New Releases

Away / Megan E. Freeman

/ Alisha Helms / 1 Comment 
Away
By: Megan E. Freeman
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 480
Published: February 11, 2025
Publisher: Aladdin
Dates Read: January 19, 2025 - January 20, 2025
Format: ARC / Paperback

Told in multiple POVS with a mixture of novel in verse, movie script, production diary, letters, and newspaper articles, this companion novel to Alone, Away follows a group of kids who were placed in the same evacuation camp after the imminent yet unnamed danger that forced them out of their home. When the group of kids has an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist, they begin to dig into the reasoning as to why their world was turned upside down.

As they begin to investigate, they start to discover there’s more of a cover-up operation going on than there is an actual immediate threat. Can the group get to the root of the conspiracy and tell the adults in a way they’ll be believed before it’s too late?

I absolutely adored Alone when I read it back in 2023, so I immediately tried to get my hands on Away as soon as I could. This novel is not a full novel in verse but jumps around between different styles depending on which character it’s focusing on at the moment – though Grandin and Ashantae’s are in verse, Teddy’s is written in movie script or production diary, and Harmony writes letters to her Aunt and essays in new reports.

I think this fast paced story would be fun for middle school readers, especially those who like to prove kids can be just as absorbent, if not more, than adults. The charge to question what is really going on begins with the kids and they’re the ones who shine the light on it in order for the adults to finally see what’s happening.

Are some of the scenarios in this unrealistic? Yes, but it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying it as I’m sure many others will.

You don’t have to have read Alone in order to understand what is happening in this novel as it is a companion novel and not a sequel.

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

My Week Late, Stoked For This: January 2025

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I know I’m a week (and a day) late in this, and there will be loads of books already out – but that means there’s loads more books already out (Trying to be a bit more positive this year)! I tried to get this done yesterday, but stuff happened and I couldn’t get back to this.

I’m also going to try something new with my formatting of this series. Let me know what you think! Do you like the new way? Prefer the old way? Have no comments or concerns?

January 7, 2025

Amber arrives home one spring afternoon on her bike. As soon as her mother sees her, she screams. Why? Because Amber’s been dead seven years – hit by a car on the very bike she pulled up to the house in.

After Life

By: Gayle Forman

Bletchley Park. London. 1923. Dragons soar through the skies, but Vivian Featherswallow isn’t worried, she’s going to study the dragon language and make sure her little sister doesn’t have to grow up in Third Class. But by midnight, civil war has started. Viv is recruited for a codebreaker job to save her family – but the more she learns, the harder it is for her to distinguish what what war she’s actually fighting.

A Language of Dragons

By: S.F. Williamson

A dystopian, water covered world where a family tries to save the history of humans while creating a settlement on top of New York City’s National History Museum.

All the Water in the World

By: Eiren Caffall

A sapphic YA debut novel that follows two girls has they fall in love, fighting for survival in an abandoned bookstore.

The Last Bookstore on Earth

By: Lily Braun-Arnold

January 14, 2025

Written in prose and verse, this YA novel following sixteen-year-old Carmela as she’s finally able to help in her mother’s apothecary in the Campo Marzio neighborhood of Rome. But the workroom is no simple place, for every simple ingredient, there is else even less pleasant, and Carmela begins to find out the secrets she never bargained for.

Everything Is Poison

By: Joy McCullough

What would you do if you found a magical bookstore that transports you back through time to be face-to-face with your teenage self?

The In-Between Bookstore

By: Edward Underhill

A multi-level, page turning murder novel about pyramid schemes.

Death in the Downline

By: Maria Abrams

January 21, 2025

Ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr is now at the reservation where her father grew up: they need a new tribal marshal to help with the women who have disappeared from the rez. Now, local college student is missing and Starr begins drown in memories of her own daughter’s murder. As she works on the cases, Starr can’t shake the feeling of a fearsome spirit watching her, one of a woman with antlers of a deer.

Mask of the Deer Woman

By: Laurie L. Dove

Stoked for This: October 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

This month we have a whopping EIGHTEEN titles I’m stoked for being released! October is starting off strong with seven of the eighteen. Surprisingly (or not so surprising tbh), there aren’t any horror on this list – a mystery/thriller at the very end of the month, but that’s as close as it gets. Horror’s just not my type – cozy and tearjerkers are more it haha.

Hopefully this lists helps someone find their next read – if it does, let me know! I won’t get to all of these any time soon and I’d love to hear what you think of them :).

Release Date: October 1, 2024

The Magic You Make

By: Jason June

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the sequel to The Spells We Cast that’s a queer magical romance with a grumpy/sunshine soulmate trope.

I listened to the first one as an audiobook and was absolutely hooked with every minute.

Give me all the magical academic settings with evil forces the teenagers have to tackle.

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

By: Nicki Pau Preto

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not kidding when I say to give me all the magical school…

This one’s a middle grade read with Vin, who is sent to her last magical school before it’s the end of the line.

So, a school, filled with magical delinquents?! Tell me you’re not interested!

Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World

By: Guido A. Sanchez

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know there’s always been LGBTQIA+ people throughout the world and throughout history, but as we know, history loves to be hetro-white-male-washed.

I know there are a lot of cultures out there that don’t shun the Queer community, so I’m excited to read about them. I’m also stoked to read about the myths where the queerness was erased overtime.

The Glass Girl

By: Kathleen Glasgow

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know most people probably know Kathleen Glasgow from Girl in Pieces, but I actually know her from How to Make Friends with the Dark – where I was left raw and open after relating to parental death in your teen years.

This one is about fifteen-year-old Bella who has a lot of stressors and turns to alcohol to help cope, which lands her in the hospital and rehab.

Though I don’t know if I’ll relate as personally to this novel (I barely drink), I’m sure I’ll be left with all kinds of feelings at the end of reading this.

Make My Wish Come True

By: Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick

Why am I stoked for this release?

A sapphic Netflix-esque cosy romance you say? Oh wait – it’s ex-best friends who are now fake dating for the press?!

I’m so ready.

I probably won’t read this one this month, but I have an ARC of it and I’m excited to curl up with it when it gets colder outside.

Jasmine Is Haunted

By: Mark Oshiro

Why am I stoked for this release?

Again, another author most people will know from another book over the one I associate them with, but still, I really enjoyed Each of Us a Desert when I read it back in 2020 and The Insiders, which I read in 2021 🙂

This is another middle grade read that is said to use spooky ghosts as a way to explore grief and processing trauma. Yea, I know, I really like the heavy stuff don’t I? I do though, cause it’s all stuff I wish I had as a kid growing up and I love reading it now to know what amazingness the younger generation has access to.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom

By: Stacy Sivinski

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a cosy fantasy about witch sisters who live in a magical house. The Quigley triplets are close, until an event begins to pull them in different directions.

I like sister novels. I’m the middle of three sisters and we’re all pretty close (so close my younger sister and I would physically fight each other when we were younger and now I don’t go very long without some form of communication).

This is one of those novels I look at and think I would really enjoy during a crisp afternoon at a cafe with a pumpkin spice latte.

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Twenty-four Seconds from Now…

By: Jason Reynolds

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m stoked for this release so that others can read it as I received an ARC of it and read it a few weeks ago.

You can find the review here ◡̈

It’s a beautifully written novel about two black teenagers, in a healthy relationship, told through the boy’s POV as they get ready to have sex for the first time. There’s amazing, positive talks the boy has with both of his parents and his older sister, and even poor advice from his friends (as usual).

As we’ve just finished Banned Books Week, I’m a little concerned at how quickly this one will be challenged/banned (I joked it will probably take only Twenty-four seconds…)

The Nightmare Before Kissman

By: Sara Raasch

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve been highlighting this title since we got an ARC of it in the mail at work.

This is being marketed as Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas where the Prince of Christmas falls for the Prince of Halloween even though he’s set to marry his best friend, the Easter Princess.

Like, this is going to be CUTE! It’s super high up on my TBR list, and I’m hoping to actually get to it here before Halloween, but we’ll see. I’m not sure if it’s set in any particular season, but I’ll come back and update this so readers have the right vibes!

The Bletchley Riddle

By: Ruth Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin

Why am I stoked for this release?

There are a handful of authors I will read anything and everything they work on if I can get my hands on a copy. Ruta Sepetys is one of them. All of her Historical Fiction YA novels have always taught me something new about the time period their set in (and sometimes the time period themselves as I never knew the events surrounding that novel were even a thing!).

This novel is a collab is a middle grade historical fiction about two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers (also something I didn’t know!).

I just get excited for Sepetys’ reads because I’ll always end up down a rabbit hole of research afterwards.

Divine Mortals

By: Amanda M. Helander

Why am I stoked for this release?

The only thing I really know about this book is it’s for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas – two authors who I technically haven’t read, but know I will love their books when I do finally get around to them. So, this one is being added to this list!

It’s supposed to have “spellbinding prose”, which I kind of in a need for some good prose.

Also being marketed as both “Fantasy” and then “Young Adult”, which makes me think it’ll be a New Adult genre and I’m always gathering those in hoards.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the second book to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series. I read the first book in the series and that review can be found here. Ah – it was so cute! Amazing for any foodies who are also book worms.

Premise: This father/daughter duo not only serve their customers amazing meals, they serve them memories. Customers come in and describe a favorite lost dish of theirs and then the duo goes about finding and recreating it!

It’s adorable and I’m extremely excited to continue on with the series and see more food and memory connection.

Solis

By: Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not sure if this is the second of a series or a follow up to the authors’ other title, Sanctuary, but it does have the same character of Vali – so, maybe? I haven’t read the other one…

This one is a dystopian YA novel set in 2033 where undocumented people are forced into labor camps and subjected to deadly experiments. Four narrators tell their story about starting a revolution.

It’s all crazy to me and the fact that this could very well happen with how some politicians are going…

Release Date: October 15, 2024

Libby Lost and Found

By: Stephanie Booth

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is going to rock my world and I will probably cry, cause at first, I only saw the little blurb for this that said, “a book for people who don’t know who they are without the books they love”, and like, hello?! That’s me!

BUT THEN I READ FURTHER!

And mega-best-selling fantasy series author, Libby Weeks, who writes unto the name F.T. Goldhero, is late on her last manuscript because she gets diagnoses with early-onset Alzheimer’s!! Desperate, she reaches out to eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the books better than she does but harbors her own dark secrets.

WHAT?!

This book will wreck me. I just know it.

I can’t wait.

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold

By: Isaac Blum

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m a little familiar with this author’s debut work, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, but not a lot.

This YA novel set in the Orthodox Jewish community is about Yoyo, who has always played the role of perfect Jewish daughter and respects the decision of the community. But when her best friend is cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time.

I don’t know a lot about the Orthodox Jewish community, some, but not a lot, and a bit of what I do know is from Orthodox Jewish Tiktokers (which is also a part of this novel!). So, I’m stoked to hopefully learn more about a community I’m not too familiar with.

Revisionaries: What We Can Learn from the Lost, Unfinished, and Just Plain Bad Work

By: Kristopher Jansma

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m going to be honest and admit I probably won’t read the entirety of this novel. I’ve got a few of my favorite authors’ sections I will read and that’ll probably be the most of it.

Mostly Kafka – cause he’s just weird and I fell in love with his writing in college.

Release Date: October 22, 2024

The Healing Season of Pottery

By: Yeon Somin, Clare Richards (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off – I’m openly admitting the fact that the cat is what suckered me in and made me pick up the book first.

Secondly, it’s a cozy Korean bestseller that’s being marketing for fans of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library, which is one of my top recommended books.

This book is a testament to the joy of slowing down in a fast-paced world, a homage to the art of ceramics, and the power of friendship 🙂

Release Date: October 29, 2024

This Girl’s a Killer

By: Emma C. Wells

Why am I stoked for this release?

And last but not least, a thriller mystery about a woman, Cordelia, who loves exactly three things: her chosen family, her hairdresser, and killing bad men.

By day she’s a successful pharmaceutical rep with a pristine reputation and by night she’s culling South Louisiana of monster men who seem to evade justice.

Y’all know I love me a book with found family! But now it’s a serial killer who is trying to do good.

I’m so for it. Let’s go!

Stoked for This: August 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I’m going to be a bit honest and have been a bit discouraged in doing my Stoked for This this month. I know I’m not the most popular website, I’ve only had this for a little over 1.5 years, so I’m not expecting a lot. But even if I don’t get a lot of interactions with this, I still actually do enjoy looking over everything and seeing what’s coming out this month. Maybe one day someone will read one of these things and get excited for a release that is coming out they didn’t know about ◡̈

So, without further ado…

There’s some really awesome releases coming out this month! Including a few from author’s I’ve loved in the past, so therefore excited to get my hands on their most recent releases. Be excited – there’s also talking cats and Studio Ghibli is involved…

August 6, 2024

The Pairing

By: Casey McQuiston

Why am I stoked for this release?

Ever since Red, White & Royal Blue I’m been gathering up every Casey McQuiston novel that comes out, so obviously this is on my radar too.

A queer, “Let me show you just how over you I am by hooking up/dating these other people” trope. I don’t read a lot of cis romance (I say as I’ve actually read a few these last few months…) but queer romance I’m always down for.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins

By: P. Djèlí Clark

Why am I stoked for this release?

I can’t remember how I ended up reading The Black God’s Drum a few years ago – I believe a coworker suggested it to me. Anyway, I really enjoyed that novella and I’m constantly putting it on recommendation lists I make at work. The world building that Clark made in that novel still blows me away now.

I haven’t read his other novels yet, but they’re on my TBR list, but I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about that – just that I need to read them.

This novel, though has the word cat in the title, says it doesn’t have cats in it, but yea know I’m still going to be interested in it! It also has assassins – which the story DOES have ◡̈

It Happened to Anna

By: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Why am I stoked for this release?

Tehlor Kay Mejia wrote my favorite sapphic YA duology that I read back during Covid lockdown (We Set the Dark on Fire).

This is a middle grade ghost story about a tween girl who’s literally being haunted by loneliness and anytime she tries to make a friend, the ghost scares them away (or causes an accident that kills them).

I’m not sure how this will go since it is aimed at Middle Grade – it could be not that scary, or terrifying (remember how crazy Goosebumps was?!). But it sounds like it could be interesting, so I’m into it!

Five-Star Stranger

By: Kat Tang

Why am I stoked for this release?

Following a narrator only referred to as Stranger, you navigate around New York City under the guise of the characters he plays. But when a nosy client threatens to upend his long-term roles as father to a young girl, Stranger begins to reckon with his attachment to his pretend daughter, her mother, and his own past.

The premise of this sounds familiar, and yet, I can’t pinpoint another actual title where this happens. Honestly, probably all the fake dating fanfics I read in high school & college…

Anywho – I’m picturing a cute little girl who’s probably got this guy wrapped around her finger and that’s adorable okay?

This isn’t being marketed as a romance, so I think it may focus more on the relationship the narrator has and not love stuff.

Guess we’ll see ◡̈

August 13, 2024

The Dollmakers

By: Lynn Buchanan

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m just going to start off with this little marketing quote, “The Dollmakers is perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films and the works of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree…”

I would shout my love for TJ Klune and Travis Baldree from the rooftops if I could (I kind of do with the amount I shove their books into people’s hands). Also Studio Ghibli can do no wrong and the I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watch Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Totoro.

This is a stand-alone fantasy about a world centered around destructive monsters, magical dolls to fight this force, and the artisans trying to prove herself.

I’m ready for the world building in this and the story premise – I’ve been wanting a good fantasy!

Ash’s Cabin

By: Jen Wang

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is about a young boy and his dog going deep into the California wilderness to see if he could find his Grandpa Edwin’s secret cabin (if he ever built it).

I’m simply excited for this because I too would also like to disappear deep into the wilderness in search of an isolated cabin far from society.

August 20, 2024

The Volcano Daughters

By: Gina María Balibrera

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s dictator, El Gran Pendejo (which I have no knowledge of).

That’s one of the reasons I really enjoy and advocate for historical fiction, a lot of it is based on real events and yes, I could read a history book about it, but I have a hard time with just being given facts. I’m slowly getting into more and more narrative nonfiction, but for now, let me enjoy reading historical fiction.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop

By: Mai Mochizuki

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off, there’s cat on the front of this book. It’s also translated Japanese’s literature – so I dare you to stop me from getting this.

This is a book about a cafe that is run by talking cat who will also consult their customers on their star charts, offer cryptic wisdom, and let them know where their lives veered off course.

My oldest cat turns 14 on the 10th this month – oh how I wish I could talk with her! I can’t wait to live vicariously through these characters.

Helga

By: Catherine Yu

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a YA retelling of Frankenstein.

Have I ever actually read Frankenstein?

No.

Am I still excited to read a YA retelling of it?

You betcha.

August 27, 2024

Buffalo Dreamer

By: Violet Duncan

Why am I stoked for this release?

Firstly, this cover is beautiful, which is what grabbed my attention when I saw it on the publisher’s preview at a virtual event.

Secondly, this story is actually about “reclaiming the past” and is based on the author’s family history. Set in Alberta, Canada, Summer has begun having vivid dreams in which she’s running away from one of the residential schools. When she learns of the unmarked children’s graves found at the school her grandfather attended as a child, folks begin speaking out about their experiences.

The way history treated Native and Indigenous Peoples is absolutely repulsive and the more I find out about how it wasn’t happy-go-lucky like I was taught in school, the more outrage I feel. So, I try to read and learn about this history from Native and Indigenous authors.

This is aimed for Middle Grade readers, so I know it probably isn’t going to have anything massively intense with it, but I still want to read this stuff, so I know when to offer it.

Stoked for This: July 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I know. I know. I didn’t get around to June’s :/ I had a chunk of it done, but by the time I could actually put time into it, it was halfway over and I didn’t think anyone would want to know what I was stoked for in the past… I don’t know, maybe I should have still posted it? I know a lot of people don’t really read this – that this is more for myself. But I need to do better at remembering to actually get this done – cause here I am at 11 am Tuesday morning, trying to get this together 🙂 Still a work in progress I guess haha.

Anywho – this month is really going to hone in on female rage. What’s the rage level?? Read on to find out! ◡̈

July 2, 2024

49 Miles Alone

By: Natalie D. Richards

Why am I stoked for this release?

Two cousins go out on a hiking trip in the Utah desert to rekindle their relationship. While out, they run into a couple, Finn and Riley. They hear the couple argue in the middle of the night and Riley running off into the wildness with Finn chasing her. With their supplies dwindling, the girls try and find Riley before Finn does.

This is marked as YA, but I don’t know if it could technically be New Adult based on a few things (I’ll let you know when I read it!).

This just sounds like it could be an adventure – and of course, hiking in the desert in this heat right now wouldn’t be too hard to imagine!

Age 16

By: Rosena Fung

Why am I stoked for this release?

The first sentence of this novel is this: “A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about three generations of mothers and daughters passing down and rebelling against standards of gender, race, beauty, size, and worth…”

Like – how could you not be excited for that?!

As we know, I love me a good feminine rage book – and make it, what looks like, will be a beautifully drawn graphic novel too?? YES.

The Night Ends with Fire

By: K.X. Song

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is inspired by the legend of Mulan, so I have high hopes for this – especially since the last book that told me that, gave me a big let down and I was so bummed.

So, I may be holding this higher standards, but this one is getting good reviews!!

Another kind of feminine rage if you will – or rather, proving the fact that women can do most things men can do too..

July 9, 2024

The Confidence Games

By: Tess Amy

Why am I stoked for this release?

Okay, this one is a little outside my usual read for sure; a mystery thriller.

But, it’s two female con artists – who only swindle men, and only ones who deserve it – must pull off the ultimate heist! Reminds me of that all female Ocean’s 8.

The Spellshop

By: Sarah Beth Durst

Why am I stoked for this release?

THERE IS A MAGICAL SPIDER PLANT IN THIS! I have a freakin’ spider plant tattoo because I love them so much.

This is also said to be “like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic”.

God, that just sounds magical and maybe the perfect escape from this dang heat we’ve got going on!

July 23, 2024

Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect

By: Hilda Eunice Burgos

Illustrated By: Siara Faison

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is totally for the younger crowd – but I’m here for the cat.

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky

By: Josh Galarza

Why am I stoked for this release?

Though the title of this YA novel is funny – this one will be nothing of the sort. It’s going to deal with anxieties, eat disorders, parents with cancer, and a whole lot more.

It’s going to probably rip my heart out, but sometimes you just need a book to destroy you.

Slow Dance

By: Rainbow Rowell

Why am I stoked for this release?

The day I’m not excited for a Rainbow Rowell novel, I’ll probably be dead.

This is an adult romance where two best friends from high school, who everyone thought would end up together, find each other again after fourteen years without speaking to one another.

Also – I have a signed copy of an ARC of this thanks to my beautiful Readers Services Department I work with.

The Lost Souls of Benzaiten

By: Kelly Murashige

Why am I stoked for this release?

“A young outcast transforms into a robot vacuum”

Okay. Okay. I thought WTF when I first read that too – but my friend Lucy (we worked together is the RS Department) picked it up for me at PLA cause she thought I’d like it.

It’s about friend breakups and being human.

I’m sure I’ll have quite a few feels about this after reading it too.

Your Letter

By: Hyeon A. Cho

Why am I stoked for this release?

After transferring schools due to bullying, Sori’s new school seems like it may just be a repeat – until mysterious trail of letters leads her on a magical scavenger hunt.

So this is a Manhwa (Korean Manga; it’s set up like manga, but read left to right like English). I’ve actually only read one other Manhwa before, so I’m excited to read another one.

July 30, 2024

Pink Glass Houses

By: Asha Elias

Why am I stoked for this release?

Two reasons I’m stoked for this.

1. Elite Elementary School PTA Moms. My parents were huge PTA parents while my siblings and I were in elementary school. My mom was the treasurer and secretary and my dad did a lot of the physical work (he also made Fun Night activity stuff that, as far as I’m aware of, is still used today).

2. One of the mom’s is from Wichita, KS – which was where we use to go to “be in a bigger city” while we were in Salina. Totally use to make a shopping trip before school started with my Grandma down there.

That’s it haha. Mostly into for how ridiculous the rich can be.

Stoke for This : May 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Y’all I’m back! I officially submitted in my selections for the awards I was reading for yesterday and I am now able to tackle more of my TBR (and my backlog of galleys from NetGalley :D). So, be prepared to see more from me as I get back on track with my reviews!

May 7, 2024

The Skunks

By: Fiona Warnick

Why am I stoked for this release?

Reviews I’ve seen of this book have generally described it as being one that will sit with you well after you’ve read it. So, I’m curious to see if this will.

This novel is about Isabel who moves back home after college and just – tries to figure out her life from there. But being back home brings up old memories (including an old crush).

There are also supposedly POV changes, one of course, being a skunk, so let’s try it!

Telephone of the Tree

By: Alison McGhee

Why am I stoked for this release?

I originally heard about this book at a Publisher’s Digital Book Event. This is a book about loss and grief.

As someone who lost her dad when I was only twelve, there’s a lot of stuff I used to do as a preteen that were probably weird. I didn’t really have books like this growing up and I really cherish reading them, even now so I know what the younger generations have.

May 14, 2024

Thirsty

By: Jas Hammonds

Why am I stoked for this release?

Jas Hammond’s debut YA novel, We Deserve Monuments was my 2022 Book of the Year. I’ve been anxiously waiting for their next novel.

In this novel, Blake is doing everything she can to join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society – but to keep her confidence up, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle.

Hammonds layered her last novel masterfully and how she talked about the trauma was amazing as well. I’m really excite to see where this one goes.

It Waits in the Forest

By: Sarah Dass

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another story that will be diving into grief – but this one is not only for people, but for the lives we wish we had.

There’s also potentially something to do with botany magic?? I may be misreading or jumping to conclusion on it, but like – the cover! Give me plant magic so I can keep my plants alive and stop accidently killing them!!

With Just One Wing

By: Brenda Woods

Why am I stoked for this release?

After breaking his arm climbing a tree to get a closer look at the mockingbird nest, Coop is stuck at home during the summer. Later, when the fledglings fly away, Coop and his friend, Zandi, discover a baby bird with one wing is left behind. Coop adopts it

This book is a lot about adoption

The Last Rhee Witch

By: Jenna Lee-Yun

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a middle grade mystery/suspense novel mixed with Korean folklore and summer camp.

Again, I know it’s middle grade, but I’m still excited about these titles. These types of novels weren’t around when I was a kid – and if they were starting to come about, I pretty much spend a year reading middle grade before jumping into YA since my reading level was so high as a kid.

And, weirdness at summer camp? Count me in 🙂

May 21, 2024

To & Fro

By: Leah Hager Cohen

Why am I stoked for this release?

I saw this one in a publisher’s email and asked for the ARC of it, I’m hoping I can read it right before it comes out so I can talk it up.

To & Fro has two mirrored narratives with flipped over covers to read each story about girls searching for understanding.

There’s also a stolen kitten involved!

Shae

By: Mesha Maren

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a coming-of-age novel about sixteen-year-old Shae and her companion, Cam. Shortly after Shae becomes pregnant, Cam begins transition and declaring female pronouns.

After traumatic C-section and the birth of their daughter, Shae is given opioids and then becomes addicted.

This isn’t going to be a candy filled read, that for sure – but I’m already rooting for Shae and her fight that so many Americans are dealing with when it comes to the opioids epidemic.

The Light Eaters

By: Zoe Schlanger

Why am I stoked for this release?

And our nonfiction of the month goes to this popular science read about plants!

As I have mentioned above, I love plants and I have quite a few sprinkled throughout my home that I (try) to take care of. Usually I can do great with them for a few months and then something dramatic happens and they die. I do have a handful I’ve kept alive for along time – including a cactus named Max who I’ve had going on 8 years who I’ve propagated three times.

Plants are also amazing out in the wild and how they are able to care for themselves out there interest me so I’m interested in this read for sure!

May 28, 2024

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

By: Onyi Nwabineli

Why am I stoked for this release?

This novel is about Anuri’s life as she tries to break her young half sister out of the cycle of abuse from her influencer stepmother.

I know I keep mentioning about the differences between when I grew up and now – but like, I’m 11 years older than Youtube. Even though I loved filming my friends and family as a kid, those videos were just for us.

Nowadays, there’s so many “influencers” that film everything they do and post it online. I think of the Franke family and how crazy that actually ended up being…

Anywho, I’m curious to see how this one reads and how it goes showing the “bad side” of constantly being online.

A Galaxy of Whales

By: Heather Fawcett

Why am I stoked for this release?

I mostly wanted this book because it’s from the author of of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I still haven’t read that book, but it’s on my TBR and based on what I’ve heard of it, I know I will love it.

This book is a summer story that has trials and pleasures of friendships with two preteens trying to best each other in a photo contest.

Stoked for This: April 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I had a bit to deal with over the weekend and Monday so the first Tuesday of the month kind of snuck up on me – ALMOST!!

I really wanted to make sure to get this posted because as a reminder, I’m judging a few awards right now (I’ve got two categories in one Award alone). Because of this, I unfortunately won’t be posting as much because I can’t post my reviews of those books. I am giving myself a 2:1 ratio though. Two award books, one book of my choosing – mostly to mix it up but to also make sure I don’t poorly score a book simply because I want to get it over with to read another one.

So, thanks to those that stick around. Especially those who stuck around and read all of that ◡̈

Without further ado, my April’s Stoked for This!! There’s quite a few that come out this first Tuesday and there’s a ton of new books by some of my favorite authors. April will be a busy month, but I’m excited!!

Release Date: April 2

The Book of Thorns

By: Hester Fox

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ll be honest with you here to let you know I really love Hester Fox, so I’ll read everything by her. One of my favorite gothic, dark writers.

But, besides that: sisters separated at birth, bound together by a secret language of flowers!!

And it’s set in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars?! A new historical time I can check off my list.

The Cemetery of Untold Stories

By: Julia Alvarez

Why am I stoked for this release?

Oh, just another literary icon that I absolutely love.

This one is about a writer, Alma who creates a graveyard for all of her untold stories. A legit graveyard for the manuscripts and drafts of stories she never finished. Alma wants her characters to rest in peace, but they have other plans.

As a writer who hasn’t written a fictional stories in years (I know, I know – I have a Fiction Writing Degree and I sure use it huh??), I’ve got A BOX FILLED with unfinished stories – not to mention the unfinished stories on my college external hard drive.

This just gives me hope that maybe one day, I can finish their stories too ◡̈

All We Were Promised

By: Ashton Lattimore

Why am I stoked for this release?

A historical fiction set in Philadelphia, 1837 – another time in history I haven’t read much in.

A housemaid who escaped White Oaks plantation down South conspires with a wealthy young abolitionist to help an enslaved girl escape.

I’ve watched a lot of movies about this time period, but not a lot of books. I’m hoping this one will be interesting and page turning for me.

Lightningborn (Storm Dragons Saga #1)

By: Julie Kagawa

Why am I stoked for this release?

Okay, first off – do you see this adorable dragon on the cover?? Because that’s the first thing that caught my eye. Then the fact it was by Julie Kagawa, I was asking for copy of this quickly.

You know how some girls were horse girlies? I was more of a fairies and dragons type (mostly fairies, but still loved dragons!).

Anywho, in a world where only the rich own dragons, a poor boy finds a wild dragon and becomes the focus of an evil pirate! And, by the looks of the cover, it’ll be sky pirates!!

Release Date: April 9, 2024

The Secret Language of Birds

By: Lynne Kelly

Why am I stoked for this release?

Ah, Song of Whales is a beautiful middle grade story that I love recommending for Middle Grade with a Deaf main character, so when the author’s newest book was announced, I got excited.

This is about a little girl who is obsessed with birds who finds a pair of whooping cranes nesting in the marsh of her summer camp. It’s kind of impossible because all of her resources say they haven’t nested in Texas in over 100 years. But, once wildlife officials are notified, more questions arise about the bird pairing.

Release Date: April 16, 2024

Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder

By: Asako Yuzuki, Polly Barton (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

Okay, please just read the title of this! “Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder”! Tell me that doesn’t piqued your interest?!

No?

What about this: There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

This is inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer “The Konkatsu Killer”.

Just – I can’t explain in words my excitement for this, okay?

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Bad Habit

By: Alana S. Portero, Mara Faye Lethem (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is about a coming-of -age novel about a trans woman growing up in Madrid in the last decades of the twentieth century.

After finally finding community and kinship in downtown Madrid after growing up in a blue collar suburb where she didn’t belong, the unnamed character finds that each step forward she must confront a violence she does not know yet how to counter.

Trans experiences are getting more and more voices nowadays and I’m all for it.

Release Date: April 30, 2024

Not Like Other Girls

By: Meredith Adamo

Why am I stoked for this release?

I don’t want to get too much into this novel, but based on the description of it, it reminds me a bit of Sadie by Courtney Summers.

But this is said to take a hard look at how we treat young women and their trauma as a teen girl tries to find her former best friend after goes missing and all the secrets that come to light.

Stoked For This: March 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I tried to be ahead of the game this month and prewrote a section of my March’s Stoked for this. When I finished it and posted it last night, WordPress went and “published” it on the day I originally started the draft (which was February 16). I’m reposting this now so it shows up in the right spot on my website.

Here to TRIPLE CHECKING EVERYTHING before posting y’all!

I’m cutting this a bit late on the posting day but I’m really trying this year to post these all by the first Tuesday of the month.

This is a pretty big month for releases as it’s the publisher’s spring burst. I don’t know if I’d call any of these beach reads, which is usually what I think of when I think of March releases – maybe one of my YA romances, but I think it may be pushing the definition of “beach read”.

Some historical fiction (duh), stories with mental health, stories of science fiction, a book with actual science (hello eight legged sea alien), and a mystery thriller I could see a Netflix deal with (if it’s done properly).

You ready to see what I’m stoked for??

Release Date: March 5, 2024

The Fragility of Light

By: Heather S. Lonczak

Why am I stoked for this release?

This book is supposedly an unforgiving dive into mental illness. And I like that about books – ones that tell it exactly how it is and don’t sugarcoat anything.

Mental illness was such a taboo when I was a growing up and it makes me happy that hopefully people can see themselves more and more in text and media.

Hidden Yellow Stars

By: Rebecca Connolly

Why am I stoked for this release?

Historical WWII Fiction – but Alisha, I thought you were trying to get away from this time period?

I’ve been trying not to read WWII historical fiction novels since 2010. It’s not happening. So I’m going to enjoy it.

This one is based on a true story of two WWII heroines who ricked their lives to save Jewish children from the Gestapo in Belgium.

Tell me you don’t want to read that!

The First State of Being

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

Why am I stoked for this title?

I read We Dream of Space when it came out in 2020 and I still think about those siblings to this day.

Set in August 1999, in the loom of the Y2K crisis, Michael and his babysitter Gibby, meet Ridge – the world’s first time traveler.

We all know how I feel about time traveler books (love them) and the fact that this will be a teenage time traveler right before the turn of the century? What could go wrong??

Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal

By: Gretchen Schreiber

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a teen romance so I may not be in love with it, but I’m willing to give it a try!

Why?

It’s being marketed as The Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart.

I enjoy both of those things, so let’s see what mashing them together can mean.

Coyote Lost and Found

By: Dan Gemeinhart

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the second book to the Coyote Sunrise series and i absolutely adored the first book.

This one is picking up a year later when Coyote finds her mom’s ashes and wants to not scatter them in her chosen place. The only problem is the secret place is hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold the year before while riding around the country. Now she must find it without telling her dad.

If I remember correctly the first book was filled with a cast of characters I loved so I’m ready to meet them again and go on this touching journey.

The Poisons We Drink

By: Bethany Baptiste

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve always loved witches and this one is about a witch who brews magic potions (even though it has painful side effects). After her mother is killed by an enemy’s bullet, she has the chance to punish her mother’s killer with potions.

I’m sure there will be lots of corruption and the mix between magic and power questioned.

The Girls We Sent Away

By: Meagan Church

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another historical fiction novel but this one set in the 1960’s about a young woman who gets pregnant out of wedlock. To hide their family from shame, she gets sent to a maternity home.

The library just did a maternity home event about the one that was here in KC and this is just an interesting topic, so of course when I saw this as an ARC come in I grabbed it and hopefully will be able to get to it here soon.

Release Date: March 19, 2024

In the Orbit of You

By: Ashley Schumacher

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another YA romance? Are you sure??

Yes – this one sounds like it will be cute and full of little childish memories and stuff okay??

There’s also recovering from past trauma – which, aren’t we all?

Rainbow Black

By: Maggie Thrash

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m just going to leave you with the little marketing snippet this book has and tell me you also wouldn’t be intrigued.

“Rainbow Black is part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.”

Secrets of the Octopus

By: Sy Montgomery

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a companion to the highly-anticipated National Geographic television special will beautiful illustrations.

Octopus are freakin’ amazing and cool and WEIRD, but I love them. I’m excited for the tv show and I’m excited for this release.

The Woods All Black

by: Lee Mandelo

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a queer, trans romance novella that’s historical horror with blood-soaked revenge all set in the 1920’s Appalachia.

Historical fiction? Check.

Revenge? Check.

Appalachia? Also check.

James

By: Percival Everett

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is said to be a “reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and that’s got me curious.

We all know the story of Huckleberry Finn, and it’s set in Missouri – so let’s go!

Release Date: March 26, 2024

What Happened to Nina?

By: Dervla McTiernan

Why am I stoked for this release?

Nina and Simon are the perfect couple until they leave for a weekend trip in Vermont and only Simon comes home. And his story doesn’t add up.

Now, Simon’s family is doing everything they can to protect their son while Nina’s family is doing everything they can to find their daughter.

This has potential Netflix deal written all over the description – if it can be done right of course.

I’m a true crime television addict, you would think I would also be into mystery thrillers. I tried one last year and it didn’t blow my hat off, but I’m willing to try again on this one.

Stoked For This: February 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I feel like I both went hard and yet, was super stingy on what I picked to showcase this month. Maybe it’s the fact I have well over 300 books sitting in my TBR piles around my house and yet, I still can’t say no to a good ARC when I see one…

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out

by: Shannon Reed

Why am I stoked for this release?

Well, that seems like a silly question. This is a book review blog/website no?

I know why I read, but I’d like to know why others do as well..

And clearly I love talking about books, so a new book about books is always on my radar ◡̈

Released Date: February 13, 2024

The Framed Women of Ardemore House

by: Brandy Schillace

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not one for mysteries. But more romance and mysteries are on my little personal goals list this year.

This one is about an autistic editor who inherits an English estate, but then finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. There’s also a missing family portrait as well.

Anywho, this just sounds like it would be fun and interesting.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts

by: Katherine Arden

Why am I stoked for this release?

Anyone else read The Bear and the Nightingale?

This is Arden’s new book – set in the Great War in 1917, which is not a year or event I usually read about.

I enjoyed Arden’s book I read last year (though I haven’t read the rest of the series). I’m excited to read about this one as it has some magical realism aspects to it.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

by: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

A newly translated Japanese series where a father-daughter duo who run the Kamogawa Diner can recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories.

A lot of my greatest large family memories growing up was always centered around food. My cousin could make the best cheesy potato casserole and I don’t care who makes it otherwise, it’s not the same. Okay?

The Book of Doors

by: Gareth Brown

Why am I stoked for this release?

Imagine receiving a book that has the ability to open any door to anywhere the possessor wants! And, after running around with your best friend, you discover there are other books with other crazy abilities and so therefor are bad guys who want your book.

What are you going to do??

This just sounds like such a crazy concept, and it’s giving me all kinds of ideas, but I want to read this to see where it goes before making my own decisions about what doors I would want to open…

The Eternal Ones

by: Namina Forna

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the last book of The Gilded Ones series and oh boy – is it good!

Full of action and the best found family vibes and a magical shaft shifting companion you could ask for in a YA fantasy.

This Day Changes Everything

by: Edward Underhill

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a Queer YA romance set during one day in New York City around Thanksgiving.

I enjoy books that everything is set in one day. T

This book is 288 pages, there’s bound to be some wild stuff that happen!

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Welcome to Hyunam-Dung Bookshop

by: Hwang Bo-Reum, Shanna Tan (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

You all should know by now I’m a sucker for Japanese literature- especially when it’s about books.

This one is a Korean smash hit about a girl who gets burnt out, leaves her old life behind, and goes to a small neighborhood outside Seoul and opens the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.

Raise your hand if a dream job of yours would be to open your own little bookshop/cafe/cat sanctuary that you run with your best girl friend.

Island Witch

by: Amanda Jayatissa

Why am I stoked for this release?

Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore (again, something I haven’t read before!). In late 19th century Sri Lanka, the daughter of a traditional demon-priest, tries to solve the mysterious attack that have been happening in her village.

This is horror and though I dipped my toes a little (so little) into horror last year, this seems like it may actually be up my alley.

Release Date: February 27, 2024

Hope Ablaze

by: Sarah Mughal Rana

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a YA about a Muslim teen finding her voice in a post 9/11 America.

I was only in fourth grade when 9/11 happened, but of course it’s a day I’ll always remember.

I’ve only read a handful of books based around that time period, and I can’t wait to read this one, especially as there is poetry throughout it and I enjoy that.

Snowglobe

by: Soyoung Park, Joungmin Lee Comfort (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another newly translated Korean novel where in the not-so-distant future, the world has constant subzero weather. It’s a dream to participate in the reality TV broadcasted by Snowglobe, a community protected in an insulated glass dome.

I hate winter – and we just recently had that crazy cold snap here in KC. I feel like I barely survive it every time, so I’m ready to see how others do so 24/7!

Stoked for This: November

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Sorry this is late (but it’s being published before the first Tuesday releases!). I got the news I didn’t get a job I’d basically been working for since March on Tuesday, right before I was planning on putting this together. Ultimately, this got put aside until I could manage to look ahead at books without crying. I’m not sure what my future holds – “It just wasn’t meant to be” still doesn’t help the heartache, but, books can take me to far off places, so that’s what I’m focusing on here. #Escapism

RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2023

Bookshops & Bonedust

by: Travis Baldree

Why am I stoked for this release?

Legends and Lattes is one of my all time favorite cozy fantasy novels. This one is the prequel that follows Viv shortly after she gets wounded during a hunt.

The last one felt like a warm blanket cuddle on a chilly fall night, so I’m expecting great things from this one too.

Sail Me Away Home

by: Ann Clare LeZotte

Why am I stoked for this release?

This novel pairs with Show Me a Sign and Set Me Free – stories follows Mary Lambert, a young Deaf girl from Martha’s Vineyard, a predominately Deaf Island, in the early 19th century.

I enjoyed the other two because talked about a big part of Deaf history and culture a lot of people don’t know about. This one seems like it will be able the education of Deaf children, which is a so layer and deeper than most people think.

A Grandmother Begins the Story

by: Michelle Porter

Why am I stoked for this release?

This story follows five generations of women and bison as they navigate their traumas try to rebuild their futures.

Written by an author who comes from a long line of Métis storytellers, this novel had received beautiful reviews and as I’ve said in previous months, I love a good generational story.

The Beautiful and the Wild

by: Peggy Townsend

Why am I stoked for this release?

So this one is actually set in Alaska. Last month I believe, I thought I had a YA where it was set in Alaska, and it was not. So, this is my Alaskan novel I plan on reading this winter.

It’s supposed to be about survival in the wilds of Alaska and I watch enough hunting and survival shows that I’m ready.

RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2023

Day

by: Michael Cunningham

Why am I stoked for this release?

I mentioned about loving family dynamic novels before. This is one of those that’s supposedly painful, but beautiful at the same time.

I’ve got a few authors I’m thinking of that I’ll be comparing this to, but I won’t know until I read it. And I have a feeling this will stand all on it’s own.

RELEASE DATE: November 28, 2023

We Must Not Think of Ourselves

by: Lauren Grodstein

Why am I stoked for this release?

I used to read a ton of WWII historical fiction. So much so that I kind of forced myself to take a step back from it for a bit. I still read this time, but I limit myself to only a few a year, and not all 120 of my books.

This is inspired by the testimony-gathering project with the code name Oneg Shabbat, where those trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto began collecting the stories of those living between the walls.

It’s going to probably be a difficult read, but it’s important.