Book Review: "Twelfth Knight" by Alexene Farol Follmuth

Here’s an existential question: is it a retelling if you’ve never read the original? I know the answer is yes, but the question came to mind when I was reading this enjoyable YA romance. It’s a retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, which I never read, so I just enjoyed the story for what it is.

High school makes Viola cranky. She’s not afraid to express her opinions, which gives her a reputation of being prickly and doesn’t gain her many fans. She also is student government VP under Jack, the charismatic quarterback who would rather charm people than do his job, which leaves Vi to be the bad guy. And it seems as if her best friend would rather apologize for her behavior than support her.

“No matter how smart I am or how hard I work, my acceptance is always conditional. And it’s not just me—I don’t know how any girl can exist in the world without being perpetually furious.”

The only place she really feels comfortable is in the world of Twelfth Knight, the MMORPG she loves. But even here she capitulates a bit—she plays as Cesario, a male knight, because she knows that her fellow players would condescend to a girl playing.

And when Jack’s football career gets sidelined by injury, a friend introduces him to Twelfth Knight. While at first he can’t believe he’s playing an online game, he gets hooked pretty quickly. Vi recognizes his character but doesn’t reveal her online identity to Jack. Little by little, they strike up a friendship in the game, and their conversations expand beyond vanquishing their enemies to life and love.

Follmuth is the pen name of sci-fi/fantasy writer Olivie Blake. She has created a really enjoyable story with characters who seem much more realistic than in many YA stories. If you’re familiar with Twelfth Night, you might enjoy this even more!

Book Review: "This Used To Be Us" by Renee Carlino

After reading this book, I was completely undone. I literally sat on my couch for a few minutes and had to collect myself emotionally. It’s not just that the book was sad in parts, but it was just so beautifully written.

Alex and Dani have been married for 22 years. There once was a time where they were madly in love with one another and couldn’t wait to be together; now, neither can stand the other. Dani thinks Alex is cold and unfeeling, and leaves her to do most of the parenting of their two sons; Alex thinks Dani is a drama queen who likes pointing out all of his faults.

They decide to get divorced, and they rent a nesting apartment where one can stay when the other is at their house with the boys. Of course, Alex realizes how much work it is to raise two children, deal with school, activities, laundry, etc. Dani misses having someone to share things with, and remembers how Alex used to be that person.

As they both start eking out their lives post-divorce, they each individually reflect on their relationship and where they both went wrong. They try to figure out whether to start dating again, and Dani works to resurrect her career as a television writer. Little by little, they come to realize what their love transformed them into, and how much they miss what they had.

“You think love equals happiness?” “No. I think the act of loving does, the skill, the ability in it—practicing and refining it…you know?”

Renee Carlino is an amazing, evocative writer. This is beautiful, emotional, sad, funny, and totally realistic. Love—and marriage—aren’t perfect, and neither are the people in a marriage. I absolutely loved this book.

Book Review: "Sleeping Giants" by Rene Denfeld

Whenever I read a book by Rene Denfeld, I know that it will be both emotional and thought-provoking. Denfeld’s books often look at the most vulnerable or marginalized in society, and I’ve been a huge fan since her incredible debut, The Enchanted.

Amanda was adopted as a baby, but she had no idea that she had an older brother Dennis, who died years ago. In need of connection to her past, she travels to the remote Oregon town where he drowned when he was nine.

Seeing the memorial the community put up after he was lost to the ocean prompts Amanda to find out what happened to him. She meets Larry, a retired, widowed police officer, who wants to help Amanda find answers.

They find out that Dennis was living in a home for disturbed boys from the time he was four. While the home had at one point been well-regarded, the boys were subjected to a controversial and dangerous form of treatment, and several boys disappeared. The home is now in ruins, and those still around to remember things are fairly reluctant to share any details. And someone will stop at nothing to make sure secrets stay secret.

“They say inchoate memory, formed before language, is the worst of all, because it flies like bats in your bones: you cannot heal from what you cannot voice.”

The book shifts between past and present, following Dennis’ time in the home and Amanda and Larry’s search for information. This book made me cry—definitely check trigger warnings because it packs a powerful punch. But out of the sadness comes hope.

Book Review: "Himbo Takes It All" by CD Rachels

Having an unrequited crush on a friend is difficult to deal with. It’s even worse when you’re gay and you have a crush on your straight best friend. That’s the situation with Andres. He’s been best friends with Hamadi since college, they live together, and they’re very affectionate with each other, but Hamadi still dates women. Lots of them.

“Hamadi, even on his worst days, is so damn lovable. He’s a hulking mass of brown skin, chiseled abs, three brain cells, and a heart of gold.”

Andres has put dating on hold because he keeps hoping Hamadi’s feelings might change. But his friends convince him to try speed dating, and even Hamadi supports it—but he tags along to make sure no one takes advantage of Andres, which causes quite a bit of chaos. In the end, though, Andres meets Hector, and they hit it off.

Suddenly, with Andres in a relationship, Hamadi feels left out. He loves Andres, but not like that. Right? But the more alone he feels, the more he starts to realize his feelings are more than just friendship. He wants to be with Andres.

When Andres gets an opportunity to intern for a famous chef, Hamadi worries that he’s too much of a himbo to be a good partner. And as they continue “experimenting,” neither wants to admit their true feelings. Will that cause them to lose out on everything?

This is the second book in CD Rachels’ Single Gamers’ Society series. I found this to be sweet, super steamy, and fun, and I just really enjoy these characters and their camaraderie.

Book Review: "The Champions" by Kara Thomas

Hadley is new to Sunnybrook, as her mother took a job as the superintendent of schools there. She is biding her time, hoping her senior year will result in her being named editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and getting accepted to Columbia so she can study journalism.

She’s not particularly thrilled that her first assignment is to write an article about the Tigers, Sunnybrook’s football team. They’ve won two consecutive state championships and are hoping to make history by winning a third. Everything in school—and in the town—revolves around the Tigers.

She receives an anonymous email warning her to stay away from the football team, and another telling her not to go to a party being thrown by one of the star players. But Hadley goes to the party, and one of the players that she interviewed collapses and falls into a coma. The players wouldn't let Hadley call an ambulance, and everyone was acting strangely. It turns out he was poisoned.

Eleven years ago, five of Sunnybrook’s cheerleaders were murdered. When another football player winds up dead after causing trouble at a game, Hadley is determined to figure out what’s behind the tragedies. Her investigative methods make her an outcast, but she’s able to track down some people who remember what happened 11 years ago.

What secrets are being hidden? Who is responsible for what is happening? Could Hadley be a target? And most importantly, can the truth be uncovered before someone else dies?

This was a great story, full of drama and twists and turns. It’s a follow-up to Kara Thomas’ book The Cheerleaders, but this can be read as a standalone. Reading this made me glad I didn’t go to high school when social media existed!

Book Review: "T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories from Being Fat in a World of Thin People" by Ian Karmel and Alisa Karmel

“To be fat in America is to be subject to a ceaseless and powerful campaign to make you feel ashamed of yourself. It happens directly, it happens indirectly, on purpose and by happenstance, but no matter how it happens, it’s cruel and constant and consistent.”

Ian Karmel is a comedian and comedy writer who was the co-head writer for The Late Late Show with James Corden. He’s also struggled with his weight for the majority of his life—he’s weighed as much as 420 pounds and now is comfortable with where he is. (Mostly.)

In this deeply personal, funny, and thought-provoking memoir, Karmel recounts his experiences growing up fat, from his early childhood to the days where he was at his heaviest, as well as his reflections on his journey to a place where he feels more in control of his weight. He touches on everything from dealing with the ridicule of his classmates (not to mention teachers and other adults), the myriad diets he tried, his success as a football player in high school, and what it was like trying to find someone to date.

“Now that I’m an adult, I can see all the terrible places I went, physically and mentally, because I was a fat kid.”

The last section of the book, “What Now?”, is written by Karmel’s sister Alisa, a psychologist who provides counseling for weight-centric concerns. She also struggled with being fat, so her section deals with more of the facts than the feelings.

As someone who has dealt with weight issues for most of my life, this book definitely hit close to home for me. The emotions, the shame, the diet attempts, the reaction of others—my experiences were similar but different. I found this very meaningful and cathartic in a way.

Book Review: "Seven Summers" by Paige Toon

I’ve been trying to think how best to express the way this book made me feel, and then I saw this blurb from Carley Fortune: “This book wrecked me in the best possible way.” Same, Carley, same.

Liv and Finn knew each other in grade school until he moved away. But six summers ago, they meet again at the bar Liv is working at, because Finn is filling in as lead singer for the house band. Their flirtation lasts all summer, and just when they give into their feelings, tragedy strikes. Liv is utterly bereft and Finn is there for her, but ultimately, he has to go back to Los Angeles and his real band.

They love each other deeply, but neither can move to the other. Finn doesn't want to come back to Cornwall because there are too many bad memories (and his music career is taking off), and Liv can't leave her older brother, Michael. So they make each other a promise—Finn will come back to Cornwall every summer, and if both are single, they’ll be together until Finn leaves again. But each summer it gets harder and harder to say goodbye and wait until the next year.

This summer, Liv meets Tom, a brooding man who rents out her guest cottage. At first she thinks he is surly, but she realizes this handsome man has so many layers, and is just as attracted to her as she is to him. As they draw closer, Liv realizes she’s found the reason to move on to a love that will stay all year long. But is that enough to give up on Finn?

The book alternates between the present and each of the previous six summers. Essentially it’s Liv’s story, as you see everything that unfolds through her eyes. Once again, Paige Toon dazzles with her ability to make you smile through your tears and weather the ups and downs with these characters.

I absolutely loved this book and I’m such a huge fan of Toon’s writing. This was a beautiful, emotional story I couldn’t get enough of.