Harley in the Sky // fall in love with the circus

Harley in the Sky is vibrant, magical, and full of heart - but what Akemi Dawn Bowman book isn't? I was whisked away into Harley's world from page one, and the story completely subverted my expectations in the best way possible.

Sorcery of Thorns // a fantasy standalone that is at once nostalgic and refreshing

Margaret Rogerson's words are magic. She manages to pack sorcery, whimsy, humour, feminism, and a love of books all into Sorcery of Thorns, making it one of the best fantasy standalones I've read in some time.

Three Middle Grade Fantasy Novels to Warm Your Heart This Winter

Christmas is just around the corner, and that means it's time to make yourself cosy with a wonderous Fantasy novel. I have found myself reading many Middle-Grade Fantasies as of late, and there are three in particular that I have found them utterly charming. So get your hot chocolate and bundle up nice and warm, because I have some Middle-Grade mini-reviews for you - of books that are magical no matter your age.

Sadie // an analysis of our cultural obsession with dead girls

Sadie is a devastating masterpiece. I have read it twice this year alone, and both times left me tearful and hoping desperately that there was more. It wasn't just the story that gripped me - it was the uncomfortable messages that came with it that made this a book I cannot stop thinking about.

SLAY // empowering, insightful, and essential

SLAY is a brilliant and insightful book - so much so that it is difficult to believe it is a debut. I'm not very big on gaming, which is at the heart of Keira's story (my knowledge is dated and limited to Mario Kart and a cursory knowledge of Pokemon), but it didn't matter, because Morris' tech-loving novel completely sucked me in.

Turtles All The Way Down // honest, emotional & powerful

Turtles All the Way Down is a book that is honest, emotional and powerful, and I loved every second of reading it.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay // a stunning exploration of family, culture, and mental illness

Darius the Great Is Not Okay has healed the deepest parts of my soul. I've never cried writing a review before, but this beautiful book changed me, and I am so, so grateful to it.

Defy Me // a rambly spoilery review (spoilers tagged!)

Everyone knows how obsessed I am with the Shatter Me books, so it hurts me to say that Defy Me was definitely the weakest in the series thus far. Saying this, I'm not writing this series off! The second half seriously redeemed the whole novel for me, and I'm still eagerly anticipating the finale.

Heartstopper Volume 1 // unbelievably sweet and pure

Heartstopper is the purest and softest thing you will ever read. I binge read the whole series online a couple of years ago and I've been following the updates ever since, but revisiting it in physical form gave me an even greater appreciation for Oseman's art and storytelling.

Mini Reviews // The Boy Who Steals Houses + Proud + Summer Bird Blue + King of Fools + If I Was Your Girl

Time for some more mini reviews! This post was edited on 21/06/2019 to include an additional two reviews for a couple more excellent books that I read in the time since this was originally posted. These are all lovely contemporaries, with the added bonus of King of Fools, a fantasy novel and one of my most anticipated sequels of the year 💙

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing // a truly remarkable tale

WOAH. If I could give this book a one-word review that would be it. Unfortunately for you, I have A LOT more to say, because An Absolutely Remarkable Thing put my brain through the wringer and I'm not quite sure how to recover.

Mini Reviews // City of Ghosts + Vengeful + Stardust

I have been enjoying lots of lovely and slightly dark sci-fi/fantasy novels in these dreary Autumn/Winter months. I find myself missing the brightness of Summer, but genre books always feel warming on cloudy days. Here are three magical and paranormal books I have read recently.

Not Your Villain // a fun sequel with more lovable characters

As soon as I finished reading Not Your Sidekick, I knew I had to jump into the sequel as soon as possible. I needed more of these precious characters, and Not Your Villain did not disappoint.

Not Your Sidekick // refreshing and full of heart

Not Your Sidekick was a wonderful and adorable take on the superhero genre, and one that I enjoyed immensely.

Broken Things // brilliantly plotted and a mesmerizing read

Broken Things is a gorgeously dark tale of friendship and mystery. It's beautiful writing and magnificent structure causes the boundaries between reality and fiction to blur, creating a charmingly haunted atmosphere that had me hanging on to every word.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea // painful, hopeful, and beautiful

This book was powerful. So powerful that it has taken me almost a week to collect my thoughts properly. I just loved it that much, and scared, too, that I wouldn't do it justice. But anyone who reads it will see how personal a story this is, and will be struck by the raw emotion in every page.

What If It's Us // too adorable for words

I don't think I've read anything so freaking adorable in my life. This was honestly more cuteness that my heart was prepared to handle. I knew I was right to be excited by an Albertalli-Silvera collaboration, but What If It's Us was everything I could have wanted and more.

Sawkill Girls // the stabby queer feminist book of my dreams

Sawkill Girls is a wonderfully creepy tale that is equal parts eerie and fierce. It's a story about disappearing girls and dark evils, all cloaked in a glorious atmosphere of looming forests and otherworldly magic.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post // simply powerful

This book was simply gorgeous. Everything about The Miseducation of Cameron Post is breathtaking and beautifully written, and I honestly believe this has the makings of a modern classic.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy // a fun new historical adventure

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is another super entertaining installment in the lives of the Montague siblings.