Ace of Spades has been pitched as “Get Out meets Gossip Girl”. And while the description is accurate, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s debut is incredibly well-done in a refreshingly unique way. The dark acade…
‘An Emotion of Great Delight’ review: Tahereh Mafi returns to realistic fiction to explore collective and individual trauma
After the completion of her Shatter Me series, Tahereh Mafi showcased her versatility as a writer by shifting gears from speculative fiction to contemporary fiction. Her last YA novel, A Very Large Ex…
‘Concrete Rose’ review: Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights in ‘The Hate U Give’ prequel
Set seventeen years prior to the events of the award-winning novel, The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights in Concrete Rose and immerses readers in her incredible writing once again. In…
‘When You Look Like Us’ review: Pamela N. Harris’ timely debut on the plight of missing Black girls
Pamela N. Harris’ timely debut When You Look Like Us calls attention to an urgent epidemic of missing Black girls. Skillfully blending together mystery and social justice, identity and community, hurt…
‘No True Believers’ review: Rabiah York Lumbard sheds light on the rise of Islamophobia in her debut YA novel
In her debut young adult novel, No True Believers, Rabiah York Lumbard draws from personal experience as an American Muslim, both in the United States and abroad, to weave together a story addressing …
‘This Is All Your Fault’ review: Aminah Mae Safi’s book on three girls who try to save their independent bookstore
Aminah Mae Safi’s This Is All Your Fault presents an enticing premise: a book about three girls trying to save their independent bookstore from closing in the course of one day? Paired with that cover…
Audiobook Review: The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry
Dear reader, This is a story about friends, art, burnout, and the crushing domination of Corporate America. Also, love. Eventually. From orgasmic meditation to orgasm-less sex, The Roxy Letters, set i…