About the Book:

Title: Three Kisses, One Midnight 

Authors: Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Pages: 288

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Contemporary 

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon craft a spellbinding novel about discovering the magic of true love on one fateful, magical night in Three Kisses, One Midnight.

The town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago and everyone born and raised there knows the legend of the young woman who perished at the stroke of twelve that very same night, losing the life she was set to embark on with her dearest love. Every century since, one day a year, the Lady of Moon Ridge descends from the stars to walk among the townsfolk, conjuring an aura upon those willing to follow their hearts’ desires.

“To summon joy and love in another’s soul
For a connection that makes two people whole
For laughter and a smile that one can never miss
Sealed before midnight with a truehearted kiss.”

This year at Moon Ridge High, a group of friends known as The Coven will weave art, science, and magic during a masquerade ball unlike any other. Onny, True, and Ash believe everything is in alignment to bring them the affection, acceptance, and healing that can only come from romance—with a little help from Onny’s grandmother’s love potion.

But nothing is as simple as it first seems. And as midnight approaches, The Coven learn that it will take more than a spell to recognize those who offer their love and to embrace all the magic that follows.

Review:

*Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.*

Three Kisses, One Midnight is an enchanting tale that’s full of pure magic! It is comprised of three novellas, each told from three different points of view. Three best friends, Onny, Ash and True have called themselves the Coven since they were little kids, and this tale involves their quest for love. It takes place near Halloween, making it the perfect fall read. The first story is Onny’s story, the second is Ash’s story, and the third is True’s story. I found this format easy to follow and I really enjoyed it! I would also like to mention that there’s a great cast of diverse characters which I found very appealing.

The town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago, and legend says that a young woman perished that night at the stroke of midnight when she was supposed to embark with her true love. Every century since, one day a year, the Lady of Moon Ridge comes down from the stars to walk among the people of the town. It is said that she will help those willing to follow their hearts’ desire.

This year at Moon Ridge High, the Coven will come together at a masquerade ball like never before and will interlace magic, science, and art. Onny, Ash, and True believe that everything is in alignment to bring them what they’ve been seeking, all with a little help from Onny’s grandmother’s love potion.

Nothing turns out to be as easy as the friends think. As midnight draws near, the Coven will learn that it takes more than a spell to recognize when love is offered and embrace the magic that follows.

I thought all three of these stories were absolutely adorable! If you’re looking for a quick read, that’s romantic and heartwarming, this one is for you.

About the Authors:

Roshani Chokshi is the author of commercial and critically acclaimed books for middle grade and young adult readers that draws on world mythology and folklore. Her work has been nominated for the Locus and Nebula awards, and has frequently appeared on Best of The Year lists from Barnes and Noble, Forbes, Buzzfeed and more. Her New York Times bestselling series includes The Star-Touched Queen duology, The Gilded Wolves, and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which was recently optioned for film by Paramount Pictures.

EVELYN SKYE is a New York Times bestselling author of novels for adults and young adults, including the forthcoming THE HUNDRED LOVES OF JULIET and THREE KISSES, ONE MIDNIGHT.

Her book THE CROWN’S GAME was an Amazon Editor’s Pick, as well as an Amazon Best Book of 2016. Evelyn’s work has also been featured on Best Of lists by Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Indie Next, Goodreads, Buzzfeed, and more. She is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, and she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter. 

Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels with lots of kissing, girl power, and swoony boys. Her books have been featured in several cool places, including on The Today Show, Teen Vogue, NPR Book Review, Buzzfeed, and Seventeen. A full-time dog servant and part-time writer, she makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado.

About the Book:

Title: Beguiled 

Author: Cyla Panin

Publisher: Amulet Books 

Release Date: August 23, 2022

Pages: 384

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

A dark and enthralling story about a young woman who makes a deal with a spirit to try and gain her independence—and the twisted price she has to pay for it

Ella is a 17-year-old weaver whose entire livelihood depends on her loom. She dreams of opening her own shop, but when her father died in debtor’s prison, she had to support herself by taking whatever clients she could get. In order to buy her supplies she goes into debt of her own, and when her loom breaks, Ella realizes she needs more help than a repairperson can give her. She, like everyone, has heard about the old washerwoman spirit called the Bean-Nighe who will grant any one wish—for a price.
 
But Ella is desperate, so she asks the Bean-Nighe to fix her loom. And it works. The loom is fixed, and she’s creating beautiful pieces she could have never imagined before. All she has to do is feed the loom a drop of blood each time she weaves—a small price to pay for such magnificent silks. And when she brings two bolts to a rich client, she meets a mysterious young man named Callum and bargains for an invitation to his exclusive party. At that party, he’s so mesmerized by her talent, he offers Ella a place to live and patronage for her art. It seems like Ella’s fortune is finally turning for the better . . . until she begins to notice the loom taking more from her than she offered.
  
As she becomes entangled in the lives of the city’s rich, swept into Callum’s allure, and trapped by the Bean-Nighe’s magic, Ella must figure out a way to secure her future while she still has a future at all. 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the author and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Beguiled is a luscious YA Fantasy story that is the perfect autumn read! It is steeped in Celtic folklore, full of mystery and has a spooky gothic atmosphere. I really thought that having the main character be a textile artist was very unique and creative as well. 

Ella is a seventeen-year-old weaver whose very livelihood depends on her loom. Her father passed away in debtor’s prison and she has had to take whatever jobs she can to support herself. She has always dreamed of opening her own shop, but that dream is so farfetched as she barely has enough to get by. In order to buy supplies, she winds up owing a large debt to a cruel man in the marketplace. When her loom breaks, she realizes that she needs more than a repair to ever do more than just survive. She entertains the idea of visiting the Bean-Nighe (an old washerwoman spirit by the river)who may grant her a wish, for a price.

Ella becomes so desperate for help, she goes to the Bean-Nighe and asks her to fix her loom. It works, her loom is fixed, and she begins to weave gorgeous pieces that she never could have imagined before. She has to feed the loom a drop of her blood every time she weaves, and she thinks this is a small price to pay for weaving such magnificent silks. She immediately brings a couple of bolts of the beautiful fabric to one of her rich clients, and meets an enigmatic young man named Callum and bargains for an invitation to one of his exclusive parties. At the party, he is so mesmerized by her work, he offers her a place to live at his home and patronage for her art. Ella feels like her fortunes have at last changed for the better, until she begins to notice that the loom is taking more from her than she bargained for.

While Ella is whisked away by Callum’s charm and caught up in the web of the Bean-Nighe’s magic, she must find a way to secure her future endeavors while she still has a future left.

I enjoyed Ella as the main character. I had so much empathy for her, and the situation that she found herself in, but I don’t think I would have made the deal that she did.  She lived in a society that basically disregarded her, and I found her relatable in the way she struggled with feelings of self-worth. The story becomes darker as it goes along, and it was interesting to see the twists and turns that Ella has to face. I do wish there was a little more to the ending of the book, but overall I was satisfied. 

A great sophomore novel for Panin!  I hope that you pick this one up ASAP, as it releases Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

 

About the Author:

Cyla Panin is an MG and YA writer who prefers to look at the world through a dusting of magic. After spending most of her childhood wanting to escape into the wonderful worlds her favourite authors created, she’s now using her own words to craft magical places. When not writing, Cyla can be found playing dinosaurs with her two young boys, watching swashbuckling and/or period TV shows with her husband, and, of course, reading.

Her YA fantasy debut, STALKING SHADOWS is a gothic, feminist fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. To protect her sister, Marie laces perfumes with honeysuckle to mark victims for Ama to hunt when she transforms into a beast at night. But when a child in their town is killed, Marie is forced to acknowledge that she might be losing control of Ama—and must instead find a cure for this curse. It will be published by Amulet/Abrams in fall 2021.

About the Book:

Title: Long Story Short 

Author: Serena Kaylor 

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: July 26, 2022

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Romance 

Synopsis:

Growing up homeschooled in Berkeley, California, Beatrice Quinn is a statistical genius who has dreamed her whole life of discovering new mathematical challenges at a school like Oxford University. She always thought the hardest part would be getting in, not convincing her parents to let her go. But while math has always made sense to Beatrice, making friends is a problem she hasn’t been able to solve, so her parents are worried about sending her halfway across the world. The compromise: the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy and a detailed list of teenage milestones to check off. She has six weeks to show her parents she can pull off the role of “normal” teenager and won’t spend the rest of her life hiding in a library.

Unfortunately, hearts and hormones don’t follow any rules, and there is no equation for teenage interactions. When she’s adopted by a group of eclectic theater kids, and immediately makes an enemy of the popular—and, annoyingly gorgeous—British son of the camp founders, she realizes that relationships are trickier than calculus. With her future on the line, this girl genius stumbles through illicit parties, double dog dares, and more than your fair share of Shakespeare. But before the final curtain falls, will Beatrice realize that there’s more to life than she can find in the pages of a book?

In this sparkling debut from Serena Kaylor, Long Story Short is a YA rom-com about a homeschooled math genius who finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life—and love—can’t be lived by the (text)book.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the author and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!*

A YA summer romcom that gave me all the feels! This debut by Serena Kaylor was everything that I had wished for. There was friendship, romance, witty banter, a fun setting, and an unforgettable cast of characters! It should be noted that the main character has neurodiverse tendencies, although she’s not given a diagnosis in the book. The author tweeted that she herself is actually autistic and that nobody’s experience is the same. She also mentioned that a lot of the character’s behaviors and tendencies were mined from her own.

Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Quinn has grown up being homeschooled in Berkley, California. She’s a statistical genius and has dreamed of going to Oxford University to study math. She always thought that the hard part would be getting into this highly prestigious school in England, not convincing her parents to let her go. Math has always made sense to Beatrice, but making friends has been a problem she can’t solve, and her parents are worried about sending her so far from home. They decide to send her to the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy with a list of teenage milestones to check off during her stay. She has six weeks to convince her parents that she can be a “normal” teenager and won’t spend the rest of her life hiding out, or she won’t be able to follow her dreams of attending Oxford in the fall, and will have to put off college for a year.

Upon her arrival at camp, Beatrice discovers that there’s no mathematical equation that can predict teenage interactions or relationships. She’s quickly adopted by some of the theater kids, but unfortunately makes an enemy of the very handsome, popular son of the camp founders, who also happens to be British. With her future on the line, she finds herself way out of her comfort zone and participating in things like double dog dares, and Shakespeare quote battles! Before camp ends, will Beatrice come to the understanding that you can’t learn everything in life from a textbook?

I was smitten with Beatrice! She’s so smart and quirky, and she had me in stitches. I loved that although she initially starts checking items off the teenage list to please her parents, eventually it becomes something she does for herself. The side characters are also amazing, and I’m so glad that Bea made some supportive friends. I also enjoyed the sweet romance in the story as well.

It was so difficult to put this one down, I loved it so much! A fun read that’s sure to put some sunshine into your summer! Available now, so be sure to pick it up or request from your local library. 

 

 

 

About the Author:

Thirty-something-year-old with a love of all things sparkly, over-dramatic, and pizza-related. Serena writes books about awkward teens, the chaotic world of theater, found families, Shakespeare himself, and a sprinkle of kisses.

About the Book:

Title: A Darkness at the Door 

Author: Intisar Khanani

Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing 

Release Date: July 21, 2022

Pages: 486

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

I’ve been cursed, betrayed, and sold into slavery – but the truth I carry can’t be allowed to die.

Only Rae knows the extent of the corruption at the heart of the kingdom of Menaiya, from the noble lord who betrayed her, to the Circle of Mages whose wards protect the slavers from discovery. Injured and imprisoned on a slave ship, Rae’s options are quickly running out. When a desperate escape attempt goes terribly wrong, she finds herself indebted to a terrifying Fae sorceress.

Now Rae will not rest until she has rescued her fellow prisoners and freed her land from the darkness that has taken hold. To succeed, she’ll need every ally she can find—including Bren, the thief who may have stolen her heart. But Bren is hiding his own bloody secrets, and the curses that encircle Rae have sunk their claws into her mind. With her debts coming due and time running short, all the truths in the world may not be enough to save her kingdom, or herself. 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!*

*This review may contain spoilers from the previous two books in the series*

The thrilling conclusion to the Dauntless Path series, A Darkness at the Door will take you on one heck of a ride! This was the absolute perfect conclusion to a series that I loved, it was everything I thought it would be, and more. 

 Only Rae knows the extent of the corruption permeating the heart of her kingdom, from the noble lord who betrayed her, to the Circle of Mages whose wards protect the slavers from discovery. After being injured and trapped on board a slave ship, she realizes that her options are quickly running out. When a desperate escape attempt goes awry, Rae finds herself unexpectedly indebted to a fearsome Fae sorceress. 

Rae decides that she will not rest until she has freed her fellow slaves and rid the land of the darkness that has seized it. To succeed, she’ll have to rely on her allies, including Bren, the thief who just may have stolen her heart. But Bren is keeping his own secrets, and the curses around Rae are taking their toll on her mind. With time running short and with debts to be paid, all the truth in the world may not be enough to save herself or her kingdom.

I am so impressed with Rae’s character arc throughout the story. Even though Rae is such a compassionate and kindhearted soul, she realizes that she has to do some bad things to survive and to help save the slaves. I could feel the inner turmoil that she was dealing with. She is stubborn, smart, brave, and loyal to a fault. I also appreciated how she has grew into getting to know and love her body the way that it is, and used that to her advantage. It was wonderful to see a disabled POC character represented in such a positive way. 

I loved the slow burn romance in this book! I honestly found myself moved to tears several times. It was just what I had hoped for. 

I really enjoyed all the secondary characters, and I felt that they brought a lot to the story. I especially loved the new character and was so happy that Rae had someone else to talk to. 

A story about love and loss, magic, family, sisterhood, friendship, justice, corruption, and court intrigue that you don’t want to miss! I hope that the author writes more in this world, as I’ll miss these characters so much. Highly recommend! 

 

 

About the Author:

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Prior to publishing her novels, Intisar worked as a public health consultant on projects relating to infant mortality and minority health, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy.

Intisar is the author of the Dauntless Path books (Thorn, The Theft of Sunlight), and her indie epic fantasy series, The Sunbolt Chronicles.

To find out about new releases, giveaways, and so forth, subscribe to Intisar’s monthly author newsletter. 

About the Book:

Title: Spells For Forgetting 

Author: Adrienne Young 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: September 27, 2022

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fantasy, Adult Mystery 

Synopsis:

A rural island community steeped in the mystical superstitions of its founders and haunted by an unsolved murder is upended by the return of the suspected killer in this deeply atmospheric novel.

Emery Blackwood’s life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among the community that fractured her world in two. She’d once longed to run away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saiorse Island and chase new dreams; now, she maintains her late mother’s tea shop and cares for her ailing father. But just as the island, rooted in folklore and tradition, begins to show signs of strange happenings, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that no one wants to remember.

August Salt knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night that changed everything. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from the past that has never healed—Emery. But the town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises that span generations threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily’s death once and for all.

Evocative and compelling, Spells for Forgetting is a vivid exploration of lost love and the unraveling of a small town and its many secrets.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Delacorte and Netgalley for the opportunity!*

All I can say is WOW, Spells for Forgetting is sure to put a spell on you! Young’s adult debut novel is a hauntingly alluring read, that had me reading well past my bedtime. Releasing on September 27, 2022, this is the perfect read for fall and spooky season. 

The rural island community of Saiorse is suffuse with the mystical superstitions of its founders and haunted by the unsolved murder of one of its own. The return of the suspected killer overwhelms the community completely.

Emery Blackwood’s life was never the same after the love of her life, August Salt is accused of murdering her best friend, Lily on the eve of her high school graduation. Now, she is doing what she swore as a teen she would never do: living a quiet life among the community that completely ripped her world apart. She had once thought that her and August would leave the island together, instead she is running her late mother’s tea shop and caring for her ailing father. Just as the island begins to show signs of strange happenings, August returns to the island after fourteen long years. The past is brought up that no one wants to remember.

August Salt knows that he is not welcome on the island, not after that night that changed everything. As a fire raged in the Salt family orchard, the body of Lily Morgan was found, the community was totally shaken, and August became the main murder suspect. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront his past and all those that turned their backs on him. He also must face Emery, the one wound that would never heal. But the town has more than one reason for not wanting August home, and long buried secrets and betrayals he never could have imagined will be revealed.

A deeply compelling read that you won’t want to miss, abounding with witches, magic, lost love, and plenty of mystery. I highly, highly recommend this one! 

 

About the Author:

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Sky in the Deep duology, the Fable series, and the forthcoming Spells for Forgetting and Saint. Her books have been published in over twenty-five countries around the world and Fable had the honor of being selected as a Reese’s Bookclub YA Pick.

Young is also the creator of the continuously sold out Writing With the Soul Workshop and numerous initiatives to support women and youth storytellers, including the Fable Grant. Her first nonfiction project is the soon to be released The Storytellers Workbook, in collaboration with artist and author Isabel Ibañez.

When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

For information on release, appearances, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, sign up for the newsletter at https://adrienneyoungbooks.com/

Instagram: @adrienneyoungbooks

About the Book:

Title: The Charmed List

Author: Julie Abe 

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: July 5, 2022

Pages: 304

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

After spending most of high school as the quiet girl, Ellie Kobata is ready to take some risks and have a life-changing summer, starting with her Anti-Wallflower List—thirteen items she’s going to check off one by one. She’s looking forward to riding rollercoasters, making her art Instagram public (maybe), and going on an epic road-trip with her best friend Lia.

But when number four on Ellie’s list goes horribly wrong—revenge on Jack Yasuda—she’s certain her summer has gone from charmed to cursed. Instead of a road trip with Lia, Ellie finds herself stuck in a car with Jack driving to a magical convention. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, number thirteen on her list—fall in love—may be happening without her realizing it.

In The Charmed List, Julie Abe sweeps readers away to a secret magical world, complete with cupcakes and tea with added sparks of joy, and an enchanted cottage where you can dance under the stars. 

 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The Charmed List is a cute contemporary romance with a touch of magic (literally). It was just the pick me up I needed! 

Ellie Kobata has spent most of high school as the quiet girl. It’s the summer vacation before her senior year, and she’s determined to take some risks and shake things up a bit. She makes an Anti-Wallflower list of thirteen items that she plans to check off one by one. She’s looking forward to a road trip with her best friend Lia, riding a roller coaster, and maybe making her art Instagram public. 

Item number 4 on her list is getting revenge on Jack Yasuda, her former best friend, and things go horribly wrong. Ellie is quite certain that her summer has gone from charmed to cursed. Instead of going on a road trip with her bestie, she finds herself heading to the magical convention with Jack. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, Ellie begins to develop feelings for Jack.

Ellie and Jack are so adorable! This a story about former childhood friends that have grown apart, and it was great getting to hear their stories about the past. I also liked how they were getting to know each other again in the present.

A fun and enchanting story that I definitely recommend. Prepare to be swept into a magical world, that makes you want to drink all the tea and eat all the cupcakes! 

 

About the Author:

Julie Abe is the author of the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. She has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California with never enough books or tea, where she creates stories about magical adventures.

About the Book:

Title: Wind Daughter 

Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer

Publisher: Page Street Kids 

Release Date: July 12, 2022

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Retelling 

Synopsis:

In the dark, cold reaches of the north lives a storyteller and his daughter. He told his daughter, Satu, many stories–romances like the girl who loved a star and changed herself into a nightingale so she could always see him shining–but the most important story he told her was his own. This storyteller was once the formidable North Wind, but he lost his power by trading it away in exchange for mortality–he loved her mother too much to live without her. The loss of his magic impacted more than just their family, however, and now the world is unraveling in the wake of this imbalance.

To save the North, Satu embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her father’s magic, but she isn’t the only one searching for it. In the snow-laden mountains, she finds herself in a deadly race with the Winter Lord who wants the North Wind’s destructive powers for himself.

Satu has the chance to be the heroine of her own fairy tale, only this one has an ending she never could have imagined.

A hauntingly beautiful fairy tale about love and loss, this Echo North companion novel is perfect for fans of the Winternight Trilogy.

 

Review:

*I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!*

Wind Daughter, a companion to Echo North, is a sparkling and enchanting fairytale that will hold you in its icy grasp from beginning to end. I was completely blown away once again by Meyer’s beautiful writing and her storytelling prowess. 

Satu North is the daughter of a storyteller. She grew up listening to his magical glittering stories, including the most important one, his very own. Her father was once the formidable North Wind, but he lost his power when he traded it away for his own mortality. He loved Satu’s mother so much, that he couldn’t live without her. The loss of his magic impacted so much more than their family, and the world began unraveling due to the imbalance.

To save the North, Satu goes on a quest to take back her father’s magic. She finds along the way that she isn’t the only one searching for it. In the snow covered mountains, she finds herself in a lethal race with the mysterious Winter Lord who wants the North Wind’s immense power for himself. 

Satu has the chance to be the hero of her own fairytale, but will her fears and her feelings prevent her? This fairytale has an ending that she never possibly could have imagined. 

I just can’t come up with the words to express how much I love this book. Satu is such a strong and genuine character despite what she thinks of herself. Her journey is filled with self discovery, friendship, emotion, and love. I was so happy to see my dear Echo and Hal weaved into the story as well. I also lay claim to the Winter Lord! 😉

I highly recommend this amazing story of love and loss. If you like books that make you cry and melt your heart, this one is for you! 

About the Author:

Joanna Ruth Meyer is the author of the critically-acclaimed Echo North, as well as the companion novel duology Beneath the Haunting Sea and Beyond the Shadowed Earth. She writes stories about fierce teens finding their place in the world, fighting to change their fate, save the ones they love, or carve out a path to redemption.

Joanna lives with her dear husband and son, a rascally feline, and an enormous grand piano named Prince Imrahil in Mesa, Arizona. As often as she can, she escapes the desert heat and heads north to the mountains, where the woods are always waiting. 

About the Book:

Title: The Song that Moves the Sun 

Author: Anna Bright

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Contemporary 

Synopsis:

This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

Best friends Rora and Claudia have never felt more like their lives are spiraling out of control. And when they meet Major and Amir–two boys from one of the secret cities of the spheres, ruled by the magic of the astrological signs–they discover they’re not alone. There is a disruption in the harmony between the spheres, and its chaos is spreading.

To find the source of the disharmony, Rora and Claudia will embark on a whirlwind journey of secrets, romance, and powerful truths–about themselves, each other, and two long-ago explorers named Dante and Beatrice, who were among the first to chart this course toward the stars.

Inspired partly by the classic works of Dante Alighieri, this gorgeous stand-alone contemporary fantasy will captivate readers of Lore and Star Daughter. 

Review:

From the author: Content warning: Readers should be advised that this novel deals heavily with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. It also makes reference to suicide, disordered eating, and infertility, and contains content that may be triggering to readers with emetophobia. For fuller details, see www.annabrightbooks.com/novels.

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

In this new standalone fantasy adventure, Bright takes us to secret cities hidden among the spheres of the heavens. It’s a beautiful story that is filled with amazing world building, magic, music, friendship, mystery, romance, and has fantastic anxiety and depression rep.  Each turn of the page was an absolute delight! 

Rora and Claudia are best friends that feel as though their lives have recently been spiraling out of control. They meet up at a concert one night and there they meet Major and Amir. Major and Amir are two boys from the secret cities of the spheres that are ruled by the magic of the astrological signs. The girls discover that they’re not the only ones feeling that their lives are out of control, as there is a disruption in the harmony between the spheres that’s been spreading.

Rora and Claudia agree to embark on a journey to find the source of the disharmony. Throughout their travels they discover secrets, romance, and powerful truths about themselves, each other, and two long ago explorers named Dante and Beatrice. Dante and Beatrice were among the first to chart this magical course to the stars. Will Rora and Claudia be able to help save each other and the spheres?

I really came to care for these characters and what happened to them. I loved Rora and Claudia’s friendship so much, and I loved the friendships they made along the way. Major and Amir were both amazing friends as well and I love how they looked out for each other. Each character has their own struggles and strengths they bring. This quote by an unknown author made me think of this story, “The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.”

I highly recommend this one! Great for anyone that loves ya and fantasy. 

 

 

About the Author:

I believe in woods, mountains, highways, cobblestones, roller coasters, dancing, concerts, cherry Pop Tarts, books, and magic.
When I’m not reading or writing on my couch, I’m dragging my husband off on an adventure, snuggling my new baby daughter, communing with Salem (my kitten/spiritual familiar), or causing trouble at One More Page Books, where I work.

 

About the Book:

Title: The Sizzle Paradox 

Author: Lily Menon 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin 

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Pages: 304

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance 

Synopsis:

The Kiss Quotient meets Love Potion No. 9 in the next sparkling romantic comedy by Lily Menon, The Sizzle Paradox…

Lyric Bishop feels like a fraud – she’s studying sexual chemistry in romantic partners and what makes for a successful long-term relationship, only she can’t seem to figure it out in her own dating life. The science is sound, but how can she give her expert opinion with no real-world experience? In order to complete her doctoral thesis, she must crack the Sizzle Paradox – it seems the more sexually attractive she finds a guy, the less likely it is to come with an emotional connection; but why? – and to do that she must get the help she desperately needs.

Kian Montgomery, her best friend, roommate, and fellow grad student, has no trouble bringing both romance and sizzle to his own relationships. When he offers to tutor Lyric on dating tactics to find a good match, she’s certain it will solve her problems, and in exchange she agrees to set long-term-commitment-averse Kian up with someone different to give his romantic life a much-needed shakeup.

But once the two progress with their “tutoring sessions,” they start to feel less like the academic exercise they were supposed to be as real feelings develop. Which is a problem, because Lyric and Kian are best friends and absolutely, irrefutably nothing else… Right? 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This is Menon’s second adult novel and it was such a delight! If you like friends to lovers, fake dating, and a graduate school setting I think you would enjoy this contemporary romcom.

Lyric Bishop and Kian Montgomery are besties and roommates. They’ve been great together since they met years ago in college. Currently they are both working on their doctorate degrees.

Lyric feels like a complete scammer as she’s studying sexual chemistry in romantic partners and what makes relationships last long term, and she can’t even figure it out in her own life. The science she’s researched is sound, but she feels as though she can’t give her expert opinion on the subject without some real world experience. In order for her to complete her doctoral thesis, she needs to crack the Sizzle Paradox, and she desperately needs some help.

Kian has never had trouble bringing sizzle and romance to his own romantic relationships. He offers to tutor Lyric on dating tactics so that she can find her own match. Lyric is certain that this offer will help her to solve her problems, and she offers to set Kian up with someone different than he usually dates to stir things up a bit.

Once the tutoring sessions begin however, they don’t really feel like academic exercises to Lyric and Kian as real feelings begin to develop. This becomes a big problem as they have always been best friends and nothing else. Will their friendship survive?

I found myself cheering for Lyric and Kian along the way! I loved the banter and all of the angst. Such a cute and swoony romance that you’ll be sure to enjoy. This one is coming out on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 so please pick this one up and/or add it to your TBR.

About the Author:

This is Lily Menon’s second adult novel. Her first adult novel was Make Up Break Up, followed by the novella Booked For Christmas.

About the Book:

Title: Our Crooked Hearts 

Author: Melissa Albert 

Publisher: Flatiron Books 

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

THE SUBURBS, RIGHT NOW . . .

Seventeen-year-old Ivy’s summer break kicks off with an accident, a punishment, and a mystery: a stranger whose appearance in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, heralds a string of increasingly unsettling events. As the days pass, Ivy grapples with eerie offerings, corroded memories, and a secret she’s always known—that there’s more to her mother than meets the eye.

THE CITY, BACK THEN . . .

Dana has always been perceptive. And the summer she turns sixteen, with the help of her best friend and an ambitious older girl, her gifts bloom into a heady fling with the supernatural, set in a city of magical possibilities and secret mystics. As the trio’s aspirations darken, they find themselves speeding toward a violent breaking point.

Years after it began, Ivy and Dana’s shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with.

Review:

 

*I was provided with an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Flatiron Books for the opportunity.*

I absolutely loved Albert’s Hazel Wood series, so I was very excited for this one! This was a compelling and beautifully dark read! If you like witches, magic, secrets and complex family relationships, this one is up your alley. Albert’s writing and imagery are so enchanting, I definitely felt transported into the story!

The story is told from dual points of view. Ivy in the present day and Dana many years prior.

In the present, seventeen-year-old Ivy starts her summer vacation off with a bang! A stranger appears in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, and sets off a chain of strange and unsettling events. Ivy finds herself dealing with sinister offerings and tainted memories, and a secret she’s always held, that there’s more to her mother than everyone believes.

In the past, sixteen year old Dana has always been discerning. With the help of her best friend and an older girl, she uses her gifts and dabbles in the supernatural, in a city full of mysteries and mystics. As things grow ever darker, the friends find themselves on a very dangerous path.

Years later, Ivy and Dana’s shared story all comes down to a mother and daughter relationship, and the dark forces that they should have left alone.

I hope you pick up this spooky and magical read, which is releasing on June 28, 2022!

About the Author:

Melissa Albert is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of the Hazel Wood series and Our Crooked Hearts, and a former bookseller and founder of the Barnes & Noble Teen Blog. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and included in the New York Times’ list of Notable Children’s Books. She enjoys swimming pool tourism, genre mashups, and living in Brooklyn with her hilarious husband and magnificently goofy son.

Okay, now I will stop talking about myself in the third person. I try to reply to all messages and questions, so please reach out, or come find me on Twitter (@mimi_albert) or Instagram (@melissaalbertauthor)! (But please note: I don’t accept GR friend requests anymore because of Amazon’s related review policy.)