Have you heard of this? What are your thoughts?

https://bookmarksthat.wordpress.com/2025/06/29/did-you-read-before-you-were-10/

#blogpost

This was such a nostalgic story!! Def recommend it to anyone who was growing up in the 90s. I loved the formatting, the use of little dialogue, the note taking, and how melancholy it felt. Sometimes things don't seem like they're going right, and they're not, but they're just moments in time. This felt like opening a universal time capsule, lol

I thought the art and character designs were cool, but in terms of the story, I felt the pacing wasn't for me. We follow a comic artist who feels like their art (and life) is missing purpose, a spark, *something*. Then they encounter an alien who reveals that Earth is going to be destroyed. It's pretty much a rollercoaster of events after that. If you like fast paced stories with a *saving the world* theme, I think you'll like this.

Similar to the 1st book, this story, was fun and full of banter, sexy accents, and growing friendships (enemies to friends to lovers, AHHHHH), but I actually liked it more bc of the healing aspects. Being the 2nd prince, Kris has a low self-esteem and seeing him (eventually) start to heal from his traumas was 🤌💯

I loved the brotherly moments, the vulnerability, and ✨ body worship ✨. Because Kris deserves all that kindness and affection 👏👏

I saw a lot of boo bloggers excited about this title before it ended up in my ARCs pile. Tho I didn't see many reviews after the fact. For me, this was mostly a miss. I think the idea is very interesting, mixing belief/religion, family, and transness. But I felt like the *actual story* fell flat. I wasn't invested in Noon and the story moved slow. The mystery aspects also weren't very mysterious. But the magical realism at the end was beautiful.

So, apparently, not only is Dracula gay, it also wasn't the first vampire novel like it's been marketed for years?! At this point, I'm not shocked it's a lie, especially not after finding out that the OG queer vampires were actually lesbians. Maybe it's because I'm older (and know I'm queer), but it was easier to spot the gay vibes while reading this (it was not subtle). I hope to re-read it regularly, get myself acquainted w the real vampire lore

A story abt a greedy Mr. Clause and the "pesky kids" (his kids and their found family) that stepped up to stop him. The story starts off tense, but overall there's a lot of bantering, cute friendship moments, and FLIRTING. It's such a sexy and emotionally charged read, I def recommend it if you like personified holidays drooling over each other *respectfully* and, after consent, disrespectfully ? #holidayread

This book specifically talks about (imp) trials in history where someone was accused of being a "witch", why they were accused, who accused them, and what was at stake. We get to see how accusers conflated this idea of being a "witch" with religious beliefs involving the devil, as a way to really people to their side (bc oh no, the devil).

But my fav part was the contemporary section. I think that part brought things into perspective #feminism

Penn and Kim definitely made me feel at ease, and it was so fun to learn and listen to how they both had good times and bad times dealing with Penn's #ADHD brain. It honestly felt like listening to a podcast and I wish more #nonfiction narrators were as charismatic. It'd be easier to focus, lol. Also, while I did appreciate Penn's POV, I also think it's a limited scope. I'd love to read more POVs from others, specifically POC and queer ADHDers.

I wish there were more books like this, as well as more funding for researching regarding the bodies of people with vulvas. This book was informative but also casual, and I liked the inclusive language that was used (something I still struggle with, help). I think if I'd had this book when I was younger, it would have been a huge help and relief. I still appreciate it today though, because there's a lot I still don't know

Gemma is such a funny protagonist, not just bc she's in her own bubble, but bc she just can't let go of that one project perfect Xander ruined! There's a lot of heart in this book, not just for a culture that Gemma was purposely excluded from, but also for her family and, yes, even that pesky cardboard dog. I loved the puzzles, the banter, the reluctant friendship, and the obvious HUGE CRUSH only Gemma couldn't see. I wanna reread it now 😂 #ya

I wanted to like this one bc #pirates, but...

I know that real pirates sucked and I think Ames wanted to convey some of that with our MC, who felt like she had to be ruthless in order to get respect, which, I guess can be hard to get when you're single-mindedly chasing after your adopted "brother" (and keep failing to capture him). Still, I think the MC could have had more personality. Nothing she ever did truly made me want to follow her story.

I have to admit that maybe it just wasn't for me. But I do recommend it to anyone who likes the miscommunication trope (personally, I felt the miscommunication DRAGGED). We do have some fun scenes with other characters "helping" and the beloved "we were stuck in a blizzard", but I just wish the two mains had been honest sooner. It does end on a sexy and good note tho, so there's that to look forward to #lesbian #queer #lgbtqia #winterholidays

Oh I'm so conflicted! I wanted to love this one more but it was too slow a read. I think it's interesting that so far this author has written all 3 paces (imo) and I wish they'd write another medium-paced one like Spell Bound. As usual, I love how effortlessly #queer their books are and the ideas are always cool. A perpetual winter, religious beliefs, and one jaded soul who falls for a non-human entity. Sadly...it drags Orz

#fantasy

A #blogtour title, I loved the take on #vampire lore in this one! As well as all the Latine culture *everywhere* 😘 I did think it was a bit too fast-paced, but I think it worked with the story since both characters are on borrowed time. A 3.75 ⭐ read #fantasy

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDoXVByBrYG/?igsh=czhwYWg1NzVneXN6

i was reluctant to read this at first because i'm still hungover from boyfriend material but O-M-G. i'm sorry but i do indeed love a grumpy violent man who gets his emotional support from a cat that isn't his and sunshine but actually very lonely man who got abandoned by said cat. one of Alexis's weaker titles but still entertaining 😆 #queer #gay #funny

#Romantasy has become more popular recently and idk how to feel about that. This was my first foray into the genre and not bad. We have some #sapphics on a heist as they try to make ends meet. To the point that they make a deal with a green faerie. It's good if you want a quick read but don't expect too much depth in terms of the fantasy. I'd rate it somewhere in the 3-3.5 range #queer

I really wanted to like this book, especially since it touches on topics like nuclear testing on "uninhabited" sites and the effects of radiation on the land and pregnancy. But the story was very slow, the revelations came late, and it felt unresolved. I thought we'd get some thought-provoking message but it's like the author changed their mind (abt a lot) & decided not to say anything/make it out to be "nothing". It felt disingenuous

I've only heard praise for this book, which is how it ended up on my tbr but after having read it I felt underwhelmed. It *is* a good read, but mostly I felt that after all was revealed. The story lacks excitement and all I could think was "if I had a sister like that it'd be over" but perhaps that's the point. I grew up with "family is Everything" and we kind of see that here. Still, it was missing something & I found myself (mostly) indifferent

I read this one in January for a blog tour and forgot to post the review because it was a meh read. I think I liked a lot of individual elements but as a whole I found it hard to follow. The MC also felt lacking in terms of character and desires, making me indifferent to her struggles. But if you like the suspense of unknown creatures, whether your next moment will be your last, or stories about rebellion and lost civilizations, you might like it!

Hi everyone! So I kind of disappeared last year and have been posting on and off even before then. But I'm back now 🤣 I read so much last year too (133+ books!), idk why I didn't think to drop a review here. That said, I'm about to go through my backlog and post the reviews here (so I can start posting my 2025 reads after that) #update

I don't like that it doesn't show the green bar :( but I've read about 55 books :) #gottacatchemall

tbh idk how this works in terms of Pokemon, I'm just adding books to the prompts on this list xD

oOoOO! I think I'll join! I'm really behind on my manga and comics goal so I think I'll try to focus at least half my reading on that, plus more of my #netgalleybacklog :D

Right now I'm at 56% on Netgalley, maybe try raising it 2% more by the end of the month? Might be a bit too ambitious but let's see how it goes! #marvellousmarch

Goal:
☑️more manga
☑️ +2% Netgalley ratio increase

Did I just get this? Yes. Did I just devour it? YES. In this book we're back on the road, but instead of listening to stories, this time we are living through one. I found this change really interesting. It def made it more exciting and the TENSION. I couldn't put this down! Very horror-esque. Now idk which is my fav, this one or book2! I am curious about the young Lord tho. Will that ever be expanded? Hehe

New shelf made for this called BRUHHH

So many #nonfiction reads this month! Decided to pick this one up because I want to get back into art and also, I want to add art to my travel journal 😂 This book had A LOT of info, maybe a year's worth of uni classes?! Or close. It's not dense and uses images to show a lot of the key points, prompting ppl to just Start and learn through practice. I'd like a physical copy. There are also some prompts and tips for your nature sketching journey :)

This was such a cute read?! I instantly thought of the Disney princess meme where they ask if they can talk to animals. Is Nestor a Disney princess? LOL. As usual, I love the focus on family and friendship, and specifically, I liked the animal focus (trivia and animal friends) and how we got to see Nestor find his place in a community. As someone who also moved around a lot, I hope he can stay put this time :') A mostly lighthearted read lol

It's kind of unreal to read these essays 2 years later because it shows how much has changed. The first story was a definite att grabber and, to a degree, the rest of the essays pale in comparison 😂 still, I liked the stories that focused on pollution and the environment. It makes me wonder what they would say now. How much have the bombings in Palestine affected the environment? Where do we stand? How much has our privacy been breached? Etc

oOoOO! While most of the stories tend to happen outside the Singing Hills Abbey, this time we are IN the Abbey. Chih goes back after being away for ~3yrs and it's chaos. Cleric Thien has died and their granddaughters are at the gates with mammoths, demanding for their body. This was an interesting read focusing on someone from 2POVs after their death. Who were they? And how can they be mourned in so many different ways?

Lol! My pfp didn't load 😂 that's ok tho, the important part is the ratio and I've come a long way this year! And we're only in March!! Hoping to read a few more titles off my backlog. Can I get to 60 by the end of the month? in the next 30 days? Let's see!!

Ps. I'd like to make it to 80% by December. Tho I suspect I'll get to it sooner?? 🤔🤞

I remember when the author was doing a ton of PR for this and now there's nothing. It totally needs to be yelled about some more bc it was really good!! A story of the musketeers after the OG Ms have "retired". Tania is the daughter of a musketeer and has longed to be the heroine of her father's stories. The problem? Her mother's worry and her poor health. A story with #disability rep, sisterhood, ⚔️ fights, challenging ourselves, and self-love

This is the story I liked the least, Lol! I know it's such a short read but it was hard to keep myself engaged. I did like the first two characters that we meet in this journey but that was the most exciting part for me. We do hear about the stories that get remembered and why they do/don't (types of woman). Maybe I'll give it a second change later, idk

This is probably my favorite story of the three I've read so far! Idk why but I was captivated by this one. We get to hear a story from two POVs, one the "wrong" one and the other the "correct" one, which I thought was an interesting concept. Also, I'm all for nonhuman lovers and a bit of deadlines in romance ? #nonbinary #sapphic

The cover for these!? Amazing!! The story inside...imo, debatable 😆 I've been meaning to pick these up for a while now but kept putting them off bc they're novellas... Finally read it tho and I was slightly...confused? But after a second restart, I just let it play and it became quite interesting. I think that's how I have to treat these little nuggets. This story focused on the current empress and her origins #sapphic #nonbinary

I made my first travel journal during my second trip to Japan. On my 3rd trip, I told myself I'd journal again and haven't really...so I picked this up to get some ideas. It's definitely got ideas in here! Actually, they feel more like mini art projects, which I thought was cool but maybe not as feasible for someone who wants to keep things low investment (otherwise I won't finish things). But I'm glad I checked it out

NGL, I'm still gathering my thoughts on this book. I really love that it's focused on linguistics and I need a physical copy! but it's also a story that takes a while to develop. That said, it's interesting from start to finish but I think that's my "problem" with it. It's just so...perfect? LOL. does that make sense? It's obv a 5/5 read but it doesn't *feel* like a 5/5 read. It feels more like a 3.5 read?? But it does have some powerful messages

I forgot this existed!! I played the game...last year? And remember seeing this but forgot lol! It was a nice and relaxing read. It's nice to see some of the stories the anthology creators thought up but I think I got attached to my character design bc these didn't feel like it was *me* (my Daddy) 😂 An ok read made by some very recognizable artists

The characters in this story are just 👏amazing👏. The story follows two sisters (Caro & Rosie) and a guy named Zeke who they...kind of adopt lol! There's a lot to unpack, discrimination in the school system (relatable), secrets and drama at home, and Zeke being a triple Pisces...idk what that means but boy lives in romance and it gets prickly. I honestly love the whole thing! Tho Zeke's story feels a bit disjointed? Compared to C&R's

I requested this book bc I was curious and ended up reading some super interesting essays and realizing that food writing is such a broad topic! I also Loved that a lot of these essays highlighted immigrants and their relationship to food. There was scandal, history, love, disgust, discovery, and so much more. I definitely want to read more of these!! Is the 2023 one out? It probably is right?!

Ps. The stories mention COVID quarantine times

I really wanted to like this book because astronomy is one of my "secret" fascinations. But it fell very short. It starts off ok, and my only confusion stems from a European sport Idk about but later the author references diagrams in the physical book...which kind of defeats the purpose (imo) of the audiobook. If anything, this is more of a companion to the physical. In conclusion, I understood almost nothing bc I couldn't see the diagrams ?

I'm starting to get a better appreciation for short stories but I think this one wasn't for me. Scifi is my least fav genre sooo. Still, I did really like many of the stories which were Much shorter than I thought they'd be. Some fell into a realm of fantasy/folklore, while others felt almost silly in how scary they were (library story!!), while most showed me more of the typical scifi world. I'd like to revist some of these!

It's been a while since I was last entranced by a book like this!! I DEVOURED THIS. It was such a good read if you're looking for some fairytale vibes without (to my knowledge) being one specific story. It's a story of friendship and respecting promises, and also about not being afraid to be different/ being accepting and welcoming (and also of not, of being afraid to stand out and what that can cost you). Excited to read the rest!!

A Natalie Naudus narrated book!! I'm getting a feeling there's a theme behind the books she narrates bc this one also features a #queer asian woman and her #mentalhealth crisis. Oh, and #romance! It's told in flashbacks which made it a little confusing at times in audio format but I did enjoy the drama, the friendship, and even the pain/lessons learned. It is a little spicy and the MC is very Very thirsty/ there's a lot of ✨ pining ✨

I really wanted to love this one because Mexican!! But I just...didn't, lol. It follows Omega, her cousin, and their ghost friend Clau. It honestly was giving Encanto vibes except that their family actually loved them and wanted them all to be safe. The Encanto part = the "black sheep" of the family theme. Still, I felt like it dragged at parts. But the messages were nice, as they tend to be in #middlegrade books :D

I have a bit of a backlog here and on IG 😂👀💦💦 many reviews incoming!!

https://www.instagram.com/coffeesreads?igsh=MWExNjBtNnYwc3p6YQ==

This was such a good read!! It actually reminded me of my family and even me to a degree. While my parents and I made the choice to leave (tho I have the chance to return whenever), Cumba didn't and to see him struggle and fight on is heartbreaking and inspiring. I also Loved how he describes listening to and learning English. Language is such a big part of our identities and it isn't until you're uprooted that you really notice this #middlegrade

I haven't read a book in verse in SO LONG and this was a nice comeback. It was so good, I even started to consider my future as a narrator 😂😂 The story mainly follows two girls but there's another couple in the story too. While we get to live inside the MCs head, we didn't get to really meet the other characters aside from what she told us. I'm really curious about their stories and motivations. I'm hoping that will change in the future?

Tell me why Hoopla has this listed as a 700 page book, I was like omg did I accidentally request a chunky gn?! But no, it's actually only a few pages of cute art focusing on the eldest daughter in a family and how she's fed up with how loud and crowded it is. Except...is she really? When she finally decided to run away, she comes to realize that she loves her family as it is and isn't that usually the case? Lol #netgalleybacklog

So apparently this is part of a series of anthologies?! Tho it does read as a standalone. I'm not really a fan of #scifi, there's a lot I just can't imagine or understand, which did happen a few times in this book, but overall, I really did enjoy most stories and the book as a whole. I was really curious about the "true endings" of some of the stories since some did read more as previews of potentially longer stories #netgalleybacklog

Here we focus on Damian and his brother Robin, and also the 'training arc' for the others. I feel...eh abt Max. I like her but for someone who doesn't like to be touched wo consent, she's very touchy herself. Esp with someone who she's kissing?? Is this what the dating scene is like now?? Lol. Damian could also chill a bit more but also I *get it*. Starfire is next but tbh the story feels directionless and I'm not excited, should I continue? Hmmm

Not a lot happens?? I mean, BB and Raven finally meet and they have a few really cute dates, but I just feel like there's something missing. Panels to make it Exciting. The monkey tho!!! I wanted to rate this higher just for the faces it made!! 😂

The art is def beautiful but it's missing an oomph

Also WHY BB isn't talking with his parents is beyond me. They're scientists! At least let them help or explain, they'd probably be able to help him