Category Archives: Young Adult/Teen 12-18

Review: If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry

If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry

If Looks Could Kill
Julie Berry
Simon & Schuster
Published September 16, 2025

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About If Looks Could Kill

From Printz Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author Julie Berry, a true-crime-nailbiter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.

It’s autumn 1888, and Jack the Ripper is on the run. As London police close in, he flees England for New York City seeking new victims. But a primal force of female vengeance has had enough. With serpents for hair and a fearsome gaze, an awakened Medusa is hunting for one Jack.

And other dangers lurk in Manhattan’s Bowery. Salvation Army volunteers Tabitha and Pearl discover that a girl they once helped has been forced to work in a local brothel. Tabitha’s an upstate city girl with a wry humor and a thirst for adventure, while farmgirl Pearl takes everything with stone-cold seriousness. Their brittle partnership is tested as they team up with an aspiring girl reporter and a handsome Irish bartender to mount a rescue effort, only to find their fates entwine with Medusa’s and Jack’s.

My Review

What a cleverly told story. I love that the book centers the female characters and their role in helping others, especially those threatened by a serial killer and those forced into human trafficking. The story includes a lot of real people, which I always find fascinating. Detailed notes in the back of the book clarify what was real versus where the author took artistic license.

Most of the story is told from Tabitha’s perspective, and I absolutely loved her voice. She’s spunky and speaks directly to the narrator, sometimes noting her reaction to the way that people around her behave. At first, she and Pearl don’t see eye to eye or get along. But it’s not long before they realize they have a shared interest in helping another girl escape from a local brothel.

A sweet romance develops between Tabitha and someone she meets while working with the Salvation Army. The romance develops slowly, partly because Tabitha at first assumes her hopeful beau is interested in the lovely Pearl rather than her. The two eventually recognize one another’s feelings, and that added a some warmth to the story.

As someone who grew up watching the movie version of Guys and Dolls, I really appreciated the descriptions of the Salvation Army and their efforts to preach the Gospel on the streets. I had to laugh at Pearl’s relentless boldness in a few moments.

The story pulls together a lot of separate elements, from the work of the Salvation Army to the poverty and abuse of girls within widely known trafficking ring to the murders of Jack the Ripper to a reimagining of the mythical Medusa. The disparate parts fit together so nicely. I love that the author also creates space to celebrate faith in the midst of this tale as well.

Fans of historical fiction with a bit of magical realism will not want to miss If Looks Could Kill.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to girls being forced into sex trafficking. It’s implied that one character was assaulted by a family member.

Spiritual Content
Tabitha and Pearl are both members of the Salvation Army and take their faith seriously. Both girls have spiritual experiences in which they pray for direction and receive answers. Some characters transform into Medusas, with snakes for hair and a gaze that stuns or petrifies their victims.

Violent Content
Brief graphic descriptions of murder and dismemberment. One character uses slivers of human organs to try to make a potion that will cure illness. See sexual content for more information.

Drug Content
Some scenes take place in a saloon or pub and show (adult) characters drinking alcohol or smoking.

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: Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Coming Back
Jessi Zabarsky
RH Graphic
Published January 18, 2022

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About Coming Back

A beautiful graphic novel fantasy romance that follows two young women who have to go on their own separate adventures to discover the truth about themselves and about each other.

Preet is magic.

Valissa is not.

Everyone in their village has magic in their bones, and Preet is the strongest of them all. Without any power of her own, how can Valissa ever be worthy of Preet’s love? When their home is attacked, Valissa has a chance to prove herself, but that means leaving Preet behind. On her own for the first time Preet breaks the village’s most sacred laws, and is rejected from the only home she’s ever known and sent into a new world.

Divided by different paths, insecurities, and distance, will Valissa and Preet be able to find their way back to each other?

A beautiful story of two young women who are so focused on proving they’re meant to be together that they end up hurting each other in the process. This gorgeous graphic novel is an LGTBQ+ romance about young love and how it can grow into something strong no matter what obstacles get in the way.

My Review

This graphic novel has a lot of panels with pictures that show action, such as someone performing a ritual. I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything quite like this book before, so it took a little bit of getting used to. Once I felt like I grasped how the author was using still panels to indicate movement or action, it was easier to follow what was happening or fill in the interim movements in my head.

Once I got used to this style of storytelling, I found it really cool. A lot of the scenes have no text or only onomotopeia. There’s something really different about reading a scene without words to interpret what’s happening. It’s like that made me filter the story through a completely different part of my brain. I loved that experience, even though it was unfamiliar.

I also appreciate that this story follows two characters who break the norms of their group. Preet has powerful magic, but she uses it in an unapproved way. In their community, the people depend on those with powerful magic to help one another. Valissa doesn’t have magic, but she doesn’t let that stop her from risking her life to protect her people.

I also enjoyed the color palette of the book. It’s got peach and turquoise tones that make the scenes seem really nature-based. They’re soothing colors, too.

I hadn’t heard of this book, but found it while browsing at the library. I’m really glad I picked it up, and I would love to read more by Jessi Zabarsky.

If you like nature-centered fantasy graphic novels, put this one on your list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters are in a relationship.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can do magic, such as changing shape and creating wind, etc. Some characters are mythical creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Prejudice and shaming drive some characters from their home.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian

Exquisite Things
Abdi Nazemian
HarperCollins
Published September 23, 2025

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About Exquisite Things

From Stonewall Awardwinning author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) comes the epic queer love story of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished for: the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?

Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.   

Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.

My Review

I recently read Only This Beautiful Moment, so this wasn’t my first rodeo with Nazemian and storytelling spanning decades. One thing I have to say is that I didn’t have a hard time following the narrative through the different moments in time. Scenes take place in 1895, 1920, 1979-1982, and 2025. Each one contains some pivotal moments, from when Shahriar becomes immortal, to his meeting Oliver and the beginnings of their romance, to the found family Shahriar builds in London in the 1980s and the honoring of the death of one of his family members.

The story shows the rise and ebb of gay rights through those times and the decades in between. It celebrates the way that music inspires hope and new ideas. The story celebrates love as something that changes as we have new experiences. Sometimes love comes from biological connections, and other times, it comes from the family we choose.

Shahriar’s found family is a diverse group, with a Black transgender mom and gay dad and a Black lesbian sister. Each person finds the group at a critical moment. Some scenes show night life in Boston in the 1920s, while others focus on London nightlife in the 1980s.

The resounding truth that rings out through every stop on the timeline is that there have always been communities of queer people, even if they’ve had to exist in hiding. This isn’t a new phenomenon, and it isn’t going to go away. The story shows the heartache that a life in hiding causes but also the joy of community, love, and the power of living an authentic life.

All in all, it’s a beautiful novel. Nazemian’s writing is heavy on dialogue and lighter on setting details, which migh bother some readers. I found it easy to imagine the characters because of their distinct voices. If you like historical fiction and/or books with a lot of musical or literary references, put this one on your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat infrequently. Homophobic slurs appear somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. Brief nudity.

Spiritual Content
Brief references to Oliver attending church.

Violent Content
Homophobic slurs. A parent hits a teen child. Reference to suicide. Characters are threatened with arrest or expelled from school if known to be gay. Multiple characters are caught in a fire. Someone threatens another person with a knife.

Drug Content
Two adult characters reference going to AA meetings. Characters walk in on a group doing drugs in the bathroom and quickly leave.

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: Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

Make Me a Monster
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury YA
Published September 30, 2025

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About Make Me a Monster

New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is back with a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance.

Meka is used to death. After all, it’s the family business.

As a newly certified mortician’s assistant at her parents’ funeral home, her days are not for the faint of heart. Luckily her boyfriend Noah isn’t squeamish, and Meka is finally feeling ready to say the three little words that will change everything.

But then tragedy strikes, and Meka’s world is torn apart. Nothing makes sense, especially the strange things start happening. Ravens are circling her home. Strangers are following her. Someone is leaving mysterious items at her door. And worst of all . . .

The dead don’t seem to be staying dead.

Meka thought she understood death better than anyone. Turns out, the family business is a bit more complicated than it seems. And Meka isn’t the only one desperate to unearth their secrets . . . because the truth may be worth dying for.

My Review

Meka’s job working as a mortician’s assistent is such an interesting part of this story. She prepares several “guests” for their wake or funeral services and even accompanies her father when he picks up new guests.

This is something that most readers won’t have a lot of knowledge about, including me, so it adds a lot of interesting background to the story. And as the darker side of the plot unfolds, it also makes a lot of sense why this was included in the story.

If you’re familiar with the story of Frankenstein, you might guess a couple of the plot points before the story reveals them. I didn’t find this to lessen my enjoyment of the story, though. In some ways, it was really satisfying to see Meka put the pieces together and figure out her own role within the story.

I really appreciate that the ending left unanswered questions. It made me think back through the story to try to predict what I think would happen and how it might go.

Because I’d read and loved My Dear Henry, Bayron’s reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I think I expected the setting to be historical, like set during the time that the original Frankenstein took place. It’s set in the present day, though, and once I realized that, I adjusted to it just fine. I’ve read enough of Kalynn Bayron’s books at this point to know I’ll follow wherever the story leads and love it.

If you are looking for a contemporary story with a strong connection to Frankenstein, you will want this one on your reading list. It’s a great pick for a Halloween read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to reanimate the dead.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Body horror. Meka prepares “guests” (deceased people) for viewing at a wake. (Not violent, but might be disturbing to some readers.) Loss of a person close to the narrator.

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: Through Our Teeth by Pamela N. Harris

Through Our Teeth
Pamela N. Harris
Quill Tree Books
Published September 16, 2025

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About Through Our Teeth

Three teens investigate a murder—while each tries to hide their own complicated history with the dead girl—in this thought-provoking novel from award-winning author Pamela N. Harris. Perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus and Tiffany D. Jackson!

Hope Jackson is dead. Everyone is convinced she took her own life, but Liv, one of Hope’s best friends, isn’t so sure. Hope’s boyfriend, Brendan, was always jealous and possessive, and his alibi doesn’t really check out. But in the town’s eyes, Hope was just some nobody who was going to drag down golden boy Brendan. 

So with the help of Hope’s other two best friends, Kizzie and Sherie, Liv is determined to bring Brendan’s actions to light. Together, they vow to make him pay.

But as their plans keep escalating, Liv begins to have second thoughts—especially as she’s realizing that Brendan may not be the only one with the motive or opportunity to kill Hope. Is Liv really getting justice for Hope, or is she just helping one of Hope’s so-called friends cover up their lies?

My Review

This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Wow.

One thing that stands out to me about this book is the way that the author uses references to Wuthering Heights. I know to a lot of people, it’s a romantic story, but I can’t help thinking of it as the story of a family who abuse one another through multiple generations. Through Our Teeth had some of the same kinds of toxic relationships throughout.

On the surface, Liv’s friend group seems closeknit, if bent on vengeance– understandable when they believe their friend’s death wasn’t truly a suicide, and no one will listen to them. As the story peels back those surface layers, it’s clear that many relationships bear deep, unresolved wounds. Those hurts drive the characters to hurt back.

Liv isn’t an easy narrator to pin down for most of the story. She has her own secrets, and I found myself vacillating wildly between belief and blame as each new bit of information unfolded. I love that Harris writes complex characters like this. It feels realistic, and it compels readers to remember that people aren’t only their best or worst choices.

If you liked You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron, add this one to your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. A boy shares photos of a topless girl online.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to an apparent death by suicide. Situations of peril. Reference to police brutality/death. A small group kidnap and drug someone. Someone intends to use a tattoo gun to hurt another person by tattooing harmful messages without consent. Descriptions of hitting someone. Descriptions of self-harm. Characters discover the bodies of murdered teens.

Drug Content
Teens attend a bonfire party where some drink alcohol. A teen drugs someone’s drink.

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.

Monthly Recap: September 2025 Reading

September 2025 Reading Status Update

I’ve been wildly disorganized this season, so I haven’t been posting lists or updates as much as I’d like. I thought I’d try out a monthly wrap post to see if it’s something I can sustainably do. The one or two sentence summaries I create for posts like this help me later when I am doing themed lists or my reading challenge pages, so maybe this will be useful. We’ll see.

At any rate, I managed to finish 25 books this month, including 11 backlist titles. Most of those are audiobooks, but I read a few as ebooks this time. I average about 20 books per month, so that’s pretty good for me. I’m happy with that.

The bad news is that due to my disorganization, I wildly overcommitted this month in terms of reviews, so I’ve still got 11 September release titles that I agreed to review which I haven’t read yet. O.o

So I’ll be working on those as quickly as I can.

I’m still working on updating my reading challenge lists for this year, but I added some new completed prompts to my list. (Read Harder: 17/24 prompts completed. Beat the Backlist: 33/52 prompts completed. 69 total backlist titles read.)

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September 2025 Reading

Guardians of Dawn: Ami by S. Jae-Jones

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Notes: This is book two in the “Guardians of Dawn” series and follows bookish Ami. The series includes reimaginings of some fairytales, which I enjoyed. I missed this book when it came out, so this was a catch-up for me so I could jump into the third book, which came out in August 2025.

Published August 6, 2024 | My Review to Come


Guardians of Dawn: Yuli by S. Jae-Jones

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Notes: The third book in the “Guardians of Dawn” series follows Yuli, whom I was less interested in before reading this book. This one adds a new point-of-view to the story and takes the characters to new places. There’s got to be at least one more book in the series, as there’s still one more guardian to meet.

Published August 19, 2025 | My Review


Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

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Notes: This story follows three generations of Iranian/Iranian American men in one family, telling the stories of their adolescence. I read this for a book club, and it was so much fun talking about how we each perceived the story and what worked or didn’t. I loved that the book repeatedly challenged assumptions about the characters.

Published November 9, 2023 | My Review to Come


El Deafo by Cece Bell

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Notes: My littlest is a graphic novel fiend, so I read this one partly because she was interested and I wanted to make sure it was appropriate for her age (she’s seven; I thought it was fine). Bell does a wonderful job sharing her experience with humor and honesty, giving readers lots of space to think about what happens.

Published September 2, 2014 | My Review to Come


Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient History to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett

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Notes: Hands down, one of my favorite reads this month. I can’t stop telling people about this incredible book packed with biographical information about gender-nonconforming people from history and the development of medical care supporting transgender people. The authors include lots of great questions to prompt further thought and discussion.

Published May 13, 2025 | My Review


North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson

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Notes: I might have initially thought this was going to be a memoir. It’s a novel about a girl who doesn’t fit conventional gender stereotypes and how painful that is for her in a small Michigan town in the 1970s. Poignant and thoughtful.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


A Wolf Called Fire (A Voice of the Wilderness #4) by Rosanne Perry

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Notes: I’m on the lookout for middle grade with short chapters aimed at the younger side of the audience, so I picked up this heavily illustrated title for review. It’s a neat nature story that could appeal to “Warriors” series fans. I love the author’s notes connecting the story to a real wolf pack.

Published February 4, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by (The Sherlock Society #2) by James Ponti

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Notes: The second in a super fun middle grade detective series. Each member of the team brings different knowledge. Great balance between investigation and the reality that these are kids. Loved it.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin

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Notes: This memoir delivers a dark story with so many sweet moments. It’s a little disconcerting to read about the actions of the government in the story right now, but so important to continue learning about people who’ve been through the kinds of experiences the author has.

Published September 16, 2025 | My Review


By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang

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Notes: A really smart story that honors and challenges fashion and privilege. I loved both the narrators. The character names are well chosen.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon

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Notes: A book about a boy running for class president! In middle grade fiction! I love this. Also, transgender rep with a dash of coming out, but not the point of the story. A celebration of finding a friend who “gets” you and your humor. This was a joy to read.

Published May 7, 2024 | My Review to Come


The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen

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Notes: I loved the “Garlic” books, so this was a catch-up read bringing me more current on the author’s work. My 7yo wants to read this, but it’s got some scary illustrations in the final scenes, so we’re waiting on that a bit. Great story of sisterhood and how to support one another through different dreams.

Published October 29, 2024 | My Review to Come


Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

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Notes: I’ve been a fan of Gorman since her inaugural poem in 2020. I picked up this collection of her poetry written during and about COVID-19 at the library. It’s a cool collection that includes some blackout poetry using historial documents. She has such a distinct voice that I felt like I heard her reading in my head.

Published December 7, 2021


Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

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Notes: I’m such a fan of Boulley’s work. This book delivers another high-stakes, intense story with thoughtful exploration of cultural issues. The main character is a Native girl in foster care who’s disconnected from her history and people.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Ghoul Summer by Tracy Badua

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Notes: I’ve enjoyed the MG series Badua cowrites with Alechia Dow, so I wanted to try one of her solo novels. This is a great choice for a fall read with an unusual take on ghostly problems.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Mallory in Full Color by Elisa Stone Leahy

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Notes: I loved Leahy’s debut, Tethered to Other Stars, so I was delighted to find that this is a companion novel. This one deftly explores anxiety and identity while celebrating comics and manga.

Published November 19, 2024 | My Review to Come


Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicholl

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Notes: I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes/parallels in this book. Both main characters are autistic and very bookish. A thoughtful, cozy read. Perfect if you’re looking for a fall romance.

Published August 26, 2025 | My Review


Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins

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Notes: This is Haymitch’s story at the 25th Hunger Games. The story answers so many questions about Haymitch and also offers glimpses of familiar characters, like Beetee and Wiress.

Published March 18, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion by Ann Bausum and Marta Sevilla

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Notes: A fun look at how Shakespeare’s work survived and how theaters operated during his lifetime.

Published April 2, 2024 | My Review to Come


The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett

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Notes: Beautiful illustrations fill this eerie tale of the power of community. It’s a quick but thoughtful read at about 100 pages.

Published August 26, 2025 | My Review


For the Rest of Us: 13 Festive Holiday Stories to Celebrate All Seasons edited by Dahlia Adler

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Notes: A collection featuring stories of holidays throughout the year, like Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Holi, Nowruz, Eid, Passover, Juneteenth, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Diwali, Día de Los Muertos, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa from incredible authors.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch by Laini Taylor

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Notes: As a fan of Taylor’s other books, I had to read this one. It’s easy to see how Daughter of Smoke and Bone followed this series, though this is a completely different story and aimed at a much younger audience. Fans of the 1994 Thumbelina movie will love it.

Published September 23, 2025 (Orig. 2007) | My Review


This is How We Roll edited by Rosiee Thor

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Notes: If you play tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, you do not want to miss this collection. It’s a fabulous homage to the gameplay experience.

Published September 16, 2025 | My Review to Come

Your September 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

Did you read anything in September that stands out? Do you track your reading? Leave a comment and let me know if you read anything on my list.