Fiction

Aggie and the Ghost / Matthew Forsythe

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Aggie and the Ghost
By: Matthew Forsythe
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: August 19, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Aggie is very excited to live on her own and have peace and quiet. Unfortunately, her new house comes with a ghost, who disturbs everything. Fear not, Aggie has a list of rules. But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

The art of this is unique and quirky. 

The overall story for kids is really how to adjust and live with someone who maybe drives you up the wall, and that maybe, when they live, you will miss them.

Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals / Paige Walshe

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Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals
By: Paige Walshe
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Number of Pages: 132
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Dates Read: October 21, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Froggy is out on his own and carving his own path through sticky situations in this hilarious children’s graphic novel.

This is aimed for children (upper elementary school just due to some context within the pages), but there is a little bit of older humor that upper lever readers/even adults would enjoy as well. One example being “my back is too young to be this angry”. But also, the illustrations are laugh out loud funny in some panels; Froggy’s “I’ve had enough” facial expressions made me snort aloud more than once.

Froggy ends up in some hilarious situations and the way he gets out of them and or plows through them made me turn the pages faster and faster. It’s a read I can see myself going back to again for the simple enjoyment of the stories.

Overall, this graphic novel is a hilarious, loud out loud read for all ages.

A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara

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A Little Life
By: Hanya Yanagihara
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 815
Published: January 26, 2016 (1st Published March 10, 2015)
Publisher: Vintage
Dates Read: July 18, 2025 - August 31, 2025
Format: Paperback

Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, grooming, rape of a minor, self harm, drug use, addiction, themes of suicide, death

Follow the lives of four men, Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm, from the time they met in College, to 50+ as they grow into adults and each battle their own struggles and demons.

Oh my goodness – I think this took me so long to read because of just how SAD and PAINFUL it was. Seriously, when people ask me about this book, I have simply been telling them – it’s a lot. It does not usually take me a month and a half to read a book, even if it is 800 pages.

The writing in this is a little slow, but it’s slow so that you really understand the characters and the reasoning behind their actions. It wasn’t a book that I could read a few pages here and there and be okay with, this was a better read when I was able to carve out 2+ hours at a time to get submerged in it.

Jude was who everyone circled around, but he was also the one who struggled the most. I would get so upset with his actions (or lack thereof), but then I would remember his life experiences and the heat of anger would sizzle. I just wanted to both scream at him to get better but to also wrap him in a bear hug so nothing else could touch him.
Overall, I am not sure who I would recommend it to. Sometimes, you want a book that will wreck you – and this is it. But I would still give it a fair warning that it’s a lot and for readers to take care of themselves when reading it.

Hope Ablaze / Sarah Mughal Rana

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Hope Ablaze
By: Sarah Mughal Rana, Farah Kidwai (Narrator)
Genre: YA, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 384
Published: February 27, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Dates Read: July 10, 2025 - July 11, 2025
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings: Islamophobia, racism 

Nida is known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece – the poet who was wrongfully incarcerated during the war on terror. Nida’s poetry letters are her heart and sharing them with the world is not an option.

When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally – a rally she wasn’t even trying to go to, she was heading to the mosque to pray – she writes a heated poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks later. Nida is shocked to find out the poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she didn’t even enter. After her quiet life is upheaved Nida loses her ability to write poetry. She also struggles with the balance of the expectations of her mother, her uncle, and her Muslim community with who she truly wants to be.

As a white woman, this gave me an opportunity to see not only what hijabi wearing women go through on a daily basis, but also what they had to go through especially after 9/11. This book was also a passionate and emotional journey – Nida had anger she was carrying as well as the feeling of hopelessness, her story was both moving and eye-opening.

I was a little shocked about the magical realism of the novel, but it wasn’t anything offputting to me or anything, just wasn’t expecting it.

Overall, this is an important read that gives the perspective of what it was like to be a hijab-wearing Muslim teen in post 9/11.

*Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) / Suzanne Collins

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Mockingjay
By: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Number of Pages: 390
Published: August 24, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Dates Read: June 24, 2025 - July 8, 2025
Format: Hardcover

Katniss has been rescued after electrifying the arena during the Quarter Quell, but Peeta was captured by the Capitol. District 12 no longer exists, but District 13 does, and has always existed. Now, District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol, but they need Katniss to be their rebels’ Mockingjay. To do this, she must put aside her feelings, no matter the personal cost.

And I have finished the reading of the original Hunger Game trilogy (don’t ask me why it took me over two weeks to read this, I had weird personal stuff!)

I forgot how much softer Katniss is in this final installment of her story; she’s gone through not one, but two Hunger Games back to back, her home has been wiped off the map, and people keep using her as a pawn in their war games. The girl is seventeen-years-old and hasn’t been able to stop and breathe in two years. Unlike many characters in dystopian books I’ve read, Katniss actually is severely affected by the events she either has been a part of or has witnessed. She’s traumatized! 

I did love the fact she talks about Haymitch taking care of geese, but failed to mention she was the one who gave them to him to take care of. Oh – and at the end, she talks about her children playing on the graveyard of her district in the meadow – I know a lot of people have been connecting that to just the Covey but it’s actually her whole district that is buried there!

Overall, a bitter sweet ending to the original trilogy for sure. Still glad I reread the series.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) / Suzanne Collins

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Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)
By: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Number of Pages: 391
Published: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Dates Read: May 26, 2025 - June 5, 2025
Format: Hardcover

Katniss, against all odds, won the 74th Hunger Games, alongside fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark. Being alive should bring her relief, but it’s done pretty much the opposite. Her close friend, Gale, keeps her at a distance, Peeta doesn’t interact with her outside of the press, and there are whispers of a rebellion – a rebellion the Capital says Katniss and Peeta helped start.

With the victory tour, Katniss sees the small spark of revolution throughout the districts, and she doesn’t know if it’s something she wants to stop… When the 75th Hunger Games grows closer, the Quarter Quell, the Capital, is allowed different terms for the special occasion. Can Katniss defeat the odds again?

And continuing my reread of the original Hunger Game trilogy with one of my bestie coworkers and we have now finished the second book.

Boy, did I make a lot of comments on this book during our buddy read – the connections that Suzanne Collins has sprinkled in this that she masterfully reconnects YEARS later is phenomenal! I would absolutely love to see her technique to keep all of this straight… is it a wall of color coded post-its? A binder filled with character background and lore?! Even the smallest detail is not forgotten under her pen.

This book surprisingly doesn’t have as much about the games as the previous one, but to be fair, the game I think, only ends up lasting less than a week? I feel like the movies definitely focused more on the games.

As with the first book’s reread, I came at this sixteen-years-later and not only read it as an adult, but also as someone who has read everything else in the series, and I still feel shook after reading it.

My Friends / Fredrik Backman

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My Friends
By: Fredrik Backman, Neil Smith (Translator)
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 436
Published: May 6, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books
Dates Read: May 8, 2025 - May 25, 2025
Format: ARC / Paperback

My Friends is a story within a story about the summer of four fourteen-year-old friends and twenty-five years later about a piece of artwork.

As usual, I cannot describe what Fredrik Backman’s writing means to me. Every time I pick up one of his books, I know I’m going to read something I didn’t know I needed. It always takes me a bit to get into Backman’s books, but that’s not a bad thing, you just have to take his writing slow and steady before it hooks you and you immerse yourself in it.

The characters are complex and I walked away from the novel feeling like Joar, Ted, Ally, and the artist were my own friends. Backman doesn’t shy away from hard topics – the kids are there for each other as an escape from their home lives, some of which are dangerous. The writing brings out realistic dialogue between the friends and shows the simple yet messiness that can come from being so close with someone.

With a story about childhood friendships and those people who help shape who you are, this book is sure to resonate with everyone who reads it – especially reminding you of your childhood ride or die.

“I love you.”

“I trust you.”

*Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Have 3 Reviews: Two Cat Manga and a Cat Novel

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Is the plural of manga “manga” or “mangas”? Does anyone know? I feel like “manga” is to be used as both singular and plural buy my brain is arguing with me about it. Please comment if you totally know the answer!

I’m dropping 3 Reviews in one here. Mostly to finish up my end of the year books (finally) as well as not flood anyone’s inboxes with the very short reviews that you’ll see below.

Now, it’s on to write my week late STOKED FOR THIS post 🙂

Cat + Gamer (Volume 6)
By: Wataru Nadatani
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 168
Published: October 29, 2024 (1st Published May 18, 2021)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: December 31, 2024
Format: Library Book / eBook

Musubi and Soboro continue to team up with Riko, “leveling up” in everyday life.

Oh my goodness, I so very much love this series. Especially as a (small) gamer with two cats. 

I love the small snippets from the cat’s points of view at the end of each chapter. It makes them even cuter.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 2)
By:Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 168
Published: December 17, 2024
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: December 31, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

When the older lady who fed the cats in the park stops coming, Maruru and Hachi must find food elsewhere. While in the search, Hachi gets gravely injured – to ensure their survival, he makes a surprising decision.

Cats.

Animal rescue.

Grumpy accepting help.

That’s all you need to know.

It was beautiful.

I gasped, “Oh no”ed, and goofy smiled about 1,000 times.

Meow
By: Sam Austen
Genre: Fiction, Humor
Number of Pages: 346
Published: June 24, 2023
Publisher: Meow Library
Dates Read: December 31, 2024
Format: Library / Paperback

A book written for your cat in their language.

My favorite part was when they said,

“Meow?”

“Meow meow meow.”

“Meow meow.”

If you can’t tell, it’s an entire book written with just the word “Meow”.

I’m so far behind!!

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I’ve got 8 book reviews to post from the end of the year and then I’ve got my January Stoked for this as well. The holidays put me back, and I was reading everything I could get my hands on to move my Read Total up to 130 (which I made).

I wanted to share my “List Nobody Asked for But Got Anyway” aka My 2024 Books Read List that I share to my Instagram and Facebook every year on New Years Eve. It’s nothing fancy, but I always have fun making it – I even found out how to do it on Canva this year, and Canva and I have beef because they don’t make scaling covers easy!

“The List Nobody Asked For But Got Anyway” aka My 2024 Books Read List

This year, I journeyed through 35,307 pages across 130 books (10 more over my goal this year!).

I read ACTUAL nonfiction books, one of which solidified my favorite aquatic animal 🐙. I fell in love with a bakery dragon, a wild robot, magical children (again), and so many cats… I also found a love for audiobooks and their allowance of escapism while doing chores and errands 🥰

My average star rating is a 4, but I had 27 five star ratings, so I decided to share those with everyone. These are all titles that, if I don’t already own them, are books I’ll be keeping my eye out for.

Thank you everyone who followed along on my journey this year on my website, where I post all my reviews. I love talking books and I’m always happy to share them.

Now let’s see how much of a dent I can make in my TBR list this coming year!!

booksread #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #bookreader #myyearinbooks #myyearinreview #oldandnewbooksmell #books #fortheloveofbooks

Library Girl / Polly Horvath

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Library Girl
By: Polly Horvath
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 
Published: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Dates Read: November 20, 2024 - November 22, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Essie has secretly grown up in the public library, raised by the four librarians who found her among the children’s stacks as a newborn. With four mothers, who take turns staying with Essie, and miles of books to read, Essie has always been happy. But now that she’s older, Essie longs for a little more freedom, and maybe a friend her own age… When her moms let her leave the library by herself, Essie’s world opens wider.

On her second trip to the mall, Essie meets G.E., a boy who looks so much like her, they may be twins! The story starts to unfold in Essie’s mind – she was raised by four moms in the library, maybe her twin, G.E., was raised by four dads in the department store. Maybe now that they’ve found each other, they can be one big family! But, as Essie gets to know G.E. better, she learns that the real world doesn’t play out like in her stories.

This was an adorable Middle Grade novel about a little girl who was raised in a library – as someone who grew up wishing she could just live in her hometown library, this book called to me. Of course, now as a librarian, my thoughts have changed on this, but I still found this to be cute.

Some parts of the storyline were quite unrealistic, but the story never claimed to be based on real life or anything. I think I found the hardest part being how Essie ended up in the library in the first place. But, I also look at this from a young child reading and can see with their imagination, this being very possible/explainable.

Overall, this is cute and an enjoyable read to any booklover who wishes they could have lived in a library (or bookstore cafe). 

*Thank you Margaret Ferguson Books and Edelweiss+ for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review