Sugar and Spite | A Review

Hi everyone! Today I’ll be reviewing Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva. I hope you enjoy!

Can a bully be defeated by a magical love potion?

Jolina can’t take Claudine’s bullying any longer! The taunts and teasing are too much. Though Jolina knows she’s still in training to use her grandfather’s arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab to get her revenge. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion. And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine’s hateful nature. In fact, Claudine doesn’t just stop bullying Jolina — now she wants to be Jolina’s BFF, and does everything and anything Jolina asks. But magic comes with a cost, and bad intentions beget bad returns. Controlling another person’s ability to love — or hate — will certainly have consequences. The magic demands payment, and it is about to come for Jolina in the form of a powerful storm…

First let’s talk about the plot. Sugar and Spite promises a magical enemies-to-friends story. And well, I’m happy to say that it delivered! Young readers will find this short and sweet novel both immersive, and exciting. 

Furthermore, the characters were very three dimensional! In many cases, I’ve found that middle grade protagonists don’t have much personality. Thankfully, Jolina and Claudine were very intriguing characters. The side characters also added quite the amount of liveliness to the story too. Jolina’s relationship with her grandfather was absolutely adorable!

In addition, I really liked how the dialogue was done. Many Fillipino phrases and words were used, which is great as it allows people to understand more about The Philippines. Moreover, the character interactions also felt very authentic and real.

“Your being brown doesn’t make you ugly. Mom always says we’re beautiful.”

― Gail D. Villanueva, Sugar and Spite

Unfortunately though, I didn’t love the writing. At times, the storyline became too confusing. The world building was done poorly as well. The only things the audience knows about the magic system is that it aids people, and that it’s passed down by generation. (I’m not entirely sure though, so please take what I said with a grain of salt.) However, I loved the talk about colorism and classism. The book promotes the idea that no one should be discriminated against, regardless of socioeconomic status, or race. And I think that’s such a beautiful message!

Overall, I really enjoyed Sugar and Spite! It’s educational and exciting. Younger kids will surely enjoy this story to the fullest!

Age Rating: 8 and up

TW: Natural disaster, bullying

Final Rating: 7/10, or 3.5 stars

⭐⭐⭐

What is your favorite Middle Grade novel? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have a fabulous day!

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Some Girls Do | A Review

Hey everyone! Today I’m super excited because I’m going to be reviewing Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan. I hope you enjoy!

(PS: This was a buddy read with the amazing Calliope @ Confessions of a Reading Addict)

Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feelings. But while Morgan–out and proud, and determined to have a fresh start–doesn’t want to have to keep their budding relationship a secret, Ruby isn’t ready to come out yet. With each girl on a different path toward living her truth, can they go the distance together? 

The plot of Some Girls Do was right up my alley! It was very summer-y, which I liked. However, I struggled a lot with the characters.

The main characters Morgan and Ruby are quite dislikeable. They were both very negative and unoptimistic. There is nothing wrong with that per se, it’s just that I prefer it when at least one main character is positive. Even by just a little bit. Moreover, Morgan was insufferable. It’s hard to put into words why, but I’ll try. Morgan was by all means not privileged in terms of the homophobic experiences she went through, but she felt very “I’m only supporting queer kids because I’m in that community”. She didn’t understand that POC and poor kids go through a lot too. I do think that the side characters were written very well though. Especially Morgan and Ruby’s parents. 

In addition, the dialogue was just okay. In my opinion, it tried too hard to be funny. 

Furthermore, the writing wasn’t anything special either. Some words were overused a bit too much for my liking. For example, ‘mysterious’, and ‘said.’

To conclude, I didn’t enjoy Some Girls Do as much as I hoped I would. While I can appreciate the summer-y atmosphere and unique premise, I disliked the characters and writing style. However, I still recommend this book to Jennifer Dugan fans!

Age Rating: 15 and up

TW: Homophobia

Final Rating: 6/10 or 3 stars

⭐⭐⭐

What’s your favorite book with a summer-y vibe? I’d love to know! Have a great day!

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Summer TBR 2021

Hey everyone, I hope you’re doing amazing. I for one am very excited for the summer because it finally means I can read outside!

(PS: Click on the covers of the books to add them to goodreads.)

First, let’s recap!

In my Spring TBR post, I said I’d read nine novels, and complete one manga series. Well I’m happy to report that I read all of them! This is actually why I love seasonal TBRs. You feel so much less stressed, and you can read at your own pace. I mean, let’s face it. How many of us will constantly read 10+ a month? Then again, some of you amazingly fast readers have really proven me and my slow reading skills wrong. 😆 I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t feel pressured to go by strict TBRs. Read at your own pace, and read what you want. But hey, to each their own.

With that said, onto the TBR!

1. The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould 

I received an ARC for this book via Netgalley, and I can’t wait to dive in!

2. Any Day with You by Mae Respicio

Any Day With You looks like such a sweet summer read, so of course I had to add it to my Summer TBR!

3. Alice By Heart by Steven Sater

I believe this novel was based off of a musical, which is really cool!

4. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

This will be a re-read for me, which is rare considering I never re-read. But I’m feeling ~adventurous~ this summer so why not!

5. Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

This has been on my library shelf for quite some time, so I should probably get to it sooner or later. 😅

6. Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

I’m currently reading this one as loving it! This is also a buddy read with the amazing Rukky @ Eternity Books.

7. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

After disliking One Last Stop, I unfortunately have low expectations for Red, White and Royal Blue. But second time’s a charm?

8. Hazel and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake

I’ve heard such amazing things about Ashley Herring Blake’s books, so when I saw this one at the library, I just knew I had to check it out!

9. Glitter Gets Everywhere by Yvette Clark

This book is, in a way, outside of my comfort zone. So all the more reason to read it!

10. This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

Samantha Markum’s debut looks incredible! So when I saw that it was available to request on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. Luckily, I was approved to read it and I’m so excited to dive in!

11. When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

Sorry about the blurry image, but essentially, I picked this one up on a whim and am excited to see where it takes me!

12. The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley

I picked this one up mainly because the premise sounded so unique, and that cover is just beautiful!

13. What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie

After loving Lindsay Currie’s Scritch Scratch, I just knew I had to pick this one up too!

13. Sunkissed by Kasie West

I’ve never read a Kasie West novel before, but this seems like such a fun summer read!

14. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is one of my anticipated releases for 2021. So I can’t wait to read it!

15. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

I’ve seen so many bloggers rave about this one, so of course I had to pick it up!

16. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

I put this one on hold at the library about six months ago, and it was finally ready to read last week! Cemetery Boys was my most anticipated release of 2020, so I’m super excited to finally read it.

17. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 

The page count of this book is intimidating, but I’m hoping to get to it sometime this summer nonetheless.

18. More to the Story by Hena Khan

I’ve been wanting to read more middle grade lately, so I’m hoping to pick this one up soon. It just looks so adorable!

19. From Little Tokyo with Love by Sarah Kuhn

I’ve been waiting for this one to release, so I’m really excited to start reading it! And doesn’t that cover look stunning?

20. Shortcake Cake by Suu Morishita

I’m hoping to finish this manga series before October, as it’s a fast and fun series!

I hope you enjoyed reading my Summer TBR. Feel free to read spring’s TBR here. I’d love to know what’s on your TBR this summer too! Have a great day!

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June Wrap-Up

Hi everyone! Today I’ll be talking about all the books I read in June. Much to my surprise, I read 12 novels, two of which were carry over books from May. I also completed my goodreads reading challenge of 25 books, which I never thought would be possible! Anyways, let’s get right into it!

Novels I Read

(ARC) We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was my first Solomon book, and will definitely not be the last! You can read my review here.

Once Upon an Eid by A Collection of Authors: (5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this so much!! It’s incredibly joyful and educational. I l highly recommend it. Review to come!

(ARC) Rumaysa by Radiya Hafiza: (4.75 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a huge surprise, but in the best way possible. If you love fairytale retellings, than this is a must read! Review to come!

(ARC) One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston: (1.75 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐ After hearing such great things about the book, I was super excited when I got around to reading it. But One Last Stop was such a disappointment. Feel free to read my review here. –Buddy read with the amazing Calliope!

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ This was both fast paced and educational! Which I’ve come to know is my favorite combination.

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan: (3.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ I’ve been meaning to get into Dugan’s writing for quite a while now. And well, this was just okay. Review to come! –Buddy read with the amazing Calliope!

A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen: (4 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Taste for Love was such a surprise! I adored this one immensely. Review to come!

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed my time reading this one, but it wasn’t very memorable.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021, and well, it was just meh. I loved the witty banter and lists, but nothing stood out to me unfortunately. Review to come!

May the Best Man Win by Z.R. Ellor: (4 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was the most conflicted rating I’ve ever given. The main characters weren’t likeable at all, but it was such a whirlwind of emotions. Review to come! –Buddy read with the lovely April @ Booked Till Midnight!

Your Heart My Sky by Margarita Engle: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ Your Heart My Sky is an incredibly heart wrenching story told in verse. I learnt a lot about Cuba in the 1990s, which was great! However, the ending was too unclear.

Graphic Novels and Manga read

Blue Lock Volume 12 by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This volume was really interesting! However, it didn’t stand out as much as the previous ones.

Blue Flag Volume 6-8 by Kaito: (4.75 out of 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This series is incredibly eye opening and emotional, so I’m sad to see it end. My only complaint is that some questions where left unanswered. Nevertheless it’s still such a great manga that I highly recommend!

Moriarty the Patriot Volume 2 by Ryōsuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ While I admired certain concepts, others didn’t make much sense and seemed unnecessary. It’s still a great series though!

Spy x Family Volume 2 by Tatsuya Endo: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spy x Family is such a cute and fun series! And this volume definitely proved that statement.

A Sign of Affection Volume 3 by Suu Morishita: (4.75 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this volume! It was super relaxing to read, if that makes sense. 😆

Shortcake Cake Volume 8 by Suu Morishita: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I think I put the wrong picture but essentially, this volume was really gripping!

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was such a stunning story with beautiful art. It was like a warm hug!

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, Nguyen Quang, and Kim Lien: (5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I LOVED this!! It’s an incredible picture book with a beautiful message. I definitely recommend it!

Total Number Of Books Read: 24

Total Number Of Posts Published: 8 

Average Rating: 7/10 or 3.5 out of 5 stars

I didn’t have enough time to hop over on the blogsphere last month. So if I missed any of your posts, feel free to link them down below!

• Cherelle @ A Bolt out of the Book does a double review post for Spin the Dawn and We Are Not Free.
• Ritz @ Living, Loving, and Reading interviews Talia Rothschild & A.C. Harvey for a blog tour!
• Emily @ Frappes and Fiction tells us about 5 Shocking Short Stories That Will Send Shivers Up Your Spine!
• Ashmita @ The Fictional Journal gives us a list of Dobby’s Dos and Donts and it’s hilarious!
• April @ Booked Till Midnight does a fun post where she relates books to weird things she’s been told in the drive thru.
• Rania @ Rania’s Rambling Reads does a lovely review for Perfect on Paper!
• Gauri @ A Book and Chai does an amazing ARC review for Aamna Qureshi’s The Lady or the Lion!

First, let’s recap! Last month I said I’d read four novels, read three netgalley ARCs, and drink more water. Luckily, I read over four novels, and got through three of my Netgalley ARCs! Did I drink enough water though…Maybe?

Some of my goals for July include…

• Finish two netgalley ARCs
• Read 10 novels
• Drink lots of water

And that’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed reading about my June in books, I’d love to know about yours too! If you’d like, you can read last month’s wrap up here. Have a lovely day!

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May Wrap-Up

Hiya! Today I bring you my May wrap-up. I must say, this month was very busy for me, and I’m sure June will be the same. Nevertheless, I still tried to read as much as I could. Enjoy!

Novels I Read

Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was really sweet, but also quite sad. You can read my review here!

Vicious by V.E. Schwab: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Vicious is well, interesting, but it was a bit too emo for me. Review to come!

Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson: This was somewhat infuriating, but it was also kind of wholesome?? Maybe I’ll give it three stars. Review to come!

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Sky Blues was really cheesy, but also unlike a lot of contemporaries. Review to come!

Graphic Novels and Manga read

Seven Secrets Volume 1 by Tom Taylor: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I did not expect to love this the way that I did. The story is incredibly unique, and features a variety of diverse characters. It’s a must read for all action fans!

The Princess Who Saved Herself by Greg Pak: (3.75 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was super cute and uplifting!! I absolutely adored the whimsical and messy setting too.

Just Pretend by Tori Sharp: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This memoir was adorable, and had such a beautiful message. Author interview to come!

Blue Flag Volume 4 and 5 by Kaito: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Blue Flag is so incredibly emotional and gripping. It’s definitely a must read for all contemporary fans!

The Color Collector by Nick Solis: (4 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a super cute! The story is quite unique too.

A School Frozen in Time Volume 1 by Mizuki Tsujimura and Naoshi Arakawa: (3.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐ It’s quite an eerie and whimsical read perfect for fans of Your Lie in April.

Ao Haru Ride Volume 13 by Io Sakisaka: (4.25 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ It’s sad that I have now finished the series. Ao Haru Ride does shojou very well. I definitely recommend it to any manga lovers.

Early One Morning by Lawrence Schimel: (4 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was the PERFECT morning story for kids. Bedtime stories are so common in children’s literature, so I am delighted to see that this is a book is set in the morning. 

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad and Hatem Aly: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was so cute! If you’re looking for a hijab-positive book to read to your kids, I highly recommend The Proudest Blue. It’s both an empowering and educational read that oozes out with sisterly love.

Total Number Of Books Read: 10

Total Number Of Posts Published: 8 

Average Rating: 7.5/10 or 3.75 out of 5 stars

• April @ Booked Till Midnight did a reading vlog and it was HILARIOUS. 😆
• Amanda @ Bookish Brews creates a list of diverse books with magical competitions. It’s such a great list!
• Cherelle @ A Bolt out of a Book writes an amazing review for Skyhunter. They also redesigned some aspects of their blog. Both versions are stunning!
• Ahaana @ Windows to Worlds does a blog tour stop for May the Best Man Win!
• Birdie @ Birdie’s Booktopia talks about why One of Us is Lying is problematic.
• Alienor @ A Fox’s Wandering talks about series’ they won’t be finishing.
• Rania @ Rania’s Rambling Reads does a lovely review for We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This!
• Cossette @ Tea Time Lit wrote a great review for How We Fall Apart!
• Caitlyn @ Tea Time Lit interviews author Dylan Madelely.
• Isha @ Paperbacktomes reviews the graphic novel Just Pretend!! They write such an articulate review.
• Noura @ The Perks of Being Noura does an interview with author Jasmine Warga!
• Phenoix @ Books with Wings discusses Spoilers! This was also a joint collab with April @ Booked Till Midnight!

First, let’s recap! Last month I said I’d read five novels, read all my netgalley ARCs, and drink more water. Unfortunately, I didn’t meet any of those goals.

Some of my goals for June include…

• Finish three netgalley ARCs, and review them
• Read 4 novels
• Drink lots of water

And that’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed reading about my May in books, I’d love to read about yours too! If you’d like, you can read last month’s wrap up here. Have a lovely day!

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