The Biased Bibliophile

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Since her mother passed away when she was a child, Andie has only ever wanted one thing: to join the same secret society her mother did in college. Thankfully, Andie is accepted into the college of her dreams as a transfer student, but everything is not as ideal as she imagined. She must learn to cope with a long distance relationship, a previously absent father trying to connect again, schoolwork that is piling up, finding a place to fit in at her new school, and the huge pressure of living up to her mother’s legacy.

I will admit that this book started out a little rough for me. Andie is a complicated main character to say the least, and I found her a little annoying towards the beginning of the novel. That being said, Andie’s character growth throughout the book ended up being my favorite part! Andie starts off as judgy, idealistic, and overly positive, to the point of being toxic. While these attributes weren’t very appealing, I think they ended up highlighting the ways in which Andie grows throughout the course of the novel.

Additionally, I enjoyed the depth of this book a lot! Andie’s grief for her mother plays a huge role in the novel, and I found that it added a lot to the story. She basically bases her entire life choices on what she thinks her mother would’ve done, and it was great to see her slowly realize that she does not have to be her mother to live up to her mother’s legacy. Similarly, I loved the way different characters connected with one another by sharing about loved ones they lost. At one point, Andie mentions that learning about things she didn’t previously know about her mother feels like discovering treasure. This, along with other sentiments she shares, were really relatable.

Furthermore, I thought the humor throughout the novel added a bit of lightheartedness to what would have otherwise been a somewhat depressing story. The characters all felt very three-dimensional and had a sense of humor unique to them.

Finally, I love a book that incorporates the title into the story in a meaningful way, and Emma Lord did this flawlessly in Begin Again. I won’t share details because it’s a feeling that is best experienced on your own while reading the book, but the way the title was tied into the story was perfect!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! If you like YA Contemporary or Romance, I highly recommend it!

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rep: Neurodiverse

Do you ever read a book and feel like you’ve just gone on an epic, life-changing adventure? Well, that’s how I felt about Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman!

The novel follows Seelie, a changeling who ran away from home with her twin sister, but desperately wants to find a way back. The two find themselves in a precarious situation after they steal an enchanted compass from the powerful Leira Wildfall. Unbeknownst to them, the mysterious Raze and Olani were also trying to steal the artifact. Now that Seelie’s magic accidentally caused the item to be imbedded in her hand, her and her sister are somewhat unwilling participants on the journey to find the treasure.

My favorite aspect of this novel is that Seelie is autistic, which is shown through her being a changeling. We really don’t see autistic characters enough in literature, and it was refreshing to see myself in a character. Housman mentioned that her own life likely would have been different if she had seen autistic characters in the novels she read, and she is making that happen for autistic people everywhere.

So many of Seelie’s mannerisms were relatable. As someone who was only recently diagnosed as neurodiverse, it is comforting to read about Seelie’s journey, and know that I’m not alone. That I’m not the only one who doesn’t feel comfortable opening up to strangers, who needs a while to process how I’m feeling, who can’t always verbalize what I mean, and who is sometimes okay with a hug or a pat on the back, but sometimes not.

On top of that, the way the other characters loved Seelie, not despite her autism, but because of it, gave me chills. So often we see diagnoses as something that others must get past to love someone, but in reality they can make us love someone even more. We can find joy in the ways we are different, and maybe some day, see autism as a neutral or positive attribute about someone, instead of as a diagnosis.

Additionally, the adventure in this novel was fantastic! There’s everything from faeries to shapeshifters to changelings to dragons, and the plot is robust, yet not too overwhelming. I thought the plot complemented the relationships that develop throughout the novel well, and I appreciated how the suspense built all the way to the end of the book.

Overall, there are not many books where I feel the need to message the author immediately after finishing the novel, but this was one of those rarities! I had to use all of my self-control to wait until an appropriate time to send messages, but I am very happy to report that there will be a sequel, and I will certainly be anxiously awaiting its publication!

Genre: YA Historical Fiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve officially read all of Ruta Sepetys’ books now, and trust me when I say, if you haven’t read her books, you’re missing out! By no means am I a big fan of historical fiction, but Sepetys’ books are everything you could want in a novel!

Her latest book, I Must Betray You, takes place in Romania in 1989, when the country was being ruled by a communist dictator who had the Western world duped into thinking he was a good leader. The novel follows Cristian, a young man who is compelled to inform for the secret police in order to save his sick grandfather. As the book progresses, he finds out that no one is who they seem to be, and Romania is closer to a revolution than he ever imagined.

There’s not a single thing I would change about this book! It’s clear Sepetys did extensive research (as is apparent in all her books) on the time period. Some of the details were incredibly shocking, such as the fact that 1 in 10 citizens were informing for the secret police.

Additionally, Cristian was a phenomenal character! There were many instances where Cristian wonders if aspects of his life that he has come to accept are common in other countries. I thought this was very telling, and highlighted the way Romanians were isolated. Cristian’s relationships with the other characters were compelling and complex. I loved the way Sepetys portrayed this fire inside him, driving him to change things and fight for freedom.

Similarly, the themes in the novel were very strong, particularly the theme of paranoia. It was fitting that Cristian was an informant for the secret police, as that gives readers a unique perspective of being attached to the character while they engage in somewhat nefarious behavior. This truly showed how anyone could be an informant, and that it didn’t necessarily make them a bad person, just a person who wants to survive.

Finally, the emotional connection I felt with this book was unparalleled! Like Sepetys’ other novels, I Must Betray You is heartbreakingly beautiful. Before reading this one, I would have said The Fountains of Silence was my favorite book by her, but now I’m not sure that I can choose between these two! In my opinion, this book is nothing short of literary genius!

Genre: Nonfiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rep: A-Spec

After receiving a promotional email from Goodreads, which recommended Ace Voices by Eris Young, I knew I wanted to read it immediately! I’m always looking for more books by and about a-spec people, and I was excited to find another nonfiction book on the topic. I never imagined it would turn out to be one of my favorite nonfiction books of all-time!

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was that it doesn’t read like a textbook. Sometimes nonfiction books can feel really boring, but this book was filled with emotion and soul! I loved that the author spoke to a large group of a-spec people when writing the book, incorporating their different experiences to show a more comprehensive look into what it’s like to be a-spec.

Additionally, Young provided helpful interpretations of different terminology that is frequently used in the a-spec community. I found it very helpful to have multiple clear perspectives on these terms. While I had already heard many of them, I think this feature would appeal to people who are not very familiar with the a-spec community. Likewise, those who have had more experience with the a-spec community will likely enjoy the diverse experiences and nuances that Young references in relation to each term.

On top of that, there were discussion questions at the end of each chapter that really added to the feeling of reflectiveness and introspection. I love that Young wants readers to think, not only about what being ace means, but also about many different aspects of orientation and gender identity. The questions were simultaneously thought-provoking and easy to understand.

The thing that made this book really stand out was the emotions, from those who participated in the creation of the book, from the author themself, and from me as a reader. This made the book very powerful, and I found comfort in many of the things that were shared by other ace people. So many experiences described in the book, from having a fear of being alone forever to not feeling an urge to dive into microlabels, really resonated with me, and made me feel a deeper connection to the a-spec community.

Overall, this is a book that I will be recommending for a long time to come! I’m hoping to add a signed copy to my a-spec bookshelf soon, and I know I will feel a sense of wholesomeness and hope every time I see it on my shelf!

Genre: YA Mystery Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rep: Anxiety, Ace

Mystery is not my favorite genre, but I’m convinced that if Maureen Johnson wrote all the mystery books, it might be! Nine Liars is the fifth book in the Truly Devious series, and somehow it was even better than book 4, The Box in the Woods.

The novel follows Stevie and her friends to the United Kingdom, where they are supposed to be learning about history and furthering their studies. When David’s friend Izzy mentions that her aunt was connected to a murder mystery in the English countryside during the 1990s, Stevie’s interest is peaked, and her friends know it’s only a matter of time before she’s on the case.

If I’m being completely honest, the original three books in the Truly Devious series were not phenomenal reads for me. Don’t get me wrong, they were 3-star reads, which is a good book in my opinion. However, this series is one that gets increasingly better over time. When I received an ARC of The Box in the Woods, I’d figured I would try it, but wasn’t wholeheartedly invested in the series. After reading it, I was willing to read more in the series. Now, after reading Nine Liars, I need more books in this series! It completely blew me out of the water!

One thing I love about these novels is that they typically have two alternating storylines. We read a little about the mystery that happened in the past, then we read about Stevie’s life now. This pattern makes the books so compelling in my opinion. As a reader, I found myself more invested in the mystery timeline at the beginning, but the more I read the more invested I was in the present timeline as well.

Furthermore, the mystery in this novel was riveting! The suspense built well over the course of book, and I literally couldn’t stop reading. I couldn’t guess any of the big reveals, yet the series of events was also completely plausible. The cast of characters were dynamic and added a lot to the story. I sometimes feel like authors write very similar characters when they need more murder suspects, but that was not the case with Nine Liars.

Additionally, the characters that we already knew and loved were developed further. I adore the fact that Stevie is a flawed, yet relatable character. Truthfully I don’t think we see enough of this in novels, especially YA novels. We somehow expect the characters to be perfect or stereotypically morally grey, but in many ways, Stevie is just an average teenager who makes mistakes just like anyone else. Her character development throughout this novel drew my emotions into the story even more, and as always, I appreciate the authenticity of reading about a character with anxiety.

Finally, the cherry on top of the cake, there is an ace (asexual) character in this book! This is kind of funny because, at the beginning of this book, I was reading about this character and thought, “Wow, they really seem like they could be ace!” However, it had not been mentioned in the previous books, so I was happily shocked when this character comes out as ace later in the novel. I don’t want to spoil who it is, but I felt like this identity lines up with what we know about this character from the previous novels, and I was so elated to see this representation!

Overall, there is not a single thing I didn’t love about this novel! Maureen Johnson, I sincerely hope you plan on writing another book in this series because I need it yesterday!

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rep: Social Anxiety

Every time I think I’ve read the best of Tricia Levenseller, she releases another book that is even better than her last! Master of Iron is the second book in Levenseller’s Bladesmith duology, and it picks up right where the last book left off.

This book is one of those rarities that are so amazing they leave me speechless. There isn’t a single thing about this novel that I didn’t absolutely love, but my favorite aspect was the way Ziva’s social anxiety was portrayed. I have never read a book that so accurately depicts what it’s like to have social anxiety. I also loved how Ziva’s friends and family didn’t force her to change, but recognized her social anxiety as part of who she is.

Additionally, Master of Iron offers everything you could want in a fantasy novel. There is plenty of action, yet it didn’t overtake the plot. The supporting characters added so much depth to the plot as well. The romance in the novel was the perfect amount in my opinion. I adored Ziva and Kellyn!

Overall, Master of Iron was a phenomenal follow-up to Blade of Secrets! As if Tricia Levenseller didn’t already have me as a lifelong reader, she would after this wonderful duology!

Genre: Mystery/Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Mystery/Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I was so honored to have the opportunity to beta read three stories for N.D. Testa’s debut novel, Hickory Dickory Death! The book is an atmospheric compilation of 5 murder mystery stories with a touch of fantasy as well. It is a great book for any time of year, but I found it especially fun to read around Halloween this year! Each story in the novel follows different protagonists who are visited by Death, personified by Persephone in the novel. They have a chance to avenge a murder, but things aren’t always what they appear.

I loved so many aspects of this novel! First off, I really liked the format of 5 short stories. Each story was long enough to grab my attention, but not so long that I lost focus, as I sometimes do with traditional novels. There were many details throughout each story that were carried over into the next, which added to the overall feeling and cohesion of the book. I particularly enjoyed the details surrounding Persephone, as she is one of the main constants throughout all 5 stories.

Additionally, the historical element to the novel was really appealing to me. Testa did a wonderful job of truly making the reader feel like we were in the 1800s, and there is just something about historical mysteries that are very compelling to me. Likewise, Testa used some terms that maybe wouldn’t be familiar to many of us nowadays, but they fit with the times the stories took place, and she so helpfully added brief footnotes explaining them. It was details like this that made the novel feel true to its time period.

Furthermore, at multiple points throughout the book, there were lines that were written so poetically, it was moving. Scattered throughout the stories were words of wisdom that left an imprint on my mind, and made the novel that much more memorable. Specifically, Persephone shares quite a few of these impactful statements with the characters she visits.

There were a couple things that I didn’t love, but I felt like they were more of a personal preference than anything else. For one, parts of the stories felt a little too repetitive. However, I think this is kind of complicated because, at other points in the story, I appreciated some repetitiveness. Similarly, there were a few small details that seemed a little unrealistic to me. I would have loved to see a more concrete magic system, and some of the characters’ deaths felt a little rushed.

Overall though, Hickory Dickory Death was a fantastic debut novel! I can’t wait to read what N.D. Testa has in store next!

Genre: Nonfiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I know what you’re thinking…, “Why would anyone want to read a book about cod?” Honestly, I can’t argue with you because I know the topic of this book is strange, but it was also very fascinating. I wrote a paper on cod during my undergraduate degree, and discovered that it is a much more interesting and detailed topic than one might think.

Not only does this book delve into the problem of the overfishing of Atlantic cod, it discusses an extensive history of how different people around the world have relied on the species. Many aspects of the book were surprising, and taking the publication year into account (1999), it was particularly compelling to see how the situation has changed since then.

Overall, I’m not going to say that this is a book everyone would enjoy, but if you like nonfiction, then it might be a great fit for you! Not to mention that there are many cod recipes included! Also, if you’re wanting to try it, but feel a little hesitant, the audiobook was fantastic!

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐1/2

After reading an excerpt of The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford, I was intrigued. I particularly liked the idea of a sentient forest and a poisonous lake tying into a magic system. Sadly, I found the book to be a bit disappointing.

My main complaint is that the novel was extremely slow. While it did pick up a little towards the end, even the climax of the plot was not very compelling. Likewise, it was only 390 pages, but it felt like it was about 1,000.

Furthermore, I felt let down by the developments throughout the novel. The idea of a malicious, sentient forest was so interesting, and I was really excited about that, but I think that concept was very under-developed and didn’t add much to the story. Similarly, the poisonous lake was again fascinating, but I think the author should have spent more time focusing on these two aspects of the novel to add depth and mystery.

I will say that the characters were complex. Leelo’s relationships with different characters in the novel were dynamic and diverse. I thought Rutherford did a great job of adding a lot of complicated family dynamics, and the friendships in the novel were multi-dimensional as well.

Overall, I think plenty of people will enjoy The Poison Season, it just wasn’t the right book for me.