So come on darling, feel your spirits rise: THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm so glad I read this for my A to Z owned book challenge!

Lily Greene feels inadequate compared to her parents and sisters. She wants to be a children's book editor but is stuck as an assistant in nonfiction to a terrible boss. So she strikes up a correspondence with her favorite fantasy author--finding solace as the two begin communicating frequently via email. It seems like they may become more than email pals when he suddenly ghosts her.

This is a really cute read, completely propelled by the lovely and charming Lily, who carries the whole book. I found Nick, her love interest, to be an incredibly frustrating character. Nick moves in down the hall from Lily, and the two feel an instant attraction. An author writing under a pen name, he soon realizes Lily was the person he was writing to via his author website, but (of course) he keeps it from her, and (of course) he agrees to set her up with someone else instead.

So much miscommunication ensues and angst follows. Nick has a huge inability to move past the damage his parents caused him and just act, which made me want to scream sometimes. But I still managed to enjoy him and Lily together. And Lily was great! She was a sweet heroine who worked hard to find herself. The book portrayed her relationships with her sisters very well, as well as Nick's friendship with his agent (and college friend) Marcus and Marcus' husband. There are lots of little tidbits about publishing and the writing world. Lily and Nick's quirky neighbors give us some much needed lighthearted fun.

The book starts off being told solely via Nick and Lily's emails--often an irritating format, it worked quite nicely here. Eventually we go back to narrative form and while there's the annoyances with Nick, this is still a cute read with diverse characters and a fun story. 3.75 stars.

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Ode to the girls who don't marry well: VLADIMIR.

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sometimes I think a book is just too intelligent for me, and VLADIMIR is one of those. This book might have made more sense if discussed in a group, or dissected in class, but when I read it alone, I just wanted it to be over. I did not find our unnamed protagonist, a professor in her fifties, to be either likable nor nuanced. Her husband, John, heads the English department at their small college, but is swept up in scandal. He's been accused of sleeping with several of his students. Our professor finds herself unnaturally focused on a new, younger professor Vladimir. She shares, ad nauseum, her inappropriate thoughts about him, while focusing on all the things she hates about herself. She also hates John, and their marriage, and it seems, many of her students, Vladimir's wife, eating properly, and much more.

VLADIMIR seems like it's saying a lot of smart things about society, academia, feminism, and more. I think a lot of it went over my head. I didn't enjoy the plot and while it has some sort of crazy twist, it felt forced and unbelievable. This one was not my cup of tea. 2.5 stars.

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It's just a teenage dream: THE QUEEN OF JUNK ISLAND.

The Queen of Junk Island by Alexandra Mae Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This YA book has much promise and covers so many important topics, but was a bit of a slog for me, thanks to a slightly unlikeable main character and some weird elements that made me uncomfortable. After something terrible happens to her at school, sixteen-year-old Dell and her mom go to stay at the family cabin, which they learn was being used as a dumping ground by their last tenant. Dell's mom asks Ivy, the daughter of her (the mom's) boyfriend to stay with them as well, much to Dell's consternation. Ivy appears confident and outgoing and gets along with Dell's mom--all the things Dell is not.

Set in the 2000s era in rural Ontario, the author outwardly admits QUEEN offers outdated thoughts on bisexuality, but I won't lie, they are still really horrible to read sometimes. Dell is struggling with finding herself and dealing with her sexuality, but she's also just really hateful at points--mean to her mom, mean to Ivy, cruel about other's sexuality, and just a harsh character. She's been through a lot, but she makes herself very hard to like. There's a plotline involving Ivy and Dell that almost crosses the line into icky, even if they aren't related, and again... my main emotion here was uncomfortable!

Add in a bunch of other tangential stories... buried secrets about Dell's family, more stuff about her mom's boyfriend and family, dealing with the literal junk by the lake house: there was a lot going on with this book. It could have benefited from narrowing down some of its focus. My favorite character was Dell's oft-abused but incredibly self-aware BFF, Paul. I'd read a book about Paul! I really appreciated QUEEN's points about identity (once it circled around and stopped bashing bisexuality), parental relationships, and love, but overall, this was a strange read. 3 stars.


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July is dressed up and playing her tune: THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Andie has her whole life planned out when it's derailed by an investigation into her Congressman father. When scandal hits her dad and his campaign, her hard won internship is lost, and she winds up with a job walking dogs for the summer. While doing so, she meets Clark, a handsome young author. But falling for Clark, spending time with her father, and enjoying a carefree job requires Andie to reach deep and get past her fears of being hurt in relationships and left behind--something she's dealt with since her mother passed away and her father focused fully on his job. Opening up to something real and true isn't easy.

This was a surprisingly emotional YA read, filled with nuanced characters and plenty of teen drama. Andie could certainly be frustrating. Even though we know she is this way because of her mom's death and her father's career, I still wanted to shake her sometimes. She could make some terrible decisions! But, it's nice to see a realistic teen character with some depth. I also enjoyed that this was a teen book that featured parties and teen antics, but didn't focus solely on drinking, sex, and drugs. A bit refreshing. Though I was surprised Andie's dad was okay with his high school daughter dating a nineteen-year-old!

I enjoyed Andie's interactions with her father, even though his changing emotions seemed a bit improbable at times. The book focuses on family and friendships, with a lot of time spent on Andie's friend group. Much of their story is told via text message, as well as narrative. I preferred reading about Andie's relationships with Clark and her father. This is a very long book, and it was the teen drama with her friends that made it feel so lengthy.

The dog walking angle is cute and funny (Bertie the dog may be the true hero of the story), and Clark's fantasy writing adds a different touch. There's a lot going on in EVERYTHING, but I enjoyed its message about living life to the fullest and insights into friendship, loss, and grief. 3.75 stars, rounded up.

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I can't forget the way you looked at me: YERBA BUENA.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The lyrical story of two intersecting women, Yerba Beuna is a lovely and quiet read. Sara experiences tragedy young, forcing her to leave behind her hometown and younger brother to seek a safer and better life in Los Angeles. Across the city, Emilie is a slightly lost soul, in her seventh year of undergraduate school. While working at a flower shop, she arranges flowers at an upscale restaurant where she both has an affair with the married owner and runs across Sara, the bartender, with whom she has an instant connection.

Told from both the perspective of Sara and Emilie, we see the world from each of their viewpoints, with special ties to Yerba Buena the restaurant and the flower. Their stories both separate and intertwine, as these two damaged women try to heal and survive. LaCour's prose is beautiful and lyrical, propelled by Sara and Emilie trying to determine if they can move past their pain and choose love. If you enjoy a character-driven story, you'll like this one. 4 stars.


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My past has caught up to me, and I've lost track: GREYWAREN.

Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure I can adequately review this book, because the magical world within is so intricate that it feels wrong to judge it. I still get a little confused reading this series, with all the dreamers and Zeds and Moderators and dreaming worlds and real worlds, but I love it anyway. Perhaps the most amazing thing about book 3 is that it made me like Declan, ha! Overall I found this to be a fitting end to the trilogy, even if it dragged just a bit in the middle. 3.5+ stars.

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Now I need to rewind real slow: THIS TIME TOMORROW.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

TIME is a quiet book that weaves time traveling in with the themes of family, love, and loss. I always get slightly confused in time traveling books, because I am a slow individual, but this book presents an interesting premise for sure. What would you do if you could go back into your life? At nearly 40, Alice is slightly aimless, working in admissions at the same school she once attended. Her father is very sick, and she fears losing him. When she wakes up and realizes she's now sixteen again, while she's fascinated at being young again, having a new chance with an old flame, and hanging out with her best friend, she cannot help but focus on her father the most: her young, healthy, vibrant father. Can she do anything to keep him this way? Or can just keep returning back in time to be with him?

Straub is always good at weaving stories. While time travel always feels a bit repetitive to me (Alice returns back to her sixteenth birthday over and over--also so many descriptions of people smoking), I was quite drawn into the story of her and her father, Leonard. The world of parallel lives is an interesting thing. Watching Alice grow up by going back in time is a pretty neat trick.

This is an enjoyable love story between father and daughter. 3.75+ stars.


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And the memories bring back, memories bring back you: THESE TOXIC THINGS.

These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mickie Lambert has a job creating digital Memory Boxes, where she curates digital artifacts for people. When she's hired to create a Memory Box for the elderly Nadia, the shop owner of Beautiful Things, she's fascinated by Nadia's life and her shop of curiosities. But Nadia dies shortly after they get started, apparently by suicide, but no one is quite sure. Mickie inserts herself in the investigation, determined to find out what happened to Nadia, and continues to finish her Memory Box.

This is my first book Howzell Hall, and I really liked the premise of it, though I have to say, the outcome seemed really obvious from Day 1. The story is interspersed with descriptions of Nadia's objects and where she found them, which is an interesting concept.

My problem with this one is that I just really disliked Mickie, and the whole book is focused on her. She takes advantage of her parents, makes poor decisions, sticks her nose in everything (except for using Google when it could easily solve a lot of problems). She's so whiny and needy and drove me insane.

This story starts off very ominous, and I was sucked in right away. Then it plateaus a bit, with Mickie doing her Mickie thing. It also wraps up a bit fast after everything we've been through. I give it points for being a quick read and a unique storyline, but I wish there was a bit more. 3 stars.

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You've got the kind of mind I love to read: THE KINGMAKER.

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Maxim Cade grew up wealthy, son of an oil magnate. Lennix Hunter is the daughter of a Native American mother and white father who split when she was a child. When Lennix and Maxim meet by chance, she doesn't know he's a Cade--the family that represents all she despises. They both know the attraction between them is undeniable, but are their differences too great?

I've recently discovered Kennedy Ryan's books, and I have really enjoyed those I've read so far. My favorite thing about her books is that they are a wonderful combination of romance and social topics. In THE KINGMAKER, Ryan covers Native American culture, such the Yavapai-Apache Nation, an American Indian tribe. The novel deftly covers the tribe's culture, as well as the horrible indignities they have faced in their history. Using Lennix, including her past and present, we learn about how much her family has gone through, as well as so many of the rituals and ceremonies that means so much to her and her tribe.

The book also touches on climate change through the Cade family, between Maxim, who has no desire to be a part of his father's oil business, and his father, who hates that his son is spurning all he has built. These various topics give depth and structure to THE KINGMAKER.

Oh, but don't worry, there's plenty of romance too! In a tale that spans decades, Maxim and Lennix's story is hot and heavy with tension and banter and longing and wanting and so much more. It's beautiful and often stressful, but gorgeously written. I really enjoyed this one! 4+ stars.

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I'll leave the luggage of all your lies behind: WITH TEETH.

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Sammie dreams of a perfect life with her wife Monica and their son, Samson. But it seems like that life always slips through her grasp. She can never bond with Samson, who grows from a strange kid to an angry teen. She tries--driving him to swim lessons, cooking meals, and working on school projects--but it's never enough for Samson, or Monica.

"How strange that she always wanted to be home, Sammie thought--because when she finally got there, it felt like she was being smothered under a pillow."

I'm sure WITH TEETH is a wonderful piece of literature that makes deep statements about its topics--motherhood, marriage, and more--but for me, this was a really weird book. It did not seem to be doing us lesbians any favors, either, with its portrayal of two rather bad mothers and their messed up marriage. The ending was totally confusing, leaving me frustrated. There are some great gems in the book--it really does offer great insight into motherhood and marriage, but overall, I didn't enjoy it. 2.5 stars.



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Cause the truth is I don't even care if you're lying: MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW.

More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the mid-1980s, Lore Rivera was married: to two men. It all went quite smoothly, until one of the men shot the other and killed him. Today, journalist Cassie Bowman reads about Lore's story. But it isn't the murder that fascinates Cassie. It's Lore herself. How did she meet and find these men? Marry them both? Keep up two, separate secret lives? Amazingly, Lore is willing to talk to Cassie. The two women grow close, and Cassie finds herself telling Lore her own secrets. But the more they share, the more Cassie realizes there's more to Lore's story than anyone knows.

"Except it turns out brick walls don't matter when the wolf lives inside."

This book is a little long, but tells a really captivating story. I had to read it in large gulps to find out what happened. It's told in back and forth fashion, alternating between present-day, with Cassie as the focal point, and the past, with Lore's point of view. We learn how she met both men, with the book (slowly) leading up to the death of one of them. Still, I absolutely had to find out what happened on that night. And even though I had an inkling, there were plenty of twists and surprises.

While this is certainly a mystery in many ways, it offers many insights into motherhood and marriage. Lore's story makes you think, and it gets into your head. There are some ancillary storylines that almost do not seem worth it (Cassie's boyfriend Duke, for instance), but overall, this is a fascinating, powerful tale.

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Throw your sticks and your stones: JULIET TAKES A BREATH.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Juliet has spent most of her life in the Bronx. But as part of a college internship, she heads to Seattle to work with her idol, Harlowe Brisbane, an author and well-known feminist. Juliet comes out to her parents right before she leaves, with mixed results. She hopes that Seattle will help her figure out how she feels... about everything.

"I've got a secret. I think it's going to kill me. Sometimes I hope it does. How do I tell my parents that I'm gay?"

I wanted to love this book, but it took forever to get into. I'm not sure why. It's written somewhat oddly, with excerpts from Harlowe's book at the beginning of each chapter. Harlowe is a lot--sometimes almost too cringe to read about. But when the book focuses on Juliet's journey to find herself as a gay Pureto Rican, it shines. Her coming out journey is lovely and touching. While I didn't love Harlowe (the book appropriately deals with Juliet's own struggle of realizing her idol might not be perfect), I enjoyed the queer cast of characters (many of color) surrounding her.

JULIET meanders a lot and sometimes feels like it could benefit from a good edit. But the story at heart--a young girl finding her way--is a good one. 3.5 stars, rounded up here.


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Make me remember who I am: THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anders has big dreams of being a famous journalist. Instead, he's tasked to cover a boring Cake Walk in the tiny town of Frick Island, which has only 91 residents. While visiting, he starts to think there is more to Frick Island than meets the eye, as the little island--so resistant to change--will soon be lost to climate change. Drawn to Frick Island, Anders returns over and over, especially captivated by one resident, Piper Parrish. He soon learns that Piper lost her husband Tom in a boat accident. Devastated by the loss, Piper continues to act as if Tom is still with her, talking to him and eating lunch with him at the local diner. Even more wild? The whole town is pretending he is still alive to placate her. Fascinated by the situation, Anders starts a podcast about Frick Island and Piper, but cannot seem to tell Piper or the town as it gains a life of its own.

INVISIBLE was quite hyped around the book community. It was a bit slow to warm up, but was good once it did. I never fully liked Piper, but adored sweet awkward Anders. Still, I found myself frustrated that he would not come clean about Piper being the subject of his podcast. (The island, conveniently, does not receive reliable Internet for most of the novel.)

Oakley's writing is lovely and the characters of this little island pop before your eyes. The cast is full of charming and quirky folks. Still, this is a story of grief and it's often quite sad. The end result is a thoughtful and beautiful tale.




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Some people get religion some people get the truth: HUSBAND MATERIAL.

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Book two in the London Calling series picks up with Oliver and Luc happily together... but is there such a thing as too happily? Luc is struggling with settling down in a life of calm domestic bliss, while Oliver must deal with the fact that his conservative parents still do not approve of their relationship. Are they truly meant to be?

"This made no sense. I was happier than I had ever been in my life. So why did I feel like I was failing?"

I really enjoyed this one! I was sold at Four Weddings and a Funeral, queer style. MATERIAL is an excellent blend of witty and serious. I forgot how much I loved the mix of Luc's humor and Oliver's dry wit--their group of friends is often just plain crazy and outright batty, but Hall makes it work. In fact, what leads to the book's success is the tenderness and emotional depth of Luc and Oliver's relationship. Their story focuses not only on their love but the religious elements of marriage and their role and place in the gay community. Oliver and Luc come at this place from very different spectrums, and Oliver's parents certainly do not help. The emotions Oliver experiences as he grapples with his homophobic parents are portrayed so touchingly and realistically--Hall does this portion so beautifully.

MATERIAL gives us a great look at the ups and downs of relationships. What I love is that the book treats Luc and Oliver just like any couple (straight or gay) while also exploring queer-specific topics, looking at the subjects beyond the hetero-normative lens.

The social commentary along with the sweet romance and story is great here. This is such a charming, witty, and fun tale about a wonderful couple. I know the entire book led up to justifying the ending, but I didn't fully love it, which is the only reason my rating isn't even higher. Still, 4+ stars.

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There's still a lot of life left in this town: EARLY MORNING RISER.

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Jane falls immediately for Duncan, she doesn't realize that he's slept with a good swath of women in their small town of Boyne City (and surrounding areas). Dating Duncan means encountering his exes everywhere, along with his beautiful ex-wife Aggie and her new husband Gary. After all, Duncan still mows their lawn. It also means that his coworker Jimmy could burst into his apartment at any moment. Then a terrible tragedy occurs and Jane's life becomes permanently entwined with Duncan's and Jimmy's and therefore Aggie's and even eccentric Gary's too. Who knew love involved quite so many people?

RISER is quite a quirky novel and a different sort of read for me, but I'm glad a reading challenge inspired me to pick it up, because it was really quite delightful. It's filled with a cast of memorable small town characters, such as Jane's mandolin-playing best friend, Freida, and Gary, who has a list of things that offend him a mile long, such as linoleum in a kitchen. In a less skilled author's hands, these folks would come across as trite and irritating, but I was laughing out loud in places. Each of these characters jumped off the page as their own unique person.

The story belongs to Jane, giving us glimpses of her life through the years. There are amazing moments of wit, heartbreak, love, and deep insight into her small town life. Heiny captures the suffocating nature of living in a small town perfectly (Aggie knows Jane and Duncan are dating again before Jane is even sure) and the beautiful (the town rallies around its own). It's sad at times, but often hopeful and beautiful too. I loved sweet Jimmy and how well the book showed the world through his lens.

There's no big plot twists in RISER, unless you count the sweeping ups and downs of life. It touches on the big and small moments we encounter in our world. It's relatable in so many ways, covering love, loss, and motherhood, among others. A lovely read. 4+ stars.


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You pass through places and places pass through you: CAFE CON LYCHEE.

Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gabi and Theo (well, mostly Theo) are sworn enemies thanks to their families owning competing bakeries. When both stores start to experience financial trouble, the boys have to put aside their differences to help their parents. Both Gabi and Theo feel a duty to their families, but also feel like deep disappointments to them--Theo, because he's gay and not the best student; Gabi, because he's secretly gay and not the star athlete his parents want. Gabi and Theo start selling food to their classmates to help.

This is a really cute, queer enemies to lovers story. It's a fast read (clocked in at 2.5 hours) too! I think Gabi might be one of the sweetest characters I've ever read about; he's just adorable. It took me a bit to warm up to Theo: I know this trope requires some "enemies," but Theo's early hatred of Gabi seemed almost too visceral and irrational for me.

I loved how CAFE deftly dealt with being gay, the fears of coming out, and the difficulty of not being accepted by one's friends and family. Neither Theo nor Gabi feel safe or appreciated, at times, with their families and the book can be really bittersweet and touching.

A lot of the problems in CAFE seemed to wrap up a little too easily for me, but overall this was a really sweet romance that covered difficult topics very well, while still being witty and fun! 4 stars.

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All the years seemed to take up air : THE BLACK KIDS.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Ashley is a senior in high school grappling with college admissions and the fact that she feels like she's drifting apart from her best friends, whom she's known since she was a little kid. Then four police officers are acquitted in the brutal beating of Rodney King and the riots begin. As one of the few "black kids" at her school, she feels acutely affected by the violence unfolding around her. It forces her to take a step back and truly take in the world around her.

This was an amazing read. It offers an honest and moving examination of racism, friendship, and class. But it's also Ashley's story and how she's trying to find herself, just like any teen. Her parents have worked hard to shield her from the world, but there's only so much protection parents can provide. The way the book covers historic events through the prism of Ashley's eyes is really unique, and honestly, quite educational for me, as I was young when the riots hit and should have spent more time learning about them when I was older.

This is a beautiful story (the writing is gorgeous) and it covers such important topics. I was completely immersed in THE BLACK KIDS. 4.5 stars.

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They say that I'm the kind of man who always speaks his mind: DESERT STAR.

Desert Star by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard agreed to go private together, but she backed out on him to take a gig in Robbery Homicide working cold cases. Bosch feels hurt, but when Ballard invites him to join the squad as a volunteer, he reluctantly agrees so he can work his "white whale" case: the Gallagher family, four members who were murdered and dumped in the desert in 2013. Bosch is convinced he knows who did it, but he's never been able to prove it. But first, Bosch and Ballard have to play politics and work on the cold case of Sarah Pearlman, the younger sister of Jake Pearlman, the councilman who helped stand the cold case unit back up.

This is a somber yet excellent entry in the Bosch and Ballard series. We see Ballard dealing with the politics and stress that comes with being the boss of the cold case unit--including handling Bosch, a lone wolf for life. Bosch is in a bad place and also determined to solve the Gallagher case, no matter what. The cold cases Connelly presents are all intricate and detailed (as always) with his usual research and police authenticity.

We are seeing Ballard mature as she attempts to branch out in her career, learning to work with different team members, politicians, and more. We also get to see a bit more of Maddie, Bosch's daughter. As always, Bosch is my favorite, no matter how grumpy or stubborn he may appear, and I'll love him forever. I'll be so lost when his role in Connelly's books ends.

This book certainly was a bit sad in places, but I loved the mysteries and the relationship between Ballard and Bosch. It's a great read, though I suggest at least reading the previous Bosch/Ballard books to understand how they interact (they're so good!). 4.5 stars.

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I wish I would've laid my hands on you: ASTRID PARKER DOESN'T DOESN'T FAIL.

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Astrid is afraid of failure thanks to her overbearing mother. Jordan is scared to love again after a devastating loss. When Astrid is hired to redesign Jordan's family inn, Jordan hates the design... but, at the same time, cannot deny her attraction to Astrid. Complicating things is that the entire design is being filmed for TV.

This is an excellent slow-burn romance and the second book in Blake's Bright Falls series! I'll read absolutely anything Ashley Herring Blake writes, and she never lets me down. The friend group in the Bright Fall series is amazing-- funny, smart, queer, honest, and totally refreshing! There are appearances from Delilah and Claire from book #1, and I love how all these women have each other's backs, no matter what! And, of course, the amazing queer representation.

The tension between Jordan and Astrid here is excellent and once the book hits its "burn," there are some fun steamy scenes. But I really loved the banter between Jordan and Astrid, and the way they paid attention to the details in each other's personality and psyche. There's so much beautiful yearning. Plus, the ability to really get to know Jordan and Astrid makes it so easy to root for them.

At its core, this is a book about friendship and family, and there are some touching moments that really resonate. I loved every moment! 4.5 stars.

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