Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels

The Song of US Blog Tour -Review & Playlist

Thanks to Net Galley and TBR & Beyond for the E-ARC.

About the Book

Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary Romance
Publishing date: May 30, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Rep: Queer, Fat, Mental Health, Questioning

Synopsis:

This stunning debut and wholly original queer middle grade novel-in-verse retelling of “Orpheus and Eurydice” adds a new chorus to the songs of great love, perfect for fans of Other Words for Home and Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World.

Love at first sight isn’t a myth. For seventh graders Olivia and Eden, it’s fate. Olivia is a capital-P Poet, and Eden thinks she wants to be a musician one day, but for now she’s just the new girl. And then Eden shows up to Poetry Club and everything changes.

Eden isn’t out, and she has rules for dating Olivia: don’t call. Don’t tell her friends. And don’t let anyone know they’re together.

But when jealousy creeps in, it’s Olivia’s words that push Eden away. While Eden sets out to find herself, Olivia begins a journey to bring Eden back—using poetry. Both Olivia and Eden will learn just how powerful their words can be to bring them together . . . or tear them apart forever.

Content Warning: Homophobia, mental illness

playlist

Playlist

Brave by Sara Bareillies 

Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen

For Good from Wicked 

Wait for Me from Hadestown

I Just Wanna Dance With You from The Prom 

Ring of Keys from Fun Home

Review

Review

Rating: 5 stars or 9.23/10

Characters-10

The characters in this book really pull on your heartstrings. Olivia and Eden were so sweet, and each had a distinct personality, making the story work. I felt like Eden and Olivia had a way of interacting; as characters, they balanced each other out really well. Lexi and the poetry club members, plus Eden’s friends, added to the story with their interactions.

Plot-9

This was a very mature story for Middle-Grade. For me, it rode the line between Middle-Grade and YA. I’m new to novels in verse, but they’re such an exciting way to tell a story. Eden and Olivia have a story that was so sweet, and I loved the way they interacted with each other. The reason I said this story rides the line is because of some of the mature themes, like growing up and finding yourself over the course of the book. This was also a mature middle grade because romance played a large role in the plot. I loved the other elements of the story, like the girl’s individual journeys, and how they could come together at the end of the story.

Writing-9-

Kate Fussner does a great job of telling the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice as if they were young pre-teen girls. The writing style used in The Song of Us was a novel in verse, which worked well for this story considering the original myth would be told in a style similar. The poetry flowed well and worked well to tell the story. Kate Fussner wrote The Song of Us in a way that captivated me and kept me hooked from start to finish..

Enjoyment- 10

I loved this book! The story was both fun and heartwarming, talking about tough topics in a way that young readers understand. Eden and Olivia were great characters, and their story was so sweet.

About the Author

Kate Fussner writes books for young people and bakes the perfect chocolate chip cookie. She holds a B.A from Vassar College, an M.Ed. from University of Massachusetts Boston, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People from Lesley University. After over a decade of teaching English for the Boston Public Schools, Kate now spends her time writing and walking her dramatic dog, Mrs. Weasley. She is represented by Eric Smith at P.S. Literary. Her writing has appeared in the Boston Globe, WBUR’s Cognoscenti, and elsewhere. She and her wonderful wife live in MA.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Follow the Blog and Instagram Tours

May 29th
paperbacktomes – Interview
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post

May 30th
Charli’s Book Box – Promotional Post
PopTheButtefly Reads – Promotional Post

May 31st
the nutty bookworm reads alot – Review

June 1st
The Book Dutchesses – Interview
Jen Jen Reviews – Promotional Post

June 2nd
AndOnSheReads – Review

June 3rd
Paiges of Novels – Review, Playlist
Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile – Promotional Post

June 4th
Stuck in Fiction – Interview

May 29th
infinite_bookworm86 – Promotional Post
paperbacktomes – Content Creator’s Choice

May 30th
charlisbookbox – Content Creator’s Choice
ninebookishlives – Review

May 31st
dalitmamas – Review
whatkarinareads – Promotional Post

June 1st
bibliovino – Review
ohyouread – Review, Mood Board

June 2nd
quirkylitlover – Review
ablueboxfullofbooks – Review

June 3rd
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice
quirkybibliophile – Content Creator’s Choice

June 4th
allielovestoread – Review, Favorite Quotes
iambibliomane – Review

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Shannon in the Spotlight Blog Tour

Hi! I’m so excited to talk about Shannon in the Spotlight today. Thank you to Net Galley, and TBR & Beyond for the E-ARC.

About the Book

Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publishing date: April 25th, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

Rep: OCD

Synopsis:

After Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD.

Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon’s always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight.

At first, Shannon is hesitant. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine. But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn’t feel anxious. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic . . . except Elise.

To make matters worse, Shannon’s eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. As opening night approaches, Shannon feels pressure to save her friendship with Elise, to make Mom and Grandma Ruby act like grown-ups, and to follow the old theater adage The show must go on.

playlist

The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music 

The Girl I Mean to Be from The Secret Garden

I Want to Live Out Loud from A Little Princess

Quiet from Matilda 

I’d Rather Be Me from Mean Girls 

Reveiw

Rating: 5 stars or 9.57 out of 10

Characters — 10. The characters in this book are fantastic. Each character in the story has their own personality and history. I loved Shannon and the supporting cast of characters. Shannon was my favorite character in the story, and I loved how she was brave enough to star in her first musical. Grandma Ruby was a great supporting character, and I loved seeing her interactions with Shannon as the story progressed. Elise and Fatima were Shannon’s best friends, and they both supported Shannon when she needed it, which I loved seeing. 

Plot — 9. I really enjoyed the story of Shannon in the Spotlight. As a theater person who did theater in middle and high school, I loved the story, bringing me back to that time.  The other side of Shannon in the Spotlight was the story of Shannon and her OCD, and I loved seeing mental health being represented in this book. We go on a journey with Shannon, and I love how much she cares about those around her, and how hard she worked on the show. 

Writing — 10. The writing in the book flowed so well. Writing is not usually a 10 unless I’m pulled into every element of the story, and the writing really pulled me into this story. I loved how the writing pulled me into the story and gripped me from beginning to end. I loved how the writing was both lighthearted and heartwarming at the same time.  

Enjoyment-10. I loved this book so so much. I loved how it brought me back to the theater, and how it tugged on my heartstrings. By the end of the story, I was rooting for Shannon and her friends.

About Kalena Miller

Kalena Miller is a writer, teacher, editor, and scone enthusiast. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog. When she isn’t writing, Kalena enjoys tap dancing, scrapbooking, and watching an embarrassing amount of reality television. Her debut YA novel, The Night When No One Had Sex, winner of the Minnesota Book Award, is available now! Her debut middle-grade novel, Shannon in the Spotlight is forthcoming from Delacorte Press on April 25, 2023.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Follow the rest of the TBR & Beyond Blog and Instagram Tour

April 24th
Boys’ Mom Reads! – Review

April 25th
Stuck in Fiction – Interview

April 26th
Jen Jen Reviews – Review

April 27th
Charli’s Book Box – Promotional Post
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

April 28th
Paiges of Novels – Review, Playlist

April 29th
The Book Dutchesses – Interview

April 30th
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review

April 24th
bookish_meaghan – Promotional Post
mellasmusings – Review, Favorite Quotes

April 25th
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post
littlebookowl75 – Review
stargirls.magical.tale – Top 5 Reasons to Read Shannon in the Spotlight

April 26th
writingrosereads – Promotional Post
jenjenreviews – Content Creator’s Choice

April 27th
ablueboxfullofbooks – Review, Creative post: Little Free Library Drop
popthebutterfly – Content Creator’s Choice

April 28th
tbrandbeyond – Promotional Post
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice

April 29th
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
froggyreadteach – Review, Creative post: Classroom Library Drop
infinite_bookworm86 – Review

April 30th
get.outside.and.read – Promotional Post
mrs.mckenzieteaches – Review, Favorite Quotes

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels

Obedience by Liza Snow Blog Tour-Review

Hello! This is my first tour with Romance Me With Books, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this book.

About the Book

Book Links

Author page: https://www.rmwbooks.com/audioliza?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2023-04-25&utm_campaign=+AudioBook+Tour+Links+Graphics+Obedience+by+Liza+Snow+

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXJZFW6S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EU8TLLF00242&keywords=B0BXJZFW6S&qid=1678058744&sprefix=b0bxjzfw6s%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23250430.Liza_Snow

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/liza-snow

Review

4/5 stars or 7.57/10

Characters — 7- I enjoyed the characters in this story. I loved Cassandra and her story, and Chandler was also a prominent character. The characters were a little to like The Phantom of the Opera for me, and if you know anything about musical, you could see the similarities between the two stories. Getting past that, I was still able to enjoy these for who they were. The supporting cast was also fun, and I really enjoyed getting the story from their perspective as well.

Atmosphere — 8- the audiobook helped pulled me into the atmosphere of this story. I really enjoyed the listen with the full cast and the sound effects. It executed the circus atmosphere of this story well, and pulled me.

Writing — * I’m rating the audiobook-8 This audio was fantastic. I really enjoyed the full cast experience with the dialogue and different POVs. This was the first audiobook like this, and I loved how the voice actors came in with lines of dialogue like would find in a written book. The other audiobooks I was used to having single-narrated chapters.

Plot — 7- The story of this was good! I really enjoyed the story between Cassandra and Chandler.  The mafia family side story was fun, and I enjoyed seeing the characters figure out elements of the story along with me.   This story also hit on one of the elements I love (fan and famous person)

Intrigue — 7- I was interested in this story. The story and the characters still intrigued me even though there were some plot elements that bothered me,   There were twists and turns that kept me interested in the story.

Logic — 8- this was a book where I could see how they got from point A to B. Obedience was an easy story to follow, and I could see the logic in all the choices made.

Enjoyment —8- I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I had fun, and it really had me feeling all the emotions. I think if you enjoy romantic suspense with spice, you will enjoy this one.

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels

Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill – Review

Genre: YA Contemporary

Rating: Four Stars (7.86/10)

Keywords: Competition, Romance, Reality TV

Characters

The characters in this book were delightful, and I loved their personalities. Sloane was the female main character, and her love of writing made me want to continue reading this story. Liam was the male main character, and he was so sweet to read about. You could tell that Liam and Sloane worked well together and that they had a love for each other. The supporting cast was delightful, and I loved how each of the girls each had their own personality.

Plot

I’m not one for Reality TV or books in this genre. What drew me to this book was the fact that you would get a behind-the-scenes look at how they film these types of shows. I thought I was going to enjoy the fact that Liam was working on production, and we would get to see what goes on behind the scenes at these types of shows. What I enjoyed most about the plot of this story was the found family elements between the girls staying at Chelsea’s house. The friends Sloane finds there supported each other, and they were all rooting for the other girls even though they also wanted to have time with Aspen as well. The end of the book was wonderful, and I loved how the story ended.

Writing

Not Here to Stay Friends had a delightful writing style. Kaitlyn Hill uses a light tone to tell parts of the story, and you can tell that the characters were having fun during the scene. The more intense scenes in the book have a serious tone and are handled with care. This book had a writing style that flowed very well and was easy to follow. I enjoyed writing in the book and felt the style worked well to tell the story.

Romance

Romance was one of the best things about this book. I could pick out from early in the book where the romance was going to go. The show had an interesting element, and  I thought there would be a twist in the middle of the story. Sloane and Liam were so cute, and they were so sweet. They both cared about each other and because they were best friends growing up, they already had a history with each other. Sloane and Liam were passing letters to each other on set, and they went for a drive when Sloane wasn’t on a solo date, and I just loved the moments between the two of them.

Enjoyment

I really enjoyed this book. I had a great time while reading this book. I would recommend this if you’re a fan of reality tv shows like The Bachelor. This book was a lot of fun, and it also talked about things that should be talked about more, like teens doing what they want to do, rather than what their parents want them to do.  

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels · 1 Comment

Meesh the Bad Demon

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the Meesh the Bad Demon blog tour,

About the Book

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Graphic Novel
Publishing date: March 21st, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Synopsis:

A tale of unlikely heroes and myths is made real in this debut graphic novel series about a “bad” demon trying to find her place in the underworld. But she’ll have to save it first!

Meesh is a bad demon. “Bad” meaning she always sees the good in those around her–which, strictly speaking, isn’t how a demon is meant to feel or act.

Bullied by the other demons, twelve-year-old Meesh is more likely to be found poring over Fairy World’s magazines and fangirling the fairy princesses. When disaster strikes and her family is threatened, Meesh must journey to the Fairy World to find a healing crystal that can save the underworld. And speak of the devil! She meets a fairy princess right away.

But things in the Fairy World aren’t so perfect either. As Meesh makes surprising new friends and unites a band of outcasts–including her bully–she learns there’s more to being a demon than being bad.

Sometimes the secret to real power is in loving yourself, faults and all.

Favorite Quotes

Why watch that when we can see fairies fight crime?

Oh well, rest up this morning, fairy Meesh

Oh, Meesh, those kids just don’t have as big of an imagination as you!

Hey, being different isn’t as bad as you think. 

You’re not a bad demon just because you like flowers and fairies ok?

So I might have forgotten to mention I’m part wolf. 

And Without Meesh, I would have never learned to fly on my own

\Well, maybe we can show the fairies- and demons- what we’re like by giving each other another chance.  

Review

Rating:5 stars (9.14/10)

Characters-9

I loved the characters in this Graphic Novel. Meesh was such a sweet character, different from the other demons, and what one would classify as a stereotypical demon, and I loved her so much. Meesh knew that she was different, and embraced that she was different from others around her. Nouna was a fairy, and she was one who was her own person, despite what people said to her. Meesh and Nouna had a beautiful friendship, and I loved how they interacted in the story. The other characters in the story were also wonderful, and I enjoyed them as well. 

Plot-9

Meesh the bad Demon had an interesting story. I loved how both Meesh and Nouna’s stories intertwined, They wanted to help each other because they saw that they could be happy if they  helped each other. The story also showed that fairies and demons can be friends, and they can work together for the greater good.  I loved this story, and how much it showed that the demons and the fairies could get over their differences, and work together. 

Writing and art-9

The writing in Meesh the Bad Demon is delightful. I loved how the writing was great for Middle-Grade readers would enjoy, along with adult readers. The art style in this game is one that is charming, and I loved the color pallets used. The art in this graphic novel works with the writing to tell the story, and I loved how the art works well with the writing to expand on the story. There were lighter scenes, and heavier scenes, and each of its own distinct style and color pallet used in the scene. 

Enjoyment-9

I loved this story so much. The story was amazing, and the characters, writing, and art were fantastic. I recommend this for fans of Middle-Grade Fantasy, and for readers who enjoy it.

About the Author

Michelle Lam is a Los Angeles based story artist in the animation industry, a graphic novel author and illustrator, and cartoonist on social media. She assistant directed the CG animated series ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (Netflix / Tonko House), storyboarded and wrote for I Heart Arlo (Netflix), and storyboarded for Arlo the Alligator Boy (Netflix / Titmouse Animation) and Trash Truck (Netflix / Glen Keane Productions). Animation work aside, Michelle moonlights as an author and illustrator with her first graphic novel Meesh the Bad Demon (Penguin Random House Knopf), and creates autobiographical comics on her Instagram @mewTripled. She shares her life and career experiences through the form of videos on Youtube also under @mewTripled.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | YouTube | LinkedIn

Follow the Blog and Instagram Tours

March 20th
Midsummer Night’s Read – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

March 21st
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post
Paiges of Novels – Review, Favorite Quotes

March 22nd
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
Boys’ Mom Reads! – Review

March 23rd
Twirling Book Princess – Promotional Post
Lemmi Bookmark That! – Top 5 Reasons to Read Meesh the Bad Demon
dinipandareads – Review

March 24th
And On She Reads – Review
The Clever Reader – Review

March 25th
Kait Plus Books – Promotional Post
deepireads – Review, Mood Board

March 26th
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review
The Momma Spot – Review

March 20th
mamadaughterbookclub – Review, TikTok
morningstarlitpages – Review, Favorite Quotes
kathreadsall – Review
popthebutterfly – Content Creator’s Choice

March 21st
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
hodophile_z – Review, Favorite Quotes
booksnraedunn – Review, Creative post: Food Related to Meesh the Bad Demon
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice

March 22nd
froggyreadteach – Review, Creative post: Little Free Library
silveryquills – Review
izzyb.books – Review

March 23rd
dhiviepages – Top 5 Reasons to Read Meesh the Bad Demon, Mood Board
castella.and.novellas – Review, Book Look
lemmibookmarkthat – Content Creator’s Choice
dinipandareads – Content Creator’s Choice

March 24th
tbrandbeyond – Promotional Post
luna_reads_ – Journal Spread
thecleverreader – Content Creator’s Choice

March 25th
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post
quirkylitlover – Review
feliciareads11 – Content Creator’s Choice
deepireads – Content Creator’s Choice

March 26th
writingrosereads – Promotional Post
mellasmusings – Review, Favorite Quotes
infinite_bookwork86 – Review
bookdragonstbr – Content Creator’s Choice

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels · 2 Comments

The Moth Keeper by K.O’Neil blog Tour-Review

Thank you Netgalley and TBR and Beyond for E-Arc.

About the Book

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Graphic Novel
Publishing date: March 7th, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Synopsis:

Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? A middle-grade fantasy graphic novel about passion, duty, and found family.

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be?

The nights are chilly in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya’s dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun’s warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

K. O’Neill brings to life a beautifully illustrated fantasy world about responsibility to yourself and your community. The Moth Keeper is filled with magic, hope, and friendship.

Content Warning: depression, trauma, burn out themes, abandonment (historical, shown on page through flashback), ableism (historical, minor)

Review

Note: I used Numbers based on the CAWPLIE System, so the numbers will be out of ten as opposed to five. 

Rating: 4.5 

Characters: 8

The Mothkeeper had wonderful characters. Anya had a mother, but she had found a family in the village, and the found family moments were wonderful. Besides Anya, my favorite character was Estell, Anya’s friend who she really cared for, and they both helped each other. Aimoss is another character in the story that I loved. He was the Moth Keeper before Anya, and they had some wonderful scenes together. 

Plot: 8

As someone who loves stories with celestial elements, this story is wonderful. I loved how the moths were weaved into the lives of the village, and how the villagers like Anya and Aimoss helped them.  The Mothkeeper had a wonderful story about finding yourself. This Graphic Novel is a journey, and I loved the journey that Anya went on. 

Writing: 10

The Moth Keeper was first read by K.O’Neil and I loved the writing so much. When it comes to a graphic novel for me, you need to have a book that matches the tone of the story, and I  felt like The Moth Keeper had that. There were scenes that were lighter in tone, and I just loved how you could tell the characters were having fun. Some scenes in this graphic novel were heavy, and you could tell by the tonal shift between these scenes, and the ones that were might lighter in tone. 

Art style:10

The art style of The Moth Keeper is so cute. I love the warm colors and pallets used in this book. The more intense scenes, or scenes in the night, were colored with dark blues, black, and light yellow due to the months. I love how the color pallets matched what was going on in the scene.  Overall, this was a lovely art style, and I loved how it helped set the story of the book. 

Enjoyment: 9 &Recommend for

I really enjoyed this story. I had a blast reading this and the story was so sweet. I loved the characters, and how they were all connected. I recommend this if you enjoy Middle-Grade Graphic Novels. 

About the Author

I am a self-taught writer and illustrator based in New Zealand. I’m interested in nature and all kinds of creatures, mindfulness and mental health, and the magic of every day life. To date I have published three books, which have won Eisner, Harvey and Dwayne McDuffie awards for children’s comics, as well as being Cybils Award finalists and featured on the ALA Rainbow List.

Outside of work I love tea and food, plants, transitional seasons, reading, walking and listening to podcasts.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Follow the Blog and Instagram Tours

March 6th
Jenerally Reading – Review
And On She Reads – Review
Twirling Book Princess – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Moth Keeper

March 7th
Kait Plus Books – Journal Spread
The Momma Spot – Review
Kerri McBookNerd – Review

March 8th
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
Rampant Reading Reviews – Review
The Someday Librarian – Review

March 9th
Kappa Reads Books – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Moth Keeper
dinipandareads – Review
Lemmi Bookmark That! – Review, Favorite Quotes

March 10th
laura’s bookish life – Review
Paigesofnovels – Review

March 11th
The Human Curveball – Promotional Post
The Clever Reader – Review
Forever In A Story – Review

March 12th
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review
This Soul’s Devouring Words – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

March 6th
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
dhirviepages – Mood Board
booknotes_athina – Promotional Post
justa.gal.andherbooks – Review
melaniereadsbooks – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Moth Keeper

March 7th
morningstarlitpages – Review
froggyreadteach – Review, Little Free Library Drop
hoardingbooks.herdingcats – Review, Favorite Quotes
bookdragonstbr – Content Creator’s Choice
kerri_mcbooknerd – Content Creator’s Choice

March 8th
writingrosereads – Promotional Post
kathytrihardt – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Moth Keeper
kathreadsya – Review
rampant_reads – Content Creator’s Choice
thesomedaylibrarian – Content Creator’s Choice

March 9th
bookish__paws – Review
wellreadwyvern – Review
dinipandapreads – Content Creator’s Choice
lemmibookmarkthat – Content Creator’s Choice

March 10th
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post
silveryquills – Review, Favorite Quotes
castella.and.novellas – Review, Mood Board
laurasbookishlife1 – Content Creator’s Choice
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice

March 11th
quirkylitlover – Promotional Post
betweenhogwartsandvelaris – Review
luna_reads – Journal Spread
thecleverreader – Content Creator’s Choice
foreverinastory – Content Creator’s Choice

March 12th
tbrandbeyond – Promotional Post
yellow_moon_reads – Review, Journal Spread
hodophile_z – Review, Favorite Quotes
brittyoreads – Review
popthebutterfly – Content Creator’s Choice

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels · 2 Comments

The House that Whispers Blog Tour-Favorite Quotes & Review

Hi! Thank you to TBR & Beyond and Net Galley for the E-ARC

About The Book

Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary
Publishing date: February 28th, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Rep: Queer, Transgender

Synopsis:

From the author of The Best Liars in Riverview comes a subtle exploration of gender identity, family, and the personal ghosts that haunt us all, perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Herring Blake.

Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen’s century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.

To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?

Favorite Quotes

With the shops all closed up, and the fog everywhere, it feels like the end of the world. 

 Usually, it smells like when Mom used to take us with her to the huge university library and I’d find the oldest books I could and stick my nose inside the pages. 

She says I imagine things so hard, I make them true in my mind. 

The Thing I do know is I like being Simon

We claimed every sing thing was evidence of ghosts. Nanaleen’s house is really old, so it’s easy to imagine ghosts haunting it.

Review

Rating: 4 stars

The first thing that stands out about The House that Whispers is the wonderful characters. Simon is the main character, and I enjoyed them as a character. I loved the sisters as well, and how much they cared about Simon. The grandmother was also a lot of fun to read about, and she was so funny. 

At its core, The House That Whispers is a mystery. Simon finds an old photo, and this starts the journey of Simon and their sisters getting answers. This was also a story of finding yourself and the journey that young people go on when growing up. I enjoyed this story, it was fun, and it was also very heartwarming. This story had a happy ending and I was so happy with how the story ended. 

Lin Thompson is a fantastic writer. I loved how the more fun scenes had a fun tone because you could tell the characters were having fun, and you could tell that Lin Thompson had a good time writing this story. The House That Whispers also has some very serious and heartwarming scenes, and these scenes were told with a tone that was heavier as the scenes needed it. 

I recommend this book for fans of Middle-Grade. I really enjoyed the journey of this story and the characters. 

About the Author

Lin Thompson (they/them) is a former children’s librarian, a Lambda Literary Fellow, and the author of two books for middle-grade readers: The Best Liars in Riverview (Little, Brown, 2022), which is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and received a starred review from Booklist, and The House That Whispers (Little, Brown, 2023). Lin grew up playing pretend games in the backyard and basement of their home in Kentucky. Now they get to write pretend stories in the backyard and basement of their home in Des Moines, IA, where they live with their wife and cat.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Follow the rest of the TBR and Beyond blog and Instagram tours

February 27th
Twirling Book Princess – Promotional Post
PopTheButterfly Reads – Promotional Post

February 28th
Kait Plus Books – Promotional Post
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review

March 1st
Boys’ Mom Reads – Review
Paiges of Novels – Review, Favorite Quotes

March 2nd
Stuck in Fiction – Interview
deepireads – Review, Playlist, Favorite Quotes

March 3rd
Lemmi Bookmark That! – Review
Rajiv’s Reviews – Review

March 4th
The Clever Reader – Interview
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post

March 5th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post

February 27th
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post
popthebutterfly – Content Creator’s Choice

February 28th
bookwithacherryontop – Review & Favorite Quotes

March 1st
writingrosereads – Promotional Post
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice

March 2nd
tinybooknest – Favorite Quotes & Mood Board

March 3rd
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
rajivsreviews – Content Creator’s Choice

March 4th
kathreadsya – Promotional Post

March 5th
tbrandbeyond – Promotional Post
infinite_bookworm86 – Review

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels

It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap- Review

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and Net Galley for the E-ARC.

About the Book

Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary
Publishing date: February 21st, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

Synopsis:

Thirteen-year-old Julia would much rather work with horses at the rescue barn than worry about things like dating and makeup. But when her BFF meets a boy at camp, Julia’s determined not to get left behind. After a makeover from her older sister, she posts a picture of herself online and gets a comment from Tyler—a seemingly nice kid who lives across town. As they DM more and more, Julia’s sure that Tyler understands her in a way her family never has. Even better, their relationship earns her tons of attention at school.

Then Julia finds out Tyler’s true plan, and her world is turned upside down. She fiercely guards her secret, but could her silence allow her friends to fall into the same trap?

In this timely, heartfelt debut, author Sydney Dunlap tells a story of a middle-school girl who narrowly escapes becoming a victim of human trafficking and must find her way toward hope and healing after this traumatic event.

Review

Rating-4 stars 

Characters 

Even when reading a Middle-Grade Novel, I still try to find characters that I enjoy reading about. It Happened on Saturday had Julia, a lovely main character, who was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed reading her story. Julia loved horses, and working at the barn, as someone who also loves horses, I loved seeing horses play an element in the story. Nori, Maria, Gabi, and Chloe were fantastic friends to Julia, who had interesting stories of their own to tell. I enjoyed Julia’s family as well because they supported Julia in her love of horses, and they saw how much she loved them. After the events in this book, Julia’s friends and family wanted to help her bounce back, and get better. I just loved how much they all cared for her. 

Plot

It Happened On Saturday follows Julia as she learns the lessons of social media, and what can happen when you talk to strangers online. Sex Trafficking is a subplot of this story, and I feel that readers should know that before they read. This was a story of friendship, finding out who your friends are, and repairing friendships with those close to you. Julia kept things from her friends and family when she was meeting with Tyler, and she also learned the lesson that you need to tell your friends and family where you’re going in case something goes wrong. A support group helps Julia heal, along with her friends and family, and I loved the support group element of this. 

Writing 

Sydney Dunlap tells a very important story with It Happened On Saturday. With a book like this, you need to handle the topics in a way that young readers will understand, but there also needs to be a way that you can teach them the lessons they need to learn, especially when it comes to social media. There were some fun scenes in this book, and these had a light-hearted tone, where you could see the characters were having fun, and enjoying themselves. Given the content, there were also some very intense and serious scenes in this book. They talked these topics about with care, and in a way that readers of any age can enjoy the story and learn something. 

Friendship 

I talked about it in the characters section, but I loved the friendships in this book. It would have been very easy for Julia’s friends to judge her for talking to Tyler, and they might have talked to her parents about it, which wasn’t what Julia wanted. Once Julia tells them what happened,  her friends were supportive, and offered an ear if Julia needed it, but also a way to take her mind off of the situation. Chloe was a friend when Julia needed one in her support group to recover. 

Recommended for & Enjoyment 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a Middle-Grade novel with a lot of heart, and one that tackles tough topics. I really enjoyed reading this story. It was hard to read in some places, but I thought it was an important story. 

About the Author

Sydney Dunlap is a former elementary school teacher who has worked with at-risk youth in a variety of settings, and she enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful fiction that expands young readers’ awareness of tough topics. She is a published poet and has also written for a newspaper. A lifelong animal lover, Sydney lives with her family in a home where the dogs and cats outnumber the people.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Tour schedule for both Blogs and Instagram

February 20th
ReadandReviews – Review

February 21st
Stuck in Fiction – Interview
Jen Jen Reviews – Review

February 22nd
Boys’ Mom Reads! – Review
Rajiv’s Reviews – Review

February 23rd
Kait Plus Books – Interview
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post

February 24th
deepireads – Top 5 Reasons to Read It Happened on Saturday & Mood Board
Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile – Promotional Post

February 25th
The Book Dutchesses – Interview
Paiges of Novels – Review

February 26th
The Nutty Bookworm Reads Alot – Review

February 20th
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post

February 21st
whatkarinareads – Promotional Post
jenjenreviews – Content Creator’s Choice

February 22nd
dreaminginpages – Promotional Post
gryffindorbookishnerd – Review
rajivsreviews – Content Creator’s Choice

February 23rd
writingrosereads – Promotional Post
allielovestoread – Review & Favorite Quotes

February 24th
get.outside.and.read – Promotional Post
christinareadingadventure – Review
quirkybibliophile – Content Creator’s Choice

February 25th
tbrandbeyond – Promotional Post
paiges_of_novels – Content Creator’s Choice

February 26th
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
froggyreadteach – Review & LFL/Classroom post

Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels · 1 Comment

The Many Fortunes of Maya By Nicole D. Collier -Blog Tour-Five Reasons to Read The Many Fortunes of Maya and Favorite Quotes

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and Net Galley for the E-ARC.

About the Book

Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary
Publishing date: January 24th, 2023

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Rep: Black

Synopsis:

In this lyrical novel that will appeal to fans of Meg Medina, Maya turns to her trusty “wheel of fortunes” for guidance on the toughest questions–like why her best friend suddenly feels far away, or when her Daddy will move back home. But can Maya find the courage to write her own fortune?

Maya J. Jenkins is bursting with questions:

Will she get the MVP award at this year’s soccer banquet? Who will win the big grill off between Daddy and Uncle J? When will she pass the swim test and get a green bracelet? For answers and a dose of good luck, 12-year-old Maya turns to her Wheel of Fortunes, a cardboard circle covered with the small slips of wisdom she’s collected from fortune cookies.

But can the fortunes answer her deep-down questions? The ones she’s too scared to ask out loud? Like, where did Mama’s smile go, the real one that lit up everything around her? When will Daddy move back home? And most of all, does she have enough courage to truly listen to the voice in her heart?”

Favorite Quotes

You have firm convictions- stand strong behind them

Your Talents will be recognized and rewarded 

Mama says Daddy’s a soccer snob, for calling it football like that. 

I’m not quitting. I love soccer. I love every minute!

Beauty surrounds you because you create it

You may lose the small ones but with the big ones

Each Fortune is a compass, leading me in the right direction. 

In dreams and in life, nothing is impossible 

Your luck will surface in unexpected ways 

Sometimes the thing that scares you is the best thing for you

Five Reasons to Read The Many Fortunes of Maya

Rating- Four Stars

1-Characters

The Many Fortunes of Maya had fantastic characters. Maya was spunky, and I loved her passion for soccer, and how much she also loved the flute. Maya was a character who knew what she wanted and went after it. Although she had some challenges in the story, she faces them head-on and grows as a person from them. There us also a wonderful cast of supporting characters that help Maya as she discovers things about herself, and her goals in life. 

2- Plot

The Many Fortunes of Maya had a great plot. I’m not much one for sports stories, they’re just not for me, but I really enjoyed the passion that the athletes had. Off the field, the girls also had a fantastic and caring friendship. There was also a love story about Maya’s family that I enjoyed. 

3-Writing 

Nicole D. Collier wrote a fanatic story, and I loved the writing style of the book. The Many Fortunes of Maya was a story talking about a variety of different topics, from soccer, to family, and dealing with separation. They handled these topics with care, and each scene felt new. When talking about soccer, or when Maya was on the soccer field, there was a more lighthearted tone, which I loved because it showed that Maya and her friends where having a good time. When Maya’s parents were separated, or when she was talking about her flute, it was a more heavy tone with the scene. 

4-Friendship

Maya and her friends were so sweet, and they all very much supported each other. Maya and Ginger had a fantastic friendship that I loved reading about because you could tell how much each of them helped each other, and the love they had for each other. At the pool, you could feel the friendship bond with the friends, even though Ginger and the rest of Maya’s friends were in the deep end without Maya. Themes of friendship are all over this novel, and I just loved the friend group. 

5- A Lovely Family 

MJ had a lovely family because they had a bond, even when things weren’t going well for her parents. Even though there was a separation of parents in this book, there was still a bond that her parents had. Both of her parents still loved her even though they weren’t staying in the same house for part of the book. Maya had a bond with each of her parents, one thing they each loved, that she enjoyed as well, so she could talk about it with them. The family barbeques and the music scenes with her uncle were very fun. 

About the Author

Nicole D. Collier, Ph.D., was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has spent the past two decades in education. First as a fourth grade teacher, then teacher coach, and now as a partner at Personality Matters, Inc., an executive training, coaching and consulting firm.

Nicole writes for all ages, but her first love is middle grade contemporary fiction. Young people are trying to discern who they are vs. who they want to be, and how to bridge the gap between the two. Nicole’s stories are in that gap. In particular, she writes about the interior lives of Black girls as they seek their authentic selves.

A self-proclaimed ever-victorious woman, Nicole has been known to run, dance, and turn cartwheels on sunny days.  The Georgia peach has recently relocated to Tampa Bay, Florida.

Her forthcoming novel, The Many Fortunes of Maya (HarperCollins/Versify, Jan ’23) has earned two starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly) and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Follow the Blog and Instagram Tours

February 20th
Kait Plus Books – Interview
A Bronx Latina Reads – Review

February 21st
The Litt Librarian – Review
Sheaf & Ink – Promotional Post

February 22nd
Jen Jen Reviews – Promotional Post
PopTheButterfly Reads – Promotional Post

February 23rd
Stuck in Fiction – Interview
Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile – Promotional Post

February 24th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post
Paiges of Novels – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Many Fortunes of Maya & Favorite Quotes

February 25th
deepireads – Review & Mood Board
laura’s bookish life – Promotional Post

February 26th
YassReads – Interview
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post

February 20th
bookdemonio – Promotional Post
hodophile_z – Review & Favorite Quotes

February 21st
get.outside.and.read – Promotional Post
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sheafandink – Content Creator’s Choice

February 22nd
ninebookishlives – Promotional Post
popthebutterfly – Content Creator’s Choice

February 23rd
christinasreadingadventures – Review
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February 24th
dreaminginpages – Promotional Post
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February 25th
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Posted on by Steph-paigesofnovels · 1 Comment

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert Blog Tour. EARC Review & Favorite Quotes!

Hi! Welcome to my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tour for Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert!

Book Info:

Title: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Publishing Date: January 3, 2023


Synopsis:


From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors–and each other. Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine. Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption–yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.) These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her. Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?


Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57370115-highly-suspicious-and-unfairly-cute
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Highly-Suspicious-Unfairly-Talia-Hibbertebook/dp/B0B52ZKN8C/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highly-suspicious-and-unfairly-cute-taliahibbert/1141693733
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Highly-Suspicious-and-UnfairlyCute/9780593650318
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/highly-suspicious-and-unfairlycute/9780593482346-item.html IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780593482339About the Author:
Talia Hibbert is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.
She writes steamy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include makeup, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. Talia and her many books reside in the English Midlands.

Favorites Quotes


“Whatever magic you and Maria are doing on those kids, you should bottle it and make a fortune.”

“Sorry Medical Truthers, you lost me this time. This cast stays on for at least six weeks. Stay safe, stay weird. “

“Trevor Graeme, you see, loves his family quite a lot and would probably rather die then leave them. “

“I don’t think I noticed how adorable his nose is until I saw his glasses perched on top of it just now.”

“We have been hanging out a lot, and touching a lot, and it’s true that I am unfortunately in love with him, but that doesn’t mean we’re dating.”

“Because what I really want is to spill all my feelings, to say I trust you, yeah, but also I love you and I think I always will, even if you leave me behind.”

“Well take it down a notch, babe. You’re giving me a migraine. And, no Celine’s not here. She went to the bathroom.”

“You’re allowed anywhere you want, I tell her, as long as you’re right here next to me. “

“Right now, we’re everything. Anything. Whatever we want. “

Review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rep: BLPOC, OCD

Characters

Talia Hibbert is known for her fantastic characters in Adult Romance Novels, and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly cute was no different. Celine and Brad were characters that were different from each other, and their dynamic was fun to read. Celine was a character who knew what she wanted and she was focused on that. Contrary to Celine, Bradley was a character who wasn’t sure what he wanted at the start of the book. Over the course of the novel, Brad figured out what he wanted, also that he was going to live his life for himself and find out what makes him happy. Celine and Brad went on a journey in this book, and I loved seeing them grow over the course of the novel. The supporting cast was also fun to read about, and I enjoyed them. 

Plot

I’m not a big camping person, but I loved the expedition elements. I loved seeing Celine and Brad over the course of the story because, like their character journeys, the plot also helps them on their journeys. The stories with their families were interesting as well, and I wanted to see where they were going to go as I was reading. 

Writing 

Talia Hibbert is an excellent writer. I love how she tells a story, and how she uses different tones to tell a story. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute had some light and fun scenes, where you could tell that the characters are having a great time. This novel also deals with some very real topics, such as OCD, doing what you want to do for yourself, and having your own goals. Talia Hibbert tackles these with care and heart.  

Romance

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is at its core, a romance. Celine and Bradley had an incredibly sweet romance. They were best friends, who had a falling out, and then they developed feelings for each other. What made the story even sweeter was that you saw the passion the couple had for each other. 

Enjoyment/ Recommend for

I really enjoyed this! The novel was fun while still discussing some very real topics. I recommend this book to fans of YA romance. Also, folks that enjoy diverse books would enjoy it. 

About the Author

Author Links:

Website: https://taliahibbert.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TaliaHibbert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taliahibbert/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17088554.Talia_Hibbert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaliaHibbert/

Blog Tour Schedule:

January 2nd
Twirling Book Princess – Promotional Post
Bookcheshirecat – Review
PurposelyUnperfect – Favorite Quotes
heylittlesiren – Review

January 3rd
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post
The Momma Spot – Review
Paiges of Novels – Review & Favorite Quotes

January 4th
Justice For Readers – Promotional Post
Lost in Neverland – Review
Kerri McBookNerd – Review & Playlist
Jen Jen Reviews – Review

January 5th
Kait Plus Books – Journal Spread
Kayl’s Krazy Obsession – Review
dinipandareads – Review & Favorite Quotes
Phannie the ginger bookworm – Review & Playlist

January 6th
The Clever Reader – Review
Midsummer Night’s Read – Review
Books Are Magic Too – Top 5 Reasons to Read Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

January 7th
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
paperbacktomes – Top 5 Reasons to Read Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
What Irin Reads – Review

January 8th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post
Reading Stewardess – Review & Mood Board
Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog – Review
the nutty bookworm reads alot – Review