Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: On reread I felt similarly to the first time: I'm glad this book exists and found the plot compelling, even if I took issue with some specific plot points.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson: Jackson is one talented mystery writer! The characters in this sequel felt just as real as in the first book. I liked how the book played with the concept of being a "good girl" and how Pip comes to embrace the authentic but less socially acceptable parts of herself.
Solitaire by Alice Oseman: This was incredibly disappointing. Tori is my favorite character from the Heartstopper series, but in this debut novel that Oseman wrote before Heartstopper, she's so numb from depression that what comes out is nearly nonsensical. It may be an accurate representation, but it made for a terrible reading experience.
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki: I can see why opinions are divided on this graphic novel that's more mood than plot, but I really liked it. I enjoyed the summer atmosphere and the coming-of-age feel to it. Definitely a good summer read.
Velma Still Cooks in Leeway by Vinita Hampton Wright: I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this one. The characters in the book felt real to me, in all their flawed humanity, and there's a painfully realistic depiction of a domestic violence situation at the heart of the plot. Still, the writing and overall plotting was a bit clunky.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: I was glad for the chance to reread this, and my book club had a great discussion about it! There are so many complicated choices that characters make that it just begs for a discussion about what happened, which factors should hold the most weight in difficult decisions, and what to do when different people's best interests come into conflict. And the writing is excellent.
How to Talk When Kids Won't Listen: Whining, Fighting, Meltdowns, Defiance, and Other Challenges of Childhood by Joanna Faber and Julie King: This is How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen 201. The authors don't provide any new tips per se, but they show you how their tried-and-true approaches work in a wide range of situations, from teeth brushing to toy sharing. I highly recommend all of the How to Talk books!
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver: This story of a non-binary teen was a good balance of realism (anxiety, transphobic parents) and hope + cute romance. I'm definitely glad this book is out there, even if the writing had some of the hallmarks of an average YA book that I don't particularly care for.
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers: If A Psalm for the Wild-Built was an existential exploration of identity and purpose, this sequel is an exploration of what it means to live in community and find value in others' efforts in a structure that is not capitalism. It's more world-building than plot, and I may not have found it life-changing, but I'm still grateful to Chambers for writing this slim duology.
Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Lovecraft Country, Jada Sly, Artist & Spy, and A Promised Land
Five years ago I was reading: Infinite Jest and A Piece of the World
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pillars of the Earth
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