Sorry, but I hate warm weather. You're allowed to like it. But this starts the time of year when I long for chilly mornings and grey rainy days. I guess I could say something about how there are lots of new books blooming or some other flower metaphor, but... books!
I'm writing tired, what can I say. Enjoy these fantastic books, and thanks to the publishers who send these my way!
Bookish Candle: Green Gables Lane is one of my favorite scents ever from Frostbeard, and that's saying something. It's the Candle of the Month for April, and arrived just before the new Anne of Green Gables anime started airing! How's that for timing? Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!
Tea Pairing: As we await the return of Chapters Tea & Co. during their cross-country move, I'm using this opportunity to explore other tea brands! This month, I'm getting to know the unique blends from Plum Deluxe. I'm currently enjoying their United Kingdom Loose Leaf Sampler, which includes ten unique teas to try. Look for my review of this collection on the blog next week!
ALL THE NOISE AT ONCE
by DeAndra Davis
Available now
Aiden Wright finally has his chance to join his brother on their high school's football team after an overstimulation meltdown killed his chances the previous summer. Even being a benchwarmer is a great start for him. But on the team's Superlative Night, the "Incident" happens. A teammate starts a fight with Aiden, a bystander calls the cops, and Brandon is arrested and accused of assaulting an officer.
Now Brandon's life is coming apart as he loses his scholarship, his place on the team, and potentially his freedom. As Aiden grapples with his new spot on the team and the guilt of being "at fault" for Brandon's arrest, he learns difficult truths about being a Black teen with autism—truths his parents attempted to shelter him from. Now, the trial that could make or break Brandon's entire life is approaching, and Aiden must figure out his role in the proceedings.
All the Noise at Once is a challenging read thematically, but one told with unprecedented honesty and care. Aiden's first-person narrative guides even inexperienced readers through the mind of a young person with autism, from the feelings that accompany sensory overload to the process of parsing hidden or falsified feelings. Best of all, the difficult topics between the covers are approached with realism, imperfection, and uncertainty. There isn't one character who knows best, there's no lapse into therapy speak or or carefully-worded monologue. The topics are difficult, and they're allowed to be difficult; and while there are some clear answers, others are more nebulous. Everyone, from the teens at the center of the story to the adult professionals, is allowed to be confused and angry and flawed as they confront injustice. Modern lit in general, and YA lit in particular, needs more of that freedom.
THE ANATOMY OF MAGIC
by J.C. Cervantes
Available now
Dr. Lily Estrada is going home—and "home" happens to be a magical hacienda in Mexico inhabited by the talented women of her family. All of them have a gift related to flowers, gifted to them through the sacrifice of their great-grandmother. Lily's is memory... and funnily enough, memories are torturing her right now. She's waiting out news on whether a routine surgery turned tragic will end her career as an ob-gyn. Her connection to her flower magic seems to be fading. And things only get worse when Sam, the man who broke her heart ten years ago, reappears as a guest at a wedding hosted by the Estradas.
The guilt of losing a patient, the heartbreak of her betrayal by Sam, and the fear that she's lost her goddess-given gift converge in a series of prophetic dreams. To reawaken her own magic, she'll have to reveal a long-buried secret to her family. Doing so brings even more secrets into the light, including the real reason for Sam's departure all those years ago. With the truth exposed, Lily makes a decision that threatens to alter the fate of her entire family and their connection to the land.
The Anatomy of Magic, like its preceding book The Enchanted Hacienda, has some definite Encanto vibes to it; but this is a complex romance intended for older readers. Even without reading the preceding novel, it's easy to get into the flow of the Estradas' home life. The legend at the heart of their powers is unique and surprisingly heartwarming, even though the limitations placed on the women of the family seem overly strict at first. If you're looking exclusively for romance with not much preamble, this is not the book for you. However, if you love character studies, family bonding, and slow-burn romances, this one will be just right.
BENNY ON THE CASE
by Wesley King
Available now
Benny lives in a retirement home in Newfoundland with his widowed mother, his best friend Mr. Tom, and the other senior residents. He also has Mosaic Down syndrome: a version of the condition that largely only affects Benny's appearance. But even that is enough to keep him out of a mainstream classroom for fear of bullying. He's finally fought his way into a class with the rest of his peers; and while there are indeed bullies, there's also new girl Salma from Seattle. And her expertise in technology and true crime will come in handy surprisingly soon.
A rash of burglaries has plagued the retirement home, and it won't take many more strikes to shut the place down—displacing not just the residents, but Benny and his mother as well. Together, he and Salma decide to crack the case themselves. But what starts as a bit of sleuthing ends up being much bigger than anyone bargained for. And as the pair seek out the truth behind Starflower's problems, they must also navigate constant bullying and the declining health of Mr. Tom.
Benny on the Case is a book full of love—not just for Newfoundland, but for the people among us who get put upon for being different. King's prose is witty, but never unbelievable as coming from the mouth and mind of its eleven-year-old protagonist. It contends with big issues: grief, abandonment, broken homes, and bullying, to name a few. But it also presents lessons and coping mechanisms that young readers can take to heart and learn from. It's also a great introduction to the cozy mystery genre for younger readers.
DEATH AT THE PLAYHOUSES
by Stuart Douglas
Available now
Fresh off a season of their hit series Floggit & Leggit, Edward Lowe and John Le Breton are off to do a bit of Shakespeare. John is filling in for an old friend, Sir Nathaniel Thompson, whose drunken antics have gotten him fired from the run of tragedies. Initially, John worries how he'll handle the social (and professional) awkwardness of taking over a role from a peer. But that soon becomes a non-issue when Nate is found brutally murdered near the playhouse.
While rehearsing for their turns onstage, the pair step into their other roles: those of amateur detectives. But the situation is more delicate this time, as John's ex-wife Sally has turned up unexpectedly in the midst of proceedings—and far too close to the criminal proceedings surrounding Nate's death. Worse still, a second member of the company turns up dead soon after. Solving this mystery will take Lowe and Le Breton from from England to the Netherlands, and into a conspiracy decades in the making.
The first Lowe and Le Breton mystery was an absolute delight, even for viewers unaware of its heavy Dad's Army inspiration. Laced with references that will register whether you're a Brit of a certain age or an American raised on late-night PBS programming, Death at the Playhouses broadens the world of Lowe and Le Breton even further. The two have grown beyond their inspirations, already becoming two of the great amateur sleuths of the 21st century (and, in a way, the 20th). Two books is not enough for this pair. While Lowe and Le Breton themselves might fancy fewer brushes with death, readers will absolutely want more.
LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT
by F.T. Lukens
Available April 29
Cam is a run-of-the-mill human living in a world inhabited by paranormal beings. His best friend Al is a witch, his crush Mateo is a werewolf, but he's content to be "normal." But all that changes when, during an altercation in the school hallway, Cam sees a flash of the future: a girl he's never seen before, covered in blood. All signs point to Cam being a clairvoyant: a very rare, very esteemed sort of psychic. Now he's the talk of every paranormal alliance in town; but all he wants is to help the stranger in his vision.
With the help of Al, Mateo, the sprite Reece, and the (very human) paranormal influencer Gemma, Cam sets out to navigate his two biggest problems. One, find the future murder victim and hopefully alter her fate. Two, navigate paranormal politics as sprites, witches, and fellow psychics vie for access to his powers. But as he approaches the truth, he begins to unveil uncomfortable knowledge much closer to home.
Despite the title, Love at Second Sight is a mystery first, romance second; if you're here for wall-to-wall smooching, this is not the book for you. As a touch-sensitive psychic, Cam can't even hold hands with his crush for quite a while. The overarching plot has shades of X-Men, albeit with a fantasy bent, as Cam learns to embrace his uniqueness in the face of family who aren't eager to have an "abnormal" son. The ending is somehow simultaneously predictable and rushed: even amidst a sea of red herrings, readers will chase down the answer long before Cam does. But a somewhat hurried and predictable ending doesn't make the rest of the book any less of an enthralling read.