Monday, February 28, 2022

Blog Tour: LOVELESS Review & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOVELESS by Alice Oseman Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: LOVELESS

Author: Alice Oseman

Pub. Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 432

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, AudibleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

For fans of Love, Simon and I Wish You All the Best, a funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of a girl who realizes that love can be found in many ways that don't involve sex or romance.

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone . . . since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection.

This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum -- coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy -- there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends. 

 

Rating: 5/5

Review:
I’ve been trying to diversify my LGBTQ+ reading a bit more and I realized that I don’t often get to read books with asexual and aromantic characters. This book was on pretty much every list I looked at, so I was intrigued. I was very lucky to receive an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair review. Thank you, Scholastic!

Georgia is about to enter college and she has never had a crush on anyone, but she’s sure that one day that will change. She’s hoping that in college she can find romance. She meets her outgoing roommate Rooney who offers to help her with her goal. Things go sour when Georgia’s plan threatens to ruin her friendships. Will being introduced to the terms asexual and aromantic help her on her way?

This is another book where I can honestly say that my favorite thing are the characters. These characters are written quite realistically. They aren’t perfect nor are they complete mess-ups. They’re college students. They’re flawed and they make bad decisions. Sometimes they’re even slightly shitty people. Georgia screws up and makes bad decisions, but she doesn’t do it out of hate or anger. She does it because she’s a teenager trying to figure things out. She’s just scared and wants to be normal, but she doesn’t know what her normal is.

I really enjoyed the friendships in this book, especially the one that developed between Georgia and Rooney throughout the book. Pip and Jason are great, and I absolutely love their friendship with Georgia, there was just something about the friendship that developed between Georgia and Rooney. They went from roommates to very close friends who genuinely want to help each other through their struggles. I loved it.

This book had a lot of fun moments that I just really enjoyed. There were serious topics that were being discussed, but then there were less serious moments. Like them tagging Shakespeare’s plays as though they were fanfiction (which I never knew I needed for all his plays until this). The college marriage proposals. There’s enough fun in this book where nothing feels too heavy, and the heavy parts are lightened up.

I did have a note that I wanted to add to this book. There is a conversation that happens around the 200-page mark, at least in my copy, where they discuss the possibility of Georgia being asexual. This conversation had me asking questions and questioning my own sexuality. So, props to Oseman she made me realize something about myself. Always fun!

I really loved this book! I can definitely see myself re-reading it many times in the future. I thought it was great even if it wasn’t always realistic.

 

About Alice Oseman:

Alice Oseman was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She graduated from Durham University and is the author of YA contemporaries Solitaire, Radio Silence, and I Was Born for This. Visit Alice online at aliceoseman.com or on Twitter @AliceOseman.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 





Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of LOVELESS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/28/2022

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

2/28/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

2/28/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

3/1/2022

@badlandsbooks_

Review

3/1/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

3/1/2022

@booksaremagictoo

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

3/1/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

3/2/2022

Dana's Book Garden

Review

3/2/2022

Reading Wordsmith

Review/IG Post

3/2/2022

@thebookishfoxwitch

Review

3/3/2022

popthebutterfly

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

3/3/2022

Emelie's Books

Review

3/3/2022

patrickfromperks

TikTok Review or Spotlight

3/4/2022

@emmreadsbooks

Review/IG Post

3/4/2022

onemused

Review/IG Post

3/4/2022

A Bookish Dream

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/7/2022

Midnightbooklover

Review

3/7/2022

Eli to the nth

Review

3/7/2022

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

3/8/2022

YABooksCentral

Excerpt

3/8/2022

Utopia State of Mind

Review/IG Post

3/8/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

3/9/2022

Not In Jersey

Review/IG Post

3/9/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

3/9/2022

@drewsim12

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

3/10/2022

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

3/10/2022

Celia's Reads-blog

Review/IG Post

3/10/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

3/11/2022

Zainey Laney in all 3

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

3/11/2022

My Fictional Oasis

Review


Friday, February 18, 2022

Review: MODERN ENGLISH by Rachel Spangler

 


Book Details

Title: Modern English
Author: Rachel Spangler
Publisher: Bywater Books
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre(s): Adult, LGBT, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 246
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9781612942131

Monday, February 14, 2022

Blog Tour: CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT Review & Giveaway

 




Book Details

Title: Can't Think Straight
Author: Isabel Scheck
Genre(s): Poetry, LGBTQIA, Romance
Blurb: A collection of 35 poems in which a poet thinks about women a little too much...(Sapphic Poetry)
Follow the tour here.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Review: FULL ENGLISH by Rachel Spangler

 


Book Details

Title: Full English
Author: Rachel Spangler
Publisher: Bywater Books
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Genre(s): Adult, LGBT, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 275
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9781612941554

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Blog Tour: WRECK AT ADA'S REEF Review & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE SWALLOWTAIL LEGACY: Wreck at Ada's Reef by Michael D. Beil Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About the Book:

Title: THE SWALLOWTAIL LEGACY: Wreck at Ada's Reef (The Swallowtail Legacy #1)

Author: Michael D. Beil

Pub. Date: February 15, 2022

Publisher: Pixel+ink

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 256

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org


Punctuated with transcripts, letters, maps, black-and-white illustrations and more, The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada's Reef is a vibrant contemporary mystery with a classic feel exploring righting past wrongs, redefining family, and finding yourself.

Twelve-year-old Lark Heron-Finch is steeling herself to spend the summer on Swallowtail Island off the shores of Lake Erie. It's the first time that she and her sister will have seen the old house since their mom passed away. And while her stepfather and his boys are okay, the island's always been full of happy memories--and now everything is different.

When Nadine, a close family friend, tells Lark about a tragic boat accident that happened off the coast many years before, Lark's enthralled with the story. Nadine's working on a book about Dinah Purdy, Swallowtails's oldest resident who had a connection to the crash, and she's sure that the accident was not as it appeared. Impressed by Lark's keen eye, she hires her as her research assistant for the summer.

And then Lark discovers something amazing. Something that could change Dinah's life. Something linked to the crash and even to her own family's history with Swallowtail. But there are others on the island who would do anything to keep the truth buried in the watery depths of the past.

A compelling and complex mystery with a classic feel, Wreck at Ada's Reef is perfect for fans of The Parker InheritanceHolesThe Westing Game, and anyone looking for a satisfying puzzle that stretches across decades.

Review:

"Each character, historic and contemporary, sparks with life. Larks process and the reveals are perfectly paced. . . . Most heartwarming, Lark develops feelings of loyalty toward her blended family and uncovers a surprising link to their property. Readers will be hooked—more, please!"—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

 

Rating: 5/5

Review:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect out of this book. I figured that a middle-grade mystery would be interesting enough, but I wasn't sure of much else. Reading this book and getting to take part in this tour is absolutely amazing.

Lark is one of the most interesting characters I've seen in a middle-grade book before. She's clearly whipsmart and snarky and just a lot of fun. She is a bit of a movie character in that she's not completely realistic, but she's not unrealistic. She's an angsty teen with complicated feelings towards her family and those around her. She's determined to solve the mystery and it's endearing. I especially love that she gets along with her family, but other than them she seems to find more comfort around adults than kids her own age.

The mystery was probably my favorite part of this. It was a lot of fun and while some things felt obvious to me, other parts of it were set up in such a way that they made for interesting turns. It didn't walk you to the door, but it did set up a few paths for you to see the entrance.

I only had two slight issues with the book. I did find Lark's attitude to be a bit annoying after 200+ pages, but she was growing so it didn't really get on my nerves. The other thing is that I would have liked there to have been more with the swallow. Definitely a personal thing, especially since it seems to be setting up a different/larger mystery.

I thought this book was absolutely amazing! It was a lot of fun. It had a good mystery with an awesome main character. The island seemed torn between very peaceful and tormented by the rich family. The characters were amazing and helped add a lot of character to the island, mystery, and story. It appears like this will be a series and I am really looking forward to any sequels that come out.

 

About Michael D. Beil:

In a time not long after the fifth extinction event, Edgar Award-nominated author Michael D. Beil came of age on the shores of Pymatuning Lake, where the ducks walk on the fish. (Look it up. Seriously.) He is the author of the Red Blazer Girls series, Summer at Forsaken Lake, Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits, and Agents of the Glass: A New Recruit. For reasons that can't be disclosed until September 28, 2041, he now lives somewhere in Portugal with his wife and their two white cats, Bruno and Maisie. He still gets carsick if he has to ride in the back seat for long and feels a little guilty that he doesn't keep a journal. For more on the author and his books, visit him online at www.michaeldbeil.com.

 

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE SWALLOWTAIL LEGACY: Wreck at Ada's Reef, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/7/2022

Pick A Good Book

Review/IG Post

2/7/2022

The Reading Wordsmith

Review/IG Post

2/8/2022

YABooksCentral

Excerpt

2/8/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

2/9/2022

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

2/9/2022

Girls in White Dresses

Review

2/10/2022

Little Red Reads

Review

2/10/2022

@jypsylynn

Review/IG Post

2/11/2022

Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog

Review/IG Post

2/11/2022

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

2/14/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/14/2022

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

2/15/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

2/15/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post

2/16/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

2/16/2022

BookHounds YA

Review

2/17/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

2/17/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review/IG Post

2/18/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

2/18/2022

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review


Monday, February 7, 2022

Review: KISS OF THE IMMORTAL by Meghan Jones

 


Book Details

Title: Kiss of the Immortal
Author: Meghan Jones
Publisher: Independently Published
Publication Date: June 10, 2021
Genre(s): Adult, LGBT, Fantasy
Pages: 336
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9798519095976

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Review: GOOD GAME, WELL PLAYED by Rachael Smith

 


Book Details

Title: Good Game, Well Played
Author: Rachael Smith
Artist: Katherine Lobo
Letterer: Justin Birch

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Publication Date: April 20, 2022
Genre(s): Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Pages: 182
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9781952303289

Friday, February 4, 2022

Review: SQUAD by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

 


Book Details

Title: Squad
Author: Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Genre(s): Young Adult, LGBT, Graphic Novel, Horror
Pages: 208
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9780062943156

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Review: JUST ASH by Sol Santana

 


Book Details

Title: Just Ash
Author: Sol Santana
Publisher: Carolrhoda Labs
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Genre(s): Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary
Pages: 210
Bookshop Purchase Link: https://bookshop.org/a/67041/9781541599246