Book Review: Kingston and the Echoes of Magic // Bigger and bolder

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Title: Kingston and the Echoes of Magic
Author: Rucker Moses, Theo Gangi
Genre/s and tags: Middle Grade, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Magic, Mythology, BIPOC Lead
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date: October 12, 2021
Content warnings: Violence (mild), loss of a parent
Goodreads synopsis: 

In this duology’s finale, Kingston travels back in time and uses his growing magic to save the world.

Kingston might have saved Echo City but the victory is bittersweet without his pops by his side. The holidays are approaching and if Kingston could have one wish, it would be to have his father, who is trapped in the Realm, come home. But as new problems arise and blackouts blanket the city, Kingston begins to have a persistent feeling of deja vu, as if he’s lived this same day before–and he has. Echo City living up to its name, is caught in a repeating time loop.

Maestro, his father’s old rival, has found a way to overwrite reality with an alternate timeline where he rules over all. It will be up to Kingston, Too Tall, and V to find a way to enter the Realm and travel back through time to stop him. But with a magic he still barely understands, Kingston will needs his friends’ smarts and their collective courage to figure out the mystery and find Maestro before Brooklyn as they know it is erased for good.

A big thank you to Megan Beatie Communications for sending me a finished copy!
(This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)

Hello book nerds! Coming at you with another book review this week! Although, just to be transparent, this book is actually my last read of 2021! I have been reading and enjoying middle grade novels lately, and this book was another great journey.

Bigger and bolder, and yet still full of heart, Kingston and the Echoes of Magic is a finale that will keep you on your toes!

ARC Review: Love Somebody // Messy, funny, and heartfelt

Hello book nerds! Again, happy new year! I hope you’re all doing okay for today. As for me, today is a good day! This marks my first ever read of 2022 and my first blog tour for 2022! And of course, I couldn’t be happier that I’m featuring this book.

Love Somebody is a messy, funny, and heartfelt queer YA novel that teaches us the importance of connecting with others and the beauty of falling in love.

30 Queer Books You Should Add To Your 2022 TBR

Hello book nerds! I’m back with a blog post hoping to spread some holiday cheer by making the holidays queer! *wink* (Okay, I’m actually proud of that little rhyme, forgive me!) But yes, I am here today to talk about queer books releasing in 2022 that have caught my attention. If I thought 2021 releases were magnificently queer, 2022 is on another level. (Also, in case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s our 2022 queer reading challenge!)

I am just so excited for all the queer books that we’re going to see in the coming year! So, without further ado, here are 30 queer books you should to your TBR for 2022! (Click on the titles to add to your Goodreads!)

Reading Challenge: #ReadQueerToo2022

Hello book nerds! I’m back again, once again with another reading challenge!

First of all, happy holidays. I can’t believe it’s actually December? And that we only have less than two weeks of it?! But hey, this only means getting ready for another year, and getting ready for a whole new TBR. (Okay, serious question: Do you have your 2022 TBR set already?)

Now, to help make your TBRs more diverse, I’m inviting you all to another queer book reading challenge. The past two challenges have been a success and it’s truly amazing seeing all your reads for #QueerBookFun2021! I’m so thankful for your participation! So for 2022, we’re continuing the fun!

Welcome to #ReadQueerToo2022!

Book Review: Almond // Simple yet profound

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Title: Almond
Author: Won-Pyung Sohn
Genre/s and tags: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Mental health
Publisher: Harper Via
Publication date: May 5, 2020
Content warnings: Physical assault/harassment, graphic violence, bullying, gore/blood, death of family members
Goodreads synopsis: 

This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster.

One of the monsters is me.

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother aren’t fazed by his condition. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say “thank you,” and when to laugh. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space.

Then on Christmas Eve—Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday—everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school and begins to bully Yunjae.

Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero.

The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in this poignant and triumphant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever.

Hello book nerds and bookmys! Happy December! Can you actually believe it’s the last month of 2021?! I mean, I’m still processing March 2020, to be honest. But let’s not dwell on the past! Today, I am here to talk about a recent read and one of my favorite reads this year—Almond!

Now, I first learned about Almond because BTS members RM and Suga were seen reading this on their show, In The Soop (Season 1). Upon knowing the synopsis, I was even more interested! I’ve heard mixed reviews prior to reading, so I was a little bit hesitant. But now that I’ve finished it, I can say that I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book!

Almond is a gem. This book explores adolescence, the meaning of emotions, the diversity of people’s lives and journeys, and friendship. It was tender, honest, simple yet profound.