Archive | lgbtq RSS feed for this section

Bad Spells, Good Books: In Charm’s Way & The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

23 Aug

In Charm’s Way
by Lena Harper
In Charm’s Way is the fourth in the supernatural romance Witches of Thistle Grove series; although not necessary to be read in order, you will have some spoilers for previous books if you read this one first. I had been looking forward to hearing about the resolution of Delilah Harlow’s story since the events of Back in a Spell, released this past January. In that novel another witch’s out of control spell causes Delilah once perfect recall to be damaged. Now she struggles to regain her memory and her sense of self. She is helped by her new charming raven familiar Montalban. Delilah spends much of her time working at her family’s magical book store, so if you are a book worm like me you will likely identify with this clever introvert. If you are someone who generally doesn’t read romance, but loves fantasy, I’d still highly recommend this series since the interesting world building with the magical town and complex, well developed characters will have you hooked. Though of course it wouldn’t be a Thistle Grove story without romance in this case it comes in the form of the Catriona Quinn, a beautiful “monster hunter” with an unusual lineage.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic
by Breanne Randall
Coming soon on September 19, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is Breanne Randall’s first novel to be published, but hopefully not her last. Fellow fans of the magical realism of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Allen Addison will want to check this one out. Sadie Revelare is happy working with her grandmother at their small café, A Peach in Thyme, but then everything seems to start to unravel when her first love returns to town and her grandmother reveals some serious medical news. Sadie believes that these heartbreaks are a side effect to the power she wields. When her estranged twin brother returns further family secrets are revealed and it will take all the Revelare’s and their communities efforts to save them. I enjoyed the whimsical magic details mixed in with the more serious topics of the story. Sadie’s best friend lives with bipolar disorder and her brother suffers from depression and although neither is explored in depth since they are secondary characters, it provided representation of those living with the condition, and Sadie herself discusses plans to see a therapist for grief counseling. You’ll be left craving some of the delicious drinks and treats that are mentioned in the story, so it is lucky that each chapter ends with a recipe from Sadie’s grandmother so you can try it for yourself just BYOM (bring your own magic). I made the Chocolate Pecan Pie (good for healing strength and longevity) and the Cherry Cheese Pie (helps ensure the peace, good for family gatherings) for our Fourth of July celebration this year.

I received advanced copies of both novels from Netgalley and the publishers in order to provide you with honest reviews.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager




Tags: , , ,

A Quality Queer Romance: She Gets the Girl

26 Jul

She Gets the Girl may be a YA romance, but it’s not just for starry-eyed teens. Co-authors Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are married in real life and tell a story together that draws upon the experiences they once had. New college freshmen Alex is a little rough around the edges, and Molly is trying hard to get out of her quiet bubble. They’re opposites in most ways but join forces to get Molly the girl of her dreams, who she’s been crushing on since high school. Their friendship develops so purely as they learn the quirks and struggles of the other, and of course we can all guess how it ends. But like so many other books of this genre, we’re not really reading for a surprise so much as the emotions throughout–and it did not disappoint.

It was such a relief to me to read a YA queer romance in which the characters’ queer identities were not a plot point at all. There’s a need to represent the journeys and hardships of teens (or those around them) coming to terms with their identities, but I think it’s equally important to show the other side too: where someone of a marginalized group gets to simply be without their existence being an issue. Plus, it gave room for conflict we see less of in YA books. Alex dealt with economic issues and her mother’s alcoholism, and Molly navigated her social anxiety and how her mother’s internalized racism impacted her growth. I’ve read a fair amount of authors who were transracial adoptees themselves writing about the complexities of their experiences, but Molly was the first character I’ve read who is the child of a transracial adoptee. Written with so much emotion but readable for teens, I thought this perspective made the story richer and I’m really hopeful to read more of this type soon. 

My only critique is that I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Alex and Molly the way I wanted to. However, every good romantic relationship has to have a super strong foundation of friendship–a message YA audiences aren’t always exposed to–and the authors really carried their weight in making it clear how important it is to genuinely like the person you’re with. I love how this book stayed fairly light even while trudging through some heavier topics, good for teens as well as adults who need a break but still want to get something out of their reading experience. You can read this book as an ebook or an audiobook from eBCCLS, or get a physical copy from the Hoboken Public Library or other BCCLS libraries.

Written by:
Stephanie Lodico
Access Services Assistant 

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →