Tag Archives: Romance

Review: Woven from Clay by Jenny Birch

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,
Woven From Clay by Jenny Birch

Woven From Clay
Jenny Birch
Wednesday Books
Published August 12, 2025

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About Woven From Clay

In this fresh and imaginative contemporary fantasy, a golem must master the magic that binds her together and finds an unexpected ally in the mysterious boy sent to ensure her demise.

Terra Slater might not know anything about her birth family or where she comes from, but that’s never stopped her, and she fully intends her senior year to be her best yet. Until the dark and mysterious Thorne Wilder―a magical bounty hunter―moves to town, bringing revelations that wreck all of her plans.

When Terra learns she is a golem, not born but crafted from mud and magic by a warlock, her world is upended. Worse, Cyrus Quill, the warlock who made her, is a fugitive, on the run from the witches who want to hold him accountable for his past crimes. But Quill’s sentence is death, which would unravel the threads of magic that hold Terra―and all of the other golems that he crafted―together.

Desperate to save herself and her friends, Terra strikes a deal with Thorne and his coven to preserve the warlock’s life and his magic. If she can prove her worth to the coven by mastering the magic within her, the golems will survive. If she can’t, they’ll perish along with Cyrus. As Thorne helps her to see and manipulate the tapestry of magic that surrounds them, their unexpected alliance evolves into something more and Terra comes to understand the depths of her magic, her humanity, and her love for the people most important to her.

My Review

The book description makes it very clear that this is a contemporary fantasy, but I think I kept assuming from the cover that it was some kind of Greek myth retelling. I don’t know why. In any case, when I started reading the book, I was a little jolted by the present-day setting.

At first, it feels like a familiar tale. A girl facing an inexplicable problem meets a grouchy, emotionally-closed boy who’s new in town. There’s the inevitable tug of war over whether they’re on opposing sides or can trust a tentative alliance.

From there, we learn more about Thorne’s coven and the power dynamics at play. Terra experiments with her newfound ability, and Thorne becomes a lot more likeable.

The way the author uses names in the story is interesting. Once you know about Terra’s origin, it becomes easy to recognize the others who share a similar story. Some people might find that a bit heavy-handed, but I thought it was a neat idea.

The story definitely grew on me as I got into the history of Terra’s town and saw more of Thorne’s family. By the end, I was really invested in both Terra and Thorne.

If you enjoy paranormal romance or contemporary fantasy, I think this is a good one to pick up. It has a lot of similar vibes to the kinds of books coming out in the early 2000s, but without the problematic content.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of the f-bomb, and a sprinkling of other profanity. Not a huge amount.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Witches live apart from humans in underground compounds where they use their magic according to the rules of their guild. Creating a golem is considered “warlock magic”, which is against their rules.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. If Terra’s creator dies, she and the other golems will perish as well. Someone tries to harm Terra’s friends, tripping them, sapping their energy, etc.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Secret Investigator of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

Book Review and Content, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

The Secret Investigator of Astor Street (A Piper Sail Mystery #2)
Stephanie Morrill
Blink YA
Published August 5, 2025

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About The Secret Investigator of Astor Street

After high school graduation, Piper Sail isn’t quite sure what her future holds—until a possible murder case lands in her lap. Filled with both the glitz and glamor of high society and the dark mafia underbelly of 1920s Chicago, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Maureen Johnson.

Piper Sail knows what she to become a detective. After all, she already solved the case of her missing best friend, and there’s no shortage of crime in 1920s Chicago. But for an eighteen-year-old society girl—even one who’s currently dating a police investigator—it simply isn’t done.

That is, until a girl asks her to dig into her brother’s recent death. The police ruled it a suicide, but she’s convinced it was murder. And she wants Piper to help her prove it.

In this companion to The Lost Girl of Astor Street, Piper once again grabs her notebook and plunges into the underworld of mafia-controlled Chicago. But she’ll need all her wits and courage if she wants to become The Secret Investigator of Astor Street.

My Review

I really enjoy Stephanie Morrill’s writing, so it was a no-brainer for me to read this book. If Piper Sail and Astor Street seem familiar to you, it’s because of The Lost Girl of Astor Street, the first book in which we meet Piper and follow her as she unravels the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance. That book was published in 2017, so it’s very possible you hadn’t heard of or remembered the book, either. (If so, the good news is that now you have two new mysteries to read.)

This story is set in 1920s Chicago. Piper has graduated from school, and her family expects her to enroll in college and/or find a prospective husband and start a family. The last thing Piper wants to do is have children, and she’s not ready to settle down. She has some doubts about the direction of her current relationship with Mariano, a detective who helped her in the first book.

I loved the way the story explored Piper’s questions about her direction for her life. She knows she doesn’t want to have kids. She isn’t ready to get married. But how can a young woman work as a private investigator? It’s not something that’s done. Whose permission does she need? How will anyone ever take her seriously?

The story makes space for Piper to explore these questions as her investigation into a supposed suicide unfolds. The balance between this theme and the mystery is perfectly done. We get a deeper understanding of Piper and follow her character development, but it never slows down the narrative.

Conclusion

If you enjoy historical mysteries, put this one on your list. I hope that this book marks a revival of the Piper Sail Mysteries as a series. The ending definitely leaves room for a new story.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Reference to last rites (based on Catholic beliefs). I think there’s a brief reference to Piper noting that Mariano is Catholic, though she attends a different church.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to suicide. (Not shown on scene.) References to murder.

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: A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , ,

A Mastery of Monsters
Liselle Sambury
Margaret K. McElderry
Published July 29, 2025

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About A Mastery of Monsters

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters.

When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing.

The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall creature with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined.

Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne…and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn’t find a partner to help control his true nature, he’ll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast—exactly what the secret society he’s grown up in would love to put down.

Virgil makes a proposition: August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he’ll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening reality: that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she’s to have any hope of saving her brother.

My Review

I was really on the edge about whether or not to read this book. It’s almost 600 pages, and I tend to struggle with longer books like that. I had heard such great things about the author, though, that I decided to give the book a try.

Sometimes when I read a long book, I find myself skimming large sections and thinking the book could easily have been 100 pages shorter. I did not do that with A Mastery of Monsters. So. Much. Happens. In this book. It’s nonstop packed with action from start to finish.

August is such an intricately crafted character. She’s still reeling from grief over her mom’s disappearance, but she also has this (understandable) complex where she hyperfixates on fears of disappointing people. Those fears end up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy as she self-sabotages again and again. Her distrust of others and lone-wolf mentality were so easy to relate to.

In the story, August becomes involved with a group called the Learner’s Society. It’s supposed to seem very high brow and elitist, and yet has these ideals of equity and inclusiveness. Right away, August has questions. It feels like a cult to her, and though she needs them to help her find her brother, she’s committed not to trust the organization. I loved that tension between her and the group.

I thought the ending was also well-balanced. It answers the questions that the premise promised and introduces a new conflict for readers to look forward to in the second book. If the next book is as long as this one, I don’t know whether or not I’ll continue with the series.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the story. I think the length was warranted. It’s just hard for me to commit that much time to one book at this point in my reading life, so we’ll see. I think contemporary fantasy fans will really enjoy this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

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

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters transform into monsters. If they bond with a non-monster person, through a special ritual, the non-monster can help the monster retain control of their actions and change back into a human form. A select few have the ability to control any monster, even those they haven’t bonded with. Powerful items offer the ability to control monsters.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief graphic descriptions of monster-induced injuries. Brief graphic descriptions of combat.

Drug Content
The opening scene shows a drunk college girl leaving a club and heading for her dorm. August also gets drunk to escape heightened grief or overwhelm. A couple other scenes show college students sharing a glass of wine.

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: Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson

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

Pretty Girl County
Lakita Wilson
Publisher
Published July 1, 2025

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About Pretty Girl County

The glitz of Gossip Girl meets the hustle of Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown in this charming and hilarious story of ex-BFFs from PG County, Maryland, perfect for fans of Joya Goffney and Elise Bryant.

Girls like Reya Samuels always come from Prince George’s County. Reya is rich and she’s not afraid to show it—she wears designer clothes, drives a custom pink Audi, and lives in a neighborhood tucked behind a fancy cast iron gate. She works hard, but she can get anything she wants with a snap.

Sommer Watkins is from Seat Pleasant, where the cast iron gates are significantly smaller—and attached to the windows, where most folks are still trying to make ends meet. Every day for Sommer is a hustle, working at her dad’s bookstore, and using her art skills to scrounge up enough scholarship money for her dream school, Spelman.

Reya and Sommer used to be BFFs—back when Reya lived in Seat Pleasant, too. Now the girls are from different stratospheres—but when Reya desperately needs help to prove to FIT admissions officers that she has what it takes to make it in fashion, the only person who can help is Sommer. Reya promises to help Sommer in return—she’ll pay her for her services, helping Sommer afford the school her parents can’t.

As the girls work together, slowly they begin to trust each other again. But when new relationships push them both, and Sommer’s dad’s bookstore is suddenly in danger of closing, old wounds bubble up. Can the girls find a way to repair their friendship and stay true to themselves along the way?

My Review

This is such a great story of friendship. The story alternates between Sommer and Reya’s points of view. At the beginning of the story, their old friendship has ended, and Sommer isn’t interested in renewing it or connecting with any of Reya’s new friends. An opportunity associated with a schoolwide fashion show changes that, though.

The story has great pacing in terms of relationship development. The ways that Reya and Sommer’s friendship changes and each girl’s romantic opportunities develop feels natural and easy to follow. Each relationship faces challenges, and in both cases, the girls have to ask themselves hard questions about who they are and what they want their lives to look like.

It took me a minute to get into Reya’s character, but I ended up being really glad that the story was divided between both girls. I like the lessons that each of them learned.

Pretty Girl County is also a pretty lighthearted story. Sure, there’s some relationship drama and some family struggle. But this is the kind of book that anyone could read. It would make a great choice for a reader aging up into young adult books.

Also, bonus: there’s a fabulous reading list of books by Black authors in the back that’s worth checking out as well. The characters mention many of those titles as they work at the bookstore or talk about their own reading. I’ll definitely be adding some of those titles to my own reading list! The ones I’ve read already have all been well worth the time.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
References to church.

Violent Content
Some classist comments.

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: Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker

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

Soulmatch
Rebecca Danzenbaker
Publisher
Published July 29, 2025

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About Soulmatch

Two-hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every 18-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

My Review

It’s been a while since I read a fast-paced dystopian young adult book, so this one really scratched that itch for me. It reminded me a little bit of The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld or Matched by Ally Condie in that the society cares a lot about appearances and plays a large part in determining the role people are meant to play.

I liked Sivon’s character from the beginning, though I wish we had gotten to see more of her chess prowess in action. The fact that she’s really great at chess comes up now and then, but it obviously isn’t something that she thinks of as defining her.

Later on in the book, though, she uses her ability to think about logical outcomes to unravel some of the lies she’s been told. I love that idea, but I wanted to see more of that process on paper. Instead, she puts her head down and we wait while she thinks before we enjoy her “aha” moment. Being shut out of her mentally connecting those dots wasn’t as satisfying as seeing that thought process play out, especially if it had been connected to her understanding of chess more directly.

One thing that I thought was very nicely crafted is the romance element of the story. It develops over time, and the obstacles and miscommunications feel pretty realistic. A bit of the descriptions of the two finally together got a little cheesy, but I think considering the whole soulmate aspect of the book, it worked.

When I started reading this book, I was really nervous about how long it would take me to finish it. I tend to struggle with longer books, and this one is almost 500 pages. It’s a pretty big testament to how compulsively readable the book is that I finished it in just over 36 hours.

Conclusion

Even though this is dystopian rather than fantasy, I could see Stephanie Garber fans really liking this one. I think fans of Chloe Gong will also like the political intrigue aspects of the book. The cover is also gorgeous, so I suspect that will draw a lot of attention, too!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used intermittently.

Romance/Sexual Content
The kirling process also identifies soulmates, which may or may not be romantic pairings. For example, Sivon’s identical twin best friends are soulmates. Some scenes show kissing between characters. One scene begins with kissing and the scene ends, hinting the characters will go further.

Spiritual Content
Souls are reincarnated into new bodies. The kirling system identifies a soul and connects the current life to the soul’s past lives. If one committed a crime in a past life and didn’t serve out a sentence for it or pay a fine, they will have to do so in their next life.

Violent Content
Repeated mentions of suicide. Every time one soul is reincarnated, they die by suicide. This is not shown on scene, but referenced a number of times. References to child abuse (not shown on scene). Situations of peril and assassination attempts. Reference to murder and death.

Drug Content
Social drinking.

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

Review: Knocking on Windows: A Memoir by Jeannine Atkins

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

Knocking on Windows: A Memoir
Jeannine Atkins
Atheneum
Published August 5, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Knocking on Windows: A Memoir

Acclaimed author Jeannine Atkins revisits her past in this brave and powerful memoir-in-verse about memory, healing, and finding her voice as a writer, perfect for fans of Amber Smith and Speak.

Night darkens the window to mirror.
I’m back in my old bedroom.

Six weeks after the start of her freshman year of college, Jeannine Atkins finds herself back in her childhood bedroom after an unimaginable trauma. Now home in Massachusetts, she’s struggling to reclaim her life and her voice. Seeking comfort in the words of women, she turns to the lives and stories of Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson. Through raw and poignant letter-poems addressed to these literary giants, Jeannine finds that the process of writing and reflecting has become not only a means of survival but the catalyst for a burgeoning writing career.

Inspired and ready to move forward, she enrolls in her state university, where she feeds her growing passion for writing in fiction seminars. But she finds that she’s unable to escape the pervasive misogyny of her classmates and professors, who challenge her to assert her own voice against a backdrop of disbelief and minimalization. This time, though, Jeannine is not willing to go down without a fight.

A searingly honest memoir told through gorgeous verse, Knocking on Windows stands as a beacon of hope and a celebration of the enduring spirit of survivors of sexual assault—and of writers.

My Review

Since assault is one of the topics that I struggle to read about, I always approach books like this with caution. I love that it’s told in verse and that so much of the book focuses on finding and holding onto hope in the midst of hard times/trauma/processing hard feelings.

For example, Jeannine writes often about her admiration for and study of the work of Sylvia Plath. As she reads her work and learns about her life, she struggles to hold both her genius and her mistakes in her hand at the same time. That can be uncomfortable, but it’s SO real. It feels especially real to me right now.

In one poem, she talks about studying literature in college (in the 1970s) and how work by women tends to be trivialized. One of her peers talks about how he doesn’t want to read about bodies or boyfriends because it makes him uncomfortable.

At one point she shares a story about a girl and her mother and the difficulty of their relationship. One of her classmates minimized the experience, but others push back. “I see myself, [in the story]” one classmate tells the group. The professor agrees.

Which highlights, to me, the importance of writing about uncomfortable experiences and reading about them.

This is NOT to say you shouldn’t have boundaries and be safe. Please do that. There is a very real difference between discomfort and trauma. Discomfort can be okay (when you’re safe). Trauma isn’t okay.

Conclusion

Knocking on Windows is the first book by Jeannine Atkins that I’ve ever read. I checked my library to see if they had more of her work, but it looks like if I want to read more, I’ll have to buy it! I do want to read more.

Readers who enjoy verse memoirs or reading about writers or writing will find lots to love in this one. I love the way she connects the work of other writers with her experiences and thinks about those writers as living breathing people, too. This book gave me lots to think about. I will probably read it more than once, when all is said and done.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief description of rape and reporting it to the police. References to the assault and how others respond to Jeannine’s experience. She also describes Sylvia Plath’s experience when someone attacks her.

Spiritual Content
None.

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.