A modern day Scream (I know, I know, Scream isn't old! But sadly it is old, and so am I). In YLNAO, a serial killer from a popular docu-series has returned to resume his murderous rampage decades after his last victim. The viewpoints alternate between gay best friends, Frankie and Cole. Both characters are likable yet realistic, and sometimes hilarious. I'd love to see this turned into a slasher-esque movie one day.

"?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ? ????? ???, ? ??? ????--- ?????'? ????? ? ??? ????."⁣
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A unique yet accurate take on depression with fantasy elements, a bit of magic, a lot of fairy tales/folklore. McBride doesn't shy away from feelings of pain, suffering, sorrow, confusion, loneliness, guilt, and self harm.

I bought this children's book awhile back, around the time it was released. It's been sitting on my bookshelf unread ever since. Since the 1619 Project has a screen adaptation coming out this month, I decided to finally pick this up. I am so glad I did. While it's written for children, I still learned a few things I hadn't known going into this book. And the illustrations!! My God, the illustrations are gorgeous.

My top reads from 2022 🥇🥈🥉

I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. I feel like I'm running out of holiday read options that aren't just straight up rom-coms so that was why I was a little leery of reading this. But I think the sister swap plot was interesting enough to keep me engaged and not feeling like it was too much of a romance (or double romance). Still pretty Hallmark-y but put me in the Christmas spirit so I'll consider it a win.⁣

I know that I am late to the game here, but I absolutely loved this book. Within minutes of finishing, I had placed an order for the sequel. I can't wait to read it and see what happens to Frenchie & the rest of the characters. I became extremely invested in their lives and relationships. Over the course of the short 231 pages I laughed, I cried, I hoped & I mourned. I highly recommend this book for all young adult readers & everyone else too.

"???? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????????"⁣
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Phenomenal! I read this entire book in one day. I had such a hard time putting it down. Living in Florida for the past seventeen years really made this book hit home for me, specifically. Brooks-Dalton is extremely skilled at writing humanity into her stories. The characters feel so real and their relationships with one another fill the reader's heart.

I absolutely loved listening to Tom tell his story. To quote Luna, "it was like being with a friend." I enjoyed the behind the scenes look into the filming of Harry Potter, the Felton family, and Tom's own thoughts. There were moments I laughed and deeper moments that truly made me reflect on my own life and family. His emphasis on mental health towards the end was relatable and shared an important message. Highly recommend a listen!

"????????? ?? ???? ????????? ????????????? ?? ??? ???? ???????, ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???."⁣
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A fun, locked room thriller that takes place the night before Halloween. It reminds me of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". It kept my attention the whole time and I wasn't really able to guess whodunnit or the twist at the end.

Number One Is Walking is a fun (comic) book with tales from Steve Martin's life throughout his career. He tells you stories about times he worked with other celebrities. The little stories about each star were funny and the illustrations are fantastic. A nice, quick read.⁣

"??? ? ??????? ? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????????. ??'?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ? ??? ??. ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????. ??? ??? ??? ????..."⁣
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Sain writes realistic characters in extremely atmospheric settings. I could feel Whisper Cove in my bones. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

I should have known this book would be amazing before reading it based on Oprah's recommendation but I was still surprised. What really convinced me to originally read this book was the audiobook narrator. Joniece Abbott-Pratt is far and away my favorite audiobook narrator so I came for her. I stayed for both her excellent narration and the touching story of Kiara, and the many other women of color who suffer but fight, just like she does.

I absolutely loved this series and I'm pretty sad it's over. It definitely will be disappointing not having another one of these books to look forward to next summer. This one was probably my least favorite of the three but I still really liked it. I recommend the whole series. Read them in order but here's the list of my favorites to least favorites in the series:
1) Dark Waters
2) Small Spaces
3) Dead Voices
4) Empty Smiles

"???????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??, ???? ??????? ??, ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ????."⁣
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I loved the twists, turns, & reveals! I felt like I wasn't sure I liked the book that much during the first half. It was good but not unputdownable. That changed drastically in the second half where I couldn't read fast enough.

"?? ???? ?? ? ????? ????? ??????????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ???????? ???."⁣
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I wasn't sure I would enjoy this one as much since I'm not into tennis and have never been an athlete However, as always, TJR writes an extremely readable story. I recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed TJR's books from this "universe". I have a feeling the audiobook will be good.

Honestly phenomenal. I highly recommend the audiobook. It's narrated by Jennette herself and she does the voices of her mom & boyfriends which really adds a lot to the story. I feel like I have a true picture of her mom in my head now, knowing her tones and intonations. I'm impressed by Jennette's strength & bravery in telling her story. Read this book today, you won't regret it!

"???? ???? ???'? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???, ??? ???? ???? ???."⁣
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Why is this trilogy so good?! Everything I hoped for in a conclusion... & so much more. I have become so invested in the lives of these characters, I'm sad it's over. The Aurelian Cycle trilogy has easily become one of my favorite series, ranking at the top with The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, & His Dark Materials.

As someone who regularly judges a book by its cover, the creepy house on the cover really drew me in. I could tell that this was going to be a creepy and atmospheric read. Based partially on Manchen's 1894 novella, The Great God Pan, These Fleeting Shadows flips the script to make this almost a feminist retelling. Instead of focusing on the "doctor", this book focuses on the female victims, giving them a voice.

"????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ?????????????."⁣

I love the easy way the world flows, how Ayana Gray is able to let the story - the world unfold together in a way where I never feel lost or confused or like I am being "taught" the world's dynamics. An excellent sequel, even better than the first! I look forward to the final installment.⁣

"...????? ????? ??? ? ?????..."⁣
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I had pretty high hopes for this book going into it because I had really enjoyed The Speed Of Falling Objects. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed Some Of It Was Real just as much. Fischer is an excellent author, her work is incredibly readable. I was thoroughly invested in Sylvie's life, anxious to uncover the secrets of her past right alongside her. ⁣

Similar to Dark Matter & Recursion, Upgrade is a believable yet thrilling science fiction story. Taking place in a not so distant future where gene editing has become easy to accomplish but is illegal due to the dire consequences that can occur when doing so. Crouch does an excellent job mixing real science with fiction, causing the reader to really question our own knowledge and morals in a future world that may someday become our own reality.

I flew through Elsewhere, driven by curiosity & great character development. A quick & intriguing read, it kind of reminded me of The Grace Year. I can tell that this is one of those stories that will stick in my mind for years to come. It's a bit poignant considering the recent increased discussion regarding the removal of a woman's right to choose. While Elsewhere is very different from Saint X, I still really enjoyed it.

Little Free Library book drop for an advanced copy of Alexis Schaitkin's 𝐄𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!
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𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭:
Little Free Library Charter #76058
10201 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32817 ⁣
Lat: 28.5715350 Long: -81.2412560
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If you're nowhere near Orlando, click below to see a map all of the LFL locations where you can find an early copy of Elsewhere

https://bit.ly/3xVedW3
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Elsewhere will be available in stores on June 28

A fun, suspenseful teen slasher. A creepy, old Dracula castle makes the perfect setting for this atmospheric YA thriller. It's a really fast paced read, keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Reminding me a bit of Halloween Resurrection, there are some fun twists as you try to figure out whodunnit.

As always, these books are a fun, magical, escape from reality. I really have grown to love Morrigan Crow, she gives me an almost homey feeling at this point. Like the first two books, I did listen to the audiobook, as the narration is phenomenal and I enjoy the musical interlude for changing chapters. It really makes the book an experience and I highly recommend it. These books are great for any age and I can't wait for the next one.

"...???? ?????? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ??? ???'? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????????."⁣
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I finally got around to reading this and absolutely loved it. I had heard only great things but I love dystopian stories and I love survival stories, so it's like The Grace Year was written just for me. It reminded me a bit of Lord of the Flies, Wilder Girls, and Shusterman's Unwind series.

#TheCounselors is the perfect summer YA thriller read. Jessica Goodman really knows how to pick fun and atmospheric settings. This book whisks readers away an exclusive summer camp in the northeast. The main character and her friends are counselors know but have spent every summer at this camp for the past ten years or so. This summer everything seems a bit different though, darker and more serious.

It's like if you combined Ready Player One and Percy Jackson, with Raya and the Last Dragon or She Who Became the Sun. It's a lot of action and adventure but it also secretly taught me a lot about Chinese history. I really love learning when I don't really know I'm learning and that's what this book does. I can't wait for the sequel, there better be one after that ending!!

"...??? ???? ?????, ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ????."

Everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It reminded me of Signe Pike's The Lost Queen series. The setting and characters were amazing. I especially loved the female point of view. This is one of those books you never want to put down but that you're also trying to read slowly in order to savor it. Chef's kiss ?

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An inspiring middle grade novel. I really loved the focus on working hard & believing in yourself even when others don't seem to. This book was definitely a bit lighter than Amal Unbound. I absolutely loved Amal so was glad to see her character return here, but also liked the shift to a young, male & his own struggles growing up.

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The world building is phenomenally effortless. The magic system is nothing I have ever read before but also seems innate at the same time. The politics absolutely bring this book home for me.

The Shadow House is the second thriller written by Anna Downes. I really enjoyed The Safe Place so was excited to dive into this one. Downes is really great at setting the scene. I always feel like I am living inside her novels. Taking place in an ecovillage in Australia, The Shadow House took me to a location and community I've never experienced before. With a few fun twists and turns, this book kept me guessing up until the very end. ⁣

An extremely atmospheric and magical book. I had been really looking forward to reading it based on the synopsis and it definitely lived up to my high hopes. Excellent world building, a believable magic system, relatable characters with real backstories, and an enchanted but mysterious hotel all make this book well worth the read. I was entranced from page 1 all the way until the very end.⁣

Girl In Ice is my second Erica Ferencik book and so far I'm 2/2 in absolutely loving them. The author drops the reader into an uncomfortable and somewhat crazy environment. I felt like I was truly in the icy weather of Greenland when reading this book. The ending of this book was an unputdownable, anxiety inducing, thrill ride. I have an absolute blast with these books, a perfect mix of mostly credibility with a dash of magical realism.

Nothing I can say about Ain't Burned All the Bright would do it justice. Reynolds is an amazing & creative writer that never disappoints. He is always able to represent the Black community in America in a way that invokes such deep feelings in the reader. Pairing his poetry with Griffin's artwork only intensifies this unique talent. In truly only three sentences, this book covers a wide variety of emotions from trauma to hope.

A feminist retelling of the classic Greek myth. When Medusa flees to an uninhabited island after her hair is turned into snakes, she enjoys the peace and quiet with her dog & sisters. However, soon Perseus shows up. She is determined to keep him from seeing the disfigured monster she has become. The plotline is changed a bit from the story we all know, adding more depth & humanity to Medusa the woman. The writing & illustrations are both gorgeous.

The outer space luxury liner horror thriller that I never knew I needed. I loved absolutely everything about this book. The survivalist space horror mixed with a Titanic salvage discovery feel, pulled me in and never let me go. This is the book I was wishing I was reading instead of working all week. I don't want to give anything away so instead I'll just say that I really hope we get a movie for this one. It would be absolutely wild.

These are fairly short books but pack in a lot. The content is fantasy-esque but tends to touch on deeper topics of mental health and/or body image. This one was no different. Body image was pretty front & center. It was done tastefully, as always. This installment introduced new characters but not a new portal world. It was interesting to visit the White Thorn Institute but I really prefer the books about the different worlds behind the doors.

Another fantastic & thought-provoking middle grade novel by the amazing Haddix. I love everything she writes and this standalone is no different. In this book, rich children go to school in a classroom full of android children, to avoid bullying & concerns that could arise due to fiscal/societal inequalities. This has a younger feel to it than her other books so it would make a great start for readers before getting into her other books.

A unique YA fantasy that highlights MesoAmerican culture and mythology. I absolutely loved how the focus was on almost all women characters of all different shapes and sizes. There was an underlying message of body positivity for all women. The story alternates between two narrators, Indir and Saya. I personally was more interested in Saya's storyline but loved how the two storylines ended up tying together in the end.

A well researched & heartbreaking account of Argentina's Dirty War. I had known about the Desparecidos, but reading this book greatly expanded my knowledge of this tragic time in Argentina's history. The story jumps between two timelines, 1998 & the mid 1970s. The characters in both timelines are extremely well written & realistic. I truly grew to love them, root for them, and feel their agony.

A thrill ride. I had a lot of fun reading this book. The world building is immersive quickly and the characters are likable, garnering the reader's empathy. I always find Scholte's writing to be extremely readable, and this was no different. I read this entire book over the course of a single weekend. I was actually disappointed when it ended because I wanted more to read, which is a rare feeling for me at the end of a book.

"?????????? ??? ? ?????????, ?????????? ?? ??? ?????."⁣

I had my Dad review this one:

𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳 & 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭- 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵. ⁣
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𝟓 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣
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📚 𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 𝟸𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸 📚⁣
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"? ???? ??????? ???'? ?????? ???? ????? ???????. ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??????, ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????.”⁣
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After reading this book, I can absolutely see why it recently won both the highly prestigious Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Children‘s Author Award. Highly recommend!

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The newest historical fiction novel by the great Sepetys. An eye-opening look into the revolution in Romania in 1989. To be honest, this time & place in history is something I knew very little about before reading this book. Sepetys tells an extremely well researched history of this time through the eyes of a teenager whom he reader grows to truly care about.

An extremely relatable & down to earth story. The plot is much deeper & more meaningful than I had been expecting from a book about a wedding planner. The characters all feel very real, making the reader feel truly invested in their lives. This book has already been optioned for Hulu. I can't wait to see it play out on screen.

An action packed, atmospheric, dystopian, survivalist story...with wolves. This debut was everything I hoped it'd be. I could not put this book down! I like that this story was dystopian but not fantasy. I like fantasy but was glad not to have it here. I got to immerse myself in the ice cold world & its characters without having to learn a magic system. Also, no unnecessary love story to distract from the true plotline! So rare & so appreciated.

"... life had a system of checks and balances, and the bad breaks were tempered with good fortune. Even on this bleak day, hidden delights waited to offset the sorrow."

I forgot to post this review after completing it on New Year's Eve. I really enjoyed Oona Out of Order a lot more than I had expected to. I thought it was going to be more Hallmark-ish or "rom-comy" and was pleasantly surprised by the bit of dirt and depth it ended up having.

𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏⁣