Hi everybody! Today is release day for Wibke Brueggemann’s Love is for Losers, here’s my review! – Amber

Wibke Brueggemann’s Love is for Losers follows 15 year old Phoebe as she navigates through her difficult like and some major changes to her home life. I rated this book 3/3.5 stars!

Phoebe is set on the idea that love is stupid. She hates couples who are constantly wrapped up within themselves; she’s grossed out at the thought of kissing and has decided that love is not for her. But she meets Emma, who challenges everything she believed in when it came to love, maybe she can have her happy ending after all…

This book, for the most part, is the happy, queer romantic comedy it was pitched as. However, some of the things our main character Phoebe says and believes are what brought my rating down from the potential 5 stars. In the beginning of the book, Phoebe says things that are ableist and has some problematic viewpoints. One of the nice things about this book though, is that we actually get to see Phoebe educate herself on some of these problematic stances and grow as a person as she realises her previous thoughts were wrong. Phoebe’s growth away from some of her harmful ideologies is very important for younger viewers, it conveys the message that, you can change, and if something you previously believed in is wrong, you can decide to be a better person.

Phoebe’s home life is a mess, really. Her mum is constantly going away to save people all over the globe during crises, and Phoebe resents her for it. So when her mum tells her she’s going away for 6 months to save lives overseas, Phoebe is not surprised at all, in fact, she’s angry at her mum for leaving her again. Kate, (Phoebe’s godmother) plays such a big role in this book, and I absolutely loved her crazy, funny, outgoing character. While living with Kate, Phoebe decides to do some volunteering at Kate’s charity shop, where she meets Emma, who is a slightly secretive, kind and loving person who instantly sparks Phoebe’s interest. Phoebe finds herself thinking about Emma all the time, and wanting to know more and more about her, while also trying to convince herself that she’s only interested in a friendship way.

Phoebe’s sense of self worth seems to be non-existent in this book, which is truly heart-breaking, yet something lots of young viewers will be able to relate to. Phoebe feels as if her mother surely doesn’t love her, if she jumps at every chance presented to leave her, and this results in her self confidence being shattered. She finds it hard to trust people, and when her best friend from school gets a boyfriend and is seemingly uninterested in her, she finds herself feeling very alone. This leads to her spending more and more time at the charity shop, making friends with Emma and Alex and learning that actually, life can be pretty enjoyable when you put yourself out there.

One scene in particular warmed my heart in this book, and that was when the charity shop workers all came together to help someone in need. When a tragedy strikes all of their lives, but one person in particular, the rally together to cheer them up and make sure they have a strong support system to help them through it, which is truly amazing to read and we see just how much Phoebe has grown from the very beginning of the book.

The relationship in this book is, quite frankly, ADORABLE. Emma and Phoebe are your typical shy, head-over-heels, friends-to-lovers relationship, and it’s just the cutest to read about. I love how Phoebe tries to impress Emma all the time, without realising that Emma already likes her back, and I enjoyed reading Phoebe’s realisation that love isn’t gross or something scary and that actually, if you just let it come to you, it give you so much more than you’d ever realised you needed.

This book is written in a diary format, which is great as it keeps the pace up and makes this book sure easy to fly through! Overall, despite some problematic parts at the start of the book, this story tells us about self growth, coming out and finding love, and it’s a really, really good read!

Hi all!! Today’s post is a review of a book that is very close to my heart and that you’ve likely seen me scream about a lot on twitter!! Make sure you’ve ordered a copy of HONEY GIRL if you can!! – Amber ❤

Do you ever connect with a book on such a personal level that it’s almost as if it’s an extension of yourself? It’s rare, but it can happen, and this book did exactly that for me in so many ways.

Where do you even start a review of a book that is *this* good? I’m not sure, but I think I’ll start here. HONEY GIRL is the story of Dr. Grace Porter, who, after just completing her PhD in astronomy, goes on a trip to Vegas, where she ends up marrying a girl who smells like salt and herbs, and who leaves her a note before disappearing the next morning.

In many ways, this book is exactly as you’d expect, an adorable romance about two girls who get drunk married and then continue on with their lives before finally biting the bullet and reaching out to each other, and then, of course, falling in love. But really, this book is not a love story, it’s real, it’s raw, it’s emotional and it’s honest. We’ve got Dr. Grace Porter, who doesn’t know how to stop, she doesn’t take breaks, and she’s a Porter, so she always has to be the best. Grace, who works so hard, just to be seen by a largely white-coded industry, just so she can get a foot in the door as a queer Black woman; and then there’s Yuki, Yuki who is Asian, who has a podcast where she talks about creepy stories, who is a waitress at a restaurant and who lives with 3 queer boys in New York. These two are complete opposites, and yet, they end up getting married in a champagne-pink tinted dream.

Grace and Yuki both go about their lives for a little while before Grace cracks and spills about her getting married to her two best friends Ximena and Agnes. THIS FRIENDSHIP!!!!! The three of them together totally melts my heart. Xi is very driven and very much the mother of the group, and her and Grace’s bond is so strong. I adore female friendships in books when they’re done right, and this book hits the nail on the head. There’s no petty falling-out over something stupid, these three girls are strong together, and they’re strong for each other. Another thing that ties in perfectly to this is the mental health representation in this book. Grace has anxiety and depression, and Agnes is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as well as anxiety and depression in the book. While I can’t relate to the BPD rep in this book, I can say that the anxiety and depression representation made me feel so seen, and was done SO well, and the way it’s incorporated into the book seems effortless.

“I’m hoping there’s someone out there that’s listening.”

When Grace finally decides it’s time for a break and she gets to meet Yuki, everything doesn’t suddenly fall into place and her life is fixed. No, things are messy, and awkward and REAL!!! Grace is still struggling; she still doesn’t know where she belongs in the world or what she wants to be doing. But for a short while, Yuki is her anchor, Yuki gives her something to focus on and gives her time to just be happy for a while. Yuki and Grace learn about each other, and they cling onto one another like they’re each other’s best thing. And just for a little while, Grace’s usual life of routines, plans and over-working herself is forgotten, and instead, she is surrounded by new people who she gets to know, new people who become her friends, new people who she grows to love. Grace gets to meet Yuki’s flatmates, all of which are adorable, may I add. And together, they go on some crazy adventures and just enjoy spending time together. One thing I especially love about this book is just how well we get to know every character; even the side characters who it may feel like we don’t see that often. I still know exactly who they are and what their background is, yet it’s not done in a way that seems info-dumpy or unnecessary.

“Yuki Yamamoto, my battery is low, and it’s getting so dark”

Grace’s time back at the orange groves where she grew up is incredibly bittersweet. We get to explore in-depth more of Grace’s relationship with her mother, as well as some more background on her father, Colonel, and this part of the book is a big turning point for her. Yet another thing I adored, the positive outlook on therapy displayed in this book, which, to some people, may sound odd; but it’s far too often that I read a book where a character goes to therapy and it’s either seen as bad or portrayed in a negative light. I also loved (take a shot every time I’ve said this*) that Grace went through multiple different therapists before finding the one that worked with her, because this is the reality!! Almost never do you click with the first therapist that you try, which brings me back to how realistic this book really is. The exploration of parental relationships in this book HURTS!!! Grace and her parents don’t have a ‘normal’ or ‘ideal’ relationship by any means, but the love between them all is still there and obvious in many ways. Colonel is Grace’s father and he has always pushed her to be the best and to work harder than anyone else, so when Grace inevitably breaks down and needs to rest for a bit, their relationship becomes strained, yet it’s still incredibly interesting to read about.

I really can’t write a review of this book without talking about Yuki’s stories. Yuki’s podcast brings a completely unique and fresh twist to Honey Girl, and it just wouldn’t be the same without them. She spins these gorgeously dark tales about all sorts of myths and legends, my particular favourites were when she spoke about the Sirens and the Akashita. It feels so real when Yuki talks about these stories, and they’re so interesting to learn about. I cannot wait until the audiobook comes out and I can actually listen to it as if Yuki herself is telling me them ❤

Morgan Rogers’ writing style is, well, it’s beautiful really. I really struggle to remember that this is a debut because it reads like someone who has been writing forever. The writing is so lyrical and there are already at least 10 different quotes from this book I’m debating getting tattooed. Every single page drips with emotion and passion, I can just tell how much anguish and heart was put into writing this book, and it really jumps off the page. Not only that, but the author is incredibly sweet and I want to be her best friend :))))

The representation packed into this book makes me SO HAPPY!!!! We characters who are trans, bi, lesbian (who actually call themselves lesbian!!), Black, Asian, gay and most likely more that I’ve forgotten to list. This book made me feel so seen, and every time I’ve read it, it feels like coming home. It’s become a comfort book for me and I truly cannot wait until I can get a physical copy to annotate the hell out of. As I said on twitter ‘ honey girl is the kind of book that you simply cannot only read once; each time, it just gets better and better, you notice new little bits of information, and it feels like coming home.’ There are many, many parts of this book that have impacted and changed my life, and as cheesy as it may sound, this book has imprinted itself in my heart forever. Another quick thing that I have to mention before wrapping this review up is how much I loved (shh) and appreciated the underlying message throughout this book that was ‘it’s okay to not be okay, it’s okay to not know your place in the world, and it’s okay to need a break from real life every now and then. And of course, it’s okay to ask for help’

This is one of the very few reviews where I actually had to restrain myself, because I could easily have made this 4X longer, and spoken about each character and their relationships for a whole page, and screamed about how much this book means to me for another 3 pages. But really, this is as short as it’s going to get, and if you take anything away from this review, please let it be that this book is SO incredibly, indescribably perfect. There truly are not enough words or pages for me to be able to articulate my love for this book, but here’s just a tiny glimpse of it ❤

Trigger/content warnings can be found here.

*THIS IS A JOKE PLEASE DON’T I CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALCOHOL POISONING

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem was a compelling and unique graphic novel that tells the story of Alec Holland, introverted and shy, and his twin brother Walker as they spend the summer in a rural, wooded town where the plants hold just as many secrets as the humans…

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! I’ve never read a Swamp Thing comic book before so this origin story was the perfect place to start. My main, and only, criticism of this book is that it felt very rushed. I liked the story and characters, but there wasn’t a lot of depth and the events happened very quickly. I know it’s hard to avoid that in a stand-alone comic, but it still lessened my enjoyment.

Apart from that, Twin Branches was wonderful. There were so many unique aspects that made it super interesting, and I liked reading it a lot.

I love the relationship between Alec and Walker and how central it is. They’re twins and best friends, but being siblings is always going to come with complications. I loved watching them grow, both together and apart, as they tried to adapt to each others environments and bridge the growing gap between them. 

Though I’m completely lost to the science of Alec’s plant research, it was super interesting and intriguing, it would have been almost sinister if not for Alec’s deep love for it! I also learned some random plant facts, which is kinda cool.

I really like Alec as a character. He finds it difficult to interact with people and is really shy, and that’s something I can relate to. To me he really reads as autistic but this isn’t confirmed. I think he was a really interesting and complex character, he may be shy but once he makes a bond, like with his brother or his plant or Abby, he’s fiercely loyal and loving. He’s really brave, maybe more than he takes credit for, and kind of sweet too.

The blooming romance between Alec and Abby was super cute, and honestly Abby is SUCH an icon I love her! I love Abby’s interest in this old tree, Fancy Sam, and how so much of the town relates to him. 

The storyline was interesting and exciting, it kept me reading and had some really wonderful moments!

There were certain aspects of this book that made it horror-esque, which I really enjoyed and was perfect for spooky season! It’s definitely something I can see making a good twisted superhero/antihero movie!

Overall, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem was a lush, intriguing and atmospheric story that I recommend. 

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem was a compelling and unique graphic novel that tells the story of Alec Holland, introverted and shy, and his twin brother Walker as they spend the summer in a rural, wooded town where the plants hold just as many secrets as the humans…

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! I’ve never read a Swamp Thing comic book before so this origin story was the perfect place to start. My main, and only, criticism of this book is that it felt very rushed. I liked the story and characters, but there wasn’t a lot of depth and the events happened very quickly. I know it’s hard to avoid that in a stand-alone comic, but it still lessened my enjoyment.

Apart from that, Twin Branches was wonderful. There were so many unique aspects that made it super interesting, and I liked reading it a lot.

I love the relationship between Alec and Walker and how central it is. They’re twins and best friends, but being siblings is always going to come with complications. I loved watching them grow, both together and apart, as they tried to adapt to each others environments and bridge the growing gap between them. 

Though I’m completely lost to the science of Alec’s plant research, it was super interesting and intriguing, it would have been almost sinister if not for Alec’s deep love for it! I also learned some random plant facts, which is kinda cool.

I really like Alec as a character. He finds it difficult to interact with people and is really shy, and that’s something I can relate to. To me he really reads as autistic but this isn’t confirmed. I think he was a really interesting and complex character, he may be shy but once he makes a bond, like with his brother or his plant or Abby, he’s fiercely loyal and loving. He’s really brave, maybe more than he takes credit for, and kind of sweet too.

The blooming romance between Alec and Abby was super cute, and honestly Abby is SUCH an icon I love her! I love Abby’s interest in this old tree, Fancy Sam, and how so much of the town relates to him. 

The storyline was interesting and exciting, it kept me reading and had some really wonderful moments!

There were certain aspects of this book that made it horror-esque, which I really enjoyed and was perfect for spooky season! It’s definitely something I can see making a good twisted superhero/antihero movie!

Overall, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem was a lush, intriguing and atmospheric story that I recommend. 

A huge thank you to HarperCollins US for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emily M. Danforth’s PLAIN BAD HEROINES is a dark, eerie horror-comedy surrounding a cursed New-England boarding school for girls – a wickedly whimsical celebration of the art of storytelling, sapphic love, and the rebellious female spirit.

This book is a BEAST. It’s 600+ pages of chaotic gays, hilarious footnotes and a whole load of wasps. Danforth has a knack for making this book feel so real, the setting and descriptive writing in this book make it feel so luxuriously dark and spooky, I couldn’t put it down. This book follows a dual-timeline between 1902 and the present day, where we separately follow a group of women at Brookhants boarding school.

In 1902, we follow Clara and Flo, two girls who become enthralled with a daring young writer named Mary MacLane and form a fan club called the Plain Bad Heroines Society. They hold secret meetings at an orchard, and get other girls at the school to join too. Clara and Flo end up falling in love and later their bodies are found under that same orchard with Mary MacLane’s book splayed out next to them. I thoroughly enjoyed these early chapters where we got an insight into the very early beginnings of the Brookhants curse, where we meet Flo and Clara and learn about them and their love.

We then switch between this time period and the present day, where a film is being made out of Merritt Emmons’ book about Brookhants. We follow Merritt, Audrey and Harper, whose lives get entangled with this film and each other. Harper Harper, where do I start?? I ADORE her, she’s totally brash, open and her personality is just so funny. Harper really is the definition of a disaster lesbian, and I loved getting to know her in this book. Audrey is cast to play Clara, and Harper Flo, so they, along with Merritt, end up spending a lot of time together during the process of pre-filming and the actual filming of the movie. These three together were so adorable to read about; Merritt is very upfront and honest in the way she thinks, and I think her personality bounced off of Harper’s really well.

During the filming of the movie, strange things keep happening to everyone involved – yellow jackets (wasps) turning up in sinks, bathtubs, jackets, they’re literally everywhere. The way Danforth describes the buzzing noise of the yellow jackets really drives home how creepy it is, in fact, I highly recommend not reading this book outside where something may buzz around you, because you will FREAK. The dark and spooky atmosphere is definitely present throughout the whole book, which is really nice because it helps you to fully submerge yourself into it.

Libbie and Alex are the characters we read about after the death of Clara and Flo; Libbie is the headmistress at Brookhants and Alex is her partner. These two really made me giggle at points, their relationship is a bit rocky but their humour with each other is on point. I must admit, as the book went on, I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them that much, but definitely when we flashed back to them as younger adults, their relationship was very sweet.

The footnotes in this book were quite possibly one of my favourite parts, they’re incredibly humorous and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while reading, I think they’re a very unique and at times very crucial addition to this book. They’re not too long either which is great because they can be annoying to some people, but throughout this book they were not normally longer that 2 or 3 lines. I also loved the addition of the illustrations throughout this book, they were peppered in every couple pages and it really helped to have a visualisation of what was going on and also, they are just incredibly pretty.

Yet another thing I enjoyed about this book was how queer it was. There was maybe 3 straight characters throughout this whole book, and it’s super affirming to the whole “we were always here” and this book just belongs as a piece of queer history. I can’t wait for more people to read this and discover the story because it’s a masterpiece.

The ending of this book brought along quite a few surprises!! I was thrilled about the relationship, which I won’t comment on more to avoid spoilers, but just know that I was rooting for it and I’m SO HAPPY!!

One thing I do wish this book had was more of Flo and Clara and their story. After the first couple chapters, we don’t really read about them at all except for when it’s mentioned during the process of making the film. I think that having more Flo and Clara would have definitely made the book more engaging during the middle where I found it started to drag on a little.

Overall, this book is a perfect read for October and anyone who loves sapphics being sapphics. The illustrations paired with the writing really gives it a spooky feel and I think this would be a great addition to anyone’s October tbr!!

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow was a whimsical, beautiful and unique book – I wasn’t sure what it would be like going in, but I ended up loving it. After the slightly slower start it got exciting and kept me reading, and I loved the complex relationship between the three sisters as well as the sapphic romance!

Alix E. Harrow has a real talent for prose and atmosphere that made me adore her debut, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, and The Once and Future Witches was no different. Her writing is so gorgeously lyrical, with wonderful, almost playful, imagery. This book is written in present tense third person which isn’t my favourite, but worked really well here. The lush prose really lends to the overall atmosphere of the book, which is another thing that really stood out. The Once and Future Witches is at once visceral and fierce and whimsical and fairy-tale like, and it was this mix of showing the wildness of women and the childishness of magic that really made this book unique. 

The plot overall was a great story of feminism, sisterhood and reclaiming magic, and I really enjoyed it. There were some intricate twists I really didn’t see coming that really raised the stakes, and despite the thickness of the book I found myself devouring it quite quickly. There were so many unique ideas in the lore and magic of The Once and Future Witches and this combined with the suffragette movement and a dark evil made the plot wonderful! For me, the book did take a little while to properly draw me in, and the length of it felt almost like it could have been two books, but I guess I’m just used to reading YA rather than adult!

I loved the three Eastwood sisters. Their relationship is convoluted and messy, tangled with misconception and secrets, but seeing the three reconnect over the course of the book was really beautiful and their connection to each other was the driving force of the book. I think Agnes has to be my favourite of the three, but over the course of the  book I really came to care for all of them. 

Obviously, I have to mention the f/f romance in this book! Our eldest sister, Beatrice, or Bella, is a lesbian and has a love interest who i ADORED. Honestly Cleo was such a great character and deserves a book of her own, she’s charming and brave, wise and witty, what an icon.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fantasy, feminist plot lines and unique magic.

Hi guys! The Midnight Swan is the third book in an awesome middle grade series, and it’s out on the first of October! I was lucky enough to get to interview the author, Catherine Fisher! Enjoy, and don’t forget to add The Midnight Swan on Goodreads!

Hi Catherine, so great to talk to you about your upcoming novel, The Midnight Swan. For those who haven’t heard of it, could you tell us a little about the book? 

The Midnight Swan is the third book in the Clockwork Crow series. In this one, Seren and the Crow have to journey to the Garden of the Midnight Swan. They want to break the spell that keeps the Crow a moth eaten bird, and to return him to his human shape. Lots of summer heat, talking animals, a parliament of birds and a Midsummer Ball! 

What was your biggest inspiration behind The Clockwork Crow series? 

It started with Christmas and snowy, cold winteriness. Then the Crow himself, with his tetchy personality. Also I wanted to bring in a Welsh setting, language and folklore, so the books are very firmly rooted in Wales. 

Are any of the characters in your series based on or inspired by real people? 

No, not really, they are all inventions. 

What was your inspiration for the country house of Plas-y-Fran that features in your series? Is it based on a real place? 

I was lucky enough to go to a school that was based in an old Jacobean house. It’s called Tredegar House and was owned by the Morgan family. it’s now open to the public but then we had the place to ourselves. I wandered all over it and in the grounds where there are woods and a lake. That house emerges in lots of stories and books that I have written. 

When did you know you wanted to write books? Have you always wanted to be an author?  

I started writing poetry when I was about 11 and stories a bit later. I always knew I wanted to be a writer but didn’t have any idea how you became one, It took me a long time to find that out. 

What made you want to write middle grade and books for children? 

It was just what happened. When I started writing my first novel it was a fantasy for children and that’s what I feel most comfortable writing. 

What was your favourite story as a child?  

Alice in Wonderland without a doubt. 

What did you most enjoy about writing The Midnight Swan, and what was the most difficult part? The bits I enjoyed writing most were the parliament of owls and the Crow’s tale of how the spell was put on him. Both are humorous parts of the story. I also like the journey that Seren Tomos and the Crow make into the Otherworld and the strange creatures they meet on the way. The difficult thing with a third book is that everything has to end well and happily and I have to make sure every reader will feel satisfied with the end. 

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do with your spare time? 

Walking in woods, fencing, reading, drawing, going to the opera. 

Last but not least, give us some book recommendations! What are three books you’ve loved this year? The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham- a sf classic which I re read and is amazing.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- like Seren I can never get enough of Sherlock Holmes. 

Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illus by Jeffrey Love. Superb retellings of the strange old stories..

Hiya everyone, new recommendation list for y’all! It’s not sapphic, who would have guessed! Today we want to highlight books about male loving males by authors who also identify as such, as so many of the most popular MLM books aren’t ownvoices 😦 Enjoy!!!! Sasha ❤

PS: Did you know, there’s a male version of the word Sapphic! It’s Achillean, after Achilles, and is an umbrella term for all men loving men (and non binary people who may identify as it too) the flag is very pretty too:

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

A cute and easily readable story of love, hope and space with an adorable gay romance at its centre and full of drama and surprises.

Camp by L.C. Rosen

An entertaining, colourful and important book about pride, love and toxic masculinity in the gay community. A story of making mistakes and learning from them to become better people.

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

A fun, light fantasy which discussed some important topics, centring on two brothers and their complex magic system with a unique magic system, found family and rebellion!

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

A fierce, stunning and evocative story told in verse of a mixed race gay boy grappling with his identity and embracing his uniqueness.

Boy Queen by George Lester

A fabulous, heartfelt and fun story about coming into your own, with a loveable main character, wonderful friendships and sparkling all over with queer joy.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores their childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia.

Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green

A hilarious, heartfelt and deeply enjoyable book about two boys who fake an amazing summer to get back at their cheating exes, and maybe discover feelings for each other along the way. A superb, witty and enthusiastic story that sparkled with fun.

The Extraordinaries by T. J. Klune

In Nova City, there are extraordinary people, capable of feats that defy the imagination. But that’s not Nick. Instead of fighting crime, Nick contends with a new year at school, a father who doesn’t trust him, and a best friend named Seth, who may or may not be the love of Nick’s short, uneventful life.

Fin & Rye & Fireflies by Harry Cook

A queer contemporary that was at once fun, enjoyable and heartwarming and also important and deep, a testament to the strength and resilience that LGBTQ+ teenagers have, showing that amid these darkest points of life there can be a light. 

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

Connor Major’s summer break is turning into a nightmare. His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he “changes.”

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

Wranglestone by Darron Charlton

In a post-apocalyptic America, a community survives in a national park, surrounded by water that keeps the Dead at bay. But when winter comes, there’s nothing to stop them from crossing the ice. Peter must help his crush herd the Dead from their shores before the lake freezes over. But as love blossoms, a dark discovery reveals the sanctuary’s secret past. One that forces the pair to question everything they’ve ever known.

Hideous Beauty by William Hussey

When Dylan and Ellis’s secret relationship is exposed on social media, Dylan is forced to come out. To Dylan’s surprise they are met with support and congratulations, but Dylan’s happiness is short-lived when Ellis dies in a car crash and he is left with his grief and the suspicion that it might not have been an accident that killed the boy he loved.

Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley

Nate never imagined that he would be attacked by his best friend, Cam. Now, Nate is being called to deliver a sworn statement that will get Cam convicted. The problem is, the real story isn’t that easy or convenient—just like Nate and Cam’s friendship.

The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters

Can Wes balance saving the used bookstore he works at, helping his brother with wedding plans, and finally winning over the heart of his best friend and long-time crush?

Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon

Jordan is determined he doesn’t need a man, but when he’s forced to team up with nemesis Rex to save his romance book club, Jordan soon discovers that Rex might not be the arrogant troll he made himself out to be, and that, like with all things in life, maybe he was wrong to judge a book by its cover.

How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi 

Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy–he just didn’t think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option. Right?

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig

The only thing August Pfeiffer hates more than algebra is living in a vampire town. Located at a nexus of mystical energy fields, Fulton Heights is practically an electromagnet for supernatural drama. And when a mysterious (and annoyingly hot) vampire boy arrives with a cryptic warning, Auggie suddenly finds himself at the center of it.

The Friend Scheme by Cale Dietrich

High schooler Matt’s father is rich, powerful, and seemingly untouchable—a criminal with high hopes that his son will follow in his footsteps. Matt’s older brother Luke seems poised to do just that, with a bevy of hot girls in tow. But Matt has other ambitions—and attractions.

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Darius Kellner is about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it’s pretty overwhelming—especially when he’s also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom’s family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different.

Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon

The year is 1973. The Watergate hearings are in full swing. The Vietnam War is still raging. And homosexuality is still officially considered a mental illness. Jonathan Collins, a bullied, anxious, asthmatic kid escapes to the safe haven of his imagination, where his hero David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and dead relatives, including his mother, guide him through the rough terrain of his life.

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konisberg

Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they’re willing to risk — to get the thing they want the most

Bloom by Kevin Panetta

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band—if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. While interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it.

Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS. He’s dating Judy, an aspiring fashion designer who is a fierce LGBTQ+ activist alongside her gay uncle. Then Reza meets Art, their school’s only out and proud teen. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart–and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

Adam must reconnect with his estranged brother when a spirit possesses his wife. But when he tries to help, the spirit sets its sights on Adam as it’s next target and to survive, he’ll have to confront his ex boyfriend, the elf who broke his heart.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship–the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime.

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood. But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook—and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.

Running With Lions by Julian Winters

Bloomington High School Lions’ star goalie, Sebastian Hughes, should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing and he’s got a coach who doesn’t ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah shows up to summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team’s success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.

PS: The MLM rep in Felix Ever After isn’t ownvoices but the Black, trans and queer rep it is and we will find any excuse to include this in our rec lists heheh 🙂

Hi all!! Another #WLWWednesday post from us this week!! Some super exciting books are on here, we hope you enjoy! – Sasha and Amber ❤

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Amber’s recent WLW reads:

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Cute Mutants Vol 1: Mutant Pride by SJ Whitby

(Young Adult Sci-Fi) Book 1 in a series

A hilarious and adorable novel about a group of teens who all mysteriously develop crazy mutant powers after a party one night. This book was sent to me by the author to review and I’m SO incredibly grateful because it’s a new favourite for me now!! All of the characters are so lovable and the humour in this book is top notch!! I’m very excited for the rest of this series.

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Iron Heart by Nina Varela

(Young Adult Fantasy) Book 2 in a duology

I reread Crier’s War before jumping straight into this one and honestly,,, WOW. I actually think I preferred book 2 to book 1 and I already miss these girls and this world so much. The ending and epilogue of this book were SO SOFT!!! pls more crierayla nina varela pls.

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The Sullivan Sisters by Kathryn Ormsbee

(Young Adult Mystery) Standalone

This book is about 3 sisters who drift apart as they get older and we now follow them as they discover that they have been left a house by an uncle they never knew existed. This book was a bit of a let down for me personally, it really fell flat and the ‘mystery’ part didn’t surprise me at all :((

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The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

(Young Adult Fantasy) Book 1 in a duology

A desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial daughter find a connection on the high seas in a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic. This book was super fun, magic and gorgeous. The writing style was sooo pretty and I MISS MY GIRLS ALREADY!!! but what,,, what was that ending?!?!?!

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The Space Between by Meg Grehan

(Young Adult Contemporary/Poetry) Standalone

I buddy read this one with Emily (@ashortbooklover) and we both absolutely loved it!! It’s a short novella written in verse that follows Beth who has agoraphobia and is feeling trapped and suffocated when she meets a girl and her dog. One thing I loved the most about this book was that Beth finding love didn’t immediately ‘fix’ her and her mental illness! It was a very short and gorgeous read ❤

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Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

(Young Adult Contemporary) Standalone

I re-read this book recently and picked it up on audio, IT WAS PHENOMENAL. Like, just as good as I’d remembered ❤ aaa these characters are all so cue and I missed them so much, so it was lovely to be back with them again.

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Loveless by Alice Oseman

(Young Adult Contemporary) Standalone

Another of Alice Oseman’s book that I’m in love with, shocker. This book was witty, funny and heart-breaking all at once and SO eye opening to me as I’ve just recently come out as ace. I loved all the characters in this book and related to Georgia’s story a lot.

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The Wrong McElroy by K.L. Hughes

(Adult Romance) Standalone

This book is about a lesbian who pretends to be her best friend’s girlfriend for him and visits his family,,,, and then she falls in love with his sister. This was a super short, fun and cute story and I loved the setting :))

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Sasha’s Recent WLW reads:

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So, I went back to school recently and have only read four books so far this month 😦 The good news is two of those were sapphic:

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Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher

(Young Adult Contemporary Thriller) Standalone

Lies Like Poison was a twisted contemporary fairytale with exciting twists and centring around the friendship between four kids who would do anything for each other. I enjoyed this thriller but my favourite aspect was OBVIOUSLY the f/f romance between two fierce and badass girls!

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Crier’s War by Nina Varela

(Young Adult Fantasy) Book 1 in a duology

I also reread Criers War by Nina Varela in anticipation for Iron Heart, and once again I ADORED it! I think I enjoyed it a little more ironically than the first time as my taste has changed a bit but still god-tier yearning and a capturing plot! I love fantasy with elements of mystery like this one and I’d DIE for Crier and Ayla, two stupid and horny emotionally-closed-off girls.

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thank you for reading!! as always, please feel free to join in on the tag/meme ❤