Wild Dreamers

A young adult novel in verse that touches on so many important and heartfelt issues. Ana and Leandro are both immigrants to California. Ana has been unhoused for a while but she dreams of living in a home with her mother some day. Leandro and his therapy dog work at a bakery, but he dreams of overcoming his fears someday and being hopeful for the future. When the two teenagers meet is is electric and they find themselves filled with hope and joy. They work through fears, realize how much they care about their environment and work together to start a rewilding club at their high school. But will things from their past come back to haunt them and the future they have started to build together? Touching and well written. It's a quick read and pages alternate between the two lovebirds. 

Where the Sidewalk Ends

I've read this poetry collection multiple times as a kid and adult - but let me tell you I felt like I was reading it for the first time when I listened to the audiobook of Shel Silverstein narrating it himself. Equal parts terrifying and hilarious - his voices are next level. I legit thought I was on drugs listening to this. But wow - what a new way to appreciate this masterpiece. I can't wait to read it to Pia someday. Or maybe I'll traumatize her and make her listen to the audiobook as well!

Becoming Free Indeed

I'm on a Duggar kick. I recently finished Jill's memoir and watched the Shiny Happy People documentary so I was all in on reading another kid's perspective on growing up Duggar. Jinger doesn't spill the beans or trash talk her family. She doesn't trash talk anyone. She talks about her faith journey and her decision to leave IBLP and turn away from Bill Gottherd's harmful teachings. She talks about how and why his teachings are harmful and the process she took to read and understand the Bible herself. This is very much a faith based book about disentangling bad beliefs from good religion. Interesting and good for her. She seems and sounds happy which is great!

Into the Sunken City

An action packed teen novel that explores what would happen if it never stopped raining. For Jin and Thara, it's not a hypothetical, it's the world they were raised in. They live on a small sliver of land and try to keep their father's Inn open. He died a few years back while on a dive and Jin still hasn't forgiven herself. Since then she has done nothing but sacrifice so her younger sister can get through school. When a wary traveler shows up with some real gold and a fantastic tale - Jin doesn't believe her at all, but her younger sister is easily swayed by stories of pirates and adventure. Fast paced, but meh. 

Bride

Loved it. Slow burn, snarky paranormal creatures, marriage of convenience, steamy sex, and laugh out loud humor - made this a total win for me. Ali Hazelwood keeps proving, time and time again that she really can write romcoms. I have yet to read anything of hers that I haven't loved. Brid is about a vampyre forced to "marry" a were and stay in were land for a year. It's the beginning of a new alliance and Misery Lark always gets thrown to the wolves by her people (in this case, quite literally). Lowe Moreland is trying to do what is best for his people and if hat means he needs to wed a blood sucking leech then so be it. Little do they know how that they might actually enjoy being wedded to each other. Lots of fun. A quick and delightful read. 

The Rom-Commers

OMG! This book was amazing. Katherine Center knows how to get all the feels into her books. I legit laughed and cried. The characters were perfect and wonderfully flawed. The execution was top tier. When two screen writers find themselves working together on a romantic comedy will they get more than they bargained for? Yes, yes, and yes. Sweet, compelling, fantastic. Don't read any spoilers - just do yourself a favor and read this. It truly might be my favorite Katherine Center book ever!

Light Years From Home

It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I did I got pretty invested. I enjoyed how the story was told between the three viewpoints of the different siblings and the book really kept me guessing. Three siblings go camping with their father, their father and brother disappear under extremely weird circumstances. Their father reappears later - convinced his son was taken by aliens. It slowly tears their family apart. Years later the gang is reunited but there is bad blood. Was their brother really taken by aliens or not? And what is going on with their mother. The relationship and dynamics were so interesting and the sci-fi element was interesting. I actually quite liked it. People that like family dramas will definitely enjoy this!

Pacific Vortex

I listened to and enjoyed the Fargo Adventures by Clive Cussler - but maybe I went too far back in time for this one. Pacific Vortex is the first of the Dirk Pitt series. I've seen the movie Sahara, but that is all I know about Dirk and his exploits. The first novel was ok - but the old narration was not great and the story was not that thrilling. Very meh for me. I might continue with the series (only if the narrator changes though!). 

Wildfire

Summer smut that is sweet and ... wholesome? Aurora and Russ, two college kids who "accidentally" had a one night stand - find themselves thrown together as camp counselors at an exclusive summer camp for kids. Surprise! Aurora's home away from home is this camp - as a kid it's the safest she ever felt. She loved being a camper and she loves being a counselor even more. For Russ it's all a new experience, he needs the cash and to get away from his messed up family for the summer. Besides their hook up at college, Russ and Rory, find that they have lots in common (daddy issues!) and have to admit that their attraction goes deeper than just boning. Light, fluffy, and funny - this steamy romance is good for college kids (I felt so old reading this). 

Icebreaker

Smutty hockey romance. It was nice to see a healthy relationship portrayed - but I officially feel too old now to be reading college smut. I felt aged reading this even though it was pretty enjoyable. There was a lot of drama, a lot of sex, and a lot of over the top scenarios but it was a fun read. I suppose I will read the second in the series :)

Yours from the Tower

I absolutely adored this book! So much fun and I know younger me would have also loved it. Told through a series of letters between Sophia, Tirzah, and Polly in late nineteenth century England - Yours from the Tower is a celebration of female friendship. The letters are funny, heartfelt, sometimes sad, and all around wonderful. The girls couldn't be more different in temperament and in circumstance. They all met at a girl's finishing school - but now they are back at "home" they miss each other dearly. One girl is in the middle of her first (and only) season and she is hoping to catch a wealthy man to care for her and her younger sisters, another is stuck at home with her grandmother as a companion, and the third works at an orphanage. So much fun - I loved this novel from the very first page!