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Summer Continues Dropping Books Like They’re Hot: July 2024 Releases

Hello everyone! Happy July! Apologies for the lateness of this post…I just barely made it out of the end of the school year *Cues Celie in The Color Purple* “But Dear Gawd, I’m Here! I’m Here!” but it was truly a close call at times!

How I felt on the last day of school, honestly!

Anyways, July is now here and it is bringing us so many new releases! I’m quite excited about all that this summer has brought us so far and what it will continue to bring us, outside of the heat (that, I don’t enjoy so much)! As we know by now, publishing dates CAN still change so be sure to double check the titles that you’re most excited about. I’ve checked some but not all! But let’s get into this list!

I may have used this recently but I can’t help but love when Black Women are in their element like in this gif!
  • Sorry For The Inconvenience by Farah Naz Rishi *adult* 7/1
  • The Curse Of The Flores Women by Angelica Lopes *adult* 7/1
  • The Waning by Wunmi Aramiji *adult* 7/1
  • Masquerade by O.O Sangoyomi *adult* 7/2
  • Just Playing House by Farah Heron *adult* 7/2
  • The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song 7/2
  • Farrah Noorzad And The Ring Of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur *MG* 7/2
  • Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia, ill. By Gabriel Picolo 7/2
  • The Mirror World by Femi Fadugba 7/2
  • Not About A Boy by Myah Hollis 7/2
  • Ready Or Not by Andi Porretta 7/2
  • Character Drawing With Alcohol Markers by Lidia Cambon 7/2
  • The Museum (The Inside Story) by Dustin Growick & Laura Martin *PB* 7/2
  • The Townsend Family Recipe For Disaster by Shauna Robinson *adult* 7/2
  • False Idols by K’Wan *adult* 7/2
  • Age 16 by Rosena Fung 7/2
  • More Days At Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa *adult* 7/2
  • The Lion Women Of Tehran by Marjan Kamali *adult* 7/2
  • The Second Chance Of Darius Logan by David F. Walker 7/2
  • Three Kings by Todd Balf *adult* 7/2
  • Spider-Man: Stories From the Spider-Verse edited by David Betancourt, Faridah Abike-Iyimide & Preeti Chhibber 7/2
  • We Don’t Have Time For This by Brianna Craft 7/2
  • I’m From Here Too by Kashmira Sheth *MG* 7/2
  • Homebodies by Tembe Denton Hurst *adult* 7/2
  • Cash Delgado Is Living The Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia *adult* 7/2
  • The Boy To Beat The Gods by Ashley Thorpe *MG* 7/4
  • Our History Has Always Been Contraband: In Defense Of Black Studies edited by Colin Kaepernick, Robin D. G. Kelley & Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor *adult* 7/4
  • Let The Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura *adult* 7/9
  • The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez *adult* 7/9
  • The Haunted States Of America Edited by Ellen Hopkins, K. E. Lewis, Janet Fox, Freeman Ng & Others *MG* 7/9
  • A Whisper Of Curses by J. Elle *MG sequel* 7/9
  • It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant *adult* 7/9
  • A Magic Fierce & Bright by Hemant Nayak 7/9
  • Tell It To Me Singing by Tita Ramirez *adult* 7/9
  • Did Everyone Have An Imaginary Friend? (Or Just Me) Adventures In Boyhood by Jay Ellis 7/9
  • Devonte’s Shoes by K.E. Lewis, ill. By Robert Paul Jr. *PB* 7/9
  • Dismantling Mass Incarceration by Premal Dharia, James Forman Jr. & Maria Hawilo *adult* 7/9
  • Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin 7/9
  • Sour Apple by Linda Liu *PB* 7/9
  • A Letter To My Best Friend by Yangsook Choi *PB* 7/9
  • Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi *PB* 7/9
  • This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour *adult* 7/9
  • Grown Women by Sarai Johnson *adult* 7/9
  • The 66th Rebirth Of Frankie Caridi by Johnny Marciano 7/9
  • The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer by Mea Monique *adult audiobook* 7/9
  • The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee *adult* 7/9
  • The Art Of Pretend by Lauren Kuhl *adult* 7/9
  • A Map Of My Want by Faylita Hicks *adult* 7/9
  • If Love Had A Price by Ana Huang *adult re-release* 7/9
  • These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low 7/9
  • How To Die Famous by Benjamin Dean 7/9
  • Gloriana, Presente: A First Day Of School Story by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, ill. By Doris M. Rodriguez-Graber *PB* 7/9
  • Keyana Loves School by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, ill. By Charnelle Pinkney Barlow *PB* 7/9
  • Keyana Loves Her Family by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, ill. By Charnelle Pinkney Barlow *PB* 7/9
  • Dirty Pleasures by Kenya Wright *adult series audio* 7/9
  • The Burning by Linda Castillo *adult* 7/9
  • Grant Me Vision by Sabrina Greenlee *adult* 7/9
  • Humor Me by Cat Shook *adult* 7/9
  • The Fire Next Time Nobody Knows My Name No Name In The Street The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin *adult* 7/9
  • The Summer I Saved The Wild by Rachel Faturoti *MG* 7/11
  • The White Guy Dies First Edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker 7/16
  • The Design Of Us by Sajni Patel *adult* 7/16
  • Portrait Of A Shadow by Meriam Metoui 7/16
  • Sister Day by Jyoti Rajan Gopal & Fanny Liem *PB* 7/16
  • Waiting To Welcome: A New Baby Story From West Africa by Samantha Cleaver, Reuben Nantogmah & Bri Marie McNish *PB* 7/16
  • The First King by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou *sequel* 7/16
  • The Ping-Pong Queen Of Chinatown by Andrew Yang 7/16
  • Anti-Racism As Daily Practice: Refuse Shame, Change White Communities, And Help Create A Just World by Jennifer Harvey *adult* 7/16
  • Scram by Rory Lucey *MG* 7/16
  • Rifts And Refrains by Tiye *adult* 7/16
  • Girls Who Burn by MK Pagano 7/16
  • Trouble In Queenstown by Delia Pitts *adult* 7/16
  • Grann’s Baby by Judith Annique Francois *adult* 7/16
  • Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures Of A Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham *adult* 7/16
  • Go, Wilma, Go! Wilma Rudolph, From Athlete To Activist by Amira Rose Davis & Michael G. Long, ill. By Charnelle Pinkney Barlow *PB* 7/16
  • Blood Jade by Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle 7/16
  • The First by Kipjo K. Ewers *adult* 7/16
  • Grief In The Fourth Dimension by Jennifer Yu 7/16
  • The Rival Partnership by Nisha Sharma *adult series* 7/17
  • Beautiful And Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens *adult* 7/18
  • Brushed Between Cultures by Samarra St. Hilaire 7/18
  • Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid *adult* 7/23
  • The Great Cool Ranch Dorito In The Sky by Josh Galarza *MG* 7/23
  • Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect by Hilda Eunice Burgos & Siara Faison *MG* 7/23
  • Henna Is… by Marzieh Abbas & Anu Chouhan *PB* 7/23
  • Catalina: A Novel by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio *adult* 7/23
  • Asking For A Friend by Kara H.L. Chen 7/23
  • Peking Duck And Cover by Vivien Chien *adult series* 7/23
  • Being Black In America’s Schools by Brian Rashad Fuller *adult* 7/23
  • Viewfinder by Jon M. Chu *adult* 7/23
  • The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill *adult* 7/23
  • The Reckoning Of Roku by Randy Ribay 7/23
  • What We’ll Burn Last by Heather Chavez *adult* 7/23
  • Ninth Life: The Factus Sequence by Stark Holborn *adult* 7/23
  • Remnants Of Filth vol. 4 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou 7/23
  • Amir And The Jinn Princess by M.T. Khan *MG* 7/23
  • Cross The Line by Simone Soltani *adult* 7/23
  • Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh *adult* 7/23
  • Your Letter by Hyeon A. Cho 7/23
  • Linh Ly Is Doing Just Fine by Thao Votang *adult* 7/23
  • The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice *adult* 7/30
  • The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Washington 7/30
  • That Prince Is Mine by Jayci Lee *adult* 7/30
  • Castle Of The Cursed by Romina Garber 7/30
  • Cobalt Red: How The Blood Of The Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara *adult* 7/30
  • Wild, Willing And Wise by Heatherash Amara *adult* 7/30
  • Eighteen Roses by Shannon C. F. Rogers 7/30
  • Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi *adult* 7/30
  • My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes *adult* 7/30
  • Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu *adult* 7/30
  • Peerless vol. 1 by Meng Xi Shi 7/30
  • Save Our Forest by Nora Dasnes, trans. By Lise Laerdal Bryn *PB* 7/30
  • Finding Famous by Candice Jalili *adult* 7/30
  • Ordinary Days: The Seeds, Sound And City That Grew Prince Rogers Nelson by Angela Joy *PB* 7/30
  • Glenn Burke, Game Changer: The Man Who Invented The High Five by Phil Bildner *PB* 7/30
  • A Lethal Lady by Nekesa Afia *adult* 7/30
  • Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than The Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo *adult* 7/30
  • The Creepening Of Dogwood House by Eden Royce *MG* 7/30
  • Passion by Monica Walters *Adult Series Audiobook* 7/30
I truly am and am itching to get back to my reading!

We’re getting so many new books and I’m over the moon about it! I also have gotten approval for some early reader and listener copies! Here are the titles:

  • Masquerade by O.O Sangoyomi *adult*
  • Just Playing House by Farah Heron *adult*
  • The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song
  • Farrah Noorzad And The Ring Of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur *MG*
  • Let The Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura *adult*
  • The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez *adult*
  • The Haunted States Of America Edited by Ellen Hopkins, K. E. Lewis, Janet Fox, Freeman Ng & Others *MG*
  • A Whisper Of Curses by J. Elle *MG sequel*
  • The White Guy Dies First Edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker
  • The Design Of Us by Sajni Patel *adult*
  • Portrait Of A Shadow by Meriam Metoui
  • Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid *adult*
  • The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice *adult*
  • The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Washington
  • That Prince Is Mine by Jayci Lee *adult*
  • Castle Of The Cursed by Romina Garber

Of these, I’ve read:

  • Masquerade by O.O Sangoyomi *adult*
  • Just Playing House by Farah Heron *adult*
  • Currently Listening To: Let The Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura *adult*
  • Currently Reading: The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez *adult*

I’m really hoping that I can find a good reading/personal life/work balance (yup, I’m working this summer) as my reading had decreased a bit thanks to adulting and what not. I also hope to go back to other books I hadn’t gotten to throughout the summer!

I’mma try my very best, book buds!

Anyways, what titles are YOU excited about? Is it a title I’ve mentioned or one I missed? Please let me know which ones here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (continue to look out for lives and the occasional post), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I’m remain quite random on there but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting on there a little more there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I definitely wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve gotten to curl up on the beach & read! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! I’m sending bookish love always and wishing you a happy summer & reading!

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Hot Book Summer Is Upon Us: June 2024 Releases

What’s Up Y’all! My apologies for yet another late post…this school year has really been kicking my tail but it is *almost* over and I’m more than ready to get to this finish line! I do hope that this new month is treating you all well and that you are thriving!

That I can almost touch it! *read the desperation there*

This month is not just bringing the summer with it but also a lot of new book releases too! There are so many that I’ve been anxiously awaiting and you likely have been too! This is quite a long list so let’s hop into it!

I’m not sure how trustworthy a shark in a van is but let’s just roll with it, lol!
  • Of Stardust edited by Avrah C. Baren 6/1
  • The Curious Secrets Of Yesterday by Namrata Patel *adult* 6/1
  • Girl, Missing by Dreda Say Mitchell & Ryan Carter *adult* 6/1
  • Matty Bratty USA President by Belinda V. Garcia *PB* 6/1
  • 4 Eids And A Funeral by Faridah Abike-Iyimide & Adiba Jaigirdar 6/4
  • Isabel And The Rogue by Liana De La Rosa *adult series* 6/4
  • Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon *adult* 6/4
  • Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde *adult* 6/4
  • Storm: Dawn Of A Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson 6/4
  • The Spindle Of Fate by Aimee Lim *MG* 6/4
  • Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk & Lexi Underwood 6/4
  • Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell 6/4
  • Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee 6/4
  • Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk *PB* 6/4
  • Lei And The Invisible Island by Malia Maunakea *MG Sequel* 6/4
  • Cesaria Feels The Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei, ill. By Priscila Soares *PB* 6/4
  • Malas by Marcela Fuentes *adult* 6/4
  • I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This by Chelsea Devantez *adult* 6/4
  • Spilled Ink by Nadia Hashimi 6/4
  • Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner & Brittany Cavallaro 6/4
  • The Truth About Immigration by Zeke Hernandez *adult* 6/4
  • Blood In The Cut by Alejandro Nodarse *adult* 6/4
  • Barda by Ngozi Ukazu 6/4
  • One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans 6/4
  • Wish You Weren’t Here by Erin Baldwin 6/4
  • Swift River by Essie Chambers *adult* 6/4
  • The God And The Gumiho by Sophie Kim *adult* 6/4
  • Fire Exit by Morgan Talty *adult* 6/4
  • Greenwild: The City Beyond The Sea by Pari Thomson *MG Sequel* 6/4
  • The Ballad Of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron *adult* 6/4
  • It’s A Privilege To Be Here by Emma Sasaki *adult* 6/4
  • Ballad Of Sword & Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu by Tang Jiu Qing 6/4
  • Daughter Of The Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope *adult* 6/4
  • Youthjuice by E.K. Sathue *adult* 6/4
  • London On My Mind by Clara Alves, trans. by Nina Perrotta 6/4
  • Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse *adult sequel* 6/4
  • Fate Of The Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli *adult sequel* 6/4
  • The Last Man In Paradise by Syed M. Masood *adult* 6/4
  • Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh *adult* 6/4
  • There Is No Ethan by Anna Akbari *adult* 6/4
  • Their Borders, Our World Edited by Mahdi Sabbagh *adult* 6/4
  • Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen *adult* 6/4
  • Tell Me Who You Are by Louisa Luna *adult* 6/4
  • Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kolsch 6/4
  • The Most Human: Reconciling With My Father, Leonard Nimoy by Adam Nimoy *adult* 6/4
  • Better Must Come by Desmond Hall 6/4
  • SKINNED by Kayla Stone *adult* 6/9
  • What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall *adult* 6/11
  • The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei *adult* 6/11
  • Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour *adult* 6/11
  • The Kids In Mrs. Z’s Class: Rohan Murthy Has A Plan by Rajani LaRocca *MG* 6/11
  • The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua & Alechia Dow *MG* 6/11
  • Amrikan by Khushbu Shah *adult* 6/11
  • Tempest by K. Ibura 6/11
  • The Color Of A Lie by Kim Johnson 6/11
  • The Sons Of El Rey by Alex Espinoza *adult* 6/11
  • Bunnybirds #1 by Natalie Linn *MG* 6/11
  • Brownstone by Samuel Teer, ill. By Mar Julia 6/11
  • Some Soul To Keep by J. California Cooper *adult* 6/11
  • You Can’t Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin *adult* 6/11
  • 8 Lives Of A Century-Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee *adult* 6/11
  • Beginning Again by Katrina M. Powell *adult* 6/11
  • The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar *adult* 6/11
  • The Wedding Crush by Mia Heintzelman *adult* 6/11
  • The Afterlife Of Mal Caldera by Nadi Reed Perez *adult* 6/11
  • Do What Godmother Says by L.S Stratton *adult* 6/11
  • Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen *adult* 6/11
  • Icon And Inferno by Marie Lu *sequel* 6/11
  • One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon *adult* 6/11
  • A Love Like The Sun by Riss M. Neilson *adult* 6/11
  • Horizontal Vertigo: A City Called Mexico by Juan Villoro *adult* 6/11
  • One And Done by Frederick Smith *adult* 6/11
  • Rebound by Evelyn Sola *adult series* 6/14
  • The Black Between The Stars by Fallon Dewynter *adult* 6/14
  • Guarding Temptation by Talia Hibbert *adult audiobook* 6/17
  • Daughter Of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin *adult* 6/18
  • Of Jade And Dragons by Amber Chen 6/18
  • Wat Takes His Shot by Cheryl Kim, ill by Nat Iwata *PB* 6/18
  • God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas *adult* 6/18
  • Her Part To Play by Jenny Erlingsson *adult* 6/18
  • With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo 6/18
  • Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi *adult* 6/18
  • One Home by Hiba Noor Khan *PB* 6/18
  • Death In The Air by Ram Murali *adult* 6/18
  • Mr. Right Now by Sheryl Lister *adult Audionovella* 6/18
  • Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera *adult* 6/18
  • Craft: Stories I Wrote For The Devil by Ananda Lima *adult* 6/18
  • The Nature Of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant *adult* 6/18
  • You Can Be A Good Friend (No Matter What) by Taraji P. Henson *PB* 6/18
  • Accidents Happen by F.H. Batacan *adult* 6/18
  • What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris *adult* 6/18
  • Ella Gets The D by Tanvier Peart *adult* 6/18
  • Juneberry Blue by Candice Ransom *MG* 6/18
  • Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer *adult* 6/18
  • Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin *adult re-release* 6/18
  • All About Yvie: Into The Oddity by Yvie Oddly with Michael Bach *adult* 6/19
  • Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron 6/25
  • Children Of Anguish And Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi *sequel* 6/25
  • The Boy Who Found His Voice by Tyler Gordon *PB* 6/25
  • An Epitaph For Jezebel by L. Divine *adult* 6/25
  • Dancing On My Own: Essays On Art, Collectivity And Joy by Simon Wu *adult* 6/25
  • We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim 6/25
  • Saints Of Storm And Sorrow by Gabriella Buba *adult* 6/25
  • Crashing Into You by Rocky Callen 6/25
  • The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim *adult* 6/25
  • Disney Encanto: Time To Shine *PB* 6/25
  • Moral Injuries by Christie Watson *adult* 6/25
  • Please Stop Trying To Leave Me by Alana Saab *adult* 6/25
  • The Lion’s Den by Iris Mwanza *adult* 6/25
  • If We Ever Meet Again by Ana Huang *adult re-release* 6/25
  • If The Sun Never Sets by Ana Huang *adult re-release* 6/25
  • Meet Me In The Sky by Jeffrey K. Davenport 6/28
  • In & Out: An Intimate Odyssey by James Lee *adult* 6/29
This is how I felt after I realized how long this list was getting!

That’s one heck of a list and I very well may have missed some (let me know if this is the case)! I got a few ARCS for books coming out this month and they are:

  • 4 Eids And A Funeral by Faridah Abike-Iyimide & Adiba Jaigirdar
  • Isabel And The Rogue by Liana De La Rosa *adult series*
  • Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon *adult*
  • Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde *adult*
  • Storm: Dawn Of A Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson
  • The Spindle Of Fate by Aimee Lim *MG*
  • Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk & Lexi Underwood
  • Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell
  • Do What Godmother Says by L.S Stratton *adult*
  • Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen *adult*
  • Icon And Inferno by Marie Lu *sequel*
  • One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon *adult*
  • A Love Like The Sun by Riss M. Neilson *adult*
  • Daughter Of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin *adult*
  • With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo
  • Children Of Anguish And Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi *sequel*
  • Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron
  • The Boy Who Found His Voice by Tyler Gordon *PB*

Of these titles, I’ve read:

  • 4 Eids And A Funeral by Faridah Abike-Iyimide & Adiba Jaigirdar
  • Isabel And The Rogue by Liana De La Rosa *adult series*
  • Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon *adult*
  • Icon And Inferno by Marie Lu *sequel*
  • Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen *adult*
  • Currently Listening To: Do What Godmother Says by L.S Stratton *adult*
  • Currently Reading: Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde *adult*
I’m definitely reading pretty much every free moment I get y’all!

Authors are definitely dropping these books like they’re hot (oh goodness, that was corny) and I’m more than happy to pick them up (though my TBR may not agree with that sentiment). As I’ve previously stated, I may have missed some Authors Of Color’s titles so please let me know which ones here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (continue to look out for lives and the occasional post), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I’m quite random on there but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting on there a little more there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I definitely wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like my TBR has brought the heat in a tolerable way, lol! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! I’m sending bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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May Is Bringing Us Bookish Blooms: May 2024 Releases

Hey Y’all! I hope you all are doing well! I don’t know about y’all but it feels like this month seemingly snuck up on us and my work has been kicking my tail (the school year is alllllllmost over)! My apologies on yet another late post but I also didn’t want to post a lack luster pub month list.

truly y’all!

So I’m not keeping y’all waiting, here is the list (and definitely double check dates, just in case any of them could’ve possibly changed):

  • Chaotic Aperitifs by Tao Wong *audio* 5/1
  • The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma *NA* 5/1
  • Lavash At First Sight by Taleen Voskuni *adult* 5/7
  • Blood At The Root by LaDarrion Williams 5/7
  • Spin Of Fate by A.A. Vora 5/7
  • Anzu And The Realm Of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen *MG* 5/7
  • Daughters Of Shandong by Eve J. Chung *adult* 5/7
  • Bite Me, Royce Taslim by Lauren Ho 5/7
  • The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis *sequel* 5/7
  • This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed 5/7
  • Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He 5/7
  • The Light At The End Of The World by Siddhartha Deb *adult* 5/7
  • Summer Is Here by Renee Watson, ill. By Bea Jackson *PB* 5/7
  • Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang *adult* 5/7
  • Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau *adult* 5/7
  • Behind My Doors by Hena Khan, ill. By Nabila Adani *PB* 5/7
  • Sunhead by Alex Assan 5/7
  • Five Broken Blades by Mai Cortland *adult* 5/7
  • Being Home by Traci Sorell *PB* 5/7
  • Small Acts Of Courage: A Legacy Of Endurance And The Fight For Democracy by Ali Velshi*adult* 5/7
  • Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith & Jess Hendel 5/7
  • Monkey King: Journey To The West by Wu Cheng’en, trans. By Julia Lovell *adult* 5/7
  • Better Must Come by Desmond Hall 5/7
  • Hot Boy Summer by Joe Jimenez 5/7
  • Skin & Bones by Renee Watson *adult* 5/7
  • The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon *MG* 5/7
  • Barkham Asylum by Yehudi Mercado *MG* 5/7
  • America del Norte by Nicolas Medina Mora *adult* 5/7
  • Throttled by Lauren Asher *adult reprint* 5/7
  • May You Love And Be by Cleo Wade *PB* 5/7
  • It’s Pride, Baby! By Allen R. Wells, ill. By Dia Valle *PB* 5/7
  • An Intrigue Of Witches: A Secret Society Mystery by Esme Addison *adult* 5/7
  • The Driver’s Story by Randy M. Browne *adult* 5/7
  • The Return Of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean *adult* 5/7
  • Ghostroots: Stories by ‘Pemi Aguda *adult* 5/7
  • Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-Mei and The Making Of Modern Chinese Food by Michelle T. King *adult* 5/7
  • Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang *adult* 5/7
  • One Year In Uvalde: A Story Of Hope And Resilience by John Quinones & Maria Elena Salinas *adult* 5/7
  • Big Moe’s Big Book Of BBQ by Moe Cason & Jody Horton *adult* 5/7
  • The Deepest Lake by Andromeda Romano-Lax *adult* 5/7
  • Breathe by Maia Kobabe & Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier 5/7
  • Los Monstrous: Rooster And The Dancing Diablo by Diana Lopez *MG Series* 5/7
  • Troubled Waters by Mary Annaise Heglar *adult* 5/7
  • The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenje *adult* 5/7
  • Frankie And Friends: The Big Protest by Christine Platt, ill. By Alea Marley *MG* 5/7
  • Violet Spring by Gary Phillips *adult* 5/7
  • A Disappearance In Fiji by Nilima Rao *adult* 5/7
  • Coming Home by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford *adult* 5/7
  • Bits And Pieces: My Mother, My Brother And Me by Whoopi Goldberg *adult* 5/7
  • I Curse You With Joy by Tiffany Haddish *adult* 5/7
  • Farewell, Amethystine by Walter Mosley *adult* 5/7
  • Hunter by Abir Mukherjee *adult* 5/7
  • The Dead Don’t Need Reminding by Julian Randall *adult* 5/7
  • Shanghailanders by Juli Min *adult* 5/7
  • Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen, ill. By Minnie Phan *PB* 5/7
  • Death’s Country by R.M. Romero 5/7
  • Insha’allah, No, Maybe So by Rhonda Roumani & Nadia Roumani, ill. By Olivia Aserr *PB* 5/14
  • With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods *MG* 5/14
  • 10 Things I Hate About Prom by Elle Gonzalez Rose 5/14
  • Star Signs by Saladin Ahmed, ill. By Megan Levens 5/14
  • The Literature Of Japanese American Incarceration edited by Frank Abe & Floyd Cheung *adult* 5/14
  • True Love And Other Impossible Odds by Christina Li 5/14
  • It Waits In The Forest by Sarah Dass 5/14
  • A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur 5/14
  • The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood 5/14
  • Blood & Fury by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton *sequel* 5/14
  • Waiting For Friday Night by Synithia Williams *adult series* 5/14
  • Thirsty by Jas Hammonds 5/14
  • This Night Is Ours by Ronni Davis 5/14
  • Oye by Melissa Mogollon *adult* 5/14
  • The Last Rhee Witch by Jenna Lee-Yun *MG* 5/14
  • Road To Ruin by Hana Lee 5/14
  • Anh’s New Word: A Story About Learning A New Language by Hanh Bui, ill. By Bao Luu *PB* 5/14
  • Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris *adult* 5/14
  • The Gardening Dog by Cindy Wume *PB* 5/14
  • Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim *MG* 5/14
  • I Wish You Would by Eva Des Lauriers 5/21
  • Looking For Love In All The Haunted Places by Claire Kann *adult* 5/21
  • Lies And Weddings by Kevin Kwan *adult* 5/21
  • Second Night Stand by Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters *adult* 5/21
  • In The Shadows by Tanya Byrne 5/21
  • Undue Burden: Life And Death Decisions In Post-Roe America by Shefali Luthra *adult* 5/21
  • Pack Light: A Black Queer Journey To Find Myself by Shilletha Curtis *adult* 5/21
  • Goddess Of The River by Vaishnavi Patel *adult* 5/21
  • The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, art by Faith Schaffer 5/21
  • Minecraft: The Tournament by Davaun Sanders *MG* 5/21
  • The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang & Eric Darnell, ill. By Phoebe Zhong *PB* 5/21
  • How Lucky Am I? by Scott & Mark Hoying, ill. By Steph Lew *PB* 5/21
  • The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee *adult* 5/21
  • Abuelo, The Sea And Me by Ismee Williams, ill. By Tatiana Gardel *PB* 5/21
  • A Terrible Place For A Nest by Sara Levine, ill. By Erika Meza *PB* 5/21
  • A Little Bit Of Love by Synithia Williams *adult* 5/21
  • Control by Omar Tyree 5/21
  • A Summer Of Dandelions by Whitney Amazeen *adult series* 5/21
  • We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales Of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures edited by Rob Costello 5/21
  • The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert *adult audiobook re-release* 5/21
  • Leo And The Pink Marker by Mariyka Foster *PB* 5/21
  • Here For The Wrong Reasons by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang *adult* 5/21
  • Prohibido llorar by Gama Valle Rosa, ill. By Lorenzo Sangiï *PB* 5/24
  • I Accidentally Summoned A Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage *adult* 5/24
  • An Abolitionist’s Handbook by Patrisse Cullors *adult* 5/28
  • The Quince Project by Jessica Parra 5/28
  • Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore 5/28
  • Hurdles In The Dark by Elvira K. Gonzalez 5/28
  • The Intuitive Tarot Workbook by Kathleen Medina *adult* 5/28
  • A Last Supper Of Queer Apostles: Selected Essays edited by Pedro Lemebel & Gwendolyn Harper *adult* 5/28
  • Loaf The Cat Goes To The Powwow by Nicholas DeShaw, ill. By Tara Audibert *PB* 5/28
  • Freedom On The Sea by Michael Boulware Moore, ill. By Bryan Collier *PB* 5/28
  • The Dawn Of The Cursed Queen by Amber V. Nicole *adult sequel* 5/28
  • Pretty: A Memoir by KB Brookins *adult* 5/28
  • In The Garden Behind The Moon by Alexandra A. Chan *adult* 5/28
  • The Books Of Clash Volume 3: Achievery by Gene Luen Yang, Kendall Goode, Alison Acton 5/28
  • Oddbird’s Chosen Family by Derek Desierto *PB* 5/28
  • Twelfth Night by Alexene Farol Follmuth 5/28
  • The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco by Talia Hibbert *adult audio rerelease* 5/28
  • The Legendary Master’s Wife Vol. I by Yin Ya 5/30
That’s a lottttt of books!

Woy! This month has sooooooooooo many books coming out and I don’t know if I should feel excited or overwhelmed by this list! I did get quite a few ARCs for this month and they are:

  • The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma *NA*
  • Lavash At First Sight by Taleen Voskuni *adult*
  • Blood At The Root by LaDarrion Williams
  • Spin Of Fate by A.A. Vora
  • Anzu And The Realm Of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen *MG*
  • A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
  • The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood
  • Blood & Fury by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton *sequel*
  • Waiting For Friday Night by Synithia Williams *adult series*
  • Thirsty by Jas Hammonds
  • Looking For Love In All The Haunted Places by Claire Kann *adult*
  • Lies And Weddings by Kevin Kwan *adult*
  • Second Night Stand by Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters *adult*
  • The Quince Project by Jessica Parra
  • Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore

Of these titles, I have read:

  • The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma *NA*
  • Currently Reading: Blood At The Root by LaDarrion Williams
*sigh* it’s all I can do!

I know that I’m really behind on my ARC reading and I’m trying to fix that though work is doing it’s best to try to keep me from it.

I can at least try to!

This month is seriously bringing us so many amazing titles and I’m over the moon about it! I very well may have missed some Authors Of Color’s titles so please let me know which ones here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (look out for lives and the occasional post), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m trying to do a little more posting there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I most certainly wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like my TBR has blossomed in the best way! And to those who are subscribed, you have my continued thanks, I really truly appreciate y’all! I’m sending bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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This April’s New Book Releases Aren’t Making A Fool Of Us: April 2024 Releases

Hey Everyone! Happy April! I can’t believe that we are already a few months into this year…and it feels like it has been doing too much at times and in some ways, this year has felt like one elongated April Fool’s Day (not all of the year has been bad). Hopefully, this month and the rest of this year will treat us better! One thing that will be treating us well is publishing with how many books that are coming out this month so mentally prepare yourself for your TBR to grow a bit!

That topple is how I feel my TBR is in my mind and I feel like some of you could relate, lol!

I was able to catch a few publishing date changes but I easily could’ve missed others so please be sure to double check (I’m sure pre-orders and library requests could be made though)! This is quite a long list so let’s get into it!

  • The Monstrous Misses Mai by Van Hoang *adult* 4/1
  • Lovers at the Museum: A Short Story by Isabel Allende *adult* 4/1
  • Friends in Napa: A Novel by Sheila Yasmin Marikar *adult* 4/1
  • Court Of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco *adult sequel* 4/2
  • The Black Girl Survives In This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraceia J. Fennell 4/2
  • A Witch’s Guide To Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna *adult sequel* 4/2
  • The Misdirection Of Fault Lines by Anna Garcia 4/2
  • Running In Flip Flops From The End Of The World by Justin A. Reynolds *MG Sequel* 4/2
  • A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison By Carole Boston Weatherford, Ill. by Khalif Thompson *PB* 4/2
  • Something Kindred by Ciera Burch 4/2
  • Fate Be Changed: A Twisted Tale by Farrah Rochon 4/2
  • Storm Dragons: Lightningborn by Julie Kagawa *MG* 4/2
  • The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram 4/2
  • How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang *adult* 4/2
  • The Not-So-Simple Question by Christina Matula *MG Sequel* 4/2
  • Sashiko’s Stitches by Sanae Ishida *PB* 4/2
  • My Mama Is A Work Of Art by Hana Acabado *PB* 4/2
  • From My Head To My Toes by Ali Raisman, ill. By Bea Jackson *PB* 4/2
  • Darker By Four by June CL Tan 4/2
  • The Cemetery Of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez *adult* 4/2
  • Choice: A Novel by Neel Mukherjee *adult* 4/2
  • Her Exception 2 by B. Love *adult audio* 4/2
  • Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo, Maris Pasquale Doran, Ill. By Qin Leng *PB* 4/2
  • My Love Story With Yamada-Kin At Lv999 by Mashiro 4/2
  • Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo *PB* 4/2
  • And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization And Resistance by Supriya Kelkar *PB* 4/2
  • The Murder Of Mr. Ma by SJ Rozan & John Shen Yen Nee *adult* 4/2
  • What Made California The Golden State? By Shing Yin Khor, ill. By Kass Gray *MG* 4/2
  • Monkey King And The World Of Myths: The Monster And The Maze by Maple Lam *MG* 4/2
  • Cruzita And The Mariacheros by Ashley Granilla *MG* 4/2
  • Ultra Violet by Aida Salazat *MG* 4/2
  • The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes And Activities For Kids And Families To Celebrate by Alliah L. Agostini, Chef Taffy Elrod, ill. By Sawyer Cloud *PB* 4/2
  • The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim *adult* 4/2
  • I Am More Than by LeBron James, ill. By Nina Mata *PB* 4/2
  • The Mango Tree by Annabelle Tometich *adult* 4/2
  • Rainbow Days: The Orange Wall by Valerie Bolling *PB* 4/2
  • Puerto Rico: A National History by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo *adult* 4/2
  • The House Of Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton *adult* 4/2
  • The Audacity by Ryan Chapman *adult* 4/2
  • La Tercera by Gina Apostol *adult* 4/2
  • Ash Dark As Night by Gary Phillips *adult* 4/2
  • The Rope Artist by Fuminori Nakamura *adult* 4/2
  • Lola Meets The Bees by Anna McQuinn *PB* 4/9
  • Back Home: Story Time With My Father by Arlene Elizabeth Casimir, ill. By Ken Daley *PB* 4/9
  • Simple Thanks by Deborah Wiles & Bao Luu 4/9
  • The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton *adult* 4/9
  • Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa 4/9
  • Against The Darkness by Kendare Blake 4/9
  • Facing The Unseen by Damon Tweedy, M.D. *adult non-fiction* 4/9
  • I Am Both by Kerisa Greene *adult* 4/9
  • A Child’s Introduction To Asian American And Pacific Islander History by Naomi Hirahara, ill. By Sarah Demontaverde *PB* 4/9
  • The Wild Ones/Los Bravos by Megan Lacera & Jorge Lacera *PG* 4/9
  • Three Summers by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess *MG* 4/9
  • Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier 4/9
  • Life Is Strange: Heatwaves by Brittney Morris 4/9
  • Dragonfall by L.R. Lam 4/9
  • Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams *adult* 4/9
  • The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish Vol. 1 by Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong *adult* 4/9
  • Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop *adult audio* 4/9
  • To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang 4/16
  • You Know What You Did by K.T Nguyen *adult* 4/16
  • This Is Me Trying by Racquel Marie 4/16
  • The Lady Of Rapture by Sarah Raughley *sequel* 4/16
  • We’re Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua 4/16
  • The Spice Box by Meera Sriram, ill. By Sandhya Prabhat *PB* 4/16
  • Weird Black Girls by Elwin Cotman *adult* 4/16
  • When I Think Of You by Myah Ariel *adult* 4/16
  • The Bootlegger’s Bounty by Adriana Herrera *adult Novella* 4/16
  • Immortal Pleasures by V. Castor *adult* 4/16
  • Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao 4/16
  • Briefly Perfectly Human: Making An Authentic Life By Getting Real About The End by Alua Arthur *adult* 4/16
  • Snowball Earth by Yuhiro Tsujitsugu 4/16
  • A Maleta Full Of Treasures by Natalia Sylvester, ill. By Juana Medina *PB* 4/16
  • The Band by Christine Ma-Kellams *adult* 4/16
  • While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi *adult* 4/16
  • Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina *adult* 4/16
  • Sami’s Special Gift by M.O. Yuksel *PB* 4/16
  • If Lin Can: How Jeremy Lin Inspired Asian Americans To Shoot For The Stars by Richard Ho *MG* 4/16
  • One Of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole *adult* 4/16
  • King Of Dead Things by Nevin Holness 4/16
  • Otis & Peanut Forever And Ever by Naseem Hrab, ill. By Kelly Collier *ER Series* 4/16
  • Butter: A Novel Of Food And Murder by Asako Yuzuki *adult* 4/16
  • One Last Word by Suzanne Park *adult* 4/16
  • Churro Stand by Karina N. González *PB* 4/16
  • Cook Simply, Live Fully by Yasmin Fahr *adult* 4/16
  • Honey: A Novel by Victor Lodato *adult* 4/16
  • Woke Up No Light: Poems by Leila Mottley *adult* 4/16
  • The Dance Of Shadows by Rogba Payne *adult* 4/18
  • The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan *adult* 4/23
  • Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero *adult* 4/23
  • Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo *MG* 4/23
  • Cute Toot by Breanna J. McDaniel & Olivia de Castro *PB* 4/23
  • The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy *adult* 4/23
  • Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker *sequel* 4/23
  • Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta 4/23
  • Song Of The Six Realms by Judy I. Lin 4/23
  • Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee 4/23
  • Saint-Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams *Sequel* 4/23
  • Kicked Out By A. M. Dassu *MG* 4/23
  • Archangel’s Lineage by Nalini Singh *adult* 4/23
  • A Whisper In The Walls by Scott Reintgen 4/23
  • Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle 4/23
  • Punk Rock Karaoke by Bianca Xunise 4/23
  • Fake It Till You Make It by Siera London *adult* 4/23
  • The Door Is Open edited by Hena Khan *MG* 4/23
  • Dirty Pleasures by Kenya Wright *adult series audio* 4/23
  • The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djeli Clark *adult novella* 4/23
  • Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho *adult* 4/23
  • One Of You by Erin E. Adams *adult* 4/23
  • Sweetness In The Skin by Ishi Robinson *adult* 4/23
  • Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller *MG* 4/23
  • Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham *adult* 4/23
  • Creating A Culture Of Repair: Taking Action On The Road To Reparations by Robert Turner *adult* 4/23
  • The Husky & His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou vol. 5 4/23
  • Murder On Demand by Al Roker *adult series Audio* 4/23
  • Bethany Meets Her Match by Lisa Lin *adult series* 4/24
  • She A Baddie by Monique Fisher *adult Novella* 4/25
  • The Strategist by Nadia Han *adult series* 4/29
  • Sound The Gong by Joan He *sequel* 4/30
  • What’s Eating Jackie Oh? By Patricia Park 4/30
  • My Daddy Is A Cowboy by Stephanie Seales & C.G. Esperanza *PB* 4/30
  • Real Americans by Rachel Khong *adult* 4/30
  • King Of Sloth by Ana Huang *adult series* 4/30
  • Pedro’s Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys By Rob Peñas, Ill. by Carl Angel *PB* 4/30
  • The ABCs of Queer History by Dr. Seema Yasmin, ill. By Lucy Kirk *PB* 4/30
  • Made In Asian America: A History For Young People by Erika Lee & Christina Soontornvat *MG* 4/30
  • I Heard: An American Journey by Jaha Nailah Avery *PB* 4/30
  • Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett *adult* 4/30
  • Where Was Goodbye? by Janice Lynn Mather 4/30
  • The Best Worst Camp Out Ever by Joe Cepeda *MG* 4/30
  • My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story by George Takei, ill. By Michelle Lee *PB* 4/30
  • Built To Last by Minh Le, ill. By Dan Santat *PB* 4/30
  • Archie Celebrates An Indian Wedding by Mitali Banerjee Ruths *ER Series* 4/30
  • Fake Chinese Sounds by Jing Jing Tsong *MG* 4/30
  • The Strategist By Nadia Han *adult series audio* 4/30
  • The Swans Of Harlem by Karen Valby *adult* 4/30
  • No One’s Gonna Take Her Soul Away by Amanda B. Weaver *adult* 4/30
  • Mister President by B. Love *adult series audio* 4/30
  • Prom Babies by Kekla Magoon 4/30
  • It’s All In The Hips by Diana Munoz Stewart *adult* 4/30
  • The Chain: Love, Betrayal, And The Sisterhood That Heals Us by Chimene Suleyman *adult* 4/30
  • Disability Intimacy: Essays On Love, Care And Desire Edited By Alice Wong *adult* 4/30
  • The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste 4/30
Money is interchangeable with books and library holds, FYI

April is really not joking around and is trying to show out with all these new books… And I am not mad at it! Of these books, I had received quite a few ARCs and they are:

  • Court Of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco *adult sequel*
  • The Black Girl Survives In This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraceia J. Fennell
  • Something Kindred by Ciera Burch
  • Fate Be Changed: A Twisted Tale by Farrah Rochon
  • Storm Dragons: Lightningborn by Julie Kagawa *MG*
  • The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram
  • How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang *adult*
  • The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton *adult*
  • A Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
  • When I Think Of You by Myah Ariel *adult*
  • The Bootlegger’s Bounty by Adriana Herrera *adult Novella*
  • The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy *adult*
  • Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker *sequel*
  • Song Of The Six Realms by Judy I. Lin
  • Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee
  • Saint-Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams *Sequel*
  • Sound The Gong by Joan He *sequel*
  • What’s Eating Jackie Oh? By Patricia Park
  • The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

And of these ARCs, I have read:

  • Court Of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco *adult sequel*
  • The Black Girl Survives In This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraceia J. Fennell
  • Something Kindred by Ciera Burch
  • The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
  • Currently Reading: How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang *adult*
Pressure is also interchangeable with reading and it’s true but I’m up for the task, lol!

We are seriously about to get some really great books this month and I can’t wait for them to be out in the world. I may have missed some Authors Of Color’s titles so please let me know which ones here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (look out for lives and the occasional post), Twitter (I will forever call it this) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m slowly increasing my posting on there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I most certainly wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve not been a bookish fool! And to those who are subscribed, you have my continued thanks, I really truly appreciate y’all! I’m sending bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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Just Our Bookish Luck: March 2024 Releases

Hey Y’all! Apologies for the lateness! I promise I didn’t forget y’all though! March is here and I’m excited because it’s my birthday month *insert wide-eye emoji*! It is just our bookish luck that this month is a good pub month! I’m also excited about quite a few of the books coming out this month as well!

It’s a celebration y’all!

Before we get into this list, just make sure you double check the dates of your anticipated books (most were checked very recently but there are so many last minute changes that happen)! So let’s get into it!

  • Ace and the Misfits by Eddie Kawooya *MG* 3/1
  • The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau *adult* 3/5
  • This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan *adult series* 3/5
  • Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange *adult* 3/5
  • The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste 3/5
  • The Encanto’s Daughter by Melissa De La Cruz 3/5
  • Women Of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan *adult* 3/5
  • Summer At Squee by Andrea Wang *MG* 3/5
  • Star Wars The High Republic: Defy The Storm by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton 3/5
  • Piano Wants To Play by Colleen Kong-Savage *PB* 3/5
  • Welcome To Forever by Nathan Tavares 3/5
  • Clever Creatures Of The Night by Samantha Mabry 3/5
  • We Need To Talk About Death by Sarah Chavez & Annika Le Large 3/5
  • The Cave: A Secret Underground Hospital And One Woman’s Story Of Survival in Syria by Amani Ballour & Rania Abouzeid *adult* 3/5
  • Sona and the Golden Beasts By Rajani LaRocca *MG* 3/5
  • A Rainbow In Brown by Pavonis Giron *PB* 3/5
  • Warrior On The Mound by Sandra W. Headen *MG* 3/5
  • One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome *MG* 3/5
  • Minecraft: Beginner’s Guide by Mojang AB *MG* 3/5
  • Never Been Better by Leanne Toshiko Simpson *adult* 3/5
  • Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principle Problem by Kekla Magoon, Cynthia Leitich Smith & ill. By Molly Murakami *MG* 3/5
  • Starry Field: A Memoir Of The Lost History by Margaret Juhae Lee *adult* 3/5
  • Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez *adult* 3/5
  • The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez *adult* 3/5
  • Paper Dragons: A Fight For The Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott *MG* 3/5
  • The First State Of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly *MG* 3/5
  • Gigi Shin Is Not A Nerd by Lyla Lee *MG* 3/5
  • 36 Ways Of Writing A Vietnamese Poem by Nam Le *adult* 3/5
  • RunDisney: The Official Guide To Racing Around The Parks by Scott Douglas *adult* 3/5
  • Pinata by Leopoldo Gout, Translated by Martha Castro Lopez *adult* 3/5
  • Thunder Song Essays by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe *adult* 3/5
  • The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul *adult* 3/5
  • Can’t We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe by Denny S. Bryce & Eliza Knight *adult* 3/5
  • Hope Is A Rainbow by Hoda Kotb *PB* 3/5
  • Zo And The Invisible Island by Alaka Pilgrim *MG Sequel* 3/7
  • The Doomsday Date by Faridah Abike-Iyimide 3/7
  • Can You GET Jellyfish In Space? by Dr. Sheila Kanani, ill. by Liz Kay *MG* 3/7
  • Marv And The Ultimate Superpower by Alex Falase-Koya *ER* 3/7
  • Onyeka And The Secret Superhero by Tola Okogwu *MG* 3/7
  • The Sacrifice: When Transition Looks Like Chaos by Youmie Jean Francois *adult* 3/7
  • My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma *Re-Release* 3/11
  • Not Your Average Jo by Grace K. Shim 3/12
  • Pride And Joy by Louisa Onome *adult* 3/12
  • Cece Rios And The Queen Of Brujas by Kaela Rivera *MG Sequel* 3/12
  • Six Truths And A Lie by Ream Shukairy 3/12
  • Light In Gaza edited by By Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing, and Mike Merryman-Lotze *adult* 3/12
  • Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado *adult* 3/12
  • Black Wolf by Juan Gomez-Jurado *adult sequel* 3/12
  • The Toltec Legacy: Wisdom To Live By In The New Dawn by Michelle Rodriguez & Sergio Magana *adult* 3/12
  • Those Beyond The Wall by Micaiah Johnson 3/12
  • Green Frog by Gina Chung *adult* 3/12
  • Circle of Love By Monique Gray Smith, Ill. by Nicole Neidhardt *PB* 3/12
  • Victim by Andrew Boryga *adult* 3/12
  • Infinity Kings by Adam Silvera *sequel* 3/12
  • Butterfly On The Wind by Adam Pottle & Ziyue Chen *PB* 3/12
  • When The Rain Came Down by Leslie Helakoski & Keisha Morris *PB* 3/12
  • Not Your China Doll by Katie Gee Salisbury *adult* 3/12
  • The Inhumans And Other Stories edited & Translated by Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay *adult* 3/12
  • Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhbari 3/12
  • Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea by Leah Hunt-Hendrix & Astra Taylor *adult* 3/12
  • Bros by Carole Boston Weatherfood, ill. By Reggie Brown *PB* 3/12
  • The Blue Bowl by Flo Leung *PB* 3/12
  • The Little Regent by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade, ill. By Ken Daley *PB* 3/12
  • La Mala Suerte Is Following Me/La Mala Suerta Me Sigue by Ana Siqueira *MG* 3/12
  • The Manicurist’s Daughter by Susan Lieu *adult* 3/12
  • You Are A Little Seed by Sook-Hee Choi *PB* 3/19
  • Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale by JaNay Brown-Wood, ill. By John Joven *PB* 3/19
  • Lucky Dogs by Joowon Oh *PB* 3/19
  • A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian *adult* 3/19
  • I’ll Conjure For You by Charish Reed *adult* 3/19
  • Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide 3/19
  • Calling Of Light by Lori M. Lee *sequel* 3/19
  • Far From The Tree by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant *adult* 3/19
  • Della’s House Of Style by Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill, Felicia Mason & Francis Ray *adult* 3/19
  • Rules For Rule-Breaking by Talia Tucker 3/19
  • The Waves Take You Home by Maria Alejandra Barrios Velez *adult* 3/19
  • Hathor And The Prince by J.J. McAvoy *adult series* 3/19
  • A Year Of Last Things [Poems] by Michael Ontaatje *adult* 3/19
  • The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill *adult* 3/19
  • In A Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander *adult* 3/19
  • Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuk *adult* 3/19
  • The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le 3/19
  • The Weavers of Alamaxa By Hadeer Elsbai *adult* 3/19
  • Memory Piece by Lisa Ko *adult* 3/19
  • The Morningside by Téa Obreht *adult* 3/19
  • Mother Island: A Daughter Claims Puerto Rico by Jamie Figueroa *adult* 3/19
  • James By Percival Everett *adult* 3/19
  • Stitches by Hirokatsu Kihara, ill. by Junji Ito 3/26
  • Icarus by K. Ancrum 3/26
  • Off The Air by Christina Estes *adult* 3/26
  • The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales 3/26
  • Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis 3/26
  • The Ikaria Way by Diane Kochilas *adult* 3/26
  • Maya’s Laws Of Love by Alina Khawaja *adult* 3/26
  • The Emperor And The Endless Palace by Justinian Huang *adult* 3/26
  • Star Wars: The High Republic: Escape from Valo by Daniel Jose Older; Alyssa Wong *MG* 3/26
  • The Good, The Bad and The Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto *adult series* 3/26
  • A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda *adult* 3/26
  • Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care and Desire by Alice Wong *adult* 3/26
  • Shark Princess: Surfin’ Sharks by Nidhi Chanani *ER* 3/26
  • Age Of Revolutions by Fareed Zakaria *adult* 3/26
  • Wicked Problems: How To Engineer A Better World by Guru Madhavan *adult* 3/26
  • Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman *adult* 3/26
  • Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura *adult* 3/26
  • There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib *adult* 3/26
  • Bunyan And Henry Or, The Beautiful Destiny by Mark Cecil *adult* 3/26
Me, when I realized I had slacked on updating my Mac h Pub day list & had to play catch up to create this post so it was somewhat accurate!

So I’ve gotten a few ARCs for titles coming out this month and they are:

  • This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan *adult series*
  • The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
  • The Encanto’s Daughter by Melissa De La Cruz
  • Women Of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan *adult*
  • Summer At Squee by Andrea Wang *MG*
  • Not Your Average Jo by Grace K. Shim
  • Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
  • Rules For Rule-Breaking by Talia Tucker 3/19
  • The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
  • The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales
  • Maya’s Laws Of Love by Alina Khawaja *adult*
  • The Emperor And The Endless Palace by Justinian Huang *adult*

Of These, I have read:

  • This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan *adult series*
  • Currently Reading: The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
And it’s been kicking my ass and delaying my reading but I AM reading!

What are you all excited about this month?! I may have missed some books that are scheduled to come out this month so please do let me know if I missed any authors of color in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (look out for lives and the occasional post), Twitter (I still refuse to call it a single letter) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m slowly increasing my posting on there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I have the best bookish luck! And to those who are subscribed, you have my continued thanks, I really truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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Falling Into New Books Like Love: February 2024 Releases

Hey y’all! My sincerest apologies for this being a little late but none the less, the post is here! It felt like I blinked & it was suddenly February which feels weird! We’re already a month & some days into 2024! It’s also Black History Month so HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH (though I celebrate being Black & the diaspora’s extensive history all year long)!

Me running in late but making sure y’all know I’m/this post’s here

February is bringing us a bunch of new books and I’m excited about so many of them! As usual, be sure to check out the publisher and author pages (websites/socials/etc) to make sure that no dates have changed because things do in fact happen and release dates can be moved! So with that being said, here is the list that I’ve compiled:

  • Yomi And The Power Of The Yumboes by Davina Tijani *MG Sequel* 2/1
  • All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi *sequel* 2/6
  • Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin *adult* 2/6
  • Little Goddess Girls by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams *MG* 2/6
  • Bless The Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda 2/6
  • The Accidental Crush by Mia Heintzalman *adult* 2/6
  • Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo 2/6
  • Out Of Body by Nia Davenport 2/6
  • ASAP by Axie Oh *companion* 2/6
  • Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar *MG* 2/6
  • Daniel, Deconstructed By James Ramos 2/6
  • Relit edited by Sandra Proudman 2/6
  • Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender 2/6
  • Hello, Friends! By Dulce Sloan *adult* 2/6
  • Hair Oil Magic by Anu Chouhan *PB* 2/6
  • No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub 2/6
  • Winston Chu Vs The Wingmeisters by Stacey Lee *MG Sequel* 2/6
  • Final Appeal by Remiguez Mroz *adult* 2/6
  • Eclipse: Our Sky’s Most Dazzling Phenomenon by Kelsey Oseid *PB* 2/6
  • Kadooboo! A Silly South Indian Folktale by Shruthi Rao; ill. By Darshika Varma *PB* 2/6
  • The Girl, The Ring & The Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez 2/6
  • A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams *adult* 2/6
  • The Blue Pickup By Natasha Tripplett, Ill. by Monica Mikai *PB* 2/6
  • How the Boogeyman Became a Poet By Tony Keith Jr. 2/6
  • Drawing Deena by Hena Khan *MG* 2/6
  • Miles Of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, ill. Lynn Gaines *PB* 2/6
  • Tales Of The Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan *adult* 2/6
  • Mihi Ever After: Off The Rails by Tae Keller *MG Sequel* 2/6
  • Cranky by Phuc Tran, ill. Pete Oswald *PB* 2/6
  • Dinner On Monster Island by Tania De Rozario *adult* 2/6
  • Girls With Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod *adult* 2/6
  • The Things We Didn’t Know by Elba Iris Perez *adult* 2/6
  • Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfield 2/6
  • How To Live Free In A Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir by Shayla Lawson *adult* 2/6
  • Redwood Court by DeLana R. A. Dameron *adult* 2/6
  • The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet *adult* 2/6
  • Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada 2/6
  • Who Was Her Own Work Of Art?: Frida Kahlo by Terry Blas, ill. Ashanti Fortson *MG* 2/6
  • Pangu’s Shadow by Karen Bao 2/6
  • Art Club by Rashad Doucet *MG* 2/6
  • The Bodyguard Proposal by Soohk Kaur *adult re-release* 2/12
  • This is How You Fall in Love By Anika Hussain 2/13
  • The Pheonix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang *adult* 2/13
  • The Cure For Burnout: How To Find Balance And Reclaim Your Life by Emily Ballesteros *adult* 2/13
  • A Wild And Heavenly Place by Robin Oliveira *adult* 2/13
  • Convergence Problems by Wole Talabi *adult* 2/13
  • The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala 2/13
  • Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon *adult companion* 2/13
  • The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo *adult* 2/13
  • Seeds Of Change by Nina Laden, ill. Sawyer Cloud *PB* 2/13
  • The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna *Sequel* 2/13
  • Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson 2/13
  • Search And Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko 2/13
  • Sex, Lies And Sensibility by Nikki Payne *adult companion* 2/13
  • My Side Of The River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez *adult* 2/13
  • Thick With Trouble by Amber McBride *adult* 2/13
  • Her Exception by B. Love *adult audiobook* 2/13
  • Wake Up America: Black Women On The Future Of Democracy edited by Keisha N. Blain *adult* 2/13
  • Waverider: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi *series* 2/13
  • The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, trans. By Jesse Kirkwood *adult* 2/13
  • The Sitcom Star by Jackie Lau *adult* 2/13
  • The Blueprint by Rae Giana Rashad *adult* 2/13
  • Status Royale by Ru Xu 2/13
  • A Suffragist’s Guide To The Antarctic by Yi Shun Lai 2/13
  • The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha 2/13
  • V Is For Voting by Kate Farrell, ill. Caitlin Kuhwald *PB* 2/13
  • Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre 2/13
  • Bunt!: Striking Out On Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert 2/13
  • Paper Cage: A Novel by Tom Baragwanath *adult* 2/13
  • Village In The Dark by Iris Yamashita *adult* 2/13
  • Neferura by Malayna Evans *adult* 2/13
  • The Age Of Magic by Ben Okri *adult* 2/13
  • What Have We Here? Portraits Of A Life by Billy Dee Williams *adult* 2/13
  • The Nursery by Szilvia Molnar *adult* 2/13
  • Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III 2/16
  • Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath, PhD *adult* 2/20
  • The Great Wave: The Era Of Radical Disruption And The Rise Of The Outsider by Michiko Kakutani *adult* 2/20
  • It’s Holi! By Sanyukta Mathur, ill. Courtney Pippin-Mathur *PB* 2/20
  • Mommy’s New Friend by Shelley Tougas, ill. Sara Palacios *PB* 2/20
  • Glenn Burke, Game Changer: The Man Who Invented The High Five by Phil Bildner, ill. Daniel J. O’Brien *PB* 2/20
  • Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John *adult* 2/20
  • River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta *adult* 2/20
  • Conditions Of A Heart by Bethany Mangle 2/20
  • Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow *adult* 2/20
  • My Throat An Open Grave by Tori Bovalino 2/20
  • How To Win Friends And Influence Fungi by Dr. Chris Balakrishnan & Matt Wasowski *adult* 2/20
  • A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian *adult* 2/20
  • Nana In The Country by Lauren Castillo *PB* 2/20
  • Ours by Phillip B. Williams *adult* 2/20
  • The Diablo’s Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa 2/20
  • Sun Of Blood And Ruin by Mariely Lares *adult* 2/20
  • Yumbo Gumbo by Keila V. Dawson *PB* 2/20
  • Cuddly Crochet Plushies by Glory Shofowora *adult* 2/20
  • The Heart Mage by Kenya Wright *Adult sequel audiobook* 2/20
  • Night For Day by Roselle Lim *adult* 2/20
  • A Tempest Of Tea by Hafsah Faizal 2/20
  • Island Witch by Amanada Jayatissa *adult* 2/20
  • Takeover by Nana Malone *adult* 2/20
  • Snowglobe by Soyoung Park 2/27
  • The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest *Adult Companion* 2/27
  • Lore Of The Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana *adult* 2/27
  • Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury 2/27
  • The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi *MG* 2/27
  • Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana 2/27
  • Return To Eden by Paco Roca; trans. By Andrea Rosenberg *adult* 2/27
  • Brooklyn by Tracy Brown *adult* 2/27
  • The Life Of The Qur’an by Mohamad Jebara *adult* 2/27
  • Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School By Tiffany Jewell 2/27
  • Kindling By Traci Chee 2/27
  • My Name Is Shingo: The Perfect Edition by Kazuo Umezz 2/27
  • Finally Heard by Kelly Yang *MG* 2/27
  • Whiskey Tender: A Memoir by Deborah Jackson Taffa *adult* 2/27
  • Memory Garden by Zohreh & Susie Ghahremani *PB* 2/27
  • The American Daughter by Maurice Carlos Ruffin *adult* 2/27
  • Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange *adult* 2/27
  • My Documents by Alejandro Zambra, trans. By Megan McDowell *adult* 2/27
  • I Run To Make My Heart Beat by Rachel Khan, art by Aude Massot *MG* 2/27
  • No Better Time by Sheila Williams *adult* 2/27
  • One Giant Leap by Thao Lam *PB* 2/27
  • Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan *adult* 2/27
  • An Autobiography Of Skin by Lakeisha Carr *adult* 2/27
Depends on how you look at it, really, lol.

That’s quite the list for the shortest month of the year but I’m here for this as well! Of these books, I’ve received ARCs for the following:

  • Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo
  • Out Of Body by Nia Davenport
  • ASAP by Axie Oh *companion*
  • Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar *MG*
  • The Bodyguard Proposal by Soohk Kaur *adult re-release*
  • The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna *Sequel*
  • Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson
  • Sex, Lies And Sensibility by Nikki Payne *adult companion*
  • Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow *adult*
  • Night For Day by Roselle Lim *adult*
  • A Tempest Of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
  • Island Witch by Amanada Jayatissa *adult*
  • Snowglobe by Soyoung Park
  • The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest *Adult Companion*
  • Lore Of The Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana *adult*
  • Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Of these, I have read:

  • Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo
  • Out Of Body by Nia Davenport
  • ASAP by Axie Oh *companion*
  • Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar *MG*
  • Currently Reading: The Bodyguard Proposal by Soohk Kaur *adult re-release*
And I’ve been enjoying my reads when life doesn’t get in the way of my reading!

Whew, this is quite the list! I can only imagine that I may have missed a book or few! If there are books by authors of color that should be added to this list, let me know either here or on social media where you can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (look out for lives, which is still sporadic but happens), Twitter (I refuse to call it a single letter) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m slowly increasing my posting on there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also let me know if there are any books that YOU are excited about! I wanna know! Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve fallen into bookish love! And to those who are subscribed, you have my continued thanks, I really truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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New Books, New Year-January 2024 Releases

Hey everyone, Happy New Year! I’m so glad that we have made it into this new year. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that it brings you all the amazing things.

And all the good vibes! (I really wanted to use this Carebears gif for nostalgia sake!)

Before we get into this list, I do want to apologize for how absent I’ve been. The last few months have been really tough and I’ve been wading through the mental sludge & processing them. I’ll share more in another post when I feel a little more ready to. I wanted to apologize to you all because so many of you have been rocking with me since the beginning & even those who are newer, you all have still been around and I appreciate you all so very much. It is my intent to do better and be more present along with find balance this year.

Truly!

Now back to this post! I am super excited about the new book releases that this year will bring and January has some amazing books coming out! This is a really long list and I likely missed some books, so my deepest apologies! As usual, double check the publisher websites & Author pages for any changes because they happen last minute (*sucks teeth*) and I started compiling a list of 2024 releases in 2022 (if you can believe it) so things can definitely have changed. So let’s get into this list!

  • Sejal Sinha Dives For Diamonds On Neptune by Maya Prasad *ER Series* 1/2
  • Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amelie Wen Zhao *Sequel* 1/2
  • Stay With My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan 1/2
  • The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum (#1) by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat *MG* 1/2
  • Just Happy To Be Here by Naomi Kanakia 1/2
  • Manifest In Action by Roxie Nafousi *adult* 1/2
  • Who Got Game? Basketball by Derrick Barnes, ill. By Jez Tuya *MG* 1/2
  • When I Wrap My Hair By Shauntay Grant, Ill. by Jenin Mohammed *PB* 1/2
  • Coretta: The Autobiography Of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King & Ekua Holmes *PB* 1/2
  • History Comics: Hip-Hop The Beat Of America by Jarrett Williams *MG* 1/2
  • The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan *adult* 1/2
  • A Kids Book About Equality by Billie Jean King *PB* 1/2
  • A Kids Book About Love by Ziggy Marley *PB* 1/2
  • A Ramadan to Remember by Marzieh A. Ali, ill. By Ali Nasser *PB* 1/2
  • On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson *adult* 1/2
  • Age Of Vice by Deepti Kapoor *adult* 1/2
  • The Reckoning by Wade Hudson *MG* 1/2
  • Ghost Roast by Shawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs 1/2
  • Kawaii Café Bubble Tea by Stacey Kwong & Beyah del Mundo *MG* 1/9
  • In The Upper Country by Kai Thomas *adult* 1/9
  • The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff *adult* 1/9
  • When You Have To Wait by Melanie Conkin & Leah Hong *PB* 1/9
  • Somewhere In The Deep by Tanvi Berwah *sequel* 1/9
  • Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat 1/9
  • Lulu Sinagtala And The City Of Noble Warriors by Gail D. Villanueva *MG* 1/9
  • Sugar, Baby by Celine Saintclare *adult* 1/9
  • You’ll Do: A History Of Marrying For Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zug *Adult Non-Fiction* 1/9
  • The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years by Shubnum Kahn *adult* 1/9
  • Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & Leuyen Pham 1/9
  • No Reservations by Sheryl Lister *adult* 1/9
  • The Fetishist by Katherine Min *adult* 1/9
  • Homegrown by Deann Wiley *PB* 1/9
  • Pokemon Adventures: Omega Rudy And Alpha Sapphire by Hidenori Kusaka, ill. By Satoshi Yamamoto 1/9
  • China’s World View: Demystifying China To Prevent Global Conflict by David Daokui Li *adult non-fiction* 1/9
  • Shut Up, This Is Serious By Carolina Ixta 1/9
  • Holiday Country by Inei Atrek *NA* 1/9
  • Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito, trans. By Brian Bergstrom *adult* 1/9
  • You Dreamed Of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue, trans. By Natasha Wimmer *adult* 1/9
  • My Friends by Hisham Matar *adult* 1/9
  • Last Seen In Lapaz by Kwei Quartey *adult* 1/9
  • Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns *adult* 1/9
  • The Gardins Of Edin by Rosey Lee *adult* 1/9
  • A Drop Of Venom by Sajni Patel 1/16
  • So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole 1/16
  • Beasts Of War by Ayana Gray *Sequel* 1/16
  • Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar *adult* 1/16
  • Most Ardently: A Pride And Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa 1/16
  • Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao *adult* 1/16
  • Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney 1/16
  • American Wings by Sherri L. Smith & Elizabeth Wein 1/16
  • My Big, Fat Desi Wedding edited by Prerna Pickett 1/16
  • Time To Make Art by Jeff Mack *PB* 1/16
  • The Night Of The Storm by Nishita Parekh *adult* 1/16
  • The Black Yearbook by Adraint Khadafhi Bereal *adult* 1/16
  • City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita *adult* 1/16
  • Parenting At The Intersections: Raising Neurodivergent Children Of Color by Jaya Ramesh & Priya Saaral *adult non-fiction* 1/16
  • Maybe It’s A Sign by E.L. Shen *MG* 1/23
  • You’re Breaking My Heart by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich 1/23
  • King Of The Mountain by Susie Lee Jin *ER* 1/23
  • Emma And The Love Spell by Meredith Ireland *MG* 1/23
  • The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James *adult* 1/23
  • Madness: Race And Insanity In A Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton *adult* 1/23
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen *MG* 1/23
  • When An Elephant Hears NO by Dazzle Ng, ill. By Estrela Lourenco *PB* 1/23
  • The Colliding Worlds Of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh 1/23
  • Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar *adult* 1/23
  • Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant *adult* 1/23
  • Tryin’ To Sleep In The Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant *adult* 1/23
  • Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Zora Neale Hurston 1/23
  • Twilight Territory by Andrew X. Pham *adult* 1/23
  • Eyes That Weave the World’s Wonders By Joanna Ho & Liz Kleinrock, Ill. by Dung Ho *PB* 1/23
  • The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan *sequel* 1/23
  • Into The Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru 1/23
  • Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History Of Black Feminism by Jenn M. Jackson *adult* 1/23
  • Faebound by Saara El-Arifi 1/23
  • The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma *adult* 1/23
  • Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah *adult* 1/23
  • Amil And The After by Veera Hiranandani 1/23
  • My Favorite Scar by Nicolas Ferraro 1/23
  • Kiki Finds Her Voice by Kierra Sheard-Kelly, ill. By Paul Kellam *MG* 1/23
  • Her New York Minute by Darby Baham *adult* 1/23
  • Wild Life by Opal Wei *adult* 1/23
  • Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock, MD *adult non-fiction* 1/23
  • I Did A New Thing: 30 Days To Living Free by Tabitha Brown *adult* 1/30
  • The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi *adult* 1/30
  • Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill 1/30
  • These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang 1/30
  • A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen *adult* 1/30
  • Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, And The Battle To Control Haiti by Jake Johnston *adult non-fiction* 1/30
  • The American Queen by Vanessa Miller *adult* 1/30
  • The Mayor Of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham *adult* 1/30
  • Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin By Michelle Meadows, Ill. by Jamiel Law *PB* 1/30
  • The Fish Of Small Wishes by Elana K. Arnold & Magdalena Mora *PB* 1/30
  • There’s No Place Like Home by Janet Lawler & Tamisha Anthony *PB* 1/30
  • Just Say Yes by Goldy Moldavsky 1/30
  • All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata *adult* 1/30
  • Hard By A Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili *adult* 1/30
  • Greek Lessons by Han Kang, trans. By Deborah Smith & Emily Yae Won *adult* 1/30
  • Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan *adult* 1/30
  • In Search of Superpowers: A Fantasy Pin World Adventure By Briana Lawrence, Ill. by Joanna Cacao *MG* 1/30
  • Star Wars The High Republic: Escape From Valo by Daniel Jose Older, Alyssa Wong, ill. By Petur Antonsson *MG* 1/30
  • How We Named The Stars by Andres N. Ordorica *adult* 1/30
  • Alterations by Ray Xu *MG* 1/30
  • The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey *PB* 1/30
  • Poemhood: Our Black Revival edited by Taylor Byas, Erica Martin & Amber McBride 1/30
This was kind of my reaction when I realized how long it was when I finished going through screenshots & whatever other way I compiled the list of books coming out!

That is quite a bit (or lot) of books! It’s another January pub month for the books (get it?…LOL; come on, that was a good one =0P)!

This was perfect placement friends! LOL

I was blessed by the Bookish Divine powers that be with ARCs for several books coming out this month and they are:

  • Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amelie Wen Zhao *Sequel*
  • Stay With My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum (#1) by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat *MG*
  • A Drop Of Venom by Sajni Patel
  • So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
  • Beasts Of War by Ayana Gray *Sequel*
  • Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar *adult*
  • Most Ardently: A Pride And Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
  • Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney
  • Maybe It’s A Sign by E.L. Shen *MG*
  • You’re Breaking My Heart by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich
  • The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi *adult*
  • Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill
  • These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang
I’m excited to get into these titles, Y’all!

Of these books, so far I have read:

  • Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amelie Wen Zhao *Sequel* (I went to the launch & it was really great!)
  • Stay With My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum (#1) by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat *MG*
  • Currently Reading: A Drop Of Venom by Sajni Patel
I’m reading as fast as I can & finger tracking helps at times!

This is quite the list so let me know if there is anything you are excited about! Like I previously said, it is likely that I missed some releases for this month so please do let me know if there are any books by Authors Of Color that should be included in the comments here or on social media. You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (look out for when I go live, which is still sporadic but does happen), Twitter (I’m not calling it a single letter) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter but I post on occasion) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like it will be a truly happy new bookish year! And to those who are subscribed, continued thanks, I really truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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Happy Bookish Holidays-December 2023 Releases

Hey everyone! I hope this post finds you all safe and well! We have actually made it to December! Time really doesn’t feel real y’all! The holidays are almost upon us and the countdown to 2024 has pretty much began. I also want to say that I know that the holidays can be tough for some so if you are one of those people, I’m sending you healing vibes.

For those who need it during this time (or any time really)

This month doesn’t seem to have a lot of releases by Authors of Color towards the end of it from the research I’ve done. If there are any that you all know about, please feel free to add them to the comments! Also, things do change in publishing so be sure to double check for the books you are excited for!

Make your list, check it twice or three times!
  • Never Meant To Stay by Trisha Das *adult* 12/1
  • The Ruined by Renee Ahdieh *4th Book* 12/5
  • Caught In A Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose 12/5
  • Technically Yours By Denise Williams *adult* 12/5
  • A Gift For Nai Nai by Kim-Hoa Ung *PB* 12/5
  • Laolao’s Dumplings by Dane Liu & ShinYeon Moon *PB* 12/5
  • Raiders Of The Lost Heart by Jo Segura *adult* 12/5
  • The World’s End by Rin Chupeco *Sequel* 12/5
  • Mermaid For Each Other by Hannah Eliot *PB* 12/5
  • You’re My Galentine by Hannah Eliot *PB* 12/5
  • Time To Clown Around by Andres Miedoso *MG* 12/5
  • Daughter Of Ashes by Ilaria Tuti *adult* 12/5
  • Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song by Judith Tick *adult* 12/5
  • Neighborhood Story by Ai Yazawa 12/5
  • Hammer, Vol. 4: Stud Vs. The Jungle King by JeyOdin 12/5
  • Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear *adult* 12/5
  • Never After: The Missing Sword by Melissa De La Cruz 12/5
  • Ghosts Of Christmas by Kenya Wright *adult* 12/5
  • Run Darling by Adriana Herrera *adult series* 12/5
  • Colton by LaQuette *Adult Series Audiobook* 12/7
  • The Rising Sun by Twyla Turner *adult series* 12/11
  • The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino *adult* 12/12
  • Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe *companion* 12/12
  • Seven Minutes In Candyland by Brian Wasson 12/12
  • Grace’s Chinese New Year by Jackie Huang *ER* 12/12
  • Game On by Seressia Glass *adult companion* 12/12
  • Mourning Glory by L.L. McKinney & Bethany C. Morrow *adult audiobook* 12/12
  • Amy’s Big Brother by BonHyung Jeong 12/12
  • Dark Moon by HYBE 12/12
  • Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint by Sing Shong 12/12
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy by Natsuki Hokami 12/12
  • Parker’s Big Feelings by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry *ER* 12/12
  • Flashback To The Chill 2000s by Gloria Cruz *ER* 12/12
  • Amor Actually by Adriana Herrera, Alexis Daria, Diana Munoz Stewart, Mia Sosa, Priscilla Olivieras, Sabrina Sol & Zoey Castile *adult audiobook* 12/12
  • The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison *adult* 12/12
  • The Toy Runner Series Boxset by Adriana Herrera *adult audiobook series* 12/12
  • Two Minute Warning by Alexandra Warren *adult audiobook series* 12/15
  • When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez 12/19
  • She’s My Knight 1 by Saisou 12/19
  • Familia by Lauren E. Rico *adult* 12/26
  • Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews *adult series* 12/26
  • Lucero by Maya Motayne *sequel* 12/26
  • Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan *adult series paperback & audiobook* 12/26
This is always me when I see new releases

I’ve gotten a few ARCs for this month’s new releases and they are:

  • Raiders Of The Lost Heart by Jo Segura *adult*
  • The World’s End by Rin Chupeco *Sequel*
  • Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
  • Game On by Seressia Glass *adult companion*
  • Mourning Glory by L.L. McKinney & Bethany C. Morrow *adult audiobook*
  • Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews *adult series*

Of these, I have read:

  • Raiders Of The Lost Heart by Jo Segura *adult*
  • The World’s End by Rin Chupeco *Sequel*
  • Game On by Seressia Glass *adult companion*
  • Mourning Glory by L.L. McKinney & Bethany C. Morrow *adult audiobook*
  • Currently Reading: Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
It’s not and I’m so glad that I’m able to play a bit of catch up in my ARC TBR!

Alright y’all, it looks like this month won’t be too heavy on our pockets and/or library holds. Are there any that you are excited about? If I missed any, please do share them here in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is still sporadic but does happen), Twitter (I still refuse to use that new “name”) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter but I post on occasion) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel more in the bookish holiday spirits! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I really truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Thankful For All The Books Dropping: November 2023 Releases

Hey Y’all! November is here and it feels so unreal that we are here in the 11th month of the year! I won’t lie to y’all, it’s been a rough start and that’s why this post is later than usual…I’m working on digging myself out of the headspace I currently find myself in. I hope this month is going well for you though!

Me, right now…and if this is you too, we can work on digging ourselves out together!

Another thing I won’t lie about is that this month doesn’t seem to be a huge pub month…it’s either that or my research fell short (which I surely hope is not the case, my bookish homie @raethereviewer had a few books on her November post that I didn’t have so feel free to check out her list). Either way, there are some amazing books coming out that you should be on the look out for! Of course, double check on the publisher’s & author’s sites to make sure the dates are still correct cause things can change at any time! So, let’s get into this list!

Seriously, double check the dates folx!
  • Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey *adult* 11/1
  • Detached Lover by Adrienne Denise *adult* 11/1
  • The Takedown by Lily Chu *adult audiobook* 11/2
  • The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau *adult* 11/7
  • No Such Thing As Perfect by Misako Rocks! *MG* 11/7
  • Blackwater Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan *adult sequel* 11/7
  • Finding My Elf by David Valdes 11/7
  • Loveboat, Forever by Abigail Hing Wen *series* 11/7
  • Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng 11/7
  • Lolo And Birdie: I’m Not Sleepy! By Angela Dominguez *PB* 11/7
  • The Books Of Clash Volume 2: Legendary Legends Of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang; Les McClaine & Alison Acton *series* 11/7
  • With Or Without You by Eric Smith 11/7
  • A Grandmother Begins The Story by Michelle Porter *adult* 11/7
  • unOrdinary Volume 1 by uru-chan 11/7
  • Wish Of The Wicked by Danielle Paige 11/7
  • Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu *adult* 11/7
  • Atana And The Firebird by Vivian Zhou *MG* 11/7
  • The Liberators by E.J. Koh *adult* 11/7
  • The Secret Of The Ravens by Joanna Cacao *MG* 11/7
  • Finding Your HeART by Nadia Han *journal* 11/7
  • Goodbye: A First Conversation About Grief by Megan & Jessica Ralli; ill. Isabel Roxas *PB* 11/7
  • Self-Care For Black Men by Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC *adult* 11/7
  • Above The Salt by Katherine Vaz *adult* 11/7
  • The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez *adult* 11/7
  • Step By Step! How Lincoln School Marchers Blazed A Trail To Justice by Debbie Rigaud & Carlotta Penn *PB* 11/7
  • Courting Samira by Amal Awad *adult* 11/7
  • We Are The Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull *adult* 11/7
  • The Rainbow by Yasunari Kawabata *adult* 11/7
  • Static: Up All Night by Lamar Giles 11/7
  • Burning Out On The COVID Front Lines by Dhaval R. Desai, MD *adult* 11/7
  • Nuts And Bolts by Roma Agrawal *adult* 11/7
  • Fake Famous by Dana L. Davis *NA* 11/7
  • Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros *adult sequel* 11/7
  • Best Wishes: Time After Time by Sarah Mlynowski & Christina Soontornvat *MG series* 11/7
  • Cakes For The Grump by Sookh Kaur *adult* 11/13
  • Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr. 11/14
  • Outer Banks: Dead Break by Jay Coles 11/14
  • Borderline by Vincent Vargas *adult* 11/14
  • What The River Knows by Isabel Ibanez 11/14
  • Waaa Waaa Goes Tawa by Alaba Onajin *PB* 11/14
  • Artifacts Of An Ex by Jennifer Chen 11/14
  • Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee & Charlene Chua *PB* 11/14
  • Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin *adult* 11/14
  • The Death Of A Jaybird by Jodi M. Savage *adult* 11/14
  • Tali Girls: A Novel of Afghanistan by Siamak Herawi & Sara Khalil *adult* 11/14
  • I Don’t Want To Be A Mom by Irene Olmo *adult* 11/14
  • King Of Greed by Ana Huang *adult Audiobook* 11/14
  • The Star Seekers vol. 1 created by HYBE 11/14
  • The Upcycled Self by Tariq Black Thought *adult* 11/14
  • King Me by J.A. Crawford *adult* 11/14
  • The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman *Sequel* 11/14
  • Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks 11/14
  • Before We Say Goodbye A Novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi *adult* 11/14
  • A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli 11/14
  • There Should’ve Been Eight by Nalini Singh *adult* 11/21
  • War Widow By Deborah Falaye *sequel* 11/21
  • More Than Anyone by Kaye Rockwell *sequel* 11/21
  • Warrior Of The Wind by Suyi Davies Okungbowa *Sequel* 11/21
  • Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp & Sylvia Bi 11/21
  • Island Snow by Dela Costa *ER Series* 11/21
  • The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay by Dale Walls 11/21
  • Apple Black, Vol. 4: Holy Spectre by Odunze Ogugo 11/21
  • Loving You Always by Kennedy Ryan *adult Series Audiobook* 11/21
  • The Cowboy Whisperer by Sabrina Sol *adult* 11/28
  • Didn’t See That Coming By Jesse Q. Sutanto 11/28
  • Kingdom Of Without by Andrea Tang 11/28
  • Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma *adult series audiobook* 11/28
  • Like Thunder by Nnedi Okorafor *Sequel* 11/28
  • The Boy From Clearwater by Yu Pei-Yun& Zhou Jian-Xin, trans. Lin King 11/28
  • Born Driven: Wendell Scott by Saxton Moore Jr. *PB* 11/28
I’m trying to figure who I am in this scenario…but I’m leaning more towards Bert, lol

Of these books, I have ARCS for the following:

  • No Such Thing As Perfect by Misako Rocks! *MG*
  • Loveboat, Forever by Abigail Hing Wen *series*
  • Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
  • With Or Without You by Eric Smith
  • Wish Of The Wicked by Danielle Paige
  • Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu *adult*
  • Cakes For The Grump by Sookh Kaur *adult*
  • Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr.
  • Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin *adult*
  • Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp & Sylvia Bi
  • Didn’t See That Coming By Jesse Q. Sutanto
It’s really not…so I’m likely going to get this TBR done and get a head start on December *crosses fingers*

I have gotten to read some of these and they are:

  • No Such Thing As Perfect by Misako Rocks! *MG*
  • Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
  • Wish Of The Wicked by Danielle Paige
  • Currently Reading: Loveboat, Forever by Abigail Hing Wen *series*

I wish I was further into this list…this past week has been complete ish for my reading.

This is me right now….I know some of y’all can relate out there!

Anyways, there are quite a few books that I’m hecka excited for. What about you? Are there any that you are excited about? Are there any by Authors Of Color that I missed? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is still sporadic but does happen & I’m doing my best to post a little more there), Twitter (I still refuse to use that new “name” because why?!) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter cause ya girl is still dealing with social media fatigue) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel thankful for all the books I’ve been able to read! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I really truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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It’s Spooky How Many New Books Are Coming Out-October 2023 Releases

Hey Y’all! Pardon the late post, the end of the month was a bit hectic but I did not forget about y’all! This month is quite a big one for publishing! Of course, double check the dates cause these things do tend to change (supply chain, publishing politics and what have you)!

Be sure to check the dates to be double sure!

Let’s get into this list:

  • Been Outside by Shaz Zamore & Wendler *adult* 10/1
  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride *MG* 10/3
  • The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker 10/3
  • The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert 10/3
  • Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker Rhodes 10/3
  • Flying Up the Mountain by Elizabeth-Irene Baitie 10/3
  • And Don’t Look Back by Rebecca Barrow 10/3
  • The Homecoming War by Addie Woolridge 10/3
  • How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair *adult* 10/3
  • There Was A Party For Langston by Jason Reynolds, ill. Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey *PB* 10/3
  • Mari And The Curse Of El Cocodrilo by Adrianna Cuevas *MG* 10/3
  • Tethered To Other Stars by Elisa Stone Leahy *MG* 10/3
  • Super Magic Boy: I Am A Dinosaur by Jarod Rosello *PB* 10/3
  • Up In Flames by Hailey Alcaraz 10/3
  • Love In Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello 10/3
  • Asha And The Toymaker by Sakshi Mangal *PB* 10/3
  • Brooms by Jasmine Walls & Teo DuVall 10/3
  • The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson 10/3
  • Kween by Vichet Chum 10/3
  • Mole Is Not Alone by Maya Tatsukawa *PB* 10/3
  • Godzilla And Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama *adult* 10/3
  • Salt The Water by Candice Iloh 10/3
  • Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele *adult* 10/3
  • Obaasan’s Boots by Janis Bridger & Lara Jean Okihiro *PB* 10/3
  • The Feminist Killjoy Handbook: The Radical Potential Of Getting In The Way by Sara Ahmed *adult* 10/3
  • Ellis Johnson Might Be Famous by Shawn Amos *MG Sequel* 10/3
  • Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal, ill. Ani Bushry *PB* 10/3
  • Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Witch’s Wings and Other Terrifying Tales by Tehlor Kay Mejia; Illustrators Junyi Wu, Alexis Hernandez, Justin Hernandez and Kaylee Rowena *MG* 10/3
  • The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce *Adult* 10/3
  • The Broke Hearts by Matt Mendez 10/3
  • Sankofa: A Culinary Story Of Resilience And Belonging by Eric Adjepong, ill. Lala Watkins *PB* 10/3
  • Saving H’non: Change And The Elephant by Trang Nguyen & Jeet Zdung *MG* 10/3
  • Salma Writes A Book by Danny Ramadan, ill. Anna Bron *ER Sequels* 10/3
  • The Light She Feels Inside by Gwendolyn Wallace, ill. Olivia Duchess *PB* 10/3
  • The List by Yomi Adegoke *adult* 10/3
  • The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon *adult* 10/3
  • A Twisted Tale Anthology Edited by Elizabeth Lim 10/3
  • When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya de Becerra 10/3
  • The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime: A Comprehensive 13-Week “Art Course” with 65 Clear and Easy Daily Lessons by Date Naoto 10/3
  • A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert *adult* 10/3
  • A Haunting In Hialeah Gardens by Raul Palma *adult* 10/3
  • Empty and Me: A Tale of Friendship and Loss By Parisa Saranj & Azam Mahdavi, Ill. by Maryam Tahmasebi *PB* 10/3
  • Huda F Cares? By Huda Fahmy 10/10
  • Just A Pinch Of Magic by Alechia Dow *MG* 10/10
  • Omega Morales and the Curse of El Cucuy By Laekan Zea Kemp *MG Sequel* 10/10
  • Realm Of Wonders by Alexandra Monir 10/10
  • Curlfriends New In Town by Sharee Miller *MG* 10/10
  • The Mis-Arrangement Of Sana Saeed by Noreen Mughees *adult* 10/10
  • Songs Of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield 10/10
  • The Vanquishers: Secret Of The Reaping by Kalynn Bayron *MG Sequel* 10/10
  • Dawn Of The Jaguar by J.C. Cervantes *MG* 10/10
  • Coyote Queen by Jessica Vitalis *MG* 10/10
  • Okra Stew by Natalie Daise *PB* 10/10
  • The Fall Of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado 10/10
  • Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown *adult* 10/10
  • The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi *adult* 10/10
  • Nesting Dolls by Vanessa Brantley-Newton *PB* 10/10
  • The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok *adult* 10/10
  • What We Kept To Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim *adult* 10/10
  • Mister, Mister by Guy Gunaratne *adult* 10/10
  • Stars In Your Eyes by Kacen Callender *adult* 10/10
  • The Fall Of The House Of Tatterly by Shanna Miles *MG* 10/10
  • Sejal Sinha Swims With Sea Dragons by Maya Prasad, ill. Abra Das *MG Sequel* 10/10
  • Santa’s Gotta Go! By Derrick Barnes, ill. Courtney Lovett *PB* 10/10
  • Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson *MG* 10/10
  • Place Hand Here by Katie Yamasaki *PB* 10/10
  • The Words We Share by Jack Wong *PB* 10/10
  • Montgomery And The Case of The Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder *MG* 10/10
  • The Hive And The Honey by Paul Yoon *adult* 10/10
  • Real Americans by Rachel Khong *adult* 10/10
  • Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach 10/10
  • Tokyo Night Parade By J.P. Takahashi, Ill. by Minako Tomigahara *PB* 10/10
  • Marvel Super Stories by Marvel Entertainment *MG* 10/10
  • Si, Se Puede by Julio Anta 10/10
  • Zain’s Super Friday By Hena Khan, Ill. Nez Riaz *PB* 10/10
  • Betwixt by Sloane Leong, Shima Shinya, Aki Shimizu, Michael Conrad, Ryo Hanada, Leslie Hung, Becky Cloonan & Hua Hua Zhu 10/10
  • How To Bird by Rasha Hamid *ER* 10/10
  • The Marquis Who Mustn’t by Courtney Milan *adult series* 10/17
  • Soul Beat Vol 1: “The Payback” by Morganne Walker 10/17
  • Mira And Baku by Sara Truuvert, ill. Michelle Theodore *PB* 10/17
  • The House Of Doors by Tan Twan Eng *adult* 10/17
  • All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology edited by Circe Moskowitz 10/17
  • Fox Snare By Yoon Ha Lee *MG Series* 10/17
  • Flower And Thorn by Rati Mehrotra 10/17
  • Keynan Masters And The Peerless Magic Crew by DaVaun Sanders *MG* 10/17
  • The Risk It Takes To Bloom by Raquel Willis *adult* 10/17
  • If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie 10/17
  • Bocchi The Rock! By Aki Hamazi 10/17
  • Wild Wishes And Windswept Kisses by Maya Prasad *sequel* 10/17
  • At The End Of The World by Nadia Mikail 10/17
  • Not He Or She, I’m Me by A.M. Wild & Kah Yangni *PB* 10/17
  • Ways To Build Dreams by Renee Watson *MG Series* 10/17
  • My Grandfather’s Song by Phung Nguyen Quang & Huynh Kim Lien *PB* 10/17
  • Ready, Set, Dough by Kelly J. Baptist *MG* 10/17
  • Vengeance Is Mine by Marie Ndiaye *adult* 10/17
  • Murder By Degrees by Ritu Mukerji *adult* 10/17
  • Everything I Learned, I Learned In A Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir by Curtis Chin *adult* 10/17
  • Catfish Rolling by By Clara Kumagai 10/17
  • Mr. Fiorello’s Head by Cecilia Ruiz *PB* 10/17
  • Stay Up by Khodi Dill 10/17
  • Minato’s Laundromat, Vol. 1 by Yuzu Tsubaki, Art by Sawa Kanzume 10/17
  • When You Are Mine by Kennedy Ryan *adult audiobook* 10/17
  • January (Translated) by Sara Gallardo *adult* 10/17
  • The Goth House Experiment by SJ Sindu *adult* 10/17
  • He/She/They by Schuyler Bailar *adult* 10/17
  • The Magical Snowflake by Bernette Ford, ill. Erin Robinson *PB* 10/17
  • The Japanese Yokai Handbook: A Guide to the Spookiest Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Evil Creatures from Japanese Folklore by Masami Kinoshita 10/17
  • It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism by Malaika Jabali *adult* 10/24
  • Illegal Cargo by Augusto Mora 10/24
  • Honey Trap Shared House, Vol. 1 by Masamune Kuji, Art by Koichi Kozuki 10/24
  • Days with My Stepsister, Vol. 1 by Ghost Mikawa, Art by Hiten 10/24
  • Cheerful Amnesia, Vol. 1 by Tamamushi Oku 10/24
  • The Search For Us by Susan Azim Boyer 10/24
  • Jhupli’s Honey Bee Box by Achintyarup Ray & Shivam Choudhary *PB* 10/24
  • My Nest Of Silence by Matt Faulkner *MG* 10/24
  • Super Boba Café by Nidhi Chanani *MG* 10/24
  • 7Fates: CHAKHO by HYBE 10/24
  • A Christmas To Remember by Beverly Jenkins *adult* 10/24
  • When We Become Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology edited by Nicole Chung & Shannon Gibney 10/24
  • Sparkle by Lakita Wilson *PB* 10/24
  • The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis *adult* 10/24
  • Rain Remembers by Courtne Comrie *MG Sequel* 10/24
  • Secrets We Tell the Sea by Martha Riva Palacio Obón *MG* 10/24
  • Ordinary Days by Angela Joy & Jacqueline Alcantara *PB* 10/24
  • Waiting For Tomorrow by Susan Yoon & Julie Kwon *PB* 10/24
  • King Of Greed by Ana Huang *adult series* 10/24
  • Mehndi Boy by Zain Bandali, ill. Jani Balakumar *ER* 10/24
  • What Wild Women Do by Karma Brown *adult* 10/24
  • Everything Is Not Enough by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom *adult* 10/24
  • Between Dystopias: The Road to Afropantheology by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Joshua Uchenna Omenga 10/24
  • In The Dark I See You by Mallika Naranayan *adult* 10/24
  • Mimi’s Tales Of Terror by Junji Ito 10/24
  • Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (translated) by Nishioka Kyodai 10/24
  • Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward *adult* 10/24
  • Asiri And The Amaru by Natalia Hernandez *adult* 10/24
  • To Plunder A Pirate Queen by Nina Saxena *Adult KU* 10/24
  • Sleepless In Dubai by Sajni Patel 10/24
  • Hot For Teacher by Monique Fisher *adult* 10/29
  • Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya 10/31
  • The Space Between Here And Now by Sarah Suk 10/31
  • A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Cana *adult sequel* 10/31
  • Start Here: Instructions For Becoming A Better Cook: A Cookbook by Sohla El-Waylly 10/31
  • Kung Food: Chinese American Recipes From A Third-Culture Kitchen: A Cookbook by Jon Kung 10/31
  • Underdog City by Chris Negron *MG* 10/31
  • Nguyen Kids: The Journey Of The Ancestors’ Gift by Linda Trinh, ill. Clayton Nguyen *ER Sequel* 10/31
  • Into The Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah, ill. Christopher Myers *PB* 10/31
  • This Is Amiko, Do You Copy? (translated) By Natsuko Imamura *adult* 10/31
  • The Reformatory by Tananarive Due *adult* 10/31
  • The Race To Be Myself: A Memoir by Caster Semenya *adult* 10/31
  • The Sun Sets In Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe *adult* 10/31
  • Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie *adult* 10/31
Das A Lot Of books!

From this list, I’ve received the following titles:

  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride *MG*
  • The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
  • The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert
  • Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker Rhodes
  • And Don’t Look Back by Rebecca Barrow
  • The Homecoming War by Addie Woolridge
  • The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson
  • Kween by Vichet Chum
  • Salt The Water by Candice Iloh
  • Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele *adult*
  • Just A Pinch Of Magic by Alechia Dow *MG*
  • Omega Morales and the Curse of El Cucuy By Laekan Zea Kemp *MG Sequel*
  • Realm Of Wonders by Alexandra Monir
  • Songs Of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
  • Keynan Masters And The Peerless Magic Crew by DaVaun Sanders *MG*
  • Ways To Build Dreams by Renee Watson *MG Series*
  • Secrets We Tell the Sea by Martha Riva Palacio Obón *MG*
  • Sleepless In Dubai by Sajni Patel
  • Hot For Teacher by Monique Fisher *adult*
  • Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya
  • A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Cana *adult sequel*
I got lots of reading to do!

Of these, I’ve read:

  • Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele *adult*
  • Currently Reading: Kween by Vichet Chum
Me running to catch up on my October TBR!

I’m working on completing more of my TBR but I’ve also been trying to find a work/reading/life balance. So what titles are you excited about? Did I forget any titles by any Authors of Color? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is still sporadic but does happen), Twitter (I really refuse to use that new “name” because what even is that?!) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter cause ya girl has social media fatigue) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve done a spooky amount of reading! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Back To School-September 2023 Releases

AHHHHHHHHHH, September is here and it’s making me wonder where the summer went! It feels too soon to say that a new school year is starting (or has started in some states) and I (like so many other educators) am not completely okay. Alas, it’s still an exciting time because along with the new school year jitters there are SO MANY new books that are coming out this month! You maybe fearful for your bank accounts, library holds or both depending on which route you choose to go in acquiring your books!

I’m hella nervous, I’m not gunna lie!

Despite possible worry for one’s bank accounts and/or library holds, I’m super excited about the books coming out this month and maybe you are too! As usual, please double check the titles as their pub dates can be moved at any point in time! This is quite an extensive list, just to warn you!

I hope you are! Also, RIP Paul Walker
  • The Fall That Saved Us by Tamara Jeree *adult* 9/5
  • Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez *adult companion* 9/5
  • Into The Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline 9/5
  • The Spirit Glass by Roshani Chokshi *MG* 9/5
  • Up Home by Ruth J. Simmons *adult* 9/5
  • The Light On Halsey Street by Vanessa Miller 9/5
  • Everyone’s Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni 9/5
  • There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer 9/5
  • Mascot by Charles Waters & Traci Sorell 9/5
  • Warrior Girl by Carmen Tafolla 9/5
  • Suddenly A Murder by Lauren Munoz 9/5
  • Spider-man’s Bad Connection by Preeti Chhibber *MG Sequel* 9/5
  • Locs Not Dreads by Tonya Abari; ill. Chasity Hampton *PB* 9/5
  • The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society by Melissa De La Cruz 9/5
  • Hispanic Star: Sonia Sotomayor by Claudia Romo Edelman *MG* 9/5
  • Hispanic Star: Ellen Ochoa by Claudia Romo Edelman *MG* 9/5
  • Skeletina And The Greedy Tooth Fairy by Susie Jaramillo *PB* 9/5
  • Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi & Shazleen Khan *MG* 9/5
  • Dona Quixote: Rise Of The Knight by Rey Terciero & Monica M. Magana *MG* 9/5
  • The Long Game by Elena Armas *adult* 9/5
  • Mama’s Sleeping Scarf by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie & Nwa Grace-James *PB* 9/5
  • The Goblin Twins by Frances Cha; ill. Jaime Kim *PB* 9/5
  • Hush Harbor by Anise Vance *adult* 9/5
  • What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama *adult* 9/5
  • Kicks In The Sky by C. G. Esperanza *PB* 9/5
  • Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla by Alexandra Diaz *MG* 9/5
  • The Art Of Desire by Selena Montgomery *adult* 9/5
  • Veo, Veo, I See You by Lulu Delacre *PB* 9/5
  • The Bravest Warrior In Nefaria by Adi Alsaid *MG* 9/5
  • Finch House by Ciera Burch *MG* 9/5
  • Aristotle And Dante Dive Into The Waters Of The World by Benjamin Alire Saenz *sequel* 9/5
  • Swimming Toward A Dream by Reem Faruqi; ill. Asma Enayeh *PB* 9/5
  • Not A New York Love Story by Julian Voloj; ill. Andreas Gefe 9/5
  • Her Own Happiness by Eden Appiah-Kubi *adult* 9/5
  • Penguin And Ollie by Salina Yoon *PB* 9/5
  • Star Wars: The High Republic: Tales Of Light And Life by Zoraida Cordova, Tessa Gratton, Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Lydia Kang, George Mann, Daniel Jose Older, Cavan Scott, Charles Soule 9/5
  • Confession by Martin Kohan *adult translated* 9/5
  • Wednesday’s Child by Yiyun Li *adult* 9/5
  • Living My Best Life, Hun by London Hughes *adult* 9/5
  • Tell It Like It Is by Aaron Neville *adult* 9/5
  • Janus Silang and the Creature of Tabon by Edgar Calabia Samar 9/5
  • A Section Of My Life by Shocka *adult* 9/7
  • To Have And To Hold: Faking Love by Tatum James *adult* 9/8
  • Coleman Hill by Kim Coleman Foote *adult audiobook* 9/11
  • Digging Stars by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma *adult* 9/12
  • Witch Of Wild Things by Racquel Vasquez Gilliland *adult* 9/12
  • Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz *adult* 9/12
  • The Name Drop By Susan Lee 9/12
  • Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson 9/12
  • Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem by Roseanne A. Brown *MG Sequel* 9/12
  • Goddess Crown By Shade Lapite 9/12
  • Monstrous by Jessica Lewis 9/12
  • Punish For Dreaming by Bettina L. Love *adult* 9/12
  • Rez Ball by Byron Graves 9/12
  • A House For Alice by Diana Evans *adult* 9/12
  • Eagle Drums by Nasuraq Rainey Hopson *MG* 9/12
  • The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans *MG* 9/12
  • Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake 9/12
  • Esperanza Caramelo, The Star Of Nochebuena by Karla Arenas Valenti, ill. Elisa Chavarri *PB* 9/12
  • Pepita Meets Bebita by Ruth Behar & Gabriel Frye-Behar *PB* 9/12
  • Cantora by Melisa Fernandez Nitsche *PB* 9/12
  • Baking With Mi Abuelita by Julissa Mora *ER* 9/12
  • Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango *MG* 9/12
  • Race To The Truth: Colonization And The Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs *MG* 9/12
  • Race To The Truth: Slavery And The African American Story by Patricia Williams Dockery *MG* 9/12
  • Slowly Slowly by Toni Yuly *PB* 9/12
  • In These Hallowed Halls edited by M.L. Rio, Olivie Blake & Susie Yang 9/12
  • Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, And Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin *adult* 9/12
  • The Shape Of Time by Ryan Calejo *MG* 9/12
  • La Noche Before Three Kings Day by Sheila Colón-Bagley *PB* 9/12
  • Nails And Eyes by Kaori Fujino *Adult Translated* 9/12
  • Nipponia Nippon by Kazushige Abe *adult translated* 9/12
  • Land Of Smoke by Sara Gallardo *adult translated* 9/12
  • Totem by Laura Perez *adult* 9/12
  • The Buddha at Bedtime Treasury By Dharmachari Nagaraja *PB* 9/12
  • Rouge by Mona Awad *adult* 9/12
  • Flipping Boxcars by Cedric Kyles *adult* 9/12
  • ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Read By Raúl the Third *PB Series* 9/12
  • For The Loot by Han Yang & Pearce Adams *Sequel* 9/12
  • Aloha: A Charitable Anthology edited by K.A. Linde *adult* 9/12
  • Fox Woman Get Out! By India Lena Gonzalez *adult* 9/12
  • The Devil Of The Provinces by Juan Cardenas *adult translated* 9/12
  • Sinister Graves by Marcie R. Rendon *adult* 9/12
  • Heart Of Night And Fire by Nisha Tuli *adult* 9/15
  • Tacos by Frank Asch *PB* 9/19
  • Never Whistle At Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. *adult* 9/19
  • The Princess Of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau *adult* 9/19
  • All the Fighting Parts By Hannah V. Sawyerr 9/19
  • The Golden Gate by Amy Chua *adult* 9/19
  • A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney *sequel* 9/19
  • Adia Kelbara And The Circle Of Shamans by Isi Hendrix *MG* 9/19
  • Nightbreaker by Coco Ma 9/19
  • Champion Of Fate by Kendare Blake 9/19
  • Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom & Bridget George *PB* 9/19
  • Harlem At Four by Michael Datcher, ill. Frank Morrison *PB* 9/19
  • I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera *MG* 9/19
  • Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview And Other Conversations *adult* 9/19
  • Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias *adult* 9/19
  • Enlighten Me by Minh Le & Chan Chou *MG* 9/19
  • Of Dreams And Destiny by Sandhya Menon *Series* 9/19
  • Murder And Mamon by Mia P. Manansala *adult series* 9/19
  • I’m Going To Build A Snowman by Jashar Awan *PB* 9/19
  • Loud And Proud by Lisa Cline-Ransome; ill. Kaylani Juanita *PB* 9/19
  • 80’s Baby by Hannah Eliot; ill. Alyssa Nassner *PB* 9/19
  • Kin by Carole Boston Weatherford; ill. Jeffery Boston Weatherford *PB* 9/19
  • Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo *MG* 9/19
  • Candeleria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva *adult* 9/19
  • Furysong by Rosaria Munda 9/19
  • Memo And The Unexpected Gift by Funda Ozlem Seran, Ezgi Keles & Amy Marie Spangler *PB* 9/19
  • When A Brown Girl Flees by Aamna Qureshi *MG* 9/19
  • Wild Girls by Tiya Miles *adult* 9/19
  • I’m From By Gary R. Gray, Jr., Ill. Oge Mora *PB* 9/19
  • Viper’s Dream by Jake Lamar *adult* 9/19
  • Jungle Juice by Hyeong Eun 9/19
  • The Blood Of My Mother by Roccie Hill *adult* 9/19
  • Between The Head And The Hands by James Chaarani *adult* 9/26
  • The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum 9/26
  • The Longest Night In Egypt by David Anthony Durham *MG Sequel* 9/26
  • Mindy Kim And The Mid-Autumn Festival by Lyla Lee; ill. Dung Ho *ER* 9/26
  • The Critter Café by Dela Costa; ill. Ana Sebastian *ER* 9/26
  • Enlightened by Sachi Edinweera 9/26
  • Susie King Taylor: Nurse, Teacher & Freedom Fighter by Erica Armstrong Dunbar & Candace Buford 9/26
  • Mermaids Never Drown: Tales To Dive For edited by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker *adult* 9/26
  • The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde 9/26
  • Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons 9/26
  • The Memory Thieves by Dhonielle Clayton *MG Sequel* 9/26
  • Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters By Ciannon Smart *MG* 9/26
  • Kiss And Spell by Celestine Martin *Adult Companion* 9/26
  • If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun 9/26
  • Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong *series* 9/26
  • A Sky Of Paper Stars by Susie Yi *MG* 9/26
  • Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor *Reprint* 9/26
  • Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis 9/26
  • Alex Wise Vs The End Of The World by Terry J. Benton-Walker *MG* 9/26
  • Nubia: The Reckoning by Omar Epps & Clarence Haynes *Sequel* 9/26
  • An Impossible Thing To Say by Arya Shahi 9/26
  • Jasmine Toguchi: Great Gardener by Debbi Michiko Florence *MG Series* 9/26
  • Skyscraper Babies by April Pulley Sayre, Jeff Sayre & Juliet Menendez *PB* 9/26
  • See You On The Other Side by Rachel Montez Minor, ill. Mariyah Rahman *PB* 9/26
  • Rizos by Claribel Ortega, ill. Rose Bousamra, Translated by Jasminne Mendez *MG* 9/26
  • Three Holidays And A Wedding by Usma Jalaluddin & Marissa Staphy *adult* 9/26
  • Wrapped With A Beau by Lillie Vale *adult* 9/26
  • Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher *adult* 9/26
  • Of All Tribes by Joseph Bruchac *MG* 9/26
  • And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott *adult* 9/26
  • Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman; ill. Christian Robinson *PB* 9/26
  • The Light Within You by Namita Moolani Mehra; ill. Kamala Nair *PB* 9/26
  • Thicker Than Water by Kerry Washington *adult* 9/26
  • The Siren’s Lament: Essential Stories by Jun’Inchiro Tanizaki *adult translated* 9/26
  • Restless by Joseph Kai 9/26
  • Say My Name By Joanna Ho, Ill. Khoa Le *PB* 9/26
  • Dork Diaries: Tales From A Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure by Rachel Renee Russell *MG* 9/26
  • The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis *adult* 9/26
Me, compiling this list and realizing how long it is!

Whew, that’s quite the list! From this list, I received quite a few ARCs to read. Here are the ones I have:

  • Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez *adult companion*
  • Into The Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
  • There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer
  • Suddenly A Murder by Lauren Munoz
  • Skeletina And The Greedy Tooth Fairy by Susie Jaramillo *PB*
  • Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz *adult*
  • The Name Drop By Susan Lee
  • Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson
  • Eagle Drums by Nasuraq Rainey Hopson *MG*
  • The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans *MG*
  • Never Whistle At Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. *adult*
  • A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney *sequel*
  • Adia Kelbara And The Circle Of Shamans by Isi Hendrix *MG*
  • Nightbreaker by Coco Ma
  • The Longest Night In Egypt by David Anthony Durham *MG Sequel*
  • Mermaids Never Drown: Tales To Dive For edited by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker *adult*
  • The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde
  • Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons
  • The Memory Thieves by Dhonielle Clayton *MG Sequel*
  • Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters By Ciannon Smart *MG*
  • Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
  • Alex Wise Vs The End Of The World by Terry J. Benton-Walker *MG*
  • Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher *adult*
I’m still a little flabbergasted about how many ARCs I suddenly got approved for for this month!

Of these ARCs, so far I’ve read:

  • Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez *adult companion*
  • Into The Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
  • There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer
  • Suddenly A Murder by Lauren Munoz
  • Currently Reading: Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz *adult*
I’m working my way through the list!

Alright y’all, I need to go be an adult and do some non-book related work but I had to share this list with you all! What titles are you excited about? Did I forget any titles by any Authors of Color? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is sporadic but does happen), Twitter (I refuse to use that new “name” because what even is that?!) @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter cause ya girl has social media fatigue) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m ready for a new school year! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Temperatures Continue To Rise Along With New Books: August Releases

Ok, so this isn’t my most witty post title but roll with me here y’all! Hey Hello there! Pardon my silence, I promise I haven’t forgotten about y’all but I do hope that you all have been reading and enjoying the [extra] hot weather or chilling somewhere cool! I can’t believe that we are so close to a new month! Time really doesn’t feel real most days!

This shrug has levels

August has quite a few books coming out and I didn’t realize this until I worked on compiling the list (as well as for the rest of the year). Now, as usual, please do double check about books you are excited about because supply chain and publishing sometimes decides to switch things up on us (most of these titles, I’ve looked on the publisher’s website but things change all the time)!

It never hurts to be sure!

So let’s get to this list!

  • Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma *adult Series* 8/1
  • Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo *adult* 8/1
  • The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach 8/1
  • My Teacher Has Tattoos by Darren Lopez, ill. Bhagya Madanasinghe *PB* 8/1
  • Kiss The Girl by Zoraida Cordova *adult series* 8/1
  • The Art Of Scandal by Regina Black *adult* 8/1
  • True True By Don P. Hooper 8/1
  • We Still Belong by Christine Day *MG* 8/1
  • Evergreen by Naomi Hirahara *adult* 8/1
  • Sipping Dom Perignon Through A Straw by Eddie Ndopu *adult* 8/1
  • Fury Of The Dragon Goddess by Sarwat Chadda *MG* 8/1
  • Saving Chupie by Amparo Ortiz *MG* 8/1
  • Guardians Of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones 8/1
  • The Hundred Loves Of Juliet by Evelyn Skye *adult* 8/1
  • Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago *adult* 8/1
  • Fit For The Gods edited by Jenn Northington & S. Zainab Williams *adult* 8/1
  • Ali The Great And The Paper Airplane Flop by Saadia Faruqi *ER* 8/1
  • Mexikid by Pedro Martin *MG* 8/1
  • The Hoop And the Harm by Jawara Pedican 8/1
  • Good Things by Maryah Greene, ill. Alleanna Harris *PB* 8/1
  • The Boo Crew Needs You! by Vicky Fang, ill. Saoirse Lou *PB* 8/1
  • The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis 8/8
  • Accidentally In Love by Danielle Jackson *adult companion* 8/8
  • No Place Like Home by James Bird *MG* 8/8
  • Forged By Blood by Ehigbor Okosun *adult* 8/8
  • Vision: My Story of Strength by Precious Perez 8/8
  • Only a Trenza Away: A Tale of Trust and Strength by Nadine Fonseca; ill. By Camile Carrossine *PB* 8/8
  • Shigidi And The Brass Head Of Obalufon by Wole Talabi *adult* 8/8
  • Slime Shop by Karina Garcia and Kevin Panetta *MG* 8/8
  • The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride *adult* 8/8
  • Girls On Wheels by Srividhya Venkat, ill. Kate Wadsworth *PB* 8/8
  • A Long Time Coming: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama by Ray Anthony Shepard, Ill. R. Gregory Christie 8/8
  • Bing, Bop, Bam Time To Jam! by Valerie Bolling, ill. Sabrena Khadija *PB* 8/8
  • Make A Move, Sunny Park by Jessica Kim 8/15
  • No Meat Required by Alicia Kennedy *adult* 8/15
  • The Secret to a Southern Wedding By Synithia Williams *adult* 8/15
  • Ghost Book by Remy Lai *MG* 8/15
  • Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker 8/15
  • Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen *MG* 8/15
  • Vampires Of El Norte by Isabel Canas *adult* 8/15
  • Chilling With Ghosts: A Totally Factual Field Guide To The Supernatural by Insha Fitzpatrick *MG* 8/15
  • Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim *MG* 8/15
  • Your One And Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca, MD; ill. Lauren Paige Conrad *PB* 8/15
  • Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling, ill. Kaylani Juanita *PB* 8/15
  • I’m Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto *adult* 8/22
  • Tessa Miyata Is No Hero by Julie Abe *MG* 8/22
  • Daughter Of The Dragon by Yunte Huang *adult* 8/22
  • Forty Words For Love by Aisha Saeed 8/22
  • Writing In Color edited by Nafiza Azad & Melody Simpson 8/22
  • Live To See The Day by Nikhil Goyal *adult* 8/22
  • The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang 8/22
  • I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas *adult* 8/22
  • The Secret Of The Dragon Gems by Rajani LaRocca & Chris Baron *MG* 8/22
  • The Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend Collection by Lucy Eden *adult reprint* 8/25
  • Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera *MG* 8/29
  • House Of Marionne by J. Elle 8/29
  • I Feed Her To The Beasts And The Beast Is Me by Jemison Shea 8/29
  • Night Of The Living Queers: 13 Tales Of Terror & Delight edited by Shelly Page and Alex Brown 8/29
  • Neverwraith by Shakir Rashaan 8/29
  • All You Have To Do by Autumn Allen 8/29
  • The Hills Of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin 8/29
  • More Than A Dream by Yohuru Williams & Michael G. Long *MG* 8/29
  • My Father, The Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang 8/29
  • Every Drop Is A Man’s Nightmare by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto *adult* 8/29
  • Dialogue With A Somnambulist by Chloe Aridjis *adult* 8/29
  • Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim *sequel* 8/29
  • The Double Life Of Trina Ross by Michelle Richards-Graham 8/29
  • There’s Always Room For One More by Robyn McGrath, ill. Ishaa Lobo *PB* 8/29
  • Remembering by Xelena Gonzalez, ill. Adriana M. Garcia *PB* 8/29
  • A Toni Morrison Treasury by Toni Morrison, ill. Joe Cepeda *PB* 8/29
  • Jerry Changed The Game! By Don Tate, ill. Cherise Harris *PB* 8/29
  • One by Ruth Forman, ill. Katura Gaines *PB* 8/29
  • Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds, ill. Raul The Third *MG Series* 8/29
  • Flashback To The…Chill 2000s! by Gloria Cruz, ill. Sarah Rebar *ER* 8/29
  • Night Creatures! By Maria Le, ill. Alison Hawkins *ER* 8/29
  • A Gift From Daniel by Marie Le, ill. Jason Fruchter *ER* 8/29
  • Hair Love ABCs by Matthew A. Cherry; ill. Vashti Harrison *PB* 8/29
  • Who Is Nathan Chen? By Joseph Liu & Who HQ, ill. Gregory Copeland *MG* 8/29
  • That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Human by Kimberly Lemming *adult series audiobook* 8/29
  • Never A Hero by Vanessa Len *sequel* 8/29
  • The Man Or The Monster by Aamna Qureshi 8/30

Whew, that’s quite the list and so many titles to be excited about! The Publishing Deities were pretty kind to me so here are the ARCs I received:

  • Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma *adult Series*
  • Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo *adult*
  • The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
  • My Teacher Has Tattoos by Darren Lopez, ill. Bhagya Madanasinghe *PB*
  • The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis
  • Accidentally In Love by Danielle Jackson *adult companion*
  • No Place Like Home by James Bird *MG*
  • Make A Move, Sunny Park by Jessica Kim
  • Ghost Book by Remy Lai *MG*
  • Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker
  • Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera *MG*
  • House Of Marionne by J. Elle
  • I Feed Her To The Beasts And The Beast Is Me by Jemison Shea
  • Night Of The Living Queers: 13 Tales Of Terror & Delight edited by Shelly Page and Alex Brown

Of these titles, I’ve read:

  • Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma *adult Series*
  • Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo *adult*
  • The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
  • The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis
  • Accidentally In Love by Danielle Jackson *adult companion*
  • Currently Reading: No Place Like Home by James Bird *MG*
This is quite literally me

I feel like here is where I should insert a corny punny statement but my brain is failing to come up with one…so I owe y’all next time, lol! This is a great month for authors of color though and hopefully it will continue to be that way! Did I forget any titles? What are you excited about for this month? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is sporadic but does happen), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic, Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m not on it like I am on twitter cause ya girl has social media fatigue) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like sitting under the shade with an ice cold bubble tea & a book on a hot day! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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July Is Lighting Up Our Bookshelves Like Fireworks With New Books

Hey Y’all! I apologize for the delayed post! June was a hectic month for me but I did not forget about y’all! I hope to get back to posting more frequently this month so I’m manifesting the energy to do so!

for real!

July has some great releases to be excited about! Admittedly, I didn’t do as much research for this month but what I did find/knew about is still nothing to balk at! Be mindful that release dates can change thanks to publishers and supply chain, so just be sure to double check. So let’s get into this list!

Jumping into this list…
  • Goodbye Earl: A Revenge Novel by Leesa Cross-Smith *adult* 7/3
  • Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen *adult* 7/4
  • Days At The Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa *Adult Translated* 7/4
  • Love & Resistance by Kara NL Chen 7/4
  • One Summer in Savannah: A Novel by Terah Shelton Harris *adult* 7/4
  • Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal *adult* 7/4
  • Blue Bloods: After Death by Melissa De La Cruz *Series* 7/4
  • Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson *Adult companion* 7/4
  • The Boy In the Smoke by Rachel Faturoti 7/6
  • My Week With Him by Joya Goffney 7/11
  • The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay *adult sequel* 7/11
  • A Song Of Salvation by Alechia Dow 7/11
  • Play To Win by Jodie Slaughter *adult* 7/11
  • Haru, Zombie Dog Hero by Ellen Oh *MG* 7/11
  • Once in a Blue Moon By Sharon G. Flake *MG* 7/11
  • Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins *MG* 7/11
  • Counterweight: A Novel by Djuna *adult* 7/11
  • The Saint Of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera *adult* 7/11
  • Ebony Gate by Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle 7/11
  • The Sea Elephants by Shastri Akella *adult* 7/11
  • Queen of Exiles: A Novel By Vanessa Riley *adult* 7/11
  • Good Fortune: A Novel By C.K. Chau *adult* 7/11
  • The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean 7/18
  • Splintered Magic by LL McKinney *Series* 7/18
  • Frontera by Julio Anta 7/18
  • Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review by Tehlor Kay Meija *adult* 7/18
  • One Tough Cookie: A Novel by Delise Torres *adult* 7/18
  • Crook Manifesto: A Novel by Colson Whitehead *adult* 7/18
  • Vanishing Maps by Christina Garcia *adult* 7/18
  • The Very Unfortunate Wish Of Melony Yoshimura by Waka T. Brown *MG* 7/18
  • I’m Not Here To Make Friends by Andrew Yang *MG* 7/18
  • What A Desi Girl Wants by Sabrina Khan 7/18
  • A Guide To The Dark by Meriam Metoui 7/18
  • Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto 7/25
  • Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong *adult* 7/25
  • Abeni’s Song by P. Djeli Clark *MG* 7/25
  • Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington 7/25
  • Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat 7/25
  • Firebird by Sunmi 7/25
  • Just A Few Fake Kisses by Jayci Lee *adult* 7/25
That’s a pretty good list!

I’ve gotten lucky and received a few ARCs/E-ARCs and they are:

  • Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson *Adult companion*
  • My Week With Him by Joya Goffney
  • The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay *adult sequel*
  • A Song Of Salvation by Alechia Dow
  • Play To Win by Jodie Slaughter *adult*
  • Haru, Zombie Dog Hero by Ellen Oh *MG*
  • The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean
  • Splintered Magic by LL McKinney *Series*
  • Abeni’s Song by P. Djeli Clark *MG*

Of these, I’ve read:

  • Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson *Adult companion*
  • My Week With Him by Joya Goffney
  • Play To Win by Jodie Slaughter *adult*
  • Currently Reading: The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay *adult sequel*
Or rather reading…it’s kind of the same, really, lol!

Since I don’t have as many ARCs to read for this month & next month, my hope is to read some of my backlist this summer because it has certainly grown *insert forehead slap here*! Are there any titles by Authors Of Color that I’ve missed? Any that you are excited about? Share them here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (you can look out for when I go live, which is sporadic but does happen), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like books that light my mind up like fireworks are coming out! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Suns Out, Books Out: June Releases

Holy Moley y’all! June has finally gotten here and I can’t tell you how elated I am about this! This past month (really, the last few) has been really rough and I’ll be more than happy when this school year officially comes to an end! I apologize for my radio silence here but I’m really trying to put one foot in front of the other so I thank you for your patience and continuing to hang in there with me. If you want to see my face or whatever, check out my IG live wrap up for the Haitian Readathon with Author Debbie Rigaud, Bookstagrammers Raethereviewer & chptrshakedown. There are also some other lives there too for book mail & book hauls complete with an opening song!

I truly do y’all!

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, June is bringing us not just the sun (finally) & the end of the school year but new books too! Of course, please do double check dates because publishing and supply chain issues can still be a menace.

or look out for new books!

So let’s get into this list!

  • When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw 6/6
  • Nightmare Island by Shakira Bourne *MG* 6/6
  • Single Dad’s Club by Therese Beharrie *adult* 6/6
  • The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar 6/6
  • The Queens Of New York by E.L Shen 6/6
  • Secrets Of The Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall 6/6
  • The Last Fallen Realm by Graci Kim *MG sequel* 6/6
  • The Grimoire of Grave Tales edited by Hanna Alkaf & Margaret Owen 6/6
  • He-Man And The Masters of the Universe: Lost In The Void by Liselle Sambury *MG Sequel* 6/6
  • Ride Or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu *adult* 6/6
  • Deep As The Sky, Red As The Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig *adult* 6/6
  • The Order of Things By Kaija Langley *MG* 6/6
  • Good as Gold By Candace Buford 6/6
  • The Talk by Darrin Bell 6/6
  • Long Gone, Come Home by Monica Chenault-Kilgore *adult* 6/6
  • Between Two Moons A Novel by Aisha Abdel Gawad *adult* 6/6
  • Always Isn’t Forever by J.C. Cervantes 6/6
  • The Moon Represents My Heart by Pim Wangtechawat *adult* 6/6
  • Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid *adult* 6/6
  • The Many Masks Of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng *MG* 6/6
  • A Quitter’s Paradise A Novel by Elysha Chang *adult* 6/6
  • Crowned: Magical Folk And Fairy Tales From The Diaspora by Kahran & Regis Bethencourt 6/13
  • Fatima Tate Takes the Cake By Khadijah VanBrakle 6/13
  • Everyone Wants To Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert 6/13
  • To Have And To Heist by Sara Desai *adult* 6/13
  • Save What’s Left by Elizabeth Castellano *adult* 6/13
  • Boundless edited by Ismee Williams & Rebecca Balcarcel 6/13
  • Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan 6/13
  • Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin *adult* 6/13
  • The Braid Girls By Sherri Winston *MG* 6/13
  • What She Missed By Liara Tamani 6/13
  • You Can’t Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin *adult* 6/13
  • 8 Lives Of A Century-Old Trickster: A Novel by Mirinae Lee *adult* 6/13
  • Night Bloom by Peace Adzo Medie *adult* 6/13
  • Revive Me Part 3 by J.L. Seegars *adult Sequel* 6/16
  • And Break The Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong 6/20
  • This Town Is On Fire by Pamela N. Harris 6/20
  • Can’t Let Her Go by Kianna Alexander *adult* 6/20
  • You’re Not Supposed To Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron 6/20
  • Sixty-One: Life Lessons From Papa, On And Off The Court by Chris Paul with Michael Wilson *adult* 6/20
  • An Echo In The City by K.X. Song 6/20
  • A Crooked Mark by Linda Kao 6/20
  • The Coolest Beard by Betty Tekle *PB* 6/22
  • Invisible Son by Kim Johnson 6/27
  • House Party edited by Justin A. Reynolds 6/27
  • Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien *adult* 6/27
  • Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton 6/27
  • Conjure Island by Eden Royce *MG* 6/27
  • Theo Tan And The Iron Fan by Jesse Q. Sutanto *MG Sequel* 6/27
  • Banyan Moon by Thao Thai *adult* 6/27
  • Gloria Buenrosto Is Not My Girlfriend by Brandon Hoang 6/27
  • The Probability Of Everything by Sarah Everett *MG* 6/27
  • Are You Afraid Of The Dark: The Curse Of The GraveMother by Rin Chupeco *MG* 6/27
  • The Baby Swap That Bound Them by Hana Sheik *adult* 6/27
  • The Business Between Them by Mona Shroff *adult* 6/27
  • Second Time’s The Charm by Brenda Jackson *adult* 6/27
  • Her Secret Billionaire by Yahrah St. John *adult* 6/27
This isn’t a list to scoff at!

Like previous months, the ARC deities blessed me with some of these upcoming titles and they are:

  • When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw
  • Nightmare Island by Shakira Bourne *MG*
  • Single Dad’s Club by Therese Beharrie *adult*
  • The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
  • The Queens Of New York by E.L Shen
  • Secrets Of The Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall
  • Boundless edited by Ismee Williams & Rebecca Balcarcel
  • Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan
  • And Break The Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong
  • This Town Is On Fire by Pamela N. Harris
  • Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton
  • Conjure Island by Eden Royce *MG*
  • Theo Tan And The Iron Fan by Jesse Q. Sutanto *MG Sequel*
  • The Probability Of Everything by Sarah Everett *MG*
I’m incredibly excited about these titles!

Of these ARCs, I’ve read:

  • When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw
  • Nightmare Island by Shakira Bourne *MG*
  • Single Dad’s Club by Therese Beharrie *adult*
  • The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
  • Currently Reading: The Queens Of New York by E.L Shen
I’m still working on my ARC TBR but I’m reading as much as I can!

Alright y’all, I’m going to end this here! I likely missed some titles and I apologize for that so please do share any by Authors Of Color, their titles & release dates that should be on this list in the comments! What titles are you excited about? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m on the beach reading! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Warrior Girl Unearthed Stole My Chill And My Heart

  • Author: Angeline Boulley
  • 2nd Published Book
  • Genre: YA Mystery; Companion
  • Background-Indigenous; Ojibwe
  • IG-@angelineboulley; Twitter-@FineAngeline; https://angelineboulley.com/
  • Release Date: 5/2/2023 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: Henry Holt (Imprint of MacMillan)
  • Favorite Character-Shense! She’s like a younger version of Granny June (who is still a fav, just so you know) and I absolutely lived for her every time she was on the page! I’m here for any and every bit of Shense Supremacy we get in this book and like with Granny June, I 1000% want a book from her perspective & will mention as much every chance I get to Angeline (no, seriously, those who have gotten to read WGU, picture a book from Shense’s POV and try to tell me that wouldn’t be everything and I’d tell you the devil is a lie).
  • Favorite Quote(s)– I’m going to give you all 2, a serious one and a funny one early on in the book. “Nah, all the statues in those places are old Zhaaganaash dudes. Non-Natives. Colonizers. You really wanna study where women and people of color are invisible?”-Perry to her twin Pauline. Now if this isn’t the truth! I’m pretty sure I snapped and said “WHEW” out loud! Thinking of my old campuses, I’m pretty sure it’s the same there as if those institutions & so many like them weren’t built on the backs of the people that they erase with those structures. Lemme not hop on a soapbox right now though so on to the second quote! ‘”Yeah. I was ‘just friends’ with someone, and now I’m squeezing milk from my boob to feed his kid.”‘-Shense to Perry. When I read that…the scream I scrumpt! Shense is hysterical and I love how she banters with Perry throughout the book.
No, like they ate so hard with these quotes!

Before I get started on this, full transparency that this post is a part of a Blog Tour with Fierce Reads but would’ve happened regardless (It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a feature doe). I’ve been an Angeline Boulley stan since FireKeeper’s Daughter (yea, I know that was just one book ago but the math doesn’t matter in this case, just know its true) and I absolutely adore her (she’s got the DMs to prove it). If my love for FireKeeper’s Daughter is in doubt, check out my post professing my obsession with the book here. Also, If you would like to hear me talk a bit about my love for WGU, you can check out this live unboxing I did on instagram here!

This is me, when it comes to Angeline’s books!

Speaking of FireKeeper’s Daughter, we get to return to Sugar Island in Warrior Girl Unearthed and catch up to some of the crew from FD. While this book takes place in the same setting, we are not picking up where we left off since it’s 10 years later, though Daunis’ story is far from over (we are given some callbacks for those who need the refresher or are just picking up WGU). As much as I loved Daunis, I was all to happy to get to know Perry, one of her nieces. I won’t be drawing parallels to them because they are two different people & deserve to be acknowledged as such. I will also say that I will not be coerced into saying which book I love more because that would be like being asked to rip my own heart out & I don’t wish to do that. Just know that both books & character casts are special.

Compare them…so don’t ask!

In reading Perry’s voice, I had so many moments where I was like “Perry is me and I am Perry” or felt intense “dis me” energy, especially when she would bring up how much she rather be fishing (I’m vegan so clearly I wouldn’t be fishing) because I literally think that all the time about reading (if I didn’t have to adult & work to pay bills and buy books, I would just read all the time). She’s also super funny, lacks a filter and is direct in a way that is refreshing to me (I love a human who is no Bullsh*t, truly). I feel like we don’t get enough direct characters, where they aren’t afraid to mince words or water down who they are to make others more comfortable. Perry is also just as caring as she is calculating, which makes her the perfect person to plan & pull of a heist…yes, you read that right, a HEIST!

Truly Perry, I do!

You see, Perry isn’t just planning any ole heist. Oh no, she’s not aiming to steal money or jewelry but rather her aim is to reclaim and return the ancestors & their artifacts back to where they belong. This story is comped as Indigenous Lara Croft but “she doesn’t raid tombs, she reclaims ancestors” (I think Jas Hammonds said something to that effect during the NY Launch). If we are being real, why are anyone’s ancestors still on display in museums that don’t celebrate them at this juncture? How does it not make anyone uncomfortable that rather than human remains being at rest, they are being oogled by people who couldn’t give two cares about their lives without ever giving their consent to be displayed? It gives human zoo but for the dead, which neither concept is cute in the least bit, especially when those who created them are exploiting the existence of others & pillages the land/culture of said people. It is truly Big Colonizer Energy in those places & they need to be smudged multiple times BADLY. Perry really gets in her bag when she shares these thoughts in some way, shape or form throughout the book and it was like I was reading my feelings every time. Serious respeck needs to be placed on Perry’s Name here.

Me, to Perry but instead of a croc, I’m holding a vibram (cause I’on like crocs)

While Perry does learn about the proper channels for repatriation and the laws surrounding the process, I was fully with Perry’s means of reclaiming her ancestors to bring them home. Honestly, I wish I could’ve been apart of it because history has shown us time & time again how people of color, especially Indigenous people, are played in their face about matters of their personhood, land and culture. The need to ride out with Perry & her crew was SO STRONG that I was practically ready to jump into my e-reader (I kid you not on that). The way that Perry went about planning (and even when she didn’t) was simply brilliant and she deserved metals (and monuments, shoutout to Jas Hammonds). She also had an incredible team that really couldn’t get any better, IMO. I’m not going to speak on all of them butttttttt…

Perry truly did!

I HAVE to talk about my fav Shense! Like, that’s my bish for real! When she first appeared on the page, I was like “oh, I LIKE her”. I was talking to Morgan from MacMillan at the launch (Shoutout to Morgan, by the way) and I told her “Granny June is to Daunis as Shense is to Perry” and it is so true (I really had to work that math out in my mind)! If you read FireKeeper’s Daughter, you wouldn’t be able to deny that Shense gives a younger Granny June energetically and in how direct & take-no-ish she can be. I also feel like she reflects Lily’s (Daunis’ best friend) essence if we got more of her in FD (take a moment of silence here for her). I love how often she speaks about her kid, doesn’t allow anyone to shame her for being a teen mom, how present she is for others and how much of a mastermind she is. She made the perfect partner & best friend (*cues Saweetie’s “Best Friend”*) to Perry, honestly. I just wanted to read more of her and I feel like we all deserve a book from her perspective (this is a hill I would faint on repeatedly…I’m not ready to die just yet folx).

Perry & I, in reference to Shense

This book talks about so many important issues and I would be remiss not to speak even briefly about them. Perry speaks on racism and her & her father’s experience being Black & Indigenous… This is not a perspective we get enough in literature/the media but we know that they exist. I’m glad that Angeline didn’t shy away from this and hopefully we get more of this insight in future books.

Another important issue that is spoken about is MMIWG2S, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. We know how targeted people of color are in this country (and others, really) but this a pervasive issue that is swept under the rug too easily by the “powers that be”. The fact that violence is continuously inflicted upon Indigenous people on land that is, quite frankly, theirs is nothing short of disgustingly mind-blowing… I wish I had better words for what I think and feel about this because I don’t feel like I’m doing any sort of justice to this matter right now. I truly would like to see the day where Indigenous people stop disappearing & start being respected and valued. There is a scene in the book where they have someone from Uniting Three Fires Against Violence speak, which I thought was a brilliant means of providing a real resource. Here is a link to their website, if you would like to learn more about their mission and possibly donate (I have). While these topics are heavy, Angeline does in incredible job of balancing with light, humor and wit. Do know that taking breaks to care for yourself while reading this book should you get overwhelmed is encouraged.

Real ish

Okay, so I’ve written A LOT about this book and if you need more convincing, I do have a live where I talk about this book for like 20 minutes about it (here is the link again, in case you need it & don’t feel like scrolling up). This book is truly phenomenal and you will thank me for this recommendation when you finish it. While you are at it, get it’s predecessor FireKeeper’s Daughter because you won’t regret reading that book either. I laughed, gasped, teared up, shouted…basically ran the gamut of emotions while reading this book and loved every moment of it. So run, skip, hop, jump, whatever you gotta do to your local library or favorite bookstore to get this amazing book! Whenever you are ready to talk about it, holler at me in comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve just read a book that stole my chill & my heart! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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May Books Are Blooming

Hello Hello There! Wow, April has left us and May feels like it just popped up suddenly (at least to me)! I apologize that this post is a little later than usual, this past week has been a bit hectic.This past month has been weird for me but hopefully May will treat all of us better than April did! I think it will do so by starting with the books that are coming out!

May, I beg! Please!

There are so many books coming out this month that I’m super duper excited about! Before we get into this list, I have to give the usual disclaimer to double check the release dates because… Supply chain & publishing (I really don’t need to say much more about that at this point). Without much more preamble, let’s get into this list!

  • Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley *YA Companion* 5/2
  • Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson *MG* 5/2
  • Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron *adult companion* 5/2
  • Team Chu And The Epic Hero Quest by Julie C. Dao *MG Sequel* 5/2
  • Wildseed Witch: Charmed Life by Marti Dumas *MG Sequel* 5/2
  • Big by Vashti Harrison *PB* 5/2
  • Witchlings: The Golden Frog Games by Claribel Ortega *MG Sequel* 5/2
  • The Sun And The Star by Mark Oshiro 5/2
  • Innards: Stories by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene *adult* 5/2
  • Princess Private Eye by Evelyn Skye *MG* 5/2
  • Arana And Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow by Alex Segura 5/2
  • Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds 5/2
  • Dulcinea by Ana Veciana-Suarez *adult* 5/2
  • Pas De Don’t by Chloe Angyal *adult* 5/2
  • The Art of Ruth E. Carter by Danai Gurira *adult* 5/2
  • Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah *adult* 5/2
  • La Tercera by Gina Apostol *adult* 5/2
  • Fall of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani *sequel* 5/2
  • Homebodies: A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurst *adult* 5/2
  • A History Of Burning by Janika Oza *adult* 5/2
  • Your Plantation Prom Is Not Okay by Kelly McWilliams 5/2
  • Only Only Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *ER Series* 5/2
  • Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms by Maya Prasad *MG* 5/2
  • Hula: A Novel by Jasmin Iolani Hakes *adult* 5/2
  • Charisma’s Turn by Monique Couvson 5/2
  • Radical Inclusion by David Moinina Sengeh *adult* 5/2
  • Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido 5/2
  • Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden By Camille T Dungy *adult* 5/2
  • I’m Sticking with You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls; illustrated by Steve Small *PB* 5/5
  • Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi 5/9
  • You Don’t Have A Shot by Racquel Marie 5/9
  • I’m Not Supposed To Be In The Dark by Riss M. Neilson 5/9
  • Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp by Lamar Giles *MG* 5/9
  • The Thing About Home by Rhonda McKnight *adult* 5/9
  • Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian 5/9
  • The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown 5/9
  • The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa *Series Finale* 5/9
  • Grounded by Aisha Seead, S.K. Ali, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow & Huda Al-Marashi 5/9
  • When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhha Lai *MG* 5/9
  • Land Of Broken Promises by Jane Kuo *MG* 5/9
  • The Takeout by Tracy Badua *MG* 5/9
  • We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV And Film by Tre’vell Anderson *Adult* 5/9
  • The Yards Between Us: A Memoir Of Life, Love And Football by R.K. Russell *adult* 5/16
  • Call Me Adnan by Reem Faruqi *MG* 5/16
  • Meet Me Tonight In Atlantic City by Jane Wong *adult* 5/16
  • Nightmare Island by Shakira Bourne *MG* 5/16
  • Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore & Elliot McLemore 5/16
  • There Flies The Witch by Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev *MG* 5/16
  • Rubi Ramo’s Recipe For Success by Jessica Parra 5/16
  • Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby *adult* 5/16
  • Last Canto Of The Dead by Daniel Jose Older *sequel* 5/16
  • Fake Dates And Mooncakes by Sher Lee *adult* 5/16
  • The Rachel Experiment by Lisa Lin *adult* 5/16
  • Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales Of Trans Magic Edited by G. Haron Davis 5/16
  • Julieta And The Romeros by Maria Andreu 5/16
  • Ruby Lost and Found By Christina Li *MG* 5/16
  • We Don’t Talk About Bruno Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Illus. by Mario Cortes & Olga Mosqueda *PB* 5/16
  • Thinning Blood A Memoir of Family, Myth, and Identity by Leah Myers *adult* 5/16
  • The Enchanted Hacienda A Novel By J.C. Cervantes *adult* 5/16
  • The God Of Good Looks by Breanne McIvor *adult* 5/16
  • The Drama With Doomsdays by Scott Reintgen *MG* 5/16
  • From Here by Luma Mufleh 5/16
  • Of Light And Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena 5/23
  • Forever Is Now by Mariama J. Lockington 5/23
  • The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes 5/23
  • If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So 5/23
  • The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi *adult sequel* 5/23
  • Harddough Homicide by Olivia Matthews *adult sequel* 5/23
  • Shakti by SJ Sindu *MG* 5/23
  • Boomi’s Boombox by Shanthi Sekaran*MG* 5/23
  • Heroes Of The Water Monster by Brian Young *MG Sequel* 5/23
  • Why Fathers Cry At Night by Kwame Alexander *adult* 5/23
  • Magic Has No Borders Edited by Sona Charaipotra & Samira Ahmed 5/23
  • Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams *adult* 5/23
  • When The Vibe Is Right by Sarah Dass 5/30
  • Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown 5/30
  • Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon 5/30
  • You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker 5/30
  • An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera *adult sequel* 5/30
  • Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko 5/30
  • The Sky Is Falling edited by Taj McCoy *adult* 5/30
  • Everybody Come Alive by Marcie Alvis Walker *adult* 5/30
  • Onyeka And The Rise Of The Rebels by Tola Okogwu *MG Sequel* 5/30
  • The Light At The End Of The World by Siddhartha Deb *adult* 5/30
‘Tis a lot of books my friends!

What a list! I’ve also been lucky enough to acquire ARCs for some of these titles thanks to the bookish powers that be! They are:

  • Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley *YA Companion*
  • Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron *adult companion*
  • Team Chu And The Epic Hero Quest by Julie C. Dao *MG Sequel*
  • Wildseed Witch: Charmed Life by Marti Dumas *MG Sequel*
  • Arana And Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow by Alex Segura
  • Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds
  • Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
  • You Don’t Have A Shot by Racquel Marie
  • I’m Not Supposed To Be In The Dark by Riss M. Neilson
  • Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp by Lamar Giles *MG*
  • Nightmare Island by Shakira Bourne *MG*
  • Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore & Elliot McLemore
  • There Flies The Witch by Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev *MG*
  • Of Light And Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena
  • Forever Is Now by Mariama J. Lockington
  • The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
  • The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi *adult sequel*
  • Harddough Homicide by Olivia Matthews *adult sequel*
  • When The Vibe Is Right by Sarah Dass
  • Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown
  • You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker
I know, it’s a good amount of ARCs but I’m not going to block my blessings by turning any down!

This list will be keeping me busy so here is what I’ve read thus far:

  • Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley *YA Companion*
  • Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron *adult companion*
  • Team Chu And The Epic Hero Quest by Julie C. Dao *MG Sequel*
  • Wildseed Witch: Charmed Life by Marti Dumas *MG Sequel*
  • Currently Reading: Arana And Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow by Alex Segura
It’s a process but I’m reading!

This is definitely a great month of releases (2023 has brought us some phenomenal books and we are only nearing the half way mark)! Did I miss any books by Authors Of Color? Are there any you are really looking forward to? Please let me know in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like a bunch of books I’m excited about are coming out! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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What’s The 411: The Break Room UN-Conference-Saturday April 22nd, 2023

Hey Y’all! So my brain isn’t 100% up to forming words to write about books at this moment, I’m like in this extreme reader mode & am hyper focused on reading the ARCs before they come out (it’s like a race against the clock, they’re books I really want to read), however, I’ll get back to obsessing over books here SOON, I promise…(I have drafts of posts I’ve started but just haven’t finished if that helps)!

Complete with the pinky swear to make it real

I did want post here to inform you all about an event I’m going to be a part of on Saturday, April 22nd from 10 am-12 pm EST (bolded just so y’all don’t miss the time zone)! It’s called The Break Room UN-Conference and it’s being hosted by Classroom Culture (click the link to their instagram), a sort of educational professional development and it is entirely virtual!

Click the picture to go to the sign up page.

There will be 4 breakout rooms and my soror Nelly (@chptrshakedown on IG, go follow her) & I will be hosting a session talking about diverse books for the classroom (& libraries too) focusing on Middle Grade & Young Adult (we may also throw in some adult for personal reading too *waggles eyebrows*)! It’ll be a good time because if it’s one thing Nelly & I will do, it’s cut up, especially where books are concerned (if you join us on clubhouse, then you definitely know)!

We’re just two Black Women Educators that loves books and want you to love them too!

So, I hope you decide to join us! It’ll be a great way to start/continue your Saturday! That’s all I really wanted to say! As usual, you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I get to talk about a bunch of amazing books! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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April Is Not Making A Bookish Fool Out Of Us With New Releases

Hey Y’all! Holy Moley, another month has come and gone…I still cant believe how fast March seemed to go! *insert shocked face emoji here*

Me, when I realized that April really is here now!

Before I really get into this list, I just wanted to apologize for my radio silence. It’s been a bit rough for me this past month. Unfortunately, I had to put my beloved Paula Balla (as I like to call her) to sleep a few days before my birthday, which caused me to really struggle. Then work sh*t had me in a very angry place. Life was really life-ing in the most extra of ways! Please know that I did think of you all and really wanted to post. When I’m in a mental place like I was, I knew I couldn’t force it and you all & the books deserve better than me trying to force words for the sake of posting. I WAS reading though. So thank you for your patience with me and continuing to rock with me!

Truly! I’m grateful to you all

Anyways, April is here and it’s not foolin’ or jokin’ with us with new book releases! I’m not going to lie, my bank account is quaking a little bit at how many books are coming out; some of y’alls along with library holds may feel the same.

April, to all of us! (This is for my fellow Drag Race Stans….a truly Iconic moment!)

Let’s get into this list though…please be sure to double check dates because publishers and supply chains LOVE to play in our faces.

Does my age show by using “poppin”?
  • The Do-Over by Suzanne Park *adult* 4/4
  • As Long As We’re Together by Brianna Peppins 4/4
  • School Trip by Jerry Craft *MG Series* 4/4
  • Promposal by Raechell Garrett 4/4
  • Queen Bee by Amalie Howard 4/4
  • A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash 4/4
  • Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker 4/4
  • Ander And Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa 4/4
  • Nic Blake And The Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas *MG* 4/4
  • The Ghosts Of Rancho Espanto by Adriana Cuervas *MG* 4/4
  • Con Cuba En El Bolsillo by Adriana Cuervas *MG Spanish Edition* 4/4
  • Ana Maria And The Fox by Aliana De La Rosa *adult* 4/4
  • House Of Cotton by Monica Brashears *adult* 4/4
  • You Know Her by Meagan Jennett *adult* 4/4
  • One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake *adult* 4/4
  • Anansi’s Gold: The Man Who Looted The West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled The World by Yepoka Yeebo *adult * 4/4
  • Mermaid And Pirate by Tracey Baptiste *PB* 4/4
  • The Girl Who Heard The Music by Mahani Taeve & Marni Fogelson *PB* 4/4
  • Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling *adult* 4/4
  • Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds by Camilo Moncada L. 4/4
  • An Appetite For Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp 4/4
  • Natural Beauty: A Novel by Ling Ling Huang *adult* 4/4
  • The Plot to Save South Africa by Justice Malala *adult* 4/4
  • The Kneeling Man by Leta McCollough Seletzky *adult* 4/4
  • When You Wish Upon A Star by Elizabeth Lim 4/4
  • The Not-So-Perfect Plan by Christina Matula *MG* 4/4
  • She Persisted: Ella Fitzgerald by Andrea Davis Pinkney *MG Series* 4/4
  • How to Write a Poem By Kwame Alexander, Deanna Nikaido, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet *PB* 4/4
  • Can We Please Give The Police Department To The Grandmothers? By Junauda Petus *PB* 4/4
  • Butter by Gayl Jones *adult* 4/4
  • The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown *adult* 4/4
  • Master Of Souls by Rena Barron *Finale* 4/11
  • My Father’s Brain: Life In The Shadow Of Alzheimer’s by Sandeep Jauhar *adult* 4/11
  • Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything By Justine Pucella Winans 4/11
  • Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith 4/11
  • Viva Lola Espinoza by Ella Ceron 4/11
  • Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez *adult* 4/11
  • Advika and the Hollywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti *adult* 4/11
  • Verity And The Forbidden Suitor by J.J. McAvoy *adult* 4/11
  • A Spoonful Of Time by Flora Ahn *MG* 4/11
  • Throwback by Maureen Goo 4/11
  • The Time Of Your Life by Sandra Kitt *adult* 4/11
  • When Impossible Happens by Jane De Suza *MG* 4/11
  • Contenders by Traci Sorell *PB* 4/11
  • Creatures Of The In-Between by Cindy Lin *MG* 4/11
  • The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph *adult* 4/11
  • Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen *adult sequel* 4/11
  • Wings Once Cursed & Bound By Piper J. Drake 4/11
  • The Little Mermaid: Against The Tide by J.Elle 4/11
  • Real Princesses Change The World by Carrie A. Pearson & Dung Ho *PB* 4/11
  • Sea Change by Gina Chung *adult* 4/11
  • The Recall Paradox by Julian Ray Vaca *Sequel* 4/11
  • Sari-Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontigao *PB* 4/11
  • Work With What You Got: A Memoir by Zion Clark & James S. Hirsch 4/11
  • Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art By Hannah Salyer *PB* 4/11
  • A Dupatta Is… by Marzieh Abbas *PB* 4/11
  • The Dead are Gods By Eirinie Carson *adult* 4/11
  • The Plant Love Kitchen by Marisa Moore *cookbook* 4/11
  • The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore & Allison Hong Merrill *YA Adaptation* 4/11
  • Egyptian Lullaby by Zeena M. Pliska *PB* 4/18
  • If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook *adult* 4/18
  • The Song Of Wrath by Sarah Raughley *Sequel* 4/18
  • Wings in the Wild By Margarita Engle 4/18
  • The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport *NA Sequel* 4/18
  • Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López *MG* 4/18
  • The Rhythm Of Time by Quest love with S.A. Cosby *MG* 4/18
  • The UnOfficial Lola Bay Fan Club by C.M. Surrisi *MG* 4/18
  • The Haunting Of Alejandra by V. Castro *adult* 4/18
  • Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli *adult* 4/18
  • Snow & Poison by Melissa de la Cruz 4/18
  • Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel *adult* 4/18
  • Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All By Maia Shibutani, Alex Shibutani and Dane Liu; Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel *PB* 4/18
  • Cornrows by Camille Yarbrough *PB* 4/18
  • Alondra by Gina Femia 4/18
  • The Unwelcome Surprise by Olga Herrera *PB* 4/18
  • Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America by Julia Lee *adult* 4/18
  • Kantika: A Novel by Elizabeth Graver *adult* 4/18
  • Shinji Takahashi Into The Heart Of The Storm by Julie Kagawa *MG Sequel* 4/18
  • The Yellow Áo Dài by Hanh Bui; illustrated by Minnie Phan *PB* 4/25
  • Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying 4/25
  • Ghosts, Toast And Other Hazards by Susan Tan *MG* 4/25
  • That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Willams 4/25
  • Winnie Zeng Vanquishes A King by Katie Zhao *MG Sequel* 4/25
  • Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy *adult* 4/25
  • The Retreat by Zara Raheem 4/25
  • Doodles From The Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez 4/25
  • José and El Perro By Susan Rose and Silvia Lopez *PB* 4/25
  • Danbi’s Favorite Day by Anna Kim *PB* 4/25
  • We Are a Haunting: A Novel By Tyriek White *adult* 4/25
  • Alliance With His Stolen Heiress by Lydia San Andres *adult* 4/25
  • Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us By Berna Anat, Illustrated by Monique Sterling 4/25
  • King Of Pride by Ana Huang *adult* 4/27
I’m truly blown by this list. Also, I would like to note that I DO NOT condone open umbrellas inside the house, lol

As I have been in previous months, I’ve been blessed by the Bookish Deities with ARCs/ALCs of the following books:

  • The Do-Over by Suzanne Park *adult*
  • Promposal by Raechell Garrett
  • Queen Bee by Amalie Howard
  • A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash
  • Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
  • Nic Blake And The Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas *MG*
  • Ana Maria And The Fox by Aliana De La Rosa *adult*
  • Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds by Camilo Moncada L.
  • Throwback by Maureen Goo
  • The Time Of Your Life by Sandra Kitt *adult*
  • When Impossible Happens by Jane De Suza *MG*
  • Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen *adult sequel*
  • Wings Once Cursed & Bound By Piper J. Drake
  • Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy *adult*
  • The Song Of Wrath by Sarah Raughley *Sequel*
  • The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport *NA Sequel*
  • Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López *MG*
  • The Rhythm Of Time by Quest love with S.A. Cosby *MG*
  • Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli *adult*
  • That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
  • Winnie Zeng Vanquishes A King by Katie Zhao *MG Sequel*
This is quite the list but I *think* I got this!

Of these books, so far, I’ve read:

  • The Do-Over by Suzanne Park *adult*
  • Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
  • Ana Maria And The Fox by Aliana De La Rosa *adult*
  • Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds by Camilo Moncada L.
  • Currently Reading: Queen Bee by Amalie Howard
I’m working through my April ARC TBR

Okay y’all, I’m going to end this here because I need to eat and would love to do some reading as well! Are you excited for any of these books? Are there any that I didn’t have on the list by an author of color that I should? Please let me know in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like the publishing month is publishing! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Just Our Bookish Luck: March Releases

Hey y’all! So my favorite month has made it way here (though it feels like it got here hella fast while also slow…iz my birthday month folx *cues airhorns*) and it’s giving us much to be excited about! With the way the weather has been acting all sorts of weird (not sure where you are in the world right now but in NY, this is our truth), we’re at least we are getting a bunch of books to curl up with while Mother Nature figures out if she wants us to experience, climate wise (I really hope she figures it out very soon).

how I feel about it being March now!

Before we get into this list, please remember to check the dates of the books you are anticipating because supply chain issues & last minute pub date push backs are still a thing *insert weary sigh here*. We’ve got a nice amount of books coming out so let’s get into it!

I really wanted to find another way to say “let’s get to it”, lol! But, hey, books ARE a business!
  • The Karma Map by Nisha Sharma 3/1
  • Chlorine by Jade Song *adult* 3/1
  • There Goes The Neighborhood by Jade Adia 3/7
  • Dear Yesteryear by Kimberly Annece Henderson *PB* 3/7
  • You Are Here: Connecting Flights Edited By Ellen Oh *MG* 3/7
  • Change The Game by Colin Kaepernick 3/7
  • Chloe And The Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto 3/7
  • The Jump by Brittney Morris 3/7
  • My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron 3/7
  • Real Love by Rachel Lindsay *adult* 3/7
  • Link & Hud: Heroes By A Hair by Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey *MG* 3/7
  • The Moonlight Blade by Tessa Barbosa 3/7
  • Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision For Seeking Wholeness Every Day by Kaitlin B. Curtice *adult* 3/7
  • She Persisted: Florence Nightingale by Shelli R. Johannes *MG* 3/7
  • The Making of Butterflies By Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi & Kah Yangni *PB* 3/7
  • Hispanic Star: Sylvia Rivera by Claudia Romo Edelman *ER English & Spanish* 3/7
  • Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez by Claudia Romo Edelman *ER English & Spanish* 3/7
  • Quiet Time with My Seeya by Dinalie Dabarera *PB* 3/7
  • Study Break Edited by Aashna Avachat 3/7
  • In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir by Deb JJ Lee 3/7
  • Who Gets Believed? By Dina Nayeri *adult* 3/7
  • To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara *adult* 3/7
  • One Day by Joanna Ho *PB* 3/14
  • I Will Find You Again By Sarah Lyu 3/14
  • Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez *MG* 3/14
  • A Bit Of Earth by Karuna Riazi *MG* 3/14
  • Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz 3/14
  • Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai 3/14
  • Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado *adult* 3/14
  • Mrs. Big by Maryann Reid *adult* 3/14
  • Sex And The Single Sister by Maryann Reid *adult* 3/14
  • Pinata by Leopoldo Gout *adult* 3/14
  • Love And Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams *adult* 3/14
  • Walking Practice by Dolki Min *adult* 3/14
  • Michi Challenges History by Ken Mochizuki *YA Adaptation* 3/14
  • Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald *MG* 3/14
  • Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist *MG* 3/14
  • The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji *adult* 3/14
  • The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon *Audiobook* 3/14
  • The Witch And The Vampire by Francesca Flores 3/21
  • Lucha Of The Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Meija 3/21
  • The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian *adult* 3/21
  • While You Were Dreaming by Alisha Rai 3/21
  • Too Soon For Adios by Annette Chavez Macias *adult* 3/21
  • Jasmine Toguchi: Peace Maker by Debbi Michiko Florence *MG series* 3/21
  • Stella Diaz Leaps To The Future by Angela Dominguez *MG* 3/21
  • Mirror To Mirror by Maggie LaRocca *MG* 3/21
  • Even When You Lie by Michelle Cruz *adult* 3/21
  • Flux by Jinwoo Chong *adult* 3/21
  • Free Radicals by Lila Riesen 3/21
  • Acts Of Resistance by Dominic Carrillo 3/21
  • The Monkey Trial by Anita Sanchez *MG* 3/21
  • Little Daymond Learns To Earn by Daymond John *PB* 3/21
  • Muzoon by Muzoon Almellehan w/ Wendy Pearlman 3/21
  • Belle Of The Ball by Mari Costa 3/21
  • Y/N: A Novel By Esther Yi *adult* 3/21
  • The Nursery: A Novel by Szilvia Molnar *adult* 3/21
  • Beauty Beheld: A Beauty Is Her Name Novel by Zariah L. Banks *NE* 3/23
  • Shining A Light by Veeda Bybee *PB* 3/28
  • Into The Light by Mark Oshiro 3/28
  • Last Sunrise In Eterna by Amparo Ortiz 3/28
  • No Rings Attached by Mona Shroff *adult* 3/28
  • Hamra And The Jungle Of Memories by Hanna Alkaf *MG* 3/28
  • Marya Khan And The Fabulous Jasmine Garden by Saadia Faruqi *MG Series* 3/28
  • Lone Women by Victor LaValle *adult* 3/28
  • Hanging With Vampires: A Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural by Insha Fitzpatrick *MG* 3/28
  • The Build Up by Tati Richardson *adult* 3/28
  • Chaos And Flame by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland 3/28
  • Stars And Smoke by Marie Lu 3/28
  • Calling The Moon Edited by Aida Salazar & Yamile Saied Mendez *MG* 3/28
  • Big Tune: Rise Of The Dancehall Prince by Alliah Agostini *PB* 3/28
  • You Will Do Great Things by Amerie *PB* 3/28
  • I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know by Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson & Joy Hwang Ruiz *PB* 3/28
  • The Human Origins Of Beatrice Porter & Other Essential Ghosts by Soraya Palmer *adult* 3/28
  • Sea Change by Gina Chung *adult* 3/28
  • Black Ice by Bradford D. Smith 3/28
Izzalot y’all!

That is quite the list for this month! As I have in past months, I’ve been really lucky to receive ARCs so here are the ones I have for this month:

  • The Karma Map by Nisha Sharma
  • Chloe And The Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
  • My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
  • Real Love by Rachel Lindsay *adult*
  • Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz
  • The Witch And The Vampire by Francesca Flores
  • Lucha Of The Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Meija
  • Too Soon For Adios by Annette Chavez Macias *adult*
  • Into The Light by Mark Oshiro
  • Last Sunrise In Eterna by Amparo Ortiz
  • No Rings Attached by Mona Shroff *adult*
  • Lone Women by Victor LaValle *adult*
  • The Build Up by Tati Richardson *adult*
  • Chaos And Flame by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
  • Stars And Smoke by Marie Lu
Finish this set of ARCs before the month ends…I believe in myself!

Of these ARCs, so far I’ve read:

  • The Karma Map by Nisha Sharma
  • My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
  • Real Love by Rachel Lindsay *adult*
  • Currently Reading: Chloe And The Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
And by “we”, I mean “me”. I’m working on reading all these ARCs!

Alright y’all, I’m going to end this here! Are there any books that you are excited about for this month? Are there any books by Authors Of Color that I’ve missed? Let me know here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like its both my birthday month and really great books are coming out! And to those who have subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Later Y’all!

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Life has been Life-ing So I’ve Been Escape Reading

Hi there! So I think that the title of this post speaks for itself but nevertheless, life has been doing what it does in wild ways since basically this year started. Last week, I just felt really out of it, hence no post rather than trying to force myself to write something lackluster that wouldn’t have been fair to you as a reader or the books that would get mentioned. All I could do the past few weeks is nap and read when I wasn’t working (it has been A LOT in my professional life and we aren’t hear to talk about that). Thankfully, there was a break so I was able to decompress, sleep in most days, clean a little and build a desk along with read.

That’s life for you, right?

So since life has been life-ing and all I could do with non-napping & work time is read, I figured that I would share some of the reads that I really got wrapped up in for various reasons. They may have common threads…I guess we will see as I write and you subsequently read. Some will be adult and others will be YA, which I will be sure to indicate next to the title.

I’d say this is a fairly accurate depiction of me with both napping and escaping into books

Isha, Unscripted by Sajni Patel (Adult): From beginning to end, I think there were tears in my eyes from how hard I was laughing. I had read most of Sajni’s other books and I really enjoyed them but this one has to be my favorite. When I say shenanigans happened in this book, I feel like that is an understatement. Isha had the best ride-or-run-from-threats-at-any-moment in her cousin and potential love interest in Thirst Trap. I was so sad when I finished this book because I wasn’t ready for it to end. If this book doesn’t become a movie, the world would be done a serious disservice because the level of comedy is just *Chef’s Kiss*, which made it the perfect escape read. Though there is so much I want to say, I’m not saying anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything but know, you should read this book (if you are over 18…if you aren’t, wait until you are please and thank you!).

I don’t know what show this is from but it feels accurate to this book, lol

Imposter Syndrome And Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park (YA): This was another book that kept me laughing but also one that I deeply understood. As someone who hails from two different cultures, I often times battle how much I may feel of either one on any given day. Alejandra deals with this a Korean Argentine (the book touched on the history of this, which reminded me of Haiti’s history being a sanctuary/refuge country) and how she not only battles the identity crisis she faces but how others impact this internal struggle. Since this book took place in New York (*shouts NEWWWWWW YORRRRRK*, sorry, had to), I felt like I was right in the middle of the story. There were emotional highs and lows but even with the lows, I didn’t feel pulled under because of the way Patricia wrote it. She did a bit of a “cut to” with the epilogue but I wasn’t mad at it because we often don’t get to see where YA characters are too much into their futures. This was definitely a worthwhile read!

Who Am I? What’s the meaning of life? I feel like this book covers the general existential crises many of us have but in a funny way

When You Wish Upon A Lantern by Gloria Chao (YA): First, I have to say that Gloria Chao is one of the authors that helped me get through the passing of my grandfather. Not that she herself was an emotional support but her books were…I literally was reading Rent-A-Boyfriend during the funeral to keep myself grounded (everyone knew to give me a wide berth with a book in my hand & an angry air about me). With that said, I was REALLY excited when this book was announced because, emotional turmoil aside, I enjoyed her books and this one was no different. There was great banter, rekindling of friendship, baking and some sneaky wish granting antics. While there was death of a grandparent (wow, full circle, huh?), it made me think back fondly of my own rather than get wrapped up in grief (it’s a never-ending battle folx). There were so many great moments in this book and I ate it up in less than 48 hours since I was having such a good time with these characters. Icing on the cake (or filling in the mooncake for a better analogy), this book was a dual perspective (and y’all know how much I love those).

There was a lot of hiding in plain sight in this book…you’ll get it when you read it

Not The Plan by Gia De Cadenet (Adult): This was a book I was excited about since I read Gia’s first book and found out there was a companion. While I’m not one for politics (both characters work in this field), it really didn’t distract from the story at hand, which had quite a few layers to it. There is a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride in terms of what the main characters go through in this story (this, too, is a book with dual perspectives) both separately and together but it also allowed the reader to see their growth. The daunting moments don’t last long nor took away from the love story that was brewing. We did get some spicy moments in this book, which y’all know I love but will tell the 18 & under folx to stay away from until they join the 18 & over crowd. I’m hoping we get another companion so we can see more of these characters & have already asked Gia about this (to which, she said she can’t say anything *insert side-eye emoji here*).

This is a pretty fitting depiction of Isadora…if I’m being honest

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone (YA; out 2/28/23): It’s not a secret that I’m a Nic Stone stan and how much I love her work (and her, as a person). When I finished this book (which was in a few hours, with stops for bathroom breaks), I immediately DMed her some thoughts. I absolutely loved this story and am still deciding if it knocks Jackpot from my favorite Nic Stone book spot or not. There was so much funny banter and nerd sh*t that it set my Blerdly heart aflutter. I loved how Shelbi & Andy (or should I say Walter?) navigated their circumstances together in this story. There’s grief, addiction, mental health discussions and some other potentially triggering subjects but there is also joy, friendship and great family members (wait till you meet Becky…she deserves her own book and Bibi)! I have already told Nic that I would like a New Adult crossover and I am putting it into the universe that we get one. I also wouldn’t be mad at any sort of on-screen adaptation (where are the Obamas to make this happen?).

Shelbi to Andy/Walter

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest (Adult; out 2/28/2023): Kristina Forest is another author whom I’ve read other works by and really enjoyed so I was very excited to hear she was going to write an adult romance. I was not disappointed and was heavily invested in this story (I actually bumped it up in my TBR because I didn’t want to wait anymore to read it, lol). I loved that it was 1) dual perspective, 2) had different parts that added layers to the story and 3) took place in New York. There was also tons of funny moments and I thought the banter between Lily & her sisters was hysterical. And for those who look bookish talk, there is SO MUCH of it in this story so you know I was the happiest panda while reading. I’m so happy that the E-ARC gave us a preview of Kristina’s next book and that it we will get to live in another character we have met’s world for a bit (I was ready to DM Kristina about what/who was next so that saved me a trip to IG, lol). We also got some spice in this story which delighted me being the grown person that I am.

This is definitely one of Lily’s sisters to her at various posts in the book

So, I guess category is repeat author (for 5 of them) and funny banter (all of them) for this post? Any other way, each of these books brought me joy and gave me the right story to fully immerse myself in, which was/is exactly what I need these days. Have you read any of these books? Are you the type to escape into books when life is life-ing? Let me know in the comments here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve escaped into a really good book! And to those who have subscribed, thank you so much! This blog as recently reached 650 subscribers! So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOUUUUUUUUU! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Mythically Motivated Middle Grades For The Win

Hey Y’all! So I realized that I haven’t written about any middle grades lately despite having a post in the back of mind for a while. If you’ve been around this blog a while, then you know that I love stories inspired by mythology. There are so many different ones across cultures and they add a different type of texture to the stories that is almost palpable for me. Mythology inspired books both lend to themselves to the past while being in the present, which is really beautiful when you think about it.

Me thinking about this and the realization that I 1) had to do this post and 2) I’ve got the right combo of books!

There are 3 books (I think that’s the magic number for me in for these lists) that I’ve read that I wanted to share with you all; 2 that I read a few months back and 1 that I recently finished. Clearly, I think these books are great because they’ve (finally) made their way here and I believe that they deserve to be highlighted so let’s get into it!

I’m readyyyy!

Marikit And The Ocean Of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz: First, I must say that the cover got me the moment that I saw it! It’s such a gorgeous cover and gives a visually striking representation of the story. This story is Filipino Folklore inspired and is quite the adventure from pretty early on till the end. It weaves (pun intended) the magic of the world Marikit finds herself in and real world scenarios such as the glaring wealth gap in the Philippines (everywhere, really) so beautifully. It was hard not to get wrapped up in (pun intended again) this story and its characters with the banter, emotional beats & hijinx!

*insert corny thread through the needle analogy here*

Omega Morales And The Legend Of La Lechuza by Laekan Zea Kemp: One, I saw that the sequel was announced and I screamed so you can guess that I’m excited about it! This story was so riveting from the very beginning and I was enamored with the characters in this book. There were so many hysterical moments and I couldn’t wait for Omega to crack the mystery she was trying to solve. I will say that there was a twist or two that caught me off guard, which doesn’t happen often so it earned even more brownie points from me for that. Omega Morales is Mexican Folklore inspired, in case you were wondering!

You might get this look on your face a few times while reading!

Winston Chu Vs. The Whimsies by Stacey Lee: I have to start this by saying that when I was reading this E-ARC, adulting was hitting me hard and I resented not being able to just sit and read this but it was a bright spot when I was able to sit and read it in chunks. This book was so funny, I laughed out loud quite often as Winston & his crew really got into some shenanigans. The story balanced the humor and grief so well, which I sincerely appreciated as someone who still grapples with grief. There were a lot of soccer references/puns and creative ways not to curse…the one that will stick with me forever is PITA (Pain In The Armpit, lol…which can really hurt), that I also really enjoyed! Winston Chu is inspired by Chinese Mythology & beliefs.

“GOOOOOOOALLLL!!!!!” Sorry, I had to… it just felt right

All of these books are out now and I definitely think that you should consider adding them to your TBR, gifting them to a kid/brood of kids and/or add them to your libraries (personal/classroom/school/public…just sayin’). There are other mythology inspired middle grades that are either coming out this year or are in my TBR that I really can’t wait to get to read. Are the books mentioned above in your TBR? Have you read them? Are you a fan of mythology inspired stories? Let me know! You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays now) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a really good mythology inspired middle grade! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Solving Murders And Proving Innocence: Two Amazing Black YA Mysteries

What’s up y’all?! So in past posts, I’ve talked about books that turn me into somewhat of a Grown Black Nancy Drew in order to figure out the whodunit/solve the case. When that happens, I have even more fun with the story and it makes me eager to get to the “big reveal” so I can find out if I was correct or not (and I REALLY like to be right, lol). These sorts of reads keep me really engaged and happy really. I also love when books are multiple perspectives and when they are, it makes me an even happier reader!

Dis me when I’m reading a book with even a hint of a mystery in it, lol

Well, I am happy to say that I recently read two books (that are out now) that did all of the above AND they were written by Black men (which I’ve been wanting to read more books by Black men)! These books have some similarities in terms of proving characters innocence & finding the real culprits but they have very distinct vibes in the twists & turns that they gave. Both of these books have breath taking covers that should make them instabuys or at least make your bookish senses tingle enough to put them on your TBR list! I’m so excited to talk about these books so I’m going to hop into it.

Me, getting ready to get into talking about these books!

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill: Before I ever saw a synopsis for this book (which admittedly, I’m a chronic non-reader of anyway), I saw the cover and was immediately drawn in. I got those bookish tingles that just let me know that I would really be into this story. The story is from 2 perspectives; Duchess, the best friend of the Black Queen and Tinsley, who is aiming to prove her innocence. When I tell you you couldn’t have more different perspectives, you really couldn’t, which made the draw to this book even stronger. I mean, there was a hallway moment where you could almost hear folx chanting “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT” (the ones that know, know).

I kinda hoped for a moment like this, I’m not going to lie, lol

There were so many moments where I was like “DUCHESS IS ME” because of how she responded to different situations and how down for her friends she was (a pretty literal Ride Or Verbally Bust Heads cause she’s not trying to get suspended/arrested type homegirl). She also turned into a Black Nancy Drew so I was really living for her. Tinsley admitted worked my nerves in the beginning and I had kinda hoped she would get chin-checked cause ole girl said some really outrageous ish throughout the story. By the end of the story, I saw her growth & was less annoyed by her (which should tell you a bit about her character arc). We got to see two very different world views/perceptions through them, one of privilege and the other where a way was always made out of no way. A lot goes on in this book from start to finish so be prepared to kept on your toes friends!

I’m fully convinced that this was Jumata while writing this book

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks: Now, this book I DID actually read the synopsis for (I didn’t see the cover first & that’s okay) and knew this was a book I wanted to read. Full disclosure, I am on the blog tour for this book (hence this post) but this book would’ve definitely had a place on this blog. When I saw that they had a FULL cast for the audiobook, I knew I really REALLY wanted to listen to it and my friends, I would HIIIIIIIIIIIIGHLY recommend taking that route because the narrators did a superb job! It’s a little under 5 hours and you won’t want to pause it (I finished it in 2 days). Since I listened to the audiobook, I couldn’t highlight things said (and I don’t know how to clip things, lol) but I definitely was taking mental notes.

Me, taking those mental notes & trying to figure things out, lol!

Since the audiobook had a full cast, it really highlighted the layers that this story had. While the book is centered around 3 Black & Brown boys, J.B., Ramón & Trey, we got to hear/read the thoughts & accounts of others which helped to build this really rich world. We were not only able to see the perspectives of these 3 kids who really don’t have a fair shake at life to begin with but come to understand how they ended up where they did as well as see the support systems they each had. I can’t speak for anyone else but I knew from chapter one that I was rooting for them, in both proving their innocence and finding success (I’m always rooting for the Black & Brown Folx doe).

And Brown, in Ramón’s case

As I usually do, I had a fav and it was definitely Keyana. She was about the cause from jump and she was about her business. I couldn’t help but respect how she approached the case from varying angles, using every resource she had at her disposal. Keyana, in no way, felt like a side character in how fully realized she was and I found myself looking forward to hearing her thoughts or her popping up in J.B’s chapters because she was such a standout from the moment she was mentioned. She’s definitely been added to my list of characters I want to see full novels about (*hint* *hint* Nick…which this was mentioned during the New York launch, lol)! When you read this book, you’ll understand why I had to mention her specifically (*smirks*).

This was Keyana getting down to business

Something that I loved about The Black Queen & Promise Boys is that they both offered criticisms of the educational systems that are in place. They addressed the issues around inclusion, funding, equity and opportunity for all students both in the public & charter school systems. *Warning, I’m finna hop on my soap box for a second.* As an educator, this is always in the back of my mind when I step into the schools that I go into. I see the disparities between the public and private schools (as those are the settings that I currently work with students in) and how students are treated & viewed based upon their backgrounds & abilities. It’s disheartening to see that we still have issues with inclusion in 2023 and schools not taking the necessary steps towards an equitable playing field for all students regardless of their race, religion, finances or abilities/diagnoses. I appreciate that both these books bring this to the forefront so that kids who read it can learn to identify these issues so they can advocate for themselves. Ultimately, the hope is that kids would find their voices and speak up alongside or even without their adult counterparts, which these books help them to see what that is like and the possible outcomes. *Hops off soap box*

I couldn’t find a good soap box gif, so this will have to do as the sentiment is the same, lol!

I am REALLY hoping that both of these books are adapted for the screen because they played out clearly in my mind as I read them. If they are, these stories would be able to reach an even broader audience AND open up more conversations around the educational and social disparities that we see come up throughout the stories. Also, we need to see more Black & Brown kids win in the media; whether its through solving crimes, proving their innocence, their capabilities in their passions, their strong support systems, finding love and having healthy relationships. Can someone call up the Obamas and ask them to adapt these books, PLEASE?!

Not maybe, DEFINITELY because we need these stories done correctly!

Aiight y’all, I think I’ve talked your ears off, or would it be wrote your eyes off, enough. Either way, I’m going to end this post here! If neither of these books weren’t on your radar, I’m glad to have put you on! Get into your detective bags with these stories then spread the word so that your people could do the same! Let me know in the comments or on social media if you had these books in your TBR. Have you gotten the chance to read either of them? What do you think? You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays now) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve guessed correctly whodunit! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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February, I’m In Love With Your Releases

Hey Y’all! I can’t believe we are already in a new month (with another corny blog post title, lol)! As usual, there are new books coming out and so many that I’m excited about! Please do double check the titles that you are excited about in case something changes thanks to supply chain issues & possible publishing date changes. Let’s get into the list:

Cause y’all know I love a good list!
  • Daughters of Oduma By Moses Ose Utomi 2/7
  • Borderless By Jennifer De Leon 2/7
  • These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi *sequel* 2/7
  • Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood 2/7
  • This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang 2/7
  • Winston Chu Vs. The Whimsies by Stacey Lee *MG* 2/7
  • The Pearl Hunter by Miya T. Beck *MG* 2/7
  • Hungry Ghosts A Novel by Kevin Jared Hosein *adult* 2/7
  • Brown Girl Like Me by Jaspreet Kaur 2/7
  • Nerd Crush by Alisha Emrich 2/7
  • Sugar Pie Lullaby by Carole Boston Weatherford *PB* 2/7
  • A Crown For Corina by Laekan Zea Kemp *PB* 2/7
  • Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir by Lamya H. *adult* 2/7
  • The House Of Eve by Sadequa Johnson *adult* 2/7
  • June Storm by Ramona Lee Soo-Jun *adult* 2/7
  • Where I’m Coming From by Barbara Brandon-Croft *adult* 2/7
  • Not The Plan by Gia De Cadenet *adult companion* 2/7
  • The Black Athlete Revolt by Shaun M. Anderson *adult* 2/8
  • Coming Home: A Novella by Kennedy Ryan *adult Audio* 2/9
  • When You Wish Upon A Lantern by Gloria Chao 2/14
  • Unquiet Spirits edited by Lee Murray & Angela Yurika Smith *adult* 2/14
  • On The Air With Zoe Washington by Janae Marks *MG Sequel* 2/14
  • The Last Tale Of The Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi *adult* 2/14
  • Isha, Unscripted by Sajni Patel *adult* 2/14
  • Take The Lead by Alexis Daria *Adult Reprint* 2/14
  • And Other Mistakes by Erika Turner 2/14
  • The Beauty Trials by Dhonielle Clayton *Sequel* 2/14
  • The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo *adult* 2/14
  • Speculation by Nisi Shawl *MG* 2/14
  • Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian *adult* 2/21
  • Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson 2/21
  • A Country You Can Leave by Asale Angel-Ajani *adult* 2/21
  • A Small Sacrifice For An Enormous Happiness by Jai Chakrabarti *adult* 2/21
  • Idol Minds by KT Salvo *adult* 2/21
  • The Best Man’s Problem by Sera Taino *adult* 2/21
  • Designs On A Rancher by LaQuette *adult* 2/21
  • Winning His Trust by Toni Shiloh *adult* 2/21
  • Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim By Patricia Park 2/21
  • An Autobiography Of Skin: A Novel by Lakiesha Carr *adult* 2/21
  • The Unfortunates by JK Chukwu *adult* 2/28
  • Pilar Ramirez And The Curse Of San Zenon by Julian Randall *MG Sequel* 2/28
  • Momo Arashima Steals The Sword Of The Wind by Misa Sugiura *MG* 2/28
  • The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest *adult* 2/28
  • The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa 2/28
  • It’s Boba Time For Pearl Li by Nicole Chen *MG* 2/28
  • Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Gun *adult* 2/28
  • Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong *series* 2/28
  • Delicious Monsters By Liselle Sambury *MG* 2/28
  • The Headmaster’s List by Melissa De La Cruz 2/28
  • She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran 2/28
  • Chaos Theory by Nic Stone 2/28
  • Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown *adult* 2/28
  • Finally Seen by Kelly Yang *MG* 2/28
That’s a good amount of books

Thanks to the Bookish Powers that be, I’ve received a nice amount of ARCs. Here are the books I have:

  • Currently Reading: Winston Chu Vs. The Whimsies by Stacey Lee *MG*
  • Daughters of Oduma By Moses Ose Utomi
  • Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood
  • Not The Plan by Gia De Cadenet *adult companion*
  • When You Wish Upon A Lantern by Gloria Chao
  • On The Air With Zoe Washington by Janae Marks *MG Sequel*
  • Isha, Unscripted by Sajni Patel *adult*
  • Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson
  • Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim By Patricia Park
  • Pilar Ramirez And The Curse Of San Zenon by Julian Randall *MG Sequel*
  • Momo Arashima Steals The Sword Of The Wind by Misa Sugiura *MG*
  • The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest *adult*
  • The Headmaster’s List by Melissa De La Cruz
  • She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
  • Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
  • Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown *adult*
It’s going to be good reading month!

Welp, I’m going to end this post here because I want to finish my current read and another post to get ready for you all (*wink* *wink*)! Did I miss any books by Authors Of Color that are coming out this month? Are there any books you’re really excited about? Let me know in the comments here or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (for Tuesdays, mostly). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like it’s a pub month with so many books to fall in love with! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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Four Fantastical YAs That I’ve Recently Eaten Up

Hey There! So off and on the end of 2022 & this month, I’d been in my YA bag in terms of ARCs/ALCs that I’ve read and some of them have had some sort of magicalesque elements to them, which I live for. Whenever a book has that sort of fantastical quality to it, I will eat them up so I figured I would share some of these books with y’all.

Me with these books!

We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride: First, I have to say that the cover is stunning and it fully deserves its flowers (or rather butterflies, lol). Getting that out of the way, this was such a beautifully written novel in verse that balanced out the whimsical (*smirks*) with contemporary so well and it definitely felt like a fairy-tale (*smirks again*) while I was reading. We see the MCs navigate a world where they have to navigate connection to themselves, each other, their families and the secrets that threaten their lives as they know it. They also face what it is to face grief, anxiety and depression head on, which I can deeply relate to. The imagery throughout the story is breathtaking and brings to life different mythologies that we know and love. I’d highly recommend grabbing your favorite comfy blanket/hoodie & cup of tea to enjoy while reading this book.

This is a little too on the nose, when you read, you’ll get it, lol!

Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao: I don’t know what it is but I love a fantasy that takes place in the past or is inspired by it…maybe it’s the history nerd in me but I always feel like there is a vividness that period pieces bring. If we add in magic with the historical, then I’m fully in my element and this book checked all the boxes for me. The story gives world building, imagery, different types of magic & how to access it, mythology/mythological creatures and high stakes along with dual perspectives (which y’all know I LOVE). Since this book takes place in the past, it also deals with colonizers, their shenanigans and the fight against their antics, which I deeply felt. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings because I feel like there is a battle to be had & I want to see certain heads roll (All Queen Of Hearts)!

I think you can guess who’s head I would like to see roll

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim (out 1/24/23): I think I’ve been obsessed with this book since I saw the cover and then fell deeper in love as I got into the story. There are various types of magic in this story but how it is accessed is what adds another layer to it. Along with the magic and mythical creatures, there’s lots of trouble to both get into and out of with twists you very well may not see coming (if you can catch me a little off guard, then that’s an accomplishment). I also really enjoyed the banter in this story and the development & break down of relationships. For me, this story read like a movie and I think the world would be at a disservice if it is not adapted for the screen in some way. I also can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

I may or may not have had a moment like this & this gif maybe a little on the ironic side, lol

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron (out 3/7/23): Alright, so I have been itching to read this book since Kalynn announced it and even more so after the cover reveal (it gives Baron Samedi vibes, look him up). For transparency, I am guilty of not having read the original but knew the premise (so it was fine). I will say that I believe anyone who didn’t read the OG will be fine as this book stood well on its own. The story had so many different layers to it covering being Black in the 1800s, being gay in that era, respectability politics and so much more. While there isn’t necessary magic in this story, there is that fantastical/otherworldly nature of science and determining how far is too far to go with it. There’s mystery, intrigue and twist & turns throughout the entire story that will keep you on your toes a bit. Since I listened to the ALC of this book, I was talking back out loud to the narrator (who did a good job) every once in a while (rather than in my head if I read the physical version) & I’m sure I had a lot of facial contortion going on as well. This was a great addition to the Classics Remix family.

I’d say this is an accurate depiction of the range of emotions I went through while reading, lol

On the real, I love when I get my hands on books that I can just fully immerse myself in which cause me to eat them up (as quickly life allows me too, depending on when I read them). Have you read any of these books? Did you fall into their worlds too? Are there any other books that you ate up because of how you invested you were in their stories? Let me know in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (which the group I’m apart of is currently on hiatus). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve eaten up some really good books! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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I Love Reading Black And Brown Kids Falling In Love

Hello There! I hope 2023 is treating you well so far! In terms of books, it’s treating me great (other life stuff could use work but such is being an adult)!

Book life Balance is a work in progress!

In the past, I’ve written posts about Black & Brown Girls deserving to be centered in YA Romance as well as Kids Of Color deserving safe spaces & healthy relationships & My Spirit demanding more POC romances to which I’m glad to say that I have a few books to rave to you all about that checks those boxes (but I still hope for more in the future). It really makes my medium-key romantic heart so happy to have read these stories where Black & Brown Kids can see themselves fall in love.

It really does make my heart so happy!

Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert: When I saw the announcement & cover for this book, I was super excited about it. When there are two Black kids on a cover in the woods, there could only be shenanigans to be had, right? And there were plenty! Add in the fact that this book was dual perspective, I was a very happy panda. There were so many great moments between Brad & Celine that just had me completely wrapped. They went from best friends to enemies then back to friends, so we got the best of those tropes. It was a journey that was worth taking with a beautiful balance of serious and funny.

I envisioned Celine looking at Brad like this so much during the course of this book

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim: This was another book that had me at the cover and it gave us a love triangle! I’m usually not one for them but I was sold on this one. Our MC, Zahra, was juggling so much between her family & work so it was refreshing to read her have these moments where she could be a teenager discovering herself as well as what romance is & what she is worthy of. Did I pick a team, I sure did (I don’t know how people can be neutral) and no, I will not tell you who I was rooting for…I was rooting for Zahra and her happiness first & foremost. She also had really great friends who often cracked me up.

You’ll have to read in order to see who Zahra walks away with *smirks*

Friday, I’m In Love by Camryn Garrett: First off, my favorite cover designers was on this one (shoutout to Erick Davila) and second of all, I love Camryn’s writing & humor (I will never forget a certain scene in Full Disclosure…EVER) so I was very excited to read news of this book. There was a great balance of humor (especially when she was planning her Super Gay Sweet 16…that could totally be a show), heavy and romance. I felt Mahalia on the realness of crushes and it was so nice to read how her crush on Siobhan evolved into her reality (their banter is hysterical). I also really enjoyed her relationship with her best friend and mom, so we really got 3 love stories-romance, friendship/sisterhood & family; which is a trifecta I can get with on any day of the week, especially a Friday (is that too corny?)!

There was also a lot of music references, singing out loud in public & Black Girl Magic in this book

As You Walk On By by Julian Winters (out 1/17/23): This is yet another book with a lovely cover that drew me in. I’d mostly read short stories by Julian but I’m so glad this was my introduction to his novels. This book tackled a lot but with an air of levity that was invigorating to read; from what it is to be Black, to be Gay, to be male and what it is to be all three. It also highlighted friendships, what healthy and potentially unhealthy ones look like & how to move towards what is best for you. I loved that we got the romance for the MC Theo but also familial and friendship love. There really was more than one happily ever after in this book and I love to see it! Heads up, there was also a lot of shenanigans too since some of the characters love dares (this book takes place before prom, need I really say more on that).

There were a lot of dares happening in this book

All of these books gave me laugh out loud moments along with eye-leaking moments and all the feels in between. They also left me with the heartwarming feeling that only reading Black & Brown kids finding & falling in love could bring to me as a reader. This books are truly amazing reads and I couldn’t recommend them enough!

This is an accurate visual of how I feel

Were any of these books on your radar? Have you gotten the chance to read any of them? Are there any books that I should be on the look out for? Let me know in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read amazing stories where Black & Brown Kids fall in love! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

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What All I Read: 2022 Reading Wrap Up

What’s up y’all?! So, you all know that I had been reading like crazy last year, so much so that I really leaned on lists so I could share more of those reads because I do so love to share what all I read with you all. I shared the list of reads from last year so I had to do so again this year. This year was a bit rough at times but books really helped me to get through each day.

It is…unless you are asking me to borrow a book, then I’m not so caring, lol!

Like last year, I participated in The Free Black Women’s Library Challenge again…I believe this was year 4 for me (those books will be in bold). The books that I had written about or featured them in a post will also have links to them! Before I get to the list, here’s my stats:

  • Books Read For The Year: 287
  • Least books read in a month: 18
  • Most books read in a month: 32
  • Average amount read a month: around 20 (this answer tells you I’m not great at mathing, lol)
  • No slumps but times where books took me longer than usual to read for various reasons (emotional state, adulting, etc.)
  • I did actual re-reads, the e-ARCs then audiobooks, which was new for me.
  • I also listened to a lot more audiobooks this past year! I really enjoy them (especially adult romances that get really spicy, lol)
I’m pretty sure it’s 4 years, lol!

Here’s all the books I’ve read:

  1. Along For The Ride by Mimi Grace *adult E-Book*
  2. The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo E-Book
  3. The Red Palace by June Hur E-ARC
  4. Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka T. Brown *MG ARC*
  5. The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall *MG ARC*
  6. Loveboat, Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen E-ARC
  7. Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee *MG E-ARC*
  8. Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald Smith *MG*
  9. Black Panther: Spellbound by Ronald Smith *MG Sequel E-ARC*
  10. Cameron Battle & The Hidden Kingdom by Jamar Perry *MG E-ARC*
  11. Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shamans ARC
  12. Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed *MG Companion e-arc*
  13. This Woven Kingdom by Tahareh Mafi ARC
  14. Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee E-ARC
  15. Asking For A Friend by Andi Osho *adult ARC*
  16. Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen *adult E-ARC*
  17. Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow *adult E-ARC*
  18. Black Love Matters edited by Jessica C. Pryde *adult E-ARC*
  19. The Great Mrs. Elias by Barbara Chase-Riboud *adult ARC*
  20. You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen E-ARC
  21. Shuri: Symbiosis by Nic Stone *MG sequel*
  22. A Comb Of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow *MG ARC*
  23. Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon E-ARC
  24. Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie E-ARC
  25. Lulu And Milagro’s Search For Clarity by Angela Velez ARC
  26. Cold by Mariko Tamaki E-ARC
  27. Reclaim The Stars Edited by Zoraida Cordova E-ARC
  28. Only A Monster by Vanessa Len ARC
  29. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh E-ARC
  30. Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi *MG ARC*
  31. Pilar Ramirez And The Escape From Zafa by Julian Randall *MG E-ARC*
  32. Loteria by Karla Arenas Valenti *MG E-ARC*
  33. The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta E-ARC
  34. Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys E-ARC
  35. Traveler’s Along The Way by Aminah Mae Safi E-ARC
  36. All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir ARC
  37. The Rumor Game by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton E-ARC
  38. Turning by Joy L. Smith ARC
  39. Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen E-ARC
  40. Messy Roots by Laura Gao ARC
  41. Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros *MG ARC*
  42. Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore E-ARC
  43. Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye ARC
  44. Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron *adult E-ARC*
  45. Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo *adult E-ARC*
  46. Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma *adult E-ARC*
  47. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo *adult E-ARC*
  48. Working Through It by Kasha Thompson *adult E-ARC*
  49. Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell by Taj McCoy *adult ARC*
  50. A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin E-ARC
  51. Her Rebel Highness by Diana Ma *Prequel E-ARC*
  52. Sir Fig Newton & The Science Of Persistence by Sonja Thomas *MG E-ARC*
  53. Star The Elephant by Remy Lai *MG E-ARC*
  54. Rainbow The Koala by Remy Lai *MG E-ARC*
  55. Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari *MG E-ARC*
  56. A Walk In The Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon *adult Audio-Novella*
  57. You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts E-ARC
  58. The Perfect Play by GS Carr *adult Audio-Novella*
  59. Sun Of A Beach by Mia Sosa *adult Audio-Novella*
  60. Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk E-ARC
  61. The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport *NA ARC*
  62. Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper *adult E-ARC*
  63. The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa *adult companion E-ARC*
  64. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa *adult E-Book*
  65. What A Match by Mimi Grace *adult E-ARC*
  66. Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh *adult E-ARC*
  67. Hope And Glory by Jendella Benson *adult ARC*
  68. An Arrow To The Moon by Emily X.R. Pan E-ARC
  69. The Five Year Hitch by Melissa De La Cruz *adult Audio-Novella*
  70. Shinji Takahashi & The Mark Of The Coatl by Julie Kagawa *MG E-ARC*
  71. My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel E-ARC
  72. Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cuervas E-ARC
  73. The Set-Up by Falguni Kothari *adult Audio-Novella*
  74. Half Light by Tayari Jones *adult Audio-Novella*
  75. Queen Of The Tiles by Hanna Alkaf E-ARC
  76. The Second Chance Of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird *MG E-ARC*
  77. The Wedding Setup by Sonali Dev *adult Audio-Novella*
  78. Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus *MG ARC*
  79. In The Key Of Us by Mariama J. Lockington *MG E-ARC*
  80. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller *MG E-ARC*
  81. Winnie Zeng Unleashes A Legend by Katie Zhao *MG E-ARC*
  82. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton *MG E-ARC*
  83. Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older E-ARC
  84. An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco *Sequel E-ARC*
  85. By The Book by Jasmine Guillory *adult E-ARC*
  86. Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney ARC
  87. Rise Up, Burn Down by Vincent Tiredo E-ARC
  88. The AI Who Loved Me By Alyssa Cole *adult Audiobook*
  89. The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim E-ARC
  90. If I Don’t Have You by Sareeta Domingo *adult Audiobook*
  91. Freddie Vs. The Family Curse by Tracey Badua *MG ARC*
  92. Zachary Ying And The Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao *MG E-ARC*
  93. Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas *MG ARC*
  94. Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney Audiobook
  95. Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas *MG ARC*
  96. Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee ARC
  97. Should’ve Been by Alexandria House *adult Audio-Novella*
  98. All I Want For Christmas by Michelle Stimpson *adult Audio-Novella*
  99. Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed E-ARC
  100. The Summer Between Bitter And Sweet by Jen Ferguson ARC
  101. Nate Plus One by Kevin Van Whyte E-ARC
  102. The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes ARC
  103. Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho E-ARC
  104. Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors by Sonali Dev *adult E-Book*
  105. Temper Me by Alexandria House *adult Audiobook*
  106. Recipe For Persuasion by Sonali Dev *adult series E-Book*
  107. Incense And Sensibility by Sonali Dev *adult series E-Book*
  108. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev *adult series E-ARC*
  109. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana *adult E-ARC*
  110. I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn E-ARC
  111. The Princess Game by Soman Chainani *Audio-Novella*
  112. Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle E-ARC
  113. Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe E-ARC
  114. All Signs Point To Yes Edited by G. haron Davis, Cam Montgomery & Adrianne White E-ARC
  115. Deep In Providence by Riss M. Neilson E-ARC
  116. The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna *Sequel E-ARC*
  117. Touch Me by Alexandria House *adult Audiobook*
  118. Flip The Script by Lyla Lee ARC
  119. My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth E-ARC
  120. Private Label by Kelly Yang ARC
  121. Theo Tan And The Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto *MG E-ARC*
  122. Fireworks by Alice Lin E-ARC
  123. Hazel & Gray by Nic Stone Audio-Novella
  124. Before Her by Jacqueline Woodson *adult Audio-Novella*
  125. Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest E-ARC
  126. Love Again by Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm *adult Audiobook*
  127. The Signs And Wonders Of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen E-ARC
  128. Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang *MG E-ARC*
  129. Off-Script by Ashley Marie *adult E-ARC*
  130. Counterfeit by Kirsten Chen *adult ARC*
  131. Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher *adult E-ARC*
  132. Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey E-ARC
  133. The Last Fallen Moon by Graci Kim *MG Sequel E-ARC*
  134. Teach Me by Alexandria House *adult Audiobook*
  135. Onyeka And The Academy Of The Sun by Tola Okogwu *MG E-ARC*
  136. Hana Hsu & The Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu *MG E-ARC*
  137. The Loophole by Naz Kutub ARC
  138. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron ARC
  139. Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley *adult E-ARC*
  140. On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi *NE E-ARC*
  141. Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic by Lauren Ho *adult E-ARC*
  142. The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi *adult E-ARC*
  143. Good Morning, Love by Ashley M. Coleman *adult E-ARC*
  144. American Royalty by Tracey Livesay *adult E-ARC*
  145. The Sizzle Paradox by Lily Menon *adult E-ARC*
  146. Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta *Sequel E-ARC*
  147. Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma *adult Audiobook*
  148. The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar ARC
  149. The Black Girls Left Behind by Juliana Goodman E-ARC
  150. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola *NE ARC*
  151. Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith *adult E-ARC*
  152. What Souls Are Made Of by Tashi Suri E-ARC
  153. The Charmed List by Julie Abe E-ARC
  154. Nura & The Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan *MG E-ARC*
  155. Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson *MG E-ARC*
  156. Symona’s Still Single by Lisa Bent *adult Audiobook*
  157. Graceful Burdens by Roxane Gay *adult Audio-Novella*
  158. How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra E-ARC
  159. Sister Mother Warrior by Vanessa Riley *adult ARC*
  160. Lila by Naima Coster *adult Audio-Novella*
  161. Circling Back To You by Julie Tieu *adult ARC*
  162. Can’t Resist Her by Kianna Alexander *adult E-ARC*
  163. The Accidental Pin-Up by Danielle Jackson *adult E-ARC*
  164. Love In Colour by Bolu Babalola *NE Audiobook*
  165. Dauntless by Elisa Bonnin E-ARC
  166. Thirst by Varsha Bajaj *MG E-ARC*
  167. Team Chu & The Battle Of Blackwood Arena by Julie C. Dao *MG E-ARC*
  168. Have We Met by Camille Baker *adult Audiobook*
  169. Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow *MG E-ARC*
  170. Boys I Know by Anna Garcia E-ARC
  171. The Moment We Met by Camille Baker *adult Audiobook*
  172. Twice As Perfect by Louise Onome E-ARC
  173. Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke ARC
  174. Nobody’s Princess by Erica Ridley *adult series E-ARC*
  175. West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras *adult Audiobook*
  176. Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson *adult E-Book*
  177. Knot Again by Kwana Jackson *adult E-ARC*
  178. After Hours On Milagros Street by Angelina M. Lopez *adult ARC*
  179. The Neapolitan Sisters by Margo Candela *adult ALC*
  180. Booked On A Feeling by Jayci Lee *adult E-ARC*
  181. The Stand-In by Lily Chu *adult Audiobook*
  182. Twice Upon A Quinceanera by Yamile Saied Mendez *adult E-ARC*
  183. Ben & Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra *adult E-ARC*
  184. The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon *adult E-Book*
  185. The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon *adult E-Book*
  186. The Hook Up Plan by Farrah Rochon *adult E-ARC*
  187. Mika In Real Life by Emiko Jean *adult ARC*
  188. Office Hours by Katrina Jackson *adult Audiobook*
  189. Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak *adult E-ARC*
  190. Creep: A Love Story by Lygia Day Penaflor ALC
  191. Fault Tolerance by Valerie Valdes *adult ARC*
  192. Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore ALC
  193. A Venom Dark & Sweet by Judy I. Lin *Sequel E-ARC*
  194. The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna *adult E-ARC*
  195. Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias *adult E-ARC*
  196. Almost There by Farrah Rochon ALC
  197. Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhy Menon & Evelyn Skye E-ARC
  198. Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas E-ARC
  199. The Curse On Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo *MG ALC*
  200. Amari And The Great Game by BB Alston *MG E-ARC*
  201. A Taste Of Magic by J.Elle *MG E-ARC*
  202. Serwah Boeting’s Guide To Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown *MG E-ARC*
  203. Shot Clock by Caron Butler & Justin A. Reynolds *MG ARC*
  204. Adrift by Tanya Guerrero *MG E-ARC*
  205. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas ALC
  206. The Weight Of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson ARC
  207. The Rules Of Engagement by Selena Montgomery *adult E-ARC*
  208. The Two Lives Of Sara by Catherine Adel West *adult ARC*
  209. The Boy With The Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith *adult E-ARC*
  210. The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale *adult E-ARC*
  211. Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa *adult ARC*
  212. Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco *adult E-ARC*
  213. To Win A Prince by Toni Shiloh *adult E-ARC*
  214. Vanessa Jared’s Got A Man by LaQuette *adult ARC*
  215. Drunk On Love by Jasmine Guillory *adult E-ARC*
  216. Rust In The Root by Justina Ireland ARC
  217. The Comeback by Lily Chu *adult Audiobook*
  218. Eternally Yours Edited by Patrice Caldwell E-ARC
  219. Seoulmates by Susan Lee E-ARC
  220. Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto E-ARC
  221. The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park ALC
  222. CeCe Rios And The King Of Fears by Kaela Rivera *MG E-ARC*
  223. Omega Morales & The Legend Of La Lechuza by Laekan Zea Kemp *MG E-ARC*
  224. Anisa’s International Day by Reem Faruqi *MG ARC*
  225. The Keeper Of Night by Kylie Lee Baker Audiobook
  226. Shad Hadid & The Alchemist Of Alexandria by George Jreije *MG ARC*
  227. The Empress Of Time by Kylie Lee Baker *Sequel E-ARC*
  228. Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee *adult Audiobook*
  229. We Are The Scribes by Randi Pink ALC
  230. A Scatter Of Light by Malinda Lo E-ARC
  231. Lucky Streak by Tif Marcelo *adult Audiobook*
  232. Everyone Hates Kelsey Miller by Meredith Ireland ARC
  233. If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang E-ARC
  234. On The Hustle by Adriana Herrera *adult E-ARC*
  235. Partners In Crime by Alisha Rai *adult E-ARC*
  236. One Week To Claim It All by Adriana Herrera *adult Audiobook*
  237. Somebody I Used To Know by Dana L. Davis E-ARC
  238. Just For The Holidays by Adriana Herrera *adult Audiobook*
  239. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega *MG E-ARC*
  240. Drizzle, Dreams & Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad E-ARC
  241. Marya Khan & The Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Faruqi *MG ARC*
  242. Marikit And The Ocean Of Stars by Caris Avendano *MG E-ARC*
  243. Picture Perfect by Jeevani Charika *adult E-ARC*
  244. The StandUp Groomsman by Jackie Lau *adult companion E-ARC*
  245. The Empress Of Time by Kylie Lee Baker ALC
  246. A Touch Of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos *adult E-ARC*
  247. A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams *adult Audiobook*
  248. Rescue Me by Debbie Rigaurd *adult AudioShort*
  249. Strike The Zither by Joan He E-ARC
  250. Salt And Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho E-ARC
  251. Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon E-ARC
  252. Kiss Me, Catalina by Priscilla Oliveras *adult companion Audiobook*
  253. Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn *sequel ARC*
  254. Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau *adult Audiobook*
  255. Briarcliff Prep by Brianna Peppins E-ARC
  256. Pride And Protest by Nikki Payne *adult E-ARC*
  257. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds E-ARC
  258. The Many Dates Of Indigo by Amber Samuel *adult E-ARC*
  259. In It To Win It by Sharon C. Cooper *adult companion E-ARC*
  260. One Scott Deal by Lucy Eden *adult Audio-Novella*
  261. Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin *adult E-ARC*
  262. Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan *adult Audiobook*
  263. A Ghost In Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie *adult companion E-ARC*
  264. Reel by Kennedy Ryan *adult Audiobook*
  265. Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan *adult series Audiobook*
  266. Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin *adult E-ARC*
  267. Queen Move Bonus Epilogue by Kennedy Ryan *adult E-Novella*
  268. Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone by Sequoia Nagamatsu *adult ALC*
  269. Where We End And Begin by Jane Igharo *adult E-ARC*
  270. A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar ALC
  271. A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal by Preslaysa Williams *adult ARC*
  272. Her Big City Neighbor by Jackie Lau *adult Audiobook*
  273. Valentine’s Kiss by Kema B *adult E-Book*
  274. A Singh Family Christmas by Nisha Sharma *adult E-Novella*
  275. Room For Three? by Katrina Jackson *adult E-Novella*
  276. Neighborly by Katrina Jackson *adult E-Novella*
  277. Sabbatical by Katrina Jackson *adult E-Book*
  278. Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert E-ARC
  279. The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim E-ARC
  280. Breakup From Hell by Ann Davila Cardinal E-ARC
  281. Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao E-ARC
  282. Monarch Rising by Harper Glenn Audiobook
  283. Let Me Love You by Alexandria House *adult series Audiobook*
  284. Let Me Hold You by Alexandria House *adult Series Audiobook*
  285. Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess *MG ARC*
  286. Let Me Show You by Alexandria House *adult Audiobook*
  287. Let Me Please You by Alexandria House *adult E-Novella*
I’m still a little shocked I read this many books…but also, that I fell short of 300…maybe this year!

Whew, I can’t believe that I read that many books…but also, I can! I constantly had my face in a book, eyes on my tablet or ears listening to an audiobook when I wasn’t sleeping, working or peopling. I really was on my bookish hustle/escape.

It’s the truth, I stay on my bookish grind y’all!

If these, 135 counted toward The Free Black Women’s Library Challenge! That greatly delights me because last year, I read 80, my intent was to read at least 100! This year, I would love to surpass 2022’s number. If you would like to join me, keep track of the books you read by Black Women & Non-Binary authors and if you post about those books, tag The Free Black Women’s Library & use the #TFBWLChallenge on whatever outlet you’re using!

This is my energy!

Alright y’all, I’mma end this post here because wordpress is playing in my face & moving slowly and I really want to get back to my current read! Have you read any of the same books as I did? Do you have any favorites in this list? Any you want to talk about? Let me know in the comments or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve exceeded the number of books I’ve read in the previous year (which I did, woot woot)! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Featured

Brand New Year, Brand New Books: January 2023 Releases

First and foremost, let me say…HAPPY NEW YEAR *cues airhorns*! Wow, we have made it to another year and it still feels very unreal to say “last year” in reference to 2022! It truly feels like 2022 was both the shortest and longest year (for me, at least)! And to my fellow Haitians: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! *cues Konpa music*

This is the energy I’m rolling into this new year with!

Welp, its a brand new year, a brand new month so that means brand new books! This month (the entire year, really) has books that I’ve been highly anticipating so I can’t wait to share this list with you all! Just a reminder, Please be sure to check the dates because you all know that publishers and supply chains like to play in our faces sometimes. Anyway, let’s get to this list!

  • Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert 1/3
  • Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao 1/3
  • NeverWraith by Shakir Rashaan 1/3
  • The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim 1/3
  • 16 & Pregnant A Novel By LaLa Thomas 1/3
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess *MG* 1/3
  • The Wrong Kind Of Weird by James Ramos 1/3
  • A Boy And His Mirror by Marchánt Davis *PB* 1/3
  • My Selma by Willie Mae Brown 1/3
  • Breakup From Hell by Ann Davila Cardinal 1/3
  • Dark Testament: Blackout Poems by Crystal Simone Smith 1/3
  • All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri 1/3
  • Chloe’s Lunar New Year By Lily LaMotte *PB* 1/3
  • What Does Brown Mean To You? By Ron Grady *PB* 1/3
  • I Am Born To Be Awesome by Renee Mechal Roe *ER* 1/3
  • Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin Civil Rights Heroes by Tracey Baptiste & Shauna J. Grant *MG* 1/3
  • Welcome To Chinatown by William Low *PB* 1/3
  • Now Let Me Fly by Ronald Wimberly & Brahm Revel 1/3
  • TinkerActive Workbook English Language Arts by Kate Avino & Gustavo Almelda *EL* 1/3
  • The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley *adult* 1/10
  • The Dream Builders by Oindrila Mukherjee *adult* 1/10
  • Justice Rising by Katheryn Russell-Brown *PB* 1/10
  • For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome 1/10
  • Mr. Right Next Door by Naima Simone *adult* 1/10
  • We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride 1/10
  • Friday I’m in Love By Camryn Garrett 1/10
  • Always Unique by Nikki Turner *adult* 1/10
  • Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen *adult* 1/10
  • Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks *adult* 1/10
  • Cool. Awkward. Black Edited by Karen Strong 1/10                        
  • The Girl I Am, Was, And Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney 1/10
  • Ghost Season by Fatin Abbas *adult* 1/10
  • The Green Piano by Roberta Flack & Tonya Bolden *PB* 1/10
  • Get Your Shoes On & Get Ready! By Raphael Warnock *PB* 1/10
  • Basketball Dreams by Chris Paul & Courtner Lovett *PB* 1/10
  • The Year Of Cecily by Lisa Lin 1/17
  • As You Walk By Julian Winters 1/17
  • The Fraud Squad By Kyla Zhao *adult* 1/17
  • This Is Not A Personal Statement by Tracy Badua 1/17
  • Figure It Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis *MG* 1/17
  • Decent People by De’Shawn Charles Winslow *adult* 1/17
  • We Are Allies by Taimani Emerald *PB* 1/17
  • My Red, White And Blue by Alana Tyson *PB* 1/17
  • The Ice Cream Man by Glenda Armand & Kim Freeman *PB* 1/17
  • Dragons In A Bag: The Enchanted Bridge by Zetta Elliot *MG Series* 1/17
  • A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier w/ Lisa Frazier *YA Adaptation* 1/17
  • Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim 1/24
  • Sun Keep Rising by Kristen R. Lee *NA* 1/24
  • Against The Currant by Olivia Matthews *adult* 1/24
  • The Many Fortunes Of Maya by Nicole D. Collier *MG* 1/24
  • Hands by Torrey Maldonado *MG* 1/24
  • The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon 1/24
  • This Other Eden by Paul Harding *adult* 1/24
  • A Cowboy Kind Of Thing by Reese Ryan *adult* 1/24
  • Just Like Grandma By Kim Rogers *PB* 1/24
  • A Is For Aretha by Leslie Kwan *PB* 1/24
  • Heroes Of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes 1/24
  • Retro by Sofia LaPuente & Jarrod Shusterman 1/24
  • The Buried & The Bound by Rochelle Hassan 1/24
  • The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma *adult* 1/24
  • Click To Subscribe by G.L Tomas *adult* 1/28
  • The Davenports by Krystal Marquis 1/31
  • The Cartographers by Amy Zhang 1/31
  • The Second You’re Single by Cara Tanamachi *adult* 1/31
  • Cameron Battle And The Escape Trials by Jamar J. Perry *MG series* 1/31
  • Reggie And Delilah’s Year Of Falling by Elise Bryant 1/31
  • Where The Black Flowers Bloom by Ronald L. Smith *MG* 1/31
  • How To Be A (Young) AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi & Nic Stone *MG* 1/31
  • The (Young) AntiRacist’s Workbook: Questions For Changemakers by Ibram X. Kendi & Nic Stone *MG* 1/31
  • Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni *adult* 1/31
  • Platanos Go With Everything by Lissette Norman *PB* 1/31
  • One Girl In All The World by Kendare Blake 1/31
  • Promise Boys by Nick Brooks 1/31
  • River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer *adult* 1/31
  • Maame A Novel by Jessica George *adult* 1/31
  • I Did It Myself by Saniyyah Khalilallah *PB* 1/31
  • I Help At Home! By Saniyyah Khalilallah *PB* 1/31
  • The Black Queen by Jumata Emill 1/31
  • How to Win A Break Up by Farah Heron *adult* 1/31
  • Nell Plants a Tree By Anne Wynter *PB* 1/31
  • That Flag By Tameka Fryer Brown *PB* 1/31
  • You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee & Carmella Van Vleet *PB* 1/31
  • Then Everything Happens at Once By M-E Girard 1/31
  • Play the Game By Charlene Allen 1/31
This is really me!

Whew, the book world is trying to break our bank accounts, library holds and most importantly, our TBR piles! But, I wouldn’t have it any other way! Needless to say, the ARC Gods have been kind to me so here are the ones I have for this month:

  • Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
  • Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
  • 16 & Pregnant A Novel By LaLa Thomas
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess *MG*
  • Breakup From Hell by Ann Davila Cardinal
  • We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride
  • Friday I’m in Love By Camryn Garrett
  • Cool. Awkward. Black Edited by Karen Strong
  • As You Walk By Julian Winters
  • The Fraud Squad By Kyla Zhao *adult*
  • Figure It Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis *MG*
  • Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
  • Against The Currant by Olivia Matthews *adult
  • The Many Fortunes Of Maya by Nicole D. Collier *MG*
  • The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon
  • The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
  • Reggie And Delilah’s Year Of Falling by Elise Bryant
  • Where The Black Flowers Bloom by Ronald L. Smith *MG*
  • Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni *adult*
  • Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
  • The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
  • Play the Game By Charlene Allen
I got so much reading to do, lol

Of these, I have read:

  • Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
  • Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess *MG*
  • Breakup From Hell by Ann Davila Cardinal
  • Currently Reading: 16 & Pregnant A Novel By LaLa Thomas
I’m proud of me for being a little ahead, lol

Alright y’all! That’s a long list and as you can see, I’ve got some reading to do! Are there any books that you are excited about? Any books by Authors Of Color that I missed? Let me know in the comments or on social media Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I’m STILL not sure WHAT is going on that bird app these days) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like it’s a new year filled with promising new books! Anyways… I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading and a very happy, healthy & bookish new year!

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Bookish Intents For 2023

Hey There! So I can’t believe that we are half way through December and super close to 2023…It feels wild to me whenever I think about that! I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way?!

I feel this every day!

Anyways, as we get close to this new year, I’ve been thinking what my bookish intent for the upcoming year would be. I did this last year (around this time actually) and honestly, most of the intents are the same (they were VERY good intents, in my opinion). I do want to add to the previous list though.

I do think about this blog A LOT!
  1. Attend More Bookish Events AND share them here. I won’t lie and say that it hasn’t been tough for me with my anxiety around crowds/people to attend in person stuff, it has been. I’ve had to really push myself but the few in person book events I’ve gone to have felt like returning home in a sense. It may not be a ton of events (it wasn’t this past year) but I should share them with you all, even if it’s just pictures and a paragraph…this is an adventure we’ve decided to be on together (me, writing this blog and you, reading it) and I have to respect that bond *insert Kool-aid smile here*.
truly!

2) Go back to doing more Instagram lives. I used to do them a ton but I won’t lie, depression has been kicking me in the ass and the want to be in front of a camera & engage has not been there. Even though I have a stack of books to share and always love talking books, in general, my brain just hasn’t been seeing it for the rest of me! I do really need to get back to that because I enjoyed singing “the bookmail song”, even when certain friends pressure me to put more energy into it (LOL, shout out to them)! I would also love to share those links here afterward.

Me, begging my brain to want to do things!

3) To stay on top of posting/remain consistent. This year, I slipped a little and didn’t post 2 weeks (and there was one posted next day into the new week) and I didn’t like that feeling. I actually really love writing this blog, though my energy isn’t always at a 100%. It’s been especially rough with how draining my work has felt at times which hinders my ability to give what I want to. I have been escaping into books and y’all wouldn’t know how much reading I’ve been doing because I haven’t shared EVERY book I’ve read (but you’ll see in my reading wrap up for the year in January). I want to do better with that as well.

I really can and I want to show that I can!

4) To find a good book-blog-life balance. This is a bit tough for me and I’m working on that. Like I said previously, I’ve been escaping into books and it’s pretty much in the literal sense (adult romances with lots of spice have been my go-to & bonus if they are on audio, lol). If I’m not sleeping or working, I’m reading. So as much as I love reading, I do need to do better with the other aspects of my life, which include this blog!

It’s true…I gotta work on hyping up myself AND these books!

All the other intents remain the same:

  • Remain Transparent & Authentic (as always!)
  • To Share More Of What I Read (I ended up doing this through lists and I honestly love that format, I think I will keep it, lol)
  • To Engage More On Social Media. (this is still tough. I think after my IG got hacked, I lost some of that fervor I had for posting, not that it was so much before than but it was more)
  • To Do More Author Interviews (and I really want to make this one possible because I enjoy talking books with authors but y’all don’t ever get to see those conversations since they are often times DMs…sometimes there are public tweets)
I do and I believe I do!

Are you setting bookish intents for the new year? Would you want to share them? If so, please do share them in the comments or the socials you can find me on which are: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I’m not sure WHAT is going on that bird app these days) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m keeping up with my intents for the year! I also have to take a second to thank those of you who ARE subscribed because the blog recently reached 600 and I’m beyond grateful for those of you who have chosen to rock with me! *cues airhorns* Anyways… I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading and holidays!

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Sometimes My Brain Doesn’t Shut Up When I Finish A Book

Hey Y’all! So when I was trying to figure out what to write about this week, I kept coming up blank until the moment I started to rest my eyes (that’s code for take a nap, lol) and all I could think about is the book I’m currently reading (if you are wondering, its the E-ARC of Highly Suspicious And Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert and the answer is yes, you need to get it when it comes out next year). Then it hit me that my brain doesn’t shut up when it comes to books, lol.

Me, when the inspiration hit

I don’t know about you all but sometimes my brain just decides that it wants to think about a book when I’ve had to pause reading or have just finished it. I really wish it wouldn’t do that, especially when I’m getting ready to go to sleep! And then sometimes when I get to sleep, I end up dreaming about the book as if to continue the story because my brain is mad that we had to stop reading (which, yes, why do we have to sleep when we could be reading?!)! Why is my brain like this? I have no idea and I’m not sure I feel like studying it to try to understand.

no, seriously, why am I & my brain like this?!

Anyways, I figured that I would share a few books where my brain pulled these shenanigans on my body when it was trying to find rest.

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn: I both dreamt and thought about this whooper of a sequel when I wasn’t reading it and finished it. However, I don’t think anyone who has read Legendborn (the first book, see blog post linked to understand my obsession) and this book would feel like that’s weird because Tracy loves to leave us hanging with our fingers on the edge of the cliff and her foot is on it. The 500+ pages of this sequel will have you in a literal chokehold and the only thing you can be mad about that with is the fact that you have to get sleep and do adult things like work, study or parent. Shoutout to my girl Alice getting more page time in this book, btw!

This could be Tracy & her publisher…looking at all of us

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan *adult*: I listened to the audiobook and as I listened, I UNDERSTOOD why this book was all up and down my social media TLs… All I could think about was this book when I wasn’t listening to it and it didn’t help that 2 of my favorite narrators were reading, Jakobi Diem & Wesleigh Siobhan, and when either or both of them is on a book, they are going to read the HECK out of that book. This book me through such a range of emotions and there was an added bonus of spice…whewwww Chile! I promptly went looking into her other audiobooks and listened to 2 others (some of the others had narrators I wasn’t wild about). For my adult folx, this was a worthwhile read and maybe have tissues near by too!

For so many reasons!

Strike The Zither by Joan He: So, I’m a fan of Joan and I talked about this book in my owing netgalley post but this book also had me in a dream chokehold as well. If this book doesn’t get a series or movie, that is a seriously missed opportunity (It gives Chinese Historical Drama vibes and those never disappoint)! Also, Joan recently announced sequel’s title, which is Sound The Gong, and I’m super excited about it!

Accurate portrayal of the MC

The Weight Of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson: To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by Tiffany that didn’t have me thinking about it days and months after I finish. This book really gave the YA Passing X Carrie vibes that I never knew that I needed. TWOB definitely deserves a TV series (we did a 2 part discussion on this book on clubhouse because so many of us felt so strongly).

Especially when it gets to the pivotal moment in the book when they learned who was REALLY mad

Rust In The Root by Justina Ireland: This is one I dreamt about while I was reading and even when I finished it for several nights…I really hope this book gets a sequel because it was SO GOOD. It gave me everything I could’ve asked for from the Magical Black Girl, historical references (it takes place in the 1930’s) and comedic moments with a dash of darkness. If this book doesn’t get a movie in the near future, we should ALL riot!

From start to finish my friends!

I’m going to list a few others cause I believe I talked about them in past posts:

Get into allllll of these books!

Does anyone else find their brain does this? Or is this just me? If you go through this, what books have had your brain on overdrive? Let me know here in the comments or on the socials-Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just finished a book that has me obsessing about it in my sleep! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Deck The Halls With Brand New Books: December Releases

Hey Y’all! First, I just wanted to apologize for my lack of a post last week. I was not feeling well and just wanted to sleep it off. So thank you for your understanding!

I appreciate you!

Holy cow y’all…ITS DECEMBER! The year is almost over and it feels so weird to say. The year has both dragged and moved quickly, if that makes any type of sense =0/. With it being a new month, it means we’ve got new books to deck our halls! This list isn’t a very long one, which some of y’all may find a relief or not! As usual, please check the dates because they are always subject to change!

I do love new book release lists!
  • Holy Parrot by Angel A *adult* 12/1
  • The Union by Leah Vernon *adult* 12/1
  • The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev *adult* 12/1
  • A Singh Family Christmas by Nisha Sharma *adult novella* 12/5
  • The Many Dates of Indigo by Amber Samuel *adult* 12/6  
  • A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson *adult* 12/6
  • Where It Rains In Color by Denise Crittendon *adult* 12/6
  • Roses, In The Mouth Of A Lion by Bushra Rehma *adult* 12/6
  • Never After: The Broken Mirror by Melissa de la Cruz *sequel* 12/6
  • The Bird Tattoo by Dunya Mikhail *adult* 12/6
  • Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone by Sequoia Nagamatsu *adult* 12/6
  • An Ayah’s Choice by Shahida Rahman *adult* 12/8
  • In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper *adult* 12/13
  • A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar 12/13
  • One White Crane A Bilingual Counting Book of the Months by Vickie Lee & Joey Chou *PB* 12/13
  • The Thorn Puller by Hiromi Ito *adult* 12/13
  • Shy by Bukimi Miki 12/13
  • Radiant Red, Vol. 1 by Cherish Chen 12/13
  • How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen *PB* 12/13
  • Pregnant by The Playboy by Jackie Lau *adult* 12/13
  • The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai *adult* 12/14
  • The Rodeo Queen by Marcella Bell *adult* 12/27
  • Miles Lewis: Matchmaker by Kelly Starling Lyons *MG Series* 12/27
  • Welcome to the Island by Dela Costa *MG* 12/27
  • Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson 12/27
  • One Night Only by Jayci Lee *Adult series* 12/27
  • Tomorrow Is New Year’s Day by Aram Kim *PB* 12/27
  • Jujutsu Kaisen: Summer Of Ashes, Autumn Of Dust by Ballad Kitaguni 12/27
compared to past months, it’s really not!

I did get a few ARCs for books coming out this month thanks to netgalley and I have finished them all! They are:

  • The Many Dates of Indigo by Amber Samuel *adult*
  • Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone by Sequoia Nagamatsu *adult*
  • In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper *adult*
  • A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar
I feel like such a winner for being able to say I finished all the ARCs I had for this month, lol!

The great thing about not having a ton of ARCs for this month, I’m able to do a little bit of catch up with past ARCs and books that have been sitting in my TBR before I start on my 2023 ARCS (which will be very soon)… wow y’all, we’re really about to be in another year in a few weeks O_O!

This is my face, thinking about that fact!

Did I miss any books coming out this month by Authors of Color? Are there any you are excited for? Either way, let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve caught up with my TBR (no matter if the notion is a myth, lol)! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading and a very bookish holiday season!

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I Owe Netgalley So Many Reviews They May Come After Me Like Sallie Mae

Hey Y’all! I know the title of this post is long but roll with it, lol! So I was thinking about the fact that I have a long list of titles that I owe netgalley reviews/feedback for. Sometimes, I look at the list and I feel super overwhelmed but I try to clear some from it every once in a while… I won’t lie and say that I don’t use these some of these posts to help me get them done…this post will be yet another, lol!

This feels pretty accurate, lol!

I know that netgalley *probably* won’t come after me like they’re Sallie Mae (am I dating myself? lol), but when I look at the list of books I need to give reviews/feedback for makes me think that they actually might. So, in an attempt to clear up some of this list, I’m going to write some of my reviews here. Of course, these are all books that I would recommend anyway but just not doing individual posts or themed (my brain is semi-fried after the week I had)!

Let’s get this party started!

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega; illustrated by Rose Bousamra (MG): I, admittedly, don’t read a lot of graphic novels but I’m really glad to have read this one. I grew up being made fun of for my hair because it was always frizzy and wild (though I’m so glad that I didn’t have to sit in a salon every weekend). It was as if the state of my hair impacted how others saw me (my uncle’s nickname of “Crazy Horse” for me still sticks to me), much as it did the main characters. I loved how relatable the MC was and how her relationship with her hair and family evolved throughout the story. It was a beautiful visual journey of self-acceptance and self-advocacy. I know so many are proud of their natural hair and some who are on the journey to begin to. I think so many would connect with this story.

It’s a celebration! of self

Seoulmates by Susan Lee: This book read like a K-Drama and whenever a book reads that way, I always read them quickly. I enjoyed how lighthearted it was and walked away from it feeling really good but also feeling a range of emotions throughout the experience. Annoyance with certain people [redacted] peopling, feeling the confusion & hurt of a best friend leaving and the joy & relief of reconnecting with said best friend. We were given levels without being drug through the mud in order to experience them! Fans of K-Dramas would enjoy this read.

This is some of the energy this book gives…super cute with a bit of side-eye, lol

Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon & Evelyn Skye: One thing I didn’t realize I was into is multiple authors co-authoring a book & it not being a anthology but I am! Sure the sections had names but this book is a novel with characters that are intertwined by their friendship and desire for romantic love. This book gave light, magical and a bit of a myth that is specific to the story. These authors did an amazing job at bringing their voices and writing styles together to create this story where three friends support each other as they live out their own love stories against the clock. This book was pretty light though there is a touch of grief that doesn’t deter the story and its sweetness at all!

Very this, especially since they were all hyper-aware of the time!

Eternally Yours Edited by Patrice Caldwell: As some of you all know, I’m a sucker for an anthology (this post tells you that) and Patrice’s last anthology, A Phoenix First Must Burn, was so good and this one didn’t disappoint either. We got vampires, undead, witches, and other monster love stories without a scary edge to them (I’m a scaredy cat, I’m not ashamed to say that). As usual, I did have a favorite story but I rather you all read and then tell me what YOUR favorite was (see what I did there? *wink*). Patrice has completely cemented why I would read any anthology she edits and books she writes!

Anthologies from Patrice please!

Somebody I Used To Know by Dana L. Davis: First, the cover of this book is stunning. When I first saw it, my bookish spidey senses tingled and I knew I wanted to read it. This was a great read that was a balance of light and heavy. Its a story of second chances in reconnection, friendship and romance. I had moments where I laughed, where my eyes got a little watery and where I cheered. I’m also a sucker for two Black kids falling in friendship and love because it’s truly a beautiful thing (I still don’t think we have nearly enough of those stories right now). I flew through this book and I wouldn’t be surprised if you do too when you read!

This is the energy!

Salt & Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho: I love when a book takes us to a country I’ve never been before (cause I’m afraid of flying & this is the easiest way to travel without leaving my home or spending thousands of dollars) and this book takes us to Brazil where two bakeries have a multi-generational rivalry going and the youngest of these generations have to decide if they want to keep it going or not. In a way, it gives Romeo & Juliet but without the unnecessary deaths (that is still very weird to me, btw). There are plenty of laughs and mishaps throughout this story that created balance to the grief that was laced throughout it. With there being the sudden loss of a beloved grandparent & parent, I was a bit in my feels but didn’t feel overwhelmed. This was a really nice read.

This is kind of on the nose for the MC

Drizzle, Dreams And Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad: I love a book where we get multiple points of view but also varying stories and this book gives us that. We get four seasons, four different types of expression, four sisters and a really cool dad. We get to see all their love stories play out in different ways and how they all influence each other. There are some points of shared grief but those moments weren’t super heavy for long (it was a really good reminder for me that everyone processed the same loss(es) differently). From prologue to epilogue, I enjoyed this book!

I love a good seasonal love story!

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto: I loved Jesse’s MG Theo Tan And The Fox Spirit and was really excited to read this book. I will tell you that this book was a very far departure from that MG but the humor is still there but from hormonal teenagers perspectives. This book gives us dual perspectives and travel to Indonesia where one lives & the other’s parent immigrated from. The beginnings of both their stories had me in tears (of laughter) and how they came to meet was brilliant. This book was great from start to finish and I’ve recommended it quite a bit as I found it quite relatable (as a once horny teen myself).

I can neither confirm nor deny if this was me in certain situations, lol!

Briarcliff Prep by Brianna Peppins: I’m not going to lie…I thought this book was going to be a thriller of sorts based off the title & cover (for some reason, they give me that & I am a chronic non-reader of synopses), especially since it takes place at a boarding school but alas, it is not…I just knew I really wanted to read it! I loved this book about the MC, Avi, following the footsteps of her mother & older sister but with a plan to make a place for herself in this new place. I also loved that there was a little bit of a love story but the larger part was the friendships she establishes while navigating her relationship with her sister. There could be some triggers based upon experience but I ate this book up.

Avi, while writing at times

Strike The Zither by Joan He: So my first intro to Joan was Descendant Of The Crane (which I still really want a sequel to because reasons) and loved that book so much so I was so glad when she announced this book, which is a fantasy like DOTC. This book was so good! The cast of characters were so great, an MC who is too smart for her own good with a cause that she believes in and a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming. I was biting my nails most of the time I was reading but enjoyed the entire experience. It also doesn’t help that I’m complete trash for a period book of any kind (it’s the nerd in me, what can I say?!)! I’m super anxious for book two (which I believe we get in 2023…it feels so far but in reality isn’t).

I’m not saying this is a moment in the book but this gives the energy of one or two *smirks*, lol!

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (out 11/29/22): This is another book that had a cover that I was absolutely enamored with. Someone posted about pre-ordering on Twitter and I had to co-sign how great this book is. I tweeted “I read #WeDeserveMonuments and I promise you it’s worth your time. Connecting with a dying grandparent, learning your history, self-discovery, love in the form of friendship & romance and 2 Black girls finding it in both forms! Yea, go preorder!” I still stand by this statement and add that there maybe a twist or two that you don’t see coming in this book along with varying timelines, points of view outside of the MCs & family tea. And because this needs repeating, adolescent Black Love, which I love to see in all forms. So definitely pre-order!

There is also an abundance of this in this book!

Whew, that was a lot of typing but I think that should satiate netgalley for a second, lol! Also, these are all great books that I think you all might enjoy if you have the same taste in books as I do!

That really was a lot!

Are you like me and read the E-ARCs from netgalley (I barely mess with edelweiss so I won’t hold y’all on that) and then take forever to give feedback? What is your relationship like with netgalley? Do you keep your ratio up with them so you remain in their good graces or do you think they will come after you like Sallie Mae did for her money back (before she sold off our debts to let others chase us)? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve written a bunch of feedback on netgalley (which I just technically did, lol)! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading along with the start of the holiday season!

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Immigrant Parents Just Don’t Understand-Some Books With Immigrant Parents

Hey Y’all! Last week, I had to take a break because my brain felt a bit off but I’m back! Thank you for your patience! So I’ve mentioned in plenty of posts that I am the child of Immigrants. This is a big part of who I am and guides so much of how I move through this world. I’m honestly so honored and proud to hold such a title. There is also another layer of being first generation born in this country as well! There is so much to unpack about these experiences but I still love having this as part of my background.

Incrediblyyyyyy proud!

While the title of this is “Immigrant Parents Just Don’t Understand”, its the same of some of us not understanding them either. We won’t ever know their sacrifices in the same way, their thought processes and their experiences. We don’t understand all that they are just as they don’t understand all that we are. It’s truly a learning experience. There is so much to navigate in these sorts of relationships because, as you guessed it, I’m speaking from first hand experiences.

Me, trying to navigate my relationship with my own parents, lol

Whenever I read a book where they mention having Immigrant parents, I immediately connect with it. It’s truly a unique experience and it isn’t talked about a lot. It honestly should be talked about more often. With this in mind, I wanted to share a list of a few books where they mention being a child of immigrants or has the experiences of children of immigrants. I’m just sharing a short list because my brain is still gathering itself but there will be several books in different genres ranges.

  • Middle Grade
    • Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari
    • The Curse On Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo
    • Adrift by Tanya Guerrero
    • Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
  • Young Adult
    • Boys I Know by Anna Garcia
    • Twice As Perfect by Louise Onome
    • The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
    • Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto
    • Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
    • Drizzle, Dreams And Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad
  • Adult
    • A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams
    • A Touch Of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos
    • Partners In Crime by Alisha Rai
It is true, sometimes they really don’t!

These are all books that I really enjoyed and thought maybe y’all would too! Are there any books that came out recently that have immigrant parents that you enjoyed? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel seen as a child of immigrants! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Gobble, Gobble, Gobbling November’s New Releases

If you haven’t watched her prime special “Watch Out For The Big Grrrls”, you really should, it’s amazing!

What’s up y’all?! Can you believe that we are about to be in another month and really 2 months before we find ourselves in a whole new year?! That realization just hit me! Time is wild and doesn’t feel real sometimes! I also realized that I probably need to be stopped with the corny new release blog post titles but I truly cannot help it, lol!

It really does feel that way sometimes!

Anyways, with a new month comes new releases and there are so many to look forward to! So let’s hop into this list!

Yes! Let’s!
  • Saha by Cho Nam-Joo *adult 11/1
  • The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson *adult* 11/1
  • Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer; adapted by Monique Gray Smith; illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt 11/1
  • Salt And Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho 11/1
  • Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer 11/1
  • Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli *adult* 11/1
  • Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki 11/1
  • Chicano Bakes: Recipes for Mexican Pan Dulce, Tamales, and My Favorite Desserts By Esteban Castillo 11/1
  • Hold You Down by Tracy Brown *adult* 11/1
  • The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl *Sequel* 11/1
  • My Fade Is Fresh by Shauntay Grant *PB* 11/1
  • She Persisted: Maya Lin by Grace Lin *MG* 11/1
  • Who Is The Man In The Air? Michael Jordan by Gabe Soria *MG* 11/1
  • Kiss Me, Catalina by Priscilla Oliveras *adult series* 11/1
  • I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee *adult* 11/1
  • Love In The Age Of Dragons by Fatima R. Henson 11/1                        
  • Not Done Yet Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change by Tameka Fryer Brown *PB* 11/1
  • Colton: Restoration Ranch Book 2 by LaQuette *adult* 11/1
  • Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez 11/1
  • Blue Box by Kouji Miura 11/1
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever The Courage To Dream by Frederick Douglas *PB* 11/1
  • The Aziza Chronicle: Awakening by Trevaugh Roach-Carter 11/4
  • Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolas 11/7
  • Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn *sequel* 11/8
  • Black Internet Effect by Shavone Charles 11/8
  • Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon 11/8
  • Futureland Battle For The Park by H.D. Hunter *MG* 11/8
  • Better than Fiction by Alexa Martin *adult* 11/8
  • Mihi Ever After by Tae Keller *MG* 11/8
  • A Song For The Unsung by Carole Weatherford & Rob Sanders *PB* 11/8
  • You Matter To Me by Doyin Richards *PB* 11/8
  • She Sang For India by Suma Subramaniam *PB* 11/8
  • Amor Is To Love You by Susie Jaramillo *PB* 11/8
  • I Love My Mommy by Susie Jaramillo *PB* 11/8
  • Nubia The Awakening by Omar Epps & Clarence A. Haynes 11/8
  • My Paati’s Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal & Art Twink *PB* 11/8
  • A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal by Preslaysa Williams *adult series* 11/8
  • Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry *adult* 11/8
  • Vegan Africa Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal by Marie Kacouchia *adult* 11/8
  • True Beauty Volume One by Yaongyi 11/8
  • Ride or Die A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women by Shanita Hubbard *adult* 11/8
  • While You Sleep by Jennifer Maruno *PB* 11/8
  • Kaiu Shirai X Posuka Demizu: Beyond The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai 11/8
  • The Grimkes: The Legacy Of Slavery In An American Family by Kerri K. Greenidge *adult* 11/8
  • Where Monsters Lurk & Magic Hides edited by Lauren T. Davila 11/10
  • One Scott Deal by Lucy Eden *adult Audio* 11/14
  • Briarcliff Prep by Brianna Peppins 11/15
  • Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne *adult* 11/15
  • Kobe Eats Pizza by Ashley Wian, Joy Ang & Cate Berry *PB* 11/15
  • Put Your Shoes On & Get Ready by Raphael Warnock *PB* 11/15
  • Little Black Girl by Kirby Howell-Baptiste *PB* 11/15
  • Little Black Boy by Kirby Howell-Baptiste *PB* 11/15
  • The Tamarind Tree by Sundara Ramaswarmy *adult* 11/15
  • Convergence by Zoraida Cordova *adult* 11/15
  • Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan *adult* 11/15
  • Africa Risen A New Era of Speculative Fiction by Sheree Renée Thomas; Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki; Zelda Knight 11/15
  • Heart Of The Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan *adult sequel* 11/15
  • Ravaged A Burned Inc. Novel by Naima Simone *adult* 11/15
  • Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse 11/15
  • My GrandMom by Gee-eun Lee & Sophie Bowman *PB* 11/15
  • Other Side of the Tracks By Charity Alyse 11/22
  • Living While Black Portraits of Everyday Resistance by Ajuan Mance *adult* 11/22
  • Embrace Your Size by hara 11/22
  • Where There Is Smoke There Is Fire by Monique Fisher *adult* 11/23
  • The Things We Bring To The Table by Rod Palmer *adult* 11/28
  • We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds 11/29
  • House Of Yesterday by Deeba Zargarpur 11/29
  • The Second Chance At Rancho Lindo by Sabrina Sol *adult* 11/29
  • We’re in This Together A Young Readers Edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders by Linda Sarsour 11/29
  • What We Found In Hallelujah by Vanessa Miller *adult* 11/29
  • The Universe In You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chen *PB* 11/29
That is a decent amount of books coming out!

There are a good amount of books coming out this month and I’m quite excited for so many! I’ve gotten lucky with ARCs thanks to bookish homies, netgalley and publishers. Here are the books I have ARCs for:

  • Salt And Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho
  • Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer
  • Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli *adult*
  • Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn *sequel*
  • Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon
  • Better than Fiction by Alexa Martin *adult*
  • Mihi Ever After by Tae Keller *MG*
  • A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal by Preslaysa Williams *adult series*
  • Briarcliff Prep by Brianna Peppins
  • Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne *adult*
  • We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
This is the energy!

I’m really excited for the books I have ARCs for (not as many as past months but I’m REALLY happy with the ones I have). I haven’t gotten to start any of them because I was playing catch up with October’s ARCs and trying to live life (and napping because work has required A LOT of energy) but I will be hopping to it soon because y’all see whats in that list, lol! My plan is also to go back to ARCs I hadn’t gotten to in the past since I don’t have a lot of ARCs for December!

I willlllll get to those books!

So are there any books you are looking forward to for November? Did I miss any books by Authors of Color that are coming out? Has the realization that the year is almost over hit you too? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like books I’ve been eagerly awaiting are dropping soon! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading as well as start of the holiday season!

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Give A Listen-YA Audiobooks I’ve Enjoyed

Hey There! So I’ve been continuing to listen to audiobooks while driving, cooking, fixing my dogs food (I know, that sounds pretty boujie) and whenever I feel like giving my eyes a bit of a break from whatever I am physically reading. The last post that I did about audiobooks mostly featured adult romances (which I still very much so love to listen to) but this one will have a bit of a mix of Young Adult books I’ve listened to.

We know I don’t look like this but just go with it, lol!

The Sunbearer Trials by Aidan Thomas: If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know that I love Fantasy and when you add in mythology-inspired then its like winning the lotto for me. This book definitely hit the mark for me. I talked about it a lot after I listened to the ALC because from start to finish, I was invested. I loved how the narrator both narrated Teo’s voice but also the other character’s voices (especially his best friend). I wasn’t bored for one moment and wanted to know what was going to happen next (no, I didn’t speed it up to try to get to it faster, in case you are wondering). If I wasn’t often times driving or walking while listening, I would’ve been at the edge of my seat during the trial scenes. The banter was also really great and I laughed quite often. I also really appreciated the growth that Teo experienced, even though he was really put through the ringer. I’m really excited for the next book because while the end wasn’t the most intense of cliff hangers, we still ended in a sort of limbo *sigh*!

Me, listening for what was to come next!

The Keeper Of Night & The Empress Of Time by Kylie Lee Baker: This is an incredible duology. I listened to The Keeper Of Night in order to get ready to read the E-ARC of The Empress Of Time and the narrator really does a phenomenal job. I could seriously listen to her talk/read all day long because her voice has this resonate quality to it. She read both audiobooks so I kind of knew what I would get in terms of vocal performance but I wasn’t ever bored of her voice or the story when I got to TEOT. I read the E-ARC first and while I was in the middle of reading it, I got approved for the ALC so I did an audio re-read. While I knew what happened in the story, it’s was almost like experiencing it for the first time and I appreciate that as someone who is really not much of a re-reader. As a heads up, TEOT picks up 10 years after the end of TKON but it isn’t disconnected from the first book at all. You also get to meet a bunch of new characters while seeing some old ones. It’s truly a journey and I loved every moment of it, even the points that made me flinch (TW: violence & xenophobia).

Me, quite often while listening! There are some intense moments but I lived for Ren’s anger & strength!

We Are The Scribes by Randi Pink: This was a book that sold me by its beautiful cover but the story definitely affirmed what I felt would be a great one. It combines the past with the present along with grief and joy beautifully; it also made political commentary digestible (it’s not a huge amount but it is apart of the narrative due to the MC’s parent’s professions & pasts). There is also a different take on paranormal influence in how the spirit reaches out to the main character, which I liked (you have to read in order to find out how that is). The narrator did a great job with this story and giving the characters varying voices. I did wish that they had another narrator for the secondary voice in the story so it really denotes that characters age and the levity of what they are saying as well as differentiates them. Other than that, this would be a great book to add to a social studies unit along side books like Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles, whether the class listens to it together on audiobook or reads the physical/e-book.

This book made me want to write!

The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park: This was just a feel good listen/read. You’ve got rivaling families for reasons unknown to the teens but that still impacts them. Those same teens go from rivals to co-conspirators (in a way) when they work together for the good of more than just their families and possibly even become something more. There was funny moments along with heavy ones but the heavy didn’t last long. There were two narrators, which I always love with dual POV books! They really showed the differences between the two teens, personality wise, and they balanced well. The narrators also did a really great job voicing the family members and their respective best friends group. If you are a fan of holiday romances, this one would be a great one to add to your list this year! Oh, there is also a good amount of talk about food so make sure you have a snack nearby if you tend to get hungry while listening to talk about food!

Whenever the MCs were at an impasse

I have a two other audiobooks that I’m looking forward to listening to, which are Monarch Rising by Harper Glenn and Beasts Of Ruin (the sequel to Beasts Of Prey) by Ayana Gray (and they have multiple narrators, which greatly delights my Spirit)! Are there any audiobooks that you have listened to that you’ve enjoyed? Have you listened to any of these audiobooks? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve listened to some seriously engaging audiobooks! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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I’m All For Bookish Love: Adult Romances Centered Around Books

Hey Y’all! So you all know that I have really gotten into adult romances this year. They serve as really great escapes and I do tend to run through them very quickly when my schedule allows. Getting wrapped up in other’s love stories is almost like an addiction for me. I absolutely live for the banter and tension, especially if there are laugh out loud moments and some (okay, a lot of) spice too.

Romances really are! No one warned me of this!

With all the things that adult romances offer, the HEA (Happily Ever After) being the guarantee and all, they feel even better when they are centered around books/bookish people…it gives my secretly romantic and easily melty heart hope. There are a few that I read in recent months that I really enjoyed. All of these are out now so you don’t have to wait!

Meeeee when I read a bookish romance!

Booked On A Feeling by Jayci Lee: I’m a sucker for a series/companion novels and am so glad that I got to read the first two books, A Sweet Mess and The Dating Dare, especially when this one had cameos with characters from them. Who wouldn’t love reading a book where there is a lot of time spent in a bookstore? The entire time, it just felt right between the two main characters (which this was dual POV, so SCORE) who are 1) best friends, 2) seeking something new and 3) finding the beauty of what has always been there. This was such a great book with lots of lusty thoughts, especially when toolbelts are involved (you have to read to understand, lol), some spicy moments and nosy family & friends.

It wasn’t quite like this but the energy is kind of there, lol

The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: Another type of book I love is one that involves magic so if you add a potential love story to it, then I’m sold! While one main character is a, you guess it, a witch, the other is a (grumpy) librarian in terms of the romance in the story; we get multiple perspectives, not just the main characters and how various relationships blossom throughout the story. I do love a story where there are layers to it and love grows in different & beautiful ways! There were also some funny moments because whenever children are present in a story, you are bound to be entertained in some way, shape or form (I know this all too well)! There are also some secrets to uncover as well. What are they might you ask? Well, you just have to read to find out!

There are quite a few to feel in different ways, if I’m being honest!

The Boy With The Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith: There are 2 things that always go well together in my mind and that is books & baked goods, so when a book delivers BOTH of these things, it makes me extremely happy (and hungry). With one MC owning a bakery and the other a bookstore (and from what I read, that “boy” is definitely a man my friends), it’s truly like a match made in heaven. We also get cameos from beloved pets (shoutout to my fellow furparents out there). There’s mutual crushing, heated moments, funny banter, family interventions and plenty of book & food talk throughout the book! Definitely have some snacks nearby while reading!

Me, stuffing my face then reaching for my book

The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale: If you’re a fan of stories where there is mistaken identity, identity switching and even a bit of identity “borrowing”, this is a book that you will really enjoy! One main character is an author and the other is an actor & both seem to be in career and/or personal life slumps. When these two characters meet, the tension begins to build right away. This book had some really hilarious banter (with things that I totally could see myself saying), I laughed out loud quite a lot. There is also more spice in this book than Lillie’s first book, which shocked the ish out of me in the best of ways (I really love when books do that)! Anyways, two characters finding their way to each other (so to speak) while also finding themselves no matter the pretenses, I’m here for it!

There are a few moments of this sentiment/reaction

By The Book by Jasmine Guillory: If you are a fan of Beauty And The Beast as well as Black Love, this would definitely be the book for you. I remember seeing the cover and instantly knowing that I wanted to read it. We get an MC who is a publishing professional that is attempting to help a reclusive & surly author finish his book so you know there are moments of bookish banter, grumpy but potentially heated glares/glances and change of hearts. This is not a super steamy book (it is published under Disney after all) but it will leave your bookish heart filled (as it did mine).

With a capital L and a capital B (Black), I truly do!

So those are 5 books that left my heart wanting more bookish love stories (which I do hope for in the future) but still feeling full. Are there any adult romances that you have read that meet the bookish criteria in one way or another? Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a bunch of bookish romances! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

Byeeeee
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Let’s Celebrate: I Hit 100 Books Read For The Free Black Women’s Library Challenge

Hey Y’all! So for those who have been reading this blog for a while or had been following me for a while on social media (and if you haven’t now you will), know that I have been participating in the Free Black Women’s Library Challenge for several years. If you aren’t aware of it, every year, they set a number of books to aspire to read by Black Women & Non-Binary Authors and they provide a list of suggested genres, if you want to look at last years list, here is the link. TFBWL Reading Challenge is honestly the only one that I actually take part in and keep track of as I really aim to prioritize Black Authors, especially Women & Non-Binary, in my reading.

In case you were wondering!

Last year, I read 80 books that fit this criteria, which was at least 5-10 books more than the previous year (I can’t remember the previous year’s total). My goal is always to read the same amount of books but really to surpass the previous year. I’m super excited that I have hit 100 books varying from Middle grade to Adult and range from contemporary to fantasy (clearly because now this post exists)! I also like to go into the new year reading a book by a Black Woman so that I’m keeping in line with my intention to keep up with this challenge.

This is the energy I feel!

Since I was so very excited about hitting this major milestone, I figured that I would share the list of books read thus far (I have more in my TBR to read that WILL get read but I’m not setting an end goal as I like going with the flow). I’ll share if they are adult, new adult, young adult or middle grade; the format I read it in and if there is a Blog post about it, I will link it!

Janelle Monae is forever a mood!
  1. Along For The Ride by Mimi Grace E-Book *adult*
  2. Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee E-ARC *NA*
  3. Asking For A Friend by Andi Osho ARC *adult*
  4. Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen E-ARC *adult*
  5. Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow E-ARC *adult*
  6. Black Love Matters edited by Jessica C. Pryde E-ARC *adult*
  7. The Great Mrs. Elias by Barbara Chase-Riboud ARC *adult*
  8. You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen E-ARC *YA*
  9. Shuri: Symbiosis by Nic Stone Print book *MG*
  10. A Comb Of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow ARC *MG*
  11. Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys E-ARC *YA*
  12. The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton & Sona Charaipotra E-ARC *YA*
  13. Turning by Joy L. Smith ARC *YA*
  14. Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye ARC *YA*
  15. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo E-ARC *adult*
  16. Working Through It by Kasha Thompson E-ARC *adult*
  17. Saavy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell by Taj McCoy ARC *adult*
  18. Sir Fig Newton And The Science Of Persistence by Sonja Thomas E-ARC *MG*
  19. A Walk In The Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon Audio-Novella *adult*
  20. You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts E-ARC *YA*
  21. The Perfect Play by G.S. Carr Audio-Novella *adult*
  22. Sun Of A Beach by Mia Sosa Audio-Novella *adult*
  23. Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk E-ARC *YA*
  24. The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport ARC *NA*
  25. Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper E-ARC *adult*
  26. The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa E-Book *adult*
  27. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa E-ARC *adult*
  28. What A Match by Mimi Grace E-ARC *adult*
  29. Hope And Glory by Jendella Benson ARC *adult*
  30. Half Light by Tayari Jones Audio-Novella *adult*
  31. In The Key Of Us by Mariama J. Lockington E-ARC *MG*
  32. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton E-ARC *MG*
  33. By The Book by Jasmine Guillory E-ARC *adult*
  34. Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney ARC *YA*
  35. Rise Up, Burn Down by Vincent Tiredo E-ARC *YA*
  36. The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole Audiobook *adult*
  37. If I Don’t Have You by Sareeta Domingo Audiobook *adult*
  38. Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas ARC *MG*
  39. Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney Audiobook *YA*
  40. Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee ARC *YA*
  41. Should’ve Been by Alexandria House Audio-Novella *adult*
  42. All I Want For Christmas by Michelle Stimpson Audio-Novella *adult*
  43. Temper Me by Alexandria House Audiobook *adult*
  44. Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle E-ARC *YA*
  45. Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe E-ARC *YA*
  46. All Signs Point To Yes Edited by G. haron Davis, Cam Montgomery & Adrienne White E-ARC *YA*
  47. Deep In Providence by Riss M. Neilson E-ARC *YA*
  48. The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna E-ARC *YA*
  49. Touch Me by Alexandria House Audiobook *adult*
  50. Hazel And Gray by Nic Stone Audio-Novella *YA*
  51. Before Her by Jacqueline Woodson Audio-Novella/Short *adult*
  52. Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest E-ARC *YA*
  53. Love Again by Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm Audiobook *adult*
  54. The Signs And Wonders Of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen E-ARC *YA*
  55. Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang E-ARC *MG*
  56. Off Script by Ashley Marie E-ARC *adult*
  57. Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher E-ARC *adult*
  58. Teach Me by Alexandria House Audiobook *adult*
  59. Onyeka And The Academy Of The Sun by Tola Okogwa E-ARC *MG*
  60. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron ARC *YA*
  61. Fake It Till You Back It by Jamie Wesley E-ARC *adult*
  62. On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi E-ARC *NA*
  63. The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi E-ARC *adult*
  64. Good Morning, Love by Ashley M. Coleman E-ARC *adult*
  65. American Royalty by Tracey Livesay E-ARC *adult*
  66. The Black Girls Left Standing by Juliana Goodman E-ARC *YA*
  67. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola ARC *NA*
  68. Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith E-ARC *adult*
  69. Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson E-ARC *MG*
  70. Symona’s Still Single by Lisa Bent Audiobook *adult*
  71. Graceful Burdens by Roxane Gay Audio-Novella/Short *adult*
  72. Sister Mother Warrior by Vanessa Riley ARC *adult*
  73. Lila by Naima Coster Audio-Novella/Short *adult*
  74. Can’t Resist Her by Kianna Alexander E-ARC *adult*
  75. The Accidental Pin-Up by Danielle Jackson E-ARC *adult*
  76. Love In Color by Bolu Babalola Audiobook *NA*
  77. Have We Met by Camille Baker Audiobook *adult*
  78. The Moment We Met by Camille Baker Audiobook *adult*
  79. Twice As Perfect by Louise Onome E-ARC *YA*
  80. Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke ARC *YA*
  81. Nobody’s Princess by Erica Ridley E-ARC *adult*
  82. Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson E-book *adult*
  83. Knot Again by Kwana Jackson E-ARC *adult*
  84. The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon E-Book *Adult*
  85. The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon E-Book *adult*
  86. The Hook-Up Plan by Farrah Rochon E-ARC *adult*
  87. Office Hours by Katrina Jackson Audiobook *adult*
  88. Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak E-ARC *adult*
  89. Almost There by Farrah Rochon ALC *YA*
  90. Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas E-ARC *YA*
  91. A Taste Of Magic by J.Elle E-ARC *YA*
  92. Serwah Boeting’s Guide To Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown E-ARC *MG*
  93. The Weight Of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson ARC *YA*
  94. The Rules Of Engagement by Selena Montgomery E-ARC *adult*
  95. The Two Lives Of Sara by Catherine Adel West ARC *adult*
  96. To Win A Prince by Toni Shiloh E-ARC *adult*
  97. Vanessa Jared’s Got A Man by LaQuette ARC *adult*
  98. Drunk On Love by Jasmine Guillory E-ARC *adult*
  99. Rust In The Root by Justina Ireland ARC *YA*
  100. Eternally Yours Edited By Patrice Caldwell E-ARC *YA*
  101. We Are The Scribes by Randi Pink ALC *YA*
My spirit so do deeply excited by this!

Okay so I read a little over 100 books (including one reread in a different format). I got really into adult romance along with audiobooks, and if they are both, even better! I even read some adult fiction (that shocked me as well)! I’ve really branched out with my reading and I think it is, in part, due to this challenge! If you are wondering how to get into it, just start documenting your books and when you post, use their hashtags that are in the link I posted earlier in the post! If you aren’t following them on social media, I would highly recommend to: IG @thefreeblackwomenslibrary and facebook.

This is the energy y’all!

Are you apart of a challenge like this one? Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read over 100 books by Black Women & Non-Binary Authors! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing happy reading!

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Don’t Be Spooked By All These Books Coming Out In October

What’s Up? So September has come and gone so quickly I feel like I’ve gotten whiplash (hopefully I’m not the only one) so now we’re entering into a new pub month along with Spooky Season! October is bringing us some great books so we are just going to get right into this list!

Yes!
  • The Pain We Carry Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color by Natalie Gutierrez *adult* 10/1
  • Path Of Deceit by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton 10/4
  • A Scatter Of Light by Malinda Lo 10/4
  • Token Black Girl A Memoir by Danielle Prescod *adult* 10/4
  • The Lords of Night by J.C. Cervantes *MG* 10/4
  • The Empress Of Time by Kylie Lee Baker *sequel* 10/4
  • Tasting Light Edited by A.R. Capetta & Wade Roush 10/4
  • The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco 10/4
  • Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala *adult series* 10/4
  • Monarch Rising by Harper Glenn 10/4
  • The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park 10/4
  • Shad Hadid And The Alchemists Of Alexandria by George Jreije *MG* 10/14
  • Nothing Ever Happens To Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks *MG* 10/4
  • The Blue Scarf by Mohamed Danawi *PB* 10/4
  • Children Of Stardust by Edudzi Adodo *MG* 10/4
  • Brown Is Beautiful by Supriya Kelkar *PB* 10/4
  • She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller by Traci Sorell*MG* 10/4
  • The Big Dreams Of Small Creatures by Gail Lerner *MG* 10/4
  • You Should Sit Down For This by Tamera Mowry-Housley *adult* 10/4
  • Anne Of Greenville by Mariko Tamaki 10/4
  • My Road From Damascus by Jamal Saeed *adult* 10/4
  • Bhai For Now By Maleeha Siddiqui 10/4
  • The Forerunner: A Story Of Pain And Perseverance in America by Cori Bush *adult* 10/4
  • Papyrus: The Invention Of Books In The Ancient World by Irene Vallejo *adult* 10/4
  • Maybe An Artist, A Graphic Memoir By Liz Montague *MG* 10/4
  • The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera *prequel* 10/4
  • Soul of a Killer by Abby Collette *adult* 10/4
  • The Tuskegee Student Uprising A History by Brian Jones *adult* 10/4
  • Jackal by Erin E. Adams 10/4
  • If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang 10/11
  • Black Gold by Laura Obuobi & London Ladd *PB* 10/11
  • Somewhere Sisters by Erika Hayasaki *adult* 10/11
  • Don’t Look Back by Achut Deng & Keely Hutton 10/11
  • My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives By Charlayne Hunter-Gault *adult* 10/11
  • The Picture Bride by Lee Geum-Yi *adult* 10/11
  • Where The Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman *MG* 10/11
  • Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy *MG* 10/11
  • Will Do Magic For Small Change by Andrea Hairston *adult* 10/11
  • The Essential Dick Gregory edited by Christian Gregory *adult* 10/11
  • Off The Wall by Theodore Taylor, III *PB* 10/11
  • On The Hustle by Adriana Herrera *adult* 10/11
  • Black Power Kitchen by Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao & Lester Walker *adult* 10/11
  • The Miracle Of Salt by Naomi Duguis *adult* 10/11
  • Black Panther: Panther’s Rage by Sheree Renée Thomas 10/11
  • I Miss You, I Hate This by Sara Saedi 10/11
  • Blood Moon Prophecy The Legend of the Nyx by Dilani Kahawala 10/11
  • An American Martyr In Persia by Reza Aslan *adult* 10/11
  • Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes *adult series* 10/11
  • The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez 10/11
  • Daughters of the New Year A Novel by E.M. Tran *adult* 10/11
  • Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller by Meredith Ireland 10/11
  • When Trees Fall by Dale Mahfood *adult* 10/15
  • Marya Khan And The Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Faruqi *MG Series* 10/18
  • Road Of The Lost by Nafiza Azad 10/18
  • Drizzle, Dreams and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad 10/18
  • The Spirit Queen by Arnée Flores 10/18
  • Frizzy by Claribel Ortega *MG* 10/18
  • Marikit And The Ocean Of Stars by Caris Avendano Cruz *MG* 10/18
  • Miles Morales: Stranger Tides by Justin A. Reynolds *MG Series* 10/18
  • Love from Mecca to Medina By S. K. Ali 10/18
  • We Are The Scribes by Randi Pink 10/18
  • Partners In Crime by Alisha Rai *adult* 10/18
  • Somebody That I Used To Know by Dana L. Davis 10/18
  • The Heartbeat Of Wounded Knee (YA Adaptation) by David Treuer 10/18
  • Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown *PB* 10/18
  • The Talk by Alicia D. Williams *PB* 10/18
  • When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar *adult* 10/18
  • I Can’t Wait To Call You My Wife by Rita Roberts *adult* 10/18
  • Black Women Will Save The World by April Ryan *adult* 10/18
  • Zara’s Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure by Hena Khan *MG* 10/18
  • African Art Now 50 Pioneers Defining African Art for the Twenty-First Century by Osei Bonsu *adult* 10/18
  • My Nest of Silence by Matt Faulkner 10/18
  • Mama’s Home by Shay Youngblood *PB* 10/18
  • Picture Perfect by Jeevani Charika *adult* 10/21
  • Into The Riverlands by Nghi Vo *adult sequel* 10/25
  • The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau *adult* 10/25
  • A Touch of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos *adult* 10/25
  • The Sevenfold Hunters By Rose Egal 10/25
  • Strike The Zither by Joan He 10/25
  • Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris *adult* 10/25
  • Maybe This Christmas by Ieshia Wiedlin *adult* 10/25
  • A Seed In The Sun by Aida Salazar 10/25
  • Go, Sled! Go! By James Yang *PB* 10/25
  • Into The Riverlands by Nghi Vo *adult* 10/25
  • João by a Thread by Roger Mello *PB* 10/25
  • Never Catch Me by Darius Simpson *adult* 10/25
  • The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and The Making Of An Empire by Joseph Sassoon *adult* 10/25
  • We Are All We Have by Marina Budhos 10/25
  • Honest With You by Kaye Rockwell *adult* 10/30
The list isn’t that long this month…*looks away*

That is a good amount of books coming out! I have been blessed with some ARCS/ALCs for a few of these books courtesy of netgalley, MacMillan, HarperCollins (thanks to my friend Doris) and Meredith Ireland (for her book)! Shout Out to y’all! They are:

  • A Scatter Of Light by Malinda Lo
  • The Empress Of Time by Kylie Lee Baker *sequel*
  • The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
  • Shad Hadid And The Alchemists Of Alexandria by George Jreije *MG*
  • If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang
  • On The Hustle by Adriana Herrera *adult*
  • Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller by Meredith Ireland
  • Marya Khan And The Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Faruqi *MG Series*
  • Road Of The Lost by Nafiza Azad
  • Drizzle, Dreams and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad
  • Frizzy by Claribel Ortega *MG*
  • Marikit And The Ocean Of Stars by Caris Avendano Cruz *MG*
  • We Are The Scribes by Randi Pink
  • Partners In Crime by Alisha Rai *adult*
  • Somebody That I Used To Know by Dana L. Davis
  • Picture Perfect by Jeevani Charika *adult*
  • The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau *adult*
  • A Touch of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos *adult*
  • Strike The Zither by Joan He
  • Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris *adult*
I do! I really do!

Of these, I’ve listened to/read are:

  • The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
  • Currently Reading: Shad Hadid And The Alchemists Of Alexandria by George Jreije *MG*
I truly believe in my heart of hearts that I will get through this TBR of mine! It’s what I have to tell myself to get through the day, lol!

I’m a tadbit behind on my TBR but I’ll catch up eventually, lol! Hopefully this list didn’t spook you! Are there any books by Authors Of Color that I’ve missed? Are there any that you are really excited for? Let me know in the comments here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve produced a book release list that doesn’t leave you concerned for your bank accounts or library holds! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you a happy spooky season & reading!

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Middle Grade Is Giving Magical Black Girl Realness And I Live For It

Hey there! So I’ve been in & out of my middle grade bag for the last few months and noticed that authors have really been giving Magical Black Girl Realness and how much I have been living for it (same for Young Adult but this is the MG girlies moment). I’ve been so immersed in my reading, especially these books that I can think of little else.

In every way, shape and form!

I’ve written about other books in past posts like the one about The Marvellers and 4 MGs I Loved (Sir Fig Newton And The Science Of Persistence & Unfadeable was mentioned) but some time has past and more amazing MGs have graced us with their presence. I’ve been wanting to share these books with you so let’s get to it!

Imagine she jumped in for the sake of visuals, lol!

Amari from Amari And The Great Game (sequel to Amari And the Night Brothers) by B.B. Alston: I’m not going to lie, I loved the first book so much and was very nervous about how things were going to go in this book. Sequels are tough, especially when a character like Amari sets such a high bar in the first book and I can tell you that she didn’t disappoint in this book. Amari is just as determined and powerful, catching all the curveballs thrown her way and devising plans like a mastermind. I know that readers everywhere (while they maybe mad with some of the situations) will love this continuation of Amari’s journey and will be excited to see how it will end (whenever we get the third book, of course, lol).

I’m pretty sure this is a pitch but that point is what gives me Amari’s energy when she’s focused

Kyana from The Taste Of Magic by J.Elle: If you read Wings Of Ebony, you will feel right at home in The Taste Of Magic because the setting is close but distinctly it’s own anddd we get Kyana. Kyana is not only this funny, intelligent and community-minded kid who loves to bake (I craved baked goods a lot while reading) but she also learns that there is so much more to her than she could’ve ever imagined beginning with the fact that magic is actually real. She goes on this amazing journey of self-discovery, gaining new friends (outside of her BFF, Nae, and her Memaw) along the way and solving the problems that she finds in her path which would make anyone want to root for her. Kyana’s voice is one that is definitely worth listening to and I, personally, can’t wait to hear more of it!

There was a lot of oven usage & Kyana was like a junior master baker/chef!

Serwa from Serwa Boeting’s Guide To Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown: From the very beginning of this book, I knew that I would live for Serwa. Homegirl is ridiculously funny, knowledgeable and kicks serious tail (mostly vampire)! Who wouldn’t love a main character, especially one that is a Black Girl, who serves snark & humor with a side of superhero energy and mythology lessons?! I will sign up for that each and every time with bells on. I know so many kids will see themselves in Serwa; the ones who have moved & had to find their way in new surroundings, had their names mispronounced no matter how many times they correct the offender, is a child of immigrants and fights to show their worth when they are doubted. I can’t wait to see what Serwa gets into in the next book!

Serwa gives this energy to me

There are also a few others that I have loved in the past months and if you haven’t read these books, you really should:

  • Onyeka from Onyeka And The Academy Of The Sun by Tola Okogwu
  • Hasani From Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas
  • Maya (and Frankie) From Maya And The Rising Dark, Maya And The Return Of The Godlings & Maya And The Lord Of Shadows (recently released)
  • Pilar from Pilar Ramirez And The Escape From Zafa by Julian Randall
  • Ella From The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton (Link to that blog post is above)
I wholeheartedly agree, especially the ones in all of these books!

Honestly, I can’t wait to see even more Magical Black Girls make their way to shelves everywhere and into readers hands (I have a few reads coming up with Black Girl Main Characters in both MG & YA that I can’t wait to get to). I always feel so empowered by their journeys and always feel like my younger self could’ve used these characters but feel so glad that kids get them now and in the future.

I couldn’t resist!

Okay y’all, I’m ending this here but have you read any of these books? Are any of these Magical Black Girls your favorite? Is there one that I don’t have on this list? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I read Magical Black Girls who spoke to my Spirit & gave what needed to be given! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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New Settings, Making New Friends And The Jitters They Bring-MGs That Deal With These Things

Hey everyone! With a new school year underway, we find that this is a high stress time, especially for kids who are entering into a new school/classroom, those who have moved and have to navigate new territory as well as attempt to establish friendships. As an adult and educator, EYE have trouble with this so I know that some of the younger generations, especially the introverted of the pack, may struggle with these daunting things.

Me…at the thought of peopling, especially in new environments

I was scrolling on twitter (not quite doom but cautiously doing so) when I came across the tweet of an author speaking of their child’s struggle with being in a new setting and attempting to make friends (I’m not linking because I haven’t gained permission from them to do so as their child is the focus of it). This author asked for middle grade book suggestions and y’all know how excited I get over book recommendations so I jumped at providing a list. It got me thinking about the fact what I really hadn’t thought about the older kids in this struggle as my work focuses around 3-5 year olds with special needs so I wanted to make amends by sharing the list here and adding a bunch of others I thought of later! Some of these have their own blog posts or were in others so I’ll link those as well.

It really got me thinking and I scoured my reading log and blog to extend this list!
There always is!

All of these books tackle themes from moving, new school/boarding school, making friends, new abilities and a combination of two or more of these things. I apologize that I didn’t give little reviews, this week has been a lot but I hope to get back to that next week! If you have questions about a specific book, do feel free to drop them in the comments and I will answer (spoiler-free, of course)!

I’m finding my footing with work but I haven’t forgotten about y’all!

As an educator, I do want to offer a word (or a few) of advice to the parents/guardians out there of children who are dealing with these struggles. Please openly communicate with your child’s teachers (all of them) about creating a more supportive environment for not just your child but all others who may be having these anxieties. Half the time, it’s not just one student having trouble finding their footing with their peers and their new environments. Ask the teachers about doing class meetings where a safe space is created for the children to speak on whatever is on their hearts. This may open the floor for the kids to connect. There is also the possibility of reaching out to school administrators to set up support groups within the grades. I would also recommend asking to be linked to other parents/guardians of children dealing with social anxiety or are new to the environment. Of course, we want these connections to be made organically but we, as adults, can be a positive catalyst. Oh and if you can find a great child therapist and have the means for one, it would be helpful for the kid(s) to have a neutral party to speak to about their struggles and be offered the tools to deal with them.

And I hope they inspire you!

Anyway, I hope that this list and little bit of advice is helpful. Do you know of any great middle grades by authors of color that should be added to this list? Have any advice for adults who have children having a tough time with new settings or making new friends? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I read some great middle grades that ease my anxious heart! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading always!

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Chillin’ With The Author: Judy I. Lin

Hi everyone! For this week! I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A with the amazing Judy I. Lin about her Book Of Tea Duology, as the second book A Venom Dark & Sweet, came out on 8/23! So let’s get into this!

First, let me just say thank you for taking time to do this and answer my questions! As you know, I LOVED A Magic Steeped In Poison and was delighted that we didn’t have to wait long for A Venom Dark & Sweet. We are going to make this a spoiler free Q&A because we want people to go out and get your books!

What was it like writing the duology and then having them published within months of each other?

It was definitely stressful while I was writing the second book because of the tight timeline. However, I was happy with the way the story turned out because I was able to revise the first book and put in hints about the second book as well as tweak some of the details to ensure the flow of the story. 

Releasing the second book so close to the debut of the first one though is definitely overwhelming! But I’m very lucky in that I got to go on tour for A Venom Dark and Sweet and meet all the wonderful readers in person. It made me really happy to be able to celebrate the release of the book and see it on the shelves. 

*My face*

What was the catalyst or the inspiration to you writing this duology? Had this been an idea you had for a long time?

I started working on the idea of what would become the Book of Tea duology in Fall 2018 as I was playing around with the concept of “magical tea”. It took a year to research and worldbuild and work on the sample chapters before it sold a little over a year later. 

Very…that’s the answer!

Who was the first character that came to you in the series? Did you envision them or hear their voice?

Ning was always the character who spoke to me from the start. I envisioned someone whose life was already predetermined to assist her father, but then a scroll from the capital arrives and that changes everything. Those scenes didn’t make it into the book, but that was how Ning came to me. 

Whoaaaaa!

So AVDAS is a bit of a shift from AMSIP as this book was a Dual POV (which is my JAM by the way), what was that like for you going from a singular perspective to dual?

I had a ton of fun writing Kang’s POV! I thought it opened up more of the world so that we could go somewhere unexpected with him. But returning to Ning’s POV felt very comfortable and familiar. 

Did you always know that AVDAS would be a dual POV? If not, what inspired the change?

This was a suggestion from my brilliant editor! I had a very short first draft for the sequel initially and I knew something was missing but I wasn’t sure what. She suggested adding Kang’s POV and it all grew from there! 

I also noticed that one perspective was in first person why the other was in 3rd, was there a particular reason behind this?

During the events of the second book, Kang felt very distant from everyone around him. I chose the third person perspective to represent his state of mind and also to distinguish him from Ning’s POV, as ultimately the story still belonged to Ning. 

That makes sense!

I’m actually really glad this was a Dual POV because I found myself wondering the thoughts of the other quite frequently while reading AMSIP so I was pleased that we got their perspective. What was it like writing this character’s experiences?

I don’t want to go into too much detail because of spoilers, but I thought writing from his POV helped a lot in understanding his motivations and why he made the choices he did in the first book!

cause it did!

Between the two main characters, we got to see so much more of the world they lived in and met a lot of new characters. What was your favorite part about expanding the world and the cast?

I had so much fun coming up with the different places that Ning travels through in A Venom Dark and Sweet. I kept an inspiration board of places that inspired each of the locations, and referred to it frequently. Since I wrote the book while travel restrictions were still in place, it was my own way of “sightseeing” from my keyboard. 

Did you have a favorite character to write in AVDAS? What made them your favorite?

I enjoyed writing a particular side character that Ning meets in the story – Brother Huang. Even though Ning’s encounters with him are brief, he certainly made an impact, and I enjoyed thinking of his back story and why his paths crossed with Ning’s. 

I liked him too! He’s agratt character!

Which character or characters did you write yourself most into in AVDAS? What did you give them of yourself like personality, interests, etc?

I feel like I put a little bit of myself in each of the characters, whether it’s something I aspire to, something I hope for, something I am annoyed with, etc. 

Did you base any characters on people in your life or name any after anyone?

I’m always surprised to hear when writers name their characters after people they know! I actively avoid this while writing as I would definitely be influenced by the person who has that name! 

I can see that though

Is there anything you want readers to know about The Book Of Tea Duology, if they haven’t read it yet or gotten to AVDAS?

I hope that readers will enjoy the world in the Book of Tea and the mythology behind the world, whether they are being introduced to Chinese mythology or whether they have knowledge of it and can appreciate the twists that I put into the story to make it unique. I also hope that it sparks an interest in them where they might want to learn more about Taiwanese culture or food or tea! 

Do you think you will write anything in this world again or do you feel that the stories that needed to be told have been?

I think Ning’s story arc has concluded for me in my mind in the two books. I do have an idea for a chapter or perhaps a short novella that might give readers a deeper glimpse into certain relationships in the book…but no plans right now to write them. Maybe some day!

hmmm…well, I’m ready for anything else comes out of this world!

Okay, so my favorite question to ask any author is actually a two part question. If you had the ability to hang out with any of your characters in real life, who are you hanging out with? And what are y’all doing?

I think it would be fun to hang out with Zhen and Ruyi in Taipei! I feel like Zhen would like to be in a modern city. She’d probably like to explore all of the little shops in the shopping district during the day, and then we would go to the night market to try all sorts of food at night! 

Yes! That sounds like so much fun & they would be great to hang with!

Alrighty, I’m going to end this here so the readers can go out and pick up A Venom Dark And Sweet, if they haven’t already! Thank you so much Judy for taking time from your busy life to answer my questions! I’m truly honored that you did!

Thank you so much for having me! I hope everyone enjoys A Venom Dark and Sweet!

Now if you haven’t added this book to your TBR, you need to change that! This duology is filled with court intrigue, mythology, found friends/family and MAGIC (which is truly the making of a great book/series)! Please be sure to follow Judy on all social media platforms Instagram @judyilinauthor; Twitter @judyilin; as well as visit her website https://judyilin.com/ because she is lovely!

Judy really is lovely!

Have you read A Magic Steeped In Poison yet? Have you added A Venom Dark And Sweet to your TBR? Let me know here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just a really amazing cup of tea (with or without bubbles)! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading & tea drinking!

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Falling Into The Bookish Grind: September Releases

Hey there! So September is now upon us which means that lots of folx are headed back to school or back to work from vacation but it also means a whole lot of new Books are dropping! This month has a CRAZY amount coming out and I imagine that my fellow bookworms will be keeping our favorite bookstores and libraries super busy (Nobody come for me about your bank accounts, talk to the publishers, lol)!

I think I know several people that is going to look like this, lol!

Since this list is INSANELY long, I’m just going to get right to it. Though I quickly want to remind you that you should always double check pub dates because they are always subject to change (supply chains and publishers love to play in our faces at times)! Okay, now to this list!

  • The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali & Hatem Aly *PB* 9/1
  • Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias *adult* 9/1
  • Magic: Once Upon A Far Away Land by Mirelle Ortega *PB* 9/6
  • Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah 9/6
  • The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas 9/6
  • Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown *MG* 9/6
  • Daughters Of The Dawn by Sarena & Sasha Nanua *sequel* 9/6
  • The Fortunes of Jaded Women A Novel by Carolyn Huynh *adult* 9/6
  • The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo *MG* 9/6
  • The Weight Of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson 9/6
  • Shot Clock by Caron Butler & Justin A. Reynolds *MG* 9/6
  • The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas *Adult Sequel* 9/6
  • Rules of Engagement by Selena Montgomery; Stacey Abrams *adult* 9/6
  • Do You Take This Man by Denise Williams *adult* 9/6
  • The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale *adult* 9/6
  • The Boy with the Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith *adult* 9/6
  • Eden’s Everdark By Karen Strong *MG* 9/6
  • Skeletina And The In-Between World by Susie Jaramillo *PB & Spanish Edition* 9/6
  • Key Player by Kelly Yang *MG Series* 9/6
  • Magnolia Flower by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi *PB* 9/6
  • Running To Fall by Kalisha Buckhanon *adult* 9/6
  • Almost There by Farrah Rochon 9/6
  • Days Come And Go by Hemley Boum *adult* 9/6
  • The Year Of The Tiger: An Activist’s Life by Alice Wong *adult* 9/6
  • Adift by Tanya Guerrero *MG* 9/6
  • The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat & Joanna Cacao *MG* 9/6
  • Our Shadows Have Claws edited by Yamile Saied Mendez & Amparo Ortiz 9/6
  • Buddha And The Rose by Mallika Chopra *PB* 9/6
  • Lotus Bloom And The Afro Revolution by Sherri Winston *MG* 9/6
  • Me Gusta by Angele Dominguez *PB* 9/6
  • I Have A Superpower by Stephen Curry *PB* 9/6
  • She Persisted: Diana Taurasi by Monica Brown *MG* 9/6
  • The Call Her Fregonia by David Bowles 9/6
  • In The Black Fantastic by Ekow Eshun *adult* 9/6
  • What We Fed to the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri *adult* 9/6
  • Moonflower by Kacen Callender *MG* 9/6
  • Meet Me in Mumbai By Sabina Khan 9/6
  • The Two Lives Of Sara by Catherine Adel West *adult* 9/6
  • Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore 9/6
  • Looks Good on Paper by Kilby Blades *adult* 9/12
  • Black Panther: Uprising by Ronald L. Smith *MG Series* 9/13
  • Small Deaths by Rijula Das *adult* 9/13
  • Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud *PB* 9/13
  • Charlie Hernández & the Golden Dooms by Ryan Calejo *MG* 9/13
  • Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco *adult* 9/13
  • Astrology for Black Girls A Beginner’s Guide for Black Girls Who Look to the Stars by Jordannah Elizabeth, Illustrated by Chellie Carroll 9/13
  • Maya And The Lord Of Shadows by Rena Barron *MG Sequel* 9/13
  • Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa *adult* 9/13
  • Death By Society by Sierra Elmore 9/13
  • Until Someone Listens/Hasta Que Alguien Me Escuche by Estella Juarez with Lissette Norman *PB* 9/13
  • Shark Princess by Nidhi Chanani *MG* 9/13
  • Inaugural Ballers by Andrews Maraniss 9/13
  • Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango *MG* 9/13
  • To Win A Prince by Toni Shiloh *adult* 9/13
  • People Person by Candice Carty-Williams *adult* 9/13
  • Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions A Novel in Interlocking Stories by Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi *adult* 9/13
  • As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh 9/13
  • The Line In Sand by Thao Lam *PB* 9/15
  • Lioness Of Punjab by Anita Jari Kharbanda 9/17
  • Seoulmates by Susan Lee 9/20
  • You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark Oshiro *MG* 9/20
  • Anisa’s International Day by Reem Faruqi *MG* 9/20
  • Airi Sano Prankmaster General by Zoe Tokushige & Jennifer Naalchigar *MG* 9/20
  • The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron *MG* 9/20
  • Rust In The Root by Justina Ireland 9/20
  • MapMaker by Lisa Moore Ramée *MG* 9/20
  • España A Brief History of Spain by Giles Tremlett *adult* 9/20
  • Amira & Hamza: The Quest for the Ring of Power by Samira Ahmed *MG Sequel* 9/20
  • Wanda The Brave by Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni *PB* 9/20
  • The Getaway by Lamar Giles 9/20
  • Drunk On Love by Jasmine Guillory *adult* 9/20
  • Vanessa Jared’s Got A Man by LaQuette *adult* 9/20
  • Eternally Yours edited by Patrice Caldwell 9/20
  • Call Him Jack by Yohuru Williams & Michael G. Long 9/20
  • Until We Break by Matthew Dawkins 9/20
  • Me And Muhammad Ali by Jabari Asim *PB* 9/20
  • Direwood by Catherine Yu 9/20
  • Something Bright And Burning by Whitney Amazeen *NA* 9/20
  • Tears of My Mother The Legacy of My Nigerian Upbringing by Wendy Osefo *adult* 9/20
  • Maya’s Song by Renee Watson *PB* 9/20
  • Stolen City by Elisa Bonnin *adult* 9/20
  • The House Of Transcendence by Amanda Ross 9/22
  • Abuela’s Fideo by Gabriela Tijerina *PB* 9/24
  • A Library by Nikki Giovanni, illus. by Erin Robinson *PB* 9/27
  • A Ghost In Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie *adult companion* 9/27
  • Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong *Prequel* 9/27
  • Ruby Finley VS. The Interstellar Invasion by K. Tempest Bradford *MG* 9/27
  • Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie *MG* 9/27
  • Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender 9/27
  • Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto 9/27
  • Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharo *adult* 9/27
  • How To Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy 9/27
  • Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin *adult* 9/27
  • The Adventures of Qai Qai by Serena Williams; illustrated by Yesenia Moises *PB* 9/27
  • Ways to Share Joy by Renée Watson *MG Sequel* 9/27
  • House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson *adult* 9/27
  • Creep A Love Story by Lygia Day Penaflor 9/27
  • Jasmine Toguchi, Brave Explorer by Debbi Michiko Florence *MG* 9/27
  • Last Of The Talons by Sophie Kim 9/27
  • Dream With The/Suena Con Las Latinitas Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menendez *PB* 9/27
  • Our Day of the Dead Celebration By Ana Aranda *PB* 9/27
  • Black Icons In Herstory by Darian Symone Harvin & Monica Ahanonu *adult* 9/27
  • You Gotta Be You by Brandon Kyle Goodman *adult* 9/27
  • Black Trailblazers by Bijan Bayne *PB* 9/27
  • Lucky Streak by Tif Marcelo *adult* 9/27
  • Viva’s Voice by Raquel Donoso *PB* 9/27
  • Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell *adult* 9/27
  • Holler Of The Fireflies by David Barclay Moore *MG* 9/27
  • Soul Of The Deep by Natasha Bowen *sequel* 9/27
  • Beautiful Country: A Memoir Of An Undocumented Childhood by Qian Julie Wang *adult* 9/27
  • Stay True by Hua Hsu *adult* 9/27
  • Cece Rios And The King Of Fears by Kaela Rivera *MG Sequel* 9/27
  • Opening My Eyes Underwater by Ashley Woodfolk 9/27
  • Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza by Laekan Zea Kemp *MG* 9/27
This is truly a fitting gif

Whew! That’s A LOT OF BOOKS but being in the second half of the year, I’m not super surprised! Thanks to the bookish powers that be (i.e. netgalley, HarperCollins, MacMillan & Amazon in this case for me), I’ve gotten quite a few ARCS/E-ARCs and they are:

  • Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias *adult*
  • The Sunbearer Trials by Aidan Thomas
  • Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown *MG*
  • The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo *MG*
  • The Weight Of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
  • Shot Clock by Caron Butler & Justin A. Reynolds *MG*
  • Rules of Engagement by Selena Montgomery; Stacey Abrams *adult*
  • The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale *adult*
  • The Boy with the Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith *adult*
  • Almost There by Farrah Rochon
  • Adift by Tanya Guerrero *MG*
  • The Two Lives Of Sara by Catherine Adel West *adult*
  • Silver Under Starfall by Rin Chupeco *adult*
  • Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa *adult*
  • To Win A Prince by Toni Shiloh *adult*
  • Seoulmates by Susan Lee
  • You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark Oshiro *MG*
  • Anisa’s International Day by Reem Faruqi *MG*
  • Rust In The Root by Justina Ireland
  • MapMaker by Lisa Moore Ramée *MG*
  • Drunk On Love by Jasmine Guillory *adult*
  • Vanessa Jared’s Got A Man by LaQuette *adult*
  • Eternally Yours edited by Patrice Caldwell
  • A Ghost In Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie *adult companion*
  • Ruby Finley VS. The Interstellar Invasion by K. Tempest Bradford *MG*
  • Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie *MG*
  • Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender
  • Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharo *adult*
  • How To Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy
  • Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin *adult*
  • Creep A Love Story by Lygia Day Penaflor
  • Cece Rios And The King Of Fears by Kaela Rivera *MG Sequel*
  • Opening My Eyes Underwater by Ashley Woodfolk
  • Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza by Laekan Zea Kemp *MG*
  • Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
  • Stolen City by Elisa Bonnin *adult*
I’ve got my work cut out for me friends!

This month I HAVE gotten to read some of my ARCs/E-ARCs/ALCs (and I am PROOOOUD) and so far, I’ve read:

  • Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias *adult*
  • Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown *MG*
  • The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo *MG* (ALC)
  • Shot Clock by Caron Butler & Justin A. Reynolds *MG*
  • Almost There by Farrah Rochon (ALC)
  • Creep A Love Story by Lygia Day Penaflor (ALC)
  • Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore (ALC)
  • Currently Reading: Adift by Tanya Guerrero *MG*
Truly, I am folx!

Alright Y’all! I’m going to end this post here so you can go look into the titles that caught your eye and don’t forget to support the authors who are being impacted by the Barnes & Noble situation! Are their any books you’re super excited for? Are there any by Authors of Color that I missed? Let me know in the comments here or on social media via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel giddy knowing its a great pub month! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Books That Had Me In A Chokehold

Hey y’all! I don’t about you but sometimes, books just entrance me to the point of being held in a literary chokehold. It could be the story line/plot, the character’s voice, comedic moments, emotional content, pacing or a combination of all of those things. With the amount of books that I read (netgalley keeps me VERY busy), I go through books fairly quickly and some stick with me more than others.

This is what I think these books would say to me, if they could!

In keeping with the Spirit of sharing more of what I’m reading, there are 3 that I read/listened to recently that had me in a chokehold of sorts and you may want to add to your TBRs!

As a matter of fact, I do!

Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas (out 8/30/22): This book is actually the inspiration behind this post because I tweeted that it had me in a chokehold. I had started it at like 4:25 am (I know, I know, the hours I am up) and forced myself to stop at like 7:30 am because I hadn’t gone to sleep yet (in my defense, it was Saturday morning & I had no plans for the day). Each time I picked up my amazon fire, I had such a hard time putting it down because I was getting sucked into the story, trying to figure out the roles that the Seton Girls played in the story and how the characters would handle certain situations. There were multiple points of views which also helped push the story forward (and y’all know Dual POVs are my jam). The layers this story had just gave everything that needed to be given, especially since there was an added little twist that I did NOT guess, which is not something that happens all that often! This is definitely a book I’ll be thinking and talking about for a very long time.

My energy the entire time I was reading this!

Almost There by Farrah Rochon (out 9/6/22): So almost the moment that I got the widget for the ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) for this book, I started it… then found myself listening every chance I got. This one was with the professional narrator, who did a great job with the various voices, especially Tiana’s, and alternate story. I found myself captivated by the journey Tiana was on and the alternate points of view that we got. As a fan of The Princess And The Frog, I was so glad with how well the original characters were woven in with new ones that were added to the storyline and the history lessons that were embedded within them. I would like to say though that in Haiti, Vodou is practiced, not “Voodoo” which was what colonizers called it to give it a negative connotation. It is actually a beautiful practice, much like its counterparts throughout the diaspora. I would highly encourage learning about Vodou, Root Work and other similar practices. This was a great book and if you are also a fan of The Princess And The Frog, you’ll enjoy it too!

The only thing that could’ve been better is if this song was in the audio!

Creep: A Love Story by Lygia Day Peñaflor (out 9/27/22): This book was the first one I listened to that was a synthesized voice but I’ll tell you, I was just as captivated as if it was professionally narrated or I was physically reading because it was so engaging. I love a good love story but I would’ve never thought to read one from the perspective of a stalker! When I tell you I was yelling back in response, making faces and holding on to my sanity by a thread several times…… *cocks head to the side* Chileeeeeeee, if I wore pearls, I would’ve clutched them because this chick was unhinged and I just couldn’t stop listening! I was wishing that I could hear the professional narration because if they do it right, anyone would be looking over their shoulder throughout the day. There was so much that went on in the story but it was just the right amount of tew murch. If you’re a fan of shows or books with stalkers, you’ll definitely enjoy this story.

This was pretty much me with this expression, lol!

So seeing how these books had me enraptured the way they did, don’t be surprised if you hear me talk about these books often if you are on the interwebs with me (what?! I have an obsessive nature when it comes to books). Am I the only person that finds themselves in a chokehold while reading at times? I know it can’t just be meeeeee! Are you planning to read any of these books? Let me know in the comments or social media, on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like finishing a book that had me completely enraptured! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Show Up And Show Out For Authors Impacted By Barnes & Nobles’ Decision

Hello there! So if you have been on the interwebs recently (especially twitter), you may have heard about Barnes & Nobles’ nationwide decision to reduce the number of hardcover children’s books (including Middle Grade & Young Adult) titles they carry. If you haven’t heard about this, here is an article about this situation and Author Kelly Yang speaks out in this video. While Kelly speaks specifically about her books, she also mentions how this impacts other marginalized authors and from the looks of the books shown to be impacted, it’s predominantly POC/marginalized authors.

My face when I read the news

I was made aware of this policy change due to a tweet from Debut Author, Britney S. Lewis(who’s book JUST came out), in response to a tweet by @storysorcery on this topic. Can you imagine being a debut and finding this out AFTER your book comes out? It’s no less devastating finding it out in advance, really, Debut or not (which Kelly Yang is not a debut). I don’t think I have to tell you how incredibly disturbing this is; for the authors, their sales and for the future of books, especially for those of color.

This is very me

I figured that in this post, I would share some titles that are impacted by this decision and their release dates. This list is not exhaustive as there are authors that are still finding out that their books would be impacted by this decision as it seems like the information is being released in a rollout-type fashion. I will definitely work to keep this list current as I find out others (or do follow up posts, if anything).

  • The Undead Truth Of Us by Britney S. Lewis (YA) Out now
  • Key Player by Kelly Yang (MG 4th in series) out 9/6
  • Amira & Hamza: The Quest For The Ring Of Power by Samira Ahmed (MG, 2nd book) out 9/20 (Paperback of Book 1 out 8/30)
  • The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron (MG) out 9/20
  • The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton (MG) out now (I wrote a post about this amazing book, which you can read here)
  • Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown (PB) out 8/23
  • Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango (MG) out 9/13
  • Omega Morales And The Legend of La Lucheza by Laekan Zea Kemp (MG) out 9/27
  • Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke (YA) Out now (this is a phenomenal book, btw)
  • Merci Suárez Plays It Cool by Meg Medina (MG Final in Series) Out now
  • Crown Of Flames by Sayantani DasGupta (MG 2nd in Series) Out 10/4
  • Shad Hadid And The Alchemists Of Alexandria by George Jreije (MG) out 10/4
My sentiment looking at this list

Here is a twitter thread from @BiruktiWrites with pre-order & ordering links. If you follow these authors on social media, they also share the local indies that will be carrying their books (thank Goodness for Indie Bookstores) and if you don’t follow them, I hope you will start. If you have it in your budget, please do support these authors at your local indie bookstores and even if you don’t have the funds, request their books at your local library. Nothing about this is easy for them and this will impact so many going forward, especially Authors Of Color, if this policy doesn’t change.

No, seriously we have to support these authors

Are there any books by Authors Of Color that you’ve heard has been impacted by this that you didn’t see on this list? Do you feel a way about this like I do? Let me know in the comments or on social media. You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like Authors of Color are able to thrive in these crazy times! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Tuning Out The World & Tuning Into Audiobooks

Hey there! So lately, I’ve really gotten into listening to audiobooks while driving, showering or going through my hair washing routine (it’s a very long process). I used to not be one for audiobooks because I’m not always the best with sitting and listening but while I’m in motion/completing a task seems to be a very different story.

The sweet spot has been found for me when it comes to audiobooks!

I also find that I’m more drawn to listening to adult romances on audio than YA (maybe its an unconscious attempt at manifestation, I dunno). It’s just something about listening to them on audiobook (especially when done well) that just does it for me! For instance, I was listening to Have We Met by Camille Baker (available on kindle unlimited, btw) and the narrator was talking about a scalp massage and I could feel it so much that I just yelled out “THAT IS SO HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT” (I’m sure it would’ve been funny to anyone listening). I submit my tweet about this as proof that I had done so, lol!

I really wasn’t kidding cause it takes trust for me to allow anyone to touch my hair, let alone massage my scalp!

When an audiobook is read well, it can evoke so much emotion, which I think is almost as important as the story itself, for me! So, I’m going to list 5 audiobooks that I really enjoyed, 1 YA and 4 adult, and what I liked about them (I have some YA books to listen to hopefully this is like a part 1)! So let’s get into it!

Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney: So if you read my blog, you know this is a book that I have featured (it’s also linked) and while I writing that review, I was in the process of listening to the audiobook. I wanted to see how it held up to narrative and I’m pleased to say that it did! I cackled just as much listening to it as I did while reading the ARC. The Narrator was really great at giving the different characters their own voices and keeping to the humor throughout the story! She gave voice to what I had only previously seen in my mind.

The Narrator carried!

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma: It’s not a secret that I absolutely loved this book. It gave me everything that I needed when I read it as an ARC and then again when I listened to the audiobook. The story is so so SO good, so funny, had great balance in its themes and has great steamy scenes! Both the narrators did an amazing job with this book and I would honestly listen to anything else that they narrate. Even though they didn’t read together, there was still a chemistry there so they did the characters & story justice (which is all I ask for in a re-read/listen). I’m so ready for the next book in the series!

Me, listening to those steamy scenes again!

The AI Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole: This is one that I found on audible and I really enjoyed it. It had a good plot twist, multiple points of view and multiple narrators & when it ended, I was searching for the next book in the series (which I haven’t seen posted since I last searched, which was before I wrote this post). There was some steam in this story which was good too. I’m hoping that the next book will be soon and they have multiple narrators like this one since it added so much depth to the story!

Of this world, PLEASE!

The Stand-In by Lily Chu: This was another book I found via audible and I really enjoyed it. The story was great, it gave a great twist, a nice balance to humor & grief and the narrator was HYSTERICAL! I laughed out loud several times while listening. She did an amazing job giving voice to the different characters. I do wish that there was more steam but that’s really just me. It played out like a C-Drama and if you’ve ever watched one, you know those give what needs to be gave! Lily recently came out with another story on audible with the same narrator but I haven’t listened to it yet (but I will soon)!

This was the type of laughing I did during this book

West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras: I really enjoyed this remix/retelling, the story and the cast of characters that we got to meet. It was such a feel good listen and I found myself not wanting it to end. The narrator did a great job with the voices of the various characters though I honestly felt that since this was a dual perspective, there should’ve been a second narrator but that’s a personal preference of mine to keep with the fantasy I tend to place myself in when I read. I also would’ve loved more steam but again, another personal preference. I’m very excited for the next book in this series (which I had been hoping for & which character I hoped)!

It really did!

For me, an audiobook (both the narrator & story) should evoke emotion from me and make me not want to turn it off. The five that I mentioned did just that for me. While every audiobook doesn’t do it for me, whether its the narration or the story itself, I appreciate the experience that they provide (I honestly don’t know if I could ever narrate a full novel) and the breaks they give my eyes! Also, remember that listening to audiobooks is STILL reading (don’t be an ableist about it if you think its not) and good be a good way to get back into reading should you find yourself in a slump or find yourself at a crossroad as to what to read next!

They should make me feel like this or whatever the emotional response should be!

Do you listen to audiobooks? Have you listened to any of the ones on this list? Are there any that you highly recommend? I’ve been searching for more by authors of color so if you have any recs (especially if they have multiple narrators), please send them my way! Do holler at me either here in the comments or on social media. You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like someone listened to my processing when a hug isn’t possible (or I don’t feel like being touched cause that’s a thing for me too)! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Grief Is Truly A Beeotch: Some Books That Deal With It

Hey everyone! So it seems like grief has come up several times this week in conversations with others so I took it as a sign to do this post this week. As those of you who read & follow this blog or my social media know, I’ve been grieving the passing of my grandpa over a year & a half (it will be 2 years in December), which I’ve been pretty open about. It’s really not easy to think about but if you’re brain works like mine, it doesn’t stop the thoughts so its best to work toward finding a place of peace with it all and move with the knowledge that grief doesn’t have an end date so there is nothing to rush. Honestly, it’s made things easier for me when I remind myself or others of this fact.

It is Auntie Michelle but we move forward anyway

One of the things I’ve learned is that grief is extremely messy. It morphs in shape, especially when you feel you have a good grasp on it, it changes and brings up something new (I got hit with this okie doke just recently)…and you know what, that’s okay because I found it triggers evolution, even if it is tiny. Here’s the thing though, it’s those thoughts of that person/those people, that insure that they continue to live on. We may not see them in person but we’ll always have those moments, even if they don’t feel like enough at the time, most days. If its not a living being grieved but a situation/opportunity/etc, we can eventually achieve a sense of acceptance with that.

Grief really is!

For the longest time, I avoided books that had any sort of grief in them because I was so deep in mine that I couldn’t deal with anyone else’s, even a book characters. I couldn’t hold space for someone else because I was barely holding it for myself & no one was really able to comfort me because I’m not one for platitudes (I really, really am not). I was only able to hold myself together long enough to complete sessions with my students then would get wrapped tightly in that space of anger, hurt, and anything else that would fit with what I was feeling because like I had said, grief morphs and it’s one hell of a shape shifter… and everyone grieves differently so it has to be.

This was me, quite often after my Grandpa passed

Now that I’m in a different place with my grief, I wouldn’t say better but processing it in a healthier way (shoutout to my Black Lady therapist), I’m able to read books that have a theme of grief in them without breaking or shutting down and can receive them better. So I wanted to share five Middle Grade & Young Adult books that had a theme of grief but I sincerely valued for the journeys their characters went on.

To my Black Lady Therapist and these books

Theo Tan And The Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto (MG): Part of what I loved about this book was the humor that was strung throughout and another part being that it’s dual perspective. Even in the moments where it could’ve felt heavy, the humor wasn’t far behind from either Theo, Kai or both. I really appreciated that about this book. I seriously laughed more than anything and I learned a few things too!

I imagine that Kai would be like this every time she messed with someone, namely Theo!

Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow (MG): This is another book that had some great humor but what I connected to most about this book was the anger that Reggie experienced. For a long time (really, to this day), I was so angry about my grandpa’s passing and other things surrounding it. I wholeheartedly understood how he could be so angry & why. I think any kid, grieving or not, would enjoy this book.

This feels so accurate for Reggie & I can relate, heavily

Private Label by Kelly Yang (YA): This book showed that grief isn’t just about death and that it could have layers. I appreciated that it showed one character grappling the effect chronic illness could have on family/caregivers while the other deals with familial expectations & their own desires. For me, these dual perspectives gave this book great balance so it didn’t sit too heavy on my Spirit.

This is how I imagine the characters felt at times; caregivers as well

Deep In Providence by Riss M. Neilson (YA): I won’t lie, this book drop kicked me in my feels several times. This is especially since it is multiple perspective & they all have one one thing in common while having a slew of other things to pile on to that. Add grief with a bit of magic and it takes a whole different shape. This was a great read but I would definitely advise anyone who wants to read have tissues ready!

Or maybe you would prefer using your sleeves, either way, you’re eyes are likely to leak

The Black Girls Left Standing by Juliana Goodman (YA): This was another book that drop kicked me in my feels but I was distracted by the mission the main character was on and the trips down memory lane. Her grief was palpable throughout but she used it as a motivator rather than a hindrance, which I really appreciated. This book showed how grief can move us in different ways and didn’t feel as heavy as it could’ve been because it felt like being in a movie (to me).

This book & the MC gave this energy and I lived!

There are so many ways to move with grief. Sometimes you stay still and other times you go full throttle, finding the in-between is the space to work towards. Reading characters that process grief in various ways was honestly a breath of fresh air. It felt healing in a way, because I didn’t feel as alone in my grief as I had previously. For me, reading has been really helpful in getting through tough times (fun fact, I read at my Grandpa’s viewing/funeral to keep from exploding), even if it means that the act is serving as an escape (as long a return to the real world happens).

I really did and a bit while writing this post, If I’m being honest (which I am)

So, if you are currently grieving, whether it’s fresh or years old, know that you are not alone, that there is someone holding space for you and that how you process it is valid. If you want to chat, then lets do so, either here in the comments or on social media. If you aren’t able to do so in an open forum, my DMs are open. You can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like someone listened to my processing when a hug isn’t possible (or I don’t feel like being touched cause that’s a thing for me too)! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

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Hot Book Summer Is LITerally Sweltering: August Releases

Hey everyone! I’m not sure where you are in the world but where I’m at, it’s hotter than a metal chair left out in the sun all day! Not only is the temperature at a redonkulous high but so is the amount of books coming out this upcoming month (July went by hella fast!)!

It’s disrespectfully so!

Just a quick reminder that sometimes the release dates change so please double check the titles you are anticipating just in case! Some times I find out the week of original pub date that the dates got pushed back. Unfortunately, I can’t control publishing or supply chain issues (but could you imagine if I cooooooould?!). Anyways, I’m quite excited for so many of the books coming out so let’s get into this list:

Because there are quite a few books coming out
  • A Girl’s Guide To Love & Magic by Debbie Rigaud 8/2
  • Dauntless by Elisa Bonnin 8/2
  • Alliana, The Girl Of Dragons by Julie Abe *MG* 8/2
  • I Rise by Marie Arnold 8/2
  • What’s Coming to Me by Francesca Padilla 8/2
  • Isaiah Dunn Saves The Day by Kelly J. Baptist *MG Sequel* 8/2
  • How To Date A Superhero (And Not To Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez 8/2
  • Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak *adult* 8/2
  • Stand Up by Brittany Cooper & Cathy Ann Johnson *PB* 8/2
  • The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon *adult series* 8/2
  • Ben and Beatriz A Novel by Katalina Gamarra *adult* 8/2
  • Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows by Tehlor Mejia *MG Sequel* 8/2
  • Long Past Summer A Novel By Noué Kirwan *NA* 8/2
  • It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano 8/2
  • Booked by Kwame Alexander *MG Graphic Novel* 8/2
  • Fault Tolerance by Valerie Valdes *Adult* 8/2
  • Mika In Real Life by Emiko Jean *adult* 8/2
  • The Mirror Series: Fractured Path by: J. C. Cervantes 8/2
  • How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta 8/9
  • Blood Like Fate by Liselle Sambury *sequel* 8/9
  • Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky Graphic Novel by Kwame Mbalia *MG* 8/9
  • The Lies We Tell by Katie Zhao 8/9
  • The Undead Truth of Us by Britney Lewis 8/9
  • The Art of Prophecy A Novel By Wesley Chu *adult* 8/9
  • Surely Surely Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *ER series* 8/9
  • Abuelita And I Make Flan by Adriana Hernandez Bergstrom *PB* 8/9
  • The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza *adult* 8/9
  • Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked The Civil Rights Movement by Angela Jay & Janelle Washington *PB* 8/9
  • Furysong by Rosaria Munda 8/9
  • Black Boy, Black Boy by Ali Kamanda; Jorge Redmond *PB* 8/9
  • Surviving The Wild: Sunny The Shark by Remy Lai *MG* 8/9
  • Resistance: My Story of Activism by Frantzy Luzincourt *MG series* 8/9
  • The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings *adult* 8/9
  • The Memory Index by Julian R. Vaca *adult* 8/9
  • Fruit Punch A Memoir by Kendra Allen *adult* 8/9
  • The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope *adult* 8/9
  • The Neapolitan Sisters by Margo Candela *adult* 8/9
  • Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim *adult* 8/16
  • The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism by Tiffany Jewell *MG* 8/16
  • If You Read This by Kereen Getten *MG* 8/16
  • The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri *sequel* 8/16
  • Eating While Black Food Shaming and Race in America by Psyche A. Williams-Forson *adult* 8/16
  • Tumble by Celia C. Pérez *MG* 8/16
  • The First Binding by R.R. Virdi *adult* 8/16
  • My Town/My Pueblo by Nicholas Solis *PB* 8/16
  • A Venom Dark And Sweet by Judy Lin *sequel* 8/23
  • My Government Meant To Kill Me by Rasheed Newson *adult* 8/23
  • Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun by Sally Deng *PB* 8/23
  • The Coquies Still Sing/Los Coquies Aun Cantan by Karina Nicole Gonzalez & Krystal Quiles *PB* 8/23
  • Azar On Fire by Olivia Abtahi 8/23
  • Aphrodite and the Duke A Novel by J.J. McAvoy *adult* 8/23
  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna *adult* 8/23
  • To Catch A Raven by Beverly Jenkins *adult* 8/23
  • Babel by R.F. Kuang *adult* 8/23
  • This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves 8/23
  • If Your Babysitter Is A Bruja by Ana Siqueira & Irena Freitas *PB* 8/23
  • The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez *adult* 8/30
  • Park Row Magic Academy: A Taste Of Magic *MG* by J.Elle 8/30
  • Honest June: The Show Must Go On by Tina Wells *MG* 8/30
  • Amari And The Great Game by BB Alston *MG Sequel* 8/30
  • The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim *Sequel* 8/30
  • Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas 8/30
  • Patchwork by Matt de la Pena *PB* 8/30
  • ChupaCarter by George Lopez w/ Ryan Calejo *MG* 8/30
  • The Thread Collectors by By Shaunna J. Edwards & Alyson Richman *adult* 8/30
  • Bad at Love by Gabriela Martins 8/30
  • Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valeria Burns *adult* 8/30
  • Walking in My Joy In These Streets By Jenifer Lewis *adult* 8/30
  • Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon & Evelyn Skye 8/30
Cause this list isn’t short

I got quite a few ARCs for this months releases, though not as many for past months, which actually allows me a bit of a reprieve (a sista is tired) but here are the ones I received in thanks to the Bookish Divine, Netgalley and publishers.

  • Alliana, The Girl Of Dragons by Julie Abe *MG*
  • What’s Coming to Me by Francesca Padilla
  • How To Date A Superhero (And Not To Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez
  • Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak *adult*
  • The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon *adult series*
  • Ben and Beatriz A Novel by Katalina Gamarra *adult*
  • Long Past Summer A Novel By Noué Kirwan *NA*
  • It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano
  • Fault Tolerance by Valerie Valdes *Adult*
  • Mika In Real Life by Emiko Jean *adult*
  • The Undead Truth of Us by Britney Lewis
  • The Art of Prophecy A Novel By Wesley Chu *adult*
  • The Neapolitan Sisters by Margo Candela *adult*
  • Surely Surely Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *ER series*
  • Surviving The Wild: Sunny The Shark by Remy Lai *MG*
  • The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism by Tiffany Jewell *MG*
  • Tumble by Celia C. Pérez *MG*
  • A Venom Dark And Sweet by Judy Lin *sequel*
  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna *adult*
  • Park Row Magic Academy: A Taste Of Magic *MG* by J.Elle
  • Amari And The Great Game by BB Alston *MG Sequel*
  • Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas
  • The Thread Collectors by By Shaunna J. Edwards & Alyson Richman *adult*
  • Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon & Evelyn Skye
I’m excited for this list!

Despite the fact that I’ve been reading like a madwoman, I am behind in my ARC TBR & am currently finishing up my July ARCs so I won’t get to start reading my August ARCS until after the 2nd. Though, I just found out that Dauntless by Elisa Bonnin got pushed back & I read it when I thought it came out in July! I do hope to catch up this month!

I really really am!

What are y’all excited for this month? Did I miss any coming out by POC authors (quick shout out to my bookstagram homie @raethereviewer for reminding me of a few titles)?! Please let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I finally got my account access back AYEEEEEEEEE), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve been reading while enjoying a cool treat on a hot day! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wish you happy reading!

Byeeeeee
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If Books Were A Bubble Tea

Hey Y’all! So I don’t l know about y’all but if there are a few things that are constantly on my mind and it would be books and bubble tea…literally, I’m always thinking of them so it was only a matter of time before I had a post like this.

Literally me when a bubble tea is in front of me or I’m thinking about it.

Some time ago, I did a post on IG for a book (I think it was Loveboat Taipei but I couldn’t find the post) where I showed every bubble tea I drank while reading that book and I think it was like 4 or 5 in the 3 day span… and before you ask, YES, I can drink that many bubble teas in a few days (I’ve done more than that when I first discovered it). I’ve also shared bubble teas & books I was reading at the time as well (I did this for A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I Lin, Girl Giant & The Monkey King by Van Hoang and Bruised by Tanya Boteju), especially if they matched! But this post is different where I’m picking 4 of my favorite bubble teas (all with Boba though other toppings could work too) and a book that I felt paired well with it. So let’s get into it!

I am not going to lie…I drooled a bit looking at this gif!

Thai Tea– Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest. I picked this book because even in the moments where it was tough for the characters, it was still incredibly sweet to experience. It’s a book that I would happily recommend because it just felt right and was gratifying in the end, I feel the same about Thai Tea too!

They both definitely are!

Peach Matcha Latte–How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra. I paired these two together because when you read HMGF, you may think Maya may do or say one thing but ends up doing another and I feel that this tea/fruit combo is the same. And like the drink, you finish this book feeling full and happy you got it.

I think so about both!

Rose Green Tea–This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. So everyone knows how I loved This Poison Heart and I loved the sequel as much as I love Rose Green Tea. Both give intense moments but also are incredibly hard to put down. They are both incredibly satisfying to complete though you maybe a little sad its over when you do.

Both book and the tea!

Lavender Black Tea–Flip The Script by Lyla Lee. I picked this combination because like when I have a lavender black tea, I found myself very relaxed and in a happy place as I read this book. This a pair that is good for when you need uplifting and that you can finish with a happy sigh.

Exactly this sentiment

In my opinion, there is not a bad time to have a bubble tea (or tea period) with a book ever. Since I drink bubble tea fairly often, I’m sure I will do another post like this because I really enjoyed pairing books to teas…it’s almost like book matchmaking! Are there any teas you would like to see me pair with a book? Do you agree or disagree with these pairings? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @crystalyogi22 (I’m STILL emailing Instagram every free moment I think to (and they must be really sick of me) in order to regain access to it. You can safely follow @bookishgirlmagic, that’s me but am still having trouble getting these people to understand why I can’t log into it. *UGH*), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve been keeping to my bookish intents this year! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

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Kinda Sorta Mid-Year Accountability Check

Hey Y’all! So it’s been an odd week for me (two really) and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Have you had times like these? If you have, we understand each other and are in the struggle together. If you haven’t, well, you are very lucky and I would love to know your secret!

Me, really trying to figure out this weird energy

Since it’s been a weird week for me, filled with work, deep napping, reading, emailing instagram (yea, I’m still dealing with that), a very off sleep schedule and more reading; I hadn’t felt inspired for a post for a list or singular book (and I try not to write about books with low energy). Being that I’m feeling this way, I figured I would do an accountability check of sorts since I did a post prior to the new year of bookish intents for 2022 and we are a little more than half way through the year (which is WILD to me). So, let’s see where I’m at with these intents, shall we?

Or you read or whatever, lol

1) Remain Transparent & Authentic.-I think I’ve been doing a good job keeping up with this…I believe it’s really part of my brand/who I am as a person to be transparent when the time calls for it and authentic at all times. Am I outchea tellin’ all my bidness? Heck No. Am I telling my truth & keeping it real? Yup! I don’t plan on changing this about me.

I’m glad to check this one off

2) Remain Consistent In Posting.-Last week almost ruined this but I’ve been doing my due diligence in posting here once a week even before this year started. I’ll be honest & say that it’s not always easy for me but I made a commitment to this blog and I intend to keep it. I do want to get back to my regular Wednesday posting but I’m giving myself grace at this point in time if I don’t.

Technically, I’m still doing this but I could be better

3) To Share More Of What I Read.-I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job in doing this by posting lists but I could certainly do even better! Hopefully, you all have been enjoying the lists I’ve been posting though! If there is more that you want to know about what I’m reading, let me know in the comments!

Burgundy suit is me…I’m so so (IMO) here but want to do better!

4) To Engage More On Social Media.-I’m not gon’ lie, I’ve not been doing so great with this outside of commenting on other people’s posts & liking them…I’ve done lives and what not but I could do much better with this… It feels sometimes like social media is another job that I didn’t realize it would be.

I know, I know!

5) To Do More Author Interviews.-This is one I wish I was doing more of and did with J.Elle earlier in the year and Sonja Thomas on IG Live but that has been it at this point. I do hope to change this but I will also give myself grace on that as well. I want to try to work on this once I get my bookishgirlmagic account access back!

There’s nothing like a 90’s R&B gif to express this sentiment, lol!

I do hope to continue to hold fast to these intents and work on making them happen in order to keep to & honor the mission of this blog! I appreciate you all being apart of this journey, cause that’s truly what this is because even when my energy is weird, I still look forward to working on this blog in some way (not me getting a little sappy)!

I may get a little weepy tho

Anyways, let me know how I’m doing with these intents from your perspective in the comments or on social media! Is there more you would like to see from me? Weigh in with me on Instagram @crystalyogi22 (since my bookstagram got hacked, I’m STILL emailing Instagram every free moment I think to (and they must be sick of me) in order to regain access to it. You can safely follow @bookishgirlmagic, that’s me but am still having trouble getting these people to understand why I can’t log into it. *UGH* Please follow my OG account and if anyone has some helpful tips or knows someone who works for IG, please hit me up), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve been keeping to my bookish intents this year! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

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Why Wasn’t This Hyped More? Books That Deserved More

Hey there! So I don’t know about you, but have you ever read a book that you’re like “why didn’t I see more of this book before it released?”, “where was all the hype?” and “now, I have to tell the world about this book!” I’ve read quite a few books that I have loved so much that I was like “this deserved so much more notoriety than it got” & could’ve argued the publisher down as to why they dropped the ball on the publicity despite being smart enough to acquire it!

This is how I be looking at these publishers & what I want to ask them when I finish these phenomenal & phenomenally under-hyped (IMO) books.

I’ve written several posts about other books that I’ve loved and mentioned that they weren’t hyped enough in the past. Since new books are constantly coming out, I’ve got a few more that I would like to add to that list! I think each of these books have something(s) in common when it comes to their humor and romance, now that I think about it. For me, books with great humor & some romance has been a saving grace for me (if I’m being honest, which I always am, with y’all). Anyways, here are four books that I loved and think deserved more PR & to be added to your TBR, if they aren’t already.

No, but for real for real, these books gave what I needed to be given & you likely will feel the same once you read them

A Summer Between Bitter And Sweet by Jen Ferguson: When I began reading this book, I was instantly entranced. I couldn’t tell you what I expected when I started it but I just knew that I had a great feeling about it…and my bookish spidey sense was on point. I laughed A LOT, I got a little weepy at times but no matter what, I felt balanced emotionally the entire time. The sign of a great book, for ME, is that I experience the vast range of human emotions and that’s exactly what I got. The cast of characters were brilliant in their banter and the parts that they shared of themselves. I also appreciated seeing my people where I least expected them (one of the characters was Trinidadian and while we are everywhere, the specificity wasn’t lost on me & it meant a lot). This is a book that, while it takes place in the summer, can be read in any season and enjoyed all the same. Oh, and if you love ice cream, be prepared to crave it A LOT while reading!

You could be feeling emotional at one moment but then laughing hysterically in the next.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey: On one of my many netgalley raids, I saw this gorgeous cover & just knew that I had to read it. I absolutely judge books by their covers and this one definitely passed with flying colors. You all know that Dual POV’s are my jam and the moment I saw that that was part of what this book would give, I was elated! The characters were hysterical and incredibly badass. Though this book took place in the past, the humor felt current and not out of place. I also enjoyed the air of mystery (I do like playing detective while I read too) on top of their budding love story. This book is inspired by actual figures in history, which was like a cherry & whip cream on top of your favorite dessert (that’s the HistorNerd in me)!

They gave this energy when they weren’t cutting up or thinking of each other.

The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes: This book was one that I received in a surprise box of ARCs from HarperCollins and it was my first time learning of this book. When I tell you I’ve recommended this book NUMEROUS times since I finished reading it, I kid you not, I really have! I’ve tweeted about it as well. I laughed so much while reading and just loved the way the MC’s mind worked along with the banter and dynamics with her brother and eventual love interest. There were a few moments where I felt a little weepy but overall, I felt so good reading that I didn’t want to put it down. I think anyone who reads this book, would really enjoy it, hence why I keep telling people to read it (that includes you too, clearly).

Me, each time I bring up this book…because seriously, it needs to be added to your TBR and read ASAP!

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth: This is a book I found on one of my netgalley comb throughs (to be honest, I still haven’t seen anything for this book and its been out a hot second) and this was a worth while approval. As someone who is a nerd, this book spoke to me as it was a dual POV between 2 nerds (I do so love when a book speaks nerdy to me). While their nerd-outs were different from mine (as implied by the title, it involves mechanics), I still appreciated how invested the characters were in their futures & interests. I laughed a lot during this read, the banter was great and it didn’t feel heavy, even when there was potential for it to be.

Nerd love should seriously be celebrated more!

As I think about these books, I’m still trying to figure out why they didn’t get more hype without spoiling them & honoring them in the way they deserve. As I stated earlier, I clearly have a criteria in what I love in books (great banter, humor, [potential] romance & balance of heavy and light) and all of these more than met that. If you haven’t read any of these books, I implore you to change that.

To add these books to your TBR because they are great and deserve more recognition.

Are there any books that you feel strongly weren’t hyped enough? Have you read any of the ones I’ve listed here? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @crystalyogi22 (since my bookstagram got hacked, I’m STILL emailing Instagram every free moment I think to (and they must be sick of me) in order to regain access to it. I have gotten it reactivated but am still having trouble getting these people to understand why I can’t log into it. *UGH* Please follow my OG account and if anyone has some helpful tips or knows someone who works for IG, please hit me up), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve discovered more great reads that I want to talk incessantly about! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

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Thoughts On A Chat About Unrealistic Bookish Expectations

So Story time for y’all! I received a text from a family member asking for Black literature with some very specific criteria set by an English teacher. Said criteria was: fiction, about 200 page or less, NOT YA, and NOT focused on tragedy/pain/suffering/drugs/violence, etc. Immediately, my follow up question was “so middle grade?” And I was told no because it’s for a 9-10th grade honors class and later on that the teacher felt that YA books were only for plot & didn’t show technique. *record scratch* The way I rubbed my forehead because SINCE WHEN?!

Cause there is seriously something wrong with an English teacher saying this

So, of course I had to ask the background of said teacher & it was confirmed that they are not a person of color (cause I had my suspicions)…that told me so much of what I needed to know. The more my fam told me, the higher my pressures went up because I was basically told this teacher didn’t see YA as “serious literature” which then caused a *tire screech* in my head because WHET (which that assertion felt very [redacted] classics coded)?! If YA wasn’t “serious”, it wouldn’t be doing so well in the market nor would YA books be getting banned because they speak to this generation in a way that makes them feel seen or allows them to see into the lives of their peers. At this point in the conversation, my head was exploding and had me thinking if I ever see this teacher, I’ll be giving them more than an earful. I wanted to know why this person was teaching high school English if they view a genre geared towards the ages they teach as not serious and letting that view known to parents. *Auntie Frown*

Serious question! If that is they’re belief!

Getting back to the story, My fam goes on to tell me that said teacher asked for Black Book recs that fit the previously stated criteria was doing so because the kids were complaining that the Black lit they were assigned was too negative so they’re trying to appease the kids. The kids said they wanted a book that would center Black joy but there is a problem: where are you finding an adult book that has zero of those themes outside of romance? YA books can have those themes to an extent but they can also center Black & Brown Joy! And in the YA space, it’s so much more relatable to teens! Honestly it is a no-brainer to make the next assigned read a YA book for these reasons! Like bRrRRRRr DUH #AllMissyElliott!

Not saying this person should wear a dunce cap but maybe it would fit in this case?

My next question is: What would cause this person to think they understand what would constitute or prohibit Black & Brown joy when the criteria they set indicates that they don’t? Part of the beauty of our joy is that we tend to find it amongst all the nonsense we deal with on a regular basis. We know that we are able to go through the fire because our ancestors have us always. That even when our tired is tired, we will still make it and thus our literature reflects that. So thinking that any Black book devoid of trials/tribulations/trauma/negativity exists is really unrealistic. I would also like to note that as educators, we don’t know the entirety of what our students are going through so these books can provide guidance or comfort if they have similar experiences to those characters and hopefully helps them to find their own expression of joy. EYE, as an adult, have had epiphanies while reading YA & MG books because of parallels I’ve felt to the story.

No, seriously, lets!

Honestly, by the time I finished talking to my family member, I really wanted her to just say that this teacher wasn’t really serious about meeting their student’s requests. With all those restrictions, that was what it was giving no matter how much she tried to defend them. It truly isn’t that hard to put student’s wants and needs ahead of the curriculum especially when the school year is ending in less than 3 weeks! Give those kids something to enjoy and gone about your business, person! We ended with my family member saying she will see if her child will let her to speak to the teacher about putting YA books in the running but honestly, with the criteria they set, there are NO books in the running right now.

PLEASE!

And here ends story time my good peoples. That was the long and short of that conversation. I had thought about including book recommendations in this post but I don’t have the bandwidth after ranting and my eyes are tired of looking at the screen so next time folx. What do y’all think about this? Am I wrong for thinking what I did or saying what I said? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I got some ish off my chest! And to those who are subscribed, thank you so much, I truly appreciate y’all! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading of any genre!

Let There Be Books: December 2024 Releases

Happy December! I can’t believe that we are almost to the end of the year *insert shocked emoji here*! I don’t know about you but I’m in the “make it through the next few weeks of work” stage! So My apologies on missing the first pub days of the month but better late than never!

Is me when I’m done with work sessions!

This isn’t a big pub month, which is understandable since 2025 will be bringing a lot of new books in the first few months. Be sure to double check some of your anticipated reads cause while I’ve checked some, I did not double check all! Regardless, we are still getting some great books so lets get into this list!

Thankfully!
  • White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton *adult* 12/1
  • Mirror Me by Lisa Williamson Rosenberg *adult* 12/1
  • No Greater Love by Dominique Okonkwo *PB* 12/3
  • Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown *adult* 12/3
  • Rental House by Weike Wang *adult* 12/3
  • When The Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede 12/3
  • Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo *adult* 12/3
  • The Forgetting Machine by Rodrigo Quian Quiroga *adult* 12/3
  • My Afro Is A Rising Sun by Yaram Yahu, ill. By DeAnn Wiley *PB* 12/3
  • Unexpectedly Yours by C. Chilove *adult* 12/3
  • Alter Ego by Alex Segura *adult* 12/3
  • Never After: The End Of The Story by Melissa de la Cruz *series* 12/3
  • My Fairy God Somebody by Charlene Allen 12/3
  • The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich 12/3
  • Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams *adult* 12/3
  • Kingdom Of No Tomorrow by Fabienne Josaphat *adult* 12/3
  • Daughters Of The Nile by Zahra Barri *adult* 12/3
  • The Rivals by Jane Pek *adult sequel* 12/3
  • Club Contango by Eliane Boey *adult* 12/3
  • Nightmares And Suenos by Alex Segura 12/3
  • Human Resources by Aria Daze *adult novella* 12/5
  • Almost Christmas In Paradise: A Christmas Novella by Evelyn Sola *adult novella* 12/6
  • Tangled In Christmas by Unoma Nwankwor *adult* 12/6
  • Beyond The Sparks by Alice Valentine *adult* 12/8
  • When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi *NA* 12/10
  • No Place To Bury The Dead by Karina Sainz Borgo *adult* 12/10
  • Not In My Book by Katie Holt *adult* 12/10
  • A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon *adult series* 12/10
  • Blindside Beauty by Lex Martin *adult series* 12/10
  • Israel’s Black Panther by Asaf Elia-Shalev *adult* 12/10
  • The Blessed by Anne Shade *adult* 12/10
  • Know Your Newly Wed by Heather Taylor, Hillary Nussbaum & Elena Armas *adult* 12/10
  • Inflamed In His Love by Tay’Monae *adult* 12/10
  • Property Of A Legend by Jessica N. Watkins *adult* 12/10
  • Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop *adult re-release* 12/10
  • Secured In His Heart by Riley Baxter *adult* 12/11
  • A Pack For Winter by Eliana Lee *adult* 12/13
  • Spend My Life With You by Monique Fisher *adult series* 12/14
  • A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya 12/17
  • Spell Of The Sinister by Danielle Paige *series* 12/17
  • A Breathless Sky by Veronica G. Henry *sequel* 12/17
  • Super Magic Boy: I Am A Space Tiger by Jarod Rosello *MG* 12/17
  • Breath Of Life by L.H Moore *adult* 12/17
  • Nightmares And Suenos by Alex Segura *audiobook* 12/17
  • The World Around Us by Lauren Lacey *adult* 12/20
  • I Will Scream To The World by Jaha Marie Dukureh *adult* 12/24
  • Home And Away by Rochelle Alers *adult* 12/24
  • Stuck In The Country With You by Zuri Day *adult* 12/24
  • Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao *sequel* 12/24
  • Somebody’s Husband by Robbi Renee *adult series* 12/24
  • Saving Jacob by Tessa Stone *adult series* 12/27
  • Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao 12/31
  • Money For Couples by Ramit Sethi *adult* 12/31
And I am grateful for that!

I think we can all be glad that this isn’t a super big pub month but there are still titles that we can all be excited about. I did get a few ARCs that are coming out this month and they are:

  • Nightmares And Suenos by Alex Segura
  • A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
  • Spell Of The Sinister by Danielle Paige *series*
  • Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao

Of these, I’ve read:

  • A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
  • Currently Reading: Nightmares And Suenos by Alex Segura
I’m happy to not have an overwhelming number of ARCs, honestly!

How are you feeling about this pub month? Are there any titles you’re excited about? Are there any that I missed by authors of color (Indie or Trad pub)? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting here & there), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (Keeping it random but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (Posting when the mood hits me) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. I had attended NCTE and did some lives on IG with the books I got over the weekend. If you would like to watch, here are the links: Day 1, Day 2 part 1, Day 2 part 2, Day 3. Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve gotten the best book haul (which I did at the conference)! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! Stay Safe and take care of yourselves! I’m sending bookish love always and happy reading!

Gathering Up New Books: November 2024 Releases

Hey There! November is really here and it doesn’t feel real! Hopefully the transition into this new month has treated you well. It’s been a bit chaotic for me so I’m personally working on the balance of everything.

Live Footage Of Me Trying To Find Balance of all the things going on in my world, lol

This doesn’t seem to be as big of a pub month like the previous ones but there are still some great titles coming out. As usual, double check to make sure there have been no changes.

It’s important to check in this day & age friends!
  • Airi Sano Prankmaster General: International Menace by Zoe Tokushige; ill. By Jennifer Naalchigar *MG series* 11/5
  • Everything Interesting Keeps Happening To Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks *MG* 11/5
  • Cicely by Renee Watson & Sherry Shine *PB* 11/5
  • Redeemed by Lauren Asher *adult* 11/5
  • Chinese Kite Festival by Richard Lo *PB* 11/5/24
  • Streetlight People by Charlene Thomas 11/5
  • Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi *adult* 11/5
  • Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia, ill. By Gabriel Picolo 11/5
  • The Lies We Leave Behind by Noelle Salazar *adult* 11/5
  • Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi *adult* 11/5
  • Painting The Sky With Love: A Celebration Of Love And Community by Mary E. Haque & Tatiana Gardel *PB* 11/5
  • The Books Of Clash Volume 4: Legendary Legends Of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang, Les McClaine & Alison Acton *Sequel MG* 11/5
  • All The Greatness In You by Tameka Fryer Brown & Alleanna Harris *PB* 11/5
  • The Teller Of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong *adult* 11/5
  • All About You by Shaina Veronica 11/7
  • Overseas With A Billionaire by Stephanie Nicole Norris *adult series* 11/8
  • Capture The Moment by Ziye Taylor *adult* 11/11
  • I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying: A Memoir by Youngmi Mayer 11/12
  • Barkley: A Biography by Timothy Bella *adult* 11/12
  • The Old Woman With A Knife by Gu Byeong-mo *adult* 11/12
  • Best Wishes: Like A Boss by Hena Khan & Sarah Mlynowski *MG Series* 11/12   
  • Midnights With You by Clare Osongco 11/12
  • Greater Secrets by Ananth Hirsh & Tess Stone 11/12
  • Under The Oak Tree by Suji Kim 11/12
  • Where The Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez *Sequel* 11/12
  • Leap by Siminia Popescu 11/12
  • Guilt And Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala *adult sequel* 11/12
  • Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! By Claudette Colvin, Phillip Hoose & Bea Jackson *PB* 11/12
  • The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar by Azadeh Westergaard *PB* 11/12
  • Lolo And Birdie: I Want More/Quiero Mas! By Angela Dominguez *PB* 11/12
  • Black Girl Power edited by Leah Johnson *MG* 11/12
  • Only Santas In The Building by Alexis Daria *adult novella* 11/12
  • The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri *adult sequel* 11/12
  • Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar 11/12
  • Love In Bloom by Lucy Eden *adult* 11/12
  • Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis *Sequel* 11/12
  • The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis *Sequel* 11/12
  • Fortune’s Kiss by Amber Clement 11/12
  • I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea *Sequel* 11/12
  • Make Room For Love by Darcy Liao *adult* 11/18
  • A Legend In The Baking by Jamie Wesley *adult series* 11/19
  • When Mimi Went Missing by Suja Sukumar 11/19
  • Silent Are Dead by D.M. Rowell 11/19
  • Briarcliff Prep: Sophomore Year by Brianna Peppins *sequel* 11/19
  • Futureland: The Architect Games by H.D. Hunter *sequel* 11/19
  • The City And Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami *adult* 11/19
  • The Serviceberry: Abundance And Reciprocity In The Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer *adult* 11/19
  • Stages by Whitney Amazeen 11/19
  • Sundown In San Ojuela by M.M. Olivias 11/19
  • Get Your Mind Right by Kenneth Wyche *adult* 11/19
  • Dominoes, Danzon And Death Drops by Racquel V. Reyes *adult* 11/19
  • City Of Night Birds by Juhea Kim *adult* 11/26
  • Heart-Shaped Lies by Elizabeth Agyemang 11/26
  • Malcolm Before X by Patrick Parr *adult* 11/26
  • Umm Kulthum: The Star Of The East by Rhonda Roumani, ill. By Ahmed Abdelmohsen *PB* 11/26
  • Vamp by Xio Axelrod *adult* 11/31

As previously stated, November doesn’t have a ridiculous list from what I could find but I think that gives us a bit of reprieve when it comes to our library holds & bank accounts! I did get a few titles from this list and they are:

  • The Teller Of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong *adult* (Currently Reading)
  • Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis *Sequel*
  • The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis *Sequel*
  • Fortune’s Kiss by Amber Clement
  • I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea *Sequel*
  • A Legend In The Baking by Jamie Wesley *adult series*
I’m quite glad not to have a whole lot of titles so I can do some catching up this month so I can start 2025 titles and start the new year right (whoa, thinking about how close that is just hit me)!

Adulting has really been kicking my tail but I’m going to get back on track with reading, especially since I’m really excited about the titles I received! So weigh in, How are you feeling about this pub month? Are there any titles you’re excited about? Are there any that I missed by authors of color (Indie or Trad pub)? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting here & there), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (Keeping it random but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (Posting when the mood hits me) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m gathering my TBR rather than it gathering me! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! Stay Safe and awesome out there folx! I’m sending bookish love always and happy reading!

Byeeee, I’m off to go read!

It’s An OOOOky Spooky Pub Month: October 2024 Book Releases

Hey Y’all! I can’t believe we are already in October! I feel like it crept up on me! You may feel the same. I’ve been acclimating to this new school year and things that have been popping up so I apologize for the lateness of this post but as per usual, I did not forget y’all!

And yes, I’m the pup in this equation! LOL

This month has a lot of great books coming out and I’m hella excited about them. Don’t forget to double check the release dates cause they still can change! Let’s get into this list!

And we will Shang!
  • KinnPorsche by Daemi; ill. By Avaritia *adult* 10/1
  • Now Comes The Mist by Julie C. Dao *adult* 10/1
  • Society Of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown *adult* 10/1
  • Love After Midnight by Sister Souljah *adult sequel* 10/1
  • A Split Second by Janae Marks *MG* 10/1
  • Exposure by Ramona Emerson *Adult sequel* 10/1
  • Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro *MG* 10/1
  • Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis, ill. By Kenard Pak *PB* 10/1
  • Witchlings: House Of Elephants by Claribel Ortega *MG Sequel* 10/1
  • Only For The Holidays by Abiola Bello 10/1
  • Jax Freeman And The Phantom Shriek by Kwame Mbalia *MG* 10/1
  • The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin 10/1
  • Priceless Facts About Money by Mellody Hobson, ill. By Caitlin Stevens *MG* 10/1
  • No Rules Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada 10/1
  • Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari *MG* 10/1
  • Tales Of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures From The Land Of The Pyramids by Hugo D. Cook, Sona Avedikian & Neon Squid *MG* 10/1
  • Not Far From Here by Nydia Armendia-Sanchez, ill. By Devon Holzwarth *PB* 10/1
  • This Land Is Our Land by Julio Anta, ill. By Jacoby Salcedo 10/1
  • Capybara (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide To The Biggest Rodent In The World by Dr. Julia Mata, Greco Westermann & Neon Squid *PB* 10/1/24
  • Meena’s Saturday by Kusum Mepani, ill. By Yasmeen Ismail *PB* 10/1
  • The Last Hope School For Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto *MG* 10/1
  • Groundbreaking Magic: A Black Woman’s Journey Through The Happiest Place On Earth by Martha Blanding & Tim O’Day *adult* 10/1
  • Aesop’s Fables: A New Translation by Aesop *adult* 10/1
  • The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears 10/1
  • Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste *MG* 10/1
  • Model Home by Rivers Solomon *adult* 10/1
  • Deja Brew by Celestine Martin *adult series* 10/1
  • Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride *MG* 10/1
  • A Song To Drown Rivers by Ann Liang *adult* 10/1
  • Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre & Andres Vera Martinez *MG* 10/1
  • Heir by Sabaa Tahir 10/1
  • Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao 10/1
  • Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron *adult* 10/1
  • Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi *adult* 10/1
  • Doll Seed: Stories by Michele Tracy Berger *adult* 10/4
  • The Last Dragon Of The East by Katrina Kwan 10/8
  • The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew 10/8
  • Fledgling by S.K. Ali 10/8
  • I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War *adult* 10/8
  • Twenty-four Seconds From Now… by Jason Reynolds 10/8
  • Of Blood And Lightning by Micki Zi 10/8
  • Under All The Lights by Maya Ameyaw 10/8
  • Where We Can Hear The Giants Sing by Peter Cheong *PB* 10/8
  • Solis by Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher 10/8
  • Red In Tooth And Claw by Lish McBride 10/8
  • The Art Thieves by Andrea L. Rogers 10/8
  • Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, ill. by Rebecca Lee Kunz *PB* 10/8
  • A Kids Book About Diversity by Charnale Gordon *ER* 10/8
  • Quiet Karima by Nidhi Chanani *PB* 10/8
  • Into The Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah, ill. By Sabina Hahn *MG* 10/8
  • This Cursed House by Del Sandeen *adult* 10/8
  • The Soulmate Project by Reese Ryan *adult* 10/8
  • If You’re Not The One by Farah Naz Rishi 10/8
  • Sally’s Lament: A Twisted Tale by Mari Mancusi 10/8
  • The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu *adult* 10/8
  • Numbermania: A Visual Exploration Of 0 To 100 by Scott Lape; ill. By Victor Medina *MG* 10/8
  • The Vanquishers: The Rise Of The Wrecking Crew by Kalynn Bayron *MG sequel* 10/8
  • The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen *adult* 10/8
  • Blood Of The Old Kings by Sung-il Kim 10/8
  • A Vile Season by David Ferraro 10/8
  • The Antiquarian Sticker Book: Mandala by Taw Won Yu & Odd Dot 10/8
  • My Hair Is Like Yours by St. Clair Detrick-Jules *PB* 10/8
  • Blackness Is A Gift I Can Give Her by R. Renee Hess *adult* 10/8
  • The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Penaranda 10/8
  • The Woman With The Stone Knife by Dale Neal *adult* 10/8
  • The Witches of El Paso By Luis Jaramillo *adult* 10/8
  • Forever With You by Kaye Rockwell *adult* 10/10
  • Tangleroot by Kalela Williams 10/15
  • The Best Friend Bracelet by Nicole D. Collier *MG* 10/15
  • Thea And The Mischief Makers by Tracy Badua *MG* 10/15
  • Clean by Alia Trabucco Zeran *adult* 10/15
  • Love And Other Cages by Emilia Ares *adult* 10/15
  • Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang 10/15
  • Legend Of The White Snake by Sher Lee 10/15
  • If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens *adult* 10/15
  • Under The Heron’s Light by Randi Pink 10/15
  • Robin’s Worlds by Rainie Oet, ill. By Mathias Ball *PB* 10/15
  • Mama: A Queer Black Woman’s Story Of A Family Lost And Found by Nikkya Hargrove *adult* 10/15
  • The Nightward by R.S.A Garcia *adult* 10/15
  • Halfway There: A Graphic Memoir Of Self-Discovery by Christine Mari 10/15
  • I Was Told There Would Be Romance by Marie Arnold 10/15
  • And the Sky Bled by S. Hati *adult* 10/15
  • The Star In You by Katrina Moore *PB* 10/15
  • The Indian Card: Who Gets To Be Native In America by Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz *adult* 10/15
  • Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre And The Struggle For An American City’s Soul by Aran Shetterly *adult* 10/15
  • Last Christmas Crush by Mia Heintzelman *adult* 10/17
  • Stitches Of Tradition by Marcie Rendon *PB* 10/22
  • Chai Jinxed by Emi Pinto *MG* 10/22
  • Thief Of The Heights by Son M. & Robin Yao 10/22
  • Where The Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh 10/22
  • How To Fall In Love In A Time Of Unnameable Disaster by Muriel Leung *adult* 10/22
  • Tiana’s Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose, ill. By Olivia Duchess *PB* 10/22
  • Impossible Possums by Justin Colon, ill. By James Rey Sanchez *PB* 10/22
  • What I Must Tell The World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice by Jay Leslie, ill. By Loveis Wise *PB* 10/22
  • The Striker by Ana Huang *adult* 10/22
  • Exiled By Iron by Ehigbor Okosun *Sequel* * 10/22
  • A Map For Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search For Home by Maysa Odeh & Aliaa Betawi *PB* 10/22
  • The Rise Of Issa Igwe by Shanna Miles *MG* 10/22
  • The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker *sequel* 10/22
  • On The Block: Stories Of Home edited by Ellen Oh *MG* 10/22
  • Mimi’s Tales of Terror by Hirokatsu Kihara, Ichiro Nakayama, ill. by Junji Ito 10/24
  • Sleeping With The Frenemy by Natalie Cana *adult series* 10/29
  • For She Is Wrath by Emily Verga 10/29
  • The Witch Of Wol Sin Lake by Lena Jeong *sequel* 10/29
  • You Are Fierce: A Book For The Littlest Beyonce Fans by Odd Dot & Nneka Myers *PB* 10/29
  • Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang 10/29
  • Gather Me: A Memoir In Praise Of The Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim *adult* 10/29
  • Wildblood by A.J. Vrana *adult* 10/29
  • I Can Help In The Neighborhood by David Hyde Costello *PB* 10/29
  • Feast While You Can By Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta *adult* 10/29
  • Futureland: The Nightmare Hour by H.D. Hunter *sequel* 10/29
  • Heat And Run by Adriana Herrera *adult novella* 10/29
  • Midnight Grooves by Sula Sullivan *adult* 10/29
  • The Day God Saw Me As Black: The Journey To Liberated Faith by D.Danyelle Thomas *adult* 10/29
  • Warrior Of Legend by Kendare Blake *Sequel* 10/29
  • Riding Nerdy by Adrianne Brooks *Adult* 10/31
So many new books!!!!

Whew! That’s a lot of books and I feel like I could’ve missed some (my apologies to those authors)! I’ve received some ARCs for some of these titles and they are:

  • Deja Brew by Celestine Martin *adult series*
  • Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride *MG*
  • A Song To Drown Rivers by Ann Liang *adult*
  • Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre & Andres Vera Martinez *MG*
  • Heir by Sabaa Tahir
  • Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao
  • Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron *adult*
  • Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi *adult*
  • The Last Dragon Of The East by Katrina Kwan
  • The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew
  • Fledgling by S.K. Ali
  • I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War *adult*
  • Twenty-four Seconds From Now… by Jason Reynolds
  • Legend Of The White Snake by Sher Lee
  • If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens *adult*
  • The Rise Of Issa Igwe by Shanna Miles *MG*
  • The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker *sequel*
  • Sleeping With The Frenemy by Natalie Cana *adult series*
  • For She Is Wrath by Emily Verga
  • Riding Nerdy by Adrianne Brooks *Adult*

Of these, I’ve read:

  • Deja Brew by Celestine Martin *adult series*
  • Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride *MG*
  • A Song To Drown Rivers by Ann Liang *adult*
  • Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi *adult*
  • Currently Reading: I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War *adult*
To read these books…it sure does! Especially when you have to be a responsible adult *insert sobbing emoji here*!

I’m truly excited about these books! How are you feeling about this pub month? Are there any titles you’re excited about? Are there any that I missed by authors of color? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I’m trying to do a little more lives & posts), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I remain quite random on there but still a good time, especially when I get to talking about TV shows), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting on there a little more there but mostly lurking) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like my TBR won’t scare me with how fast it is growing! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! Stay Safe and awesome out there folx! I’m sending bookish love always and happy reading!

New School Year, New Books, Who Dis?: September Releases

Hey Hey Hey Y’all! Happy September! It was like I blinked and August was over! Am I alone in this? Now that the Summer is somewhat over, I’m now gearing up for a new school year and I’m partially not ready *sobs in teacher*. Hopefully you’re having a great start to this month!

This is truly how I feel going from August to September!

So there are a lot of books coming out this month and it took quite a bit to compile this list and I may have missed some. Also keep in mind, release dates are subject to change…please do double check dates if there are any books that you are interested in!

definitely check the dates!

So let’s get into this list!

  • Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado *adult* 9/1
  • Nox Winters And The Midnight Wolf by Rochelle Hassan 9/1
  • The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie *adult* 9/1
  • Mexicans On The Moon by Pedro Iniguez *adult* 9/3
  • When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao 9/3
  • Under The Oak Tree: The Comic by Suji Kim, ill. By P & adapted by Namu *adult* 9/3
  • The House Without Lights by Reem Faruqi; ill. By Nadia Alam *PB* 9/3
  • The Days After Christmas by Maggie C. Rudd & Elisa Chavarri *PB* 9/3
  • Hispanic Star: Bad Bunny by Claudia Romo Edelman, Ann Davila Cardinal & Alexandra Beguez *MG English & Spanish* 9/3
  • A Confident Cook: Recipes For Joyous, No-Pressure Fun In The Kitchen by Tamron Hall & Lish Steiling *adult* 9/3
  • The Dating Countdown by N.G. Peltier *adult series* 9/3
  • Luminous Beings by David Arnold & Jose Pimenta 9/3
  • The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung, ill. By Hanna Cha *PB* 9/3
  • Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse *MG* 9/3
  • Here To Stay edited by Undocupoets *adult* 9/3
  • Yoruba Boy Running by Biyi Bandele *adult* 9/3
  • Lipstick & Camera Clicks by D.J. Murphy *adult audiobook* 9/3
  • A Kids Book About Change by David Kim *ER* 9/3
  • This Book Kills by Ravena Kaur Guron 9/3
  • Clutch Time by Caron Butler & Justin A. Reynolds *MG companion* 9/3
  • You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane *adult* 9/3
  • Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma 9/3
  • I Am Maroon: The True Story Of An American Political Prisoner by Russell Shoatz *adult* 9/3
  • Become A Chess Champion by James Canty III; ill. By Brian Lambert *MG* 9/3
  • No More Senora Mimi by Meg Medina; ill. By Brittany Cicchese *PB English & Spanish* 9/3
  • Guava And Grudges by Alexis Castellanos 9/3
  • A Good Indian Girl by Mansi Shah *adult* 9/3
  • Dona Quixote: Flight Of The Witch by Rey Terciero; ill. By Monica M. Magana *MG sequel* 9/3
  • Shadows Of Perl by J.Elle *Sequel* 9/3
  • The Chainbreakers by Julian Randall *MG* 9/3
  • Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas *Sequel* 9/3
  • The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs 9/3
  • The Parlour Wife by Foluso Agbaje *adult* 9/6
  • Head Hunter by Stephanie Nicole Norris *adult* 9/6
  • Wrecked by Lauren Asher *adult* 9/10
  • To The Bone by Alena Bruzas 9/10
  • By The Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight For Justice On Native Land by Rebecca Nagle *adult* 9/10
  • This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa 9/10
  • Till The Last Beat Of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes 9/10
  • Desert Echoes by Abdi Nazemian 9/10
  • Time For Us by Rebecca Walker, ill. By Maria Diaz Perera *PB* 9/10
  • Mama’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas by Jesus Trejo; ill. By Eliza Kinkz *PB* 9/10
  • Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi *MG* 9/10
  • Sky Full Of Elephants by Cebo Campbell *adult* 9/10
  • Tias And Primas by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez *adult* 9/10
  • Vilest Things by Chloe Gong *adult sequel* 9/10
  • Quarterlife by Devika Rege *adult* 9/10
  • Zion’s Crown by Zenda Walker *PB* 9/10
  • The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi *adult sequel* 9/10
  • The Strange Tales Of Oscar Zahn Vol. 1 by Tri Vuong 9/10
  • We Need No Wings by Ann Davila Cardinal *adult* 9/10
  • The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow 9/10
  • First In The Family by Jessica Hoppe *adult* 9/10
  • IDA, In Love And In Trouble by Veronica Chambers 9/10
  • Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back by Ruth Chan *MG* 9/10
  • Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz *adult* 9/10
  • Birthday Soup by Grace Seo Chang; Contributions by David Chang; ill. By Jaime Kim *PB* 9/10
  • Being A Sanctuary: The Radical Way For The Body Of Christ To Be Sacred, Soft And Safe by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez *adult* 9/10
  • Mr. Smarty Pants Aww Nuts! By Charity Reid *MG* 9/10
  • Kwame Crashes The Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer *MG* 9/10
  • Team Chu And The Wild Ghost Chase by Julie C. Dao *MG sequel* 9/10
  • Sunshine And Spice by Aurora Palit *adult* 9/10
  • Pahua And The Dragon’s Secret by Lori M. Lee *MG Sequel* 9/10
  • Gita Desai Is Not Here To Shut Up by Sonia Patel 9/10
  • Give It To Me by Angelina M. Lopez *adult* 9/10
  • Wanted by Tiffany Patterson *adult sequel* 9/12
  • May The Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao *MG* 9/17
  • Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr.; ill. By Jes & Cin Wibowo *MG* 9/17
  • Beware The Heartman by Shakirah Bourne *MG Sequel* 9/17
  • Spells To Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy 9/17
  • The Diamond Explorer by Kao Kalio Yang *MG* 9/17
  • We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde 9/17
  • Agent Unicorn by Jenny Alvarado 9/17
  • Once Upon A Diwali by Anita Mishra, ill. By Diah Chakraborty *PB* 9/17
  • Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim *adult* 9/17
  • Di An: The Salty, Sour, Sweet And Spicy Flavors Of Vietnamese Cooking With TwayDaBae (A Cookbook) by Tue Nguyen *adult* 9/17
  • The Most Famous Girl In The World by Iman Hariri-Kia *adult* 9/17
  • Who’s The Girl?: A Memoir by Eve with Kathy Iandoli *adult* 9/17
  • Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried by Cindy L. Rodriquez *MG* 9/17
  • The Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh’s Search For Beauty by Zahra Marwan *PB* 9/17
  • Between My Hands by Mitali Perkins & Naveen Selvanathan *PB* 9/17
  • Before The Coffee Gets Cold: A Toshikazu Kawaguchi Boxed Set by Toshikazu Kawaguchi *adult* 9/3
  • A Match Made For Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau *adult companion* 9/17
  • Never Ever You by Sarah Echavarre 9/17
  • Warrior Of Legend by Kendare Blake 9/17
  • Desi, Mami And The Never-Ending Worries by Eva Mendes & Abbey Bryant *PB English & Spanish* 9/17
  • Ruin Road by Lamar Giles 9/17
  • Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim *sequel* 9/17
  • Tank Chair by Manabu Yashiro 9/17
  • An Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson *adult* 9/17
  • Wildseed Witch: Fortunes & Frenemies by Marti Dumas *MG Sequel* 9/17
  • Rebound by Evelyn Sola *adult sequel audiobook* 9/17
  • Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson 9/17
  • Doctor Who: Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories Tales Of Science, Magic, Monsters And Time Travel From The Best Writers In The Universe edited by Doctor Who 9/19
  • Choke & Stroke Academy: The Syllabus by Sherelle Green *adult* 9/19
  • What A Match by Mimi Grace *Adult Audiobook* 9/23
  • Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber 9/24
  • The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon *MG* 9/24
  • A Constellation Of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson 9/24
  • Faeries Never Lie Tales To Revel In edited by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker 9/24
  • Beautiful Ways We Break Each Other Open by Angela Liu 9/24
  • The Striker by Ana Huang *adult* 9/24
  • Alex Wise Vs. The Cosmic Shift by Terry J. Benton-Walker *MG sequel* 9/24
  • The Littlest Food Critic by Debbie Rigaud, ill. By Rachel Mas Davidson *PB* 9/24
  • Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho 9/24
  • The No Brainer’s Guide To Decomposition by Adrianna Cuevas *MG* 9/24
  • When We Were Widows by Annette Chavez Macias *adult* 9/24
  • Tiny Threads by Lilliam Rivera *adult* 9/24
  • Grave Yard Shift by M.L. Rio *adult* 9/24
  • They Call Me Teach: Lessons In Freedom by Lesa Cline-Ransome; ill. By James E. Ransome *PB* 9/24
  • The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry 9/24
  • Flamboyants by George M. Johnson 9/24
  • How To Build A Fashion Icon: Notes On Confidence From The World’s Only Image Architect by Law Roach *adult* 9/24
  • The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh *adult* 9/24
  • One Light by Christie Matheson & Anuska Allepuz *PB* 9/24
  • The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson & Kazu Kibuishi *PB* 9/24
  • A Two-Placed Heart by Doan Phuong *MG* 9/24
  • Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente *adult* 9/24
  • Love And Sportsball by Meka James *adult* 9/24
  • Stars Of Chaos: Sha Po Lang by Priest *adult* 9/24
  • Suzume 1 by Makoto Shinkai; ill. By Denki Amashima 9/24
  • A Voice Of Hope: The Mylie Evers-Williams Story by Nadia Salomon; ill. By London Ladd *PB* 9/24
  • No Rule’s Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada 9/24
  • Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen *adult* 9/24
  • Elevator Pitch by Evelyn Leigh *adult* 9/27
This is a lot of books and I know I missed some

It’s quite a bit of books! Where ever does one choose to start?! Well, I can tell you its a bit tough to pick cause I’ve got quite a few ARCs for some of these titles! They are:

  • No More Senora Mimi by Meg Medina; ill. By Brittany Cicchese *PB English & Spanish*
  • Guava And Grudges by Alexis Castellanos
  • A Good Indian Girl by Mansi Shah *adult*
  • Dona Quixote: Flight Of The Witch by Rey Terciero; ill. By Monica M. Magana *MG sequel*
  • Shadows Of Perl by J.Elle *Sequel*
  • The Chainbreakers by Julian Randall *MG*
  • Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas *Sequel*
  • Kwame Crashes The Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer *MG*
  • Team Chu And The Wild Ghost Chase by Julie C. Dao *MG sequel*
  • Sunshine And Spice by Aurora Palit *adult*
  • Pahua And The Dragon’s Secret by Lori M. Lee *MG Sequel*
  • Gita Desai Is Not Here To Shut Up by Sonia Patel
  • Give It To Me by Angelina M. Lopez *adult*
  • May The Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao *MG*
  • Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr.; ill. By Jes & Cin Wibowo *MG*
  • Beware The Heartman by Shakirah Bourne *MG Sequel*
  • Spells To Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy
  • The Diamond Explorer by Kao Kalio Yang *MG*
  • We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde
  • Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber
  • The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon *MG*

Of these, I’ve read:

  • No More Senora Mimi by Meg Medina; ill. By Brittany Cicchese *PB English*
  • The Chainbreakers by Julian Randall *MG*
  • Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas *Sequel*
  • Kwame Crashes The Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer *MG*
  • Currently Reading: Shadows Of Perl by J.Elle *Sequel*
Me!

I’m not completely ready to go back to work & just want to read…but I will deal! I’m excited about these books! How about you? Are there any titles you’re excited about? Are there any that I missed by authors of color? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I’m trying to do a little more lives & posts), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I remain quite random on there but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting on there a little more there but also lurking a lot on there too) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m going to find a balance between work and reading! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! Stay Cool and awesome out there folx! I’m sending bookish love always and happy reading!

It’s Blazing Hot Out But These New Book Releases Are Even Hotter: August 2024 Releases

Hey Y’all! I hope you’re doing well! July was one heck of a month and August has been following in its footsteps (unironically). Any other way, we are here!

We sure are…we have made it to August!

This is one heck of a pub month so we are going to get into it. Be sure to double check the dates as things could definitely change cause… *shrug*!

This is quite the list!
  • Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee *adult* 8/1
  • Sam(ira)’s (Worst) Best Summer by Nina Hamza *MG* 8/1
  • Drop Dead by Lily Chu *adult audiobook* 8/1
  • Daughter Of Fire by Sofia Robleda *adult* 8/1
  • You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman *adult* 8/1
  • Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe *adult* 8/1
  • If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi *adult* 8/2
  • Guardians Of Dawn: Ami by S. Jae-Jones *sequel* 8/6
  • Pupposites Attract 1 by Hono Natsuna *adult* 8/6
  • Stay Angry, Little Girl by Michelle Jing Chan & Madeleine L’Engle *PB* 8/6
  • There Is A Rio Grande In Heaven by Ruben Reyes Jr. *adult* 8/6
  • House Of Bone And Rain by Gabino Iglesias *adult* 8/6
  • Morgana And Oz Volume One by Miyuli 8/6
  • The Crossbow Of Destiny by Brandon Hoang *MG* 8/6
  • Mystery Lights by Lena Valencia *adult* 8/6
  • HoverGirls by Geneva Bowers 8/6
  • The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow 8/6
  • The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djeli Clark *adult* 8/6
  • The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong Vol. 2 8/6
  • Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste *MG* 8/6
  • Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang *adult* 8/6
  • And So I Soar by Abi Dare *adult* 8/6
  • It Happened To Anna by Tehlor Kay Mejia 8/6
  • If We Were Perfect by Ana Huang *adult re-release* 8/6
  • The Empire Wars by Akana Phenix 8/6
  • Mama’s Chicken And Dumplings by Dionna L. Mann *MG* 8/6
  • Cast In Atonement by Michelle Sagara *adult* 8/6
  • The House Where Death Lives edited by Alex Brown 8/6
  • The Seventh Veil Of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia *adult* 8/6
  • A Sorceress Comes To Call by T. Kingfisher *adult* 8/6
  • A World Of Hurt by Mindy Meija *adult* 8/6
  • The Mind’s Mirror: Risk And Reward In The Age Of AI by Daniela Rus & Gregory Mone *adult* 8/6
  • The Kill List by Nadine Matheson *adult series* 8/6
  • Burdens by Seraya *adult* 8/6
  • Who’s In Charge? By Stephanie Allain & Jenny Klion, ill. By Marissa Valdez *PB* 8/6
  • Daydreamer by Rob Cameron *MG* 8/6
  • Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay *Adult Anniversary Edition* 8/6
  • We Are Big Time by Hena Khan *MG* 8/6
  • Second Tide’s The Charm by Chandra Blumberg *adult* 8/6
  • The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava *adult* 8/6
  • The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho *adult* 8/6
  • Tension by C. Monet *adult series* 8/6
  • This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings 8/6
  • Stand Your Ground by Roxane Gay *adult* 8/7
  • Promised To A Street King by Tatum James *adult* 8/9
  • Allure by Iesha Bree *adult series* 8/13
  • Kisses, Codes, And Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen 8/13
  • The Maid And The Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko 8/13
  • Read At Your Own Risk by Remy Lai *MG* 8/13
  • Frequent Fliers by Noue Kirwan *adult* 8/13
  • All Food Is Good Food by Molli Jackson Ehlert & Fanny Liem *PB* 8/13
  • Ghost Smith by Nicki Pau Preto *series* 8/13
  • The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao *adult* 8/13
  • The Fortunate Fall by Cameron Reed *adult* 8/13
  • The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee 8/13
  • Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang *MG* 8/13
  • Tiffany’s Griffon by Maddi Gonzalez & Magnolia Porter Siddell *MG* 8/13
  • Collided by Lauren Asher *adult* 8/13
  • Trick-Or-Treating In The City by Tiffany D. Jackson, ill. By Sawyer Cloud *PB* 8/13
  • Never Saw Me Coming by Tanya Smith *adult* 8/13
  • Secret Society Of Rebel Girls: Nina And The Mysterious Mailbox by Marti Dumas *MG* 8/13
  • Day Of The Dead: A Celebration Of Life by Polo Orozco, ill. By Mirelle Ortega *PB* 8/13
  • Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa *adult* 8/13
  • Ryker’s Last Salvation by Sherelle Green *adult audiobook* 8/13
  • Sports Superheroes: Stephen Curry by Josh Bycel & Rich Korson; ill. By Damion Scott *MG* 8/13
  • Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley *adult* 8/13
  • The Italy Letters by Vi Khi Nao *adult* 8/13
  • Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings In Russian by Sunsunsun *adult* 8/13
  • Holly Horror: The Longest Night by Michelle Jabes Corpora *sequel* 8/13
  • The Most Perfect Persimmon by Hannah Chung *PB* 8/13
  • That Beauty Is A Tramp 1 by Hal Osaka *adult* 8/13
  • Never The Right Time by Reese Ryan *adult* 8/16
  • The Science Of Friendship by Tanita S. Davis *MG* 8/20
  • Prince Of The Palisades by Julian Winters 8/20
  • Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield 8/20
  • The Cottage On Pelican Bay by Brenda Jackson *adult* 8/20
  • The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong *MG* 8/20
  • Something Like Right by H.D. Hunter 8/20
  • Bad Witches by H.B. Akumiah *adult* 8/20
  • You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto *adult* 8/20
  • There Are Rivers In The Sky by Elif Shafal *adult* 8/20
  • A Taste Of Home by Richard Ho & Sibu T.P *PB* 8/20
  • She Who Knows: Firespitter by Nnedi Okorafor *adult novella* 8/20
  • Kusunoki’s Flunking Her High School Glow-Up 1 by Mitsuki Mii *adult* 8/20
  • I Wanna Do Bad Things With You vol. 1 by Yutaka *adult* 8/20
  • Dreaming On Purpose by Ariane Hunter *adult* 8/20
  • Playing Ball by Vernon Davis *adult* 8/20
  • Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson *adult* 8/20
  • Romancing On Jeju by Kyun-Joo Park *adult* 8/20
  • The Last Party by A.R. Torre *adult* 8/20
  • Falling Wisteria by Laila Ibrahim *adult* 8/20
  • Keepers Of The Stones & Stars by Michael Barakiva 8/20
  • 2040 by Pedro Domingos *adult* 8/20
  • Signal To Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia *adult* 8/20
  • Unexpected by Lala Thomas *sequel* 8/20
  • The Volcano Daughters by Gina Maria Balibrera *adult& 8/20
  • ‘Til Heist Do Us Part by Sara Desai *adult* 8/20
  • Kingdom Of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow *MG* 8/20
  • Drown Me With Dreams by Gabi Burton *Sequel* 8/20
  • A Banh Mi For Two by Trinity Nguyen 8/20
  • Desire by Kay Shanee *adult series* 8/20
  • Smoke Signals by Danielle Brooks *adult* 8/23
  • Marriage And Masti by Nisha Sharma *adult series* 8/27
  • Knives, Seasoning, And A Dash Of Love by Katrina Kwan *adult* 8/27
  • Amari And The Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston *MG Final* 8/27
  • Jaden Powers And The Inheritance Magic by Jamar J. Perry *MG* 8/27
  • The Sticky Note Manifesto Of Aisha Agarwal by Ambika Vohra 8/27
  • Homemade Love by J. California Cooper *adult* 8/27
  • Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan *MG* 8/27
  • Tales From Cabin 23: Night Of The Living Dead by Hanna Alkaf *MG* 8/27
  • With Love, Echo Park by Laura Taylor Namey 8/27
  • Star Wars The High Republic: Beware The Nameless by Zoraida Cordova 8/27
  • The Everybody Experiment by Lisa Moore Ramee *MG* 8/27
  • I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram *adult* 8/27
  • Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldivar 8/27
  • Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay 8/27
  • The Talk by Darrin Bell *adult* 8/27
  • Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes To Bat For Latinos by Nathalie Alonso, ill. By Rudy Gutierrez *PB* 8/27
  • Our Shouts Echo by Jade Adia 8/27
  • Twin Flames by Olivia Abtahi 8/27
  • Surrender by Kimberly Brown *adult series* 8/27
  • Embrace by Mya *adult series* 8/27
  • Passion For The Heist by K’Wan *adult* 8/27
  • The Mechanics Of Memory by Audrey Lee *adult* 8/27
  • Bridge Across The Sky by Freeman Ng 8/27
  • We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde *UK Release* 8/29
  • Reclaim Me by JL Seegars *Adult series* 8/31
Whew, this is quite a list!

There are so many books coming out and I love that for all of us (though maybe not for our library holds & bank accounts)! I’ve gotten quite a few early copies and the titles are:

  • Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee *adult*
  • Second Tide’s The Charm by Chandra Blumberg *adult*
  • The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava *adult*
  • The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho *adult*
  • Tension by C. Monet *adult series*
  • This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
  • Allure by Iesha Bree *adult series*
  • Kisses, Codes, And Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen
  • The Maid And The Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
  • Read At Your Own Risk by Remy Lai *MG*
  • Frequent Fliers by Noue Kirwan *adult*
  • Kingdom Of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow *MG*
  • Drown Me With Dreams by Gabi Burton *Sequel*
  • A Banh Mi For Two by Trinity Nguyen
  • Desire by Kay Shanee *adult series*
  • Marriage And Masti by Nisha Sharma *adult series*
  • Knives, Seasoning, And A Dash Of Love by Katrina Kwan *adult*
  • Surrender by Kimberly Brown *adult series*
  • Embrace by Mya *adult series*

Of these, I have read:

  • The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava *adult*
  • The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho *adult*
  • Tension by C. Monet *adult series*
  • This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
  • Allure by Iesha Bree *adult series*
  • Currently Reading: Second Tide’s The Charm by Chandra Blumberg *adult*
I’ve been reading a lot!

So many amazing books are coming out and I can’t wait to get into them! What about you? Are there any books you’re excited about? Are there any that I missed by authors of color? Let me know here in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic (I do the occasional lives & posts), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I’m remain quite random on there but still a good time), Threads @bookishgirlmagic (I’m posting on there a little more there) and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays) to chat with me. Oh and please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve gotten to sit in the A/C and read! And to those who are subscribed, thank you thank you thank youuuuu, I really truly appreciate y’all! Stay Cool out there folx! I’m sending bookish love always and wishing you a happy summer & reading!

Hot Book Summer Is Heating Up: July Releases

Hey everyone! Well, this week has been one heck of one but we are in a new month! It feels like time is flying by but also not in some cases…it’s really weird! It also got really hot and that feels sudden…or is that just my heat intolerant self?!

Seriously, is it just me here?!

Annnnnnyway, with a new month comes new books and its coming for all our bank accounts & library holds (though it feels a little lighter than the last few months…or that could just be me)! I compiled a list about it. Like to hear it? Here it go (if you know the reference, you know the reference & we can be friends, lol)!

This man lives rent-free in my head
  • The Charmed List by Julie Abe 7/5
  • What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri 7/5
  • The Darkening by Sunya Mara 7/5
  • Nura And The Immortal Palace by M.T Khan *MG* 7/5
  • Honey And Spice by Bolu Babalola *new adult* 7/5
  • Remixed: A Blended Family by Arree Chung *PB* 7/5
  • Chester Keene Cracks The Code by Kekla Magoon *MG* 7/5
  • Wash Day Diaries By Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith 7/5
  • Keya Das’s Second Act by Sopan Deb *adult* 7/5
  • Dear Miss Metropolitan by Carolyn Ferrell *adult* 7/5
  • The Moment We Met by Camille Baker *adult* 7/5
  • Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson *MG* 7/12
  • Circling Back to You A Novel by Julie Tieu *adult* 7/12
  • How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra 7/12
  • Bet on It A Novel by Jodie Slaughter *adult* 7/12
  • The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya *MG* 7/12
  • Other Names For Love by Taymour Soomro *adult* 7/12
  • Granny’s Kitchen by Sade Smith & Ken Daley *PB* 7/12
  • Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma by Preeti Chhibber *MG* 7/12
  • Etta Invincible by Reese Eschmann *MG* 7/12
  • All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr *MG* 7/12
  • Figure Of Speech by Kasha Thompson *adult* 7/12
  • Big Girl By Mecca Jamilah Sullivan *adult* 7/12
  • Sister Mother Warrior By Vanessa Riley *adult* 7/12
  • Harry Sylvester Bird by Chinelo Okparanta *adult* 7/12
  • The Daughter of Doctor Moreau By Silvia Moreno-Garcia *adult* 7/19
  • Can’t Resist Her by Kianna Alexander *adult* 7/19
  • Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin 7/19
  • Thirst by Varsha Bajaj *MG* 7/19
  • The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson *adult* 7/19
  • The Kingdoms Of Savannah by George Dawes Green *adult* 7/19
  • Skeletina And The In-Between World by Susie Jaramillo *PB & Spanish Edition* 7/19
  • The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou 7/19
  • Twisted Hate by Ana Huang *adult* 7/19
  • Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee *sequel* 7/19
  • Because You Are by Jael Richardson *PB* 7/19
  • Send Her Back And Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke *adult* 7/25
  • After Hours On Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez *adult* 7/26
  • A Girl’s Guide To Love And Magic by Debbie Rigaud 7/26
  • Team Chu And the Battle Of Blackwood Arena by Julie C. Dao *MG* 7/26
  • Twice As Perfect by Louisa Onome 7/26
  • Beasts Of Ruin by Ayana Gray *sequel* 7/26
  • Blue Bloods: After Life by Melissa De La Cruz 7/26
  • Violet Made Of Thorns by Gina Chen 7/26
  • Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke 7/26
  • More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard *PB* 7/26
  • Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min 7/26
  • Stirring Up Trouble by Chandra Blumbery *adult* 7/26   
  • Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow *MG* 7/26
  • Twice A Quinceanera by Yamile Saied Mendez *adult* 7/26
  • Knot Again by Kwana Jackson *adult sequel* 7/26
  • Booked On A Feeling by Jayci Lee *adult* 7/26
  • Boys I Know by Anna Garcia 7/26
  • Nobody’s Princess Erica Ridley *adult* 7/26
  • Calling for a Blanket Dance A Novel by Oscar Hokeah *adult* 7/26
  • POŪKAHANGATUS by Tayi Tibble *adult* 7/26
  • Man Or The Monster by Aamna Qureshi *Sequel* 7/26
  • A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia *adult* 7/26
  • The Witchery by S. Isabelle 7/26
  • It Started With A Dance by Tinia Montford *adult* 7/28
Publishers are still tryna keep us busy this summer!

I’ve been blessed by the Bookish Gawds yet again. Here are the ARCS that I have thanks to Netgalley and these books respective publishers!

  • The Charmed List by Julie Abe
  • What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
  • Nura And The Immortal Palace by M.T Khan *MG*
  • Honey And Spice by Bolu Babalola *new adult*
  • Wash Day Diaries By Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith
  • Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson *MG*
  • Circling Back to You A Novel by Julie Tieu *adult*
  • How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra
  • Sister Mother Warrior By Vanessa Riley *adult*
  • Can’t Resist Her by Kianna Alexander *adult*
  • Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin
  • Thirst by Varsha Bajaj *MG*
  • The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson *adult*
  • After Hours On Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez *adult*
  • Team Chu And the Battle Of Blackwood Arena by Julie C. Dao *MG*
  • Twice As Perfect by Louisa Onome
  • Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke
  • Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow *MG*
  • Twice A Quinceanera by Yamile Saied Mendez *adult*
  • Knot Again by Kwana Jackson *adult sequel*
  • Booked On A Feeling by Jayci Lee *adult*
  • Boys I Know by Anna Garcia
  • Nobody’s Princess Erica Ridley *adult*
Truly (but like, this is pretty much every month so I do know better)

Thanks to whatever energy has decided to descend my life into chaos (yes…I’m, in part, alluding to my bookstagram IG getting hacked and the other parts are just part of being human and ish going left), I am behind on my ARC TBR so I haven’t gotten to start my July ARCs yet but I’m literally planning to start this weekend!

Like the level of sad I am over this…

Did I miss any books coming out by POC authors this month (I’m not perfect folx, my homegirl @raethereviewer had a few I didn’t have so go check out her page & follow her!)? Are there any books that you are excited for this month? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @crystalyogi22 (since my bookstagram got hacked & I’m emailing Instagram every free moment I think of it to regain access to it, I’m seriously fighting for my life here y’all. Please follow my OG account and if anyone has some helpful tips or knows someone who works for IG, please hit me up), Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve gotten to sit on the beach to relax and read! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

My Spirit Demands More POC Romances

Hi y’all! I hope you are holding up as well as you possibly can! So, if you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I went on a bit of a rant about wanting more POC romances…and you know what, I’ve been dying to say that out loud for a hot minute! Like, I literally think this at least 5 times a day so it’s been sitting heavy on my Spirit and couldn’t contain it any more! See Exhibit A below.

The link is attached…but I couldn’t hold it in any longer!

Not too much on Biracial romances because they exist and are more than valid (I’m not here for erasure) but EYEEEEEEEE really want to see more romances where POCs seek and desire other POCs. Is that asking too much? Is that an irrational request? To see myself & my friends desired by someone who could have similar backgrounds and experiences? I really don’t think that this an an unrealistic ask. I understand when an author is biracial themselves or is in a biracial relationship (namely, Black & White) but there are so many narratives pushed about white desirability and it’s a fantasy I can’t ever get with…I really really can’t folx, nor do I want to to keep it 100%.

I truly don’t think so!

On the real, there is nothing like reading a romance where the MCs sit and talk about their experiences in their Black/AAPI/Latinx/Indigenous/Immigrant households. When I read scenes like that, I feel like I’m there because I’m Black & grew up in an Immigrant household with most of my friends who are Black & Latinx and either are immigrants or are children of immigrants. Like, I just really want more of that with lots of loving & adoring gazes, kissing and steam (in adult because I’m not a creeper asking for that in YA) woven in.

The joy that those thoughts brought to my spirit…I need more of that

So, with all of that being said, I’m going to give y’all a list of recent YA and adult books that give us just that because it’s what we all deserve! I did a post earlier in the year with a few romance suggestions, but I wanted to give you a list with more recent reads.

This list is my offering to you all, really
  • Young Adult
    • The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
    • Loveboat, Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen
    • An Arrow To The Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
    • My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
    • Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney
    • Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee
    • A Summer Between Bitter And Sweet by Jen Ferguson
    • Nate Plus One by Kevin Van Whyte
    • The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
    • Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho
    • Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
    • Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe
    • Flip The Script by Lyla Lee
    • My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth
    • Private Label by Kelly Yang
    • Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest

A Note: I just want to apologize in advance of you reading the adult list because it is a heteronormative list. I’ve been working on broadening my reading horizons and do have some LGBTQIA+ reads in my ARC TBR but have not gotten to them yet and in this case, I want to be sure that the romances both POC MCs & Love interests.

  • Adult (The spice levels vary, for those who care about that but I’m not commenting on that because that’s not what this post is about…ask me in the comments if you really wanna know)
    • Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
    • Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (this book is perfection)
    • Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell by Taj McCoy
    • Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper
    • What A Match by Mimi Grace
    • Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh
    • By The Book by Jasmine Guillory
    • The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
    • Off Script by Ashley Marie
    • Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
    • On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi
    • Good Morning, Love by Ashley M. Coleman
How I feel about these books

On the real y’all, I really wish these lists were longer & I hope that they will be in the future (I know a few authors who are working on this, thankfully). I don’t just want this for myself but for others who want to see themselves adored & desired by someone who looks like them or as a similar background to them, teens and adults alike.

Even more so than Kel does seeing this Orange sooooooda!

Am I alone in this sentiment? Let me know if I’m alone in this or if you have any recommendations in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a bunch of romances with POC MCs & Love Interests! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

I Can’t Help Marveling At The Marvellers

  • Dhonielle Clayton
  • MG Debut; 7th Book
  • Genre: MG Fantasy
  • Background: Black
  • Instagram: @brownbookworm; Twitter: @brownbookworm; www.dhonielleclayton.com
  • Release: 1/25/2022 (this NEEDS to be in your TBR!)
  • Publisher: Henry Holt
  • Favorite Character: Jason! I loved how he interacted with both humans and adults; he also had some really great moments that made his character so easy to love!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I’m putting the hoodoo-hot sauce in the top drawer. You know the food here isn’t going to have the taste from home.”-Ella’s Mom. I don’t know about anyone else but I read this as “they only use salt and pepper and call it seasoning”, or maybe that’s just me! Either way, I cackled loudly because it would be a Black mama to carry around something, be it spices, snacks or mini-emergency kits because she is likely to find something lacking where ever she goes.
This is what Ella’s mama was giving and I’m here for that sort of energy!

Before I start this post, I have to say that I’m a big Dhonielle Clayton fan and am forever in love with The Belles, especially the cover (I have a huge poster of it hung up in my apartment, if there is any doubt). I don’t recall when Dhonielle announced that she was doing a middle grade but I know I’ve been anticipating this book for a LONGGGGGGG time and The Marvellers was worth every moment of anticipation! I did speak a little bit about it when I did a live on IG, which you can see here and mentioned it in my most recent MG books post but I really wanted to give The Marvellers it’s own dedicated post (especially after a certain publication tried to play in Dhonielle’s face).

I have been from the moment I picked up The Belles and that won’t ever change!

As I was reading this book, it felt like a love letter to everyone (young and old) that wanted to see themselves in a magic school but weren’t written in (no shadè to a particular book…well, maybe a little). It felt like a space where no one had to imagine themselves there because we (I include myself in this) were already there. From the first page, to the last, it felt like a “welcome home” which is so important when it comes to MG & YA books (mirrors, windows & sliding doors my friend). The Marvellers was definitely a book that I know I would’ve wanted to be as a pre-teen/teen and it’s world a place that I would want to be as an adult. I can only imagine what a young Latesha would’ve felt if she had this book in her hands but I won’t have to imagine it putting this book into the hands of my Godson and any other kid I come across…this a beyond beautiful feeling.

It felt like a wonderful welcome too

I have to say that there is something incredibly special when on any given page, you can see something from your culture, your name (mine wasn’t but maybe book 2? I’ll hold out hope, lol), your identity. For example, when I tell you I got super hyped at the mention of Trinidadian curry…like y’all…Y’ALL, not everyone knows the nuances of different curries, let alone the countries that make them, it made me incredible happy that Trinidadian curry was included in the list. Honestly, Trini curry should NOT be slept on (it’s the best curry in MYYYYYY opinion) and it was taking it’s rightful place in the pantheon of curries in The Marvellerse! I’m in my *cough* late 30s *cough* and the level of excitement I felt shouldn’t have made sense but it did because I hadn’t read that in any other book and I’ve read a lot of books. It had me so hyped that I decided to tweet at Dhonielle a bunch of ideas of Haitian foods to include because EYEEEEE felt that you can’t have a worldly cafeteria without Haitian Food!

The tweet is linked to this picture but I included other ideas, I was so hyped. Also, I misspelled Griyo so it should’ve been “Griot’s Griyo”

Another aspect that I loved about The Marvellers that went with that welcome home feeling, was that Dhonielle wrote in quite a few familiar author names, whether they were adults or students. With that, it felt like being amongst people who care and who would want to be there since they were all YA authors who have really worked to bring forth visibility of children of color & queer rep within literature (of course, it helped that some of the names are people who I’ve met IRL so that added another layer). When you’ve attended as many book events as I have (pre-panorama but even post), you are able to get a feel for those in this world and who not only talks but actually shows how about this work they are. Seeing those names in The Marvellerse, along with having this amazing author who has always be vocal on representation, that made this book a truly safe space.

In every sense of the term!

Speaking of safe spaces, one of the things I loved most about this book was the friendships that Ella developed. Did some of the kids at the school play like she wasn’t finna be the dopest Marveller/Conjuror there? Yea they did but I firmly believe that your people will find you and find Ella they did. When Jason, the homie, stepped onto the page, I was like “you are it” and that he would become the second in what I knew would be the eventual magical trifecta of this book. Then when Brigit begrudgingly came around (you have to read to understand this statement), I felt she would complete the triumvirate and I lived. Sure, they are on the US cover but it still hits different when they step onto the scene. I’m truly a sucker for a great friend group (which MGs are really good at serving) and this one was no exception. They complimented each other in all the right ways, were funny & silly together and supported when it really counted. I couldn’t help rooting for them the entire time like you would any MVP & their team!

They certainly were in their individual shining moments & as a team!

Part of what I loved about Ella, Jason & Brigit is that they each brought something unique to the story and I honestly wouldn’t have minded their perspectives (maybe in future books) but it was really important to be rooted in Ella’s first. Ella is coming from distinctly different magical world into another and finding her footing. She’s deemed an outsider and a threat (but unfortunately not in the fact that her intelligence & abilities would leave her peers in the dust) which she handled with a lot more grace than she was given. What makes Jason & Brigit special is the fact that, they too, are outsiders in a sense when it comes to their backgrounds and abilities (I’ll let you read to find out what those are). So when they bond with Ella, it felt like a home (I’m using that word a lot huh? It’s fitting though) was created and they were capable of anything. There is a level of trust that they develop that could be felt and that was super important to the dynamic out the gate as well as to what they would go through together.

Well, the real three! They are just so special together!

After I finished reading The Marvellers, I was like “there was NO WAYYYY that this could be a duology and it needs to be at least three books but really five” (I may or may not have said something to the folx I know at MacMillan) and I was BEYOND thrilled when it was announced that The Marvellerse would be at least four books (I’m holding out hopes for more with potential for YA cross-over because I believe in Ella that much & want to manifest this). Dhonielle sprinkled in so many bread crumbs throughout that made it feel like there are quite a few threads to unravel in this world that extends past the Villain, who actually makes herself known in a pretty unique way (I know I’m not saying much about her but that’s on purpose since she is apart of the experience/mystery of this magical world). It’s clear there is so much for Ella to learn about herself, being a Conjuror and the Marveller world…and I want to be present for every single moment.

I’m not afraid to ask in this case!

There is so much that I could say about this book… How it felt like a homage to the vastness of Black culture but still honors other traditions. How it’s a breath of fresh air despite how many times I held my breath reading the twists & turns Ella experiences. How refreshing it was to read magic that is unique to the characters, their cultures and experiences. How it felt like Dhonielle was holding readers with just as much care as she did her characters. It felt like such an honor and a privilege to read this book knowing the cannon of work it opens up for generations to come. To say that I loved this book, is an understatement, and I felt like it deserved more than just a paragraph in a list when it meant so much more to me than that.

The Marvellers truly is

So, if you haven’t added this book to your TBR, you really should change that. If you are an educator, you really should add this book to your curriculum and/or class library because there is so much that could be taught from it. Librarians, you already know what needs to be done! Parents, caregivers, put this book in your kids hands because they deserve to see themselves on the page, having adventures and learning about themselves just as much as they will others. This book is a gift and an offering, in my humble opinion.

On the real people, just make it happen!

Okay y’all, I’ve written enough and now it’s time for you to holler at your favorite bookstore or branch of the library to get your hands on The Marvellers, if you haven’t already. If you wanna chat about this book or ask me more questions, you know you can find me out in these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve seen myself in a magical world & found a home there! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

If You’re Looking For Laughs And Adventure, Look At These Middle Grades!

Hello, Hello, Hello! Before I start up this post, I recently saw that this blog has reached 500 subscribers and the gasp that emerged from my Soul was such a loud one that you likely heard it from where ever you are in the world (never underestimate my ability to project, lol)! I’m so incredibly thankful to each and every person that has chosen to subscribe and I hope that I can continue to Give what you are looking for. I am at a loss for further words but this milestone means SOOOOOOOOOOO very much to me and I wanted to let you know! So thank you, thank you, thaaaaaaank you for being here!

No, but like, seriously THANK YOU!

Just a heads up that this post is week is going to be short. It is has been a little tough but I didn’t want to leave you all hanging nor abandon the intent that I set for this year (Posting once a week & sharing more of what I read, if you wanted the sparknotes, lol). I do want you all to go out and read all of the books your heart desires so a short post will help you all to do so (This makes sense to me, lol)!

What can I say, really? lol! It’s just been one of those weeks *sigh*

So I have been thinking about some of the middle grades that I’ve read in the last few months and have been loving the adventures they’ve taken me on along with the laughs that I had along the way. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about middle grades that I enjoyed and I’m continuously reading them so I wanted to share some more, especially with summer upon us and I’m sure books with some excitement would be appreciated for those who actually do the reading challenges (does Pizza Hut still do those? Did I just show my age if they don’t? Somebodies library somewhere has to be doing them, right?!)!

This was me whenever I finished the challenges, lol!

Anyway, here is a short list and most of them are the start of a new series (which may either deeply excite you or frustrate you, depending on how you choose to look at it, lol):

  • Winnie Zeng Unleashes A Legend by Katie Zhao: I laughed a ton and really enjoyed the approach to Chinese mythology!
  • The Marvellers By Dhonielle Clayton: This was the magical school of my dreams and I lived for the world that was built!
  • Freddie Vs. The Family Curse by Tracy Badua: Freddie was ridiculously funny and super relatable in all he went through!
  • Zachery Ying And The Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao: I loved Zach so much & the Chinese history lessons this book gave!
  • Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas: I related so much to Hassani, both in Spirit & Life and I think so many would as well!
  • Theo Tan And The Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Theo & Kai are the comedic duo I never knew I needed & I cackled A LOT!
  • The Last Fallen Moon, Sequel to The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim: I just started reading but so far, it is giving me what I was hoping for! It comes out on 6/14/22 so you don’t have long to wait!
Issa short list but a good one and I think you’ll love all of these!

I know that wasn’t a wholeeeeeeee lot to go on but trust me…as a self-proclaimed connoisseur of Middle Grade Books, I promise that all these books will deliver on the laughs & adventures along with hijinxs with friends (I really do love a good group of friends). They’re all such great representations of the caliber of MGs that are coming out now and would love to see them in the hands of more people (kids & adults alike, really). I have some more middle grades that I’ll be reading soon so I will eventually report on them because I can’t NOT talk about MG as it holds a big part of my heart just as YA does!

In a good way, of course! You know I’m a reliable source for books and I wouldn’t ever lead you astray…*flutters eyelashes rapidly* lol

Are there any MGs that you have read that you really enjoyed? Have you read any that are on the list and would you co-sign? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a middle grade that had me laughing while on an adventure! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Hot Book Summer Is Upon Us: June Releases

Hey there! I can’t believe a new month is upon us, that we are already in June and the fact that it’s coming for all our bank accounts & library holds! There is so many books coming out and many of them are some that I have been highly anticipating! I don’t know about y’all but my mind is on books, the beach and reading on the beach (yea, yea, I know, I gotta adult before I do those things…*deep sigh*)!

I’m ready for this to be me y’all..I’m so so ready!

Now, take this list at face value because the way that supply chain issues and publishing has been playing in our faces with some of these release dates…so just be sure to double check the dates and my recommendation is to check is the publisher websites (and y’all know that you can trust my recommendations *wink* *wink*). Also, if you reference this list, please do share this post too! Thank you!

You can never be too careful folx!

Anyway, let’s get to this list:

  • Zo And The Forest Of Secrets by Alake Pilgrim *MG* 6/2
  • A Proposal They Can’t Refuse A Novel by Natalie Caña *adult* 6/7
  • Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest 6/7
  • TJ Powar Has Something To Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo 6/7
  • This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian 6/7
  • Meet Me In Mumbai by Sabrina Khan 6/7
  • Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh Gangotra *PB* 6/7
  • The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen 6/7
  • Tomorrow y Mañana by Monica Gomez-Hira 6/7
  • Fireworks by Alice Lin 6/7
  • Off Script by Ashley Marie *adult* 6/7
  • Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen *adult* 6/7
  • Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang *MG* 6/7
  • You Are A Champion by Marcus Rashford *MG* 6/7
  • Out There Into The Queer New Yonder Edited by Saundra Mitchell 6/7
  • Somewhere We Are Human Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings By Reyna Grande, Sonia Guiñansaca, Foreword by Viet Thanh Nguyen *adult* 6/7
  • I Want to Be a Vase By Julio Torres *PB* 6/7
  • Empress Crowned In Red by Ciannon Smart *Sequel* 6/7
  • The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin & Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich *YA Edition* 6/14
  • The Last Fallen Moon by Graci Kim *MG Sequel* 6/14
  • Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith 6/14
  • Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey 6/14
  • In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo *MG* 6/14
  • Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher *adult* 6/14
  • Under The Skin by Linda Villarosa *adult* 6/14
  • The Catch Me If You Can by Jessica Nabongo *adult* 6/14
  • Asian Ghost Short Stories Foreword by K. Hari Kumar, Intro by Luo Hui *adult* 6/14
  • Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu  *MG* 6/14
  • The Silence that Binds Us By Joanna Ho 6/14
  • The Loophole by Naz Kutib 6/21
  • This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron *sequel* 6/21
  • Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley *adult* 6/21
  • The Sleepless by Victor Manibo 6/21
  • Don’t Go Baking My Heart by N.G. Peltier *Adult series* 6/21
  • American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal & Supriya Kelkar *PB 6/21
  • We Weren’t Looking to Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn 6/21
  • On Rotation A Novel by Shirlene Obuobi *adult* 6/21
  • The Final Strife A Novel By Saara El-Arifi *adult* 6/21
  • Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic by Lauren Ho *adult* 6/21
  • Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu *MG* 6/21
  • We Are The Origin by C.M. Lockhart 6/21
  • Tomatoes In My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli & Magdalena Mora *PB* 6/21
  • Good Morning, Love A Novel by Ashley M. Coleman *adult* 6/21
  • Rakontay Vedi by Wynnie Lamour-Quansah & Darnelle Champagne *PB* 6/24
  • From Fake to Forever by Laila Rafi *NA* 6/27
  • American Royalty by Tracey Livesay *adult* 6/28
  • The Sizzle Paradox A Novel by Lily Menon *adult* 6/28
  • GodSlayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta *Sequel* 6/28
  • The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar 6/28
  • Valentina Salazar Is NOT A Monster Hunter by Zoraida Cordova *MG* 6/28
  • Lia Park And The Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon *MG* 6/28
  • A Secret Princess by Melissa De La Cruz & Margaret Stohl 6/28
  • Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow 6/28
  • Dele Weds Destiny by Tomi Obaro *adult* 6/28
  • The Black Girls Left Standing by Juliana Goodman 6/28
  • My Name is Jason. Mine Too. by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin 6/28
  • The Most Precious Substance on Earth by Shashi Bhat *NA* 6/28
  • The Scent Of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule *adult* 6/28
  • The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo 6/28
Yo, so many!

This list may not be as long as some of the previous months but it’s still a heavy hitting list! I don’t know about y’all but there are some on this list that I have been INSANELY hyped about being released into the world! Also like previous months, I’ve been incredibly blessed by the ARC Gawds and have gotten some of them (*cue the harps*). Here are the ones that I received:

  • A Proposal They Can’t Refuse A Novel by Natalie Caña *adult*
  • Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest
  • The Loophole by Naz Kutib
  • The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen
  • Tomorrow y Mañana by Monica Gomez-Hira
  • Fireworks by Alice Lin
  • Off Script by Ashley Marie *adult*
  • Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen *adult*
  • Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang *MG*
  • The Last Fallen Moon by Graci Kim *MG Sequel*
  • Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
  • Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
  • Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher *adult*
  • Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu  *MG*
  • This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron *sequel*
  • Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley *adult*
  • On Rotation A Novel by Shirlene Obuobi *adult*
  • The Final Strife A Novel By Saara El-Arifi *adult*
  • Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic by Lauren Ho *adult*
  • Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu *MG*
  • American Royalty by Tracey Livesay *adult*
  • The Sizzle Paradox A Novel by Lily Menon *adult*
  • GodSlayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta *Sequel*
  • The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
  • The Black Girls Left Standing by Juliana Goodman
I’m going to remain hella busy this month…well, for the next few months, really!

My TBR has been insane so I am not as far into my June ARCs as I would like to be so what I’ve read so far is:

  • A Proposal They Can’t Refuse A Novel by Natalie Caña *adult*
  • Fireworks by Alice Lin
  • Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest
  • Currently Reading: The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen
Okay, okay, okay! I will get back ro reading!

Are there any books that you are looking forward to? Did I miss any books by Authors Of Color coming out this month? Let me know in the comments here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve gotten to sit on the beach and read, especially reading ARCs! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love, wishing you happy reading ANDDDDD A Hot Book Summer!

Get Your Hot Book Summer On Folx! Shout Out to Megan Thee Stallion, a Dope A$$ Black Woman who gave us the Bop “Hot Girl Summer”…Also, give Black Women Credit Peeple!

Books That Gave Me Serious Heart Eyes And Butterflies

Hey there! I don’t know about you but lately, it feels like quite a few of my reads have been romances and have been delivering a level of fluffy that has me looking like a heart eye emoji and gives a belly full of butterflies…and you know what, I’m not mad about this. The fact that many of these have been ARCS also makes me happy because it means that the masses will be getting lighter reading material. As someone who deals with a moderate level of anxiety, it’s been helpful to read books that aren’t super heavy…..and, okay, I will also admit that I also tend to avoid books that could be heavier than I can handle in the moment whenever it is possible (that’s why there are some books in my TBR that I haven’t been able to crack open).

Who doesn’t want to feel like Pikachu while reading?!

So since everyone could use reads that would give them the warm and fuzzies, I figured I would share five Young Adult books that gave me that feeling. I did a short list of these in my post about POC kids deserving healthy relationships at the end of it but I’m going to speak about some of them here with a little more detail!

Seriously, reading these books made me feel like I was in a warm & comfy bed, snuggling up with my weighted blanket

Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee: When I read this book, all I could do was fall in love with the two MCs (y’all know that Dual POVs are my jam) along side the gorgeous cover that beckoned me to it. The way that these seemingly opposite kids went from “enemies” to barely tolerated acquaintances then friends was just wonderful. I loved reading their evolutions and getting to laugh the entire way through… my eyes may have gotten glassy a time or two but not in a bad way!

This was me a lot the time I was reading

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle (out 5/31/22): This is a book that I was really excited about and it gave what I hoped it would. First the cover gave me Love & Basketball vibes (its one of my favorite movies) but with music and the book itself was that & Love Jones, but with a male MC I could stand behind. It was the Black Love Story that I wish that I had as a teen! While there were some heart wrenching moments (what romance doesn’t have them), there were more uplifting ones. I appreciated the balance of the MCs and their personal struggles along side their love story.

What Prince gave but without the problematic moments after this scene.

Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe (Out 5/31/22): This was another book that served classic Black Love Story from the 90s (which is my favorite era of movies). I ate this book up within a matter of hours because I was so drawn to Jupiter and Orion’s story. I loved that it was Dual POV and I felt that I was beside them the entire time as well as the fact that there was a bit of a mystery to unravel. I was just wrapped up in the story from beginning to end and did not put down my amazon fire the entire time.

This book was like watching Monica make her shots in this scene for me cause I was rooting for her in the same way I rooted for Jupiter & Orion

Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho: This book gave me the right level of K-Drama and K-Pop that just made my heart so happy. It made me happy in the way other books inspired by K-Pop/Drama did and made me want to listen to nothing but K-Pop while reading. I loved that there was some alternate perspectives but I was really happy to read Elena’s perspective because she was so funny and was super relatable. Honestly, I just smiled the entire time I was reading it!

I just felt all the happy feels throughout!

All Signs Point To Yes Anthology edited by g haron davis, Cam Montgomery and Adrianne White (Out 5/31/22): Ok, so if you know me, you know that I love anthologies and this one was no different. It gave me various love stories, from different backgrounds and varying genres based upon the astrological signs! It was a nice mix of fantasy and contemporary that was well balanced out. None of the stories felt heavy or overwhelming nor overpowered the others! If you are into different types of love stories and varying genres, you would likely enjoy it as well!

I’m blowing kisses to all the contributors and the editors!

There are some other books that I’ve read but these five, I definitely felt good while reading. With how things have been in the world and even in my own personal life, it’s been helpful to just be able to read and feel light at the same time…it’s a relief to be completely honest!

Trust that I don’t deny it and I definitely feel relief when I do!

Are you into books that give you the warm & fuzzies while reading? Are there any books that gave you that feeling recently? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a bunch of books that gave me the warm & fuzzies! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

Wow, I Said That?: An Ode To 100 Posts

Hey there! I can’t believe it but this is my 100th post! I never gave thought to getting to this point (outside of just staying on top of posting) or what I would do once I do but I’m so glad to have made it here and you are have joined me! I set the intent for this year that I would post every week and I have actually been sticking to that (even when I post later than my usual day like this week), so I shouldn’t be surprised we are here now!

I’m still blown that we got to this point!

So in order to garner some inspiration for this post, I asked some of my bookish clubhouse peeps what they think I should do and my very wise & amazing soror @chptrshakedown made the recommendation to do a post revisiting old posts and saying if they still apply. Knowing me, they all still would because I only write about what I’m passionate about buttttttttt she was very much so on to something with this idea and I trust Black Women to lead me in the right direction!

She had me thankin’ y’all but I knew she was correct!

When I write my posts, sometimes it’s almost like I’m in a fever dream once I crank my iTunes so I know I’ve said some outrageous or at least a bit funny things while writing in order to express my love for a book or get a point across. So keeping my soror Nelly’s idea in mind, I’m revisiting past posts that I remember having the best time writing but I’m going to share quotes that made me go “I really said that?”, lol! I’ll link those posts, of course! So let’s get into it!

Yea…yea…I did, lol!

“Arrah’s mother & eventual sister are the antithesis of her…they are both hoes and a halves for their shenanigans!”-From the OG Post Kingdom Of Souls Snatched My Edges. Reading back this post, there is so much more I wish I could add to it…being that I was new to wordpress and it didn’t have some of the capabilities it does now, it doesn’t have gifs and I hadn’t even thought of using memes…mmm, now I’m thinking this post may get an update, regardless of it’s original state, I loved writing that post! Anyways, I still love KOS as much as I did then (the 3rd book, Masters Of Souls, comes out this summer) and I still believe that Arrah’s mom and sister are hoes & a half…*Ye shrug*.

*sings* that Arrah’s mom & sister are hoes & a halffffff

“You know I’m not about taking lives (I’m vegan for fucks sake)…though I will snatch a scalp or two when fucked with and thus was happy when Eva dug deep within her ovaries and started to fight back. Thinking about it, this book was like an episode of Snapped: Literary Sibling Edition because shit was BANANAS…*cues Gwen Stefani* B-A-N-A-N-A-S!”–A River Of Royal Blood Gave Me Life. I remember having such a good fucking time writing this post and I stand TEN FUCKING TOES on how I felt then (and if you haven’t read that book, what are you even DOING?!)! This post was written when I still hadn’t discovered the magic of having gifs BUT I believe anyone who read that post got the gist, lol!

I seriously lived for when Eva got to this point!

“The Lady is one of those characters that you just want to fight…like put vaseline on your face & take off your earrings then invite her outside when she’s mentioned or pops up.”–Behold, Raybearer Is Fire, AF. I just had an epiphany that I may have some anger issues because in the posts I’ve quoted so far, I’ve wanted to fight at least one character and they’ve been the moms, lol! This post was also written at the beginning of the pandemic, so you know the caginess I was feeling! If you’ve read Raybearer, then I think you would understand this sentiment though (I still feel the same).

It’s how I felt at the time and still do….*shrug*

“Just look at the cover and tell me that it’s not worth staring at for prolonged periods of time…Go on and take a moment to look at it and then come back… *waits* Thank you for joining me in my obsession!”–Aye Yo #LegendbornKeptMeUp Is A Real Thing. I am still very much so obsessed with Legendborn’s cover (& overall story, I’m so ready for Bloodmarked to drop) and stare at the framed poster of it on my Magical Black Kids Wall several times a week…No one told the cover illustrator to go off the way they did but they sure did the world a service in doing so!

Understatement of the muhfuckin century!

“Since I finished this book in February, I have not been able to stop talking about it…like, it stays in my mouth (I’m not ashamed to say that either)!”–I’m Completely Obsessed With FireKeeper’s Daughter. I wrote this blog post back in March 2021 and this book is still in my mouth…I literally talk about it ALL THE TIME and I react to it the same each time I see it in a bookstore…I’m not embarrassed AT ALL about my physical and verbal response to this book! *shrug*

I really, truly am not…in the least bit

“With a premise like having your personal property filled with your deepest thoughts in it stolen then being blackmailed with it (that’s not a spoiler, btw), how could you not go from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other with characters?! ER-BODY getting the side-eye and 3rd degree the moment the opportunity presents itself in my opinion!”–So Many Reasons Why I Love Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. I said so much in this post and it was hard to pick something…but yea, I was legit side-eyeing the book like it was being shady… Trust was something I did NOT have in some of these characters but I absolutely did have in Joya (there is a post about her second book, Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl, which recently came out and you need to read it if you haven’t yet)!

This was definitely me

“*Cracks knuckles and cues up BlackPink* Sooooooo, I’m not a violent person (okay, yes, I can be despite being a Hufflepuff) but OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH *Fist to mouth*, I wanted to take my earrings off so bad, grab some vaseline and lace up my timbs (if I still had a pair, I’m failing as a New Yorker right now) while reading this book!”–Ace Of Spades Made Me Want To Take Off My Earrings And Lace Up My Timbs. Man…I really went off in this post and it was hard to pick a quote here too so I went with the very beginning of the post…I still feel the same way that I did when I wrote this post. I still wanna fight bitches and light that school on fire then walk away like Angela Bassett in Waiting To Exhale (that’s still one of my all time favorite movie moments). Yes, I know it wasn’t a real place but it felt too real and thus, my mind and body responded accordingly.

Both iconic and accurate to how I felt & still feel!

I know there are so many other moments in my other blog posts but there is but so much time in the day and I rather you read those posts to really get the energy of them…but know that I loved writing each of these posts above and have loved writing this blog for the better part of the last 3 years! I’m so grateful for this space and for you taking the time to read these posts!

But seriously, thank you for being here and reading!

Are there any posts you’ve loved of the last 99 I’ve written? Has there been a quote from them that stuck with you, outlandish or profound? Have you read any books that I wrote about because of the post(s)? Let me know in the comments or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve written 100 more posts! Yet again, thank you so much for being here and hope you continue to be! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wish you happy reading!

Kids Of Color Deserve Safe Spaces And Healthy Relationships

Hey Everyone! So for a while, I had been thinking about this, especially with how much reading I had been doing this year. I’d been thinking about how Kids of Color, especially Black and Brown ones (being that I am Black), truly deserve safe spaces and healthy relationships, in both the real world and in literature. It’s actually something that I’ve talked about along with the topic of representation (something I can really figuratively & literally hop onto a soapbox for prolonged periods of time about) but just not on it’s own here. I’ve actually been working off and on on this for a while but now feels like the right time post.

A crazy amount, actually!

When the topic of relationships comes up, often times thoughts land first on romantic relationships. While I certainly plan to address that, there are even more important relationships, IMO, such as parental/familial and friendships that should be in the forefront of thought when it comes to this topic. There are times when I think about how much familial relationships & friendships shape us throughout our lives. You all may notice a trend in my posts where I talk about about how the friendships in books mean so much to me and I believe thats because of how my teen friendships played such a large part in what I learned about the world. I’ll get to more about this too in a bit.

A lot could be an understatement

A while back, I wrote a post about two books that triggered me because of the parental relationships that the MCs had. I spoke about Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield because of the relationship she had with her father and Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis because of hers with her mother. I’m not going to talk much about it in this post because you can read that one for yourself here. Kids, ideally, should be able to feel safe in their relationships with their parents, however, so many of us know that that ideal is not reality. Books like HS and BWB show how adults fail teens & make it tough to navigate other sorts of relationships in not being able to establish & maintain a healthy relationship with them. Knowledge of generational trauma (especially in the Black & Brown community), which families pass on but could also work to end, is not uncommon. The need to bring an end to it has to start somewhere, which really should be a charge that my generation & the one before us should be taking up. Thankfully, with therapy becoming readily accessible and the stigma slowly (though that needs to be be sped up double time) being removed, we are able to start breaking down these traumas. In the post I mentioned early, I talk about my therapist (my BLACK Lady therapist, FYI) and a big reason I do it is to break the chains of this trauma. Through the work we do on ourselves, we can create more safe spaces and healthier bonds with kids inside and outside of our families (blood and chosen).

I’m ready to break them, I’ve been ready…I hope you’ll join me!

Another really important type of relationship is friendships, as I mentioned earlier, they mean a lot to me. I remember growing up, leaning fairly heavily on my best friend because of our similar backgrounds and traumas (we were not trauma bonded, which is another subject for another day). It helped to be seen by someone my age, to be able to vent about the things that hurt, the insecurities but also the wins and dreams I had. When one isn’t able to run to the adults in their lives, friends are who tends to be next in line. When we’re lucky (like I blessedly was), we are able to find safe space within those friendships, whether or not we air out grievances/hurts.

My favorite type of hug and I’m lucky that my friends gave/give the best hugs!

However, we don’t often think of when friendships turn from safe spaces to co-dependent and/or toxic (which, I’ve also been both). As I was reading the E-ARC of Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk, it approached the varying levels to female friendships that we often don’t look at; the Beauty of being present for someone else, the messiness of love & intimate feelings, the toxicity that happens when it becomes one-sided & co-dependency takes hold. With the main characters being two Black Girls, we also see how the relationship is further complicated by the real world intricacies of racism & sexism and how it can serve as a connector. We are also able to see how difficult it can be to untangle ourselves from friendships that no longer serve us and that there was nothing wrong with having difficulty with that, especially when said friendship(s) has been a long standing one.

It really is about knowing when to walk away

Thinking about and being in romantic relationships are difficult as adults so navigating them as a teen isn’t any easier. No matter how “mature” a teen is/some teens are (as people *insert pregnant pause here* tend to see Black & Brown kids to the detriment of their adolescence, but I digress), there is so much nuisance to being in them, especially when it comes to noticing the signs of a problematic partner. I thought so much about this reading books like American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar, Turning by Joy L. Smith, The Summer Between Bitter And Sweet by Jen Ferguson and Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney where I think problematic was an understatement. Unfortunately, advice of what to do about problematic/abusive/domineering partners still doesn’t seem to be offered to teens, which is another failing of this world. Teens may or may not experience this now but it would still be helpful knowledge for the future and/or to help others who find themselves in those cycles. Not only should we be building up teens to know their worth but also how deserving they are to be treated well. Thankfully, we do have books that show opposite sides of the spectrum of healthy and unhealthy relationships, such as the ones I mentioned (and there is also some comic relief within their pages so you don’t have to worry about feeling heavy while reading).

Seriously, we should be giving kids the insight to know red flags when they see them

When we think of safe spaces, this could be an actual place but even more importantly, this could be the people that surround us. Growing up, I don’t recall learning what a safe space was, how important it is to find them or how to create them. Sure, a lot of us are taught to seek out people who are “like us”, whether it has to do with skin color, religion or identity in terms of gender expression and/or sexuality but that’s all the guidance I can really recall. The tools in order to acknowledge how a person or a place is a safe space aren’t always given. Once upon a time, I used to believe that school was a safe space when home wasn’t but as I got older (and as I read as well as set foot in various educational settings), I saw how all schools were not created equal in that respect. Reading books like The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (out 5/17/22), Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie, You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen and Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed reminded me of the importance of having a safe space/refuge… Whether or not that refuge is school, a center, home, a group of people, it is important that they are accessible when needed (these books demonstrate that well, even when those safe spaces are compromised in some way).

May all kids know where to find theirs!

I know I said a lot and that this is all pretty heavy so I also want to give you a short list of books that recently gave me the warm & fuzzies when I read them (because who doesn’t want books that give them all the feels?!):

  • Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee
  • Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho (out 5/17/22)
  • Nate Plus One by Kevin van Whyte
  • My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
  • Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cuerves
  • Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
This is how I looked finishing these books

I know I gave y’all a lot to sit with so I’m going to end this post here! What say you all about this topic? Is this something you feel strongly about too? Let me know here or on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read a great book that authentically how to navigate relationships and create/be a part of safe spaces!

Black women are brilliant in creating them, just sayin

And before you go for real for real, I just wanted to point out that this is my 99th post, which deeply excites me! I’m still debating on what to do for the 100th but I just want to say thank you for sticking with me on this epic literary journey I have found myself on. Words can not express how much I appreciate each and every one of you. Okay, before I get all weepy, I’mma let you go! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love & wishing you happy reading!

Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl Had Me Walking Down Memory Lane

  • Author: Joya Goffney
  • 2nd Book
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Background-Black
  • IG-@joya.goffney; Twitter-@joya_goffney; www.joyagoffney.com
  • Release Date: 5/3/2022 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (Imprint of HarperCollins)/EpicReads
  • Favorite Character-Reggie w/ Sasha & Monique (Mo) as a close second & third! Reggie is HYSTERICAL! He had me cracking up so much throughout the book. When you add in Sasha and Mo the scene, then you’ve got the trifecta of Black Teen Comedy.
  • Favorite Quote(s)-There are so many but here is a little banter I loved between Reggie & Monique: “I was young and dumb.” (Reggie) “That was ten minutes ago.” (Monique) “Yeah, but my growth is exponential. You know, most people’s growth is linear, but I grow more and more each day, each second.” (Reggie) When I tell you all that I fell out reading that had me ROLLING… There are so many other quotes I wanted to share but I really want y’all to read this book! Even hearing it again on audiobook cracked me up!
Reggie’s moment is equivalent to this moment with Kelli but about himself, lol!

*Before I get into this post, I will say that this will be a very sex positive post, if that makes you uncomfortable, you may not be ready for this book, let alone this post…I do invite you to examine why that would possibly make you uncomfortable though. If I edit myself then I won’t be doing Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl any justice & I’m not okay with that AT.ALL. I hope that if you do find discomfort that you would decide to pick up this book to work through that as the main character Mo does. With that said-CW Mentions: Sex, masturbation, porn, erotica, adult toy store*

You should still proceed cause it’s a bomb ass book!

*Cracks knuckles* Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way! If you haven’t read my post about Joya’s first book, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, then you should read that post if you want to understand just how much of a stan I became of hers, how I am coming at this post and how it will be from here on out… I knew she was working on a second book, I knew I was excited about it and I knew that I didn’t need to know the premise to know that I would love this book. Joya let me know that I could trust her with EMWIUC! With this book, Joya cemented her autobuy author status with me… If that doesn’t tell you enough, I pre-ordered the audiobook all because I wanted to relive this book in a different medium and I started listening to it. As I started writing this, I was 8 chapters in but as I edit, I’m 18 chapters in…I had to pause though cause I can’t write and listen to others talking *shrugs* but I am enjoying it thus far…y’all, I DON’T REREAD BOOKS! This is the 2nd time (the first was a series that was rebound into a single book) and I’m just as into it this time as I was reading the ARC, this is also my first YA audiobook I’m listening to! *Shocked Face*!

At.All…I’ll yell it out in public if you want me too, lol!

When I saw the title, I thought “WHOA, this feels like something I would’ve related to as a teen” and then the cover really turned me into a human heart emoji. As it turns out, my teen self & even my adult self, heavily related to Mo and the struggles she went through. As I read, I really sat with what my beliefs around sex was growing up and how that’s changed as I’ve grown older. I also took quite the stroll down memory lane while reading, so many good memories and even not so good ones but most of the memories had me cracking up! I’m going to be telling a lot about myself here and you know what, I’m okay with this (especially since my parents can’t do anything to me now, it’s a win, lol). If I read this book as a teen, I think I would’ve seen myself, sex and sexuality so differently.

shoal does, lol

*Quick reminder, I’m a very grown woman.*

I sure the fuck am!

As a teen, I was wrapped so heavily in what it is to be a “good girl”, how to maintain that status in a way and how to remain curious about sex without others finding out about that side of me…though I definitely partied, drank, bartended unsupervised parties and did so much of dirty dancing that the movie had nathan on me folx (especially since that was the closest to sex EYE was getting to it without having it), which could’ve imploded on my reputation” had I not had the friend group I did that kept our “hangouts” safe spaces. I was lucky to have what Mo didn’t have before she found Sasha & Reggie, to be honest. So much of Mo’s identity was wrapped up in the “Church Girl”/”Good Girl” that impacted her mentally and physically but if I’m being real, emotionally too. The thoughts and opinions of others manifested such a fear in her that just being an ordinary teen didn’t feel accessible to her, which is likely not foreign to teens now.

Looking at me now, you wouldn’t ever guess but really, looking at me then, you wouldn’t have guessed either, lol!

What I realized (one of the gifts of this book is that it makes you think) is that it IS healthy to be curious about sex and one’s body, which one of the characters points out eventually. What ISN’T healthy is the pressure that is placed on people to engage in sex before they are ready. Let me be clear, this is NOT exclusive to any gender or sexuality. Even when the person believes themselves ready, that it is important that they are doing it FOR THEM and are comfortable with the decision & the partner of their choice. Another thing is that there is no shame in getting to know one’s body and what actually feels right to them, so exploring via masturbation isn’t wrong; they’d be ahead of the curve. Yet another thing is the fact that NO ONE, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, is entitled to their body (another very important message in this book). If adults stop shaming teens about masturbation and PROPER sex education, things would be WAYYYYYY different. I’mma pause this thought here but We will come back to this.

I’ll amend this to say that “if you don’t know, respect and value your body along with your emotions and decisions, then other PEOPLE won’t either.”

I remember as a teen doing A LOT of research about sex (like I said, I was curious and was very much so a nerd, still am a nerd) and was more than happy to get my hands on anything about the subject matter. So when Zane’s Nervous was mentioned in this book, I quite literally HOLLERED then tweeted about this because Zane was one of my favorite authors because there was gratuitous sex in her books (and centered BLACK PEOPLE)…I read like ALL of her books because it was another introduction to sex without actually doing it myself. I loved how Sasha (who Mo quickly changes her tune about) introduces this book to Mo and even gives a little synopsis about Nervous, that gave me my entire life! That was a scene that I never knew I needed but have always wanted in a book! The fact that Reggie (another character who Mo sees differently after some time) calls Zane’s books “porn” is the most incorrect correct statement I’ve ever read in my life (she writes Black Erotica, FYI)! In case you were wondering, Addicted was my other favorite outside of Nervous and Addicted was adapted into a movie (which upset me because it wasn’t accurate to the book but ya know, Hollywood). A fun fact about me, I met Zane before she ever showed her face (after I was of age) and I think we both had questions about the other, lol!

I wasn’t joking about tweeting about this…and I included the link to this tweet!

There was another blast to my teenage past in this book involving a adult toy store…even as I type this, I’m cracking up (I tweeted about this too). I’m not going to give away this part of this book but I will share a bit of my story which is that when the youngest of my friend group finally turned 18, our group took a field trip to one (I wouldn’t be surprised if it was still there) that was behind a smoke shop to celebrate. It was equal parts fascinating and nerve-wrecking (there were guys there too) especially because I was still very much so a virgin who was going from just reading Zane books on the low & reading things on the internets on occasion (on DIAL UP at that) to being in a actual sex shop, it was wild! Several of us purchased things (yes, including me) but did not talk about it. I hid my purchase(s) from those I knew would have something to say cause people talk as Mo often worried about throughout the book. Needless to say, I had a blast that day, just as Mo had in the book!

The place didn’t have this sign but we all know what this means or at least know it’s not for certain people, sure didn’t keep my curiosities at bay though, lol!

Unlike Mo, I didn’t grow up a PK (Preacher’s Kid) and thus didn’t have the same exposure to church as she did but religion DEFINITELY played a part in how I viewed (past tense) sex. With regards to how my family did or didn’t speak about it, the message was sex was definitely deemed as shameful outside of marriage. Mo received the same messages of sex being wrong and sinful outside of marriage rather than given a healthier outlook on it. There is this almost universal belief that if kids aren’t taught about it, aren’t given the correct tools and have abstinence pushed on them then they wouldn’t do it (I heard a mom admit not to teaching her daughter about this on Unexpected) but what ends up happening is ignorance around their bodies, sex still happens with various outcomes in some cases and/or a medical condition (as Mo discovers she has, that’s not a spoiler). I honestly don’t recall receiving sex education in school (as stated earlier, I did my own research) and my parents just DID NOT talk about sex because instead of being a PK, I’m a child of 2 immigrants from Caribbean countries (that says a lot for those who know)!

This energy is what sex talks give when they happen

On the real, there needs to be a shift in adults approach to speaking about body awareness, sex and masturbation with teens as it would change so very much. Seriously, adults reading this, think about if the adults you trusted as a teen came up to you and said “It’s okay to be curious about your body. Its okay to learn your body. It’s okay to masturbate. It’s okay to be curious about sex but you need to learn about it and be safe & take ALL the necessary precautions.” like HOW different you & so many of us would’ve approached sex. They didn’t have to give you a gaggle of sex toys & porn or even have embarrassingly detailed conversations that would make a biology teacher blush but that would open the door to a healthier view & knowledge of our bodies and sex. If adults don’t have the ability to talk about it, then we can at least put books like COAAGG in their hands to say all the things we’re unable to.

Like, for real for real! Think about it!

Mo went through so much because she didn’t have the right type of education or support system… Her not feeling safe or confident in speaking to the adults around her is a real problem & it made me hurt for her. It also made me appreciate the role that Sasha and Reggie come to play in this book in supporting & nurturing her relationship to herself, mind, body and Spirit. I’m a huge fan of a small friend group because those seem to be the most magical, in my opinion. Also, the three of them are like comedy gold! I truly, truly, TRULY enjoyed them and their chemistry on the page. Mo, Sasha and Reggie are one of my favorite trio’s ever now!

This would be Sasha and Reggie to Mo!

Whoa, I wrote SO MUCH and its not even everything I want to because this post as gotten so long! I didn’t expect to do so but this book brought so much out of me from both my teenage-hood to even now and I believe that this book is important to the YA cannon. It’s important for teens to be given this information in a way that they can relate to and see themselves in…to know that they aren’t the only ones who has ever had XYZ thoughts despite adults playing in their faces as if they didn’t have them too as teens (you learn this about an adult in Mo’s life). This was one of my absolute favorite reads of this year and definitely top 5 of all the books I’ve read so to say that I would highly recommend this book is a severe understatement!

For real, stop playin’ in these kids faces!

Anyways, go run to your local library or favorite bookstore to get this book because it is 1000% worth your time! I hope I’ve convinced you of that along with the importance of healthy conversation about sex with teens (and really with other adults too, if I’m being honest, which I am)! If you’ve read the book & want to chat or if you have non-spoiler questions to ask, come find me out in these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve had a pleasant stroll down memory lane with a book! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love & wishing you happy reading!

I just had to! lol

May Comes Bearing Not Just New Flowers But New Books Too

Hey Y’all! April is pretty much over and May is right.there! I can’t believe that we are already in a new month! Time certainly flies (I feel like I say some variation of this every month *shrugs*)!

This is me when I realize that a new month is upon us!

There are so many books coming out this month and I’m so excited for quite a few of them! Before we get into the list, just a request (like in last month’s list) that if you use this list, please be sure to reference this post, thank you and I appreciate chu mucho! I’ve checked some of the titles when I saw some discrepancies but I couldn’t do it for the whole list (a sista gotta adult & ish) so just double check the publisher websites because those will always have the correct dates (as pub dates can be changed at the last minute…*deep sigh*)!

I’m REALLY excited for this month’s releases!

Alright, let’s get to this list!

  • The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton *MG* 5/3
  • The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim 5/3
  • Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney 5/3
  • Outlaw Saints: Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older 5/3
  • The Wonders We Seek: Thirty Incredible Muslims Who Helped Shape The World by Saadia Faruqi & Aneesa Mumtaz 5/3
  • Free at Last by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle *PB* 5/3
  • Inheritance A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedo, illus. by Andrea Pippins 5/3
  • Bad Girls by Camila Sosa Villada *adult* 5/3
  • Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado 5/3
  • An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco *sequel* 5/3
  • How to Be the Best Third Wheel by Loridee De Villa 5/3
  • Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel *MG* 5/3
  • The Blind King’s Wrath by Ashok K. Banker *adult sequel* 5/3
  • Patience Is a Subtle Thief A Novel by Abi Ishola-Ayodeji *New Adult* 5/3
  • Freddie vs. The Family Curse by Tracy Badua *MG* 5/3
  • The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan *MG* 5/3
  • Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country by Kelly Yang *PB* 5/3
  • The Stand-In by Lily Chu *adult* 5/3
  • Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon *MG* 5/3
  • Rima’s Rebellion by Margarita Engle *MG* 5/3
  • By The Book by Jasmine Guillory *adult* 5/3
  • Zachary Ying And The Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao *MG* 5/10
  • The World Belongs To Us by Jacqueline Woodson & Leo Espinosa *PB* 5/10
  • Bright By Jessica Jung *sequel* 5/10
  • JoJo Makoons: Fancy Pants by Dawn Quigley *series* 5/10
  • Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee 5/10
  • Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed 5/10
  • Set On You by Amy Lea *adult* 5/10
  • The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas *adult* 5/10
  • Beauty And The Besharam by Lillie Vale 5/10
  • The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson 5/10
  • Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas *MG* 5/10
  • Layla The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish, Jerdine Nolen & Jessica Gibson *PB* 5/10
  • Siren Queen by Nghi Vo *adult* 5/10
  • A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan 5/10
  • Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit by Esau McCaulley *PB* 5/10
  • Nate Plus One by Kevin van Whye 5/10
  • Daddies and Daughters Stick Together by Aissatou Balde; Diariatou Sow *PB* 5/10
  • Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Compestine *MG* 5/10
  • Help! I’m Alive by Gurjinder Basran *adult* 5/10
  • No Secrets Allowed by Kana Wu *adult series #2* 5/12
  • Rising Trouble Maker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones 5/17
  • Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho 5/17
  • How to Live Without You by Sarah Everett 5/17
  • The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes 5/17
  • The Emma Project by Sonali Dev *adult series* 5/17
  • Swim Team By Johnnie Christmas *MG* 5/17
  • Caprice by Coe Booth *MG* 5/17
  • Neruda on the Park A Novel by Cleyvis Natera *adult* 5/17
  • Cookies & Milk by Shawn Amos *MG* 5/17
  • Something Happened to My Dad A Story About Immigration and Family Separation by Ann Hazzard & Vivianne Aponte Rivera *PB* 5/17
  • Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse by Sangu Mandanna *MG Sequel* 5/17
  • In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo *MG* 5/17
  • The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah 5/17
  • Ma And Me: A Memoir by Putsata Reang *adult* 5/17
  • I Love You More Than… by Taye Diggs & Shane W. Evans *PB* 5/17
  • You Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty by akwaeke emezi *adult* 5/24
  • A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana *adult* 5/24
  • She Sang For India: How M.S.Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change by Suma Subramaniam & Supriya Kelkar *PB* 5/24
  • Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda 5/24
  • Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo *MG* 5/24
  • The Queen Of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes & Vanessa Brantley-Newton *PB* 5/24
  • I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn 5/24
  • Break This House by Candice Iloh 5/24
  • Only On The Weekends by Dean Atta 5/24
  • City Of Orange by David Yoon *adult* 5/24
  • A Game Between Friends by Yahrah St. John *adult romance series* 5/24
  • Boyfriend Lessons by Sophia Singh Sasson *adult series* 5/24
  • Boys Come First by Aaron Foley *adult* 5/31
  • Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle 5/31
  • Together We Burn by Isabel Ibanez 5/31
  • Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto 5/31
  • Kings Of B’More by R. Eric Thomas 5/31
  • Flip The Script by Lyla Lee 5/31
  • All Signs Point To Yes Anthology edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery & Adrianne White 5/31
  • Deep In Providence by Riss Neilson 5/31
  • Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean *sequel* 5/31
  • The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna *sequel* 5/31
  • Must Love Pets: Friends Fur-ever by Saadia Faruqi *MG* 5/31
  • Finding Jupiter By Kelis Rowe 5/31
  • Singing With Elephants by Margarita Engle *MG* 5/31
  • Private Label by Kelly Yang 5/31
  • My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth 5/31
  • A Caribbean Heiress in Paris A Novel by Adriana Herrera *adult* 5/31
  • Rise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani 5/31
  • Black Oak by Harold Green III *adult* 5/31
This is a substantial list y’all!

There are so many books coming out this month and I fear for my bank account…you might be as well for yours or your library holds! Be sure to pace yourself my friend!

There is something about Shah Rukh Khan winking at you that you can’t help but believe that we do!

Like past months, the ARC Gods smiled down on me! I have quite an extensive list of titles and they are!

  • The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton *MG*
  • The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim
  • Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney
  • Outlaw Saints: Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older
  • Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado
  • An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco *sequel*
  • Freddie vs. The Family Curse by Tracy Badua *MG*
  • By The Book by Jasmine Guillory *adult*
  • Zachary Ying And The Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao *MG*
  • Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee
  • Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
  • The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
  • Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas *MG*
  • Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho
  • The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
  • The Emma Project by Sonali Dev *adult*
  • Swim Team By Johnnie Christmas *MG*
  • A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana *adult*
  • I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn
  • Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
  • Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • Flip The Script by Lyla Lee
  • All Signs Point To Yes Anthology edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery & Adrianne White
  • Deep In Providence by Riss Neilson
  • The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna *sequel*
  • Finding Jupiter By Kelis Rowe
  • Private Label by Kelly Yang
  • My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth
This is definitely me when I look at the list of ARCs I have to read!

Whew! I’m being kept busy and I’m still more than okay with that! I’ve already started reading this list, so here is what I’ve read so far:

  • The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton *MG*
  • Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney
  • Outlaw Saints: Ballad & Dagger by Daniel Jose Older
  • An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco *sequel*
  • By The Book by Jasmine Guillory *adult*
  • Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado
  • Currently Reading: The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim

I’ve been enjoying all of these books so far and I know I will continue to…I just have a 6th sense about books, it’s quite uncanny & I intend to keep that sense sharp!

If you are reading this blog, then you know that I know you know I do, lol!

What are some titles that you are excited for (because I know there has to be at least 1 on this list you are itching to read, lol)? Did I miss any titles by Authors Of Color?! Come chat with me cause y’all know I love me some book chats! You can comment here or you can find me out in these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I keep nailing pub month list! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love & wishing you happy reading!

The Blood Trials Gave Me The Angry Black Girl I’ve Always Wanted

  • N.E Davenport
  • Debut
  • Genre: Adult w/ Upper YA Cross-Over Science Fiction
  • Background: Black-American
  • Instagram: @nia.davenport; Twitter: @nia_davenport; www.nedavenport.com
  • Release: 4/5/2022 (I’m low-key judging you if this isn’t in your TBR)
  • Publisher: Harper Voyager (HarperCollins Imprint)
  • Favorite Character: Ikenna! This is one of the moments where I can say the main character is my favorite because she gave everything she needed to! I also loved Dannica (whom you meet later in the book), who also is ’bout that lyfe!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Besides, if you’re as good as Praetorians claim to be, little ole me using a weapon against you won’t matter.”-Ikenna. This is the type of energy that I love from her. She’s not with the bs & she will call folx out when it the Spirit moves her to! She also had some other epic things to say but I want you to read them yourself so you can understand my obsession, lol!
Me, to Ikenna!

Hey Y’all! Before I begin this, I have to point out that this is the first time I’m writing a full post about an adult book but I loved THIS book so much that I’m happy for it to be the first. For those younger than 18, this book contains a lot of cussing, which you likely deal with in school (I’m under no delusions how kids talk these days) and a good amount of violence, so maybe…juuuusssssttttt maybe speak to your guardian about whether or not you are ready to read this book (maybe get it and hold on to it for when you are, I see no issue with that).

You know, for journalistic integrity or whatever, lol

Okay, So I can’t really tell you for sure where I first came across news of The Blood Trials but what I CAN tell you is that I became pretty obsessed (this may be an understatement, actually) with the cover & getting my hands on an ARC. I definitely lamented under a few of Nia’s posts about leaving ARCs places and doing giveaways at conferences…my heart still hurts on missing out on those opportunities. Sometimes the Bookish Powers That Be are merciful so when I finally received one, I know I internally screamed…here is the IG live where I unboxed it and other books I received!

This is my truth and I stand in it!

So from the moment I started reading, I didn’t want to put TBT down…AT ALL. When Ikenna’s story began and she started to talk, I knew I was 1000% percent invested. It was as if there was something kindred about her and once her grief was mentioned, it clicked, especially because it felt like we processed grief similarly. While I didn’t drink or sabotage everything I worked for (it hits us all in different ways y’all), I DID feel immense anger, lashed out when I could and didn’t function in the way I had before grief took it’s hold over me. People always talk about the ways in which grief looks like sadness & depression but hardly ever when it turns to anger…that that sense of anger doesn’t diminish what was lost/being grieved and how it could propel us forward (though the ‘what’ and ‘how’ isn’t necessarily clear).

Me to Ikenna…because It’s true!

In all honesty, I have been avoiding books where there is any bit of grief (in the “sad” sense) I could because it’s still a lot for me but I felt like Ikenna and I were very much the same. Losing my grandpa, in full transparency, felt like the most world shattering thing to happen in my life (not just adult life, just life in general) so Ikenna’s response to losing hers felt correct to me. I couldn’t imagine losing mine a little over a year ago at 30+, let alone at 19 (Ikenna’s age) so I could just feel the anger coursing through her and… it felt good… I felt validated. For that alone, I will always appreciate this book.

From one Grandpa’s girl to another, I truly do!

You know when your Spirit calls for a certain type of character and you go off in search for them? My bookish people know this feeling when you just NEED a character with a specific energy and/or a certain type of story/genre…for me, its typically the angry girl/woman characters because I can see myself in them (I wrote a whole post dedicated to them), other times it’s the other end of the spectrum with romance (but that’s a different post, like this one). Needless to say, Ikenna was EXACTLY what I was seeking. She’s the angry Black Girl of my DREAMSSSSSSSSS! Not only is she angry but she is a Badass MAGICAL angry Black Girl! I felt like I hit the literary jackpot with her! She felt what I felt, responded how I would’ve responded to others if I had the opportunity to (and lived in her world), she loved her grandpa the way I loved mine and she also knew her greatness (that part, I’m still working on about myself)… We deserve to have more Black Girls that are sure of themselves in literature, we truly do!

Me, searching for character’s like Ikenna!

Not to continue on but to continue on… You know that character that becomes so filled with purpose and vengeance that you can’t help but cheer them on? Especially when they choose violence (I was always okay with it in this book, btw)? That is also Ikenna. You can’t help but see the world she lives in, the circumstances she’s been placed in and the odds against her so you want her to win. I know I basically turn into a posterboard with encouraging words to motivate her, since I was on the sidelines as the reader…mainly I was saying “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS” a lot but it holds the same effectiveness, lol! Ikenna is the type of character that jumps into the fire and walks out like it was water or fog no matter what she was put through. The questions come later because she’s got business to handle and a$$es to kick at that moment. Honestly, I would’ve looked at her in wonder, like a few of the other characters did throughout the book, as if she was a Gawdess (cause she is). Respeck NEEDED to be put on her name! Can you tell I’m a fan?!

And this is really an understatement but it still applies!

There is so much more that I could say because Ikenna is truly THAT.GIRL. TBT has LAYERZZZZZZ, sucks you into the world and won’t release you until you make it to the acknowledgements (I read those too cause I didn’t want the book to end). I loved this book, Ikenna & quite a few of it’s side characters so much and I think you will too! If you don’t have this book in your TBR, I am asking you to change that IMMEJIATELY! We have another year before the second book comes out (That feels so FARRR) but try not to wait till then to read THIS book!

Put this book in your TBR like NOAW…and read it ASAP!

I’m going to end this here because I don’t want to get into anything remotely spoilery but I promise you this book will be worth your time! So request it from your local library or run to your favorite bookstore, either way it’s one of the best bookish investments you’ll make this year! If you’ve read the book & want to chat or if you have non-spoiler questions to ask, come find me out in these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just meet and connected with a fellow Angry Black Girl! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love & wishing you happy reading!

Photo Credit for Main Picture: https://fanfiaddict.com/author-chat-nia-n-e-davenport/

And They Persisted…With Snark And Humor-4 Middle Grades I Loved

Hey There! So I’ve been in a middle grade space with my [ARC] TBR off and on over the last two weeks & I will be in it for a hot minute (I’ve got 4 in the cue so I’m not lyin’)…then I realized that it’s been a little while since I’ve written about any MG books *insert shocked face here*! The last was a few weeks ago with my Pilar Ramirez post (that book is PHENOMENAL and you should read it, btw) and I’ve read so many MGs since then (shame on me for not sharing)!

I know, I know…between the fact that I haven’t written about MGs and have read a bunch is a bit of a problem

I think part of what I love about Middle Grade is that it makes me feel seen as this age range was a time in my own life where I felt very misunderstood and overlooked in a way. I was going through A LOOOOOOT at that time and didn’t have the outlet to understand those things. I know there FOR SURE weren’t books out that would’ve helped me to process my experiences. If there were & I was told about them, I know I would’ve eaten them up because I didn’t know other kids like me dealing with the emotions & situations I was, especially kids who looked like me…

This was younger me…and high key, adult me

With my preteenhood in mind, there are four middle grades that I read fairly recently that I really enjoyed and figured that I would share with you all (I also had to hold myself accountable in sharing more of what I’ve read as I said in my bookish intents for this year). So let’s get into this short list!

It’s the tin can phone for me

Sir Fig Newton And The Science Of Persistence by Sonja Thomas: One of the things that is guaranteed to draw me to a book is when there is an intelligent Black Girl at it’s center (Mira is Biracial but she’s still capital B Black). This book not only gave me that but Mira let everyone know why she’s magic throughout the story. She also dealt with things I did as a kid with the loss & gain of friends and what I deal with now having a pet with a condition & making a way out of no way. I talk a little about this book in this Bookmail live I did. I feel like there aren’t enough books out that show kids being impacted by parental financial insecurity & unemployment, mental health concerns and seeking larger support systems; Sonja tackled all these things brilliantly. I did a live with Sonja about her book, here is the link to it!

This is the energy that Mira gave…and I was here for it!

Shinji Takahashi And The Mark Of The Coatl by Julie Kagawa: From the moment Shinji’s voice emerged, I was like “I like this kid”. He’s super funny, snarky, sarcastic, cynical and resourceful…traits that I love in a main character, especially in the MG & YA genre (it just hits different from adult characters that are like that). Shinji felt special to me and as the story continued to unfold, I just kept being proven right! Who doesn’t love a kid who righteously and rightfully calls out adults?! I know I do! He asks the questions that needs to be asked, the ones that folx will avoid at all costs and isn’t one for being gaslit. Shinji found himself in so many situations but somehow, found his way out by either his wit, unexpected backup and/or the grace of whatever divine being that you believe in…he had me very anxious at times. I seriously cannot wait to see what is next for him because he was a character that I was hesitant to read the final chapter for. Uncle Rick got it right with this book (and really all the ones I’ve read from his series).

Don’t even try to gaslight Shinji…just don’t

The Second Chance Of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird (out 4/19/22): Like so many of my other favorite reads, I found this one on netgalley and then it started popping up in other places…it was the moment that one of my Fav authors, Nic Stone, raved about it that I KNEW that I would really love Benjamin Waterfalls (Nic doesn’t ever lie and I will fight anyone who ever says she does). Like Shinji, Benjamin is hilarious, snarky, sarcastic, cynical and resourceful (maybe a little tooooooo resourceful, y’all gotta watch his hands) but on top of that, what really connected me to him, was his anger. I understood his anger on so many levels because I remember being that angry as a kid (and as an adult). I thought so many times “let the anger flow through you” because sometimes you just have to let it out before it implodes. I really didn’t want to put this book down because there was so much to learn from it (there were LAYERZ to this book y’all). Honestly, I wished we got to hangout with Benny longer but here’s to hoping that we get more time with him through Niimi, whom I also loved. I can’t wait for everyone to meet them both while reading!

I know people would likely say the opposite, but it is an emotion that can be channeled in good way, when shown how.

Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus (out 4/19/22): I actually held off writing this post so I could finish this book because I knew I couldn’t have this sort of list without a magical Black Girl like Bella Fades AAKA (Artist Also Known As) Unfadeable (She’s also Biracial but see what I said above)! For One, she possesses all the qualities of the characters mentioned above but she’s also bout it bout it in a way that I haven’t seen a MG character be in a minute. She told it like it was, how it would be and wouldn’t let anyone alter the reality she knew (homegirl was dealing with a lot but she handled it like a G). When she said she wanted her things, she was going to get them, showing and proving why her tag name is Unfadeable. Bella wasn’t one to mince words and would stare down anyone who attempted to get in her way, adult and kid alike…she was an equal opportunity reader and I lived for it. Like Benny’s book, it felt like it was over too soon but I appreciated every moment that I had with her. I feel like readers everywhere will too!

Bella, when it came to things in her community and anything that felt remotely shady & I lived

If you are looking for a MG to read, I would absolutely stand 10 toes on my rec of these books. Each one had their respective struggles but what they all had in common were really strong characters who always found a way to accomplish what they needed to and spoke their mind. I fully believe in our youth being shown how powerful their voices are and the various ways in which they can use them in order to effect change. It’s also really important to note that change doesn’t have to be big, it can be within one’s self and that will eventually spread to those around them & their communities at large.

When it comes to these recs (any that I make really), I definitely mean it!

There is so much to learn from Middle Grade Books, no matter what age you are so if you aren’t into this genre, change that! Like I said earlier in the post, I have quite a few that I’ll be reading so I know I will have more to talk about soon and I can’t wait, honestly!

I really really am!

Do you have any fav MGs? What do you look for in a MG character? What draws you to their voice? Share them and let’s talk about it here in the comments or on social media! Holla at me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just read an MG that my Preteen self would connect to! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love & wishing you happy reading!

To Some Of The Secondary Characters That Live Rent Free In My Mind

Hey Y’all! So, I don’t know about you but when I read a book, usually my favorite characters are not the main characters but rather one of the secondary characters (and number of appearances doesn’t effect how much I love them). If you go back to posts I’ve done about specific books, I think you will find a trend (unashamed, I am)!

I’m really not, lol!

There is usually something about these secondary characters that draws me into them and makes me wish that they would have their own book(s) at some point (and possibly that they are real people somewhere so that we can become friends, lol). It could be their banter with the main character & others, their attitudes, personalities or something that just makes me think “you…me…same” each time they appear on the page! This clearly happens enough that I am writing a post about them!

They are like my literary Kindred!

Since secondary characters tend to live rent free in my head, I’m going to share a few that I love. If there is a post about the book they are in (spotlighted or featured), I’ll share that link as well! Here we go!

How all these characters are

Corinne from Charming As A Verb: She is an OG fav and I will forever badger Ben about her getting at least her own novella (some deleted chapters, a New Adult crossover, SOMETHING)! She deserves the spotlight because lets be real, she stole ALL of Halti’s shine when she was on the page. I will also forever maintain that her perspective was needed in that book because she’s hysterical and I would’ve given ANYTHING to know her thoughts at times! I read this book like 2 years ago and I still mention her when I get the chance! She’s MY QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN (also, much love to Palm Tree)!

No seriously, I call her Queen Queen Corinne all the time!

Alice from Legendborn: Another fav that I wouldn’t mind reading at least a novella from her perspective. Honestly, I felt like we needed more of her in the first book and I’m hoping for more Alice appearances in Bloodmarked (I’m so anxious to get my hands on this book y’all!)! One of my favorite scenes in a book will always be when Bree goes to wash her hair and Alice empathizes with her. If one doesn’t have a best friend who understands the importance of their deep conditioning routine then what is the point of “best” friendships?!

You truly are Alice!

Mindii from Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions: I didn’t write a full post about Sunny G’s but I wrote a little bit about this book. I didn’t mention Mindii specifically then because I knew that this post was going to eventually happen and wanted her to have her moment here. She’s actually the inspiration behind this post because I was thinking of how amazing a book would be from her perspective. The way she bantered with Sunny as well as schooled him just turned my eyes into interchanging hearts and stars. She’s gives very “Too Cool For School” Vibes but actually attended because it matters to her. Mindii rides a motorcycle for crying out loud AND educates Sunny on Hmong Culture! She was just the right character to both empathize with and get Sunny out of his shell! I’d definitely want to hang out with her & grab a bubble tea along with pastries!

How I imagined Mindii in my mind!

Zeena from Traveler’s Along The Way: This is yet another book I didn’t write in full about but talked some about! Zeena was seriously one of the best parts of this book to me and could definitely use her own book IMO! She had me cracking up all the time because she had Rahma on ALL of her toes throughout the story! As an older sibling, I felt Zeena so incredibly hard because you just always gotta keep your sibling right…if not you then who, amirite?! I loved how feisty and real she could be throughout and how she riffed with not just Rahma but the other characters in the story. She’s a character that I would just always want around, honestly! I get why she wasn’t the main in this Robin Hood remix but there HAS to be another she could be the center of…quick, someone give Aminah suggestions!

In another universe, I think this could’ve been a moment between Zeena and Rahma!

Kyle From Turning: I loved Kyle from the moment that Genie first spoke to him. For me, he was like a voice of reason even when he wasn’t around her as the book progressed on. He had this balance of wisdom and humor that I truly appreciate in a secondary character & he had such great chemistry with Genie. He was open and vulnerable with Genie in a way that she really needed as well as kind and considerate of her that so many of aren’t used to. Kyle also had a strength about him which drew me in even more to his character. He was able to make fun of himself when the moments called for it but also give the doses of reality too. Kyle’s the cinnamon roll that Genie (and all of us) truly deserved.

How I would look at Kyle is I were Genie…or myself, really, lol!

Izara from Blood Scion: OK, so have you ever read a character and you were like “They are THAT person”? I’ve done this several times and Izara has joined the list. From the jump, she let EVERYONE know she is THAT CHICK and in the most unapologetic way…basically, she told folx to get the eff out of her way or get wrecked and I couldn’t do anything but respect her. She gives Angela Bassett walking away from the burning car (My favorite all time movie scenes) mixed in with Set It Off vibes…basically any and every Bada$$ Black Girl & Woman you can think of rolled into her character and I LIVEDDDDDDDD FOR HER!

Izara gives this energy and I am here for it!

There are so many other secondary characters that I have loved across all the books I’ve read but I can only hold you for but so long. I can’t be the only one who loves secondary characters more than the main characters (most of the time), can I? Am I alone in my love for them *looks around*?

Is it?!

Do you have a favorite secondary character or multiple favs? Let me know in the comments or on Social media! Hit me up on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just met a new secondary character to add to my pantheon of favs! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

A Magic Steeped In Poison Made Me Want To Drink Tea But Also Throw It

  • Judy I. Lin
  • Debut! First in a Duology
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Taiwanese-Canadian
  • Instagram: @judyilinauthor; Twitter: @judyilin; https://judyilin.com/
  • Release: 3/29/2022 (It’s out now so no excuses!)
  • Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (MacMillan Imprint)
  • Favorite Character: Lian! From the moment she stepped on the scene saying “What did you say?”, I just knew that she was the character for me. She came in with the right energy and I felt we would understand each other very well!
  • Favorite Quote(s): This is a thought Ning had but it really struck me: “Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness.” As someone who has been moving through this world feeling like they’re drowning in grief, I completely understood this. I feel it all the time but I’ve not ever given it a taste (I more so feel it like a texture); immediately I got it though and it felt right. A quote I love is “Where I come from, it’s customary not to grab girls in back alleys.”-Ning. I’m 1000% for Ning letting a person know what things will and won’t be accepted as well as what it is. I imagined that she delivered this line with her entire chest & I loved it!
Absolutely Ning!

Like so many great reads, I came across A Magic Steeped In Poison on netgalley (and well, you know what I did, lol) and fell in love with the cover. Then I participated in a conversation MacMillan had with Judy about AMSIP, which completely sold it for me. And If the love I was willing to show this book couldn’t be solidified anymore (outside of this post & having the honor of being on this blog tour), I participated in a competition loosely inspired by this book hosted by Tubby & Coo’s Books with Judy and 2 other bookish influencers (and I was a whole mess y’all but I had a great time). I’ve been ready to go to bat for this story! I also received a finished copy of AMSIP, so if you want to watch the live of me seeing a finished copy & adoring it, you can watch here (seriously, the cover is so flippin’ breathtaking)!

When it comes to this book, sure am!

I’m going to kick this off by saying “How dare you Judy? How VERY DARE you?!” Especially that ending…that was rudeeeeeeee but we get book 2 soon (August to be specific) so I’mma chill, lol! There were so many moments where I truly felt that if I was in that world that I could’ve ended up in prison because I threw boiling hot tea on folks. I don’t know if anyone can walk away from this book feeling like there wasn’t at least ONE person that they may have chosen violence for *shrug*. Judy wrote a cast of Characters that you either loved or hated…there wasn’t much room for in-betweens folks. Despite there no being no middle ground on the people we either love or hate, it felt incredibly balanced. I’ll talk about a character or two a little later.

I’m sayin’ doe…how?!

Not only was there an interesting cast of characters, the world that was created is super vivid, which is the earmark of an amazing fantasy. If you are like me, when a book is well written, you can see the entire story play out as you read (or listen) and this was definitely a book I saw play out like a movie… If this book doesn’t get adapted then it will be a travesty and we should riot (or write a sternly worded letter to tv & film production agencies). From the surroundings to the fragrances (I like I was in somebody’s 4D theater), I was entranced and wanted to be part of that world (All Ariel). Now, I know that there is plenty of dangerous ish at play but people go into haunted houses for fun, so I’m fine in making this choice, lol. There feels like there is so much more to experience in the world, so I can’t wait to get into book 2 (A Venom Dark And Sweet, is the title, in case you wanted to know) for that reason & to get caught up with my favs in AMSIP!

This is how I felt!

Ning and Lian are two characters that I could fully fangirl over. They have this sort of chemistry that two people have when they meet and it’s like the real in one recognizes the real in the other. Of course, part of this has to do with the fact that gender plays a role in this with where they are but it is definitely more than that because it feels kindred, like soulmates but non-romantic. I loved their banter and how they support each other from the moment they looked at each other. If you have a best friend (or plural) that you have a strong fondness, think of them and how y’all move through the world together and you very well may get Ning & Lian’s friendship/kinship in a nutshell.

Truly…and that’s why we have the duo that is Ning & Lian!

Like I had said earlier, from the moment that Lian said “What did you say?”, I KNEW she was going to be my favorite. You can’t come on the scene with that as your first line and not be an instant fav, FOR MEEE! She has this sass and fierceness in her that would cause anyone to gravitate towards her (especially if they are built the same)…and how she loves to move to the music that she creates HERSELF (and I live!). Lian is the type of character that’s like “what you think is gunna happen is not what’s going to actually happen” (For my fellow Drag Race fans, she gives Big Gia Gunn Energy and I lived for it). Lian is now in the pantheon of favorite secondary characters for me (and she is in very good company).

This is Lian when folks wanted to try her or underestimate her

When I think about Ning, she’s the type that makes me think about how far am I truly willing to go for family…like would I really put my life at risk to enter into a competition where the odds are stacked against me? Would I REALLYYYYYYYY leave everything I know for just the possibility of things working in our favor? Since I am of the firm belief that I am willing to wear prison orange should anyone come at my family the wrong way, the answer is absolutely yes. Ning is quick and resourceful in all the ways that I love in any Fantasy MC. Being that Ning doesn’t come from means, she puts her mind to work constantly, keeps her ears to the ground and her head on the swivel while making moves. I can’t help but respect her for the lengths she was willing to go to and all I could do was cheer for her because she deserved every win. To say I will be rooting for her in AVDAS like I did in AMSIP would be a gross understatement folks. Ning truly earns/deserves the support she receives both inside & outside of the book (I know y’all don’t think I wasn’t yelling out or wishing I was there to hype her up cause I did boff and maybe a little more, lol).

And you will do the same for Ning!

I have certainly said a lot of things and I could say even more but then that would keep you from getting this book yourself and reading! Honestly, you would be losing if you don’t (iss just a fact, I don’t make the rules folks)…So holler at your local library or your favorite bookstore and make sure to pick up this book…also, another upside is that you only have a few months till the second book drops (#Respect to Judy for that). I’ll post the two covers next to each other at the end of this post just so you can admire them side by side (they are redonkulously stunning).

Seriously, I tip my bonnet and slap cap to Judy for pulling off such a feat!

I’mma end this here but feel free to chat with me in the comments or on social media cause I just always want to talk books and this one is no exception! Let’s chat on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just a really amazing cup of tea (with or without bubbles)! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading & tea drinking!

Hunting For New Books: April Releases

Hey Y’all! I can’t believe that it is almost April! There are SOOOOOOOO many books coming out this month so be prepared to be a little overwhelmed but hopefully you find books you would want to read! Also, please do double check pub dates because publishing and the parallelogram love to play in our faces and change dates at times after I post these lists!

Like this auntie, be sure to keep a look out for these books & their correct pub dates!

Before you all get to the list, I have a favor to ask. If you utilize my blog posts to post your own pubday list in anyway, shape or form, PLEASE credit me & send people to these posts because I compile these lists over months, stalking author’s & publisher’s/publishing professional’s posts, attend numerous publishing events and search online to get these dates. I would sincerely appreciate that! To practice what I’m asking, One of my favorite sources is an incredible bookstagrammer/publishing professional who posts books by Black Authors is @onyxeditions & she’s a great resource in case you specifically interested in Black Books! Please and Thank Youuu!

Seriously y’all, I would appreciate that!

Now, to get to this massive list!

  • Blood To Poison by Mary M Watson 4/2
  • Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant by Remy Lai *MG*4/4
  • Behind The Mountains by Edwidge Danticat 4/5
  • Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koala by Remy Lai *MG*4/5
  • Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk 4/5
  • The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly Mei by Christina Matula *MG*4/5
  • K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee *sequel* 4/5
  • The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport *NE*4/5
  • Simon B. Rhymin’ Takes A Stand by Dwayne Reed *MG sequel* 4/5
  • Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari *MG* 4/5
  • Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe by Sherri Winston *MG* 4/5
  • Four Treasures Of The Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang *adult* 4/5
  • Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa *MG* 4/5
  • Because Of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney *PB* 4/5
  • Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper *adult* 4/5
  • Memphis A Novel by Tara M. Stringfellow *adult* 4/5
  • The Return of Faraz Ali A Novel by Aamina Ahmad *adult* 4/5
  • Probably Ruby A Novel by Lisa Bird-Wilson *adult* 4/5
  • Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang *PB* 4/5
  • It’s The End Of The World And I’m In My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds *MG* 4/5
  • Does My Body Offend You? By Mayra Cuervas & Marie Marquardt 4/5
  • Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh *adult* 4/5
  • The Wedding Crasher A Novel by Mia Sosa *adult* 4/5
  • Gold Mountain by Betty G. Yee 4/5
  • Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi *MG Finale* 4/5
  • Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel by Roshani Chokshi, illus. by Anu Chouhan *MG* 4/5
  • Hundred Years of Happiness by Thanhhà Lại, illus. by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien *PB* 4/5
  • I Color Myself Different by Colin Kaepernick *PB* 4/5
  • One Shot Harry by Gary Phillips *adult* 4/5
  • Boulevard of Dreams: Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez *MG* 4/5
  • The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories by Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald, Alina Pete 4/5
  • Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega *MG* 4/5
  • Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa *PB* 4/5
  • A Duet For Home by Karina Yan Glaser *MG* 4/5
  • You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts 4/5
  • Heartbreak Symphony by Laekan Zea Kemp 4/5
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez 4/12
  • A Tiny Upward Shove by Melissa Chadburn *adult* 4/12
  • The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat *MG* 4/12
  • Kicks by Van G. Garrett & Reggie Brown *PB* 4/12
  • An Arrow To The Moon by Emily X.R. Pan 4/12
  • Year On Fire by Julie Buxbaum *adult* 4/12
  • MoonWalking by Zetta Elliot & Lyn Miller-Lachmann *MG* 4/12
  • We Have a Dream: 30 Young Campaigners of Color by Maya-Rose Craig, illus. by Sabrena Khadija *PB* 4/12
  • The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann *adult* 4/12
  • A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar 4/12
  • Abuelita and Me by Leonarda Carranza *PB* 4/12
  • The Bachelor’s Ride by Kolapo Akinola *adult* 4/12
  • What A Match by Mimi Grace *adult* 4/13
  • Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus *MG* 4/19
  • Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes 4/19
  • My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel 4/19
  • The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird *MG* 4/19
  • The Memory Librarian And Other Stories Of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae *adult* 4/19
  • Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf 4/19
  • Super Side Kicks: Trial Of Heroes by Gavin Aung Than *MG* 4/19
  • Fevered Star By Rebecca Roanhorse *adult sequel* 4/19
  • Zara’s Rules For Record-Breaking Fun by Hena Khan *MG* 4/19
  • Forbidden City A Novel by Vanessa Hua *adult* 4/19
  • Black Ghost Of Empire by Kris Manjapra *adult* 4/19
  • Hope And Glory by Jendella Benson *adult* 4/19
  • Debating Darcy by Sayantani Dasgupta 4/19
  • In The Key Of Us by Mariama J. Lockington *MG* 4/26
  • Piccolo Is Black: A Memoir Of Race, Religion, And Pop Culture by Jordan Calhoun *adult* 4/26
  • Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel *adult* 4/26
  • Jump In! by Shadra Strickland 4/26
  • This is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves 4/26
  • Always With You, Always With Me by Kelly Rowland & Jessica McKay *PB* 4/26
  • Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller *MG* 4/26
  • Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao *MG* 4/26
  • Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling & Kaylani Juanita *PB* 4/26
  • Maria, Maria & Other Stories by Marytza K. Rubio *adult* 4/26
I know, that’s a lot of books!

There are SOOOOOOOOOOOO many books coming out this month and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are others that I didn’t know about (this is a pretty bang up list, I will give myself that, lol)!

Low Key-High Key, I do because I be putting in work on these lists, lol!

The Book Gods continue to smile upon me (most days) and I have quite a list of ARCs/E-ARCs that I have received that come out this month and They are:

  • Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant by Remy Lai
  • Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koala by Remy Lai
  • Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk
  • The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
  • Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari *MG*
  • Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper *adult*
  • Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh *adult*
  • The Wedding Crasher A Novel by Mia Sosa *adult*
  • You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts
  • An Arrow To The Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
  • What A Match by Mimi Grace *adult*
  • Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus *MG*
  • Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
  • My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
  • The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird *MG*
  • Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
  • Hope And Glory by Jendella Benson *adult*
  • In The Key Of Us by Mariama J. Lockington *MG*
  • Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller *MG*
  • Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao *MG*
Whoa…I got my work cut out for me but I’m up for the task y’all!

Of these ARCs, so far I’ve Read:

  • Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant by Remy Lai
  • Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koala by Remy Lai
  • Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk
  • The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
  • Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari *MG*
  • Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper *adult*
  • Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh *adult*
  • The Wedding Crasher A Novel by Mia Sosa *adult*
  • You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts
  • Next On The ARC Docket: What A Match by Mimi Grace *adult*
I promise that I have been putting in that work and that I won’t give up, I got this DJ Khalid, lol!

I’ve been having a great time reading these ARCs and so far, these books have all been amazing! If your budget is tight this month, be sure to hit up your local library and request the titles that you are really interested in, that still supports the authors and you still get to read their work!

Sub out “boy” with “library”…they will be happy to hear from you!

Are there any titles that you are excited about? Are there any by Authors Of Color that I missed for the month? Let me know in the comments or on social media! Come see me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I nailed my pub month list! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Retellings, Remixes and ReImaginings That Are Relatable, Oh My!

Hey everyone! So I was thinking about the classics remix series written by Authors of Color that Fierce Reads is publishing and how much I have been enjoying them. I also was thinking about the fact that I tend to really love retellings, remixes & reimaginings…but after I find out that that’s what they are since I tend not to read the synopsis most of the time (I just let my bookish senses guide me in what I decide to read, it’s really strong & hasn’t led me astray). I’m honestly not ashamed to admit this to you all, in case you were wondering, lol!

I know…I knowwwwwwwwwww!

Honestly, I have shied away from books that are considered “classics” for forever. I got burned out on White/Eurocentric literature long before high school ever ended (I’m familiar with & have read Black classics, these are often not taught in schools so burnout doesn’t apply there). Who really has time to read books where they don’t see themselves at all, their people are depicted as “the help” or some sort of criminal (y’all know how these authors got down)? I sure the Eff didn’t and still don’t! It’s not what I want for my time and psyche.

Shoal don’t!

A while back, I was asked when I was talking to a high school English class what I thought about using literature written by “Old Dead White Men” (ODWM) in schools now. I answered honestly that I felt it was time to stop shoving those narratives down students throats, put those cannons away and bring the literature more current. What could those books give kids now when they don’t reflect the times and their lives? If educators want kids to actually read and gain from the material then they should be putting stories in their hands that would actually interest them. There are NUMEROUS books that would offer the same lessons to students now that the ODWM used to offer (if we can really say they offered anything *shrug*). Lemme stop before I end up on a soapbox that I don’t have the energy to be on with this post at the moment.

Students deserve better…we all do, honestly!

With that in mind, I wanted to compile a list of retellings/remixes/reimagings that I had read & some that I have in my TBR (I’ll include links to blog posts if I’ve written about them). I’ll also add ones that will be coming out in the future so you can look out for them because it would only be right to do so!

imagine the coffees are a stack of books
  • Traveler’s Along The Way by Aminah Mae Safi: This is a Robin Hood Remix set in Jerusalem during the Crusades and It is my FAVORITE of the remixes that have come out so far from Fierce Reads (I’ll say this loud and proud, no offense to the others that have come out, lol). The main character is a fierce and cunning Muslim Girl who doesn’t seek to save the day but does what she can for her people. I laughed, I bit my nails, I was completely engaged the entire time I was reading. Honestly, I felt this book deserved more hype because it was so good! I would HIGHLY recommend it!
  • A Clash Of Steel by C.B. Lee: A Treasure Island Remix set in the South China Sea that involved the legacy of Zheng Yi Sao, the most successful pirate in history who is also a woman with an embedded love story between two girls searching for her treasure. Yes, thank you!
  • So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow: A Little Women Remix that takes place on the Roanoke Freed People Colony. I wrote a little about it in this post.
  • Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass: A Persuasion Retelling set in present day Tobago! I wrote about it in this post!
  • This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron: The Secret Garden inspired story that takes place in Upstate NY. I absolutely love this book and wrote about it here. The Sequel, This Wicked Fate, comes out on 6/21/22!
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: A King Arthur Re-imagining set in North Carolina. I wrote about this book here and the sequel, Bloodmarked, comes out 11/8/22!
  • Pride by Ibi Zoboi: A Pride & Prejudice Remix set in a quickly gentrifying Brooklyn. One of the things I loved about this book is that Zuri’s parents are Dominican & Haitian (which is rather revolutionary considering the history between Haiti & The Dominican Republic). This book is paced so brilliantly that I finished it in one day and would be a great book to teach since it is so engaging.
  • Dark And Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore: The Red Shoes Retelling. This story takes place in different places over varying time lines and with multiple perspectives. It has that quintessential magical element that I love about Anna-Marie’s work.
  • Darling by K. Ancrum: A Peter Pan Re-imaging that is dark at points. This story takes place in Chicago and centers Wendy Darling, a Black Girl, who goes out for a night with the mysterious Peter and things don’t go any bit of the way anyone thinks they should.
  • Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood: A Jane Eyre Retelling that is Ethiopian Inspired. This book is in my TBR and I’m itching to get to it (and have been for so long).
  • Roman And Jewel by Dana L. Davis: A Romeo And Juliet inspired Hip-Hopera. I’ve been dying to read this book and hope to get to it soon! I know I would’ve wanted to read this instead of the original.
  • Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas: A Peter Pan Re-imagining set in Oregon. This is another that is on my radar that I hope to get to!
  • These Violent Delights & Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong: Romeo and Juliet Inspired duology set in 1920s Shanghai. This is also on my radar!
  • What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri: A Wuthering Heights Remix. This book is out on 7/5/22 and it takes place in England with a main character who is from India. This is in my TBR & I can’t wait to read it!
  • Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore: The Great Gatsby Remix. This is slated to come out 9/6/22. I hope there will be more information out about it soon but I did receive confirmation that it’s happening! I’m a fan of Anna-Marie’s work & can’t wait for it!
  • My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayron: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix. This was recently announced and it comes out on 2/28/23 (I’m crying about this long wait)! Here is the cover reveal tweet! Please believe that I’m getting it on NetGalley the moment it becomes available!
Replace “food” for “books” and this would be exactly my sentiment! We deserve all the retellings with POC centered in them!

This is only a short list of some books that I know of but I also have the utmost faith that more retellings, remixes & re-imaginings will be written in the future by Authors Of Color. I think it is way past time for us to see ourselves reflected in “classic” literature and that kids should have these stories in their course work rather than those by ODWM. It’s also about rewriting the narratives that we didn’t exist in certain time periods (if written in the past) as well as making these stories more current & relevant to today’s readers.

WE SURE DO! WE SURE ARE!!!

Have you read any of the ones that I’ve listed? Are there any that I’ve missed? I do know there are some adult retellings but I’ve chosen to keep this post YA focused! Let me know in the comments or on social media! Holler at me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just read a really good retelling/remix/reimagining! Until the next post, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Pilar Ramirez And The Escape From Zafa Is The MG Fantasy I Would’ve Wanted As A Kid

  • Julian Randall
  • Debut
  • Genre: MG Fantasy
  • Background: Dominican American
  • Instagram: @julianthepoet; Twitter: @JulianThePoet; https://juliandavidrandall.com/
  • Release: 3/1/2022 (There is zero excuse not to have it now)
  • Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (MacMillan Imprint)
  • Favorite Character: Carmen! She would be someone that I would be equally intrigued but annoyed by because she’s capable of so much & is super passionate but she’s also a bit of a know it all & pushy…for all I know, we could be related, lol!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Bad smell, razor sharp claws and y’all got hops? Are you sure y’all aren’t eighth graders?”-Pilar. I hollered out loud when I read this! She was in a pretty tight spot (as she often is in the book, you’ll see when you read) and her response to what she was seeing was hysterical! She has many brilliant liners, especially when her statements include “entiendes?“!
Pilar, to who or whatever she was speaking to, lol

*So before I start, I’m going to say that this post is a part of a Blog Tour for Pilar Ramirez. Even if it wasn’t, there would still be a post about this book because I loved Pilar and her journey so much! Pretty much, this disclaimer just means that this post is happening in the publisher’s time frame rather than mine and I’m fine with that, lol*

You know, for the sake of transparency or whatever, lol

When I discovered Pilar Ramirez And The Escape From Zafa, I was on one of my random searches through netgalley and the cover caught my attention. I, of course, hit that “read now” button (cause I will not ever get over the flex that is an auto-approval on netgalley, lol) with the quickness! To give you all more of a timeline on my love for Pilar, some months later, MacMillan hosted a happy hour with Julian that gave me even more insight to Pilar and her story that only deepened my appreciation of this book. As someone who is Half-Haitian, it was so affirming to hear a Dominican author speak on things I grew up hearing about (though from another side from the same Island). So, when an email was sent out about the blog tour, you obviously know what my answer was cause we are here now, a day earlier than my usual posting day *kool-aid smile*, lol! There is an Instagram live of me doing an unboxing of Pilar Ramirez, that you can watch here so you can see my love for this book for yourself!

I love Pilar like I love my queen Symone, lol!

From the first sentence, I was absolutely HOOKED and knew that Pilar was the type of kid that I could see myself and so many other kids I know in. She’s very self-aware and when she spoke about being observant and I was like “ooo girl, we are the same” because as a kid, I was constantly watching other people, their actions and listening to their words, only I didn’t have a camera to record like Pilar did. Pilar made it known that she aspired to be a director and was making moves towards making that happen. She’s the type that KNOWS she has a lens and that very little gets past her as well as how to form her opinions & voice so she could be heard. I love how she knew the people so well around her that she could formulate what her responses/requests/arguments (choose one, lol) should sound like in order to get what she wants/needs. Pilar is so clever and has such a swag about her that you wouldn’t want to ignore her even if you tried! She’s just that girl! Honestly, Pilar gave off teen from NY but she made it very clear that she is from the Chi!

This is very Pilar’s swag

Another thing that I loved about Pilar is that she is a storyteller. She knew how to set up the story and keep those listening rapt. This is the part that made the book special to me because my grandpa was a natural storyteller, so she made me feel closer to her. Along with the mythology that brings this story to life, there was also historical gems throughout that could’ve been overwhelming but wasn’t in how it was woven into the fabric of the story. Thinking about it, I wish I wouldn’t mind listening to the audiobook because of how Pilar speaks and how animated I imagine her to be! Growing up, I used to hear about Duvalier and his exploits in Haiti so I understood Pilar and her feelings toward Trujillo & his tyranny in the Dominican Republic. Trujillo wasn’t mentioned by my Grandpa so I learned about a history that drew such a parallel to my paternal family’s homeland that subconsciously, I knew it. How Pilar and the others in the story felt about Trujillo, I felt too, especially the anger that felt skin and soul deep over the injustices that their people faced. However, if I’m being honest (which I am), I would’ve felt the same had I not grown up hearing similar stories because of the way that Pilar and other characters spoke about the experiences of their people. Truly, if my Grandpa were still here, I would’ve gotten him a copy so he could read it and we could talk about this book (and I know he would’ve read it and been delighted in the mixture of Spanish throughout since he was fluent.)

Me, the entire time I was reading…I finished in less than 48 hours

Julian did a bang up job in building the fantastical world of Zafa. I loved Zafa and the adventure that Pilar was dropped into (literally and there is more to that aspect) and that it brought us an interesting cast of characters. Through this shift in worlds, we were able to meet my homie Carmen and La Negra (there are so many more to meet, don’t worry). I’ll leave you find out about La Negra when you read the book but I’ll tell you a bit of what I loved about Carmen.

This is a fairly accurate gif to Pilar’s drop into Zafa! lol!

Carmen is a fierce character that acts first then talks about it later. She’s the person you would want on your side in a fight because if you weren’t fighting with her, you’re against her and it would be your funeral. She gives off Big Okoye Energy, if you are a Black Panther fan, cause she’s basically a warrior Gawdess. She is just as passionate as Pilar about the people she loves and her world, which makes them a match made in heaven but also funny to watch when they clash… especially when lots of motion is involved (you gotta read to find out what I mean by that, lol)! Carmen is a character that has a backstory that I believe I would love reading as well (some secondary characters deserve their own books…a companion novel/series isn’t too much to ask for, I don’t think)! Honestly, I’d just want to be in Zafa for as long as Julian would allow me to me, lol!

This is the energy Carmen gives off and I live for her like I do Okoye!

Seriously, if you haven’t added Pilar Ramirez And The Escape From Zafa to your TBR, some bookstores shopping cart and/or library requests then what exactly are you doing with your life? This is the type of fantasy that my pre-teen/teen self would’ve loved but I’m grateful that I got to read it as an adult! If you want an excuse to read it and talk about it, The Magical Black Kids Book Club will be reading Pilar Ramirez for April and I promise you will want to talk about this book after you read it! The linked post talks about the book club and has a sign up link to receive emails, there’s no fee to join and all ages are welcome (Kids have the first word though)!

And pick up this book!

Aiight, I’m going to end this post here before I think of more to talk about and keep you here for another 30 minutes rambling about what I loved about this book! If you want to holler at me, you know you can find me out in the interwebs on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just read a book my pre-teen self would’ve loved and obsessed over! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

The Lost Dreamer Left Me Gooped

  • Lizz Huerta
  • Debut; Book 1 of a Duology
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: First Gen. Mexican and Puerto Rican
  • Instagram: @lizzhuertawrites; Twitter: @lizzhuerta; www.lizzhuerta.com
  • Release: 3/1/2022 (this NEEDS to be in your TBR!)
  • Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux BFYR (MacMillan Imprint)
  • Favorite Character: Naru! She had all the fire and sass that I look for in secondary characters! I only wish I saw more of her…but that’s just how I am about characters I like right off the bat…you’ll see why from my favorite quote below!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I don’t need guarding, you fangless, soft-bodied children of men!”-Naru. I mean…Naru knows her strength and can’t be faulted for that! The subsequent responses after prove it too! I laughed pretty hard at this!
When Naru was going off, this was my response…WITH this energy!

When I saw the cover for The Lost Dreamer, I just knew that I had to read this book. I found myself awestruck and speechless for a moment. Of course, I cranked that “Read It” button on Netgalley right away (Shout Out to MacMillan for liking me enough to grant me auto-approval) and later they did a happy hour event for it that solidified my need to read this book! I received two book boxes for TLD, here is the first video and here is the second (which I did while working on this post because I received the box the day before & I mention this post in that live too, lol)! I want to note that this post is apart of MacMillan’s Blog tour for TLD and this post will be a little veiled in how I write it because I don’t want to give anything away!

Me, when I saw this cover on netgalley!

I’m going to start this by saying that this book is a Dual Perspective book and y’all know how much I LOVEEEEEEEE Dual POVs! I find that when a book has more than one perspective, it’s easier for me to get sucked into the world because the world is being shown in different ways! We get to see the world that the MCs Indir & Saya live through their lenses, which are quite stark in their views and personalities. On top of this, we don’t just get the actual world that Indir and Saya live in but we also get to go into “The Dream”, which is another experience itself! Lizz did an amazing job building up this multi-dimensional, and to borrow words from Dhonielle Clayton, texturally-rich world. There were points where I felt like I was right in the story, which is ALWAYS a good sign when I’m reading (unless it’s scary, then not so much, lol).

Me, going into this story knowing it’s dual POV and double this energy with how lush the world is

Indir and Saya are like two sides to the same coin. Both have special abilities but one has the support system of the strong women around her while the other is pretty much isolated from the world around her. I found myself drawn to them both through their pull to “The Dream” but also their longing for something more that they couldn’t always express that wasn’t “The Dream”. You know that feeling of wanting more but not exactly what “more” is? It was very that. It was also clear that they had a connection but it wasn’t clear as to what it was (don’t worry, you’ll find out when you read the book because you know there are no spoilers here).

They might not have expressed their want with this intensity but it I felt it intensely!

Another thing I loved about this book is the cast of characters. They offer another layer to the world of TLD. I felt myself excited when a potential love interest enters the scene, I leaned in more when the siblings & aunts of one of the MCs came in and I sneered when the “bad guy” showed their face (I literally sneered so you know I didn’t like that Eff-er). I loved that the characters had different lineages that explained some of their traits/gifts and you learn a lot more about the world outside of what is seen from Indir and Saya’s perspectives through knowledge shared. Naru comes from another group of people that we get to see a little of in this book and their energy is everything (it gives very bad bish/Dora Milaje energy)…I’m not trying to say too much because I want you to get this book, lol! My hint though would be that they may or may not do some shape shifting…that’s it, that’s all I will say (lol)!

This is Naru & her people’s energy

Something else that I loved about this book is the fact that it was inspired by Ancient Mesoamerica. We know that ancient civilizations have such rich cultures and there is always something special about when they are brought to the forefront again. Its a way of remembering and honoring their legacy that [redacted] history has attempted to erase. This book was a beautiful tribute to Lizz & so many other’s ancestors! I’m lowkey disappointed that this is only a duology because I felt there was so much in the world to be seen (but maybe this means the second book will be a long one…we shall see)!

If this book were a movie, this would be how I imagine it beginning…or close to it

I know that I didn’t give you a whole lot that could give you a fuller picture to the story & characters but I really want you and anyone else you can think of that would appreciate a fantasy book with dual perspectives, twists & turns, lush worlds and magical gifts to read it. There are gags & goops that I didn’t see coming (that’s saying a lot too) and I don’t want to ruin those experiences for anyone (that’s sacred to me and I respect you way too much). Just know that this book is worth picking up & reading so you can join me in my gooped state of being!

How I felt when I finished The Lost Dreamer!

Is The Lost Dreamer in your TBR? Have you requested it from your library or picked up a copy? Let me know in the comments or on social media! As always, You can find & follow me out on the innernets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just finished a book that caught me off guard in the best way! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peace peeps!

Luck Of The Bookish: March Releases

Hey Y’all! I can’t even believe that another month is almost here but even more so than that…IT’S MY BIRTHDAY MONTHHHHHHHHH (dang, time really flies)! Okay, I just had to get that out! On top of it being the best month (I said what I said), it is a REALLY good month for new book releases! I think a lot of us will be praying for a windfall (or a good tax return) to cover the books we may want to purchase this month! Also, don’t forget that the library is an option should purchasing not be on the table, requesting books still supports the authors!

Lettuce pray I get to the point where I could throw money like this…preferably in some bookstores & at my bank account

There are so many books coming out in March that I’m beyond excited for so let’s get into this list!

It’s the body language/gestures for me! I love being a Black woman!
  • The Leaping Laddoo by Harshita Jerath & Kamala M. Nair *PB* 3/1
  • Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall *MG* 3/1
  • Turning by Joy L. Smith 3/1
  • The Rumor Game by Sona Chairapotra & Dhonielle Clayton 3/1
  • Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi 3/1
  • Every Variable Of Us By Charles A. Bush 3/1
  • The Deep Blue Between by Ayesha Harruna Attah 3/1
  • The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta 3/1
  • Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu *MG* 3/1
  • A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee 3/1
  • All My Rage by Sabaa Tabir 3/1
  • Debating Darcy by Sayanthani DasGupta 3/1
  • Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers by Uma Mishra-Newbery, Lina Al-Hathloul, Rebecca Green *PB* 3/1
  • Why Not You? By Jessica Gibson *PB* 3/1
  • Let’s Do Everything And Nothing by Julia Kuo *PB* 3/1
  • Crimson Reign by Amelie Wen Zhao *sequel* 3/1
  • Grow: A Family Guide to Plants—And How to Grow Them by Rizaniño Reyes, illus. by Sara Boccaccini Meadows *PB* 3/1
  • Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys 3/1
  • New from Here By Kelly Yang *MG* 3/1
  • Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge *adult* 3/1
  • We Belong by Laura Purdie Salas *PB* 3/1
  • The Balloon Thief by Aneesa Marufu 3/3
  • Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore 3/8
  • Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye 3/8
  • Like A Sister by Kellye Garrett *adult* 3/8
  • Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly *MG* 3/8
  • Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao 3/8
  • Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen 3/8
  • Diamond Park by Phillippe Diederich 3/8
  • The Hair Book by LaTonya Yvette *PB* 3/8
  • Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron *adult* 3/8
  • How To Hear The Universe by Patricia Valdez & Sara Palacios *PB* 3/8
  • Cinder & Glass by Melissa De La Cruz 3/8
  • Pablo Neruda: A Poet Of The People (Bilingual Edition) by Monica Brown & Julie Paschkis *PB* 3/8
  • Sunflower by Ingrid Laguna *MG* 3/8
  • Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas 3/8
  • Jameela Green Ruins Everything by Zarqa Nawaz *adult* 3/8
  • Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo *adult* 3/14
  • Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters 3/15
  • Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros *MG* 3/15
  • When We Were Birds A Novel by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo *adult* 3/15
  • Wrong Side of the Court By H.N. Khan 3/15
  • Emile And The Field by Kevin Young & Chioma Ebinama *PB* 3/15
  • Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos 3/15
  • Lead Me Astray by Sondi Warner 3/15
  • Dating Dr. Dil A Novel By Nisha Sharma *adult* 3/15
  • Okoye To The People: A Black Panther Novel by Ibi Zoboi 3/22
  • Sir Fig Newton And The Science Of Persistence by Sonja Thomas *MG* 3/22
  • Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram 3/22
  • A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin 3/22
  • Under Lock & Skeleton Key: A Secret Staircase Mystery by Gigi Pandian *adult* 3/22
  • Disorientation A Novel by Elaine Hsieh Chou *adult* 3/22
  • Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell A Novel by Taj McCoy *adult* 3/22
  • The City of Dusk by Tara Sim 3/22
  • Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow *PB* 3/29
  • Her Rebel Highness (Daughters of the Dynasty) by Diana Ma *series* 3/29
  • Survive The Dome by Kosoko Jackson 3/29
  • Sweep Of Stars by Maurice Broaddus *adult* 3/29
  • A Duke, The Spy, An Artist and A Lie by Vanessa Riley *adult* 3/29
  • The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang Illustrated by Alina Chau *PB* 3/29
  • Stella Díaz To The Rescue by Angela Dominguez *ER* 3/29
  • Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown & AG Ford *PB* 3/29
  • Four Aunties And A Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto * adult sequel* 3/29
  • Going Public by Hudson Lin *adult series* 3/29
  • Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes by Mahak Jain *PB* 3/29
  • Survive The Dome by Kosoko Jackson 3/29
Sooooo many books y’all!

Whoooooooooooooo, so many books coming out in March and I’m so excited about them! I’ve received quite a few ARCs, which always makes my bookish Spirit happy!

This is the way I react when I get an ARC I want…this and squeal/yell!

Here are the ones I have:

  • Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall *MG*
  • Turning by Joy L. Smith
  • The Rumor Game by Sona Chairapotra & Dhonielle Clayton
  • Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
  • The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
  • All My Rage by Sabaa Tabir
  • Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys
  • Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
  • Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
  • Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
  • Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
  • Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron *adult*
  • Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
  • Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo *adult*
  • Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros *MG*
  • When We Were Birds A Novel by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo *adult*
  • Dating Dr. Dil A Novel By Nisha Sharma *adult*
  • A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
  • Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell A Novel by Taj McCoy *adult*
  • Her Rebel Highness (Daughters of the Dynasty) by Diana Ma *series*
Switch “schmoney” to ARCs…but if any publishers wanna pay me to read books, then I’m all for that too!

As per usual, I’m working on reading through the ARCs that I have and so far, I have read:

  • Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
  • Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall *MG* (I’m apart of this blog tour so look out for the post on this soon!)
  • Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
  • The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta (I’m apart of this blog tour as well, so this book will get a post too)
  • All My Rage by Sabaa Tabir
  • Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys
  • Currently Reading: The Rumor Game by Sona Chairapotra & Dhonielle Clayton
On finishing these ARCs, I know, I will!

I’m excited to continue to keep reading through my ARC cue (it’s quite the cue) cause so far, the books have been amazing…and I will say it here that I think Traveler’s Along The Way is under hyped and deserves better (I emailed the publisher to let them know too, lol)…everyone needs to get that book when it comes out!

Seriously, Get it! And maybe even do this dance or something that looks like it while you do!

Are there any books that You are looking forward to? Did I miss any books by POC authors coming out this month? Let me know in the comments or out in these e-streets! As always, You can find & follow me out on the innernets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like it’s mah burfday and I got mad bookstore gift cards! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peace & Stay Bookish peeples!

Books That Talked HistorNerdy To Me

Hey y’all! So I don’t know about y’all but I love books that talk about history or is historical because, no surprise here, I’m quite the nerd! I’m not picky about what type of history it is as long as I learn something or have a knowledge refresh along the way! There are also bonus points if the history lessons are woven into the story line.

And so proud of it!

So I was thinking of some middle grade and young adult books that spoke to the history nerd that lives within me for different reasons. Of course, wanted to share those books with you as well as what spoke to me! All of these would be great books to add to Social Studies curriculums… just putting that out there!

In this case, I just want to share these books with y’all!

Let’s get into this list!

Middle Grade

The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown-This book was my introduction into middle grade horror and I will say it got me pretty good at times. I’m a person who loves to read at night and I was very unsure of whether or not I could read it and not feel nervous about how my dreams would be once I laid my head down (I was totally fine, btw). I learned quite a bit about abandoned Black cemeteries reading this book & it was really interesting that there was a news story here in New York around the time that I was reading it about a Black cemetery that ended up being built over (the disrespect). I also loved the bits of Black superstitions that were mentioned as well.

I was nervous but this book was worth being nervous for!

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee-One of the biggest things that spoke to me about this book is the relationship between Maizy and her grandpa. As you all know from my post dedicated to my own, My grandpa was very much a storyteller and so was Maizy’s. Maizy’s grandpa baits her by teasing at their ancestor’s history by telling her in pieces. It illustrates Chinese immigration in the 1800s going into the early 1900s and the experiences of this fictional ancestor. While I knew a bit of the history of Chinese immigration & that of Chinese restaurants in the US (I know a little bit about a lot y’all), it was nice to see it through a different lens…it’s definitely not taught enough in schools (hello erasure of POC history in education).

Maisy & her Grandpa’s connection has this sort of energy!

The Only Black Girls In Town by Brandy Colbert-Disclaimer here, I’m a Brandy Colbert Stan. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I love how the history in this story is wrapped in a mystery of sorts (I love turning into detective while reading a book). Alberta learns about the history of her house and the town she’s lived in her whole life through some journals she & her friend discover. This book is a great way to introduce the concept of “passing” to students learning about American history and how it was a means of survival to those passing living in openly racist and segregated parts of America (we not gon’ sit here and pretend like that’s not still a thing here…not today or any other day on this here blog).

Lauren is a little older than Alberta but the energy is the same!

Young Adult

Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles-What I loved about this book is that it was that it was a contemporary book with the fantastical element of time travel. Malcolm not only got to learn about his ancestor but also how he came to acquire their family land and about the Reconstruction Era. I had learned a bit about the Reconstruction era way back when but this book served as a refresher with a much more interesting presentation than any textbook would ever provide AND in a way that shows just how prosperous Black people were (and could be) by working together. This book is one that I think any teen who is reluctant to learn about history could lean into.

This is both Malcolm in the book and me while reading

So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow-I’m going to acknowledge that this book is a remix of Little Women but I’m also going to say that I never read Little Women *shrug*. While I am familiar with the history of Freed People’s colonies, I did not know much about the Roanoke colony. There was something distinctly different to read a book that took place in one and spoke of the histories that felt like a first person account (this is book is multiple perspective, just an FYI). It was also amazing to read a book filled with Black Joy rather than Black Trauma at the end of the era of chattel slavery (had to be specific there). I honestly want Bethany to do a story based in Seneca Village (where Central Park now is…my mind is still blown over that history).

We need more of this in Historical Black stories!

Angel Of Greenwood by Randi Pink-Another history that I knew about and still feel sick over is the Tulsa Massacre. What is different about this book is that it began a few days before the massacre takes place. You get to see this thriving Black community known as the “Black Wall Street” from two perspectives that also have different ideologies. Angel believed in the teachings of Booker T. Washington (though she was pretty open-minded) while Isaiah heavily believed in those of W.E.B Du Bois (he wasn’t so open-minded). There is a lot of joy and hope in this story even though we know that there will be tragedy. We all know that no place is perfect but reading a thriving Black community gave me hope and a longing for us to get back to that.

It really does y’all!

There are other books that have spoken to the History nerd in me, like in this post about important middle grades. There are quite few that are coming out or recently came out that I plan on talking about in the future in other posts, these are great books to roll with doe. I also have but so much energy to sit in front of my laptop as well (Just keeping it real with y’all)!

This really does become me after a while of sitting at my laptop…I love writing this blog but I don’t love sitting for long periods of time, lol

Are there any books that spoke to your inner nerd? Do you love books that speak nerdy to you too? Let me know in the comments or on the social medias! As per usual, You can find & follow me out on these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I read a bunch of books that spoke nerdy to me! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Byeeeeee!

Three Debuts That Had Me Cracking Up

Hey Y’all! So I don’t know about y’all but I’ve been super busy marathon reading for the last few weeks. I had quite a few ARCs for books that were releasing last week & this week that I wanted to make sure I read before their release! I managed to finish the last title yesterday and I feel so accomplished!

I seriously didn’t think I was going to make it for a moment!

However, that’s not the reason for this post (it was feeling a little “Dear Diary” for a second, lol)! Of those numerous ARCS (18 total, don’t worry, I started reading them last month…I’m not that much of a machine), three of the most recent ones really cracked me up. I found myself having a great time reading and not wanting to put them down! I have not been able to stop thinking about them or raving about them every chance I get so I wanted to share them with you (which falls in line with my bookish intents for this year…#Accountability)!

If I had less core control, I would’ve been like this baby while reading these books…A LOT!

Since these are debut authors, it is super important that they get the shine and love that they deserve. We (I) want them to keep writing and giving not just this generation but all of us the type of representation wanted AND needed in literature. I do hope that you all will support them because they wrote truly phenomenal books!

Just taking this moment to say…LISTEN To Black Women…PSA over

Let me get to this list before I find myself on another soap box, lol! Here we go (I really love saying that)!

It’s the enthusiasm for me!

Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon: This book just spoke to my Spirit! First, there was so much cussing and if you read this blog in its earlier days, you know I used to do a lot of that too (I still do but just not here in case a kid under like 13 reads). Second, there were so much funny banter between Sunny and the other characters and even the thoughts in his head…I laughed so much the entire time! It’s the type of banter & humor that I would regard my friends as well as the thoughts that go through my head…Sunny is so well versed in Sarcasm and snark, my second and third languages! We would make great friends! Third, this book deals with grief but in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming, daunting or heavy. Many of you know that I’ve been dealing with my own loss and because of how heavy it still feels to me, I usually shy away from books that have grief/loss. However, I didn’t feel like shying away and rather felt drawn to Sunny and his struggles because of how he approached his thoughts around death…they actually felt similar to some of my own. Fourth, Sunny had an amazing group of friends that I couldn’t get enough of! I honestly wish they were there for more of the shenanigans…I mean, rash decisions! Seriously, this book is f**king funny and it’s worth your time!

So many things in Sunny G’s was!

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie: This book had me from page one and when I finished, I did one of those sighs that only a book that spoke to your soul could produce. I was drawn to this book by the cover alone (and I’m a VERY good judge of a cover) and my intuition didn’t let me down at all. This book was super funny and the banter between Ophelia & her friends as well as her parents (that shocked the mess out of me in the best way) was so witty that the only way it would’ve been better is if I could’ve heard it in real time! I also got caught off guard because my eyes leaked a time or two and I DEFINITELY wasn’t ready for that. Like Ophelia, I was boy crazy as a teen and my friends knew me as the same so I felt a connection with her from that point on. I also felt connected with her in not wanting to be known for a few things that far from defined who I was (and really am now). This book was like a masterclass in exploring the spectrum of emotion, self-discovery and self-acceptance. It also did a beautiful job in the conversations around sexuality and labeling or even not labeling oneself along with the importance of finding community and understanding. I think you know what I’m going to say…(get this book, in case that isn’t clear! lol!)

I was really in my feels y’all!

Lulu And Milagro’s Search For Clarity by Angela Velez: I have to start this by saying that this book is Dual POV and y’all know how much I LOVE dual POV books so it hooked me from the beginning! I felt a kinship with Lulu and Milagro for different reasons (though I felt like I related more to Lulu). Lulu is the super nerdy, head typically stuck in a book and filled with different facts type sister that loves research which is pretty much my vibe (we could seriously be friends IRL)! I’m not a little sister but I felt where she wanted to set herself apart and make the things she wanted for herself happen. Milagro is the fun, fashionable and outgoing type sister. She fights between whether or not she should attempt to prove people wrong about her or continue to go against the rough grain that’s been set by her mom & school. I understood her not wanting to be bothered by others expectations and just living…really, I deeply admired her free spirit. They learned so much on their journey about themselves, each other and why they should define themselves by their own terms rather than allow other people & situations to do the defining for them. I seriously enjoyed this book that really honed in on the importance of family, friendships and figuring out what the future means to you (there was some alliteration there, lol)! Clearly, I would recommend this book!

Switch the sisters roles here and you got Lulu (who would be at the microscope) and Milagro (fashionably dressed & saying something snarky)!

If what I’ve said about these books aren’t enough to sway you then I’m not sure what else I could tell you! You couldn’t go wrong with any of these books. They gave me all the feels from laughter to tears to anger and so many in-between…but in the end, I felt joyful when I finished each one. In times such as these, books that bring joy and laughter are so very important to me and maybe to you as well.

Me too Tiffany, me too!

Look y’all, I completely understand if you don’t have the funds to purchase these books but you have the brilliant resource of the library (hopefully close to you) to request these titles from… Some libraries have digital copies so you can borrow them from afar so utilize them and support these authors & their amazing books (do this for all authors, of course). Another way to support is to follow them on the socials and I’ll provide their IGs (they are linked for your convenience, you welcome): Navdeep, Racquel, and Angela (I went and followed them as well because I practice what I preach)!

I’m sure they will be very happy and thankful for the support!

Have you all heard about these titles? Which one(s) called the most to you? Are there any other debut books that you have really enjoyed? Are there any by POC authors that you are anticipating?! Feel free to share them in the comments or on social media! As always, You can find & follow me out on these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I got to read some books that made me laugh till my eyes leaked! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Later peeps!

Love Is In The Air: YA & Adult Romances To Add To Your TBR

Hey everyone! I know this title is cheesy but sometimes you just have to lean into things and we know that Valentine’s Day is coming up! I had initially planned this post for next week but since I low-key destabilized my wrist while shoveling & breaking ice (thanks Mother Nature for that Nor’easter), I had to go with a post that wouldn’t require as much typing which would mean lists! I know that I’m good with lists so I don’t believe I would be disappointing you all with one (please forgive me if you were hoping for more).

Still love me…please?

I wanted to offer you all a few Young Adult and Adult Romances/Rom-Coms that will have you seeing & feeling all the hearts and what not! I also believe that I haven’t listed most if not all of these books in other posts (outside of what I’ve read) so they shouldn’t be repeats from me (and also, some of these are recently released & one is not out yet). Some I will talk about and others, I will just list! So here we go!

I do love a romance that has me feeling this way!
  • Young Adult
    • One True Loves by Elise Bryant: I love this book because Lenore felt like me when it came to romance, both as a teen and an adult! This is a companion novel but definitely stood on it’s own! I would highly recommend it!
    • The Kindred by Alechia Dow: Y’all know I love a dual POV and this one didn’t disappoint at all! It served me romance, witty banter and adventure (it definitely falls under contemporary fantasy since it’s in space but the romance is so hard to ignore)! I just loved this book so very very much! You should definitely read it!
    • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
    • Made In Korea by Sarah Suk
    • The Stars And The Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
    • A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
    • You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
    • I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest
How I felt after reading these!
  • Adult
    • The Unexpected Fall by Anna Salcedo: I absolutely f**king LOVE THIS BOOK! Not only is it spicy but it has so much humor and Anna gave me my new book boyfriend…I’m here for any and everything Will Kobayashi! If you love steam, witty banter and a work place romance, this is definitely the book for you!
    • Getting His Game Back by Gia De Cadenet: This was a book I definitely appreciated for the way it balanced the romance and mental health. It also gave a lot of steam and is dual POV! This is another romance worth giving a read!
    • Asking For A Friend by Andi Osho
    • Along For The Ride by Mimi Grace
    • Amor Actually by Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Mia Sosa, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras & Sabrina Sol (this is an anthology of interconnected stories!)
    • And The Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie
    • D’Vaughn And Kris Plan A Wedding by Chencia C Higgins
    • I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson (out on 2/22/22)
The “whew” is the part I felt the most after reading some of the steamy parts!

There are so many more romances that I wish I could’ve talked about but time & my wrist truly aren’t on my side! I apologize for that, though I hope you all have added a book or two to your TBR if you haven’t come across some of these!

Say that you still do!

Are there any romances/rom-coms by POC authors that I’ve missed? What are some of your favorites?! Please share them in the comments or on social media cause I’m always looking for new ones to add to my TBR for my Romance binges! You can find & follow me out on these e-streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I got to read a really good (and steamy) romance/rom-com! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love (even more so on Valentine’s day to fully lean into the cheese) and wishing you happy reading! Later Lovelies!

Falling In Love With New Books: February Releases

Hey Everyone! February is almost upon us which means a new month of book releases and it doesn’t disappoint in the volume of books coming out! It’s hard not to be simultaneously excited and groan internally when thinking about how many books come out this month! The excitement, of course, because there are so many great books and groaning because the bookish amongst us think of the danger our bank accounts are in!

I know my bookish people do!

I’m going to give disclaimers here: 1) be sure to double check publishing dates for the ones you are most excited about because these dates can change for any number of reasons and sometimes I miss those changes. B) Don’t come to me blaming me for how many books you end up purchasing or pre-ordering…*insert eyebrow raised emoji here*. Please also be sure to request these books from your local library, that also counts towards the books numbers and supports the authors!

I’m sayin’ doe!

Aiight, let’s get to this list!

  • Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier *MG* 2/1
  • This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi 2/1
  • What The Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris *adult* 2/1
  • Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee *NA* 2/1
  • Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander 2/1
  • Black Love Matters Anthology edited by Jessica P. Pryde *adult* 2/1
  • Never After: The Stolen Slippers by Melissa de la Cruz *MG sequel* 2/1
  • Black Girls Must Be Magic A Novel by Jayne Allen *adult series* 2/1
  • Black Panther: Spellbound by Ronald L. Smith *MG sequel* 2/1
  • She Persisted: Wangari Maathai by Eucabeth Odhiambo 2/1
  • Omar Rising by Aisha Saaed *MG Companion* 2/1
  • Solimar the Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan *MG* 2/1
  • Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu *adult* 2/1
  • Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black *adult* 2/1
  • Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee *MG* 2/1
  • Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson *adult* 2/1
  • When The World Turned Upside Down by K. Ibura *MG* 2/1
  • Redwood And Wildfire by Andrea Hairston *adult* 2/1
  • Why? By Taye Diggs & Shane W. Evans *PB* 2/1
  • And We Rise by Erica Martin 2/1
  • Kemosha of the Caribbean by Alex Wheatle 2/1
  • Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho *adult* 2/1
  • Murder Of Crows  by K. Ancrum 2/1
  • Cameron Battle And The Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry *MG* 2/1
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson *MG* 2/1
  • The Black Agenda by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman *adult* 2/1
  • The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto 2/1
  • Black Joy Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts *adult* 2/1
  • Didn’t We Almost Have It All In Defense of Whitney Houston by Gerrick Kennedy *adult* 2/1
  • Hey You by Dapo Adeola *PB* 2/2
  • Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon 2/8
  • Cold by Mariko Tamaki 2/8
  • A Spark Within The Forge: An Ember In The Ashes Graphic Novel by Sabaa Tabir 2/8
  • You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen 2/8
  • Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie 2/8
  • A Comb Of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow *MG* 2/8
  • Lulu And Milagro’s Search For Clarity by Angela Velez 2/8
  • Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams 2/8
  • Cherish Farrah A Novel by Bethany C. Morrow *adult* 2/8
  • The Final Cut by Onjali Q. Raúf *MG* 2/8
  • Once Upon A Forest by Pam Fong *PB* 2/8
  • Colors Of Awesome: 24 Bold Women Who Inspired The World by Eva Chen & Derek Desierto *BB* 2/8
  • I’ll Hold Your Hand by Maggie C. Rudd & Elisa Chavarri *PB* 2/8
  • With Lots Of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchez & André Ceolin *PB* 2/8
  • Homicide And Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala *adult series* 2/8
  • Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, illus. by Madelyn Goodnight *PB* 2/8
  • The Great Mrs. Elias A Novel Based on a True Story By Barbara Chase-Riboud *adult* 2/8
  • The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas *adult* 2/8
  • No Filter And Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado 2/8
  • Playing for Love by Jeevani Charika *adult* 2/11
  • Bitter by akwaeke emezi *prequel* 2/15
  • The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian 2/15
  • Reclaim The Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space edited by Zoraida Cordova 2/15
  • When Your Voice Shakes by Ruby Yayra Goka 2/15
  • Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James *adult sequel* 2/15
  • Anansi and the Golden Pot by Taiye Selasi *PB* 2/15
  • Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond & Daniel Minter *PB* 2/15
  • Every Leaf A Hallelujah by Ben Okri & Diana Ejaita *PB* 2/15
  • Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace by Judith Vun Price and Jacqui Vun *PB* 2/15
  • Young, Gifted, and Black A Journey of Lament and Celebration by Sheila Wise Rowe *adult* 2/15
  • I Am Thinking My Life by Allysun Atwater *PB* 2/15
  • The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh 2/22
  • Dear Mama’s Loving Arms by Ceece Kelley *PB* 2/22
  • Only a Monster by Vanessa Len 2/22
  • Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi *MG* 2/22
  • I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson *adult* 2/22
  • Miss Pearly’s Girls by ReShonda Tate Billingsley *adult* 2/22
  • Climb On! by Baptiste Paul, Jacqueline Alcántara *PB* 2/22
  • The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka *adult* 2/22
  • The Turning Pointe by Vanessa L. Torres 2/22
  • Dancing Davi by Priya Parikh *PB* 2/22
  • Mommy, Look At Me! by Alexandra Santana *PB* 2/22
This is the excitement I feel too!

Whew! So many new books and most of them on the first two pub days! Like the January, I’ve been lucky to have received a number of ARCS/E-ARCs! I have the ARCS of the following books:

  • This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
  • Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee *NA*
  • Black Love Matters Anthology edited by Jessica P. Pryde *adult*
  • Black Girls Must Be Magic A Novel by Jayne Allen *adult series*
  • Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
  • Black Panther: Spellbound by Ronald L. Smith *MG sequel*
  • Omar Rising by Aisha Saaed *MG Companion*
  • Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee *MG*
  • Why? By Taye Diggs & Shane W. Evans *PB*
  • Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho *adult*
  • Cameron Battle And The Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry *MG*
  • Sunny G’s Series Of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
  • Cold by Mariko Tamaki
  • You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
  • Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
  • A Comb Of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow *MG*
  • Lulu And Milagro’s Search For Clarity by Angela Velez
  • Cherish Farrah A Novel by Bethany C. Morrow *adult*
  • Reclaim The Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space edited by Zoraida Cordova
  • The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh
  • Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi *MG*
  • The Great Mrs. Elias A Novel Based on a True Story By Barbara Chase-Riboud *adult*
This is how I feel when I get approved for an ARC or I receive one!

I’ve been kept busy with ARCS as so many of them were read over the last 2 1/2 weeks *insert wide eyed emoji here*! Of these ARCs, I have read the following:

  • This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
  • Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee *NA*
  • Cherish Farrah A Novel by Bethany C. Morrow *adult*
  • Black Girls Must Be Magic A Novel by Jayne Allen *adult series*
  • Squire by Sara Alfageeh & Nadia Shammas
  • Black Panther: Spellbound by Ronald L. Smith *MG sequel*
  • Omar Rising by Aisha Saaed *MG Companion*
  • Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee *MG*
  • Why? By Taye Diggs & Shane W. Evans *PB*
  • Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho *adult*
  • Cameron Battle And The Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry *MG*
  • Black Love Matters Anthology edited by Jessica P. Pryde *adult*
An understatement, really!

I’m currently reading The Great Mrs. Elias. I do have a game plan in place for reading the remaining ARCs/E-ARCs that come out this month before their release dates as well as going into March (which I also have a lot of ARCs for)!

Always!

Are there any books coming out this month that you are excited about? Did I miss any books by Authors Of Color coming out this month? Let me know in the comments or on social media! As always you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I got to read an anticipated read before it releases! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! I’m Out! Peace!

I Want To Know What Other Characters Are Thinking-Dual POVs Are My Jam

Hey everyone! I’m not sure about you but I love books with dual points of view! There is something about reading varying perspectives that deeply excites me! I also feel like it gives additional insight into the book’s world and situations as they are happening or have happened.

In the best of ways though, Lizzo!

I’ve read quite a few dual POV books that I absolutely loved however, I’m not going to talk about all of them because we don’t have time for that…also, I gotta save some for other posts! So we are going to pace ourselves here! It’s actually kind of funny because my current read is also a dual perspective (which was not planned but made me a happy panda when the second perspective came in).

I promise, there will be more in the future!

I’m going to share five books (that’s a good number) with dual POVs that I really enjoyed and why I loved them! Heeeeeeere we go!

You know I’m ready Ru!

For All Time by Shanna Miles: This book not only has dual perspectives but there is also time jumps throughout the book from both the characters perspectives! It was quite brilliant in how it was done really. Imagine reading a love story that spans lifetimes!!! Is there anything greater than soulmates or even twin flames? Cause whatever that term is, that’s what these characters would be! I also loved that this was Black Love Story, one that we really don’t get to see but need to see more of!

I imagine the MCs like this!

Loveboat, Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen (companion; out 1/25/22): If you were a fan of Loveboat, Teipei like I was, then you may remember Xavier (I definitely did) but this adds along the voice of another Loveboat alum, Sophie (which I don’t recall being much of a fan of hers). There was such a stark difference between the two voices in this book because of background & outlook on life but they seamlessly come together. I enjoyed seeing the same situations through different eyes as well as how they matured & grew together!

They were kind of like this at one point!

A Psalm Of Storms And Silence by Roseanne Brown (Sequel): First, I just have to say this was a freaking PHENOMENAL sequel…this book is pretty much 550 pages and I ate it up in like 72 hours. From the gate, Karina and Malik grabbed my attention and because they are both going through so much in this story, it’s hard not to want to know what’s going to happen next for them in their situation(s). If you haven’t read A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin, you really should…this sequel alone was worth it! This was basically a masterclass in sequel writing…though I’m still mad about the epilogue (Roseanne knows what she did).

Me, during this entire read…I also feel like this is Malik too, lol!

Let Me Hear A Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson: One of the reasons that I loved this book is that it didn’t just have 2 POVs but rather 3! It added another dimension to the story, especially when one of those POVs is from the perspective of a relative of the focus of the novel. There were quite a few moving parts to this book but they clicked well together. If you are one who loves to take (mental or actual) notes while trying to figure out whatever the mystery/crime/etc is, then you will really enjoy this one! Also, so much of this story took place in the Brevoort Houses where I use to work with kids, so there were times where I could envision being in the story because I had been in there!

That’s a big sentiment while reading this book but all shall reveal itself, in due time!

Parachutes by Kelly Yang: This was a book where the two characters came from very different backgrounds and though it could’ve been like a shock to the system to switch these perspectives, it actually wasn’t. It was pretty easy for me to get lost in their stories but I was so rapt by it that I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in less than 72 hours despite it being around 480 pages. There are heavy moments and potential for triggers but moving with that in mind made it easy to prepare for them.

The revelations I had while reading this book…

There really is something about Dual perspective makes me eat these books up… Maybe its the being in multiple people’s heads, seeing situations from different angles or just craving the others perspective, any other way, I just LOVE these books! It’s like I get a rush from them! Sometimes, you just want to see things from another set of eyes or get another opinion in the actual story and these books offer that!

Me, when I find out a book is dual POV!

How do you all feel about multiple perspectives in a book? Are you into them or do you think they’re too much? Let me know in the comments or on social media! Y’all know you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve read an amazing book with dual POVs! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Chillin’ With The Author: J.Elle

Hey everyone! So if you remember, I said in my bookish intents for this year that I wanted to do more author interviews (do you get the title reference? lol) and I definitely wanted to make good on that! This week was perfect because on 1/11/22, the sequel to Wings Of Ebony (mentioned in my Five Favs I Haven’t Featured post), Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle came out (mentioned in my Sequels Are Super Stressful post)! So I thought, what better way to celebrate this sequel’s launch than to feature a chat with J.Elle here! Thankfully she agreed!

J.Elle!

As a heads up, J.Elle and I chatted like old friends so there was some book talk but also talk about other stuff too…it was a hodgepodge and I enjoyed every moment of it! I didn’t include everything (sorry y’all) but I think you will enjoy what is shared (and I will include gifs as well, so don’t worry)! So heeeeeeere we go!

I really do love this gif!

L: Thank you for doing this & wanting to hang out with me! I’m going to ask a few warm up questions. I wrote down questions but to be honest with you, I’m a very fly by the seat of my pants type so we gon’ let this conversation go where it wants to go as long as it stays out of spoiler territory.

J: Okay.

L: Do you have a pre-writing routine?

J: Do you mean like before I start writing a book?

L: Before you start writing, do you light candles, put out some snacks, like what’s your thing?

J: My daily writing routine is… Well, first of all, I have kids so my day starts with getting other people ready for their day. Once I’m alone, I usually start with a walk outside and during that walk, I like to do an editorial call. I like to call it an editorial call but it’s more of a writing craft obsessive chat with one of my best girlfriends who’s also a writer. And so we talk for about an hour, we talk through things we noticed, things we’re excited about. A lot of times, the night before, we’ve read each other’s latest chapters so we’ll talk through the things we loved and that energy is so contagious because when I spit out something, I’m like ‘oh my God, this is the worst, this is trash’ then I send it her. She does the same thing and we read them and then when we get on the phone, she’s gushing about all the things she loved in mine and I’m gushing about all the things I loved in hers. It’s like this rev up kind of feeling.

J: So when I finish my walk, I always get water, usually something crunchy. I’m not a big fan of salt so like maybe almonds but not the salted ones-roasted or roasted pecans. I literally just got this from the store *holds up 3/4 full blueberry container* and I end up eating them by the hand full.

L: Nice.

J: They’re just blueberries. So something like that. I sit down with my water with lemon. I usually have lemon water unless it’s cold. If it’s cold, I like to do lemon and honey in water cause I can’t have caffeine. I can’t do tea so I fool my brain to think it’s tea by putting it in a coffee mug and pretend it’s tea.

J: Then I write and I don’t look up or break until I finish that chapter or scene because I kind of like to get it all out. And then I switch devices and I read it through immediately. I open it on my phone… There is something about reading words on my computer versus on my phone, I see them differently, it’s very strange. I usually take a short break but I read through on my phone and make little changes cause I’ll find little things that I missed. I’m dyslexic so I miss all kinds of things so when I’m reading on my phone, I catch them better.

*For resources on dyslexia, you can click here*

J: Once I feel that’s solid, I send that to my critique partner, like ‘ hey, fresh vomit, dumpster fire trash, enjoooooy’ and then we talk about it the next day. I also summarize my chapters but I don’t always do that right at the beginning of my writing session. Most of the time, I already summarized it a week ago or a few days ago if I’m really behind but when I sit down, I have a really clear picture of what I need to turn into a scene.

L: So do you color code too? Does that help with the dyslexia?

J: I don’t. Sometimes I do comic sans font or I will widen the space between lines or if its really muddled in my head, I will go in and color code sentences to help with the flow of information. I’ve gotten really good at not struggling with switching immediate words and letters. I’ve got really good strategies I’ve been working on since elementary school. Where I get tripped up is I twist the order of sentences. Like I would literally be reading a scene and [will put] at the end of a paragraph [what is meant to be] the first first paragraph with the description of a setting. In my head, I’ve set it at the beginning of the paragraph and I don’t notice until my CP is like ‘move this up, you meant to put this at the start.’ At the start of a scene, you want to know where you’re at. In my head, I did that but I see it differently. So reading it out loud, sometimes color coding, space between the lines, distance…sometimes leaving it alone cause I swear the longer you look at it, the more the words turn into gobbley goop.

L: Yeah!

J: So just space helps.

L: Yeah, that helps. I’m not diagnosed dyslexic but normally after a point in time, I do have to walk away. So when I write my blog post(s), I usually do them the night before and I have to step away from them at some point. I used to be able to do them in one shot but now its just like ‘okay, I gotta walk away’.

J: Same. Like my eyes have to look at and focus on something else, my brain too. I have to be able to focus on something else so I can come back so I can see it properly. It’s really crazy how our minds do that.

L: Yeah and like with emotional content, you need more time to step away which we might talk about a little bit later. So you mentioned on the snack thing, are you a snacker or drinker or a combo of both?

J: I always drink water…*personal story that will remain b/t J.Elle & Latesha* so 99.9% of the time, I’m just drinking lemon water or lemon honey “tea”, which is more water. So for me, it’s always snacks. I love fruits, I like crunchy things but again, I’m not big on salt. I feel a lot of snacks are salty so I’ll do roasted almonds, roasted pecans…I’ll just do cherry tomatoes! I’ll pop those like popcorn. I’ll do popcorn, I like that…freshly popped so I can make it the way I like. Ummm blueberries, blackberries, carrots. I usually graze over my breakfast. There’s something about chewing and thinking… I couldn’t just sit there and eat nothing, I have to eat something.

*Note: both of us were snacking or drinking during this chat*

L: Right.

J: If I’m towards the end of a books where I’m really dragging, since I go through phases where I’m motivated and into it then I go through points where in the book when I’m like ‘I want this over!’…in THAT phase, I’m eating reese’s pieces by the hand full.

L: Hahaha! I understand that. I mean, sweets tend to aide! *Shares a late night sweet eating story.* I’m a late night snacker too so it’ll be like 3 o’clock in the morning and I’m reading while eating popcorners.

J: I love it!

L: Kettle corn is my favorite.

J: Kettle corn is a drug, I think. The best…they’re not all created equal, the best kettle corn is double good! Have you had that?

L: No, I haven’t. I haven’t even heard of that.

J: Ma’am. Listen. Write this down. Take a picture, put it in a book so you do not forget. Highlight, post it note. Double good, they do school fundraisers. If you ever get an invitation to a double good fundraiser, make it your absolute priority to participate. *Goes on to talk about how her love for them started & that its only open for 6 days as well as this brand can’t be found anywhere else.*

*If any of you reading this ever host this fundraiser, holla at us!*

L: That’s like Girl Scout cookies for me!

J: Mm-hmm.

L: I always order like 6, 7, 8 boxes.

J: Oh yeah.

Thin mints are my jam & I told J.Elle this!

L: So next question. Do you like to write in silence or with background noise like music?

J: It depends. I can do both. I do have a spotify for my next project. Sometimes, when I’m struggling to feel motivated, I will put on music to get in the head space for it. It really just depends.

J: This book I’m finishing now, which is by far Latesha, the best thing I’ve ever written…it was a very intimidating undertaking. I was like ‘do I really want to try this or try try something I know?’ and it scares me but I’m gonna try it.

*J.Elle speaks briefly on word/page count but I’m going to let you all find out about it when it’s announced.*

J: The amount of stamina it takes to stay invested in the story… I like my stories to be pacey, I like pages turning ‘let’s go!’ So the mental fortitude it takes to go through all those pages is a lot. I usually start really energetic but at a certain point, I’m running out of fumes. So between the reese’s pieces and whatever else I’m munching on, I need [them because] there are some scenes I do not think I could execute without my spotify playlist because I had nothing else to pull from. You know how music can get you in a zone, in a mood. I needed that to get into that mood and music will do it when I couldn’t.

L: That’s how I normally write my blog posts, listening to some sort of music. The music has to match the energy of the book, if I’m writing about a specific book. *Gives examples of books and music pairings for past posts.* So the spotify playlist, is that the type of vibes you want people to get into when they read Wings Of Ebony, Ashes Of Gold and this new project you can’t talk too much about yet?

J: I can send you the spotify link if your you’re curious. It’s like this wild mix of things, you’re gonna be like ‘what is this mash up?’ It’s the Downtown Abby soundtrack, Drake…Etta James is in there, the Beyonce version from Cadillac Records. Um, there’s some Ed Sheeran! But yeah, I think the vibe helps. I think what the reader takes away from the book, the eyes they read it with and the mood/energy they get from it really are subjective. I think that really belongs to the reader.

L: True.

J: I always hope they get the vibe that I’m going for.

L: And is the vibe very connected to the neighborhood you based Ashes in?

J: Yes and no because there are parts in Ashes that are completely make believe. I mean, yes cause it’s fantasy but what I mean is there are parts to that story that are made up not from my own inspiration, not from real life but from things I would like to happen or to experience. So sometimes, I’m infusing those playlists with vibes I wish were a part of the story.

L: When you were writing Wings and even like with Ashes, did you go back to your neighborhood frequently to draw that inspiration?

J: So when I was writing Wings, my partner was in the military and I had left home at 17. I hadn’t been home so writing Wings was like a balm to my soul cause it was like me visiting my home in my words. I couldn’t go cause we were like living in the desert at the time on the border of California and Arizona. Then when I wrote Ashes, it was Summer 2020 and we just parted ways with the military. We literally were driving with all our stuff in tow to move back from the West Coast to where my family is. I was writing in the car, the hotel so I didn’t have the ability to go back during that writing process.

J: But my family still lives there and I’m in Houston now. We live a little bit further than where I grew up but home is home. My sisters are still there, my mommy, my grandma, my friends who I went to middle school and high school with are still there. It is very much a place I still visit. I took some editorial photos in preparation for the launch of Wings Of Ebony and I took all of those except one, which was on a roof top so you could see the skyline of the city. All the others, I took in my neighborhood to capture the beauty and stuff there.

L: When it came to writing this fantasy world, how did you come across this form of Ghizon in your head?

J: You know, it’s very interesting. Ghizon was always very dystopian to me but it felt like publishing didn’t have an appetite for dystopian because 10 years ago, we were all dystopian’ed out. It was too concentrated so I leaned into it as much as I could. I didn’t want to get too immersed. Originally, the book is about Rue and East Row so I didn’t want to glorify the version of Ghizon that was in existence because the version of Ghizon that was in existence was one that basically buried it’s history and rewrote it.

J: I felt like this odd sense of imbalance when I tried to focus too hard on the existing Ghizon because all of that thought was underguarded with ‘but okay, I hate all these people’ and then you find out that [redacted] because they [redacted]. Gosh, if I could go back and write a book about that world [the before]… Which is why the prologue [in Ashes] to me was so important because the Ghizon that Rue met when she got to the island is not the true Ghizon. It was important for me to keep it dystopic and not ideal or something people coveted. I didn’t want the world to think [this] world can be the allure. I didn’t want [this] world to be the allure. I wanted this to be Rue’s story and the people’s story. So I tried to give those characters sort of pedestals and let the world take a back burner.

J: In this series, I tried to make sure it felt a little dystopian since people have a working understanding of that a dystopian society is since we’ve read so many over the last decade. So I was really inspired by that aesthetic but I knew I couldn’t lean into it too hard because publishing was not a fan of dystopian at the time.

*J.Elle speaks more on WOE but I’mma not share in case you haven’t read it for some reason.*

J: It felt right starting it and focusing it in East Row first because so much of East Row is who Rue is and so much of her opening up to embrace her full identity. She could not be who she needed to be in Ghizon until she embraced who she was which is part Ghizoni.

L: And I think striking a balance with Wings taking part a little bit more in East Row whereas in Ashes, it feels like it’s a lot more in Ghizon. It felt like it kinda needed to happen because there’s so much growth and learning to do in both places. It felt like there was a big lean on history. Was that intentional too?

J: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I try to sneak it in because I feel like some readers are like ‘this is historically inspired? oh no thanks.’ so I just try to jump into the story like ‘here’s a character to love’ and once you get to a certain point, you’re like ‘okay, I’m gonna follow her wherever she goes’. Then I’m like ‘here’s a little teaching moment *points*, here’s a teaching moment *points* and here’s a parallel to history *weaving hand motion*.’ So I try to make it a little more educational and insightful in that way. That definitely was intentional. Do you want to talk about specific scenes or just in general?

L: Just in general *goes into talking about how I write the blog & reference the book matchmaking post as well as the importance of these books and my Godchildren as well as the Magical Black Kids Book Club.*

J + L: *Ends up talking about her new MG series.*

J: *about her MG book* this is a fun book. It has important things but this a book you laugh out loud reading.

L: Since it’s “Park Row Magic“, is it connected at all to Ashes at all?

J: It’s not but the community is a lot like East Row. I didn’t zoom into the grittier parts. I kept it very light. *Speaks about some other aspects about the book.*

J + L: *Goes on to talk about other books by different authors.*

J: *Shares that Park Row Magic is out in August 2022.*

How I felt when we got done!

We didn’t have a recorded salutation because I stopped recording so we could talk about things that cannot be mentioned yet but I had the best time with J.Elle! It felt like talking to a homegirl the entire time! I’m beyond grateful to J.Elle for taking time out of her extremely busy schedule (this woman stay hustling & I respect that about her) to talk to me and kick off this “Chillin’ With The Author” endeavor!

Seriously, thank you J.Elle!

While we didn’t get into specifics about WOE or AOG, know that both are out now! This is a duology so you don’t have to worry about a third installment and I promise it’s worth your time (you may need tissues doe). It’s a fantasy that could easily be connected to and that so many kids, especially Black kids, can see themselves in.

It’s like this!

Have you read Wings Of Ebony yet? Did you get your copy of Ashes Of Gold?! If not to either, what are you waiting for? If you have, what were some things you enjoyed about this series? Let me know in the comments or on Social media! As usual, you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). You can also follow J.Elle on IG @authorjelle, Twitter @AuthorJElle and tiktok @authorjelle. Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like you’ve read books I’ve recommended and told me! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peace Fam!

What All I Read In 2021

Hey Y’all! Happy New Year! Can you believe that a whole year has passed?! It’s truly amazing how 365 days have gone by in this weird sort of time continuum/vortex/whatever the heck it could be considered! I sure am glad to have made it to the other side & that you did as well!

Can’t say it was unscathed doe

What certainly got me through this past year was reading…it was my refuge when nothing else was there or I was unable to reach for something else and I leaned into it HARD… though I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better confidant (I also had my therapist but books are a lot more available).

Me, leaning on my books

I had my ups and downs in terms of my reading but here’s my stats:

  • Books Read For The Year: 167
  • Least books read in a month: 6
  • Most books read in a month: 25
  • Average amount read a month: around 12
  • No slumps but times where books took me longer than usual to read for various reasons (emotional state, adulting, etc.)
  • I listened to my first ever audiobook!
  • I read E-Books & E-Novellas outside of E-ARCs (this one surprised me too)!
  • I also read a lot of adult romance/rom-coms, which also shocked me but in the most pleasant way!
I know, right? lol

Here are all the books that I read for the year (this does not include picture books because they aren’t personal reading for me) and If they have their own posts, I will link them to that post! I will also bold the ones that I read as part of the The Free Black Women’s Library 2021 Reading Challenge.

I’m excited too Latrice!
  1. One Of The Good Ones by Maika & Maritza Moulite ARC
  2. The Awakening Of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson & Ilysasah Shabazz E-ARC
  3. Angel Of Greenwood by Randi Pink
  4. The Comeback by E.L. Shen E-ARC
  5. Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson ARC
  6. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna E-ARC
  7. American Betiya by Anuradha A. Rajurkar E-ARC
  8. Not So Pure And Simple by Lamar Giles
  9. FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley E-ARC
  10. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
  11. A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen
  12. Shuri: The Vanished by Nic Stone *MG Sequel*
  13. Wings Of Ebony by J.Elle
  14. Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley And The Rise And Fall Of The Negro Leagues by Andrea Williams *MG Non-Fiction*
  15. Facing The Sun by Janice Lynn Mathers
  16. Home Is Not A Country by Safia Elhillo
  17. The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore E-ARC
  18. The Forest Of Stolen Girls by June Hur E-ARC
  19. A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
  20. Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao
  21. The One’s We’re Meant To Find by Joan He E-ARC
  22. A Queen Of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy *Sequel*
  23. CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls by Kaela Rivera *MG* ARC
  24. The Sea In Winter by Christine Day *MG*
  25. The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim *MG* ARC
  26. Hurricane Summer by Aisha Bromfield E-ARC
  27. Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *ER* ARC
  28. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney ARC
  29. Pawcasso by Remy Lai *MG* E-ARC
  30. Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass ARC
  31. JoJo Makoons The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley *ER* ARC
  32. Made In Korea by Sarah Suk ARC
  33. Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Best Friend by Ben Philippe *adult* ARC
  34. Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland *MG* ARC
  35. A Sitting In St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia ARC
  36. Ace Of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé ARC
  37. A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow *Companion* E-ARC
  38. Simone Breaks All The Rules by Debbie Rigaud ARC
  39. Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon E-ARC
  40. Of Princes And Promises by Sandhya Menon *Series* ARC
  41. Amari And The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston *MG*
  42. The Marvelous by Claire Kann E-ARC
  43. Sisters Of The Snake by Sarena & Sasha Nanua ARC
  44. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon ARC
  45. Rising Like A Storm by Tanaz Bhathena *Sequel* E-ARC
  46. Darling by K. Ancrum E-ARC
  47. Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza *MG* ARC
  48. Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta E-ARC
  49. Josephine Against The Sea by Shakirah Bourne ARC
  50. The Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron ARC
  51. The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis *Sequel* E-ARC
  52. Me(Moth) by Amber McBride E-ARC
  53. Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin A. Reynolds
  54. Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko *Sequel* ARC
  55. Illusionary by Zoraida Cordova *Sequel*
  56. Oculta by Maya Motayne *Sequel*
  57. Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho *Companion*
  58. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi *Sequel*
  59. Ways To Grow Love by Renee Watson *MG Sequel*
  60. Red Tigress by Amelie Wen Zhao *Sequel*
  61. The Tiger At Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
  62. The Archer At Dawn by Swati Teerdhala *Sequel*
  63. The Chariot At Dusk by Swati Teerdhala *Finale*
  64. Black Boy Joy Edited by Kwame Alexander *MG Anthology* E-ARC
  65. Ancestor Approved Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith *MG Anthology*
  66. Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis E-ARC
  67. Root Magic by Eden Royce *MG*
  68. Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis *MG* ARC
  69. Yusef Azeem Is Not A Hero by Saadia Faruqi *MG* ARC
  70. Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith
  71. When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen *adult* ARC
  72. My Summer Of Love And Misfortune by Lindsay Wong
  73. So Many Beginnings By Bethany C. Morrow E-ARC
  74. A Clash Of Steel by C.B. Lee E-ARC
  75. White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson ARC
  76. Sister Of The Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai
  77. Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Edited by Saraceia Fennell E-ARC
  78. The Samosa Rebellion by Shanthi Sekaran *MG* ARC
  79. Maya And The Return Of The Godlings by Rena Barron *MG Sequel* E-ARC
  80. Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas *MG* E-ARC
  81. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao E-ARC
  82. Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray ARC
  83. The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee *adult*
  84. Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
  85. Once Upon A Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira ARC
  86. Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma
  87. Bruised by Tanya Boteju
  88. 35 Years by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
  89. The Meet Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
  90. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
  91. Master Of Poison by Andrea Hairston *adult* ARC
  92. Pahua And The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee *MG* E-ARC
  93. Vegas Baby short by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Novella
  94. The Bones Of Ruin by Sarah Raughley ARC
  95. Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach ARC
  96. The Insiders by Mark Oshiro *MG* ARC
  97. The Mirror: Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao
  98. The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *Series* E-ARC
  99. Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal E-ARC
  100. Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia *MG Finale* E-ARC
  101. Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles ARC
  102. Cherishing The Goddess by Lucy Eden *Adult*
  103. Bear With Me by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
  104. The Wolf Of Wall Street by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
  105. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova *Adult*
  106. You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria *Adult Series*
  107. A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria *Adult Series*
  108. Take The Lead by Alexis Daria *Adult E-Book*
  109. Dance All Night by Alexis Daria *Adult E-Novella*
  110. Radha & Jai’s Recipe For Romance by Nisha Sharma
  111. Fast Pitch by Nic Stone *MG Companion*
  112. Paola Santiago & The River Of Tears by Tehlor Kay Meija *MG*
  113. Paola Santiago & The Forest Of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Meija *MG Sequel*
  114. Bounce Back! by Misako Rocks! *MG Manga* E-ARC
  115. XOXO by Axie Oh
  116. Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young
  117. Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay *Adult* E-ARC
  118. The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu *Adult* E-ARC
  119. Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen *Adult*
  120. For All Time by Shanna Miles
  121. Like A Love Song by Gabriela Martins
  122. Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan
  123. What The Hex by Alexis Daria *Adult* Audible Novella
  124. The Taking Of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
  125. The Silence Of Bones by June Hur
  126. The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown *MG*
  127. The Swag Is In The Socks by Kelly J. Baptiste *MG* E-ARC
  128. Girl Giant And The Monkey King by Van Hoang *MG*
  129. Girl Giant And The Jade War by Van Hoang *MG Sequel* E-ARC
  130. I Am The Rage by Dr. Martina McGowan *Adult*
  131. Pre-Teen Wolf by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
  132. Make A Scene by Mimi Grace *Adult* E-Book
  133. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor *Sequel* E-ARC
  134. Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle *Sequel* ARC
  135. Descendants Of The First by Reni K. Amayo *sequel*
  136. A Psalm Of Storms And Silence by Roseanne Brown *sequel*
  137. Piece By Piece: The Story Of Nisrin’s Hijab by Priya Huq *MG* E-ARC
  138. Surviving Home by Katrina Canyon E-ARC
  139. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
  140. One True Loves by Elise Bryant *Companion* ARC
  141. Gingerbread Kisses by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
  142. Sweethand by N.G. Peltier *adult*
  143. First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel *Adult Companion* E-Book
  144. The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel *Adult* E-Book
  145. A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli *adult* E-Book
  146. Puneet’s Getting Mail by Sookh Kaur *adult* E-Novella
  147. Jasmin The Unexpected by Sookh Kaur *adult Series* E-Book
  148. Priya And The Rebellion by Sookh Kaur *adult Series* E-Book
  149. Gurpreet And The Wrong Twin by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
  150. Tina The Wallflower by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
  151. Raman’s Love List by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
  152. The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale *adult*
  153. An Angel For Daddy by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
  154. Everything’s Better With Abby *Adult* E-Novella
  155. Everything’s Better With Kimberly by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Book
  156. Everything’s Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Book
  157. Taste Of Her Own Medicine by Tasha L. Harrison *Adult* E-Book
  158. Amor Actually by Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Mia Sosa, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras & Sabrina Sol *Adult* E-Book
  159. African Town by Charles Waters & Irene Latham E-ARC
  160. And They Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie *adult*
  161. The Kindred by Alecia Dow E-ARC
  162. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee *MG*
  163. Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee *MG Sequel*
  164. The Chosen One by Echo Brown E-ARC
  165. Getting His Game Back by Gia De Cadenet *adult* E-ARC
  166. Star Child: An Autobiographical Constellation Of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi E-ARC
  167. The Unexpected Fall by Anna Salcedo *adult* E-ARC
Issa lot but I loved every moment of my time reading these books!

Whew, I did a lot of reading/Escaping! Of the 167 books read for this year, 80 were for the The Free Black Women’s Library Challenge (here is the link to the books that I read for the challenge last year)! I don’t set reading goals but my objective is to match or surpass what I read in the previous year, which I did (to see what I read last year, see this post)! It is also my intent to keep consistent in my support of Black authors, specifically Black Women Authors as a Black Woman, which is why I continue to participate in the TFBWL Challenges (past year was year 3). I’m happy to support POC authors periodt but I’m a Black Woman first & foremost.

Me, this entire past year

Last year, I had quite a few ARCs/E-ARCs and this year is also the same! It’s my hope to strike a good balance between finished copies I currently have in my TBR (see my post about my TBR side eyeing me here) and the ARCs that I have in it as well as sharing more of what I read with you as I talked about in my Bookish Intent for this year. I’m happy when authors, publishers & netgalley keep me busy doe!

In the only way I wish to be, most days!

How was your reading this past year? Have you read any of these books? Did you have a particular genre or genres that you had kicks in? Let me know here in the comments or on social media! As usual, you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve exceeded the number of books I’ve read in the previous year! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Again, Happy New Year Y’all! Byeeee!

New Year, New Books: January 2022 Releases

Hey Y’all! Can you believe that when we say “See you next year”, we will mean in a few days?! It’s crazy how time has both flown but also moved quickly! As exciting as it is to see a new year, it’s also hella surreal…I’m still processing this!

Me, thinking about how fast & slow the year went.

With this new year, there are a CRAZY amount of new books dropping and instead of doing a long list of books coming out this year like I did last year, I’m going to continue to do month to month posts…also, the document that I have of books coming out this upcoming year is a, currently, 16 page word document so I think it will be best for everyone’s sanity (and wallets) to do it this way.

Seriously, it really is!

January is going to be bananas in terms of releases (especially since some 2021 books got pushed back to this month) so get ready to worry about your bank accounts with this list! So here we go…

  • The Year We Learned To Fly by Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael Lopez *PB* 1/4
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich *MG* 1/4
  • One True Loves by Elise Bryant *companion* 1/4
  • Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood 1/4
  • Daddy Speaks Love by Leah Henderson *PB* 1/4
  • Shuri: Symbiosis by Nic Stone *MG Sequel* 1/4
  • Brothers & Sisters by Eloise Greenfield *PB* 1/4
  • The Chosen One by Echo Brown 1/4
  • Hands On! By Anne Wynter *Board Book* 1/4
  • One Big Day By Anne Wynter *Board Book* 1/4
  • Marley And The Family Band by Cedella Marley with Tracey Baptiste *PB* 1/4
  • Overground Railroad (The Young Adult Adaptation) The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy Taylor 1/4
  • 30 Things I Love About Myself by Radhika Sanghani *adult* 1/4
  • The Kindred by Alechia Dow 1/4
  • The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman 1/4
  • The Girl In The Lake by India Hill Brown *MG* 1/4
  • Salaam, With Love by Sara Sharaf Beg 1/4
  • She Persisted: Coretta Scott King by Kelly Starling Lyons 1/4
  • The Legend Of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale by Charly Palmer 1/4
  • African Town by Irene Latham & Charles Waters 1/4
  • Eyes That Speak To The Stars by Joanna Ho *PB* 1/4
  • Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee *MG Sequel* 1/4
  • No Land To Light On by Yara Zgheib *adult* 1/4
  • Ida B. Wells, Voice Of Truth by Michelle Duster & Laura Freeman *PB* 1/4
  • Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes 1/4
  • You Don’t Know Us Negroes And Other Essays by Zora Neale Hurston *adult* 1/4
  • Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle 1/11
  • I Am Golden by Eva Chen *PB* 1/11
  • Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan 1/11 (US) & 1/20 (UK)
  • Wahala A Novel by Nikki May *adult* 1/11
  • Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez *adult* 1/11
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jason Griffin 1/11
  • When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods *MG* 1/11
  • Courage: My Story Of Persecution by Freshta Tori Jan *MG* 1/11
  • To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara *adult* 1/11
  • Evicted! By Alice Faye Duncan, Charly Palmer *PB* 1/11
  • Opal Lee And What It Means To Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan & Keturah A. Bobo *PB* 1/11
  • Who Are Your People? By Bakari Sellers & Reggie Brown *PB* 1/11
  • The Faith Of Elijah Cummings by Carole Boston Weatherford & Laura Freeman *PB* 1/11
  • Sweet Justice by Mara Rockliff & R. Gregory Christie *PB* 1/11
  • I’m Hungry/¡Tengo Hambre! By Angela Dominguez *PB* 1/11
  • How Do You Say?/¿Cómo Se Dice? By Angela Dominguez *PB* 1/11
  • How Are You?/¿Cómo Estás? By Angela Dominguez *PB* 1/11
  • I Wish I Knew This Earlier Lessons on Love by Toni Tone *adult* 1/11
  • Fly! By Brittany J. Thurman *PB* 1/11
  • Vinyl Moon by Mo Browne 1/11
  • Thank You, Mr. Nixon Stories by Gish Jen *adult* 1/15
  • Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor *sequel* 1/18
  • Mermaid Kenzie Protector Of The Deeps by Charlotte Watson Sherman *PB* 1/18
  • Glam Prix Racers: Back on Track! by Deanna Kent *MG sequel* 1/18
  • Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift *sequel* 1/18
  • The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *series* 1/18
  • Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? By Lizzie Damilola Blackburn *adult* 1/18
  • The Witch’s Apprentice by Zetta Elliott *MG Sequel* 1/18
  • I’m Growing Great by Mechal Renee Roe *PB* 1/18
  • Just Pursuit by Laura Coates *adult* 1/18
  • Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste & Tonya Engel *PB* 1/18
  • How We Can Win by Kimberly Jones *adult* 1/18
  • Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson *adult* 1/18
  • Bold Words from Black Women by Tamara Pizolli 1/18
  • Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka. T. Brown *MG* 1/25
  • Loveboat Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen *companion* 1/25
  • The Red Palace By June Hur 1/25
  • Star Child: A Biographical Constellation Of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi 1/25
  • Kick Push Be Your Epic Self by Frank Morrison *PB* 1/25
  • Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi *adult* 1/25
  • The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall *MG* 1/25
  • Seoulmates by Jen Frederick *adult sequel* 1/25
  • Tía Fortuna’s New Home by Ruth Behar & Devon Holzwarth *PB* 1/25
  • Justice Is…: A Guide For Young Truth Seekers by Preet Bharara & Sue Cornelison *PB* 1/25
  • Sofia Acosta Makes A Scene by Emma Otheguy *MG* 1/25
  • Just Help! By Sonia Sotomayor & Angela Dominguez *PB* 1/25
  • Dear Reader A Love Letter to Libraries By Tiffany Rose *PB* 1/25
  • D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins *adult* 1/25
  • Getting His Game Back A Novel by Gia De Cadenet *adult* 1/25
  • Mister Miracle: The Great Escape by Varian Johnson & Daniel Isles 1/25
This was my face (minus the mustache) when I realized how long this list was…

Whew…I know that’s a lot but it does warm my heart that so many books by AOCs are coming out this month/year and I’m more than happy to have as many as I can possibly find on this list (as you can see that I have been including adult books for the last few months)!

This is me looking at this list!

I have been really lucky in terms of ARCs for 2022, and here are the books I have the ARCs for that come out in January:

  • One True Loves by Elise Bryant
  • The Chosen One by Echo Brown
  • The Kindred by Alechia Dow
  • African Town by Irene Latham & Charles Waters
  • Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee *MG Sequel*
  • You Don’t Know Us Negroes And Other Essays by Zora Neale Hurston *adult*
  • Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle
  • I Wish I Knew This Earlier Lessons on Love by Toni Tone *adult*
  • Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor *sequel*
  • The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *series*
  • Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka. T. Brown *MG*
  • The Red Palace By June Hur
  • Star Child: A Biographical Constellation Of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi
  • The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall *MG*
  • Getting His Game Back A Novel by Gia De Cadenet *adult*
  • Loveboat Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen *companion*
The level of happiness I feel when I receive ARCs or get approved for an E-ARC is this level of happy

I’ve read/finished the following ARCs/E-ARCS:

  • One True Loves by Elise Bryant
  • The Kindred by Alechia Dow
  • African Town by Irene Latham & Charles Waters
  • Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee *MG Sequel*
  • Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle
  • Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor *sequel*
  • The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *series*
  • The Chosen One by Echo Brown
  • Getting His Game Back A Novel by Gia De Cadenet *adult*
  • Loveboat Reunion by Abigail Hing Wen *companion*
This is a whole mood and how I feel when I finish ARCs on my timeline

And I’m working through:

  • You Don’t Know Us Negroes And Other Essays by Zora Neale Hurston *adult*- I’ve learned that I’m not the best with non-fiction so I take breaks with the essays to read other books so I won’t finish this one before release but I will finish it!
  • I Wish I Knew This Earlier Lessons on Love by Toni Tone *adult*-This is a small book of relationship/dating advice so it is best to pick it up when you want little bits of wisdom.
I really am!

I don’t believe that me having ARCs I’m working on at the same time (passively) makes me a poly-reader but I am ever evolving in my reading habits & journey! #Growth

It really is Kelli!

Are there any books that you are super excited about in this massive list of January releases? Did I miss any AOC’s books? If I did, please let me know so that I can fix that! Let me know in the comments here or on social media! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve won a bookish giveaway! Sending y’all bookish love in the new year and wishing you happy reading! Happy New Year Y’all!

My Bookish Intent For 2022

Hey Y’all! It feels like only yesterday that 2021 started and here we are on the precipice of a brand new year… Holy moly, where did the time go?! This year was both too long and too short (that makes sense to me). I’m also both excited and nervous about this new year but we gon’ keep it positive and believe that it will bring us all amazing things!

Me, looking around wondering where the time went!

Since Resolutions are made to be broken, I’m going to set bookish intents and post them here for both transparency and accountability sake! So here we go!

1) Remain Transparent & Authentic. This one is first because this is super important to me. I want to be as open as I possibly can be with you all…it won’t be therapy level transparency but I’ll be honest with you all about where I am mentally/emotionally and how it could impact the type of post you would be getting for the week. I’ll still keep the vibes positive but I won’t even attempt to fake it because that wouldn’t be giving you my authentic self.

It sure is Ms.Cox!

2) Remain Consistent In Posting. This past year, I’ve been really proud of myself for maintaining this intent from last year to post once a week no matter what is going on. This is an intent I fully intend to keep up into the new year! Sometimes I was a day late (I don’t think a dollar short doe) and I just had to be gentle with myself when I was because I still hit the one post for the week goal. I fully appreciate all of you for joining me on this bookish ride! It’ll continue to be a mix of lists, reviews/reactions and narratives because variety is the spice of life my friends! And don’t worry, they will have gifs because what is a BookishGirlMagic post without the gifs?!

Pretend the glitter is the gifs, lol!

3) To Share More Of What I Read. I’m not quite sure how this one will take form…if it would be a monthly wrap up or more reviews/reactions but I would love to bring you all further onto the ride that is my reading journey. At the time of this post, I’ve read 170 books and am working on my 171st (I also have one that I’m slowly working through but likely won’t finish before December 31st). Reading has truly been my escape and it’s nice to connect with others through mutual reads!

I hope y’all are down for the ride!

4) To Engage More On Social Media. This one will be really tough for me but I’m going to work as much as my brain will allow me to on this. This would be an exercise in getting out of my comfort zone and overcoming my anxiety when it hits me! I will also be patient with myself when I don’t post on IG or get on live (balance must be found).

I know it but I will do my best to do the work!

5) To Do More Author Interviews. This is something I’ve done only once before with Rin Chupeco for the blog so I would like to do more of those in the new year, especially when a book is a sequel so I can gush but not spoil (we all know there is a difference and we also know that spoiling is not my ministry). I’ll definitely be hitting up the authors that I don’t feel too afraid to approach about this!

I’m not trying to go Oprah level with it but at least a few interviews would be nice!

Are there any other bookish intents you believe I should set for 2022? Are there any intents you have set for yourself for the new year? Feel free to share them in the comments or on social media! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays, no fridays this week & next week though). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished all my goals! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peaceeeeeee!

This Is For The OG Bookish Person In My Life-A Post Dedicated To My Grandpa

Hey y’all. Before I start, I will warn y’all that this is a very emotional post for me. If you are a person who is also grieving and needs to shy away from someone speaking about their grief & deceased loved one, I fully understand if you need to step away from this post…heck, I did quite a few times before writing it, while writing it and before editing it. While I’m sharing my love for my Grandpa & some pictures as well, I completely understand how speaking from a grieving place can be triggering to others. If you are okay with continuing, please feel free to.

I know how grief can hit like a ton of bricks…I have quite a few books in my TBR I haven’t touched because grief is a theme

So last week on the 7th marked one year since my Grandpa passed. To say that the year hasn’t been rough would be a boldfaced lie as I moved through all the stages of grief and had numerous therapy sessions that revolved around my grief and the importance my grandpa holds in my life. I honestly don’t even feel like important is a big enough word for what & who my Grandpa is to me but since words sometimes fail me, I have to leave it at that.

I know what you’re thinking…his beard is epic and truly it was! And yes, that is baby me!

On Sunday, some of my family members gathered in person and virtually to commemorate his life. Before hand, we were asked to possibly say something and while I wrote something, I ended up not saying anything nor sharing it. I’m not completely sure why but part of me just didn’t feel like it was the place to be vulnerable in the way I felt I needed to be but here is a place where I can be as open as I feel the need to. With that being said, I’m going to share what I wrote (with edits) because I want to share just how big my love for my grandpa is with you all…he’s such a big part of my bookish journey…the reason I love the feel of a book in my hands and staring at the spines of different books organized on shelves. He’s the reason why I love history and feel strongly about the things I do because I saw him do the very same. He was & is my mirror…what I hope for kids to have through books if they don’t have that in the people around them.

We’re both even glasses tribe…I’m definitely his grandchild, if anyone ever doubted before!

So I wrote a letter about it. Like to hear it? Here it go. (That’s a Living Color reference for my youngins, lol):

Had to put in a little bit of humor before I got in my feelings

December 12th, 2021

Dear Grandpa,

It’s been a little over a year since you decided to leave us…and not a day has passed where I’ve not thought of you. For days, I’ve ruminated about what I could say because there aren’t enough words to express to you how much you mean to me and the impact you’ve had on my life. I owe so much of who I am to who you are & were.

While You may not have said the words “I love you” but I always knew you did… Your love is something I never had to question, ask or work for as you always gave it freely. Even though words weren’t used, actions were your love language and I understood it to the very depth of my being. There are so many ways I knew you loved me and those around you and while it’s impossible to condense over 30 years of observations into a few paragraphs, I will certainly try to…

Your love was looking up books about our interests in your personal library & sharing them with us (I still have the books about Yoga in French that you gave me though I definitely can’t read them). Your love was pulling out your atlas & sharing details about the countries we were traveling to as well as showing National Geographic videos you may have had about them too like you did when I was preparing to go to India for study abroad. Your love was telling stories about your experiences & life in a way that made me feel like I was the only person in the room because storytelling came second nature to you like when you showed me a picture of Marian Anderson & told me the story of how you saw her perform in Haiti because I was doing a project on her in school.

Your love was traveling to where we were for big moments in our lives like my undergrad graduation in Alabama, phone calls on birthdays where you remind me that we are exactly 30 years apart in age (I would attempt to beat you to say it but since you’re super quick & selfless, it was rare for me to beat you to it) & holidays as well as scary moments in my life like when I was in the hospital after being hit by a car my first month away for undergrad. Your love was acknowledging whoever you saw sitting or standing by themselves because you wanted everyone to feel seen. You love was moments of twirling in the living room giving ballet lessons, sharing pictures of past moments like with your brothers who you are now with in Heaven or one of my cousin’s big life milestones or your Godchildren (which I realize I do the same because it’s what you did). Your love was always mentioning how I used to pull your beard as a baby and eventually you let me upgrade to combing it using the small comb you always kept in your pocket and even on your last days here with us.

Your love was making sure everyone was fed when they came to your house, even when you made fun of me for being vegan & it took a hot minute for me to realize you were picking fun but respected my decision…there won’t ever be sous pwa like yours. Your love was keeping mango juice in the fridge and making sure I knew it was there and then mentioning it when you didn’t see a glass in my hand or even encouraging me to have more because it was there for me. Your love was making sure whatever I cooked was on your plate & told everyone else to do the same then claiming all the leftovers though I didn’t initially know when you did and freezing them so you could have them days later. Those are still so many of my proudest moment to have the best cook in my life love & openly approve of my vegan recreations like on your 94th (which you claimed as your 95th) birthday when I brought you some of my vegan kremas and you said it was the first thing you were having in your “95th year” (you always knew how to make a girl feel special)…no one else’s approval mattered to me more than yours.

Your love has always been your presence and attention, making sure that everyone around you is taken care of. I know I told you that your work was done but I know that you didn’t stop watching over any of us because you have a larger platform to do so. I still feel your hand in mine like a phantom limb, light presses on my shoulders so I know you’re there, hear the shuffle of your feet like the music it is and your voice saying “my first grandgirl” both just for me to hear & the world to recognize. No one is prouder or luckier than me to say I’m not just your grandchild but your FIRST grandchild and I’ve not ever had to question whether you felt that same pride because you always made it known through your words, gazes and actions.

I miss having my favorite person physically around but I know you are always with me. I know I say it to you all the time in prayers but I won’t ever stop saying how much I love you. I will always share all the lessons you’ve taught me with everyone that I cross paths with and I know you move through me as I pull books from my shelves just as you used to when referencing them like the librarian you are. Sharing all that you are to me and all that you have taught me is the best way I know to continue to honor you and the legacy you’ve left.

While my love for you won’t ever leave me, I know it has simply expanded to be with you in your ancestor form. No amount of time or distance could ever take away from the love and adoration I have always felt for you. I will always be grateful to you for all you’ve given me in this lifetime and I pray for many more lifetimes where I’m reincarnated as your granddaughter, I hope to continue to be so lucky. I hope that when you rest, you will rest peacefully because you truly earned it.

I love you now and till we meet again. Always & forever proudly Your First GrandGirl, Latesha

My parents, grandpa & I after my undergrad graduation…he didn’t even hesitate to be there for such a big moment in my life.

Okay y’all…I need to walk away from this post because that took a lot out of me. If you made it this far, thank you for reading this… And please don’t feel sad for me because I got to have this amazing human being in my life for almost 35 years…I consider myself extremely blessed and I wouldn’t change very much (what I would change is attempting to push through my anxiety to spend more time with him & giving him triple the hugs and kisses I used to). If you are in the process of grieving yourself, I’m sending you tons of love and know there isn’t a finish line for you to move through it…please take care of yourself as it is one of the best ways we can honor our loved ones. I’m going to go drink some tea & read a rom-com to move myself out of this emotional state now. Sending you all big bookish love and wishing you happy reading.

This is still one of my favorite pictures of him because he’s holding a book I brought him (Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika & Maritza Moulite)

Sometimes I Like It Adult…Books That Is

Hey Y’all! I know that I’m a primarily a YA and MG reader but sometimes, I just like my books like my age, adult…and no, not non-fiction because we know (well, those who know me know) that is NOT my jam but I do love a good adult rom-com and romance. This was something that I really discovered this year and I think that I needed the levity of these genres in how heavy I’ve felt over the last year with my grief and mental health.

I also like this salt & pepper beard on The Rock, lol

Another thing is that I am a grown woman and sometimes, grown folks just need grown folks banter/scenarios. Sometimes you want to have things mentioned from your teen years mentioned without there being an explanation, righteous anger at a main character or love interest because they are grown and should know better, enjoying an adult beverage, the solidarity in long periods of singledom (*cough* and other adult things) and craving higher steam levels between characters. Now that I’m thinking about it, its funny cause I read books from Zane (am I telling on myself here & I met her, lol), Eric Jerome Dickey (maybe I’m really telling on myself here & may he Rest In Peace), Sapphire, Omar Tyree and Sista Soulja as a teen *hides face in hands* and so many of us know what went down in those books. These were the books that my peers were passing around and talking about & being a curious teen, I read them too *shrugs*. Now I’ve somewhat returned to that world but a lot more Rom-Com in content.

Sometimes I just want to read what could be my life now if I was willing to be out in the wild, lol

Since I have been reading a lot of adult romances/rom-coms lately, I’m going to share a brief list of some of my favorites! All of these have varying levels of steam, just in case y’all were wondering. There are bonus points for me if the love interest is also POC (hey, I like what I like and there is something to be said about having a love interest who understands at least some of your life experiences)!

  • Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon
  • A Sweet Mess & The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee
  • Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend E-novella by Lucy Eden (This is the meet-cute & whirlwind romance I long for, for myself)
  • Shifter Escapes series: Bear With Me, The Wolf Of Wall Street & Pre-Teen Wolf by Lucy Eden (I’m personally hoping a full length novel will happen for one of the characters in this series…just putting it out into the universe).
  • Primas Of Power Series: You Had Me At Hola & A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria (I’m ready for the 3rd book)
  • The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu
  • Make A Scene by Mimi Grace
  • Sweethand by N.G. Peltier (It was so good to read a book set in Trinidad & I’m excited for the second book, it comes out next year)
  • The Trouble With Hating You & First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
  • The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale

And I’m currently reading Amor Actually by Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras, Sabrina Sol, and Mia Sosa which is a Latinx holiday romance anthology where all the stories are connected and so far, I’m really enjoying it (it just came out December 7th). The steam levels also vary amongst the stories!

I also love when there are numerous lip biting worthy moments

Now, in case you are wondering, I’m not going into the realm of reviewing adult books (but I can give recs). My focus remains on YA & MG books as my mission is firmly rooted in amplifying those books but I do love the idea of supporting adult book Authors Of Color as well. And I honestly just felt like sharing some books that have given me the escape that I’ve found myself needing. Does anyone have times where their Spirit calls for something outside of their usual reading? Is there a genre that you view as your guilty pleasure as I seem to have found in adult romance/rom-coms? Share them in the comments or on Social media with me! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me all giddy like I’m reading a good romance! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Tootles Y’all!

Tis the Season for Books: December Releases!

I just had to use this gif…I’m lowkey obsessed with Shangela Laqueefa Wadley, lol

Hey Y’all! Can you believe that December is here ALREADY?! *Insert shocked face emoji here* This year has felt like it has both dragged and also sped by…it’s so weird how time does that!

How I look when I think about this year

So this month doesn’t seem like it’s a HUGE pub month which is lightweight a relief because January looks like its going to ruin ALL of our bank accounts. Here are the books that I know are coming out this month:

  • Surviving Home by Katerina Canyon 12/1
  • You Have A Voice by Vera Ahiyya *PB* 12/6
  • Girl Giant And The Jade War by Van Hoang *MG sequel* 12/7
  • The Upper World by Femi Fadugba 12/7
  • Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes 12/7
  • The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh *sequel* 12/7
  • Amor Actually by Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras, Sabrina Sol, and Mia Sosa *Adult Anthology* 12/7
  • Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman *adult* 12/7
  • Penny Candy by Jonathan Norton *adult* 12/7
  • Your Friend, Parker by Parker & Jessica Curry *Early Reader* 12/14
  • Parker Dresses Up by Parker & Jessica Curry *ER* 12/14
  • Energy Never Dies Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago by Ayana Contreras *adult* 12/14
  • She Persisted: Oprah Winfrey by Renee Watson 12/21
  • The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes *adult* 12/28
  • Sing, Aretha, Sing! by Hanif Abdurraqib *PB* 12/28
  • Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams *PB* 12/28
There are still enough books on this list to be a bit concerned for my pockets though

So of these books coming out, I had the privilege of reading the E-ARCs of two:

Surviving Home by Katerina Canyon 12/1 (a short collection of poetry)
Girl Giant And The Jade War by Van Hoang *MG sequel* 12/7 (I talked about this book in my sequels post.)

Reading ARCs always make me feel special

Are there any books that you’re excited about for this month? Is there any books that I left out that are coming out by Authors Of Color this month or if any of these dates have changed?! Let me know if I’m slipping in the comments here or on social media. You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like it’s a pub month that won’t completely kill my pockets! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Bookish Salutations!

I Don’t Know About You But I’ve Got Bookish Pet Peeves

Hey everyone! So last week, a bookish homie of mine (hey Mel!) tagged me in a post where she expressed her disdain for the printed stickers on books…and of course, I commiserated because WHOOOOOOOOO likes those things throwing off the esthetics of an otherwise beautiful book cover?! So in Mel’s comments, she was saying that I should write a post about these little symbols that have become the bane of our bookish existence and I thought a post about bookish pet peeves would work and here we are now, lol!

And that’s the story, mostly!

I don’t know about y’all but I got a fair share of pet peeves and I have a feeling that there are more but the ones I list are enough for now with some commentary to go with. So let’s get into it, shall we?

Lets!

Stickers that aren’t stickers on book covers: I need to know WHO thought this was a good idea because I got a bone to pick with that person. I remember when I saw a book club “sticker” on FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (which you ALL know I’m obsessed with) and flew off the handle…like I completely lost my ish. First of all, it feels like a Columbusing of the Author’s work & a defiling of the cover illustrator’s art. I get that it was picked for a famous book club or a netflix adaptation but isn’t that what emails, press releases and book tables are for? Why does it need to have these ugly little circles on it? Why does it need to be marked by some rich [redacted] person/company in order to validate it’s publishing?! Clearly, the publisher saw something in it and thus, was worth putting out into the world! People should be able to have the choice of whether or not they want the stupid stickers on their books so they should actually BE stickers that could be removed. They could print a number of stickers and at check out, they could be asked if they want a sticker or not…give a book mark, give them a discount card for the year that is applied only to the book club books, send an extra email…anything but permanently printing an eye sore of a logo onto beautiful covers! To Be Honest doe, even if the cover was the book with the title & authors name in Times New Roman, I STILL wouldn’t want to see the logo printed onto it because it distracts from the book title & the author’s name.

I don’t know about anyone else, but unfortunately for me, my eyes go right to those logos and I don’t even care about them! I could care less about a famous person’s opinion on a book I want to read, especially if I had planned to purchase it before they ever announced their choice (which, I clearly wouldn’t know because I don’t pay attention to most celebrities *gasp*). Case in point, I spoke relentlessly about FireKeeper’s Daughter long before it came out and on pub day, it was announced that it was a ____ book club pick for that month and that all the covers had that logo on it (thankfully not mine because I got mine from MacMillan) *sucks teeth*. Lemme stop talking about this because there are other pet peeves to get to.

My sentiments exactly when it comes to those non-sticker stickers.

Books that are dinged up in some way: OK, so this is where my bit of OCD comes out and the likelihood of me baby Hulk smashing becomes a higher probability. I have the tendency to inspect books before I purchase them and I always try to find the book with zero or the least dings on them. Y’all know how sometimes the dust jacket has creasing on the edges, fraying on the spine or bends on the pages…yea, ALL OF THOSE THINGS drive me crazy and it’s why I dread ordering books online because I DON’T know the condition it will come in despite being new (I’m not a used book buyer…this may be elitist of me but I don’t give myself much luxury so let me have this please), you have zero clue what has happened between the warehouse then bookstore/handler to your place…and the way USPS be wildin’ these days, they can eff your stuff up too! There may be a live recording or two where I’ve received a book that’s a little damaged & I had to hold myself together to keep from looking like a head exploding emoji out in these e-streets. I like to GET and KEEP my books in mint condition.

How I feel if my books get damaged in any way!

Dog earring pages & writing in books: To me, this is defiling a book and I will straight up call you a savage to your face. In undergrad, I remember having had purchased a used book (only time I would do such a thing but it’s also undergrad and new textbooks typically cost you your first born, at least one organ and a small blood sacrifice) and when I went to read it, a previous owner had highlighted AND written in it! I gasped and internally screamed in an unpleasant way! They weren’t even HELPFUL in their highlighting either! It scarred me for life. I ended up inspecting books when I could from then on! If I want to remember a quote, I use a highlighter sticky tab so I don’t have to desecrate the book by highlighting or writing in it. Also, dog earring pages is dead wrong…use a bookmark people! If I don’t have a bookmark or lose mine (which has happened & it hurt), I use whatever I could find like an old receipt or a tissue…I WILL NOT DOG-EAR! It’s a violation of the books people!

Imagine at least 10 more of these faces looking at you if you dog ear or write in books…like a horde of disapproving aunties looking at you
Just…Don’t!

Spoiling Books For Others: I said all I had to say in this post and I will leave it at this… DO NOT SPOIL A BOOK, IT IS RUDE! I will end friendships and physically fight people who do it. DASSIT!

I’m dead ass, seriously, don’t spoil books!

Borrowing books and not giving them back: I DOOOOOO NOTTTTTT lend out my books because I don’t want to have to hunt people down. People love to borrow ish and conveniently “forget” to give it back and you know what? Homie don’t play that! I will come for people if they even ATTEMPT to take one of my books so I rather just buy people their own copies (which I have done in the past) then lend them mine. Its not just that quite a few are autographed or special edition as much as it is that I have trust issues and definitely don’t trust people with my books (don’t pull a “but I thought we were friends”…nah homie, if we were, you would know better, lol)! If you want to borrow a book, go to the public library because mine is CLOSED!

will bring my books back so don’t ask to borrow any!

Comparing books that are in no way related: This is a phenomena that I seriously DO NOT understand, especially when it comes to POC authors books. There was actually a tweet recently about this and I responded to it because it baffles my mind. Quite literally, for DECADES the same books got churned out and there was zero outrage about it but now that there are more books by Authors of Color, there are all these comparisons to be made. No, this book by this Black author is in no way like this book by this AAPI author. Sure, the same tropes are used in most books but just because the same tropes are used doesn’t mean that they are THE SAME/Carbon-copied. Folks are seriously outchea getting all Stretch Armstrong trying to make these baseless comparisons. These people are seriously trying to disjoint themselves making these wild a$$ reaches. To people who make these sorts of claims, just because you may not try to distinguish us on the street because of skin color, eye shape or whatever, doesn’t mean you can do the same to our stories. I assure you, they aren’t the same and these authors aren’t copying & pasting each others work.

Seriously, they aren’t so stop comparing these books like everyone is copy & pasting stories!

Whitewashing Characters & Story lines: I see this the most with character art. Once, I reached out to an author genuinely baffled because their character is described as dark skinned in the book but the character art had the character looking like an auntie who used bleaching creams religiously! What is up with that? I completely agree that art is subjective but there are integral aspects to characters that should be kept, no matter what. Sure, there are variations on skin colors but COME ON, if the character looks two shades away from white or paled because they’ve been trapped in a dark basement for years, then there is something seriously wrong here. If an artist has doubts about the shade of darkness, well, take one more step & holler at the author and I’m sure they will guide!

No, seriously, who is that?! That’s not who the author described in the book!

As for story lines, its pretty adjacent to changing the characters skin colors, demeanors or their colloquialisms (I like that word) to make them more “digestible to the masses” is a big NO NO (I’m sure you know the “masses” I’m talmbout). There are things very specific to cultures, regions, faiths, etc and those nuances shouldn’t ever be watered down or made more European, it’s just disrespectful. Just say no to Colonizing POC authors stories…it’s time to read our stories for what they are and represent because POC have been doing it for works that never meant to include us for as long as we can remember and it’s wrong to try to alter things that don’t need it.

It really is Miss Karen & Winter! Periodt!

Whew Chile, I had to get all-ah-dat that off my chest. I have a lot of bookish pet peeves (I’ve accepted my quirks) but these are some of the biggest ones. Honorable mention goes to people who talk to you when they can see you are reading, especially when you are getting to a good part; that really grinds my gears but I’ve gone off enough about the ones above!

At least for now…

Do you have any bookish pet peeves? Are they the same as mine or you got some others? Share them in the comments here or on social media because I love talking to others about their bookish pet peeves/quirks so I don’t feel so alone here in these book world streets! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve seen some book art accurately portraying the characters! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Love, Peace and Hair Grease Y’all!

Spoilers Aren’t A Part Of My Ministry And Here’s Why

Hey Y’all! So some of y’all have been with this blog from the beginning (thanks for that) but others of you are new to it (thanks for deciding to go on this ride with me) and how my mind works when it comes to talking about books. One of the themes you have likely noticed is that…I…Don’t…Do…Spoilers…AT ALL! They just aren’t my ministry, my song, my cup of bubble tea, my anything really. I actually quite hate them and keep from reading reviews for fear of possibly coming across one, if I haven’t read the book yet.

There are no snaps when it comes to spoilers for me!

Spoilers make me think that folks just really don’t like people and don’t want them to be happy. I feel like Spoilers snatch some of the best parts of reading a book, especially if a book hinges so much on the plot twist like The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring. I remember being at the launch & someone who had read the book stood up to ask a question mentioning the plot. It was like the whole room held its breath hoping that they wouldn’t spoil it and then they said something to the effect of “I won’t say it cause I don’t want to spoil it” and there was like this collective exhale afterward. Could you imagine how people would’ve felt if the book was spoiled right then?! A room full of bookish people ready to pelt books at the person because they took away a huge moment from the book?! Okay, maybe not everyone would pelt a book but I sure would’ve found something to throw, lol (I’m not even lying, I take this that seriously)!

This would’ve been me with whatever i could get my hands on (it may have been soft at least, may being the operative word here), lol!

For me, reading is an experience that shouldn’t be violated & I think spoils violate heavy. There is a whole journey in which you embark upon and knowing anything that can unravel the story too early takes away from the whole thing. For example, when I read an ARC of a book, say of like my very first post for Kingdom Of Souls by Rena Barron, and I KNOW I have no one to talk to about the book (which is a bit soul crushing, I will admit), I hop into that authors DMs and get ALLLLLLLL of my feelings out. Why? Because they 1) know the story cause they wrote it (and at that point, hopefully it is fresh in their mind still) and 2) they wrote it and I likely have a bone to pick with them because I did something almost unforgivable, lol (hey, it makes sense to me)! Ask J.Elle, the author of Wings Of Ebony & its upcoming sequel, Ashes Of Gold, cause I had THANGS I needed to say to her about how everything went down in AOG since it comes out in January and no one else in the street team had finished it yet. Think I’m lying? Ask her and she’ll tell you, lol.

Me, when I slide into an Author’s DMs while I’m reading their book or when I finish

So how exactly do I talk about a book without spoiling it, you ask? I give very base information then launch into how I FELT about it…literally how I felt like if it made me cry, laugh, angry, want to flip tables or fight someone. There is so much to talk about about the book without spoiling it for others. Take for instance, Ace Of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, these are two books that I am beyond obsessed with (it is actually in one of the titles, for crying out loud) and I had PLENTY to say without one hint of a spoiler. This was really important because these two books have quite a few mysteries in them that makes it feel like you’re playing Clue at some point. WHOOOOOOOO in their right mind would want to be told the biggest secrets of the book by “opening the envelop” too early?! There would be no game left to play or much reason to read anymore if it’s spoiled!

No seriously, do you?! If you gon’ spoil a book for me, then lets do this! Same goes if you take my bubble tea from me!

For me, spoiling like ordering a bubble tea then someone up & drinks from it before me then has the nerve to explain in detail what it tastes like before my lips hit the straw (I’d seriously fight someone if they did that to me, have bail ready if it ever does)! Wouldn’t it be better to wait till the person takes their sip or rather gets to the part that they should be anticipating and seeing their response? That’s like the best part of this. It makes me think of when I used to bartend (don’t be shocked…I am really good at it; I LOOK young but I am NOT young, lol) and I would watch (in a non-creepy way) as a person takes their first sip with baited breath to see their response…were they surprised, excited, sighing in ecstasy (that would be a romance response)?! I wouldn’t want anyone to take that away from me and thus, I wouldn’t do it to them no matter how much they ask to be told what happens.

Wouldn’t it doe?

So what do I do if someone asks me a question that could involve a spoiler, you ask? I’m glad you asked (or maybe you didn’t but let’s pretend you did). Well, I grimace first because OF COURSE, the spoilery answer comes to mind first because who wouldn’t think of the answer if they know it?! But since I’m not connected to a lie detector and I believe in being kind to people (LOL), I come up with a deterring answer to encourage the person to either read the book or continue reading the book so they could find out the answer themselves. For example, in the AOG street team discussions, there is a private channel for people who finished the book and someone asked me something about a beloved character’s loyalty/actions changing and what I ended up saying was “I can confirm…the waters are muddied but I will say that keep thinking the best of ___.” I wanted to give just enough but not too much because also, how I experienced the story may not be how they experience it & they may think a different way than I did. The person wasn’t completely happy with my response but I eventually placated them (I think) without spoiling and said “I’m so glad I gave an answer that satisfied you…I don’t want you to be upset with me for not being straightforward but I don’t want to ruin the experience for you!” For me, it is SO IMPORTANT to preserve the sanctity of the reading experience…that sounds a little self-righteous but this is honestly a hill I will die on or at least black out on for an extended period of time because there are more books I wish to read!

If you are nearby when I do this blacking out, then place have something soft behind me if you aren’t going to catch me…thanks!

Also, if the book is being spoiled, what then would be the incentive to request the book from your library or purchase the book?! How does that support the author when that’s what I’m attempting to get you to do?! Pitch the book, not spoil it folks! Now, I know that there are readers and reviewers that don’t share the same sentiment as I do and that is okay. I respect anyone doing them if they feel its right for them since there are people out there who like to read spoilers (I don’t understand it though). I have a friend like this and I almost disowned her on the spot but I really like her as a person & its hard for me to find people who I like IRL (she knows who she is, if she is reading this). So if you are a person who loves spoilers, don’t come for me, just know I won’t be giving them here. What I will give is gifs that fit my mood/the sentiments of the statements and (hopefully) funny anecdotes about the books, its characters & how I felt throughout the experience. Hopefully, you will find this satisfactory to your tastes (and I’m guessing it is because you made it to this point without hopefully skipping anything, lol).

And by my best, I mean not spoil a book and give you a funny reaction to it instead!

How do you feel about spoilers? Are they a part of your bookish gospel? Or do you internally cringe because you don’t want to give or accidentally read them? Let me know how you feel here in the comments or on social media cause I (kinda) wanna know where I stand amongst the masses of my bookish fam. You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like someone has pitched me a new book without spoiling it! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! And remember, like with drugs, just say no to spoilers! Bye Y’all!

Sequels Are Super Stressful…And I Love Them!

This is the comedic version of me biting my nails while reading

Hey everyone! So I don’t know about y’all but I’m a mood reader and I go into these states where I just want a particular genre, voice or subject matter. Well, lately, I’ve been in a sequels state of mind. As much as I can find them to be super stressful, I feel like there is a comfort of some sort being able to go back into a world and seeing characters that made it out the first book(s) again (let’s not act like authors don’t go off on killing sprees with their characters sometimes *side eyes a few*). Is that just me or do y’all feel me on that?

Is it just me though?! Tell me it’s not!

I actually had read quite a few sequels in the last month or so and did a whole month (well, up until when I ran out of sequels in my TBR) of Sequels during the summer. I really enjoyed this, especially since the burning questions I had were finally answered. However, if there is another book in the series, then I’m still left with questions, frustration & a burning desire to beg the author for the next book like my life depended on it…I may even barter with them on social media, lol (there is evidence of this in some author posts but I’m not finna put myself out there like that here, lol).

I may or may not look more disheveled when I beg these authors, lol
You know she’s about to tell some thangs!

Since I’m in this sequels state of mind, I thought I would talk about a few that I’ve gotten to read early *smirks*. Don’t worry y’all, I won’t spoil anything because that isn’t how I roll (which y’all knew already, so don’t loose faith in me nowwwwww).

Girl Giant And The Jade War, the sequel to Girl Giant And The Monkey King, by Van Hoang (out 12/7/2021): This is a middle grade series I found through influencing for MacMillan and I’m so glad I found it! Y’all know how much I love mythology…well, this one is chalk full of it! I love how not only did it give a different take on The Monkey King myths (specifically, the Vietnamese origin) but also introduced more of the Gods & mythical creatures that he came across in all of his shenanigans. Thom (pronounced Tom) is such a great character and I found myself speaking to her a lot as if she could hear me, lol! I loved how the story flowed from the first book into the second one (I did read them back to back, which felt like a privilege) and I’m so anxious to see where the third book will take us in Thom’s adventures (because I strongly feel that there is a 3rd book coming but Van has not confirmed this). If you haven’t read the first book, you’ve got a little bit of time before the second comes out!

When Thom is her fiercest, she gives this energy!

Akata Woman, the 3rd book in the Akata Witch series (Akata Witch & Akata Warrior) by Nnedi Okorafor (Out 1/18/2022): So Y’all…I’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for this book and was OVERJOYED when Nnedi mentioned she was working on this book and eventually announced the title. I literally screamed out loud, I was so happy! When I was able to get my hands on the E-ARC, it took all my self-control not to read it right then (I lasted a few weeks, surprisingly). It felt so good to be back with Sunny & her crew because I did have so many questions with the way Akata Warrior ended. Not only did I get my answers but we got a pretty epic mission and some necessary lessons learned! I honestly left the book feeling okay with if the story ended where it did but I am lowkey highkey hoping for a 4th book because it felt like there could be much more to Sunny’s story based upon what happened in this book. I guess we will have to wait and see but I know it will be a few years because Nnedi is a busy busy woman (and I respect her for that). The Akata Series is one of my favorite series of all time and I would highly recommend it to anyone who asks! Whenever y’all read it, let me know if you see 4th book potential.

Me, when I started Akata Woman, lol!

Ashes Of Gold, the 2nd book in the Wings Of Ebony Duology, by J.Elle (out 1/11/2022): So full transparency, I’m apart of the street team for this book but that isn’t why I’m writing about it. I actually got a copy from my favorite Indie bookstore, Kew & Willow (I ❤ them so much), and had been sitting on it for a while. Well, J.Elle decided to do teasers and I got tired of waiting to see who Rue chooses and what goes down in this book (I’m fuheva #TeamJhamal…shoutout to my shipmates). It got to the point while reading this book that I just couldn’t put it down…I ended up finishing it at 8:30 in the morning…yes folks, you read that correctly…EIGHT THIRTY IN THE MORNING! I gave up on attempting to go to sleep before finishing this book because I just had to see how things shook out (I didn’t have to worry about work in the morning, thankfully). I cried and I certainly got angry at J.Elle cause she killed a lot of people (I don’t know why these authors gotta kill folks but I guess literary blood sacrifice is needed for some reason) and I was certainly stressed while reading. This was such a great conclusion to the duology but I was still pitching novella & companion novels to J.Elle because I’m simply not ready to leave the WOE universe *sobs*. I’mma just tell y’all not to get too attached to characters cause you MAY get your feelings hurt like I did *side-eyes J.Elle* (I still luh her doe). If you haven’t read Wings Of Ebony, you have some time before Ashes Of Gold hits the streets, so get on it folks!

Me, side-eyeing J.Elle but there is some love there

I have some ARCs a few sequels and companion novels (not the same, they are in the same universe but new main character) that come out next year that I’m super excited to get to. I also got to read some sequels early that are now out like Maya And The Return Of The Godlings, the sequel to Maya And The Rising Dark, by Rena Barron and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, the Final book in the Tristan Strong series (Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky & Tristan Strong Destroys The World), by Kwame Mbalia (I loved both, in case y’all were wondering and I think everybody needs to read them).

I’m ready to read those sequels & companion novels!

How do y’all feel about sequels? Are you a fan of them or are you only ’bout that standalone life? Do you have a favorite sequel or series if you like living in book worlds like I do? Let me know in the comments here or on social media! As usual, You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve my hands on books that I’ve been highly anticipating! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peace out!

I’m finna go back to reading now!

Bookish Matchmaking Is An Art Form And I’m Pretty Good At It

Wassup!

Hey everyone! So this past weekend (10/31) I was apart of the “I Am Black!” panel with Authors Michelle Coles (Black Was The Ink, Out Now) & Dr. Martina McGowan (I Am The Rage, Out Now) moderated by DJ Reads (Educator & Bookstagrammer) as a part of Black Readers Con (shout out to the organizers) and there was a question that has stuck with me. I don’t recall it verbatim but it was something to the effect of how would we go about putting books into the hands of kids who are reluctant readers or not interested in reading. If you have been following me on social media then you know that this question deeply excited my Spirit and I jumped at the chance to answer it (No surprise there)!

This, quite literally, is my favorite GIF & I use it a lot in DMs but this kid depicts my excitement perfectly!

Putting books into the hands of kids (across the age spectrum and adults, for that matter) is something I am extremely passionate about. It’s truly an art to match books to kids because you are not just establishing a relationship between them and reading but also a relationship between you and that kid. By placing a book that they actually will enjoy in their hands & mirrors them in some way, you are showing them that you are paying attention/listening TO them and that they can trust you. This is extremely important when it comes to placing kids on the path to becoming lifelong readers.

Its quite literally like this…you are attempting to turn on a passion for books within that person…if you aren’t careful, you get burned & they lose trust but if you are intentional, that light turns on

As an educator that prides myself on my ability to observe and learn those around me, I am actually really good (I’m absolutely tooting my own horn here) at book matchmaking (and I don’t have to worry about messy break ups or divorce in the end, lol). I have a process and I’m sure that you are wondering “Latesha, what IS this process you have?” Well, I’m glad you asked (in my head) because I’m about to tell you and I will even number it because I’m that type of person, lol.

Right now…and I have to say, as a New Yorker, I love his shirt, lol

1) I have a general conversation with the kid (or adult). I ask them about themselves, their schools/work, families, etc. and guide the conversation so that I can gain as much insight into who they are as a person (currently). I gauge their personalities and the voice that they have, really trying to get as full of a picture as possible. In doing this, I’m able to start thinking of characters that have similar ages, voices, experiences, etc. After a good 5-10 minutes, I would already have at least 5 books in mind based upon the information that I gathered in the beginning of the conversation.

As many of the things they can tell me about themselves

2) After I’ve gotten a gist of who they are as a person, I ask about their specific interests, especially in relations to books. I am intentional in letting them know I’m asking about their interests for the purpose of reading so that it’s not a weird transition. Sure, I could put books in their hands and call it a day but that doesn’t mean that they are the right fit. It’s basically like preparing a person’s favorite meal, you need to know the right spices and how to make it to their tastes…if its not just right, it won’t work and they won’t like it…it would dampen their trust & possibly turn them off to potentially wanting more (in this case, books). So once they tell me their specific interests, I edit the list that was in my mind by removing or adding books to the list and it is likely that that list will have grown by at least 5 more books.

Cause I’m determined to find the right fit for them

3) Once I’ve got a decent sized list in my mind and feel like I’ve established a great repertoire with the kid/person, I start to pitch the list to them. Yes, I actually PITCH the books to them because in essence, I’m selling them a product that I truly believe in, believe that they will love and that I want them to love. I mention the interests they told me about then tell them the title, author and show them the cover (if I am able) before launching into a brief synopsis about the story that highlights their interests. I also keep it open for questions so that I can play to (hopefully) their curiosity (but if this is a kid, they will be curious) and increase their interest in the book(s) I’m pitching to them. For example, if a kid tells me that they are into ghosts or spooky stories, I would pitch Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega, The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown for Middle Grade, The Taking Of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass and The Girl In The Well Duology by Rin Chupeco for YA or if they say they are into mythology, I would pitch Race To The Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and The Tristan Strong Series by Kwame Mbalia for Middle Grade, The Wicked Fox Duology by Kat Cho and The Spin The Dawn Duology by Elizabeth Lim for YA. Of course, I can go on forever on this but there is but so much time in the day.

I’m not fully playing it like a politician cause I’m not trying to sell them a dream but I’m definitely being an educator speaking about a passion & books are my friends!

4) After I’ve pitched the books, I ask them what they think of what I’ve pitched to them. I gauge how excited they may sound about a particular title or all of them. If they don’t seem interested in any of the titles then I would have back up titles in my mind, based upon their feedback (because if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready). The point is to make this about THEM and what THEY would like, not what YOU think that they would like. It’s about centering them and creating a safe space within your conversation & the books in which you are attempting to put into their hands, this aspect can not be omitted or else you likely won’t be successful in pairing the kid/person with a book & creating a healthy reading habit. Also, you CANNOT rush the process if you wish to be successful! If they ARE into the titles you recommended, you can speak to their parents about taking them to the library to pick up the titles or purchasing them if they are able. If you are anything like me, then you offer to purchase a copy for them because you believe that much in getting that book into their hands & want to support the author at the same time (I cannot quantify how many books I’ve gifted to kids over the last few years and I wouldn’t want to, it’s a lot and I’m proud of that).

I definitely make this voice & do this motion, lol

5) The final step is once they have these books in their hands and have hopefully read the books, that you follow up with them and see how they felt about them. Engage them in conversation about the books, ask them questions that require them to recall the story (not in a way that makes them feel like they’re in school, of course, keep it as casual as possible) and get them excited about the story again. If the story has a sequel, then ask them what they think could possibly happen in the next book, really build up that sense of anticipation and readiness for whats to come in the series. Be sure to keep them on notice about the release dates, if you know them so it remains fresh in their minds. They will match your excitement around books, especially if they have established a sense of trust in you, so keep your energy up when you’re having these conversations (I know that’s tough when adulting but do it for the kids or the person you are trying to turn into a reader, they are worth it & they should feel like they are)!

I let them know that I didn’t forget them and what I recommended to them.

Thinking back to the things I’ve said, I can see why my aunt thinks I should be a librarian (she is one herself… shoutout to my Aunt Liz), lol! In reality though, when you are trying to get kids/adults into reading, you are acting as a librarian or book seller, of sorts. Your passion for the titles should shine through just as much as your interest in the person in front of you & matching them to the books that would speak deeply to them. Kids are incredible BS detectors so they will know if you aren’t speaking the truth or not paying attention to them so stay on high alert and be present with them when you are going through this process. There is a nuance to this and a magic that we are trying to create that should be handled with immense care, so also keep that in mind (think of my name people *insert Halo smiley emoji*)! Intuition guides my bookish matchmaking, mostly, so it allows me to pivot when I need to but it is mostly as i have written. It can be slightly different when recommending for groups of kids but in that case, the recommendations are more general (for those who are wondering).

It really is y’all and I love it!

Y’all, I’m going to end it here but do you have a process when you are recommending/matching books to someone? Is it similar or different from mine? Let me know in the comments or on social media! As usual, You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve been hugged by some of my favorite authors! Have an amazing day and happy Book Matching!

Go forth and book match!

New Books In November To Gobble Up!

Nevermind that his book is upside down…but this is me realizing how many books are coming out this month that I’m excited about!

Hey Everyone…Goodness, I really need to stop being so corny with these Book release month titles but I don’t know if I could really help myself! Maybe In the new year, it will end but I make ZERO promises (but at least I didn’t use a turkey…which makes sense since I’m vegan, lol! I did use a cornucopia in the featured image though!)

It is what it will be, lol!

Well y’all, a new month is here and that means more books are coming out! I know it’s rare for me to do two posts in one week but I didn’t want to post after the first months pub date, that just wouldn’t be nice or fair! So without further ado, here are the books (that I know of) that are coming out this month by Authors of Color!

  • Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe 11/1
  • Song Of The Dawn by Angela Ford 11/1
  • Tahira In Bloom by Farah Heron 11/1
  • A Psalms of Storms And Silence by Roseanne Brown *sequel* 11/2
  • You’ve Reached Sam by Justin Thao 11/2
  • Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris *adult* 11/2
  • Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Essays edited by Saraciea J. Fennel 11/2
  • Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells 11/2
  • How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson *adult* 11/2
  • Santa In The City by Tiffany D. Jackson *Picture Book* 11/2
  • Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles 11/2
  • Blue Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu *adult* 11/2
  • Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment by Parker & Jessica Curry *PB* 11/2
  • Skin Of The Sea by Natasha Bowen 11/9
  • Jada Jones: Sky Watcher by Kelly Starling Lyons *series* 11/9
  • Sway with Me by Syed M. Masood 11/9
  • The Undertakers by Nicole Glover *adult sequel* 11/9
  • The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu *Adult* 11/9
  • Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong *sequel* 11/16
  • Believe Me by Tahereh Mafi *Shatter Me Series* 11/16
  • The 1619 Project Born On The Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renee Watson *PB* 11/16
  • Tidesong by Wendy Xu *MG* 11/16
  • She Persisted: Maria Tallchief by Christine Day *PB* 11/16
  • Soul Food Sunday By Winsome Bingham *PB* 11/16
  • J.D. And The Hair Show Showdown by J. Dillard *Early Reader* 11/16
  • Noor by Nnedi Okorafor *adult* 11/16
  • Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab by Prius Huq *MG* 11/16
  • Doizemaster Phantasm Creed by Tony M. Quintana 11/19
  • Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy 11/23
  • And They Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie *adult* 11/30
  • Stuntboy, In The Meantime by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Raul The Third *MG* 11/30
  • The Met Faith Ringgold Narrating the World in Pattern and Color by Sharna Jackson *PB* 11/30
  • Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan *3rd book* 11/30
Whoooooooooooooa…so many books!

I have had the privilege of reading three of these books as ARCs and they are:

  • Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Essays edited by Saraciea J. Fennel (this is a non-fiction collection of stories and they are wonderful.)
  • Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles (this book was brilliantly written and I think it should be added to any history curriculum about the Reconstruction Era!)
  • The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu *Adult* 11/9 (a super funny & lighthearted read!)

Trust me when I say that I attempted to get some of the books in the list as ARCs but the publishing Gods did not grant favor upon me when it came to those requests…but it’s all good because I’ve got a bunch of ARCS for 2022 releases and I’m ready to be super busy with those *Cue Airhorns* (but our bank accounts will be in trouble, doe)!

I feel like this when I think of all the ARCs I’m going to read for books coming out in the new year, lol!

Are there any books by Authors of Color that I missed? Let me know and I will add them to the list! Are there any books that you are super excited about? Share them in the comments or on social media…let’s geek out together (I do love a good geekout)! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I won $100 gift cards from my favorite Indie Bookstores! Have a great day wherever you are!

Give POC Authors Their Flowers, Not One Star On Goodreads

I’ve got some things to say this week y’all.

Hey everyone, fair warning that I may go into rant territory (which tooooo isn’t often) but I hope you will read through this post once you finish this paragraph. You may be wondering “what is that title about”? Well, the other day, A friend of mine texted me about the tweet that I posted above (the tweet is linked to the picture) asking if I knew about this. While I admittedly didn’t know about the usage of curated lists on Goodreads to target Black authors, I DID know about the targeting of POC authors on Goodreads & giving them one star. This is actually not a new practice and has been happening for many years. I have also seen this said for authors who are apart of the LGBTQIA+ community (which a lot are BIPOC) which tells me there are a lot more problems to be addressed but can’t be done in this one post (but certainly by someone who is more qualified to speak for the LGBTQIA+ family. While I consider myself an Ally, I fully acknowledge that it takes consistent WORK to truly BE an ally and I can’t speak authentically to what authors in their community experience & their readers witness.)

I seriously don’t get it…and no one could make me understand such a dumb practice…nope, nope, nope

I remember Rin Chupeco, a Filipino-Chinese Author, talking about people giving their books 1 stars when one of their books was posted! Maybe a synopsis was there and possibly a few ARCS were out but people were PURPOSEFULLY giving their books 1 star (likely without reading it)…FOR WHAT DOE?! What is even the point of that? I know it pulls down the books ratings, making it less appealing to people who actually value the star system. It is complete and utter Bull-ish. It’s almost like a violent act against these authors. Like what do these people get out of it anyway? Is there a sick sense of joy they get? A high that can only be achieved by giving a book that doesn’t even have a title yet 1 star? Whatever they are having….keep it far away from me cause I want no parts of it!

No, seriously, GTFOH with that nonsense

I have been transparent in the past stating that I do not rate books (You can read that in my second blog post ever here)…I don’t believe in placing a numerical value on a book’s worth/an author’s hard work, so it simply is not my jam or ministry (no shade here if it’s yours, I can only speak my truth). If you want to know how I feel about a book, ask me and I’ll tell you in detail because I also believe that what may not have been for me could be for someone else. I actually like to assess what people’s preferences are first before I give book recs or go into great detail about how I felt about a book…but that’s just me! Words are powerful and people could be swayed away from something they actually may enjoy because you didn’t (hence why I REACT to books more so than review them). That’s another topic for another day doe.

It’s really not but if it is yours, more power to you.
This person rated a Book listed for Dhonielle Clayton as 1 star and the book doesn’t even have a TITLE, LET ALONE A PUBLISHING DATE! Click on the picture and see if I’m lying about this!

Now, I’m not saying that when a book actually EARNS 1 star in a reviewers’ mind that it shouldn’t happen, that’s not it at all because of freewill & what not. Everyone has different taste and some books may just be trash enough for 1 star reviews…normally, those that earn 1 star to reviewers of merit (read: not [redacted]), they give some sort of explanation as to why they give them. Listen, opinions are like….noses, everyone has one but I can’t say that I wouldn’t call bull-ish on some of them but it would be for me personally. THIS is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about certain people (read: [redacted]/people who don’t want to see POC flourish) going after books by authors of color and giving 1 star ratings even if the book doesn’t have a title (see the receipt left by dear Adelina…whoever they are), haven’t had ARCs distributed, that doesn’t have a pub date that all equates to them not having read the book yet…like how can you form an opinion/rate something you don’t even have a synopsis for?! This is a practice that Goodreads has yet to give a solution as to how to end it. There is a statement somewhere on their website but NOTHING has actually been done about attempting to stop it from what could be seen from my end so the statement is just a collection of possibly nice sounding words in my opinion.

We really are Goodreads cause this has GOT to stop!

Now what can we do to combat this, you ask? Well, you can go look at Authors Of Colors books you’ve read to see what their ratings are. If you haven’t already, rate their work 3 & up stars (if you feel their work deserves it, of course) and possibly do a write up. By doing this, you would help offset some of those 1 star reviews, bringing up their overall rating which would help them a bit. You could also recommend their work to others who would actually appreciate their stories and encourage those people to add ratings for that book/those books. Word of mouth, better known as social media these days, is the best way to get these books into reader’s hands that would enjoy them and hopefully spread more positive opinions about them.

I believe you can!

Authors of Color deserve their flowers, not unjustified 1 star ratings. They are doing the underrepresented masses a service by giving them stories that they could actually see themselves in. As I said in the blog post I linked earlier, I have had 30+ years of books that I didn’t & couldn’t see myself in because those stories weren’t ever written for me or anyone who looks like me/has similar life experiences. I would love to see this generation and all the generations after it continue to receive books that serve as mirrors for them and windows for others & sliding glass doors for all (Angie Thomas spoke about this but I can’t find where she said it). This is why I invest my time, energy AND MONEY…not just coins but bills that fold & obscene balances at the end of most bookstore visits (I got mad receipts layin’ around to prove it), into POC authors and their books. I’m not new to this, I’m true to this and I’m on a mission y’all…just sayin’.

I really really am

Now that you all know that this is a thing on book rating sites (I heard this happens on another platform, it may not be for the same reason or action but the intent is pretty much the same), there is something that we all can do to stand behind these authors. Besides what I suggested earlier, we can post about their books on these sites, shout all over social media/blogs/videos hyping up their work, gift their books to people who could ACTUALLY appreciate whats being placed in their hands and call out the defamation of these author’s works when we see it (get a little gully if you need to but not so much so that you end up in an orange jumpsuit in need of bail, we’re not tryin’ to catch charges outchea). We can rally around these authors while they continue to bust their tails to break through the publishing ceiling to give us all books that we can connect with & truly represent so many people. We should want to protect them like we want to protect Betty White and any living legends we have (which, I’m here for too).

I’m with Cardi on the “why?”…We sure can rally behind these authors if we try.

Okay y’all, I’mma hop off my soapbox now. I hope you all join me in lookin’ out for these authors and raising awareness of not just their works but the injustices they suffer on a daily basis (I didn’t even skim the surface of the ish they go through)…let’s hype them up the way Black Women hype each other (we are hella effective at this) and booster their spirits so they can continue to push through for not just us but themselves too (writing is taxing y’all…and I don’t do it nearly as much as they do). If you want to continue this chat, then lets! You can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’m wrapped up in the warmest fleece planet on the planet! Later Y’all & Don’t forget to hype up your fav authors on these e-streets!

Seriously doe, when Black women hype each other up, it’s beautiful…so have that same energy when you’re hyping your fav authors like in this picture!

We Need Looove: Black And Brown Girls Should Be Centered in More YA Romance

Photo Credit: https://hellogiggles.com/reviews-coverage/books/my-classmates-told-me-black-girls-dont-read-i-became-a-writer/

Hey everyone! So I was recently reading Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan and she was speaking throughout the novel (it’s a contemporary YA) about Brown girl rep in literature, sometimes specifically in romance. Another book that brought this up was Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado (another contemporary YA). These two books got me thinking (again) about how little representation (read as none) I remember seeing growing up in books where Black & Brown girls like me got to be centered in romantic story lines.

I was thinking hard y’all!

When book events were in-person (*cries silently*), I could remember events with Dhonielle Clayton where she would talk about how Black Girls deserved to be kissed in books and I would mentally church scoot when she would say this. As a teen, I had plenty of crushes as I may have been a liiiiiittle boy crazy and as much I imagined those kisses, I didn’t have books that made me feel like those kisses could actually be possible for me (not sure if they would’ve made me any braver but it still would’ve been nice to see myself in). Part of what I loved about Charlie Vega is that she imagined those kisses just as much as I did as a teen, which made me feel seen though her character is Latinx while I identify as Black. There is something special about having a character that looks like you or has some other similarities to you experiencing the things you wish for yourself.

In my mind, this was me…and also when Charlie said or thought things I would’ve

So, since I didn’t have a specific book in mind to talk about this week & wanted to talk about this, I figured that I would do a short list of books that center Black & Brown Girls in their romances that warmed my heart & a bit of what I loved about that particular story (for some).

Let’s!

Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan: Not only did I love that this story is focused around a daughter/first born of immigrants but that she loved English & Bollywood movies as much as I did! I felt like so many of her struggles were mine too… She also mentioned RuPaul’s Drag Race which is a more recent obsession for me but still made me happy to see mentioned. The romance in this story was also nice because of how respectful & attentive her love interest was. I appreciated how romance was woven throughout the story but didn’t overwhelm the narratives that were really important (family dynamics, speaking your truth, being first gen in the US, etc).

We are pretty similar!

Fat Chance Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado: This was a story that I devoured because Charlie & I thought so much alike. She loved to write stories and read as well as had a best friend who was constantly dating like I did. I laughed so much throughout this book because her responses were EXACTLY what I thought of and I appreciated having a main character I felt so in sync (not the band) with. I also appreciated how organically the romance developed and felt the need to cheer her/them on throughout the story.

Charlie…you and I, we here

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett: This story is such an important one as the main character is HIV+. I absolutely adored this book, it was incredibly funny and the love interest was a total dream (he is like my ideal boyfriend, if he was an adult, lol). While the MC constantly acknowledged her status, it wasn’t the definition of her personhood which I think is really important when anyone reads this book. There is so much to learn from this book as you read but it didn’t feel too heavy or overwhelming (though part of the plot involves blackmail).

The serious face is when they first tried to come for the MC but then the laugh is when she flourished.

Here are a few more that I enjoyed:

  • Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
  • When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (really, all of the books in the Dimpleverse!)
  • A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
  • Odd One Out by Nic Stone
  • The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
  • Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray
  • Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson
  • Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon
  • Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon
  • Once Upon A Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira
  • The Mirror Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton (the pub date was moved to 2022, FYI)
  • Radha & Jai’s Recipe For Romance by Nisha Sharma
  • For All Time by Shanna Miles
I love to see Black & Brown Girls centered in stories!

I wanted to make this list one that didn’t involve books I’ve previously posted (read: ranted) about so that you all can discover a new book or few! These books are so important to the YA canon because they allow Black & Brown girls everywhere to see themselves in another light… where they aren’t sexualized or villainized but are rather understood and are cared for in a validating way. Everyone deserves that sort of mirror while reading.

They should feel like royalty while reading books

I’m really glad that we have so many amazing authors that have taken up the mantle to represent Black & Brown Girls in literature, whether there is or isn’t romance in the story line. Authors such as Nic Stone, Dhonielle Clayton, Kristina Forest, Debbie Rigaud, Sandhya Menon, Nandini Bajpai, all the ones mentioned above and so many others that I don’t have enough time to type their names that really take care in making sure that Black & Brown girls everywhere see themselves on the page. Of course, I hope more authors will continue to step forward so that the canon continues to grow larger.

I’m seriously grateful

Alright y’all, I’m going to end this here because I’m ready to leave my laptop alone for the rest of the night, lol! If you want to holler at me on the interwebs then you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it gives me huge heart eyes like when I look at my bookshelves after organizing them! Peace Y’all!

The Bones Of Ruin Had Me Walking On A Mental Tightrope

Goodness, this cover is amazing!
  • Sarah Raughley
  • 4th Book; 2nd series!
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Nigerian Canadian
  • Instagram: @s_raughley; Twitter: @s_raughley; www.sarahraughley.com
  • Release: 09/7/2021 (If this isn’t in your TBR already, you have to change that!)
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (Simon & Schuster Imprint)
  • Favorite Character: I fell in love with Jinn…I know I have other book boyfriends or whatever but he just had to be added to the roster! He’s just so brooding and mysterious that I couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. He is such a great balance to Iris, IMO. Granny Marlow was also another fav that I wish we could’ve seen more of!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Don’t say it doesn’t matter whether you live or die. It always matters to someone.”-Jinn. I think this serves double as a glimpse into Jinn’s softer side but also a beautiful reminder to readers that they matter, whether they believe it or not. We all need these things said to us at some point in our lives.
Jinn is so dreamy sometimes and this is something so many need to hear!

Hey everyone, I’ll start this by saying that from the moment I saw The Bones Of Ruin cover, I was chomping at the bit to read it (I mean, what else seems new? I’m a sucker for a pretty cover). I mean, there is a beautiful Black Girl looking fierce on a tightrope with 2 shamsirs and city burning beneath her… what is there NOT to love about it and draw a person to it?! I really want a printed copy of the cover to frame and mount on my magical Black Kids wall because what is more magical than this cover?! Who do I need to speak to to make this happen? #NoKarenDoe!

I’m pretty smitten with the cover!

I was so lucky to acquire an ARC from a bookish friend (shout out to @recitrachel on IG for lookin out for a sista) and it made me such a happy panda…you can see me opening the package on IG live here for receipts! I promise you all that when I was able to jump into this book, I did and it was more like diving in. The day I finished it, it was almost 5 am and I had a test to take later in the afternoon but I couldn’t put it down towards the end… honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to take that test in peace if I didn’t finish it when I did so I have no regrets (in case you are worried, I did pass the test, thank Goodness)!

This was me getting into The Bones Of Ruin

So for my folx who have been reading this blog for a while, y’all know how much I love a historically based book and for those who are new around these parts…I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE HISTORICAL FICTION! This not only gave me history (1880’s London), varied story lines (though it is primarily focused on Iris), a love triangle (that felt like a rectangle at times) and a mystery to solve (more than one actually) but it also gave me magic/powers that both baffled and delighted me in so many ways. I love a book that gets my brain working in different ways and lightweight turns me into a PI trying to figure out how who connects to who and what role plays into what…it gives me a special sort of thrill, really (I was living my best detective life over here)!

Me, trying to see something…the something being the pieces to solve the mysteries in the story

So Iris is not only this amazingly talented and beautiful tightrope walker/dancer but she is equally mystifying in her inability to die… We know this from the synopsis but it doesn’t make it any less mind-blowing/awe-inducing when she thinks about it and what she’s doing as she’s thinking about this fact. Her inability makes her lightweight reckless at times too, which I simultaneously lived for and mentally yelled at her about (I can’t help that I’m a literary mama bear y’all). Not only can she not die but she has also zero memory of who she is which adds another layer to the chaos. Could you imagine not being able to die AND having no knowledge of what you or your life was like prior to what you remember?! Iris actually handles it more graciously than I likely would’ve, especially when folks decided to start dangling carrots in the form of information in her face like she’s a rabbit! I’m pretty sure I yelled in those moments too while wishing I could level a side-eye that would wither those characters down to their bones (pun intended…see what I did there?! lol)!

I’m talking this sort of side-eye, where you know someone is about to get hurt if folx keep playing bald headed games

While Iris has this complete d-bag of a boss (that’s putting it very lightly), she does have 2 bright spots in her time with the performance company which is Granny Marlow and Jinn. Granny Marlow is the granny/auntie character that we all need in our lives, bestowing both wisdom and sly shady comments within the same conversations (especially when it came to talking about Iris & Jinn). The auntie/ grannys of literature are typically the best characters IMO… I only wish we had more of her around which would’ve been all of the time if it was up to me, lol! I also adored how she was a confidant when Iris needed it. It’s so important for Black Girls to find a safe space with an elder person, whether its within a story or in real life, so I’m grateful for the moments she had (and she needed those moments y’all *whew*).

How I imagine Iris with Granny Marlow

So I have a confession….As much as I loved Iris, I kept reading so I could “see” Jinn again, lol. I wanted to see their next interaction and how he would respond. I loved their banter and even though I knew he was holding back, I appreciated the little glimpses of himself that he gave and I wanted every single opportunity I could get. He’s like the grumbly old man type that you can’t get enough of, at least to me! I found myself telling characters to back off when I *thought* they would be stepping on Jinn’s toes as if they could hear me, lol. Needless to say, I was protective over a character that really needed no protecting but it’s a hill I’m willing to pass out on (see what I did there? lol)! I fully ship Iris and Jinn, if you haven’t guessed that at this point…If you read the book and not pick up on their chemistry & how perfect for each other they are, I would have many questions for you.

This is just how Jinn made me feel and I am not ashamed…I think he made Iris feel this way at times too though she wouldn’t admit it, lol

There are so many wild situations in this book that had me screaming out internally and externally (in the comfort of my own home). So many of these situations stemmed from the privilege of the rich colonizers in TBOR. There were so many times where I wish I could pull certain characters from the book just to throat punch them. You know that expression you get on your face when you are determining just how hard you should hit a person? Think of that and then imagine my face because….Yeaaaaaa, they were that aggravating. But honestly what would a book that takes place in the 1800s be without colonizers with an overinflated sense of importance and deep enough pockets to feed a country (or several) but chooses to watch them starve & fight to the death instead *Ye Shrug*?! Y’all, I don’t want to give them anymore thought before I get mad hype (and not in a good way either)…they don’t deserve my peace people, they really don’t.

This is the look…nothing good could ever come out of this look, whether it’s hurt feelings, broken bodies or burned belongings

There is so much more that could be said but I don’t want to run the risk of spoiling anything. This book is not short but it’s worth every second. Pay close attention while reading, maybe even take notes, because the pieces do start to click together. I can’t tell you how many AH-HA and OOOOOO moments I had while reading but it’s also because I was playing detective and keeping mental notes the entire time, even going back in the book to double check facts, lol. I can’t wait for the second book because Sarah was dead wrong for how she left us in “The Next Stage” chapter at the end *frustrated auntie grunt*.

Me taking mental notes…and it will likely be you too when you read this book!

Aiight y’all, I’mma end this here. If you want find & follow me out in these e-skreets then you can on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it gives me the warm & fuzzies like being in a bookstore without a budget when I see new subscribers! Later y’all!

The Iron Widow’s Anger Delighted My Spirit And Fed My Soul

You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t want to pick up this book upon looking at this cover!
  • Xiran Jay Zhao
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Chinese
  • Instagram: @xiranjayzhao; Twitter: @xiranjayzhao; www.xiranjayzhao.com
  • Release: 09/21/2021 (Go ahead and pick it up but know you are likely not ready)
  • Publisher: Penguin Teen Canada
  • Favorite Character: Without a shadow of a doubt, Zetian! If Zetian’s anger could be bottled up and sold, I would buy multiples of it because it’s just so delicious and mind-blowing! The fact that she EMBRACED her anger rather than attempted to suppress it made me adore her even more!
  • Favorite Quote(s): This is a comment Zetian made and its “But I dont care how indebted I am to the elders or the gods. If they don’t respect me just because I’m from the “wrong” half of the population, I’m not respecting them back.” When I say that I shouted, I did…my note was “AYE!” but it was a simplification of the level my Spirit felt that…its a whole a$$ mood! Here is a quote: “What is it about gender that matters so much to the system, anyway? Isn’t piloting entirely a mental thing? So why is it always the girls that have to be sacrificed for power?”-Zetian. When I tell y’all I felt that mic drop deep down in my being…*whew* I just adore her!
That’s Zetian most of the book, IMO

First, I just have to acknowledge that I FINALLY feel mentally up to the task of writing about a singular book and I so appreciate you all’s patience with me as I navigate my own mental health and the need to back away from reviewing/reacting to one book. I want to be fair to & honor the books and the authors who take their time to give us the gift of these books and the place I was at wouldn’t have observed that. You all also deserve the best I can give in terms of the posts that I put out into the world (not saying that the lists aren’t my best but these posts are quite different from those). So Thank you thank you thank you for continuing to roll with me through everything!

I don’t have Oprah’s money or fame but I do appreciate y’all!

Second, there are so many words to say how much I loved Iron Widow but more specifically, it’s main character Zetian! When I received the email from netgalley featuring this book and saw the title & cover, I just HAD to request it and I’m so glad I was approved. This book was everything I didn’t know that my Spirit needed. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to read a book with an angry girl who just didn’t give a f**k about how other’s viewed her and questioned everyone in her path. I ate this book up like I hadn’t had a meal in weeks. Reading this book was what that felt like as someone who has experienced so much anger and never seen someone else transmute it in the way they wanted to. I seriously loved this book as I finished it in less than 48 hours and only regret that it wasn’t longer!

I sure did, with zero shame and enjoyed every single moment of it!

Iron Widow is the book that inspired my post To All The Literary Angry Girls, which listed books with other Angry Girl characters. I knew then that I wanted to write about this book but was not completely ready to write about it in a way that did it justice. Also, I didn’t want to run the risk of talking about it too early that the post would get buried before release as I read it back in mid-August. Even though I didn’t write a full out post at that point in time, I had been talking incessantly about it to everyone that would listen because I loved it so very much. For me, it felt like Angela Bassett walking away from the burning car after pouring the gasoline & setting it on fire (one of my all time favorite movie moments & also the moment she tells the officials she knew about it with a cigarette in her hand & nonchalance written all over her body) but make it futurist and Asian… Iron Widow & Zetian just had that same energy that made it & her so iconic!

Reading this book felt EXACTLY like this and I LOVED IT!

What can I say about Zetian?! She…Is…EV.ER.Y.THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING! From the moment her voice emerged in the book, I was absolutely hooked and I just wanted to “hear” everything she had to say, whether she thought it or it came out of her mouth, and I had to see what moves she would make. Sis was like a master Chess player cause she was strategic AF. One moment, she would be contemplating what to do and next, she had mofos on their backs, it was like ish happened JUST that fast and I LIVEEEEEEEEEEED! She could also be extremely calculating. You just knew she was going to play the long game so that her prey would REALLY feel it when her wrath came down! I also loved how unpredictable she was in what she would do and she never disappointed…there wasn’t a dull moment (as cliche as that is).

Me, when I had a feeling she was plotting or about to let someone have it…either way, I Lived for Zetian!

Something else I loved is how observant Zetian was and that she didn’t try to play naive or coy. She is not a girl of pretenses and while she might not call everything out as it is happening, she kept notes & receipts like the world’s most effective record keeper. We know that she goes into the life of a concubine pilot to avenge her sister (this is in the synopsis so no spoiler here) but her level of plotting is simply magical…so much so that she had me looking like a star-eyed emoji most of the time! The way that her brain worked was just *chef’s kiss*. Zetian always kept it real like there was an absence of sugar because she kept everything so raw no coating could possibly be found. She wanted to show things as they actually were and not as everyone wanted to be blinded to. It’s like if someone asked for rose-colored glasses, she would be like “nah, you’re going to look through a magnifying glass so you can see everything” (in my mind at least).

I mean…Gia Gunn said it but replace “do” with “see” and you got Zetian!

Zetian saw what was happening, especially to the women/girls, around her and she used it as fuel. She didn’t attempt to extinguish her anger/fire, she let it intensify so she could burn everything down and I was more than okay with this. Sometimes, you just have to tear ish down to get your point across because being dainty & passive isn’t the way in the world she (and really, we) live in. While she went into the world of concubine piloting for one thing, she ended up doing so much more, really shaking ish up before she left people clutching their pearls and tucking their tails between their legs. She’s so determined and wouldn’t let anyone get in her way, it’s incredibly beautiful and inspiring. Y’all…I think I found my literary twin flame *swipes a tear*.

And God help whoever DIDN’T move out of Zetian’s way!

Seriously though, there is so much that I loved about this book. The world building, the anger levels, the BAWSE that Zetian is and even some of the secondary characters. I highlighted so many things in the e-ARC and wrote mad notes throughout, that’s how invested I was in this story. Just thinking back on some of the situations that Zetian was in and how she handled them makes me want to give her a standing ovation because homegirl definitely deserved it. If you can’t tell, I’m definitely fangirling over Iron Widow and how incredible Zetian is.

Me, giving Zetian the standing ovation she deserves & not giving a damn if anyone wants to join me

With the way the book ended, we DO know that there will be a sequel and I can NOT wait for it! I just need more of Zetian and her epic & iconic intensity (I wish I had better words to encompass all that she is)… I’m just hooked on this story and am still going through withdrawal months later! There is plenty more that I could say but then we would be here all day and I’m not completely sure you want that…or doooo you?

Do you? Cause you know I can do this all day! LOL

Is there any books that had fed your Spirit the way Iron Widow fed mine? An even better question is have you read this book yet?! If you haven’t, I highly suggest you fix that ASAPUALLY, especially if you love a great Angry Girl character seeking revenge with zero f**ks to give and ish to burn down along with a system to change! You won’t want to put it down and I’m pretty confident that you won’t regret the time you invest in this story! So run to your favorite bookstore or library to pick up a copy if Iron Widow isn’t already in your TBR!

Listen to the Rock folx!

Well Y’all, I’m going to end this here because I’m sure you all have lives to get back to and I’ve got a book to finish (what else is new?)! If you want find & follow me in these interwebs then you can on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (which I’m not on super often, just an FYI but for sure on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it gives me the blissful feeling of drinking a bubble tea when I see new subscribers! Until the next post, I’m out!

But you know I’ll be back next week!

BOOOOOks Coming Out In October

This is as spooky as I’m going to get y’all, lol

OK, So I know the post title is a little (a lot) corny but you can’t blame a blogger for that… Can you? *Insert eye flutter here* I can’t believe that October is pretty much here and it feels like time as flown while simultaneously moving like a sloth (definitely not cute like one either). One of the great things though is that there are some really great books coming out this month and I’m really excited (who WOULDN’T be excited about new books coming out though?!)!

Hey! I’m entitled to my corny moments people!

Here is the list of books I know are coming out this month (unless publishers change things around)! I figured I would do this post this week so that no pub day goes unacknowledged!

  • Choose Your Own Adventure: The Citadel of Whispers by Kazim Ali 10/1
  • The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi *Picture Book* 10/5
  • Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal 10/5
  • Black Birds In The Sky by Brandy Colbert 10/5
  • Oh No! The Talent Show by Eva Chen *picture book* 10/5
  • Descendants of The First by Reni K. Amayo *sequel* 10/5
  • Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia *MG sequel* 10/5
  • Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall 10/5
  • Everything Within and In Between by Nikki Barthelmess 10/5
  • From the Tops of the Trees by Kao Kalia Yang *PB* 10/5
  • Feminist AF A Guide to Crushing Girlhood by Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, Susana Morris 10/5
  • When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles *sequel* 10/5
  • Once More Upon A Time by Roshani Chokshi 10/6
  • Empress & Aniya by Candice Carty-Williams 10/7
  • The Seventh Cadence by Jim Wilbourne 10/8
  • The Keeper Of Night by Kylie Lee Baker 10/12
  • Everybody In The Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter *picture book* 10/12
  • The Me I Choose To Be by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley *PB* 10/12
  • Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip by Michael W. Waters & Nicole Tadgell *PB* 10/12
  • Defiant by Wade Hudson 10/12
  • Recognize! An Anthology Honoring And Amplifying Black Life by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson 10/12
  • Mooncakes and Milk Bread Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries by Kristina Cho 10/12
  • Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz *sequel* 10/12
  • Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan 10/12
  • Kingston And The Echos Of Magic by Rucker Moses And Theo Gangi *sequel* 10/12
  • Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe 10/14 (UK)
  • Chaiwala! by Priti Birla Maheshwari *children’s* 10/15
  • The Sour Cherry Tree by Naseem Hrab & Nahid Kazemi *children’s* 10/15
  • Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood 10/19
  • Himawari House by Harmony Becker 10/19
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay 10/19
  • The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham *MG* 10/19
  • Keeping It Real by Paula Chase *MG* 10/19
  • Bounce Back by Misako Rocks! *MG Manga* 10/19
  • African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History by Tracey Baptiste *PB* 10/19
  • The Last Chance For Logan County by Lamar Giles *MG series* 10/19
  • Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn *adult novella* 10/19
  • Rise Up! How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy by Crystal Marie Fleming 10/19
  • Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw *adult novella* 10/19
  • Notable Native People 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne Keene 10/19
  • As The Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall 10/26
  • On Girlhood 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library Editted by Glory Edim *adult* 10/26
  • Living With Viola by Rosena Fung *MG* 10/26
  • We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera 10/26
  • The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl 10/26
  • Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau *adult* 10/26
  • Make Your Own Money by Ty Allan Jackson *MG* 10/26
Mad Books, son!

I’m quite lucky to say that I’ve read some of the books that are coming out and they are:

  • Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal 10/5
  • Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia *MG sequel* 10/5 (This was my FAVORITE of the series, Kwame definitely did what he needed to do on this one!)
  • Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles 10/12 (This is a book I believe should be in the Social Studies Curriculums since it has so many important historical events in it during the Reconstruction Era.)
  • Bounce Back by Misako Rocks! *MG Manga* 10/19
They were all solid reads!

There are a few books that I really wish I had gotten as early copies to read but it matters not because I will eventually get my hands on them, believe that!

This sentiment…also, I hope he is resting peacefully

Are there any books that you are super excited about?! If so, share them in the comments or on social media! Same goes for if you know of any books by Authors Of Color coming out this month that isn’t in this list with their release date!

Tell me all the books you’re excited about!

Well y’all, if you want to find me, you can holler at me (why, yes, I did say that on purpose, lol) on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (which I’m not on super often, just an FYI but for sure on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it gives me the warm & fuzzies when I see new subscribers! Anyways, have a good day, wherever you are in the world! Until the next post, Bye BOOs (sorry, I couldn’t help myself! LOL!)!

Reading Is My Escape: Books That Have Helped Me Get Through Tough Times

Hey everyone! So I know that saying the last pretty much two years has been tough is the understatement of the year. So much has changed and some changes have been great while others have not been. With my anxiety, I’ve been throwing myself into my reading because it’s the only escape I seem to have that I really want to make and well, with the passing of my grandpa, it’s been even worse so any moment I have to check out, I take it.

My bed or my beanbag chair are my two favorite places to read

I know a lot people have their reading preferences when they are having a hard time, for some its rereading whats familiar or their favorite and for others its reading a particular genre without a break from it in sight. I’m pretty much the reading a particular genre which tend to be rom-coms, romances or plenty of comedy. The lighter the content, the better I feel and can really lean into it for however long it takes me to read it. I figured that for this weeks post, I would give a short list of books that I have loved that got me through rough periods. Also, in the interest of transparency, I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to write full on reviews & didn’t want to short change the books or their authors but still wanted to give you all a post because I am committed to this blog. Of course, you all are welcome to ask questions in the comments or find me on social media and I’d be happy to talk about specific books.

This is basically the mood I seek to be in when reading when I’m having a hard time

Alrighty, let’s get to this list and there are hyperlinks to ones that I have written about in the past. So if you find yourself intrigued by them, do go check out those posts!

How I feel about these books!

Books, like the ones on this list, with gratuitous laughter and/or romance are the ones that really helped me get through the tough times like now because they give me a mental break from what I’m dealing with. I’m sure that so many of you could relate in some way. I also find that the characters are experiencing some of the same emotional turmoil or situations I’m dealing with (though they are often younger) and it helps me work through my own stuff, its one of the best things about books.

That’s what I feel like these books say to me and I agree with them!

Are any of you the same when it comes to your reading and your mental/emotional space? Let me know in the comments or find me on social media on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (which I’m not on super often, just to put that out there but for sure on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it always gives me a mood bump when I see there is a new subscriber!

I always love to talk about books!

Have a wonderful day wherever you are in the world! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Be sure to take care of yourself out there! Peace Out Y’all!

What’s The 411 Hun?: Organizing The Readers Supporting Ayiti Raffle

Hey everyone! So I wanted to write a post about a book this week but my mind and heart has been so focused on putting together a benefit for earthquake relief in Haiti that I really felt the need to post about it here. I had spoken in the past about my need to do more to honor my Grandfather and the country he loved so much in my post about the Romance For Haiti Auction (which raised over $55,000!) and have been feeling a pull to put together a fundraising effort. I’ve been working with/consulting other Haitian bookstagrammers about this fundraising effort that we are calling the Readers Supporting Ayiti Raffle. All raised funds would be going to the organization Sow A Seed which provides necessary materials in Haiti.

Obama always inspires me!

I’m going to post the letter that I have sent to various publishers, bookstores and bookish companies seeking out support but first, why am I posting this? I’m posting this to ask you help me spread the word about this effort and if you have connects, to please share them. I really wish for this to be as successful as it possibly be. I would sincerely appreciate any and all help that I could receive in this. It’s so few of us and another set of hands or brain to share knowledge is always helpful. I sincerely feel that this initiative could be successful with more assistance.

Author Ibi Zoboi inspired us to pick this organization

Here is the letter:

On August 14th, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti, more specifically the Southern region near its capital of Port-Au-Prince. Much like the earthquake in 2010, there were numerous structural damages, hundreds of people missing and a high death toll. Despite the devastation caused by these natural disasters, Haiti and its citizens have been fighting to get back up again but they, like any other nation, require assistance in order to find their footing.

As a person of Haitian descent, I have been contemplating what could be done to support and honor the country of my father’s, grandfather’s & grandmother’s birth. Growing up, my grandfather would tell of his time in Haiti before immigrating to the United States, from watching Mariam Anderson perform to dealing with the regime of Duvalier as well as sharing pictures of the country that has always had his heart. My grandfather was a man of many stories, whether he was telling, listening, or reading them and it is from him that I grew my love of books and stories.

In the wake of the natural disasters that have plagued my paternal families’ homeland, I sought out fellow Haitian Bookstagrammers to join efforts in combining our love for books and Haiti to brainstorm a way to support. I felt particularly inspired by the recent Romance For Haiti auction which raised over $55,000 over the course of a weekend. I want to keep that momentum going that those authors & publishing professionals created by hosting an event catering to the interests of Young Adult, Middle Grade and Children’s Book readers, especially educators and librarians.  

This event would be called Readers Supporting Ayiti and it would be a raffle supporting a local organization in Haiti dedicated to relief efforts there. The organization we’ve selected is Sow A Seed which purchases and distributes medical supplies, temporary housing supplies, food, water and baby supplies to the communities in need in Haiti. For more information about their organization, their website is sowaseedonline.org. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 but hope to surpass that number.

On behalf of the collective of Haitian bookstagrammers, I am asking for your support in order to make this initiative successful. What we are seeking are books, book bundles and/or swag that appeal to the YA, MG and Children’s book audience. The items selected would be at your discretion though our preference would be books by authors of color. The logistics around winners and shipping requirements would also be at your discretion. The raffle would be taking place from October 1st to the 10th and winners would be drawn over the subsequent week.

It is with immense hope that your company/organization would consider participating in this fundraising effort and I thank you, on behalf of the collective of Haitian bookstagrammers and myself for your time. If your team is interested in participating, please email readersforayitiraffle@gmail.com with your contribution(s) to the raffle as well as the logistics. With your involvement, we believe that this event could be a great success.

Mèsi Anpil,

Latesha Dejean, @bookishgirlmagic

Bookstagrammer & Book Blogger

Who could say no to a cute kitten?!

In the week that publishers, bookstores and book boxes have been contacted, MacMillan Publishers and Book Of The Month has committed to this effort. As excited as I am to have these two amazing organizations supporting, we know that it takes far more than that to make a successful event and that is where you, dear reader (OMG, I went full on author in author notes or acknowledgements there), come into play. If you know of anyone who would be willing to assist or know people in high places, we would sincerely appreciate the help (I know I basically said the same in an earlier post but bear with me here).

Help us out here?

In terms of the logistics, monetary donations would be made directly to the Sow A Seed website and proof would be sent to the email in the letter to be entered into the raffle itself. Once I have more on what would be available for raffle, then that information would be posted, especially on social media but I will be sure to post it here too. So Please spread the word and share this post…I would sincerely appreciate it!

To everyone you could possibly think of, please!

Well y’all, I’m going to wrap this up here but please know that I appreciate you all coming back to this blog week after week. If you have questions or just want to come find & follow me out on the interwebs, look me up on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog please please please). As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wishing you happy reading! Later!

This will always be a mood

Important Middle Grade Books That Need To Be Placed In The Hands Of Kids

Hello everyone! With the beginning of the school year here, I was thinking of some of the books that I have read recently and even not so recently. The books that came to mind are ones I felt are so important for kids to read, process and discuss. I’m going to list them but give some reasons why I felt they are so important for kids to read/how they made me feel/brought up for me.

Everyone may not feel this level of excitement but I love this gif!

Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero by Saadia Faruqi: I loved this book because it covers a part of American History that isn’t spoken much about from the perspective of a kid. As a New Yorker, 9/11 is a part of the fabric of the state. I had become immune to seeing murals and memorials but hadn’t heard much of how it impacted others in other states though I knew of the hatred it intensified in people towards the Muslim Community. This book takes place around the time of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 (which is this year) and as I read this book, I had flashbacks of how I felt around and at the time of 9/11. It was also so important to read how people within the Muslim community were impacted. I had the pleasure of doing an IG live with Saadia and if you would like to watch it, here is the link.

The journal is really important, you’ll find out why when you read.

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza: This was another book that I really enjoyed and laughed A LOT during! It’s such a great book for learning how to deal with life changing occurrences such as a big move and a sickly family member. Ahmed is a character that I just came to adore throughout the time that I was reading. I can see so many kids really relating to him because he also deals with a bully and anyone who has dealt with one knows how anxiety inducing it can be. This is a book filled with gems & lessons that anyone could appreciate!

This gif is really representative of Ahmed’s mindset at times, lol

Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis: This book is one that I appreciated as someone who can have difficulty with expressing themselves and had difficulty making friends (peopling is hard at any age). There are a lot of weather metaphors used (as implied by the title) which I thought was a brilliant way of giving kids a way to express their thoughts/emotions. The main character also deals with a big change and the pressures of trying to make new friends as well as the fear inducing circumstance of a wildfire.

I wanted to sing this just to add to the MC’s moms’ weather metaphors

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams: This is a book layered with gems. Genesis deals with a plethora of things that range from homelessness/socio-economic disparities to colorism to alcoholism… I just wanted to hug Genesis throughout the time I was reading because she went through the ringer. I feel that there are so many kids that will be able to see themselves in Genesis, whether its her struggles or her triumphs. She learns so much about herself as well as the kids she comes to call her friends.

This is the type of hug I wish I could’ve given Genesis

Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuervas (out on 9/21): So you all know that I love a good historical fiction and this one was no exception. CIMP gives insight as to what it could be like for those who have immigrated, not just to the US but anywhere really, and what could’ve led them to their new home. Growing up, I heard quite a few stories from my own family members about their experiences but there is always something special about reading other experiences and learning those histories. There was also a lovely balance of the emotional, funny and life lessons in this book. I also believe it would help kids to develop a sense of empathy for those learning their way around a new environment.

This will make sense once you read, a burger place serves a purpose in this book!

The Samosa Rebellion by Shanthi Sekaran (out on 9/21): When I was reading this book, I thought a lot about the book Internment by Samira Ahmed (which is a book I love & still think of frequently) but it was lighter where it needed to be and gave us a group of kids on a mission. It took place in a fictional country that felt like it could really be anywhere in the world due to the real world circumstances & situations that occurred. A book like this is really timely in how race, religion, social and immigration status is currently seen and makes it digestible for kids who maybe struggling with these topics while providing eye opening anecdotes for adults that need them.

These kids were on a mission y’all!

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro (out on 9/21): I literally finished this book the day before posting this and I absolutely adored it. While this book was from a singular perspective, it offered so many different insights from the experiences of coming out to bullying to finding your place after a big move. I appreciated the comedic moments as much as I did the highly sentimental ones as well as the lessons of the importance of advocacy of self and others. There was also something really special about seeing this diverse group of kids experiencing magic in the way so many of us wished we could while reading books that definitely didn’t center children of color.

Think Room of Requirement but make it modern & cooler

Thinking about it, I would highly recommend all of these books especially for middle school classrooms/libraries. I can’t recall any books like these in my middle school libraries but I know that I could’ve certainly used them. There is so much going on at this age range especially being at the crossroads of elementary school and high school that more texts like these could be truly life changing. These books could provide emotional support where kids may need it and help them find a way when they can’t express themselves.

Maybe a little more than mildly, I’d say

In case anyone is interested, Brave + Kind bookshop (located in Atlanta, Georgia & they are wonderful) is having an event with the authors of Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero, The Samosa Rebellion and Partly Cloudy. It is taking place on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 from 7-8 pm. If you would like to virtually attend this event, here is the link to register and if you are able, please support the authors & store by purchasing at least one of the books featured.

Alright y’all, I’ve occupied enough of your time now but I hope that you all will consider adding these books to your libraries, whether its your personal or school or even request your local library to (this also supports the authors). These books have great potential to effect change in this world as long as we place them into the hands of kids/teens as well as adults who interact with kids on a daily basis. If there are any books that you feel strongly about, feel free to write about them in the comments! If you want to come find & follow me out on the interwebs, look me up on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog please please please). As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wishing you happy reading! BYEEE!

September Is Going to Wreck My Bank Account And Maybe Yours Too

Hey everyone! Since there is so many books coming out for the rest of this year, I figured that I would bring back up the list at the beginning of each month and update them with titles I’ve found out about or saw the dates may have changed for (some I found through my bookish friends @raethereviewer & @onyxeditions). Forewarning, this list is long… so don’t be mad at me for it’s length, I’m just tryna help y’all stay in the know, lol! Here we go:

I can never resist using a Drag Race gif!
  • Black Joy Anthology edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff & Timi Sotire (UK) 9/2
  • Makeda: The Queen Of Sheba by Marlon McKenney *MG* 9/6
  • We Are Not Broken: A Memoir by George M. Johnson 9/7
  • The Bones Of Ruin by Sarah Raughley 9/7
  • The Shaadi Set Up by Lillie Vale *adult* 9/7
  • Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis *MG* 9/7
  • So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Marrow 9/7
  • A Clash Of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee 9/7
  • Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon *picture book* 9/7
  • Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero by Saadia Faruqi *MG* 9/7
  • In Every Mirror She’s Black by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström *adult* 9/7
  • Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti *MG* 9/7
  • Pahua And The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee *MG* 9/7
  • Better Together, Cinderella: A Big Sister Fairy Tale by Ashley Franklin & Ebony Glenn *PB* 9/7
  • Zero O:Clock by C.J. Farley 9/7
  • The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova *adult* 9/7
  • For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color by by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez 9/7
  • White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson 9/14
  • Battle Of The Bands Anthology Edited by Lauren Gibaldi & Eric Smith 9/14
  • A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria *adult series* 9/14
  • It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi 9/14
  • Barefoot Dreams Of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs 9/14
  • Kneel by Candace Buford 9/14
  • Black Nerd Problems Essays by William Evans & Omar Holman 9/14
  • Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up And Trying Again Essay Collection edited by Shakirah Bourne 9/14
  • Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach 9/14
  • A Soft Place To Land by Janae Marks *MG* 9/14
  • Maya And The Return Of The Godlings by Rena Barron *MG Sequel* 9/21
  • Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles 9/21
  • Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman *children’s book* 9/21
  • Room To Dream by Kelly Yang *MG sequel* 9/21
  • Amira & Hamza: The War To Save The Worlds by Samira Ahmed *MG* 9/21
  • The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi *series* 9/21
  • Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee 9/21
  • Looking For A Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste *picture book* 9/21
  • Last Gamer Standing by Katie Zhao *MG* 9/21
  • Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas *MG* 9/21
  • Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao 9/21
  • The Insiders by Mark Oshiro *MG* 9/21
  • The Samosa Rebellion by Shanthi Sekaran *MG* 9/21
  • Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray 9/28
  • For All Time by Shanna Miles 9/28
  • Steelstriker by Marie Lu *sequel* 9/28
  • The Cursed Carnival And Other Calamities Anthology from Rick Riordan Presents *MG* 9/28
  • Playing At The Border by Joanna Ho *PB* 9/28
  • Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen *adult* 9/28
  • The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi *PB* 9/28
  • The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo *adult* 9/28
  • Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic by Lilly Workneh *children’s* 9/28
Me looking at my Bank Account right now…and also, thinking on how there could be books that I have missed on this list

I’ve actually read quite a few of these books and have some in my TBR to read because I recently got my hands on the ARCs! My guess is that you want to know which books I have read so, here is the list of those:

  • Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis *MG*
  • So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Marrow
  • A Clash Of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
  • Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero by Saadia Faruqi *MG*
  • White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
  • Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Essays edited by Saraciea J. Fennel
  • Maya And The Return Of The Godlings by Rena Barron *MG Sequel*
  • Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas *MG*
  • Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (It Inspired this blog post)
  • The Samosa Rebellion by Shanthi Sekaran *MG*
  • Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray
I’ve been busy reading and these books have been amazing to read!

And I have to read these ARCs:

  • Pahua And The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee *MG* (currently reading)
  • The Bones Of Ruin by Sarah Raughley
  • Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach
  • The Insiders by Mark Oshiro *MG*
And do this, we shall!

So y’all, there are so many amazing books coming out this month and I’m going to run before y’all come after me! Are there any books that you are looking forward to? Share them in the comments! If y’all wanna come find & follow me out in these E-Streets, look me up on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog pleaseeeeeee). As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wishing you happy reading! PEACE!

Whats The 411 Hun: Romance For Haiti Auction Fundraiser

Hey Everyone, I know that it’s not quite like me to do two posts in one week but I felt that it was really important to post about this particular fundraising effort. As someone who is Half-Haitian and a reader, I had been trying to figure out how to utilize my love for reading to benefit the land of my father’s birth. I’m so very grateful that there are authors and publishing professionals that have taken the initiative to fund-raise for Haiti by donating books and various services. The Auction starts on Saturday, August 28th and goes until Monday, September 1st (so quickly gather your coins).

For more information, here are the links about the event:

Please go follow them on instagram and browse the items that are up for auction…I’ve already put several items on my wishlist to bid on! If you aren’t interested in the auction, please do consider donating, they also provide names and links to other organizations in Haiti that will actually give the funds to those who need it (All Tea and Shade to the Red Cross). If you aren’t able to financially support, please still follow their IG page and spread the word about this event.

For me, it’s so important to amplify this incentive. This means so much to me and I sincerely appreciate any & all support you all are able to provide. When I think of ways to continue to honor my Grandpa and Ayiti, the country that he loved so much, this is definitely one of the ways that I know he would be behind as a fellow book lover & retired librarian (he is where I get it from).

The book in his hands is Dear Haiti, Love Alaine…I gifted him a signed copy

One more picture with my grandpa because he’s my favorite human and he always made sure that we all knew how much he loved Haiti.

He’s truly the best

Alright y’all, before I get anymore choked up, please go forth and spread the word about this incredible fundraising effort! If y’all have any questions, you all know you can find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. As usual, I’m sending you all so much bookish love. From the bottom of my bookish heart, Mèsi anpil anpil!

Bad Witch Burning Turned Me Into A Pile Of Ashes

  • Jessica Lewis
  • YA Debut; 2nd Published book
  • Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy
  • Background: Black
  • Twitter: @jlew100; www.authorjessicalewis.com
  • Release: 08/24/2021 (Go ahead and pick it up but be prepared not to put it down!)
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press
  • Favorite Character: Will! She is the epitome of a best friend. She struck an amazing balance between supportive and real with Katrell…I adored that about her. I also really loved Conrad, her dog!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Thought you were a witch? What, you get rained on or something?”-Justin, I thought this was funny as hell. “It’s almost over, Katrell. You can stay strong or break. There is no in between anymore. But for me, I am weary.”-Two. I felt this in my Spirit! Its so rare for people to point out the options so plainly however, knowing that “strong” could have many different forms is important information to have.

Hey everyone! Two weeks ago, I posted about two books that triggered some serious therapy sessions complete with tons of crying, which you can read here. Bad Witch Burning was one of the two books and as I was writing, I knew that I needed to write an entire post about this book. This book is one that I had been anticipating since I saw the announcement for it and was too happy that I had been approved for it on Netgalley. When I began reading it, I didn’t want to put my amazon fire down and ended up finishing it the same day! It’s a book that takes you in its hands and doesn’t let you go until the very end…and even when you finish it, you can’t help but think about it for days (I kid you not on this…just read it and tell me where the lie is).

No, but seriously, I have been pretty much every day since I finished it!

BWB is filled with so many twists and turns…ones that may or may not have produced very violent responses from me. When I tell you the notes in my E-ARC were a lot…they were A LOT because the things that were both said and done had evoked such intense feelings from me. I wasn’t kidding my in post about Literary Angry Girls when I said I’ve been angry so much of my life and this book brought out so many of these feelings! Quite a few (okay, more than a few) of these angry feelings were actually aimed at Katrell’s mama and her sorry a$$ (to put it incredibly light) boyfriend. I can’t imagine anyone reading this book and being like “noooo, I didn’t want to kick their behinds into the ground until there was nothing left…they were fiiiiiiiineeeeee” (insert *eye roll* here). If I were to ever meet someone who has that sentiment, I will ask them when they will be applying for sainthood cause it couldn’t be me! I won’t be talking much about this though because I covered some of what triggered me in that previously mentioned blog post (and maybe because I don’t want to get triggered again either, lol).

That’s pretty much all that could be done since I couldn’t fight the characters themselves!

On top of the twists and turns, there are so many lessons folded into this book. One of the biggest ones being that no one should have to shoulder other people’s burdens, especially a child/teen. Katrell carried not just her own weight & that of her dog but her mother AND her mooching a$$ boyfriend (again, that’s light). Instead of being able to be a teen and enjoy as much of her youth as she could, she worked like a single parent of three while putting themselves through school. Thinking about it, it makes me angry all over again because no teen should be supporting a parent & their tired a$$ partner (still being light on this)…I quite literally have notes saying “WHY ARE YOU LEANING SO HARD ON A TEEN?!” *shakes head & pinches the bridge of my nose*. Let me move on before I start to go off the deep end about this particular part of the book.

To say her mama did is a severe understatement

Wait… I found another gif that I felt was needed when it comes to Katrell’s mama that I really want to include….

I wanted Katrell to get away from her mama hella bad!

Wait, one more but this is how I felt toward both Katrell’s mama and her scrub a$$ boyfriend (again, very very light when it comes to him)

I really really REALLY wanted to fight them both!

Back to the post! Another lesson that so many of us need reminder of is knowing how to ask for help and who to ask for that help. One of things that I loved about her best friend, Will, is that she constantly voiced to Katrell how she was there for her and she could lean on her when she needs to. Katrell is like so many of us that doesn’t like to even be in the vicinity of another person when help is really needed, let alone be willing to lean on another *cue the song Lean On Me here*. She constantly saw herself as alone, like many of us, but often had hands extended to her that she refused to see. It hurt my heart when someone would offer help and she ignored it because its such a bad habit many of us have… Really, Katrell is a lot of us in this respect and I would love to see teens doing better than us & develop healthier habits *sigh*. Real talk, they deserve so much more than what they’ve been handed.

*Sings* Leeeeeean on meeeee…when you’reeeee not strrrrrronggggg… but only when you aren’t using me for financial gain

This book is such an important book and as jarring as it could be at times, it is completely necessary. As much as we would love to think that there are no teens that are dealing with the situations that Katrell deals with (outside of low-key starting an undead apocalypse, which you need to read to understand this side thought more), the reality is that there are likely more dealing with these sort of circumstances than we know because we are either not paying attention or they are hiding it really well. Kids are forced to grow up so much faster than they should ever have to and this has been happening longer than it ever should’ve been. Author J.Elle talks a little about this in her IG live reading of the first chapter, which you can watch here. I barely touched how it covers difficulties created by the wealth gap in this country, domestic violence, emotional abuse, PTSD and so many other things that plague this country, especially in communities of color. Just go and read this book then help put it in the hands of kids you know and into classrooms & libraries.

We all need to pay attention

There is so much more that I want to say about Bad Witch Burning but there isn’t enough time in the day for me to write about it and I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone! Just know that this book left me in an ocean of my own tears and then scorched me to the point of being a pile of ashes on my couch…matter of fact, I’m writing this from the great beyond and Katrell wrote a letter to bring me back to write this post, lol! No, but on a serious tip (OMG, did my age just show with that), make sure you have a box of tissues near by and possibly a punching bag or pillow to hit or scream into because you will feel so many damn things, it won’t even be funny…and you won’t have much time to recover because it all hits you before you even know what to do with yourself! Think I’m joking? Just read the book.

The level of ugly crying I did during this book is pretty astronomical

Anyway y’all, I’m going to leave you all here so you can either pick up this book from your favorite bookstore or request it from your local library (that also supports the author, don’t ever forget that). If you all want to continue this bookish banter, you can find & follow me out in these e-skreets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog pretty pretty pleaseeeeeee). As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wishing you happy reading! And I’m Out (for now *wink*)!

To All The Literary Angry Girls

When people meet me, they likely wouldn’t think I’m an angry person, more specifically an Angry Black Woman (this is an important distinction), because I can be your stereotypical Hufflepuff upon (most) first meetings. However, the reality that I’ve been angry most of my lifetime and like most people, I’ve been shamed about it. As my reading & healing journey has progressed, I’ve come to realize this with startling clarity that I’ve been not only shamed but also restrained. When I read the most gut-wrenching but freeing book dedication from The Everlasting Rose, sequel to The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton “For all the angry girls. There’s nothing wrong with you.” I broke down in tears…because we all need that confirmation that its okay to feel & process our anger and that it is absolutely valid.

And there are so many reasons to be!

Another thing I realized about anger/being angry is that part of processing is questioning, which we are also taught either not to do at all or question minimally (there are some exceptions, of course). I’m a person who always has a question in the back of my mind and the tip of my tongue. “Why” stays stuck to my tongue like it was pierced there. Receiving the questions to your answers can either 1) make you feel better or 2) piss you off more (is there really an in-between there?)… It can also be frustrating when answers aren’t given, which then can make you want to tear some ish down. This is what I love so much about these books, that these characters tend to ask a lot of questions, whether it is in their mind or out loud. They stay puzzling things out like they are in an epic escape room (which is what their worlds often feel like while reading).

Which is BS…we should be able to fix our faces how we want, ask all the questions we want…express ourselves however the EFF we want!

Another thing I thought of that is a common thread with being angry (in characters or in real life) is grief. The levels can be varied but its there in some way, shape or form. I feel that grief gets looked at in the most simplistic way as something that just causes a person to be sad but there are so many things that grief can do. For me personally, I felt a literal snap in my Spirit when my grandpa passed and the intensity level of my anger increased significantly. Whether these characters lost a person, an opportunity or lacked something, that plays a part in their anger and how it propels them forward or sends them back.

Stress can definitely be apart of grief and anger…don’t be fooled y’all!

Where is this post coming from? Well, as usual, I was reading and this time it was the E-ARC of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (out September 21st, be sure to pre-order it) and when I tell you her main character Zetian was angry…I thought she would burn everything down (she light-weight did) and I LIVED! I even wrote a tweet about her letting her hate flow through her (which has gotten a lot of likes and some retweets). After finishing the book, I started thinking about my other favorite angry girls in books I’ve read…so here’s a short list of those books and the angry girls that spoke to my Spirit.

Tiffany is Zetian making a threat and Jada is everyone else listening & wincing a little, lol
  • Zetian from Iron Widow. I love that she was 1) always ready for revenge & wouldn’t ever let anyone get in her way and 2) that she questioned everything.
  • Bree from Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. There isn’t much more that I can say that I didn’t say in my blog post about this book…I love how her anger fueled her, periodt.
  • Belcalis from The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. I’ll admit that at first, I wasn’t feelin’ her but she grew on me. Her anger was justified in so many ways though misdirected at times. Though, thinking about it, why does her anger need to be justified in the first place? No one should have to have permission or need to justify why they feel what they feel, IMO.
  • Evalene from Daughters Of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron. Eva had so many reasons to angry. She’s learning all these new things about herself but not what triggered her abilities and limitations. I can tell you that I was beyond happy when she let it rip when she did!
  • Pinky from 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon. Of the 3 books in the Dimpleverse, Pinky’s character is the one I related most to because of how angry and misunderstood she is. She’s a firecracker and a fighter which propelled her to really get ish done. Pinky knew how valuable her voice was and used it any chance she got.
  • Bri from On The Come Up by Angie Thomas. Bri, for me, is the type of Black Girl that is automatically pegged as angry but she mostly has a no nonsense sort of attitude (that could give way to anger). When she was angry, I understood why but she wasn’t allowed to fully express what she felt when she needed to. Bri is my favorite of all of Angie’s characters and I don’t think she will be dethroned.
  • Happi from One Of The Good Ones by Maritza & Maika Moulite. Happi was going through so much that people took her grief & kind of warped it into something that it wasn’t. Was she angry? Yes, she was but she was dealing with being in the public eye and contending on with what people may have felt if it was her life unjustly taken rather than her social influencer sisters’…it’s a whole lot and I completely understood where she was coming from!
This was the face I often saw while reading these books because it was low-key what was on my face too!

I know that there are so many other angry girls that I did not mention but I still saw and connected with. I honestly appreciate the heck out of a character that is angry and I am so glad that kids today (no matter their outward/inward expressions) get to see characters who express it. Whether the character is messy or not, doesn’t matter to me because emotions, especially anger, are complicated. I do feel that these books can help kids today figure themselves out a little bit more and exam if they would or wouldn’t handle their situations in the same way. These books carry so many gems and lessons that I wish I had as a teen but am happy to have now as an adult.

I sure do!

When I read or hear some reviews of books, it’s often times the angry girl who is getting bashed. I often wonder why 1) they are being held to an impossible standard as if they are a. not a teenager & b. a fictional character and 2) if they don’t ever feel anger at all. I wanna know what type of world these people live in & the type of privilege they have because… reasons. I remember one such critique (if it could even be called that) of Bri from OTCU in relation to Starr from The Hate U Give and immediate anger I felt (oh, please believe that I went all the way off) upon reading their comment. The way that angry girls are expected to be like their more passive counterparts and their feelings invalidated in the process is, for lack of better words, bullsh*t. Why should anyone have to dampen their emotions/thoughts to make someone else more comfortable?! Any and everyone could miss me with that noise! So next time you come across an angry girl, in a book or IRL, I hope you take a moment to really LOOK at her and attempt to understand where she is coming from because there is so much more underneath the surface (I would certainly know).

Seriously doe, don’t do the whole comparisons thing, it’s high-key disrespectful

Well y’all, I’m going to end this here before I hop back onto my soapbox again! Do you have any favorite angry girl characters? Do they have any Angela Bassett in Waiting To Exhale walking away from a burning car moments (that was my favorite part of the movie, TBH)? Please do share them (sans spoilers, of course). If you tryin’ to find me out in these e-streets, you can find and follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog pleaseeeeeee). As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love & wishing you happy reading! Laters!

But seriously, this is my favorite part of the entire movie! Look at her face as she walks away…she’s a woman who has HAD it & won’t deal with no one’s mess anymore!
The tweet that essentially started this, lol!

Two Books That Triggered Some Serious Therapy Sessions

Before you start to think “oh nooooo, these books must’ve been bad”, I’mma stop you right there because on the contrary my friends, they were Really good books (there would be no post if they weren’t)! This post will be a bit more transparent than usual because these topics are fairly personal & I tend to keep things close to my chest…I’m not finna tell you all my bidness but I’ll be giving a glimpse!

Exactly Mariah, Exactlyyyy

I’ve been in therapy over two years now, a fact I am very unashamed of and am happy to talk about. I’ve been blessed to find not only a Black therapist but a Black Lady therapist which is more important than gets talked about because #RepresentationMatters in Mental Health practices too. I usually mention the books that I am reading at the time to her at the beginning of sessions because I’m bookish at any time of the day but usually, they don’t trigger me into a crying mess…until these two books came into the picture! What are these two books that I speak of, well, let’s get to that shall we?

My therapist’s name is NOT Rhonda but I’ve had a few of these moments like Molly and I appreciate them.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield: This book was so very beautifully written. Besides having one of the most gorgeous covers I’ve ever laid my eyes on, the narrative was poetic & soothing even when I was balling my eyes out. It is so vivid and I felt like I was there in Jamaica with Tilla though I have never set foot on Jamaican soil before. I don’t share in Asha’s Jamaican heritage but as a fellow descendant of the Caribbean, I could relate to so much of this story.

It really is y’all!

Now, you must be wondering what about this book triggered me since I wrote nice things? Well, it was the Father/Daughter & family dynamic throughout the story. During the launch for this book, I spoke and said that this book triggered me into an absolute mess during my therapy session that I thankfully had pretty close to when I finished the book. My relationship with my Black Caribbean father is a very complicated one…one that in so many ways is like Tilla’s with her father in how she used to view her dad and my sister was much the same as her younger sister. The way that Tilla tried to protect her sister from the knowledge she had of her dad, I did the same with my own father’s anger. My father was not a very nice man (to put that delicately) at times in my own childhood/teenagehood but like Tilla, I felt (still feel) that pull to try to have a better relationship with him. Tilla’s father said some really hurtful things to her and so many of those things cracked me open because Fathers really should be showing their daughters the type of love they should be receiving from their chosen partners. When he would say the things he did, it hurt like they were being said to me because I’ve experienced similar… Needless to say, I’ve been working on healing that part of myself before I could really try with my father especially since he is so different from the man I grew up with.

Welp…=0/

As for the family dynamic…well, I wasn’t a fan of her father’s family and wanted to throw most of them away. She had some family members that were great (well, like 2 to 4 max) but as for the others… If I was capable of reaching through my Kindle Fire to yolk them up, I would’ve without hesitation. The way that they treated Tilla was beyond mind blowing! I can’t say much of my family members are angels either but I’ve never wanted to sit them on hot coals the way I wanted to to Tilla’s family. Families like Tilla’s are a reminder of why chosen families are so important and as well as knowing who is a true support system & who to steer so clear of that you are on the other side of town.

This sums up how I feel about Tilla’s paternal family….

Speaking of other side of town, You are probably wondering what the second book is and I will tell you but not as much mainly because it isn’t out yet…

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: This book has been one that I have been anticipating since I saw the cover. I knew from the moment that I saw it (#BookishSpideySense), that I had to read it and I was beyond ecstatic that I was approved for it on Netgalley! I completely ate up this book in a day, which is a running record for me when it comes to books I’m completely into. I didn’t want to put my Amazon Fire Down for a moment and I even had a series of tweets about this book. I will say, don’t be surprised if you find a blog post dedicated to BWB the week it releases (8/24/2021 so go ahead and pre-order it.)

That’s exactly how I felt about this book!

So what about a book that I finished in a day triggered yet another tear-filled therapy session? Welp, it was the mother/daughter relationship (are y’all really surprised? Parent relationships are tough). There were so many moments where my jaw just dropped and left me wondering how Katrell’s mom ever thought it was a good idea to procreate (yea, that’s the thought that went through my mind at times y’all). I will say that my mother is not like Katrell’s mother in how she manipulated/used her and for that, I am lucky. I will say that my mom can be as tone-deaf as Katrell’s mother (she will hate that I said this, nor would my father for that matter, but I won’t lie here). When it came to her boyfriends and Katrell’s very obvious cries for help, she didn’t want to hear it. It made me angry because I have dealt with & still deal with some of that mindset. The difference is Katrell is a teen and I’m now an adult but I dealt with the hierarchy that my mom established between her significant others & I as a teen. I really wanted to hug Katrell at so many points during the book, for both my teenage self & my adult self because Sis needed it.

Katrell could seriously use this type of hug…hell, I could too!

Of course, I would love to say more about this book but as I talk/write about it, I feel like I REALLY want to do a dedicated blog post about BWB because of how much it spoke to my Spirit. I’m not going to tell you how to spend your money or anything but this would be a worthwhile pre-order my friends!

And you could always trust me…especially when it comes to books & bubble tea!

Really, both of these books are worthwhile buys. Yes, I cried my eyes out while reading these books (I’m an emotional being)…and yes, I felt myself fall to pieces but I also started to put the pieces back together, especially with my therapist. They spoke to the parts of myself that wondered if I was overthinking my past experiences, if there was something somehow wrong with me because my mind & body still carried these feelings. These books showed me that that was not the case and they also helped facilitate healing those parts of me that still held on to so tightly to those feelings/thoughts/experiences.

Or maybe you do…

When people ask me why I read so much YA and MG, it’s in part because of books like these…the books that crack me open & help me exam my own experiences so that I can put myself back together stronger than I was before I opened up that book. It’s really a gift to be able to See myself and so many others that I know represented in this way. It’s truly why I fight as hard for these books as I do. So that kids of color can see themselves reflected on the page, whether its of their best moments or their lowest because there is nothing like being Seen. It’s quite literally my prayer for my Godchildren, my students, my (hopefully) future children, All Children/Teens Of Color really to have a plethora of books that they could fully See themselves in.

For real! And Thank Goodness for the Authors Of Color who do and are doing the work to make it possible for this prayer/dream/hope to come true

So y’all, I’m going to end this post here before I end up in a heap by my laptop (take that as literally as you like). Are there any books you’ve felt crack you open? Any books that led to some heart-wrenching therapy sessions (I love a good cry, it’s healthy)? Let’s talk about them (the books, not the therapy sessions, those are personal)! You can find and follow me out in the interwebs Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog pretty please). As usual, I’m wishing you happy reading and sending you bunches of bookish love! Please take care of yourselves out in this crazy crazy world! Peace!

RuPaul said it so it’s true…Listen to Mama Ru

The Good Luck Girls Is Like A Wild Western Set It Off

Such a dope cover, right?!
  • Charlotte Nicole Davis
  • Debut; Book 1 of a Duology
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Black
  • IG: @cndwrites, Twitter: @cndwrites; www.charlottenicoledavis.com
  • Release: 10/1/2019 (Go get it now because the sequel is out next week!)
  • Publisher: Tor Teen
  • Favorite Character: I’m shocked by this but Violet! I know she is the only fairblood in the group & what not but she kept really really real in this book and y’all know I’m about that keeping it 100% life!
  • Favorite Quote: “I worked hard for this room. And this bed. Look, even the pillows have pillows.”-Clementine. I felt Clem on her excitement & the small sense of entitlement she felt, Black girls don’t get that so I seriously appreciated her having that moment.
How I imagine Clem would be with those pillows

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give a disclaimer that this post is actually not new. I wrote it a while back but just never posted it (not cause it was bad or anything) *face slaps*. Since the sequel is coming out next week, I wanted to make sure to post this so you all will go out and get The Good Luck Girls & Sisters Of The Reckoning.

Without the shadiness that Gia Gunn offers, lol

When I was at bookcon in 2019 (it feels like a lifetime ago *wails*), I saw the cover to The Good Luck Girls on the wall & took a picture so I wouldn’t forget to be on the look for it. Someone called out “thank you” (It may have been Charlotte’s mom & if so “HEY MRS. DAVIS! THANK YOU!” If not, still “HEY MRS. DAVIS! Thank you for giving birth to an author!”) when they saw me and honestly, I should’ve been the one to say thank you to them at the time! A few weeks later, I ran into author Dhonielle Clayton who mentioned The Good Luck Girls while engaging in bookish talk and if she recommends a book, I know it is going to be a bop (I forever trust her judgment). It was the sign from the Universe that told me that I was meant to read this book! On top of that, there is a beautiful Black Girl on the cover! So it was a wrap, Saran AND Reynolds (wow, my age just showed there a bit, lol)! The cover has since been redesigned to match the sequel’s but I still love the original cover SOOOOOO much! This book was such a roller coaster, I wasn’t ready for so many of the things that happened and Sisters Of The Reckoning didn’t let me down either, it barely let my thoughts be quiet at that if I’m keeping it 100 here (I had the pleasure of reading the E-ARC but fear not, there won’t be any spoilers *smiles*)!

Oh, it definitely was Selma, it definitely was!

Y’all…I’m so here for this badass band of outlaws! Aster, Clem, Tansy, Mallow and Violet were such an unlikely combination of characters that they worked beautifully. They are so supportive and mindful of one another throughout this book. Though they didn’t always see eye-to-eye, they were diplomatic in how they handled their differences of opinion. I love how they all step up and have their shining moments as well as acknowledge their strengths…they’re like a well coconut-oiled & Shea buttered machine and it’s truly glorious to behold. The closeness of this group, even when they didn’t feel so close, was also endearing. They were free to be individuals which allowed us to get to know each one along with how they functioned as a group.

This is kind of how I think of them in my mind, lol

Something else I dug about this book is the approach to girls/women having ownership of their (our) bodies & lives… Lawd knows that we deserve to feel all the entitlement to ourselves & the memo needs to be posted EVVVVVVV-ER-Y-WHERE! Being that they were in a good luck house, they could’ve resigned to that life but the fact that they didn’t speaks so much to their spirit & character…it’s like the ancestors propelled them forward as they do with us. They were handed a life that no girl/woman should have to live on behalf of their families if it wasn’t what they were choosing for themselves. Despite the reasons being somewhat selfish on the part of their families, they still thought often of their families… Which truly, they were better than me because there is nooooooo way I would invest thought in my family if they sold me (literally) out like that…like there is no effin’ way (I can hold a grudge like nobody’s bidness)! I think it is a testament to their hearts because I’m petty AF. They did what they had to do to hold on to their humanity and “steal their happiness” where they could as Aster says. This group of girls didn’t let the perceptions of others deeply impact how they saw themselves and each other. I really admired their perseverance and fighting spirits.

It sure is, no matter who tries to say differently!

It’s their fighting spirit & quick thinking that made them such badass outlaws that they would give Jesse James a run for his (stolen) money. They were hella clever & fast…it was like a literary Set It Off but wild west style! Aster & Violet combined were like Cleo, Clem is like T.T., Tansy is like Frankie and Mallow is like Stoney (this is my personal opinion and I am sticking to it). Really at any point in time, they could switch out roles in who masterminded what or took care of whatever needed to happen. If you haven’t seen that movie & are old enough to watch it, I would highly recommend it because a group of four badass Black women tearing ish up is just so epic…I still watch that movie like I’ve never seen it before! Anyways, I imagine that if there were to be a movie for TGLG, it would look something like Set It Off (but a different ending because obviously, there has to be a sequel) & I wouldn’t be mad at it at alllll (lettuce pray that there would actually be a movie or TV series in the not so distant future *looks at production studios*)!

I bet Aster & the crew had moments like this…at least they did in my mind!

Also like in Set It Off, sisterhood was a big part of TGLG, which I appreciated. While they had their arguments (what sisters, literary or real life, doesn’t fight?!), they didn’t turn their backs on one another. It was a bit like sorority life or living in a girl’s dorm and if you have been a part of either, you know a lot of ish can go down (oh so many memories comes to mind, right now) but there are ways to bounce back from those moments, which I feel these characters do. They embodied the phrase “I am my sister’s keeper”!

I feel like they had moments like this too, when they weren’t running for their lives!

TGLG covers so many different themes from trauma & PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), racism, classism and so many others were written between the lines for us to pick up. I really enjoyed this book & felt so empowered by this group of girls and their resilience. I would highly recommend that you go pick up this book, sit down & get ready to get lost in the world of Aster, Clem, Tansy, Mallow and Violet…it’s a wild ride but so worth experiencing the bumps! And I promise you all that Sisters Of The Reckoning does not disappoint either. I damn near had a heart attack several times from the sideways things that happened! I didn’t want to put it down for even a moment and found myself thinking about what would happen next! I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to risk spoiling anything, especially because of the way that TGLG ended! So if you love Girl Gangs, a hint of romance and the Wild West, you will really enjoy this Duology!

And Set It Off is exactly what they did!

Well y’all, I’mma end it here so you can go out and pick up The Good Luck Girls and pre-order Sisters Of The Reckoning! Until the next post, Find and Follow me out in these E-Streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog puhleeeeaseeeee). As usual, I’m wishing you happy reading and sending you bunches of bookish love! Until the next post, later!

Stoney is actually my favorite… and we out! Go get The Good Luck Girls!
They look like they are going to drop the hottest album after robbing a brag somewhere!

Give Me All The Stories Please-An Ode To Anthologies

Heyyyyyy there! So after finishing the Black Boy Joy anthology Edited by Kwame Mbalia, it got me thinking about how much I love anthologies and how they tend to bring me such happiness. I don’t know if it is the different voices, the expressions of experiences or just masterful storytelling but I just LOVEEEEEEE a good anthology. It also made me think of how my Grandpa loved to tell stories and how the ones closest to his heart not only made him light up but how those listening around him lit up as well, much like when I read an anthology. A great story could always make my day, especially from him, so that could be why I love them as much as I do. So I’m going to share some of my favorite anthologies and why I loved them…I would share my favorite stories but I want you all to go out and get them then tell me what your favorites are after reading *wink* *wink*. This list isn’t extensive so you don’t have to worry too much about your bank account (at least, I don’t think :0/).

Me, when I finish a good anthology

A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell. What I loved so much about this anthology is how it represented the vastness of what it is to be a Black Girl and what it could mean to be/have Black Girl Magic. The stories are just so dope and quite a few, I’m really hoping that the authors turn into full novels because I have so many questions or just want more of the stories/characters! They played out like movies in my mind and that is always a great sign when I’m reading a book or a short story.

For Reals!

Black Boy Joy Edited by Kwame Mbalia. I absolutely adored this anthology because it left my heart so full. The different expressions/dimensions of Black Boyhood/Non-Binaryhood (is that a term?) just kept a smile on my face, even when my eyes threatened to leak…I ate this book up (I read the E-ARC, it’s out on 8/3/2021). I’m too hype to get a copy for my Godson though he’s only 6…it’ll be his first middle grade from me! I firmly believe that we need more books that center Black Boys & their stories and I’m so happy this book will be out in the world for them soon enough!

One of my favorite expressions of Black Boy Joy To Date!

A Thousand Beginnings And Endings edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman. You all know how I feel about mythology and this book is all retellings of AAPI mythology written by AAPI authors. I loved reading the different mythologies, especially when they were new to me. I also loved reading why the authors chose the myths they did because it makes it that much more special after you finish their story. I find that knowing why a story is so important to someone makes it much more important/meaningful! If you are a fan of mythology, you will enjoy this one too!

A Cute Kid with a very important message on the shirt…I just couldn’t resist!

Ancestor Approved Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith. I absolutely loved this anthology and was a little upset with myself for not getting to it sooner. This middle grade anthology is one written by Indigenous authors and it was brilliant how they interwove the stories. They highlighted so beautifully how they come from different tribes but how they are connected through ceremonies and celebrations such as Pow Wows. I felt like I was at the Pow Wow with them because the imagery was so vivid! It also made me a bit hungry with the mention of fry bread in every story (just a heads up, lol)!

They weren’t joking when they said that the Little kids dancing makes you go “awwwwww” whenever it was mentioned!

Black Enough Edited by Ibi Zoboi. This is an anthology that is close to my heart. I felt so seen while reading it with the varying experiences and types of stories in its pages. I laughed, my eyes leaked a little, I just had such a great time while reading. I was so lucky to receive an ARC of it before it came out and attended the launch for it so hearing how Ibi chose the authors & the prompts made it so much more special. I’m really hoping that there would be a second installment of this anthology because it felt like there are so many more stories out there to be told, especially with some of the amazing debut authors that have been published since this book came out!

Shoal is!

Well y’all, I gotta get to adulting but likely will decide to read instead (Bookish People Problems For The Win), lol! I have at least 2 more anthologies in my TBR that I hope to get to soon (well, one is coming out soon so I will get to it because of the way I’m set up)! If you know any anthologies written by POC authors, please do drop them in the comments, I love a good book rec just as much as I like giving them!

Seriously, tell me all the good anthologies!

Until the next post, Find and Follow me out in these E-Streets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog). As usual, I’m wishing you happy reading and sending you tonnnnnnnnns of bookish love! Until the next post, later!

Dancing my way out of here!

Middle Grades That Made My Heart Soar!

Hey there! So this week, I felt like doing a list since it’s been a little while! After finishing the middle grade book, Ways To Grow Love by Renee Watson, I felt like my heart was just lifted and so joyous! If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that middle grade books hold such a special place in my bookish heart and I wanted to list some and even a reason or more why they had me any bit in my feelings/tugged at my heart strings (typically in a good way). You will also get your gifs too, so no worries there! These will be books that don’t have their own blog posts since those got their shine already.

My heart exploding after finishing a really good middle grade

Amari And The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. What can I say about this book?! It’s filled with Black Girl Magic and mystery with Amari being on one heck of a mission to not just find her brother but also learn about herself and the intricacies of the supernatural world! I’m tooooo hyped for Book 2, Amari And The Great Game (out next year). The Magical Black Kids Book Club loved this book soooooooo much and we even had a paint party inspired by it (thanks an amazing rep from HarperCollins, Thank you, you know who you are)!

Amari is definitely that!

The Jumbie Series by Tracey Baptiste (The Jumbies, Rise Of The Jumbies & The Jumbie God’s Revenge). This series was my first real taste of Caribbean mythology in recent literature and it also seemed to set off my love of mythology in books! While I’ve always had a love for stories, this series seemed to ignite it in a different way, to where I am seeking out stories like the The Jumbies out more and more! It showed me that there is so much more for me to learn about my cultures and I’m so happy that Tracey (A Trini *blows airhorn*) gave us all the gift of this series! I wouldn’t be mad if there was a 4th book!

Which is opening up the world to Caribbean mythology

The Only Black Girls In Town by Brandy Colbert. Okay, so I have a little bit of a bias here because I adore Brandy Colbert…I know you feel the but coming and here it is…but this would’ve been a book I loved regardless because it’s 2 Black Girls searching for clues into the past of their town/home… who wouldn’t love Black Girls turning into sleuths?! I also loved the history lessons that were embedded into the story and y’all know history is my jam!

This is the type of joy I felt reading The Only Black Girls In Town!

The Way To Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova. I absolutely adored the voice of the main character, Danny, as well as his drive. This book is filled with adventures and stories/characters that I feel I would’ve been captivated by as a kid who had a very active imagination! I have been on the look out for a book two since I finished it because I’m holding on to the belief that Zoraida just wouldn’t leave us the way she did with the ending…would she?! I really hope not because I need to know what goes on with Danny! O_O

This is the spirit I felt that Danny showed

Overwatch: The Hero Of Numbani by Nicky Drayden. I am going to say that I have zero knowledge of Overwatch but I did absolutely love this book. Give me a geeky Black Girl about her business & her people any day, PUHLEASE! Efi seriously didn’t disappoint in how knowledgeable and creative she was. She also is such a problem solver, I loved the way her mind worked to figure out where the kinks, so to speak, were! I would love to see her in more books because of how driven she is! We need more characters like her in middle grade!

Whenever any one doubted Efi

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland. Okay, it’s also not secret that I love Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation duology and she didn’t disappoint with this book. While there are no zombies (or Shamblers like in DN), we do get ghosts, historical gems, mystery and a persistent Black Girl who looks to get to the bottom of it all! I loved Ophie’s voice and her interactions with the ghosts… It was like the Sixth Sense but much better and I think they need to make this into a series, an animated series would actually be cool!

Me, to Ophie & Justina

The Tristan Strong Series by Kwame Mbalia (Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky & Tristan Strong Destroys The World). I really adored this series and chose both of these books (and when it’s 3rd book comes out) for the Magical Black Kids Book Club picks. Not only is it filled with mythology but it also has historical gems, adventures, cool grandparents (in my opinion) and a dope Black Boy at the helm of it all. This is such a great series and I’m too hyped for Tristan Strong Keeps Punching (out in October of this year)!

This was basically what Tristan was trying to answer, in my mind

Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. This book was hysterical and I loved Lucely & her best friend, Syd! There’s funny ghosts that just so happen to be family, hijinxs & shenanigans embedded into their adventures. While I’m allergic, Cats that grab your attention & make you chuckle are also in this book. I enjoyed how the supernatural & magical were woven into this book! I really want to see a sequel *Looks at Claribel*!

Lucely and Syd about to get into some shenanigans

The Track Series by Jason Reynolds (Ghost, Patina, Sunny & Lu). This is a series that I ate up in a few days, not because they are relatively short books but because of each of the characters voices. They capture you from being to end and they each have their traits that connects you to them. The books are interconnected and with the way that Jason ended each book, I was quite glad I was able to binge them because I ran to grab the next when I finished the one before it. Patina was my favorite with her motherly instinct & tough exterior with Sunny in a close second with his sound filled world!

Me, running to grab the next book so I can see what happens next, lol

Race To The Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. This book was the catalyst to me realizing that I really needed to read more books by Indigenous authors. It is filled with Native mythology, adventures and head strong characters. I was entranced by this book from beginning to end and I really want a second book like yesterday! If it wasn’t on your radar before you, you should really change that!

I will listen to them all…as long as they aren’t scary

The Comeback by E.L. Shen. I loved the spirit of the main character, Maxine. While I’m not a figure skater, I understood her drive to become one and prove herself. The foundation of her story, I could deeply connect to as the daughter of immigrants and someone who stuck out at times that didn’t necessary want to then. This is a great story for any kid (anyone really) who needs motivation or pick me up in spirit!

How I imagined Maxine when she was on the ice

Black Panther Novel: Shuri Series by Nic Stone (Shuri & Shuri: The Vanished). I loved Shuri so much that it was the inaugural book for the MBKBC and it was truly the perfect kick off! Much like Efi from Overwatch, Shuri is super smart and creative and where Efi is about her robots specifically, Shuri is about building various types of tech to help her country as well as proving her capabilities to take on the mantle of Black Panther! I am so anxious for the 3rd book to come out in November and to discuss it with the book club members! If you haven’t read this series, you should definitely change that! If we get a TV series based upon these books, I wouldn’t be mad at all *Looks at Marvel Studios*!

Shuri when anyone threatened her country, she always came with the heat

The Ryan Hart Series by Renee Watson (Ways To Make Sunshine & Ways To Grow Love). The book(s) that essentially inspired this post! I loved Ryan’s voice and her outlook on life & her surroundings. She is fiercely loving of her family as well as finding ways to express herself. Ryan deals with so many different changes (some that I know well myself) but she handles them as well as any kid could, finding bright spots where others may not. She also has a bit of a mystery that she is trying to unravel too which adds a little bit of intrigue! I’m so excited for the 3rd book, which comes out next year. This series would be great for kids who are dealing with changes around them but really in general! Also, the illustrations in the book are super cute!

How I saw Ryan approached things at times

The Front Desk Series by Kelly Yang (Front Desk & Three Keys). Front Desk is actually a book that dropped in my lap after a friend went to Comic Con and received an ARC. She thought I would be into it and she was absolutely right! These books were hysterical and I was so happy to find out that there was a sequel and that there would be a third book! So many immigrants come to this country searching for the hypothetical “American Dream” and it was so good to read a story where this family managed to find/create their own version of it & helping others achieve it as well. It has such a great cast of characters that you really can’t help become attached to, filled with witty banter and heart bursting moments!

Mia’s outlook, but with less intense gestures

Hopefully in this list of books, you find one or a few that capture your interests! Honestly, I would love to see middle grades get a lot more love because they contain so many gems that anyone could gleam from regardless of age! I’ve got a few in my TBR that I can’t wait to get to! If you have some middle grade books that you absolutely love, do share them…on the real doe, let’s just make this a middle grade appreciate post!

This is just how I feel about middle grade books!

Well y’all, I’m going to end it here so I can get back to my current read (no one is surprised by this) but you all know that y’all can find me out in these e-streets being bookish and what not! Find and Follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms (also subscribe to this blog). As usual, I’m wishing you happy reading and sending you tonnnnnnnnns of bookish love! Until the next post, later!

There’s a little less attitude in my salutation though

Simone Breaks All The Rules Was Like Reading My Teenage Self

  • Author: Debbie Rigaud
  • 2nd Published
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Background: Haitian-American
  • IG-@froandabow; Twitter-@debbierigaud
  • Release Date: 6/1/2021 (Out now y’all)
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press
  • Favorite Character-Gabbie…she reminded me so much of one of my favorite cousins! Her mannerisms and attitude had me thinking of my cousin whenever she was on the page… Debbie basically wrote my cousin in her book without personally knowing her (or does she? hmmmm). I also really loved Amita, sis is funny as all get out!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–“Ohmygod, I’m done! Bye!” she screams, stomping away, and then jogging right back.-Gabby. When I read this, I thought immediately of my cousin and how this was something that my cousin would say and do, pretty much to a T! And another one #DJKhalidVoice: “Ah, so you’re about that immigrant parent life, too?”-Amita. As the daughter of TWO immigrants from two different countries, I felt this SO HARD! Having immigrant parents is tough…I know there are plenty others who relate, who are fellow first gens born in America! They really don’t play…same with Immigrant grandparents (Mine played zero games when it came to education)!
This is basically what Simone & Amita and those of us with immigrant parents/grandparents experienced at some point in our adolescence, lol

So, I have to acknowledge that I’m late posting about this book and I’m so sorry about it but I wanted to give it the energy that it deserves (better late than never, right?). I posted about it on instagram so, if you follow me, you will see lives where I showed the book (the ARC and final copy unboxing) and a pub day post which was a reel inspired by the story & one of the playlist points “Switch Up Style”, you can watch it here (shout out to my #GlassesTribe)! Debbie sent me a copy of an ARC and once I got to it, I ATE this book up! I laughed so much that my eyes leaked, I shouted and had flashbacks of times with my strict immigrant parents…I basically read my teenage life because my parents (mostly dad) was hella strict and those of us with West Indian parents KNOW you don’t want to cross your parents for any reason.

Sure Am and they didn’t play either…but I’m proud! I’m sure Simone is too!

As a Half-Haitian, I felt like I was reading some of my family at points… from the food (diri djon djon-Black Rice is my favorite) to the mindset of the parents (*deep sigh*) to the family interventions into Simone’s life (*ugh*). I was low-key high-key flashing back to my teen years…from around 15 to 18, lol! While I didn’t write lists, I definitely plotted with my friends on how to get out of the house and what to say to get our parents to agree to things (you have to be THAT calculating with immigrant Parents…which, I hope mine aren’t reading this right now or else I may be in trouble…lol) just as Simone had to. Those of you who didn’t have super strict parents, you just don’t know how good you had it friends.

Simone (or me) plotting with her homegirls throughout the book

Speaking of friends, I LOVED Simone’s friends Amita & Kira and I’m throwing in Gabby too who doubles as her cousin/Best Friend. They reminded me so much of my best friends who also had immigrant and/or strict parents. Though I will say that my very best friend wasn’t really as pressed to free herself of the bonds of strict parentals, she had her own little things here and there…I feel like so many of us with strict parents, like Simone, Amita & Kira all have or had their ways of trying to get from under their parents thumbs. I loved how they worked together to make their senior year their own rather than what their parents tried to tailor for them. I felt like I was right there with them lamenting about their parents, responding “ughhhhhh, I hated it that” and “dang, y’all too?!” pretty much out loud. Honestly, I think my friends and I had similar conversations & meet ups throughout high school, especially in Senior Year! I adored how Amita & Kira took so quickly to Simone and were down for pretty much anything…we all should be blessed with friends like them!

How they hyped each other up…everyone should have friends that hype you like this!

I have to talk a little about my favorite, my cousin’s literary doppelgänger and Simone’s wingwoman, Gabby. When she first stepped on the page, I was like “OMG, SHE’S LIKE MY COUSIN” and I even DM’ed Debbie about that. Gabby is so hysterical and also like a ride-or-die for Simone. Even though she is younger than Simone (which, my cousin is a little younger than me too), she had some gems to drop and edges to snatch (literally because she also did hair). I think so many of us have that one cousin that’s like Gabby, who you can go for advice, to hang out with and even give you a bit of a makeover…these are the cousins that makes the boring family gatherings so much better and would be able to get you out of bed when you really didn’t feel like leaving it in the first place. Cousins like Gabby (and my fav) are a blessing to our sanity and I salute them!

The only salute that feels right to Real Ones like Gabby…
(RIP Chadwick Boseman)

Another character that I loved was Ben (not to be confused with Ben Philippe, lol) whenever he made appearances. He’s like this super down to Earth and realistic kid that I could totally see in my friends circle. Ben is honest but not pushy with it (like so many Haitians I know), observant, calm & cool but not the too-cool-for-school type. There were a few times when I was like “Simone, he’s aiight, just give dude a chance” but because Simone is so much like me, I understood why she behaved the way she did (not too many people like being set up) and he handled it well! With how well he rolled with the punches, he really deserved some bannann or a big plate of diri djon djon (better than any award, if you ask me or any other Haitians)! He was one of those characters that I really liked from the beginning, despite not being the instant fav of other characters (i.e. Simone). Ben was swoon-worthy in his own way, IMO.

If Simone won’t then I will Ben cause you aiight by me

When I read Simone’s character, I was like…wait…did I know Debbie as a teen? How did she know these things about me?! While some things weren’t the same (i.e, my mom’s cooking was Trini but I got my Haitian food fill from my Grandpa), Simone was me sneaking food, writing down my thoughts, daydreaming about how to obtain freedom and get around rules. Though even as she skirted some of the rules, she was pretty mindful of her parents and I thiiiiiink I was kind of mindful too (think being the operative word here, lol). I will say though that Simone was much more into history than I was at her age…I loved it but she was really about that life from speaking about Haitian history to her senior thesis paper on revolutionary figures. I really admired that about her and that aspect of her reflects so many teens we are seeing now who speak on the past & present to fight for all of our futures. I think so many teens will see that part of themselves in her or something else will speak to them. Simone is such a relatable character that I couldn’t help but think that we would’ve been friends if she was someone I met in real life. She’s a character for the people!

This is basically Simone when she speaks about being Haitian & I feel the same about my Haitian & Trini sides!

As you could tell by now, I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the story line. As I’ve said, it’s incredibly funny as it has so much banter in there to keep you entertained but not overwhelmed. It’s like reading A Haitian-Americans’ Clarissa Knows It All (did I just show my age there? O_O) but even more relatable. Once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down. So make sure you either request it from your favorite local library or bookstore, I promise you will love it (you trust me, don’t you? *flutters eyelashes*)!

You seriously will!

Well y’all, I’m going to end it here so I’m wishing you all happy reading and sending y’all tons of bookish love! For even more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. Until the next post, Bon jou or Bon nwit (depending on where you are in the world and what time it is)!

Josephine Against The Sea Gave Me All The Caribbean Mythology I Need

  • Author: Shakirah Bourne
  • Debut
  • Genre: MG Contemporary Fantasy
  • Background-Bajan
  • IG-@shakirahwrites; Twitter-@shakirahwrites
  • Release Date: 7/6/2021 (Iz out now *cues airhorns*)
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press
  • Favorite Character-Issa tie between Ahkai & Josephine! They are one of the best best friend duos I’ve had the pleasure of reading and are equally hilarious for different reasons!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–“I don’t have a job. How can I pay for a whole window?”-Josephine. When she said that, I howled because of the way I heard it said in my mind! I also feel like I’ve asked something like this as a kid (Like Josephine, I had a smart mout’ & still do, lol).
How I think Josephine looked when she asked that question, lol

From the moment I saw Josephine Against The Sea, I knew…I just KNEW that it was going to be a book that I would love and you know what… I was right (Clearly, because this post exists)! When I got an E-ARC, I was so excited but then I had a hard time getting it to download (I even tried asking for help in my IG stories like it was ask Jeeves, lol)…I lamented over this for a little while then ran into Shakirah’s DMs about this. Thankfully, she hooked a sista up! So real quick, Shout outs to Shakirah’s publicist who sent me an early finished copy (Shakirah told me she was on it but I didn’t think it was going to be as fast as it was, her publicist is a Real One)!

This was how I felt when I got the response back then when I received my copy

When I tell y’all I ate this book up, I was done with it the day after I started it. It was so engaging and funny that I really didn’t want to put it down (adulting made me put it down, ugh)! I laughed so hard that my eyes just wouldn’t stop leaking with all the shenanigans that Josephine was up to. When she included her best friend Ahkai, it was even better because of how they played off of one another. I imagined that Josephine was me when her dad would bring a potential love interest in and all the nonsense I pulled when my mom would bring someone new around. I’m going to talk a little bit more about that in a second doe. First, I just need to speak a little bit about the mythology………

When you know Josephine was plotting…light-weight, my face too, lol

*Groans in utter happiness* The way that Shakirah wrote in the mythologies was just brilliant! I LOVEDDDDDDDD how rooted in Caribbean mythology this book is! Despite being a child of Caribbean Parents (West Indian Massiveeeeee), they really didn’t indulge me in the legends of their Islands for some reason. So when I come across books like JATS and The Jumbies Series (by Tracey Baptiste), I just eat them up. There was mention of different types of mythologies/folklore throughout the book that I knew a little about but still have to learn about. There wasn’t direct interaction with some of these mythologies but it cracked the doors a bit to possible adventures with those stories later down the line (Dear Gawd, I really hope there will be). I’m not going to be specific as to which mythology is heavily explored because it is a big component of the plot of the book but Shakirah was brilliant in how she layered & built to the discovery! Josephine was like a West Indian Inspector Gadget Nancy Drew at times & I adored that about her! I love any and every opportunity to read different types of mythologies (my love for books like The Last Fallen Star & CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls make that glaringly apparent and they both have sequels coming out, just so you know) but when the stories are directly connected to my own heritage, it makes it extra special. And truly, JATS is a special book; I felt it when I saw the cover and then when I finally got to read it. I couldn’t help but rave about it to a family I work with and quite a few other people because I felt it was just that good! Seriously y’all, come for the mythology and stay for the shenanigans!

We sure do!

I know said I would speak about Josephine’s shenanigans and I have to uphold my promise. From her opening statement, “It’s 4:58 pm and Daddy still isn’t back from his date. I should have never allowed him to leave home.” I was like “oh this is going to be goooood” and I wasn’t let down in the least bit. Josephine is one for pranks and she tends to include her best friend, Ahkai, who is *often* a willing participant. When he isn’t convinced, he will question Josephine & it’s hilarious. If I was one for pranks as a kid, I feel like I would’ve been right in line with what Josephine was throwing down (I would’ve her helped for sure)… I was more of the ice-them-out-until-they-can’t-handle-the-cold-anymore type when my parents (they’re divorced) brought new potential partners around me *shrugs*. So I understood Josephine’s need to pull the shenanigans she did that included things like her cricket ball, fish guts and quite a few other things…sis was very creative! I also understood her overprotective nature over her father as I feel that over my mom. Josephine’s situation is different with the fact that her mother is deceased and it makes things vastly different. Josephine was not only fighting to preserve her mother’s memory but also the relationship she has with her dad & his heart, which is sacred. Did she go overboard at times? Well, that’s for you to decide when you read this book *wink* *wink*!

The excitement I imagine Josephine feels when a prank develops in her mind

Speaking of father-daughter relationships, I really loved Josephine’s relationship with her dad. While yes, she was trying to sabotage his dating life at every turn, it was, in her own way, super endearing. She was trying so hard to remind him of their kinship and of the things that connected them, especially when it came to cricket. Whenever Josephine spoke about her father, I could feel the love she felt for him…not just because he was her father but because of how much she admired him. You could tell that she truly saw and knew her dad in ways that a lot of kids don’t look at their parents. I get the warm & fuzzies just thinking about it. They lived in their own world and we were given the privilege of peeking into it. Also, their banter was super funny as it was like they switched roles in who was the parent and the kid; which was hysterical to me!

The Warm & Fuzzies I felt reading Josephine & her dad’s interactions…most times

Another relationship that I loved was Josephine’s best friendship with Ahkai. I adored the bond between them as it is super clear how well they understand each other when she introduces him into the story. They both know that they can lean on each other, which is really special. Something that I deeply appreciated is the fact that Josephine lets us know that Ahkai is a character with Autism. We don’t see nearly enough kids in literature with diagnoses that get to have these beautiful interpersonal relationships. As both a Special Educator and a Godmother to a child with Autism, it made me so happy to read this sort of representation. I also appreciated that while Josephine acknowledged that part of Ahkai, she didn’t make his personhood solely about Autism. I loved how proud she was of their closeness & how she would stand in solidarity with him when she knew he needed it and Ahkai would reciprocate that in his own ways, especially when it came to researching. This was a really special aspect to the book and one of my biggest takeaways.

In a way, this is Josephine & Ahkai

When I was done with this book, I ran back to Shakirah’s DMs to tell her how much her book meant to me. As someone of Caribbean descent, a Godmother and educator, this book really stuck in my mind & heart. I wholeheartedly think you need to go pick it up ASAPually! You’ll laugh a ton and you’ll also feel a lot of feels. On the real, I believe you will enjoy it & would want to see more of Josephine because I know I did! I am seriously hoping and praying for a sequel…I really really am!

I’m asking nicely Shakirah, can we pleaseeeee have more Josephine & Ahkai adventures?! PLEASEEEEEEE

Welp y’all, I’m going to end it here so you can go out and get this book. Whether its from your local library or your favorite bookstore, it doesn’t matter as long as you get it! As usual, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms.

This Poison Heart Is Literal Black Girl Magic

But like…LOOOOOOOK AT THIS COVERRRRRRR!
  • Author: Kalynn Bayron
  • 2nd Book Published; 1st in a series (*cries rocking in a corner*)
  • Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy
  • Background: Black
  • IG-@kalynnbayron; Twitter-@KalynnBayron; https://www.kalynnbayron.com/
  • Release Date: 6/29/2021 (out NAOW in the US & UK!), 7/2/2021 (AUS)
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury
  • Favorite Character-I LOVEEEEEEEEE Briseis’ moms SOOOOOOO much but I loved Mo (Angie) a lot! She’s the overprotective but funny & cool mom that I think I will be should I have kids! Also, the way she loves Bri & Mom (Thandie) just made my heart feel all sorts of warm & fuzzies!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–“Oh, they also like to make dance videos on TikTok,” said Mo. “What’s that one called? The Renegade?” “I can do it, but the way my ligaments are set up-“-Mo…damn if this won’t be me some day! And the way I cackled at this entire page…this whole book really! “You’re some kind of actual Black girl magic.”-Mom. I could just feel the reverence & love in this quote…more Black girls need to hear this from the people in their lives.
I mean, it’s true

The moment I saw This Poison Heart’s cover, I just KNEW I had to read this book… Scroll up and Just LOOK at the cover!!!! Don’t tell me that it doesn’t scream to you that you MUST read it?! If you look at this cover and feel no pull toward it, you may just want to go get checked out! It is FIYAH and BEAUTIFUL and All that I could’ve possibly dreamed of, especially as a Black Girl who is a member of #GlassesTribe! I need this cover on a poster for my Magical Black Kids Wall & I needed to be directed to whoever could make that possible like yesterday!

Me too Queen Symone, meeeeeee too!

I had resigned myself to waiting until after pub day to read this book because yet again, Edelweiss was a hater and denied me the E-ARC but THE BOOK GAWDS! They smiled down on me and shook a finger at Edelweiss trying to staunch me living my best bookish life. My favorite Indie Bookstore, Kew & Willow (shouts out to them…and go order something from them or stop by, #NotAShamelessPlug), thought of me *wipes a tear* & offered me their extra copy. Of Course, I happily accepted (#NoMrMcDowellFakeAcceptance) like I was being proposed to (which, this is like the bookish equivalent so now we really go together, lol). It was being offered fluffy blanket on a cold night, water during a drought, RuPaul’s Drag Race on an emotionally taxing day and bubble tea after a long day…it just made me THAT happy! I haven’t gotten to go obsess to them about this book yet but I think they know it’s coming, lol! Seriously, they let me be great & obsess about books all the time (they are the literal best, #PunIntended)!

Basically how I felt when I got that DM

How can I really pop this post off? Hmmmmmm… wellllllllllll, THIS BOOK IS FUCKING PHENOMENAL! I don’t even know a more eloquent way to put it! TPH had me gripped from start to finish…it had me wishing I had magical powers like Bri, especially because I seem to have a hard time keeping plants alive that don’t belong to my grandparents (I don’t need my Grandpa scolding me in my dreams over them). I think part of WHY I loved Bri’s power is because she has such a deep love for Botany and her excitement is so palpable, just like my Grandpa’s love of it. When she described her bedroom, I thought of my Grandparent’s foyer filled with different types of plants. When she got excited about a plant, I thought of my Grandpa talking about different flowers & showing pictures of the ones he was particularly proud of. With those sentiments/memories, it made TPH that much more special to me. Sidenote: I’ve been watering my Grandparents plants at my Grandma’s insistence (you DON’T say No to a Haitian Grandma) and while I’m not on Bri’s level with plants, they have been growing!

The best person I have ever known, as a matter of fact

Outside of wanting to read this book, I honestly didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did! When I tell you that the banter in this book along with the thoughts/commentary is everything, it truly is! Not only is the story line bomb but like every other page had me in tears. This book felt quite opposite from Kalynn’s debut Cinderella Is Dead in terms of level of humor (that book is also really good) as I don’t remember laughing so much while reading. The relationship between Bri & her moms and how they interact is just the best… like who wouldn’t want to listen in to a conversation between a Black teen girl and her 2 Black mamas?! It’s just *chef’s kiss*…this is a family we ALL deserve to read!

And what a blessing this family is

Speaking of Moms, Bri’s parents are two of the best parental figures I’ve read over the years! They are funny, they are supportive and they are down to earth. I think part of why Bri is so amazing is because their belief in her & her abilities. Yes, they are fearful like any other sane parent/adult would be and yes, they can be overprotective close to the point of being helicopter moms but its mostly because they love Bri so fiercely. They give Bri the freedom to explore who she is & what she wants but also advise her where they feel it appropriate…. they are basically the dream team of YA parents and I lived for them! Where do I sign up for them to adopt me? I’m sure there is plenty I can learn from them and I can be helpful, lol! Bri seriously hit the parental jackpot y’all! You have to read in order to truly understand why they are The GOAT of YA Parents*wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*.

The All-Stars of Parents, really

I don’t know what it is about the name/nickname Bri but there has been some Amazing Bri’s in YA (On The Come Up, Legendborn [Bree], Wings Of Ebony) but I’m so glad another has been added. I seriously lived for Bri; her level of sarcasm & sense of humor was simply A-1…like I couldn’t have asked for more when it came to that. Also, her cynicism connected me further to her because literally everything she questioned, I was asking the same or similar questions in my head. Only difference is her timing would’ve been different from mine in terms of when she was investigating things. There were instances where I would’ve wanted to look into it right away and others where I would’ve held off. If you want examples, unfortunately, I cannot provide them for you as I’m not about that spoiler lyfe but if you read the book and decide you want to talk to me about it, I will happily oblige, lol! Though, I will say that she is a downstate teen who is upstate without a license, which would’ve been me too at 17! Bri is such a clever character and her level of knowledge of plants is simply amazing… I wanted to look up all of the plants she talked about as I read but she did such an incredible job describing them that I felt like their pictures were painted in my mind while reading. Seriously, if you don’t add this book to your TBR, you my friend are losing, periodt.

How I imagine Bri’s face when she questions/doubts something

So much goes on in this book but it didn’t feel as overwhelming as it could’ve been…okay, fine, I will admit that I was a bit stressed at parts, lol. From the mystery of Bri’s gift to the home she inherited to the what her birth family did in the past… it’s just all set up so perfectly. Bri basically became a magical Black Nancy Drew and honestly, Who wouldn’t love to see a Black Girl sleuthing it up?! As she was piecing together these different mysteries, I found myself taking mental notes trying to piece them together too. That’s always a good sign when it comes to me & books with any sort of mystery/mysteries to solve! I loved almost every moment of this book (when you read this book, you should be able to guess the reason for the “almost”) and I really didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t put it down and even sat & read when my ceiling for peopling at a family gathering had been hit (judge me if you want but I doubt any introverted person would’ve questioned my choice). This book was honestly worth any & every side eye I got from my family especially since that’s where I finished it *’Ye Shrugs*.

That moment when something doesn’t sit right

On the real doe, get this book, read it and then come talk to me because I need someone to talk to at length about it…especially because the last few chapters leading to the cliffhanger ending were wild disrespectful! Deadass, I had to make my discontentment known to Kalynn on Twitter. I legit looked to see if there was more but the acknowledgements weren’t even in the ARC! I internally screamed like I spilled my bubble tea (yep, that level of mad/hurt/upset) then I tweeted Kalynn…. Seriously, y’all I’m mad about this. I didn’t know this was a series until I had about 100 pages left and was like “this doesn’t end here…this can’t end here” and I’m ticked I was right (a very rare thing). I felt like a bomb got dropped & I had no idea I needed to duck for cover! Again, wild disrespectful but will I be anxiously awaiting book 2? Ya damn skippy I will be because I need to know how this ends! I got maddddd questions and I know Bri will ask them all!

Me, in my mind, when I read the last line

Well y’all, I think I have said just about everything I could say without spoiling anything. You know I wouldn’t do that to you because I loveeeeee youuuuuu, lol. On the real doe, You need to get this book and tell all your friends to get it too because it is simply amazing! You KNOWWWWW I wouldn’t steer you wrong *insert Angel emoji here*! Just…just trust me on this… I got your bookish back!

When a Black woman says it, she means it….and I mean it so much that I used an Black Auntie gif

As always, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms.

Five Favs I Haven’t Featured

Hey Y’all! It’s been a long month and I have been ready to crash! Like the 20-21 school year felt wild disrespectful y’all! I didn’t have the energy I felt the next book I want to write about deserved so I decided to do a short post about 5 books I loved but haven’t featured…they are not ranked in a particular order but just know I loved them all! So let’s get into it, shall we?!

  1. A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen
    • First of all, this is a book with two people drinking bubble tea on the cover…that alone told me that this book was meant for me! The main character also drinks multiple bubble teas in a day & educates folks about the different types of boba…again, meant for me! I also really love rom-coms so it check off that box for me! It was really funny and the cast of characters are great! It was a nice lighthearted read that I really enjoyed while sipping on a bubble tea! I think you might enjoy it too!
  • 2. Wings Of Ebony by J. Elle
    • I loved the world building and the cast. It was as rooted in reality as it was in fantasy and I could truly appreciated that. I also loved how grief played its part in this book. I was still very fresh in my grief process when I read it (I mean, let’s keep it real, I still am) and I could really connect to Rue on that tip… I also loved her best friend Bri! Another thing I liked is that romance or rather romantic interests played their part but didn’t overwhelm Rue or the storyline. We got to see a Black Girl desired by more than one Black Boy and Black Kids everywhere needed to see that (this Black Adult did too). If you are a fan of different systems of magic, you will enjoy this book.
  • 3. The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore
    • I’ve been a fan of Anna-Marie’s work since I read Wild Beauty & have since read all of their books except one (only because I haven’t found it yet but trust that I will). Their work is so lyrical and soothing in its wording & settings that it almost feels like a comfort (at least to me). This book was no different in that sense but it was VERY different from their other books. It approaches trauma in a magical way that gives it *just* enough levity but doesn’t take away from the effects the trauma has on the main character and the person who shares in her trauma. It’s truly a beautiful book.
  • 4. Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland
    • I’m also a big Justina Ireland fan and was so excited to hear she was writing a Middle Grade…and had been itching to get my hands on it when it was announced. This book did not disappointment. Picture it, Pittsburgh 1920s and a Black Girl who can communicate with ghosts! A Historical Paranormal Middle Grade?! This book was definitely MEANT for me! If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will enjoy the history lessons along with the social commentary that takes place within it. There was also some great banter that took place that made you feel like you were apart of the conversations, whether its something you would say or are overhearing. I would recommend this book to everyone!
  • 5. Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza
    • This book is actually one I didn’t know about, for some strange reason, and I’m so glad I received an ARC of it. I didn’t know what to expect but what I got was the best, most pleasant surprise. This book was so re-donk-cu-lously funny! It gave all the comedy my Spirit wanted & needed, which is why I finished it in like 24 hours. Y’all know how sarcasm is my second language, well, Ahmed (the obvious main character), spoke it so fluently that I thought I was reading my own words… If he were a real person, I would want him to be apart of my friend group, without question! This book is up there in middle grade books that I’ve read so far. If you are in need of a good laugh, this is a book meant for you too!

I hope you all decide to go out and pick up one or all of these books. I enjoyed them all for different reasons and they helped me escape in some way, shape or form; which has been what I’ve been seeking from books especially with where I’ve been mentally & emotionally. If you have any favs by Authors of Color that you wish to share, please feel free to do so in the comments! I do love a good book rec!

Good book Recs always are!

Well y’all, I’mma end this here. As usual, come find me on these e-streets up on the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms! I’m sending you all tons of bookish love and wishing you the happiest of reading days! Until the next post, Deuces!

Sisters Of The Snake Is The Magical Twin Swap We All Deserved

Tell me who wouldn’t want to stare at this cover?!
  • Authors: Sarena & Sasha Nanua
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Indian (born & residing in Canada)
  • IG-@sarenasashananua; Twitter-@sarenaandsasha; https://www.sarenasashabooks.com/
  • Release Date: 6/15/2021 (out NAOW in the US!), 7/8/2021 (UK)
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (Imprint of HarperCollins)/EpicReads
  • Favorite Character-Shima! She’s so flipping funny and she always told it like it was…and sometimes spared feelings but not always.
  • Favorite Quote(s)– “You think they have mangoes in Kaama? Wait–stupid question. Of course they do. What about pomegranates? I’ve dreamed about those, lemme tell you.”-Amir. First of all, #Mood because Mangoes are life and I do love pomegranates too. Second of all, Amir spoke to my spirit with this! Another fav was “Yeah, and I wasn’t expecting to meet a look-alike with weird snake powers, but here we are.”-Ria This just feels like something I would say! The way I cackled…I really love Ria, I’m letting my bias show early here!
Amir (and me), when thinking about mangoes & pomegranates

First, I’m going to say that when I saw the cover reveal for Sisters Of The Snake, I was like “yea, I have to read that” then I got accepted to the street team (shout out to the #SnakeSquad) and got my hands on an E-ARC. I was stoked about this but then the Book Gods smiled down on my eyes and a printed copy was sent to me which made me even more happy! If you want to check out the reels I did for street team tingz, first was a book look of if I was at a SOTS function and the second was making the Ria & Rani Mango Shake but vegan which came out delicious & I highly recommend you all try!

This is how happy I was & how happy the shake made me!

I have to say that My Bookish Spidey senses definitely tingled at the announcement of this book and didn’t let me down (Spidey Senses for the win y’all)! It seriously worked out that I got a printed copy because I COULD.NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN (turning off and on a tablet to read really isn’t the life for me)! SOTS is almost 500 pages and I finished it in 3 days (it’s in the hall of fame of reads like Legendborn now)! From the opening sentence to the epilogue, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it & clearly I’m still thinking about it as there are so many moments that now live rent free in my mind. I hated having to adult and sleep because it got in the way of my reading.

Swap out glass for book!

When I started reading this book, I was getting some serious Prince And The Pauper vibes but gender bent & with magic… but it is so distinctly its own story that that thought fell away from my mind as I was reading. This story is so engrossing that I was like “okay, a few more pages…” “okay, one more chapter cause it’s not that long then I’ll go to bed or do whatever adulting needs to be done” and next thing I knew, it was like 30 pages & an hour or so later and it was past the time I wanted to go to sleep or adult. And honestly, I regret NOTHING! I’d do it all over again because it was so good (and I’m ready for book 2 to bring it on)! Sarena & Sasha really know how to capture your attention & I’m willing to fight anyone else who says otherwise!

This was me but I just couldn’t stop!

The world and character building was simply superb…like quadruple *chef’s kiss* because each twin (writer & literary) deserves one. Both Ria and Rani have very different voices & personalities but there is really no way to know who wrote who which, is the way things ought to be! I loved their differing perspectives and how they told their stories… throughout, I was like “okayyyyy, tell me more?” “anddddd thennnnn?” “what this *bleep* say?!” I was fully engaged in the dialogue and I felt like I was IN the story since it played out like a movie in my mind! If this book does NOT get a movie or a tv series, I’mma be hella mad! I’ll also be peeved if it isn’t done justice as this is too good of a story to jack up. So whoever buys the film rights BET have their minds right when they adapt it… *throws hands up* I’m jussayin’.

Which is a SOTS movie or tv series but do it RIGHT

In talking about character, I’m going to start with my favorite twin, Ria (I made my bias clear from jump)! Yes, I’m on #TeamRia for the street team but I fell in love with her from her opening sentence which was “I despise the heat.“… Is she me because I feel the exact same way! I felt every thing she felt about the heat to the point of having physiological responses (It didn’t help that it was hellish hot in NY too). Her straight to the point, cut between the eyes, no nonsense and heavily sarcastic nature was all I could’ve dreamed of in a beloved character and more! She just spoke to my Spirit y’all! Of course, she needed to have such traits being on the streets, fending for herself, which I’m sure is no joke when your very survival is on the line. There is no time to be a victim and Ria just isn’t the type to passively sit & panhandle… she’s *clap* about *clap* that *clap* action. Ria is also hysterical and I couldn’t help cracking up most times she was on the page… I honestly don’t see how ANYONE wouldn’t be a fan of hers! She is the princess of my heart and she could be the princess of yours too when you get to reading this book *wink* *wink*.

Ria, after the switch, but low-key, before it too

If I talk about Ria then I have to talk about Rani…right? *rolls eyes* Just kidding, Rani takes a hot second to warm up to but once you get to know her and see her evolution, she really isn’t so bad! I know so very little about being a princess who has everything handed to them and really couldn’t say whether or not I would want out of that life… I mean, I would not say no to someone cooking food for me every day, to be honest (what can I say, I’m lazy at times). I do understand feeling trapped to the point of feeling like my back is against the wall and wanting to see what more the world has to offer (so many of us do after such a long time in quarantine, amirite?). This was my connecting point to Rani until she found a little more humility and courage. I could tell that there was a bit of growth that needed to take place in Rani before I could feel closer to her but who doesn’t like to see a character glow up in the personality arena? Rani also could be sarcastic, funny and profound at times which drew me in & made my head nod in agreement. I think you should read though so you could figure out your feels around Rani *smirk*.

I feel like this fits Rani’s face at times, lol

There were a few side characters that I loved like Saeed (I don’t care how Rani felt about him), Amir and the G.O.A.T Shima! I honestly feel like the side characters are also another reason to pick up this book because they felt just as fleshed out as Ria & Rani…. Did I want to see more of them in the story? Of course I did! Was it enough for my taste? It never is when it comes to characters I have grown attached to… So this just means that I have to hold on to hope that we’ll see even more of them in book 2 (I wouldn’t be mad at added perspectives from any of them or even their own books in the future *hint* *hint* Sarena & Sasha)! I would love to talk more about them but I also don’t want to ruin your introductions to them… so let’s just leave it as they are they are the All-Stars of side characters who always come through in the clutch… you don’t have tooooo much to worry about when they are on the page…..well, maybe a little but you have to read to see about that!

This is basically all my favorite side characters coming through for Ria & Rani

Well y’all, I’mma end it here because ya girl has a book she is dying to finish and I want you to be able to get out there & pick up a copy of Sisters Of The Snake from your local library or favorite bookstore… I assure you that you will NOT regret your decision to do so! As usual, you are always welcome to come find me on these e-streets on the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms! I’m sending you all tons of bookish love and wishing you the happiest of reading days!

Imagine this is Ria & Rani at some point and also, this is from one of my favorite movies

I Lived My Stefan Urquelle Fantasy With Of Princes And Promises

This is such a pretty cover
  • Sandhya Menon
  • 7th published book; Book 2 of a Series-Rosetta Academy
  • Genre: YA Contemporary Fairy tale Retelling
  • Heritage/Background: Indian-American
  • IG: @sandhyamenonbooks; Twitter: @smenonbooks
  • Website: http://www.sandhyamenon.com/
  • Release: 6/8/2021 (You don’t have to wait! YAY!)
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Favorite Character: Jaya! She served as the voice of reason and kept it real while preserving others feelings (a balance that can be quite tough to strike)! She was the main character in the first book in the series so it was so good to see her again! My fav from the first book only made cameos because of stuff that went down in the first!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “So you can go Falk yourself. And I’ll bring my own prince.”-Caterina. I felt the mic drop in my SPIRIT with this line!
Caterina when she said what she said!

I’m going to start this by saying that no one is surprised that this post exists…for those who have been rolling with me for a while, know how much I love Sandhya Menon…her books bring light when my spirit feels dark! She’s just so awesome! I’m also really excited to be a part of the Blog tour for Of Princes Of Promises, which is the second book in the Rosetta Academy series, with some of my fellow Sandhya’s Sweethearts Street teammers (see the schedule here)! I posted a reel in celebration of OPAP‘s release on IG, you can watch here (It’s super cute, if I do say so myself). Anddd In case you wanted to read my blog post about the first book, Of Curses And Kisses, you can read it here!

Heart hands to Sandhya!

If you’re like me, you love a good retelling and OPAP is a great retelling…This one being the Frog Prince! Even more so than that, I was getting Steve Urkel to Stefan Urquelle in Family Matters vibes at times, which I adored! Rahul was the Steve/Stefan that I never knew I needed and Caterina was the Laura Winslow I never saw coming! For my younger readers, who may not know, Family Matters was that show and you should watch some episodes of it. And Nope, I don’t care if I’m dating myself because that was quality TV but I digress, lol. It also gave Nick Cannon & Christina Milan in Love Don’t Cost A Thing but with the guy doing the favor for the girl (if you are familiar with the movie). If you are into transformations/Make overs, OPAP is definitely the book for you as it was for me!

For reals! (I couldn’t help it for those of you who are Drag Race fans, lol)

Before I get to talking about the 2 characters I really want to talk about, I’m going to say that even though this is a part of a series, this book stands all on its own. You could read OPAP before reading Of Curses And Kisses or after, or just read it alone and it will aye-okay. However, I will say that things will click in terms of character relationships, narratives and some background stories if you do read OCAK then OPAP. There are Easter eggs for this book in OCAK and a bit for the 3rd book in the series, which of course OPAP has some for as well (And to answer your question, yes, I’m very excited for that book too). If you are like me, you like re-entering worlds so you may enjoy reading OCAK first. Either way, you’d be golden!

It’s true! Ignore Myra’s face

I have to start by talking about my loveable and socially awkward know it all Rahul! We didn’t see so much of him in OCAK but enough to know that he would be an interesting character to watch. He’s a no nonsense, tell it like it is type…something we all know I value in a character! Rahul has such a hard time reading the room that he really doesn’t even bother to until it’s slightly too late! He deadpans so much during the book that I really couldn’t help giggling whenever he spoke. Rahul is the friend that says what everyone is thinking but doesn’t want to be the first one to say it and thinks nothing of it until someone points it out that mayyyybe, it wasn’t the time. Think of Steve Urkel going “Did IIIIIIIII dooooo thaaaaaattttttt?” but without the humor, and you basically got some of Rahul’s moments! He has a mind only a motherly type, like Jaya, could love and wants others to love too. Rahul was gifted with a friend circle that is really dope & caring that does love his quirky self (you actually get an intro to them in OCAK).

I love when he said this! But yea, this would be Rahul but not catching it as fast!

When Rahul undergoes his “transformation”, he’s super swoon-worthy like Stefan. Suddenly, Rahul goes from that deadpanner to smooth talker and its enough to give you whiplash! Since books tend to play out like movies in my mind, the “transformation” gave me that moment when Stefan walked out of Steve’s transformation machine (see gif below)! I don’t want to get into the “change” though cause I don’t want to give away the book! Anywayz, you gotta read the book to see what kind of transformation he goes through (I personally love Rahul as is but you can form your own opinion when you meet him)!

It’s low-key this sort of transformation

So when it comes to Caterina, she was NOT my favorite in OCAK…she was very far from a favorite actually…….. but she changed my mind (which is really hard to do). We see such a different side of her, one I think Jaya knew was there but everyone else had to see to believe. Caterina has basically everything and yet, faces quite a few dilemmas, one of the biggest being could she be vulnerable & how deep could that vulnerability go! We see from her interactions with people, including the ones she considered “friends”, that she has this very clear but thick wall up that was hard to knock down. I went into reading this book thinking that I wouldn’t be able to relate at all to Caterina but related so much to this aspect of her the most…yep, my mind was blown too and if you have read OCAK, you may feel the same! She also was like a wealthy Italian Glow Up Laura Winslow at points, which I both loved and hated. She had the brains and the beauty, the things one would admire about Laura Winslow but also the attitude and air of superiority that would make you despise her. But like I said, she changed my mind and I’m actually excited to see her in book 3 (who have I become?! O_O)!

How Laura is looking at Steve is basically how Caterina looks at Rahul at times

Y’all, it’s really hard to talk about second books in a series because you really worry about giving away too much! I also didn’t anticipate drawing such a big parallel between OPAP and Family Matters (it just bees that way sometimes). I really enjoyed this book and like All of Sandhya’s books, I ate this one up pretty quickly. It made me feel a bit nostalgic with the Laura/Steve Urkel vibes and it made me incredibly happy (which is why I used so many Family Matters gifs in this post)! I’m willing to bet that if you read OPAP and have watched Family Matters, you will agree too! If the Rosetta Academy series wasn’t on your radar, I hope it will be now and you decide to pick it up, either from your local library or your favorite bookstore!

Had to put in a fancy one in there cause Caterina is pretty fancy, lol

I’ll end it here but of course, you are always welcome to come find me on these e-streets on the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms! I’m sending you all tons of bookish love and wishing you the happiest of reading days! Ciao!

I had to give ONE more for the road!
Gotta rep for the Blog Tour!

Ace Of Spades Made Me Want To Take Off My Earrings And Lace Up My Timbs

Look how BOMB this US cover is!!!!!!!
  • Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Thriller
  • Background: Nigerian-British
  • IG-@faridahlikestea; Twitter-@FaridahLikesTea; https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/
  • Release Date: 6/1/2021 (out NAOW in the US!), 6/10/2021 (UK)
  • Publisher: Feiwel And Friends (Imprint of MacMillan)
  • Favorite Character-I’m going with the QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN CHIAMAKA! If you ever watched 90 Day Fiance, there was a cast member who said “WHO IS AGAINST THE QUEEN WILL DIE!” That quote is what I think of when I think of Chiamaka & potential enemies…she’s just FYRE, A Mood, A Lifestyle…the best to ever do it!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–These are some of Chiamaka’s thoughts: “In this kingdom, the queen doesn’t inherit the crown. To get to the top, she destroys whoever she needs to.” SAAAAAAAAVAGE! “Even though I know I shouldn’t care, it annoys me that when girls know what they want and how they’re going to get it, they’re seen as cocky.” WHHHHHHEEWWWWWWWW PREACH CHI, PREEEEEACCCCHHHHH! Also, let it be a Black girl who knows what they want and it’s like folx are TRIPLE mad about it! “Bitches can smell fear.” GAWD, Chiamaka is so iconic! There is SO MUCH MORE but I want you to read the book so you can take in all of Chiamaka’s glory because sis CAAAARRRRRRIESSSS!

*Warning: There WILL be cussing in this post, Don’t be shocked and don’t come for me! Just letting you know ahead of time so you have your pearls ready to clutch in case you are sensitive to cursing. Sorry, not sorry that I’m not as wholesome as I look, lol.*

I think Chiamaka should’ve said this at some point in the book!

*Cracks knuckles and cues up BlackPink* Sooooooo, I’m not a violent person (okay, yes, I can be despite being a Hufflepuff) but OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH *Fist to mouth*, I wanted to take my earrings off so bad, grab some vaseline and lace up my timbs (if I still had a pair, I’m failing as a New Yorker right now) while reading this book! I don’t think I’ve wanted to fight so many people in one book, which was basically the entire population, which must’ve been a record! It also poked at my lack of trust in humanity issue because I was lookin’ at EVERYONE sideways… I was like Bruno Mars on some “Is it you?” but it damn sure wasn’t me! These bitches were on some other shit and definitely, their privilege was one of those things they were high off of! The need to bitch slap people was SO STRONG this entire book!

DIS MEEEEEEEEE

So this book is comped as Gossip Girl meets Get Out…and it’s accurate. Though, I have a confession to make…I never watched Gossip Girl (take your judgments somewhere else). SO, I’m going to add I Know What You Did Last Summer and Seven (minus all the gore). When you read this book, you will see JUST how accurate adding those two movies in are if you have ever watched them. I hardly ever pay attention to the comps on books but due to the accuracy, when I speak to people about this book (which has been A LOT, I’m tryna get Faridah these coins), I actually use the comp with my additions. I was recently at a family function talking about this book and several others with others who are librarians & book lovers and THIS BOOK is what perked one of my cousin’s ears up (good call cuzzo, good call). Just like while watching Get Out, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Seven, I felt so many things, all of the things really! I wanted to look away but just couldn’t, which is the same when it came to reading Ace Of Spades…I just COULD NOT put it down and could NOT stop thinking about it! This book NEEDS to be a movie!

Tiffany is me, having a moment about this book

Speaking of not being able to stop thinking about it, my mind was FULL of conspiracy theories…I was constantly DMing Faridah and another bookstagrammer, @recitrachel, with my theories, thoughts, blow ups… I was on one hell of a roller coaster and I wasn’t sitting on it alone, that is for DAMN SURE! If my stomach was dropping, someone else’s stomach would be dropping WITH me! I hate roller coasters, btw, but THIS ONE, I would stay on all day! I was pissed that I had to adult AT ALL because I just wanted to read (maybe I am in the wrong line of work). It was like how dare I need to work to pay bills when I could be reading Ace Of Spades at that moment (capitalism at it’s finest, am I right?)…or why is sleep even necessary when all I want is to read this book, knowing good and damn well I’m going to dream about what was going to happen next (which, this did happen). In fact, in my copy of Ace Of Spades there is a Suspect List on the last page of part 1…this wasn’t a game and I certainly wasn’t here for play play people!

Not you Maya, I’m lookin’ at everyone else Funny!

Speaking of suspect lists, I seriously was looking at ALL THESE BITCHES SIDEWAYS, I’m pretty sure I Side-Eyed the actual book complete with pursed auntie lips at points! Everyone was sus to me, absolutely no one was off the chopping block in my opinion! I was keeping up with shit people said, how I thought they said it and why it was sus… I was a like bookish detective the entire time without any sort of badge. When I say that my ears (despite not listening to it), eyes and mind stayed perked up & on the look out, I mean that shit. This is one book I could NOT let my defenses down on! This book seriously just reaffirmed why I don’t trust people…*coughes* [redacted] *coughes* because SOOOOO MANY REASONS!!!!!! #TrustNoBitch remains a thing, thanks to Ace Of Spades! I can’t stop shouting about this book because it just evokes that energy and I’m not finna apologize for that either! I bet if you read AOS, you will do the exact same, WATCH!

It’s true, I couldn’t trust NONE of those hoes!

Lemme get to talking about the two characters that are pretty much safe to talk about, as this is a duel POV book (which, y’all know I live for multiple POVs) without spoilers, lol! First, I’m going to start with Devon…our dear sweet and slightly shady while being a bit of a wimp Devon! I love Devon, I really really do but sometimes, I just really wanted him to say shit with his chest…like, MY DUDE, don’t keep your thoughts to yourself, say that shit LOUD and don’t back down! If I could’ve stood in front of him and shaken him, I would’ve been like “you just being at that school is an act of resistance, FUCK SHIT UP MY GUY”. If you big mad, BE big mad and put folks in their place rather than turning the other cheek. I understood though, the need to keep quiet because of the stakes at risks but if folks are going to come for you, you might as well put on your big kid drawers, heavy armor and let out that battle cry…nahmean?! I will say that I was super happy when his balls finally dropped and he started to push back in his own way! I had a few proud auntie moments where I may or may not have wiped away a tear in relief that he used his voice! I loved being in his mind but he was no Queen Chiamaka………..speaking of….*Smirks*

Just do it Devon, you will feel so much better when you do!

MY QUEEEEEEEEEEEN CHIAMAKA is THE GOAT, That Bitch, the one worthy of wearing the muthafuckin’ crown, a GAWDDAMN SAVAGE! All should bow to her and I will not walk that sentiment back! Yes, she clawed her way to the top, the way that so many Black Women & Girls before her have had to and like a BAWSE, but she also EARNED it! One of the things that I loved about Chiamaka is the fact that she wasn’t afraid to let you know she wasn’t for play play (tricks are for kids silly rabbit, not Chiamaka), to show her fangs and let folks know that she was no one to fuck with, but she also could list her accomplishments without batting an eyelash cause she knew she did that shit. I loved how unapologetic she was, even when her back was against the wall. The way her mind worked was simply superb. I would gladly follow her into battle cause she stays with a plan & has the most savage of natures. Sis was out for blood and I would help her draw it, no questions asked! Chiamaka’s character was simply *chef’s kiss* and I hope she opens the door for more Black Girls to be unapologetically themselves, to not bend when others are trying to break them, to be fierce as they break down the barriers built up in front of them. UGH, I just loved her SO MUCH! I also kept saying to myself (and to Faridah & Rachel) that Chiamaka BETTER get her her Angela Bassett in Waiting To Exhale moment or else… You will just have to read to find out if she got that moment, now won’t you?! *Mischievous smirk on 1000*

This is how I imagined Chiamaka the entire time and I LIVEDDDDD! I also REALLY wanted to use this gif!

Now, I could talk about those other characters & be specific…I could talk about Aces…. but those bitches aren’t worth much of my time! There really wasn’t a side character that I really liked (Terrell and Andre were okay, I guessssssss, but neither went to Niveus). What I will say is that I often referred to the majority as hoes (as I often do with the bad guys, it has nada nada to do with sexuality). Their privilege had them on some next level shit… The way I wanted to fight them, was a type of aggression that no one should see in me but alas, the world is filled with fools like them that think they’re invincible. I was ready to suit up like I was in the book myself. I lived for the moments where they got cut down and please believe that Chiamaka did a lot of cutting down in such brilliantly savage ways that they were most deserving of, which gave me everlasting life!

The center is everyone at Niveus so make it “they’s a hoe”

There is SOOOOOOOO MUCH that I could say, SOOOOOOOOOOOO much more that I WANT to say but can’t because I’m not about that spoiler lyfe *cries*. Just know that this book is FUCKING PHENOMENAL and worth EVERY.SINGLE.MOMENT of your time that you give to it. It will leave your mind reeling and give you trust issues…and you won’t regret it, I PROMISE YOU! I haven’t let you down before and I definitely won’t start now! I’m absolutely OBSESSED with this book and I believe you will feel the same by time you finish it! I have to give Faridah ALL-AH-HER-FLOWERS because she did that shit, on EVERYTHING I Love, she did! If you haven’t gone out and picked up this book, stop playin and go get it! Whether you request it from your local library or buy the book in your favorite medium, just do it RET NOAW because you are losin’ by waiting (it just had to be said, sorry, not sorry *’Ye shrug*)!

I shouted this a lot while reading cause of shit said and I think it would be to not read this book *shrug*

*Claps* I know I’ve occupied enough of your time so I’mma end this here. You now know how I feel about Ace Of Spades and that I’m absolutely putting my stamp of approval on it! If you wanna talk about this book with me, come holla at me on all of the social medias (be sure to follow me as well): Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. As y’all know by now if you have been rockin’ with me for a while, I’m sending you bookish love and wishing you the happiest of reading! PEACE!

The UK cover which is also dope but I love the US cover more!

Where The Rhythm Takes You Felt Like Returning Home

Please take a moment to appreciate the sheer gorgeousness of this cover
  • Author: Sarah Dass
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Contemporary-Retelling
  • Background-TRINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII *Cues Airhorn* (Trinidadian, I had to be extra for my peoples)
  • IG-@sarahdasswrites; Twitter-@SarahDassAuthor
  • Release Date: 5/11/2021 (US), 6/10/2021 (UK)
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (Imprint of HarperCollins)/EpicReads
  • Favorite Character-I’m going to go with Fish! He was equal parts hysterical and annoying…he struck just the right balance and brought such levity to the story. My second favorite was Reyna’s best friend Olivia, she was really funny too…I imagine our methods of best-friending are similar, lol!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–“Look at me.” He pointed to his face. “Tell me this shouldn’t be immortalized on canvas.”-Fish. When I tell you I hollered loudly, I think I could be heard from the floors above me! Normally, that level of narcissism would turn me off but Fish is a Spechul case…and I truly mean that Spechul.
Imagine this waving as you read this post

I’m going to start this off by saying that this post will be pretty chill (for me). Why will it be chill, you ask? Because that’s just the type of energy I felt as I read Where The Rhythm Takes You and if you know any Trinis, its pretty much the energy you get until you involve either food, music, Carnaval (Carnival) or insults (at least in my experience as the daughter of one); the Trini accent alone incites a sense of comfort and calm! Go on and listen to a Trini speak for a few minutes and tell me where my lie is. Don’t worry though, you will get your gifs because gifs just come with the territory *wink* *wink*. Oh and since this is a book that takes place in Tobago, feel free to cue up Trini 2 De Bone too because it’s a forever bop, just ask Reyna & Aiden.

While I was searching for a favorite quote, I found myself pulled right back into the story which is so incredibly rare for me because I’m NOT a re-reader (there is a reason I use highlighter tabs). WTRTY is just one of those stories where you want to relive certain moments because they are so vivid and you can practically feel yourself there. Whether you are listening to banter between Olivia & Reyna or watching a scene unfold with a double (you gotta read to find out and google what they are if you don’t know, It’s T&T’s gift to the world), you just feel apart of the story… After spending almost an hour trying to pin down what my favorite quote was and getting lost in the story, I have come to the conclusion that this book should become a movie. Hollywood needs to make that happen and all the actors need to be Natives to T&T. While I would love to see Idris Elba play Reyna’s dad for eye-candy purposes, he’s not Native to T&T last time I checked (okay, maybe I would bend a little for him, lol). Tobago native Winston Duke would be perfect though so get him on the phone!

Imagine this is me, in the story…and I’m extra enough for this to be me but slightly less tulle!

I have to acknowledge that I was lucky enough to receive an ARC in a huge box from HarperCollins and I’m so incredibly glad I did… Did I know about this book? You betcha I did especially as someone who is of Trinidadian Descent. Was I planning to read this book? AB-SA-FREAKING-LUTE-LY I was because that was not NOT going to happen! I would’ve read this book the moment I could get my hands on it after pub day but I’m SOOOOOOOOOOO glad that I didn’t have to wait the additional weeks for release. So Thanks be to the divine publishing beings for not making me wait. I can’t recall if I squealed on the IG live when I opened that box & saw it but it wouldn’t be far fetched since it’s kind of my brand…you can watch that live here and see for yourself.

There is no point in pretending like I hadn’t been chomping at the bit to read this book

I Loved this book so much that I pretty much flew through it. Not only was it the characters but it was the fact that it was set in the place of my Ancestors (well, one set of them). I could hear the accents, smell the food, see the sky, feel the breeze…something, outside of the accents & food, that I haven’t experienced since 1996 (Do NOT ask my age, just know that I’m grown, lol) and it was truly beautiful. It felt like a homecoming without physically being there. We don’t get too many books like that in this lifetime and I’m so glad to have WTRTY as one…I really couldn’t ask more of Sarah in that department (she was like a painter with word doc or a writing app instead of a paintbrush).

This is how smitten I was with this book… & Dis Me while reading WTRTY

I have a confession to make…I didn’t know that this was a retelling…at least, I don’t recall reading that this was a retelling. All I knew is that it was set in Tobago and that was ALL I needed to know, periodt. Regardless, I was going to read it because of the obvious. The fact that it is set in current day Tobago honestly would’ve been the main thing I would’ve acknowledged anyway because how many YA books are set in Tobago? Don’t worry, I’ll wait………..*cues Jeopardy Song*……….. Exactly, not that many; certainly not in recent titles in US publishing. For those who are into the retelling aspect, it’s a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. If you haven’t read Persuasion, don’t worry (I haven’t either *shrug*), you don’t need to have to in order to appreciate this book, the story, the characters or the setting. It stands all on it’s own, which is the most important thing in my opinion.

But For real doe

When I met Olivia, I was like “yup…she is me and I am her” based upon how she interacts with Reyna. A friend who texts to hang out because they haven’t seen your face in such a long time they feel borderline abandoned, can either be really useful or useless when it comes to advice (and there is no in-between to be seen anywhere) and will gladly eat your snacks at the first chance they get (see my IG Reel where I snack several times as proof) feels pretty spot on to me! I also just realized that characters name Olivia seem to be my Spirit Characters (see my post about Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry for proof) and I’m honestly okay with this. Give me all the sarcastic, snarky & snacky Black Girl Best Friends and if their name so happens to be Olivia, then so be it! Olivia is a character you don’t ever mind being on the page, no matter the type of moment she is having with Reyna. She keeps it one-hunnit at all times and well, we all know how I feel about that (to say I loveeeeeeeee that characteristic is a severe understatement, if you are new to this blog, lol). Olivia is a character you would be a fool not to love (I may or may not judge you if you don’t love her after reading this book *shrug* *light chuckle*).

Olivia and I eating all the snacks with immense joy in our Spirits

I need to talk at least a littleeeeeee about my fav, Fish! He’s a character you can’t help but love despite being deeply annoyed by. He’s the type of person that the moment you see them open their mouth, you can’t help but hold up a finger and say “please don’t say what you’re thinking” and they still do anyway & whether you roll your eyes, laugh or walk away is completely up to what they let rip from their lips. Usually, I would be turned off by someone like that but I couldn’t help but be enamored by Fish, much to the chagrin of his fellow travelers and Reyna (I’m sure). Sarah managed to make him annoyingly charming AND persistent (which is something I’m not a stranger to being), which if I wasn’t worried that he would set his sights on me, it would make me want to pinch his cheeks and feed him the appropriately spiced doubles for his novice level (if you know, you know). Fish just is that character that grabs your attention, by force really, but find that you actually want to be around no matter how much he makes your eyes roll because he’s tooth-achingly sweet. When did I become this person that falls for such a character?! What has HAPPENED TO ME?! (O_O)

Me to Fish because he can be so precious sometimes and I don’t think he would mind this

One thing that I loved about the flashbacks is seeing Aiden through the lens of Reyna’s past and the present… It was like the glow up you thought could be possible but was really happy to know happened. It also was kind of like witnessing the birth of a heartthrob, indirectly, and who doesn’t want to see that?! I won’t lie, I likely would’ve fallen all over myself (internally, of course because I’m a G) the moment I saw him if I were Reyna or anyone really. Another thing that felt glaringly clear is that we were seeing a star starting to shine even brighter no matter what tried to dim it and the love felt by its witness. Aiden is hard not to take notice of, no matter how frustratingly aloof he could be. Not only is he painted as handsome to look at, but he also doesn’t disappoint in his commentary & banter along with hints of a hopeless romantic nature. He’s like that person that could get almost anyone to like him with very little effort and make onlookers swoon the moment he touches an instrument. Really, Who doesn’t love a musician?! *smirks* Honestly, I feel like you should read WTRTY in order to get what I’m saying about Aiden because you just have to experience his greatness for yourself *shrugs* *winks*.

And a well deserved glow up!

Last but not least, I have to acknowledge Reyna because there were so many ways that I felt on her wavelength. One of the biggest things I felt her on is her grief, the way it would hit her strongly and how others didn’t seem to understand her at times. As someone who has been grieving for the past few months, both out loud and internally; this was the biggest point that I connected with her on. Grief is tough, it’s messy, it’s blinding and can be incredibly consuming… There is truly not one way to grieve & how Reyna grieved is not unlike how I do at times, which is by taking strolls down memory lane with the loved one she is mourning. While there are a lot of flashbacks & memories visited, the ones with her departed loved one had a very distinct tone & reverence and thus felt different from her memories with Aiden, which I don’t know about anyone else but it made me appreciate them more. Something else that I appreciated about Reyna is her inability to people despite growing up in/working at a hotel… When I tell y’all that she was me in the moments she didn’t feel like dealing with anyone…. I felt incredibly seen because, believe it or not, this is me….often. The beauty of Reyna is that she is such a relatable character and I’m so glad that Sarah decided to share her with us.

This would be the type of hug I would give Reyna, if I could

OK, so I went into almost full on rant mode but I just have to say one more thing before I close this up… How GORGEOUS is the cover?! The colors are stunning and capture the Spirit of T&T beautifully. Also, Reyna’s skin color is the beautiful shade that so many Trini’s I know have…it’s a shade that I inherited from my mother, who inherited it from her mother (who is now departed) and so many that have proceeded us. Reyna’s skin and hair was what truly drew my eyes because I could SEE myself in Reyna, in the way her hair waves and the kiss the T&T sun has left on her for all to know where she descends from. It made me appreciate the book even more and served as yet another reminder as to why representation matters. It doesn’t matter how old the reader is, the fact that someone could truly see themselves on a book cover and in its pages means more than can be expressed and is another level of healing, in and of itself. This should be the standard. I will forever be grateful to Sarah and the cover design team for making that remotely possible, seriously.

This is the swoon I felt in my Spirit when I saw the cover and really every time I look at it

Now that I’ve gotten all of that out of my system (more than what I thought I would type but not as much as I really could say), I really want some doubles but at the hour I am typing this, it is not possible but hopefully will be by time I edit this (LOL; update: nope, I haven’t gotten any but it will happen). If you haven’t guessed by now, I highly recommend Where The Rhythm Takes You AND doubles (with some tamarind & pumpkin but no peppa for me)! Pro tip: All Doubles are not created equal, ask your favorite Trini if I’m lying and consult them before buying from just anywhere (thank me later).

That KIND of looks like a double and this is what I think when I think of doubles

Well, my peoples, I will end things here but iffffffff you wanna keep this bookish banter going, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. As always, I’m sending you bookish love and wishing you happy reading!

Because I had to…SWEET SWEET T ‘N’ T!

Ayisyen Ekritè Mwen Renmen (Haitian Authors I Love)

AYEEEEEEEEE Everyone! So If you didn’t know, May 18th is Haitian Flag Day (see graphic above, lol)! To celebrate the day, A day late (Always tardy to the party, I seem to be), I wanted to provide a list of some Haitian Authors I know and love (& some that I have found out about)! The title of this post is me making a little use of the Haitian Kreyòl lessons I’ve done (shout out to my teacher Wynnie). Being that I’m half Haitian, I wanted to honor the day here on the blog in my bookish way! For the books I’ve written about here, those posts will be linked to the book title!

Your favorite Haitian yesterday
  • Ibi Zoboi
  • Carline Smothers
    • MMMMM! Soup Joumou! *Picture book*
  • Debbie Rigaud
    • Truly Madly Royally
    • Simone Breaks All The Rules (6/1/2021)
  • Ben Philippe
    • The Field Guide To The North American Teenager
    • Charming As A Verb
    • Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend *Adult*
  • Justine A. P. Louis
    • Luke Visits Jacmel (English) *Picture Book*
    • Luc Vizite Jakmèl (Kreyòl) *Picture Book*
  • Dimitry Elias Lèger
    • God Loves Haiti
  • Maika & Maritza Moulite
  • Blandine Jean
    • Chloè Celebrates Flag Day *Picture Book*
  • Roxane Gay
    • Ayiti *Adult*
    • An Untamed State *Adult*
  • Frantz Derenoncourt, Jr.
    • Haiti: The First Black Republic
  • Jinica Dauphin
    • Haitian Flag Day Fleurina’s Way *Picture Book*
  • Edwidge Danticat
    • Breath, Eyes, Memory *Adult*
    • Everything Inside *Adult*
    • Krik? Krak!
    • Untwine
    • The Royal Diaries: Anacaona Golden Flower *MG*
  • Saonha Lyrvoie Jean Baptiste
    • Prensès Maniya/Princess Maniya *Picture Book* (Kreyòl & English)
  • Angie Bell & Tico Armand
    • The Adventure Of Yaya Soup Joumou Lakay Grann Pola *Picture Book*

FYI, these aren’t ALL the works of these authors, especially Edwidge Danticat and Roxane Gay. Also, these aren’t ALL the Haitian Authors out there but just ones that I know of! I hope that you would decide to look up more Haitian authors & literature and that this serves as a jumping off point in your research!

While you are at it, go ahead and search for some Konpa and get with these vibes!

This wasn’t meant to be a long post but if you know of any other Haitian Authors, please feel free to drop their names & books in the comments! As always, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. Until the next post… Bonswaaaaaaaaaaa!

The Last Fallen Star Shone So Brightly I Needed Shades

  • Author: Graci Kim
  • Debut
  • Genre: MG Contemporary Fantasy
  • Background-Korean Kiwi (New Zealand)
  • IG-@gracikimwrites; Twitter-@gracikim
  • Release Date: 5/4/2021 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: Disney Hyperion
  • Favorite Character-Emmett! He’s the best friend that will always keep it real with you but bring you your favorite treat to munch on as he low-key reads you. Emmett is also hella funny & has the best lines. His banter with anyone is awesome and I simply adored him. Taeyo was my next favorite but because he is later in the book, I don’t want to say too much about him other than you will really like him!
  • Favorite Quote(s)– 2 come from none other than my fav, Emmett. 1st: “Ew, stop it. I’ve told you a million times, emotions are bad for your health. They give you wrinkles. Also, I’m getting you a bib for your birthday. No joke.” I cackled so hard because I don’t see the lie…also, being that he’s a baking genius that constantly brings Riley some sort of treat, that would be a useful gift, lol! 2nd: “Holy shirtballs, get a room, lovebirds.” Another quote that had me laughing because it sounds like something that I would absolutely say…and “shirtballs” & other derivatives of it are apart of my vocabulary!
Emmett, whenever Feelings/Emotions are involved, lol!

So you know how I love middle grade and mythology, right? Well, from the moment I saw the cover of The Last Fallen Star and found out that it incorporated Korean Mythology, I was SOLD! I knew that I would just adore this book and well, we know how on point my bookish spidey senses are! I was lucky enough to win an ARC of it in a giveaway on IG that Graci Kim & another debut author, Sarah Suk (her book is Made In Korea, another great one coming out soon) hosted and this has to be one of my favoritest wins EVER! I was SO IN LOVE with this story and couldn’t stop raving about it! I will tell ya, Rick Riordan sure knows how to pick em and I’m here for it!

There’s no question about that!

I simply adored Riley and her voice. How she narrated the world she lived in and the stories behind the clans…as well as spilling little bits of tea here and there about them along the way (like the Gumiho, just read to find out what she said). You could tell how much she loved not just her family but her culture, best friend and the stories/mythologies behind the clans. Real talk, if Riley did a story time, I would sit front and center to listen to any and everything she says. Just go ahead and imagine me sitting criss-cross applesauce with my head on the backs of my hands, listening…I know you can, especially if you know me in real life! I’m a sucker for a really good story which my grandpa ensured! There is something else that I loved about Riley and it is that she isn’t afraid to be in touch with her feelings, nor is she ashamed of her, what Emmett likes to refer to as, “leaky-bladder eyeball problem”. Y’all know I’m a crier…a thuggish crier but a crier none the less (we don’t have time to argue the thuggish part so just go with it). We need more literary characters who are in-touch with their emotions and expresses them openly. It allows kids who are the same see the merit in it. I would’ve loved more of that growing up as a kid because I remember myself & others who were emotional like me being told to “suck it up” and “get over it”…imagine being told “it’s okay” and “take your time to cry” when in an emotional moment, how much less therapy sessions we would need now (O_O)!

It’s okay Riley, me too gurl, me too!

As you all know by now, I adore Emmett and I can’t not talk about him! He’s witty, sarcastic, a baker, loyal, a mixed-kid and a shorty like me…basically me but gender-swapped and 12! From what Riley was conveying, you would think Emmett belongs on the next season of Junior Master Chef-Sweets Edition (is that a thing?), and you know what, I would root for this kid…could you imagine the anecdotes?! It would be like Kids Say The Darndest Things mets Kid’s Baking Championship and I would be more than happy to watch for Emmett! From the moment that Emmett was mentioned, I just knew this kid was the best friend that we all look for & deserve in middle grade (and YA too)! I loved him even more when he made his appearance and started dropping zingers like bombs…he just holds a very special place in my heart because of that! Another thing that I love is that he is not afraid to tell things as it is/how he sees it and on top of that he’s a brain stormer & master problem-solver. If you got an issue, count on Emmett to hand you a cookie instead of a tissue & to start thinking of solutions! While your waistband expands (which, I doubt Riley has an issue with), you also get a plan and laughs…who could ask for more?!

Dis Emmett, and I can’t argue with this…pass me a cookie my dude!

As badly as I want to talk about more characters, I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything but there is a whole lot more that I can say about this book! First off, I couldn’t put it down and I really didn’t want to, nor did I want it to end! From the first line, Riley/Graci had me hook, line and sinker. I wanted to live amongst the gifted clans despite how petty they can be at times (you have to read to know how deep the petty goes friends)! I think the gifted clans took sibling(esque) rivalry to a whole different level! They definitely had a hard time letting go of things and I found myself wanting to shake some of the characters when they got in their feelings about the past or acted uppity… *looking at quite a few clan members* they know who they are!

Some of the Clan members when you enter the temple

Another thing that I thought was super dope is the fact that Riley & her family, like all of the clan members I’m sure, lives in a gifted house! A… Gifted… House… Y’all! Could you imagine living in a GIFTED HOUSE?! How incredibly dope would it be to have a home that essentially thinks for itself?! Well, it would be dope when you don’t tick it off so make sure you stay on your Ps & Qs with your compliments (read the book to find out about that). I think I would love it, especially if the stove would help me to cook without much work, lol! I would be more than happy to be like Mrs. Weasley, minus all the kids, in this case (I like to cook…I’m just lazy most days…*shrugs* it is what it is)!

I hope the knives would be gifted too because I hate chopping…I’m just not good at it, lol! And they would stay in locked drawers for safety reasons, of course!

Something else that I absolutely loved was the magic! The magic systems based upon the clan a person is a part of is so super dope! Since their magics are clan specific, it makes it so that they have to really work together to not just meet their own needs but also support their community as a whole as well as maintain their secrecy. While you’ve got your usual out-for-self types in the clans, the Gifted Clans had a real rhythm that I wish there was more of in real life! You can read the book to learn more about each clan & their magic and after you read, you can take the quiz to see which clan you would be a part of here. In case you were wondering, I did indeed take the quiz and below you will find my results! If you take the quiz, feel free to Rep Yo’ Clan in the comments #MiruClanInTheHouse!

Some of this is true but I’m DEFINITELY not athletic! LOL!

There is so much more I could say but I really want you all to go out and get this book & read it! It’s seriously so amazing and it will keep you on the edge of your seats. I’m so excited for book 2, titled The Last Fallen Moon, which comes out in Summer 2022 (that’s not too far away…right?!)! As always, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. Until the next post… *throws up peace sign* LATERSSSSS!

So Many Reasons Why I Love Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

The US Cover!
  • Author: Joya Goffney
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Background-Black
  • IG-@joya.goffney; Twitter-@joya_goffney; www.joyagoffney.com
  • Release Date: 5/4/2021 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (Imprint of HarperCollins)/EpicReads
  • Favorite Character-Olivia! Hands Down! She’s a part of the little and feisty tribe…she’s a bad chick and she knows it… Olivia’s like my literary alter-ego and I need a book from her perspective like yesterday! If Olivia were a song, I feel like she is Bo$$ by Fifth Harmony, it’s very her energy (go listen then tell me where my lie is). Carter’s my second favorite…he’s cool but he’s not Olivia level cool *shrug*!
  • Favorite Quote(s)-First one: “Yoooo, I didn’t know you lived like this. Over here living like Hilary Banks and shit.”-Carter. When I tell you I hollered as loudly as I could, I did…I was NOT ready for not only a Fresh Prince reference in a YA book but the mention of Hilary & I lived for it! I love how she mentioned Ashley RIGHT after, who was my favorite character but I digress! Second is courtesy of Queen Olivia: “I’ve been waiting to beat his ass,” Olivia says. “He hasn’t been dumb enough to say racist shit around me, but I’ve heard so much about him.” Olivia shakes her head, rubbing her right hand over her left fist. “I’m ready for his ass.” It’s THAT.ENERGY.RIGHT.THERE that is what makes her my fav! Take no shit, ready to throw down at any moment, small stature but big bite is what I live for (literary me, I’m tellin’ y’all…ask anyone who knows me). I bet if you opened her book bag, you’ll find vaseline and a straight-razor hidden in there (If you know, you know *shrug*).
Dis Olivia, ready to scrap and I’m here for it!

You know when you see a book, you just have a sixth sense about it? Like you just KNOW this book is going to be a bop, a vibe, a word? Well, that was what I felt when I read the title Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry and then saw the cover…all my bookish spidey senses started tingling and I KNEW this book would be everything! Yet again, my bookish intuition DID NOT fail me! This book was everything I could’ve possibly wanted and MORE! I laughed, I teared up, I wanted to fight, my jaw dropped…I was on this amazing roller coaster ride of emotions that I didn’t want to get off of. When I tell you I didn’t want this book to end, I really didn’t and was SO SAD when I finished it…I just wanted more and an extra 100 pages wouldn’t have bothered me AT.ALL! It’s for this reason that I truly feel that I need a book from Carter’s perspective and one from Olivia’s (her book can be a prequel because I bet her life before meeting Quinn was hella interesting).

No, seriously, I want MOREEEEEE!

When I got this ARC, I really wasn’t expecting it. I knew about this book and I WANTED it…I also knew that I was going to read it regardless of if it was early or not. The bookish Gods smiled upon me though and this golden nugget in the form of an ARC was in this massive box of Advanced Reader Copies I received from HarperCollins (thanks y’all). I’m pretty sure I squealed when I saw it…there is a unboxing vidjeo (that’s on purpose) on IG that you can watch here to serve as evidence. I will quickly say that I was not asked to do any sort of review, I just felt it in my Spirit to write about this book and I’ve been verbally obsessing over it every chance I’ve gotten. It took SO MUCH restraint not to just crack this book open right then and there on live…but this book was SOOOOO worth waiting for. I finished it in less than 2 days, I didn’t want to put it down and I finished in the evening time (which isn’t a usual finishing time for me) because I would only stop reading when I had to. EMWIUC was seriously that good!

Me, while reading this book!

I also have another selling point for you, In case what I’ve said thus far wasn’t enough (of course, I’m going to say more but just sayin). So pretty much every book I’m reading during the times I visit my Grandma, I will show her the cover. It’s just something I’ve started to do as she loved reading and really is not able to anymore because of her eyes. Well, she read the cover and she goes “Ugly cry? What’s ugly cry?” so I proceed to explain to my 80+ year old Haitian Grandma what ugly crying is and then she laughs…she LAUGHS y’all! Do you know how difficult it is to make a Haitian person, let alone a GRANMOUN laugh?! Haitians, especially older Haitians, are a TOUGH CROWD so if the title of this book could get a Haitian Grandma to laugh, then you KNOW it’s worth it’s page length in gold!

Me, when my Grandma started laughing…it’s really not that easy y’all!

Not only is the writing phenomenal and incredibly hilarious, but the character development is just A1…give Joya all of the awards, kudos and her favorite treats because it’s just really that good! She had this way of endearing you to a character at the same time as making you want to fight another. I can’t tell you how many times I was like “YESSSSSSSSSS” to one character then like “OH NO THIS BISH DIDN’T” the very next moment! With a premise like having your personal property filled with your deepest thoughts in it stolen then being blackmailed with it (that’s not a spoiler, btw), how could you not go from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other with characters?! ER-BODY getting the side-eye and 3rd degree the moment the opportunity presents itself in my opinion!

Me, looking at some characters

Since I’m talking about characters, I have to start off with my favsie Olivia…the mighty mouse-esque character of my heart! Olivia is the scrappy and sassy secondary (that was not on purpose with the alliteration but it fits) character that we all deserve! From the moment she sashayed onto the page (that’s how it felt to me), I just knew she was the one… I knew she would be my favorite and I could not be budged from feeling that way. It was like she knew just what to say in every moment…her hype ups were the best like when she said “Look at that ass! Girl, you have to model for me someday.”…what is a better gas up than THAT from a photographer?! I also adored how she stayed ready to fight, let someone say something slightly out of pocket and you might as well cue up Trick Daddy’s Let’s Go because she’s already motioning to take off her earrings (google the song and again, tell me where my lie is, once you read the book). Seeing as this is the second song I’ve said described her, I may have to come up with a playlist just for Olivia, lol (next song choice would be Pretty Savage by BlackPink because it’s also accuracte)! Also, I have to say that since she makes a movie reference in this book that I don’t want to give way, she soared to the top of my favorite characters of all time list! I seriously love her and I am deadass about her needing her own book (Joya, hear my prayer)!

Or her photography…or her friends…or really anything she is involved with!

You know how I said Carter is my second favorite…I have thought about it and I say scrap that because his little sister, Imani, is my second favorite! She isn’t a big time character but when she is on the page, she steals the scene! This little one is a tea spiller in the making (you have to read to understand that reference) and is very much so a mini-comedian! As Quinn conveyed what Imani would say, I simultaneously turned into the heart eyes and crying laughing emojis..I would be a puddle of goo in her little hands (much like Carter). Her cuteness factor was so off the charts that I couldn’t help but want to hug her, give her all the toys she wants and then hand her off to Carter. I need her book too…like a middle grade book about her as a preteen and her relationship with Carter cause if she is this Spirited so little, imagine her has a pre-teen!!!! I bet it would be the sweetest, most hilarious MG book, seriously. Look at me giving all these book ideas Joya, it could be a whole EMWIUC universe in this bit *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*!

Me, Whenever Imani made an appearance

Since I talked about his sister, I’ve GOT to talk about Carter! When I think of him I think of that kid in school that you think is too cool to ever approach and just love to admire from down the hall…especially because you are afraid that the moment the barrier is broken they will either destroy the illusion/expectation you’ve built up in your mind or exceed it. I think Quinn would agree with me when I say that he exceeds the expectations. Not only is he good-looking but he’s intelligent, kind and an absolute teddy bear with Imani. I don’t know about you but seeing boys/men, especially Black boys/men, be soft & kind to younger children turns me into mush! The way that the scenes with him and Imani are written just had me all in my feels! Not only was he gentle with his little sister but he was gentle with Quinn & Olivia when the time called for it. This trait of his really made me love him (but not enough to dethrone Olivia, #NotSorryAboutIt). I also really loved his comedic timing because he really had me cracking up at times. Carter is the type of person you should always keep around since he’s a problem-solver, a mood-picker upper and eye-candy. He also comes with an adorable little sister so anyone he hangs out with (in this case, Quinn & Olivia) is getting a really good deal!

Me, to Carter

Last, but certainly not least, I gotta talk about our MC Quinn. This chick is re-donk-u-lously funny and I was 1000% here for her anecdotes & all shenanigans that ensued throughout this book. Homegirl had me cracking up with her lists and one-liners. While reading this book, I realized that I think a lot in lists but Quinn is actually brave (albeit reckless) enough to actually write them down. It’s one thing to have a thought but is a whole different thing to put them down where they could potentially be seen & open up a can of worms no one would be ready to experience…which is exactly what happened. For what it’s worth, Quinn handles all her situations with as much grace and sanity as anyone in her position could possibly muster. She truly had me thinking she is better than me cause I would’ve been wrecking some ish, reputation be damned y’all! Quinn’s got a serious set of ovaries, IMO, even if she wouldn’t believe it about herself. Sis went through so much that made me want to hug her and shake her at the same time…It’s highly likely that I shouted at her in my mind a few times but all out of love. I absolutely love characters that I experience a push-pull with throughout a book and Quinn definitely fell in that category!

When Quinn gets to this point, it is simply glorious!

I know that I’ve written a lot here but I hope that I have convinced you enough that you need to pick up this book! I don’t know in how many more ways that I could say that I loved this book but I REALLY FLIPPING LOVED THIS BOOK! It is BEYYYYYYYYOND worth your time and I would go full auntie “look at your life” mode if I were to find out you passed up picking up this book (proceed with caution if this is you)! Clearly you have great taste in blogs because you are reading this one so please don’t make me doubt you now & side-eye you like my TBR does me until you get this book! Whether you get it via your local library or your favorite bookstore by way of e-book, audiobook or printed, it doesn’t matter as long as you get this book! It brought me so much joy and I know that it would do the same for you! I wouldn’t ever lead you astray *insert angel emoji here*!

This is the side-eye that I would give you…would you want that for your life? If you know this movie, you would know that that’s not whatchu want…at all!

OK y’all, I’mma end it here before I decide to rant more about this book! Of course, I’m sending you tons of bookish love and wishing you happy reading! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. Until the next post…BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The UK Cover which I think I may like more *Shocked face*

My TBR Is Side-Eyeing Me And I Can’t Side-Eye Back

Look at it…just side-eyeing me…this is every thime i walk past it!

I don’t know about you all but my TBR (To Be Read) is crazy… I thought we were so happy together but I was blissfully ignorant to the fact that it felt differently. One day, I was walking past it and I just felt this wave of judgment and scorn…but there was no one else around… That’s when I looked at my TBR and realized……..it was SIDE-EYEING ME! How can a stack of Books possibly side-eye someone? I have no idea but this is the energy I felt from it! And the thing is…I can’t even Side-eye it back! This hurts the most because I love every opportunity to serve up a hot plate of side-eye, complete with eye-rolling and snide comments to go with it (nom, nom, nom)!

We look good together…right?! I thought we did when I took this picture…I was madly in love with it then…but now I feel intimidated by it and I’m not sure if I should…could love & intimidation go hand-in-hand in this case? I thought we were in such a good place buuuuuuttttt…I don’t think we are if I’m getting side-eyed every time I walk past…it’s like that wife looking at her partner as if they are cheating on them! I swear, I have not cheated on my TBR…I haven’t jumped a book to the top of the pile since A Queen Of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy, a sequel I waited 2 years for (see blog post about AQOGH Here)! Wait, that’s a lie, I jumped Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe to the top because it came out yesterday (4/27) and I believe heavily in reading books before they come out if I receive them early! I know, I know, I KNOW it’s no excuse but I can try not to do it again…I really really can *puppy dog eyes and pleading hands*!

Don’t we look happy together? I thought we were happy, I truly did! I really do try to show my TBR love by moving as quickly as possible through reads…but I guess I’m not a fast enough reader *deep sigh*. Not only do I have this physical TBR but I also have an E-TBR that I feel screams for attention like a Side-Chick on Valentine’s Day! I PROMISE that my E-TBR is not a side-chick to my physical TBR (at least, I don’t consider it to be 0_0). But see, what had happened was…It’s just that the ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) that I have physically come out before some of my E-ARCs! I have a list of ARCs written down where they are listed in order of release (I’m THAT type of ARC reader) in an attempt to be fair. You have got to believe me *drops to my knees and begs*! I’m trying to give them equal attention… and failing miserably it seems. Now we can see why I’m not a poly reader…I can only dedicate myself to one book/world at a time, to which I see no shame in…but I think my TBR feels very differently about this matter.

I thought my TBR was making kissy faces with me but it seems that I was wrong…and I don’t know how to make this right. How do I even begin to make it up to my TBRs?! They have to know how much I love them, right? Right?! *shakes slightly* I give them as much attention as I possibly can…I stare at them in admiration…I pick up a book or click one when it’s its time to be read…. what more could I possibly dooooooooo?! Someone help me…*Marlon Wayans’ voice* help me, help me PUHLEASEEEEEEEE! And the problem is that I can’t NOT acquire new books! How would I write this blog or support Authors Of Color?! I just might be in borderline addiction territory……………..before you say anything, HUSH, let me have my moment of delusion! This is clearly a bookish person’s struggle and the cross we have to bare *wall slides*.

I thought we were having a prom type moment here in my comfy house slippers and in the house pants…the level of comfort here could’ve been #RelationshipGoals if it was reciprocated! I thought we were better than this…that I was giving it all I’ve got…but I guess it just isn’t enough because It keeps side-eyeing me! Even though I’ve read some of the ARCs at the top of the pile since I took these pictures…new books have been added to the pile thanks to Independent Bookstore Day & pre-orders and I feel us both wailing together! This should be a bonding point for both of us but I think we must be wailing for two different reasons…my TBRs because books may get pushed back and me because I worry when I will get to it! I really am trying to do better and show my TBRs that I love them so so so very much! I also have to say that my E-TBR may be unhappy that they weren’t in these pictures (*says a silent prayer that it won’t be*) and I swear that wasn’t on purpose, you’ve GOT to believe me *pleads for forgiveness*!

As Brown on Madea’s movies Would Say “AYE-MEN-DAH!”

Am I the only one that experiences this? Anyone else feels holes burned into their backs whenever they are walking away from their TBRs? Feels the crushing guilt that comes with having so many books that have gone unread and allowing their TBR to get so out of control that it may riot one day? As a mood reader, it’s really easy to see how this has happened, despite being excited about so many of the books that are in my TBRs (I do have some that I’ve been itching to get to and that’s not just my eczema)! I really hope I’m not alone in this bookish struggle, though I suspect that I’m not, knowing some of the people I follow on the ‘Gram! Anyone got some tips or tricks that would help me put my TBRs & fraying nerves at ease? I’m willing to try almost anythingggggggg *cries*!

It really is Mama Ru!

Aiight y’all, I just felt like I needed a palate cleanse of a blog post and writing about my woes with my TBRs felt like the move. I am reading and taking each & every day one step at a time. I hope you are doing the same! For more bookish banter, feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered clubs/rooms. As usual, I’m sending you all bookish love and wishing you all Happy Reading! Until the next post, BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Salute to my Queen Symone (know you will see more gifs of her, just sayin)…and also byeeee for now

AYEEEEEE IT’S INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY!

Photo courtesy of We Need Diverse Books

Heyyyyyyyy everyone! So I don’t know if you know but this upcoming Saturday is like a big holiday for us in the Bookish Community, Independent Bookstore Day *blows air-horns*! It has been a tough year for all of us and Indie bookstores are no exception to the rule. So to offer my support, I’m going to list some of my favorite Indie bookstores, where they are located, where you can find them on these e-streets and why I love them! This won’t be a super long list (just five places). I’m not trying to break any of your bank accounts, but if you can support these stores, I’m so sure that they would appreciate that (following and sharing their pages does count as support too, btw)!

  • Kew And Willow
    • Latinx Owned
    • Kew Gardens, NY
    • Website: https://www.kewandwillow.com/
    • IG: @kewandwillow; Twitter: @kewandwillow
    • I love Kew & Willow because every time I’ve gone there or contacted them, they have always been super nice! For me, it’s like the Cheers of bookstores because they know my name now! This could be concerning but I see them like the bubble tea shop of bookstores now & consider this an honor, lol! They also always let me go on bookish rants, which can be overwhelming at times, so I so appreciate them allowing me the space to geek out!
  • Brave + Kind Bookshop
    • Black Owned
    • Atlanta, GA
    • Website: http://www.braveandkindbooks.com/
    • IG: @braveandkindbooks
    • I love Brave + Kind because they just as the name implies. Whenever I interact with them, they are super kind and helpful. They have become my Nic Stone book pusher/supplier (she goes there to sign & personalize books) during this time and I couldn’t be happier to support such a wonderful store! Bunnie, the Founder & Owner, is also really cool!
  • Mil Mundos
    • Latinx Owned
    • Brooklyn, NY
    • Website: http://www.milmundosbooks.com/
    • IG: @milmundosnyc; Twitter: @milmundosnyc
    • I love Mil Mundos because at the beginning of the pandemic when I was trying to get my book fixes, I ordered from them A LOT! I was excited to find an Indie bookstore that was somewhat local to me. They were always patient and responsive in acquiring the lists of books I was seeking to purchase! I am hoping to get to experience their store front in the future!
  • Harriett’s Bookshop
    • Black Owned
    • Philadelphia, PA
    • Website: http://www.harriettsbookshop.com/
    • IG: @harrietts_bookshop; Twitter: @harriettsbooks
    • I love Harriett’s bookshop because 1) they named their shop after Harriett Tubman, who is my FAVORITE historical figure and 2) they have the dopest shirts! Every time I’ve ordered from them, they have gotten my orders to me so quickly! They are also really cool to follow online as they truly walk their talk when it comes to supporting the community they are in and the Black community as a whole.
  • Birchbark Books
    • Indigenous Owned
    • Minneapolis, MN
    • Website: https://birchbarkbooks.com/
    • IG: @birchbark_books; Twitter: @birchbarkbooks
    • I love Birchbark because they were super kind and timely when I ordered from them. I was really excited to find this bookstore and can’t wait to order more from there! They also hosted the FireKeeper’s Daughter launch and did such a beautiful job! I really would love to see more support for this lovely store.

These five bookstores are all wonderful and you cannot go wrong with supporting any or all of them! I hope that you have found a new place in this list that you come to love too!

Well y’all, this wasn’t intended to be a short post so you can go and look up these stores & maybe some others! I hope that you choose to support a local Indie on Saturday…I know I will! So my peeps, as usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered club rooms for more bookish banter! Until next time, laterrrrrrrrr!

CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls is Soul Fulfilling

  • Author: Kaela Rivera
  • Debut
  • Genre: MG Fantasy
  • Background-Born to Mexican-American and British parents!
  • IG-@kaelacub; Twitter: @kaela_rivera_; www.kaelarivera.com
  • Release Date: 4/13/2021 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: Harper (Imprint of HarperCollins)
  • Favorite Character-So I’ve kind of went back and forth about this because I love CeCe so much but I loved Coyote just a weeeeee bit more! So I’m going with Coyote and CeCe comes in an extremely close second!
  • Favorite Quote(s)–Both are from the homie, Coyote! 1st: “You’re crying again. I don’t know what to do–stop.” So I imagine someone saying this to me because, like CeCe, I’m a crier and it can be a lot…but just imagining him saying this was hysterical to me! 2nd: “What in Desert’s Voices was that for?” I love non-cursing cursing, especially if it is something very specific to the book’s world! I have other favorites but I don’t want to give away anything from the book!
Dis CeCe…and me!

It’s been a little while since I’ve written about a Middle Grade book and I think it’s about time that I did…and I couldn’t think of a better book to write about this week than CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls! I’m going to start by saying that this book wasn’t on my radar prior to receiving it in a box of ARCs that I received from an amazing person from HarperCollins and I’m mad about it…because this book was simply INCREDIBLE and deserved SO MUCH MORE publicity than it seemed to have received. Since I started reading this book, I have not shut up about it…from the very first sentence, I was HOOKED! Kaela got my attention in the most spectacular way and I completely ate up that first chapter in like 10 minutes, which HAD to be a record for me! I fail to understand why such an awe-inspiring, heart-filling, eye-leak inducing book didn’t get more bells & whistles than it did but I’m going to do my best to hype CRATDOS up and do it some justice. So, let’s get into it!

Let’s Do This!

First of all, this is book is packed with Latinx mythology and anyone who knows me, knows that I loveeeeeeeeee mythology! I learned some new stories and I appreciated every single one…it made me want to hop on google and just get lost in a rabbit hole of it! The way that Kaela wove in these stories was simply genius! These weren’t just stories being told around a fire (nothing wrong with this either) but the main characters who were at the center of these stories are actually sharing their side…who WOULDN’T want a book where the character driving the myths is telling their story?! My geeky heart was so full with the way that these stories were written. It made me want to keep reading just to see what the characters would say or do next! I didn’t want to put this book down…AT ALL! So needless to say, this book was a page turner like a mug!

It really is with the level of geeking out I got to do!

Despite CRATDOS taking place in a desert, it felt so rich and no where near dry. It was so layered in not just its landscaping but also it’s history, culture (of course) and the characters. If a price could be placed on her world building, Kaela clearly spared no expense! From capturing the architecture to the climate, the vibe of the village & it’s people, the stories that built the belief systems and the criaturas themselves, it all felt so natural and had this beautiful flow to it…nothing felt out of place (that wasn’t on purpose) and the pacing was just *chef’s kiss*. I felt like I was in the story the entire time when I was reading and when I wasn’t, I was thinking about the story; which is the mark of an incredible book! You couldn’t catch me in a desert but I would go to this place just to be able to see the criaturas & hear their stories myself! CRATDOS seriously needs to become a TV series and I’mma need whoever decides to option it NOT to jack it up…this book deserves an adaptation worthy of it, for sure!

This book is phenomenal and deserves a tv series adaptation, pop figures and t-shirts, the whole shabang!

Lemme talk a little about the characters because the character development is stellar in this book! I’m going to start with my fav, Coyote because his character really surprised me! The way we first met him was not in a way that one would think and the next time we see him, he was completely different! He was basically if “everything is not as it appears to be” were a person! While he is actually quite sweet-natured, he grappled a lot with his legends and how others perceived him, which weighed him down. This was actually something he had in common with CeCe (sans legends/myths). Another thing I love about Coyote is how fiercely protective and loyal he is. He looked out for CeCe (and anothers), speaking up when he had reservations, stepping in when CeCE needed his assistance and helped figure out solutions when needed…he basically created a partnership with CeCe, which was against the norm in their world! Coyote was able to not just give CeCe balance but also gain it from her as well…it’s what a great friendship is truly made of!

This is how I feel Coyote and CeCe are in this book!

From the moment that CeCe’s sister Juana stepped onto the page, she was a force! Super fiery and sassy, I instantly fell in love with her character. It was so apparent in how she loved CeCe because she would try her best to give encouraging words. However, she still had so much to learn about CeCe and acceptance. She saw what CeCe was dealing with from both their parents and the townspeople but didn’t always consider the words that came from her mouth…lack of filter is a bit of a problem in this case. Juana was definitely a truth teller, which y’all know I love a person who keeps it 100, but she certainly had lessons she needed to learn herself! As a fellow big sister, I had some of the same moments that Juana had and deeply related to her. Anyone could have the best of intent but ya know what they say about good intentions *shrug*. Even though Juana wasn’t around a lot of the book, you could feel how CeCe carried her in her thoughts and how she drove her to push forward when she wasn’t always so sure of herself (there were some WWJD, What Would Juana Do, type moments for sure). Juana was the fire when CeCe’s Spirit was dampened and needed to dry up quickly (pun, kind of intended)!

This is Juana And CeCe!

Last, but certainly not least, I have to talk about CeCe… I would call her CeCe the courageous even if she wouldn’t believe it! She went through so much but kept her resolve the entire time. CeCe had a mission and an outcome she wanted to see and didn’t stop until she made it happen or got close. Despite the fact that she carried the perceptions of others of her, she persisted which endeared me to her even more. She fought so hard to be seen for more than the tears she shed and the box that the people around her packed her away in. CeCe is so big-hearted, compassionate, emotional and intelligent…things that the townspeople and even her parents saw as weakness! This drove me insaneeee and I wanted to shout at & fight those people on her behalf! There were so many moments where I wished I could hug her and I also cheered her on because she really deserved that. I hope that kids who also wear their hearts on their sleeves and express themselves with tears see themselves in CeCe and grow along with her. Another thing I loved about CeCe is how knowledgeable she was and how she embraced the legends…she, too, is a nerd and I connected heavily with her reverence for the stories, her culture & community! CeCe is a main character we definitely need more of in literature!

I just felt CeCe could use a hug and would’ve happily given her one! This also is like Her and Coyote’s friendship!

Something else I loved about this story is how Kaela folded in lessons throughout without being obvious about it. Rather than there just being one big moral to the story, there were so many small to medium ones wrapped up like gems… and not just for kids but adults too. One of my biggest takeaways from this book is the importance of seeing the heart of people and not taking what is different as a weakness. There are so many like CeCe and the criaturas in the story that are highly misunderstood and undervalued. A character like CeCe that chose to go against the norm, to see someone/something for who/what they are inside rather than the external appearance is part of what makes this book so incredible!

I just adore this book so much!

CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls was seriously one of the best reads for me this year! It’s so decadent in all that it offers and Kaela did an incredible job! It is absolutely worth your time and really anyone who comes across it! I’m praying for a sequel because I loved CeCe & her crew so much and because I believe that there is so much more mythology that could be explored and adventures that could be had! I have, in fact, inquired about if there would be a sequel and Kaela gave a bit of a veiled response…so let’s hope that that indicates that there will be another book because I…I mean WEEEEEEE need more of this story…really, more stories like this one period!

Strike out money and change it to CeCe’s story (though, that part about money is true too)!

Welp everyone, I’m going to end it here…really, only because I don’t want to end up in spoiler territory but know I could talk even more about CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls because it is simply an amazing book that deserves ALL OF THE HYPE! So my peeps, as usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in book centered club rooms for more bookish banter! Until next time, laterrrrrrrrr!

A Queen Of Gilded Horns Crowned A Masterpiece

Look At This Gorgeous Cover!
  • Amanda Joy
  • 2nd book, sequel
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Heritage/Background: Black/Black People Magic
  • Social Media: IG @amandajoywrites; Twitter @amandajoywrites
  • Release: 3/16/2021
  • Publisher:Putnam (Penguin Random House)
  • Favorite Character: Aketo still remains me favorite…don’t be surprised, I’m pretty loyal! I will say though…I started to like Isa a bit more in this book…*shock face*
  • Favorite Quote: I love a good innuendo so here is one compliments a la my boo Aketo. “Perhaps I have not been expressing my…gratitude toward your fearless nature adequately if you have need to remind me.” When I say my eyebrow raised, it definitely raised and let out a “ooooooooooooo” when I read that!

So, if you have been following my blog since the beginning, you will know that I was OBSESSED with A River Of Royal Blood, Amanda Joy’s Debut…and my favorite blog post written to date because I had SO MUCH FUN! If you haven’t read that post, here is the link jusssst so you can understand how HYPE I am about this sequel! There is DEFINITELY cursing in that post so proceed with caution but I did have the best time writing it! I will work VERY hard to keep this one family friendly but keep that same energy!

My obsession with ARORB and AQOGH may not be but it’s my truth and I’m okay with this reality!

I was REALLY salty that I couldn’t get my hands on an ARC of A Queen Of Gilded Horns but the way I made myself feel better was by telling myself I was going to buy it anyway (the lies we tell ourselves, am I right?). I also pre-ordered the prologues app special edition book box for AQOGH! I did a live unboxing on instagram and here is the link to that so you can see how excited I was about it! I finished the book I was reading at the time at like a record speed so I could get to AQOGH cause I was super anxious to get back to this story & I’m #TeamOneBookAtATime (I’ve got attention span issues *shrugs*).

Me, getting ready to read this book and the people who watched my live baring witness to this energy

It feels like I was waiting for this book FORRRRRRRRRRREVERRRRRRRRRRR but BAY-BAY…it was WORFFFFFFFFF it! It was around two years of waiting and I wouldn’t want to do it again (because #Impatient) but I would because this was the sequel that ARORB deserved! We not only got to go back into Eva’s world but got to see even more of it, learn more about the different types of magick and meet so many new and dope characters! I would love if some of them could get their own books and if Amanda Joy could make that happen, I would be eternally grateful! Not only did we get new characters but we got MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW! Y’all know how I loveeeeeeeee books with Multiple POVs! It gave my bookish heart all of the warm and fuzzies…I adore Amanda Joy even more for this!

#Accurate #DisMe

Since this is a sequel and we know I don’t do spoilers, I’m going to talk about characters mostly but here are a few things that did not change from ARORB to AQOGH: 1) I still love Aketo as I did from ARORB, he is forever bae! 2) I still think Eva & Isa’s mom was on some hoe ish as they revisited things that she did in the past and I would gladly fight her if she didn’t have magick…it would be like bringing a knife to a gun fight…but gimme some magick and its ONNNN. 3) I love me some Baccha, even though he can be flaky AF (tell me where my lie is). 4) Isa is still a beeotch (once a beeotch, always a beeotch but the size of said beeotchiness can change). 5) The magicks are so dopeeeeee and I wanna wield some of them! 6) Falun & Aketo remain the holy grail of homies/road dawgs/besties with some new additions in AQOGH! Needless to say, I loved AQOGH as much as I did ARORB!

Me to ARORB & AQOGH and their casts.

Since I started with Isa the last time, I will start with her again here. When Amanda said during one of the book events that we may like Isa a little more in this book, I actually doubted her…I was all like “NAHHHHHHHHHHH, the hate will remain real”……….and Amanda was right, I hated her a lot less. So I just want to say to Amanda, I apologize for ever doubting you and that won’t ever happen again. Was she still a hoe x10, yup cause I said what I said, but was she the same in how she was in ARORB, no, she actually wasn’t! There was a lot about Isa that we didn’t get to learn in the first book and a range of emotion that we didn’t get to see as well. Being an older sibling is a complicated business that can be super messy and confusing… something I have seemed to forget seeing as my younger sister is now a grown a$$ woman. We got to learn how much more of a pawn Isa was and just how dirty their mama was. I also appreciated how REAL Isa was in this book…she was not there for the Rose colored glasses outlook, which I was 1000% here for! She told it like it was, how she knew things to be and y’all know I’m here for the real ones of the literary world! I still wasn’t in love with her but I was a lot less in hate with her this time around! *shocked face*

The intensity of the dislike is less doe Isa *shrug*

As for Eva & Isa’s mom doe…I’m keep this one short and sweet…I still don’t like her, actually I hate her…and this gif totally sums up that up…

Because only Dave Chappelle could bring the energy I needed on this one!

Moving on to my favvvvvv, Aketo! *cue all the heart emojis and confetti guns* He remains my boooooooo and deserves a championship belt for that! I still got all the warm and tinglys that I felt when he first stepped onto the page in ARORB when he was mentioned in AQOGH. He remained the love interest that I…I mean Eva deserves! We learned so much more about him and his family history that felt a bit like a shock to the system at times! Aketo went through so much and the fact that he was able to be so level headed and not more morally grey than he was is incredible! I think it just made me love and appreciate him so much more! I can’t say much more because I don’t want to give anything away but I love him soooooo much especially since he kept the innuendos up and I’m a sucker for that sh…I mean, stuff *smirks*!

Me to Aketo…I mean Eva to Aketo & Aketo right back at her

My favorite homies, Falun & Baccha, remained favorites through out this book since we got to see more of & learn more about them. Falun remained the homie that would give the two finger tap when Eva needed it. He didn’t hesitate to keep it real with Eva and continued to support her when he thought she was doing the most. I also really LOVED his level of shade and pettiness in this book… good shade and above healthy level of petty will always and forever be my jam! Falun is the forever ride or die, the type that we all could use on our teams.

Falun to Eva…he gave some solid advice throughout this journey!

Now, as for Baccha…I love him, I really and truly do but my dude was hella flaky in this book and I just wanted to slap him upside his head in the most loving of ways at times. He was that friend that you know if you reach out to them, you may or may not get a response and if you get a response, it’s one that would make you side eye your phone…yup, that friend. I mean, he did let us all know who he was in the first book but my dude, you could also break the cycle SOMETIMES! I’m pretty sure I face palmed a few times as well when Baccha appeared but like with any of our friends like this, we still love their flaky selves!

I really do Baccha, I really really do!

What can I say about Eva that I didn’t say in the previous post? Honestly, so much because she really BAWSED UP in this book! She was really on some “Don’t start no sh*t, won’t be no sh*t” type vibes in this book and I was completely here for every single moment of it. Eva held strong to her convictions and didn’t let anyone change what didn’t need to be changed. She learned so much about herself and how much more she was capable of that all you could really do was lean back and be in awe of her…at least, I was! Eva was every bit the leader and student that she needed to be…and she also let her inner nerd out, which I basically live for! I say let that inner nerd shine at all times, come with the historical receipts when folks try it and no one can doubt you! My love for Eva was great….just not greater than that of my love for Aketo, lol (sorry, I just had to)!

The Bawse energy Eva was coming with during this book, sans the cigar

There was SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH TEA SPILLED in this book! It basically blew all of the doors open, how much tea was spilled and I LIVEDDDDD! I need for all of you to read it so I can have people to talk about all of this piping hot tea…so please…I’m begging you…go read this book! If you haven’t read ARORB, I’mma need you to read that first then read AQOGH immejiately after! My face was like… “OOOOOOOOO” quite a bit during this read and I got my entire life at the same time!

And tea, Amanda Joy did give!

Seriously Y’all, this sequel was everything I could’ve ever wanted and more! So much so that I’m salty that this is a duology and wish it was a trilogy! I want more of the characters because there is so much more to explore with them and hereby petition to Amanda Joy that they get their own books or at the very least, novellas! I lay myself at Amanda’s feet and mercy, in hopes that she will answer this petition! In all seriousness, I LOVED this duology so much and think everyone needs to read it because it is an effin’ masterpiece!

This duology deserves all of the the chef’s kisses!

I also believe that this duology needs to be on a small or big screen so I could be all up in the opening nights with my popcorn, ready to watch everything go down like my dude in this gif! ARORB and AQOGH would be brilliant as a series…for real for real! Just imagine Eva and Isa throwing down or Aketo giving all the smolder on the screen *deep sigh*…ughhhhhhhh, it would be amazing! Netflix, hulu, HBO, Showtime…SOMEONE make this happen but do it RIGHT PLEASE! The fandom demands this!

Without shame, this would be me on opening night

Welp everyone, I hope I have put up a convincing enough testimony as to why you need to go out and get AQOGH (and ARORB) if you haven’t already! This duology was everything and I *believe* you will think so too once you read it! So my peeples, as usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can typically find me in the Diverse Shelves club rooms for more bookish banter! Until the next post, PEACE, LOVE AND HAIR GREASE!

Because y’all needed to see the covers side by side!

The Cost Of Knowing Is A Price I’m Willing To Pay

Who WOULDN’T be drawn in by this cover?!
  • Brittney Morris
  • 2nd Book, Stand Alone
  • YA Contemporary with a hint of magic
  • Heritage/Background: Black (read black, black, bliggity black)
  • IG: @brittneymmorris, Twitter: @BrittneyMMorris, www.authorbrittneymorris.com
  • Release date: 4/6/2021 (US), 3/16/2021 (UK, out now…lucky folks)
  • Publisher: Simon And Schuster
  • Favorite character: Isaiah cause he is hysterical and keeps it so real! He’s the best, seriously!
  • Favorite quote: There are two I highlighted and they are parts of longer quotes but will only put the part(s) that stuck out. “Why don’t we go to the gas station down the street and eat some sushi or something?”-Alex. I cackled so hard but also felt my stomach gargle in protest…whoever eats sushi from a gas station is either really brave or really wants the bubble guts/food poisoning! The other quote is “Joy in the midst of oppression is its own kind of bravery.”– Aunt Mackie…when I tell you I let out a low whistle when I read that…I think my Spirit is still letting it out at that line…I was so blown, especially because it is so true!

I have to start this by saying that I am a Brittney Morris Stan! I have been since her debut book SLAY, which is the second book I wrote about for this blog…if you don’t remember this post, go read it here! I am pretty sure there are some (or a lot of) cuss words so just a heads up! Recently, I had the honor of doing an IG Live with Brittney for one of my Saturday Night Geek Outs, which you could watch here! We had a great time and she unboxed finished copies of TCOK! I tried to play it cool but I was internally fangirling!

Me, on the inside, as I was on live with Brittney!

If you read my post about SLAY then you know that I think Brittney is a freaking genius! And she was nothing short of that title when it came to The Cost Of Knowing! Brittney dropped so many gems in SLAY that I was wondering how she would do it in this book and the way she did in TCOK was simply brilliant! TCOK deserves all of the awards, accolades, billboards and finger snaps, it is so phenomenal! When I say Brittney DID THAT, She DID *clap* THAT *clap* ISH! She put her foot in it and dense-some! Is there something more than a chef’s kiss that I could give? Because this book deserves that!

Brittney While writing this book!

I had been chopping at the bit to read this book from the moment that she announced it and entered every giveaway I could possibly find (since I don’t have the hook up with Simon & Schuster)! For those of us in the book community, we know how tough it is to win them and that so many prayers & offerings have to be given to the Book Gods in order to win one, it feels like! I finally got lucky and won one…and when I tell you that I squealed so loud when I got the email notification then the ARC in the mail… I SQUEEEEEEEEEEALEDDDDDDDDDD and I’m not ashamed to say it!

Me, when I got the email notification and the ARC in the mail!

I think I started reading it as soon as I possibly could and ate it up! I read it back in November and finished it in a little under 4 days (adulting loves to kick me in the behind when there is a book I just want to sit and read)… I was so immersed in the book that I didn’t even really use the highlighter tab sticker thingys I have (though I wish I had so I can revisit certain parts more easily but it is what it is)! It is certainly one of those books you want to live in the moment with despite the Main Character’s focus on the future. There was so much said and happened that had me like “WHOAAAAAA” *Insert mind exploding emoji here* *synapses firing*! This whole book is just a flipping masterpiece and I can’t gush enough about it!

Me, while reading this book
<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">I'll stop obsessing but this book is TRULY THAT GOOD and the aforementioned is a very on brand response to it! The character development is also incredible and we all know that I love a book that shows range in it's characters. I felt like I was living in Alex's (the MCs) mind the entire time and it felt like the whole book played out like a movie. His ability of seeing the future (not a spoiler) felt like curse whenever it was activated and his annoyance/despair was palpable the entire the time. You could see how it distanced him from some while attempting to bring him closer to another as he was in a race against time. Could you imagine what it would be like to see glimpses of the future EVERY TIME you touch something? At first, it would be cute but after a while, I feel like I would want to fight everybody and wouldn't want to people at all. For having such a constant distraction, I thought Alex handled it as well as anyone could've. He learned some massively important lessons about the value of time and holding those you love close. The balance he found between grief and pro-activeness was simply astounding. As an adult, I'm still trying to learn that and I wish I had a character like Alex to learn from as a teen. Alex juggled so much but bless his heart, he tried in the best way he knew how to handle all his responsibilities (which brings up the topic of how Black Kids, especially Black Boys, have to grow up so quickly but I'm going to table discussion that right now).I’ll stop obsessing but this book is TRULY THAT GOOD and the aforementioned is a very on brand response to it! The character development is also incredible and we all know that I love a book that shows range in it’s characters. I felt like I was living in Alex’s (the MCs) mind the entire time and it felt like the whole book played out like a movie. His ability of seeing the future (not a spoiler) felt like curse whenever it was activated and his annoyance/despair was palpable the entire the time. You could see how it distanced him from some while attempting to bring him closer to another as he was in a race against time. Could you imagine what it would be like to see glimpses of the future EVERY TIME you touch something? At first, it would be cute but after a while, I feel like I would want to fight everybody and wouldn’t want to people at all. For having such a constant distraction, I thought Alex handled it as well as anyone could’ve. He learned some massively important lessons about the value of time and holding those you love close. The balance he found between grief and pro-activeness was simply astounding. As an adult, I’m still trying to learn that and I wish I had a character like Alex to learn from as a teen. Alex juggled so much but bless his heart, he tried in the best way he knew how to handle all his responsibilities (which brings up the topic of how Black Kids, especially Black Boys, have to grow up so quickly but I’m going to table discussion that right now).

Me, watching everything play out from Alex’s POV!

Speaking of characters, I loved Alex’s younger brother Isaiah SO SO MUCH! Every time he stepped onto the page, I was in awe of his humor and insight. Isaiah had to be one of the wisest preteens ever written into a book…he is also a mood in so many ways too. He spoke to my reclusive nature and his snark was A1! Here is something he said that made me cackle loudly “I wanna finish what I was watching, then go to bed, wake up this afternoon, eat some pizza pockets, and then rewatch what I was watching.”…hey, the kid knows what he wants and I can respect it! I loved reading how his and Alex’s relationship blossomed, even though the clock you knew was there & Alex sensed was ticking the entire time. Isaiah is a mood, a mindset, a lifestyle in so many ways… he was definitely a scene stealer!

Dis Isaiah and sure is with his scene stealing self!

Before I end this post, I have to talk briefly about the social commentary that is in this book. From Black Lives Matter to the necessity of “the grind”, I loved how Brittney wove it in in a way that wasn’t overwhelming but didn’t downplay the significance of these matters. I loved how Brittney incorporated news accounts and conversations amongst characters, where she touches on these topics but doesn’t make it all that is focused on. Sure, there are books that talk about Black pain and trauma but this book is more about Black Boys finding their joy, navigating life and just existing…really the way that things should be. We don’t get NEARLY enough books like this and I want MORE of this. Black kids should have their vast range of experiences reflected in books, it is long past time for that as so many live the realities of this book. I’m so glad that The Cost Of Knowing exists so they can feel seen. It’s an unfortunately reality that so many Black Kids, like Alex, have to grow up so early, working part-time and going to school along with the probability of having to raise siblings or at minimum assist in their upbringing (I was one). In so many ways, this book felt like an ode to all those kids…the ones that could see themselves in Alex or Isaiah.

and more and more books like The Cost Of Knowing!

The Cost Of Knowing does such a brilliant job of toeing the line between heaviness and happiness…it’s really just All Of The Things! There is so much more that I could say about this book but I’m just going to say GO GET THIS BOOK, it is RE-DONK-ULOUSLY AMAZING! I’m sure I haven’t let you down yet and I don’t plan to everrrrrr! So continue to trust me…*puts hands together & bats eyelashes* pretty pleaseeeee?! *Kool-Aid Smiles* Alright my peeps, as usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter! Until the next post, BYEEEEEEE!

The UK Cover which is also super dope!

Stand Up For AAPI & Support AAPI Authors

#StandUpForAAPI

As a Black Woman in America I wanted to take this time to use my platform to support another community, the AAPI community. I’ve looked at the news of all the violence against AAPI and it feels way too familiar…it’s a trauma that no one deserves to have inflicted upon their community over and over again. It would be idealistic to say that this is recent but those of us who have truly studied the history of this country (the world, really) know that it is far from recent. I won’t get into all of that but what I will say is that it is WAY past time for POC communities to use our collective voices and stand behind those who are suffering and provide support to each other. It is also time for those who call themselves our “allies” to really put themselves to work and speak up for those who are being seen as targets…to use the privilege(s) they have to check the people around them when they are wrong and not flinch if there is push back.

It’s not too late to join in on this on instagram

For this post, I’m going to do what I do best and provide a list of AAPI authors and their books, most will be YA & MG but there are some children’s & adult books as well. Of course, I would recommend purchasing their books if you are able but requesting from your local library also helps boost the visibility/demand of their work. Also, following these authors on Social media and sharing their posts are also helpful to them as well. I did a post that is similar on the Spill The DiversaTea Blog (this also has some AAPI owned Bookstores and Tea companies, if you are looking to support some) but I’m posting all the AAPI authors that are currently on my shelves (or TBR) and their books that I know of (that I haven’t read) so this list will be much longer. The books that are in series are on one line & if a book as not come out yet, the tentative release date is next to the title.

Will you answer the call?

Also, throughout this post, you will see graphics that were created by @travelling.the.pages, an Asian American bookstagrammer who has been working on the #StandUpForAAPI campaign in conjunction with other AAPI bookstagrammers. I hope you will support their mission. I have asked her permission to use her graphics and I am grateful that she has granted my request!

  • Renee Ahdieh
    • The Rose & The Dagger and The Wrath & The Dawn
    • Smoke In The Sun and Flame In The Mist
    • The Beautiful and The Damned
  • Samira Ahmed
    • Love, Hate & Other Filters
    • Internment
    • Mad, Bad, And Dangerous To Know
    • Amira & Hamza: The War To Save The Worlds (MG 9/21/2021)
  • Nafiza Azad
    • The Candle And The Flame
    • The Wild Ones (8/3/2021)
  • Nandini Bajpai
    • A Match Made In Mehendi
    • Sister Of The Bollywood Bride (5/25/2021)
  • Tanaz Bhathena
    • Hunted By The Sky & Rising Like A Storm (6/22/2021)
  • Waka T. Brown
    • While I Was Away
  • Gloria Chao
    • American Panda
    • Our Wayward Fate
    • Rent-A-Boyfriend
  • Sona Charaipotra
    • Tiny Pretty Things & Shiny Broken Pieces (co-authored)
    • Symptoms Of A Heartbreak
  • Kat Cho
    • Wicked Fox & Vicious Spirits
  • Mary HK Choi
    • Emergency Contact
    • Permanent Record
    • Yolk
  • Roshani Chokshi
    • Aru Shah And The End Of Time, Aru Shah And The Song Of Death, Aru Shah And The Tree Of Wishes & Aru Shah And The City Of Gold *MG Series* (4/6/2021)
    • The Gilded Wolves, The Silvered Serpents & The Bronzed Beasts (9/21/2021)
    • Once More Upon A Time (10/6/2021)
  • Rin Chupeco
    • The Girl From The Well & The Suffering
    • The Bone Witch, The Heart Forger & The Shadowglass
    • The Never Tilting World & The Ever Cruel Kingdom
    • Wicked As You Wish 
  • Mintie Das
    • Brown Girl Ghosted
  • Hafsah Faizal
    • We Hunt the Flame & We Free The Stars
  • Maurene Goo
    • Since You Asked
    • I Believe In A Thing Called Love
    • The Way You Make Me Feel
    • Somewhere Only We Know
  • Nina Hamza
    • Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year *MG* (6/22/2021)
  • Jenny Han
    • The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You & We’ll Always Have Summer
    • To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love You & Always And Forever, Lara Jean
  • Joan He
    • Descendant Of The Crane
    • The One’s We’re Meant To Find (5/4/2021)
  • Joanna Ho
    • Eyes That Kiss At The Corners *Children’s book*
    • Playing At The Border *Children’s book* (9/28/2021)
  • June Hur
    • The Silence Of Bones
    • The Forest Of Stolen Girls (4/20/2021)
  • Jessica Jung
    • Shine & Bright (9/28/2021)
  • Graci Kim
    • The Last Fallen Star *MG* (5/4/2021)
  • Kevin Kwan
    • Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend & Rich People Problems (adult)
  • Remi Lai
    • Pawcasso *MG* (5/11/2021)
  • Rajani Larocca
    • Red, White And Whole
    • Bracelets For Bina’s Brothers *picture Book* (4/20/2021)
  • Loan Le
    • A Pho Love Story
  • Jayce Lee
    • A Sweet Mess (adult)
  • Lori M. Lee
    • Forest Of Souls & Broken Web (6/15/2021)
  • Lyla Lee
    • I’ll Be The One
  • Stephan Lee
    • K-Pop Confidential
  • Elizabeth Lim
    • Spin The Dawn & Unravel The Dusk
    • Six Crimson Cranes (7/6/2021)
  • Malinda Lo
    • Ash & Huntress (prequel)
    • Last Night At The Telegraph Club
  • Tahereh Mafi
    • Shatter Me, Destroy Me, Fracture Me, Unravel Me, Ignite Me, Restore Me, Shadow Me, Reveal Me & Imagine Me.
    • Furthermore & Whichwood
    • A Very Large Expanse Of Sea
    • An Emotion of Great Delight (6/1/2021)
  • Syed M. Masood
    • More Than Just A Pretty Face
    • Bad Muslim Discount
  • Zoe Hana Mikuta
    • Gearbreakers (6/29/2021)
  • Lily Menon
    • Make Up Break Up (adult)
  • Sandhya Menon
    • When Dimple Met Rishi, There’s Something About Sweetie & 10 Things I Hate About Pinky
    • From Twinkle With Love
    • Of Curses And Kisses & Of Princes And Promises (6/8/2021)
  • Sarena & Sasha Nanua
    • Sisters of The Snake (6/15/2021)
  • Natasha Ngan
    • Girls Of Paper And Fire & Girls Of Storm And Shadow
  • Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman
    • A Thousands Beginnings And Endings Anthology
  • Emily X.R. Pan
    • The Astonishing Color Of After
  • Suzanne Park
    • The Perfect Escape
  • Anuradha D. Rajurkar
    • American Betiya
  • Rachel Ray & Ava Dash
    • 96 Words For Love
  • E.L. Shen
    • The Comeback *MG*
  • Sarah Suk
    • Made In Korea (5/18/2021)
  • Andrea Tang
    • Rebelwing & Renegade Flight
  • Swati Teerdhala
    • The Tiger At Midnight, The Archer At Dawn & The Chariot At Dusk (6/29/2021)
  • Shveta Thakkar
    • Star Daughter
  • Lindsay Wong
    • My Summer Of Love & Misfortune
  • Kelly Yang
    • Parachutes (YA)
    • Front Desk, Three Keys & Room To Dream (9/21/2021) (MG)
  • F.C. Yee
    • The Epic Crush Of Genie Lo & The Iron Will Of Genie Lo
  • Jennifer Yen
    • A Taste For Love
  • David Yoon
    • Frankly In Love
    • Super Fake Love Song
    • Version Zero (5/25/2021)
  • Mimi Yu
    • The Girl King & Empress Of Flames
  • Amelie Wen Zhao
    • Blood Heir & Red Tigress

I know that there are so many more AAPI authors out there that I have yet to see or have not yet debuted. These are just the ones that I’ve read or have in my TBR and pay attention to when they have new books out! I hope that you will choose to support these authors, whether it’s by following them on social media, ordering a book or a few or requesting their work from your libraries.

I also hope that you will take some of the action steps provided in the graphics. As my home girl & fellow bookstagrammer @iamcaseyrkelley likes to say “Support Is A Verb”. I hope that you find this post informative and that the action steps are doable for you. Remember that this is more than just a moment, it’s a movement! Let’s all support the AAPI Community during this trying time.

Sending Love to the AAPI community

As usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter! Until the next post, please be safe out there.

I’m Completely Obsessed With FireKeeper’s Daughter

This cover is sooooooo gorgeous!
  • Author: Angeline Boulley
  • Debut
  • Genre: YA Thriller
  • Background-Indigenous; Ojibwe
  • IG-@angelineboulley; Twitter-@FineAngeline; https://angelineboulley.com/
  • Release Date: 3/16/2021 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: Henry Holt (Imprint of MacMillan)
  • Favorite Character-Granny June! She is SO FREAKING FUNNY and so real! I think she is just the best…I actually wished she was my granny (not replacing the one I have, of course, but she could be like my adopted granny)! Her granddaughter and Daunis’ best friend, Lily, comes in a close second because she’s like a younger version of Granny June!
  • Favorite Quote(s)– “Now when I die, yous gotta promise to get Tribal Council to be pallbearers at my funeral.”-she pauses for dramatic effect-“so they can let me down one last time.”-Granny June…I was CRYING when I read that line! She’s too funny and I could read a book of just her quotes all day…I wouldn’t mind a prequel from her perspective cause some of the things she says makes you want to read that story! There is another thought that Daunis had that really resonated with me and it was: “When someone dies, everything about them becomes past tense. Except for the grief. Grief stays in the present.” WHEWWWWWWWWW…there it is, what isn’t said that should be more often and respected.
Me, after reading that but not looking quite as put together!

Y’all…Y’all…Y’ALL! I’m SOOOOOOOOO OBSESSED WITH FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER! If you were like “was it the cover?”…ummmmm, you right…but also, FireKeeper’s Daughter is PHENOOOOOOOOMENAL! From the story telling to the characters, it just grabs your attention and doesn’t let you go! Angeline put her FOOT in this book y’all! Since I finished this book in February, I have not been able to stop talking about it…like, it stays in my mouth (I’m not ashamed to say that either)! If you follow me on instagram or on clubhouse, I STAY shouting about it! I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS BOOK! Now, while I’m apart of the blog tour for this book with MacMillan, I was going to write this post anyway…I’m seriously obsessed! The day I received a book box for this book, I opened it on IG Live & completely geeked out…if you would like to watch my moment, here you go!

Dis Me…but not looking as stunning, lol!

I’mma take a moment to talk about the cover because it deserves it time in the spotlight! Pause here to scroll up to admire the cover because it should be stared at often! Welcome back! Now, this cover is STUNNNNNNING!!! The cover artist seriously DID THAT! From the illustration to the color scheme and fonts…it is simply beautiful! There is even metallic foil on it that really makes it POP! I could stare at it all day and not get bored (It’s right next to me as I write this)! It represents the book perfectly and if I could hug the cover artist, I totally would but #SocialDistancing so I’ll give them a pound or high five! *UGH* I just love it so much!

But I don’t think…I KNOW I’m In love with this cover!

Being the book cover judge that I am, I didn’t even need to know the premise of this book to know I wanted to read it (call me shallow but this instinct hasn’t steered me [or you] wrong so I will keep rolling with it). Though when I heard the premise of the book, I was like “oh yea, I’m definitely reading that”… I basically did the virtual version of tackling one of my favs at MacMillan by emailing them right away about FireKeeper’s Daughter (Shout Outs to Morgan) and OF COURSE, jumped at the chance at being on this blog tour…which, just a reminder, that this post would exist with or without it because #ImObsessed!

Or maybe not…only time will tell

The story that Angeline told through Daunis, the main character is nothing short of amazing! I would read till I was ready to go to sleep then wake up to go back to reading….I never wanted to put my tablet down and I don’t think I’ve ever been so attached to it before! There was so much going on in this story and yet, I didn’t feel the least bit overwhelmed by it…stressed, yes…anxious, absolutely…but overwhelmed, not in the least! The way that Angeline wrote this book was so poetic and it felt good just to lean into the story. I felt like I was there beside Daunis the entire time (and I may or may not have yelled at her like she could hear me *shifty eyes*). I’m honestly not much of a thriller reader (though others may beg to differ, lol) but this makes me want to pick up more if I think I can get through it all without having pulled my hair out or bit my nails down to the quick! What I DO KNOW and think is that I will read anything that Angeline writes from now on. That’s it, the gavel has been pounded and it’s final!

It’s official, I’m an Angeline Boulley Stan!

I must, I must, I must talk about my favs in this book! Granny June is the grandma I wish I had as a teen but am likely to be when I grow up! She is so funny and so real…you just couldn’t get a better (or bad in the best of ways) influence & person in Granny June! On top of that, when you add her peoples from the community center/senior center, you’ve got yourself one hell of a party! They are so funny together and the banter is simply BRILLIANT! I wanted to go hang out with them and listen to all of their stories…I wouldn’t need to say a word, just sit back and listen to the wisdom and witness the shenanigans… I would be content with that for the rest of my days! Here is an example: Granny June- “Miigwetch, my girl. Mmmm … dark and bitter, just like my first husband.” Her homegirl Minnie- “Gets you riled up, too. Hot stuff.” I just about DIED when I read that…and if you want to know about the context…well, you just gotta read the book so you can see when this was said and about what, lol! These are the type of elders I could rock with! Where they at?! I’m ready to kick it with them!

This would be me the entire time I hang out with Granny June and the senior center crew!

Another character I loved, which would be a surprise to no one because of who my fav is, is Lily! Lily is the best friend that we all need! The way she bantered with Daunis is just the greatest and the balance that she brought to her is the pinnacle of what a good friendship is! I also loved how she would let Daunis know if she was being unrealistic and wayyyyy too into her head…sometimes we just need that friend that will tell us to have a seat when we are doing too much and that friend here is Lily! Even in when Daunis was thinking in the vein of WWLD (What Would Lily Do), it was clear that she was a guiding light or devil on her shoulder (depends on the situation, lol). Another thing I loved is her sense of humor and wit…something she clearly inherited from Granny June! She balanced humor and seriousness so brilliantly like when she said: “Holy Wah. Yous look like you fought a pack of rez dogs and lost.” LOL! Way to tell people they look like crap Lily…and I’m here for it! If I could hug Lily and hang out with her, I would jump at the chance because she knew how to have a good time!

This would Lily and I if she were a real person and we were in the same room

Of course, I gotta talk about Daunis because she is just so dope! First of all, she is super intelligent and she OWNSSSS it! Nothing warms my heart more than a fellow nerd who isn’t afraid to let others know just how smart they are! Her quips about facts are just THE BEST like this one: “That’s not what Occam’s razor means. It’s a problem-solving principle about competing hypotheses and starting at the one with the fewest assumptions.” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Insert Head Exploding Emoji with accompanying sound effects here* Did you just fall in love? Cause I did all over again! #AllTheHeartEyes! Seriously, she spoke to my nerdy Spirit! Not only is she intelligent but she is resilient and such a bada$$. Baby girl went through so much but she was such a G… I adored her “F**k It, I’ll Do It” attitude and how she knew when to call out people when appropriate! I just wanted to give her fist pumps when she bodied something or rock her in the moments when she was experiencing something jarring to her being… I would’ve been happy to play big sister or auntie to her in those moments. Daunis deserves all of the love & hype up!

Me, during so many of Daunis’ moments!

Another thing I loved about this book is the way that Angeline shared Indigenous culture and teachings. It felt melodic and comforting in how she described their Tribal events or gatherings with her peers from story telling by the fire, reverence of elders, the dances, songs and the regalia. It was like Angeline was painting a picture that I wouldn’t want to stop looking at. I’ve been blessed to have gone to pow wows before the world descended into the chaos that is the panorama and I felt like I was right back on those grounds…smelling the scent of fresh fry bread, feeling the vibrations of the drums, listening to the jingles on their regalia and watching the blur of colors as they dance… It was such beautiful memory/image to pull from that invoked so much emotion for me. There was something that Daunis thought which I also thought was so important and that we all need to be reminded of which was: “I am overcome with a mixture of emotions. Sad that their innocent eyes are open to the trauma that still impacts our community today. Angry they must learn these truths in order to be strong Anishinaabeg in a world where Indians are thought of only in the past tense.” That is an entire SERMON! It is amazing that we live in a world where an entire Nation of people were taken advantage of, had their land stolen & lives taken and then have the nerve to speak of them as if they are past tense when they very much still present and experiencing so much injustice. There are so many lessons & gems throughout this book and I hope people pick them up & really digest them.

From the moment you open this book to the moment you close it my friends!

Another aspect that I really appreciated about this book is how grief is talked about and processed. I had actually read this book 2 months after my Grandpa passed away and when I tell you that I ugly cried while reading this book…I mean, I REALLY ugly cried (believe it or not, that is not me but it sure was when I was reading). The way Daunis viewed death is very much in line with my own views and how she processed her grief is how I imagined I would have too. She was angry, she wanted answers and she wouldn’t let anyone pacify her. The way Daunis used her grief to propel her forward was nothing short of awe-inspiring, especially when others would have found it to be debilitating (I may have at her age, to keep it real). I actually DMed Angeline about how she spoke about grief in this book and how hard it struck me. It led to a beautiful conversation about our loved ones who have passed on and how we have processed/are processing our grief. It is likely to make you evaluate how you process or have processed your own. Whenever you read this book, just make sure you keep a box of tissues or a handkerchief or a long sleeve near by because you WILL need it!

Seriously, you will cry and that is okay…embrace that now because you gon’ feel all the feels!

On a less serious note, FireKeeper’s Daughter has so many freaking funny moments! Whether its with Granny June & her senior center crew, Daunis with Lily or Daunis stunting in all her brainiac glory; there is so much humor woven throughout the story. There is a striking balance of seriousness to humor in FireKeeper’s Daughter that just leaves you floored…it was lowkey a masterclass in how to write & invoke emotions in a book. I was on a roller coaster the whole time that I didn’t want to get off of… and I don’t even LIKE roller coasters Y’all (actual roller coasts…emotional ones can be tolerated)! I really didn’t want this book to end, even though I knew it had to *quietly sobs*. I love a book that makes me cry, think and laugh throughout my time of reading and FireKeeper’s Daughter made me do all that and more! This book is seriously everything and you need to get it, if you haven’t already & read it so you can understand why I’m so obsessed with it!

Dis Me when it comes to FireKeeper’s Daughter

I hope I have effectively convinced you as to why you need to get this book…If I need to say more to convince you, let me know cause I’m surely up to the task, LOL! Hopefully we’ve established some level of trust since you’ve read this post through! Alrighty y’all, I will end it here…for now. *smirks* As usual, I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter! Until the next post, BYEEEEEEE!

Giving Them Their Flowers: An Ode To My Favs

Hey everyone! You all may not know this but it’s my birthday week (and I do love birthdays) so I wanted to do something different for this week’s post! I wanted to use this blog post to give some of my favorite authors their flowers while they are still here. Nothing hurts more than to give people their flowers when it’s too late for them to receive them. We have especially experienced this in the last year. I also believe that Authors Of Color are not receiving the flowers they deserve and I want to change that with this post. Here are some of my favorite authors, their books and why I adore them so much! I’ll also share pictures I’ve taken with them, if I have one!

  • Ibi Zoboi
    • Books: American Street, Pride, Black Enough: Anthology, My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich, and Punching The Air.
    • I completely ADORE Ibi Zoboi! It is because of her first book, American Street, that I was able to see a Haitian girl as the main character. This extremely important to me as someone who was returning back to reading after many years of inconsistent reading or rather reading books that didn’t reflect/represent me. American Street made me more curious about Haitian culture and I sincerely appreciate all of her work & who she is as a person. Without knowing it, Ibi helped jump start a healing journey for me with a part of my heritage that I felt disconnected to. I also love talking to her when I’ve gotten to see her in person and virtually (her husband is also super cool, what’s up Mr. Z!)!
The My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich Launch at Books Of Wonder
  • Maika & Maritza Moulite
    • Books: Dear Haiti, Love Alaine & One Of The Good Ones
    • I absolutely love Maika & Maritza! Their first book, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine; changed my life. It gave me the motivation to start learning Haitian Kreyòl and desire to visit Haiti that I didn’t have before (COVID is being a whole a$$ beeotch in keeping me from doing that right now). I blubbered like I had just finished watching the best but saddest movie after reading DHLA and they also had me crying while reading OOTGO as well! Aside from that, they were so cool when I met them and I love their energy together & apart! It’s going to be like a family community whenever we can do in-person events again! *cues up the Konpa music*
At the Dear Haiti, Love Alaine Launch at Books Are Magic
  • Tiffany J. Jackson
    • Books: Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, The Awakening Of Malcolm X, Blackout (Co-authored with Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk & Dhonielle Clayton 6/22/2021), White Smoke (9/14/2021) & Santa In The City (10/12/2021).
    • Without Tiffany, this blog would actually not exist. It was because of a candid conversation I had with her after a book event that eventually led to the creation of this blog & I’m so appreciative of that night. Aside from this, her books always makes me want to throw things (but then pick it back up and apologize to it). I love books that make me feel intense emotions in the span of the few hours that it takes for me to finish (because I can never put them down & cannot sleep until I see what happens in the end) and that is always her books for me. I also miss her asking me “But did you die?” when I fuss after finishing at events, lol.
Me wanting to throw the books as I read but I promise I would pick it up and apologize to it afterward because we don’t hurt books
  • Dhonielle Clayton
    • Books: Tiny Pretty Things & Shiny Broken Things (co-authored with Sona Charaipotra), The Belles & The Everlasting Rose and Blackout (Co-authored with Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk & Tiffany D. Jackson 6/22/2021)
    • I sincerely appreciate Dhonielle in all her work for the publishing community to uplift Authors of Color, We Need Diverse Books and Cake Literary! Dhonielle wears so many hats and she keeps it all the way one hunnit with her observations & experiences. She’s been such a huge inspiration to the mission of this blog & my reading journey (The Belles Series covers remain two of my favorites of ALL TIME). She’s about this bookish life and she deserves to have A LOT of respect placed on her name! Seriously, Dhonielle should have a boatload of flowers & props given to her (I know I’m not the only one who thinks so either, ask any author, blogger or bookstagrammer).
At A Book panel at a Barnes & Noble in Manhattan
  • Brittney Morris
    • Books: SLAY, The Cost Of Knowing (4/6/2021), Spider-Man: Miles Morales-Wings Of Fury & The Jump (2023)
    • From the moment I read SLAY, I knew that Brittney would be a favorite. I was literally ready to fight for that ARC when I saw it at a bookish gathering and I’m so glad that I got it without any altercations! That book blew my mind and had to be the second book I wrote about for this blog. I simply adored SLAY & Brittney…just so you know, I also feel the same way about The Cost Of Knowing (don’t you worry, a blog post will happen for TCOK too)! Another thing that I appreciate about Brittney is that she is so down to earth and kind. Everyone needs to go get her books (well, pre-order The Cost Of Knowing) ASAP, I’m not even kidding!
I’m a fan of Brittney Morris Forever and Always!
  • Rin Chupeco
    • Books: The Girl From The Well & The Suffering; The Bone Witch, The Heart Forger & The Shadowglass; The Never Tilting World & The Ever Cruel Kingdom; & Wicked As You Wish
    • I love, love, LOVE Rin Chupeco! They are an author who I really wanted to meet after reading most of their books at the time and actually lamented about the impossibility since Rin lives abroad. I love their books soooooo sooooooo SOOOOOOOO much! I love their level of humor and snark weaved into their story telling & the cast of characters they put together, I just adore Rin so much! I’ve read all of their books and feel like everyone else should too! I was SO EXCITED when I got the opportunity to meet Rin when they came to New York! I may or may not have been like an excited puppy while waiting on line to have all my books signed (I had them all but WAYW because it wasn’t out yet & didn’t have the ARC at the time). Shout Out to Tochi Onyebuchi for taking our photo who also made us laugh after this one was taken!
  • Rena Barron
    • Books: Kingdom Of Souls & Reaper Of Souls; Maya And The Rising Dark & Maya And The Return Of The Godlings (9/21/2021)
    • If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I’m a stan of Renas’! I think she is the bee knees and I stay in her DMs on instagram (to which she is so gracious about, thank you Rena). Her book Kingdom Of Souls is essentially what launched this blog. I appreciated how Rena fully embraced my blog post about Kingdom Of Souls and even quoted it (this is the biggest compliment I ever could’ve received then and even now *insert crying emoji here*)…and that she’s read my subsequent posts about her other books. I just love her writing style, her world building & character development, I just think she is everything! Periodt! Rena also gave literary birth to my first book boyfriend, Rudjek, and we know how I stan for him too (I wish he were real…*sigh*)!

On This Blog, We Stan For Rena Barron!

  • Sandhya Menon
    • Books: When Dimple Met Rishi, There’s Something About Sweetie & 10 Things I Hate About Pinky; From Twinkle With Love, Of Curses And Kisses & Of Princes And Promises (6/8/2021); and under Lily Menon-Make Up Break Up.
    • Like with Rin Chupeco, I had lamented about the possibility of not ever meeting Sandhya Menon because I instantly fell in love with her writing and she lived on the other side of this country (this was before I knew authors travel sometimes). I adore her characters and their stories…the way that her books evoke emotions like sadness and joy at the right moments and that overall, when you finish, you feel such a warm & fuzzy feeling all over…like you’ve just wrapped yourself up in your favorite fluffy blanket and sipped on your favorite tea from your lucky mug. Aside from her writing, she’s like the SWEETEST human being! Sandhya is so super kind and gracious to her readers & street team. I also really appreciate her trust in me when it comes to her street team. Sandhya is actually the reason I first got on an instagram live! I just adore her so much and was so excited to meet her at Bookcon in 2019 (this feels soooooo far away *sobs*)!
I was such a happy Huffle to meet a fellow Huffle who I thought is so great!
  • Nic Stone
    • Books: Dear Martin & Dear Justyce, Odd One Out, Jackpot, Clean Getaway, Shuri, Shuri: The Vanished & Shuri 3 (Title unannounced 11/2/2021), Blackout (Co-authored with Dhonielle Clayton, Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk & Tiffany D. Jackson 6/22/2021) & Fast Pitch (8/31/2021)
    • This couldn’t be a fav author post without talking about The queen Nic Stone…this here blogger STANS Nic Stone and everything she does! Nic’s book Shuri jumpstarted the Magical Black Kids Book Club and the MBKBC also stans for Nic! I remember being at Angie Thomas’ launch for On The Come Up in NY and seeing her…freaking out then writing in my stories that I saw her (but was too scared to approach her) & she responded that I should’ve said something! From then on, I always approached her at book events & we’ve taken selfies at almost all of them! She’s so kind and gracious to those she speaks to as well as is so supportive. I also love all of her books so very much and her ability to show the world through kid/teen eyes. Nic deserves every accolade she receives, seriously, and to say I adore her is a severe understatement!
Not Only Do I miss seeing Nic at book events but I miss human interaction and touch *insert sobbing emoji here*

Well, I’m going to cap it here but there are other authors that I love that I didn’t highlight here but think highly of like Jordan Ifueko (Raybearer & Redemptor 8/17/2021), Amanda Joy (A River Of Royal Blood & A Queen Of Gilded Horns 3/16/2021), Angeline Boulley (FireKeeper’s Daughter 3/16/2021), Maurene Goo (Since You Asked, I Believe In Something Called Love, The Way You Make Me Feel & Somewhere Only We Know) and LL McKinney (A Blade So Black, A Dream So Dark & A Crown So Cursed 11/9/2021; and Nubia: Real One)! I didn’t mention favorite books because my hope is that you all will pick up their books and pick a favorite of your own *Kool-Aid smile*! All these authors deserve their flowers while they can still smell them (if they are allergic then they can be given their favorite snack) and I’m giving it to them now! I hope you decide to give some of your favorite authors their flowers (or snacks) as well because they deserve them!

This person doesn’t look like me but let’s play pretend, okay?!

I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and as usual I’m sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter! BYEEEEEEE!

One Of The Good Ones Had Me Geeking

Look At This Gorgeous Cover!
  • Maika & Maritza Moulite (Sisters)
  • Second Book
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Heritage: Haitian-American (AYISYENNNNNNN*waves Haitian Flag*)
  • IG:@maritzamoulite, @maikamoulite; Twitter: @maikamoulite, @MaritzaMoulite
  • Website: www.maikaandmaritza.com
  • Release: 1/5/2021 (Go get it NOW!)
  • Publisher: inkyard press
  • Favorite character: I quite loved Kezi! She’s smart and a bit sarcastic/snarky. I love the energy that she brought to the book when she was mentioned or when things were from her perspective. Sis is just dope!
  • Favorite Quote: This is something Happi thought that hit me like a ton of bricks “Speaking about her in the past tense still feels weird on my tongue.” Man, this is an entire mood/mindset/outlook & it’s very me too! Another quote: “Oh! And who are ‘girls like me’ exactly?“-Happi! YES HAPPI YES! Like what does that even MEAN?!

So I’m starting this off saying that I am a HUGE FAN of Maritza & Maika! Their first book, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, literally changed my life and I wrote a post about it. If you haven’t read that post, click here to read it! It holds such a special place in my heart and I’m always happy to talk about it. I also did a live for the Haitian Read-A-Thon with some other Haitian Bookstagrammers & Maika about DHLA, you can see it here (I had such a good time)! I adore their work and I adore them, seriously! I’d read anything that they write, even their grocery list, lol.

I hate how accurate this is for me and my short arms but no lie, this is how much I adore them!

Now that I’ve gotten the warm and fuzzies out, I’mma move on to talking about their second book, One Of The Good Ones (OOTGO)… It is SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! It is literary GOLD! The gems that they dropped, the scenarios that the characters were in, the twists & turns….*Chef’s Kiss*! Also the levels of emotions that I felt…*low whistles* but I also felt that it validated where I was at that point in time while I was reading.

To be transparent, when I read this book, it was less than a month after my Grandfather passed away and I was extremely emotional (the top contending emotions being anger and hurt). So that thought that I quoted, I felt it so very hard and even almost 3 months later, I’m still in a similar place (baby steps y’all, baby steps). So this book had me in my feelings and tears very early on. Since I was in such an emotionally turbulent place, it took me longer than I would’ve usually read but I loved this book SOOOOOOOO MUCH! It touched on so many necessary things that tend to get overlooked or just outright ignored/dismissed. I love books that get me thinking, that reminds me of our current realities without bombarding me with it, balances joy & humor with grief & heaviness in such a brilliant way! Seriously… y’all need to get this book!

But no, seriously!

So, y’all know how I’m a history buff right? Okay, maybe you don’t but now you know! I was in full on history geek mode from the moment that the Negro Motorist Green Book was mentioned! I, for real for real, was all in my nerdy feelings! When Kezi says while holding the Green Book “It’s like holding a snapshot in time between my fingers. Holding one of these never gets old.”, I imagined feeling like the sky opened up and angels began singing or the instrumental to when Mufasa held Simba up played…It would’ve been ALL UH THOSE FEELINGS! I love how Kezi revered the past but was solidly in the present…which can be tough. She also came with ALLLLLLLLLLL THE RECEIPTS when stepped to…and well, that’s me too! She will hit you with the historical facts then current data…I just LIVED when she spoke! The way that Maika & Maritza intertwined the past with the present was just brilliant! My Spirit was fully spoken to!

Me, when historical facts were stated or receipts were given!

Another thing that I love is the multiple perspectives in the book. Nothing delights me more than a book with multiple points of view! I feel it adds to the brilliance of the book when done really well and Maritza & Maika did *clap* that *clap* and they did it REALLY FREAKING WELL! And not only did they do multiple POVs but also multiple TIMELINES! Y’all, I was in full on GEEK! For a cherry on top, each POV brought on MIND BLOWING revelations that when it hits you, you’re just like “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”!

Then….

Yea, that’s all I can really say without spoiling the sheer brilliance that is this book! That second gif was also me when Kezi came with the receipts!

I’m lookin at you Kezi cause dis you!

Another thing I wanted to touch on right quick that is a really important question that this book posed… What exactly makes someone “one of the good ones?” and WTF does that even mean?! Who exactly is a “good one”? What do they look and sound like? Are they someone who is like a “step & fetch it” (look it up)? Do they do “all the right things”? What exactly are all the right things anyway? This is what I basically think when I hear that term (dezòd for real). Does being “a good one” mean that that person’s life deserves more recognition than one who isn’t considered as such? That they are more worthy than others? As the book shows, that answer depends on who is being talked to. What we know is that being “a good one” doesn’t save a person…no number of good deeds or degrees or even graveling will save a person, especially a person of color, as history (past and present) has dictated to us. I love how this book poses the question and asks you to really question your outlook on what constitutes a “good one” and why victims are either villainized or canonized in the court of public option………………*Hops off her soap box* (to a smaller one cause y’all know I’m short and need the extra height *shrug*)

Think about it my friends…just think about it

I love a book that makes me think, gives me history, multiple points of views, witty banter and even makes my eyes leak! One Of The Good Ones was all that and SO MUCH MORE! It is Sooooooo worth reading! I bet you will thank me after you do!

Before you say it, I know I didn’t talk really about the characters and I didn’t on purpose because I didn’t want to give spoilers on accident. I want you to meet all of them on your own and get to know them! The character development in OOTGO is SUPERB! I really can’t say enough good things about this book! I hope you decide to pick it up and join me in geeking out about it! It is in the Haitian Read-A-Thon’s plans to come back and this will be one of the books that will be featured! There is an IG page for The Haitian Read-A-Thon that you can go follow, here is the link! We’ll be back at it for Haitian Heritage Month in May!

This will be us in May!

Well My peoples, I’m going to end it here and offer you òne ak respè! I’m wishing you all Happy Reading and as usual I’m sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on all of the social medias: Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter! BYEEEEEEE!

I’m leaving y’all with this picture because we cute with our red lipstick on! Well, we just cute, periodt!

Aye Yo #LegendbornKeptMeUp Is A Real Thing

  • Author: Tracy Deonn
  • Debut-Book 1 in a series (*cries silently in a corner*)
  • Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy; King Arthur Reimagining
  • Background-Black
  • IG-@tracydeonn; Twitter-@tracydeonn
  • www.tracydeonn.com
  • Release Date: 9/15/2020 (out NAOW!)
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Imprint of Simon & Schuster)
  • Favorite Character-Alice! William comes in close second. Alice is the best friend that we all should have…the yin to Bree’s yang, the alarm clock when she is still asleep, the one that gives it to her straight when she don’t want to hear it but need to…the one who can read Bree for filth and she can’t say ish back because she know Alice is right. I just loved her! I also loved William and his Legendborn tea-spilling self…he keeps it pretty cute when he spills it too.
  • Favorite Quote(s)-This is one of the many things I loved that was thought or said “Because broken hearts strip vocabularies down to their raw bones, and because I don’t want After-Bree to show up and turn this conversation into a tear-streaked explosion, I’ve scripted an admission using as few words as possible: “My mother died three months ago.“‘-Bree. I paused after I read that because of not just the heaviness but also the realness of it. I haven’t seen someone write down what that feeling was before and I felt it, 1000%. Also here is a brief convo between Alice and Bree that spoke to me: Alice-“Okay in there?”; Bree-“Yeah. Just realized I need to wash my hair.”; Alice-“Damn.”; Bree-“Yeah.” This was another moment I felt so hard because I hate washing my hair since it’s a process…and when friends understand that pain, I feel seen! (I will say that I have started embracing hair washing time as a self-care time but its’ still work doe!)

First of all, I’m obsessed with the cover of Legendborn…like I can’t stop staring at it! I had my finalized copy Face out (and I don’t usually do that on my bookshelves) for a while and I purchased a frame for the pre-order poster long before I ever pre-ordered because I knew Bree had to go up on my Magical Black Kids wall (I’m pretty sure I asked Tracy a million times how I could get the cover on a poster before I saw the Legendborn promo boxes and subsequent pre-order incentives that y’all KNOW I was sure to redeem)! Just look at the cover and tell me that it’s not worth staring at for prolonged periods of time…Go on and take a moment to look at it and then come back… *waits* Thank you for joining me in my obsession! To further witness my obsession, here is a video on Instagram where I’m opening my copy of Legendborn & the poster.

#DisMe when it comes to this cover!

So, when I saw the cover (because, clearly I’m obsessed with it and I’m not apologizing either), I KNEW I had to read this book…I entered every giveaway I possibly could so I could read an ARC of it and finally, the Book Gods smiled upon me….I won an ARC through San Diego Comic Con (thank you RivetedLit.com and San Diego Comic Con)! When I tell you I squealed so hard when I saw that email (I was with a student, I couldn’t scream in a 5 year olds ear), it was likely #TheSquealHeardAcrossTheWorld! When I got my copy, I SCREAMED! It was one of the best days of my life! I literally had just tweeted about wanting a copy too so you can’t tell me that whatever divine being you celebrate isn’t good! To prove my hypeness, see the screenshot below!

Let me get to talking about Legendborn…I quite literally can talk about this book ALLLLLLLL WEEK, but I know we all don’t have time like that! When I finally sat down and started this book, I DID NOT want to put it down! When I say #LegendbornKeptMeUp, I really mean that ish! The first day I had started at night and the next time I looked up, it was light out and my fitbit said it was 7 am…since I had to be up at 8 am, I thought “f*ck it” and read until it was time for to have actually gotten up…I think actually read for a little longer after that too… I regret NOTHING people, not one single second! It was a good thing I was off from work! I stayed up the subsequent nights until 5 am til I finished… and I finished Legendborn in less than 72 hours…this book is almost 500 pages y’all…again, I regret NOT-A-DAMN-THING! This book was SO EFFIN’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

Absolutely NOTHING!

Legendborn takes place on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill and while I didn’t go to that school (I went to THE University of Alabama, Roll Tide Roll), I felt at home in the story because it sounded & felt so much like my alma mater’s campus! When Bree’s dad asked “Met any Black kids yet?”, I cackled SO HARD because that’s what it was like on my campus until I met a Black football player (they aren’t uncommon) and found my way to NCNW (National Council of Negro Women) & Black Greek Life! Bree also talked about growing up/living in the South and getting used to being in places not meant for US (i.e. Black People) and in her saying “a Rebel flag flying high out front.” I remember Rebel flags being in dorm windows and on cars despite it being supposedly “outlawed” on campus…hell, my college department’s main building was named for a KKK member… ahhhhh, the South, where they live in the past but tell us to get over it… but I digress. Anyway, I felt like I was part of the story because of the details Tracy shared and what I remember of my Alma Mater. The fact that I felt so at home in the story also speaks to Tracy’s ability to paint a picture in the reader’s mind (I’m seriously obsessed) and she gave me my entire life while taking away my ability to go to sleep! I also was dreaming of what could possibility happen next in the story when I did sleep!

As you already know, I’m enamored with Bree’s depiction on the cover but I’m even more so with her character. She’s the angry Black girl that we all deserve…that so many of us has been and may still be…I know my anger has grown since I was a teen because of the state of this country and the trauma experienced due to it… Bree speaks about the “After Bree“, the person she became after her trauma and I think so many of us have an “After [insert your name here]” because of events that change who we were at the time of its occurrence. I love that she didn’t apologize for her anger…so often Black girls are shamed for their anger rather than being validated in what they are experiencing/feeling. I also thought it was amazing that she had her BFF Alice there to support her (but also check her) when she needed it as well as a father who tried to be as understanding as possible. Another thing I loved is that Bree has the most magnificent way of reading folks for filth and I was SO *clap* HERE *clap* FOR *clap* IT *clap*! Sis went in at times and I can neither confirm nor deny that I yelled every time she did (and tweeted Tracy, lol).

Because Jujubee is ALWAYS a mood & an accurate meme for Bree’s ability to read folks!

Speaking of her BFF Alice, I think she is just the Bee’s knees! She has some of the best lines and she makes her presence known when she’s on the page. Alice felt more than a secondary or supporting character to me. She is a character that you would think of pages later and be like “hmmmmm…WWAD?…What Would Alice Do?” because shes the type of character you’d always want insight from! I lived for the moments where she gave Bree the two finger tap on the shoulder, told her to have a seat and read her when she needed the reality check. I also felt that she served as Bree’s anchor when she started to get a bit lost in what she was dealing with. We all need that friend, seriously. I Loved Alice so much and I can’t wait to see her in Book 2 and I really hope she gets more page time because sis is just that AWESOME!

Alice To Bree

I have to also take a moment to acknowledge my very close in second fav, William…the tea spiller and shade provider…a character after my own heart! He was absolutely hysterical and I lived for him! I loved how he was up for shaking ish up in the background and giving ZERO EFFS about what people thought. He was like “oh, y’all are adhering to this code of silence…well, I’m not so sit here and get this tea”…I just ADORED HIM! There was also a moment between him and Bree that I will NOT spoil that whenever I think of it, I just burst out laughing because he’s so hilarious in that scene! His and Bree’s banter…His and ANYONE really’s banter is just great! I wouldn’t be surprised if you, too, also fall in love with his character when you read the book *hint* *hint* *nudge* *nudge*. I really can’t wait to see what witty life giving banter and tea spills he will bring to us to in Book 2!

William getting ready to spill the tea

Like every good YA book, there is a love interest…there’s actually two! My brain basically exploded once it fully hit me that there was a love triangle…and yes, I knew about it before I read the book because Tracy shares that outright but it hits different when you read the book and you realize that it is happening/has happened! Am I going to say what team I’m on…hmmmmmmmm *taps chin*…I don’t think I will because I want you all to read the book and figure out who’s team you are on, LOL! So I will say, I am #TeamWhoEverBreeWants and be Switzerland in this bish because I’m also #TeamFormYourOwnOpinions, lol! You maybe disappointed that I didn’t talk more about this but I REALLY REALLY REALLLLLLLLLLY want you to go out and get then read this book!

Me when I think about the love triangle…and Legendborn in general!

For real, for real y’all…I freaking LOVEDDDDDDDDD this book and I hope that I have convinced you enough to pick up this book if you don’t already have it and read it if you haven’t! This book is simply PHENOMENAL and deserving of every bit of hype it received! If you need any further convincing…take yet another look at this gorgeous cover centering a POWERFUL MAGICAL BLACK GIRL!

I’m seriously obsessed with this cover y’all!

I think I have occupied enough of your time today but if you feel differently, there are other blog posts of mine that you can read and you can also find me on Instagram doing lives & ish! I also recently launched the blog for DiversaTeas Reads, which is a Black Woman Founded & Owned book box that features OwnVoices books/authors! It’s called “Spill The DiversaTea“! Click here for the first blog post which is a list of Books by Black Authors coming out this year since they are highlighting Black Books this month (it’s a shorter list than this post with All POC author books coming out this year)! Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to keep up with when new posts are up!

Anyway my peoples, Happy Reading and as usual I’m sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic, especially on Tuesdays for the Pub Day: YA Edition room under the Diverse Shelves club for more bookish banter!

I had to one more time because of my level of obsession with this cover! #NotSorryAboutIt
Replace “you” with “Legendborn” and this would be me

The Gilded Ones Is A Solid Gold Read

Seriously, LOOK AT THIS COVER!
  • Author: Namina Forna
  • Books Published: Debut, 1st in a trilogy
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Sierra Leonean
  • Social Media Accounts: IG–@namina.forna, Twitter–@NaminaForna
  • Website: www.naminaforna.com
  • Release Date: 2/9/21
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press
  • My Favorite Character: Britta! I love how loyal and attentive she is…also, homegirl got jokes! My second favorite is Ixa…he is just so adorable!
  • Favorite Quotes: “Ye ever kissed a boy, Deka?” “I did once, during one of the village festivals. It was bad, very bad. His mouth tasted like sour milk.”-Britta I laughed SO LOUD when I read that!

I’m a little late with putting up this post for the Hear Our Voices Blog Tour but I think it’s better late than never! I have to say that The Gilded Ones had been one of my most anticipated reads since I saw the cover revealed in 2019 or early 2020…then my world was destroyed when the date got pushed back to this year (so I can’t even imagine how Namina may have felt)! I will say though, this book was WORTH the wait! It was so beautifully written and it so vivid in its imagery! It’s going to be amazing on film (this was announced recently)! *UGH*! I just loved this book so much! The characters were so amazing…just *gahhhhhhhhhhh*…okay, that was my moment!

The characters in this book are simply amazing! Deka has the most amazing crew and after what she deals with in the beginning of the book, she definitely deserves a dope a$$ crew! They all bond in such a way that was superficial at first but became so much deeper and meaningful as the book goes on, it truly becomes a sisterhood (I love a good sisterhood). There were quite a few members of the crew but I’ll only talk about a few of them especially since I don’t want to give away anything (y’all know I’m about that spoiler free lyfe).

First, I freaking LOVE Britta! She’s so sweet as well as hilarious and she just says what is on her mind or it shows on her face. Even though her name is Britta, she really doesn’t have a filter and I’m here for it! She’s not ashamed to speak on things that are a bit taboo in their world and she is also honest about what she has or hasn’t experienced (take from that “experienced” what you will, lol). I seriously enjoyed her character and definitely wouldn’t mind a book from just her perspective or at least chapters from her perspective in the next book (*wink* *wink* Namina).

When Belcalis first stepped into the book, I was like “I don’t like this chick” because she was so brash in her initial interactions but over time, she really won me over. She is such a strong and proud but also angry character, which is how so many Black girls are viewed. As angry as I have been in recent months, one would think I would’ve connected with her right away but it took reading more situations with her (#NeverForget) to connect to her and really see myself in her. Belcalis is such an amazing reflection of Black Girls who are viewed one way because of how strong they come off as but not acknowledged for why they must be that way. She was definitely the character who broke my heart but mended it throughout the story. She’s also always down for a good fight and as a sometimes aggressive short person, I connected to that as well (hey, it is what it is)!

Of course, I have to speak about our main heroine Deka… and y’all, DEKA IS AWESOME! Her progression and development throughout the story is nothing short of incredible! When the book first started, I was a little concerned for her but she completely BAWSED UP and pleasantly surprised me. Deka had these “Eff It, I’ll Do It” moments that many of us, especially Black Girls & Women, know about and it was GLORIOUS! I felt those moments so hard and definitely screamed “YESSSSSSSSSSSS” at my tablet a few times! I could also envision her shrugging her shoulders in a few moments like “okay, and? Were YOU going to take care of this?!” I also feel like there were a lot of times where she was side eyeing people without it actually being stated. Those are my favorite of moments with characters since I have that sort of tendency *shrugs*. I just loved how layered her character is and how she endured through all the shenanigans!

I really loved how empowering this book was overall. It felt real because it very much so is like how our society currently is but was such a beautiful reminder how we can take hold of our circumstances…that either we can fold to them & deal or choose to say “eff this” and take the reigns of our destinies. The Fierce Warrior Energy was so real! The world is so rich and quite the adventure once you step into it! So, if you haven’t pick up this book, you need to get your life together because you DEFINITELY SHOULD! If you have it, you are on the right track my friend! If you need any further convincing to pick it up or get started reading, the book info and Namina’s Bio is below!

Happy Reading and as usual sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find and follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter! *kool-aid smile*

Cover So Gorgeous it needs to be featured twice!

Book Info: Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

Goodreads| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

Author Info: Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the upcoming epic fantasy YA novel The Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina has an MFA in film and TV production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA from Spelman College. She works as a screenwriter in LA and loves telling stories with fierce female leads.

Charming As A Verb Is Indeed Charming

My Cute Pups with CAAV on Pubday!
  • Author: Ben Philippe
  • Books Published: 2 and a 3rd on the way (an adult book doe)
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Background: Haitian-Canadian (AYYYYYIIIIIISSSSYYYYYEEEEENNNNNN)
  • Social Media Accounts: IG-@benphilippe, Twitter-@gohomeben
  • Website: www.benphilippe.com
  • Release Date: Out Now!
  • Publisher: Epic Reads
  • My Favorite Character: CORINNE!!!!! She’s my queen FOREVER and ALWAYS! If you haven’t read the book yet, you have to read to understand why I stan so hard but she’s a character who is unapologetically herself and is not ashamed to talk about any taboo subjects! She’s just THEEEEEEEE BEST! Seriously, she needs her own book or at least a novella (I will never not push for this)!
  • Favorite Quotes: “Oblique pop culture references do seem to be a cornerstone of social language, actually.”-Corinne….I mean, she isn’t wrong about that! “Not to mention the amount of porn I stream is almost fraternity house level.”-Corinne…I laughed so loud that I think my entire neighborhood heard me! She’s so freaking great!

First off, this post is LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG overdue! I have been meaning to sit down and write about how much I loved this book since I finished the ARC last year and then life began kicking my a$$ in the most exquisite of ways…but I’m finally writing this!

Before I get into talking about this book, I wanted to talk a little about how I came to bothering Ben, I mean became friends with Ben. While I was reading his first book, The Field Guide To The North American Teenager (which is also hysterical and I would highly recommend), I came to a point in the book where he threw Hufflepuffs under the bus and instantly, I was like “HOW DARE HE?!” (I’m a proud Huffle) and I DMed him a picture of the page with the line underlined and a “REALLY BEN?!?!” written in… He not only responded but he then took it to his stories… This incited a slight war that somehow led to a insta-friendship… Ben has become the brother I always wanted but maybe not fully realized what I was asking for…just kidding (kinda, lol) but seriously Ben’s one of the people I love to bother on IG and he humors me every time, lol! He also has the cutest dog, Blue, and I’m never mad when she pops up on my feed (see the feature picture and tell me where I’m wrong on this)!

We could possibly be related in our goofiness…can you see it?

When I saw his post about his second book, Charming As A Verb also known as CAAV, I got to bothering him right away about getting an ARC. I guess I Haitian guilted him enough that he eventually sent me one and I’m so glad because it was everything I could’ve asked for in a contemporary book! I started it on a Friday and finished it the next day! Reading this book was one of the best ways I could’ve ever possibly spent a Saturday night and I would do it all over again too (he thought he ruined my Saturday night but it was better than any comedic movie I could’ve possibly watched)! It is so flipping brilliant in its humor and social commentary! I can’t say enough how much I love this book and that I think EVERYONE should have a copy in their homes!

Recently, I did a geek out with another bookstagrammer @raethereviewer, about this book and we both geeked SO HARD about Corinne, also known as Queen Corinne! Who wouldn’t love a Black girl who is confident in who she is and is unapologetic about her abilities?! She calls people out with very little filter and I LIVEEEEED for it! It is truly a lost art, calling people out, to their faces rather than over social media in a passive aggressive nature. She gave so little Effs that it was near sub-zero levels! Corinne lets people have it, especially when they don’t want it but when they need it. She was the perfect balance to Halti and all his shenanigans throughout the story. We don’t get to see too many characters like her, and we really need to see MORE Corinne’s in books! A Black Girl existing and THRIVING in the world…intelligent, talented, beautiful and HILARIOUS! Corinne was the love interest Gawdess the world deserved! She was most certainly a scene stealer and Halti may not like that I’m saying it but I’m just stating facts here. I don’t make the rules, I just follow them *Ye Shrug*!

You sure are Corinne, you sure are!

Speaking of Halti and shenanigans…he is one messy dude! There were so many times while I read where all I could do was shake my head because he was doing so much! If he were a real person, I would’ve snatched him by his collar and dragged him out the building but such as not possible…thank Gawd for Corinne to do that for all of us! As much as Halti is messy, he is also very intelligent and slick tongued, which proved useful for him in so many situations. Think of the smoothest talker you know, multiply their ability times 10 and you would get Halti! There were points where I was just like “HOWWWW” but I guess when you are blessed with the gift of Gab, it just is the way it is! Ben did warn me that Halti was messy, if not more so than his first main character Norris in TFGTTNAT, and he wasn’t wrong to issue such a warning. I still loved Halti’s character….just not more than Queen Corinne, LOL!

Me To Halti

One of the things that I loved about this book was his parents! They were your standard immigrant and very Haitian parents who supported and pushed (almost literally) Halti in all he did. There were no uncertain terms in what they expected from him in school and what they foresaw in his future. I loved that they cared so deeply for him and it showed in how they interacted with him, this includes the shade that only immigrant parents can impart upon their offspring…. it’s truly its own brand that leaves you shivering, it’s so shady! There is a part in the book with the classic Haitian Father Blow up that made me think my father was somewhere in the room when I read it…I wouldn’t recommend the experience. His mom is also super dope in the example she was setting for Halti and what she wanted for her own future! I really loved his parents, shade and all!

This is the energy Halti’s parents came with…I know it well

Another thing I really loved about this book that Rachelle & I talked about was how Halti got to just be a teenager! He could just be joyful or miserable without thinking about being a Black boy in our world. Halti could just exist and it not be a thing where he lamented about being Black in America. Any pain he felt, it was because of situations in the book dealing with school, family or friends and not because of very real world circumstances that we could see on the news. We don’t get to read too many books where Black kids could just be kids, where there is more happiness than there is pain of some sort. Books that cover real world commentary are extremely valuable but so are books like TFGTTNAT and CAAV that showcase Black Kid Joy! Truly, we need more books like Ben’s out in the world and I hope we see more of them in the future.

There is so much that could be said about this book but I want you all to read it too! I do have a recording of Rachelle & I’s geek out on IG that you can click here to watch! If you don’t have this book already, you NEED to get this book (or borrow it from your local library at least). If you have it in your TBR and haven’t gotten to it, change that ASAPually my friend! I promise you won’t be disappointed…I haven’t led you astray yet…right?! *lights up halo over my head*

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter! Until the next post, see ya later!

Reaper Of Souls Seriously Gave Me Gray Hair

Look at This Greatness! This is the US cover! The UK cover is the Feature Image!
Look At Arrah In All Her Black Girl Magic-ness!
  • Author: Rena Barron
  • Books Published: Book 2 of a Trilogy (*still deep sighing*), 3rd book published *nay nays*
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background: Black with West African Ancestry
  • Social Media Accounts: IG–@Renathedreamer, Twitter– @renathedreamer
  • Website(s): www.renabarron.com; www.kingdomofsoulsbook.com
  • Release Dates: 2/16/21 (US), 2/18/21 (UK)
  • Publisher: Epic Reads
  • My Favorite Character: Rudjek will ALWAYS AND FOREVER remain my favorite…I will fight for him, period…I will not bend on this! EVER!
  • Favorite Quotes: I’ve got a few from the beginning of the book (to avoid any possible spoilers) so here we go! “For Heka’s Sake, if you’ve given me ugly tattoos, I swear…”-Sukkar…this is a WHOLE A$$ mood for those of us with tattoos. “Another step and I’ll shatter every bone in your arm.”-Essnai…THAT WARRIOR ENERGY DOE!!! I Loved Essnai in this book and she has forever cemented the reason I would want her on my crew! And finally: “I would love tea if it’s not too much trouble.”-Rudjek…it’s an innocent statement but you have to read the book to understand why it could be totally blush & swoon worthy…I just love him so much.

So anyone who has been following me on social media and this blog KNOWS how much I ADOREDDDDDDDDD (and that’s an understatement) Kingdom Of Souls…if you forgot for some strange reason, click here for my very first post which is about KOS…and fair warning, there is cussing so enter at your own risk!

With that reminder said, you may have been able to guess that I was BEYOND READY for the sequel, Reaper Of Souls! If you didn’t know, Rena sure did from the way I blew up her DMs about it, lol (sorry, not sorry Rena). The Way I screamed when I got the email notification that I was granted a pass for this book…. my ENTIRE LIFE WAS MADE! I was not an e-book reader but I had to put that aside to read ROS because I had been waiting the better part of TWO YEARS for this sequel!

Let me tell y’all…IT.DID.NOT.DISAPPOINT! It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FREAKING GOOD and I think that is an understatement as well! I ended up with at least one visible gray hair at the end of this read and I do not regret it…I did fuss at Rena a little bit about that but it was a well meaning fuss…she also told me that I would live (*Cues Tayce from Drag Race UK* “The cheek, the nerve, the gall, the audacity and the gumption”)…

How Dare….

Anyway, since this is a sequel and I’m not about that spoiler life, I’m just going to affirm some thangs in this post. Whatever edges I have left, they are gray from this book…if you don’t recognize me whenever you see me next…it’s not the weight I gained from being in quarantine, it’s the way this book added a few years to my face from stress…and I REGRET NOTHING…NOT.A.THING! It was so good and everything I could’ve possibly expected from the sequel to one of my favorite reads of ALL FREAKING TIME and more! Sequels are not easy because there are so many expectations but I promise you all that Rena did not let any of us down…y’all may even decide to find ways to yell at her because she did so much during this book but know that 1) she expects it, 2) she did it on purpose and 3) I suspect that she feels no remorse for going as HAM as she did during this book! Sis went ALL THE WAY OFF and I LIVED though my eczema begs me to sit down somewhere before it sits me down (anyone with eczema knows the weight of this statement). Now lemme talk a bit about my favorite characters because I need to!

My love for Rudjek remains eternal…he is my first bookish boo and he will always remain that… The way he defended Arrah and looked out for her throughout this book makes me all flustered & swoony just thinking about it. I need to find a real life Rudjek STAT…but can any human man reallyyyyy live up to Rudjek… *taps chin* I kind of doubt it *shrugs*. I am willing to share Rudjek with Arrah but I don’t have very much of a choice, do I? *sigh* The way he matured but maintained his boyish charm… #RudjekIsBae

Me, in real time

On to one the realest to ever grace the pages of a book… Essnai remains THAT CHICK! If anything, she ascended to a whole other level of That-Chick-ness… I just seriously appreciate how fierce and loyal she is…like we all need an Essnai to ride for us. She’s not just about words but backing them up with actions and I’m here for ALL of her antics! Get chu an Essnai in yo’ lyfe STAT cause she is bout it bout it (All Juvenile)! I’m looking for the Essnai to my Arrah because no crew would ever be complete without that Big Essnai Energy…I said What I said!

She really did doe! And I was here for it!

I can’t talk about Arrah’s crew without talking about Sukkar…our dear, sweet…oh who am I kidding! He’s not sweet, he’s actually quite spicy throughout this book! There were so many points where I was like “Sukkar…is dat you? When did you get like dis?” *shifty eyes* Sukkar basically responded “New book…who dis?” and to that, all I could say was “aiight, I see you sir” *shrug* and kept it moving! He was quite the character and always showed up with that “I wanna fight” energy…I had to put some respek on that!

No, seriously, this was him quite often!

All of Arrah’s crew came with that ready-to-rumble type energy and I was here for every moment of it! I would be lying if I said they didn’t have reason to! Thanks to all the shenanigans that went down in KOS, they had to stay on guard at ALL times! When your best friend somehow gets in to trouble each time she breathes, wouldn’t you be on high alert too?! *pauses* That’s what I thought… it just is what it is!

Speaking of Best Friends…let’s touch on Arrah for a hot second. Sis was a whole mess in this book but what teenager isn’t?! Arrah lost so many things and people in KOS so who wouldn’t feel like the world would crumble around them as she did? I completely understood her and what she was dealing with, especially her fears and guilt. She made so many things happen, both good and bad throughout this book. I love how she doesn’t forget who has been lost, how she attempts to watch everyone’s back but also loses herself a little because her concern for others overrode her own well-being… Welllllll, I didn’t exactly love that part of her but I related heavy to it… After this book, Arrah (and Rena for that matter) deserves HELLA self-care days! Since this is a trilogy, we know she & her crew will be going through even more so all I can say is…BUCKLE THE EFF UP and keep your arms inside at all times throughout this ride!

Reaper Of Souls comes out SO SOON so if you haven’t pre-ordered this book yet, GO DO IT NOW! IF you haven’t read Kingdom Of Souls for only whatever Divine being you follow knows why, GO GET IT so you won’t be out of the loop for this one! Rena Barron remains QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN and I will continue to love her work, no matter how much it stresses me out! I also am the self-proclaimed head of her street team that does not exist but definitely should!

Anywayzzzzzz! Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter! Until next post, byeeeeeeeee!

Rena with her Book Baby!

Centering And Celebrating Black Boys In Lit

This weekend it occurred to me that there was a reoccurring theme in the bookish talks that I was having with other bookstagrammers & Clubhouse folks during the past week…there is not nearly enough books that center Black Boys in publishing and this is such a disservice to them. There is a depth to Black Boyhood that I would never know as a Black Woman but want to be able to have a basic understanding of as someone who has worked with young Black Boys and has a Black Godson…who could one day have a Black son.

We don’t see Black Boys centered nearly enough in literature…they really aren’t celebrated in all their intricate layers. They need to know its okay to be rough around the edges and also to be vulnerable when they feel safe…to laugh, cry, be soft, scream and be themselves un-apologetically. I would love to have more books that I could send to my Godson and put into the hands of my students where they feel like they are looking in a mirror.

There are more books coming out that center Black Boys now and also have strong secondary characters but we need SO MANY MORE…it is way past time for Black Boys to be shown and reminded how magical they are both on and off the page…that they are loved and valued…that we SEE them. We all should be taking up the charge to let them know that they are worthy of our time and attention…that their stories truly matter.

Since I’ve been really feeling doing lists, I’m going to list books that are Centered around Black Boys and their genres. I’ll also do lists of books that have strong Black Boy secondary characters. These books will be primarily YA but MG will be noted and there are a few picture books as well! If the book isn’t out yet, I noted the date but most have come out in the last year or so!

  • Fantasy
    • Beasts Made Of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
    • Crown Of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi (Sequel to Beasts Made Of Night)
    • Temper by Nicky Drayden
    • Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith
    • Last Gate Of The Emperor by Kwame Mbalia & Prince Joel Makonnen *MG* 5/4
    • The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham *MG* 9/29
  • Contemporary Fantasy
    • Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia
    • Tristan Strong Destroys The World by Kwame Mbalia (Sequel to TSPAHITS)
    • Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
    • Spider-Man: Miles Morales-Wings Of Fury by Brittney Morris
    • Opposite Of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
    • Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
    • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor *MG*
    • Dragons In A Bag by Zetta Elliott *MG*
    • The Cost Of Knowing by Brittney Morris 3/11
    • Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin A. Reynolds *graphic novel* 6/1
    • The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass 7/13
  • Contemporary
    • Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe
    • The Field Guide To The North American Teenager by Ben Philippe
    • Not So Pure And Simple by Lamar Giles
    • Anger Is A Gift by Mark Oshiro
    • Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas *technically historical fiction*
    • Dear Martin by Nic Stone
    • Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
    • Clean Getaway by Nic Stone *MG*
    • The Awakening Of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson & Ilyasah Shabazz *Historical Fiction*
    • Ghost by Jason Reynolds *Track Series-MG*
    • Sunny by Jason Reynolds *Track Series-MG*
    • Lu by Jason Reynolds *Track Series-MG*
    • Long Way Down By Jason Reynolds
    • Punching The Air by Ibi Zoboi & Dr. Yusef Salaam
    • Let Me Hear A Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson *technically historical fiction*
    • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
    • Not All Boys Are Blue by George M. Johnson
    • Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
    • Your Corner Dark by Desmond Hall
    • Take Back The Block by Chrystal D. Giles *MG* 1/26
    • Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles 9/21
  • Picture Books
    • I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown
    • Watch Me By Doyin Richards
    • I Want To Ride The Tap Tap by Danielle Joseph
    • Little Legends by Vashti Harrison
    • I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
    • The King Of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
    • Crown: An Ode To The Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
    • Thirteen Ways Of Looking At A Black Boy by Tony Medina
    • Luke Visits Jacmel by Justine A. P. Louise

Seriously, that Fantasy list needs to be SO MUCH LONGER! I know that there are more picture books but could not think of more at the moment (I can add more books to the list, of course). Also, I know that Jason Reynolds has more books out that center Black Boys so definitely look into them! There are likely books that I don’t know about so if you know of any, please share them in the comments!

Here are books with strong Secondary Black Boy Characters listed in the same way as above!

  • Fantasy
    • A Song of Wraiths And Ruin by Roseanne Brown
    • Children Of Blood And Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
    • Children Of Virtue And Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi (Sequel to CBB)
    • Kingdom Of Souls by Rena Barron
    • Reaper Of Souls by Rena Barron (sequel to KOS) 2/16
    • A River Of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
    • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
    • Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
    • Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Contemporary Fantasy
    • Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Corthron
    • Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
  • Contemporary
    • I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest
    • Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
    • Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
    • Angel Of Greenwood by Randi Pink *Historical Fiction*
    • Odd One Out by Nic Stone
    • Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney *historical fiction*
    • Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson 2/2

I’m so sure that there are books that I haven’t read or just haven’t come across that need to be added to this list. If you know of great books written by POC authors that centers Black Boys or has strong secondary Black Boy characters, please share them in the comments!

Thanks for checking out this post and I hope you pick up some of these books! Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

What All I Read In 2020

First, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to acknowledge my grandpa, the man who fostered my love for books and culture. On December 7th, 2020, he decided it was time to be with his parents & brothers and left his physical body. Every day since has been rough, it hasn’t gotten any easier but I know he is free from pain & the limitations of his body at almost 95 years old (February 23rd would be his 95th birthday). He and my grandma are the reason for my love of books and why I cherish them the way that I do. My grandpa is the most amazing man and human being…I miss him every day and think about him all the time. I’m so blessed to have had almost 35 years with him, to have been loved by someone like him, to hold the honor of being his first grandchild. I hope to continue to make him proud from wherever he maybe watching. Know that seeing me carrying a book with me at all times is a reflection and in honor of him.

With that being said, I read 111 books this year (Novels, novellas and picture books), which is a high for me! I hope that I can match that this year! Here is the list of books that I read and what months I read them in! I also noted what is adult, middle grade or picture book, otherwise, it’s YA!  I would put start and finishing dates but even that would be a bit obsessive for me, lol! I would recommend any of these books! If there is a blog post about that particular book, it is hyperlinked so you can check out what my thoughts/feelings were about it! I wanted to write more reviews last year…this year, I plan to be better about that!

January

  • When The Stars Led To You by Ronni Davis
  • Opposite Of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
  • Tristan Punches A Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia (middle grade)
  • Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (middle grade)
  • Rebelwing (ARC) by Andrea Tang
  • Loveboat, Teipei by Abigail Hing Wen
  • Deep And Darkest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

February

  • Wicked As You Wish (ARC) by Rin Chupeco
  • Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (Sequel)
  • Of Curses And Kisses (ARC) by Sandhya Menon
  • A Phoenix First Must Burn Anthology (ARC) edited by Patrice Caldwell
  • The Only Black Girls In Town (ARC) by Brandy Colbert (middle grade)

March

  • Raybearer (ARC) by Jordan Ifueko
  • Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
  • We Set The Dark On Fire by Tehlor Kay Meija
  • We Unleash The Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Meija (sequel)
  • Since You Asked by Maurene Goo
  • Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi

April

  • Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid by Nikki Giovanni (adult)
  • When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
  • Kings, Queens And In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju
  • Frankly In Love by David Yoon
  • Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega (middle grade)
  • Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

May

  • Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat (adult)
  • Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know by Samira Ahmed
  • The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
  • Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • The Girl King by Mimi Yu
  • Spin The Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
  • Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

June

  • Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone (middle grade)
  • Hunted By The Sky (ARC) by Tanaz Bhathena
  • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Ayiti by Roxane Gay (adult)
  • Charming As A Verb (ARC) by Ben Philippe
  • Nocturna by Maya Motayne
  • An Untamed State by Roxane Gay (adult)
  • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
  • Love At First Fight E-Novella by Sandhya Menon
  • Dear Haiti, You’re Not Who They Think You Are by Martine Harris (adult)
  • Anger Is A Gift by Mark Oshiro

July

  • 10 Things I Hate About Pinky (ARC) by Sandhya Menon *Dimpleverse*
  • Overwatch: The Hero Of Numbani (ARC) by Nicky Drayden (middle grade)
  • Maya And The Rising Dark (ARC) by Rena Barron (middle grade)
  • Grown (ARC) by Tiffany D. Jackson
  • Miss Meteor (ARC) by Tehlor Kay Meija & Anna-Marie McLemore
  • Unravel The Dusk by Elizabeth Lim (sequel)
  • A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Marrow
  • Star Daughter (ARC) by Shveta Thakkar
  • A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin by Roseanne Brown
  • The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

August

  • Ways To Make Sunshine by Renee Watson (middle grade)
  • For Everyone by Jason Reynolds
  • Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles
  • A Thousand Beginnings and Endings Anthology edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman
  • The Black Kids (ARC) by Christina Hammonds Reed
  • Shine (ARC) by Jessica Jung
  • Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
  • Legendborn (ARC) by Tracy Deonn
  • Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
  • Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
  • 96 Words For Love by Rachel Ray & Ava Dash

September

  • I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee
  • Parachutes by Kelly Yang
  • You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova (sequel)
  • The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
  • What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
  • Make Up Break Up (ARC) by Lily Menon (adult)
  • Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi (adult)
  • Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • The Way To Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova (middle grade)
  • All Of Us With Wings by Michelle Ruiz Keil
  • Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

October

  • Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova
  • White Fox by Sara Faring
  • When The Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
  • Punching The Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
  • Dear Justyce by Nic Stone *Dear Justyce Universe*
  • Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams (middle grade)
  • Daughters of Jubilation by Kara L. Corthon
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor (middle grade)

November

  • Three Keys by Kelly Yang (sequel)
  • A Sweet Mess (ARC) by Jayce Lee (adult)
  • We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal
  • Descendant of The Crane by Joan He
  • Race To The Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (middle grade)
  • The Cost Of Knowing (ARC) by Brittney Morris
  • Reaper Of Souls (E-ARC) by Rena Barron (sequel)
  • Brown Girl Ghosted by Mintie Das
  • We Free The Stars (E-ARC) by Hafsah Faizal (sequel)
  • Booked For Christmas E-Novella by Lily Menon (adult)
  • Stella’s Stellar Hair (E-ARC) by Yesenia Moises (picture book)
  • I Want To Ride The Tap Tap (E-ARC) by Danielle Joseph (picture book)
  • Home Is In Between (E-ARC) by Mitali Perkins (picture book)
  • Watch Me (E-ARC) by Doyin Richards (picture book)
  • I Dream Of PoPo (E-ARC) by Livia Blackburne (picture book)

December

  • The Ever Cruel Kingdom by Rin Chupeco (sequel)
  • Tristan Strong Destroys The World by Kwame Mbalia (sequel, middle grade)
  • Rent-A-Boyfriend by Gloria Chao
  • American Panda by Gloria Chao
  • K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
  • The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park
  • Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon
  • More Than Just A Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
  • Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd (picture book)
  • We Wait For The Sun (E-ARC) by Katie McCabe (picture Book)
  • Ara, The Star Engineer by Komal Singh (picture book)
  • Black Is A Rainbow Color by Angela Joy (picture book)
  • I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown (picture book)

Since I know you will likely ask what my favorite reads are and of course, I will tell you! My favorites are Charming As A Verb (I have been meaning to write a blog post for this one and I promise I will because it was hands-down my favorite read of the year…not that the other books I read weren’t amazing as well!), Raybearer (there is already a hyperlink to that post in the list), Legendborn (another I have been working on a post for but just have not finished so I hope to finish it soon and post), Reaper Of Souls (of COURSE, you all will get a post for this one because it was sooooooooooo good & nerve-wrecking) and We Free The Stars (sooooooooooooooooooo good too)!

I also participated in the Free Black Women’s Library Challenge for the second year in a row! This past year, the challenge was to complete 20 books and I completed 40! I did a post with that list because I felt it deserved its own recognition (click here for that)! I’m on my 3rd book toward the challenge now!

Anyway, I hope in this new year, I will meet what I read last year, if not surpass it! How many books did you complete last year? Do you have a reading goal for this year? If so, share it in the comments! If you have any favorites from the list above, also share them in the comments! *kool-aid smile*

Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and now clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

YAY I Completed my 2nd Free Black Women’s Library Challenge

You are probably wondering “what is this challenge that you speak of?” and if that is on your mind, let me put you up on game! Every year, the amazing Free Black Women’s Library (which has multiple locations, https://thefreeblackwomanslibrary.tumblr.com/) hosts a reading challenge each year to read a certain amount of books by Black Women or Black Non-Binary Authors! This year was my 2nd year participating and the goal was 20 books…I read 40 (which was my intention)! And I read soooooooooooo many good books! Here is this list of the books I read (I also noted if it was adult or middle grade, otherwise it is a YA book) and if I did a review/reaction, that is hyperlinked as well!

  1. When The Stars Led To You by Ronni Davis
  2. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (middle grade)
  3. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (Sequel)
  4. A Phoenix First Must Burn Anthology (ARC) edited by Patrice Caldwell
  5. The Only Black Girls In Town (ARC) by Brandy Colbert (middle grade)
  6. Raybearer (ARC) by Jordan Ifueko
  7. Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
  8. Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid by Nikki Giovanni (adult)
  9. When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
  10. Kings, Queens And In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju
  11. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
  12. Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat (adult)
  13. Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone (middle grade)
  14. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
  15. Ayiti by Roxane Gay (adult)
  16. An Untamed State by Roxane Gay (adult)
  17. Dear Haiti, You’re Not Who They Think You Are by Martine Harris (adult)
  18. Overwatch: The Hero Of Numbani (ARC) by Nicky Drayden (middle grade)
  19. Maya And The Rising Dark (ARC) by Rena Barron (middle grade)
  20. Grown (ARC) by Tiffany D. Jackson
  21. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Marrow
  22. A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin by Roseanne Brown
  23. The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
  24. Ways To Make Sunshine by Renee Watson (middle grade)
  25. The Black Kids (ARC) by Christina Hammonds Reed
  26. Legendborn (ARC) by Tracy Deonn
  27. Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
  28. Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
  29. You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
  30. What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
  31. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi (adult)
  32. Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  33. Punching The Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
  34. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone *Dear Justyce Universe*
  35. Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams (middle grade)
  36. Daughters of Jubilation by Kara L. Corthon
  37. Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor (middle grade)
  38. Race To The Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (middle grade)
  39. The Cost Of Knowing (ARC) by Brittney Morris
  40. Reaper Of Souls (E-ARC) by Rena Barron (sequel)

If you are now thinking…”oooooooh, I wanna do this too”, well they are running the challenge again and it’s to read 25 books by Black Women or Black Non-Binary Authors! For more information, click here! You can also follow them on IG, twitter and facebook. I hope you decide to join me! I’ve already finished my first book and am on my second! If you are undecided now but to decide to later on, you can jump in any time!

Have you done this challenge before? If so, how many books have you read for it? Did you read any of the same books I read? Let me know in the comments! So Many of these books fell in my favorite reads of the year and I’m sure you are wondering, some are Raybearer, Legendborn (I am working on a post) and Reaper Of Souls (out in February)!

My next post will be ALL the books I read last year so look out for that by subscribing! Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

2021 Is Definitely Going to be LITty So Get Your Bank Accounts Ready

First off, let me just say I apologize for my silence. Juggling one toooooo many things has never been a good look for me but there is no reason for me not to make this blog more of a priority. So with that said, I am going to hold myself accountable and make this space more of a priority. Even if it isn’t one post a week, I will do my due diligence to make sure it’s at least 2-3 times a month, even if it is a list, it’s still a post… If you know me in Real Life, help *clap* hold *clap* me *clap* accountable *clap*!

With that being said…WHEWWWWWWWWWWWW CHILLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEE WE MADE IT! Now, we may not have made it completely unscathed but if you are reading this right now, YOU MADE IT OUT OF 2020! To say the least, 2020 was a momentous dumpster fire…hopefully if 2021 decides to be a fire, it better provide us with bonfire good vibes and warmth (lettuce pray it does)!

One thing that we know that WON’T be a dumpster fire is the books that are finna drop this year and CHILE, my bank account is NOT READY! POC authors are doing their part to make sure we are well equipped & thank Gawd for them (but we gotta pray for our pockets). So, here is a list of *mostly* YA books that are coming out (the adult and MG books will be noted), their projected release dates (don’t be married to these dates doe) as well as if they are sequels so you know when *cough* buying *cough*, I mean looking into it. I’ll also continuously update this list as I find out about more books! So without further Ado, here is the list!

  • January
    • One of The Good Ones by Maritza Moulite & Maika Moulite 1/5
    • Happily Ever Afters by Elise M. Bryant 1/5
    • The Awakening Of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson & Ilyasah Shabazz 1/5
    • Stella’s Stellar Hair by Yesenia Moises *Picture Book* 1/5
    • Meow Or Never by Jazz Taylor *MG* 1/5
    • Goldie Vance: The Hocus Pocus Hoax by Lilliam Rivera *MG Sequel* 1/5
    • Root Magic by Eden Royce *MG* 1/5
    • Roman + Jewel by Dana L. Davis 1/5
    • When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris 1/5
    • Eyes That Kiss The Corners by Joanna Ho *Picture Book* 1/5
    • City Of The Plague God by Sarwat Chadda *MG* 1/5
    • After The Rain by Nnedi Okorafor *graphic novel* 1/5
    • The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. *adult* 1/5
    • Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes *picture book* 1/5
    • Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley And The Rise And Fall Of The Negro Leagues by Andrea Williams *MG* 1/5
    • The Life I’m In by Sharon G. Flake *sequel* 1/5
    • The Sea In The Winter By Christine Day *MG* 1/5
    • Concrete Rose By Angie Thomas *prequel* 1/12
    • Chlorine Sky by Mo Browne 1/12
    • Angel Of Greenwood by Randi Pink 1/12
    • Watch Me by Doyin Richards *Picture book* 1/12
    • Jump At The Sun by Alicia D. Williams *picture Book* 1/12
    • The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson 1/12
    • The Beautiful Struggle: A Memoir by Ta-Nehisi Coates *YA Adaption* 1/12
    • We Free The Stars by Hafsah Faizal *sequel* 1/19
    • Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor *adult* 1/19
    • The Comeback by E.L. Shen *MG* 1/19
    • Amari & The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston *MG* 1/19
    • Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris *picture book* 1/19
    • Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 1/19
    • Rise Of The Red Hand by Olivia Chadha 1/19
    • The Black Panther Party: A Graphic History by David Walker & Marcus Kwame Anderson 1/19
    • Wings Of Ebony By J.Elle 1/26
    • Written in Starlight by Isabel Ibañez *sequel* 1/26
    • We Wait For The Sun by Katie McCabe *picture book* 1/26
    • Take Back The Block by Chrystal D. Giles *MG* 1/26
    • While I Was Away by Waka T. Brown *MG* 1/26
    • Luke Visits Jacmel by Justine A. P. Louise *picture book* 1/27
  • February
    • Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson 2/2
    • Shuri: The Vanished by Nic Stone *MG Sequel* 2/2
    • Muted by Tami Charles 2/2
    • A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen 2/2
    • Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon *adult* 2/2
    • This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith *adult* 2/2
    • Yesterday Is History by Kosok Jackson 2/2
    • Red, White And Whole by Rajani LaRocca *MG* 2/2
    • Me, My Dad And The End Of The Rainbow by Benjamin Dean *MG* 2/4
    • One Carefree Day by Whitney Amazeen 2/7
    • The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna 2/9
    • A Pho Love Story by Loan Le 2/9
    • The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa 2/9
    • Reaper Of Souls by Rena Barron *sequel* 2/16
    • Like Home by Louisa Onome 2/23
    • Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney 2/23
    • Strong As Fire, Fierce As Flame by Supriya Kelkar 2/23
    • Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers 2/23
    • Symbiosis by Nicky Drayden *sequel* 2/23
    • J.D. And The Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard *MG* 2/23
    • Some Other Now by Sarah Everett 2/23
    • Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menéndez 2/23
  • March
    • Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi 3/2
    • Life After Death by Sister Souljah *adult sequel* 3/2
    • Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira 3/2
    • Home Is Not A Country By Safia Elhillo 3/2
    • Red Tigress by Amelie Wen Zhao *sequel* 3/2
    • Professional TroubleMaker by Luvvie Ajayi *adult* 3/2
    • Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron *adult* 3/2
    • What’s Mine And Yours by Naima Coster 3/2
    • The Queen’s Secret by Melissa De La Cruz *sequel* 3/2
    • Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand & Nabi H. Ali *picture book* 3/2
    • The Conductors by Nicole Glover *adult* 3/2
    • If You Give A Girl A Bike by Hayley Diep *Picture book* 3/8
    • American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar 3/9
    • Flyy Girls: Noelle: The Mean Girl by Ashley Woodfolk *series* 3/9
    • Amina’s Song by Hena Khan *MG Sequel* 3/9
    • Dear Black Girls by Tamara Winfrey Harris *adult* 3/9
    • A Queen Of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy *Sequel* 3/16
    • FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley 3/16
    • The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore 3/16
    • Empress of Flames by Mimi Yu *sequel* 3/16
    • My Day With Payne by Tami Charles *Children’s Book* 3/16
    • Bruised by Tanya Boteju 3/23
    • The Unbroken By C.L Clark 3/23
    • The Theft Of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani *sequel* 3/23
    • Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas 3/23
    • Renegade Flight by Andrea Tang *sequel* 3/23
    • Your Heart My Sky by Margarita Engle 3/23
    • Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge 3/30
  • April
    • Aru Shah And The City Of Gold by Roshani Chokshi *MG Series* 4/6
    • Oculta by Maya Motayne *sequel* 4/6
    • The Cost Of Knowing by Brittney Morris 4/6
    • Caul Baby: A Novel by Morgan Jenkins 4/6
    • Zara Hossain Was Here by Sabrina Khan 4/6
    • Hannah And The Ramadan Gift by Qasim Rasid *picture book* 4/6
    • Somewhere Between Bitter & Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp 4/6
    • CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls by Kaela Rivera *MG* 4/13
    • When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown 4/13
    • Love In Colour: Mythical Tales From Around The World, Retold by Bolu Babalola *adult* 4/13
    • Notes From A Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein *YA Adaption* 4/13
    • Witches Steeped In Gold by Ciannon Smart 4/20
    • The Forest Of Stolen Girls by June Hur 4/20
    • Bracelets For Bina’s Brothers by Rajani LaRocca *picture Book* 4/20
    • Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend: Notes From The Other Side of the Fist Bump by Ben Philippe *adult* 4/27
    • Ways To Grow Love by Renee Watson *MG Sequel* 4/27
    • Anna K Away by Jenny Lee *sequel* 4/27
    • Dream Country by Ashaye Brown 4/27
  • May
    • The Ones We’re Meant To Find by Joan He 5/4
    • Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney 5/4
    • The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim *MG* 5/4
    • Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield 5/4
    • Last Gate Of The Emperor by Kwame Mbalia & Prince Joel Makonnen *MG* 5/4
    • Luck Of The Titanic by Stacey Lee 5/4
    • Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *MG* 5/4
    • Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh *MG* 5/4
    • Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan 5/4
    • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho *MG* 5/4
    • Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass 5/11
    • Illusionary by Zoraida Cordova *sequel* 5/11
    • The Other Side Of Perfect by Mariko Turk 5/11
    • From Little Tokyo With Love by Sarah Kuhn 5/11
    • Healer Of The Water Monster by Brian Young *MG* 5/11
    • JoJo Makoons The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley *MG* 5/11
    • Pawcasso by Remi Lai *MG* 5/11
    • Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abhati 5/18
    • Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland *MG* 5/18
    • Off The Record by Camryn Garrett 5/18
    • Made In Korea by Sarah Suk 5/18
    • Force Of Fire by Sayantani DasGupta *MG* 5/18
    • That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar *MG* 5/18
    • Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean 5/18
    • Sister of the Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai 5/25
    • Misfits In Love by S.K. Ali *sequel* 5/25
    • Version Zero by David Yoon *adult* 5/25
    • A Sitting In St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia 5/25
  • June
    • A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow 6/1
    • Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 6/1
    • An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi 6/1
    • Sisters Of The Never Sea by Cynthia Leitich Smith *MG* 6/1
    • Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin A. Reynolds *graphic novel* 6/1
    • The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris *adult* 6/1
    • Dead Dead Girls by Nekesha Afia 6/1
    • Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon 6/1
    • Simone Breaks All The Rules by Debbie Rigaud 6/1
    • The Marvelous by Claire Kann 6/8
    • Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez 6/8
    • Of Princes And Promises by Sandhya Menon *series* 6/8
    • Fire With Fire by Destiny Soria 6/8
    • The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri 6/8
    • Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury 6/15
    • Broken Web by Lori M. Lee *sequel* 6/15
    • Sisters of The Snake by Sarena Nanua & Sasha Nanua 6/15
    • Rea And The Blood Of The Nectar by Payal Doshi *MG* 6/15
    • Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk & Tiffany D. Jackson 6/22
    • Rising Like A Storm by Tanaz Bhathena *sequel* 6/22
    • Darling by K. Ancrum 6/22
    • Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza *MG* 6/22
    • Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta 6/29
    • The Chariot At Dusk by Swati Teerdhala 6/29
    • This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron 6/29
  • July
    • Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim 7/6
    • Josephine Against The Sea by Shakirah Bourne *MG* 7/6
    • Rise To The Sun by Leah Johnson 7/6
    • Summer In The City Of Roses by Michelle Ruiz Keil 7/6
    • Time Villains by Victor Piñeiro *MG* 7/6
    • The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass 7/13
    • XOXO by Axie Oh 7/13
    • Radha & Jai’s Recipe For Romance by Nisha Sharma 7/13
    • The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison 7/13
    • Maya And The Robot by Eve Ewing *MG* 7/13
    • The Lady Or The Lion by Aamna Qureshi 7/20
    • She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan *adult* 7/20
    • Star Wars The High Republic: Out Of The Shadows by Justina Ireland 7/27
  • August
    • The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad 8/3
    • Paola Santiago And The Forest Of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Meija *MG Sequel* 8/3
    • Black Boy Joy Anthology edited by Kwame Mbalia *MG* 8/3
    • When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen *adult* 8/3
    • Usha And The Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight *Picture Book* 8/3
    • Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! by Art Coulson *picture book* 8/3
    • The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis *sequel* 8/10
    • Me (Moth) by Amber McBride 8/17
    • Redemptor By Jordan Ifueko *sequel* 8/17
    • How We Fell Apart by Katie Zhao 8/17
    • Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis 8/24
    • Fast Pitch by Nic Stone 8/31
    • Flyy Girls: Tobyn: The It Girl by Ashley Woodfolk *series* 8/31
  • September
    • We Are Not Broken: A Memoir by George M. Johnson 9/7
    • The Bones Of Ruin by Sarah Raughley 9/7
    • Kneel by Candace Buford 9/7
    • The Shaadi Set Up by Lillie Vale *adult* 9/7
    • Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis *MG* 9/7
    • So Many Beginnings: Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Marrow 9/7
    • A Clash Of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee 9/7
    • Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon *picture book* 9/7
    • White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson 9/14
    • Battle Of The Bands By Ashley Woodfolk 9/14
    • A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria *adult series* 9/14
    • It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi 9/14
    • Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennel 9/14
    • Barefoot Dreams Of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs 9/14
    • Maya And The Return Of The Godlings by Rena Barron *MG Sequel* 9/21
    • Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles 9/21
    • Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman *children’s book* 9/21
    • Room To Dream by Kelly Yang *MG sequel* 9/21
    • Amira & Hamza: The War To Save The Worlds by Samira Ahmed *MG* 9/21
    • The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi *series* 9/21
    • Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee 9/21
    • Looking For A Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste *picture book* 9/21
    • Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray 9/28
    • For All Time by Shanna Miles 9/28
    • Steelstriker by Marie Lu *sequel* 9/28
    • The Cursed Carnival And Other Calamities Anthology from Rick Riordan Presents *MG* 9/28
    • Playing At The Border by Joanna Ho *children’s book* 9/28
    • Bright By Jessica Jung *sequel* 9/28
    • The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi *Picture Book* 9/28
    • The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham *MG* 9/29
    • The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities Anthology edited by Rick Riordan *MG* 9/??
  • October
    • The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *series* 10/5
    • The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi *Picture Book* 10/5
    • Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal 10/5
    • Black Birds In The Sky by Brandy Colbert 10/5
    • Oh No! The Talent Show by Eva Chen *picture book* 10/5
    • Descendants of The First by Reni K. Amayo *sequel* 10/5
    • Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia *MG sequel* 10/5
    • Once More Upon A Time by Roshani Chokshi 10/6
    • Empress & Aniya by Candice Carty-Williams 10/7
    • Santa In The City by Tiffany D. Jackson *Picture Book* 10/12
    • The Keeper Of Night by Kylie Lee Baker 10/12
    • Everybody In The Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter *picture book* 10/12
    • Himawari House by Harmony Becker 10/19
    • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay 10/19
  • November
    • Shuri 3 (Title unannounced) by Nic Stone *sequel* 11/2
    • A Psalms of Storms And Silence by Roseanne Brown *sequel* 11/2
    • Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan *3rd book* 11/2
    • You’ve Reached Sam by Justin Thao 11/2
    • The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl 11/2
    • A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney *sequel* 11/9
    • Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood 11/9
    • Skin Of The Sea by Natasha Bowen 11/9
    • Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong *sequel* 11/16
  • December
    • Girl Giant And The Jade War by Van Hoang 12/7
    • Surviving Home by Katerina Canyon 12/??
  • Fall (release date unknown)

So this list is just a start and it will grow! If you know of more books by POC authors, please do share them in the comments! Also, support any indie bookstores that you know of! If you need any suggestions, Let me know in the comments & I will do another post!

Anywaysssssss, start pre-ordering (or pick up if you see this after the release date) and thank me later! Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

Leer Libros Latinx (Read Latinx Books)

Before October 15th comes and goes, I wanted to share a list of Latinx authors and their books for Latinx Heritage Month (September 15th-October 15th). If you haven’t checked these Authors out, you REALLY should! I am a fan of all these authors so I had to shout them out!

  • Elizabeth Acevedo
    • Beastgirl and Other Origin Myths (Poetry)
    • The Poet X
    • With The Fire On High
    • Clap When You Land
  • Zoraida Cordova
    • The Savage Blue (Book 1)
    • The Vicious Deep (Book 2)
    • The Vast And Brutal Sea (Book 3)
    • Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas 1)
    • Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas 2)
    • Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas 3)
    • Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash Of Fate
    • Incendiary (Book 1)
    • The Way To Rio Luna (MG; Book 1)
  • Sara Faring
    • The Tenth Girl
    • White Fox
  • Michelle Ruiz Keil
    • All Of Us With Wings
  • Tehlor Kay Meija
    • We Set The Dark On Fire
    • We Unleash The Merciless Storm
    • Paola Santiago And The River of Tears (MG, book 1)
    • Paola Santiago And The Forest of Nightmares (MG, Book 2 2021)
  • Tehlor Kay Meija & Anna-Marie McLemore
    • Miss Meteor
  • Anna-Marie McLemore
    • The Weight of Feathers
    • When The Moon Was Ours
    • Wild Beauty
    • Blanca & Roja
    • Deep And Darkest Red
  • Maya Motayne
    • Nocturna (Book 1)
    • Oculta (Book 2, 2021)
  • Claribel A. Ortega
    • Ghost Squad (MG)
  • Mark Oshiro
    • Anger Is A Gift
    • Each of Us A Desert
  • Lilliam Riviera
    • The Education of Margot Sanchez
    • Dealing In Dreams
    • Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit (MG)
    • Never Look Back

I know there are so many more out there & I love to learn about other books, so please feel free to share your favorite Latinx authors and books in the comments! I’d be happy to add on to the list!

Happy Reading and As Always, Sending Bookish Love Your Way!

Loretta Little Looks Back Is A Beautiful Go Tell It

  • Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
  • Andrea has been in publishing since 1993; almost 50 books!
  • Genre: MG Historical; Monologue Novel
  • Background-Black
  • IG-@andrea.davis.pinkney; Twitter-@AndreaDavisPink
  • IG-@brianpinkneyart
  • Release Date: 9/22/2020
  • Publisher: Little Brown and Company
  • Favorite Perspective-Aggie B! At first, I thought it was going to be Roly because I loved his voice but the scrappy nature and attitude that Aggie brings reminds me so much of Black and Brown girls that I know, and even a little of myself!
  • Favorite Quote(s)-“Roared, “You can take cracks at my skull, swell my face, break my bones, and shake my confidence. But I will not let you blind the eyesight of my soul!”‘-Aggie B. Rereading that quote brought tears to my eyes in a way I really wasn’t expecting. Thinking of What Our People…what Black and Brown bodies have had to endure and STILL endure to experience some sort of sense of freedom…I couldn’t help but to cry.

First, I would like to say that this post is a part of the Hear Our Voices Blog Tour for Loretta Little Looks Back and I am honored that they choose me to be a part of it (click the link for the schedule). Beneath my commentary, you will find purchase links and more information about the Author, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Illustrator, Brian Pinkney!

For those who know me, know that I’m a HUGE history buff…I’m that girl that sat at her grandpa’s feet and listened to his stories of watching Marian Anderson perform in Haiti, travels around the world and for fighting for civil rights in Haiti and Here in the US once he arrived, which was actually in the 60’s during Aggie’s monologue time period! So reading this book was like sitting at Loretta, Roly and Aggie B.’s feet to listen to their stories. While it was heartbreaking at times, because such is the history of this country, it was also comforting. Whether they chose to stand up or stand down, I felt I was right there with them and understood why they choose the direction(s) in which they went.

I loved the stark contrast of the monologues presented and the varying battles that they had outside of their mutual struggles that stem from being Sharecroppers in Mississippi. There was no way to predict what each character would go through and how they would weather the storm but got to see how they did. They each spoke from their own respective but consecutive time periods so you get to see three different lived experiences but their parallels as well as they are still very much a part of each other’s stories. What was heartwarming, and to be honest filled me with pride, is how they faced their challenges with determination and unshakeable faith. This is definitely the way of Black and Brown people, however, it doesn’t feel any less empowering when we see our people forging ahead rather than standing stagnant.

As a Special Educator, I have to address the fact that a disability is diagnosed in this book and this brought me so much joy. We do not see this very often in MG or YA, especially physical disability. It’s important that kids and families see disabilities reflected in literature as they may not see people with special needs/abilities in their every day lives. It helps to show the differences of others and recognize their humanity…it also helps those individuals and their families to feel seen. I truly believe in uplifting people with special needs/abilities, listening to them and SEEING them for more than a diagnosis that they have but isn’t the summation of their personhood. I hope that all who pick up this book feel especially empowered by this aspect of Loretta Little Looks Back.

Throughout the course of the book, there are gems dropped, whether its a historical lesson/experience or motivating statements. It is one thing to know about a case such as Emmett Till’s murder or the Voting tests & poll tax, but to read it from a character’s perspective is another level of fascinating and exciting, at least for me! While these characters aren’t real, they are still inspired by people who have actually lived (some of Andrea’s family members) and it feels just as real! I definitely learned a few new things while reading this book, which always adds value to a book for me! I also found that a lot of the motivating statements were ones that I really needed in the moment…especially with us still being in the midst of a pandemic and navigating the challenges that come with it. I found myself putting highlighter stickies on a lot of those lines because they struck my Spirit and felt so needed.

I’m really excited to see this book in the hands of kids and all the things that they take away from this book. I hope they (and teachers) choose to act out these monologues and do the deep dives into the history of these narratives. I also hope that they come to appreciate the battles that our elders and ancestors endured for the few freedoms that we see today…as well as feel motivated to speak up for themselves when they feel any of those freedoms are being wrenched away from them. We forget that there were kids that were involved in these eras in our history. Their narratives are just as important as adult’s narratives and deserve the same notoriety. Hopefully, kids will pick this book up and see how important their voices and experiences are & that they should share it with the world no matter who or what tries to deter them.

I would encourage anyone, especially educators, to pick up this book…whether you pick it up for yourself, your favorite kid, your classroom or personal library. It is worth it to have, to read it, listen to the histories of a group of people who were often overlooked and discuss them. So either run to your local indie bookstore, library or click one of the links below to order or pick up a copy of Loretta Little Looks Back!

Happy Reading Bookish Friends & as always sending bookish love your way! Please feel free to find me on the innernets via Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Kobo

From a bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the groundbreaking moments in history that led to African Americans earning the right to vote.

“Right here, I’m sharing the honest-to-goodness.” — Loretta

“I’m gon’ reach back, and tell how it all went. I’m gon’ speak on it. My way.” — Roly

“I got more nerve than a bad tooth. But there’s nothing bad about being bold.” — Aggie B.

Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B., members of the Little family, each present the vivid story of their young lives, spanning three generations. Their separate stories — beginning in a cotton field in 1927 and ending at the presidential election of 1968 — come together to create one unforgettable journey.

Through an evocative mix of fictional first-person narratives, spoken-word poems, folk myths, gospel rhythms and blues influences, Loretta Little Looks Back weaves an immersive tapestry that illuminates the dignity of sharecroppers in the rural South. Inspired by storytelling’s oral tradition, stirring vignettes are presented in a series of theatrical monologues that paint a gripping, multidimensional portrait of America’s struggle for civil rights as seen through the eyes of the children who lived it. The novel’s unique format invites us to walk in their shoes. Each encounters an unexpected mystical gift, passed down from one family member to the next, that ignites their experience what it means to reach for freedom.

Author information

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 books for young readers, among them The Red Pencil and A Poem for Peter, as well as several collaborations with her husband Brian Pinkney, including Sit -In and Hand in Hand, which received the Coretta Scott King Book Award.

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, and he has written and illustrated several of his own books. Brian has received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration and three Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor medals. 

The Pinkneys have been named among the “25 Most Influential People in Our Children’s Lives” by Children’s Health magazine. They live in Brooklyn, New York.

Maya And The Rising Dark Is Magic

  • Author: Rena Barron
  • Debut MG-Book 1 of a Trilogy; 2nd published novel
  • Genre: MG Contemporary Fantasy
  • Background-Black with West African Ancestry
  • IG-@Renathedreamer, Twitter-@renathedreamer, Facebook-@Renathedreamer1
  • www.renabarron.com; http://renabarron.com/maya-and-the-rising-dark-activities/
  • Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17797267.Rena_Barron
  • Release Dates: 09/22/2020
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Kids
  • My Favorite Character-Frankie…who WOULDN’T love an insanely intelligent Black Girl?! She’s the peanut butter to Maya’s jelly!
  • Favorite Quote(s)-“Eli sighed, slapping his forehead. “She means well… She’s just a little socially awkward.”‘-Eli about Frankie…listen, we all shade our friends so I see no issue with this, lol. One more: ‘”Observable matter in the universe can’t explain the motions of stars and galaxies.” Frankie nudged up her glasses, which had slipped to the tip of her nose. “So scientists think there must be unobservable matter that’s affecting gravitational forces.“‘-Frankie to Maya. First of all…the nerdy glasses push is my whole life #GlassesTribeStandUp. Second of all…the energy of this nerd out is EVERYTHING!

When I was getting ready to start this post, I noticed that this post will be up almost a year & a month exactly from when my post about Kingdom of Souls went up, which was my FIRST book review/reaction here EVER…so this is extremely meaningful to me. I’m such a fan of Rena’s work and I’m honored to be apart of a blog tour for her work (which I would’ve done a post anyway) with TBR And Beyond Tours for Maya And The Rising Dark (click the link for the blitz schedule). More information about the book such as the synopsis will be at the end of my commentary!

I read Maya And The Rising Dark back in July and fell in love with Maya, her story and her squad! It was everything I didn’t know that my 12 year old self and adult self needed. Maya is a girl who is about her family, her friends, and her community (basically, she’s about that life). She deeply cares about those around her and wants for her people to be okay. Not only is she super compassionate but she’s highly intelligent, motivated (except when it comes to math, which I can definitely relate) and loyal, along with being a daddy’s girl. When other’s doubted what could be done, she had her mind made up to make sure that what other’s thought impossible wouldn’t be. Maya showed that when you follow your heart and your instincts, you can prove people wrong…and it made the petty in me really happy to see her make happen. She’s just so dope and the epitome of #BlackGirlMagic.

Maya also has an awesome squad (this seems to be a theme for Rena…I need to know her friend circle cause she has the best literary friends), Frankie and Eli! They all compliment each other in such great ways, especially in how they support each other…even if it’s so they don’t miss out on an adventure *looks at Eli*. They are so great at brainstorming together, problem-solving and grounding each other as well as changing the leadership role when necessary & following each other’s lead. When I was 11/12 years old, I was actually in transition back from Georgia to New York (my 10-12 years were really rocky) so friendships were really tough for me; I was having trouble finding my footing, getting to know my now best friend (it’s been 20+ years for us) and reacquainting myself to my past friend group. Remembering this about that time frame in my life makes me appreciate the friendship dynamic of the Godlings squad (you will find out what this means when you read the book *wink* *wink*) even more.

Frankie is a ridiculously intelligent girl and I LOVE IT! She reminds me so much of my best friend who is also incredibly intelligent, which is probably another reason why I loved her so much. Her nerd out moments were just life giving and while Eli & Maya may not have always enjoyed it, her wealth of knowledge turned out to work in their favor…also, she’s apart of #GlassesTribe so that put her in the fav spot! She owned her intelligence, confidence and her belief of Science & reasoning…she’s the Blerd girl that we all need in our lives and this generation deserves! Frankie is also a great balancer for Maya and Eli!

Eli is also super cool and is a big fan of the paranormal. I, too, have a thing for the paranormal though I’m not quite as obsessed with it as he is. He was onto something about his community being haunted without knowing that he was (this is a hint but you have to read the book to get the reference). Eli also had some of the best one-liners throughout the book. Another thing I loved about him is how concerned about and devoted he is to his grandmother & younger sister…it’s so sweet and we aren’t always shown that side of Black Boys so it was super refreshing to see that. We need to see more Black Boys who are kooky and loving.

Another thing I loved about this book is how the Orishas were woven into the story. Since I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone…just know that it is FREAKING BRILLIANT! The way that they were hidden in plain sight and then showed themselves….it was just *chef’s kiss*. I sincerely love the ways that Rena incorporates the Orishas into her work and how she is sharing them with this generation. I wish I had books like this that shared this system of belief and the Beauty of these divine entities. It’s such an honor to be alive in a time where we are able to see ourselves and our cultures represented in various ways in books. This aspect of Maya And The Rising Dark (and Kingdom of Souls too) that makes me appreciate it so much more.

Maya And The Rising Dark is a book about family, friends, community, pride and perseverance. A book that I believe represents this generation of kids so beautifully. The way that this generation is standing up and speaking out for themselves and those around them is nothing short of awe inspiring…and should be a lesson/wake up call for the adults around them that they are truly leaders who are willing to fight and will bring better days in this world, just as Maya and her friends sought out to do, even if it wasn’t their intention at first.

Seriously, if you haven’t pre-ordered Maya And The Rising Dark, please remedy that or run to your local Indie to grab a copy orrrrrrr request it from your local library (any of these methods are a win)! There are links further down this post where you can pre-order/order from. I did an IG live (for a hot second, Rena was in on it but we will be rescheduling since there was technical difficulties) where I Geeked out about MATRD, KOS and other things…you can watch it here. Also, Maya And The Rising Dark is the Magical Black Kids Book Club November book so if you want to join us, fill out this form to be added to the mailing list (kids are the focus but adults are welcome to join)! On the real, this book is amazing and you should definitely get your hands on it, ASAPUALLY!

Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

Synopsis:

In this highly anticipated contemporary fantasy, twelve-year-old Maya’s search for her missing father puts her at the center of a battle between our world, the Orishas, and the mysterious and sinister Dark world. Perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time and The Serpent’s Secret.

Twelve-year-old Maya is the only one in her South Side Chicago neighborhood who witnesses weird occurrences like werehyenas stalking the streets at night and a scary man made of shadows plaguing her dreams.

When Papa goes missing, Maya is thrust into a world both strange and familiar as she uncovers the truth. Her father is the guardian of the veil between our world and the Dark—where an army led by the Lord of Shadows, the man from Maya’s nightmares, awaits. Now that the veil is failing, the Lord of Shadows is determined to destroy the human world and it’s up to Maya to stop him. She just hopes she can do it in time to attend Comic-Con before summer’s over.

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39726908-maya-and-the-rising-dark

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Maya-Rising-Dark-Rena-Barron/dp/132863518X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1563163166&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maya-and-the-rising-dark-rena-barron/1132050955?ean=9781328635181

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Maya-Rising-Dark-Rena-Barron/9781328635181?ref=grid-view&qid=1597191776204&sr=1-1

Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/maya-and-the-rising-dark/9781328635181-item.html?ikwid=Maya+and+the+Rising+Dark&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=a35cb729a155062f128098dc67444475

About the Author:

Rena Barron grew up in small-town Alabama where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. After penning her first awful poem in middle school, she graduated to writing short stories and novels by high school.

From a very young age she loved reading stories where kids saved the world, tamed dragons, wielded magic, flew spaceships, became the chosen one. She desperately searched for characters in books who looked like her and was always disappointed to find none, which fueled her early interest in writing.

Before HarperTeen acquired her Young Adult Epic Fantasy, Kingdom of Souls, Rena spent 10 years in the query trends–writing across multiple genres and age groups in the pursuit of publication. In 2017, she entered Pitch Wars, a popular and highly sought-after online mentorship program that included an agent showcase round. Rena’s entry (then titled “The Last Witchdoctor”) received multiple offers of representation. She signed with Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary shortly after, and the manuscript went on to sell in a heated auction.

In addition to the Kingdom of Souls series, Rena also has written a middle grade epic fantasy titled Maya and The Rising Dark debuting in Spring 2020, pitched as Stranger Things meets Percy Jackson, that sold in a pre-empt to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. On a personal note, Rena loves all things science fiction and fantasy, ghosts, and superheroes. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading or brushing up on her French.

Behold, Raybearer is Fire AF

  • Jordan Ifueko
  • Debut; First in a series
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Heritage/Background: Nigerian-American; descended from Yoruba & Bini Tribes
  • IG: @jordanifueko; Twitter: @jifueko
  • Release: 8/18/2020 (TAHDAY, depending on the timezone you’re in)
  • Publisher: Amulet Books
  • Favorite Character: Sanjeet! There is so much to love about him! When Tarisai first met him…I just knew, I knew he would be someone special and he sooooooooooo is!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Sleep well, sunshine girl. I will take whatever dreams you give me.”-Sanjeet. I melted when I read that…Where is my Sanjeet to say such sweet things to me?! Another I loved: “You let me carry your story. I trust you to carry mine.”-Sanjeet…*sigh* *swoon* And now I’m a puddle.
First, let’s take a moment to appreciate this fire AF US cover!

Quite a few months ago (loooooooong before the Pandemic was ever thought to be a reality), a friend of mine told me that she had a book that she felt that I would love… and wow, was that an understatement! From the moment she put the ARC in my hands, I was head over heels in love! From the gorgeous cover of a Beautiful Black Girl to the poetic words & images, I was a goner Y’all! Jordan will forever have a Stan in me! She painted the most beautiful scenery, dropped hella gems and wrote characters that arrested your thoughts throughout the book (and one may or may not dream about when not reading)…the whole time, it played out like a movie in my mind and I was here for every moment of it!

I loved Tarisai and her magical self (her hallow is crazy cool)! When she was talking about growing up, I felt like her every action would’ve been mine in her situation…hell, it would be me NOW in quarantine, except I only have my shadow to drive mad instead of a bunch of tutors, lol! I love how adventurous she is (as she spoke about her childhood), how she embraces others and how “bout that life” she is. I completely understood how she longed for family the way she did as well as her need to belong & have real human interaction (hella relatable right now). Tarisai is so dope and I wanted so much for her to get all the things she wanted, the willpower to fight and to love openly, especially since she couldn’t love The Lady in the way she wanted to. I just really wanted all of the good things for her & I’m sure you will too when you read Raybearer (*hint* *hint* *wink* *wink*).

I need a minute to talk about my favorite, Sanjeet! He’s been through so much but how ever he managed to be the sweetest soul, just *ughhhhhhhh* (I say this in a good way) I love him so muchhhhhh! He had me melting a lot throughout the story… I just wanted to give him hugs and rest his head on my shoulder while playing in his hair (judge me if you want) & telling him everything will be okay (he deserves all of the comforting words). I love how kind, considerate and loyal he is…like he is my type of dude, for real for real! Truly, Sanjeet deserves all the best things and more! He said some of the most sincere things I’ve ever read that just turned me into puddles. Because I want you to experience those feels, I will not share more of his quotes but read the book and partake in the *heart eyes emoji* moments I, I mean Tarisai, had with Sanjeet throughout the story.

Dayo is another boy that I loved, but of course, he is meant to be loved! As much as he is the opposite of Tarisai in how he was raised & the attentions he received, they are so much alike…the craving for deeper connections, to be loved for who he is as a person and not for the title that he holds. He’s so super sweet, almost to the point of sickening, but he is also quite entitled. When he had those moments of entitlement, I wanted to smack him in the most loving of ways but he eventually redeemed himself so we would be on good terms again. Dayo had/has sooooooo much to learn but I was definitely rooting for him…he’s a good kid! I definitely wanted all of the good things for him, like I did Tarisai & Sanjeet! You likely will feel the same when you read the book (*wink*).

The Lady is one of those characters that you just want to fight…like put vaseline on your face & take off your earrings then invite her outside when she’s mentioned or pops up. She made me scream at the book SO MUCH during her parts. I have zero patience for people (real or literary) that treat children as pawns, which is how she treated Tarisai. I get that she went through some ish in her past but don’t do Tarisai like that! I know there is a complexity to mother-daughter relationships, especially Black mother-daughter relationships as someone in such a relationship, but this took it to a WHOLE different level! I just really wanted to square up with her, much like I did with Arrah’s mom in Kingdom Of Souls (see my blog post for reference) and that’s just where I’m at with this woman… I’m sure you will feel the same way once you read the book!

There is so much more I would love to say but I will not because I am not about that spoiler life! I do invite you to find me on social media so we can talk about it because I loved this book SO EFFIN’ MUCH! For those who know me & are like “why are you not cursing? It’s one of your favorite pastimes! (LOL)” I’m watching my language because I’ve chosen this book for September for the Magical Black Kids Book Club & I want the kids to read this post without their parent’s worrying I’ll corrupt their minds (I’m an angel, y’all, lol)! But know that I was thinking of all the cuss words in both good and bad (especially in regards to The Lady) ways, lol!

Seriously though, this book was EVERYTHING and even in rereading quotes, I found myself falling back into the story & I’m not one for rereading! Jordan did such an amazing job with this book and I needed Book 2 like months ago! I had initially read the book before the pandemic & in anticipation for the original release date to post about it. I was so heartbroken when the date got pushed back because the whole world needed to have this book in their hands (and so I could talk about it with people rather than holding onto my thoughts and bothering Jordan every once in a while in her DMs, lol). Jordan is a flippin’ poetic genius and this book was one heck of a way to put her stamp on the literary world as a debut! Raybearer is just…*chef’s kiss*… I seriously loved it so much, I don’t know how many times I could possibly say that! I can NOT WAIT to see where Tarisai goes in book 2 (when will that be happening Jordan? I’ve been going through Council sickness for too long!) and what heart melting things my, I mean Another character’s, boo Sanjeet will say and do!

So Run to your local (Indie) bookstore or library and GET THIS BOOK! I promise you that you will not regret it, on everything I love (and that’s a serious statement, y’all)! If you want to join us for the September MBKBC discussion of Raybearer, click this link to sign up (there is no cost to join, the kids are priority in terms of who gets to speak first but adults are welcome to share their thoughts too)! If you want to chat with me about Raybearer on Social Media, find me on IG @bookishgirlmagic or twitter @bookishgrlmagic! Happy Reading bookish buddies!

The UK Cover deserves recognition too…and look closely at it!

10 Things I Hate About Pinky Is A Vibe

  • Sandhya Menon
  • 5th published book; 3rd & Final Book of the Dimpleverse (sads)
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Heritage/Background: Indian-American
  • IG: @sandhyamenonbooks; Twitter: @smenonbooks
  • Website: http://www.sandhyamenon.com/
  • Release: 7/21/2020 (You don’t have long to wait! YAY!)
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Favorite Character: Drama Queen…also known as DQ! DQ is hysterical and I could relate to her in so many ways! I don’t want to give away who she is so read the book to find out more about her! She very well may become your favorite too!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I don’t give a flying fig about being inspiring. If none of you has the ovaries to do anything about this, fine. I’ll do it myself.”-Pinky… I literally have said things JUST LIKE THIS in the past! It was like Pinky ripped a page out of my book. It also reminds me of my “Fuck it, I’ll do it” attitude! I just love this one so much! There were other’s I loved too but I’m leaving it at this one!

Full Disclosure, I Love Sandhya Menon and I have said so in my post about Of Curses And Kisses, but she has had me since I read When Dimple Met Rishi and can never get rid of me now. If you haven’t read WDMR or the second book, There’s Something About Sweetie, I’m going to need you to read them and then read 10 Things I Hate About Pinky! It gives all the summer vibes along with secrets revealed, romance, ride or die friendships, great punchlines and hysterical side characters. Something else that I love that Sandhya has done with the #Dimpleverse is that each book has cameos of the other characters but are distinctly their own book so you can read them out of order and not feel lost! I’m extremely honored to be kicking of Pinky’s Blog Tour as a part of Sandhya’s street team! Now let’s get into it!

While I know that I didn’t list Pinky as my favorite character, I LOVEEEEEEEEEED HER! She reminds me so much of myself, personality-wise. She is super outspoken, passionate, strong-willed, loyal, take no shit & fuck your feelings type. While she is very “take no shit & fuck your feelings”, she is very caring and loving. She tends to care so much that others take it the wrong way when they don’t understand that her comments or actions are coming from a place of love. It’s aiight Pinky gurl, I feel you cause I’m the exact same way! Being that I’m so like Pinky in this way, I completely understood how frustrated she was whenever she was met with harsh criticisms from her mother or friends. However, I loved how she would persist no matter what she worried the response would be. Her heart dictated to her what needed to be done and I think that’s incredibly beautiful. I wish I was brave enough for colorful hair and piercings like Pinky and to rock it with the confidence that she did! I’m also going to say that I LOVED how she LOVES the Goddess Kali… I, too, am obsessed with Kali and when Pinky went into a small dialogue about her, I SCREAMED! I felt that Pinky embodied so many of Kali’s kickass qualities! Who WOULDN’T love someone who is as badass as Kali?! …NOOOOOOO ONE! If you aren’t familiar with Kali, Google her and get your whole entire life with her fierceness!

Now let’s talk about Samir for a moment… He was NOT what I expected from his appearances in TSAS… I was expecting the nerdy (I love nerdy dudes, don’t get it twisted), messenger bag-pocket protector wearing guy that is small and weak type… *pause* That is not him… AT.ALL! While he is nerdy, he’s a HOT nerdy guy that wears a messenger bag who is extremely strong and can hold his own weight in any conversation! He is very purpose driven and he doesn’t back down when it counts. While he can be pointed in the things he says, he also speaks with a calm that makes it possible to receive the truth (his or the situation at hand) in a positive way. People like that are a gift and I believe he was a gift to Pinky in the unexpected of ways. He challenged, empowered and grounded her in all the ways that counted (I’m hoping my “Samir” is out there reading this cause I need this in my life). It was quite amazing how things took a turn, especially if you have read the other books and remember their past interactions! His backstory also makes it even easier to love him because of all that he has overcome. As I read about him and situations he was involved in, I fell in love and I’m sure that there were hearts in my eyes at times, much like how Pinky’s family reacted to him!

On paper, Pinky and Samir are the least expected couple but the way Sandhya brought them together was *chef’s kiss* brilliant! There are so many amazing moments, some small and others a little larger in nature that created an incredible love story. Because I’m not about that spoiler life, I’m not going to say any of those moments, I’mma need for you to just go pick up this book and dive into their journey yourself! I promise that it would be well worth your investment/library rental!

It makes me a little sad that this is the end of the #Dimpleverse but I love how this book rounds it out. Pinky & Samir’s story is distinctly their own and they truly deserved that. These two are characters that could be easily misunderstood/misinterpreted without their own novel. So many of us have experienced life from the outside looking in, being in the center of chaos but utterly alone, and judged for what our outward presentations are rather than what is housed on the inside. Sandhya represented their stories so beautifully and subsequently the stories of so many others out in the real world!

I loved this book so much, I could rave forever about it! I carried it to the beach with me (I was socially distanced from other patrons and solo), I read between work sessions & tv commercials, waiting for my doctors appointment (of COURSE, I had on a mask… a Hufflepuff one, if you must know, lol) and I even slept with it next to me because I would read for a while before finally deciding to sleep (aye, don’t act like you haven’t done that before, my bookish people know the deal) and I finished it in 3 days (If it wasn’t for adulting, I would’ve finished it in less) because I really didn’t want to put it down. With everything going on in the world, I needed a story like 10TIHAP to boost my spirits (even when it made my eyes leak). I strongly encourage you to pick up this book and it’s companion novels…even read the E-novellas on the Riveted website (As Kismet Would Have It & Love At First Fight)… They are great rom-coms and Pinky is PUUUUUUUUUUURFECT for the summer! I promise you won’t regret it (and I’m a woman of my word).

Happy Reading and sending Bookish love your way! Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic for more bookish banter!

Pinky at the Beach with me! Isn’t she Gorgeous?!
Just wanted to flex because I met Sandhya at Bookcon last year & still fangirl over this moment!

AYEEE Magical Black Kids Book Club

A Week or so ago, a friend of mine reached out to me suggesting I start a Black Girl Magic Book Club and I sat with it. So I posted a status on facebook asking for opinions (the support was overwhelmingly encouraging) and one of my sorority sisters mentioned her son not having books that he would be interested in and I sat with that too. With that, I thought of Magical Black Kids Book Club!

This book club will feature middle grade and Young Adult books that are fantasy/sci-fi, basically ones with some sort of magical or technical systems in place! Kids are the focus but adults are welcome to join (Families should definitely read together)! I’m in the process of figuring out how to make the discussions special for the kids. I also have an awesome member of the club working on a logo! Over the course of the last two weeks, my excitement has grown and I hope yours will too!

The first book has been chosen and it isssssssssssssssssssss…

Shuri by the Amazing Nic Stone!

Here is the link to the synopsis! Feel free to order it to add to your personal library or request it from your local library (either way supports the author)!

I really hope you decide to join us! I will announce the books and discussion dates here, my @bookishgirlmagic IG account & emails via the mailing list so sign up by clicking this link!

Thank you so much for your Support and I look forward to lots of Bookish Banter in the future with you!

Black Books That Deserve Your Coins

I know it’s been a minute (okay, way more than a minute) but life in this new “normal” (could it even really be considered that?) has been odd to say the least. Balancing virtual work sessions, additional screen time that has been killing my eyes not so softly, mental health, trips to the fridge that disappoint because I can’t make things appear with my mind and naps has been draining, to say the very least! So to jump back in, I’m going to post a list of books coming out the rest of this year (and a few next year) by Black Authors that you should DEFINITELY pre-order! I’m pretty sure that I’ve said this in the past in some way, shape or form (especially if you follow me on Social media) but Black Authors need to be amplified…not just during Black History Month & not just when there is racial injustice (which is really, all the time) posted by the media but ALL-AH-DA-TYME! Black Stories are AMAZING and deserve the attention of all the eyes, ears and hands they can reach!

I’m also listing some books that came out that you should get after the 2020/2021 releases as well as a graphic of Black Own Bookstores you can support!

  • June 2020
    • Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (6/16)
  • July 2020
    • The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (7/7)
    • Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (7/7)
  • August 2020
    • Facing The Sun by Janice Lynn Mather (8/11)
    • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (8/18)
    • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor (8/18)
    • Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest (8/25)
  • September 2020
    • The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed (9/1)
    • Punching The Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam (9/1)
    • Flyy Girls Books 1 & 2 by Ashley Woodfolk (9/1)
    • Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe (9/8)
    • The Summer Of Everything by Julian Winters (9/8)
    • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (9/15)
    • Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson (9/15)
    • Maya And The Dark Rising by Rena Barron (9/22)
    • Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds (9/22)
    • Everybody Looking by Candice Iloh (9/22)
    • Dear Justyce by Nic Stone (9/29)
  • October 2020
    • Tristan Strong Destroys The World by Kwame Mbalia (10/6; Sequel)
    • Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron (10/13)
    • Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi (10/20; Sequel)
  • December 2020
    • King Of The Rising by Kacen Callender (12/1; Sequel)
  • January 2021
    • One Of The Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite (1/5/2021)
    • Roman & Jewel by Dana L. Davis (1/5/2021)
    • Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (1/12/2021)
    • The Meet Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson (1/12/2021)
    • A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney (1/19/2021; Book 3)
  • February 2021
    • The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (2/9/2021)
    • Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron (2/18/2021; Book 2 of Trilogy)
    • Muted By Tami Charles (2/21/2021)
  • March 2021
    • A Queen of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy (3/16/2021; Sequel)
    • Bruised by Tanya Boteju (3/23/2021)
  • April 2021
    • Witches Steeped In Gold by Ciannon Smart (4/20/2021)
  • Books that Are Out Now That You Need In Your Life
    • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
    • A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
    • A Song of Wraiths And Ruin by Roseanne Brown
    • You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
    • Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone
    • The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
    • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
    • A Phoenix First Must Burn Edited by Patrice Caldwell
    • When You Were Everything By Ashley Woodfolk
    • Not All Boys Are Blue by George M. Johnson
    • Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
    • Stamped by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
    • Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black In America Edited by Ibi Zoboi
    • Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo
    • A Blade So Black & A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney
    • Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
    • Color Me In by Natasha Diaz
    • Dread Nation & Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
    • War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
    • SLAY by Brittney Morris
    • A River Of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
    • Kingdom Of Souls by Rena Barron
    • The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Now go forth and Pre-order (or in the case of the ones out, order) these books! Support these amazing authors! And while you are at it, support the Black Owned Bookstores in the graphic below (which I borrowed from Angie Thomas’ Instagram)!

Happy Reading and remember…

BLACK LIVES MATTER!

Find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic & Twitter @Bookishgrlmagic

Good Lookin Out-Bookish Community Support

Hey Bookish Peeps! This week has been crazy and it isn’t even over! I don’t know how it is wherever you are in the world but it’s been pretty bananas in New York. I was really excited for this week with so many amazing books coming out and the launches of some anticipated reads along with my birthday (I’m even more of a grown ass woman y’all *shocked face*).

Each day, there has been notifications of cancellations of conferences, launch events and school visits; and if the event wasn’t cancelled, live signings weren’t/aren’t being done (This was done at The Strand and I was not happy about it, to say the least but I digress). This hurts both readers and authors. As a reader, I feel robbed of an experience to meet beloved authors, something that I look forward to and it’s the little adult social interaction that I get in a week (as awkward as I can be). I’m not an author but as someone who works on a per-hour basis, it has an impact to not do what both fulfills and pays the bills (oh shit, that rhymed).

So, in the midst of this crisis/chaos, what can we do to support each other? Of course, follow all the things that you can that is being advised but I’m speaking on a more emotional level as well as financial.

  • Reach out to each other via social media or if you have direct contact information. It’s important to still maintain some human interaction for the sake of sanity.
  • Read other blogs or watch other vlogs and leave positive comments. The world is looking like a hellafied dumpster fire right now so we need more positivity. Like our kindergarten teachers used to say “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all”, so keep that ish to yo’self-write it in your diary or whatever because at this point in time, no one got time for toxicity.
  • If the person has any sort of store, purchase something and/or share it to help bring in some business for them.
  • Be kind to yourself, if you feel yourself sinking from a lack of human interaction (I feel this at times), please take a break to breathe, read a page from the book you are reading, listen to your favorite song, watch a funny video, call your therapist or beloved person; anything that would lift your Spirit.
  • Buy books by your favorite authors, especially if they have books that recently came out or are coming out. They show up for us by writing these books and we should show up for them by purchasing them. If you already have their book, gift a copy to someone who you think would love it as well.
  • If an author posts that they are signing books at a store, please order from that store. Likely this whole situation is affecting your local Indie stores too.
  • If you aren’t in a place to financially support, talk up their books, post about them, write positive reviews on social media & book websites. Every effort truly counts.
  • Sending encouraging words to the authors could also be nice as well, especially if they are working on a new book. We can all use good vibes and virtual hugs.

Here are some books that either have come out or will be coming out.

  • The Only Black Girls In Town by Brandy Colbert
  • When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
  • A Phoenix First Must Burn Edited by Patrice Caldwell
  • We Unleash The Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Meija (Sequel to We Set The Dark On Fire)
  • Of Curses And Kisses by Sandhya Menon
  • Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
  • Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (Sequel to Dread Nation)
  • Stamped by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
  • Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
  • Woke: A Young Poet’s Call To Justice by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood
  • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko-April 2020 (I will be writing a reaction to this book because it’s fucking amazing)
  • Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova-April 2020
  • Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed-April 2020

These are just a few books that I could think of that recently came out or will be released next month. There are so many books coming out this year so if your TBR isn’t already redonkulous (like my mine is) then it is about to be! As Russell Simmons (I believe) would say “Take care of yourself and each other” in all this craziness.

Feel free to find me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic or Twitter @bookishgrlmagic! Sending big bookish love yall’s way!

Wicked As You Wish Author Rin Chupeco Chats with BGM!

  • Rin Chupeco
  • 7th published book; Book 1 of a Series-The Hundred Names For Magic
  • Genre: YA Fantasy Fairy tale Retelling
  • Heritage/Background: Filipino-Chinese
  • IG: @RinChupeco; Twitter: @RinChupeco
  • Website: https://www.rinchupeco.com/
  • Release: 3/3/2020 (Go get it NOWWWWWWW)
  • Publisher: Source fire books
  • Favorite Character: The Firebird… I think the Firebird is my spirit animal y’all because it cuts up without saying a word!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I’m not a picky eater, but this looks like a llama just vomited into a tortoise’s regurgitated mashed potatoes, and that’s not meant as a compliment.”-Ken; one more “Guys like him are itching to be punched. In the Throat. With a car.“-Ken (I’ve definitely met a few that fit in that category)… Ken says some wild shit, Tala is hilarious too! I do live for this cast of characters!

BGM: I’m going to open this by saying you know that I love your work. We met while you were in New York and I had all your books ready to be signed. You saw me look at the ARC of Wicked As You Wish sitting with a stranger with Book lust in my eyes, asking how they got it and you didn’t know. It turns out that that look was hella warranted because I fucking LOVED that book! It makes me excited to get to the rest of the series but also into The Never Tilting World, which has unfortunately gotten pushed back in my TBR but you know I’ll get to it! Thank you for being my first interview for Bookish Girl Magic, by the way! Now, I’ll get to the questions and let’s keep this as spoiler free as possible, please and thank you!


BGM: How many books are set to be in this series? I need to know so I can get my coins together!
RC: The HUNDRED NAMES FOR MAGIC series is a trilogy!

BGM: I gotta make sure I have my coins together then!


BGM: What is your favorite favorite fairy tale from your childhood? Have you ever cosplayed it? Are there pictures and can we see (LOL but really doe)?
RC: Haha, I never even thought about cosplaying fairy tales before! My fairy tale would have been so obscure that no one would have been able to tell! I love two – Maria Makiling, whose story is very important to Tala’s bloodline, as she is a descendant, and this very obscure tale called The Traveling Companion. Both are actually integral plots in the series. It’s obvious as to what for Maria Makiling, but The Traveling Companion is about a man who did good things without expecting a reward, and as a result one of the people he helped in turn helps him gain a kingdom and a princess – but with a very poignant twist at the end, when it’s revealed that his companion was a corpse he’d saved from robbers, who regained life only long enough to aid him. This one plays a bigger role in the sequel, though I won’t say who this tale affects!


BGM: What event or person motivated you to finally sit down and write this book so I…I mean the world could have it in our hands?
RC: I was bad at finishing books, because I felt disheartened (writing wasn’t a livable career in the Philippines) and so many people dissuaded me from even attempting. But then a local writing contest was announced that was being sponsored by a Big Name Author whose books I love. So for the first time ever I finished a short story, sent it in, and won third! Part of the prize was a dinner with said author, and when I mentioned feeling disheartened he told me writers ought to write – and since I was a writer, I should keep doing it. I wrote WICKED AS YOU WISH the following year! He was my main source of motivation for that.
The author? Albert Einstein.
(It was actually Neil Gaiman.)

BGM: Are there any people, in particular, that the characters are modeled after? This is such a diverse cast of characters & I’m not just talking about ethnic backgrounds!
RC: For most of them it was about my identities, split into different characters. I’m Filipino, so that was obviously Tala. But I’m also Chinese, albeit one who’s removed from a lot of Chinese culture that I only relearned it when I was older, and that was Loki. I’m also enby like them (they originally had he/she/they pronouns, but I couldn’t figure out how to write it without being confusing, so I thought they/them was a good compromise.) West has a bit of Asperger’s, something I’m also familiar with, and both Alex and Zoe sort of channels my rage, though Alex is more obvious about it in the first book. A lot of the rest I based on friends! Ken was somewhat based on my husband (an amalgamation of him and me, really), who is also the most cheerful person on this planet. Zoe is based on my best friend, and Nya on one of the oldest and closest friends I have – the first ever one I befriended online when I was a teen.

BGM: Awwwwwwwwwww, now I’m a little in my feelings!

BGM: Which character is the most like you and in what way? *tents fingers together in anticipation*
RC: The firebird! You know that if it could speak in human words it would constantly be sassing everyone and making sarcastic remarks about everything, which was very much teen me. Among the humans, I would say Ken is the closest with his constant needling and comebacks, though I’m not really one to have optimism and cheerful energy (that part was based on my partner!).

BGM: Why is the firebird the way it is? I mean, it’s my favorite character but you can’t take the firebird anywhere and Tala & the crew can’t seem to have nice things because of it!
RC: That’s the biggest reason why I chose the firebird for this! In the original Ivan Tsarevich tales that feature the firebird, the implication always is that the firebird in the fairy tales represent something that is powerful and beautiful that everyone always wants to have, but that it will always bring misfortune to its owners in the process. And that’s the theme coming into the book: if you want to control the firebird, you’re going to get hurt a lot. Every spell in WAYW has an accompanying curse, and this is its curse. That’s the nature of firebirds – you’re always gonna get burned.

BGM: If you had to go on an adventure of any type to save a world from destruction, who would you pick to be in your crew? It could be characters from any of your books, celebrities, authors…sky’s the limit!
RC: Every Marvel, DC, and anime character I know sounds like a great place to start!! If I’ve had to limit them to maybe three, though… I’d say Scarlet Witch, Son Goku from Dragonball, and Superman! And me with the Infinity Gauntlet! Or inside the Hulkbuster, at least!


BGM: Will Alex get his life together in book 2 or will I expect to be yelling at him/the book?… Because I really wanted to knock his ass out at times!
RC: That was intentional! He’d been constantly on the run since he was a kid, he’d seen his parents killed, and he’s never really had anything to call home until meeting Tala. Before that he was always someone’s responsibility, being shuffled off from ally to ally and never getting the chance to bond with anyone. And then he sees how his whole kingdom has been wrecked and how nobody even seems to care that Avalon is gone, and all he hears is about other countries’ interest in the magic he technically owns, and how they can get at it… so naturally, there’s a lot of anger that’s building up there, and it also translates into his inability to trust anyone, even if it’s Tala, since he feels like he’s been used his whole life. Even the love interest he’d managed to have seemed to have given up on him so easily, plus he can’t manage a decent love life anyway because one of the effects of the destruction of Avalon was him getting cursed with the ability to turn people into frogs! I think I wanted to show the various reasons why he’s always so angry and mistrustful, even when you don’t always approve of his actions. I can’t say yet if it gets better in the sequel, but he’s definitely taking some steps toward stabilizing his life!

BGM: If you were to write any celebrity in the acknowledgements in this book (or future ones) like you did in The Bone Witch Series, who would it be? What would you say and why? (You know I love you for life for the Idris Elba mention but I’ll also fight for him…not his wife but other people, LOL).
RC: I did write a celebrity into my acknowledgements for WICKED! Rory McCann is one of my favorite actors, and in my head he is absolutely my dream cast for Kay Warnock. I might be biased because he played Sandor Clegane, one of my most favorite characters, but I’ve adored him since Hot Fuzz!

BGM: What do you hope the biggest takeaway from this book will be for readers?
RC: That it’s ok to sometimes feel like you’re an outsider, because it’s normal to worry about whether you belong or not, and that it’s more important to stay true to who you are. That mythologies and tales from other countries should be discussed on equal footing with Western fairy tales, and that your unfamiliarity with one doesn’t make them any less relevant or interesting! That diverse identities build a book up, not bring it down!
BGM: *Allllllllll the Hearts*

BGM: What was you biggest lesson/takeaway/challenge from this book?
RC: It’s all about perseverance. It took me ten years from writing this book to seeing it published, and it taught me that it’s more important to stick to my principles and do what I think is the best for the book than to publish it immediately and make bad compromises that will both make it worse and also make me regret agreeing to it!
BGM: *Runs around victory lap style* YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BGM: Last question…WHY YOU LEAVE US LIKE THAT with the ending Rin?! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?! *lightly sobs*
RC: =) In that case, you might also hate the ending of the sequel! BGM: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *Falls out*

BGM: I hope you had a good time with these questions just as I have! And I do hope you come back to NY soon so I can have you sign yet another stack of books…also known as “your stuff”, lol! *And End Scene* LOL

I hope you all enjoyed my very first author interview! I seriously loved this book and I think you all will love it too! Go out and get it…and just make sure to let your people know you won’t be hanging out because you won’t want to put this book down, it is that good! Thanks for reading y’all! Bookish Love to you all!

I got to meet Rin at her launch for The Never Tilting World at Books of Wonder…my smile was from both my excitement and Tochi Onyebuchi making me laugh as he took our picture!

Of Curses And Kisses Is A Beauty of A Story

  • Sandhya Menon
  • 4th published book; Book 1 of a Series-St. Rosetta’s
  • Genre: YA Contemporary Fairy tale Retelling
  • Heritage/Background: Indian-American
  • IG: @sandhyamenonbooks; Twitter: @smenonbooks
  • Website: http://www.sandhyamenon.com/
  • Release: 2/18/2020 (You don’t have to wait! YAY!)
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Favorite Character: Isha! She is a real ass, down to Earth girl with a big heart who happens to be royalty! Isha lives her best life and tells it like it is…I’m just drawn to characters like her! Daphne Elizabeth came in a close second and Rahul (he’s hella funny, don’t sleep on him, y’all)!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “Mmm, no I’m totally listening. It’s just that I’m also having a foodgasm.”-Daphne Elizabeth (DE)… As a foodie, I felt this deep down in my Spirit…I will never forget the way my knees buckled when I took my first bite into a brownie bite from babycakes (I believe their name has changed doe)… NEVER! When you experience it, Savor that moment, my friends… saaaaaaaaavor it!

I’m going to preface this by saying that I am a HUGE Sandhya Menon fan. She had me wrapped around her literary finger from When Dimple Met Rishi and she has not disappointed me with her subsequent 2 books (From Twinkle, With Love and There’s Something About Sweetie) and her fourth, Of Curses And Kisses, which is pretty different from the others but enhances my love for her work! Sandhya is also a Hufflepuff, so that means that we totally get each other and she has my loyalty (#HufflesFoLyfe)! When I met her at Bookcon, I was doing flips internally because I love her work THAT much! She’s also a sweetheart & if you’ve met her, you would agree!

When Sandhya announced this project, I was 100% here for it. A fairy tale retelling with the main character being a POC, more specifically an Indian Princess…AB-SO-FUCKING-LUTELY (I’m lightweight obsessed with the Indian culture; you can thank my best friend of 20+ years Khaivchandra & a study abroad trip to India for that)! The works of L.L. McKinney’s A Blade So Black & A Dream So Dark (Alice And Wonderland Retelling with a Badass Black Girl as the main character) and Anna-Marie McLemore’s Dark And Deepest Red (Red Shoes retelling with brown girls at the center) really made me excited about retellings that I could see myself in. Sandhya adding to that list with Of Curses And Kisses really makes my heart swell with gladness (is that corny? It’s totally okay if it is).

OCAK is a Beauty And The Beast retelling that takes place at a boarding school in Aspen, Colorado. I’m not one for writing synopsis but for the sake of context (and blog tour purposes) here is a brief one: Sisters & Princesses Jaya and Isha Rao are sent to St. Rosetta’s Boarding school after a scandal *shocked face* hits their family. The intent of their time there is to dip out of the spotlight back home but that intent changed for Jaya when she discovers that her family’s centuries long rival (because Colonialism was a thing) youngest heir, Grey Emerson (Lord Northcliff if you’re nasty, lol) is there. Now Jaya plots out (to no one else’s knowledge) a way to bring the Emerson Name & Grey down in the most unconventional of ways…through his heart! Hopefully that synopsis has done the story justice, gave no spoilers and sold it for you *insert Angel face emoji here*!

Part of what I love about Sandhya’s work is how poetic she is in the building of her story, the characters and the scenery. I really saw the world of St. Rosetta’s (or St. R’s as Grey calls it) as I read the book, which says a lot because I’ve never been to Colorado or any sort of mountains (thissssss *points to herself* Black woman does not hike or ski and it’s really not a shocker if you’ve met me, lol). I also loved how she introduced each character and the timing behind each one coming into the story, it felt deliberate yet seamless. I’m a fan of DE and the crew (Leo and Rahul), how they ride for Grey despite his off-putting disposition (read: Grumpy cat in human form and really tall)…friends who are willing to see the Beauty in you (pun intended *drum beat*) and always show up for you when you aren’t even showing up for yourself are pretty rare. One time for the Real Ones of the world, outchea being true riders for their friends, EYE appreciate you! The build up between Jaya and Grey is also so good. I’m hella into rom-coms and it has some of that feel to it but doesn’t drop the ball when it comes to bringing aspects of Beauty And the Beast into it. It had its innocent moments along with some steamy mixed in there. I felt it was a great balance throughout! Sandhya did an amazing job with making this retelling her own.

Because I’m me and am a nerd of sorts, I have to take a moment to appreciate the fact that Sandhya brings in some history in the mentions of colonialism and how the British pillaged India (and really all of the countries it colonized). I feel like colonization gets glazed over, if it is brought up, but Jaya doesn’t ever forget what it/the British did to her country and her people. No, she doesn’t go into long winded rants about the wrongs of the Emersons and the British (though they would be valid) but she says enough that you get the point of the problems that this practice caused and really still hasn’t been fully atoned for (this is not even talking about in real life)…but I digress!

Seriously y’all, it is so easy to fall in love with this story and the characters. I finished this book in two days because I was so enamored with the world that Sandhya created. This book is the first of a series and I can’t wait to see where the other books go! The next book’s retelling and title hasn’t been announced yet buuuuuut good things come to those who wait, so keep watch of Sandhya’s pages (links are at the top of the page for your convenience) for those updates *wink* *wink*! Go pick up this book and get lost in the world of Jaya, Grey and St. Rosetta’s; you won’t regret it! Happy Reading y’all *waves as the screen fades out*!

When I met Sandhya at Bookcon…of course, I had to rep our house…HUFFLEPUFF! #WandsUpForTheHouseOfHufflepuff

Bookish Girl Magic Luhs Da Kids

So on instagram, I mentioned to a fellow book lover & educator, (shoutout to @woketeachersbelike) that I had read two children’s books last year but did not include them in the list in my I’ve Been Gathering Myself post. She asked why not and I didn’t have a good answer but I mused that I would do a separate post and thus, this is post is born! Here are some Children’s books that are written by Authors of Color that I either have in my personal collection, purchased for my students in the past or have found in searches!

  • Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
  • Freedom Soup by Tami Charles
  • Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison
  • Little Dreamers by Vashti Harrison
  • Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison
  • Think Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison
  • Little Legends by Vashti Harrison
  • Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy & Theresa Howell
  • Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
  • Little Mole’s Wish by Sang-Keun Kim
  • The Kindergartener’s Handbook: Bilingual (English/Mandarin) by Dayna Martin
  • Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
  • Festival Of Colors by Surishtha Sehgal
  • The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali
  • I’m A Pretty Black Girl by Betty K. Bynum
  • MMMMM! Soup Joumou by Carline Smothers
  • Fanmi Mwen (My Family) by Carline Smothers (in Kreyol)
  • Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie Latour
  • Aisha the Great by Aisha Doris
  • Good Night, Wiggly Toes by Roda Ahmed
  • Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed
  • ABC And Me by Roda Ahmed
  • Malcolm Little by Ilyasah Shabazz
  • Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson
  • Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
  • A Is For All The Things You Are: A Joyful ABC Book by Anna Forgerson Hindley
  • You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen by Carole Boston Weatherford
  • Zora And Me by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon
  • Baby Goes To Market by Atinuke
  • Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee
  • Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee
  • Giant Steps To Change The World by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee
  • The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
  • I Am Enough by Grace Byers
  • Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne

So here are just a few books…hopefully I can come up with a more comprehensive list in the future, and I know more books are coming out this year! I hope this helps you find books for your [favorite] little ones or classrooms/centers! *kool-aid smile*

By the way, the title of this post is a Martin (the show) reference, in case you were wondering (*looking at those born after the late 90’s/early 2000’s*), lol! Have a great rest of your week!

I’ve Been Gathering Myself

Hey everyone! I started writing this post in the last minutes of 2019 so we can say that this is my last post of 2019 and the first of 2020 so depending on your time zone, HAPPY NEW YEAR and for my fellow Haitians, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I know I have been quiet for a while, which I sincerely apologize for, adulting has been kicking my ass in the most major of ways! Everything has pretty much taken a back seat to my work but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about this blog or that I’ve stopped reading…I just didn’t want to post half assed or half hearted posts because work was draining the life out me & impacted my writing/brain! Hence the silence but I plan to do MUCH better in this new year! I figured I would share all the books I’ve read over the last year and hopefully, a title or two jumps out at you that you decide to pick up! I also completed the Free Black Women’s Library challenge to read 30 books by Black Female authors (the authors can use the pronouns She or They)! It was really amazing, I actually went on to surpass the 30, not to brag or anything, lol! Anyway, here goes the list:

  1. Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America Anthology ARC Edited by Ibi Zoboi
  2. Black Leopard/Red Wolf ARC by Marlon James
  3. On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
  4. A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
  5. The Field Guide To The North American Teenager by Ben Philippe
  6. Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
  7. The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
  8. Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
  9. Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
  10. Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths by Elizabeth Acevedo
  11. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
  12. Marley Dias Gets It Done And So Can You by Marley Dias
  13. Internment by Samira Ahmed
  14. Into White by Randi Pink
  15. As Kismet Would Have It E-Novella by Sandhya Mennon
  16. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
  17. Girls of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan
  18. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
  19. The Bone Witch #1 by Rin Chupeco
  20. The Heart Forger #2 by Rin Chupeco
  21. The Shadow Glass #3 by Rin Chupeco
  22. The Girl From The Well #1 by Rin Chupeco
  23. The Suffering #2 by Rin Chupeco
  24. With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
  25. Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
  26. There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Mennon
  27. I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
  28. Front Desk ARC by Kelly Yang
  29. Let Me Hear A Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
  30. My So Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
  31. Ash by Malinda Lo
  32. Queen Of The Conquered ARC by Kacen Callender
  33. Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
  34. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
  35. Jackpot ARC by Nic Stone
  36. The Jumbies #1 by Tracey Baptiste
  37. Rise of the Jumbies #2 by Tracey Baptiste
  38. My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich ARC by Ibi Zoboi
  39. Magical Negro Poems by Morgan Parker
  40. There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker
  41. Symptoms of A Heartbreak ARC by Sona Charaipotra
  42. SLAY ARC by Brittney Morris
  43. Color Me In ARC by Natasha Diaz
  44. Who Put This Song On? ARC by Morgan Parker
  45. Kingdom Of Souls ARC by Rena Barron
  46. I’m Not Dying With You Tonight ARC by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal
  47. Obviously ARC by Akilah Hughes
  48. A River Of Royal Blood ARC by Amanda Joy
  49. Girls Of Storm & Shadow ARC by Natasha Ngan
  50. Riot Baby ARC by Tochi Onyebuchi
  51. Ghost (Track Series #1) by Jason Reynolds
  52. Patina (Track Series #2) by Jason Reynolds
  53. Sunny (Track Series #3) by Jason Reynolds
  54. Lu (Track Series #4) by Jason Reynolds
  55. Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
  56. Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi
  57. The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
  58. Permanent Record ARC by Mary H.K. Choi
  59. Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
  60. The Jumbie God’s Revenge #3 by Tracy Baptiste
  61. For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
  62. Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson
  63. A Match Made In Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai
  64. The Vicious Deep #1 by Zoraida Cordova
  65. The Savage Blue #2 by Zoraida Cordova
  66. The Vast And Brutal Sea #3 by Zoraida Cordova
  67. Dealing In Dreams by Lilliam Rivera
  68. WarGirls ARC by Tochi Onyebuchi
  69. A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney
  70. The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
  71. Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
  72. The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring
  73. I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest
  74. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
  75. Pride and Prejudice And Mistletoe by Melissa De La Cruz
  76. Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
  77. Broken Places & Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor
  78. The Dark Fantastic: Race and The Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
  79. Children Of Virtue And Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi
  80. Daughters of Nri by Reni K Amayo
  81. Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
  82. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
  83. The Iron Will of Genie Lo ARC by F.C. Yee

Typing out that list made me realize just HOW much I’ve read this past year! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have read all these amazing books and now I get to share my reactions with all of you! Which, from now on, I’m not going to call my posts Book Reviews, they will be Book Reactions because I’m reacting to these books rather than writing out reviews or ratings! I hope that’s cool with you all, I really just want to be authentic!

Anyways, here’s to another decade of reading and excitement over books! Bookish Regards to you all! Peace!

I’m On A Mission

If you asked me 2 years ago or even 6 months ago, if I could see myself writing a book blog…I would’ve likely laughed and said “whennnnnnnn do I have time for that?!” Clearly, a conversation or two stuck (shoutout to Tiffany D. Jackson & Glory Edim) and here I am…writing a book blog *Ye Shrug*. What is the reason? It’s in the picture above, to uplift (and celebrate really) the works of Authors of Color and amplify their voices. I also seek to be as positive and funny as possible in the process (I’m sure everything doesn’t land but hey, a sistas’ gotta try)! I was already part way there, going to as many book launches as I can, reading and talking about mad books…it was the natural progression…I guess *forehead scratch* but we in here!

As I’ve stated in a past blog post, I only read Authors of Color because it’s important to me to see myself in these worlds I’m immersing myself in. I didn’t have the luxury of that when I was younger (I was mostly into the Dear Diary Series and their Royal series which, if know you of those, they severely lacked characters of color but I loved the historical content) so I’m taking full advantage now…and I’ve been sharing that journey with my teenage Goddaughter by sending her books I’ve read (signed by authors when I can swing it, which is pretty often), sharing it through my personal instagram page & facebook, and now, here with the world through this blog in longer winded & impassioned posts about selected books. This is a very scary process for me, actually looking-over-the-edge-of-the-Empire-State-Building terrifying, but I’m putting myself out there anyway…

When I’m not blogging or at work, I’m reading a book or I’m talking to someone about books/going to a book launch or event somewhere…shit, I even talk about books with fellow yoga practitioners before & after class… this.is.no.game.to.me. My journey of reading these books has been an extremely healing one for me as well…I’ve been finding more of myself & comfort in the pages of these books. This experience has been life changing for me, pa egzanp (“for example” in Kreyol) reading Dear Haiti, Love Alaine literally launched me into learning Kreyol (shout out to my teacher Wynnie) and about my Haitian side (shout out to my paternal grandparents that came to this country many years ago. I am first gen, daughter to two parents who immigrated to the US). While I’m not seeking to change lives in the same way these authors are doing, I do hope that I’m assisting them by sharing their books with others & hopefully getting them a few more sales…I’m, deadass, invested in this mission that I accidentally started 2 years ago.

I say all of this to say that, whether or not you rock with me, I’mma keep reading these books and writing these posts. I’m going to be 100% myself in every post, authentic and transparent because this mission is so much bigger than me…it’s working towards making sure my students (who are all young children of color), my Godchildren (also beautiful Brown kids), my future children (who I hope to have and will be children of color) and future generations always have books that reflect them and their experiences as well as books they can feel proud to read.

Hopefully you support that, but if you don’t… welp, it was nice to e-meet you…*raps* you just do you, I’mma do me, I’mma do me *ends rap* *shrugs* (house points to whoever knows that song reference) I’m going to hop off my soapboxes (I need multiple because I’m short like that) now so I can finish this book and go to sleep because I have to adult in the morning *groans*. Thanks for reading. You want to find me, I’m on IG @bookishgirlmagic, twitter @bookishgrlmagic and facebook Bookish Girl Magic. Love, Peace and Hair Grease y’all!

A Dream So Dark Took Me On A Wild Ride

Look at Alice in all her Black Girl Glory & Badassness!
  • L.L. McKinney
  • Book 2 of a Trilogy (A Crown So Cursed Comes Out In 2020)
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Heritage: Black; she’s a ridiculously magical Black woman
  • IG: @ll_mckinney; Twitter: @ElleOnWords; https://llmckinney.com
  • Release: 09/24/2019 (Read A Blade So Black First/Cop them both)
  • Publisher: Imprint
  • Favorite Character: Nana K! She’s the dopest, flyest, funniest literary Granny I’ve ever read (no offense to other literary grannies)! I love how real she is and though she isn’t a huge part of the book, she steals the scenes she is in.
  • Favorite Quote: “That better be Midge with an apology for talkin’ shit like she won’t get hers, or I’ll-“-Nana K (I really want to know how that statement ends though, like will she switch their Vick’s with Tiger Balm or trip their walker while they aren’t watching, what will she do?! LOL). Listen y’all, this is the type of granny I’m going to be one day. When that day comes and I’m poppin’ shit on my stoop or porch & you ask me why I’m like this, I’mma reference this post and say I warned y’all in advance! Seriously, Nana K is a whole ass mood, my Spirit person & I’m here for her! I would like someone like her in my daily life, please and thank you!

When I first heard heard of/saw A Blade So Black posted and the cover had a badass Black Girl on the cover, I was like “SIGN ME UP!” But also knowing that A Blade So Black had Angie Thomas’ stamp of approval on it only solidified my resolve to read it. I stalked Barnes & Noble until that glorious day that she was there…*shakes head in pleasant memory* so beautiful and brilliant amongst the others surrounding her…I don’t even remember the other books because all I saw was ABSB… And I tell you what, that book did not disappoint. So naturally after reading ABSB, I HAD to read A Dream So Dark, which gave me my entire life too! I was excited to run over to Books Of Wonder to get a copy signed by L.L. before the launch (I had class so I had to leave before the pardee started *deep sighs* but class was great, just in case you were wondering) along with getting my copy of ABSB & an ARC of the anthology A Phoenix First Must Burn, which she is a contributor of, signed.

Since this is a sequel, I’m not going to go into a ton of detail with this because there are quite a few new things, as there often are in sequels, and to share any aspect of them is a spoiler but this book was mindblowing! So much happened that I simply was.not.ready.for *wall slides*!

Alice went through it in this book, just as she did in ABSB but she definitely grew more into her dreamwalker role… I felt like a proud auntie! She was even more badass and I didn’t even know the shit was possible *shock face*. Alice owns the shit and in the most glorious of ways! She took her #BlackGirlMagic and amplified it x10! Ugh, I just love her in this book. She’s hysterical, sarcastic & witty but also caring, loyal & observant so she tells no lies. Alice questions a lot but she also gives some benefit of a doubt (something a lot of us do but maybe shouldn’t… I digress doe). She holds herself and the people around her accountable (herself more than anyone though), which is a great aspect of her character. What also spoke to me is her “Fuck it, I’ll do it” attitude on some things because I’m the exact same way (I have receipts but they aren’t necessary right now). There were definite moments where I was like “I need Alice to sit her ass down” but she’s a Black Girl in the U S of A and that shit rarely happens and thus, she gets shit done *shrugs*.

I also really appreciated how we got to see vulnerability from Alice that many Black Girls/Women don’t get the benefit of displaying. We are perpetually plagued with other’s thoughts/views of having to be so strong all the time, grin & bare it, “you can take it” notions of our personhood when we feel shit & bleed blood too muthafuckas! We are entitled to weak moments before we gather ourselves up & straighten out our crowns but we still need those moments *cues Jill Scott Pause (Interlude)*. I’m so happy that Black Girls (and Black Woman too because I’m clearly a Black Woman reading YA) get to see that is okay to be vulnerable and not lose face in the process…they get to see that it’s okay to be a human through these stories, which is refreshing & healing. Suffice it to say that Alice is a straight up G y’all!

Speaking of G’s I love how much more present her mom and even her Nana K were in this book. It’s always amazing to have strong Black female/motherly figures depicted in literature because so many exist in the real world that don’t get the recognition they deserve. I lived for Nana K’s appearances in this book, though it’s not an ongoing role as Alice has shit to do but her presence & length of said appearance is perfection. We all need sage wisdom, no matter how it is delivered. On the real, Nana K’s wisdom is packaged in the right combination of seriousness & comedy that I think anyone would listen to and resonate with. If I she were my Nana, I’d want her around all the time just to hear about what shenanigans she got into back in the day or at the nursing home that week…you have to read to find out about what she allegedly did but no one has any proof of her involvement in said thing, LOL! If you have a granny like Nana K, could you share her with me? I promise to give her back, I’m not in the business of Grannynapping!

In ABSB, Alice’s mom was, Mrs. K, wasn’t super present though she loomed in Alice’s thoughts but in ADSD, she was actually more present. She felt like an anchor for Alice to her world, a reminder of who she was & what she is fighting to return to. Her mom is a no nonsense, “I said what I said” yet loving type of mom. She has a silent strength that I think Alice inherited. Mrs. K is also hilarious in her mannerisms and her threats, even EYE, as a grown ass woman, was like “Alice betta get her ass back home before her mama snatches her scalp clean and removes her soul from her body!”… Black mamas are just…like that, but there is a particular loving, caring & protective energy behind that aspect of them. I think L.L. captured that spirit beautifully. Mrs. K is a dope ass Black woman & mother, a literary homage to Black Mothers everywhere, in my honest opinion.

One of the biggest things I loved about this book is the colloquialisms used throughout this book. The expressions are unapologetically Black and it made my heart swell with gladness. I was super here for it all from the “the fuck…”s (a frequent term I use) to the usage of “petty” and “Don’t.Test.Me.” It all just spoke so deeply to my Spirit. I laughed so much because of the phrases used throughout the book and how they landed on the page…it all felt like shit I would say in those situations and are things I say on the regular! There is no doubt in my mind that Black kids will see themselves in this book.

Another thing that I appreciated was how this book, along with ABSB, tackles the topic of grief. How grief is different for everyone and how they process it. These books show that there is no set time period to experience grief, especially as this series takes place over a long (but not very long, if that makes sense) span of time. The Nightmare-Verse embraces and depicts the fact that the grieving process shouldn’t be rushed because the shit is traumatic depending on the event that has taken place, the person that was lost, etc. I hope that anyone who is in the process of grieving that reads these books know that they are seen and heard in what they are dealing with; that they should continue to take all the time that they need to process what they are experiencing. Shit, I’m still processing loses that happened years ago since they still feel fresh (therapy is helpful too, just to throw that in there). One step at a time my friends, one step at a time…and if anyone has a problem with that, then they need to step ASAPually.

If you haven’t read ABSB, you need to get on it so that you can read ADSD! It’s filled with so many shenanigans, new things that are discovered about the world of Wonderland and all that encompasses this series. Once you read ADSD, join me in the wait for Book 3, A Crown So Cursed…it’s going to be one helluva wait despite the fact that 2020 isn’t far but it is…know what I mean?! *Deep Sigh* I have a feeling that it will be worth the wait doe! Happy Reading Y’all!

L.L. and I before her launch started! I rushed up to her since I had to rush out (sorry about that) but she was super gracious about that! She also signed her story in my ARC for A Phoenix First Must Burn!

I hope you will continue to rock with me in the social media universe by following me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I seriously cut up on there) and Facebook Bookish Girl Magic! It’ll be a pardee out in these innernet streets! *kool-aid smile* (The red kind, in case you were wondering, lol!)

A River Of Royal Blood Gave Me Life

  • Amanda Joy
  • Debut, Book 1 of a Duology
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Heritage/Background: Black (Black People Magic runs through her veins y’all)
  • IG: @amandajoywrites; Twitter: @amandajoywrites (she’s hella fun to follow, by the way!)
  • Release: 10/29/2019 (not too many sleeps now!)
  • Publisher: Putnam (Penguin Random House)
  • Favorite Character: Aketo…who doesn’t like a dude who is comfortable and confident in who they are?! Baccha comes in a close second!
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I used to hate my magick. For a long time, I couldn’t understand where my feelings ended and everyone else’s began. It was overwhelming. I spent most of my time alone until I was ten.”-Aketo As an empath, I feel this so hard. It’s REALLY rough when you are doing fine and someone around you starts to feel sad or angry…it sucks, especially with children because crying can come easy for some (I’m around them all day so I know) *deep sigh*! One more cause its so good: “I should warn you, Eva. I can feel you.”-Aketo…I think EYE blushed when I read that and I KNEW what he meant (see previous statement)! And THIS, My Gentlepeople is WHY Aketo is my favorite, LOL!

First, let me just say that I sincerely apologize for not having my post up on Thursday, As I’ve been doing my best to try to keep consistent…let’s just say that drama, adulting, pretty much life has been kicking a sista’s ass. I know I’m a day (or two) late but hopefully not any content short…I had a great fucking time revisiting all my feels (and DMs to Amanda) around this story to write this out and hopefully you get a chuckle or two out of it! Also, I curse A LOT in this one so if you are sensitive to that, proceed with caution (also know that I’m grown and as a grown woman, I curse a lot…I let all the words rip). So let’s get it, let’s GO!

A few months ago at the Schomberg Lit Fest, I was blessed with a copy of A River Of Royal Blood (ARORB, to keep it short from now on) at the Penguin Teen booth but prior to that, I had heard about this book and knew that I wanted to read it! Even if I had not, who wouldn’t be drawn to a cover with 2 dueling Black Girls, welding their magick like its nothing?! This cover is nothing short of fierce and it gave me every last bit of my life! Not only is the cover stunning but the story…GAH! I ate this book up in like 3-4 days staying up until unspeakable hours in the morning to read it as if I didn’t have adulting to do later…I believe I finished at like 2 am and you know what…#WorthIt!

As someone with a sibling…one that is not uncommon to have “spats” with, I felt this book so hard. Only difference is that I’m the older sibling (Eva is the youngest) & to my dismay, am not a royal (I am, in fact, a magical Black Girl *snap & neck roll combo*). I couldn’t imagine going after my sibling in the way that Isa did Eva because I’m of the philosophy of “Don’t Start No Shit, Won’t Be No Shit” but I’m also of the mindset of if I have to choose between me & you, I’m #TeamMe all day, every day & bitch, you gotta go like Isa…and that’s about where she & I’s similarities end because Isa was on some extreme hoe shit in this book! Like I told Amanda, Isa is a hoe x10 (so much like Efiya in Kingdom Of Souls…see post –>Here<–). You know I’m not about taking lives (I’m vegan for fucks sake)…though I will snatch a scalp or two when fucked with and thus was happy when Eva dug deep within her ovaries and started to fight back. Thinking about it, this book was like an episode of Snapped: Literary Sibling Edition because shit was BANANAS…*cues Gwen Stefani* B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Not only was Isa on some hoe shit but so was her mom…like ma’am, you should be like all parents outchea on their “I don’t have a favorite” shit that we ALL KNOW isn’t true but know they say to make themselves feel better…like go change some shit so that Eva and Isa don’t have to you know attempt to kill each other. Also, Fuck her (yes, I’m still salty with her, let me be)…If I could’ve knocked her block off, I would have but she’s a character in a book so not possible! Side Note: What the fuck is up with these literary mothers?! I felt the same way about Arrah from KOS‘s mother, Arti…she’s a hoe ass hoe and don’t you ever forget that…*pauses…takes a deep breath* moving on. She, Eva’s Mom, genuinely pissed me off…I think my blood pressure skyrocketed in those scenes with her mother and it is rising thinking about her now…

That was me then and now…

I’mma switch to something that gave me all the feels which is Eva’s love for her daddy…as a former daddy’s girl (my sister stole that title), I felt like a meme where a heart is being squeezed into little pieces. The way Eva loves her daddy, just melts my heart. Her daddy & her love for him was so ingrained in this book that even though he wasn’t present often, it felt like he was because of how often Eva thought of & spoke about him. It was so clear that he was a positive influence to her & loved her very much…it was a little sickening…ly sweet. Their connection had me in my feelings, for real for real & made my eyes leak a little…I’m here for it doe.

Speaking of males in Eva’s world…Falun, Aketo & Baccha…they are like the holy grail of homies/road dawgs/besties! Like where do I sign up to find homeboys like them because I could surely use ride-or-dies like them! Falun is like the friend that knows you almost better than you know yourself, calls you on your shit but still let’s you know that he’s still gotchu no matter what…he’s like the best homie & you can’t sma- I mean cuddle & date, the homie (at least, you should not). We know he is beautiful but Eva gotta be careful outchea, especially when she know her sister is waiting for the time to come to kill her (which is not tah-day, Bish), so there is that.

While we are talking about beautiful and sma- I mean cuddling & dating because that would be a thing…AKETO! He stole my heart (what was left of it because Zan from Jackpot took a chunk of it & I’m still waiting for it back). I mean, who doesn’t love a dude who is confident, intelligent, has swagger for dayssssss, is a gentleman AND can talk with sexy double meaning?! I sure do! From the moment he set foot into Eva’s universe, I was like “ohhh, I like him” & “Eva betta claim him quick” (I know he’s not property, so calm down if you got in your feelings), you have to read the book to truly understand why I feel the way I do about Aketo!

Last, but certainly not least, Baccha is like that annoying but hella funny & dedicated friend you can’t stand at times but you love their ass so much you deal with their “moments”…sometimes Baccha made me want to fight him, like slap boxing fight because a magickal fight wouldn’t end well for me, but at other parts, I wanted to squeeze him until he awkwardly asks me to let him go or attempts to wiggle out. He has so many zingers in this book, which I think it a big part of why I like him, outside of the fact that he’s a fucking guru of sorts…and who doesn’t like a guru?! He’s far from the Yoda type but he gets the job done…dude is about his bizness! Eva’s squad is seriously some real ones!

Saving the best for last, Eva is such a great main character. She’s so kind and warm, yet she hardens the edges that are necessary to get through all the shit she has to deal with. It felt like all she wanted was freedom like a typical teen but she also was responsible & respectable as fuck! She never forgot who she was while discovering all these new parts of herself as she goes through this journey of self-preservation in dealing with a tradition that cared nothing for her life, just that blood flowed from someone (ah HA *lightbulb goes off*… just take some time to think about it and your AH HA moment will come too). I’m telling you, when you back a Black Girl/Woman in a corner, just know that earrings come off and asses will be beat! I’m so here for Eva though and she does have a dope ass crew that helps her get through all the shenanigans!

Needless to say, I loved this book & I need people to talk to about specifics with outside of Amanda soooooo please go get ARORB when it comes out (10/29/2019) or now if you are reading this after that date. Deadass, ARORB is SO GOOD & is such a worthwhile read (Amanda DID THAT)! I had dreams of various outcomes…so when a book world shows up in dreams, you know that book is good than a muthafucka. Now go get this book so you can get your entire life like I did!

While I still have your attention, I just wanted to note that this is my 10th review for this blog (BGM will be 2 months old soon) & I couldn’t be having a better time with it…I hope you are as well! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for joining me bookish and non-bookish boos! Now come, follow me on IG @bookishgirlmagic, twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I really cut up on there) and facebook Bookish Girl Magic if you haven’t already!

War Girls Bodied My Spirit

Just LOOK AT THIS COVER! *swoons*
  • Tochi Onyebuchi
  • 3rd Novel; Book 1 of a Duology
  • Genre: YA Fastasy
  • Heritage/Background: Nigerian-American
  • IG: @treize64, twitter: @TochiTrueStory (his cover photo is hilarious and brilliant); www.tochionyebuchi.com
  • Release: 10/15/2019
  • Publisher: Razorbill Books
  • Favorite Character: Chinelo! I love how playful and funny she is but also how serious & kick ass she could be. I also loved how grounding she was for Onyii and how she complimented her. Chinelo is definitely “bout it, bout it” (TM Master P & Silk The Shocker).
  • Favorite Quote: “But Onyii, I already get high marks. Let me sleep-oh!”-Ify… Ify is me and I am Ify! I felt this quote on a spiritual level! I feel it every single morning, only I’m not in school anymore but I stay busy working/adulting/wishing I was a kid again.

For months, I’ve been trying to get my hands on the arc for War Girls. I kept missing it *hangs head and shakes slightly* and lightweight tantrummed about that fact around anyone who would listen (including Tochi but at least he knew I was serious about reading his book) when I would miss it yet another time (seriously, it happened on like 3 or 4 different occasions)! I had resigned myself to having to wait until Onyii was unleashed unto the world but fate smiled down on me at Brooklyn Bookfest when I answered book trivia questions at the Sneak Peek Panel! I was so excited to show Tochi that I got it (and there was a mini celebration had, at least in my mind there was) when I took it to him to sign! And you know what? War Girls was worth the effort and wait to obtain (I’m waiting to receive my finished copy because I believe in supporting authors)!

There was a panel (*taps chin* I think at Bronx BookFest, *cues TuPac* I get around-I’m not ashamed *shrugs*) where Tochi said “Onyii bodies EVERYBODY!” with great fervor. I believed him but I seriously underestimated his statement. Onyii seriously DOES body everybody…imagine an augmented Angela Bassett in Waiting To Exhale walking away from a burning car (Google for that gif/visual) but envision a mech…yea, she’s even more badass than THAT! She’s intense, loyal, a fierce protector and she will come for anyone that steps to her & her home girls sideways. I feel like Onyii is an awe-inspiring literary personification of what a Black woman is and a doper version of the Terminator had he been Black and female! I bit my nails A LOT while reading in anticipation of what would happen next, thought “What Would Onyii Do” (WWOD) and how she would body anyone who would dare challenge her. Seriously, Onyii was Ev.er.y.thing…a futuristic Oya really (Google her, she’s a badass Orisha that you would NOT want to go into battle against) and I’m here for it & her and all the souls she snatches throughout this book!

When I think of Ify, Onyii’s sister, I couldn’t help but think about Shuri from Black Panther…Shuri is my forever favorite of the characters I’ve experienced in the MCU thus far (I’m not a comic person so I have to say the movies but I’d wager that my feelings would would remain the same if I did read them). She’s extremely brilliant, talented, has a big heart for others and is slightly mischievous; which is a solid recipe for a great character, IMO. I loved how resilient she was though she was a bit naive at times (before you come at me, I know no character is perfect, I still love her like a sister from another mister). She had a rough time in this story but she handled so much of it like a G…other times, I wanted to shake her & scream to wake the f**k up because reasons… Ify’s still a teen so I had to show some compassion in those moments since our girls, real or fictional, deserve that. I couldn’t help but admire her tenacity, her fighting spirit, her magic, traits she definitely shares with her sister.

Something that I really appreciated about this book is that the war girls always felt present in the story, whether any one of them were in a scene or not. It could be in a memory or a situation that happens but no matter what, they aren’t forgotten. They are more than secondary characters…they are each other’s driving force. The war girls are a family brought together through war but also through Spirit and purpose. This group of warrior women not only fought for freedom, they fought for & beside each other, which is also a beautiful notion. They always had each others backs and were seriously about that life….they ARE #BlackGirlMagic! Onyii and her crew, her fellow war girls (and later, abd), were a reminder that family isn’t always people connected by name and blood line but also by commonalities such as the desire for the betterment of their nation, their fierceness, the blood they shed and the peace they really wanted. The war girls rode for each other until the wheels fell off or rather the mechs went down & their comm systems went black (read the book to learn about that) and even then, they didn’t abandon each other. They gave me just as much life as they took throughout this book! It truly spoke to the Spirit of a People who will fight to the very end for the preservation of their history & the longevity of their people (which remains true to this day).

Speaking of mechs, the setting of Nigeria in the future was brilliant! I felt drawn to the descriptions and felt like I was experiencing what the future could be…and it would be quite incredible (sans war but judging how the world is looking right now………..*sideeye emoji*) but equally as scary because of the reality we currently face. I also feel like so much of the advanced structures & systems are absolutely possible because well…Black people are amazing (all my bias is showing *shrugs*)… There are so many talented people in Africa (and around the world) that I believe can bring to life the tech in War Girls (and if not now, there will be). Though… I’m not found of the idea of mechs being used like common household appliances… so to the future geniuses that will make the advanced tech in this book possible, please create responsibly, thanks!

War Girls was an experience from start to finish… it was seriously one hell of a roller coaster that seemed to change its tracks at the most unexpected of moments! My eyes really stung at parts (okay, they leaked too)…which, I did not expect to happen. I felt the emotions the characters experienced and I felt invigorated & powerful as well. I hope that anyone who experienced the Nigerian War (or any sort of war, really) reads War Girls feels seen & validated that their history will not be ignored and their story will be told. Go pick up War Girls and launch yourself onto this roller coaster ride of an experience…it’s definitely worth your time and your coins!

*Shameless Plug* Go follow me on the ‘Gram @bookishgirlmagic, twitter @bookishgrlmagic (I cut up on there, so join in on my shenanigans) and Like on facebook Bookish Girl Magic as well as share this page with all your peeps! K, thanx! *Runs Off To Go Read*

Jackpot For The Win!

  • Nic Stone
  • 3rd Novel
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Heritage/Background: African American mixed with Goddess (no seriously, she’s stunning)
  • IG: @nicstone & @booklookz, Twitter: @getnicced, www.nicstone.info
  • Release: 10/15/2019 (see tour dates here)
  • Publisher: Crown Publishing
  • Favorite Character: Zan…what can I say? I’m a sucka for compassionate, funny, charming, intelligent guys who can play the Steve Urkel & Stephan card simultaneously (google it if you don’t get the reference)!
  • Favorite Quote: I had so many favorites but I’m going to go with ‘”Unfrosted?!” He looks up at me. “Jesus, Danger, you’re a Neanderthal!”‘-Zan from Rico’s perspective. I felt the same way as Zan did in this moment. I mean, I get why she got unfrosted but it still doesn’t change the fact that unfrosted toaster pastries are blasphemous (debate the person next to you if you disagree).

I’m a Nic Stone stan, periodt! When she announced that she had Jackpot coming out, it was like a gavel banged in my head and a declaration was made that I would read this book… I got lucky (blessed, really) when I got a copy of Jackpot at bookcon. It was like the heaven’s opened up and angel’s sang with voices like India.Arie (or whoever your favorite singer is) when it was placed in my hands. I’m pretty sure I clutched it to my chest at some point & I definitely referred to it as “the precious”…yea, it was that big of a deal to me. Jackpot did not disappoint and it is my favorite of her books thus far!

I adored Rico, she’s so persistent and devoted to her family which drove every action she took during this book…I know I’m down for my family but Rico is truly a real one. Her DNA test said she’s 100% that chick (Shout out to Lizzo). Rico is not only devoted but she is also intelligent, focused, resilient, sarcastic, funny and a fashionista of sorts (something I wish I was, I’m more in the vein of I put on clothes and hope they match whereas Rico makes whatever she wears work & it works out in her favor). She made me think of myself but also other girls/women I know… I also couldn’t help but think of Nic based upon Rico’s description and her voice which made this book a little more special. Who doesn’t want to imagine one of their favorite authors as a teenager?! Because of Rico’s drive to work and get through school, she was a bit of a lone wolf, something else I could relate heavily to…when you are a lone wolf in any way, it’s easier to have tunnel vision, to see what is in front of you, what your mission/goal is and for Rico, it’s taking care of her family. It was amazing to witness her development but also how she had moments to be a teen (truly, she deserved more but she handled those curveballs like a G, like so many Black girls/women would).

Another favsie of mine is Rico’s brother Jax who is flippin hilarious and adorable (I imagine)…if I had a little brother (and I’ve always wanted one), I’d want him to be like Jax…funny, witty, sweet and honest. If I were Rico, I’d do anything possible for him too! As Rico described Jax, it seemed like he’s the greatest balance of sweet and annoying…but if anyone were to mess with him, they would be laid out before they could finish their statement because no one talks about her sibling but her (that was me with my real life sibling)… so I totally get Rico’s protective nature of him (if he were real, I’d adopt him as my little brother & protect him too). I loved how Rico spoke about him with such love and affection (you could practically see the hearts popping out of the page), like he was her best friend and the most precious gift…it was really endearing and special (*insert heart eyes emoji*). I haven’t read a sibling relationship like theirs in a while, which increased my love for this book. Jax also said some funny ish in this book that endeared him to me even more…especially when he talks about certain dreams (*giggles to myself*). When you read this book, you’ll see/read why Jax is so lovable.

Now, let’s talk about the literary version of Stephan (no machine necessary) for a second- Zan! Who doesn’t love a nerdy, hot, hacker dude who is observant, charismatic, compassionate and attentive?! By the end of this book, I had quite the crush on Zan, to be honest (thank goodness he’s legal…I’m not a cougar though, I promise). Zan was so much more than the surface presented at the beginning. As Rico’s perceptions of Zan changed, so did mine and I began to understand him. I understood his need for his & Rico’s adventures (and loved how it brought out his mischievous nature), seeking out Rico’s attention and how helpful he wanted to be. Zan just took my heart and I’m still trying to get it back (*shakes fist* give it back man, I need it)! He was also well informed about money matters, thanks to his personal experiences, but he didn’t try to force it on Rico or anyone else…yet another reason to love him because he’s so respectful of others (outside of how many assumptions he made about other’s time). I just really loved his character, he’s definitely one of my favorites of this year (a position of honor, really)!

Another thing I loved about this book is about the element of different perspectives which I will not say what they were because I believe in the no-spoiler life and surprises. I think it added to the story in such a unique way and just made it funnier. Of course, I have a favorite perspective and I can’t wait for you to read Jackpot so you can share yours too (see what I did there? LOL)! I also really enjoyed the adventures that Zan and Rico went on and looked forward to them when they planned them. I loved their preparedness and what they learned about each other along with Rico’s persistence in finding what they were looking for. Their adventures made me wish I had adventures like theirs when I was a teen but I did basic teenager things (they were a little shy of hoodrat things) with my friends that was pretty close to home…I lived vicariously through Rico & Zan’s eyes (too bad there aren’t time machines, huh?). There is are so many other things that Nic touched on such as race, societal pressures/standards, perception of others/outward appearances, and even the dreaded question “what are you?” (if you have been asked that question, feel free to roll your eyes and let out a frustrated sigh with me) which I didn’t talk about but also appreciated.

Anywaysssss, you should take yourself to your local bookstore on Tuesday October 15th (or if you’re reading this after this date then go right now) and pick up Jackpot! I read it every spare moment I had and finished it in a few days (like 2 or 3). What can I say, I’m completely here for characters with a great sense of humor that spoke sarcasm as a second (or third) language. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! Happiest of reading sessions friends!

I was telling Nic about the bracelet i was guided to make her after she showed me she was wearing it…I was elated and it was the best moment of the entire con for me!
My eyes are kind of open here and our lip colors are similar, which also brings me joy!

Oh yea, go follow my IG @bookishgirlmagic, twitter as @bookishgrlmagic and FB Bookish Girl Magic…thaaaaaaanks!

A Match Made In Mehendi Is Hella Ship Worthy

  • Nandini Bajpai
  • Debut Novel, stand alone; she’s written children’s books in India!
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Heritage: Indian-American
  • IG: @nandinirb; www.nandinibajpai.com
  • Release: 9/10/2019
  • Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
  • Favorite Character: Noah, Simi’s BFF & ride-or-die fo’ lyfe! I love how invested he was in Simi and his friendship though there were times I wanted to shake him to wake him up! He’s a good friend and they are hard to come by!
  • Favorite Quote: “And it’s the Amandas of the world who choose who else should matter. But I’m tired of waiting around for someone to deem me worthy. Nope. This year, I’m taking it into my own hands, and so is Noah.“-Simi. *Slams Fist On The Keyboard* DAMN RIGHT SIMI! YOU BETTA TELL EM GURL! I felt this so much as someone who often felt like an outsider (I sometimes still do) and was bullied as a kid/teen. No one should determine your worth but you and you betta make the price high!

Before I go into this review, I have a fun story! While waiting on the signing line for Jason Reynolds at bookcon, Nandini was standing in front of myself and another lady. I don’t know what brought on the conversation but she casually mentioned that she wrote a book & I can’t remember if she just mentioned the name first or if I asked so I could look out for it but when she said “A Match Made In Mehendi“…Y’all…*dramatic pause* I almost screamed in this woman’s face but I kind of contained myself & was my usual excited self and told her that her book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and even had it written on my dry erase board (I shit you not, I have a list of books with their release dates by the entrance of my apartment, LOL, #JudgeMe #IDC). Nandini was extremely cool and it made me even more excited to support her work. A Match Made In Mehendi was definitely worth the wait! You can find a picture from when we met at the end of this post!

A Match Made In Mehendi had me cracking up from start to almost finish. I felt like if Simi were a person, we’d be like close relatives or possibly sisters who actually got along. Where Simi is a visual artist, I was all about writing (I can draw but I’m not awesome at it). Her sense of humor, klutziness, resolve and love of bubble tea (she even said my favorite kind people) are aspects that I heavily related to. Like Simi, I also had my BFF for many years going into school that shared in my misery in high school and that would hype me up & I would do the same for her… we also were hardheaded about things we weren’t ready to accept so some epic disagreements were had (20+ years later, we are still best friends and I wouldn’t trade her; I imagine Simi & Noah would be the same). My best friend and her family also always fed me like Simi’s family did for Noah (I love to eat so this was okay by me as well). I saw bits of my own life in this story that made me think back on my high school days (mostly good ones because if I thought on bad ones, it would’ve really dampened this book’s lightheartedness).

I loved how Simi spoke about the hierarchy (as it seemed) of the school (see favorite quote for reference). So many of us have had our fair share of run ins with the Amandas-Of-The-World (as teens and as adults). The Amandas I faced when I was younger were actually not of the Caucasian persuasion but sometimes we are rougher and more cruel to our own…and later on in life (i.e. undergrad), I learned about Caucasian persuasion Amandas. To be honest, any of the Amandas I’ve encountered can catch these hands because…reasons *shrugs* =0/ Annnnnnd moving on. This story depicts the belief that so many kids have that their worth is hinged upon this one person or group of people and what that belief can do to a person. What I hope that teens gain from this book is knowing & recognizing your own worth is determined by you and ONLY YOU. Tell them bishes about themselves/read them for filth then tell them where they can put their unsolicited opinions of you. I was extremely proud, like big sister proud, of how Simi found her voice and how she used it in certain situations.

One of the things that also struck me is the level of dedication Simi & Noah had for their friendship (I know I talked a bit about it but I want to talk more about it). The way they held space for each other, rode for each other and kept it real with one another at the right moments (meaning that they knew each other so well that they knew when was a good & bad time to approach a subject). It was beautiful to read and see play out on the page. I stan for friendships like that because I have a few like that IRL (shocking, I know…or maybe not, I’m actually quite lovable once you get to know me, LOL..I’m a Hufflepuff for crying out loud)! The way they leaned on each other was also great, they saw each other’s strengths and pumped each other up so their weak points weren’t things that sent them spiraling. I’m all about the hype up so Noah has my heart on that. Moral of the story: Gas each other up, it makes the dark moments seem lighter! So if you have a friend going through a tough time, call them up or show up at their door step in a non-creepy way & hype them up…be the Noah to their Simi and let them do the same for you!

I also enjoyed the role that culture and tradition played in this book and how we may push back so much at it that we can miss the Beauty of it. We may not fall in line with it but it is ingrained in us, in some way, shape or form. For Simi, it’s the matchmaking gift/being a Vichole (which, if I liked being set up, I wouldn’t mind having someone like her in my circle but alas, I don’t so if you know me, you already know not to try it), for others it could be career fields or personality traits (which can be improved upon). I think there is immense strength in non-conformity because autonomy is a thing but if you have a palpable gift, don’t look it in the face and say “nah” then shut the door before seeing if it could work for you. You may not know how it could come in handy or help in the future…but if you try it out and then decide on that “nah” then #Respeck. I enjoyed the talk of food (we established that I like to eat already) and how it brought me back to times in my best friend’s (she’s Guyanese-Indian) kitchen or living room, eating some of the foods mentioned in the book, chatting or watching Bollywood Movies/Music Videos (my favorite movie is Devdas, in case you wanted to know…I miss my best friend and the days we did this *sigh* being an adult sucks a lot of the time). Being surrounded by your friend’s family is a very special feeling (when they are nice people… I’m lucky to have friends with lovely families) that is beautifully captured in this book…I felt like I was in their family kitchen with them!

To wrap this up because I can talk a lot longer about A Match Made In Mehendi, I seriously enjoyed this book and the characters (most of them; there are so many I didn’t talk about but know there are some really great people around Simi). I finished this book so fast because I wanted to know what happened next/how certain scenarios would play out. The pacing was great and it was super funny! Go out and grab this book so you can crack up…and also get hungry like I did (so maybe have snacks near by)! Happy Reading (and snacking)!

The fateful day I met Nandini Bajpai in the Jason Reynolds’ signing line at Bookcon!

Pssssst….by the way, follow my IG page @bookishgirlmagic, facebook @bookishgirlmagic (hopefully, that is correct) and now Twitter @bookishgrlmagic! *Angelic Smile*

For Black Girls Like Me Is A Black Girl’s Dear Diary

  • Mariama J. Lockington
  • Debut, Stand alone
  • Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
  • Background: Black, Transracial Adoptee
  • IG: @forblackgirlslikeme, https://mariamajlockington.com/
  • Release Date: Out Now!
  • Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Favorite Character: Lena! Not just because she is Haitian (adopted from Haiti; there is a kindredness though) but because she keeps it real and she reminds me of myself (and maybe you can call me on my bias, LOL).
  • Favorite Quote(s): “I’M NOT WHITE. THAT’S JUST MY PARENTS.”-Lena…my response was “YOU BETTA TELL ‘EM LENA!” I think people forget that children are their own people, adopted or not…this is just an outward display of that. Also “Don’t ever forget that I am your #ashyforlife bestie and I will fight Katy (with my words) to defend your honor. You are a queen. A QUEEN I tell you.”-Lena. First of all, who told Mariama she could write my personality doppelgänger?! *claps* This *claps* is *claps* me *claps*! I would fight anyone for my besties (ask them, they will tell you I have) with words but I’ve been willing to throw bows. I also tell my students to use their words (but I be wanting folks to catch these hands) and I’m all about lifting folks up. This also shows how important it is for us as black girls & women to lift each other up… how we always have to…

When I was reading For Black Girls Like Me, I felt like I was reading a diary, and at parts, my own. As a black girl [grown woman], I related so much to Makeda and what she dealt with…both when I was younger and as an adult. With Makeda being adopted, she had some things to face head on that I couldn’t imagine dealing with…especially grappling with whiteness day in & day out and minimal exposure to her own culture & blackness. As a black girl, that exposure helps to serve as a bit of a roadmap of where you come from (there are universal themes in black girlhood & womanhood) and where you can go as well as understand the experience of being a black girl/woman.

There were so many incidents that made my jaw drop, where I just wished I could’ve screamed in the characters’ faces. The passive aggressive nature of her family was maddening for me so I can only imagine for Makeda could be even more bonkers (#NoCountryForPassiveAggressivePeople). The way her parents and sister spoke to her, the tasks they asked of her, the level of expectation on her showed a level of entitlement that was mind boggling but was not far fetched based upon my own past experiences…and I think other people of color could pick up on those things. It’s a reality that what we experience is different depending on racial background, location, gender identity, sexuality…it’s upsetting but the ish is what POC deal with, holla at your favorite POC (or don’t & do your own research) if you don’t believe me but make sure you LISTEN *cues “Listen, Linda, Listen” kid* or read carefully.

As a kid who has moved, I felt Makeda on another level because that ish is disorienting. You’re leaving your home (possibly the only one you’ve known), your friends and your school. At the same time, you may be developing…so that is like being tossed into a fire and being told “water doesn’t put it out so just let it die down on it’s own…it will eventually *shrug*” and the chuck the deuces as they walk away…WHAT?! You get my point, right? *raises eyebrow* The choice is taken away from you and so little can be done about it…ish is messed up dude (dude is gender neutral for me, by the way, think Kel’s Dude song in Good Burger)!

I moved when I was in 4th grade (around Makeda’s age) and I remember that heartbreak like it was yesterday so if I could hug Makeda IRL, I definitely would. The most painful part of moving seems to be leaving your friends…I feel like leaving your best friend is like leaving a piece of yourself…how, how, HOW can you do that and not fall apart (I did)?! Makeda is a tough one to go through that and not lose it completely…she also has a bomb ass BFF that wouldn’t let her. They were both so present for each other, despite their distance, that is heartwarming. Lena is that ride-or-die friend that you hope for and are lucky to find (shout out to all the ride-or-dies out there)!

I love how this book tackles blackness in white spaces, self-discovery & exploration, depression and mental illness…it is simply brilliant. I felt like Makeda was gut punched throughout the book but she was like a G, standing up after each hit (with some struggle) holding out her arms shouting “YOU HIT LIKE A B-WORD” (because she doesn’t curse, she’s a good girl y’all). Navigating blackness in white space is tough but doing it at home, I can’t even imagine and on top of that, not having someone around to help understand what it means to be a black girl and eventually a black woman *long, slow whistle* makes it tougher. I could talk about this forever but I want want you all to gon’ about your lives and come back next week! Mental illness is really difficult to understand and experience for the person going through it/with the diagnosis (from what I have heard from friend’s who are open about their diagnosis) but it is also difficult to understand from the outside, knowing how best to support that person as they work through it. Makeda was so compassionate and loving, showing a grace that was not always extended to her…I was incredibly proud of her!

For Black Girls Like Me was such a beautiful read, one that I could see myself in as a black woman but she also spoke to the experiences of girlhood universally. Mariama did an amazing job of giving black girls a platform…it was as if she pointed at them (us, really) and said “I see you” complete with a charismatic wink and a tight hug at the end of the book. Please get this book for any and all black girls that you know, any girls (and boys) who are adopted, and any & all kids that you feel could use a hug in book form…it’s a loving way to show them that you see them too! *Angelic Smiley Face*

Shameless plug: Feel Free to follow me on Instagram at @bookishgirlmagic and facebook @bookishgirlmagic!

My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich Spoke To My Blerd Girl Heart

  • Ibi Zoboi
  • Debut Middle Grade, 3rd Published Novel; Book 1 of 2
  • Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
  • Heritage: Haitian-American (*waves Haitian Flag*)
  • IG: @ibizoboi; www.ibizoboi.net
  • Release date: 8/27/2019 (gon’ on and get this book!)
  • Publisher: Penguin Random House
  • Favorite Character: Ebony Grace also known as Cadet E-Grace Starfleet *Salutes*. I think she is dope and I loved how she let things roll off of her shoulders but also attempts to remind people of themselves/the person she knew in a positive light. She wanted to be a little girl & maintain her imagination station and she did…she dared to dream and dreamed really big!
  • Favorite quote: “Still, I don’t trust all that laughing and fun because ain’t nothing funny about No Joke City! “It’s a trap,” I whisper to myself.”-Ebony Grace talking about NYC (and she’s right). “I used a Jedi mind trick to sneak past the Funkazoids standing guard and make my way into the empty kitchen where our lunch plates are still on the table. Momma won’t be able to see how I didn’t clean up after myself, and Daddy doesn’t seem to care.”-EG…I love her stealth modes and her reasoning is totally what I would’ve come up with at her age.

I have to open this by saying that I’m a fan of Ibi Zoboi. It is because of her book American Street, that I was able to see a part of myself in a book since the main character is Haitian (which if you read my post about Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, you’ll recall that that means a lot to me) and that was (still is) a big deal for me. If you haven’t read American Street (or Pride where the main character is Haitian & Dominican), you need to fix that ASAP! Ibi is a dope writer and I’m grateful for the day I decided to pick up her book at Barnes & Noble on Court Street in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Stand Up! It’s one of the locations I frequent *Shrugs*…Judge Me If You Want).

When I started My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich, I didn’t know what to expect but I was already down for whatever path Ibi was going to take me on. Just look at the cover, it’s dreamy and full of #BlackGirlMagic! Ebony Grace, Also Known As E-Grace or EG is a peculiar kind of girl but in the best of ways. She is intelligent, quirky, strong-willed, active in her imagination (her imagination station), loyal and is all about outer space. While I’m not a trekky like Ebony is, as a big Harry Potter/Wizarding World fan (I have been since freshman year of high school), I could relate to the love that she has for the vastness of space, the world/story that she and her grandfather created around it and how dedicated she was to it. She didn’t allow people’s comments about her impact her in a devastating way, she remained true to herself the entire time (#ShoutOut to her Uncle Rich for acknowledging her uniqueness in a positive way). Ebony held fast to her dreams and I appreciated that because too often, brown girls and boys dreams are too quickly snatched from them & other matters are shoved in their faces and down their throats. E-Grace dared to dream and it didn’t matter to her if others joined in or approved of said dream. I also love that her grandfather was a big contributor to her imagination & dreams.

One of the biggest things I related to in this story is her relationship with/closeness to her grandfather. This aspect was really personal to me since my grandpa is the reason I have such a love for reading, libraries, history (he’s a retired librarian) and he even taught me Ballet when I was younger (he’s a classical music and Ballet enthusiast). Like E-Grace’s grandpa, my grandpa told me stories and encouraged my sense of exploration & imagination. I loved their connection and how she would reach for her grandpa, whether it was over the phone or through her memories (I do the same…*nods* clearly). I believe it is important that we retain these connections to ourselves & our histories through our elders as they are a part of us and illuminate what maybe dark in our understanding. I hope young people read the relationship between EG & her grandpa and reach for that connection with their own grandparents/elders.

Throughout this book, E-Grace remained herself; she didn’t allow others’ to tear down her sense of Self like others would in real life (it was a total “sticks and stones” vibe). EG had this “forget chu den (then)” sort of outlook and I was totally here for it. *Steps On Soap Box* Our children are so easily influenced, forgetting or detouring from who they are evolving into…they become “too grown” (which is so overrated, what ever was I thinking wishing to become an adult *shakes head*) before they ever had the chance to be a child. Ebony is the epitome of Black Girl Innocence & that is so beautiful to me. I hope that we allow our little boys and girls to remain in that child-like space for as long as they possibly can, to see the world with fresh eyes and learn from there, maturing at a more organic rate. *Steps Off Soap Box*

This book was set a little more than 2 years before I was born but I could still see myself in the story. My father was a definite hip-hop fan so I grew up listening to some of the music of this time period. Dance and double dutch also played roles & tied in with the music in this story which brought my heart great joy. I could *shakes hand* kinda sorta hold my own (once upon a time because I have bad knees now & feel older than I look) and I could bust a move on the dance floor (not break dancing doe, I was never meant for that life, I’ll gladly put a $1 in a break dancer’s hat & let them be great…no dance battle challenges shall come from my lips) but not so much on Ebony Grace’s end! I love that Ibi was specific with the songs mentioned so you could look them up and feel even more apart of Ebony’s world. So if you want to dive a little deeper, look up music from 1984 and really get into the grove of the story (now I wish I had done that).

Ebony displayed the Beauty of embracing who you are and not giving a flying rocket (see what I did there, *kool-aid smile*) whether or not other’s accept you. Everyone has their tribe & while it may not be big, it would be authentic to them (in this case, her tribe is her grandpa, which I doubt is an issue for Ebony Grace). Another beautiful notion is that the members of said tribe may change or increase as you change and/or people gain an understanding of you and which is all good too…Ebony may or may not find out about this on this journey (her dad maybe included). A quote that applies here is “why fit in when you were born to stand out?”-Dr. Seuss (*sage nod* wise words). Ebony was clearly meant to stand out and stand out she did in the most splendid of ways! She didn’t fight for anyone’s acceptance nor did she try to fit into anyone’s box in the name of making friends (*coughs* looks at Bianca *coughs*). E-Grace seriously occupies a piece of my Blerd (#BlackNerd) Girl Heart!

I loved how Ibi approached this story, the pacing of it, the characters and how everything came together. She thought of that one (or few) kid(s) that sit to themselves with their book, science experiment or game cards…mentally pointed to them and said “I See You and it’s okay to be who you are”. Ibi made that part of myself feel incredibly seen. If you are the nerdy type *pushes up glasses* (#ShoutOut to all the members of #TheGlassesTribe), love outer space, 80’s era of Harlem, Ibi Zoboi or a combination of all of the above, you should go out and get this book! As you read, let Ebony Grace speak to your inner (or outer) nerd & use Wonder Woman‘s Bracelets of Submission to *pew* *pew* *pew* away any gibberish lasers that may come your way =0)! Happy Space Travels…I mean, Happy Reading!

Ibi Zoboi And I at the launch for My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich and For Black Girls Like Me at Books Of Wonder!
My now 93 year old Grandpa & I at his 90th birthday celebration…I was telling a story of how I used to pull his beard (I’m the first to ever do it of his grandchildren because I’m the first, LOL) but I imagine E-Grace and her grandpa’s connection is similar to ours.

*Psst* By the way, feel free to follow my IG account for this blog @bookishgirlmagic and/or the facebook account Bookish Girl Magic!

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine Had Me In My Feelings

  • Maika & Maritza Moulite (Sisters)
  • Debut, Stand alone
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • Heritage: Haitian-American (*waves Haitian Flag*)
  • IG: @maritzamoulite, @maikamoulite; www.maikaandmaritza.com
  • Release: 9/3/2019 (Go get it NOW!)
  • Publisher: inkyard press
  • Favorite character: It’s a tie between Alaine and her mother, they’re like mirror images of each other, stubborn, willful, snarky and super dope!
  • Favorite Quote: (Or in this case, quoteS) “(Seriously, I’ve done so much adulting these past few weeks I’ve been looking into retirement options.)”-Alaine…well, I’ll be damned if that isn’t how I feel every day! “I followed her suggestion to kiss the air and give each of her relatives’ cheeks a little bump.”-Alaine about greeting her friend Tatiana’s family (they are also Haitian)…one of the things I hate the most when going to someone’s house is this greeting… I don’t like people enough for that but I have home training (Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, If you are reading this, I give you all actual kisses on your cheeks, I promise I’m not a savage…Love Y’all!)! There are so many more statements I loved but I’m not going to give away more, read the book & find your own favorite quotes!

Alright, how do I kick this off…hmmmm? *Taps chin* I have to start by saying that I loved Dear Haiti, Love Alaine so flipping much…I loved it so much that I purchased multiple copies after finishing it (as a receipt, see picture above) & I know I will purchase more in the future! The last time I purchased multiple copies of a book was Children of Blood And Bone over a period of time but I’m definitely on track to purchase more copies than I did of CBB (I purchased like 7 copies). I purchased a copy for my grandparents (fun fact, my grandpa is a retired librarian), just to drive home the point that I really loved DHLA!

As you may or may not know, I’m half Haitian (*Biggie Smalls voice* If you don’t knowwwwwwww, now you knowwwww baybahbaby) so when I saw this book shouted out, it was instantly placed on my anticipated reads list. I missed the ARCs but I knew I was buying this book. As I read, DHLA proved why I was looking forward to it and why it was worth the wait but even more so, it became deeply personal for me. I grew up around my father’s side (the Haitian side) of the family, most holidays as well as lots of free time spent with them (my grandpa has attended every graduation of mine, he represented for my grandma who could not travel) and yet, I didn’t learn as much about the rich history of Haiti as I would’ve liked to and not to mention the language (I understand a little but I’m going to change that) nor have I been there (something I feel disappoints my Haitian grandma & you never want to do that so I must change that as well).

As a mixed kid (as previously stated in my post about Permanent Record), it bothered me that I was lacking in this arena but DHLA lit a fire under my ass after it broke me (my therapist thinks seeing it as enlightening rather than breaking is better way of putting it), made my eyes leak but also helped put me back together. I’m proud to be of Haitian descent, to have blood that runs through my veins of such a resilient & strong people and to have ancestors that would never let me forget the stock that I come from… This book reminded me of that as the acknowledgement of that part of myself had become dormant in my mind (but not my heart). I cried for like 20+ minutes after reading the acknowledgements though I did not expect to…this is because that piece of myself needed to be seen, felt and heard (well, in this case read; #RepresentationMatters). So so so so so many thanks to Maritza and Maika for that gift (I’m listening to Kompa as I write this :0), you should pull some up on youtube or the Kompa/Zouk Spotify playlist as you read this).

Enough about me, let’s talk about Alaine! Ole’ girl is HILARIOUS! She’s intelligent/a know it all, sarcastic (she spoke my language so beautifully), slightly awkward around boys (me too Alaine, me too), creative, a problem solver and determined. Though she didn’t always demonstrate it, Alaine also had grace…how she didn’t end up in juvie dealing with certain classmates is beyond me because I would be in prison rather than my apartment typing this right now (I really wanted to crawl into the book and snatch a few wigs y’all)…but in Alaine’s case, thank goodness for divine intervention (Baby Jesus wrapped in fleece) and a hyper vigilant Haitian Father that she wasn’t fated for that ending!

Another thing to note is Alaine’s love for peanuts & food (my grandpa used to make a chicken dish with peanuts he imported from Haiti that was everything to me but that was BV-Before Vegan [I will find a vegan way to make that dish some day])…Haitian food is amazing, especially djon djon/black rice (my favsies)… I feel like when it is home cooked, it’s a means of showing love & care, it was for my grandpa (but he’s passing the torch, he’s 93 y’all); I feel like Alaine captured that perfectly in how she spoke about food. I love how Alaine described food with such fondness in the details she gave, I could see it in my mind & could smelled it which triggered memories of my grandpa in the kitchen & my grandma asking if we ate (I seriously love my grandparents, if you haven’t noticed by now). When Alaine talked about her mom cooking/baking & throwing down or criticizing, she also made me think of my mom in the kitchen (my mom is Trini but moms/aunts/grandmas in the kitchen is like a universal language)… Basically this book felt like a love letter to family as well… like a heart beat that sounds melodic and comforting in its presence.

Alaine’s sense of humor, how she wrote and how she responded to people & situations reminded me a lot of myself at her age and now (aye, I’m still growing even though I’m technically a grown ass woman *shrugs*). Like I said, Alaine is hella funny and I laughed a whole lot throughout this book. I loved how she interacted with the people around her as well as her surroundings. When she was in Haiti, it was like a newborn seeing for the first time and since I haven’t been (yet), it was the same for me. As she described the sounds that she experienced, I felt just as overwhelmed as she seemed to be (this is why I wear headphones all the time out in these skreets…New York is hella loud y’all). I experienced it all as if I was standing right next to her!

There were various ways in which Alaine interacted with others such as emails, phone/text as well as in person. I really enjoyed how she communicated with her dad in various ways especially when he baked (who doesn’t love a man who can bake?!) and there is a hilarious text between them that had me rollin’ (read the book to see it). You can also see the different dynamics between Alaine and her mom, her dad, her aunt, etc. It’s really interesting how she communicates and how free she may feel in her expression based upon who she was speaking with. My favorite interactions are between Alaine and her Tante (aunt) Estelle, how her aunt would check her by bringing the receipts (I could feel the mic drops happening in my Spirit when she did that) but it was still very much the “cool” aunt and her favorite niece accompanied by the two finger tap on the shoulder vibe.

I loved and appreciated that there are different mediums throughout the book such as tweets, articles, letters, historical documents along with Alaine’s first hand account. With DHLA being co-authored, everything is seamless in how it reads, it felt as if one person wrote Alaine and the voices of others are distinctly different as if more than two people wrote them (as they should be…it would be weird in a Stepford Wives–Children of the Corn type way if all the voices were singular)…what I’m getting at is that there is no way to tell who wrote what because Maika & Maritza’s voices flowed together so beautifully. Each medium added to the experience, building rich layers in Alaine’s world, piecing together what is impacting Alaine and how it is impacting her without being super obvious (my jaw dropped a few times as the lightbulbs went off in my head). I enjoyed the letters the most since there is something so personal (to me) about the formatting of letters. Seriously, I just think this book was masterfully written!

There aren’t enough words in English, French or Kreyol that could express how much I loved this book. I learned new things about Haiti & it affirmed what it means to BE Haitian… Dear Haiti, Love Alaine was hysterical, heartwarming and it reconnected me to the pride of being Haitian. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this book. It was such a beautiful love letter to Haiti (#AyitiCherie), the ancestors and the people who are SO MUCH more than what the world thinks they are because of circumstances beyond their control & how those circumstances have been presented. Haitians are a people of strength, resilience, spirit & pride and there is so much Beauty in that…I hope that when people pick up this book (with this stunning Black girl on the cover), they feel that as they read Dear Haiti, Love Alaine. If you don’t have this book…*shouting emoji* GET IT NOW! If you have it but haven’t read it yet, move it to the top of your TBR ASAPually! Bon lekti (Happy Reading)!

I attended the launch event at Books Are Magic and had the best time talking to Maika & Maritza! And as you can see, red lipstick was the move for the evening!

Permanent Record Is Deadass Hilarious!

  • Author: Mary H.K. Choi
  • 2nd Book, Stand alone
  • YA Contemporary
  • Heritage/Background: Korean-American
  • IG–@choitotheworld; www.choitotheworld.com
  • Release date: 9/3/19 (It’s out now so cop it!)
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  • Favorite Character: I’m going with the main character, Pablo cause dude was f*cking hilarious. His brother Rain comes in a close second.
  • Favorite Quote: There were mad funny things said throughout the book but I’m going with “But he’s Puerto Rican and Dominican, which is why he’s a hothead. The inner conflict he says is like being Trini and Jamaican.” Pab about his roommate Miggs. As a Trini and Haitian, I FULLY get this! Close second is Tice saying he’s the most Killmonger because he’s Haitian…I feel you on that Tice, I definitely feel you.

Where do I start? Permanent Record was f*cking hilarious from jump! I was reading in a cafe and someone asked me what I was reading & said I was glowing (it could’ve been that they were trying to hit on me or that I was really glowing from laughing so hard *shrugs*, the world may never know). My eyes leaked (I’m a G so books don’t make me cry #TheLiesWeTellOurselves) and my belly moved (I’m not pregnant, just FYI) I laughed so hard while reading this book!

This book was so New York…the usage of deadass to talking about the bodega cat (#RespectTheBodegaCat) just made me feel right at home because it IS my home (most of my life has been spent living in New York, I was born & bred here *screams in Ja Rule’s voice* NY BAYBAYYYYYYY). I could see myself in this story, feel the slosh of the dirty snow, the biting cold in a too thin jacket because you underestimated how cold it would be…and also how valued the bodega is (not every store on the corner is a bodega..remember that sh*t). I live where Papi’s who tell you to smile run the bodega world…bodegas are an NY cornerstone my dude!

Pablo is funny as ffffffffffffffff*ck y’all! His wit, his sense of humor & sarcasm led me to believe that he and I could’ve been the best of friends had he been a real person. I think though that he would make fun of the fact that I’m vegan all the time but I’m sure we could still work and he would find awesome snacks for me via his bodega hookups! Also, his feelings of being lost, lonely, drowning [in financial sh*t] and unsure of his purpose felt way too close to home (#ItMe, this has been me a lot in my adult life). I have to note that, like me, Pab is a #MixedKid and he wrestled with a lot of the same issues I do such as not speaking the language of your respective heritages (thanks Dad…*deep sigh*), where you belong, if you belong more to one than the other and people playing that bullsh*t guessing game of what your background is/asking “what are you?” (I’m human muthaf*cka, the f*ck you think…this is what I think in my mind but I usually sideeye the person, clarify their question then answer).

Pab had a dope ass support system, even though he didn’t always acknowledge that…from his family to his homies, he had a lot more than he realized. His parents seemed like the type of people that you would say “man, I love your parents, I wish my parents were like yours” (I have several friends with parents like that) and somewhat resembled my own. While his mom was strict, it was clear she would do anything for her children (like my dad) & his father was sweet and super supportive (like my mother). Reading this book, they seem like the unlikeliest of matches but also worked in an interesting way! Pab’s brother Rain was also hysterical, serious when necessary but snarky at all the right times…especially with a school situation…you have to read read it to get it…Pink machinery is all I will say (ROTFLMAO).

Pablo’s crew is hella cool, the way they look out for each other & chin check one another. Being that Tice is one of my people (#ShoutOutToTheZoes), he was my favorite of Pab’s friends (I’m biased *shrugs*). He met Pab blow for blow in verbal interactions but also showed he cared about him & what he thought. I sincerely appreciated his Come-To-Jesus Meetings with Pab (I’ve had a few of those with friends, initiated & brought into), I think it’s something that Haitians are just really good at (another biased statement *shrug*). I also have to say that I LOVED that all of Pab’s friends were different mixtures and backgrounds and the fact that he mentioned their backgrounds gave some insight to their character traits. As someone who has friends from a cornucopia of backgrounds, I sincerely appreciated that and it made me feel even closer to the story.

The meet-cute between Lee & Pablo was like the beginning of the ultimate NY love story…like what could be more New York than “we met in a bodega” (#DeadassDeadass) ?! I loved their chemistry, interactions, mutual love for food/snacking (I felt them on that) as well as their care for one another. For sure, I was cheering for them and you may as well! They both made dumb moves in this story but it is also apart of our reality…unfortunately, the dependency on social media and text messages is a real thing (the psychology behind that is mind-blowing) and plays a role in their relationship. Low-Key High-Key depression plays a pretty big part in this too and those dealing with it (*coughs* Pablo *coughs*) take a while to see it.

I loved this book so much, I stayed up until ridiculous hours reading because I wanted to know what would happen next, what wild thing would he say & when Pab would turn things around. Permanent Record was a page turna like a muthaf*cka! Even though I finished this book, I’m still laughing about sh*t that happened (Rain is such an ass, a loveable one but still an ass). This was my first exposure to Mary H.K. Choi but I’ve already picked up Emergency Contact & can’t wait to read it, I’m also sold on whatever else she writes in the future! GO *clap* COP *clap* THIS *clap* BOOK *clap*! Deadass, my stomach hurt from laughing so hard…be prepared for the ab work you’ll do from all the laughter but it’s worth it B.

I attended I attended the Book Launch at Strand Bookstore and got a picture with Mary (she’s gorgeous and hilarious, btw)!

SLAY Was a WORD in Book Form

  • Brittney Morris
  • Debut, Stand Alone
  • YA Contemporary
  • Heritage/Background: Black (read black, black, bliggity black)
  • IG: @brittneymmorris, www.authorbrittneymorris.com, www.slaythebook.com
  • Release date: 9/24/2019
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Favorite character: Steph-she is no-nonsense, ride or die, knowledge dropping and isn’t here for anyone’s [hotep] antics…basically black girl magic!
  • Favorite quote: For me, the dedication is EVERYTHING! “For everyone who has ever had to minimize who you are to be palatable to those who aren’t like you.” Dear GAWD, I wish I had someone to say this to me as a teen!

First of all, *claps* first *claps* of *claps* ALLLLLLLL… There are not enough words to describe how much I LOVED this book! Like, it was was EVERY.DAMN.THING! Hands Down, one of my top 5 reads of the year! From the moment I saw the cover, I knew I had to read it! Not only is there a nerdy Black Girl with natural hair on the cover (#NerdyBlackGirlsRock, #GlassesTribeForever) but the title and color scheme drew me in. I want to say that SLAY was mentioned to me but it doesn’t even matter now because I read it and it Rocked my Entire being! It was happenstance that I got a copy of this ARC as I missed them at bookcon but went to a book meet up and SLAY was one that was up for grabs. When I saw it, I instantly went for it and I only had eyes for SLAY. Everyone let me be great and take it home (thanks for that Book babes!).

Kiera is dope As F*ck, though she hid some of that dopeness from those around her. Being the creator so something so big internationally is like peak Black Girl Magic but hiding such as accomplishment from loved ones has been a trend amongst Black Women for centuries (though this is coming to an end). When Kiera spoke about having a space JUST for US, I felt that in my Spirit! Kiera (Brittney through her) put to words how so many people of color feel. The need to have a space for us, to express ourselves, to feel free and not fear having these expressions & feelings taken from us. She was seriously preaching throughout this book but Brittney hooked me with that!

Kiera/Brittney also spoke about the varying expressions of Blackness…from the shades of our skin (oh how I love the different hues of our skin), mannerisms, cultures, languages, fashion but our commonality IS OUR BLACKNESS! Another thing she touched on is when you are one of few or the only black person/POC in a space and being asked to speak on behalf of an entire race… I’m pretty sure that I screamed out “THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS!” (I’ve been in this position, I hated it.) We already know/see when we are one of few or are the only POC present (which can be uncomfortable AF) but being asked to speak for ALL ANDDDDDD not even say what you want to…*Falls Out*!

Kiera has some amazing people in her life from her sister to her co game programmer and even people who play the game! Another brilliant thing about this book is how Brittney depicted what different support systems can look like as well as what Blackness could look like. I loved how there were multiple perspectives in the book which added even more to the experience of the book. I’m not a gamer but I could understand, wholeheartedly, how this cast felt throughout. There are also some not so great or rather annoying people in Kiera’s world as well. At times, I hated how she handled them but it shed light on how much we, as black people (I’m black too, in case you haven’t guessed), have to step back & not say what we want or need to out of fear of retribution or judgement (I’m ready for those days to end). Part of why I loved Kiera’s sister, Steph, is because she was not afraid to keep it real…we need more Stephs in the world (and they are emerging).

Not only does this book beautifully depict the levels and layers of blackness but it also drops so much knowledge. Deadass (I’m so New York), my geek side screamed out “YESSSS” so many times throughout this read both internally and externally, it wasn’t even funny! I loved the history gems, talks of historical Black figures and cultures as well as places that black people live/exist that one may not think. I was here for ALLLLLL of IT! I also loved the mention of things so many of us experience though the game cards such as Boo-Boo The Fool (we know who he ain’t), having MacDonald’s money (boy, if that didn’t bring up childhood discussions), Black Love (I think it is magnificent and beautiful) as well as AAVE (African American Vernacular English) & the arguments around it’s usage/validity (it’s totally valid, whether used or not by a black person) AND the need to Code-Switch!

Honestly, I can talk all day about this book and how important it is! It knocked me on my ass and picked me back up again before knocking me down again (in a good way)! Seriously, Brittney wrote a brilliant book that really paid homage to blackness and it’s many forms/textures. You need to pre-order SLAY or get it the day that it comes out! It is seriously amazing, well written and speaks to what so many black people encounter in this world. SLAY preached in a way that you want to hear/read! Get this book for everyone you know so you will have someone or a group of people to talk to about it. Also know, you will struggle to put it down so have time carved out to read (like hours), it is THAT engaging/great! SLAY is so unapologetically Black that it is Beautiful, Magnificent and Magical! Also #WakandaForever!

Kingdom Of Souls Snatched My Edges

  • Author: Rena Barron
  • Debut-Book 1 of a Trilogy (*deep sigh*)
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • Background-Black with West African Ancestry
  • IG-@Renathedreamer
  • www.renabarron.com; www.kingdomofsoulsbook.com
  • Release Dates: 9/3/19 (US), 9/19/19 (UK)
  • Publisher: Epic Reads
  • My Favorite Character-Rudjek…what can I say, I’m a sucker for a charismatic, sarcastic, funny & charming man child!
  • Favorite Quote-‘”I’ll make do.” Then under his breath, he says, “I can be quite crafty.”‘-Rudjek from Arrah’s perspective (and he was right).

Months ago, Dhonielle Clayton told me about Kingdom of Souls so it had been on my radar. When bookcon came and I had the chance to participate in an ARC drop where KOS was one, I got in line as fast as I could and prayed I’d get a copy. When I tell you I clutched this book to my chest, I actually did (and also called it “the precious” in my mind, lol) and it was worth every moment spent waiting in line.

This book is like a roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to get off of (and I hate roller coasters in real life). I had a hard time putting this book down, opening it up every free moment I had & even slept with it next to me since I would read it late into the night as if I didn’t have work the next morning. I loved how Rena described the sceneries, the characters and the “situations” (which there were a lot of). I felt like I was seeing everything from Arrah’s eyes and felt her emotions as she went through her journey, which is my favorite type of book to experience/read. I LOVED the magic and the Orishas woven throughout the book. The Orishas were their own cast but was also very much so a part of the tapestry of the story. KOS was rich in the textures of the magic and the tribal traits as well!

Not only is Arrah this dope ass black girl that has a strong resolve and big heart; she has the best ride or dies to call her crew. Her friends are the types that would give you the two finger tap, tell you to have a seat and look at your life & your choices. Arrah’s circle are the type of people you hope to find in your lifetime because friends like those are hard to come by. On top of having the best friends anyone could ask for, she has this amazing and hella loving dad that is the type of dad you would want to hug & never let go of, he’s so full of wisdom & stories and is so cool & sweet. I could see why Arrah was so attached to him, I would be too (actually I am, lol).

As dope as so many of the people in Arrah’s story are, there are some not so awesome characters. Arrah’s mother & eventual sister are the antithesis of her…they are both hoes and a halves for their shenanigans! Seriously, if I could’ve slapped them, I would’ve happily done so…with bricks. I’m not about that spoiler life so you have to read the book in order to understand why I felt that way!

I loved this book so much and I have been talking about it to anyone who would possibly listen (or read). This book is worth your dollars or check outs (if you are about that library life), time, attention, and space on your shelves. Get this book for everyone you know because you will want to talk about it…with multiple people. Suggest it to your book clubs, your co-workers, teens and strangers on the street (if you are extroverted enough)! This book IS available for pre-order and is coming out soon so you won’t have to wait for very long! Hopefully, we won’t have a long wait for book 2 *crosses fingers*!

Check out this list of the Epic Reads Tour for the chance to meet Rena!

What’s The 411 Hun-My Blog Run Down

How This Is Gonna Go…

First, I’m not doing stars or number ratings. No shots at or shade to those who follow that system but that’s not what I’m about. Even as a teacher, I’m not in a field where I give grades. Authors work their asses off to put their work out into the world and feel some level of anxiety about how people/readers will feel once their books are in their (readers) hands and out of their (authors) control; I will not contribute to that anxiety. It isn’t my job, nor my place, to put that sort of judgement on their work, their art, their babies; and I want to respect the time and effort these authors put into their craft.

As a [fellow] reader, I can only share how their work made me feel and how I connected to their work. I also won’t post the book synapses/descriptions because I can share the links to those or you can pick up the book & read the covers/dust jackets. Hopefully, what I write will be enough to motivate you to pick up or pre-order the book!

What I will share is the authors’ background/heritage, if they are a debut or not, favorite quotes & characters, links & of course, how I felt about the book. I’m also going to be writing about books I have felt the most passionate about so that this blog stays positive…I’ve been lucky to read tons of books that I enjoyed but there are some that stand out more than others (such is life). I ask (which is bold being new) that you trust this approach and that my love for these books will make for a good review (if it can be called a review) *kool-aid smile & eye-lash flutter*. I’m not going to post about every book that I read because I read AHHHHHH LOT so this blog will feature more recent book releases and ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies for my new to the book world peeps)!

Soooooooo, with all that being said…Let’s Get It, Let’s Go…review/talk about some books!

Let’s Get This Magic Started! An Intro To Me!

To be honest, I never thought that I would start a blog but we all know the adage “never say never” so here we are *turns & spins with arms in the air*. A year and a half ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I would be back to reading so much, let alone write about all the books I read. I had been posting the books I read on instagram (@crystalyogi22 & now @bookishgirlmagic) and multiple people have given feedback that I should do book reviews *wide shocked eyes*.

To help you understand where I came from, I have to start from the, kind of, beginning. At the end of a shopping excursion for books for my students at the time (I’m a early childhood special educator), I happened to look to my right as I was about to get onto the escalators & I stopped dead in my tracks. A book caught my eye and that book was Children Of Blood and Bone (CBB) by Tomi Adeyemi. Being that I was trapped in a bubble that was my work life as well as yoga life (I’m also a yoga teacher), I knew none of the hype around this book. But the cover…the cover pulled me over to its section, I got on my tippy toes to pull down a copy (#ShortGirlProblems) & the description sealed it for me.

In reading CBB, I saw myself on the page, I felt apart of the story. As a black girl reading a book written by another black girl with a badass black girl as the main character, I found myself…invigorated, powerful & SEEN! This is important for someone like me who struggled with their voice & understanding of who they were.

After reading CBB, I decided that summer that I would read just books by POC (People Of Color) female authors and read 14 books in a 4 week span! I even went to bookcon to meet Tomi & ending up making one of the best [bookish] friends I could’ve have ever imagined meeting (shout out to Amber). So Tomi, if you end up reading this, thank you for opening up my world the way you [indirectly] did. Since then, I’ve gone on to read books by male POC authors but the point of it is that all the authors I have read since ARE People Of Color!

If you are wondering why just POC, I’ll happily tell you & this is probably going to be the most serious paragraph you will read from me. I’ve had a lifetime (30+ years) of non-POC authors shoved in my face (like so many other people of color) where POC are either not represented or accurately represented (#RepresentationMatters) and I felt tired. As an adult, I am in the position to consciously choose who’s voice I want to hear and who I support with the money I work so hard to earn (#AdultingSucks). I firmly believe that it is important to support POC authors and amplify their voices as they have had to fight for the spaces they occupy in the publishing world in a way that non-POC have not had to. Suffice this to say that if this bothers you, then this is not the blog for you because I unapologetically stand behind this belief *’Ye Shrug*.

Before I end this post, which will be the longest you will likely see from me, I just have to share that I am quirky, a bit awkward, funny at times, bubbly at times but no matter what mode I am in, I am authentically me 100% of the time. I have worked really hard over the last few years to speak my truth without shame. I get easily excited about the things I love (books being one #GranddaughterOfALibrarian) and it will show in my posts & if we ever meet in person…at a book event because on the subway, I keep my headphones on & a book in front of my face (#ImSoNewYork)!

Well, this has been fun but I’m sure you want to return to your life or your book now. Thank you for taking the time out to read this post & I look forward to sharing my love of diverse books with you!

With Bookish Regards, Latesha