To Read or Not To Read

Applying to college is challenging for anybody (don’t miss those days), but of course it's harder for demigods (they have to survive long enough to get to senior year, first of all...). But if it's difficult for regular demigods, then it's near impossible for our long-suffering, sarcastic-king of a hero Percy Jackson, who probably deserves blue cupcakes and free tuition galore for what he's been through. Nevertheless, the entire PJO fandom is thankful for his retirement from retirement so that we can have a delightfully low-stakes reunion of the original trio with hijinks, hilarity, and did I already mention sarcasm? Basically, I devoured The Chalice of the Gods in one sitting and I am even more pumped up for the release of this TV show because this book has me falling in love all over again with this universe!  Rick Riordan, dubbed "storyteller of the gods" by Publishers Weekly , is the author of five New York Times #1 bestselling series and the #1 bestsellin

Now that's how you do an homage! Josie Silver's A Winter in New York is simply perfect to me. A beautiful tribute to New York (and to being new in New York), and the romcoms that help build this city in our collective imagination, this is a book I'm going to be recommending for a long time to come!  Josie Silver is an unabashed romantic who met her husband when she stepped on his foot on his twenty-first birthday. She lives with him, their two sons, and their cats in England. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December , The Two Lives of Lydia Bird , and One Night on the Island . You can find more of my reviews of her work here .  When Iris decides to move to New York City to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big  the Big Apple really is: All the nostalgic movies she'd watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn't quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris's best friend, isn't about to le

Having read all of Isabel Ibañez's previous works, it is very confidently that I can say that What the River Knows is her best yet. An incredibly atmospheric and magical historical fantasy, filled with complicated characters searching for all kinds of truths, every kind of reader can find something to love in this book. I'm already anxious for news about book 2 after that cliffhanger ending!  Isabel Ibañez is the author of Together We Burn (Wednesday Books) and Woven in Moonlight (Page Street), which was listed among Time magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. She is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants and has a profound appreciation for history and traveling. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. You can find Isabel on Instagram @IsabelWriter09. You can find more of my reviews of her work here .  Bolivian Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nin

An absolutely captivating read, it's very easy to see why this book captured everyone's attention earlier this year. Not only does Prince Harry share insight into royal life, but he shares insight into his  life, and his experience in the monarchy. It cannot be understated that the memoir's overarching argument is profound and important. If you're a fan of memoirs or just looking to start out (like me!), I think this is a great place to start.  Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist. He resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs.  It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would pl

Meghan has been trying to convince me to read this one for forever, so happy to report that it was as hilarious, heartfelt and joyful as I was led to believe! Boyfriend Material  has everything I love about the fake dating trope, plus the feelings that come with balancing the rest of your life. While I wish we'd seen Oliver's point of view, I still really enjoyed Boyfriend Material , so thanks Meghan!  Alexis Hall does not like writing biographies or talking about himself in the third person. He lives in southeast England with his extensive collection of hats and three angry duckchildren. You can find him online at quicunquevult.com .  Luc O'Donnell is tangentially—and reluctantly—famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his im

After falling in love with the world in Belladonna —the gothic Thorn Grove, the death-touched Signa, the mystery that haunts Signa's ability to form relationships with the haunted Hawthorne family—I knew that I'd highly anticipate Foxglove  until it was in my hands. I loved falling into the world of Thorn Grove again, this time with new characters, a new manor, and a new mystery. I think Foxglove , though, suffers from the "middle book in a trilogy" condition, in which the author is clearly setting stuff up for a thrilling finale, but it leaves the plot and intrigue of the second book feeling thin.  Adalyn Grace is the New York Times , USA Today , and internationally bestselling author of Belladonna  and the All the Stars and Teeth duology. Prior to becoming a writer, Adalyn studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation's popular series The Legend of Korra . Local to San Diego, she spends her nonwriting days watching too much anime and playing video g

It will probably never not feel weird rating a memoir, because in a sense it feels like rating an author's ability to recount their life to a reader, and rating that life itself. Thankfully, so many memoir authors make it easy, like Maggie Smith. Centering the experience of her divorce and being a single mother, You Could Make This Place Beautiful examines Smith's very personal experiences in a compelling framework, while also recognizing some of the larger societal issues at play, creating a memoir that feels more universal than just its singular story. Maggie Smith is the award-winning author of several books, including Good Bones  and the bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving . She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Academy of American Poets Prize, the Pushcart Prize, and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times , The New Yorker , The Nation , The Paris Review , and The Best American Poetry , among

I have been reading Cassandra Clare's work since I was in middle school—can't believe it's really been this long!—which is why it's so exciting to say that I think Sword Catcher is some of her best work. With her trademark addicting prose and masterful world building, Clare takes readers on a new adventure of forbidden love and hidden magic. I hardly wanted to put this book down, and I will eagerly await the sequel!  Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly  bestselling Shadowhunters Chronicles. She is also the co-author, with Holly Black, of the bestselling fantasy series Magisterium. The Shadowhunter Chronicles have been adapted as both a major motion picture and a television series. Her books have more than fifty million copies inn print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra Clare lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three fearsome cats. Yo

For anyone whose ever thought about cutting all ties to their life and moving into a dilapidated house in the countryside with their best and closest friends but hasn't done so yet— Wild Things is for you. Laura Kay's characters, best friends El, Ray, Will and Jamie, all move-in together, their hijinks and sweetness bursting through the pages. While this book is heartwarming and fun, I found hoping for more from the romance front, even though it absolutely succeeds as a self-growth narrative.  Laura Kay is the author of The Split  and Tell Me Everything , both published by Quercus in the United Kingdom. Wild Things is her first novel published in the United States. She lives in East London. El is in a rut. She's been hiding in the photocopier room at the same dead-end job for longer than she cares to remember, she's sharing a flat with a girl who leaves passive-aggressive smiley face notes on the fridge about milk consumption and, worst of all, she's been in unrequi

Listen: I wasn't even going to buy Iron Flame  this week. I was going to wait until the first print ran out because (controversial book opinion incoming) I hate stained edges. I'm sorry! Happy to share more why later, though! Anyways, I wasn't planning on getting this book or reading this book at any point this month, but bookstagram really convinced me that I was going to be Missing Out if I didn't start reading immediately. I didn't buy and read Fourth Wing until August, so I thought I could hold out for a while again, but honestly, it's been really cool seeing a book take the world by storm. I love books! I love when other people love books! I love seeing midnight release photos! I love when books make the news, and when we can all unite around characters and victory and stories about love.  I just really wish that the books doing all this weren't the books of The Empyrean Series.  This review isn't going to be quite like most of my others because I h

I had pretty much given up on reading (specifically fantasy) books that BookTok/Bookstagram hypes up without my own previous interest, based on negative previous experience (I have my beef with ACOTAR and was genuinely so disappointed by From Blood and Ash ) so I avoided reading Fourth Wing for as long as possible. In fact, I pretty much planned never to read it. But after meeting the right convincing people, I decided to give it a shot. I'm really glad that I did, if only to be able to add my thoughts to the conversation!  This review isn't going to be quite like most of my others because I have so much to say, so I hope you brought a coffee or snack, because it's going to be a long ride!  Rebecca Yarros is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifteen novels, with multiple starred Publishers Weekly  reviews and a Kirkus  Best Book of the Year. A second-generation army brat, Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for more than tw

If you're reading this and you already know that my favorite movie of all time is You've Got Mail, then you know why I was excited to read You, Again . I cannot resist an "inspired by Nora Ephron" story, especially when that Nora Ephron movie is the immensely lovable yet still-not-sure-how-this-worked  When Harry Met Sally (and when the cover is perfectly reminiscent of the classic movie poster, how could a girl like me say no?). Which is also why no one who knows me is more surprised than I am that this one did not land for me, for many reasons.  This, as is the case for more books that I was immensely hopeful about, is going to be a long review, so get ready!  Kate Goldbeck grew up in a literal village and always dreamed of living in New York, even though her parents warned her that the apartments on Friends  were not realistic. In college, she studied film and art history—limiting her employment prospects to "film museum." This line of work did not lead t