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Review: The Floating World by Axie Oh

The Floating World by Axie Oh

The Floating World (The Floating World #1)
Axie Oh
Feiwel & Friends
Published April 29, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Floating World

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the SeaFinal Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…

My Review

I’m not going to lie; this book had me at Final Fantasy. I may have been waiting my whole life for a book that gave Final Fantasy VII vibes so strongly, and in all the best ways. I may have hummed the Sephiroth theme out loud more than once while reading.

The story mainly alternates between Ren and Sunho’s perspectives. I loved both of them as characters. Sunho has memory gaps that add to the intrigue surrounding him. Ren remembers her past, but she actively avoids thinking about it. A third point of view appears now and then, and his scenes both raise new questions and tie things together.

The story world feels like something straight out of Final Fantasy. It has a clearly defined class system with a shadowy power structure. I loved piecing together what was happening in the mythril mines and figuring out the memories Sunho had lost.

I think this is the first part of a duology. The second part comes out in October and is called The Demon and the Light. I will definitely be reading that!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
One character has the ability to use magic. The story explores a myth about a goddess who lost her wings. Strange creatures referred to as demons attack and kill people.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battle scenes. A girl witnesses a murder.

Drug Content
Someone injects others with an experimental substance, sometimes without their consent.

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: Love at Second Sight by F. T. Lukens

Love at Second Sight
F. T. Lukens
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published April 29, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Love at Second Sight

When a teen has an unexpected vision about a future murder, he must juggle newfound interest from the supernatural community with trying to prevent the murder from happening in this new romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author F.T. Lukens.

Tired of being known as the artsy oddball, fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds hopes to fly under the radar when he changes high schools as a sophomore. It shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have super-cool paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and longtime werewolf crush, Miguel.

Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he’ll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own.

My Review

This is the third novel by F. T. Lukens I’ve read. I went into this book with them as a favorite author, and that distinction remains. This is probably not the kind of story that I would normally pick up– paranormal isn’t my usual go-to, but for an author I really enjoy (also looking at you, Kalynn Bayron), I’ll give vampires or werewolves a chance.

So one of the really fascinating things in this book is the cultural feelings surrounding people with supernatural abilities in the story world. For example, Cam’s parents are super against any involvement with or participation in the supernatural. They’ve long been against Cam hanging out with his best friend because they’re a witch.

Incidentally, Cam’s parents don’t bat an eye at him being gay or his best friend being nonbinary, so the story world is very queernormative. Instead, some characters fixate on whether someone is a human with no supernatural abilities versus someone with abilities.

Whether someone has an ability isn’t a choice. Cam’s gift manifests in a moment of distress and remains undeniable throughout the rest of the book. Yet his parents act as though erasing this part of his identity would be better for him and for them. It’s a pretty powerful metaphor, and it’s used well.

The characters, especially Cam, are engaging and easy to root for. I think Lukens has always written standalone novels, but I found myself really hoping this one would be the start of a series. I would absolutely return to this story world for more hijinks and investigations with Cam’s crew at the helm.

If you like a good murder mystery, especially one with a clever social commentary woven in, you won’t want to miss Love at Second Sight.

Content Notes for Love at Second Sight

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have supernatural/paranormal abilities. Some characters are werewolves, sprites, witches, or fae. Cam sees visions of the future. Another character sees and can interact with ghosts.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Cam sees visions of a girl who has been attacked and is close to dying. Boys get into a fight in a hallway at school. References to a car accident and near car accident.

Some characters react hatefully toward people with paranormal gifts or identities.

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.

30 Most-Anticipated Spring 2025 Young Adult Books

30 Most-Anticipated Spring 2025 Young Adult Books

We’re only a few weeks into the official spring season, but the weather here is already getting pretty warm. Every time we have a cooler evening or morning, I try to spend a few minutes savoring it. Just like the seasons speeding by, new books keep coming out so quickly I can’t keep up! My reading list continues to explode, and the spring 2025 young adult books coming out in the next few months will only make it worse. Ha!

I’m looking forward to reading so many books. Since I’m late posting this list, I’ve read several that appear on here, but I’m including them anyway, since I was anticipating them before spring arrived. There is at least one book on this list that I’m positive will be on my best books of 2025 list. There are several others that were a perfect escape from reality that I had so much fun reading. I don’t know if I’m getting better at predicting which books I’ll enjoy or if this is a better-than-average season. Either way, I’m enjoying so many of the books I’ve been reading.

Let’s get into this list…

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

30 Most-Anticipated Spring 2025 Young Adult Books

Banned Together edited by Ashley Hope Pérez

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: This collection of short stories, essays, and poetry centers around book bans and how they impact the community. It’s clever and heartfelt, and the recommended reading lists are incredible.

Published March 4, 2025 | My Review


Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: If you’re looking for a contemporary fantasy with a luscious fantasy landscape, look no further. This one centers around finding your place and living authentically rather than finding external love.

Published March 4, 2025 | My Review


They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Haunting and immersive. Incredible storytelling– I could not put this book down. Absolutely worth reading if you’re into horror at all.

Published March 4, 2025 | My Review


The Fragments That Remain by Mackenzie Angeconeb

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Told as Andy’s letters to her brother after his death by suicide, and the poetry he wrote before he died.

Published March 8, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Wild Dark by Katherine Harbour

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: In the sequel to The Dark Fable, a secret group of thieves who travel the globe must take on a dangerous enemy to survive. This concludes the duology.

Published March 11, 2025 | My Review to Come


How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About this book: If you like slashers that don’t take themselves too seriously, you don’t want to miss this book about a girl living in a small town famous for its history of murder.

Published March 11, 2025 | My Review


What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About this book: Perfect for fans of Kathryn Purdie or A. B. Poranek. Filled with complex relationships and a magical sentient city on the fritz.

Published March 11, 2025 | My Review


Till Death by Kellan McDaniel

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A vampire faced with losing his first love meets someone new and dares to imagine a new life. When prejudice rears its ugly head, this vampire decides to fight back.

Published March 18, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Even more twisted fairytales emerge in the conclusion to the duology. I loved the connections present through the individual fairytales and the way things tied together in the end.

Published March 25, 2025 | My Review


The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About this book: Expect to see this one on my list of favorites for the year. A magical competition, a forbidden romance, and a girl desperate for a place within her newly discovered family. Perfect for fans of The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi or The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning.

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review


Lady Knight by Amalie Howard

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: An inclusive historical fiction story about a girl whose friends set out to rob the rich to save a local orphanage and school, finding romance along the way. This was a fun escape from reality!

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review


Renegade Girls: A Queer Tale of Romance and Rabble-rousing by Nora Neus

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Inspired by two historical women, this graphic novel follows a young reporter who goes undercover to expose the dangerous working conditions in a local factory. This is a super fun read!

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review


All the Stars Align by Gretchen Schreiber

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A girl’s quest for her one true love may be blinding her to other possibilities. If you like contemporary fantasy that’s mainly real life with a sprinkle of magic, check this one out.

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review


Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A heartfelt story about the power of memories and the role they play in our relationships. Perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao.

Published April 1, 2025 | My Review


All the Noise at Once by DeAndre Davis

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A moving story that examines what it means to be Black and autistic via the lives of two brothers on a school football team.

Published April 15, 2025 | My Review to Come


Pride or Die by CL Montblanc

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: When an LGBT club gets blamed for an attempted murder, they must work to clear their names before homecoming ends. This is an upbeat, quirky mystery for fans of Alex Brown’s Rest in Peaches.

Published April 15, 2025 | My Review


Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Told in social media and blog posts and message transcripts, this story is an ode to Black girls about going off to college and finding community and embracing identity.

Published April 15, 2025 | My Review to Come


Under the Fading Sky by Cynthia Kadohata

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A boy’s vaping habit becomes a crippling addiction that sends him into a dangerous spiral. I’m really excited to read this one. I was supposed to receive an ARC, but it looks like I’ll have to pick up a copy through the library or Bookshop.

Published April 22, 2025 | My Review to Come


Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love by Jessica Lewis

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: This sweet story follows Nav as she tries to coach a shy girl interested in dating her best friend but develops surprising feelings herself. There’s a corgi! This is such a sweet story.

Published April 29, 2025 | My Review


Love at Second Sight by F. T. Lukens

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A teen with an unexpected vision of a future murder sets out to protect the potential victim and identify the would-be killer before it’s too late. Lukens has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to talk about this one!

Published April 29, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Floating World by Axie Oh

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: The cover copy describes this as Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone, and I don’t know if there are any words that could make me want to read this book more. I mean, even that cover. Those are DEFINITE FF vibes!

Published April 29, 2025 | My Review to Come


Trans and Gender Diverse Teen Resilience Guide by Jayme L. Peta, Deb Coolhart, and Rylan Jay Testa

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Trauma-informed skills for managing intense emotions, thriving, finding community, self-compassion, and self-care. I’m happy to boost awareness of this one.

Published May 1, 2025 | My Review to Come


Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers by Ibram X. Kendi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Earlier this year, I read a bio of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life, so when I saw this bio of Malcolm X, written in collaboration with the Malcolm X estate, I immediately put this on my reading list.

Published May 13, 2025 | My Review to Come


When Love Gives You Lemons by Steven Salvatore

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: This is another one from a favorite author in which so many of the descriptive words have me desperate to read this book: pitched as My Best Friend’s Wedding with a gay twist, a family wedding in Italy… Yes, please!

Published May 13, 2025 | My Review to Come


You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: In this graphic novel, two former friends repeat graduation day on a loop, a la Groundhog Day. Sign me up!

Published May 13, 2025 | My Review to Come


Out of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Best friends to rivals… to lovers?? Cross-country athletes who used to be besties have to work together to win a championship. This looks like another perfect escape read.

Published May 20, 2025 | My Review to Come


Salvación by Saundra Proudman

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: Latinx fantasy inspired by El Zorro. A masked heroine works to save her family and protect their magic while falling for one of her enemy’s men. I can’t wait to read this one!

Published May 20, 2025 | My Review to Come


Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: At this point, I’ll pretty much read anything by Dahlia Adler. In this one, a girl with a broken heart recreates herself as a bad girl but learns the best relationships happen when people know your true self.

Published May 27, 2025 | My Review to Come


Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: A sapphic romance unfolding between two couples, 100 years apart. I love the two-timelines element, and I’m excited to see how the stories connect across time.

Published May 27, 2025 | My Review to Come


Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About the book: This will be the first book by Jennifer Dugan that I’ve read, and I’m so excited about that. These girls are from two different backgrounds and meet over the summer, where an irresistible romance brews between them.

Published May 27, 2025 | My Review to Come


What spring 2025 young adult books are you most looking forward to reading?

Are you looking forward to any of the books on my list? Have you had a chance to read any of them yet? What else needs to be on my reading list this season? Leave a comment and let me know!

Review: Pride or Die by CL Montblanc

Pride or Die
CL Montblanc
Wednesday Books
Published April 15, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Pride or Die

In this delightful dark comedy debut, when the members of an LGBTQ+ club find themselves accidentally framed for attempted murder, it’s up to them to clear their names before it’s too late.

It’s kind of hard to graduate high school when you’re the prime suspect in an attempted murder.

Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel just wants to finish her senior year and get the hell out of Texas. But when her club meeting inconveniently coincides with an attack on the school’s head cheerleader, she and her friends find themselves in the hot seat.

In order to clear their names and ensure the survival of their club for future queer teens, they’ll have to track down the real culprit themselves. But Eleanora is far from a professional detective; she’s riddled with anxiety, annoyingly attracted to the case’s cute victim, and her trusty crochet hook feels insufficient for fighting off a murderer. Can this ragtag group of unlikely sleuths find their way out of an entire freaking murder mystery before one of them is next?

My Review

The energy in this novel is absolutely fabulous. Eleanor and her upbeat crew chase down leads with breaks for brainstorming sessions and pancakes at a local diner, determined to discover who hurt Kenley before they have a chance to strike again. The banter is nonstop, and the tentative connection between Kenley and Eleanora is super sweet.

The principal’s character might be a little flat, as he mainly exists to remind Eleanora and her friends what’s at stake if they fail to identify the real culprit before the end of the homecoming dance. There are a few moments when we see things about him that humanize him a little bit. They show there’s more to him than his commitment to shut down the LGBT Club, which he continually refers to as the BLT club.

Reading this one was a lot of fun. If you like upbeat mysteries with a lot of goofy banter, you’ll want to put this one at the top of your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Eleanora walks in on a couple engaged in romantic contact. (The text implies they’re having sex, but doesn’t specifically say so.)

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Eleanora discovers a girl who has collapsed on the floor with a head wound. Threatening messages indicate violence planned against others. Instances of homophobic slurs and bullying.

Drug Content
Characters attend a party where teens drink alcohol. Eleanora does not drink any.

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: Lady Knight by Amalie Howard

Lady Knight ( The Diamonds #2)
Amalie Howard
Publisher
Published April 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Lady Knight

The daughter of a duke defies the rules of London high society with the help of the resident rake—who just so happens to be her brother’s best friend—in this fun teen historical romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee.

“A ridiculously romantic, womanist, hilarious, and hugely entertaining romance that had me smiling and swooning from start to finish.” —Elizabeth Everett, USA Today bestselling author of the Damsels of Discovery series

Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn, a duke’s daughter, is frustrated that her entire life has been predetermined. What good is skill or intelligence if one is forced to suffocate it because of one’s sex? She’d much rather make her mark on the world than bat her eyelashes for the ton.

Zia only comes alive in the Lady Knights, a clandestine social club for rebellious girls. In it, she is free to compose music, fence, read controversial literature, and save orphans from destitution by any means necessary. Aside from her closest confidantes, no one knows about Zia’s indecorous other life. . . .

Until Mr. Rafi Nasser, a rogue with secrets of his own, finds out. Shocked yet intrigued by his best friend’s younger sister, he agrees to keep Zia’s secret—if only to help her avoid utter scandal.

My Review

This book has a really fun concept. It’s an inclusive cast in a historical setting, which is a lot of fun. The story centers around a group of girls who are looking for their voice and ways to make a difference in their community. The girls are all in a class at a special school for women in which the instructor introduces them to texts by women about female empowerment. Each chapter begins with a quote from English writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, which I enjoyed. The quotes often relate directly to issues the girls face in the chapter that follows.

The whole story is told from Zia’s perspective. I loved her enthusiasm and impulsiveness. I think we tend to expect a certain kind of heroine from historical fiction, especially novels written in a more historical voice, and I love that Howard challenged those preconceptions by writing an impulsive heroine who feels as young as she is.

Though the romance stays more in the realm of sweet than spicy, it’s super flirty and fun. There’s a good balance between the romantic elements and the plotline about Zia’s quest to save the school and orphanage.

I think readers who enjoy light historical romance will love getting swept away in Lady Knight.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A band of women in disguise robs wealthy men. One scene shows a dangerous horse race.

Men accuse women of being hysterical, a dangerous allegation that can result in someone being institutionalized.

In class, Zia and her friends discuss elements of the book Frankenstein, including a character’s murder.

Drug Content
References to drinking alcohol. Reference to someone being drunk.

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: Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love by Jessica Lewis

Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love
Jessica Lewis
HarperCollins
Published April 29, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love

Giving the new girl lessons in romance so she can woo your best friend couldn’t possibly go wrong…right? Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston, this romantic comedy from Jessica Lewis is packed with heart.

Nav knows how to flirt, but she also knows love is a messy, losing proposition. She doesn’t need her best friend, Hallie, the serial monogamist, to demonstrate it to her over and over. So when shy new girl Gia asks Nav for help getting Hallie’s attention, Nav makes sure she seems genuine—she doesn’t want to add another heartbreak to Hallie’s never-ending list. They strike a bargain, and Nav agrees to give Gia lessons in romance. If it works, maybe Hallie can date someone decent for a change.

Except…Gia’s not just bad at flirting, she’s terrible. She’s too anxious to even speak to Hallie, never mind date her. But somehow, every awkward joke and catastrophic practice date makes Nav like Gia a little bit more. And not in a friend way. As the three girls’ feelings get spun around, Nav will have to question if she’s as much of an expert as she thought…or if love might be worth every bit of trouble after all.

My Review

It took me a little while to get into Nav’s character. At first, she seemed pushy and negative. As I got to know her, though, I started to see past her quicksilver moods and high defenses. The story mainly explores her relationships with her best friend, Hallie, and her new friend, Gia.

Both relationships have lots of layers. Hallie and Nav have been best friends since they were babies, and that means they know each other well. But, it also means sometimes they get stuck in patterns that aren’t good for either of them. By contrast, Nav’s friendship with Gia is a new relationship and has all the fresh feelings of discovery and newness. And while it starts out as an endeavor meant to set Gia up with Hallie, it isn’t long before Nav starts having more-than-friend feelings for this nerdy, anxious girl.

I enjoyed the sweet scenes between Nav and Gia. Nav carries some unresolved feelings about her mom’s abandonment, and that comes into play at different points in the story, too.

All in all, this will make a great summer romance to read by the pool or sitting next to a sunny window. Becky Albertalli fans will definitely want to check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used here and there.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to hooking up. Two people spend the night together (sleeping).

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character experiences panic attacks due to an anxiety disorder.

Drug Content
References to using marijuana and drinking alcohol. (Not shown on scene.)

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.