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235 reviews
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This might be my favorite Jonny Garza Villa novel to date (and I've read all of their books!). It follows Gabriel "Gabi" through his first semester of college. He starts out thinking he has no room left for growth and he already knows everything there is to know about himself (said with all the overconfidence only an eighteen-year-old could have, LOL). We then watch Gabi eat his words and change A LOT.
This is JGV's first New Adult book, but it's a good mix of his YA (the biggest difference is the open door sex scenes). Gabi is a great MC; he knows he's good at football (soccer), but he's not obnoxious about it in the same way that Rafie is about mariachi in Canto Contigo. I'd say it's most similar to Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, not only because of the football/soccer focus, but also because Gabi goes through a queer awakening/coming out journey. There's a ton of homophobia (coming from one person in particular who wields a lot of power over him), so be prepared for that.
I liked that this didn't feel like insta-love. Def insta-connection, but Gabi had a lot of self-discovery to do before he could fall in love with Vale. It was slow burn, friends to lovers yumminess. I loved them together! Gabi's friend group was also incredible.
Just FYI, Gabi is hooking up with Vale's best friend, Leana, in the beginning. Nothing graphic, all closed door, and they're never in a relationship (though Gabi had planned to ask her to be his girlfriend the same night she broke things off).
I'm so glad JGV is with Levine Querido after basically getting screwed over by Saint Martins Press. Thank you to Levine Querido for the advanced copy!
PS Jonny if you're reading this please write a book for Pérez!!!
This is JGV's first New Adult book, but it's a good mix of his YA (the biggest difference is the open door sex scenes). Gabi is a great MC; he knows he's good at football (soccer), but he's not obnoxious about it in the same way that Rafie is about mariachi in Canto Contigo. I'd say it's most similar to Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, not only because of the football/soccer focus, but also because Gabi goes through a queer awakening/coming out journey. There's a ton of homophobia (coming from one person in particular who wields a lot of power over him), so be prepared for that.
I liked that this didn't feel like insta-love. Def insta-connection, but Gabi had a lot of self-discovery to do before he could fall in love with Vale. It was slow burn, friends to lovers yumminess. I loved them together! Gabi's friend group was also incredible.
Just FYI, Gabi is hooking up with Vale's best friend, Leana, in the beginning. Nothing graphic, all closed door, and they're never in a relationship (though Gabi had planned to ask her to be his girlfriend the same night she broke things off).
I'm so glad JGV is with Levine Querido after basically getting screwed over by Saint Martins Press. Thank you to Levine Querido for the advanced copy!
PS Jonny if you're reading this please write a book for Pérez!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia
The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
this was a reread from 2018! i remember loving it then
there are a few cringe harry potter references (keep in mind this was written in 2016) and weird talk about dating/being interested in boys being anti-feminist. but i do love a good much ado about nothing retelling!
there are a few cringe harry potter references (keep in mind this was written in 2016) and weird talk about dating/being interested in boys being anti-feminist. but i do love a good much ado about nothing retelling!
Get Real, Chloe Torres by Crystal Maldonado
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
disclaimer: I don't normally rate books, but since someone else on SG rated this 0.75 stars, I had to counteract it, and honestly, this book was near perfect to me so I'm okay with this rating!
It's no secret that I love Crystal Maldonado. The way she writes brings me back to when I was a teenager feeling all the things, and I particularly related to Chloe. She's sentimental, emotional, and dreading the next chapter of her life. For her eighteenth birthday, her dad gifts her with three tickets to her favorite boy band's reunion charity concert in Las Vegas. Four years ago, she had a falling out with her two best friends, Ramona (not sure if we're ever told her Latinidad, but she's brown) and Sienna (white Argentinian American), who she bonded with over Intonation. Her cousin/best friend, Diego, can't go to the concert with her because of work, her dad and stepmom, Karina, are expecting a baby soon and can't go, and her one friend Whit (loved Whit's cameos!) already has tickets. So Chloe gets all up in her feels and finds the BFF bucket list she made with Sienna and Ramona in middle school. One of the items on the bucket list was to go to an Intonation concert together. She decides she needs to try inviting both of them on a week long road trip as a final hurrah to high school before they go their separate ways. And maybe they can even be friends again....
As always with a Crystal Maldonado book, I loved all the characters. They were complex and imperfect and relatable. Diego is a new-ish drag queen (fun! we love her!). Chloe's papi is SO endearing/funny in his protectiveness of her. Karina mellows Chloe's father out. Ramona has a tough exterior but is a total softie (don't tell anyone). Sienna is so bubbly and cheerful with a lot of pressure in her home life. Chloe's character really hit close to home for me, as I alluded to above. She has ADHD, and while not all ADHD is the same, I related a lot to hers (especially the time blindness!). She's so nostalgic, which fuels her to invite her former BFFs on a road trip (honestly so bold). She's impulsive when upset, and she's upset when her big expectations don't match up with reality. Sometimes I wanted to scream at her to stop living in the past, but then I realized I also live in the past sooo we love the introspection!
I don't really remember Chloe from Whit's book, so this has made me want to go back and reread that. Whit's book was my first five star read of 2024 and Chloe's book is my first five star read of 2025! (forget that I said I don't normally rate books, LOL, I exist in multitudes)
Read this book for:
🩷 a cast of queer characters, and a queer (sapphic) main romance!
🩷 a semi-love triangle (more like Chloe starts crushing on one of them and then discovers, wait no, she has a crush on the other!)
🩷 the magic you feel when seeing your favorite band in concert (iykyk)
🩷 ALL Latine characters! (Chloe is Puerto Rican, like the author)
🩷 ADHD rep!
🩷 road trips
🩷 reconnecting with old friends and growing together
Thank you so much to Holiday House and Crystal Maldonado for the advanced copy of this book!!! Seriously one of my most anticipated of the year, and you blew it out of the park. Can't wait for the next one!
It's no secret that I love Crystal Maldonado. The way she writes brings me back to when I was a teenager feeling all the things, and I particularly related to Chloe. She's sentimental, emotional, and dreading the next chapter of her life. For her eighteenth birthday, her dad gifts her with three tickets to her favorite boy band's reunion charity concert in Las Vegas. Four years ago, she had a falling out with her two best friends, Ramona (not sure if we're ever told her Latinidad, but she's brown) and Sienna (white Argentinian American), who she bonded with over Intonation. Her cousin/best friend, Diego, can't go to the concert with her because of work, her dad and stepmom, Karina, are expecting a baby soon and can't go, and her one friend Whit (loved Whit's cameos!) already has tickets. So Chloe gets all up in her feels and finds the BFF bucket list she made with Sienna and Ramona in middle school. One of the items on the bucket list was to go to an Intonation concert together. She decides she needs to try inviting both of them on a week long road trip as a final hurrah to high school before they go their separate ways. And maybe they can even be friends again....
As always with a Crystal Maldonado book, I loved all the characters. They were complex and imperfect and relatable. Diego is a new-ish drag queen (fun! we love her!). Chloe's papi is SO endearing/funny in his protectiveness of her. Karina mellows Chloe's father out. Ramona has a tough exterior but is a total softie (don't tell anyone). Sienna is so bubbly and cheerful with a lot of pressure in her home life. Chloe's character really hit close to home for me, as I alluded to above. She has ADHD, and while not all ADHD is the same, I related a lot to hers (especially the time blindness!). She's so nostalgic, which fuels her to invite her former BFFs on a road trip (honestly so bold). She's impulsive when upset, and she's upset when her big expectations don't match up with reality. Sometimes I wanted to scream at her to stop living in the past, but then I realized I also live in the past sooo we love the introspection!
I don't really remember Chloe from Whit's book, so this has made me want to go back and reread that. Whit's book was my first five star read of 2024 and Chloe's book is my first five star read of 2025! (forget that I said I don't normally rate books, LOL, I exist in multitudes)
Read this book for:
🩷 a cast of queer characters, and a queer (sapphic) main romance!
🩷 a semi-love triangle (more like Chloe starts crushing on one of them and then discovers, wait no, she has a crush on the other!)
🩷 the magic you feel when seeing your favorite band in concert (iykyk)
🩷 ALL Latine characters! (Chloe is Puerto Rican, like the author)
🩷 ADHD rep!
🩷 road trips
🩷 reconnecting with old friends and growing together
Thank you so much to Holiday House and Crystal Maldonado for the advanced copy of this book!!! Seriously one of my most anticipated of the year, and you blew it out of the park. Can't wait for the next one!
When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This is my first time reading a Mia Sosa book, and I had a good time!
This book stars Mari (Brazilian American) and Javi (Puerto Rican), who met in college ten years ago. They make a pact that they will only date someone with the other's approval, because they both suck at seeing the red flags in their dates. From the start, they both friend zone each other (even though I believe the "friend zone" is stupid and doesn't exist, lol). Even though they both feel sparks, they don't think a one night stand is worth the end of their friendship. Flash forward ten years, and Mari introduces Javi to her fiancé, who he didn't even know existed. They're getting married in six weeks, and Mari never asked him for his thoughts. Worse, Javi was planning on confessing his feelings for Mari!
The book kind of lost me when there were multiple consecutive flashback chapters. I felt like we focused more on the past than the present. Flashbacks are useful when characters have known each other for a long time, but sometimes all of that backstory can drag on. I became more invested in the story when the flashbacks were closer to the present timeline, like 2 years ago or 8 months ago.
If you like friends to lovers who have a long history, then this book is for you!
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!
This book stars Mari (Brazilian American) and Javi (Puerto Rican), who met in college ten years ago. They make a pact that they will only date someone with the other's approval, because they both suck at seeing the red flags in their dates. From the start, they both friend zone each other (even though I believe the "friend zone" is stupid and doesn't exist, lol). Even though they both feel sparks, they don't think a one night stand is worth the end of their friendship. Flash forward ten years, and Mari introduces Javi to her fiancé, who he didn't even know existed. They're getting married in six weeks, and Mari never asked him for his thoughts. Worse, Javi was planning on confessing his feelings for Mari!
The book kind of lost me when there were multiple consecutive flashback chapters. I felt like we focused more on the past than the present. Flashbacks are useful when characters have known each other for a long time, but sometimes all of that backstory can drag on. I became more invested in the story when the flashbacks were closer to the present timeline, like 2 years ago or 8 months ago.
If you like friends to lovers who have a long history, then this book is for you!
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!
This Is the Year by Gloria Muñoz
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Overall, I enjoyed this! I sometimes got confused because it kind of reads like an edited stream of consciousness; it has no chapters or page splits. I think this is a book that would be great to read in audio form. I'd consider this a slice of life book, where nothing much happens and it's all vibes/feelings, no true plot. Julieta (Juli) is still processing the grief after losing her twin sister, Ofelia (Ofe). The book is written in first person, BUT Juli is writing to Ofe, so there are many instances of "you" in the narrative. I'm not sure exactly what year it all takes place, but the world is futuristic yet still recognizable. Climate change has ravaged the planet (even more so than now). Extreme weather, really hot temperatures, endangered species becoming extinct, all the rich people gentrifying the inner city and forcing the inner city people out towards the beaches where the climate is more extreme. Oh, and AI becoming more mainstream. I loved reading about the reality TV dating shows with AI and humans, because that would totally be a thing. Most of all, though, I liked seeing Juli come back to her friends and discover her passions after a year of isolation.
Also can we just all bow down to the cover artist because that cover? She is gorgggg.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book!
Also can we just all bow down to the cover artist because that cover? She is gorgggg.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death
Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was so cute! Cute to the point of bordering on cheesy, with a few too many flower and music metaphors which definitely made it straight-up cheesy, lol. I didn't like it as much as Red String Theory, but I still found it really heartwarming and hopeful. I liked the inclusion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and discussion of non-Western ways of healing. Chryssy and her aunties treat the physical manifestations of heartbreak through TCM, which I found really unique since western ways of thinking don't acknowledge heartbreak as something physical, only psychological.
I loved Chryssy and Vin together and seeing how their relationship grew over time, transitioning from fake to real. The curse aspect was interesting but also seemed like just a self-fulfilling prophecy, like "oh they broke up with me, so that means the curse is real!" Relationships end in breakups, even for people not "cursed." But I did like how Chryssy tried to undo (or "understand") the curse so she could be with Vin.
While I liked the included side characters (especially Chryssy's aunties and Vin's brother Leo!), I do wish I had seen Chryssy or Vin with some friends. Outside of Vin, Chryssy only ever interacted with her aunties/family, and I never heard her mention a friend's name, nor did she make any friends in the story. Family can be great, but we do also need friends. I know Vin's childhood didn't really allow for him to make any lasting friends, and his lifestyle now makes friendship hard, but I wish I had seen him become less isolated.
I loved the messages of taking breaks and not letting life pass you by. We overwork ourselves and burn ourselves out, and for what? I liked seeing Vin and Leo take a step back and realize they needed more balance in their lives. Also, sometimes even the best, most epic love stories end. There's no way of knowing if a relationship will end, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't take the leap of faith and find love anyway. "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" right? Finally, we are more than just a label given to us, and sometimes we outgrow our labels (or those labels might never have been accurate to begin with). Chryssy and Vin both grew TREMENEDOUSLY from start to end, with Chryssy opening herself up to love (and in turn, the possibility of heartbreak) and Vin learning to find work-life balance.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
I loved Chryssy and Vin together and seeing how their relationship grew over time, transitioning from fake to real. The curse aspect was interesting but also seemed like just a self-fulfilling prophecy, like "oh they broke up with me, so that means the curse is real!" Relationships end in breakups, even for people not "cursed." But I did like how Chryssy tried to undo (or "understand") the curse so she could be with Vin.
While I liked the included side characters (especially Chryssy's aunties and Vin's brother Leo!), I do wish I had seen Chryssy or Vin with some friends. Outside of Vin, Chryssy only ever interacted with her aunties/family, and I never heard her mention a friend's name, nor did she make any friends in the story. Family can be great, but we do also need friends. I know Vin's childhood didn't really allow for him to make any lasting friends, and his lifestyle now makes friendship hard, but I wish I had seen him become less isolated.
I loved the messages of taking breaks and not letting life pass you by. We overwork ourselves and burn ourselves out, and for what? I liked seeing Vin and Leo take a step back and realize they needed more balance in their lives. Also, sometimes even the best, most epic love stories end. There's no way of knowing if a relationship will end, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't take the leap of faith and find love anyway. "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" right? Finally, we are more than just a label given to us, and sometimes we outgrow our labels (or those labels might never have been accurate to begin with). Chryssy and Vin both grew TREMENEDOUSLY from start to end, with Chryssy opening herself up to love (and in turn, the possibility of heartbreak) and Vin learning to find work-life balance.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
I'm just not feeling this one rn!
Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This is one of the best debuts I've read. I'm honestly shocked it's a debut, it's that good. I read the audio ARC of this book, and the narrator (Alaska Jackson) did a fantastic job!!
I loved Sariyah as a main character. She has a magical ability to hear what people need, like chewing gum, a pencil, etc. She gets migraines if she doesn't fulfill people's needs, so she carries around what she calls her "Santa Bag" full of random objects. Sariyah gives her friend, Deja, pepper spray. That night, Deja goes missing. Just like Sariyah's best friend, Tessa, went missing five years ago. Sariyah refuses to let Deja become another forgotten Black girl.
Sariyah really grapples with HOW people use the things they need. In the beginning of the book, she gives her boss nail clippers, which her boss then uses to do something more nefarious than trim her nails. She feels like she is to blame for what other people do with the objects she provides them, even though she doesn't know what they will end up using them for. But what if they are used for harm? Is she morally, even if not legally, at fault?
I love so much about this book. The characters are all complex. They had flaws that had me rooting for them. But even more than that, I love the discussion of Missing White Woman Syndrome: how Black girls (and other girls of color) are not given the same media attention as white girls when they go missing. Sariyah and her friends try to counteract this and keep the conversation about Deja alive, even if it feels futile.
I did NOT anticipate the twist(s). No spoilers here, though, so you'll just have to read the book to find them out ;)
ALSO that ending???!! How dare. I am not okay. You can't do me like that! There BETTER be a sequel coming or I will not know peace.
I loved Sariyah as a main character. She has a magical ability to hear what people need, like chewing gum, a pencil, etc. She gets migraines if she doesn't fulfill people's needs, so she carries around what she calls her "Santa Bag" full of random objects. Sariyah gives her friend, Deja, pepper spray. That night, Deja goes missing. Just like Sariyah's best friend, Tessa, went missing five years ago. Sariyah refuses to let Deja become another forgotten Black girl.
Sariyah really grapples with HOW people use the things they need. In the beginning of the book, she gives her boss nail clippers, which her boss then uses to do something more nefarious than trim her nails. She feels like she is to blame for what other people do with the objects she provides them, even though she doesn't know what they will end up using them for. But what if they are used for harm? Is she morally, even if not legally, at fault?
I love so much about this book. The characters are all complex. They had flaws that had me rooting for them. But even more than that, I love the discussion of Missing White Woman Syndrome: how Black girls (and other girls of color) are not given the same media attention as white girls when they go missing. Sariyah and her friends try to counteract this and keep the conversation about Deja alive, even if it feels futile.
I did NOT anticipate the twist(s). No spoilers here, though, so you'll just have to read the book to find them out ;)
ALSO that ending???!! How dare. I am not okay. You can't do me like that! There BETTER be a sequel coming or I will not know peace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness and Kidnapping
Free From Falling by E.L. Massey
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
most authors SUCK at songwriting but the lyrics in this book? I can actually see them topping the charts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
Unromance by Erin Connor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
i'm disappointed that i just wasn't feeling the "romance" between the two mc's! it didn't even feel like they had any physical chemistry, let alone emotional chemistry. i wanted so badly to love this because we have a chaotic bisexual woman jaded by love as the lead character, but something about her rubbed me the wrong way. her cynicism mixed with his hopeless romanticism felt super played up. the premise was a little strange, like "ruin romance for me by doing all of these romantic things with me but dw it's definitely not romantic" lol. i'm sure lots of people will eat this up but it unfortunately wasn't for me!
thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!