Ashley Shumacher’s sophomore novel Full Flight sings a bittersweet melody, taking readers to the world of high school marching band, the home of shiny brass instruments, music stands, and students struggling to find their place not only on the field,…
‘These Deadly Games’ review: Diana Urban’s novel is both horrifying and baffling
Diana Urban does not hold back her punches with her newest mystery/thriller, These Deadly Games. Crystal Donovan’s life comes to a crashing halt when she receives a video from an unknown person showing her younger sister gagged, bound, and crying.…
‘You Truly Assumed’ review: Laila Sabreen’s diverse debut highlights the importance of online communities as safe spaces
Laila Sabreen’s debut novel, You Truly Assumed, follows the lives of three Black Muslim teens in the aftermath of a terrorist attack that results in rising Islamophobia. The book largely draws from Sabreen’s own experiences with Islamophobia, especially in the…
‘It All Comes Back to You’ review: Farah Naz Rishi’s newest novel combines humor and heartache while exploring grief
After her science fiction debut novel I Hope You Get This Message, Farah Naz Rishi switches genres in her sophomore novel, It All Comes Back to You. While It All Comes Back to You is a contemporary young adult romance,…
‘How We Fall Apart’ review: Katie Zhao’s dark academia thriller exposes the toxicity of competitive academic environments
Katie Zhao turns to the dark academia sub-genre in ‘How We Fall Apart’ to expose the toxic nature of competitive academics.
‘A Phở Love Story’ review: Loan Le crafts a romance between two teens whose families own rivaling phở restaurants
Loan Le’s debut novel A Phở Love Story is an #ownvoices romantic comedy about two Vietnamese-American teens whose parents own competing phở restaurants. A book about identity and family at its heart, Le’s vibrant and three dimensional characters bring the…
‘Shine’ review: K-pop star Jessica Jung gives readers a look into the industry
Jessica Jung’s book Shine is an #ownvoices novel in which the author shares an identity with her protagonist in more ways than one. Not only are Jessica Jung and her protagonist Rachel both Korean-American, but both moved to Korea to…