Just Shy of Ordinary

 Tell me a story... about trying to find yourself

Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass

Expected publication date: January 30, 2024

Date read: January 14, 2024

Thirteen-year-old Shai is an expert problem-solver. There’s never been something they couldn’t research and figure out on their own. But there’s one thing Shai hasn’t been able to logic their way through: picking at the hair on their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Shai’s been unable to control their picking. Now, as the difficult times recede, Shai’s hoping the stress that caused their picking will end, too. After reading that a routine can reduce anxiety, Shai makes a plan to create a brand-new normal for themself that includes going to public school. But when their academic evaluation places them into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that veer off the path Shai had prepared for, encouraging Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns, especially when you can't plan for them.

There was a lot that I liked about this book. Shai was a great character. I could see a lot of people seeing something of themselves in this character, especially after the difficulties of remote schooling. Shai's issues with transitioning from home school to middle school seemed very real and relatable. There was also the dilemma that this character had with trying to come out to their friends and classmates as nonbinary, which is another trait that many readers may empathize with. In addition, Shai was also dealing with a lot of undiagnosed anxiety as well as trying to figure out how they fit into their family's religious background.

My one complaint about this book is that at times it seemed like there was just too much going on. One of these issues would have been enough to write an excellent middle grade book on. Starting at a new school. Coming out as nonbinary. Antisemitism. Anxiety and OCD. Fitting them all into one book... at times it just seemed like a lot. 

That being said, I do think that the author did a good job of tackling these issues in a way that will be both interesting and understandable for a middle grade audience. Shai is an excellent character to present these issues to this audience, and their thoughts and feelings about what they were going through were very clear and well-presented. As an adult, I often felt a lot of stress and anxiety waiting to see how their story would play out and if they would get the help that they needed, but I don't think that it would be too stressful for the intended audience. I also like that not every issue was wrapped up in a clean little bow at the end, but everything was addressed in a realistic way. Anxiety cannot be "fixed" in a day, but knowing that it was being addressed in a proper way in the end was reassuring, and I think that Shai's inner thoughts as they were dealing with it will be good for this age group to see. 

I didn't love Shai's mother in this story, and her reservations about Shai's research into Judaism was really the one storyline that I took issue with. I can understand (kind of) why she was hesitant about Shai getting too involved, but the cold, preachy tone that she often took with Shai about it was really off-putting. But that's really the only part of the story that bothered me. 

Overall, I thought that this was an excellent book for middle grade readers that deals with a whole host of issues that kids at this age might be suffering with in silence, and books like this are great to show that they are not alone. Shai is a relatable character that I think readers will really like. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to middle grade readers and their parents. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Content warning: pandemic, self-harm (Shai picks the hairs off her arms when she's anxious, resulting in painful, blotchy skin), homophobic slurs, misgendering, queerphobia, hate crimes, antisemitism, accidental forced outing of a gay character

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

The League of Lady Poisoners

Tell me a story...about women standing up for themselves

The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin

Publication date: September 19, 2023

Date read: July 5, 2023

This riveting and well-researched volume by Lisa Perrin weaves together the stories of more than twenty-five accused women poisoners, exploring the circumstances and skill sets that led them to lives of crime.

This is such a fun book. 

First of all, I really did learn a lot while reading this book. A few of the women profiled in this book I had heard of before - Wu Zetian, Cleopatra, Lucrezia Borges, and Catherine de Medici - but there were a lot that were new to me. Also, before you jump down my (or the author's) throat here, Perrin uses some of these women of the past (Cleopatra and Borges, especially) to discuss poisons, but also to somewhat clear their names. 

Some of the female poisoners in this book are condemned for the things they did (as they should be). Their stories are interesting, but they're not exactly women that the author wants us to root for. Many of the women in this book, however, the author does want us to root for. Yes, they killed people. Yes, killing is wrong. But the Carribean woman who used poison to fight slavery... or the woman who sold her poisons to others who were being abused by their husbands... it's sometimes hard not to smile a bit at their misdeeds. 

I don't know if this book will be available in audiobook, but if possible, you must pick up the book in paper form. The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations that shouldn't be missed. I also really enjoyed the sections that were just purely educational about poisons themselves - pages on poisonous plants, poisonous animals, origins and effects of various common poisons, and so much more. 

I know that some will be put off by this book - it does treat murder in a rather flippant way, often nearly praising some of these women for what they did. And while I found the author to be really funny in her writing, there will be some who find it off-putting. But for those with a slightly more morbid sense of humor, or with an interest in true crime, this is a book that I can highly recommend. It's also not very scientifically complex - while science is sometimes discussed, it is written in a very layman-friendly format. There were a few parts that I personally even found a little too dumbed down, mostly in the chapter summaries, but it's generally written very well. It's fun, morbid, and educational - what's not to love?

Rating: 4/5 stars

Content warning: murder, cruelty to animals, misogyny, suicide, hanging, gore

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Don't Fear the Reaper

 Tell me a story... about bloody revenge

Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy #2) by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication date: February 7, 2023

Date read: September 6, 2023

Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho. Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over.

Stephen Graham Jones is a polarizing author, I've found. Most people either love him or hate him. After reading both The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw (as well as the first volume of Earthdivers), I was still feeling torn. I like the way he tells a story, but both of those books felt to me like they were a little too long and a little too confusing. (Chainsaw, especially, took a very long time to get to any real action). And his kills are very gory - that didn't bother me, but I know it will be off-putting for some readers. But despite my liking his books but never being blown away, at the same time, if I see he has a new book coming out, it's an immediate must read. 

Which brings me to Don't Fear the Reaper. For anyone who has been feeling like I have - who likes his books but is looking for a little something more - this is the book you have been waiting for. 

Reaper starts out strong and fast with the gory action and rarely lets up. Jade (going by Jennifer now) is more mature, more reserved after serving her time and is done with horror movies. In fact, it's now Letha - back in a bigger role here - who is horror-obsessed and has to convince Jade to pick up the torch when the bodies start dropping once again. But don't let the description fool you - Jade is still as badass as she ever was, but a lot more grounded this time around (which honestly makes her more relatable, in my opinion). I liked Jade in Chainsaw, but she could sometimes be a little much; here, I found her an even more fun character. And I loved getting the addition of the returning supporting cast's POVs as well, especially Letha. 

My only complaint with this book is that there were sometimes a little too much going on (as opposed to the first book, where I didn't feel like there was quite enough). This had it's positives (so many bodies!), but it's negatives as well. Without spoilers, I felt that the ending got a little confusing, and I'm honestly not 100% sure who killed who in some of the scenarios. This is the only reason why the book couldn't get to 5 stars for me. 

Overall, though, this book is a thrill ride. Lots of blood and gore. Lots of classic slasher references (although if you're not well-versed on all of the movies, it's perfectly okay; there were a fair amount of movies mentioned that I have never seen, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything, plot-wise). Fun characters. Crazy serial killers... 

I do recommend reading My Heart is a Chainsaw first. I feel like you could technically read this book as a standalone without being completely lost, but there are so many callbacks to Chainsaw, that I really wouldn't recommend trying. This book is better (in my opinion), but the first book is also very good and will give you such a great background on Jade, that I wouldn't skip it. Also, keep an eye out for March 26, 2024, when the final book in the trilogy - The Angel of Indian Lake - is set to drop. I know I plan on grabbing myself a copy. 

Rating: (a strong) 4/5 stars

Content warnings: gore, murder, child abandonment, racism, animal death

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

The Fury

 Tell me a story... about a quiet vacation gone wrong

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Expected publication date: January 16, 2024

Date read: January 9, 2024

Audiobook narrated by Alex Jennings

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

I wasn't sure what to expect here; I've never read any Alex Michaelides before, even though I know a few people who have loved his previous books. So when I saw this was coming out, I figured it was as good a place to start as any.

This book is told from the point of view of Elliot, Lana Farrar's close friend and confidant. We're told right from the start that there is a murder, and that this story is less of a whodunnit than a whydunnit (although we, as the audience, are still not told for sure who the victim is until late in the book). I found Elliot to be a fascinating character. He's not particularly likable (although none of the characters really are), and also seems to be a little untrustworthy. But is he just unlikable, or is he also an unreliable narrator?

As mentioned, most of the characters are at least a bit unlikeable - I think Lana is probably the most sympathetic, but even she is far from perfect - but they are mostly still really interesting to follow. The book almost had a Great Gatsby feel to it in that way (although I've never been a huge fan of Gatsby and liked this book a lot better). 

I also highly recommend the audiobook. Alex Jennings does a fantastic job of bringing Elliot's voice to the story. He was great to listen to and never once took me out of the moment. His narration made me feel like I was listening to a character tell me a story, rather than a voice actor reading me a story. 

Overall, this is a really fascinating character study tied up in the package of a murder mystery. I can't compare it to his other books, but I imagine that his fans will not be disappointed, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Content warning: murder, physical assault, emotional manipulation

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

If I Survive You

 Tell me a story... about finding a place for yourself

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

Publication date: September 6, 2022

Date read: September 1, 2023

Audiobook narrated by Torian Brackett

In the 1970s, Topper and Sanya flee to Miami as political violence consumes their native Kingston. But America, as the couple and their two children learn, is far from the promised land. Excluded from society as Black immigrants, the family pushes on through Hurricane Andrew and later the 2008 recession, living in a house so cursed that the pet fish launches itself out of its own tank rather than stay. But even as things fall apart, the family remains motivated, often to its own detriment, by what their younger son, Trelawny, calls "the exquisite, racking compulsion to survive."

I'm still not completely sure how I feel about this book as a whole. There were parts of it that I found really interesting, and some that just didn't work for me personally. It also took until about halfway through the book until the chapters started to feel coherent as a story, at which point I did start to get invested in the storyline a little more. 

Despite not being as invested in the story as I would have liked, I did find the characters really interesting. The majority of the story focuses on Trelawney - the younger son in the family, and also the one who always seems to get the short end of the stick. The older brother, Delano, was less likable, although his story about trying to get his business back on track was one that I did enjoy. And the cousin Cukie's story was my favorite, although not exactly a happy one. Although, to be fair, none of the stories were especially happy. 

Overall, this book is definitely more about character development than exciting plot. I have a hard time recommending it to many readers, although those who appreciate a slow-burn character-driven story will probably find things to like here. It often feels like a memoir at times rather than a plot-driven novel. 

As for the audiobook narration itself, I thought that Brackett did an excellent job. For those who like to read audiobooks at faster speed, I was only able to listen to this one at 1.25x max, due to the parts where Brackett read in a thick Jamaican accent - anything faster was too hard for me to follow. 

Rating: 3/5 stars

Content warning: ethnic slurs, racism and racial profiling, death of a baby, homelessness, assault, death of a pet

Note: language

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known

 Tell me a story... about a forbidden adventure

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children #9) by Seanan McGuire

Expected publication date: January 9, 2024

Date read: August 10, 2023

Antsy is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children. When her fellow students realize that Antsy's talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she's forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise. Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises!

This is one of my favorite book series, and I'm always excited when a new one comes out. I was surprised to get another Antsy story right after the last one, but I like Antsy, so I was okay with it, despite having a few other character's stories that I'd like to hear. 

While this wasn't my favorite of the series so far, I would rank it somewhere around the middle; it was still enjoyable. I liked seeing where Antsy's story led, since her story wasn't completely wrapped up in the last book. The remaining characters at Eleanor West's School are some of my favorites anyway, so anytime I get an adventure featuring Sumi, Cora, and Christopher, I'm always happy. It was also fun seeing a few new worlds, including (as shown on the cover) dinosaurs! I only wish we had been able to spend more time there.

I will always recommend the Wayward Children books (until/if they fall off in quality), so I highly recommend this book to any lovers of fantasy or adventure. I will remind those interested, however, that this series really should be read in order. Some of the books are standalone, but as a whole, readers will get more out of the series if they read it in order. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Legends & Lattes

 Tell me a story... about starting over in retirement

Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree

Publication date: February 22, 2022

Date read: April 22, 2023

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

I was hesitant to read this because I thought that it might be a little bit silly, despite my love of fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons. But after seeing more and more positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! Not only was this book not silly, but it was incredibly well-written and not just in an epic fantasy format, but just as a character-driven novel.

I loved how the story seamlessly blended the fantasy world medieval times setting with modern technology like espresso machines, without acknowledging that anything was amiss. It was a really fun choice that the author made. 

The characters in this story were really interesting and developed. Viv was a great main character - perfectly out of place in her situation but so easy to root for. All of the minor characters were fun and fit so well into the story. There wasn't anyone who I disliked reading about. Overall, both a fun epic fantasy adventure and a sweet love story. Recommended to any fantasy readers out there. 

There is also a short story at the end of the novel that was excellent. 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Content warning: gore, racism (fantasy races)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Bookshops & Bonedust

 Tell me a story... about making a new path

Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree

Expected publication date: November 7, 2023

Date read: September 19, 2023

Audiobook narrated by the author

Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it. Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine. Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

The prequel to Legends & Lattes. 

I loved Legends & Lattes, so when I saw that Baldree was releasing a prequel novel, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. While I still want to know more about the happenings of Viv and her coffee shop, I was jumping to find out more about Viv before she made her way to Thune. 

I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. It was fun to see Barbarian Viv in this story, where she's laid up with injury, but still very much the person who wants to fight. Her character development was very important here, since we know who she is once she arrives in Thune, and I thought that the author made her development natural and believable (while also pretty funny). 

The characters in this book were all wonderful, especially Fern (the bookseller) and Sachel (no spoilers, you'll encounter this character when you read it). Gallina was a little annoying at first, but she grew on me (and also makes her appearance in Legends & Lattes. I also really enjoyed the storyline once it picked up and was pleasantly surprised how it all turned out.

I would say that it isn't necessary to read Legends before this one - they can be read in any order without missing any major plot points - but I do recommend reading them both. If you're a fan of epic fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons, or just like fun "fish out of water" adventure stories, I definitely recommend picking this one up. It's great fun.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Content Warnings: murder, racism (fantasy races)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

The Holiday Mix-Up

 Tell me a story... about finding where you belong

The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird

Publication date: October 10, 2023

Date read: September 24, 2023

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family's winery, Katie leaps at the chance… that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the "news." Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there's Juan's brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right—and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems. With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

When I was younger, I used to love the Sandra Bullock movie "While You Were Sleeping". If you've never seen it, it's super cute (if slightly problematic), and this book follows the plot of that movie almost to the letter. Am I complaining? Nope. I loved that movie. And I loved this book.

The main characters in this book - Katie and Juan - were super sweet and lovable. And even though the "relationship started on a lie" trope is generally my least favorite romcom trope, I didn't care as much as I usually do. I always cringe waiting for the other shoe to drop (and I still did a little), but the sweetness factor in this book was so wonderful that I didn't really mind the other stuff. 

I have a harder time reviewing romcom novels than others, because I feel like the standards are a little bit different. I'm not looking for an earth-shattering storyline or an evocative writing style as much as I am looking for a story that will make me "feel all the feels" and leave me happy at the end. This book did just that. I thought that the characters were well-written and real, and I loved the vineyard setting. Katie was a wonderful main character and I was rooting for her the entire way. As far as romcoms go, this book is a winner. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.