And we're back! I'm currently behind on reading books for this color wheel challenge but that's okay... at least I am reviewing books on the regular. If you don't know I created this easy challenge to focus on reading books from my 2025 Reading List. I've reviewed books with yellow covers and this time the color wheel picked purple!
This is the final book in a middle-grade horror series. It isn't spooky. I would consider this actual horror for tweens. You may have not read the first two but this review is all about the vibes so you can enjoy it too.
In the final installment of Blight Harbor, Evie is taking on the most emotional journey she has faced yet. She's going to find her parents in the Dark Sun Side and she's not going to let the Clackity's games defeat her. She's also determined not to let anyone get hurt. She closes herself off to the people she loves in order to keep them safe and in part her heart because what if her parents are well and truly gone? What if she can't save them on time? She's facing this all alone. Evie will confront many new perilous tasks that will question her resolve. She'll venture into her mother's story within the Dark Sun Side. The only question is whether she is brave and skilled enough to overcome the horrors within those stories.
This series has been such a fulfilling journey of hope and bravery. It's an unexpected uplifting story that caught me off guard and will stay with me for a long time. I can't help but sit here and think about all that Evie has overcome to get to the end of her journey. She is doing all of this while terrified because what do you mean she has successfully defeated the ghost of a serial killer? What do you mean she has faced a cannibalistic witch and a Storyteller that eats memories? She's done all this and more showing the reader that you too can face all odds even when you are scared to do so. That's what I truly think it comes down to and it's such an emotional realization. And let me tell you this book can be scary and creepy. I was gobsmacked with one of the tests the Clackity gave her. I would have been like "Hell no, I got to get out of here" but she problem-solved her way out of it. What a wonderful series! I would recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers and horror. Truly a magnificent series.
I just learned that there is going to be a prequel and it features the Clackity and the killer John Jeffrey Pope!!! I know no one who's read this series that I can talk to about this. I'm so happy!!! ðŸ˜
I've been wanting to have or make my own plush worry dolls ever since I finished this book. I love learning about cultures through fiction!
Lola's father passed away about a year ago. During the summer, she visits her abuela's home to bury half his ashes in Guatemala while the rest are in the U.S. with her and her mom. While there she stumbles upon hidden dolls that warn the user against using them (she doesn't understand what the whole warning says because she doesn't speak Spanish fluently). The worry dolls were her father's and she wants to keep those pieces of him so badly that she takes them with her back home. She also takes a flower away from her surly neighbor who is at the root of the curse on the worry dolls that make them come alive. Now you would think that it would be fun to have your dolls come alive but not when those dolls have the worries of others that can create an explosion of sadness affecting the whole town. Lola scrambles to find all the worry dolls who have become loose with the help of her academic rival next-door neighbor. The worry dolls attach to individual people including her best friend who seemingly has found a new friend to replace her. She must calm the worry dolls so that they are in their original small form. Things are worse than she thinks when her own worry doll is massive! She tries to keep all her emotions inside like her mom but she learns she must confront those worries before they spread to everyone she cares for.
I will say this does start off fairly sad. The story is about grief but I didn't know that. I thought it was just about Lola's worries not that her worries stemmed from her father's passing, feeling like she's losing her best friend, and not being able to talk to her mom about any of it. This is an emotional one but it's also an uplifting fast-paced story. This is a great book where you can't help but empathize with Lola in one fashion or another. I enjoyed how everything was addressed and the new friend she made with someone she considered an enemy. This was such an imaginative and worthwhile story that explores the Guatemalan culture.
My first book with two coauthors that I've read in a long time. It's also a mystery foodie read which knowing me is a recipe for success!
Laila and Lucy have been inseparable since the second grade. Laila is a baker who makes the most delicious desserts while Lucy is an aspiring journalist. They are both trying to win a scholarship to their dream High School that will help them become the best in their chosen careers. To do so Laila must win the Golden Cookie competition sponsored by her dream school. Meanwhile, Lucy has gotten permission to tag along to this exclusive competition which she plans to write an article about to help grow her portfolio. When a hot-tempered judge gets hospitalized after eating one of Laila's desserts they are both on the case to exonerate her and find the real culprit before they strike again!
This was so much fun! There aren't enough middle-grade mysteries that I can recommend to tweens so it's exciting to be able to finally find one. The Cookie Crumbles had mouthwatering descriptions of foodie recipes including a lemon meringue cookie that Laila made. The mystery portion was fascinating because I had four people in my sight as the poisoner. Even when I narrowed it down at the end there was still a great twist. This story also discusses serious topics as well including race and socioeconomic status in a tasteful manner. Laila is made to feel like she doesn't belong in the competition because of where she lives. Everyone is also quick to accuse her which she feels goes beyond having family financial struggles and having to do with her race as well. This was a well-thought-out story with so many meaningful elements. The dual POV was a great way to show both girls' perspectives especially when there were feelings of betrayal. In the end, this was such a great portrayal of friendship, connecting with new people, foodie descriptions, diving into serious topics, and sleuthing that I've seen all in one book. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Their Just Desserts, coming out later this year.
Probably the most out-there book I've read in a while. I do read a lot of unique stories but this one is loosely based on magical girls like Sailor Moon and that's a little weird which is why I picked it up. This was my least favorite of the group but saying that it's not a bad book. You'll see why in my review.
A 29-year-old millennial woman who hasn't gotten over her grandfather's death and is in over her head with credit card debt finds herself on a bridge. Before she tries to end it all, a clairvoyant magical girl named Ah Roa tells her how she is on a mission to find the magical girl of time. This special magical girl can help reverse climate change that is increasingly destroying the planet. With a new resolve, our narrator finds the will to live. She finds a job at a convenience store and learns about the magical girls through Ah Roa who grows romantically involved with her. But not everything is as easy as it seems. She still has money problems and finds it difficult to find her place in the magical girl world. Then there comes a threat that seems impossible to defeat. In A Magical Girl Retires, an unnamed narrator finds herself and chooses life in a world filled with lost hope.
This is a short read that had a lot to unpack. It's more thought-provoking than anything. I wish I was able to stay in this world longer. I think it could have benefited from more interactions with Ah Roa and our narrator as well as the "villain" in the story. I loved how it talked about what makes a magical girl as one becomes one at their worst moment. It shines a light on climate change and perfectly illustrates the balance we need to have with the world. Her connection with her grandfather and watches was intriguing as well. You get a lot in 160 pages. A Magical Girl encapsulates so many important elements to create something that will have you thinking about it long after you close the book. It isn't perfect but I am happy to have read it.
Another successful reading challenge! My worst-rated book was 3.5 stars which is a good sign because I still liked the story. I have now read a total of 7 books out of 96 from my 2025 Reading List. Slowly but surely I'll get through the majority of them.
Up next are books with red covers! I had to deviate from my wheel because I read a book early for a book club but it won't be the first time I do that. I'll have the reviews of 2 graphic novels and 1 adult thriller up next week!
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