Stoked For This

Stoked for This: July 2023

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Okay, so I’m not the greatest at getting this out on the first, that’s absolutely for sure – but at least it’s still at the beginning of the month, right?? My family had their annual summer garage sale this past weekend and it’s a big deal (we made over $1,200 this year!). That mixed with July 4th, my days are all over the place. But, I wanted to make sure I got this out at a reasonable time so here we go!

RELEASE DATE: July 4, 2023

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

by: Satoshi Yagisawa, Eric Ozawa (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m kind of a sucker for Japanese literature – especially fiction. It always makes me feel peaceful and they don’t shy away from what it’s like being human. It just feels real. So, I’m pretty stoked for this read that has a setting with a bookshop!

The Librarianist

by: Patrick deWitt

Why am I stoked for this release?

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and am actually currently reading it. It’s about Bob, a retired librarian who begins helping out at a senior center. There’s more involvement, but the seniors at this center are a hoot and I love them.

Wolfsong (Green Creak #1)

by: T.J. Klune

Why am I stoked for this release?

Firstly, it’s T.J. Klune, anything this author releases will automatically get put on my TBR shelf, which as soon as I read it, it becomes my newest favorite book. Any year he releases a book, it’s always in my Top 5 easily. I know, this is technically a reprint of the entire series through TOR, but I haven’t read it yet and I’m counting it. Plus, it’s shapeshifting wolves; leave me to run down memory lane with my teenage Teen Wolf obsession. Thanks.

RELEASE DATE: JULY 11, 2023

Alchemy of a Blackbird

by: Claire McMillan

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a historical novel based on the true story of painters and occultists Remedios Varo and Leonor Carrington, who both had to break away from their famous partners in order to become icons on their own.

I’ve been interested in Tarot Card reading so I’m excited to see how this goes because apparently that’s what connects to two women.

Ebony Gate (Phoenix Hoard #1)

by: Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle

Why am I stoked for this release?

Firstly, this is being marked as “…female John Wick story with dragon magic set in contemporary San Francisco’s Chinatown.” Like, what part of that description does not intrigue me? I’ve also been interested in dragons recently so there’s that too…

Give Me a Sign

by: Anna Sortino

Why am I stoked for this release?

I admit, I’m not one for YA romance, but this one has a main character who has hearing loss who’s a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind where she meet a Deaf counselor who volunteers to help her with her signing. I love ASL, I’ve got a Minor in the language and I sign with quite a few patrons at work. I’m always curious to see how Deaf and Hard of Hearing characters are written so I’m always up to reading books with those characters, especially with the author is Deaf themselves.

RELEASE DATE: JULY 18, 2023

A Guide to the Dark

by: Meriam Metoui

Why am I stoked for this release?

This book is marked as Young Adult, but since the two girls are college age, this could be marked as New Adult, which is one of the reasons I was interested in it. New Adult is generally marketed as 18-28 while Young Adult is more 13-18 – it’s a *newer* genre that’s still getting on it’s feet, so I’m always on the look out for that.

This is also a horror YA and I don’t know what it is about it, but I greatly enjoy YA horror (I’m going to thank Rory Power’s Wilder Girls for that one). This novel is saying it’s The Haunting of Hill House meets Nina LaCour so uh, sign me up!

Women of the Post

by: Joshunda Sanders

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a novel based on true events of the all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps sorting over one million pieces of mail for the US Army during WWII.

I’ve read a lot of historical fiction set in WWII, but this is a story I haven’t heard yet, so I’m stoked to be able to read about a different point of view. I also don’t read a lot of fiction that would be categorized as “military fiction” so that’s another check off my list for excitement.

RELEASE DATE: JULY 25, 2023

The Weaver and the Witch Queen

by: Genevieve Gornichec

Why am I stoked for this release?

Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t shut up about The Witch’s Heart by this author after I read it. I’m constantly recommending that book to anyone and everyone. Gornichec writes historical fiction with mythology and Vikings Age history. Those are two things I absolutely love and this one is about the becoming Queen of Norway. Sign me up to enjoy this already.

Stoked for This: May 2023

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I was already pretty bad at keeping up with this, wasn’t I? April kind of got out from under me, but I am trying to get my feet back on the ground for these next few weeks. I was lucky enough to have two extra days off last week and that allowed me to get caught up in some things. Of those things included my Stoked for This: May 2023 edition!

RELEASE DATE: MAY 2, 2023

Warrior Girl Unearthed

by: Angeline Boulley

Why am I stoked for this release?

Angeline Boulley wrote Firekeeper’s Daughter, which is one of my all time favorite Young Adult books – I’m constantly recommending it at work. In this book, Perry Firekeeper-Birch and a group of Misfits work together to give Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestor’s remains back to their tribes. Boulley brought up Indigenous issues in her last book that I honestly wasn’t aware of and I’m anticipating I will learn a lot in this book as well.

Where You See Yourself

By: Claire Forrest

Why am I stoked for this release?

Always a goal of mine is to read more books with different representation. This one is about Effie, a senior in high school with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair, and her journey in finding the right college to attend the following year. I’m actually in the process of finishing this book right now and, while there is some romance to this, it’s not really the main focus (I’m not the biggest fan of YA romance anywho…). But the complexity of the disability representation is amazing and I’m exciting for this to hit the shelves.

Hula

by: Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes

Why am I stoked for this release?

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month so it’s a perfect time for this release and read. I’m going to be honest and admit that I haven’t read a lot of novels set in Hawi’i culture so I’m excited to read this one that dives into mother-daughter relationships, dysfunctional families, and the history and culture of Hawi’i.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 9, 2023

A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2)

by: Melissa Blair

Why am I stoked for this release?

Technically I’m excited for both books of this Saga. I already knew I was going to love the first book and shortly after I had picked that one up, did I realize there will be another. I’m kind of weird when it comes to series – and weird in the way that I hate waiting to have to read one and will just wait for the next one to come out (but what if it’s a longer series – then I usually cave) Anywho… assassin female spies in a Fantasy land? Count me in.

Daughters of Snow and Cinders

by: Núria Tamarit, Jenna Allen (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

Kaite got this in as an ARC from the publishers at work and I immediately asked for it because I loved the artwork. This will be the English debut of Spanish cartoonist and illustrator Núria Tamarit. But again, I’m so excited to see the storyline that goes with the art that I saw when I did a flip through.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 16, 2023

The Guest

by: Emma Cline

Why am I stoked for this release?

Did anyone else read Emma Cline’s book The Girls? I did quite a few years ago and I don’t remember a lot of it (it was before I would review all my reads) but I do remember that it was a crazy book. This one a young girl pretends to be someone she isn’t as a homeless “grifter” in Long Island.

The God of Good Looks

by: Breanne Mc Ivor

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off, please look at the cover of this book and tell me you aren’t intrigued! This one is about a young Trinidadian woman finding her voice and new kind of happy ending. I have a patron I adore who is from Trinidad & Tobago and this is novel will hopefully give me a bit more to insight to her island so the next time she tells me about her home, I may have more connection.

Paper Planes

By: Jennie Wood, Dozerdraws (Illustrator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

A summer camp for troubled youth after “an incident” where now to ex best friends have to rekindle their relationship? Give me.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 30, 2023

Witch King

by: Martha Wells

Why am I stoked for this release?

The description of this says, “A story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose”. That pretty much checks off a lot of my favorite tropes, so that’s pretty self explanatory as to why I’m stoked for this…

Girls Like Girls

by: Hayley Kiyoko

Why am I stoked for this release?

A YA novel based on hit song, Girls Like Girls from Hayley Kiyoko. I was the type of girl who grew up reading fan fiction of stories based on songs. I’m curious to read the actual story of a song from the singer.

Stoked For This: March 2023

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

This will hopefully be something I can bring together on the 1st of every month. Some of these books I may have already read and reviewed, others may be on my TBR within the next couple of weeks, and others I may not get to soon, but they are on my TBR for when I’ve got the time!

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 7, 2023

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez

by: Claire Jiménez

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is both a heartwarming and a heartbreaking novel about a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island who discovers their long-missing sister is possibly alive and on a reality TV show. It’s about family and the dynamic between the two remaining sisters and their mom. This was one I was able to read before the publication date and I can see it ripping the hearts out of many readers.

The Moth Keeper

by: K. O’Neill

Why am I stoked for this release?

I love K. O’Neill and their art work. The Tea Dragon Society is one of my favorite graphic novels I love for the art and a series that I’m constantly recommending. This novel is no different – the artwork is stellar and amazing. The story itself deals with burnout and loneliness; something all of us probably know a little about nowadays. I was able to read this before it’s release and I’m excited for it to get into more and more hands for people to enjoy.

Weyward

by: Emilia Hart

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a debut novel about gender and control with a look into the long echoes of male violence through the centuries. It’s historical fiction mixed with magical realism, there’s witches, and nature. I haven’t read this one yet, but the cover alone is beautiful!

The Last Beekeeper

by: Julie Carrick Dalton

Why am I stoked for this release?

I always seem to gravitate towards dystopian fiction, even if I don’t mean to. This one though, seems like it would be a good read. It’s a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and what it means to have hope in the face of despair.

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 14, 2023

Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller

by: Oliver Darkshire

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m a librarian, who worked at a bookstore before this, why wouldn’t I be excited for a novel about a bookseller? I remember the days of customers asking for (and selling us) the rarest of items. I’m pretty sure my store even had a book my manager had to do weeks of research on to figure out what it even was. It’s crazy and I’m excited to read this guy’s adventures.

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 21, 2023

Lucha of the Night Forest

by: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Why am I stoked for this release?

Tehlor Kay Mejia wrote an amazing duology We Set the Dark on Fire with some badass women who don’t need men to do great things. This one is about a girl who will do anything to protect her sister. There a scorned god, a mysterious acolyte, a drug that makes you forget, and a dangerous forest? Sign me up!

Bea Wolf

by: Zach Weinersmith

Why am I stoked for this release?

A retelling of Beowulf for middle schoolers in the form of a graphic novel, and it has beautiful and fun art? Sign me up! I was able to read an advance copy of this and I can’t wait for people of all ages to read this. The writing is fun and engaging and the artwork will have you giggling on the floor.

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 28, 2023

The Quiet and the Loud

by: Helena Fox

Why am I stoked for this release?

Biz, the main character in Fox’s How It Feels to Float has had a piece of my heart since I read that book back in 2019. I’ve been waiting for Fox to release a new book, so as soon as I heard about this, I immediately knew I needed to read it. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this, so I should be reading this in the next week or so.

Saints of the Household

by: Ari Tison

Why am I stoked for this release?

A debut YA by a Indigenous Costa Rican-American writer told through alternating points of views using vignettes and poems. this is about two brothers who have always had one another for survival against their abusive father but when they beat up their high school’s star soccer player, they must deal with their actions and the shift in their relationship.

Chlorine

by: Jade Song

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is supposed to be a coming-of-age narrative mixed with horror and I don’t really know why, but that speaks to me and I want to read it. There’s mention of the pressure put on young women and their bodies and I’m interested to see how that’s written. I was also in love with mermaids and sirens as a kid so the cover of this caught my attention too.