All posts by Kasey

About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.

Review: Library or Lattes? by Lila Hazell

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,
Library or Lattes by Lila Hazell

Library or Lattes? (Love in Oak Falls #1)
Lila Hazell
Pixel + Ink
Published August 25, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Library or Lattes?

A cozy, swoony autumn romance with a Sliding Doors twist, perfect for readers of Jenny Han and Lynn Painter. Like Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice for this fall!

One season, two choices for love…

Willa’s small town is at its best in the fall. Think crisp air, golden leaves, bonfires, hayrides, and pumpkin spice. It’s cozy and comforting, pretty much perfect, but sometimes Willa wonders if she’s destined for more.

Then she’s left some money by a distant aunt, with one condition: It must be used to see the world. The rest of the book unfolds in alternating chapters where she makes one choice or another about this inheritance.

In one strand, Willa decides to study travel journalism, but she has to hit the books if she wants to be accepted into a program. That why she spends her weekends in the library, where Theo, a grumpy out-of-towner, also hangs out. He may think everything in this town is beneath him, but… there’s something irresistible about him when he smiles.

In the other strand, Willa begins planning a perfect round-the-world trip. Meanwhile, she’s working at her favorite coffee shop… where she suddenly gets a new boss, monosyllabic James, who’s back in his hometown to nurse a broken heart.

Each potential choice leads Willa to love, and the final chapter is classic happily ever after.

My Review

This sweet fall romance follows two possible paths that Willa’s life could take, leading her to two different romances. In effect, we get to watch her fall in love twice.

The chapters alternate between “Library” and “Lattes” timelines. The Library timeline shows what happens when she gives in to her feelings for the surly architect research student who shows up at the library just when Willa needs extra study time. The Lattes timeline follows Willa’s adventures when she winds up working with her boss’s son to save their coffee shop.

Some elements remain largely the same between the two timelines. Willa’s quirky best friend Lennie appears in both timelines, and both are set in the same small town over the same time period. Willa and Lennie’s friendship faces challenges in both versions of the story as well.

I was surprised that both stories take place in the same town. For some reason, I expected at least one to be about Willa traveling, since a letter from her aunt challenging her to travel beyond the small town she’s always known is what sets the whole story in motion. It might have been easier to differentiate between the two timelines if they were set in different places as well.

That said, I thought both romances were compelling. I liked the fact that the story treated both relationships as equal possibilities for Willa.

One thing that gave me pause is Willa’s reaction when she outs someone. She makes a comment in public about a relationship that’s not public because she got flustered and forgot for a moment. She really wants to pass this off as a mistake, which I found hard to stomach. Yes, it was absolutely a mistake, but she had been told that one person in the relationship did not feel safe coming out. The choice to remain closeted wasn’t about preference; it was about safety. I didn’t feel like Willa really grasped what she’d done. Late in the story, the person she outed confronts her about it, and I think she seemed to realize the gravity of her mistake then. So, eventually, she understands and apologizes to the person she hurt.

Overall, this is a sweet romance that will make a cozy read this fall.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Willa outs someone (accidentally).

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams by Michelle Kulwicki

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams
Michelle Kulwicki
Page Street YA
Published April 21, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams

In this adventure-packed portal fantasy, three teens discover a gateway to a mythical Labyrinth in the Appalachian Mountains

Barren’s Peak, West Virginia, is not a place anyone would call magical, but Thea LaGuerre calls it home. A high school drop-out whose mother died in an accident, Thea is stuck working part-time jobs just to make ends meet. The most she has to look forward to are barn parties where she can make out with Callum, the one interesting boy who moved to town six months ago.

Thea doesn’t know it yet, but Callum was sent to Barren’s Peak to watch her. He was raised within the magicians’ order, a shadowy organization meant to keep humanity safe from an underworld of monsters. Callum would sacrifice anyone, including himself, to help their cause, but he still can’t help falling into Thea’s orbit. She’s the first person he’s felt seen by since his childhood sweetheart, Oliver—who he hasn’t seen since Oliver’s banishment from the order.

But Oliver hasn’t given up on Callum or on magic. Following a magical creature’s trail to Barren’s Peak, Oliver happens upon Callum and Thea at a barn party that turns into a monster-overrun massacre. To save Callum and the girl he’s protecting from a wave of deadly fairies, Oliver opens a portal for the three of them to flee into the Labyrinth.

To get home again, Thea, Oliver, and Callum will have to work together to survive the Labyrinth’s trials and discover the threads that brought them there.

My Review

This one has a lot of elements that usually appeal to me. Unfortunately, I think I’m not the right audience for this portal fantasy.

The story alternates between Thea, Callum, and Oliver’s points of view. Each viewpoint is well-developed and has a unique voice. I felt like I understood each of them really quickly– in a good way.

The story sets up or passes through a love triangle. I have mixed feelings about that. Like, it was an interesting way to justify using all three points of view. I think the weakest character was at the center of the triangle, though. I never really grew to like this character, so it was sometimes challenging to endure the other characters describing their longing.

The fantasy world is interesting. The story reveals more information about the fantasy world and its history at a good pace. Every time I thought I had all the pieces of the puzzle, new information emerged that made me have to revise what I thought. I like that the story kept me guessing.

On the whole, I think maybe I just didn’t connect enough with the characters. They’re well-constructed. I think a lot of people will love this book, so if a portal fantasy series with a love triangle appeals to you, definitely check it out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can perform magic. A magical plane exists and has inspired all religious practice and stories in the human world.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Descriptions of dangerous insects and small creatures harming or killing someone. Battles with magical creatures.

Drug Content
References to a party where teens drink alcohol and smoke marijuana.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Creepy Kid by Caleb Roehrig

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, Paranormal, , , , ,

Creepy Kid
Caleb Roehrig
HarperCollins
Published August 25, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Creepy Kid

A hilariously creepy middle grade novel from award-winning author Caleb Roehrig! Poe has spent his whole life wishing he could meet a ghost, but when he moves into a real-life haunted house, he discovers that communing with the other side might be a little more than he bargained for.

Twelve-year-old Edgar Alden, also known as “Poe,” has always been an outcast. Obsessed with the macabre, he’s never remotely hit it off with other kids. Only Grandma ever really understood his love for the supernatural, but when she dies and his parents move into a dilapidated house on the other side of town, things for Poe quickly go from bad to worse.

You see, Poe has a roommate. A dead one. A 12-year-old ghost named Violet, who’s been stuck haunting Poe’s room for longer than she can remember. Violet is territorial, kind of annoying, and tethered to the human world by her doll, Baby Jessica.

But Poe quickly discovers that Violet isn’t the only spirit haunting his house. There’s a vengeful, violent entity in his basement. And it’s up to Poe to find a way to help them both cross to the other side.

Creepy Kid is a heartfelt but page-turning exploration of grief, moving on, and finding one’s place in the world—sure to make middle grade readers laugh, cry, and wonder about the mysteries that might lie on the other side.

My Review

This is the first middle grade novel by Caleb Roehrig that I’ve ever read. I have enjoyed several of his young adult mysteries, though, so my expectations were pretty high going into this one.

One of the things I think he really captures in this story is Poe’s relationship with his grandma. It’s so clear that her death has thrown him for a loop, and he’s struggling with his grief. She understood and celebrated parts of Poe’s personality that no one else did, and he’s really missing that, especially at his new school.

His connection to ghosts was interesting. I liked how integrated that is into the story as a whole. This isn’t strictly about him helping Violet, though that’s kind of where his ghostly adventures begin. It was also nice to see a story featuring a kid with a really specific temperament that doesn’t resolve with him learning to socialize better. He does grow, especially in understanding himself. But he still remains true to himself, even if that means being an oddball that most people don’t understand.

Poe’s close circle broadens a bit, and the story leaves room for a possible unexpected friendship, which makes for an uplifting ending.

I could see readers who enjoyed Ghoul Summer by Tracy Badua liking this one. It’s a good pick if you are looking for a grumpy narrator who must help ghosts find peace.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None

Spiritual Content
Some characters are ghosts. Poe learns that he can see and interact with them.

Violent Content
Some descriptions of bullying.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Leak by Kate Reed Petty

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,

The Leak
Kate Reed Petty
Illustrated by Andrea Bell
First Second
Published March 16, 2021

Amazon | Goodreads

About The Leak

In this middle-grade graphic novel, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town.

Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution.

Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for what’s right in the face of critique and controversy.

My Review

The fact that this book was inspired by the Flint water crisis intrigued me. My daughter picked up this book at the library and really wanted me to read it, so that also helped. Ha!

Ruth is a middle school student and an aspiring journalist. She writes her own newsletter, which had only a few friends and family members as subscribers at first. As she develops her skills as a journalist, her readership grows. An older journalist mentors her, encouraging Ruth to keep her personal biases out of her writing, to gather important research, and to ask questions rather than lob accusations.

In the midst of this adventure, the girls at school pressure Ruth about a boy she likes. They push her to define their relationship, to kiss him, and to prove that the two are dating. At first, Ruth is not interested in changing who she is or what she wants to gain the approval of these girls. She doesn’t always make the best choices in response to the pressure (which seems pretty realistic to me), but she ultimately strives to be true to herself and honor her values.

Give this book to aspiring journalists, young readers interested in ecology, or high achievers who march to the beat of their own drums.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Reference to a graffiti drawing of male anatomy.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Some of Ruth’s friends pressure her to show more interest in a boy than she feels, so he doesn’t “lose interest” in her.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed this book from my public library. All opinions are my own.

Review: My Killer Family Reunion by Dinesh Thiru

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My Killer Family Reunion
Dinesh Thiru
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published August 11, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About My Killer Family Reunion

Knives Out meets Never Have I Ever in this hilarious and twisty young adult mystery-comedy about an Indian American teen whose family reunion at a lavish manor falls into chaos after her grandma is attacked.

Nothings brings family together like attempted murder.

There are three things Jayshree Devi can count on happening at her annual family 1) her cousins will forget she exists, 2) her aunts will try to set her up, and 3) her uncles will get into a fight. What she doesn’t expect? An accident that lands her grandmother in a coma, throwing the family—and their matriarch’s sizeable fortune—into chaos.

When Jay discovers Grand Mom’s “accident” might not have been so accidental after all, she’ll have to dig through decades of secrets to find the truth. With the help of her (annoyingly perky) cousins and one of their (annoyingly hot) friends, Jay finds herself knee-deep in a mystery that’s even more tangled than her family tree.

But the closer Jay gets to answers, the closer she gets to finding her place amongst the relatives who once felt so distant. With Grand Mom’s life and fortune hanging in the balance, can Jay save her family and maybe hook up with a hottie while she’s at it?

My Review

I like that this story is a mystery set on finding the person trying to kill someone before the would-be-murderer actually succeeds. Not only did it keep the tension in the story high (because Grand Mom’s life remained in danger), it also kept the mood a bit lighter. It fed into the high drama and dark humor of Jay’s family, too.

The book has a large cast of characters. I’m not sure I was keeping some of the peripheral cousins or aunts and uncles straight in my head, but for the most part, it didn’t seem to matter. There’s a helpful graphic showing the family tree in the front of the book, too. That helps with keeping all the connections sorted correctly.

The balance between the mystery and romance elements is nicely done here. The romance is more of a minor plot thread. Sometimes several scenes pass without Jay really thinking about Hernando, but when the two cross paths, there’s loads of blushing and awkward flirting to enjoy. I found that to be a lot of fun.

The tension ratchets up a lot in the last few chapters of the book. I’d started to wonder if Jay and her cousins were imagining things. Just then, the story started to get really wild.

All in all, this is a really upbeat, fun summer mystery about a big family with a dark sense of humor and lots of secrets. I’m adding the author’s debut novel to my reading list, and I’ll be on the lookout for his next book, too.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
List.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Jay’s dad and some of her other family members encourage her to pray and practice Hinduism. Jay at first rejects the idea, but later realizes that she’s made some unfair assumption about her family’s faith practice.

Violent Content
Atruck nearly runs over a woman, leaving her injured and in the hospital. A man slaps a woman in front of the whole family. This is treated as a domestic violence incident and the famiy supports the woman and the couple’s children. Someone tries to arrange for a person to be treated with antibiotics they’re allergic to. Someone manipulates and tries to control other family members. Someone uses a gun to threaten and hit another person. Drivers use vehicles to ram one another. A trio kidnaps someone, tying them up.

Someone makes homophobic comments. Other characters condemn the behavior. The family members all make dark jokes about killing Grand Mom.

Drug Content
References to teen drinking.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Ross

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The Escape Game
Marissa Meyer and Tamara Ross
Publisher
Published April 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Escape Game

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show’s trickiest escape rooms. There’s Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

My Review

I’ve read several novels that tried to capture the sense of reality TV. This one really captures the production side of the process. The characters face situations manipulated by producers or watch edited recordings of themselves that spin a specific narrative.

The obstacles inside and outside the escape rooms create a bond between Sierra, Carter, Beck, and Adi. They start off as reluctant allies, but the story shows them grow together into a cohesive team. Each of them narrates different scenes, revealing secrets and showing how they view the other players.

The authors did a great job translating the escape room experience into text. Doing an escape room is such an immersive experience. Before reading this book, I wasn’t sure how it would translate to the page, but I think it really works. I also loved the way the escape room mechanics were woven together with the clues to solve the murder mystery.

I can definitely see reality TV fans and murder mystery fans alike devouring this book. It was a really fun read packed with great characters and unforgettable moments.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to a sexual relationship between an adult and a teenager. (Not shown on scene.)

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to murder. Someone leaves a bovine heart in a refrigerator with a threatening note. Someone traps characters in a dangerous situation. Characters discover the dead bodies of murder victims.

Drug Content
Someone spikes a teen girl’s drink, making her appear drunk. Poisoned wine leaves another character dead.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.