Sir Sherlock 2: The Sickle and the Sea

 

The concept of AUK Studios' new Sir Sherlock series is, as I mentioned before, a delightful one: fresh off his retirement as a beekeeper and reluctantly accepting a knighthood at last, Sherlock Holmes rejoins Dr. John Watson for another round of deductions in a more modernized London. This means working with the granddaughter of old friend Lestrade, crossing paths with a new generation of consulting detective and — in The Sickle and the Sea — stepping into a whole new era of politics.

Kenton Hall pens both the script and the novelization for this new adventure, which takes place at sea on our lead trio's return from Russia. Rather than going aboard a passenger liner, Holmes, Watson, and Sergeant Lestrade cross the sea accompanied by a small crew, a handful of fellow travelers, and a great deal of grain. But the very small manifest begins to grow even smaller when one of the crew is found dead: seemingly drowned. But there are two problems: the drowned body is bone-dry, and Watson believes the victim to have died several days ago... despite them having just had dinner with him.

Before long, more of the people on board begin to lose their lives. But Holmes and Watson are quickly running out of suspects. How could someone be recently alive and dead for several days? Why are multiple drowned corpses turning up dry? And how many murderers are there really aboard the ship?

As always, Tom Baker and John Leeson are delightful together. The Red Letter Day established that this Holmes and Watson are, while recognizable, still quite different. Age and experience have made Sir Sherlock slightly more whimsical; but despite his assertions to the contrary last episode, this Holmes is still as quick-witted as ever. The banter between Baker and Leeson is beautifully natural; there are old friends reunited, aware of each other's foibles but still full of affection and respect for each other.

Kenton Hall offers every actor a fantastic story arc, but Emily Lestrade in particular has a great opportunity to shine. We see her view of her role in society and in the story: a desire for herself and all women to be judged independently on their merit rather than being subjected to any extreme of judgment. There's always a danger of new characters in classic groups feeling "off," but Katy Ashworth fits right in with her costars.

As the second in the series, The Sickle and the Sea doesn't have the baked-in issue of needing to do setup and worldbuilding. It can comfortably tell its story with all the characters introduced and known, and that works in its favor. There's more time to get down to business exploring the new "modern day" of the series — in this case, discovering Holmes's view of rebellion, revolution, and the juxtaposition of individuals and their government. Sir Sherlock was already good, but it continues to get better.

And there's a third installment currently being crowdfunded! Check out the campaign for Sir Sherlock 3: The Parting Shot, featuring a guest appearance from Sophie Aldred! And if you missed either of the previous campaigns, you can pledge for one of the bundles featuring past CDs.

BOOK REVIEW: I Am the Night

 

I AM THE NIGHT: THE ULTIMATE UNAUTHORIZED HISTORY OF BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
by Daniel Dockery
Available September 1

I've known Daniel Dockery for quite a while through our mutual work for Crunchyroll, and one thing that's always impressed me about him is his ability to write deep dives that never once stop being meaningful, relevant, or interesting. Reading his work feels like chatting with a well-versed friend: casual but informative. Monster Kids put that strong narrative voice in book form, and I knew before reading I Am the Night that he'd bring that same care to his treatment of Batman: The Animated Series.

If you, like me, were raised in this animation renaissance, this book is as informative as it is nostalgic. For every old memory it brought to the surface, I Am the Night offers twice as many new tidbits of information. Interviews with the many people involved with this seminal series (many of which are new and conducted by Dockery himself) shine a new light on a series that has already been interrogated through numerous articles and podcasts.

The strength of both I Am the Night and Dockery's previous deep-dive, the aforementioned Monster Kids, is that these aren't just about the shows themselves. Any piece of art or media both inspires and is inspired by its contemporaries, and understanding the landscape in which a title was born increases our understanding of the title itself. Thus, I Am the Night is also about the Batman feature films and their connected marketing, the broader state of superhero comic adaptations, Steven Spielberg's foray into TV animation, the rise of other series like Animaniacs and Gargoyles, and so much more. Because BTAS challenged what animated TV series even are, it brings so much in its wake, often from unexpected corners. (Expect little jumpscares from Ralph Bakshi at extremely unexpected times.) You come away with an understanding of the making and influence of the series, yes, but also why it mattered and how its influence echoes to this day.

I Am the Night is, additionally, the exception that proves one of my own rules: repeated presence of opinion in an analytical work. In my time working on Obverse Books' Black Archive line, I've fallen prey to this while also calling out other writers on it. Sidelining a work meant to be as academic or factual as possible with comments that something is or isn't "good" is tricky, because even the most astute fan can struggle with the difference between "structurally unsound" and "not for me." But Dockery interweaves his own assessments (which are admittedly few and far between) with broad fan sentiment and the thoughts of the people who made the series, creating a tapestry of opinion that informs the work more than taking away from it. And even in the moments when something is assessed from what is clearly the author's point of view, it feels less like a proclamation and more like a casual assertion between friends.

This is a must-have for fans of BTAS, of Batman in general, and of animation of any era.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Inner Light
Okay, this is largely because of the color: the sparkling orange reminds me both of the gold in the iconic Batman logo and the very cool cover of this book. But I also use this as part of my morning reading ritual, which included I Am the Night for several days. I love it because it's full of Vitamin B and D, as well as other things my work-from-home brain needs. Check out my link to try out this and other elixirs from Velvet Hammer!

BOOK REVIEW: Little Monsters

LITTLE MONSTERS
by Máire Roche
Available now

It's Halloween in Salem, and the March sisters and their foster mother Marmee are scraping by as best they can. Meg is working hard to ensure she and her sisters can afford the Halloween costumes of their dreams, but there's a more pressing issue on the horizon: the neighborhood is being terrorized by a monster. And given the gaps in her memory and the dirt on her feet in the morning, Meg is very worried that that monster is her.

You see, the March sisters have a secret: each has a unique monstrous form they are working to hide, and even Marmee doesn't know. But the attack on the Laurences' chicken coop has many of Meg's classmates curious, and some appear to know more about her than they should. While Meg would prefer to spend her time with cute tutor John Brooke, she feels she has to solve this problem on her own, before the whole neighborhood finds out her family's dark secret. But it seems like the neighborhood at large may have secrets of their own, too.

As a middle-grade book, Little Monsters is a great read, with an important lesson threaded throughout. As Meg learns, no one can be expected to handle everyone's problems on their own. And similarly, we can't know what others are going through. The girls' monstrous forms could easily be a metaphor for any number of unique issues, including and especially neurodivergence.

That said, I have one major quibble with this book, which is that I'm not sure what makes it a Little Women retelling beyond extremely surface-level similarities. There are four girls who share names with the March sisters, and there are surrounding characters who fill similar roles to their namesakes, but it feels too much like its own thing - possibly it's both present-day and paranormal, and thus most of the trappings of the original are left far behind. It doesn't seem to be saying or doing much that ties it to Little Women meaningfully. Perhaps it's because this year also brought us the exceptional Beth Is Dead, a modern retelling whose differences from the original were the entire point of the story. But Little Monsters feels more like a fanfiction that's strayed so far from the source that it might as well file the serial numbers off and be its own story.

This doesn't mean that this book "shouldn't exist" - as I said before, it's a good story with good lessons and interesting worldbuilding. But cramming it into the Little Women box rather than letting it exist on its own distracts from the story and leaves it feeling like it's missing something. Since so many elements of the original are absent or glossed over, Little Monsters ends up feeling incomplete. Amy and Beth are barely there, to the point that I can't remember who had the mermaid traits and who had the bat traits. Jo is something of a caricature of what a modern Jo March might be, right down to dressing up as Louisa May Alcott for Halloween. It feels like the Little Women ties exist solely to get eyes on the book; and, ironically, I believe it would be a far better and stronger book if it embraced its worldbuilding and presented itself as fully original.

TEA PAIRING: March Home in Bloom
A really nice white tea that much more forgiving than other white teas if you steep it a bit too long. I enjoy the light floral blend and, while white tea absolutely has caffeine in it, it's still nice for a lighter brew later in the day. Use my code KARA15 for this and other bookish teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: March Family Pudding
Another Little Women-inspired find, this candle is a bit more Christmas than Halloween: a super-cozy blend of fig, almond, and brown sugar. Use my referral link for a discount on other book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: My Killer Family Reunion

 

MY KILLER FAMILY REUNION
by Dinesh Thiru
Available now

Everyone in Jayshree's family has plotted out how they'd kill Grand Mom. It's been a running joke for years. But at the most recent family reunion, Grand Mom declares that she's changing the will so only three people will receive a share of her massive fortune in the form of valuable properties. So it's a nasty coincidence when Grand Mom is nearly hit by a car in the parking lot right after dinner, leaving her in a coma.

That is, of course, assuming it was a coincidence.

Jayshree may be all but invisible to most people, but Grand Mom knew she had a keen eye for mysteries. While the family waits for their matriarch to wake up, Jay and her cousins put their deductive skills to the test (and their lives on the line) to figure out who's behind the attempted murder. But it's not all dire: her family has done a bit of playful matchmaking between Jay and Hernando, a very handsome friend of one of her cousins. Working out her feelings for him provides a fun distraction... assuming, of course, he's not involved somehow.

Mysteries for teen readers are hit and miss; they're either overly patronizing or so dense that they don't stick the landing. My Killer Family Reunion threads that needle, while also ensuring that any red herrings lead to equally valuable secondary discoveries.  Jay's family is both loving and broken in equal measure, with some members doing their best while others are outright abusive. But both are depicted well, and the latter pulls no punches (sometimes literally).

Jay is also allowed to be as smart as the reader, which can be a difficult thing in mysteries for readers of any age. Oftentimes the detective is a step behind (to give the reader the thrill of discovery) or much too far ahead (to stake their claim as a brilliant detective). Jay moves at about the same pace as the reader, and it's a believable pace for someone of her age and intelligence: analytical enough, but still prone to the worries and hesitations that we all feel as teens.

The introduction of Hernando, while he does eventually play a role in the plot, felt a little odd, though. Perhaps it's because I'm not from the demographic depicted in the novel, but his introduction via a fake wedding "prank" (meant as part of Jay's cousins' attempts to get her a "coat closet hook-up," which... fair enough) felt odd. But just because a Lebanese girl doesn't get it doesn't mean it's unrealistic. I'm perfectly willing to assume I'm missing something. That said, Hernando's early appearances do still have that sort of shoehorned-in romance feel to it, and I'm not sure if that detracts from or offsets the mystery at the book's core.

All that aside, My Killer Family Reunion is a fun summer read with a lot of interesting and unique characters, including and especially the highly-targeted Grand Mom. All else being equal, that woman is truly aspirational.

TEA PAIRING: Sunrise Breakfast
While a lot of chai is drunk in this book, it's also used as a way to get women out of the room when men are talking, so we're not doing that. Instead, we're going with Sunrise Breakfast: a bold English breakfast that's caffeinated enough to get the grey cells working. It's also blended with bright yellow marigold petals. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other bookish teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Fictional Crush
With the pretend romance between Jay and Hernando underscoring much of the book, it felt like a good time to highlight one of my favorite limited scents from Frostbeard. This blend of sandalwood, dark musk and resin is legitimately one of the best they've ever put out. Use my affiliate link for a discount on other book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Survival Show

 

SURVIVAL SHOW
by Juno Dawson
Available now

Scottish refugee Taryn Beck loves to sing, but there's only so far that will take her in the post-War world. With her father approaching the maximum life expectancy of refugees and her brother in desperate need of expensive medical care, a solution occurs to her: audition for Starmaker, an international talent competition. It's an all-or-nothing solution. Winners get everything they ever dreamed of, but each week's loser is executed live on air, sacrificed as part of series sponsor Project Population.

Against all odds, Taryn is one of the final ten. Even better news? This season of Starmaker is forming a five-girl group to be named DOLLHOU5E, so her chances have shot up considerably. But meeting her heroes and working toward her dreams brings with it bloodthirsty jealousy, uncomfortable truths, and a look behind the curtain at a corporation that's even more corrupt than it appears on the surface. Even if she escapes being gassed in the Pyramid, a "win" might not be an escape.

In her afterword, Juno Dawson describes her ultimate YA novel as "The Hunger Games meets Spice Girls," and that's absolutely Survival Show. There's clearly a lot of love for girl groups, especially British and Korean, with a heavy lean into music stan culture. While it's clearly an affectionate lean, it doesn't avoid looking at the toxic side of both the fandom and the industry. Some chapters are bookended by trashy tabloid articles and toxic social media feeds: a reminder that even the most conscientious celeb can only escape public opinion for so long.

We're in a flood of dystopian literature at the moment, and being awash with any genre makes me more critical of it. (See recent reviews of mine for more of that.) It's as un-nuanced as dystopian fiction tends to be, with each week's bottom contestant executed in a glass pyramid flooded with Barbie-pink gas. Where Survival Show stands apart from so much recent dystopian fiction is that the in-between world — the space between now and the story — feels fleshed out and lived in. The worldbuilding is not lazy. The entire political landscape of the globe is reinvented, and that space between is packed with fictional entertainment spoken about with the same casual tone as real-world pop stars. It makes everything feel lived-in and believable. Plus, it has the side effect of making the reader pause and consider the real-world brands that survived into the book's corporate dystopia. Whole nations have fallen, but Hello Kitty remains.

Survival Show pulls no punches. Characters really do die, and "don't worry, she survived actually" fake-outs are few and far between. There are stakes, and even the "unlikable" characters among the Starmaker participants have some mitigating factor about their story. It's complicated and difficult, and that's a very good thing.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Hydration
While Survival Show is extremely gruesome, it also adheres to its aesthetic. Velvet Hammer's Elixir of Hydration is pink and sparkly, and it's definitely much better for your health than everything the Starmaker cast put the girls of DOLLHOU5E through. Use my affiliate link for a discount on this and other sparkly book-inspired elixirs from Velvet Hammer!

FEATURED CANDLE: Spice Factor
This citrus and ginger candle is meant to evoke slow-burn romance, but the name is reminiscent of a certain girl group that inspired much of Survival Show. (And the bright color reminds me of Taryn's mid-season rebranding, complete with hair extensions.) Use my affiliate link to save on this and other bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Local Gods

 

LOCAL GODS
by Melinda Salisbury
Available now

Folk horror is seeing something of a resurgence in recent years, both on the screen and on the page. While not every offering digs fully into the genre, the new novel Local Gods goes surprisingly deep into those classic vibes. Starting as a typical coming-of-age story with a little bit of oddness (and perhaps romance) around the edges, it slowly unravels into a tale of otherness, ancient curses, and human hubris.

Sylvie Singer has become public enemy #1 in her hometown since returning, thanks to her father swindling the locals and disappearing with the money. Her only hope is to earn her high school diploma (and thus a small trust fund from her grandmother) and disappear. As the entire town turns their back on her, she scrapes by in an unfinished railway station in the cursed West Woods, surrounded by stark-white carnivorous animals. Other than local goth girl Chantry and occult shop owner Zelda, Sylvie's only constant companion is Illican: a horned man who leaves her gifts and to whom she feels herself inexplicably drawn.

As the town sinks further into ruin, Sylvie begins searching for ways to save both it and Illican. But the deeper she digs into the history of the town, the more mysteries she encounters, and the more aggressive the locals get. As animals disappear and businesses are shut down, Sylvie resorts to desperate measures to save her home. Unfortunately, the locals are about to resort to desperate measures of their own.

At the outset, Local Gods (while well-written and interesting from the first page) feels like a YA romance with the vague trappings of folk horror. But the further down the rabbit hole you follow Sylvie, the more the truth starts to unfold. Fans of The Wicker Man, Midsomar, Starve Acre and other full-on examples of the genre will see familiar beats start to emerge slowly, culminating in a dramatic, fiery finish.

The only reason I would tell you not to read Local Gods immediately is because it feels like such a fall book. Should you read it? Absolutely. But it begs for a read (or re-read) during the darkest, coldest months.

TEA PAIRING: Letters of Lavender
Flowers are a big part of the communication between Sylvie and Illican, and the dark floral Letters of Lavender feels like a perfect fit for this setting. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Baba Yaga's Hut
This limited-edition candle's notes of wood and ember are absolutely the vibe of this book... especially the final chapter or two. Use my affiliate link for a discount and check out more bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Killing Sadie

 

KILLING SADIE
by Rachel Peterson
Available now

Given the simultaneous broad allure and ethical issues surrounding the true crime genre, I am hugely in favor of there being more accessible crime fiction. When done well, it scratches that itch without mining the trauma of real people. Killing Sadie is a strong entry in this genre... and, quite frankly, does right what so many other books like it do wrong.

The "Sadie" of the title is one of a pair of beautiful, popular twins. And she was murdered last night. Now, the three survivors on the scene are being questioned. Her boyfriend Ben is suspected of killing her murderer in self defense. Her best friend Liz blames herself for the horrors of the night before. And her twin sister Jayne, who never approved of Liz's presence, is learning for the first time how it feels to be on her own. Through their separate testimonies, the reader starts to develop a picture of the fateful party where Sadie lost her life, and the literal months and years of circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

But (and I don't think it's a real spoiler to say this) at least one person isn't telling the whole truth. And everything clicks into focus in the final stretch, when Sadie tells her side of the story from beyond the grave.

I tend to judge contemporary crime novels a little unfairly heavily, simply because so many don't give the reader credit for reading comprehension or analytical skills. But Killing Sadie is, without exaggeration, one of my favorite books of the summer. It attempts all the things I see done wrong so often and does them right, including and especially multiple narrators. It seems to be the trend in YA fiction in particular, but in many cases it seems like what the author really wants is third-person omniscient, because the characters never truly think or speak differently. But in Killing Sadie, each narrator has a unique voice and perspective that adds to both the plot and the intrigue.

This is one that demands multiple readings. Early on, it's clear that each narrator is wording things carefully even in their own inner thoughts. Do the police "need to believe" certain claims because they're true or because they support an alibi? Are nervous tics present because someone is lying or because this is a distressing situation. And when accounts of the night in question don't match up, who do we believe? Even if you do suss out part of what's going on, the whole truth is both surprising and narratively satisfying.

It's so rare to just... not have any problem whatsoever with a book. And it feels great to say "It's just good. Just read it."

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
Our narrators were subjected to less-than-relaxing bagged green tea, so let's swap in some that's actually good! This summery new blend adds watermelon and lime to green tea for a brew that's fantastic hot or iced. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other tea blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Summer Thriller
A past seasonal candle inspired by books just like Killing Sadie: summertime thrillers that keep you intrigued. The blend of oud, amber, and coconut carries a tinge of vacation months with an undertone of creepy vibes. Use my affiliate link to get a discount on more book-inspired candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: The Season of Light and Darkness

 

THE SEASON OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
by Jillian Cantor
Available August 4

Dystopian novels are the "it" thing right now, and that could be for a couple reasons. On the one hand, The Hunger Games is huge and lots of people want a piece of that. On the other, there's a data center in my state whose mere existence is killing cows. So, you know. It could really be either or.

A book falling into the current hotness does not automatically make it bad, but it does (for better or for worse) make me look on it with a somewhat more critical eye. Is this a diamond in the rough that's going to stand out above its peers and prove that the subgenre has teeth? Or is it going to be just one more for the pile? In the case of this book, my answer (at the moment) is a resounding "I have no idea."

The basic plot run-down sounds like an idea with legs but not a lot of thought given to how to evolve said idea. One of our many protagonists is Ellie, whose scientist father decides that the best way to weather an incoming horrible presidency is to cryogenically freeze himself and his family for ten years. However, Ellie is found only three years into President Lyon's four-year term. She awakens to a country reinvented: ReAdmission programs brainwash the public, force all women to bleach their hair and go into stereotypically "lady" professions, and science and medicine are outlawed. However, there are rebels who hang on, including Ellie's brother Scott who refused to join the family in cryosleep. Meanwhile, ReAd Olivia finds herself shaken out of her blissful ignorance by a peanut allergy.

The thing with The Season of Light and Darkness is that the prose is good and it's clear this came from a lot of very current feelings. And I want to emphasize that the prose is good, because the rise of generative AI is bringing with it the idea that anything polished can't possibly be human. No matter how I feel about a book in terms of how it spins its plot, I will always champion human writing, and any critiques I have just mean it's worth bothering to take time to critique.

There were two big feelings I came away from with this. One was that the worldbuilding felt rushed. The springboards from which this story originated are relatively obvious, and it's a little hard to demand subtlety and subtext in dystopian narratives. The problem is, a lot of what's played out starts to crumble under the lens of real-world experience.

Why would an educated man believe that four years of bad sociopolitical decisions could be walked back in six years, enough that it would be worth waking his family that early? In fact, why would a scientist consider a science experiment a safe place to store his family in the wake of a movement that's doing away with science? Unless we discover in a later book that her parents were plotting an elaborate suicide, it doesn't scan.

Similarly, the horrors of ReAdmission feel a little too blunt. Again, it's difficult to demand nuance from a dystopian novel. But as much as I liked the characters and their particular concerns — Ellie feeling guilty for longing for prom when the world is burning was great, for instance — the overarching intrigue feels patchy and undeveloped. If we were only seeing through Ellie and Liv's eyes as they come out of their respective hazes, it would be one thing. But so few things click, even as we accompany freedom fighters, that the thread of ReAd feels more like an all-purpose bogeyman than a legitimate statement.

There are other issues at play. The fact that the only undrugged, unhazy women in the narrative are sidelined or outright killed, even as Liv proclaims she doesn't need a man to save her, feels a little harsh. Even in a narrative denouncing the systemic subjugation of women, it's the male protagonists who get to be grey and nuanced.

I wanted to like The Season of Light and Darkness, and I especially wanted to see how it handled difficult situations like when and how to take action in a crisis. But it feels like so much of the story was focused on being visually striking that a lot was lost in the actual meat of the story.

I'd love to be proven wrong in later volumes, and I'd love to see this prose shoring up something really insightful and incisive. But the first book, while an interesting series of character studies, doesn't really thrill. Nonetheless, I am ready and willing to eat my words if later books prove these concerns either incorrect or part of some bigger narrative plan.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
Between a group of freedom fighters burning through the current regime and Ellie needing a serious thaw, this warming cinnamon spice tea is my pick for this pairing. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Elven Vale
This month's limited-edition candle is thematically worlds apart from the story, but the calming natural scents bring to mind a world left behind, and one that our heroes can hopefully find once again. Use my referral link for a discount on other bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: Adventure in the City of Stories

 

ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES
by Emma Otheguy
Available July 21

Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy are in big trouble when they discover that their aunt is in possession of some valuable — and missing — items. A book and two puppets belonging to librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré have mysteriously shown up in Tía Xía's home, and simply returning them could lead to some major misunderstandings. Fortunately, their aunt has a secret: a small fleet of time-traveling boats that can only be steered by members of her family!

Together, the four travel back to 1930s New York, where they plan to return the items to their old home. But standing in their way is the wife of a pencil magnate, set on putting Puerto Rican people (and people she assumes are Puerto Rican) in their place. With Tía Xía's magic, and the magic of stories, the family works to help a local girl blow the whistle on her father's employer, return Pura Belpré's belongings, and get home to the present day safely.

This new book follows Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, which I haven't read. However, it takes little time to immerse oneself in this world, with its straightforward but unique magic system. The story also blends historical figures with historically-inspired original characters, painting a vivid picture of early 20th century New York (its ups and its downs). In addition to the history lesson, readers will also learn some legendary children's stories.

I recommend reading Adventure in the City of Stories with your kids. Not because there's anything difficult or objectionable in it, but because it opens doors to a lot of frank discussions and potential questions. It's a literal learning experience (complete with endnotes and a bibliography), but it's also an opportunity to discuss some more difficult topics with young people. There's very little nuance in the verbal bullying of the book's villain, which might feel a little blunt to older readers; but for kids, the frank depiction might help them recognize issues in their own lives.

TEA PAIRING: Magical Library Butterbrew
This story takes place across several libraries, many of which have surprising and magical things happening in them. This smooth butterscotch tea is inspired by cozy magical libraries, which seems just about right for this particular story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Of Dread, Decay, and Doom

OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM
edited by Jendia Gammon, Gareth L. Powell, and Scarlett R. Algee
Available now

Horror anthologies are, at least in my experience, a mixed bag solely because of what they are. Everyone finds different things frightening, so some stories will resonate with some people and fall flat with others. This is especially true with anthologies with a secondary theme beyond genre. That said, Of Dread, Decay, and Doom doesn't camp out in one style of horror. It runs the full gamut, from slasher tropes to environmental horror, from small personal stories to vignettes that hint at something vast and dangerous. This anthology's broad reach is its strength: because it has a little bit of everything, it's highly likely to have something that resonates with each reader.

From its very first story, this anthology makes it very clear that there are no safety nets. Existing in one of these worlds means you might not make it out alive. Some do, of course: alive, but changed. Others find a strange sort of peace. But these are not stories where it's wise to get attached. Our heroes (or antiheroes) are always potential sacrifices, literally and figuratively, on the altars of their own narratives.

What's especially impressive, and this is absolutely down to a trio of very skilled editors choosing and guiding the anthology's selection of authors, is how the stories work with each other without stepping on each other's toes. There are crossovers in terms of styles of stories — for example, both Vincent V. Cava's "Killbilly Drive-Thru" and Tim Waggoner's "The World Has Teeth" play with serial killers dealing with their would-be victims in public places. Both are, as one might expect, darkly comical at times. But each has its own style and upshot, making them complementary rather than crowding each other out.

A few other high-ranking stories in this anthology... or, at least, the ones that gave me chills:

"The Cleansing" by Lee Murray: The majority of this one doesn't read like a horror story so much as a musing on the state of growing up Asian. (I grew up Lebanese, but I've heard stories.) Its chilling descent into very literal imagery in the final few sentences recontextualizes the whole piece in a heartbeat. Endings like this are not easy to pull off, so it's always a treat to see it done well.

"Elderflower Cordial" by Mark Stay: A story from the Witches of Woodville series. This was my first encounter with the series, and it's made me want to read more for sure. Set in 1981, it folds folk horror and revenge into a seemingly innocent concept: children selling lemonade(?) by the side of the road. I love the ambience of this, the tonal shift as the story changes narrators at the end, and the strangely beautiful gentleness of the finale.

"The Children of Light" by David Quantick: Barely an ereader page long, this short-short story investigates an intriguing possibility: what if darkness, not daylight, killed vampires?

"Changing Hands" by Alice James: A worker finds his body being taken over, starting from the left hand, as he collects energy from portals. I love this one in particular for its skillful worldbuilding in a confined space, as well as the narrator's unique voice.

"Time After Time" by Sarah L. Miles: Probably my favorite in the whole anthology, this risky little piece plays with time loops and the horrors (mundane and otherwise) that lurk in the dark. I call it "risky" because its format could sink it if not done correctly and committed to fully. But it does both and comes out fantastic.

There isn't a bad story in the book, and the ones that stand out to each reader will likely be very different. But as a whole, it's a fascinating exploration of what "horror" means to a wide swath of skilled horror writers.

TEA PAIRING: Edgar Allan Poe Bundle
Not just because a certain story late in the anthology makes a certain reference! This pairing of bold Earl Grey (Poet's Study) and sleepy herbal (Dream Within a Dream) covers a broad spectrum of tea tastes, just as this anthology covers a broad spectrum of horror tastes.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

 

THE LURE OF WOLVES AND WHISPERS
by Amanda Connolly
Available July 7

The isle of Eirann was once full of magic. But in Maeve's lifetime, magic is bought and sold illegally. When she finds herself in need of a cure for her beloved sister Finn, she trades herself for a small bottle of magic. And in return, she finds herself working as a spy to bring down the king.

Maeve is shuffled into a ceremony known as the Assay: a multi-part competition in which noblewomen vie for the hand of the crown prince. One commoner is always thrown in the mix as a sacrifice, to show what happens to those who would rise above their station. But backed up by a shadowy organization of Whispers (and in particular the brooding and mysterious Wolf), Maeve intends to fight her way to the top. Along the way, she finds herself embroiled in a political struggle bigger than even she imagined.

A Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot going for it: a unique magic system, a fantasy world inspired by Irish folklore, and interesting characters. However, this is capital-R Romantasy at its core, complete with trope-tastic MMCs and FMCs and the sort of weighty, purple prose ("betrayal tasted like ashes") that comes with the genre. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on if that's what you're looking for.

The problem with a story that cleaves so close to the romantasy pattern is that, no matter what else is good about it, it becomes predictable. I loved the presence of ogham as a language, I loved that the inspiration came from somewhere beyond mainland Europe, and I loved how large the world seemed to be. But the heavy BookTokishness of it made this big world feel smaller, like a sprawling narrative was cramming itself into something marketable. And that made me a bit sad.

In short, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot to recommend it. But this one is pitched squarely to Romantasy Girls, and readers into other styles of fantasy (or even fantasy romances that aren't "romantasy") may not quite click with this one.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is set in a world where magic is dwindling and tensions are high. This spicy cinnamon tea is a perfect pairing for this intense story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

Sir Sherlock 1: The Red Letter Day

 

Back in 1982, Tom Baker took a turn as legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in a multi-part adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, opposite Terence Rigby as Dr. Watson. Now, thanks to AUK Studios, he's back in the role... though things are a bit different this time!

I was one of many backers for the new Sir Sherlock full-cast audio drama, starring Baker as an older, knighted Holmes and John Leeson as Dr. Watson. The casting of the two opposite each other once again is, on the surface, a fun conceit (as they famously starred as the Fourth Doctor and K-9 in Doctor Who). But even ignoring the novelty of the decision, this pair make a wonderful duo, and their spin on a Holmes and Watson in a more modern era is stellar.

This first story, The Red Letter Day, takes place in 1924, just after Holmes has accepted his knighthood. He's just come in from London after time away with his bees and is, of course, reacquainting with Dr. Watson. But as the two are catching up, Holmes receives a strange missive — red ink on red paper — pointing him to a certain ancient monument in London. The two set out to discover what inspired the letter, and find that a double murder has taken place near Cleopatra's Needle. After so many years apart, the two decide to get back on the case. But they'll be matching wits with not only a murderer, but also a new sleuth who is reminiscent of Holmes in his heyday.

Tom Baker's performance is, of course, delightful. He's a Holmes who is more relaxed, even cheerful, but still the same observant and set-in-his-ways Sherlock deep down. Leeson's Watson is a perfect match, equal parts fond and frustrated but still believably contained within one character. The two have a complicated job, creating a version of this legendary chemistry that has evolved believably over time. And, frankly, they've done it. This isn't just "Holmes and Watson but not thirty years old." These are those personalities with time and experience sharpening some angles and weathering others. Never once did I catch myself analyzing the performances, simply because I was immediately on board. They are Holmes and Watson from the get-go.

Like any "first episode," The Red Letter Day has a lot of heavy lifting to do, meaning there's more of a balancing act between the mystery and the worldbuilding. A great deal of time is spent setting up the new cast, including Lestrade's granddaughter Emily in her role as police sergeant and the mysterious newcomer Norton. But there is intrigue enough to be had in the double murder, and it comes to a sufficiently twisty, but interesting conclusion. (And that's not to mention the reveal of who this new consulting detective really is!) As ever, Barnaby Eaton-Jones is fantastic on the production side, and he's put together a truly brilliant project.

Included with the CD was a novelization by Kenton Hall, which mimics the style of the classic Doyle stories excellently. I've worked with Kenton on a Holmes book before, so I was already aware of how well he nails the style. While I encourage everyone to listen to the audio drama for the full experience, the books are excellent on their own.

Also included was "The Long Goodbye," a shorter audio primarily between Emily Lestrade and Norton. It's a much more character-driven piece, bridging the gap between the first and second episodes. I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a nice denouement after the action of the main attraction.

I already knew I was fully on board with Sir Sherlock when I backed the first Kickstarter campaign, and this first episode has absolutely delivered.

The Kickstarter for the second episode, The Sickle and the Sea, has a few days remaining and is at over 300% of its goal. Plus, if you pledge, you can add on a copy of the CD of The Red Letter Day!

BOOK REVIEW: The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

 

THE LOVERS, THE LIARS, AND ME
by DeAndra Davis
Available June 23

Jaylia has just graduated high school as valedictorian, but she still feels small and unseen. She's never done anything especially daring, and she's even going to college close to home in Miami just to be safe. When her dad suggests she go to Jamaica for part of the summer to catch up with her uncle and cousins, she rejects the idea. But then an unsigned letter comes in, asking to see her again. Jaylia, convinced it's from her absentee mother, decides to take the trip after all.

Rekindling friendships and family bonds is tough at first, and her cousin is immediately standoffish. But she hits it off again with her childhood friends Deon and Andre, the latter of whom she's crushed on for quite some time. But then there's India: Deon's new friend who seems to like Jaylia instantly, and whom she discovers (much to her own surprise) she might have feelings for in return.

In between days of shopping and sightseeing and nights of partying, the group search for Jaylia's mother, following a seemingly endless string of clues. Before the summer is out, she will have several questions to answer about herself: who does she really love? Who is she as a person? And how much does finding this lost piece of her past matter?

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is very deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, especially in Jaylia's feeling that she is too American for Jamaica and too Jamaican for America. Even if you're not familiar with the minutiae of the culture, this book is a love letter to everyday life: food, concerts, and life in general. But it also doesn't shy away from more difficult topics of family and spirituality. It's a rough read at times, and it won't be for everyone, but it's a good coming-of-age story with an ending that, while not what every reader will want, is probably the most uplifting it could be.

TEA PAIRING: A Dream Within a Dream
This sleepy, Shakespeare-inspired tea seems like a perfect match for the book's young heroes, many of whom spend sleepless nights figuring themselves and their families out. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Love & Gelato (Collector's Edition)

 

LOVE & GELATO (COLLECTOR'S EDITION)
by Jenna Evans Welch
Available now

YA romance novel Love & Gelato completely passed me by on release. It dropped in 2016, and has since gained a loyal readership and an apparently not-so-great film adaptation in 2022. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the original novel, and with the occasion comes a really lovely collector's edition release. As a complete newbie to the novel, this is where I'm starting. And you know, this is pretty darn good.

The novel starts heavy: teenager Lina has just discovered that her mother has cancer and doesn't have long to live. And she's going off to Florence to live with "Howard," an old friend her mother cares for very much. In other words, her father. The following summer, she's living with a man she's never met before in the cemetery he looks after, allegedly preparing to go to a new school and trying to get her life sorted. And as all that is happening, she receives a surprise: her mother's diary from her time attending college in Florence. In other words, the story of who Howard is and where Lina comes from.

As Lina picks through the diary bit by bit, retracing her mother's steps, she also gets to know Lorenzo (Ren for short). Ren is half-American, friendly, and cute. He's also dating another girl in Lina's potential school. Hot British boy Thomas turns her head as well, but Ren is the one who helps her dig into her mother's diary, wants to impress Howard, and teaches her about the beautiful spots and delicious food all over Italy. Together, they read about her mother's love for "X" and their ill-fated relationship. But she soon learns that things aren't as they seem at first glance, and the reason for her mother's silence is far more complicated than she imagined.

What makes Love & Gelato a stronger read than most YA rom-coms that find their way to me is the fact that it has multiple focuses, and Lina and Ren's romance isn't the be-all end-all. It's important, sure. But ultimately, this is a book about a girl connecting with her mother when she thought she had lost that chance. There's a real love for Italy baked into this story, with so much of it digging into hidden gems, folklore, and even an admission of the less pleasant sides of life there. It does have its fairly generic teen romance story arc, but everything surrounding it made this a better read than I was expecting.

This collector's edition also features a bonus short story taking place on the night of Lina and Ren's Act 3 falling out. It follows Thomas, the jilted lover, from his point of view as he recovers from the situation with Lina and discovers his own romance may be closer at hand than he thoughts. You can really see the evolution of Welch's writing here, and it's a lovely read at the end of everything.

TEA PAIRING: Letters of Lavender
For a story about two romances across the years connected by a single piece of correspondence, this lavender Earl Grey is a perfect match. The floral and bergamot blend is inspired by love letters, and perhaps that is what one could consider the diary at the center of this story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other literary-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Change of Plans

 

CHANGE OF PLANS
by Sarah Dessen
Available Now

High school is over at last for Finley and her boyfriend Colin, and their friend group is planning some summer fun before the couple goes off to college together. Before the summer can begin, though, Finley's estranged mother Catherine claims "her time." What was originally advertised as a whirlwind trip to New York turns into an unexpected road trip to a vacation house owned by her mother's side of the family: a whole other set of relatively Finely knows nothing about, and who know nothing about her.

Life is a sudden blur of change. Colin breaks up with Finley from the deck of a cruise ship, her cousin is planning a wedding, and her usually put-together mother is clearly going through something. Meanwhile, aunts and cousins are scrambling to empty out and sell the vacation house, and Finley finds herself pitching at a local diner called the Egg. There's a blend of good and bad: new friends within her family and a new crush in the form of local boy Ben, but also dire news about her mother's health and unpleasant realizations about the family she never knew.

For better or for worse, Finley can feel her life changing, and she even begins growing closer to her mother. But whether or not that change can last is up in the air, especially when her previously severed links to the outside world come online again.

One of my favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000 shorts is called "Are You Ready For Marriage?" and features a knowing riff from Crow directed at the short's two young stars: "College is gonna change everything!" And Change of Plans really is about that strange jolt of maturity that hits once high school is in your rearview mirror. The story may start with Finley lamenting the end of her "sure thing," but by the end has become a reflection on how we steer the narrative of our life — and, indeed, who we let steer that narrative for us. Wonderfully, this isn't a lesson learned solely by our teen protagonist. Her soon-to-be-married cousin, and even her mother, both learn huge lessons on this front. Because no matter your age, you are not immune to getting it wrong.

Change of Plans is not a by-the-numbers teen romance like the ones I've been seeing a lot of lately, and it's refreshing. Finley's arc is believable, her personal growth and strength take center stage, and the rest is a bonus. It's a glorious and introspective read, and it will especially appeal to readers who feel distant from members, or even whole sides, of their family.

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
Though the name is appropriate, given the number of secrets (and gardens!) in this book, it's the summery flavor that makes this such a good fit. This watermelon lime green tea makes a really refreshing iced tea. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co!

FEATURED CANDLE: Morning Crossword
This month's cozy book-inspired candle is a real winner, evocative of a sweet morning coffee while flipping through the newspaper — kind of like those early mornings at the Egg! Use my referral link for 20% off this and other bookish candles from Frostbeard!

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Best Quest Ever

 

THE LAST BEST QUEST EVER
by F.T. Lukens
Available now

17-year-old Ellinore the Brave is her kingdom's most decorated quester, having brought everything from golden dragons to giant spiders. But as she takes the top prize in the most recent quest, once again outperforming her attractive rival Princet Aven, she has an announcement: she is retiring. Or at least, she was retiring. Unfortunately, her brother Zig has made a deal with a pair of mages, wagering his literal heart against his sister's ability to claim the horn of a godlike Elder Beast. Now, she has just over two weeks to complete an impossible quest.

There's just one problem: Ellinore's whole CV, save for her first unlikely battle, is a lie. All her alleged monster-slaying has been more a series of negotiations with the Folklores and Ancients of the kingdom — including that golden dragon, who is alive and well and named Dave. The goal had been to set her family up with a comfortable home by the sea. But now she has a party around her: Zig, Aven, Aven's adventure-hungry cousin, and a bard eager to fact-check the songs about Ellinore. Before Zig's life is snuffed out, they'll have to thwart a rival quester and defeat a literal god; all while Ellinore desperately hides the truth and tries to process her feelings for the Princet.

Between us, reader, I have a problem with a lot of modern D&D-coded fantasy: that is, I love a story that reads like a campaign (with the wild swings of drama, comedy, and stakes), but I cannot stand litRPG with its crunchy numbers and levels. And it feels like the former is packaged with the latter standard these days. Fortunately, The Last Best Quest Ever feels like an antidote to the modern state of litRPG. Or, perhaps, it's a return to what these party-based, quest-based fantasy adventures used to be. Either way, it feels good to read: believable characters, worldbuilding that's unique but accessible, and a storyline that's deeper than one simple misunderstanding.

This is a strong stand-alone fantasy that still paints a big, broad picture that could support multiple installments but doesn't need to. It's a story where there are no simple answers, where there's no one "bad guy" when it comes to the emotional stakes (but about three bad guys when it comes to actual life-or-death stakes), and where communication counts for something on an almost cosmic level. If you're that RPG player who is invested in in-game romance and problem-solving that isn't automatically combat, you'll feel right at home here.

TEA PAIRING: Letters of Lavender
While Ellinore may resent the bouquets she's constantly handed for her victories, they turn out to be much more important (and cherished) than she realizes. This new tea blend is a gorgeous lavender Earl Grey, quickly making its way to the top of my tea blend list. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other literary-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

FEATURED CANDLE: Game Master's Guide
A previous monthly candle, this blend of leather and mead smells like adventure. This candle is currently out of stock, but there are tons of bookish candles in stock with more being added all the time! Use my referral link and get 20% off your order.

BOOK REVIEW: The New Norm

THE NEW NORM
by Matthew J. Gilbert
Available now

"Norm" Norman used to be invisible, with only his long-time friends Jordan and Mia by his side. But that's all changing as he starts seventh grade. An awkward dentist's appointment turned into social media gold, and now Norm has tens of thousands of followers on ViewIt... some of whom are his middle school's most popular students! As the new school year begins, he's already dreaming of influencer fame, and that dream seems to be coming true.

But within a day or two, Norm begins to realize that his newfound fame might not be all it's cracked up to be. Between his first brush with paranormal friendship and the friction between his new and old friends, he finds himself in a difficult situation. Does he chase the excitement of finally being seen, or stick to the friends who have stood by him even when he wasn't popular?

Much like online life itself, The New Norm begins and ends briskly — only a scant few days pass within the world of the story itself. But that's just right for the young readers this book is speaking to, and it keeps very real pace with the social media ecosystem. This is an eye-opening read that kids and their parents should enjoy together. Kids will get important insight into the highs and lows of social media: how it can be beneficial, but also how it can greatly skew our view of popularity, friendship, and value. And grownups (especially people my age, who grew up in the before-times of passing handwritten notes) will benefit from this honest look at exactly how plugged-in students are, and how that affects their self-image.

The book also contains a preview of a second New Norm book in the offing, titled Pranks and Prejudice. It looks like this could end up being a very beneficial modern series, giving kids some much-needed perspective on the digital world.

TEA PAIRING: Wonderland Tea Party
Nothing is as it seems online, and popularity and personalities can change in the blink of an eye. This fruity color-changing tea fits that vibe perfectly, with butterfly pea flower altering the aesthetic of this brew as it steeps. Use my code KARA15 at checkout for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: The Beckett Effect

THE BECKETT EFFECT
by Nashae Jones
Available now

Wren wants nothing more to become a filmmaker, and the new class offered at her little Richmond prep school might just give her a chance. There's just one problem: Beckett Lane, the handsome nepo baby of a vampire show star, is everywhere she goes. Even her sister Kennedy has fallen prey to the "Beckett Effect." being charmed by this boy everyone knows is a major player. After Beckett embarrasses both sisters at an upscale party, Wren figures out her revenge. She and her best friend will use a class project, deconstructing elements of Jane Eyre into a short film, to expose Beckett as a literal Rochester: an unforgivable modern-day "Byronic hero."

As the girls start assembling their documentary on "John Doe," surprising truths come to light: mainly, that the rumors about Beckett may be overblown, if not outright false. The interviews with his exes are, for the most part, relatively benign. And when Wren begins fake-dating Beckett for more information, she witnesses a vulnerable side of him that doesn't mesh with the hearsay at school. Soon, she's starting to second guess her project. But between her best friend needing the grade to stay afloat and some of Beckett's exes really looking forward to the documentary, Wren might not have a choice. Could her own feelings have been the problem the whole time?

The Beckett Effect is unabashedly (and admittedly) a riff on 2006's John Tucker Must Die, with hat tips to noughties films and cinema in general. While it's inventive in its cinematic approach and its deconstruction of the idea that characters (and indeed people) can be squeezed into tropes, it still does follow that teen rom-com story track. I've mentioned it before: the one that, in the third act (or the fourth in this book's labeled sections), sees a "time bomb" of the protagonist's own making from Act I going off and destroying everything until they learn a lesson.

That said, I enjoyed The Beckett Effect in spite of the fact that it's on these rails. I loved seeing a story set in Virginia, one that interrogates the concept of tropes in general, and hell, one that throws back to Jane Eyre. I sometimes wonder if these predictable story structures in this genre are the work of editors, and I would love to see this and other stories loosed from that constraint.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Hydration

Kennedy's princess aesthetic immediately put me in mind of two things. One was the Kate/Edwina dynamic from Bridgerton, but the other was this sparkly elixir from Velvet Hammer. Mix with water or a bev of your choice for a tart pink lemonade hydration boost. Use my link to get a discount on this and other drink powders from Velvet Hammer!

FEATURED CANDLE: Storm Rider

This month's featured candle from Frostbeard was a perfect match for the cover aesthetic, but it also brings to mind the same sort of moody romance Wren and her classmates are studying as the book begins. Use my link for a discount on this and other book-inspired candles from Frostbeard Studio!

BOOK REVIEW: Drop Dead Famous

 

DROP DEAD FAMOUS
by Jennifer Pearson
Available now

Ever since Blair Baker became a music sensation, her family (especially younger sister Stevie) hasn't heard much from her. Now, Blair is kicking off her next tour in her hometown of Honeyville, and the majority of the family has gathered to see her live. But when Blair appears onstage in front of her adoring fans, she's already dead: a third hometown tragedy following on from a young local man and Blair and Stevie's missing-presumed-dead niece Mia.

As the world mourns, Stevie takes matters into her own hands. With the help of Blair superfan Colby Green, she explores all possible routes: journalists, agents, Blair's presumed football player boyfriend, and even her own family. But the closer Stevie and Colby get to the truth, the more dangerous things get. There might be multiple stalkers on the loose, making very real threats to both girls and their families. And worst of all, the killer might be closer to home than Stevie assumed — and the three local tragedies might even be connected.

Drop Dead Famous is extremely Taylor Swift-coded; between the fans' beaded friendship bracelets, the presumed football player beau, and certain call-out songs, there's no attempt made to hide it. This does absolutely feel a little weird initially... doubly so when the murdered pop star's supposed boyfriend (and #1 murder suspect for a time) is literally named "Gunner." But once you get past the introduction, the real-world inspiration takes a back seat to the mystery. Stevie and the Baker family as a whole depict a realistic spectrum of reactions to grief, especially in cases where the world is watching. Readers' mileage may vary on Colby, who runs the gamut from awkward fangirl with a heart of gold to too stereotypically cartoonish.

The humor and requisite romance are middling, but the mystery and drama are strong. The end result is convoluted, but not in a bad way. Everything connects, just not the way you're expecting. And even the flimsier character work is forgivable in the face of multitudes of good character moments, from the Baker parents' very different reactions to losing a distant daughter to Stevie's ire at watching strangers grieve someone they never knew. It may not be a perfect read, but it's a promising one.

TEA PAIRING: Chai Café Vanilla
I'm not a Swiftie myself, but I seem to recall something about her having a really banger chai cookie recipe. For a murder mystery that roots itself in that whole scene, this feels like a no-brainer pairing. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Oh My Affogato!

 

VACATIONSHIP: OH MY AFFOGATO!
by Daphne Ang and Donna Ghorbanpoor
Available now

Soraya has planned the perfect vacation with her besties, Anya and Mari, before they all go their separate ways for college. Their months-long trip through Europe will kick off on the scenic Amalfi coast. But what Anya and Mari don't know is that Sora's reasons for the first port of call extend beyond food and sightseeing. Her on-again-off-again boyfriend Wes, whom her friends disapprove of, will also be there. And Sora is convinced she can make memories and take her relationship to the next level without anyone else being the wiser.

But things take an unexpected turn early on. After delayed flights, lost luggage, and missed connections, Sora discovers she hasn't booked them at a five-star luxury hotel, but at a tiny B&B on the verge of foreclosure. The good news is, the owner and her handsome son Nico are still more than willing to make the vacation the best it can be. And between days spent exploring Amalfi's hidden treasures and nights drinking and dancing with Wes, Sora is pretty sure she's pulled off the perfect holiday. Until things start falling apart. Soon, she's got no one in her corner, and she'll have to learn how to open up about her real reasons for this whirlwind trip. And those reasons have nothing to do with Wes.

The first thing to note is that middle-grade rom-coms like this tend to have a format, and Oh My Affogato! doesn't really stray from it. Girl has plans, girl meets boy, girl hates boy but reluctantly starts to like him, plans come undone, girl loses everyone, girl learns to apologize, girl makes big gesture to back up apology, girl gets friends and boy. For better or for worse, the pattern is predictable. If you like that, you'll like this. If you want something fresh, this doesn't really break the formula.

That said, this book shines when it comes to describing the ups and downs of international travel. As a regular traveler myself, I'm all too aware of the stress and upheaval that come with big plans like this. And if there's one thing Oh My Affogato! does well, it's describing the bittersweet joy (and stress) of these trips to a tee. If there are two things it does well, it's that and demonstrating the beauty and joy of sightseeing (and eating) off the beaten path. It may not reinvent the genre on the surface, but as a fictional travelogue, it's a great idea of what to expect, and what to look for, when going abroad.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Hydration
While affogato may be in the title, lemons are the theme of this novel: on Sora's toenails, in the packet of lemon seeds that serves as a late-story gift, and in lots of the food and drinks Sora and her friends sample. This sparkly pink lemonade potion is a perfect pairing for this read. Plus, it's got electrolytes to keep you hydrated, and makes a great cocktail or mocktail base! Use my link to get a discount on this and other bookish drinks from Velvet Hammer.