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

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

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

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

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.