The Obsession by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I heard about The Obsession from the author herself and since I haven't read any YA thrillers I decided to try this one. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for giving me the opportunity to read this one early.

So The Obsession is a dual POV story about a creep named Logan who becomes obsessed with Delilah who suffers from trauma caused by an abusive family situation. The two both attend the same elite North California private school and as Logan's obsession with Delilah grows he uncovers evidence that she killed her almost stepfather, an abuse copy and uses that to draw her closer. Delilah is tired of being the victim to controlling men and must find a way out.

I was struggling to get into this one at first. I've never watched the popular series You so I'm not used to this type of storytelling and my sister had to fill me in. I felt we were too much in Logan's head from the beginning with his chapters. And Logan's head was a very disturbing place. And there was never any nuance to him as a villain. I would've liked it better had he also not showed his hand so early to Delilah. He reveals himself and starts blackmailing her well before the 50% mark. We didn't get to see her getting to know him in a way she could trust him. She knew about his former obsession  to a girl Sophie, whom she resembles very early on. 

This story is very fast paced to the point where I initially read past hints about a certain plot point. And I call it a plot point because not much was done with it and it wasn't enough to drive the story. But at the same time it was hard to get through Logan's chapters. Delilah was better developed and her chapters were stronger but I wasn't enthralled. And the ending was so abrupt. I wish it would've gone darker and deeper.

Wings of Ebony by J Elle

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! Is it just me or has January been a really intense month? So keeping with the spirit of January I  decided to read Wings of Ebony by J Elle. You've probably been seeing this book all of your timelines and for good reason. It packs a punch! 

This story follows Rue who is still dealing with the fallout of her mother's death and being ripped from the Houston home she grew up in to live with the father she never met on a magical island, Ghizon. In Ghizon she stands out as a brown skinned girl amongst the gray skinned population. Despite her father's heritage she just doesn't feel like one of them. Rue escapes Ghizon with the help of her friend Bri. Rue's intention was to leave a gift for her sister, Tasha but all hell seems to break loose after she must save her from an accident. Ghizon has a strict rule about interaction with humans. While The Chancellor and The General are ready to hunt down Rue and Tasha there's also dangerous people in the neighborhood after them. During the time Rue has been gone violence in East Row has gotten worse and the streets are practically a war zone being ruled by a dangerous gang. She must embrace her true identity and powers to save those she loves.

This is a fast paced and action packed story. There's racial violence that is going to be triggering for some but sadly is real life for some people. J Elle doesn't shy away from the brutal details and since this is contemporary it's not easy to disconnect from the message she's sending.

Teen readers will enjoy Rue as a reluctant but strong hero who talks straight and goes hard for her family. And I know there are teens who will be able to relate to her voice in a way they may not be able to relate to other mainstream stories. They'll also recognize other familiar character types. One of Rue's neighbor's Ms. Leola is like everyone's grandmother always opening up her home and offering someone a plate to eat. Rue also has a complicated relationship with the father who abandoned her and her mother.

I already saw reviewers of a certain color saying they were underwhelmed by the world building and couldn't connect with the characters. It wasn't for you! Of course you're not going to identify with a teenage girl from the hood as a privileged white woman from the suburbs.  J Elle does turn the mirror in the direction of white people when it comes to checking your privilege.  We've already established racism is wrong and everyone knows that. If a white reader does pick it up they will see how Rue makes Bri own her privilege and cuts her pity party of white tears short. This isn't the story of the gray/pale people of Ghizon so it doesn't go into a lot of detail about their customs. Instead it tells the story of a neighborhood often negatively stereotyped because of evil people running drugs and inciting violence. It's the story of a tight knit community who look out for each other because no one else will. It's the story of people who often have pieces of their culture appropriated and resources stolen from them.

My only detractors would be the foundation set for a love triangle. I know teens will be teens but I hate love triangles in books. And Tasha got on my nerves a few times being in the mix when they were fighting for the neighborhood. 

The magic system is interesting and there's much room for it to grow and expand as the series continues. Ghizon is still a world we the readers and Rue know so little about but there's definitely hints at what's to come. 

Black History Month Reading Suggestions

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! We all know with February being Black History Month is the US there's a shift for some to read more books by Black authors. We should be doing this year round but I digress. Anyone for those of you who need suggestions on books to read next month across genres and age categories I got you covered! And yes I'm pushing newer books because I want to put some of these on your radar and anyone who has been following me for the past year knows many of my go-to recommendations. And you've probably already read the books from last year's BLM posts. 

Picture Books

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles

The Cat in the Coconut Hat by C.J. Gillett

Just Like Mama by Alice Faye Duncan

Middle Grade

Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

Root Magic by Eden Royce

Meow or Never: A Wish Novel by Jazz Taylor

Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles

Love like Sky by Leslie C. Youngblood

Young Adult

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron

The Voice in My Head by Dana L Davis

All the Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Adult

The Record Keeper by Agnes Gomillian

A Spy in the Struggle by Aya de Leon

Make a Scene by Mimi Grace

Black Orchid Blues by Persia Walker

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm taking advantage of the holiday weekend by reading some books I've been wanting to get to. I purchased Twins because it's a graphic novel starring Black twin girls. Looking at the art and reading a preview I thought it would be great for a young readers who still want an easy to read story with great imagery.

Twins Francine and Maureen are starting middle school and it's already different this year with them having separate lunch periods and some separate classes. Francine wants to embrace being seen as a separate person and is going by a nickname and dressing different. Meanwhile Maureen is struggling to find new friends and fit in. And then the opportunity to run for student council comes along and it's sister vs sister to see who will be 6th grade president. 

I really liked the representation of family in this story. The twin's father has an son from a previous relationship and despite Curtis being a college graduate they're still close to him. I felt the depiction of blended families was very positive and not always something showcased in books.

I highly recommend this book for young Black kids especially reluctant readers. Not only for the easy to read format but also because it deals with things kids entering middle school are going through. The illustrations are beautiful and I love how Shannon Wright depicts different hairstyles and skin tones. Also seeing the twins wear their bonnets to bed. Adorable and so true to life! And the little details like wide tooth combs and headbands and headwraps. I loved the attention to details throughout and found myself really paying attention to the decor in bedroom scenes, or people walking by in the mall scenes.

While I got my copy in paperback to pass along I also heard it views beautifully on Kindle too so don't let that stop you from downloading to your child's tablet. 

A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! January has been a busy month for new releases across genres and I'm back with a review of another new one. I haven't been reading as many cozy mysteries as I used to because for awhile I felt like every new series I picked up read exactly the same. While this one has the familiar tropes expected in a cozy mystery without feeling like a carbon copy of everything releasing right now. I'll be honest I went into this book without reading the synopsis. I just heard it was by a veteran Black mystery author and I immediately put in my arc request with Kensington Books. 

This story follows the widowed Odessa "Dessa" Jones, a struggling real estate agent and former caterer in a New Jersey town. It's been a year since her husband's death and she's just trying to stay afloat and keep her desk at the agency while her crazy boss' threats loom. In usual cozy fashion her boss was one of those people everyone hated so it's no surprise there are multiple suspects when he ends up dead.

If you're looking for a light easy to read mystery with a interesting cast of characters I suggest picking this one up. This was full of young and old characters each with their own set of secrets. I liked that Dessa was actively trying to learn more about the way the law works and how conmen run their cons. Sometimes in cozies the way the women are instantly sleuths despite no years of experience and able to put the clues together is annoying. And like the readers Dessa didn't know her coworkers too well so we learned about them as she did.

And there was a twist on the cozy romance in that the potential love interest is a retired police officer so he's close enough to the force to be helpful but not the ones running the investigations. 

Throughout you get plenty of descriptions of scrumptious cakes as Dessa restarts her catering business on the side. As you can find a recipe for her 7 Up cake included.  A solid start to a new series.

Interview with Author J Elle

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Today you are in for a treat. This author has one of the most buzzed about debuts of 2021 and if you haven't already pre-ordered Wings of Ebony, you need to. And if you're someone who is interested in writing follow her on Twitter.  I've learned so much from her about writing and the publication process. So without further ado, meet J Elle.

How has being a military wife shaped your experiences and do you think it affects your writing?

I’ve moved ten times in eleven years. And have battled feeling isolated, out of place, disconnected from the people there, and sorely missing my family. That sort of disconnection has emotional ramifications. I definitely drew from that part of my former military-spouse life. One thing I loved about military life was that no matter where we landed, we eventually met someone else who was also a military family and we had an instant connection. I’d had similar experiences as  Black woman when I’d walk into a new job or school and connect with the only other Black person there. Albeit different, the military community was the only other facet of my life where I’d move somewhere and have some semblance of a connection with strangers because we shared some lived experiences. You definitely see remnants of that in Wings of Ebony, particularly in Ghizon, the magical world where Rue’s circle is very small and tight knit. 

Having my own thing was really helpful as a military spouse. When we got married, where we moved, what we did, whether we were able to even make Christmas plans was all according to my husband’s work schedule. And that’s just part of the sacrifice. When we became parents, I spent a lot of time solo-mom’ing because my husband was gone. A lot. So much of what we did was in service of the country. And so I learned early in my military spouse career to have some fun hobbies that I keep for myself. A way to not lose sight of who we are as a couple, as a family, outside of the military. Because we wouldn’t be in the Marine Corps forever. And so that’s what I did. I took up photography for a bit. Then I delved into my love for writing. And Wings of Ebony is what was born. I literally remember my husband getting Orders to go out of town for four weeks. And I’d just decided to try and write Wings of Ebony. So we packed up the kids and went with him. And in that tiny hotel room, with three kids jumping around ha ha, I punched out a 70,000 word first draft. That’s the other thing military life really teaches you--how to be flexible, nomadic. Semper Gumby is what they call it.  

You rep your hometown of Houston, Texas hard. What was it like growing up in Texas? And where do you recommend people visit on a trip to Houston?

Growing up in a big City meant there was an abundance of things to do all the time. I remember being on the go all the time as a teen. I left Houston at seventeen to attend college. And I didn’t return until seventeen years later, this past summer in 2020. So I’m still getting to know the city as an adult. Thankfully a lot of my friends I grew up with are still here and it’s been so fun reconnecting with them. 

The thing I love most about my community here is how close knit we are. My neighbors are aunties and cousins. The entire neighborhood is found family, which you’ll find a lot of in my books. I’ve missed that from being gone seventeen years. 

If someone was visiting Houston, I’d suggest getting ready to eat and eat well. Houston has a vast landscape of cuisine diversity and as a foodie, ha ha, that’s one of my favorite things! It’s also a really big city and I’ve lived in smaller cities for so long. It’s refreshing to be able to drive just an hour or so and pick apples in the fall, ride horses, get more of a small town feel, without going on a road trip to the country. The land here is really flat and I didn’t realize how different that was until I lived in various parts of the country. I love how far, open, and wide spaces feel in Texas. The homes are large, the plats of land are bigger, and in some parts of town, you can really feel surrounded by nature just driving to the grocery store. I love that about this place. 

You pitched Wings of Ebony during #DVPit, an online contest that showcases stories from marginalized voices to publishing professionals across the country. What was your experience like and do you strongly encourage people to participate in these Twitter pitch events?

It was a wild ride. Huge shout out to Beth Phelan for this life changing opportunity. I was on the west coast at the time so I set my alarm for 4:58 a.m. to wake up and post my pitches. I remember planning to go back to sleep right after I posted so I didn’t obsess about whether or not it received any agent likes. But, it quickly blew up and I was completely sucked into social media for most of the day. I’ll never forget how hard I slept that night. The adrenaline rush was wild. And yet, I knew the uphill battle toward getting a book on shelves was only beginning. 

I always like to tell people considering pitch contests: DO THEM! But, don’t see them as your only way to get published. Some books don’t pitch well in a tweet. Some are more flashy than others. Agents also, from what I’ve seen, aren’t consistently participating, so it’s no guarantee some of those agents on your query list are even on Twitter. See DVpit and other pitch contests such as, Pitmad, as one avenue to pursue publishing, not an end all be all. That said, they can REALLY go well. So shoot your shot! 

You’re also very active in the online writing community and mentoring aspiring writers. I often see you offering advice. What advice do you have about querying? 

Querying takes patience. Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint. Also, querying now is likely a bit different than it was when I was querying in 2018. 2020 has been a taxing year for many and so agent’s bandwidth may be a bit thinner. Keep in mind that agents work on their existing client’s work as a priority and tackle query inboxes in their spare time. I interned at two agencies over the course of a year and I definitely walked away from that experience realizing it’s a lot for them to juggle. 

In terms of advice, get feedback on your query. Incorporate it and then get more feedback. The thing about queries is you’re not going to know how your query comes across--whether it’s confusing / only clear to you-- unless you let someone else read it who knows nothing about your book. So that is a trick that can help. Also, use resources to ensure your query is properly formatted. Query Shark is a great resource, I also have some resources on my website.

The biggest thing I hear about queries is that writers spend a lot of time talking about themselves and their accomplishments and very little about the story. Understand that unless you're writing non-fiction, it’s the story pitch/idea that’s going to get your agent interest, not your bio. Be sure you start your query with a hook and try to keep it between 250-300 words. Of that, about twenty should be about yourself. A sentence, maybe two, no more is usually needed. 

Query in batches. Break up your list into which agents are your top choice, mid choice, and last choice. Start by querying mid choice agents and some last choice agents, maybe throw 1 top choice in there. See how people are responding. Are you getting requests for more pages? Are you getting partial requests converting to fulls? If you’re getting a high request rate, send out a few more on your to choice list. If you’re getting crickets and it’s been 12 - 16 weeks, for many agents, they’ve likely read and passed. So consider reworking your query. 

Similarly, if you get lots of partial requests but not many fulls, then something in your query is working, but they’re losing interest in the pages for some reason. Be methodical and really sober minded about what may not be working. Get opinions from fellow writers if you can. Listen well and don’t be overly precious about your story because sometimes that can inhibit our ability to really revise well. But, in general, a rule of thumb with feedback is to only take what resonates. 

It’s also important to understand that query rejections don’t unanimously mean your story isn’t going to “make it.” Wings of Ebony got MANY query rejections. Remember, it only takes one yes. Similarly, though, sometimes the market can play a factor and that’s very much out of your control. So don’t internalize these rejections. As hard as it is to accept--and I'm preaching to myself on this one, too-- you are not your art. Separate yourself from it so the rejections don’t send you spiraling. And most importantly, know that you’re more than one book. If one fails to snag an agent querying, write and query another. You’re a writer. You have many stories to tell!

What can we expect from your debut Wings of Ebony?

You can expect a voice that sucks you in, stakes that keep you on the edge of your seat, some humor, some hard lessons, emotional gut punches and shocking surprises. It’s my hope Rue is a character that readers will love hanging out with and long to get back to when the story is over.  

Is it true that you wrote the original manuscript for Wings of Ebony in just 35 days?

It is. I don’t know that I could do that again, ha ha. But I sat in a hotel room and punched out the first draft which I believe was round 70k in 35 days. When I finished, DVpit was only weeks away. I deleted 24k immediately to rewrite an entire act of the story that didn’t fit the plot as I needed. Then I sent it to betas. After their feedback, I ended up rewriting the end of the story. Then I queried it, but got some great R&R feedback from an agent while querying. When I finished up that feedback I resent it to agents who hadn’t yet made a decision and that revision is what I received multiple offers on. From there though, with my agent I rewrote the last 3rd of my book before going on sub. On sub, I rewrote the first fifty pages. From there, it sold and I had to turn those fifty pages into a full new draft. So ha ha, I’ve written a lot of this story. I cut my teeth on this book in many ways and I’m just so grateful she got a chance to see the light of day. I feel very fortunate. It doesn’t always work out that way. 

People may not know but Wings of Ebony is the first YA book on Denene Millner’s imprint. Do you think being published under a Black imprint gave you the freedom to be more authentic with your characters?

I do have two other editors but the books I’m working on with them don't deal with racism as head on as Wings of Ebony. So, I can’t really compare experiences. I definitely wanted to work with a Black editor on Wings of Ebony because of how on the nose it is with some weighty topics such as racism, privilege, colonization, and cultural appropriation, and Denene Millner has such an astonishing reputation. So when she offered and it was: take her pre-empt or go to auction with the four others interested, it was an easy decision. She’s who I’d had my eye on for so long. I’m smiling so big, just remembering. Working with her, I found that she really understood, personally, the story I was trying to tell and it was great to have that perspective help me shape this book. She could really see what I was trying to do and guide me in how to bring the story to its fullest potential. I truly can’t imagine having published this book with anyone else. It was meant to be!! <3 

What was it like developing the magic system? Were you inspired by any other cultures or stories?

So magic systems are hard, ha ha. And the one I created in the original queried version of Wings Of Ebony is vastly different from the one that’s made it to shelves. Magic in Wings is metaphorical and so I wanted to equate it to power. It was a learning experience and quite fun. I’m excited for everyone to get to the sequel where the magic and its origin is featured even more heavily. I was heavily inspired by Wakanda’s sort of tech-magic mix. And Diana from Wonder Woman. 

You also have a middle grade series, Parkrow Magic Academy planned for publishing in Spring 2022. Can you tell us anything about that series?

Eeee! I love it so much. It’s laugh out loud funny and I just hope it brings such joy to kids everywhere. I’m not sure how much I can say. But the synopsis is: 

Park Row Magic Academy, stars twelve-year-old Kyana, a Black girl who enrolls in an inner-city magical academy hidden in the back of a beauty shop and must fight to keep it open after redistricting and gentrification threaten to close it down. 

The world, magic, backstory is VAST, so I look forward to writing many books from this world. Add it to Goodreads here.

Are there any other upcoming projects you would like to talk about?

I’m really excited about a project I’m working on with Ciera Rogers, founder and CEO of Babes, the fashion clothing line. I’ve been hungry to see something in the non fiction space, in the realm of Girlboss but geared toward people of color. Having a Black woman make this move and my being able to be a part of it is honestly a dream. To see the announcement and more about that project, check here. 

Are there any types of stories you would like to see more of in YA or MG?

I’d love to see more stories that center inner city kids in the fantasy space. That’s the niche I’ve been working on in kidlit, in both YA & MG, and I’m really enjoying it. I’d love to see many many more.  

What books are you looking forward to in 2021?

Ah, so many but here are some of my favs that I’ve been obsessing about as of late: 

BAD WITCH BURNING by Jessica Lewis about a Black teen who starts a hustle to raise people’s loved ones from the dead for money. It’s by far one of the best books I’ve ever read. 

WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD by Ciannon Smart which is YA dark and delicious fantasy about sworn enemy witches who work together to take on a mutual enemy. Out April 20, 2021. 

ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s which is a YA boarding school thriller full of edge-of-your-seat plotting and twists! Prepare to be obsessed. Out June 10, 2021.

 

BEASTS OF PRAY by Ayana Gray which is a lush epic fantasy full of monsters and Black Girl Magic. Out September 2021.

SING ME FORGOTTEN by Jessica Olson, which is a YA fantasy phantom of the opera retelling told from the perspective of the phantom--a girl! Out March 9, 2021.

WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela Harris which is a beautiful exposition of Black boy’s journey to find out what happened to his sister. It’s laugh out loud funny and actually just came out. Buy it here. 

Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers!  I read one of my most anticipated reads on 2021and I can see why this has all the hype. Amari and the Night Brothers is the Middle Grade fantasy to watch. And with the movie rights already snatched up by Universal Pictures back in 2019 and is being produced by Marsai Martin and Don Cheadle; you can expect and epic feature film in the future. This book was exactly what I needed to kick off 2021.

Amari and the Night Brothers kicks off with Amari Peters being in danger of losing her scholarship to an elite private school after a fight with the benefactor's kids at school. She already has it hard enough since her brother Quinton's disappearance. The police don't care and automatically assume he got into something illegal while the kids at her school assumer he's dead. But Amari knows her brother and she's determined to find out what happened to him. When she discovers a mysterious briefcase in his closet, she discovers he nominated her for a summer tryout at the secret Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Not only does she discover an entire supernatural world within her own world but she encounters some of the world's most gifted children who have known about the existence of magic their entire lives. But doing so is key to discovering what happened to her brother.

One of the things I loved about this book was that the lead Amari is a young girl who from the projects which is not the norm in fantasy. She doesn't stray away from her neighborhood having it's problems but the book also doesn't condemn her neighborhood either as a place she needs to escape. And whether it's in her regular school life or at this special camp something she has to deal with is being judged based off where she comes from and how much money she has. And these kids at the bureau are a different breed than the rich kids from her middle school. And it doesn't shy away from truly portraying how it is to be the poor Black child amongst the sea of white kids from families with money. Even in this environment where she has powers greater than her peers she still deals with not being from a legacy family and being ostracized because of her magician status.

The world building in this story was very strong. It always felt like I as a reader was experiencing this summer program alongside Amari. And the writing didn't just tell me about the world it showed it as Amari explores the different departments, learns to wield her powers, and trains to become a junior agent within the Bureau. 

I always look forward to friendships in MG fantasy and the friendships here were well written and fully realized. Amari and her roommate Elise bond over being outcasts and and work together to uncover the secrets behind Quinton's disappearance. 

While I felt like this was a story that can be enjoyed across age groups it definitely catered to kids and the twists and turns will keep them engaged. Black kids in need of a story where they can see themselves in the protagonist will enjoy this. Especially the kids who come from tough backgrounds like Amari because of the message that you can be special no matter what obstacles you face. I really hope this story gets into the schools and libraries where those children reside and could use a bit of magic. 

This was a strong start to what is sure to be an epic series. I thank Harpercollins for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Meet Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with another YA romance. I want to thank Simon & Schuster for granting me an early copy of this book in exchange for review.  I really wasn't sure what to expect from this one. It was compared to To All the Boys I've Loved Before but nothing about it from the tone to the storyline was reminiscent of that book. Which isn't a bad thing. We need more stories that don't feel like the buzzed about book of the moment. 

The Meet Cute Project follows the very relatable Mia who is tasked with finding a date for her sister's wedding.  Her best friends come up with the idea of creating meet cutes in an attempt to find the perfect guy for her.

One of the things that was refreshing was that this felt like it was written for tweens and teens. And it wasn't trying to promote activism or current events. While those books are important we also need books about Black teens just being Black teens navigating high school. Mia is apart of her school's swim team, she has a close knit group of friends, and she's starting to think about what colleges she wants to apply to. 

Mia has a much older sister named Sam who is being a bit of a bridezilla while planning her wedding. It was interesting seeing their relationship because of their age difference and being at two different points in their lives.  Sam often takes it upon herself to be a parental figure to Mia because she believes their parents are slacking with her compared to when she was her age.

It starts off a little slow but picks up as we get further into the story. Mia has a close knit group of friends and they attempt to stage meet cutes at stores, parties, and even the dog park. I had a hard time picturing what her potential love interests looked like though because there was little description of what they looked like. But I appreciated that they weren't the cookie cutter YA love interests. No dark haired goofy bad boys in sight.

I liked that the ups and downs of friendships also played a big part in this book as Mia navigates close friendships as well as team friendships and branching outside of her bubble. 

Overall this was a cute book with realistic friendships, family relationships, and first romance. Teens who like slow burn romance will enjoy this.

My MLK Giveaway *CLOSED*

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Now anyone who has been following me knows that I'm very passionate about Black books. And there are some great Black books releasing this year that I'm so excited for. So in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day I'll be running a giveaway on my blog and the winner will select their choice of a new release(from January 2021) by a Black author as their prize. I don't know all the Black books being released in the month so I'm just posting the covers of some that are on my radar. Who ever wins gets to choose the January 2021 release of their choice.

Rules:

1. Must be following me on Twitter @vlmfantasies

2. Must leave a comment on this post with your Twitter handle

3. Additional entry if you follow me on Instagram @mswocreader

Start time: January 3  – 12:00 am EST

End time:  January 18– 11:59 pm EST

Winner will be drawn on January 19.

Roman and Jewel by Dana L Davis

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! I decided to end the year with a 2021 release. I've been a fan of Dana L. Davis since I saw her on Franklin & Bash. So far I've read her two previous YA books and enjoyed them so I wanted to read this one since all her books are different. So thank you once again Inkyard Press for giving me the opportunity to read another early edition of Dana L Davis' book.

Roman and Jewel is about to be the hottest new show on Broadway and Jerzie had the audition of a lifetime for the role of Jewel. Unfortunately the powers that be think a big name is needed to sell the show and since they've already found a newcomer for the role of Roman they can't have one for Jewel too. So they've cast Cinny, R&B diva extraordinaire. And even though Jerzie is a fan she's definitely jealous. Music is her whole life and she's a musical theatre geek. But maybe being the standby won't be so bad. Plus the leading man Zeppelin just might be the guy of her dreams or her reincarnated love from the past? 

This story leans heavy on the love at first sight so if insta-love is something you loathe then you might want to pick up something else. From the moment Jerzie and Zeppelin meet they feel sparks between them. And it's first love so at times it has that us against the world vibe.

I liked how loving and supportive Jerzie's family was of her dream. Her relationship with her aunt was very sweet and her aunt was a good sounding board for her since her best friend was busy with summer sports.

You can tell Ms. Davis did her research when it came to Broadway because this book is splashed with references to popular shows  and described behind the scenes in a way you can clearly picture it. 

There's also a lot of pop culture references teen readers will enjoy. Sometimes I will pick up a YA contemporary and wonder if the teens will relate to it or not. This one truly felt like it was written for them. 

This story played out a little different than I expected. I thought per the synopsis there would be a bigger conflict over who plays Jewel. It made me think this would be another tale of a girl getting the chance to be famous and it going to her head. And that isn't the direction it takes at all.

Roman and Jewel reads like a teen rom com and is a light and easy to read book to get lost in for a few days. It's much different in tone than the heavier nature of Dana L Davis' previous stories but still as enjoyable.