Category Archives: Blogger’s Favorites

Review: Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce

Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3)
Kristy Boyce
Delacorte Romance
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Rolls and Rivalry

Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp—from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Questing for love . . .

Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D&D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max—her former best friend and longtime crush—returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.

Hazel and Max can’t help bickering every time they’re together, and thanks to meddling parents, he’s invading her D&D game too. As Dungeon Master, she’s ready to shut him down, but D&D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned . . .

My Review

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I absolutely had to read this one. Each of the books in the series is pretty self-contained, so you could start with this one or go back to book one and enjoy them all in the order they were published. This one does have a brief cameo of a couple from book two.

All the marching band content was a lot of fun in this book. I like the way that the D&D elements and band elements intertwined. For example, Hazel invites her team to create D&D characters as a team-building exercise. It ends up becoming a long-running experience for the team, which really showcases the power of inside jokes and shared memories.

Having both D&D and marching band could have proved too many elements to bring together, but I think that the author did a great job balancing those things with the romance.

This is another book that draws on the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, too. I liked getting to see Hazel and Max reconnect. I was on the edge of my seat as we learned why their friendship frayed in the first place and watched them navigate the obstacles that drove them apart.

At the beginning, I worried that the pranking was going to be too much for me. The percussion section and the color guard have an ongoing rivalry that gets kind of ugly. Like, not thriller-level ugly, but the percussionists do some pretty mean stuff to Hazel’s team. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to like Max after some of that.

The story does address the meanness, and Max takes steps to repair his relationship with Hazel and earn back her trust. Ultimately, I felt good about that because it felt like there was course correction, not just shrugging and insisting the pranks were funny.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some brief instances of bullying and mean pranks.

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: Hollow Magic by Mars Lauderbaugh

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Hollow Magic
Mars Lauderbaugh
Feiwel & Friends
Published August 11, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Hollow Magic

Seventeen-year-old Rosefinch has been traveling along the weather-beaten coast for two years on a quest to find a witch strong enough to help her control her magic. Her magic is volatile, hard to wield, and Rosefinch is tired of the pain of magical backlash. When she’s directed to the sea-side village of Harp, she discovers the ancient castle of a long-lost Witch Queen with the inhabitants long gone; the only remaining soul is a knight encased in solid ice guarding the door.

When she attempts to lift the curse, she frees Thierry, a human with no memory of who they are, wrapped in cursed magic so strong that they cannot leave the castle. Thierry is soft spoken, strong, and in possession of a fey sword that should be impossible for them to have. But they have secrets of their own, as do other members of the Harp family still hidden within the walls.

Harp castle was left in ruins for a reason, and Rosefinch must find a way to cure the curse or lose Thierry—and the chance to learn the truth about the Witch Queen—forever.

My Review

I’m really enjoying the fantasy graphic novels that I’ve read this year. Hollow Magic is another great example of a story that creates really interesting fantasy landscapes for its characters. The illustrations are really immersive.

I loved the mystery of the curse that Rosefinch tries to break to free Thierry. Following that thread led to many situations and revealed connections I hadn’t expected. I devoured the second half of the book. I really wanted to find out what happened.

The story reminds me a little bit of graphic novels by K. O’Neill. The style is a little bit different (and doesn’t have as many cute fantasy animals), but something about the pacing and the way the characters interacted reminded me of A Song for You and I by K. O’Neill.

I can definitely see fans of O’Neill or maybe Hari Conner enjoying this one. If you like stories about the Fae and a quest to break a magical curse, put this one on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can perform magic. The story includes some lore about moonbeams becoming fae and other creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to curses.

Drug Content
Rosefinch drinks a powerful potion and eats herbs to enhance her magic.

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: Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Immortal Game
Allison Saft
Wednesday Books
Published August 4, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Immortal Game

In #1 New York Times bestseller Allison Saft’s enthralling new romantic fantasy, a chess grandmaster will go to any length to save the person she loves the most.

Six years ago, Shea Fury’s sister was whisked away by the High King of the Otherworld, the ruler of the treacherous land of fae. Although Shea has spent the years since dreaming of rescuing her sister from captivity, the Iron Veil that separates the human world from that of the fae has made it only a wish. That is, until an invitation to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime chess tournament in the Otherworld arrives on Shea’s doorstep. The winner of the tournament may ask the High King to grant one wish, and Shea is finally within reach of hers.

But entering the tournament and winning it are two different matters. Dark magic lurks around every corner in the Otherworld, and Shea’s cutthroat opponents are willing to bend the rules to make their own wishes come true. To make it to the end—and to find her sister—she is forced to strike an alliance with her longtime rival, the sharply beautiful fae princess, Ciara of Bri Leith. One wrong move, though, and Shea could lose more than just the competition: She’d lose her sister, her dignity, and maybe even her life.

In Immortal Game, Allison Saft has written a high-stakes sapphic love story brimming with competitive tension set against a lush, Irish folklore-inspired fantasy world.

My Review

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that had so much chess theory or chess playing in its pages. Though I know the rudimentary basics, I’m not deeply familiar with the game of chess. I still followed the story without any difficulty, but I have a feeling I missed some of the jokes or interesting moments due to my lack of familiarity with some of the finer points of the game.

I really enjoyed the whole Fae-chess-tournament part of the book. The magical setting kept things off-balance. Shea’s focus on the game and her need to find her sister kept the stakes high. If you know me at all, you already know I have a special place in my heart for sister books.

Though Shea is super focused on rescuing her sister, the story doesn’t deeply revolve around their relationship. Instead, it shows how Shea’s understanding of her sister evolves from her view of her sister while Shea was a child to now reflecting on her choices as an adult.

The romance might seem a little unbelievable at first. After all, Shea has a reputation as having a single-minded focus, and she has been working toward the competition for years. It seems a wild time for her to get distracted. That said, I was very willing to suspend my disbelief about that as Shea falls unexpectedly (to her) in love.

I’ve read Saft’s other young adult novels, and this one definitely held up to my expectations based on her previous work. The pairing of chess and Irish folklore was a lot of fun here.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some F-bombs. Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are Fae and have some ability to do magic or curse others.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Shea witnesses the gruesome deaths of several other characters.

Drug Content
Characters drink socially. They are of legal age to drink alcohol.

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: This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph

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This Thing of Ours
Frederick Joseph
Candlewick Press
Published May 12, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About This Thing of Ours

“Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school.

When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice.

This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.

My Review

I LOVE books that showcase how people are not only one thing. I feel like it’s one of those things that we intellectually know, but are often functionally quick to forget. Ossie’s identity as a basketball player and a writer invites readers to make space for both parts of who he is.

It’s also such a joy to read a book in which someone finds connection with peers in a deep, powerful way. I loved the way that Ossie’s relationships with Luis and Naima progress through the story. They encourage each other and validate one another’s experiences. I love that.

The story also includes essays and letters the characters wrote for creative writing assignments. I thought that was a neat aspect as well. I’ve seen poetry or short fiction included in other novels that include students in a creative writing program, so I thought it was really cool that Joseph chose to highlight the characters’ nonfiction assignments to show how powerful personal essays can be.

On the whole, this is a powerful, relevant story. It highlights the importance of seeing oneself on the page in the stories that make up the school curriculum, and the way that encountering those voices energizes students.

Readers who enjoy books by Renee Watson or Angie Thomas will want to check out this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some instances of racism and homophobia. A protest turns violent, and an adult hits a teen boy, injuring him severely enough to need hospitalization. Ossie recalls details about his father’s death, which some call a drug overdose. He experiences another personal loss in the story.

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: Listen to the Girls by Chrystal D. Giles

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Listen to the Girls
Chrystal D. Giles
Random House Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Listen to the Girls

When Calla finds out her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct, she decides to take action in this powerful story about growing up and speaking up, about listening to others and learning to listen to yourself. Because the more Calla listens . . . the more she realizes that maybe she has something to say too.

“Important and empowering—this story is a testament to the power of girls supporting one another.”—Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author

What if the truth really is as powerful as it feels?

Calla has always had smart-girl energy. She’s Josiah the track star’s practical younger sister. Charlee and Jacoby’s problem-solving best friend. Attorney Dionne Howard’s model daughter. So it’s nice when someone seems to see her for her, outside of all that. But what if that person is a grown-up who maybe isn’t as trustworthy as Calla thought? Calla’s mom likes to say “Always do what you know is right.” But what if you don’t know what the right thing is?

These are the questions Calla faces on the last day of seventh grade, when she finds out that her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct at his old school. Calla doesn’t know what really happened. She does know that people are saying mean things about the girls who have spoken out—and that can’t be right . . . can it? Inspired by her favorite newsblogger, EboniNews (whose motto is Amplify. Connect. Truth. ACT.), Calla has an idea. Can she find a way to ACT?

My Review

Though this topic can be uncomfortable to explore, it’s an unfortunately relevant one. Calla has a lot of questions and mixed feelings as she learns more about the allegations against her teacher. She works through those questions in an organic narrative that stays gentle and age-appropriate. It’s easy to imagine other readers having some of the same questions that Calla has had, both about individual experiences and rumors about a trusted adult.

I like that the story makes space for Calla to work through her thoughts in her own time. Others share their thoughts about the girls who spoke up about their teacher as well as their feelings about the teacher. Calla listens. She forms her own judgments. I love how that’s modeled in the text. I also love how Calla finds trusted adults to talk to when she’s ready.

The author pulls a lot of elements together here that will resonate with older elementary-aged readers who will be familiar with the way that rumors can spread like wildfire online, and how social media can be used both to tear others down and to forge community. Using your voice to speak the truth and support others speaking hard truths matters, and Giles illustrates that beautifully in the book.

This book reminded me a little bit of Chirp by Kate Messner, which came out in 2020, or The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski, which came out in 2021.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to grooming behavior.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to grooming behavior.

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Chris Makes a Friend by Alex Gino

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Chris Makes a Friend
Alex Gino
Scholastic Press
Published November 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Chris Makes a Friend

From the award-winning author of MELISSA, a sweet and tart story about unexpected friendship and family reconciliation.

Chris does not want to be spending the summer with their grouchy grandmother and social butterfly sister. But they don’t really have a choice, once their mom leaves them at Grandmother’s house. They can, however, try to escape whenever they want to — into the woods, where they encounter another kid who is the friend they need to survive the summer.

Only… there’s more to this friend than meets the eye…

My Review

I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Alex Gino, so it is no surprise to me at all that I adore this one, too. I’m not even sure where to start singing praises. Ha.

First, I like that this story includes a child whose primary caregiver has a chronic illness, specifically chronic pain. This is something that so many kids deal with, and yet isn’t often represented in literature. Gino presents Chris’s mom’s health in a matter-of-fact, personal way. They share Chris’s understanding of her mom’s pain as well as coping strategies and preferred language and boundaries that are all very personal to Chris’s family experience. All this is phrased as her mom’s preferences, so readers whose experience differs will find no judgment here.

Additionally, one of my favorite things about Gino’s books is how wise the writing is. They relate up-close emotional experiences in a raw, unfiltered way, always making space for the messy, unprocessed feelings that kids experience without judging them as good or bad. Chris has a hard summer, between staying with grandparents whom she loves, but who don’t always do things the same way as she does at home, and worries about her mom’s health, and an unplanned separation/estrangement from her best friend. The story relates her feelings and struggles as she experiences them. I felt her confusion and frustration right along with her.

The story also explores how we check in with our thoughts and emotions, from talking to ourselves to journaling and beyond. Again, this conversation in the hands of a less savvy author could have delved into talking down to the reader, but in Gino’s capable hands, it feels gentle. We experience the wonder of a character discovering these ideas for herself. I love that.

I can’t talk about this book and not mention the amazing reading list drawn from references throughout the book that appears in the backmatter. This is a lovely way to showcase other incredible books and authors. I’ll be adding a few to my own reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some squabbling between sisters.

Drug Content
Chris’s mom has surgery and takes heavy painkillers during her recovery.

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 the library. All opinions are my own.