Latitude
This is a voice-driven YA novel with intense characters and really self-aware writing: “And can I just point some messed up shit out? Two high school girls stealing a frozen pizza and hair extensions, and this guy feels it's necessary to draw his weapon. And they wonder why there's a new hashtag against the police every week.” (Copaganda rating? Zero. Excellent job.) One of the things I hate most about YA novels is their frequent refusal to name specifics or make pop culture references, and this book absolutely does not have that problem. However — and I realize this book was probably drafted before 2020 — there are a lot of Harry Potter references and it is now generally considered bad form to include Harry Potter references in queer novels, so I do wish that that had been edited before this book hit ARC metaphorical shelves. Love the casual queers-in-STEM rep. Four stars. Publishes on March 1st, 2022. Bookshop link here.
this man needs to go to therapy. a different kind of therapy.
turned back into the library
This book is absolutely ridiculous, but very thoughtfully so. Also, balling up your socks is the only reasonable way to store them.
Chef's Kiss is a little graphic novel about roommates in a very classic comic book style. There are speech bubbles and clean lines throughout the book. Now, I don't know much about comic books, but this looks like a superhero book from my dad's collection. It's not a style for me! It's also very old-style comic book in the fact that it censors all swears? And this book is meant to be adult or at least new adult, so it doesn't make sense why swears would be censored. The main character also only reads books that are available in the public domain, or so old that they aren't copyrightable, which sure is weird! (His favorite books are 1984, Brave New World, and another that I forget. Come on, dude! Haven't you heard of the Hunger Games? There are people using laptops and tablets in this book so I know it's not set in the 90s!) Despite this, there is a vibrant cast of characters and the portrayal of working in a kitchen is both incredibly idealized and exactly right. Honestly? This is like a comic-book adaption of a gay romance light novel, and it's kind of exactly right. Five stars. You didn't see that one coming, did you? Neither did I. Publishes March 1st, 2022. Bookshop link here.
I was not prepared for this graphic novel at all being about superheroes and villains! I did not read the first Katie the Catsitter book so I was a little lost at the beginning – was this contemporary? Magical? Urban fantasy? It's just about superheroes and villains – unclear if any of the superheroes have “powers”, really, and also many hyper-intelligent cats. It's also about friendships and getting new friends and not remembering how to connect with your old ones. It's got really good art that isn't necessarily realistic but feels relatable. The cast is both diverse and delightful. There are twists that I definitely saw coming, but also I am An Adult and familiar with The Tropes — a child Latitude would definitely be surprised.
Published Feb 1st, 2022
Adult, cozy mystery, contemporary
Think of a cozy mystery that's just like, a touch more stylish? And you'll get FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS EM DEAD. This is the second volume in the series, and I did not read the first, but now I really really want to — not because I was confused, but because I am fascinated. Bookshop link.
Cop involvement: Finlay's sister, Georgia is a cop and a love interest, Detective Nick Anthony is also a cop (he is regrettably very hot). Finlay shows little regard for the law, which I love in a cozy mystery. Four stars! Narrator gets a solid five stars.
Publishes: February 8th, 2022
Queer, contemporary, YA
This is one of my favorite reads of 2022. Now, is it February 1st? Yes. However. This book's got everything you want in a YA novel:
1) Incredible characterization
2) The voice! Excellent use of voice!
3) It's here, it's queer, it's fantastique
4) Also the main character is a botanist and really intensely into roses and I've never been more delighted about this??
This book is like the experience of reading a really really good short story in a Dahlia Adler anthology and then it goes on for the FULL NOVEL EXPERIENCE. I'm in love with this book. Five stars.
Queer, YA, mystery, thriller
Publishes: February 8th, 2022
Dual-POV YA murder mystery partly from the perspective of the victim? Yes! Are the characters well-rounded? Not really! Is that okay? Yeah, pretty much! This book is not good because of the characters, but because of the twisty plot and the layers that this story uncovers. I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed The Taking of Jake Livingston, a similar book that I read last year. Content warnings for homophobia and some intense toxic masculinity. Four stars
This is a really weird book about and being a teenager and trying to grow up and being gay and about how maybe you are cursed forever, possibly by a whale. It's magical realism and feels dreamlike to read. Big themes of water, grief, love, the pull of the deep. 4.25 stars.
not reading the graphic novel
library hold ran out