i absolutely adored this one. 10/10. perfection. just so hilarious + had me on the edge of my seat. the family dynamics were phenomenal and truly felti absolutely adored this one. 10/10. perfection. just so hilarious + had me on the edge of my seat. the family dynamics were phenomenal and truly felt like i was reading about my own family. i will be thinking about this one for ages....more
there’s so much to love about the witch haven — the worldbuilding, found family, dark academia, boarding schools, witches, historical influences, plotthere’s so much to love about the witch haven — the worldbuilding, found family, dark academia, boarding schools, witches, historical influences, plot twists and betrayals, dynamic characters, among many other things. but at the end of the day, what stood out to me most of all was how grief can impact you in so many ways, how powerful friendship is, and the quiet power and strength that we carry within us. frances’ journey is particularly shaped by her grief, and her trauma. it’s a reminder that grief is something that doesn’t just go away, but something that we get used to, and something that is always in the back of our minds. i love how sasha peyton smith writes about grief and trauma, how the healing process isn’t linear, and how the book has a good balance of lighter + heavier moments. sasha peyton smith’s prose is haunting and lyrical, in a way that is bound to stick with you forever.
content warnings: grief, attempted sexual assault, blood, murder both on page and off, stabbing, vomiting, drowning, absentee parents, mutilation of corpses, the main character’s mother resides in an asylum for assumed mental health issues, mentions of asylums, alluded child abuse, discussions of Native American boarding schools, and underage drinking and smoking...more
We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This is many things; it’s funny, it’s charming, it’s a love letter to rom coms and wedding season and Seattle, but what truWe Can’t Keep Meeting Like This is many things; it’s funny, it’s charming, it’s a love letter to rom coms and wedding season and Seattle, but what truly makes it shine — and what has cemented it on my favorites list — is its exploration of breaking away from predetermined paths, standing up for yourself, and its honest mental health representation.
honey girl is one of the most exquisite books i've ever read; it's a tale spun out of stars; a million warm hugs and tough-love conversations wrapped honey girl is one of the most exquisite books i've ever read; it's a tale spun out of stars; a million warm hugs and tough-love conversations wrapped in tales of lonely monsters and folklore. i will be thinking about honey girl for a long, long time. about grace, and yuki and being a people pleaser & living up to expectations & what it means to be the best. words that so deeply resonated with me + were things i needed to hear so badly. i'm so glad i got to read it ahead of its release & i cannot wait to reread it again and again when it’s out.
i just finished a cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow for the second time in two months; the first time i'd picked it up because i'd heard great thi just finished a cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow for the second time in two months; the first time i'd picked it up because i'd heard great things about it. the second, was partially because of a book club, but also because i was looking for a way to heal after my own grandmother had passed.
a cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow is a book that has found a special place in my heart forever. it's a love story to your family and the places and people that are home, to healing and finding comfort in places and people and food and tradition. lila's story, her grief & her feelings hit very much close to home. her storyline with orion reminded me of guy & girl from once the musical, in the best way. the food was described so vividly (you'll definitely feel peckish while reading this one)! i wanted to wrap all the characters up in a hug, but especially lila (& orion). there are so many things i loved about this book; the way it depicts grief & depression & loss in general, the strong family relationships, the way friendship (and friend break ups) are discussed - i could go on for ages.
anyways, this book has my entire heart & i'm incredibly grateful that it exists. ...more
prior to ace of spades, no book has ever left me physically shaking from shock + awe. it's been an hour later, and i'm still thinking about this book prior to ace of spades, no book has ever left me physically shaking from shock + awe. it's been an hour later, and i'm still thinking about this book and how absolutely brilliant it is. i had the highest of expectations for it, especially after seeing it being pitched as "dair but queer & platonic", "gossip girl meets get out" and it met every single one of them and more. just phenomenal. no words. but also many words. a full review will be on teatimelit.com at some point once i get my thoughts together but ohhhh my god. just. wow. i cannot wait for faridah's next book....more
**spoiler alert** A major thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this arc.
Trigger warnings for: Death (parental death), canc**spoiler alert** A major thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this arc.
Trigger warnings for: Death (parental death), cancer, sexual assault
I'm not even sure where to begin with this review. I'd been intrigued with the premise, but couldn't have expected to love this book as much as I do. I was hooked from the first page, and didn't want it to end.
As an Asian immigrant, who was raised by a single mother, this book really hit home. I found the story and dynamic of Margot and her mother, Mina, to be so relatable. The dichotomy between being too Westernized, or not Westernized enough was a struggle that I know all too well. It made me reevaluate my own identity, and my relationship with my mother. Learning about Mina's struggles to assimilate into a society that didn't care for her, didn't want her, and how hard she worked was heartbreaking, and necessary. I felt like Margot's "ungratefulness" to her mother might come off annoying, or whiny, but it felt all too real to me. I saw so much of a younger version of myself in Margot, who didn't understand why things were this way; why her mother clung to tradition and was so harsh on her.
By interweaving Margot's present day search for the truth about her mother, and Mina's journey during her first year in Los Angeles, we get to learn and feel so much more for both Mina and Margot. I was so enthralled by Mina and Margot's stories that I almost forgot about the mystery behind it all; at times I would try to guess certain plot points, but each time I was pleasantly surprised - the twists and turns were really well done.
I found Margot's relationship with Jonathan unnecessary - especially since he didn't seem to have too much to do with the plot, and I'm generally uncomfortable with relationships with large age-gaps. Overall, I thought this book was so well written, and is probably one of my top reads of 2020 so far. ...more
this is phenomenal and i do not know how i didn't read this sooner. oh my. this is phenomenal and i do not know how i didn't read this sooner. oh my. ...more
Trigger warnings: death (including mentions of a parental death), transphobia, misgendering, allusions to deadnaming, depFULL REVIEW on teatimelit
Trigger warnings: death (including mentions of a parental death), transphobia, misgendering, allusions to deadnaming, depictions of gender dysphoria, blood, non-violent mentions of blood magic, mentions of a car accident
Cemetery Boys takes place in the days leading up to Dia de los Muertos, and follows Yadriel, a trans teen boy, desperate to prove himself as a brujo to himself, and to his family. When his cousin Miguel is murdered a couple days before Dia de los Muertos, Yadriel, and his best friend Maritza, set off to find his body, and his portaje, in the hopes of releasing Miguel’s spirit. However, Yadriel accidentally releases the spirit of Julian Diaz, one of the resident bad boys of his school. Julian refuses to go quietly, not until they find out what happened to him, and until he receives confirmation that his loved ones are alright. Together, with the help of Maritza, and a surprise appearance of “The Boys”, they set off to find out what happened to Julian. But the more time Julian and Yadriel spend together, the more Yadriel finds himself wanting Julian to stay. Will they be able to release Julian before it’s too late? And will they figure out what happened to Miguel?
I don’t know what to do with myself now that I’ve finished Cemetery Boys. I wish I could go back in time and experience it again like I did the first time. I’d first heard about Cemetery Boys on Twitter, and was immediately interested in an own-voices book with a trans main character, a ghost love interest, and an entirely Latinx cast. My interest only grew when everyone I knew was raving about it – needless to say, all my expectations were met and more. I don’t like calling books “favorites” if I’ve only read them once, but I broke my rule for Cemetery Boys (It’s okay though, because by the time I’m posting this, I’ll have read it twice). Once I set it down, I instantly wanted to pick it back up and reread it again, if not for Yadriel’s story, then to see how I missed all the plot twists. I’m always a sucker for coming of age stories, and this one was just so well done. Like most coming-of-age stories, Cemetery Boys is filled with great character development, witty lines, and strong friendships.
There’s a line in Cemetery Boys, that says “No, none of them deserved Julian Diaz”. And it’s true, but I think, none of us deserve any character in Cemetery Boys. You know the meme where it’s “I’ve only had Arlo for a day and a half, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself”? That’s how I felt about everyone in Cemetery Boys. Let’s start with Yadriel. Sweet Yadriel — I’ve never met a main character that was as easy to root for as Yads. Who doesn’t like an underdog, or watching someone grow out of their shell and become the person they’re meant to be? It physically hurt my heart to watch Yadriel struggle with his family’s acceptance — or lack thereof. Trying to grapple with the unconditional love he holds for his family, while reconciling with the hurt that only comes with having his identity erased or ignored is something that no one should go through. It’s something that’s all too familiar to me, and so many other people I love. Seeing that in Yadriel broke my heart.
“The only thing more stupid than going around his family’s back, sumoning spirits, and trying to solve multiple murders would be falling for a dead boy.”
And he’s self-aware too. Not that I could blame Yadriel for falling in love with Julian.
Chaotic and fierce loving, Julian Diaz would do anything – and I mean anything – for his friends. He quickly stole my heart, and I’m sure he’ll steal yours as well. Julian reminds me of a pitbull – or rather, how people see pitbulls. Pitbulls have a reputation for being “bad”, but honestly, they’re lovely and so sweet. People just judge them based off of stereotypes — and that’s exactly what happened with Julian. In a recent tweet, Thomas confirms that Julian was written as someone with undiagnosed ADHD. As someone who spent most of their life without a proper ADHD diagnosis, I felt so incredibly seen by Julian. I remember reading about Julian and being the equivalent of the eyes emoji; his behaviors and his puppy energy seemed a little too familiar to me. Far too often, kids of color get sidelined by our education system (I’m speaking for the American education system, although I’m sure the same can be said for other education systems worldwide). I mean, academia is an institution founded on whiteness, and that is so evident in the way students of color are treated. Kids of color aren’t afforded the same chances, leniency, or even the gift of understanding and compassion that white students freely get. If you can’t conform to the mainstream education system as a kid of color, you’re most likely going to be labeled as a “problem child”. And that’s exactly what happened to Julian. Him and his friends are the byproduct of systems who have failed them, all in different ways, and for that, are labeled as “bad kids” and kids to stay away from. After all they’ve been through, it’s no surprise how loyal they are to one another. Julian and his friends are the literal definition of found family, always supportive and caring and fiercely protective of one another. In fact, Julian’s relationship with his friends was one of my favorite parts of Cemetery Boys.
Speaking of friends, Maritza, Yadriel’s cousin and best friend, was just so fun. I am so, so glad that Yadriel had someone like Maritza on his side — someone who is his ride-or-die, someone who will stand by him. I can’t even fathom how isolating life must’ve been for Yadriel, even with Maritza there. I truly enjoyed reading about the strong friendship between them, as two outcasts in their community. Honorable mentions to Purrcasso the cat, and “The Boys,” who are not the boys in the title, Cemetery Boys (although I would love a spin off about “The Boys”), but rather, Maritza’s pitbulls. Anyone who knows me knows I love animals, including literary ones, and I’ve been gushing about how smart the name “Purrcasso” is for ages (my only “non-spoilery” thought while I was processing the entire book).
I didn’t realize just how everything in Cemetery Boys happens over a couple of days, but it does. There’s a natural progression to every chain of events, and even the plot twist at the end was, in hindsight, traceable back to the beginning. The romance between Yadriel and Julian was so well-developed, complete with a lot of witty banter and a couple bits that made me a little emotional too. I simply couldn’t put Cemetery Boys down and stayed up far too late reading it the first time. I haven’t been able to shut up about the genius of Cemetery Boys since. A wonderful debut for Aiden Thomas, and I’m incredibly excited for his next book, Lost in the Never Woods which comes out in March 2021! I would also highly encourage you to look at some ownvoices reviews for Cemetery Boys, such as this one.
quite literally my favorite book ever i can and will reread this book again and again forever and ever
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at her book signing in seattle, morgenstern quite literally my favorite book ever i can and will reread this book again and again forever and ever
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at her book signing in seattle, morgenstern described her writing as "realistic magic", and the starless sea as a book about stories. and that is exactly what it is. the starless sea is a book about stories, for people who love stories and yearn to disappear into other worlds. in the same fashion as the night circus, i suspect it'll take me a couple of re-reads to truly understand the genius-ness of this book, and the many stories it entails. i was initially worried that i wouldn't love this as much as i loved the night circus, but if anything, i think i love it even more. i loved the way we got to see snippets of certain characters and their stories told in different ways, and how all these stories were interwoven and intertwined. i loved the way we got to learn so much about zachary and all the other characters, and the thorough descriptions - i truly felt like i was there with them all....more
reading red, white and royal blue was the closest thing to home i’ve felt in a long time. it feels like a place that’s safe and welcoming and inspirin
reading red, white and royal blue was the closest thing to home i’ve felt in a long time. it feels like a place that’s safe and welcoming and inspiring and accepting all at once. i suppose it's no surprise that i've read and re-read it time, and time again. the way mcquiston has curled themselves up in the words of this book feels like a very comforting, long, hug and a reminder that things will be okay. things at home will be okay, you will be okay, and this country, will also be okay. it almost feels like a fantasy novel, the way that you're transported into another world - a universe that feels better than the one that we live in now. this book is real and raw and something else, and i'm so grateful that it was written and that it came into my life. ...more
maybe one day i will be able to collect my thoughts well enough to formulate a review but i think anyone who knows me knows how much i love this book maybe one day i will be able to collect my thoughts well enough to formulate a review but i think anyone who knows me knows how much i love this book so...more
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