ARC Review: Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao

Title: Our Wayward Fate
Author: Gloria Chao
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Hardcover, 320 Pages
Publication Date: October 15th, 2019

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Ali Chu knows that as the only Asian person at her school in middle-of-nowhere Indiana, she must be bland as white toast to survive. This means swapping her congee lunch for PB&Js, ignoring the clueless racism from her classmates and teachers, and keeping her mouth shut when people wrongly call her Allie instead of her actual name, Ah-lee, after the mountain in Taiwan. Her autopilot existence is disrupted when she finds out that Chase Yu, the new kid in school, is also Taiwanese. Despite some initial resistance due to the they belong together whispers, Ali and Chase soon spark a chemistry rooted in competitive martial arts, joking in two languages, and, most importantly, pushing back against the discrimination they face. But when Ali’s mom finds out about the relationship, she forces Ali to end it. As Ali covertly digs into the why behind her mother’s disapproval, she uncovers secrets about her family and Chase that force her to question everything she thought she knew about life, love, and her unknowable future.

I received a bound manuscript of this book (which was way cool!!) in exchange for an honest review, and I was super excited when I got the package since I read and loved Gloria's debut book, American Panda! (You can read my review here!) So without further ado, let's get into my review of Gloria's sophomore novel!

As the summary explains, Ali is used to blending in at her white school as the only Asian student, even letting everyone call her Allie, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at lunch, and doing everything she can to make everyone think she's just another white kid, burying her Chinese culture in the process. But when a new student -- a Chinese student -- comes to the school and refuses to apologize for who he is, Ali realizes that there's more to life than simply trying to blend in to make other people comfortable. And slowly but surely, she starts to shake up things at her high school, within her family, and even in her (potential?) relationship. 

I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought Ali was super funny, and a lot of her sarcastic comments and quips actually had me laughing out loud. I loved the whole family arc of this story as well, as Ali and her parents sort of have to find a new way to interact with each other and communicate. There are also a lot of shocking secrets that come to light in this book, definitely ones that I wasn't expecting, which makes for an even more thrilling experience. And the whole story of The Butterfly Lovers being told in tandem to Ali and Chase's story just adds a whole new interesting layer to the book as well!

My favorite character in this book was definitely Chase. Not only was he super cute and attractive when he was interacting with and flirting with Ali, but he was also hysterical and made some pretty funny jokes. I also really appreciated the way he stood up for himself and Ali in school, and through those acts he managed to help Ali realize that she has a right to be confident and proud of who she is, not ashamed and eager to blend in with everyone else at school. In that way, I think his character perfectly complimented Ali's.

The only thing I wasn't 100% crazy on with this book was the fact that Ali's behavior confused me at times. From the very beginning of the book, she spends so much time telling the reader about how she's always shy and doesn't stand up for herself, but suddenly as soon as Chase shows up, she's not only outspoken, but cursing at teachers and students in the hallway, and then she doesn't seem to face much discipline for it. Maybe it's just me and how my high school used to run, but I found myself really confused (and not entirely sold) on the fact that Ali just got to skirt by with all of those actions without facing any serious repercussions, not even detention or anything like that. In any high school I know of, that kind of behavior would absolutely get you in at least some sort of trouble. But I don't know, maybe it's just me that had trouble suspending my disbelief for those parts -- but other than that, I loved the book!

Overall, I really loved reading Our Wayward Fate. Gloria Chao's sophomore novel is full of Chinese history, humor, romance, adventure, and standing up in the face of adversity. If you're looking for a great read to pick up in October, I'd definitely recommend wandering over to this one on the shelf!

 

Let's Talk: Has Blogging Changed Who I Am As A Reader?

I been thinking about this a lot lately. My boyfriend and I where talking and I mentioned how it is so easy for me to pick out plot holes, character flaws and inconsistencies in writing. But thinking back to the time before I reviewed books consistently I never really picked up on those things. My five star reads before I began blogging are my two or three star reads now. 

I know as you get older you do evolve as a reader and you do notice things differently. I have a different understanding of things now that I am 21 then when I first started blogging at 15. Over the years I pick apart characters and see if I can get the center of who they are, I try to look for plot holes or something that makes the plot of a fantasy novel inconsistent. I look for flaws and errors in books where I previously didn't. I use to impulsively add books to my TBR or buy books where now I question: Was that a five star read? Should I have given that book low as a rating? Is it worth the money to buy?

As I am reading I am thinking about the review that I am going to write after I finish. I think about characters, dialogue, setting, plot and all the aspects that make a story a story. Before blogging I read through books at a speed where I probably wasn't absorbing as much as much as I do now. I went from reading three to four books a week to reading between one and two because I began reading closer and more critically then I was previously. 

I also stress over writing reviews. There is a fine line between a negative review and a book bashing review and earlier on in my blogging career I crossed that line frequently without realizing it. I'll comb through my reviews to find ways to soften the negative things I have to say, or clarify a point that I think is going to anger people. I constantly talk about how what I think about the content of a book doesn't necessarily reflect on who I am as a person. 

I use to read as I pleased. I didn't have a set TBR, I visited the library quite regularly and I wasn't swamped with ARCs to review before publication date and the pressure to make sure there are blog posts set up so we are posting consistently. I also never suffered a reading slump before I began to blog. I found my reading slumps come from reading too many books too fast or reading a super heavy fantasy/sci-fi and then trying to dive into another heavy read. 

Ultimately, blogging has changed who I am as a reader. I think every blogger will go through this evolution at some point or another. It's just become more and more apparent as I've gotten older. 

What do you all think, has blogging change who you are as a reader? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Interview with 2019 Debut Laura Taylor Namey!

In 2019 our goal is to work with as many debut authors as possible and spread the word about their debut novels. Follow us this year as we pick the mind of the 2019 debuts and chat with them. Also stay tuned for news of giveaways, Twitter chats and more!

Last year, we Tweeted about wanting to discover more debut authors and their books. We ended up finding Laura Taylor Namey and her novel THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS, and we have been interested in it ever since. We are so excited to have Laura on the blog today to answer some of our questions! 

About Laura! 

Laura is a Cuban-American Californian who can be found haunting her favorite coffee shops, drooling over leather jackets, and wishing she was in London or Paris. She lives in San Diego with her husband, two superstar children, and her beloved miniature schnauzer/muse.

Keep up with Laura: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest 

Interview!

The Book Bratz: First of all, congratulations! How does it feel to be a debut author?

Laura: Thank you! Being a debut is equal parts fun, exciting, and terrifying. Debut year is busy, but overall, I’m so honored to be able to share my work with the world. 

The Book Bratz: In your opinion, what is the best part of the writing process? What's the hardest?

Laura: There are “best” parts of each stage of writing books. But my favorite stage is after I’ve gotten the entire story out and revised it with my critique partners to make it the best it can be. At that point, I place it on a virtual potter’s wheel and edit and fine-tune the prose. This looks like me, sitting all day with a small portion of the book, and many snacks and hot drinks.

The Book Bratz: Where did you get the idea for THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS?

Laura: Storytelling is often about combining ideas that might not seem to go together at first. This is the approach I took in building my book. I wanted to explore a teen character who was using books to escape, but in an extreme way. Darcy is truly living out other people’s happy endings. Then, I visited a hoarder’s home when I was in college. I wasn’t there long, but what I saw has stuck with me ever since. I felt that placing Darcy inside a hoarder’s home––her mother’s––provided a situation that she would want to mentally escape from, even while she is trying so hard to support her mom and help her find some emotional freedom. 

The Book Bratz: Who was your favorite character to write? Who was the hardest?

Laura: Sorry leads, Darcy and Asher, I had the most fun writing Darcy’s best friend, Marisol. She is half Cuban and half Mexican, comes from a big family full of love and tacos de pollo and flan, and she’s a budding fashion designer who tries to style more than Darcy’s everyday looks. One of my readers said, “Everyone needs a Marisol.” Another said, “Always take a Marisol.” I hope you love her as much as I do! The hardest character by far was Darcy’s mother. When I was researching hoarding and consulting mental health professionals, first-hand accounts, and books, one thing stood out: there is not one type of umbrella hoarding experience. And hoarding and compulsive shopping behaviors can result from a few catalysts, and a number of different triggers. Simply, hoarding can manifest and evolve differently from person to person. But it’s my job to personalize this issue and place it within a real person. With help, I crafted this particular experience and told the story of one person, one mother. My book is not a “hoarding looks like this for everyone" guide. Some of my readers may say, “My family’s or my own experience with hoarding looked a little different than this.” And they would be right! THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS is a story about one family and how one girl copes and lives and changes . . . and loves. 

The Book Bratz: In THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS, Darcy spends a lot of her time in the world of books. Did you have a similar experience growing up?

Laura: Oh, very much so. I have always been an avid reader and I can recall many times when I escaped stress and even heartbreak by reading books. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to write those books, now.

The Book Bratz: What do you hope readers will take away from reading THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS?

Laura:That they would feel affirmed in the fact that we are all messy. And that’s okay!

The Book Bratz: Do you plan on returning to the world of THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS in the future, or do you have other projects in mind? Can you tell us anything about them?

Laura: I will never say never about returning to this world. I get a lot of “Marisol needs her own story.” Maybe she’ll get one! Right now my newest heart project is my story of a teen Cuban baker, not unlike myself except for the baking part, who finds herself in England the summer after high school graduation. That one is done and I’m currently drafting a secret project. I will just say it combines a ride-or-die friendship and betrayal. More to come!

About THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS!

Title: The Library of Lost Things

Author: Laura Taylor Namey

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Publication Date: October 8th, 2019 

Summary: From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding, and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance. While Darcy is struggling to survive beneath the weight of her mother's compulsive shopping, Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can't seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide inside her carefully constructed ink-and-paper bomb shelter. Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily ever after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it's messy.

Thank you so much to Laura for stopping by and answering our questions! We are super excited about THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS and can't wait for it to be out in the world on October 8th! 

Interview With 2019 Debut Erin Stewart!

In 2019 our goal is to work with as many debut authors as possible and spread the word about their debut novels. Follow us this year as we pick the mind of the 2019 debuts and chat with them. Also stay tuned for news of giveaways, Twitter chats and more!

Last year, we Tweeted about wanting to discover more debut authors and their books. We ended up finding Erin Stewart and her novel SCARS LIKE WINGS, and we have been interested in it ever since. We are so excited to have Erin on the blog today to answer some of our questions! 

About Erin! 

Erin Stewart is the author of SCARS LIKE WINGS, her debut novel. Erin is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern and a BYU undergraduate who works as a freelance writer and editor, as well as a weekly columnist in Salt Lake City.

Keep up with Erin: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram 

Interview!

The Book Bratz: First of all, congratulations! How does it feel to be a debut author?

Erin: Honestly, it still feels surreal! When you’ve worked on something so long, and then it finally happens, it’s hard to wrap your brain around it. I’m not even sure it will feel real when the book is on the shelf!

The Book Bratz: In your opinion, what is the best part of the writing process? What's the hardest?

Erin: The best part is definitely when you find the heart of your story. I usually think I know what my book is about when I start outlining and write a few chapters, but then inevitably, somewhere around the middle of my first draft, I have an a-ha moment when I realize what the story really is. It’s a very clouds-parting, rays-of-sunshine-straight-from-heaven kind of moment. I wish I could bottle up that feeling and let myself take a whiff every time I have doubts about my writing! 

The Book Bratz: What made you want to write SCARS LIKE WINGS?

Erin: About 10 years ago, I met a boy named Marius, who was burned in a house fire in Romania. The fire left him orphaned, and he was adopted by my friend’s family so he could get treatment in America. Marius was severely, severely burned and has had hundreds of surgeries to reconstruct his face and hands. But even as that little 8-year-old boy in a new country, learning a new language, getting used to a new face, he always has this unwavering belief that he was so much more than his scars. So much more than his tragedy.  He was – and is – truly amazing. I knew the first time I met him that I would write a story about a burn survivor finding the beauty in the ashes. Here’s a short video about Marius!

The Book Bratz: What was the hardest part of this book to write? Why?

Erin: The hardest thing was making sure I represented the burn survivor community in a dignified, but authentic way. I am very aware that I am an outsider writing about a vulnerable community, so I made sure to include survivors in my process from the very beginning. Marius was there from the start, but I also talked with other survivors and doctors and nurses to make sure I was depicting life after a severe burn realistically and respectfully.  

The Book Bratz: Who was your favorite character to write? Who was the hardest?

Erin: Asad [was the favorite]. Hands-down. Asad befriends the main character, Ava, when she returns to school after being out for a year recovering from her injuries. Asad is the friend everybody deserves in their life. He’s sarcastic, witty and just a good guy. Even when he and Ava hit some rough times in their relationship, he is still there for her, quoting Broadway lines and being his hilarious self. The hardest character was probably Kenzie, who has some “mean girl” style run-ins with Ava. The hard part here was that I wanted to steer clear of any stereotypical mean-girl behavior because this whole book is about going beyond those labels. I wanted to make sure Kenzie, even though she wasn’t a main character, was fleshed out well enough that the reader could hate some of her behaviors, but also understand that she’s in pain, too, and has her own scars. 

The Book Bratz: What do you hope readers will take from reading SCARS LIKE WINGS?

Erin:I hope SCARS LIKE WINGS gives readers a glimpse into what someone else might be going through, and that they come away from this book as more empathetic humans. For anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin, I want them to know they’re not alone. And for readers who have lived through their own traumas, I hope they see in Ava’s story that finding a new normal after trauma depends so much on the love we are willing to let in—and give out in return. We can’t fix each other’s scars, but we can be stronger together.

The Book Bratz: Do you plan on returning to the world of SCARS LIKE WINGS in the future, or do you have other projects in mind? Can you tell us anything about them?

Erin: I feel good about where I left Ava’s story, so I think I’ve closed the final page on SCARS LIKE WINGS. I am working on a new YA contemporary that I can’t talk about yet, but soon!  

About SCARS LIKE WINGS!

Title: Scars Like Wings

Author: Erin Stewart

Publisher: Delacorte

Publication Date: October 1st, 2019 

Summary: Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn't need a mirror to know what she looks like--she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her. A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be "normal" again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends--no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever. But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn't have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn't afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she's going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.

Thank you so much to Erin for stopping by and answering our questions! We are super excited about SCARS LIKE WINGS and can't wait for it to be out in the world on October 1st! 

Also: If you're interested in the SCARS LIKE WINGS pre-order campaign to win some goodies and maybe even a Kindle (!!!!), click HERE!

Review: These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Title: These Witches Don't Burn
Author: Isabel Sterling 
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBT
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: May 28th 2019

Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Summary: 

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica. While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

I been eyeing These Witches Don't Burn for as long as I can remember at this point. I am morbidly interested in Salem and all the witchcraft and magic that surrounds it. These Witches Don't Burn is exactly that. Hannah is an elemental witch, with the power to control water, air, earth and fire. Not the kind where there are animal sacrifices and ceremonies to hail Satan. I was really intrigued in the idea of These Witches Don't Burn because I haven't see a lot of urban paranormal fantasy in the past couple of months and Hannah is dealing with regular teenage problems. School. Working. Summer. Avoiding her Ex. Normal teenage things, (well as normal as they can get for a teenage witch.) That until dangerous dark magic appears and suddenly its all over Salem and out for both Hannah and Veronica. 

I haven't read a book that has kept me guessing cause I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. These Witches Don't Burn had a compelling plot that had me eager to see what was going to happen next. Magic, romance and character wise. I don't want to go too in depth because I don't want to spoil it for those who are planning on reading it. But where this book is fluffy, gay romance with witches it also gets extremely dark in the last 20% or so. 

I liked all the characters in this book, except for Veronica. Which I guess is natural considering she is Hannah's ex. But I found her to be extremely manipulative and persistent. Hannah does explain her reasoning behind their break up and honestly, I would have broken up with Veronica too if I was in her shoes. I also found Veronica insanely jealous when Hannah's attention shifts to the new girl, Morgan. BUT Veronica is already sleeping with someone else, so why can't Hannah move on? As much as this irked me, it is also so incredibly real. I remember my friends have the same or similar problems when they were this age. Some still do. (It irked me in the sense that I've been there and I wish I could have told Hannah that was she was doing was right and that she didn't need Veronica.) 

Overall I really enjoyed These Witches Don't Burn and I can't wait to see what Isabel has in store for these characters next. If you are looking for a fluffy, magic, gay romance that is slightly dark this is the perfect book for you.