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

The rejected title!! I actually liked this volume more than Raven's. Since BB is all about transforming, it's a power that's now visual and therefore easier to show. I do think the stories are very...high school drama-y, but it's not all bad. I also like how diverse the side characters have been! I saw a wheelchair, a prosthetic, Tank has dyslexia, and most of the people were brown! I'm excited for when BB & Raven meet!!

I remember being so DEVASTED when I got rejected for one of these books on Netgalley but NGL, it wasn't that good?? Maybe it gets better but the art here, esp when the characters powers are involved, feel very unmagical. I'm also confused if this is related to teen titans or its own thing. Makes me want to watch TTs!! And the black magic/calling of the ancestors reminded me of Legendborn, which I love. An underwhelming read but continuing

This was such a nice book to read!!! I LOVE seeing the familial support, jealous! 😭😭 💕 I feel like that's not something I often stumble upon. But it wasn't just nice vibes because we're talking about a *small* town but with so much support after his father puts up a giant pride flag on their front lawn, Jake decides to go even further. He wants to hold his town's first pride parade! And oh boy is it a struggle. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!! #netgalleybacklog

Didn't participate in #bookspinbingo last month or in a while! I decided I'd try for Feb. My goal is mainly to get through a ton more of my #netgalleybacklog (my 2024 goal in general, lol). But I also added a few other titles I've had in my tbr in a while, let's see how much I can wipe out!!

CR: small town pride

I decided I needed something more light-hearted after all the horror I've read 😂 This delivered but I wasn't very happy lol. We follow Izumi, who wants to connect with her father but also find where she belongs. It's def not in white America so she tries Japan. My ick was how her sense of belonging was tied to her romance with her guard. He loves me? I belong. Loves me not? I don't. Also other things, but it was a quick read soooo... 🤔

I read this one at the same time as 1,000 steps and right after I Feed Her to the Beast, which is honestly a really good transition. In IFH2tB we follow a black girl in Europe who faces discrimination. This book talks more about that experience through the years and in different parts of Europe. Most of the 📚 I've read focus on the US pov so this was very informational. The author is clear and very thorough! 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!! #netgalleybacklog

I wish I liked this book more, but it felt like it dragged a bit (for my tastes). That said, the world is rich especially in spirits and demons, there are some really loveable characters, the narrator is amazing at bringing the characters to life, and it's a really good story void of romance and full of want and empowerment. Was Miuko too "good" for my tastes? Kind of #netgalleybacklog

I've been reading a lot of #horror lately lol I think I would have liked this #graphicnovel if it had been longer? I just felt confused at the beginning. Why was the MC in a ward? Why suicide? the hair dye? What happened up until now? It felt more like an exploration of grief and some healing. The end also feels a bit open-ended (not bad, but I'm already semi-confused) and left me with Qs over the zombie apocalypse rules 🤔 #netgalleybacklog

This was a cute little #comic about Batcat, a batcat who gets tired of the ghost haunting their home. They go on an adventure and there they learn about themselves and their relationship to the ghost in their home 😸 it's a story that tells you to embrace being more than just one thing, so I feel like it'll really talk to mixed raced kids but also just ppl that want to do more than one thing/specialty. We can totally be nerds AND professional lol

Tbh, idk how to feel about this book. I didn't realize this would be a book centered on ballet, a topic I really don't like and this book touches on the reasons I don't. The MC was also ok, a very angry black girl who is tired of being ignored and belittled by her white counterparts and white society in general. Still, I was kind of meh about it. I think bc nobody in the book was very likeable I just didn't care abt their fates lol

Am I kind of disappointed this may not be a BL? Yes. And yet ...! But no, it's Tokyopop and they had *that scene*. So yeah, I got extensively less enthusiastic after that (I'd say) homophobic scene (but also, it's hard to gauge Lizel...??). An interesting v1 but it doesn't offer much direction. Lizel gets isekaid into a world that is a little like his own (but not) and he decides to roll w it, becoming an adventurer, and hiring Gil as help #manga

Considering how fast I was finishing books a few days ago, I can't believe I'm not going this slow 😂 that's fine tho, currently reading both the tagged title and 1000 steps. I should have also already finished batcat since it's short but I keep putting it off. Maybe I'll finish all three by Sunday! There was a snowstorm so I don't plan to go out lol (it's semi-cleared up, but Wed was Bad) #netgalleybacklog

I feel conflicted abt this one bc it's a slow starter but it was honestly a good read if you get through it. I think it's less abt feeling a connection to these middle schoolers and moreso feeling compassion and understanding. I even teared up a bit. It's giving Your Name (anime) and After School Nightmare (manga). Some heavy topics

This is a story about kids who stop going to school, why, and how they grow to care for each other

It's been so long since I did one of these!! Here's my #joyousjanuary recap. My goals were to read as many books on my #netgalleybacklog as I could, esp the comics so I could improve my ratio. I increased it by 3%! I honestly thought I'd only read like 3 books 😅 I'm so happy!!

I read 2 manga, 2 graphic novels, 1 picture book? (B&B), and 8 novels :D tho technically one of them I just finished and it's already the 22nd soooo 👀👀 lol!

Someone at work accidentally spoiled the identity of a character because they thought I'd finished it 😂😂😂 but it's ok, I'll act surprised when it happens lol #netgalleybacklog

As an older sister myself, I can't help but feel critical of this story and Virginia, and maybe that's why I didn't like it very much. I mean, their mom left them and apparently never contacted them for yrs until *now*...idk, I have a lot of feelings, esp in hindsight. I can't express in such a short review. But the art was ok and at the end, I was curious as to what would be the end of their journey (tho not enough to read v2, at least not now)

I've been wanting to get into a Rin Chupeco book for ages now but kept falling asleep with the bone trilogy, but this book had me from the start, which is also weird because I'm not super big on horror. Everything was honestly so good, the characters, the monsters, the critique on Hollywood/media culture (among other things), and THE ENDING. I did feel a certain something was dragged out but I kind of also understand why it was so it's ok xD

This is the 3rd book I read, back to back??, where a parent is so obsessed with their deceased (or gone) partner that they neglect their kids, 2 of the 3 deciding even death is worth it and I'm just here like WHAT ABT YOUR KID?! I saw a tweet the other day saying that ppl only like the idea of kids and not kids themselves and I know this is fiction, but it's like I suddenly see it...everywhere? Or maybe it's a plot point?? Lol idk it irks me

Koimonogatari had me laughing and crying and being violent to my phone so I'm Awake, but it's time to settle down. I'll go to bed after listening to a bit of this :) #netgalleybacklog #joyousjanuary

I also started Odessa but that seemed like a heavy book (topic) so I'll finish it tomorrow

GOD, this volume made me so angry!! v2 focused on Conflict and here it was homophobia. And the author does such a good job at carrying my son through these turbulent times T-T!! I'm so happy to see the friendships he's forged in v1 having his back, his own self-discovery, and yes, even some of the DESERVED violence. AND THAT CLIFFHANGER!! This author has done it again 👏👏 this author interweaves all the stories so well :) I'm excited for v3!!

Is it weird that even tho Spirited Away is my fav Miyazaki movie, those moments were the least I liked in this book? Lol! Bc yes, the parallels were glaring, just that this story was more #ya instead of mg. I think that's also why I dropped it initially, but after picking it up, I actually ended up really enjoying it. And yes, my fav moments were toward the end, which is where the story felt less Miyazaki and more #mythology. And the end? 💯💯

✅ COLD: school setting box
✅ KOIMONOGATARI v1: aapi
✅ TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: free space
✅ INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE: 2024 release
✅ THIS GOLDEN FLAME: aroace character :D

#lgbtq2024 #lgbtqbookbingo2024