melissyteapot73's reviews
1060 reviews

Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson

emotional funny hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

I'm Just a Little Guy: How to Escape the Horrors and Get Back to Dillydallying by Charlie James

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

My Neighbor Totoro: The Official Cookbook by Studio Ghibli

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico

challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

4.5

Some Body Like Me by Lucy Lapinska

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

I have enjoyed the author's middle grade novels in the past, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for how superb this was! It's completely different from their children's books, showing a skill at writing for different age groups that not all possess. This book is sensitive, contemplative, and philosophical, as well as being chock full of humanity. Lapinska gives both narrators a distinct voice and identity and I was fascinated by both the human and the PCC perspective.

The comparisons to Klara and the Sun are inevitable, but I think they both scratch different itches. Some Body Like Me gives a level of detail that I just love: it felt like every little intricate detail had been thoughtfully considered, for example the climate considerations, technology, and intimacy. As a result the world felt real, something I was able to get fully absorbed in. The PCCs at the station I will be thinking about for a long time.

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Sweet Berries by C.M. Nascosta

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

You Wish (Book Two): Wishborn by Jeff Victor

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

I adored the first volume of this graphic novel so I was really excited to get to the next instalment! Gribblet is haunted by not knowing what happened to his parents and gets lured to the genie world by the chance of finding out what became of them, but ends up getting kidnapped and held captive. Avery then sets out to find Gribblet, meeting another Wishborn human in the process. A light-hearted adventure that highlights the importance of friendship and found family.

Thanks to #Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

23:45 by Ohana

mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.5

This was a cute tale of Iku, a geeky college student who finds himself able to see the ghost of a boy called Mimori who fell of a bridge, and at 23:45 every night he goes back to the bridge and relives the accident. Iku befriends Mimori, and has made it his mission to stop him from reliving the accident and also to find out what happened to him. Very cosy and sweet, with a bit of mystery. Felt like a m/m manga version of the film Just Like Heaven and I was here for it!

Thanks for #Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hey, Mary by Andrew Wheeler

challenging funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

This was great! An exploration of sexuality and religion and how the two intersect. Mark is Catholic, and his family is very active in the church community. He also has feelings for his openly gay friend, which leads to a lot of internalised homophobia as Mark battles with his feelings. Along the way he hears different perspectives of homosexuality and gender identity within the church from friends, acquaintances, and even a priest. There are some tough topics broached here, but there is a lot of humour as well which makes it a good balance overall. Perfect for the teen reader! 4.25/5

 Thanks to #NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.