Summer is Here is a beautiful story about a girl’s perfect summer day. Watson’s words are light and feel like sunshine, while Jackson’s beautiful illustrations make you want to experience that summer day as a child again.
Summer Is Here by Renée Watson, (List Price: $18.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547605866, May 2024)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Literally one of my favorite books I have ever read! Represents the LGBTQ community, talks about racism, and the trials and errors of friends and lovers. Must read!
The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar, (List Price: $12.99, Square Fish, 9781250842121, June 2024)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Savannah, Georgia
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“On her eightieth birthday, Helen spent the day moving things in the kitchen cupboard. Three years pass with nothing to fill their pockets. Then, early one morning, something happens.” Helen Cartwright is waiting to die. Her husband and son have passed, and she is ready to go. She has returned to her childhood town in an English village and she has been living a quiet life. This love story begins with her finding a mouse in her house and as the love grows with the mouse Sipsworth, so does Helen’s contacts. This is such a loving, moving story told with such skill and heart. This reviewer can’t wait to reread this tiny tale perhaps many times. Anyone who reads it will never look at a mouse or an octogenarian the same way.
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy, (List Price: $26.95, David R. Godine, Publisher, 9781567927948, May 2024)
Reviewed by Nancy Pierce, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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I read Crow Talk very slowly not wanting the words to ever end. Between the beauty of Beauty Bay and the cozy caretaker cottage and the facts about birds and especially crows, the story of Frankie was a touching tale of nature and love. Frankie has suffered a set back with her dissertation on spotted owls and sadly doesn’t know what to do next except escape to her family’s old summer home on the bay. Every page glows with the breathtaking view of the natural world and when Frankie rescues a young crow, the healing begins for Frankie and the neighbor Anne with her son Aiden. Besides the wonder of nature, this story dwells on family and healing and love and will be remembered by all who luckily read these words.
Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin, (List Price: $28, Dutton, 9780593473887, April 2024)
Reviewed by Nancy Pierce, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Zara and Adnan have always been the best of friends. But everyone from their parents to their classmates ships them relentlessly. But when Adnan posts an ill-advised, but vague photo on social media with his new girlfriend, Zara suddenly finds herself on a fake relationship with her best friend. Everyone is THRILLED….except for Zara.
This is How You Fall in LoveThis is How You Fall in Love by Anika Hussain, (List Price: $19.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547614509, February 2024)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Fans of heist stories with a supernatural twist will adore this new novel by Katherine Harbour! Evie is just getting by, holding down three jobs and squatting in the attic of a boarding house. But when she’s working as a cater waiter at an auction, and the prime item is stolen, she finds herself being recruited by an elite group of thieves known as The Dark Fable. Eager for the family she’s missing, she joins up but soon finds more than she anticipated. This was a great story that kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed!
The Dark Fable by Harbour, Katherine, (List Price: $19.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547613748, January 2024)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Noa wakes up, and he’s in a spacesuit, floating outside a ship. In space. But he has zero idea how he got there. Not only that, but inside the ship are DJ and Jenny and neither of them knows how they got there either. I read this author’s The State of Us and LOVED it, so I knew I’d be up for this one. It’s an entirely different genre, but still has the same humor and heart.
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson, (List Price: $12.99, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534448544, February 2022)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Jordan is positive that she’s about to land the editor position for her school newspaper, despite the fact that she’s just a junior. But when assignments come out, she’s disappointed to see that not only has she not nabbed editor, but she’s been assigned to covery volleyball. Jordan is not sporty and her nemesis has just been named captain of the volleyball team. Could it get any worse? This fun, sweet YA romcom was a delight to read!
We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller, (List Price: $19.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780063243385, February 2024)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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A December Read This Next! Title
Second in Sutanto’s YA series, Didn’t See That Coming focuses on Kiki as she’s forced by her parents to transfer to a top school for her final year. Fortunately, her young friend Eleanor Roosevelt is there, but that seems to be the lone bright spot as she’s bullied by nearly everyone from the principal to her classmates. But Kiki is able to escape into gaming where, because of the massive amounts of abuse, she’s been playing as a male player. But she’s made a great friend in game. However, when she realizes that her friend actually goes to her new school, she must find out who he is. Didn’t See That Coming is both hilarious and heartbreaking while being a fantastic read.
Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto, (List Price: $12.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593434048, December 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Jordan and Cindy are at war. They’re also in love. One of these statements is false. Jordan and Cindy’s families clashed when they both opened food trucks at the same time, parking them in the same spot. They’ve been feuding ever since. Well, for the internet. The families are secretly friends and Jordan and Cindy are dating. But when they’re approached by a reality show that wants to make them into a series, things just get more complicated.
With or Without You by Eric Smith, (List Price: $19.99, Inkyard Press, 9781335458070, November 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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After reading Sleepless in Dubai, you will be itching for a trip to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi! Nikki and Yash have been best friends since birth. But this last summer, their friendship blew up and they’ve been avoiding each other since. Now their families have a trip planned together to Dubai for Diwali and they’re going to have to find some way to get along.
Sleepless in Dubai by Sajni Patel, (List Price: $30, Amulet Books, 9781419766961, October 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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More fun and intrigue await in Manansala’s newest mystery with our favorite Filipino baker. Lila and her godmothers are back on the scene. The Calendar Crew (April, Mar, and June) are opening up a new laundromat, but their main competition is furious about the development. And their gossiping ways have another townsman blaming them for the breakup of their marriage. So when the laundromat is vandalized, those are the two main suspects. But when April’s niece is found dead in the laundromat, things just got a little more serious. This time, Lila will have to call on all her friends to break the case.
Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala, (List Price: $17, Berkley, 9780593549162, September 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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John Scalzi, you never cease to delight! This time, Scalzi lets us into the secret world of villains. Charlie’s not doing well. It doesn’t seem to be getting much better when his estranged uncle dies and wants him to preside over his wake. But when he comes home, he discovers that’s just the beginning. Soon, he’s deep into the underground world of supervillains, sentient, computer-using cats and dolphins who want to strike. This tongue-in-cheek fish out of water scifi story will keep you laughing!
Starter Villain by John Scalzi, (List Price: $28.99, Tor Books, 9780765389220, September 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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This sweet found family story will hit you right in the feels! Iris has always been the misfit in her family of energy vampires (literally) with no powers to speak of, never fitting in and unsure if her place in the world. But when her great aunt passed and leaves Iris her house, she slowly begins finding her way in the world as she starts taking in boarders. But it’s not all perfect. Her nosy neighbor finds fault with everything she does and is determined to see her fail. But Iris’s found family of lovable roommates will do everything in their power to keep them all together.
The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre, (List Price: 16.99, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 9781728262499, July 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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McDowell hits it out of the park with her new novel about an American stranded in London and the crown prince on the run from his family…all while a massive comet is about to land on earth, destroying everyone in 10 short days! The action is non stop, the banter is witty, and the prince is swoony. You won’t be disappointed in this one!
The Prince & The Apocalypse by Kara McDowell, (List Price: 12, Wednesday Books, 9781250873064, July 2023)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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