This book is definitely in my top 10 books of this year. I loved the portrayal of lgbtq+ themes with fantasy. It also has a mythological aspect to it. It’s honestly refreshing to see a book that has lgbtq+ as a subplot and focuses more on fantasy. Most lgbtq+ book are more slice of life or coming of age, although those are fun to read from time to time. Overall I loved this book.
The sequel to American Royals is truly magnificent. The royal family has lost so much this year. The county has lost a King, but Beatrice, Samantha, and Jefferson have lost their father. Beatrice is finding her place as the soon to be Queen. Some of the duties and opportunities the past Kings have completed are now being taken away from her because she is an unmarried Queen. She again has to choose her duty or her heart. Samantha is still sorting out her life after high school and trying to find love.
The American Royal family. Such a huge responsibility and pressure. Beatrice, the heir of the throne, has to find a man she might have to think about marrying. Samantha, the sister of Beatrice, doesn’t see herself as worthy to be part of the royal family. Samantha is trying to get attention by doing all the wrong things in the eyes of the royals. Jefferson, Samantha’s twin, is dealing with a breakup and sorting out his feelings when he falls for someone unexpected but near.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid follows the 4 famous Riva family siblings. The story covers what happens in the 24 hours leading up to, during, and after the well-known Riva party as well as the history of their family. Throughout the party secrets will be exposed, punches will be thrown, and the place will go up in flames. Let’s just say the rager will be one to remember. This book was unlike any book I've read before and I absolutely loved it.
In The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Nora Seed is full of regrets. She regrets that she didn’t join a band with her brother, and she regrets that she didn’t get married to Dan. She regrets that she didn’t take good enough care of her cat, and she regrets that she never became a glaciologist. After an especially difficult day, she decides that the harm done to the people in her life if she died is less than the harm that would occur to them if she continued living.
The Vanishing Half is set in the 20th century and follows the lives of twins--Desiree and Stella--born into a colorist town named Mallard. As the twins split ways, each to her own adventures, they both share their own unique stories and reveal the trauma involved with their youth. However, despite their differences and their split, they always manage to find each other. This book does a great job of showing aspects of internal discrimination within a community, whether it be race or gender.
This book is so incredibly written. Nothing in the book feels too boring and everything is set perfectly. There are many characters in the book so it can be a little confusing trying to figure out who is who but nonetheless the author does a good job at making sure that we are able to differentiate between them. This is overall a very good book, has a mystery theme, and several plot twists to keep you entertained.
Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian reality novel. This book was a confusing read for me since all of the topics and themes in the book were hard to understand. It was a difficult book to understand because several of the vocabulary words that were used in the novel were confusing and I had to look them up frequently. Overall it’s a good read for someone who likes dystopian fiction and is trying to explore new genres.
Queen of Ice is an amazing quick read. Once you pick it up, it’s difficult to put down. The book follows Didda as she rises from a timid girl to the ruler of her land. It is a perfect balance of friendship, heartbreak, and trust. Queen of Ice represents women empowerment, and the importance of confidence. The book moves at a pretty fast pace so, there are rarely any boring parts. The book is based in India so naturally, it mildly represents Indian culture. This representation makes the book even more interesting and allows the reader to place themselves in that situation.
In the sci-fi novel Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, former high school science teacher Ryland Grace wakes in a strange hospital, fresh from a coma and bleary with various medical drugs. Once he recovers a little, he notices several strange things: first, his companions in the odd medical wing are dead and he’s devastated. But he can’t really recall how he knows them, or why they’re here. He can’t remember much at all, really - not even his own name.
