YOU, ME, AND OUR HEARTSTRINGS: A Relatable and Brilliantly Orchestrated Disabled Romance

Before I can freak out about the fact that we’re actually touching—or how warm his skin feels against mine—a callus from his cello presses my skin. I have calluses from my violin. Our scars are mirrors, which reminds me that I’m a talented musician, just like him.

Y’all know the drill: I see an upcoming book with ownvoices disability rep, and I make it my mission to read it. That mission was more a priority than ever for You, Me, and Our Heartstrings, which I’d heard about before its announcement, when it was still in its WIP stages. Even then, by premise alone, I knew that I needed to read it—so you can only imagine my excitement when Melissa announced that it would be releasing from Scholastic this year!

ONLY A MONSTER Creative Review Tour: A Monstrously Refreshing Take on Beloved Tropes

In movies, heroes killed monsters all the time. When the cameras moved from the monsters’ bodies, you never had to think about them again.

But when you were the monster, when the monsters killed were the people you loved…

Hello, hello! I am so happy to be partaking in this Creative Review Tour for Vanessa Len’s monstrously refreshing debut Only a Monster, hosted by Literary Bound Tours! I’ve had Only a Monster on my radar (and list of highly anticipated 2022 releases) for many months now, and the opportunity to read it early made for an amazing start to the year.

There will be more posts coming for my stop on the tour today, but I figured there’s no better place to start with my (spoiler: rave) review!

ONE FOR ALL: A Fiercely Fresh Disabled Tale, Tackling Ableism and the Patriarchy with Swords Drawn

They may not be the Musketeers I’d imagined. But they were better, because they were mine. And I knew, as I looked at them and saw the cold steely resolve inside me mirrored in their eyes, that I was theirs.

There is no other book I’d rather start off reviewing this year on my blog than One For All. Is that partly because after nearly two months I think I’m finally ready to put into words how much I loved it, and what it means to me? Yes. All good things take time.

I needed to do One For All the justice it deserves, because it is such an incredible book. It it fierce and fun and I guarantee it will *stab stab stab* its way right to your heart.

THE ART OF RUNNING AWAY: A Layered and Heartfelt Exploration of Identity and the Meaning of Family

Sometimes people go through things we can’t understand. But that doesn’t mean what happened is any less real. Pain doesn’t have to be bloody to hurt.

There is something truly extraordinary about middle grade books. They are fantastical and imaginative and have so, so much heart. They provide some of my absolute favourite escapes. And, truth be told, they are most often the books that render me a sobbing mess.

It is on that final note in particular that The Art of Running Away most certainly delivered.

SKIN OF THE SEA Creative Review Tour: An Engrossing and Immersive Debut

We cannot change the past, only learn from it. What happens next is up to you.

Hello, hello! I am absolutely ecstatic to be the first stop on the Creative Review Tour for Skin of the Sea, hosted by Literary Bound Tours. This has been on my list of anticipated reads ever since it was featured at one of Penguin Teen Canada’s preview events earlier this year, so being selected to participate in the tour and having the opportunity to read Skin of the Sea early was amazing.

I’ve got lots of fun content planned across a handful of my social media platforms, but first—let’s dive in with my review!

THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE: A Throat-Punch of Kindness (and sadness) that Deconstructs Toxic Masculinity

There are people we hang around because it’s comfortable or convenient or safe, then there are our people. When you find them, you’ll know the difference.

Let me just say it: middle grade fiction, especially right now, is putting in the Work™. The sheer scope of everything that middle grade novels are exploring, and unpacking, and offering to today’s younger readers? It’s inspiring. Maybe even a tad bit intimidating.

And Chad Lucas’s debut Thanks a Lot, Universe is an excellent addition to this literary landscape.

WINGS OF EBONY: A Riveting Debut Full of Family, Heart, and Learning to Recognize Your Magic

Sunlight glints off the golden metal pattern written into my arms. I don’t care who sees. This block is family and they’re gonna know all this power stands with them.

When I say that 2021 is stacked with anticipated releases, I mean stacked. Very high up on that list was J. Elle’s debut, Wings of Ebony, so when it fell into my hands I was ecstatic. And now, afterwards, that energy is still there. Wings of Ebony was, in many ways, an absolute Force™.

A diamond, created under immense pressure, that refuses not to shine.

A CURSE OF ROSES: An Utterly Enchanting Debut About Learning to Love Every Part of Yourself—You’ll Be Hungry For More

This was another part of her she’d neglected, a type of affection she’d never feasted upon, and now that she had, she couldn’t keep herself from seeking another taste, from devouring every morsel.

Okay, so—I am coming into this review prepared to fight. Fists raised, knives out, guns blazing. This was such a mesmerizing and beautiful story of self-realization and self-acceptance, and I am finding it quite distressing how many people are ignoring that, or…somehow missing it altogether.

So, I am here to do my part by shouting from the rooftops about the absolutely incredible job Pinguicha does of weaving together a story as magical as A Curse of Roses was (with only one or two puns involved).

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS: It’s About the Yearning, the Betrayal, and the Bloodshed (Step Aside, Shakespeare)

This was what this city did to lovers. It tossed blame around like a slick coat of blood, mixing and merging with everything else until it had left its stain.

I feel this has been happening a lot this year: I find books and, based on synopsis alone, I just Know™ I’m going to love them wholeheartedly. And then I read them. And I love them wholeheartedly.

(pretends to be shocked)

But honestly, These Violent Delights had essentially everything I could have ever asked for, and it has hastily clambered its way to being one of my favourite reads of not just the year, but of all time.

BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL: An Ambitious, Chaotic, and Deliciously Ruthless Debut

I have something I believe in, too. I believe in myself. I believe that I can change things no one else has ever been able to change, and do things no one else has ever been able to do. I don’t care if people love me, or if they think what I do is good. But rest assured, they’re going to know I was here.

Generally speaking, I have a pretty good idea of which books I’m going to vibe with prior to reading. Beyond the Ruby Veil has been sitting near the top of my most anticipated reads list ever since I first heard about it. It was one of those books where I was so excited, I actually put off reading it. (Truthfully, I think other people can relate to this?)

Now that I’ve read Beyond the Ruby Veil, I can confirm that I did in fact absolutely vibe with it, and I want to share the absolute chaos that is this book with everyone I know.