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thebooknerdscorner's Reviews (1.49k)
Sparks fly when a talent agent looking to recruit the town's best singer collide in this paranormal romance by Piper James!
Hali Weston has done everything in her power to keep the fact that she is a siren a secret. Yes, she may sing at the local dive bar in order to make money to support her ailing mother and work at the turtle sanctuary in town, but beyond that, she keeps to herself. That is, until Brendan, a handsome talent agent appears on her doorstep trying to make her a star. Hali can't afford fame; her secret is too big to risk. When Brendan begins to slowly steal her heart, things become more complex as she begins to dream about a world outside her very limited bubble.
I thought this romance was so cute! From the get-go, Hali and Brendan are such likable characters and I was rooting for the enemies to become lovers as soon as possible. I absolutely adore the banter between these two and their less than happy conversations they have with one another when they first meet. Brendan is mystified about why Hali doesn't want to be discovered as a musical talent, but Hali is just as scared that she'll never be able to trust him at the risk of him learning she's a mermaid.
I also want to mention how much a gentleman Brendan is. He is just so sweet and treat Hali with the utmost respect, which is something that isn't always the case with the male love interest in spicy romance novels. I was so happy to see him treat Hali like a literal princess both in his actions as well as his words. He could have hounded about recruiting her the entire book, but he lets it fall to the wayside when he realizes that he has took his shot at convincing her and was nowhere close to succeeding.
Hali cares about her mother, Grace, more than anything else in the world, so it's super sweet when Brendan works to befriend Grace, too. Grace is physically disabled, which adds another level to Hali and Grace's relationship. They will do anything for one another, even if it limits the freedom that they are both allowed to have. It is so great seeing such strong mother daughter connections in books, especially romances.
The music aspects of this book are quite fun. Hali does have siren song abilities, but she uses them as sparingly as possible. Sirens are so neat, so I was happy to read a romance starring such a fun mythical creature. And the way that James combines this with the modern aspects of the music industry was really fun to see play out.
The third act conflict in this one was done immaculately. I must say, it is pretty obvious that Hali's secret will eventually come out, but I feel as though it was done in a pretty chill way. I greatly appreciate that the author didn't choose to go with something super dramatic, as this let the conflict focus more on Hali and Brendan's romance rather than the drama.
And the physical intimacy between the two of them? Amazing! They may have only known each other for about a week before they got in bed together, but I really enjoyed the emotional connection between the two of them that they had already established before this point. They may have both been a tad horny and overdue for getting laid, but I enjoyed how much I could feel they cherished one another in the moment.
Overall, "Bewitched by the Siren" was a very enjoyable read. I ate up the tension between Hali and Brendan due to both the recruiting deal and Hali's siren secret. Hali's bond with her mother was one of my favorite parts of this novel, as was the musical elements. This is a romance that I can get behind, so I'm glad that I got to read this fun, paranormal romance! I am definitely wanting to check out more of Piper James' work in this future, so hopefully that is an opportunity that is awarded to me someday.
Hali Weston has done everything in her power to keep the fact that she is a siren a secret. Yes, she may sing at the local dive bar in order to make money to support her ailing mother and work at the turtle sanctuary in town, but beyond that, she keeps to herself. That is, until Brendan, a handsome talent agent appears on her doorstep trying to make her a star. Hali can't afford fame; her secret is too big to risk. When Brendan begins to slowly steal her heart, things become more complex as she begins to dream about a world outside her very limited bubble.
I thought this romance was so cute! From the get-go, Hali and Brendan are such likable characters and I was rooting for the enemies to become lovers as soon as possible. I absolutely adore the banter between these two and their less than happy conversations they have with one another when they first meet. Brendan is mystified about why Hali doesn't want to be discovered as a musical talent, but Hali is just as scared that she'll never be able to trust him at the risk of him learning she's a mermaid.
I also want to mention how much a gentleman Brendan is. He is just so sweet and treat Hali with the utmost respect, which is something that isn't always the case with the male love interest in spicy romance novels. I was so happy to see him treat Hali like a literal princess both in his actions as well as his words. He could have hounded about recruiting her the entire book, but he lets it fall to the wayside when he realizes that he has took his shot at convincing her and was nowhere close to succeeding.
Hali cares about her mother, Grace, more than anything else in the world, so it's super sweet when Brendan works to befriend Grace, too. Grace is physically disabled, which adds another level to Hali and Grace's relationship. They will do anything for one another, even if it limits the freedom that they are both allowed to have. It is so great seeing such strong mother daughter connections in books, especially romances.
The music aspects of this book are quite fun. Hali does have siren song abilities, but she uses them as sparingly as possible. Sirens are so neat, so I was happy to read a romance starring such a fun mythical creature. And the way that James combines this with the modern aspects of the music industry was really fun to see play out.
The third act conflict in this one was done immaculately. I must say, it is pretty obvious that Hali's secret will eventually come out, but I feel as though it was done in a pretty chill way. I greatly appreciate that the author didn't choose to go with something super dramatic, as this let the conflict focus more on Hali and Brendan's romance rather than the drama.
And the physical intimacy between the two of them? Amazing! They may have only known each other for about a week before they got in bed together, but I really enjoyed the emotional connection between the two of them that they had already established before this point. They may have both been a tad horny and overdue for getting laid, but I enjoyed how much I could feel they cherished one another in the moment.
Overall, "Bewitched by the Siren" was a very enjoyable read. I ate up the tension between Hali and Brendan due to both the recruiting deal and Hali's siren secret. Hali's bond with her mother was one of my favorite parts of this novel, as was the musical elements. This is a romance that I can get behind, so I'm glad that I got to read this fun, paranormal romance! I am definitely wanting to check out more of Piper James' work in this future, so hopefully that is an opportunity that is awarded to me someday.
A middle grade graphic novel starring a group of middle schoolers at a theatre camp.
Ashton Price has had a crush on their fellow theatre enthusiast, Ivy Santos, for the last few summers. Now that it's their final year together at theatre camp, Ash is desperate to gain the confidence they need to finally tell Ivy how they feel. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned when Ivy's stage partner, Lucas, is way more charming than Ash could ever be. The show must go on despite Ash's brewing feelings and they are ready to put their best foot forward to make this year's production of "Ella" as good as it can be regardless of their intense emotions.
This is a really sweet read featuring a nonbinary youth at theatre camp. Ash is a bit of a nerd who loves to draw and has an extensive passion for working tech. This makes them working as stage manager a perfect fit, and I really enjoyed following their journey to bring their theatre group's production to life. The technical elements of this show were pretty cool, so that was definitely a highlight of this reading experience.
The drama in this one is a tad self-inflicted, but it wasn't over the top either. The main conflict is literally Ash trying to build up the confidence to ask their crush out while they also believe that their crush is crushing on someone else. This is a pretty legit thing and seems like a perfect amount of drama for a middle school theatre camp.
Overall, "Upstaged" may not have been an overly unique story, but I still had a ton of fun with it. Seeing Ash chilling with his friends and the overarching theatre camp vibes made for a really fun time. The romance elements were subtle and not too overbearing, which is always appreciated in middle grade. I would definitely be willing to read more of Easter's work in the future!
Ashton Price has had a crush on their fellow theatre enthusiast, Ivy Santos, for the last few summers. Now that it's their final year together at theatre camp, Ash is desperate to gain the confidence they need to finally tell Ivy how they feel. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned when Ivy's stage partner, Lucas, is way more charming than Ash could ever be. The show must go on despite Ash's brewing feelings and they are ready to put their best foot forward to make this year's production of "Ella" as good as it can be regardless of their intense emotions.
This is a really sweet read featuring a nonbinary youth at theatre camp. Ash is a bit of a nerd who loves to draw and has an extensive passion for working tech. This makes them working as stage manager a perfect fit, and I really enjoyed following their journey to bring their theatre group's production to life. The technical elements of this show were pretty cool, so that was definitely a highlight of this reading experience.
The drama in this one is a tad self-inflicted, but it wasn't over the top either. The main conflict is literally Ash trying to build up the confidence to ask their crush out while they also believe that their crush is crushing on someone else. This is a pretty legit thing and seems like a perfect amount of drama for a middle school theatre camp.
Overall, "Upstaged" may not have been an overly unique story, but I still had a ton of fun with it. Seeing Ash chilling with his friends and the overarching theatre camp vibes made for a really fun time. The romance elements were subtle and not too overbearing, which is always appreciated in middle grade. I would definitely be willing to read more of Easter's work in the future!
A messy romcom in which the main character must own up to all the mistakes that he makes or risk losing all the relationships that he values most.
Jay Collier grew up in a small town as the only queer guy. Now, he has the chance to move to Seattle and live his best gay life. Jay finally has the chance to start exploring his many sexual fantasies and pursue those relationship goals that he feels are long overdue. Upon his move, he finds an extremely accepting LGBTQIA+ community and a Very Sexy Boy that he can't keep his eyes off of. Unfortunately, Jay finds himself stuck between the feelings in his heart and the horniness in his crouch, which leaves him stuck in the middle of some tough situations. Now, Jay must do everything he can to patch things up or risk losing the friendships that he values more than anything else.
It saddens me to say that this book made me very uncomfortable while I was reading it. I can't say that it was even a bad book, it just isn't one that I can say I liked. Jay is indeed a flawed main character, which is usually a good thing. Unfortunately, Jay was just too flawed for my liking, and I found myself hating literally every decision that he made throughout the course of this book.
I want to preface the majority of my thoughts by saying that I didn't just dislike this book due to the cheating element. I can acknolwelge the fact that Jay and Albert never had a discussion about dating one another or being exclusive, which means that it wasn't exactly wrong for Jay to be seeking out other guys. However, it still made me incredibly uncomfortable, which made it hard for me to like Jay or enjoy the overall story that was going on. (Especially because Tony was always a tad creepy, but that's just my opinion.)
Another thing that sorta bothered me was the way that Jay talked. He is definitely a walking gay stereotype in many ways, but I like how June uses this to discuss that many people have similar intersts in certain communites and expands on the fact that not all queer people are the same simaltaneously. However, some of Jay's mannerism and slang he uses straight up confused me and had me having to reread passages to figure out just what in the world this kid meant. This is probably more of a me problem than the book's fault, though.
The humor in this book was also not it for me. It reminded me of watching the musical "Grease," and all the raunchy humor that is present throughout that story. The drama, the cheating, and the sexual innuendos are also pretty similar, so there's that too, I guess.
The characters Albert and Max were definitely the redeeming factors in this one. Albert is a really sweet kid who spends his time playing video games. Now that I think about it though, I don't actually know much more about Albert besides that he's queer and is into gaming. Weird. Max, on the other hand, is such a unique genderqueer individual who often stumbles despite their best intentions. It is so sweet watching them try to help others, even though most of their attempts blew up in their face.
The other thing that I can really appreciate is the messages that this book explores. Yes, I may not have loved how it handles all of these themes, but I really do appreciate what it set out to do. Kids who grow up in rural communities with few queer members of the community are often forced to fall behind in the ways of romance and sexual exploration. This leads to many teens feeling excluded or abnormal compared to their classmates, as Jay does, so I think it's important to bring this factor to light. Also, I love how sex positive this book is, though I wish Jay would have been more open and honest to ALL of his friends about what exactly he was getting up to.
Overall, I didn't have the best time with "Jay's Gay Agenda," which is a bummer. I thought this one sounded really cute and funny, but unfortunately, Jay was just too stupid and horny for my liking. There were elements of this book, such as the sex positive messages and side characters that I enjoyed. In the long run though, this one wasn't for me. However, I am still excited to check out more of June's books in the future such as "Out of the Blue" and "Flopping in a Winter Wonderland."
Jay Collier grew up in a small town as the only queer guy. Now, he has the chance to move to Seattle and live his best gay life. Jay finally has the chance to start exploring his many sexual fantasies and pursue those relationship goals that he feels are long overdue. Upon his move, he finds an extremely accepting LGBTQIA+ community and a Very Sexy Boy that he can't keep his eyes off of. Unfortunately, Jay finds himself stuck between the feelings in his heart and the horniness in his crouch, which leaves him stuck in the middle of some tough situations. Now, Jay must do everything he can to patch things up or risk losing the friendships that he values more than anything else.
It saddens me to say that this book made me very uncomfortable while I was reading it. I can't say that it was even a bad book, it just isn't one that I can say I liked. Jay is indeed a flawed main character, which is usually a good thing. Unfortunately, Jay was just too flawed for my liking, and I found myself hating literally every decision that he made throughout the course of this book.
I want to preface the majority of my thoughts by saying that I didn't just dislike this book due to the cheating element. I can acknolwelge the fact that Jay and Albert never had a discussion about dating one another or being exclusive, which means that it wasn't exactly wrong for Jay to be seeking out other guys. However, it still made me incredibly uncomfortable, which made it hard for me to like Jay or enjoy the overall story that was going on. (Especially because Tony was always a tad creepy, but that's just my opinion.)
Another thing that sorta bothered me was the way that Jay talked. He is definitely a walking gay stereotype in many ways, but I like how June uses this to discuss that many people have similar intersts in certain communites and expands on the fact that not all queer people are the same simaltaneously. However, some of Jay's mannerism and slang he uses straight up confused me and had me having to reread passages to figure out just what in the world this kid meant. This is probably more of a me problem than the book's fault, though.
The humor in this book was also not it for me. It reminded me of watching the musical "Grease," and all the raunchy humor that is present throughout that story. The drama, the cheating, and the sexual innuendos are also pretty similar, so there's that too, I guess.
The characters Albert and Max were definitely the redeeming factors in this one. Albert is a really sweet kid who spends his time playing video games. Now that I think about it though, I don't actually know much more about Albert besides that he's queer and is into gaming. Weird. Max, on the other hand, is such a unique genderqueer individual who often stumbles despite their best intentions. It is so sweet watching them try to help others, even though most of their attempts blew up in their face.
The other thing that I can really appreciate is the messages that this book explores. Yes, I may not have loved how it handles all of these themes, but I really do appreciate what it set out to do. Kids who grow up in rural communities with few queer members of the community are often forced to fall behind in the ways of romance and sexual exploration. This leads to many teens feeling excluded or abnormal compared to their classmates, as Jay does, so I think it's important to bring this factor to light. Also, I love how sex positive this book is, though I wish Jay would have been more open and honest to ALL of his friends about what exactly he was getting up to.
Overall, I didn't have the best time with "Jay's Gay Agenda," which is a bummer. I thought this one sounded really cute and funny, but unfortunately, Jay was just too stupid and horny for my liking. There were elements of this book, such as the sex positive messages and side characters that I enjoyed. In the long run though, this one wasn't for me. However, I am still excited to check out more of June's books in the future such as "Out of the Blue" and "Flopping in a Winter Wonderland."
The first essay in Mindy Kaling's Amazon exclusive short stories series that showcases her life events in humorous detail.
Kelly Kapoor and Mindy Kaling both have the fact that they only embrace their Hinduism when it is convenient and entertaining in common. In this story, Mindy tells us about her shifting views on religion as she contemplates her daughter's future and debates how she must provide for her spiritually.
Religion is such a weird soup for so many people. Most kids grow up believing whatever their parents tell them to believe, which is a huge weight on the parents' shoulders. In Mindy's case, she has to decide whether she wants to introduce Hinduism into her daughter's life. At eight months old, Kit obviously can't make these decisions herself, which leaves Mindy feeling rather stressed and confused. This debate between embrace what you grew up with versus doing your own thing is something that most people experience in their lives, so I feel that this is a relatable story to many people.
I found that I enjoyed learning about the Mundan ceremony and all that it entails. Many Hindus believe that by shaving the baby's hair, they will leave behind the burdens and the karma from their past lives. This is a really neat concept, and I found learning about it from Mindy's hectic experience with her daughter's to be quite enlightening.
Overall, Mindy Kaling is just as witty as ever in her essay "Kind of Hindu." Hearing her discuss something as serious as religion was a nice change of pace, and the dive into her version of Hinduism was enlightening. I look forward to reading more of Mindy's essays in the future!
Kelly Kapoor and Mindy Kaling both have the fact that they only embrace their Hinduism when it is convenient and entertaining in common. In this story, Mindy tells us about her shifting views on religion as she contemplates her daughter's future and debates how she must provide for her spiritually.
Religion is such a weird soup for so many people. Most kids grow up believing whatever their parents tell them to believe, which is a huge weight on the parents' shoulders. In Mindy's case, she has to decide whether she wants to introduce Hinduism into her daughter's life. At eight months old, Kit obviously can't make these decisions herself, which leaves Mindy feeling rather stressed and confused. This debate between embrace what you grew up with versus doing your own thing is something that most people experience in their lives, so I feel that this is a relatable story to many people.
I found that I enjoyed learning about the Mundan ceremony and all that it entails. Many Hindus believe that by shaving the baby's hair, they will leave behind the burdens and the karma from their past lives. This is a really neat concept, and I found learning about it from Mindy's hectic experience with her daughter's to be quite enlightening.
Overall, Mindy Kaling is just as witty as ever in her essay "Kind of Hindu." Hearing her discuss something as serious as religion was a nice change of pace, and the dive into her version of Hinduism was enlightening. I look forward to reading more of Mindy's essays in the future!
A heartwarming middle grade graphic novel about a group of violists learning to forge friendships and conquer their anxieties at summer camp.
Tate Seong decides to pick up the viola after attending a life changing concert. Afraid that they'll never be good enough to perform, Tate decides that they're going to sit out of this year's concerts. Desperate to help them out, Tate's parents tell them about a summer camp called Camp Prodigy for young string players who desire to hone their skills. Once they arrive at camp, Tate meets the young violist who changed their life, Eli Violet. The two nonbinary youths soon strike a deal and find themselves working together to become the best musicians they can be.
This story was such a cute one. As a violist myself, this was truly a heartwarming read that reminded me heavily of many of my own memories. I may never have went to a summer camp, but I've participated in enough sectionals, ensembles, and other orchestral shenanigans to find this book very nostalgic. Pair that with the many church mission trips I went on in my teen years, this book was reminiscent of many of my own experiences.
Tate is struggling with their identity and telling their family that they are nonbinary. Not only does Eli help Tate hone their skills on the viola, Eli also helps them gain the confidence they need to tell others who they truly are. Middle grade stories that feature coming out in such a positive way are always great to see, so I am happy to add "Camp Prodigy" to my list of middle grade queer book recs.
I must say, it took me a hot second to get used to this art style, but it grew on me rather quickly. When I started this book I truly thought that the art was going to take away from the story immensely, but I ended up finding myself enjoying it before the story was through.
This book is a great reminder to enjoy the small things in life and to not be afraid to ask for help from your loved ones. Life gets stressful, so it's important to give yourself a break and not push yourself harder than you'd push anyone else. I truly adore the way that Tate and Eli's families treats them, and I think being comfortable enough to communicate one's needs to their family is an important thing for all children to have and to witness in media.
Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent with "Camp Prodigy." It is such a sweet middle grade graphic novel that highlights so many unique different string players. It urges the reader to give themself grace and to ask for help when they need it. Tate and Eli's platonic relationship was so endearing and it was amazing to see the two of them bond with their fellow violists. Pair that with all of the diversity and queer rep, this book is a banger of a read. As a string player myself, I highly recommend checking this one out.
A collection of comics that highlights the struggles people have with mental health and shines a light on neurodiversity.
This collection was often super relatable, but it also had me zoning out from time to time and reading whole comics without absorbing what happened. This left me feeling rather nixed about the whole thing, though this isn't uncommon with novels written in short featurette format.
When it came to the comics about depression, social anxiety, and feeling guilt for not accomplishing the things that you want, I was right there alongside the author. Heck, today I have a towering checklist of things I want to do, but I'm feeling sorta crappy, so I decided that I'm just going to plow through as many books as I can. Not the most productive, but not NOT productive either. The thing is, I know that as soon as I feel better, I'll be kicking myself for being lazy and unproductive even though I feel like absolute garbage right now. So yeah, I can definitely relate to much of the author's headspace in a bunch of these comics.
The author of these comics is autistic and has ADHD, which is abundantly clear in many of these short features. She fights to fit in with others, struggles to communicate, and hyperfixates on things quite frequently. I think these comics are a great resource for those who aren't on the neurodivergent spectrum to learn while those who are can feel immensely seen.
Also, I found it a tad odd that almost this entire collection from front to back focused on the negative aspects of being neurodivergent and coping with mental health. I think that if more messages filled with hope and inspiring tales would have been woven throughout this collection would have been stronger.
Overall, "Lavender Clouds" is a solid collection of comics that showcases neurodivergence and mental health quite splendidly. Some parts of this book are so relatable to me, and I hope that others can see themselves in the narrator, too. I struggle with social anxiety, being a general worrywart, depression, and overachiever tendencies quite frequently, so I saw myself in many of these shorts. However, I wasn't overly invested in a bunch of them, which has me leaving this one with mixed reviews. It was certainly worth reading, but not the most memorable graphic novel either.
This collection was often super relatable, but it also had me zoning out from time to time and reading whole comics without absorbing what happened. This left me feeling rather nixed about the whole thing, though this isn't uncommon with novels written in short featurette format.
When it came to the comics about depression, social anxiety, and feeling guilt for not accomplishing the things that you want, I was right there alongside the author. Heck, today I have a towering checklist of things I want to do, but I'm feeling sorta crappy, so I decided that I'm just going to plow through as many books as I can. Not the most productive, but not NOT productive either. The thing is, I know that as soon as I feel better, I'll be kicking myself for being lazy and unproductive even though I feel like absolute garbage right now. So yeah, I can definitely relate to much of the author's headspace in a bunch of these comics.
The author of these comics is autistic and has ADHD, which is abundantly clear in many of these short features. She fights to fit in with others, struggles to communicate, and hyperfixates on things quite frequently. I think these comics are a great resource for those who aren't on the neurodivergent spectrum to learn while those who are can feel immensely seen.
Also, I found it a tad odd that almost this entire collection from front to back focused on the negative aspects of being neurodivergent and coping with mental health. I think that if more messages filled with hope and inspiring tales would have been woven throughout this collection would have been stronger.
Overall, "Lavender Clouds" is a solid collection of comics that showcases neurodivergence and mental health quite splendidly. Some parts of this book are so relatable to me, and I hope that others can see themselves in the narrator, too. I struggle with social anxiety, being a general worrywart, depression, and overachiever tendencies quite frequently, so I saw myself in many of these shorts. However, I wasn't overly invested in a bunch of them, which has me leaving this one with mixed reviews. It was certainly worth reading, but not the most memorable graphic novel either.
A witty memoir penned by the queen of improv herself, Amy Poehler.
"Yes Please" marks the third memoir that I've read by a member of the "Parks and Recreation" cast. It has been a fun journey thus far, and I must say, Amy's addition to the club was enjoyable.
Amy's book is really a series of essays that vary in topic. Like any other book broken up in segments, some of them were amazing reads, while other of them bored me immensely. There were parts of this book that I found myself smiling over, and others that despised (I felt as though I was being forced to witness something I didn't sign up for on a few occasions. My favorite segments include "Plain Girl vs. the Demon," "My World-Famous Sex Advice," "Bad Sleeper," and of course, "Let's Build a Park."
Learning about Amy's youth and her days doing improv in Chicago and New York was interesting enough, but it didn't always keep me the most invested as I am not a die-hard fan of her work. I've only ever seen her in the "Inside Out" movies and "Parks," so I'm sure these segments would have been more fascinating to other readers.
The parts where Amy talks about "Parks" are pure gold. The segment in which Mike Schur annotates her work is pretty stellar and had me chuckling aloud. One of the best parts about Amy is that she is such a magnet for positivity, and you can really tell this by the way that other interact with her.
Amy does go on and on about things such as drugs, alcohol, porn, and other less palatable topics which is entirely her right. (It is her memoir, after all.) However, this didn't make for the lightest of reading at times. Yes, she's Amy Poehler, so she coats everything in comedy, but that doesn't mean that it is always super easy to read about these things, so keep that in mind.
I think this is one of the cases where the audiobook would have really enhanced the narrative. Poehler has a unique way of saying things and I think all of her humorous bits would have hit harder if I was hearing her say them rather than reading them quietly to myself.
Overall, going on this journey with Amy Poehler during "Yes Please" was quite an experience. She is so positive and has so many great stories to share with the world. Unfortunately, many of her essays didn't resonate super strongly with me, but it was definitely still worth the read despite this. The memories she has to share are entertaining and her humorous anecdotes about the world are a perfect way to end a long day.
"Yes Please" marks the third memoir that I've read by a member of the "Parks and Recreation" cast. It has been a fun journey thus far, and I must say, Amy's addition to the club was enjoyable.
Amy's book is really a series of essays that vary in topic. Like any other book broken up in segments, some of them were amazing reads, while other of them bored me immensely. There were parts of this book that I found myself smiling over, and others that despised (I felt as though I was being forced to witness something I didn't sign up for on a few occasions. My favorite segments include "Plain Girl vs. the Demon," "My World-Famous Sex Advice," "Bad Sleeper," and of course, "Let's Build a Park."
Learning about Amy's youth and her days doing improv in Chicago and New York was interesting enough, but it didn't always keep me the most invested as I am not a die-hard fan of her work. I've only ever seen her in the "Inside Out" movies and "Parks," so I'm sure these segments would have been more fascinating to other readers.
The parts where Amy talks about "Parks" are pure gold. The segment in which Mike Schur annotates her work is pretty stellar and had me chuckling aloud. One of the best parts about Amy is that she is such a magnet for positivity, and you can really tell this by the way that other interact with her.
Amy does go on and on about things such as drugs, alcohol, porn, and other less palatable topics which is entirely her right. (It is her memoir, after all.) However, this didn't make for the lightest of reading at times. Yes, she's Amy Poehler, so she coats everything in comedy, but that doesn't mean that it is always super easy to read about these things, so keep that in mind.
I think this is one of the cases where the audiobook would have really enhanced the narrative. Poehler has a unique way of saying things and I think all of her humorous bits would have hit harder if I was hearing her say them rather than reading them quietly to myself.
Overall, going on this journey with Amy Poehler during "Yes Please" was quite an experience. She is so positive and has so many great stories to share with the world. Unfortunately, many of her essays didn't resonate super strongly with me, but it was definitely still worth the read despite this. The memories she has to share are entertaining and her humorous anecdotes about the world are a perfect way to end a long day.
The first in a series of standalone paranormal romances featuring a spunky young witch's apprentice and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
Stevie Rourke is a seer living in Sleepy Hollow, which means that she can see the many ghostly residents that reside within the haunted town. She thrives as a witch's assistant and manages to stay mostly under the radar. That is, until the eye of the Hollow opens and the ghosts can see her in return. Now, Stevie finds herself pursued by the Headless Horseman as he demands she helps him find his missing head. The mystery thickens as Stevie and the Headless Horseman work to uncover all the secrets that the Hollow hides within as time ticks towards the Headless Horseman's final demise.
This is the first book in a series of paranormal romances featuring a variety of monsters and mythical creatures. I enjoyed my time with the introduction to the "Bewitching Hour" series and I look forward to reading other books in this series!
I must say that I don't think that I am the biggest fan of Sleepy Hollow or the Headless Horseman mythos. I've read books featuring the Headless Horseman and I just don't think that they are my cup of tea. Despite this, I still had a pretty solid time with this unique romance.
Having the Headless Horseman as a love interest made for some odd circumstances and a great form of romantic tension due to the fact that Stevie can't touch him (or see his face) for the majority of the book. Kit, also known as the Headless Horseman, is a charming individual. The fact that Stevie can't physically interact with him until some other magic occurs later in the book makes for some great romantic tension. Stevie yearns to see his face and feel his touch, but she can't because he's a ghost. I'm sure that there are quite a few ghost romances out there and I must admit that I've read a few, but this is the first steamy one that I've encountered, which made for a different reading experience.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the mystery element. Stevie and Kit are looking for the Headless Horseman's famous head in order to save Kit from a disastrous fate. The magic system in this one isn't super original, but it was easy to understand and a set in a straightforward world, which I enjoyed. A simple magic system and a hint of mystery made for a great pairing and a fun read.
Overall, "Bewitched by the Headless Horseman" is a fun witchy read with an intriguing love interest. Having a ghost as the male love interest was different and made the steamy scenes quite unique. I enjoyed my time dwelling in Sleepy Hollow with Stevie and the rest of the magical residents. This may not be the most original or complex read, but it was certainly a fun good time. I look forward to exploring other books in this series!
A middle grade novel about a trans boy by the name of Obie who just wants to enjoy his time swimming and have the bullies that torment him finally leave him to exist in peace.
After his transition, Obie was kicked off of his old swim teach by his transphobic former coach. It's all worth it because Obie finally gets to compete with the other boys. Unfortunately, his old teammates are less than amicable about the switch which leads to Obie being constantly bullied and living in a state of continuous fear. Luckily, Obie has many people in his corner who are willing to support him every step of the way. Desperate to prove to himself that he can keep up with the boys in the pool, Obie pushes himself harder than he ever has before and encounters plenty of new best friends who accept him for who he truly is, no strings attached.
After reading Schuyler Bailar's short story in the anthology "Fresh Ink," I have been quite curious to check out some of his longer work. Let's just say, he did not disappoint! "Obie is Man Enough" is a wonderful middle grade book that talks about intersectionality and what it means to be a half-white, half-Korean trans boy who is also a swimmer. Every part of Obie helps make up who he is, and this book does an amazing job showcasing how our various identities connect and make us into the interesting individuals that we all are.
I think swimming is such great topic matter for a book and I have enjoyed novels involving this topic in the past. Pairing this with the struggles of switching teams, losing old friends, and learning how to compete in a new league, made this an engrossing read. Obie's love for the sport is extremely evident, and I love seeing his passion shine through everything else he is grappling with.
Another huge topic in this one is bullying and discrimination. Obie's former best friend, Clyde, is extremely transphobic and constantly berates Obie. This leads to discussions about bullying and harassment in sports and in the classroom. These are important things for kids to learn that it's not okay to do from a young age, so I appreciate when books make this so glaringly obvious. Obie's other former best friend, Lucy, is also verbally harassed by a few girls who call her some pretty awful names. Note that this book uses some harsh language against trans people and young girls, but nothing that children can't handle. Just make sure to look into the language if some of these things are triggering to you personally.
This book uses Jason Reynold's "All American Boys" to showcase parallels between police brutality and racial discrimination and Obie's situation involving transphobia and harassment. It does go into great detail about the book at times, so if you haven't read it, there may be some big spoilers. However, the way that Obie learned to feel empathy towards the "bad guys" and came to realize that nobody is the villain of their own story through Reynold's book was done quite well. I think this added to the story immensely, but I have read "All American Boys" myself, so I'm not sure what others that haven't read it yet thought of this tidbit.
I honestly was not expecting this book to have a romance element due to the fact it's a middle grade book, but I actually didn't mind it. Charlie is a quirky young girl who loves to ramble, sing, and solve Rubik's cubes. She is such a sweet and understanding girl who helps Obie through many situations that he goes through, so it would be hard not to support the blossoming relationship between these youths. They are still so young, so who knows if it will last, but it is cute in the meantime regardless.
The way that Obie bonds with the Korean side of his family is quite precious. He makes kimchi with his grandparents, speaks to them in Korean, and goes over to their house quite often for dinner. It's unfortunate that many Asian families are still less accepting of queer children, but that is not the case at all with Obie's family. They are one hundred percent in support of their grandson, they just remind him that since his parents have no daughters, he has to remember to take care of them.
Overall, "Obie is Man Enough" is a stellar middle grade novel that trans kids may immensely relate to that should also teach cis kids how to approach certain topics with respect. The discussions about intersectionality, queer culture, bullying and harassment, as well as transphobia are all very powerful and handled quite eloquently. I thought learning more about competitive youth swimming was also fun and I actually came to enjoy the slight romantic subplot. I really enjoyed this one, so I look forward to checking out more of Bailar's work in the future!
After his transition, Obie was kicked off of his old swim teach by his transphobic former coach. It's all worth it because Obie finally gets to compete with the other boys. Unfortunately, his old teammates are less than amicable about the switch which leads to Obie being constantly bullied and living in a state of continuous fear. Luckily, Obie has many people in his corner who are willing to support him every step of the way. Desperate to prove to himself that he can keep up with the boys in the pool, Obie pushes himself harder than he ever has before and encounters plenty of new best friends who accept him for who he truly is, no strings attached.
After reading Schuyler Bailar's short story in the anthology "Fresh Ink," I have been quite curious to check out some of his longer work. Let's just say, he did not disappoint! "Obie is Man Enough" is a wonderful middle grade book that talks about intersectionality and what it means to be a half-white, half-Korean trans boy who is also a swimmer. Every part of Obie helps make up who he is, and this book does an amazing job showcasing how our various identities connect and make us into the interesting individuals that we all are.
I think swimming is such great topic matter for a book and I have enjoyed novels involving this topic in the past. Pairing this with the struggles of switching teams, losing old friends, and learning how to compete in a new league, made this an engrossing read. Obie's love for the sport is extremely evident, and I love seeing his passion shine through everything else he is grappling with.
Another huge topic in this one is bullying and discrimination. Obie's former best friend, Clyde, is extremely transphobic and constantly berates Obie. This leads to discussions about bullying and harassment in sports and in the classroom. These are important things for kids to learn that it's not okay to do from a young age, so I appreciate when books make this so glaringly obvious. Obie's other former best friend, Lucy, is also verbally harassed by a few girls who call her some pretty awful names. Note that this book uses some harsh language against trans people and young girls, but nothing that children can't handle. Just make sure to look into the language if some of these things are triggering to you personally.
This book uses Jason Reynold's "All American Boys" to showcase parallels between police brutality and racial discrimination and Obie's situation involving transphobia and harassment. It does go into great detail about the book at times, so if you haven't read it, there may be some big spoilers. However, the way that Obie learned to feel empathy towards the "bad guys" and came to realize that nobody is the villain of their own story through Reynold's book was done quite well. I think this added to the story immensely, but I have read "All American Boys" myself, so I'm not sure what others that haven't read it yet thought of this tidbit.
I honestly was not expecting this book to have a romance element due to the fact it's a middle grade book, but I actually didn't mind it. Charlie is a quirky young girl who loves to ramble, sing, and solve Rubik's cubes. She is such a sweet and understanding girl who helps Obie through many situations that he goes through, so it would be hard not to support the blossoming relationship between these youths. They are still so young, so who knows if it will last, but it is cute in the meantime regardless.
The way that Obie bonds with the Korean side of his family is quite precious. He makes kimchi with his grandparents, speaks to them in Korean, and goes over to their house quite often for dinner. It's unfortunate that many Asian families are still less accepting of queer children, but that is not the case at all with Obie's family. They are one hundred percent in support of their grandson, they just remind him that since his parents have no daughters, he has to remember to take care of them.
Overall, "Obie is Man Enough" is a stellar middle grade novel that trans kids may immensely relate to that should also teach cis kids how to approach certain topics with respect. The discussions about intersectionality, queer culture, bullying and harassment, as well as transphobia are all very powerful and handled quite eloquently. I thought learning more about competitive youth swimming was also fun and I actually came to enjoy the slight romantic subplot. I really enjoyed this one, so I look forward to checking out more of Bailar's work in the future!
A memoir in pictures that dives into N.D. Stevenson's life as an artist and showcases the ups and down he has experienced throughout his career.
As far as memoirs go, this one isn't all that in-depth. However, I think it is neat seeing a ton of N.D.'s blog pieces compiled together. Some of his comics are fantastic while others can be a tad confusing or boring, but they made for an interesting reading experience in the long run.
I found it interesting to learn more about N.D.'s career as an artist. I guess I was aware that "Nimona" turned ten in 2025, so that obviously means that N.D. has been successful for a while. I didn't know that he was so young at the time that "Nimona" started to blow up or they fact that he was working on such prestigious projects with places such as DC and Marvel at the same time.
The way that the author reflects on their life and shares it with their fans on a yearly basis is pretty neat. I've always thought it would be beneficial to make annual "years in review," so that it would be easier to look back on all of the things that I have accomplished. I think that these would especially help me out when I'm struggling with feelings of burnout or when I fear I'm not strong enough to achieve my dreams.
I must say, this one does feel a bit discombobulated at times and could have been greatly improved with a few more things added. I get that it's a memoir and the author is allowed to share as much or as little as they want with their audience, but I feel that this one was really missing the oomph it needed to be a great read.
Overall, "The Fire Never Goes Out" wasn't the strongest memoir I've ever read, but it was interesting to learn a bit more about the life of the creator of the iconic graphic novel/webcomic "Nimona." I will always love "Nimona" so getting a bit more insight on the man who made this beloved work was educational at the very least.
As far as memoirs go, this one isn't all that in-depth. However, I think it is neat seeing a ton of N.D.'s blog pieces compiled together. Some of his comics are fantastic while others can be a tad confusing or boring, but they made for an interesting reading experience in the long run.
I found it interesting to learn more about N.D.'s career as an artist. I guess I was aware that "Nimona" turned ten in 2025, so that obviously means that N.D. has been successful for a while. I didn't know that he was so young at the time that "Nimona" started to blow up or they fact that he was working on such prestigious projects with places such as DC and Marvel at the same time.
The way that the author reflects on their life and shares it with their fans on a yearly basis is pretty neat. I've always thought it would be beneficial to make annual "years in review," so that it would be easier to look back on all of the things that I have accomplished. I think that these would especially help me out when I'm struggling with feelings of burnout or when I fear I'm not strong enough to achieve my dreams.
I must say, this one does feel a bit discombobulated at times and could have been greatly improved with a few more things added. I get that it's a memoir and the author is allowed to share as much or as little as they want with their audience, but I feel that this one was really missing the oomph it needed to be a great read.
Overall, "The Fire Never Goes Out" wasn't the strongest memoir I've ever read, but it was interesting to learn a bit more about the life of the creator of the iconic graphic novel/webcomic "Nimona." I will always love "Nimona" so getting a bit more insight on the man who made this beloved work was educational at the very least.