This book was fascinating. So many stories, where say the hapless dude gets kidnapped by aliens who need his help to fight an intergalactic war, kinda hand wave what that means for their family. If they show up at all, their need for explanations are just roadblocks. This is a story about three siblings, fifteen years after one of them disappeared and it just lives in all the stuff that means.

This let's pretend I'm a socialite so I can write for a magazine about socialites goes kind of exactly as all these let's pretend to be cooler/richer plans do, but also managed to zig where I thought it was gonna zag. A fun journey, as the title implies.

This was such a cute and spooky story about 4 baseball team members who discover something weird going on in their town, and of course, must save it. Come for kids figuring out mysteries and learning to appreciate other, and stay for the cool siblings who help them out.

Yep, just as cute as the cover. There is very much angst in this book (I have a high angst tolerance, and even I was like, this is quite a bit.) Incredibly real in all the ways being a teen makes you feel like adults are both expecting too much and not enough from you. And all the crush feels.

It's hard for me to describe this book without it sounding super sad. Like yes it is about 2 girls whose moms are besties and they have all this tension, but also they keep not having time to deal with the tension because cancer, parental death, parental grief, keep interfering. But also slow burn, 1 bed, and my fave micro-trope, the person who says I'm sorry your family is doing this.

A book about a busy premed who, as the title suggests, discovers she's dating a superhero, and so needs to attend dating a superhero classes, because in addition to keeping secrets, you get kidnapped a lot, so there are skills. Astrid has schedules and plans, and a little anxiety, so little bit stressful to read as she tries to juggle all the things, but delightful.

I am the biggest scaredy cat, but found this book about family lineage, and negotiating time when your best friend is married and has kids and.you don't, and the histories lost to you when your parents aren't able to share, just really fascinating.

Exactly as cute as you expect a teaming up with your best friend maybe crush to go on a baking show where one contestant is not there to make friends. Also recipes! Parent drama. Smooching.

After reading some stressful (for me) suspense, I really needed this story about witchy charm camp. Wildseed is what they call witches who are legacy witches, so there is a bit of classism, but also a modern look at life as a teen and navigating the online, adult, and peer expectations. Plus kittens! I hope we get to meet the unicorns in the next book.

I am so picky about DC set books, and I loved this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice that managed to both be true to the original and yet seem modern the whole time. Watching Liza and Dorsey figure it out was adorable.

Oh my gosh, this book. One the one hand this book is about the things that happen when you're trying to balance working with teachers who think they are cool, but are like also kinda micro-agressing you. And that weird thing where you keep smiling but knowing this is weird.
But its also about realizing the girl you compete against in school is actually like both hot and cool and maybe you don't want to defeat her, you want to kiss her.

Okay this book is like fake dating but for instruments. Yasmin and her bestie are flutes in marching band and this year they are going to compete for section leader. Yasmin reports a bullying incident that gets like the entire brass section kicked out, and they need volunteers to learn a new instrument, so now she's a tuba player. Except maybe, everything about being a tuba player is actually right?

Halfway through reading this it occurred to me to check if the audio was read by the author, and so I went and got the audio, so I could listen with my eyes closed. It's a wonderful look at the ways that white supremacy and capitalism combine and create a culture that makes us thing resting is a reward, instead of a necessary part of living.

There is a moment with mixed up insta tags that is so perfectly the mood of Shakespearean comedy, that I actually gasped. Fun contemporary high school version of Twelfth Night.

So, this is very angsty. Deservedly so, on my opinion. Like if you, a queer cheerleader have been fake dating a gay football player so that the jerks on both teams will leave you alone, but the new quarterback is a hot girl and maybe now you wanna stand up to the jerks, or just be able to be yourself at school?

Oh goodness, this books starts with a jewel heist and then introduces a huge family of tricksters who get coerced into helping find a stolen copy of the Declaration of Independence by having Raven and the son of an ex of her mom's pose as married domestics. An adventure that goes from New Orleans, to Richmond, to Baltimore, to Boston.

Two interns at a food channel get teamed up to do a quick video, and when fans seems to like it they get asked to do more. Oh also are crushing on each other. And both want the fall internship. But being on screen is a little different when you're female. At one point Reese yells all the things at him that I pretty much have ever wanted female characters forced to compete against a dude in books to yell. Both the romance and the story were cute.

This audio book was an excellent distraction as I went to get my vaccine booster, and then had a lazy day on the couch after. Same action and humor as Amari goes through a second summer with the bureau.

Oh this book was just what I wanted. Witches keep hidden to avoid being persecuted, so they meet irregularly. But when a witch who never gets to stay in one place for long, gets a chance to help out three young witch students who are being raised together, she finds a home and and maybe a hot grumpy librarian.

Oh gosh, I am super about books that get DC so well, so this 1920's set, gotta get a team together of folks together to stop a very bad mystical thing is so very much my thing, and adding in a memory stealer is just chef's kiss.

Oh this was such a tough read. On the surface it's about a teen who works in an ice cream shop where the boss has planted cameras in all the places you might have to lean or bend and decides to team up with a friend to see if they can rob the place of the stash of money everyone says is hidden somewhere. But it's also about grief, how grief can look like anger, and trying to believe in things when everything seems hopeless.

The theme of grief and the creeping dread meant I had to read this book only in full daylight and then switch to something else, but it was worth it. Returning to the privilege summer camp where he was bullied because he suspects it will help him understand why his sister kept going but coming back more stressed. All the joy and heartbreak of camp where connections and friendships are all operating on layers and secrets.

YA fake dating with incredibly well meaning but like super embarrassing parents. Fake dating because literally driving your classmate to school after a fender bender changes how so many people talk to you and why wouldn't you try to ride that high? Fake dating with a sleepover and only one bed. Fake dating but eek, who let these real feelings in?

Full disclosure: I am predisposed to like books by this author, aka, very biased.
That said, I was really fascinated by this story. Both main characters have big stuff they are holding onto that have shaped how they approach the world, and watching them bang into each other (on several levels) and fight over how to best serve the people and the tiny town and also satisfy a cranky ghost, was enjoyable.

I do love a grumpy/sunshine. Highlighted quote says, There is a delicate balance to the universe. Grouchy, grumpy people like me will make the world a dull place if there are not sparkling, joyous people like you. So you see, if you do not return to your default setting as soon as possible, the world will become a depressing, dark place. You are like a superhero...

Am I retroactively mad at everyone who told me this was a time slip subway story and failed to mention the amnesia? Yes, I am. Also a delightful look at family, and home, and horniness. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for amnesia, number in the title, or graduation.

Come for the himbo fairy godfather, stay for the maid who learns how precious anger at injustice is. Also one of the best answers to try love's kiss I have seen.
Really enjoyed this. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for mistaken identity, superpower, title has a number in it, and/or dance

Am I reading a lot of baking themed books lately? Yes. Anyway, a matchmaking mom decided to choose contestants for the baking competition based primarily on their eligibility to date her daughter? Said daughter is horrified, and also maybe finds one of the contestants not terrible? Shenanigans ensue. For #RippedBodiceBingo, can be used for food on the cover and graduation.

So cute! Former reality star and football player/cupcake shop owner end up working together. When fans of the show catch wind, she says he's her new boyfriend. Impulsive vs. orderly matchup, however will that work out. For #RippedBodiceBingo - food on the cover.

I personally felt this leaned a little more women's fiction, even though there is a satisfying romance. Amusingly in the author interview in back, Emezi said they liked the idea of you reading the blurb and being like no way, and then hopefully being convinced by the story. Well, lol, I didn't read the blurb, so it was all a surprise. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for fictional country and dance.

A fun foodie romance about a chef who can taste emotions and goes by feel, who ends up working for a chef who is all about creating the same food. Definitely will make you hungry. Content note: One character gets pretty injured, though for those who like the sick/comfort trope, there is that.
For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for food on cover, bath, workplace rivals.

While I personally don't think North Americans write Brits that sound very British, I did think this was an interesting look at two people from very different worlds trying to manage to handle public expectations. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for Bath, and dance.

Some novels in verse, I like listening to the audio, but Dean Atta's work often does such interesting things visually, that I enjoy the text. This story of a teen who falls in love with an only partially out classmate and then goes to Scotland where he meets a wildly out teen and has to decide what he wants, is great. For #RippedBodiceBingo, can be used for bicycle and architect.

Kristina Forest always writes such great YA romance, and this fractured timeline tale of teens with different views on relationships but find they agree about each other maybe is no different.
And, little morbid on the reference, but for #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for bicycle.

Cute historical about two folks who meet at the gambling tables at an inn in Scotland, and the discover that they have gotten oops married due to an unknown law, and then discover that maybe they bring out the best in each other. For #RippedBodiceBingo, can be used for Bath or property inheritance.

A story about two friends who went to war and came back changed, and well, kinda figure out that actually maybe they are in love with each other. The various meddling and not meddling family members were wonderful also. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for second chance, high tea, and ghosts.

Quote: Linus believed there were places in this world where the sky was higher, and Washington DC was such a place.
So, despite my DC self loving this quote, this book is, as the title suggests, a love letter to Baltimore. A story of two friends, who decide to have a Ferris Day before one moves away, and the delightful things that can happen when wandering a city in summer.

I don't always love a sequel to something that was clearly intended to be a standalone, but the focus on Sophie and Xavier made this really interesting. For #RippedBodiceBingo can be used for second chance, college dorm, and if you count money as property, property Inheritance.

Just ripped through this book (okay, I like stopped for work. And snacks.) Two college students make a deal for one to be the other's dating mentor, but like while they are hanging out and even going on a practice date, maybe, they are aiming for the wrong people?

Content note: parental addiction and parental internalized racism.

This book was so fun. Chinese Canadian woman gets offer to pretend to be a Chinese actress at some glitzy events accompanied by her dear actor friend and co star and well, gosh what could happen?

I confess magical boarding school is not my jam. But this book was very cute, and I who usually skin over description am always amazed at how richly Clayton describes her worlds.
Ella is a conjurer and now the school for Marvellers is letting in conjurers.
Note: Ella experiences a lot of bigotry for being a Conjurer. She has incredible family support and some friend and teacher support, so I found it tough but not overly worrying. YMMV.

You know how some retellings are just using the beats as a skeleton and some retellings feel like this is actually the real story told by someone who knew more? All due respect to Mr. Fitzgerald, this queer magical version told from the point of view of Jordan, who is a childhood friend of Daisy's manages the latter.

I literally put this book down (okay, the e-reader) halfway through because these characters were so sweet, I couldn't bear the idea that they would be unhappy for a chapter or two. Just the cutest falling in love while on a fake dating reality show story.

Middle grades can be such a ride as an adult reader, because you're like I'll be fine, sure it's a book about camp, and the different ways we handle grief and pressure, all while maybe experiencing your first crush. And then, I dunno you might find yourself tearing up at all these raw unfiltered feelings. Also camp friends are the best, and this captures why that can be.
Note: There are some microagressions directed at both characters.

Okay but what if you took the vibes of My Best Friend's Wedding except made it a weird four friends getaway and the two not dating each other decide to fake date to see if that helps their friends realize they are not meant to be except the fake dating results in a delightful grumpy sunshine pairing? Also, like obviously the person who love your pins is the right person.

Totally understandable why this won the Audie award. The full cast reading is perfect for a story told as an oral history about a music duo who lost a band member to racial violence at an event and the different ways that affected their lives.

Highlighted text says, "Little girls bodies are war zones with no allies. And women are made of whatever survives."
Oof, Ashley Woodfolk is so great at describing the push pull of relationships that feel good even as they kick you off kilter and spiral in ways that may not be good. A novel in verse about a first love that makes you reckless in so many ways.

Me: I don't really like long novels that are mostly about politicking
Them: What it we add marriage of convenience in space.
Me: I'm listening...and I finished it.
❤️

I confess this book starts with one of my least favorite opening types (character is in bed with someone they can't remember the name of and pondering their life) so that may have contributed to it feeling like it took a while to get going, but these two folks who have been so burned by life just unable to not fall in love with each other was good stuff.

Adored it. Competing on a cooking show means you get all the forced proximity, but less messy than a workplace romance. Made me so hungry while reading, but enjoyed this story of two folks finding love in the middle of this break from their lives.