Month: February 2022

Blog Tour Review: Anne of West Philly

Title: Anne of West Philly
Author: Ivy Noelle Weir, Myisha Haynes (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Contemporary
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 1, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Anne of Green Gables with a twist: in this follow-up to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy and The Secret Garden on 81st Street, this full-color graphic novel moves Anne Shirley to modern-day West Philadelphia, where where she finds new friends, new rivals, and a new family.

When Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert decide to foster a teenage girl for the first time, their lives are changed forever. Their redheaded foster daughter, Anne Shirley, is in search of an exciting life and has decided that West Philly is where she’s going to find it. Armed with a big personality and unstoppable creativity, Anne takes her new home by storm as she joins the robotics club, makes new friends in Diana and Gilbert, experiences first love, and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. But as Anne starts to get comfortable, she discovers one thing she wasn’t looking for: a family.

Review:

Anne Shirley moves in with her new foster family, siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. This is their first time with a teenage girl as their foster child. Anne has a big personality, which contrasts with Marilla’s and Matthew’s quiet demeanors. Anne makes new friends, joins the robotics club, and takes this quiet West Philadelphia neighbourhood by storm.

This is a fun, modern adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. Anne had a spunky personality, which made her stand out from the crowd. It took a while, but she eventually wins over everyone’s hearts.

Most of the events from the original story were updated in a way that made sense for today’s world. The only part that I didn’t think fit in as well was the part where Anne gives Diana the cordial. In the original story, Anne accidentally gives her friend cherry cordial which makes them drunk, so that couldn’t be in a children’s book today. In this modern version, they eat too many chocolates with liquor that make Diana sick. I don’t think those chocolates would make her drunk like the liquor did in the original story, so it felt a little forced to me. Other than that part, I think this modern adaptation was true to the feel of the original story.

Anne of West Philly is a great, modern graphic novel adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and TBR and Beyond Book Tours for providing a copy of this book.

The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir, Amber Padilla (illustrator)

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Rey Terciero, Bre Indigo (illustrator)

Where to buy:

About the author:

Ivy Noelle Weir is a writer of comics and prose. She is the co-creator of the Dwayne McDuffie Award-winning graphic novel Archival Quality (Oni Press), the upcoming The Secret Garden on 81st Street (Little, Brown for Young Readers), and her writing has appeared in anthologies such as Princeless: Girls Rock (Action Lab Entertainment) and Dead Beats (A Wave Blue World). She lives in the greater Boston area with her husband and their two tiny, weird dogs.

Tour schedule:

February 28th
Jill’s Book Blog – Review
Book Notes by Athina – Promotional Post
Books with Michelle – Top 5 Reasons to Read Anne of West Philly & Mood Board

March 1st
Beneath A Thousand Skies – Review
Lily’s Cozy Blog – Review & Tik Tok
Rampant Reading Reviews – Review

March 2nd
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
Not In Jersey – Review
Kerri McBookNerd – Top 5 Reasons to Read Anne of West Philly

March 3rd
Nine Bookish Lives – Promotional Post
Just a Gal and Her Books – Review

March 4th
dinipandareads – Review
The Book View – Review
Justice For Readers – Review

March 5th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post
Oyinda Loves Books – Review
Kait Plus Books – Mood Board

March 6th
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review
The Human Curveball – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

Have you read Anne of West Philly? What did you think of it?

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Blog Update

For the past 5 years, I’ve reviewed about 1,600 books on my blog. For the first 3 years, I reviewed a book a day. Then I reviewed 6 books per week and since July, I’ve reviewed 5 books per week. This has taken a lot of my time and I was reading in any spare moment I could, whether that was while I was waiting in a check out line in a store or listening to audiobooks while driving.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m also a writer. I’m currently revising my 5th manuscript. I queried a manuscript to agents last year but I didn’t get much response from that (querying is when you send out a letter to literary agents to see if they would represent your book). I feel really good about the manuscript I’m currently working on, and I’m planning on querying it in the next few months.

I’ve decided to take a step back from reading and reviewing books to focus more on my writing career. I will still be reading, reviewing, and posting on social media daily but I won’t be reviewing a book a day. I’ve proven to myself that I can do it, but I can’t sustain that pace anymore. I want to be honest about my writing and blogging journey. Since I decided to read less last week, I’ve felt much less stressed out and I’ve gotten a lot more work done for my own manuscript. Reading has always been a source of self-care to me, but it was becoming more stressful than it was helping me. I’m looking forward to moving closer to my goal of becoming a published author.

Review: Gallant

Title: Gallant
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: March 1, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

Review:

Olivia Prior has grown up at Merilance School for girls, with only her mother’s old journal as company. Olivia doesn’t speak and she doesn’t have friends at school. One day, she receives a letter from her uncle inviting her to live at Gallant, the one place that her mother warned her never to go. However, once she arrives there, she discovers that her uncle is dead and no one at the house is expecting her. The house is full of ghouls and secrets. Olivia has finally found the place where she belongs, but she must convince the residents, and the manor, that she belongs there.

This story was like a fairytale. Olivia is school age, but her actual age wasn’t given. Though she’s not an adult, there were some more mature themes, like the image of death, that would appeal to an older audience. The story seemed like it could have been part of our world, but also a fantasy world. It had a timeless quality, which also made it feel like a fairytale.

This book was filled with gorgeous illustrations that were replicas of the drawings in Olivia’s mother’s journal. The illustrations were of things in the past, but they also reflected what was going on in Olivia’s present life. They were a gorgeous addition to this book.

Gallant is a beautiful dark fairytale.

Thank you HCC Frenzy for providing a copy of this book.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth

Have you read Gallant? What did you think of it?

Review: Your Birthday Was the Best!

Title: Your Birthday Was the Best!
Author: Maggie Hutchings, Felicita Sala
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The story of an eager cockroach who gate-crashes a birthday party — with hilarious results. For fans of I Don’t Want to Be a Frog.

It’s your birthday, and little do you know that an unwelcome guest has joined in on the festivities. A friendly cockroach has snuck undetected into the house, and has proceeded to join in on all of your fun party games. You were so excited to finally spot him napping on top of your birthday cake, having eaten his fill, that you couldn’t help but scream! You think he’s gone when your dad sucks him up in the vacuum cleaner . . . but with a birthday party this good, he’s going to be nearly impossible to keep away!

This laugh-out-loud picture book from bestselling author Maggie Hutchings and acclaimed illustrator Felicita Sala is the perfect birthday gift for young readers.

Review:

A cockroach was watching a boy’s birthday party from outside of his house. He decided to go inside and join in the festivities. After all the games, the cockroach fell asleep on the cake, and was vacuumed up by the boy’s father. But he wouldn’t give up on the party that easily, so he found his way back inside.

This book’s release day is my birthday, so I thought I was meant to read it! The idea of having a cockroach at your birthday party is quite gross. The kids at the party were scared of it, but the cockroach thought they were screaming in excitement. It was cute the way he misinterpreted what they were doing, but it’s hard to get over the gross factor of the story.

Your Birthday Was the Best was a cute children’s book, but it doesn’t make me want to invite a cockroach to my party!

Thank you Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book.

Megabat and the Not-Happy Birthday by Anna Humphrey, Kass Reich

Have you read Your Birthday Was the Best!? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – February 22

Happy Pub Day to all of these new books!

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

The Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St. George

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

Map of Flames by Lisa McMann

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Say You’ll Be My Lady by Kate Pembrooke

The School of Mirrors by Eva Stachniak

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel

The Turning Pointe by Vanessa L. Torres

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Think of Me by Frances Liardet

Scorpica by G.R. Macallister

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Float by Kate Marchant

What books are you most excited for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday – Dynamic Duos

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Dynamic Duos. Here’s my list:

1. Bryce and Hunt (Crescent City)

2. Rhys and Feyre (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

3. Poppy and Casteel (From Blood and Ash)

4. Mia and Lily (The Princess Diaries)

5. Audrey and Thomas (Stalking Jack the Ripper)

6. Jude and Cardan (The Folk of the Air)

7. Kel and Lila (Shades of Magic)

8. Kaz and Inej (Six of Crows)

9. Alina and the Darkling (Shadow and Bone)

10. Juliette and Kenji (Shatter Me)

(All book covers from Goodreads)

What’s your list of books on your Top Ten Tuesday?

Review: One True Loves (Happily Ever Afters #2)

Title: One True Loves (Happily Ever Afters #2)
Author: Elise Bryant
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 4, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Lenore Bennett has always been a force. A star artist and style icon at her high school, she’s a master in the subtle art of not giving a . . . well, you know what. But now that graduation is here, she’s a little less sure.

She’s heading to NYU in the fall with a scarlet U (for “undeclared”) written across her chest. Her parents always remind her that Black kids don’t have the luxury of figuring it out as they go—they have to be 110 percent prepared. But it’s a lot of pressure to be her ancestors’ wildest dreams when Lenore’s not even sure what her dreams are yet.

When her family embarks on a post-graduation Mediterranean cruise, her friend Tessa is sure Lenore’s in for a whirlwind romance. But Lenore knows that doesn’t happen in real life. At least not to girls like her.

Then she meets Alex Lee. After their parents bond over the Cupid Shuffle, she ends up stuck with him for the remainder of the cruise. He’s a hopeless romantic and a golden boy with a ten-year plan. In short, he’s irritating as hell.

But as they get to know each other during the picturesque stops across Europe, he may be able to help her find something else she’s been looking for, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself: love.

Review:

Lenore Bennett was a star artist at her school, trying all different forms of art. She’s set to go to NYU to study art history in the fall, but now she’s questioning if that’s the right major for her. After having her heart broken at prom, Lenore has given up on love. But when her and her family go on a Mediterranean cruise, she meets Alex Lee. They get off to a rocky start but their parents become close friends so they spend a lot of time together. Lenore wonders if she could find her one true love in Alex, but she’s wary of getting her heart broken again.

This book is the sequel to Happily Ever Afters. Most of it takes place during Lenore’s family vacation. This was a clever way of telling another character’s story while she is away from her best friend Tessa, the main character of Happily Ever Afters.

I like that the romances in these stories aren’t always an ideal relationship. Both Tessa and Lenore dated boys who made questionable comments, but they brushed them off at the time. A boy that Lenore dated made a racist comment to her, but she pretended like it didn’t happen. It’s easy to brush off a comment that makes you uncomfortable, to avoid a confrontation, especially if you care for the person. However, it’s important to stand up for yourself and remove yourself from any toxic situation or relationship. This is a side of high school relationships that I don’t see portrayed often in books, so I appreciated that it was addressed in this series.

One True Loves is the perfect summer romance story!

Thank you HCC Frenzy for providing a copy of this book.

Serendipity edited by Marissa Meyer

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Other books in the series:

Have you read One True Loves? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – February 21

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished One True Loves by Elise Bryant.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading Gallant by V.E. Schwab.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading The School of Mirrors by Eve Stachniak.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap Up – February 20

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 6 weekly blogging memes:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… One True Loves

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I’m reading One True Loves (Happily Ever Afters #1) by Elise Bryant.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Lenore Bennett has always been a force. A star artist and style icon at her high school, she’s a master in the subtle art of not giving a . . . well, you know what. But now that graduation is here, she’s a little less sure.

She’s heading to NYU in the fall with a scarlet U (for “undeclared”) written across her chest. Her parents always remind her that Black kids don’t have the luxury of figuring it out as they go—they have to be 110 percent prepared. But it’s a lot of pressure to be her ancestors’ wildest dreams when Lenore’s not even sure what her dreams are yet.

When her family embarks on a post-graduation Mediterranean cruise, her friend Tessa is sure Lenore’s in for a whirlwind romance. But Lenore knows that doesn’t happen in real life. At least not to girls like her.

Then she meets Alex Lee. After their parents bond over the Cupid Shuffle, she ends up stuck with him for the remainder of the cruise. He’s a hopeless romantic and a golden boy with a ten-year plan. In short, he’s irritating as hell.

But as they get to know each other during the picturesque stops across Europe, he may be able to help her find something else she’s been looking for, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself: love.

What book are you in bed with today?