Review: Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk

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Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk

Meet Me at Blue Hour
Sarah Suk
Quill Tree Books
Published April 1, 2025

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About Meet Me at Blue Hour

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in this gripping, emotional story of two childhood friends navigating the fallout of one erasing their memory of the other, from acclaimed author Sarah Suk.

Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.

Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.

When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.

As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.

My Review

It was easy to see the parallels between The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and this book. The storytelling is more linear in the book than that movie, though. For the most part, the story alternates between Lucas’s and Yena’s viewpoints. Periodically, short scenes show erased memories from unusual perspectives. For example, one memory is told from the viewpoint of a windchime that one character gives another for a birthday present.

One of my favorite elements of The Eternal Sunshine is the way that the movie explores different facets of a memory loss procedure and how it might be used in harmful ways. While Meet Me at Blue Hour doesn’t follow that thread, it does explore the impact of memory loss on the community surrounding the person who has had memory alteration. The narrative leads us to think not only about the ramifications of erasing memory but of preserving it as well. Pretty fascinating stuff!

In addition to the thoughtful exploration of those ideas, the author delivers a compelling romance between two people with past connections. The pacing of their relationship is perfect– I felt like I was on the edge of my seat hoping for them to find the answers they were looking for.

Additionally, I loved the South Korean setting. It’s been a long time since I visited Seoul, and I have never been to Busan, but I found some of the descriptions of the markets and stuff triggered fond memories for me, too.

If you like thoughtful stories or sweet summer romances, add this one to your reading list! Adam Silvera just announced that he will be hosting a speculative romance book club, and this book will be the first pick for the group to read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Very infrequent use of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Characters discuss the social and communal implications of a person’s memory loss.

Violent Content
Nightmares and a brief panic attack. References to the loss of a parent and other repressed trauma.

Drug Content
Lucas and his uncle drink an alcoholic drink together.

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 Underwild: River of Spirits by Shana Targosz

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The Underwild: River of Spirits
Shana Targosz
Aladdin
Published March 25, 2025

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About The Underwild: River of Spirits

A stunning debut middle grade fantasy about a girl caught between the realms of the living and the dead who gets lost in the Underworld—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife. Although Charon has taught her many Rules about life in the Underworld, there is much he avoids telling her. Though she doesn’t understand why the Rules are so important, she listens—she must heed them in order to become an official Ferryer, just like Charon.

Then a Living girl, Poppy, enters the Underworld to plead for help in finding the ghost of her brother. Poppy’s grief tugs at Senka’s heart—but helping Poppy goes against the very Rules Senka is so desperate to follow. When Poppy is yanked away by the river’s current, Senka leaps to save her, and she and Poppy are swept downriver, far from everything Senka has ever known.

Lost in the Underwild, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp. Senka knows the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and if Poppy isn’t returned home soon, she will risk becoming lost to the Underworld forever. But as Senka travels deeper into the Underwild, she discovers there are secrets her guardian has kept from her, including the mystery surrounding her own existence. As Poppy and Senka dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, Senka won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own.

My Review

One of the really enjoyable things about this book is the voice. Senka speaks directly to readers, offering bits of advice for anyone brave or foolish enough to venture into the Underworld. It made the story feel very conversational.

I also liked Senka’s relationship with Charon and Poppy. I especially liked the evolution of her connection to Poppy. At the beginning, Senka’s pretty much humoring her just enough to hopefully get her back to the Land of the Living before Charon finds out she was involved. As she gets to know Poppy, though, she begins to root for her and even to help her on her quest.

Senka also has an engaging personal story. Initially, she accepts a simple explanation for why she lives with Charon and isn’t allowed to wander far from her island home. But as events bring her backstory into question, she begins seeking answers, even if they disrupt the only life she knows.

The story has plenty of unexpected moments and reasons to keep turning the pages. It’s on the longer side of middle grade fantasy at a little over 400 pages, but the chapters are short, and the scenes move quickly, making it feel like a fast read.

Readers who enjoy the Percy Jackson series and other middle grade fantasy reimagining Greek mythology will find lots to love in this debut novel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Senka lives in the Underworld with a guardian who ferries souls from the Land of the Living to the afterlife. She meets other deities and mythical creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Dangerous creatures called mormos feed on the memories of the living. A living person will become a mormo if they spend too much time in the Underworld. Mentions of death. Loss of family members.

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: Loveboat Forever by Abigail Hing Wen

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Loveboat Forever (Loveboat, Taipei #3)
Abigail Hing Wen
HarperCollins
Published November 7, 2023

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About Loveboat Forever

Return to the sparkling world of Loveboat, this time with Pearl Wong, on an entirely new, romantic, whirlwind adventure from Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author of Loveboat, Taipei!

Pearl was ready for a worldwide stage. Instead, she needs to stage a comeback.

Seventeen-year-old music prodigy Pearl Wong had the summer of her dreams planned—until a fall from grace leaves her in need of new plans…and a new image.

Where better to revamp her “brand” than at Chien Tan, the Taipei summer program for elite students that rocketed her older sister, Ever, on a path to romance and self-fulfillment years ago.

But as the alumni know, Chien Tan is actually Loveboat—the extravagant world where prodigies party till dawn—and there’s more awaiting Pearl there than she could have ever imagined, like a scandalous party in the dark, a romantic entanglement with a mysterious suitor…and a summer that will change her forever.

Sweeping, glamorous, and deeply soulful, this companion to the New York Times bestselling novel Loveboat, Taipei and Loveboat Reunion will reunite readers with their favorite characters, in a thrilling new journey of romance, self-discovery, and empowerment. Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen.  

My Review

I really enjoyed Loveboat, Taipei, but this book is truly something special. Pearl, who appears as a minor character in the first book, takes the lead in this story. She’s a musician, so lots of the ways she describes things have a connection to music. She also plays the piano in several scenes and learns a new instrument called a pipa, or a Chinese lute.

True to Loveboat form, Pearl has a summer romance and finds herself drawn to two different boys for very different reasons. One is open and friendly and interested in the kind of music she’s trained so hard to play. The other is surly and frank and doesn’t seem interested in her until he teaches her to play the pipa.

But as she gets to know both boys and learns more about her own family history, she discovers that there’s more to her than being a classical pianist, and she wants to explore these things. She begins examining her feelings about music (her preference for Western composers, for example) and what it means to be a Chinese American musician.

At one point, she meets her mom’s extended family while trying to track down proof of her connection to her great-grandmother, a professional pipa musician. I loved those scenes and how they changed her path forward in the book.

Conclusion

Honestly, this has to be my favorite book in the series so far, and I absolutely need to read more of Abigail Hing Wen’s work. This story has layers for days. From the romance to the explorations about a musician’s identity to how we treat Chinese American artists to the power and strength of community, this book has so much to offer.

If you haven’t read the other books in the series, you could still start with this one, but it will spoil the endings of the other books. If you plan to read all three, start with Loveboat, Taipei first.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Few instances of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing and brief touching under a shirt.

Spiritual Content
Pearl’s family is Christian. She references her family history and her grandfather’s conversion to Christianity and her questions about the context of that conversion after she visits a place where he lived and worked.

Violent Content
Pearl’s social media post goes viral, labeling her photos racist. At first, she is furious, but as she learns more about how racist tropes have harmed Chinese people, she realizes why she triggered some hurt with her images.

Drug Content
References to drinking alcohol, smoking, and vague references to drugs. It’s legal for eighteen-year-olds to drink alcohol in Taipei, so some do, mostly off-scene. No drug use happens on-scene. A tabloid magazine reports drugs were used at a party, but it’s unclear whether that happened or is a rumor.

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: Brave Woman, Mighty God by Laura L. Smith

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Brave Woman, Mighty God
Laura L. Smith
Kregel Publishing
Published March 11, 2025

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About Brave Woman, Mighty God

Find strength, hope, and resilience through God’s mighty empowerment.
You can use your gifts, say yes, be the change, stand up for what’s right, share what you have, break bad cycles, reach out for support, speak up, and so much more.
You can… because God empowers, equips, and cheers you on in everything you’re facing today, tomorrow, and every day.

In Brave Woman, Mighty God, Laura L. Smith reminds us of the steadfast love of God–of how He equips and empowers us. Through reflections on thirty resilient women in the Bible, such as Sarah, Ruth, Abigail, Elizabeth, and Priscilla–women in the middle of their own trials, falsely accused, in tumultuous relationships, in danger, burdened by responsibilities, balancing work and family–you can witness God’s faithfulness in the ways He empowered them to do mighty things. God gives this same strength, wisdom, and courage He gave these women of the Bible, to you. Fully empowered by Jesus you can step into abundantly more than you ever hoped or imagined. You can be brave and do mighty things!

“Every woman needs this book! The women in every chapter face impossible situations–but with the God who makes all things possible.”
–Amy Seiffert, author of Grace Looks Amazing on You, Starved, and Your Name is Daughter

“As we seek to develop courage and live as the daughters of God He has called us to be, we all need this message!” –Rebecca George, author of Do the Thing and host of the Radical Radiance podcast

My Review

A couple of years ago, I read a book with a similar theme aimed at girls twelve and up, but that one left me with some kind of icky feelings due to how it ignored problematic content in some of the stories. I have been a long-time reader of Laura L. Smith’s work, though, and if I was ever going to read a book about women’s stories and God’s love and value in women, I felt confident that she’d deliver a frank, loving, and nuanced book on these themes.

And… I was right!

I really appreciated the way that she acknowledged the harm done to women like Hagar and spoke about the judgments and assumptions we might make about the woman at the well or the woman facing a crowd who wanted to stone her. There are many things we can’t know about stories that took place so long ago, and reading those stories now without acknowledging our assumptions or potential biases can mean that we never encounter the true meaning of the teaching there.

As with Laura L. Smith’s other nonfiction, readers looking for encouragement in the Christian faith will find a lot of it here. No one roots for her readers and shares her own vulnerable moments like Laura.

Each chapter has a story from the author’s personal life, relating a challenge she or someone close to her has faced, and then a story about a woman from the Bible with some historical context. The connection between the two is the virtue both situations require. The chapters end with a brief scripture and a few discussion or journal questions to help process the ideas and foster continued faith practice.

I think this would make a lovely gift book or text for a women’s group study.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Vague references to sex. (References to Bible stories about people becoming pregnant or being accused of adultery.) References to sexual assault and human trafficking (in the stories of Hagar, Gomer, and the Woman at the Well.)

Spiritual Content
Each chapter focuses on a different woman mentioned in the Bible and tells her story, and it highlights a virtue she exemplifies.

Violent Content
See above.

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: True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer

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True Gretch: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference (Young Adult Edition)
Gretchen Whitmer
Atheneum
Published January 28, 2025

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About True Gretch: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference (Young Adult Edition)

The young adult edition of the unconventionally honest, deeply personal, and sharply funny account from Michigan governor and rising Democratic star Gretchen Whitmer is packed with remarkable insights for young people wishing to make a difference in the world.

When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her beloved grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. “Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes,” she would say, a piece of advice that Gretchen carries with her today in her role as the governor of Michigan. (And one that resonated more than another her grandmother “never part your hair in the middle.”)

From navigating a kidnapping and assassination plot in which she herself was a target to facing monumental challenges during a global pandemic, Big Gretch (as she’s now known) shares the key pieces of wisdom that have shaped her trailblazing career and personal experiences in this often hilarious, always uplifting book. Along the way, she tells stories about growing up gutsy in the Midwest, the wild comments she’s encountered as a public figure, and how to neutralize high-profile bullies with a fearless sense of humor.

Told in her famously straightforward and slyly funny voice, this young adult edition of the governor’s story not only offers an intimate insight into the life of a politician with an astounding journey, but also affords extraordinary lessons for young people everywhere who wish to make a difference in the world.

My Review

I don’t often read memoirs by people in politics, and I didn’t know a lot about Gretchen Whitmer before picking up this book. It was a really entertaining read, though.

While I will say that it leans a little more memoir than advice or inspirational book, she does frame her experiences in terms of a lesson learned or the best advice she can offer on a particular subject.

I loved the stories she shared about her family, especially her daughters (who appear in a Q&A at the end of the book) and her parents. It’s clear that those are really meaningful relationships that have deeply impacted her life.

So much of the message that she imparts to readers is about being authentic and owning your mistakes. She reminds us that while we, individually, aren’t significant, the work we’re doing is important work. I like that she draws the focus to the work and making a difference and away from herself.

True Gretch isn’t a very long book, and it kept me engaged all the way through. I probably wouldn’t have sought this one out myself, so thanks go out to the publisher who gambled on sending it to me! I really enjoyed reading it.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used super infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to sexual assault. No details.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
See Romance. References to a plot to kidnap and murder Gretchen Whitmer.

Drug Content
References to adults drinking alcohol in social settings.

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 Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and

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The Worst Ronin
Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Art by Faith Schaffer
HarperAlley
Published May 21, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Worst Ronin

When an unlikely pair of female samurai join forces, what begins as your run-of-the-mill quest for glory and revenge evolves into something much more complicated. Turns out fighting actual demons doesn’t mean you’re not running from your own internal ones. Nimona meets Attack on Titan in this edgy, unexpectedly hilarious, genre-defying young adult graphic novel.

Being a samurai isn’t easy. Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito knows that more than anyone. Her father is renowned among the samurai, but the only thing Chihiro is known for is spending way too much time on her phone obsessing over Tatsuo Nakano, Chihiro’s idol and the first woman to be accepted into Kesi Academy, a prestigious samurai school.

So, when Chihiro’s father is conscripted for service and the opportunity arises to work with Tatsuo in his stead, Chihiro jumps at the chance to prove that she’s worthy of a spot at Kesi Academy and the samurai title. Their mission: kill the yamauba demon terrorizing a village. With a legendary samurai like Tatsuo by her side, Chihiro is convinced victory is inevitable. But Tatsuo isn’t at all like the hero Chihiro imagined. Foulmouthed, quick-tempered, and a terrible drunk, Tatsuo completely turned her back on the samurai way and is now a ronin working for hire as a means of escaping the grief that haunts her. Forced to work together, the two are thrust on a treacherous journey filled with epic battles and twisted conspiracies as they must put aside their differences to save the village and face the demons of the past.

My Review

I think I heard of this book through a review on another site. I’ve wanted to read something by Maggie Tokuda-Hall for a while, so this graphic novel seemed like the perfect chance.

The story has a bit of a grumpy vs. sunshine vibe, though there’s no romance between Chihiro and her idol Tatsuo. The two have a mentor/mentee kind of relationship, which still winds up being adorable and funny. Though it’s set in a fantasy landscape, there are some references to Japanese culture and traditions.

The scenes alternate between a past timeline in which Tatsuo was younger and the present when most of the story occurs. The past and present collide during Chihiro’s mission, and we learn more that explains some of Tatsuo’s behavior. Ultimately, the story resolves conflict from both timelines, which makes the conclusion pretty satisfying.

I enjoyed reading this one. It’s a bit goofy and fun but has a serious undertone. The balance of those two things was nicely done.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A couple f-bombs and some other profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The story contains a mythical monster made from unresolved grief.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle scenes. One scene shows two people betrayed and killed. Another scene shows children in peril. Readers learn that at least one child has died. One battle happens between a monster and two people.

Drug Content
Tatsuo drinks alcohol until drunk in a couple of scenes.

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.