Book Review: "Peaches and Pucks" by M.A. Wardell

This book was really sweet and sexy, and it combined some of my favorite rom-com tropes. And while it’s called “A Cheeky Hockey Novella,” I’d say it’s more hockey-adjacent. But that doesn’t detract from its appeal.⁣

⁣ Harry is a fifth-grade language arts teacher. He enjoys his job and his colleagues—except for Darius, the school’s PE teacher. Darius has made Harry uncomfortable since Harry started teaching at the school. Nothing has ever been said or done, but it’s clear to Harry that Darius doesn’t like him.⁣

⁣ As a favor to a colleague, Harry agrees to help chaperone the fifth-grade boys’ hockey team to a tournament. Sure, he barely knows anything about hockey and would much rather stay home, but without a chaperone, the team can’t go. Of course, that means he’ll be stuck spending time with Darius. Sigh.⁣

Watching Darius coach, however, makes Harry see him in a different light. And when they have to share a hotel room—with only one bed—Harry starts to wonder, is Darius hot?⁣

⁣ Darius is excited that Harry agreed to chaperone the trip. He’s spent a lot of time pretending that Harry doesn’t affect him, but maybe it’s time to stop? But will the complete change in attitude be enough to capture Harry’s heart?⁣

⁣ I really enjoy M.A. Wardell’s writing and how well he balances emotion and steam. This was a sweet story, full of fun banter and lots of hot scenes. ⁣

Book Review: "The Trip" by Audrey J. Cole

In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves, “Whoa!” This fast-moving book was wild. This is now the second book of Audrey J. Cole’s that I’ve read and I can say one thing unequivocally: her books should come with a defibrillator!!

In high school, Palmer, Beth, Courtney, Gigi, and Emma were inseparable. Sure, Courtney was a bit of a mean girl at times, but she was kind and generous at others. Before they graduated, Courtney suggested they go on a weekend camping trip, with hiking and rafting. Yet only four of them returned. Courtney fell into the river and could not be rescued.

Questions about what happened on the camping trip followed the girls everywhere. They couldn’t seem to shake the cloud of suspicion they were under. While Palmer and Beth kept in touch, for the most part they all drifted apart.

Twenty years later, Gigi is a popular influencer, married to a hotel mogul. She invites the others on a yacht trip on the Pacific, to end in San Diego. Palmer’s marriage has just ended and she’s struggling emotionally, so Beth convinces her to come on the fully paid trip. And then the four of them can pay tribute to Courtney.

It’s not long before they’re sailing directly into a storm. The power and radio go down and the captain is missing, so they’re left with the first mate, who doesn’t seem to know the first thing about sailing. And then they find a note which brings the memories—and the secrets—from that camping trip back into the light. What really happened that weekend? Who was responsible? No one is above suspicion, and they all could be at risk.

The book shifts between high school and the yacht trip. None of the characters appears particularly sympathetic, and I had no idea whom to trust or root for. The twists came as fast as the waves and the storm! I needed a reminder of why I never want to go on a cruise, so thanks, Audrey!!

Book Review: "The Sideways Life of Denny Voss" by Holly Kennedy

This was such a wonderfully special book with one of the most memorable narrators I’ve found in a long while. I’m so thankful to my dearest friend Amy for putting this book on my radar!!

“I guess that’s just how life works. Some days it’s like a fast-moving TV show and some days it’s not, and when things go sideways—like they usually do for me—you might find yourself going in a whole new direction, and when you’re doing life, going in that whole new direction, some things will change, but some things will stay a lot the same.”

Thirty-year-old Denny lives in Minnesota with his elderly mother and their deaf and blind dog George. While an issue at birth left him with some developmental challenges, he’s always felt loved, even when he hasn’t made the right choices.

Sometimes Denny has the best of intentions, but things tend to go awry. This has led to his arrest after kidnapping a neighbor’s ornery goose, and another time he unwittingly helped a bank robber. His challenges with finding the right words or expressing his emotions often get him into trouble.

But now, Denny is under arrest for the murder of a businessman in town who is running for mayor. And it certainly didn’t help that he was found with a sled full of guns, including the murder weapon. He swears he’s innocent, but can that be proven?

This book is full of humor, emotion, and charm, and it’s very heartwarming. Denny may cause chaos, but he also can be so empathetic and sweet. Check out the world from his perspective.

Book Review: "Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith" by Phil Hanley

Thanks so much to Henry Holt for the complimentary advance copy of this book. It’s available now.

“I always prayed I’d wake up smart.”

Growing up, Phil Hanley had a horrible time in school. His teachers thought he was lazy and not trying, and some thought he was stupid. (He thought so, too.) But actually, he was dyslexic, something that wasn’t diagnosed until well into his adolescence.

Although he was able to get help once educators figured out his challenges, he was scarred by the way his teachers treated him. It definitely caused him to have issues with self-esteem and confidence.

Despite knowing that there was justification for his issues with school, Phil took a different path after graduation: he did some modeling before eventually deciding on a comedy career.

This was a moving and humorous memoir. I didn’t know much about Phil but his determination, and the support of his mother, was really impressive. This book would be inspirational for anyone dealing with obstacles.

Book Review: "The Tragedy of Dane Riley" by Kat Spears

This is another one of those books I’ve had on my TBR for several years now, and I’m so glad to have finally read it. It’s definitely an emotional read, but it’s also one full of hope.

The teenage years are an anxiety-filled time for many. But Dane’s life is utter torture. He’s mourning the death of his father, who used to make Dane believe in himself and what he could do. To add insult to injury, his mother is now dating Chuck, his father’s best friend. And Chuck’s son Eric enjoys getting high and tormenting Dane.

In his head, Dane is tremendously articulate, but that never seems to translate into conversation. He’s profoundly emotional but he cannot seem to express the things he wants to, which leads to conflict with his mother, Chuck, and Eric. He’s been to a number of therapists but no one seems to get him or how he feels.

The person Dane is most at ease in communicating with is Ophelia, his next door neighbor and fellow teen. Ophelia shows him that it’s okay not to be okay, but also, you have no idea what another person may be going through, so it’s important to have compassion. She also helps Dane see beneath the surface of a person rather than taking them at face value.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley takes a frank look at mental health, particularly in teenagers, and the struggles many of them deal with. At times I truly felt for him, although at times I had to remember he was just a teenager, and his behavior was frustrating. But to watch him finally start to deal with his problems and express his feelings was gratifying.

Kat Spears did a great job with this story. I’m sorry it took me so long to read it, but I think I could appreciate it more now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy!

Book Review: "Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts" by Adam Sass

This book was so sweet and emotional. It definitely hit close to home for me and felt like a gigantic hug.

Vero Roseto Garden Inn & Vineyard has been in Grant’s family for decades. He and his siblings spent summers there when they were growing up. When he was 13, Grant made a wish on the family’s famous Wishing Rose, and since then, all of his relationships have fallen apart quickly. Grant believes he’s been cursed by the Wishing Rose.

"But I don't count. I'm a beast, not a bunny. A beast with baggage and a curse on my head where no relationship lasts longer than a month."

Five years later, after what he thought was the perfect relationship imploded, he returns to Vero Roseto, which his aunt and uncle have been struggling to keep afloat. This will be their last summer to try, otherwise they’ll have to sell.

Given the state of disrepair of the inn, Aunt Ro has hired a gardener to help. Much to Grant’s surprise, it’s Ben, his first real love and childhood best friend, whom he hasn’t seen since the curse afflicted him five years ago. There’s still animosity between them, but there’s also a strong connection that hasn’t faded.

Grant vows to stay for the summer to help restore the inn and prepare for the famous Rose Festival. If it succeeds, they may save the inn. But it’ll require Grant and Ben to work together and put the past behind them. Can Grant break the curse and finally find happiness?

This was such a beautiful book. It’s a story of family, friendship, and love, and the many ways queer people—particularly teenagers—can be made to feel small and unworthy of love. It’s a look at how depression can rob you of joy and passion. But it’s also a love story. I really love the way Adam Sass writes.

Book Review: "I Was A Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones

I’ve read two horror books in two months. Go me! TBH, I wasn’t thinking of reading this until I saw how much a Bookstagram friend raved about it. (I am powerless in the face of FOMO.)

“If I could unkill six people, not make the whole town of Lamesa, Texas gnash their teeth and tear their clothes and have to go to funeral after funeral that searing-hot July?”

It’s the summer of 1989 in a small Texas town. Tolly and Amber are best friends, getting ready for senior year of high school. Neither quite fits in, but they have each other to hang with.

On what seems like a normal night in Lamesa, Tolly and Amber go to a party where most of their classmates and former classmates will be. While Amber tries to fit in, Tolly makes a fool of himself, leading some of his classmates to teach him a near-fatal lesson. But it’s the events that follow which rock the town, and set Tolly on a revenge-killing path.

I love morally grey characters, where you can’t help but root for someone who does horrible things. The book is narrated by Tolly, as sort of a memoir or autobiography that he earmarks for Amber to explain it all. You can feel his regret as well as his unrequited feelings for her.

There’s definitely lots of gore and violence in this book, but lots of heart and humor as well. Jones has totally captured the spirit of 1989, and he is an amazing storyteller.

Book Review: "Leslie F*cking Jones" by Leslie Jones

Leslie Jones is a human dynamo. She has tremendous presence—her voice and her height make you stand up and take notice. She comes across as brave and brash, seeming almost impervious to any barriers that stand in her way. But as you learn in her new memoir, Leslie F*cking Jones (like it could be called anything else?), her confidence stems from the challenges she faced in her life, the battles she had to fight to achieve her dreams.

For the most part, whether or not you'll enjoy this memoir depends on how you feel about Leslie Jones herself. This is not a polished, obviously ghostwritten book; Jones' voice is authentic, her language is peppered liberally with curse words and slang, and at times the narration seems to go off on tangents, the way people often do when they tell stories. As she puts it, "Hey you guys—some of the stories about my childhood are vague because a bitch is fifty-five and I've smoked a lot of weed. A lot of it is hazy, but I will give you the best recollection of it that I can."

While parts of the book are definitely hysterical, it's an emotional read as well. Jones faced some very difficult things growing up: her alcoholic father moved their family around a lot, and in many places she faced racism as well as bullying for the color of her skin, her family's lack of money, and her lack of polish. And tragedy certainly followed her into adulthood, as did brushes with poverty, fighting for a chance onstage, and trying to pursue fame without changing who she was.

One of the things that surprised me about this book and Jones herself is the importance she places on being a role model for Black girls and women, letting them know they're beautiful and worthy. It's a lesson she learned when she was younger and it never left her, even in the toughest of times.

At times the book gets a little too specific and detailed so chapters drag, but it's still an entertaining and powerful read.

"In the end, what I learned in the pandemic, and since, is what so many of us learned: life is life. It's not supposed to be easy all the time, and it's never as easy as we want it to be."

Book Review: "Speech Team" by Tim Murphy

Growing up in the Massachusetts suburbs, Thomas "Tip" Murray dreamed of a glamorous life as a screenwriter, a foreign correspondent, or a film critic. Now in his early 40s, he couldn't have gotten further from those dreams: he's a recovering drug addict and alcoholic, living in Providence with his solid and dependable husband, Marcus, and he works as a writer for an educational nonprofit.

One day he hears from his high school best friend, Natalie, that Pete, one of their classmates and Speech Team members, has committed suicide. While neither of them had thought much about Pete in many years, they were shocked to see that in his farewell post on social media, he mentioned that their Speech Team coach, Gary Gold, once made a devastating comment to him. Pete's post triggered some memories for Tip, memories of his own insult at the hands of Mr. Gold.

The more Tip thinks about Pete and Mr. Gold, the more obsessed he becomes with high school memories—the positive and the negative. He and Natalie (mostly at his urging) decide to look up two of their other classmates: Anthony, who is now a famous fashion designer, and Jennifer, the once-intense intellectual who is now a college professor. After some awkward moments, the four reunite and rehash some old memories. And then they discover one thing they all have in common: each was stung by an insult from Mr. Gold.

The quartet finds that Mr. Gold is still alive and now living in Florida, so they decide to take a road trip down there and confront him. But what they find is not at all what they were expecting. And Tip is slowly losing his grip, which puts his sobriety and his marriage at risk.

This book really hit close to home for me, but that only made me love it more. I went to high school in the 1980s and graduated the same year as the characters did. I struggled with my sexuality and was bullied quite a bit, much like Tip. And I had a high school teacher who bullied me, and more than 35 years later, some of the things he said still linger in my mind. (No one needs to worry about me confronting him, however, since he died a few years ago.)

I was so excited when I saw this book at the store, because I'm a huge fan of the way Tim Murphy writes. (Christodora was an utterly fantastic book.) This is, as I've read, a much more personal book for Murphy, and it definitely felt that way. It was tremendously thoughtful, and thought-provoking.

Book Review: "Dinosaurs" by Lydia Millet

The latest novel by Lydia Millet is one of those excellent character-driven books that surprises you with how much you love it.

I’d never read anything by Millet before, although she’s quite prolific. But a few friends really enjoyed this, so I decided to give it a shot. Boy, am I glad I did. I thought this was fantastic.

When Gil’s relationship ends, he is hurt and angry and feels rudderless. He decides to leave his home in NYC and move to Arizona—but he doesn’t just move there, he WALKS there. The whole way. It takes him five months, and the scenery was quite repetitive at times, but at times it was beautiful.

He buys a house sight unseen, one that looks like a castle. Then one day, a family moves into the glass-walled house next door. Gil can’t help but be drawn to the family as he witnesses the everyday occurrences in their lives, and it’s not long before his life becomes enmeshed with theirs. He becomes a mentor/friend to young Tom, a confidante to both Ardis and her husband Ted, and he even makes Clem, their teenaged daughter, smile on occasion.

This is a story about connection, how enhanced our lives become through our relationships, and how much life they bring to a solitary person. It’s also a story about nature, as Gil’s house attracts many different kinds of birds, and he becomes attached to them. And it’s also about regret, grief, and allowing yourself to let others in.

Not a lot happens in this book, but I hung on every word. There were so many places in which the plot could have veered into melodrama, and I was so glad it didn’t. Millet tells a beautiful, poignant story that I really connected with.

Book Review: "Blackwater" by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham

There’s something strange happening in the small town of Blackwater, Maine…

Tony is a handsome, popular track star. Sometimes he’s kind and friendly, and sometimes he’s drawn into pranks or bullying by his best friend, the football team’s quarterback. At the end of the day, what he wants more than anything is for his father to notice and appreciate him.

Eli has an autoimmune disease which lands him in and out of the hospital, and often makes him use a wheelchair. He is a complete outcast in school and his overprotective mother doesn’t want him to worry or get stressed, or he could get sicker. He just wants to have friends.

Despite the fact that his friend bullies Eli constantly, there’s something about him that intrigues Tony. But Tony isn’t sure what his feelings mean, and he’s certainly not going to let his guard down.

One night while on a hunting trip, Tony gets bitten by some animal. The next thing he knows, his temper flares up constantly and something seems to happen to him when he gets angry. There’s a mysterious woman in the woods who knows the truth but she refuses to help him. So it’s up to Eli to try and find answers—and perhaps he can figure out how to help the fisherman’s ghost that keeps following him.

Nothing like a combination of high school drama, ghosts, werewolf sightings, and tentative steps toward realizing who you really are! This graphic novel—which is co-written and illustrated—was a fun, slightly spooky read!

Book Review: "Dirt Creek" by Hayley Scrivenor

When a young girl disappears from a small Australian town, the investigation uncovers many secrets.

I don’t know what’s in the water in Australia, but they really have some great mystery writers! I’ve seen a lot of great crime novels reviewed by my Australian Bookstafriends that don’t even get published here in the U.S., so I was excited to get my hands on this.

“We understood, even then, that bad things happened. And we understood that sometimes people made them happen. Sometimes those people were people close to us, or even ourselves.”

When 12-year-old Esther goes missing after school, her disappearance rocks the small town of Durton. Everyone seems to see everything, so did no one really see what happened to her? As the detectives dig into the events of that day and suspicions shift, they step into a web of secrets and lies that have remained hidden just below the surface.

The story is narrated by multiple people, including Esther’s best friend, who starts an investigation of her own; Sarah, the lead detective, who is trying to hold her life together following a breakup with her girlfriend; and a Greek chorus of sorts made up by the voices of local children.

This is a slow-burn mystery with a Jane Harper-esque feel to it, but it is so rich in character development. There were so many nuances I really enjoyed.

Book Review: "Hawk Mountain" by Conner Habib

Hawk Mountain, Conner Habib's debut novel, is creepy and gory, yet shockingly emotional in places.

Todd is at the beach one afternoon with his young son Anthony when a man approaches. He is shocked to discover that the man is Jack, who transferred to Todd’s high school senior year and bullied him relentlessly, causing him to be the object of ridicule by many of his peers. But Jack is apparently thrilled to have run into his “old friend.”

Although Todd would like Jack to say hello and keep on walking, he wants to catch up. And grab dinner. And maybe stay the night? It’s not long before Jack has a fan in Anthony and starts insinuating himself into Todd’s life. His presence reawakens memories Todd had suppressed for years, as well as confusion about his feelings toward his old bully.

Little by little, Jack’s presence wreaks havoc in Todd’s life, causing trouble professionally and personally. And as Todd spirals out of control, everything is at risk.

This book had intrigued me for a while but it’s so far outside of my comfort zone that I hesitated reading it. It’s definitely gory, but at the same time, it’s a meditation on the lengths we go to hide our desires, and the cruelty we inflict on those we see ourselves in. Todd’s memories of Jack’s cruelty in high school definitely hit very close to home for me.

Habib is a tremendously talented writer and this is a very self-assured debut. This is definitely not for everyone but it’s a book that will make you think, and one you’ll want to discuss, even as it creeps you out.

Book Review: "Ready When You Are" by Gary Lonesborough

Gary Lonesborough's debut novel is a powerful story about having the courage to be your true self.

Jackson lives in in aboriginal community in Australia called the Mish. He has good, loyal friends, a loving family, a girlfriend, but he feels at odds with himself, feelings he tries to drown with alcohol and mischief. Dealing with the whites in the community who treat Jackson and his friends with racist disdain is hard enough, but he has to keep himself in check or he’ll wind up in juvie.

Jackson’s aunt comes to visit, bringing his cousins as well as Tomas, a troubled boy who’s been staying with her. Tomas shares Jackson’s room, which starts out as an annoyance because of his personal space, but becomes even more of a distraction when Jackson realizes what his feelings for Tomas really are.

When the two boys realize their feelings are identical, Jackson has to decide what to do. Will living his truth mean having to leave the Mish and lose his family and friends? What should he do, hide his feelings and the truth of who he is? Can he be happy that way?

Ready When You Are was a beautifully told book. While the story is familiar in some respects, I’ve never read a story that takes place in an Aboriginal community before, especially with these themes. I worried the plot might get too tragic or melodramatic and I was so happy it didn’t; this was a story with characters I rooted for.

Thanks so much to Pride Book Tours, Gary Lonesborough, and Scholastic Inc./PUSH for inviting me on the tour for this book and providing me a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!

Book Review: "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun" by Jonny Garza Villa

Get ready for an emotional, powerful story about coming out, finding your way, and finding love!

I’ve been meaning to read Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun for a while. And how can you not love an author who writes this in their author’s note? “So, as the writer of the words that form this journey, I ask you to do me a favor and check in with yourself before starting. And I want you to know that it’s okay if you’re not ready for this book yet. It’s okay if you never are.”

Julián is a high school senior growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. He can’t wait to graduate and get as far away as he can—hopefully to college in California—so he can finally feel free to be himself. He’s tired of his father’s expectations, criticisms, even occasional abuse, constantly telling him to act more like a man, not to be emotional, find a girlfriend, etc.

His best friends probably know he’s gay, but if he tells them, will everything change? He knows things with his father will only get worse, so he’s just biding his time. And then one night, with one drunken tweet, he throws his plans away, forcing it all—and himself—out into the open.

His friends are well-meaning, but when the abuse from classmates begins, they’re not as supportive as Jules expected them to be. But before his closet-smashing tweet he had met Mat, a high school student from California, by sliding into his DMs on Twitter. Little by little, this online friendship blossoms into something more serious, so Jules has someone to rely on as everything starts to come apart.

This is a beautiful story about taking control of your own life, about chosen family, and knowing that you have people in your corner. It’s tough at times, but I had faith that Jules would find his way.

Once again, I’m thankful that this generation has books like Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun to show them that they deserve love and friends and everything that they dream of, no matter how they identify themselves, no matter who they love.

Book Review: "The Heart Principle" by Helen Hoang

Wow, now I can see what all the hype for The Heart Principle has been about, since it showed up on a number of year-end best lists!!

Anna is a violinist for a symphony who accidentally achieves immense notoriety when a video of her performance goes viral. But that fame weighs on her, and she finds herself unable to keep playing her music without getting stuck on the errors she thinks she is making, causing her to withdraw from performing.

When Anna’s boyfriend Julian tells her he’d like an open relationship before settling down, she’s thrown for a loop, but she decides to get even. She plans to meet a bunch of men on dating apps and have one-night stands, even though that's totally out of character for her.

And then she meets Quan (a character from Hoang’s The Bride Test). He’s a handsome, smart, muscular, tattooed motorcycle rider. They have immediate emotional and physical chemistry but their attempts at an actual one-night stand fail—more than once. But Quan isn’t just interested in sex, he wants to be there for Anna, too, which is something she’s not used to. (Plus he's adorably nerdy, which I loved.)

When tragedy strikes Anna’s family, Quan is there for her, but slipping back into the traditional family roles takes a toll on Anna’s psyche. She’s constantly berated and belittled, and she's physically and emotionally exhausted, which causes her to question everything she’s come to believe. She has to decide whether she deserves Quan and if he’s willing to be with her regardless of her flaws.

Like Helen Hoang’s other books, The Heart Principle is a steamy one, but it’s also really tough emotionally. It deals with family illness and toxic family members, thoughts of suicide, cancer survival, and autism spectrum disorder, so one or more of these might be triggering for some. I love the respect Hoang has for her neurodiverse characters and her ability to show that they can be sexy, smart, and successful, too.

I loved Quan and Anna, and couldn’t get enough of them. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this!!

Book Review: "The (Un)Popular Vote" by Jasper Sanchez

The (Un)Popular Vote is a thought-provoking book about fighting for what is right, no matter what the cost.

When Mark came out to his parents as trans, he wasn’t expecting the reaction he received from his father, a U.S. Congressman. He was against Mark’s transitioning, so the deal was, Mark and his mother had to move to another town and Mark had to promise to stay under the radar and hide his true identity.

Mark has found a group of close queer friends at Utopia High School, but only two know the truth of him being trans. When a younger gay friend who has been bullied is suspended for punching his tormentor but nothing happens to those who have been bullying him, Mark is outraged, at the school’s refusal to take a stand, as well as his failure to recognize what was happening. The reaction of the candidates for student body president don’t impress him, so Mark decides to become a late entry into the race.

Of course, this isn’t staying under the radar, so his father is furious. As Mark and his friends—political junkies fueled by Scandal and The West Wing—scramble to mount a strong campaign, he knows there’s a risk his secret will be discovered. But he also feels a sense of responsibility to queer kids to try and make sure they’re protected, although the election brings out things in him he’d rather ignore.

I thought The (Un)Popular Vote was a really great story, and despite my distaste for current politics, I do love a good student council election! This was emotional and thought-provoking, too, with a truly diverse cast of characters. Wow, am I glad I didn’t go to school in the era of blogs and the internet!

Book Review: "Heartbreak Bay" by Rachel Caine

Heartbreak Bay was a tremendously satisfying conclusion to an excellent series, even though I’m sad why it had to end.

I’ve loved Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake series. The five books feature a great combination of heart-pounding action and suspense along with thought-provoking emotion. I was so sad to learn that Caine lost her battle with a rare form of cancer late last year. (Her author’s note at the end of this book is particularly poignant.)

You could read the series out of order but it’s best to start with Book 1, Stillhouse Lake. The series is about Gwen Proctor (formerly Gina Royal), a woman who inadvertently discovers her husband is a serial killer. She tries to escape him and his lethal reach so she can save their two children, only to face an immense amount of hatred from his “fans,” those who blame her for his getting caught and/or who think she’s guilty, too.

In this book, Gwen agrees to help her friend Kezia, a Tennessee police detective, investigate a particularly dark case. They don’t realize what a web they’ve stepped into with this one. And at the same time, new stalkers have targeted Gwen and her family, threatening the life they’ve settled into, not to mention their safety. They’ll face a challenge unlike any they’ve ever known.

I’ve really grown fond of these characters and I’ll be sad not to have any more books in this series. It’s a really interesting concept—what would you do if you discovered the person you loved was a serial killer?

If you like thrillers, I’d definitely encourage you to read these books!

Book Review: "Spin Me Right Round" by David Valdes

A gay, YA twist on Back to the Future? Yes, please, give me David Valdes' Spin Me Right Round! (Oh, and you'll probably find yourself singing the song, either the original 80s version or Flo Rida's.)

Luis’ high school is supposed to be “progressive,” but students aren’t encouraged to be out, so the thing Luis wants more than anything, to take his boyfriend to prom, isn’t allowed. And while his mother is fully supportive of his being gay, she worries about him making a big issue of this at school because when she was a student there, Chaz, a gay classmate, was found dead on the night of the prom.

As the student-body president and a favorite of many of the faculty, Luis thinks he might be able to find a way to trick the school into allowing same-sex couples to go to prom. But his hopes are quickly dashed, and he's not sure how to handle his disappointment and anger, or his mother's resistance to his speaking up.

When a bump on the head sends him back to 1985, he finds himself in his very same high school—and his parents are students. Luis is determined to let Chaz know it’s ok to be who he is, and hopefully save his life in the process. But a super-conservative school isn’t the best place to stand out, and if he changes the course of the past, how will it affect the future?

I loved Spin Me Right Round so much! It was fun and silly and sweet and thought-provoking and a reminder of how far things have come but also a reminder of how far they still have to go.

Thanks to Storygram Tours and Bloomsbury YA for inviting me on the tour and providing a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!

The book publishes 12/7.

Book Review: "The Baseball Widow" by Suzanne Kamata

Suzanne Kamata's The Baseball Widow is a well-written exploration of family, belonging, connection, and, of course, baseball.

Christine has longed for connection, for purpose, to belong. When she meets Hideki, a teacher, she thinks their relationship will sustain her, but it isn’t until after she goes abroad to help Cambodian refugees that he realizes how much he needs her.

Once she returns to Japan, they get married and Christine gives birth to two children, including a young daughter with multiple disabilities. She needs her husband more than ever. But Hideki serves as a coach for his high school’s baseball team, a responsibility he takes very seriously, so he spends more time with his team than he does his family.

When Christine and Hideki’s son is bullied in school, a neglected and overwhelmed Christine takes the children home to the United States, thinking they might be safer there. But while she might have more help at home, she also has more temptation—in the form of Andrew, a friend from high school whose service in Fallujah left him emotionally and physically scarred.

Will Hideki realize that he may lose his family before it’s too late? Will Christine realize what’s most important to her? What sacrifices will both need to make?

This was a beautiful, thought-provoking book about being caught between two cultures. Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, Suzanne Kamata, and Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing for inviting me on the tour and providing a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!

The Baseball Widow publishes 10/5.