Books I’ve Been Reading Lately (aka Last Year) – Mini-Reviews!

Hello friends!

How are you? Are you eating? Drinking water? Taking all the self-care needed? I feel like it’s been a hot minute and I haven’t written a review lately other than for blog tours and scheduling old ones sitting in drafts when I can and then forgetting other books that I’ve been writing thoughts about but nothing beyond that. So to rectify that just a little, this post is dedicated to some of the books* I’ve been reading lately since nearly two years ago, wrote some thoughts about, but know full well I’ll probably never write a fully fleshed review.

*I still left out books.

You Should See Me in Crown by Leah Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Published by Scholastic on June 2, 2020
Age Group & Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Representation: Black protagonist, sapphic protagonist and love interest
Format: eBook
Source: Library

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.

The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

Trigger & Content Warnings: sickle cell disease, panic attack

Let me just list all the reasons why you should definitely pick up Leah Johnson’s debut novel. ASAP:

1. Amanda and Liz are so cute together? Gahhh I love them as a couple.
2. Every one of the characters – I want to cheer on them all as much as they all rally and cheer Liz to break the tradition at her high school.
3. The friendship between Jordan and Liz? We love to see former friends mending tensions and becoming friends again.

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee

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I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 16, 2020
Age Group & Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Representation: Korean protagonist and main cast
Format: eBook
Source: Library

Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn’t dance. Wear bright colors. Shouldn’t call attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-Pop, and to do that, she’s about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for girls like her.

She’ll challenge thousands of other performers in an internationally televised competition looking for the next K-pop star, and she’ll do it better than anyone else.

When Skye nails her audition, she’s immediately swept into a whirlwind of countless practices, shocking performances, and the drama that comes with reality TV. What she doesn’t count on are the highly fat-phobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry, her sudden media fame and scrutiny, or the sparks that soon fly with her fellow competitor, Henry Cho.

But Skye has her sights on becoming the world’s first plus-sized K-pop star, and that means winning the competition—without losing herself.

On a scale of K-Pop novels to read and ones to avoid, this one is definitely a to read.

1. I hated all the fat shaming but I also love the fat positivity from Skye; she’s a character you really want to cheer on from the beginning of the book all the way through the end.
2. The romance felt unnecessary.
3. I’d pick up the sequel in a heartbeat if there is one.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1
Published by Balzer + Bray on June 2, 2020
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Representation: Black cast
Format: eBook
Source: Library

The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

Books with content warnings are truly the gems of the universe.

1. Family, friendship, court politics, mythology – basically everything that I could ask for in a fantasy.
2. Nadia is so precious?! I swear if harm comes to her I will fight like Malik fights for her.
3. I don’t know about the rest of you but I did NOT see the ending coming. I am invested and want the sequel (but mainly I just want more Nadia page time).

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
The Never Tilting World #1
Published by HarperTeen on October 15, 2019
Age Group & Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Representation: queer cast
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher

Frozen meets Mad Max in this epic teen fantasy duology bursting with star-crossed romance, immortal heroines, and elemental magic, perfect for fans of Furyborn.

Generations of twin goddesses have long ruled Aeon. But seventeen years ago, one sister’s betrayal defied an ancient prophecy and split their world in two. The planet ceased to spin, and a Great Abyss now divides two realms: one cloaked in perpetual night, the other scorched by an unrelenting sun.

While one sister rules Aranth—a frozen city surrounded by a storm-wracked sea —her twin inhabits the sand-locked Golden City. Each goddess has raised a daughter, and each keeps her own secrets about her sister’s betrayal.

But when shadowy forces begin to call their daughters, Odessa and Haidee, back to the site of the Breaking, the two young goddesses —along with a powerful healer from Aranth, and a mouthy desert scavenger —set out on separate journeys across treacherous wastelands, desperate to heal their broken world. No matter the sacrifice it demands.

A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.

Why are some of you still sleeping on Rin Chupeco’s novels???

1. Two storylines throughout that flawlessly come together by the end.
2. The entire main cast (Odessa, Lan, Arjun and Haidee) are an absolute delight to read and follow along. I think I was really there for the dolugongs, though.
3. There are some fragments in the world building, but from my experience with Chupeco’s past novels, they’ll be answered in the next book. Personally I did like this one better than The Bone Witch because I feel there is a better balance of world building and plot, and character. (Note: this is a personal preference, though.)
4. This was hard to get into at first considering the mental state I was in when starting the book, the current state of the world feeling too close to the underlying topic, and how I just got out of a major reading slump.
5. Because 4 is unlucky, there must be a fifth, and my fifth is read this for the cute dolugongs.

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant

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The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
A Court of Miracles #1
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 19, 2020
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Library

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris's criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina's life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father's fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie).

When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger--the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh--Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city's dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice--protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.

Les Miserables retelling? Sign me up.

1. Eponine truly gets the chance to shine in this retelling; I think Kester Grant gave her the justice she should’ve deserved from the musical.
2. I gave no fucks about Cosette in the musical but Grant’s version of Ettie is so innocent and hilarious, and she grows by the end of the book. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t remember what the musical Cosette did.
3. Knowledge of the musical is crucial to enjoying The Court of Miracles at its fullest. There are many nods and parallels that it’s important to get at least the basic grasp of what went on; otherwise, it’s just confusing.

The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter

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The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter
The Forest of Good and Evil #1
Published by Inkyard Press on June 25, 2019
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Library

WELCOME TO THE FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL.

A DREAM COME TRUE…AND A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

The battle between good and evil is on.

Snow White retelling with a villain origin story? Yes, please. The Evil Queen was right up my alley of preferred reads but it ended up being a huge disappointment because after trekking maybe 45% of the book I called it quits.

1. Romance felt like it was overshadowing the story. I honestly don’t remember much other than Roth and Everly lusting after each other the moment they meet. Hell, I don’t even remember half the other characters.
2. The pacing felt slow. I think partially this may be a personal preference, but also it didn’t feel like there was anything much beyond them theorizing who might be who in the Snow White fairytale and journeying in Enchantia.
3. I just wasn’t a fan of the writing style.