Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green is great! It’s an enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, road trip, social media, forced proximity, second chance YAHeartbreak Boys by Simon James Green is great! It’s an enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, road trip, social media, forced proximity, second chance YA romance that is not at all the vapid trope soup you might expect from that barrage of keywords. Flamboyantly gay, Tigger-ish Jack and subdued, Eeyore-ish Nate slowly and sweetly find their way towards each other and, in the process, learn some things about living life for itself rather than for the ‘gram....more
A can't-put-it-down thriller with paranormal and and romantic elements. I was impressed with how it starts as an apparently simple story and then the A can't-put-it-down thriller with paranormal and and romantic elements. I was impressed with how it starts as an apparently simple story and then the mysterious weird bits start slipping in and adding up....more
These continue to be like potato chips -- unsubtle but very more-ish. I sometimes get a bit confused by some of the time travel and historical detailsThese continue to be like potato chips -- unsubtle but very more-ish. I sometimes get a bit confused by some of the time travel and historical details, but rather than sweating the details I just roll with it. If you like these books you will like this book....more
These things are like potato chips, okay? I just ordered the next three volumes from ABEbooks.
I got irked by some of the 15th century stuff because I These things are like potato chips, okay? I just ordered the next three volumes from ABEbooks.
I got irked by some of the 15th century stuff because I have STrOnG FeeLInGS about the Princes in the Tower. It might be unfair to dock the book a star because of that, but these are my ratings, so I'm doing it....more
This starts out looking like a historical novel -- we meet two sisters, maids in waiting to Princess Elizabeth (who will eventually become Queen ElizaThis starts out looking like a historical novel -- we meet two sisters, maids in waiting to Princess Elizabeth (who will eventually become Queen Elizabeth I, but is at the moment under house arrest by Mary, Queen of Scots). But by the end of the first chapter, one of the two is sent off to house arrest elsewhere, in Elvenwood Hall. Along with her, we gradually learn that all is not as it seems. The Fair Folk come into it, and there's imprisonment and rescues and a happy ending for all (except for those who get their just deserts instead). I felt that the ending comes off differently today than it did in 1974. At that point, (view spoiler)[Christopher choosing the smart, gawky sister over the pretty one may have been meant to be feminist and affirming. Today, the way he assumes she'll marry him without really asking seems kind of obnoxious. And why does it always have to be smart-and-awkward and dumb-and-pretty? (hide spoiler)]
The fairies are well done -- genuinely spooky and inhuman. There's a strong theme about the importance of maintaining one's free will and independence of mind -- the heroine is very determined in that respect. I felt it was admirable and well carried out, woven in at various points in the book.
Overall, it's slightly dated but still an enjoyable and interesting read if you like genuinely inhuman fairies and strong-minded heroines and are happy reading stuff written for young teens....more
Thank you to NetGalley and the authors for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed this trio of YA novellas -- I'd say it's two roThank you to NetGalley and the authors for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed this trio of YA novellas -- I'd say it's two romances and a romance-adjacent friendmance. In each story a kid (or kids) on their way to an SFF con gets temporarily stranded in Hopewell, a small town that has a way of bringing people into contact with who or what they need. Each has supernatural elements -- definitely warm, cozy, wants you to have hot cocoa and all the snuggles supernatural, not creepy, scary supernatural.
Recommended for teens who like warm fuzzy love stories, especially ones who want to see their geeky, geocaching, discord-chatting selves reflected on paper....more
This was fantastic! There's a main plot that's "oh my god I just learned to teleport and what the heck do I do now" and side plots of teenage friendshThis was fantastic! There's a main plot that's "oh my god I just learned to teleport and what the heck do I do now" and side plots of teenage friendships and relationships. The teleportation plot is fast-paced and gripping. It has the usual "oh my god I can't tell anyone supernatural things are happening" thing, which I tend to find annoying, but it was handled pretty smoothly. And, speaking as a parent of geeky queer teenagers -- these are quite authentic portraits of geeky queer teenagers. The romance stuff was nicely low-key, not all-consuming. Cole is self-aware and insecure and bright and observant of others, and those things all make him a very engaging narrator. I recommend this a s a super-engaging quick read....more
I enjoyed this story of a young girl in 1899 who doesn't have much interest in the womanly arts and discovered a shared interest in natural history wiI enjoyed this story of a young girl in 1899 who doesn't have much interest in the womanly arts and discovered a shared interest in natural history with her grandfather. I mean, girl bucking patriarchal expectation *and* learning about natural selection -- I have to love it, right? I was less invested in her relationships with her brothers, the petty struggles and jealousies and so on. It's a fine book for the right audience -- one of my kids loved it -- but I wasn't head over heels, even though maybe I should have been....more
I found this compelling and a bit disturbing, which I think it's meant to be. I don't want to say to much about the details of how it's disturbing, asI found this compelling and a bit disturbing, which I think it's meant to be. I don't want to say to much about the details of how it's disturbing, as I enjoyed the suspense and gradual unfolding, but it explores themes of abuse, trauma, power, gender, and betrayal. I will be re-reading, and look forward eagerly to the release of volume 2 later this year. In particular, I am eager to discover (view spoiler)[whether White Hands and the Gilded Ones are really recreating a lost egalitarian utopia. I am hoping that Forna continues to take the messier and more nuanced approach, and they turn out to be really not so lovely as all that. (hide spoiler)]...more
Randy has always been one of the theater kids at queer camp, singing and dancing and wearing nail polish with glee. But he's always been half in love Randy has always been one of the theater kids at queer camp, singing and dancing and wearing nail polish with glee. But he's always been half in love with Hudson, and Hudson is a masculine sports bro who goes for masculine guys. So Randy reinvents himself as Del, with short hair, unpolished nails and a practiced manly swagger, and comes back to camp and makes a dead set for Hudson.
It's a very romcom setup (and as a theater kid, Randy is fully aware of this). But rather than staying in its comic lane, the story starts to dig deeper into questions of identity, masculinity, attraction, and self-expression. If Hudson falls for Del, does he love Randy? Is "masc for masc" a preference or a prejudice? The kids debate the latter question among themselves, in discussions that seem to me -- as a parent of queer kids in 2022 -- to be very much like the talks such kids might have.
This is a romp, a delight, and a thoughtful book that left me feeling freer in my own self-expression. Highly recommended.
NB The book has explicit descriptions of happy, consensual sex. That's a fine thing, but I know it means my own kids (young-ish teens) wouldn't want to read it yet, so heads up....more
This hits a lot of points about being young and female; about being invisible or secondary because of being young and female; and finding your own wayThis hits a lot of points about being young and female; about being invisible or secondary because of being young and female; and finding your own way and your own power. It's well done, but not the exactg thing I've been wanting right now. 3.5 rounding down....more
Oh my! This story is just so sweetly adorable. Bebe is a trans cheerleader, and loner bookworm Annie joins the squad under protest because she needs tOh my! This story is just so sweetly adorable. Bebe is a trans cheerleader, and loner bookworm Annie joins the squad under protest because she needs to round out her transcript for college. It's not easy for either of them -- Bebe has to deal with transphobia and Annie encounters social challenges trying to fit in with the squad. But they renew their previous friendship and both learn things from each other.
This is a feel-good story that shows realistic interpersonal conflicts and plausible resolutions. I got very caught up in the twists and turns, and was happy and excited to see the personal growth that various characters exhibited. All of the cheerleaders end up learning some things about real solidarity.
I think both of my teenaged kids will enjoy this comic, and I'll be happy to have them read it, since it showcases values like getting along, supporting each other, and being yourself. I'll definitely be buying a copy!
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free advance PDF!...more