BookCon 2026 Recap - Travel Day and Day 1

BookCon 2026 was a whirl-wind for sure. Day 1 was a lot of standing for me since I didn't get to see any panels that day due to my schedule. There are just way too many things to do at the same time. You definitely need to prioritize what you want to get accomplished for the day because you can't do it all. Despite it being chaotic at times, I had a great time overall at BookCon.

Travel Day - Friday, April 17, 2026

My friend Ellie and I took the Amtrak in the morning from Boston's South Station to NYC. We were lucky that our room was ready when we arrive to the Big Apple. After dropping off our luggage in our room, we ventured out to get a late lunch/early dinner at Cho Dang Gol for some very yummy Korean food. The restaurant was a quick walk from the hotel. After our meal, Ellie and I went to hit up some stores around the city. We checked out Kinokuniya, near Bryant Park. I love that store with all the stationery, art books, and other Japanese anime and mange related books. Such a cute store! I ended up buying a bottle of ink there. Sometime during the afternoon, I believe maybe when we were at the hotel checking in or dropping off luggage, I got an e-mail that I won the lottery to see Death Becomes Her for Saturday! I entered for a few Broadway show lotteries earlier in the morning. I paid about $40-45 for the ticket. I was so excited.

Afterwards, we walked over to the BOOKOFF to look at used manga, games, collectibles, etc. It's a treasure drove for those who are looking for second-hand and lightly used books, CDs, vinyl, cassette tapes, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, game consoles, and collectibles. We ended up stopping by Hey Yogurt for a sweet treat before visiting the Harry Potter store near the Flatiron. Ellie and I definitely took our time to check out each room, took some photos, etc. We needed to head back to the hotel ASAP so we can drop any bags we had before heading to Brooklyn for our super late 10:00 pm dinner reservation at Bong. Ellie has been dying to go to Bong and reservations are very hard to get. She got lucky with getting a reservation but it was a super late one. The food at bong was so good! worth the wait fore sure! I highly recommend the Pomelo Salad.

We didn't get back to the hotel until super late and ran off very little sleep for the first day of BookCon.

BookCon - Day 1, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Wake up time was 7:00 am and we left the hotel a little after 7:30 am. We stopped by this amazing coffee shop called Starstruck Coffee. The cafe was on the way to the Javits Center - North but had very good coffee and very good and filling breakfast sandwiches. I loved the interior of the shop. The music playlist was on point and the vibe was very cool. There were old books, a piano, antique like furniture. Ellie and arrived at the Javits Center a little after 8:00 am. There was already a line forming for standby but we were in row two of the switchbacks. I was so glad that I brought my collapsible stool. That was one of my best pre-con purchases for sure. I ended up using it quite a lot during the con days. The con doors didn't open until 10:00 am so pretty much sat on the stool while I was drinking my coffee and enjoying my sandwich. Ellie and I didn't purchase the VIP passes so we stood in the regular standby line.

Once we were in the entrance, we went had our tickets scanned and we went through security. Then it was free for all and it was chaotic! You need to have a game plan! Everyone was rushing to line up for the in-booth signing tickets and ARC drops. Let's say I barely followed my schedule that I had in mine when I last posted about BookCon in this blog. A lot of things changed since then due to last minute social media drops for times and events.

I made a beeline to the Penguin Random House booth in the exhibit hall on floor 3 hoping to get a ticket for the Elizabeth Lim signing that was happening at 4:00 pm that day. The line was long and it took me over an hour to get to the front of the line. Unfortunately, the Elizabeth Lim signing for Fishbone Cinderella ran out of signing tickets early so I ended up getting one for Reap & Sow by Charlotte Plumb. After obtaining my PRH ticket, I went next door to Macmillan to line up for the Adalyn Grace signing for The Wretched Divine. The signing started around 11:00 am. I was fortunate enough to snag a reservation for Adalyn Grace maybe a couple weeks prior to BookCon after constant refreshing of the BookCon reservations. If you go to BookCon in the future, definitely keep checking to see if someone releases a reservation because you never know if you will be the lucky one to score a highly coveted reservation.

The Adalyn Grace line moved pretty quickly and I was definitely in the first half of the line. Adalyn and I were talking about The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare since she mentioned about trilogy on social media when she was writing the Wretched Divine. I loved how we were able to get candid photos and a posed photo at the signing. 

After the Adalyn Grace signing, there was a galley drop for The Court of Venus at 12:00 pm at Macmillan so I was hovering around the Macmillan booth since I was already there for the Adalyn Grace signing. That drop was all over the place. There was miscommunication regarding where the line started and the folks who were in line super early apparently were in the wrong line and everyone had to walk around the the other side of the booth.

At time time, I was getting super tired and hungry so I found a spot on the main floor to pop up my stool and to hydrate and eat some food I packed. I know I spent some time walking around the Author Alley area on floor 1 and checked out some vendor booths on the same floor. I did check out some vendors on floor 3 as well. There were so many indie vendor booths! It's a book lover's dream! My favorite booth by far was LaCroix's. They had a cute summery pool them going on with a fake pool, table with umbrellas, and lounge chairs. They also gave full cans of tasty LaCroix's to taste as well and they were ice cold! LaCroix also gave out hats and these cute tote bags. I have to say that the tote bag was perfect for hauling my books! It was big enough and sturdy enough to carry all of my stuff.

I knew there was a drop for The Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken at 2:30 pm but the tickets for the drop for that galley and three other titles being handed out around 2:00 pm. I ended up hovering around the HarperCollins booth to see when the official line will form around 1:30 pm. I lucked out with getting a ticket for that drop period. That line was wrapped all the way to the bathrooms! However, when the line was moving and there were only 20 people in front of me, one of the HarperCollins employees mentioned that they were out of of The Immortal Rose and we should think of a backup. I was a little bummed I didn't make it to the line early enough for The Immortal Rose but I was able to pick up Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon. Many of these authors are fantastic so I was excited about their book.

I ended up going to Jasmine Guillory's signing that started at 3:00 pm even though I was super tired from standing all day pretty much. Afterwards, I ended up making a last minute loop around the exhibit hall before heading back to the hotel early. I ended up skipping the Horror panel that I had a reservation for because I was exhausted and I really needed to rest before I went to see Death Became Her. I picked up some takeout from a Thai restaurant around the corner from the hotel and had an early dinner in the hotel room after I took a nice shower. Ellie came back to the hotel when I was eating and she was getting ready to meet a friend in Brooklyn. 

After eating dinner and resting for a bit, I ventured out to the Times Square area for some photos and also to visit the Disney Store there. That store is so whimsical. Very cute and there was even some NYC Disney merch there. I loved the Tangled  decor/mural where the escalator is located. It's beautiful! The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where Death Becomes Her is playing, was down the street from where the Disney Store is located. I had a wonderful seat! Row W in the orchestra but you can see the whole stage from even the back of the theatre. I didn't have to worry about tall people blocking my view since the sloping of the theatre is made for everyone to enjoy the show. And boy, was it a show!!! Death Becomes Her is comedic but the colors and effects were amazing! The talent on that stage was out of this world! If you want to see a show, Death Becomes Her is it! When I think Broadway, I think of Death Becomes Her now. However, back then I didn't know that Death Becomes Her will have the final show end of June. I am so happy I was able to experience it before the closing.

When the show ended, I was able to catch a little bit of the crowd and cast of Hamilton since the theatre showing Hamilton was down the street from where I saw Death Becomes Her. That was pretty awesome to see. I also picked up a couple of big water bottles to bring back to the hotel. 

I have to say that Death Becomes Her was my favorite part of my trip. It was just what I needed after a long day of standing in lines. The Javits was crowded, I was getting overheated due to the A/C not on full blast, and I was getting tired. The show gave me time to sit and soak in a masterpiece. It was just what I needed to revive myself for the next day.

Tune in for my next post for BookCon Day 2 and travel day back home! 

The Flame in the Frost by Olivia Boothe

Title: The Flame in the Frost: A Northern Kindoms Novel

Author:  Olivia Boothe
Publisher: Three Brothers Press
Publication date: June 30, 2026
Pages: 
Source/format: e-ARC from Book Sirens
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

When a cursed Winter Prince and a royal guard with a forgotten bloodline are bound by an ancient prophecy, they become the only ones who can stop a rising enemy—if their forbidden love doesn’t destroy them first.

They tried to silence their bond, but the gods had already sung their fate into the heavens.

In the frostbitten kingdom of Skadgard, Sylvanna Isenwulf has finally claimed her mantle as Captain of the Guard, but her loyalty to the crown is tested when Prince Jökullson “Jack” Drakmyr—her best friend and heir to the Frostbound throne—is forced into an arranged betrothal with a princess he’s never met and an alliance that could ignite war across the northern realms.

Ordered to accompany Jack on a dangerous envoy through the cursed Wildlands, Sylvanna is thrust into a perilous journey filled with ancient magic and deadly creatures. But it is another kind of danger that threatens to unravel their friendship...

Bound by an invisible tether that has pulled at their hearts since childhood, Sylvanna and Jack must not only confront their deepest secrets and darkest desires but choose between the love consuming them at their core or the duty binding them to their kingdom.

And when a ruthless enemy rises, threatening to tear Sylvanna and Jack apart, The Frost Prince must decide to either honor the crown that has caged him his whole life or unleash the deadly monster dormant in his veins—a winter storm fiercer than anything Skadgard has ever faced.

Enough to topple kingdoms. Enough to shatter fate.

The Flame in the Frost is a Norse-inspired Friends to Lovers Jack Frost reimagining romantasy intended for readers 18+. Reader discretion is advised.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

The Flame in the Frost by Olivia Boothe is the first book in the Northern Kingdom series. This novel is a Jack Frost inspired and is written in dual POVs between the royal fae, Jack, Prince Jökullson Drakmyr, and common fae, Sylvanna Isenwulf, also known as Sylvi. In The Flame in the Frost, only royal fae are bestowed with magic. Jack is a fae prince imbued with ice magic and unseelie magic. 21-year-old Sylvi, is Frostbound Court's captain of the royal guard. She is best friends with Jack. Both are fated mates but their love is considered forbidden in their realm.

Sylvi met Jack when she was 7-years-old. Her father was captain of the guard back in the day and brought young Sylvi to the palace to witness the magic of the queen during a celebration for the first snow of the season. When she was lost in the Grove of Whispers, a labyrinth like maze, a shimmering whisp beckoned young Sylvi into the labyrinth and she found Jack in the middle. The light guided her to him. Every since that day, they have been inseparable. 

The Flame in the Frost is a lush and atmospheric high fantasy novel that is woven with lyrical prose. Boothe breathes life into inanimate objects and the writing amplifies the worldbuilding. Sylvi's and Jack's friendship grows over many years and develops into something more in this slow burning romance. Readers can definitely feel the yearning throughout the entire novel. However, Jack's mother, the Queen of Frost, forbids this relationship and arranges a marriage between Jack and Princess Isolde Kaldvalien in order to unite realms of Skadgard and Verrindor to forge an alliance in order to fight Yulereth.

I highly suggest this novel for readers who are looking for a Jack Frost reimagining story that intertwines the best friends to lovers trope in this spicy Romantasy. Jack and Sylvi's forbidden love is fire to the ice. I appreciate Boothe adding a glossary in the back for the novel so readers can further understand the realms and Nordic phrases. 

The Flame in the Frost touches on some of Nordveld (Seven Magical Northern Kingdoms) but I would love to see more characters from the other realms or to see Jack and Sylvi venture out to the other realms in future novels in the series. I want to immerse myself in the worldbuilding that Boothe has created since it's fantastic! This book definitely deserves more hype and for good reasons! I felt very emotionally invested in Jack and Sylvi as characters individually but also together as friends and lovers.

We know that Royal fae is bestowed with magic but what if common fae can wield magic as well? Jack and Sylvi are torn between their duties and their love for one another. How to they manage both? Do they chose one over another? Or does someone chose for them? Check out the Flame in the Frost to find out more!

BookCon 2026

I haven't' blogged in such a long time. I know the book community has shifted the over the years but I am excited to say that I will be attending BookCon this month in NYC! I can't wait for this awesome event despite BookExpo not being around anymore. I am going more for the vibes compared having a set schedule to meet a bunch of authors or to obtain a bunch of books or galleys. 

BookCon is a book lover's dream! BookCon is two-day convention where storytelling and pop culture collide. There are panels, author signings, an indie alley, and a show room with publishing companies and vendors selling bookish things. There are book swaps, a place to meet new people and also space to reunite with old friends, book related demonstrations, etc. and more! The con is a space for folks to celebrate their love for books and reading. BookCon will take place a the Javits Center in Hudson Yards in NYC.

It's going to be a shift from late May to having the con in April but I am excited to visit NYC again. I haven't been there since 2017ish and I can't wait to go back. BookCon sold out fast both rounds when it was on sale and no surprise. After the pandemic, it seems like a lot of bookish cons have popped up and have become extremely popular. I am fortunate that my friend Ellie was able to snag us tickets for BookCon in December for both Saturday and Sunday. 

The whole reservations situation to select author signings and panels that required reservations was pretty chaotic. Folks were given a random number in the queue and were allowed to select up to 4 signings and 2 panels per day for general admission. But we all found out that you can only book things if you have a good queue number. Many people were not able to book reservations because by the time they got into website for their turn, nothing was left over. Some people were fortunate to grab at least 1-2 things if they were not in front of the line. 

I get that people mention that there are always standby lines for things for no reservations but you definitely need to queue up at least an hour beforehand for a panel or signing to hopefully get in. There will be standby lines for panels and signings that have reservations but definitely line up for those super early. I believe for panels and signings with reservations, you need to hop into the panel line at least 15 minutes before the start of the panel or you will forfeit your spot even though you have a reservation. And for the author signing, you need to be in line for the reserved signing at least 30 minutes before the start of the signing. BookCon will pull people from the standby line if there are spots available.

BookCon Plans

Personally I am going to wing most of the con since I don't want my experience to be mainly line con. I want to do things unless I know I definitely can get into something I really want to attend. Only time will tell. I plan to spend a good chunk of the time on the show floor checking out vendors, indie authors, publishers, etc. I want to learn about a lot of upcoming titles for the rest of the year and maybe discover some artists and authors and that I don't know about. I am excited about some vendors that I have been following for years. Oddment and Tweak, Sunset Road Co., The Colorful Geek and Laserbrain Patch Co. will all be at BookCon and I am so excited to visit their booths.

I can say that there are some authors I hope to see during the con but we'll see if I can even make their signing line in time before the lines are closed. Some of the authors I hope I get to see include Dustin Thao and Adalyn Grace.

I was not successful in obtaining a reservation for Saturday's Adalyn Grace ARC signing of The Wretched Divine but hopefully I can make it to one of her other signings during the con. I know she has a pre-panel signing on Sunday that has a standby line and she has another one at the Steamy Lit booth on the show floor.

For indie authors, I am definitely swinging by Olivia Boothe's and K.Sinko's tables. I was able to read The Frost in the Flame before publication date and BookCon exclusives of the book will be available at Olivia's table. I pre-ordered that edition for pickup and also pre-ordered several of K.Sinko's titles.

For panels, I hope I get lucky to get into Classic Retellings with a Modern Twist on Saturday morning. The show floor opens at 10:00 am and this panel starts at 11:00 am so not sure how early I can queue up to get into the line for the panel if I want to hit the show floor first thing in the morning. The Classic Retellings panel feature Kalynn Bayron, Ryan Douglass, Jesmeen Kaur Deo, Elizabeth Lim, and Danielle Paige. The panel will be moderated by Aurora Dominguez. There will be a post-panel signing as well. The panel I really want to attend is Then/Now: The Evolution of Your Career Since That 1st Book with Meg Cabot, Melissa de La Cruz, Kami Garcia, Ann M. Martin, and moderator Libba Bray. I am not sure if I will be able to get into the panel since this one of the Main Stage panels with no reservations and I feel like this panel is going to be hard to get into unless I queue up over an hour early for.

On Sunday, I plan to check out the show floor in the morning and relax a bit until the afternoon. So many good things are happening in a short period of time and Sunday is the shorter day for the con. One of Adalyn's signings is at noon so we'll see how long the line is for that signing since there are no reservations. I got lucky to snag a reservation to meet Julie Murphy, who will be signing ARCs of The Undergrads: Student Union at the Macmillan booth. So I am definitely going to that signing in the afternoon.

Both days have a fore-edge painting demonstration by Gillisi Art (@gillisiart) and if I have time, I might check one of the demonstrations out. There is a Page to Screen panel at the end of the day that I was able to secure a reservation that sounds very intriguing. Authors Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven), Robinne Lee (The Idea of You), May Cobb (The Hunting Wives), Andy Weir (Project Hail Mary) will discuss their books and the movie and TV adaptations.

If for some chance I cannot get into the Page to Screen panel, I plan to check out Into the World of Romantasy: Exploring the Marriage Between Genres. Stacia Stark, Elise Kova, and Adalyn Grace will discsus why the pairing of romance and fantasy works so well and how they balance the elements integral to each genre. The panel will be moderated by John Jacobson.

Are you planning to attend BookCon? Who will I see in a couple of weeks?

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

Title: You've Reached Sam

Author:  Dustin Thao
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication date: November 9, 2021
Pages: 305
Source/format: Hardcover//library
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com): Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail.

And Sam picks up the phone.

In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the suffering Sam’s family is going through. Unable to stand by the sidelines and watch their shared loved ones in pain, Julie is torn between spilling the truth about her calls with Sam and risking their connection and losing him forever.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao starts off with how Julie met Sam in Ellensburg, WA. The prologue gives readers context of how Julie and Sam first met and how they started their friendship which ends up budding into something more. Fast forward to after the death of Sam, Julie is having a hard time grieving; she skipped his funeral. Julie tries to process her emotions by gathering all the items that reminds her of Sam in order to get rid of his belongings/gifts. As she touches each item, she gives a a glimpse of a memory of her past with Sam such as his favorite denim jacket that he lets Julie borrow after it rains during a Screaming Trees concert. 

If you are looking for a character driven novel, this is it! Thao delves the emotions and the character development of Julie, Sam and even some of Julie's friends and family. The way Thao writes is somewhat poetic. The reader can feel the emotions and can picture them at the scene of each memory. I haven't cried when reading a book since In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. I'm hardly teary-eyed when I read a novel but sometimes the author's words tugs at your heartstrings in a way you empathize with the characters. You feel their sadness, their loneliness and their grief. You want to comfort them somehow. 

At the end of senior year of high school, Julie is trying to get by each day. It's already hard to be in high school, waiting for the college acceptances and processing the death of a loved one. Mika, Yuki, Rachel, Jay, Tristan and Oliver only want the best for Julie even if she pushes them away at times. Readers learn how Oliver and Mika are processing Sam's death. Julie realizes how others are processing their grief and that they need her. Even Sam needs her. That voicemail at the end broke me! The whole novel comes full circle with that voicemail. 

You've Reached Sam is a heartbreaking novel that readers can relate to. How does one process grief after losing a loved one? We join Julie during her journey through grief, recovery and acceptance. The magical realism of hearing Sam through a phone call is exuberating! It gives Julie the time to say goodbye and to find some closure. This actually reminds me of Landline by Rainbow Rowell where a phone call can create an opportunity for the main character to find explore their past, present and future selves.

I highly recommend You've Reached Sam. It's a beautifully written debut novel and I am looking forward to future books by Thao. 

Hello, Again! How are you?

So it's been awhile since I posted here. With the pandemic still looming, it's been incredibly hard to balance my work and personal life. But I am happy to see that a lot of changes have been made since last year. I'll update you what I have been up to lately and what I am looking forward to for the holidays and the rest of the year. 

NEW APARTMENT

Sometime in the summer, my husband and I decided to relocate and we moved to an apartment that had a better work commute for the both of us. We ended up moving early September. I love the apartment! The living room has the best natural light since it's a south facing room. I finally have my own bookcase. I used to have all of my books in boxes at my previous residence. So, it's nice to see most of my books on shelves. However, I own way too many books and I have to donate or sell a bunch. I am trying to cull my collection and only keep my favorites or nostalgic books. Some of the books I own carry many memories like I met the author or the book created a huge impact in my life. 

The kitchen is probably the biggest room in the apartment which I love because I enjoy baking and cooking. I cannot wait to try out new recipes this year. I have been slowly building up my cookbook collection over the years. Although the bedroom is small, it's quite cozy and gets a decent amount of light for most of the day. I am very excited that I am close to town, public transit, a bomb.com diner, and a lot of great places to eat. I am super close to a bubble tea shop which is awesome in my book.

WORK

Work started back in person five days a week in mid-August. Let's say it's been rough since I was working 1.5 years at home with going into work one day a week. Transitioning from one to five days has been a lot on me. I always feel guilty taking off time since we are super understaffed. At least when I was working at home, I didn't feel the need to take a lot of time off. I guess it's healthy to take a break once in awhile but I despise going back to work with more things to go compared to when I left work.

Speaking of time off, I am going on vacation. Yes, I am a little nervous about it since I will be on a plane but I figured it's safer on a plane than me commuting on subway to work everyday. At least airlines are very strict with the masking protocols. My place of employment is super strict with surveillance testing even though over 95% of people here are fully vaccinated. We also have to do daily symptom checking. An app lets us know whether we are cleared to go on-site or if we are restricted.

WWoHP and Orlando Informer Meetup

So back to the vacation...I will be visiting the Wizard World of Harry Potter (WWoHP) in December as part of the Orlando Informer Meetup (OI Meetup)! I am so excited! It's legit the week after Thanksgiving and my friend, Jess, and I have been planning this trip since maybe earlier this May. We got a good deal on the hotel too. I cannot wait to return back to the WWoHP. I haven't been there since maybe 2016. Jess has never been to the WWoHP and I cannot wait to show her the magic. We will make a lot of memories in December. And I am so excited we are going during the holiday season. All the decorations will be up and the shows will be tweaked to include holiday theming. I cannot wait to have some frozen Butterbeer and also to try the hot Butterbeer. And can I say no humid, hot Florida summer! Yes, please!!!

Although I traveled around New England during the past couple of years, New Hampshire and Maine in particular, going to Florida is a huge step. Many of my conventions I had planned for 2020 were postponed to 2021 and then they are postponed yet again to 2022. I am not sure if the 2022 conventions will happen but at leas this magical trip will happen. Before people panic about the increase COVID cases and lax protocols in Florida, Jess and I are going to an afterhours event where there is less people going into Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Masking is required indoors. The parks are practically empty and I heard maybe 2 rides have lines. Most rides are walk-ons.

We enter the parks at 5:00 pm on Friday, December 3rd and on Saturday, December 4th. The public will need to vacate the premises by 7:00 pm on Friday and 8:00 pm on Saturday. We OI Meetup goers will then be able to roam around both parks until 12:30 am for the Friday meetup and 1:30 am for the Saturday meetup. And can I say that the admission includes unlimited free food!! Yes, you heard that right...Unlimited free food at the parks and also non-alcoholic drinks! So that means free Butterbeers and ice cream from Florean Fortscue's! Of course there is real food too. Can't load up on all that sugar all night long. However, each attendee with receive a $15 meal card for each day of attendance for eating a small meal before the free food sessions are launched. I believe the free food starts around 8:00 pm on Friday and 9:00 pm on Saturday.

For more information about the meetup, check out the Orlando Informer Meetup webpage. I heard that the meetup for next year is June 3-4, 2022. If you are interested, make sure to get your ticket early and book your hotel early. With the OI Meetup, you get access to discounted on-site hotel rooms. The discount is pretty substantial too. 

Also, speaking of Harry Potter, this month is the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone film. WOW! It's crazy how it's been 20 years! I remember being a freshman in high school when I saw the film for the very first time. 

All I can say is that I am looking forward to a magical end of the year. I might even do a mini HP marathon of the films before my trip. Be on the lookout for a blog post or two regarding my Orlando Informer Meetup recap. I cannot wait to share the magic with you!

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Title: In Five Years

Author: Rebecca Serle
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: March 10, 2020
Pages: 225
Source/format: Hardcover gifted
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Where do you see yourself in five years?

When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend's marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.

But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.

After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.

That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.

Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

I haven't read a book in awhile that tugged at my heart strings. The question at many interviews is "where do you see yourself in five years?" It's definitely easy said than done. At first you think you are reading a typical contemporary novel where a woman is trying to juggle her career with her romantic love life.

Dannie has a promising career and her boyfriend popped to question to marry her. You would think that everything will be a happy ever ending and everything will go according to planned. One night, Dannie has a dream. This is no ordinary dream but a dream that will haunt her for the rest of her life since she has a different ring on her hand, she is in a different home and there is a different man in her life. What is going on?

However, this dream is more like a premonition of something that will happen to Dannie in her future but Dannie doesn't know the details of how she got there. While she tries to collect the pieces of this puzzle, time flies by to almost five years which is when the events occurred in her dream. Dannie has no clue if the dream will come true but she is determined to do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't. The premonition is part of her fate and she cannot undo her fate. She can only accept her fate. 

The way Rebecca Serle writes about relationships is realistic. She writes like the reader is at the scene to witness these companionships. We see how the relationships grow and how much they mean to each of the characters. I loved the friendship between Dannie and Bella. They are there for each other no matter what. During the good times and the bad times, they are always thinking of one another. They grow older together and they each grow to be better person. While the relationship with Bella grows, her relationship with her boyfriend, David, becomes more stagnant. 

Serle created a novel that is relatable yet she adds a bit of magical realism to novel. The twist at the end completely caught me off guard but it makes so much sense. I haven't sobbed over a book for a long time. Serle penned characters who I had grown close to like good friends. So when one character is in anguish, I can feel their anguish. I can feel their happiness when some good happens. 

In Five Years has some heavy content. There is instances of death, cheating, grief, etc. This is not a light hearted book but it covers topics in occur in real lives.

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

Title: A Pho Love Story

Author: Loan Le
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 9, 2021
Pages: 416
Source/format: e-ARC from publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favorite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighboring restaurants.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

A Pho Love Story is a cute contemporary romance about Linh Mai and Bao Nguyen who both have parents that run a pho restaurant on the same street. What complicates things the most is that their families are rivals. With this budding romance between the two teens, Linh and Bao must endure facing many obstacles.

Loan Le tackles some topics such as racism and immigration. The novel included a lot of descriptions regarding food that make your mouth water. The novel has dual perspectives. However, I found it hard to differentiate which character is speaking at times. Is it Linh or is it Bao that is speaking? Sometimes that have a similar voice unless I understand the context of what they are talking about. I enjoyed reading about the blossoming friendship that becomes something more between Linh and Bao. Nothing was too forced or rushed between them. Also, the pacing of the book is slow in certain sections compared too others.

Vietnamese culture incorporates the language, the food and the customs within A Pho Love Story. As with many Asian cultures, careers or interest in things like art is not praised. Linh is very passionate about art but it's hard to pursue that path when her family want something more for her. Gaining the acceptance from her family has put a damper to her confidence. Bao, on the other hand, is still in a phase where he is trying to find himself and what he wants in life. Many teenagers don't know what they want to do with their life and Bao reflects that perspective.

A Pho Love Story is modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a Vietnamese twist. The novel is also a discovery of one's self and a coming-of-age story.

Everything That Burns by Gita Trelease

Title: Everything that Burns

Author: Gita Trelease
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication date: February 2, 2021
Pages: 448
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆1/2

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Magic. Betrayal. Sacrifice

Camille Durbonne gambled everything she had to keep her and her sister safe, and now the Vicomtesse de Seguin seeks a new life in Paris. But revolution roils the bloody streets and “aristocrat” is a dangerous word. Safety may no longer be possible.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Camille prints revolutionary pamphlets, sharing the stories of girls.

M Y  T H O U G H T S 

Camille Durbonne is back and fine as ever. Living a life of a well off young lady, she is a feminist and pushes for the rights of women in France. Because she couldn't sell her pamphlets at the local bookstore, the bookkeeper mentions the revolutionary pamphlets would not capture the interest of the masses since he cannot merely suggest women being true citizens.

During the first novel, All That Glitters (Enchantée), Camille was able to bring her sister and herself to safety from a life of poverty after the deaths of her parents. She was able to use magic and glamours to climb the ladder and to provide for her family. In Everything That Burns (Liberté), there is a bigger focus on feminism and equality. Camille wants to share her and her father's ideas through revolutionary pamphlets about girls whose stories need to be told. These are girls who live in outskirts of society; they are marginalized. These marginalized girls are the Lost Girls living in the Flotsam House are the ones Camille helps and seeks to have their voices to be heard.

And then there is Louis XVI who declares that magic a crime and all magicians are traitors. While Camille is very adept to magic, she must be careful while walking the dangerous path. She must hide her true self in order to stay safe. In Everything That Burns, the feminism takes the driver seat in the plot while the magic takes the backseat. The dazzling breath of magic fizzles out slowly in the novel since Camille cannot use her glamours and enchantments like before. It's less turning of coins and more printing of pamphlets. This novel shows humanity's true self and what issues the people suffer through everyday.

Everything That Burns shows what is underneath all the glitz and glamour of the royal courts. The nitty gritty truth of the revolution is rising to the surface. All though the magic isn't as charming, Everything that Burns has wonderful characters. I wish this is a more plot driven novel but I do enjoy the character development. Readers are reunited with familiar characters such as Camille, Sophie, Lazare, Chandon, Rosier, etc. but they also introduced to a variety of new faces of the Lost Girls such as Giselle, Odette, Henriette and Celiné. 

I recommend both All that Glitters and Everything That Burns for readers who are interested in a dark historical fiction duology. 

Admission by Julie Buxbaum

Title: Admission

Author: Julie Buxbaum
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: December 1, 2020
Pages: 304
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes an of-the-moment novel that peeks inside the private lives of the hypercompetitive and the hyperprivileged and takes on the college admissions bribery scandal that rocked the country.

It's good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer. She's headed off to the college of her dreams. She's going to prom with the boy she's had a crush on since middle school. Her best friend always has her back, and her mom, a B-list Hollywood celebrity, may finally be on her way to the B+ list. It's good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer--at least, it was, until the FBI came knocking on her front door, guns at the ready, and her future went up in smoke. Now her mother is under arrest in a massive college admissions bribery scandal. Chloe, too, might be facing charges, and even time behind bars. The public is furious, the press is rabid, and the US attorney is out for blood.

As she loses everything she's long taken for granted, Chloe must reckon not only with the truth of what happened, but also with the examination of her own guilt. Why did her parents think the only way for her to succeed was to cheat for her? What did she know, and when did she know it? And perhaps most importantly, what does it mean to be complicit?

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Chloe Berringer is your average student who is trying to obtain a high SAT score in order to get into a good college. She attends Wood Valley and is super stressed out about the SATs. Chloe's best friend, Shola, has amazing SAT scores and high GPA, which causes Chloe to freak out a bit whether Chloe will succeed in life since she struggles academically. 

Admission flips back and forth between the present (now) and past (then) of what is happening now when Chloe's mother is arrested and charged for being apart of an admissions scandal and the past of what events lead to the scandal. Readers see what it's like for being the teenager whose mother is involved in such a scandal.  Dealing with the pressure of being a teenager is already hard enough. Now Chloe must endure cyberbullying and doxing as Chloe tries to navigate her life after her mother is arrested.

What hurts even more is Levi, Chloe's boyfriend, doesn't want to talk to her anymore after learning about the scandal. She tries to tell him it's not what he thinks but he blocks her via text. Chloe is devastated so many people hate her. Even Shola refuses to return Chloe's texts. Chloe feels alone and even her lawyer tells her not to talk to anyone. This isolation affects her immensely.

Julie Buxbaum's novel touches upon college admissions bribery scandals that have happening lately involving celebrities. I love how she included text messages involving Shola/Chloe, Levi/Chloe and the encrypted chat Chloe has with other teenagers involved with the admissions scandal. This makes the story plot realistic and current. 

Admission includes huge theme about what privilege means including socio-economical privilege and racial privilege. Shola tries to show Chloe what it is like not to be super rich and not to be white. Things are not handed to people on a silver platter. Shola talks about FAFSA and Chloe had know clue what Shola was talking about. Shola tells Chloe that she doesn't have any private tutors or private consultations for appointments. She even tells Chloe how her younger siblings didn't get into Wood Valley and how she didn't get into Southern California College, a college Chloe gains an acceptance letter to. Shola tries to describe what it is like in her shoes when she mentions to Chloe, "Welcome to the real world, Chlo." But instead, Chloe says, "Maybe you guys should move to a better school district." What a slap in the face! 

I found Chloe to be a bland in personality. She is always putting herself down and whining about everything. There is nothing interesting about her. Chloe is insensitive and is stuck in this super privileged bubble that she doesn't see the struggles of others. She is super naive. I don't understand how she didn't think it was strange to take a SAT test at another site who doesn't ID SAT test takers, to give her college application login to a random person or to overhear a "donation" for 250k. Chloe didn't even question these random requests. I would love to get to know Shola better in a short story or a companion novel. Reading Shola's journey to success would be a great read and it would be inspiration for many teenagers.

Overall, Admission is a novel for readers who want to read a fictionalized version of the college admissions scandals. I highly suggest readers to pick up Tell Me Three Things, also by Buxbaum, and is also set at Wood Valley. 

Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch

Title: Love & Olives

Author: Jenna Evan Welch
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: November 10, 2020
Pages: 512
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Liv Varanakis doesn’t have a lot of fond memories of her father, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and will she fly out to Greece and help?—Liv jumps at the opportunity.

But when she arrives to gorgeous Santorini, things are a little…awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. And yet Liv doesn’t want their past to get in the way of a possible reconciliation. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo—her father’s charismatic so-called “protégé”—to witness her struggle.
And that means diving into all that Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the hidden caves, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a Mamma Mia–inspired tale about a teen girl finding romance while trying to connect with her absent father in beautiful Santorini, Greece.

M Y  T H O U G H T S 

Liv Varanakis lives with her mother and her stepfather in Seattle. Her father left her family when she was about eight and he currently lives in Santorini, Greece. Liv has always had a good relationship with her father and when she was younger, she would always be Indiana Olive uncovering the secrets of Atlantis with her dad. One day, a postcard with her name on it beckons her to Greece. She refuses to go but her mother convinces to reunite with her father for 10 days.

So during the summer before senior year, Liv travels to Greece. At first her father is no where to be found and she has to hop on a motorbike with Theo, her father's friend's son, in order to meet her father at Oia. Liv spends time in Greece to mull over what life means to her. Her boyfriend wants her to go to Stanford but she really wants to go to RISD to pursue art. Liv tries to forgive her father and to make up for lost time. I love how Theo nicknames Liv Kalamata. Even though Theo and Liv don't warm up to each other at the beginning, their relationship slowly blossoms. And the fact that Theo wants to be an adventure filmmaker, it definitely intrigues Liv. In Love and Olives, Liv breaks out of her shell and embraces who she is not only as a person but to really hone on her artistic skills and to make long lasting relationships. 

Jenna Evans Welch not only transports her readers to another beautiful European country but she is able to tell us a wonderful story. I love how Welch starts each chapter with one of the items that Liv's father left behind...from Big Red chewing gum to pages of Plato's Timaeus and Critias. Liv is able to reconnect with her father through a documentary they are filming about finding Atlantis for National Geographic. They both rekindle their daughter/father relationship over one of their favorite things they bond over. 

I highly suggest Love & Olives for readers who are consumed by wanderlust and those who want to be transported somewhere new. I also enjoyed reading other books by Welch such as Love & Gelato and Love & Luck. 

Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

Title: Rent a Boyfriend

Author: Gloria Chao
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: November 10, 2020
Pages: 400
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets The Farewell in this incisive romantic comedy about a college student who hires a fake boyfriend to appease her traditional Taiwanese parents, to disastrous results, from the acclaimed author of American Panda.

Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn’t met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your ’Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

Drew Chan’s passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your ’Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like “Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures” comes naturally to him.

When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they’ll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.

But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not ’rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything?

M Y  T H O U G H T S 

Chloe Wang hires a fake boyfriend, Drew Chan, from Rent for Your 'Rents to take home to her parents during the holidays. However, who would have known that she will fall in love with Drew. Sometimes love can be found in the most unexpected places and situations.     

Chloe wants to appease her parents and to get away from Hongbo Kuo. While her parents try to set up an arranged marriage, Chloe wants to make her own choices. Drew takes on the job as pretend boyfriend in order to earn money so he can pursue his dream being an artist. 

From the first page, I fell in love with Gloria Chao's writing. It reads effortless and smoothly. I love Chloe from the start and understood exactly how she feels when she has those internal monologues. Rent a Boyfriend is written in two POVs with Chloe and Drew alternating chapters. Chloe and Drew both are hilarious. Their reactions to what Chloe's parents have to say are priceless. I couldn't stop chuckling when reading the novel.

I can understand how Chloe feels about the expectations her parents pave for her. Although my parents let me choose my own path in life, I can relate to typical Chinese expectations and wants for their children. Chao's incorporates humor within the novel and showcases cultural differences between Chinese culture and the western culture. I appreciate her subtext regarding certain Chinese traditions and concepts. Things like mentioning mooncake points instead of brownie points makes the characters more believable. 

Rent a Boyfriend is a heartfelt contemporary novel where family expectations, finding yourself and cultural identity collide. Join Chloe and Drew on a love adventure they didn't know existed.

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-Bookish Hobbies

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and the meme moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks bloggers to list their top ten non-bookish hobbies. The following bookish hobbies are in no particular order. 

1. Baking and cooking - I love baking but I am starting to like cooking much more lately. I love stumbling upon recipes and trying to create scrumptious dishes. Not only is baking and cooking fun, but you save so much money eating at home and you can tweak the recipe to your liking. Also, it's always fun to cook and bake with loved ones.

2. Needle Felting - I stated needle felting when I attended a workshop at a Harry Potter Convention. I was hooked! There is something satisfying stabbing wool to create an ornament or a little figure. It's a create way to relieve stress and to create something new!

3. Playing Animal Crossing - I am a new fan to Animal Crossing and can I say that I am obsessed with Animal Crossing New Horizons! It's so much fun and I am enjoying being able to visit friends virtually since we cannot visit people during the pandemic. The game has been a life saver and has helped me greatly during these unprecedented times. Also, I love the seasonal events! So much fun!

4. Drinking tea - I love drinking tea during the colder months. I am very fond of loose leaf tea. I like to relax with a steaming mug of delicious tea whether it be a strong black tea to a soothing green tea. Tea invokes memories for me. It brings out the emotion and it's pauses time. I love meeting up with friends for afternoon tea during non-pandemic times. Nowadays, I love to curl up with a book while drinking tea.

5. Walking outside - I love walking outside especially during autumn. The crunch of the leaves, the brisk autumn air, the eye-catching foliage and the sweater weather is everything that I can wish for in a perfect walk.

6. Listening to music - Music definitely makes me feel better. I feel more at peace when I can open Spotify and play a song I want to hear or when I discover a new artist. I have been enjoying K-Pop lately and have been obsessed with groups like (G)I-dle, Blackpink and Dreamcatcher. I am also a huge fan of The Harp Twins. Camille and Kennerly are so talented! They cover metal/rock music and they also do covers of fandom related songs as well with harps! Lately, they have been creating their own music which features their Nordic heritage. 

7. Traveling - I do miss traveling and I hope to travel more once the pandemic is over. There is something intriguing and inviting when you visit a new place. There is so much to explore and to take in. I love learning about the history and the culture of new places I visit. 

8. Trying new restaurants - Speaking of traveling, one of my favorite things to do is to try out all the yummy food and drinks at restaurants. My husband and I love eating the local fare. However, we also love trying new restaurants near where we live too. Yum! Food is life and makes me happy!

9. Craft beer - My husband and I love going to brewery tours and trying out craft beers. We even got married at a brewery and had our reception at a biergarten! I do like a good pint! Cheers!

10. Sleeping - I have to admit that I love sleeping in and on days that I can, I will sleep in pretty late. I am not much of an early bird but I can say I am more of a night owl. 

What are some of your favorite non-bookish hobbies? Do we share any hobbies?

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Publication date: October 27, 2020
Pages: 448
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series comes a new blockbuster series…

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Nonna Maria has warned Emilia and Vittoria about the seven ruling princes of Hell and how they must stay away from the Malvagi's followers. Descended from a Goddess, through the di Carlos maternal line, Emilia and Vittoria are witches. They are known as the Daughters of the Moon. Their family is one out of 13 witch families in Palermo.

Although Emilia and Vittoria love listening to the stories of Nonna Maria, they don't take her seriously when she tells them not to go out or to be careful. The clashing of two cornicello necklaces long ago has been kept a secret between the twins for about ten years and Nonna tells the girls they must keep the amulets separate at all costs. 

Most of the novel occurs when the twins are 18-years-old. The prologue occurs when they are eight. As the Gates of Hell weaken over time, a prince of Hell emerges when he is summoned through a spell. The seven sins become the seven princes of Hell, each able to travel through different realms. It happens that Wrath travels to Palermo and Emilia becomes bond to him via a crescent moon/snake tattoo. Readers also learn more of the other princes of Hell has Emilia encounters them. 

The Kingdom of the Wicked is written in first person through Emilia's point-of-view. As Nonna tells Emilia to find forgiveness and acceptance into her her heart, Emilia wants to avenge what happened to her sister. Extroverted Vittoria has been hiding secrets from introverted Emilia and Emilia does whatever it takes to find out the truth. 

Kerri Maniscalco transports readers to an enchanting world in Palermo, Italy where witches hide in secret and dangerous demons roam. Maniscalco's intriguing and atmospheric descriptions tantalizes all the senses. Not only is there mystery in the air but I enjoy reading about Emilia's love for food and the family's trattoria, Sea and Vine. If you love fantasy books with descriptions of food, this is the one to pick up. Not only is Kingdom of the Wicked full of magic, witches, demons and food, but a strong family bond is vital.

I find the notion of turning each of the seven sins into a prince of Hell fascinating and creative. The way Maniscalco describes each prince physical descriptions and their actions is perfect! She captured each sin within an entity. However, the dialogue between Wrath and Emilia seems forced at times and sometimes unrealistic.

Although Kingdom of the Wicked is a fantasy novel, Maniscalco infused her Italian heritage and a family restaurant into this novel. It's great to see how her family lives within the pages of the Kingdom of the Wicked and how her family is an inspiration for the creation of the book. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series. I highly suggest this novel to readers who enjoy the Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber and All that Glitters (Enchantée) by Gita Trelease.

 

"Magic is a living, breathing entity; it thrives on the energy you give it. Like all forces of nature, it is neither good nor bad - it simply becomes based on the user's intent. Feed it love and it blossoms and grows. Nourish it with hate and it will deliver hate back to you tenfold." - Notes from the di Carlo grimoire

"Nightmares didn't last forever. I just had to make it through the night."

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

Title: Magic Lessons
Author: Alice Hoffman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: October 6, 2020
Pages: 416
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

In an unforgettable novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.

Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Unnamed Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.

When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. And it’s here that she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.

Magic Lessons is a celebration of life and love and a showcase of Alice Hoffman’s masterful storytelling.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Magic Lessons is the prequel we have all been waiting for! Readers finally get a glimpse of Maria Owens's story and how the Owens's curse began. For those who are familiar with Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic, you are in for a treat.

Maria Owens was abandoned as a baby in front of Hannah Owens's home. Hannah is gifted at the Nameless Art and acted as a mentor for Maria as Maria grew during childhood. However, Maria did have a chance to find out who her birth mother and birth father are. Unfortunately, they were not all about raising Maria as a family unit due to a complex situation back in the 1600's. Maria eventually sees the harrowing death of someone she looks up to, gets sold in servitude on a boat to Curaçao, works hard to pay off her debt for freedom as a child, falls in love with a man who lives in Salem, gives birth to a child from said man, tries to locate this man in Salem, only to find out he was using her.

What Maria didn't know was that her daughter's father is actually a well-known man in Salem, MA who is married and has a child. Her heartbreak grows while a curse is a-brewing, as readers are immersed in the world of chaos. When I was reading this novel, I was silently rooting for Maria and Samuel Dias even though I know Maria steadfast in finding Faith's father.

Alice Hoffman has a gift in storytelling. She is able to narrate such a wonderful novel. Hoffman weaves historical fiction and magical realism within Magic Lessons. The pacing is steady and spans many years from when Maria was a baby to her adult years. I did enjoy reading sections where we see Faith's perspective when she flourishes helping others with the Nameless Art. Through hard work, love, regret, revenge and heartbreak, Maria lived a difficult life but she always tried to find the light beneath the darkness. She has escaped death several times. Unfortunately, her curse lives among the Owens's women for centuries to come. 

Hunting November by Adriana Mather

Title: Hunting November
Author: Adriana Mather
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 5, 2020
Pages: 368
Source/format: Hardcover//Purchased
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Surviving a few weeks at the world's most lethal boarding school was one thing. But now comes the real test: Can November Adley find her missing father before her enemies find her? Subterfuge is the name of the game in this thrilling sequel to Killing November, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch.

After surviving a crash course in espionage at the mysterious Academy Absconditi, November has only one purpose: finding her missing father. Along with fellow student (and heartthrob) Ash, November follows the clues that her father left, embarking on the deadliest treasure hunt of her life. The first clue is in her hometown, where old friends beckon and unexpected enemies lurk around every corner. The second clue is in Europe, where revelations about her family's history will plunge her into an international web of deception, lies, and intrigue. The third clue is deep in enemy territory, surrounded by the most skilled assassins and master strategists, and where everyone wants her and her father dead. Can one girl with limited training infiltrate a centuries-old organization that is powerful enough to topple empires? November only knows that she'll do whatever it takes to save her father . . . or die trying.

M Y  T H O U G H T S 

Hunting November takes place immediately after the events that occurred in Killing November. November and Ash are on the lookout for November's father and both are granted permission to leave Academy Absconditi. However, the duo must be careful who they interact with and who they trust because the Lions are out to kill them. 

After returning the her hometown, November tries to piece clues together with the help of Ash. Starting her hunt in Connecticut, the duo heads to Edinburgh and London where they meet new faces and reunite with familiar ones. If you've read Killing November, you are in for a treat with reading Hunting November. Although the novel is not set primarily at the boarding school like its previous counterpart, Hunting November is still full of adventure and mystery. Instead of proving herself in front of her classmates, November must outwit the most skilled assassins and strategists of the Strategia.

The pacing of the novel is super fast and there is a lot of action. When I read Hunting November, I am thinking about the cinematography; it truly reads like a movie. The world building of the Strategia world is fantastic while it blends in very well with the modern day normal world. Adriana Mather has elevated the stakes in this novel. Sure, in Killing November, November had to dodge death from a murderer on campus. However, in Hunting November, there is a bounty over several heads and the Lions will not stop until they get what they want. 

November has matured since the start of the first book in the duology. However, the most growth I've seen in a character in the duology is definitely Aayra. She has transformed from from a devious snake to something more complex. She yearns for a true friend and a challenge, which she sees in November. I am also growing more fond of Matteo in this sequel and of course I still love Ash. 

I highly recommend Hunting November and its predecessor for readers who love action, adventure, boarding schools, alliances, betrayal and mystery all rolled in one. Readers will devour this novel if they enjoyed reading the following series: Harry Potter, The Vampire Academy, Bloodlines and/or Stalking Jack the Ripper.

Unravel the Dusk Blog Tour: Review + Moodboard + Favorite Quotes

Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours for this opportunity to showcase the beautifully written Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim. Unravel the Dusk is the sequel to Spin the Dawn, which is part of The Blood of Stars duology. If you are looking for an adventurous and fast-paced fantasy, look no further. This is the duology you need to pick up! I included some of my favorite quotes and a moodboard down below. Check out the rest of the #UnravelTheDusk blog tour for mood boards, favorite quotes, creative features, playlists and more!

Title: Unravel the Dusk
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 7, 2020
Pages: 368
Source/format: ARC//Giveaway via Elizabeth Lim
Genre: YA, Fantasy

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo

Rating: ☆☆☆☆1/2

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

The thrilling sequel to SPIN THE DAWN, a magical series steeped in Chinese culture.
Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.

But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.

YA fantasy readers will love the sizzling forbidden romance, mystery, and intrigue of UNRAVEL THE DUSK.

FAVORITE QUOTES AND MOODBOARD

"We were like the sun and moon, sharing the same stars and the same sky."

"If dying is this beautiful, then I wish I were a tree too. I'd be happy to die and be reborn in the spring."

"Plum blossoms are the first flowers to bud after winter," I remembered. "They're a symbol of hope and purity."..."And new beginnings," Edan said quietly.

Images from Pexels.com and Unsplash.com

ABOUT ELIZABETH LIM

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, "Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that's kinda cool!" But after one of her teachers told her she had "too much voice" in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel -- for kicks, at first, then things became serious -- and she hasn't looked back since.

Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

MY REVIEW

Unravel the Dusk is the sequel to Spin the Dawn. After Maia Tamarin completed Lady Sarnai's last tailoring request of sewing the dresses of Amana, Maia has unlocked a new version of herself that she did not know she would find. And no, it's not the Imperial Tailor position but something more powerful yet deadly. Not only does everyone know that she is not Keton Tamarin but she is battling a demon within her.

With Edan in hiding and Lady Sarnai unwell, Maia is A'landi's only hope for peace. However, things don't go as planned with the wedding and two kingdoms are at war. Although the love story between Edan and Maia is not as prevalent in this installment of The Blood of Stars duology, their bond is still strong. Readers do not encounter Edan in the flesh until the second half of the novel. Edan's and Maia's love for each other never wavers. Maia, however, becomes closer to Ammi. The female friendship between Maia and Ammi blossomed slowly and is an excellent addition to the novel. As Maia's only female companion, Ammi is able to help Maia in many ways that contrasts to Maia's other relationships. But Maia is worried that the demon within her will harm Ammi.

Unravel the Dusk emits a darker tone compared to Spin the Dawn. While the predecessor is a mask of wonders, Unravel the Dusk shows the true colors of humanity and what everyone is capable of. We see the character development of multiple characters. We see how vulnerable yet powerful Lady Sarnai is. She is a multi-faceted character that I would love to read a companion novel about. Readers see how Ammi forgives Maia even though it took a while for Ammi to regain trust between the two ladies. Seeing Maia with her family is heartfelt and warming. Readers can see how they care for each other deeply no matter what.

Of course, Maia shows the most development of all. She has changed a lot compared to when she was working in her father's shop to competing in the competition to become the Imperial Tailor to even crafting the dresses of Amana. However, the most important test of character is how she handles the demon within her. Every day passes by and the demon inside her grows stronger. Maia fights the fire inside consistently even though demons and ghosts beckon her name to return to the Forgotten Isles of Lapzur. Can Maia overcome the demon and gain control or does she embrace the demon within? The more magic she uses, the harder it is to resist the call of darkness. The war and chaos in the novel parallel with how Maia is at war with herself. She is trying her hardest to overcome the demon's desires of destruction.

Elizabeth Lim expands on the already fantastic world-building that was set in Spin the Dawn. The map included in both Spin the Dawn and in Unravel the Dusk helps readers understand where everything is located in correlation to one another. Lim's expansive details of each landmark are memorable in both novels. Unravel the Dusk is divided into three sections, one for each dress of Amana. This is important regarding how Maia unleashes the power of each dress and unlocks their true potential.

Unravel the Dusk is enrapturing and picks up a notch in The Blood of the Stars duology. Join Maia on a journey where she fights the demons within her and still stays true to herself. Warning, there is human possession in this novel.

There is still time to pre-order this Unravel the Dusk! Check out this pre-order incentive as well!

GIVEAWAY

Check out this awesome giveaway. The giveaway ends on July 7th (Philippine Standard Time). Nicole's Novel Reads is not responsible for books lost or damaged in the mail. Good luck!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Check out  Caffeine Book Tours for links to each blog.