I’ve been doing a lot of reading (and not a whole lot of writing) over the past few months. This has been a bad thing–not writing reviews all the time makes me feel sad but also means I often…
Young Adult
SOCIAL DISTANCING READS #2: Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis
Hello everybody – hope you are all keeping safe. I am lucky enough to be exclusively working from home and as I do so, I am trying to create a mental health routine of comfort reading, writing, going for…
Title: Solstice Author: Lorence Alison Genre: Horror YA Publisher: Imprint BooksPublication date: February 18 2020Hardcover: 288 pages A music fest goes wrong in this comic YA thriller as selfie-mad concert-goers wake up to realize their tropical island fantasy is…
We are delighted to be revealing the cover for Corinne Duyvis‘ upcoming new novel The Art of Saving the World, a fantasy YA. It sounds SUPER GREAT AND WE CANNOT WAIT. But for now, and without further ado, please…
Title: Scavenge the Stars Author: Tara Sim Genre: YA Fantasy Publisher: Disney Publication date: January 7 2020Hardcover: 336 pages When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on…
Title: Descendant of the Crane Author: Joan He Genre: YA Fantasy Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company Publication date: April 2019Hardcover: 416 pages Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own.Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk…
We are delighted to be hosting the cover reveal with an excerpt for Adalyn’s Grace UK edition of All the Stars and Teeth. Without further ado, here is the smugglerific cover! About the book: As princess of the island kingdom Visidia,…
Title: The Iron Will of Genie Lo Author: F.C. Yee Genre: YA Fantasy Publisher: Amulet BooksPublication date: January 14 2020Hardcover: 304 pages Genie Lo thought she was busy last year, juggling her academic career with protecting the Bay Area…
Title: Foul is Fair Author: Hannah Capin Genre: Contemporary YA Thriller Publisher: PenguinPublication date: January 16 UK / February 20 US 2020Hardcover: 336 pages Four girls seek revenge on the boys who wronged them, golden boys beware. Jade and…
Two more short reviews of two horror reads this Halloween season. Between NOW and THEN: the same family, the same home, different ghosts. Back in 1976, Loo and Bee are the two closest sisters in a family of five…
A gravedigger, a mapmaker and a fiercely protective dead goat go on a dangerous quest to save the(ir) world. In the small, remote village of Colbren, seventeen-year-old Ryn is a gravedigger, her profession by blood and by heart. She…
Three Horror books for this Halloween season, all three featuring twins, queer girls, witches, and a plethora of monsters. In Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin, twins Mae and Rossa spend some time with their aunt Rita…
Title: Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All Author: Laura Ruby Genre: Magic Realism, YA. Publisher: Balzer + Bray Publication date: October 1 2019Hardcover: 384 pages When Frankie’s mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an…
Two Books: Jelly by Clare Rees and The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes
These books could not have been more different from one another but you know I like some variety in my book diet. First up, Jelly by Clare Rees has the most ridiculous premise imaginable and I loved it for…
Title: The Liars of Mariposa Island Author: Jennifer Mathieu Genre: Historical YA Publisher: Roaring Book PressPublication date: September 17 2019Hardcover: 256 pages From the author of Moxie comes a stunning novel told in three voices about the lies families tell to…
It’s Friday and we are over at Kirkus – for the last time. Kirkus are launching a new website and they will be discontinuing the columns. It’s been a huge pleasure to work with them for the past 7…
I’ve been busy this summer, reading thrillers – most of them, I am happy to report, fantastic! I’ve listened to the audiobook of Something in the Water, written and narrated by Catherine Steadman and right off the bat, I…
Title: All the Bad Apples Author: Moïra Fowley-Doyle Genre: YA, Magical Realism Publisher: Penguin UK / Kathy Dawson Books USPublication date: August 1 / August 27 2019Hardcover: 352 pages When Deena’s wild and mysterious sister Mandy disappears – presumed dead – her family…
YA Round-up: The Best Lies, The Kingdom and Girls with Sharp Sticks.
TW: abuse, rape. Debut YA thriller The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is a portrayal of a toxic friendship, abuse cycles and the frayed, complex in-betweens. It opens with the death of Remy’s beloved boyfriend Jack. Remy is a…
Title: Wilder Girls Author: Rory Power Genre: Horror, YA Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: July 7 2019 Hardcover: 368 Pages It’s been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and…
Title: With the Fire on High Author: Elizabeth Acevedo Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Harper TeenPublication date: May 7 2019Hardcover: 400 pages With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions,…
I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI: Sarah Kuhn on Inspirations & Influences (and a giveaway)
We are huge fans of Sarah Kuhn’s, especially her Heroine Complex series, and were thrilled when we learned she was writing a Japan-set romantic comedy novel. Today, we’re delighted to have her as our guest to discuss I Love…
Title: Sherwood Author: Meagan Spooner Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: HarperTeenPublication Date: March 2019Hardcover: 480 pages Robin of Locksley is dead. Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn, with a review of romantic YA fantasy novel A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with a modern and multi-world fantastical…
Title: The Dead Queens Club Author: Hannah Capin Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Inkyard PressPublication date: January 29 2019Hardcover:464 pages What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain,…