderful week!
Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted on Goodreads. Feel free to join the group here. The theme for today was favourite dads and to be honest, I used to love making posts about greatest bookish parents and greatests bookish dads, but I didn’t really feel inspired today. Rather than that, I picked up a topic from last month which was favourite tropes and I decided to talk about books featuring found family trope because I just love this concept so much 💙
Loveless by Alice Oseman
There are different kind of found families, and of course, group of queer characters who become like family is one of them. Loveless is the perfect example of that. On top of that, add a bit of Shakespeare and a bit of chaos. This book really warmed my heart and I cannot recommend it enough.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
This one has the other type of found family: group of misfits that can’t really find their place in this world, until they find one another. On top of that, it has a heist. I love all of these characters so much, and I really need to read The Silvered Serpents soon.
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogersi
I absolutely LOVED the fact that both Grace and Yuki could fit into that trope within their own groups of friends. It was beautiful, just like everything else about this book. (Warning: this is one of my new faves.)
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
I swear I’m trying not to only go for my recent reads but seriously this one had to be on the list. In the middle of all the horrifying things that have been going on with her life, Lore managed to form a family bond with Miles and I am here for it.
Scavenge the Stars and Ravage the Dark by Tara Sim
I mean, yes, there are some betrayals and such throughout the story but I also feel like it has a strong found family vibe and I am here for it. Amaya definitely built some strong bonds with most of the other kids, and she does consider them family by the end. Also this was just one other opportunity for me to talk about this book, so consider yourself informed: you should definitely read it. (Bonus: those characters are a band of misfits AND chaotically queer.)
Runner up: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
This one hits different but somehow still matches this trope? And on top of that it’s a beautiful story, so I still wanted to mention it.
And that’s it for today! Please feel free to comment with your favourite found family stories as I would love to check them out!
I just finished reading: The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
The Good Luck Girls is a historical/speculative fiction with a western vibe. It follows five girls on the run, who esaped a “welcome house” after one of them acidentally murdered a wealthy patron. They are running from the authorities, and towards a better life. It’s a great story full of adventure and friendships, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
I’m currently reading: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
I’m about halfway through this one and I am loving it!! It’s a queer fake dating romance and it has everything I stand for in a cute romance. Seriously, fake dating is one of my absolutely favourite tropes. The mutual pining. And it’s sapphic on top of it all. I think I’m liking this one even more than The Henna Wars and I’m so glad I decided to read it! I will be definitely looking forward to Adiba’s next book 🥰
What I will be reading next:
I am very bad at TBRs and deciding what I will be reading next considering I am a mood reader and really decide what to read next at the last minute. On top of that, I am also reading books for work. But anyway, my next pick will probably either be One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston or The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna as I have heard nothing but great things when it comes to both of them.
And that’s it for today! What have you been reading lately?
It’s been a truly long time since I actually wrote a book review, but guess what I’m ready to do so again! Today I wanted to talk about my first read of pride month: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas. How is that one queer, you may ask? Well it was written by a trans author. And since I loved Cemetery Boys, of course I had to read this one as well.
Title: Lost in the Never Woods Author: Aiden Thomas Genre: YA Fantasy Release: May 2021 My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Warning: This review may include spoilers. TW: anxiety, PTSD
This book was refreshing and felt a bit different from what I usually read, and I’m so glad that I decided to pick it up!
Lost in the Never Woods is a modern retelling of the story of Peter Pan and Wendy. When Wendy was a child, she went missing for six months with her brothers, and she was the only one who came back. Five years later, she has no memory of those six months. But things take a strange turn when children start going missing in town, and the police start asking questions. Wendy knows that sooner or later, she will have to remember…
This book was a bit darker than I expected, but maybe I should have seen it coming? I enjoyed it nonetheless. I really loved the fact that Wendy used to tell stories about Peter Pan to her brothers, until the day she found out those stories were real! I really liked how Aiden Thomas used elements of the original story, and adapted them into a story of his own, with the island, the pirates… And in the end, the whole significance of Neverland broke me a little bit… Yes I should have seen it coming, and yes it was to be expected but still. It was nicely executed until the end.
This is a book about friendship and family, and also loss. It’s a book about growing up, and also believing in a bit of magic. I really loved Wendy’s relationship with her best friend Jordan, although it had its ups and downs. I loved how caring she was towards children, and how she knew she wanted to devote her life to helping others. And of course, I loved the balance of her relationship with Peter. In between ice cream and fries and chasing villains, these two really care for each other, and it was super wholesome.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the idea of Peter Pan retellings, such as what we got in Once Upon a Time for example (yes, it’s been a hot minute since I watched this show, but it still hold a place in my heart). Lost in the Never Woods was completely different of course, but it was also right up my alley and I really enjoyed it. It was just as beautiful as it was heartbreaking, and again, that’s exactly what I look for in a book.
Overall, it’s a quick reads with some great great plot twists. I’m also a huge fan of the epilogue, and how Wendy grew through the book. Read carefully thouhgh, as it deals with quite a bit of trauma. But in the end, I really recommend it.
Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted on Goodreads. Feel free to join the group here. The theme for this week is “recent purchases” so without further ado, here are five books that I bought in May that I’m really looking forward to reading!
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I’d been meaning to pick up this book for a while now, because I absolutely love the concept. I stumbled upon it while book shopping with my cousin during my vacation, and finally have my own copy. Hopefully I do love it in the end… I’m excited!
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
I’ve heard so many great things about this one and I’m really looking forward to read it: hopefully I get the chance to do so before the end of the month. Bonus: my copy has these gorgeous green sprayed edges and I love it so much.
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
I heard that Colson Whitehead was releasing a new book this fall and that got me excited because I loved The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys. But then I saw that it would only come in the fall, so I figured I still had the time to pick up one of his previous books. Let’s see if I actually finish it before Harlem Shuffle gets released!
Once & Future by A. R. Capetta and Cori McCarthy
Truth be told, this book has been on my TBR ever since the pre-release campain which means 2019. It’s queer, and it’s a Camelot retelling IN SPACE, a girl seriously cannot ask for more. Anyway, now that I finally have a copy, hopefully I can pick it up and read it soon!
Malice by Heather Walter
It’s queer, it’s a fairytale retelling, and it’s about the villain, what else could I ask for seriously? This is just right up my alley. And by that I mean I am obsessed with queer fairytale retellings. I had preordered this one, and was delighted to see it arrive. Hopefully I can read it this month!
And that’s it for today! Honestly talking about books I want to read is almost as exciting as talking about books I have read and love, I don’t know why I am like this, but that’s where we stand. It also seems that I am addicted to buying books, so I have plenty more on my shelves and on my kindle (but I wanted to support the author of course I had to buy it ~). Anyway, I’m excited about these ones. If you have read any of them, I’d love to hear your thoughts, and in the meantime, I hope you have an amzing week!
My last Monday reading update was a month ago, and I have been reading a lot since, although I haven’t posted much. After drafting a few posts like weeks, it got me in the mood for more so here we go!
I just finished reading: The Tradition by Jericho Brown and Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
I had seen someone recommend The Tradition on instagram a while ago, and it had been on my TBR ever since. It’s a beautiful poetry book about race and sexuality, and I really enjoyed it.
As for Punching in the Air, the French translation was just released a few days ago, and I thought it was a very good opportunity to finally read a book by Ibi Zoboi. I listened to the original audiobook in English on Scribd, and I’m so glad that I did. It’s a book about systemic racism, and the prison system in the US system. It is absolutely heartbreaking but also so important. And it’s also told in verse. I will definitely be reading more of Ibi Zoboi’s books in the future!
I am currently reading: Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli and Werecockroach by Polenth Blake
I first heard of Werecockroaches last year and I got really curious about it because the universe seemed a bit chaotic. It’s a sci-fi novella, and it has a main character who is agender, aromantic and asexual. So far, I’m still intrigued, and can’t wait to see how it will all turn out.
As for Kate in Waiting, I was really looking forward to Becky Albertalli’s new book. It’s adorable so far, and I’m really enjoying it. It has an amazing friend group, two best friends who always get crushes on the same people, and a musical in the making.
And finally, I’m also making slow progress through the audiobook for Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
What I want to read next: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
I just received my preorder for this one and I am really excited about it for two reasons: I really enjoyed the author’s previous book The Henna Wars and more importantly: it has one of my favourite tropes aka fake dating, and it looks absolutely adoable. It’s sapphic, and I hope it is as cute as it sounds!
And that’s it for today! What about you? What are you reading? And what have you enjoyed lately? 😊
Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted on Goodreads. Feel free to join the group here. The topic for this week is “backlist books” aka books that have been out for more than a year. Since it’s pride month, I decided to share five backlist books that are on my TBR, and I’m hoping to get around to reading soon! (Let’s face it, not necessarily this month, but I will get to them at some point!)
I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (2019)
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde (2017)
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (2018)
Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (2019)
How to be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters (2019)
First of all, how beautiful are those coverse? The colours are stunning, and I just love them so much. And second of all, I heard so many amazing things about all of those, and I’m really looking forward to reading them!
That being said, I just wanted to add: happy pride month to you all! I also just finished reading Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, which I really enjoyed. It’s a modern retelling of Peter Pan, and I have to admit, I teared up a little bit around the end. And as for what I’m currently reading, I just picked up Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli as well as Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam.
Clemi's Bookish World 