As dumb as it is, the different art styles were actually really engaging in the explaining of the various things that are daily annoyances. Sometimes the more picturesque things that are infuriating look sweet and innocent, but the intense visualizations more accurately show how they might make a person feel. Great online collab.

Raina Telgemeier took me back to the misery of Junior High and new braces! and this graphic novel/ memoir works just as well with women my age as with middle schoolers/junior high school students past in their middle aged years who might find, as I did, that all those feelings I remembered having at that time in my Life were shared! Raina's graphic novels for self-information even now as that middle aged woman - whose own daughter experienced a different middle grade years Life and still amazes me - my daughter in her 20's is legions beyond me even now!

This one is passionate, complicated, and messy in the best way. There’s a lot of heat, but it also unpacks real stuff—fatherhood, identity, emotional growth. You’ll want to yell at the characters and root for them at the same time. A spicy, grown-folk rollercoaster you’ll be glad you rode.

Julia Phillips's Bear focuses on 2 sisters, Samantha and Elena. Both sisters are stuck in low wage, menial jobs while taking care of their very sick mother. They grow up on an isolated island of the coast of Washington. As adults that glorious Northwest paradise has since turned into a depressing, bleak existence. When suddenly, almost magically a large, wild bear walks onto their property and changes everything.

It's better than the 1st book of the 2nd trilogy but I just can't seem to stop comparing it to Game of Thrones and I keep finding it comping up short.

4.5 stars Honey was a wild and sexy ride of a girl's adventure through the 90s-00s music industry. This book is girlhood, femininity and pain. Though it is fast-paced, and I did wish for it to slow down at some points and further explain (reason for 4.5 rating). I understand why people might not like this aspect, but I see it as a way of the girls having to grow up fast and live fast lives, and even being in the heat of certain situations: time goes by fast. Thought it would’ve been great to have certain parts expanded upon--There were many quotes and lines that I’ve annotated that made me fall in love with the writing! Thanks to Bookish First of an ARC of "Honey"

Follow up to Every Summer After and another good summer read.

4 stars My original rating was to be 3 or 3.5, but the third part of the book saved it for me. Our three main characters (Kathy, Ruth and Tommy) are Hailsham students;grew up there, moved to the cottages and out into the world as either carers or donors. There were certain science fiction elements I quite enjoyed (even though I can agree this is a Lit fic first, than a sci fic) it even reminded me of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry and “The Promised Neverland” by Kaiu Shirai, which made me enjoy this a lot. I will say Ruth pissed me off and I’m glad we stopped hearing much about her towards the end. Kathy was a 70/30 love-hate relationship, and Tommy was so sweet I love him so much. There were confusing parts, part that could’ve been skipped or lightly glossed over. Parts that felt glossed over that should’ve been delved into further, but all and all it was a great book and I will continue to read more of Kazuo Ishiguro’s books.

Great fast read!!

It was exciting and informative as well, a little bit gory but I expect that from Preston & Child :)