This installment had more backstory than the previous volumes which I felt slowed down the pace of the book a little. A good chunk took place in Mao‘s past and we learned more about his early days.

Like the previous volume, this one unveiled even more about the story and the characters, including details on how Mao and Nanoka are connected.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/mao-vol-3-mao-3/

This installment was jam packed with action. So much happened and I enjoyed every page of it. There was a lot of world building that helped move the story along. I liked that more of the story was revealed in this volume. This volume provided some answers and got me hooked. I have to know what happens next.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/11/review-mao-vol-2-mao-2/

The art style is very simple, but classic. There‘s something a little old school and retro about it that I liked.

As for the storyline, I was very intrigued by it. It‘s fast paced and there‘s a lot of mystery and fantasy action and adventure that kept me turning the pages.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/08/review-mao-vol-1-mao-1/

I was very excited to read this book because 1) the main character has my name and 2) I have ventured also into the crazy world of dating apps. All in all, it was a very fun read.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/12/04/review-a-girl-like-you/

This was such a cute graphic novel!

I‘ve read Mooncakes, which is another graphic novel the author co-wrote, and loved it so I knew I needed to read this one.

Overall, I recommend this book to readers of all ages who love magic, witches, or dragons. This book also makes a great gift because it is a gorgeous hardcover!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/review-tidesong/

The book started off rocky. It felt a little discombobulated in the beginning because it would jump around from different points in her life. It was hard to follow what was going on.

Overall, this book wasn‘t perfect but I appreciated the author‘s candor and research.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/review-nothing-personal/

First off, I love that this book basically takes you on a tour of London during Christmas. I‘ve never been to London (but have always wanted to) so that aspect was exceptionally fun for me. It felt like I was right there with the characters!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/23/review-the-certainty-of-chance/

The storyline is interesting. Many reviewers mention the ending, in which things are not wrapped up completely. Things are left in a morally gray area so it may leave some readers unsatisfied. Personally, I was fine with the ending because it leaves open the possibility of more installments. Also, the morally gray ending was thought-provoking so I appreciated that aspect.
Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/review-whistle/

The book started off on the slow side and it felt a little superficial. It read like a typical YA novel with high school drama and it dragged in parts because of that. However, once the main conflict happened, the book matured and picked up the pace. The empowering message finally managed to shine through.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/28/review-screen-queens/

This was the cutest book ever! Seriously. It was like a Studio Ghibli movie in book form.

First off, the world building in this book was incredible. I could easily picture the quaint seaside town of Auteri with all its little shops and its Festival of Lights. I wish it was a real place!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/26/review-eva-evergreen-semi-magical...

Overall, this was a highly amusing graphic novel. It‘s aimed at middle grade readers, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you‘re a fan of dragons or Chinese mythology, be sure to check this one out!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/review-city-of-dragons-the-awaken...

This was a short but very insightful read!

Basically, this book uses 6 Austen heroines to display 6 different leadership principles and explains how to incorporate them into your day to day life.

The book had a slightly academic tone and structure since it is published by a university, but it still flowed well.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/20/review-kicking-ass-in-a-corset/

This was such a cute graphic novel!

The story was so heartwarming. I loved how Jacks and Snapdragon‘s backgrounds and pasts were connected. There were some parts where I was wondering on the relevance of some things (like the story of One-Eyed Tom), but it all came together at the end.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/13/review-snapdragon/

My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. The book dragged in parts, mainly in the beginning and middle. There wasn‘t a whole lot happening besides set up for future books in the series (i.e. relationship issues for Brandon‘s other siblings). Towards the end the book finally picked up speed and became more exciting.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/11/it-takes-heart-heart-resort-1/

I had previously read the author‘s other book, Loathe at First Sight, and liked but didn‘t love it. I knew I wanted to give her books another shot, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. This book was so much better!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/31/review-so-we-meet-again/

I‘ve always loved learning about history, so naturally I found this book to be fascinating. I loved learning about all the weird, strange, and terrible things that have happened throughout the course of history. Some events were hilarious, others were more tragic, and a few were a little disturbing.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/28/review-more-bad-days-in-history/

Essentially, this is an illustrated cartoon style book of affirmations. It features classic affirmations such as “I attack the day with energy and conviction” alongside tongue-in-cheek pictures. That particular affirmation was paired with the cover photo, showing an unamused, not ready to get out of bed person. This contrast and duality made the book very fun.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/21/review-conquer-the-day/

This is some damn good erotica. There is a lot of sex, but it was done so well. Sometimes erotica can be a little cringey, but this one wasn‘t. Who knew that greek mythology fantasies could be so hot?

I loved that there was also a plot; it wasn‘t just all sex. There was actual substance to it.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/02/review-the-rose-the-godwicks-2/

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I am very curious to see how the rest of the series pans out. I recommend this book if you are interested in a more historical fiction take on vampires and also if you want to read a YA vampire series that isn‘t Twilight (no shade against Twilight, I just know it isn‘t everyone‘s cup of tea).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/the-beautiful-the-beautiful-1/

Overall, this book was relatable with a super cute romance, but it also struck a more serious note and shed a light on the Asian American experience.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/review-from-little-tokyo-with-lov...

Omg what a beautiful book! It definitely lives up to all the hype.

The story was mesmerizing. I became so invested in the lives of the three women. I felt like I personally knew them and that I was right there with them through their ups and downs. All three of them felt so realistic.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/review-beyond-the-point/

This was such a cute read!

The premise is everything. A Japanese American girl discovering she is a princess? Yes please! As a whole, I thought the premise was well executed. There was a good balance between the humorous adjusting to royal parts and the more serious discovering who she is parts.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/review-tokyo-ever-after/

The growth from her other book to this one is so apparent. I liked her other book (I gave it 4 stars), but this one took it to the next level. IT tackles a wide range of topics from heartbreak to mental health. Every poem hits the right note. It‘s raw. It‘s real. It‘s authentic. It‘s inspiring.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/review-when-the-bee-stings/

Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir on the realities of being lawyer. I really recommend this if you are interested in becoming a lawyer. Not everything she says may apply to you, but it does give honest insight into the profession.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/05/10/review-bad-lawyer/

The strongest part of this book was how it portrayed a complicated friend dynamic. It really highlighted the highs and the lows of their friendship well.

Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel, but ultimately was left wanting more. If you like art or are an artist yourself, you may like this one!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/05/09/review-my-last-summer-with-cass/

There were some things that I really liked about this book, and some things I did not like.

I really liked the dark academia setting and aesthetic. I thought it was very well done and had the perfect tone to create the dark academia atmosphere.

For a book called The Maidens, there was little time actually spent on the Maidens.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/05/02/review-the-maidens/

This was such a gem of a book!

The book is full of illustrations and sayings to help you through tough times. It is divided up into 5 sections for every step in your journey. I found the whole thing to be so relatable. My life has definitely not gone according to plan. There were many pictures/sayings that resonated with me.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/29/review-i-used-to-have-a-plan/

I was really looking forward to reading this one since it is an Asian American Own Voices novel, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

The whole beginning and middle section felt like an early 2000‘s teen book. There was a lot of unnecessary drama and it felt so unrealistic.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/27/review-loveboat-taipei-loveboat-t...

This was an incredibly insightful and informative read!

First off, this book is so accessible. There is no medical jargon here. Everything is broken down in easy to understand language. Dr. Ashton does a fantastic job explaining the basic science behind COVID in a way everyone can comprehend.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/review-the-new-normal/

This was such a unique read!

The best part of this book was definitely the overall vibe and aesthetic. It had a slightly creepy and gothic feel that ran throughout the entire book, even the present day parts. There was also a fair amount of humor and satire that worked well with the gothic vibes and made for an interesting juxtaposition.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/21/review-plain-bad-heroines/

I was very excited to read this book because it focuses on tarot and I recently just learned how to read tarot.

Speaking of tarot, I liked how there were pictures of the tarot cards scattered throughout the book. I think that is so helpful for readers who may not be familiar with tarot cards and what each card looks like.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/18/review-all-our-hidden-gifts-all-o...

I ended up really enjoying this book!

The book was a lot funnier than I expected it to be. The humor was woven throughout the novel nicely. The little excerpts from Lady Whistledown were a very entertaining touch that added to the hilarity.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/11/review-the-duke-and-i-bridgertons...

This was another great comic from the DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults imprint. This one followed a young Victor Fries (aka Mr. Freeze) as he first meets Nora (aka Mrs. Freeze). I thought this comic set up their origin story nicely.
with that. If you like tragic young adult love stories, then you‘ll probably like Victor and Nora‘s story!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/04/01/review-victor-and-nora/

I found the ideas and overall approach towards picking out clothes to be thought provoking. It really made you stop and think about why you bought a particular clothing item. I also liked that there was not an emphasis on being fashionable or trendy. You do not have to be a fashion lover to follow the advice in the book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/03/25/review-how-to-date-your-wardrobe/

This book was an excellent collection of personal essays that connects the properties of certain crystals to the author‘s own experiences. The author weaves the history and properties of the crystals into the essays very well.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/review-crystal-clear/

This book has the perfect blend sexy and heartfelt moments. The foster care system is at the center of the story so there were so many heart tugging scenes related to that. I really liked that the book dove deep into the complexities of the foster care system. You really got to see the good and bad sides to it.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/03/17/review-hot-texas-sunrise-coldwate...

I don‘t want to give away too much about the plot, but I will say it is sort of circular and kind of trippy (if that makes any sense). It‘s a book that you have to read for yourself. By the time I got to the end, my mind was blown.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/02/08/review-the-electric-kingdom/

I find that poetry is always the toughest genre to review. It is so personal and subjective that it is hard to critique it in the same way as prose. Because of this, poetry can be a hit or a miss and that is how I felt about this book. It is hard to put into words exactly what I thought about this book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/review-the-lamps-of-history/

I really liked how this book was both entertaining and insightful. The story was addicting to read but it also managed to say a lot about the Asian American experience and the college admission process. The book heavily explores the familial pressures to succeed that many students face. It masterfully showcases the effects it can have on them.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/review-not-that-rich/

I love dogs. I love astrology. So of course I loved this book!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/01/01/review-dogstrology/

I had previously read Yoon‘s other novel, Frankly In Love, and loved it, so I knew I had to pick this one up.

It should first be said that this book is different than Frankly in Love. This book is less serious and more light hearted, so don‘t go into this book expecting it to be just like Frankly in Love.

I thought this book was so fun.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/12/29/review-super-fake-love-song/

I love learning about awesome historical reading so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, this book didn‘t hit all the marks.

It was hard for me to get into this book at first. The book pretty much consists of short biographies of different women from the Regency period. For the first couple of chapters, none of the women grasped my attention.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/12/26/review-mad-and-bad/

After reading the first book in the series, I was very excited to read this one since I loved Adelaide in the first book.

This installment was definitely a step up from the first book. The first book had a lot of awkward time jumps, while this book luckily avoided that.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/12/19/review-secret-crush-seduction-the...

First I just have to preface this review by saying that I am a huge fan of Lana Del Rey. I‘ve always resonated well with her songs so that made me super eager to read her poetry.

This poetry collection is very atmospheric. Reading the poems is like being transported to a sunny and dreamy day in LA. It‘s very on brand for Lana Del Rey.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/12/15/review-violet-bent-backwards-over...

Omg this book!

First off, I loved all the characters. They were each so unique and I loved seeing them come together as a team. My favorite was Alyse (aka Moodring). I loved how supportive she was of Dylan and the whole team.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/12/13/review-cute-mutants-vol-1-cute-mu...

This was a short and sweet romance set in France!

First off, for such a short book, there was a lot of chemistry between the two main characters. Since this was a second chance romance, the characters already knew each other and had history. I enjoyed learning their backstory and seeing them get back together.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/11/11/review-christmas-reunion-in-paris...

Overall, this was a great start to Beast Boy‘s story and I look forward to reading more of his adventures (especially with Raven)!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/review-beast-boy/

I am such a huge fan of this series so I was excited to read this, especially since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. I ended up enjoying this a lot!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/10/12/review-bookish-and-the-beast-once...

This was a delightful book of cartoons!

In such uncertain and anxious times, it‘s nice to be able to just sit down, take a breather, and have a laugh. This book did exactly that!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/review-a-wealth-of-pigeons/

Overall, this book didn‘t live up to my expectations but I was able to enjoy some parts of it.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/09/30/review-loathe-at-first-sight/