“Cutting is a fence you build upon your own body to keep people out but then you cry to be touched. But the fence is barbed. What then?” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: dirty dishes, cuts, emails, peanut butter sandwiches, homeless shelters, treatment, library trips, drawings, broken glass, scaring and deep cuts.

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.

Wow, I know this would be a heartbreaking book, but I wasn’t expecting something like this. Charlie’s journey is so sad and you just can’t help but feel sorry for her struggling with her mental health and trying to get back on her feet alone.

I don’t know why it took me so long to finish this book. It’s not slow paced or uninteresting, it’s just hard to read sometimes because of the theme. It’s a captivating book that keeps you hooked to know what’s going to happen next. It’s definitely a heavier book that talks about hard hitting issues.

Charlie made a lot of mistakes in her life, but I just couldn’t find any judgment or hate towards her in me. She was in a very tough and serious situation, and she was obviously in survival mode, trying to do the best she could. You can’t help but root for her to get back on her feet. It makes me sad to think that so many people go through similar situations and challenges in life.

Some people disliked the writing style of this book but I personally liked it, and I believe that format makes reading easier. It consists of very short chapters (for the majority of the book), so the information is easy to digest and the story flows easily. And yet, you can find some poetic passages as well – so I feel like the entire reading experience was well balanced.

I had a lot of feelings coming through while reading this, but it was mostly sadness for Charlie and hope that things would get better for her. To be honest I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you for a very long time.

Be aware of the trigger warnings: self harm, suicide, drug use, violence and abuse.

“Dad smiled. “Shall I tell you a secret? You, Ellie, are like an avocado seed: small but full of magic.”” – 3.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: avocado seeds, patience, growth and time.

Avocado seeds and slow growing! A young girl’s impatience turns to wonder as she and her avocado tree gradually change and grow in this story inspired by Israeli artist Taltal Levi’s childhood.

Ellie is sulking—she celebrated her birthday yesterday under the old avocado tree. But she’s not even a little bit taller today! Dad tells Ellie a secret. She is like the pit of an avocado, he explains, small and full of magic. Together they put an avocado seed in a glass of water by the window and watch as both Ellie and her avocado plant grow, take root, and eventually bring new life.

In Taltal Levi’s native country Israel, avocados are ubiquitous and plucked straight from the tree. In her third book, Taltal Levi uses warm, earthy colors to tell a personal yet universal story about the magic of growth.

Includes instructions for growing your own avocado tree!

Ohhh this was such a cute children’s book!

In this book, a father explains to his daughter that her growth is very slow, but it is there. So to help her understand, they sprout together an avocado seed to show her how slow growth can be. It’s a book that teaches children to be patient and show them how we grow slowly! 

I personally loved this story and the example her father used to make her understand. It’s a beautiful example that I might use with my kids in the future. I also loved how the author included instructions to sprout your own avocado. It looks like a good activity to do with your children and you can look at the sprout’s growth together. 

The only thing I would change about this story is related to the part where Ellie grew up and went away, and eventually had her own children. I believe this could be confusing to some children, so I personally would focus on the growth from a small child to a bigger kid, and then they would pass the message to a younger sibling or cousin. I just think the “grown up” part could be confusing, so keeping a child perspective from this book would be better in my humble opinion.

The illustrations are stunning and the color scheme focuses on green tones. If I have children one day and they learn English, I’m going to show them this book! 

Definitely recommend this one for you and your kids – as well as the fun book activity that you can do together.

A big thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Sometimes the only way to save yourself is to save someone else…” – 3.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: mills, ponds, cold labor, dormitories, tuberculosis, theaters, broken teeth, stolen potatoes, weir, escape attempts and cotton.

History and myth entwine in this atmospheric tale of freedom and friendship from bestselling author Lucy Strange, and acclaimed illustrator Pam Smy.

Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel– a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for. The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison, with no way out. Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water. But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape?

Oh how I love Pam Smy! I first read “Thornhill” from her and I loved it, so I was excited to pick up this book as soon as I saw her name as the illustrator for this book.
I would describe this short book as a darker middle grade story. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a graphic novel, since there’s more text than images. The story is very nice, but on the sadder side. It follows an 11 year old girl named Bess who just started working at a cotton mill, and then her way to freedom along with Dot and the mermaid who is stuck in the pond.
Unlike what I was thinking by reading the title, the mermaid is not the focus of the story, but the young girls that are working at the cotton mill, Bess and Dot. This book portrays child labor during the Victorian age, and it was very sad to read about the beatings and exploitation the children went through. And yes, there are some descriptions about abuse but it’s not too graphic, don’t worry. Even though the mermaid is not the focus of the book, I still believe it plays a big role in the story as it also symbolizes the freedom they desired. Also, don’t think of this mermaid as the typical nice mermaid, this one behaved more like a siren – wilder and more animalistic.
It’s a beautiful book that presents a story about friendship, freedom, kindness and being vulnerable when you’re hurt. I finished the book rooting for the girls and hoping they made it to the new town and had a better life!

“I love you. Wait for me, where the land meets the sea.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: spirits, sleeping curses, traps, young brides, lords, goddesses, Korean mythology and storms.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

I was hoping I would find a really nice book to lose myself in, and fortunately I found this one! I can honestly say I loved this book with all my heart – spoiler alert, it’s not perfect though!
This book follows a girl named Mina, and her village has sacrificed a girl every year for over 100 years by throwing her to the sea, hoping to calm down the sea storms. The chosen girl is picked to be the new bride of the Sea God, and she has to be very beautiful or very talented. But to save her brother and his lover, she sacrifices herself by throwing herself into the sea. After entering a city she never knew existed under the sea, Mina has to help the Sea God wake up from his sleeping curse to save her village and the people she loves. In case you’re wondering, this story is based on Korean mythology.
I thought this story was familiar while I was reading it, so when I read somewhere this had Spirited Away vibes, it finally clicked! Spirited Away is probably one of my favorite Ghibli movies of all time, so it makes sense why I loved this story so much.
It was soooo close to being a 5 star read, but there was something about this book that felt lacking and I can’t point exactly what it is. After some thought, I think I struggled a little with the setting and world building. Sometimes it was hard to visualize the surroundings and to create the world in my head. I have to say it felt very… dreamy? And I say ‘dreamy’ in a good way, but I still felt like some more details would make this story shine even more.
I personally loved all the characters in this. The main characters, the supporting characters, the villains, the lost relatives – everyone! But again, I wish we knew more about them and their backstories. The romance was very slow paced and sometimes I even questioned if it was ever going to happen, but I ended up loving it! I loved their chemistry and how well they fit together.
Another thing that felt a little weird was the pacing/flow. Some parts felt a little rushed, so I wish this was a longer book so there was room to explore those parts a little more. I wanted more and it wasn’t enough.
I’m really sad because this was so close to being a 5 star read for me. I loved the story and the characters, but the execution was the reason why I couldn’t give this 5 stars. So close though!

“She mistook happiness for what it was – how we build lives out of the strings we hold. But we should have known deep down that she was lying to herself. She had said I knew the secret, what was really important in life, what made a person happy. If that was true, it didn’t make sense when she went back home and left all that ‘happiness’ behind.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: cigar factories, immigrants, detention centers, motherhood, different generations and family bonds.

In present-day Miami, Jeanette is battling addiction. Daughter of Carmen, a Cuban immigrant, she is determined to learn more about her family history from her reticent mother and makes the snap decision to take in the daughter of a neighbor detained by ICE. Carmen, still wrestling with the trauma of displacement, must process her difficult relationship with her own mother while trying to raise a wayward Jeanette. Steadfast in her quest for understanding, Jeanette travels to Cuba to see her grandmother and reckon with secrets from the past destined to erupt.

From 19th-century cigar factories to present-day detention centers, from Cuba to Mexico, Gabriela Garcia’s Of Women and Salt is a kaleidoscopic portrait of betrayals—personal and political, self-inflicted and those done by others—that have shaped the lives of these extraordinary women. A haunting meditation on the choices of mothers, the legacy of the memories they carry, and the tenacity of women who choose to tell their stories despite those who wish to silence them, this is more than a diaspora story; it is a story of America’s most tangled, honest, human roots.

Wow, this was a very powerful debut novel – which makes it even more impressive!

This story follows multiple generations of women from the same family from 1866 to 2019, in Miami, Cuba and Mexico. The author discusses immigration and deportation, but also motherhood and family relationships – also, I think it’s important to tell you that there’s also mention of substance abuse, sexual abuse, violence and suicide.

The writing is great. There’s multiple timelines in this book, so you’ll be going back and forward frequently. Personally for me this wasn’t an issue, but I can see how other readers may be confused at times. The timelines didn’t confuse me, but keeping up with all the women confused me a lot. I admit it was a little hard to keep up with all of them and not mix them up. Fortunately for me, the author added a family tree in the beginning of the book, so I had to keep coming back to it so I could distinguish them.

I liked all the characters, but I connected to some better than with others. Still, I felt bad for all of them and how they went through their own traumatic experiences (addiction, deportation, political,…). 

I also like how atmospheric the book felt. Nineteenth century Cuba never seemed so close in time! My favorite chapters were the ones in the cigar factory, probably for that reason. It was interesting to see how the way women were treated, how they listen to “safe” books while working, and how the men didn’t want the women there.

This is a beautiful book and I definitely recommend it. At this point I feel like I want to reread this book somewhere in the future. I’m very excited to read more from this author.

“Elena, careers and hobbies and dreams can be discovered whenever. What makes you interesting isn’t any one thing. You’re so many small beautiful things put together.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: promenades, high school, idols, community centers, relentless paparazzi, online haters, screaming fans and corsages.

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing – she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that’s always made her feel like she belonged.

So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love.

Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants – even if she can’t stop thinking about Robbie’s smile…right?

Awn this was such a fun book! This story follows a teenager named Elana and her childhood best friend, Robbie. They were friends when they were little, but then lost contact when Robbie moved to Korea to start the idol training. At that time, they promised each other they would go to prom together. Still, Elena was shocked when Robbie was at her door looking completely different: looking like a true K-Pop idol! And with that new persona, Elena doesn’t recognize the only person who accepted her as she was. 

It was a very fun book to read, and will hold a special place in my heart since I’ve become a K-Pop lover over the last few years. I’m slowly digging deeper on K-Pop/K-Drama themed books, and I’m having the time of my life.

The characters were sweet. I liked Elena, but her resistance to Robbie was a little annoying at times. I understand how she was always overshadowed by others and is not used to the spotlight – so when Robbie appeared and constantly put her on the spot she was uncomfortable. 

The romance was slowburn, but it was also incredibly sweet. The writing was nice and pleasant. It was easy to read and swoony, but there was still some depth to it as well so it wasn’t a fully superficial read.

It was a cute and fluffy romance, exactly what I was needing! Definitely recommend this one if you like K-Pop/K-Drama books or if you just like a childhood best friend trope.

“As of now
And for always,
You’ll both be
Each other’s base
Life is better
With a best friend,
For home is a person
And not just a place.” – 3.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: new siblings, love cute poems and beautiful illustrations.

“A book so tender and sweet . . . readers will feel the love as they read the beautiful rhyming prose.” — San Francisco Book Review “Lyrical . . . gorgeous . . . It introduced an element of enchantment I didn’t realize I’d forgotten.” — Robin Goodfellow, BookSirens

How much love can a heart hold? As parents, can we provide the same unconditional love to a new family member? Siblings might wonder, Is there enough love to go around? With compassionate words and sweet illustrations, this book addresses the uncertainty children may feel when confronted with a new brother or sister and changing family dynamics. It provides reassurance that they will always be cherished and helps cultivate their joy in welcoming a new best friend.

“My love for you can never be less,
for the heart expands like a flourishing tree;
no matter how big our family gets,
you’ll always be loved as deeply by me.”

This short book was so cute and sweet! This is a wholesome children’s book that talks about love and welcoming new siblings through lyrical poetry – and is paired with beautiful illustrations!
I was so happy when I saw the illustrations thinking it was original work – but then I read in the beginning of the book that they’re from Canva. I wish this had original art because it would make this book more special, but with that said: I still think the book is put together very nicely!
And I know this is a children’s book, but reading this as a grown woman made me think a lot about my older sister and how much I love her. I believe she was one of those kids that struggled a little with having a new younger sibling, but her love for me was quick to come since the day she first saw me and we’ve had a close bond since then. She’s a blessing in my life and I can’t imagine my life without her!

This would be the perfect gift for an older sibling (child) that is preparing to welcome a new sibling in the family. Still, I would probably recommend this book to older children (probably above 6 /7) since this has a lot of big words most children wouldn’t understand.

A big thank you to BookSirens for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“And what’s more beautiful and precious than gold? Love, my son. The only treasure that cannot be buried in a pot.” – 2.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: rainbows, leprechauns, the plague, wars, cloud girls and famous scientists.

As the plague rages through England, Hayden Springworth is busy trying to find hidden treasure at the end of a rainbow. But an encounter with Isaac Newton will shatter the young lord’s antiquated beliefs. Sent to the southwest of France as a spy, Hayden continues his research on rainbows in secret. That is until he meets a strange young girl who seemingly has the power to bring rain with her wherever she goes…

I’ve gotten a copy of this short graphic novel through NetGalley and Europe Comics. I would describe this story as a fantasy book, but more on the magical realism side.
In essence, it’s a story about science and curiosity. The main character Hayden is a curious boy living in England (during the plague and war), who tries to understand the phenomenon behind rainbows.
I feel like there’s a lot going on in this book, and if the story was simplified a little it would benefit the book as a whole. The story was inconsistent and fragmented into bits that didn’t connect well in my opinion. Also, I just couldn’t connect or care too much about the story and characters. Just as a side note, I thought it was fun that Isaac Newton was a character here! Unexpected, but a fun addiction.
For me, the artwork was the star here! This book was beautifully illustrated and colored. I loved how each chapter had a monochromatic color palette and a different color title – this was definitely my favorite part of this book. It was very unique and detailed.
In conclusion: the artwork is worth it, but the story was a little too all over the place for my own taste.

A big thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“A small smile touched Rhys’s lips. “I always knew you would make a great queen.”
“I’m not queen yet.”
“You don’t need a crown to be queen, princess.” – 3.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: forbidden romances, animal shelters, surprise trips to Costa Rica, royal duties, tough bodyguards and sweet princesses.

She can never be his…but he’s taking her anyway.

Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.

He has never once been tempted to break those rules…until her.

Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed.

Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he’s faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her.

Because she’s his.

His princess.
His forbidden fruit.
His every depraved fantasy.

***

Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses.

But when her brother abdicates, she’s suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted.

And as she navigates the intricacies—and treacheries—of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can’t have.

Her bodyguard.
Her protector.
Her ultimate ruin.

Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom…and doom them both.

Twisted Games is a slow to medium burn contemporary royal bodyguard romance. It’s book two of the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

Warning: This book contains a possessive alpha hero, explicit sexual content, and profanity.

I had really high hopes for this book. When I first saw that this book was about Bridget and Rhys, I immediately thought this would be my favorite book from the series. A romance between a modern princess and her bodyguard? Sign me up!

Well, the truth is that I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the characters and the forbidden romance between them, but the second half of the book was focused on Bridget and her new role as a royal. Most people like this aspect since it gives the book more depth and purpose, but the pace slows down a little during this part. The book is good, but as a romance junkie I wished this was focused on the romance – a slow-burn would be the cherry on top!

Keep in mind this is only a personal preference, so don’t let that influence your view of the book, because I still think it’s a good one – I just really like romance books!

It was a fun and entertaining read, but not quite what I was expecting. Definitely recommend it if you like royal romances. Off to the next book I go!

“If you wanted, I would burn down the world for you.” – 4.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: icy hearts, nightmares, red velvet cookies, emotions, forced cohabitation, vengeance and carpool rides.

He has a heart of ice…but for her, he’d burn the world.

Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.

Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.

But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:

A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.

***

Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.

But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.

Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.

Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen—but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.

Twisted Love is a brother’s best friend/opposites attract romance with a hint of suspense. It’s book one in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

WARNING: This book contains a possessive, morally gray alphahole; explicit sexual content, and profanity. No cheating or menage, but if you’re looking for a traditionally sweet, loveable hero, this is not the book for you. Recommended for 18+.

So I finally jumped on the hype and I started the “Twisted” series! 

The only reason why I didn’t read this book in one sitting is because I started it at night and I really needed some sleep – I devoured this book!

The characters were good, I just thought the girl was a little bland but it was bearable – and the guy is a true demon (can be a little extreme at times), but it works well here to be honest. The characters had chemistry and their grumpy/sunshine dynamics were perfect! I’m a huge fan of the enemies to lovers trope, and this was a great one! There’s also the brother’s best friend trope in this book, so you’re in for a treat if you like that one.

There’s a big plot behind this book and there’s a lot of drama and mystery, so this is not exactly just focused on the romance between the main characters. I personally liked the mystery behind the story and I was entertained the entire time. There’s also a plot twist here, but I thought it was a little predictable in my opinion… still entertaining though!

I personally really liked this book, and now I’m very excited to read Bridget’s story next! A love story between a princess and a bodyguard? Sign me up!