Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean is such a delight to read. Following a girl who discovers she is a princess, this is an entertaining story of self-discovery with a helping of royal mishaps. I loved the main character’s voice, and the side characters bring even more amusement to the book. This is a feel-good story perfect for those looking for a cute and upbeat read for a YA book club pick. Continue reading
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a book that is a gripping YA political story inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement. It adeptly explores racial injustice in a thought-provoking and meaningful way. The Hate U Give is a story that centralizes around a young woman named Starr and depicts her struggles with racism and police brutality. This is an essential five star YA novel that shockingly examines the flaws in our society and will educate its readers about race and systemic racism. Continue reading
Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma is a story of family secrets that also touches upon the film industry’s perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. I enjoyed the Beijing setting, and the main character’s excitement for acting and desire to challenge offensive Asian representation was a pleasant surprise. The pacing is slow, but there are still many elements of the book that I found enjoyable that outweigh this. Continue reading
Diamond City by Francesca Flores is a book I had been anticipating due to its supposed action and dark magic. The premise interested me, and I enjoyed the idea of an assassination gone wrong and some unlikely allies. Despite this, many elements of the story are quite flat, including the main character and the setting, and I was ultimately unimpressed. Continue reading
Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is a book that I had such high hopes for. The premise sounds so promising, and the world is innovative. Unfortunately, I found the main character very plain, and the pacing and romance are off. This book is fine, but that’s about it. Continue reading