Read this very quickly, though I will confess it began to drag in the last quarter. The main issue is that it got a little wordy after a while, and I Read this very quickly, though I will confess it began to drag in the last quarter. The main issue is that it got a little wordy after a while, and I kept thinking, why are these people still talking about this? On the whole though it was a nice little read that had some engaging moments and decent side characters. I liked that there were side plots that had some substance, too, and this book sort of skirted the get together, break up, get back together trope by keeping the relationship in a grey area the entire time. And it wasn’t really a fake dating story. There weren’t a ton of moments when these people had to pretend to be together under elaborate circumstances. Probably the best one yet by this author, but it wasn’t earth shattering. Still, she’s definitely progressing....more
A nice little story that maybe goes on a little too long and tries to be a little too whimsical. It's also a little trite at the end. I like the illusA nice little story that maybe goes on a little too long and tries to be a little too whimsical. It's also a little trite at the end. I like the illustrations, though....more
The kind of whimsical story you don't see much of anymore. It's cute and calm but still has a narrative thread that pulls the story along. The kind of whimsical story you don't see much of anymore. It's cute and calm but still has a narrative thread that pulls the story along. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wasn’t expecting to like this because books about broken up couples lack the same spark as books about people who become them. How**spoiler alert** I wasn’t expecting to like this because books about broken up couples lack the same spark as books about people who become them. However, I started to get into it around chapter 3 or 4, and I had to admit it was more interesting than most rom-coms, mostly because it wasn’t funny - these people had real problems, which elevated it. Not that I’m planning on giving this an award; the grammar was awkward and there was a lot of whitewashing going on. I didn’t even realize two of the characters weren’t white until like chapter 35, and that’s only because I finally took a good look at the cover (this was digital). I’ve often said people of color need to be seen living ordinary lives in order to be put on an equal creative playing field with white people. However, that does not mean that every ounce of context and experience that goes along with being a person of color in America needs to be erased from their existences. I’ve seen this a bit in contemporary authors, particularly younger ones. It doesn’t make your book diverse to simply throw in a couple people described as nothing more than olive-skinned, or name them with a non-European name. I may catch a bunch of flack for this, because some may argue that with people like me there’s no being satisfied, but I think I can be satisfied, because I have been. Read books by people of color about people of color living ordinary lives still defined in part by their identities. They may not be overloading my personal library, but I think I know a winner when I see one. Maybe nobody’s reading this and maybe people who are wondering how I said that much and still gave it four stars. It happens....more
I'd give this one star, but people get all up in arms when you do that if you don't HATE it. I didn't hate it, but in this case the wordless format anI'd give this one star, but people get all up in arms when you do that if you don't HATE it. I didn't hate it, but in this case the wordless format and the excessive number of panels made this tedious. ...more
Surprising! A slow start and lack of overall action hampered this at first, but I grew to enjoy the history of Maizy’s family. A couple of twists and Surprising! A slow start and lack of overall action hampered this at first, but I grew to enjoy the history of Maizy’s family. A couple of twists and turns and a realistic ending kept things grounded....more
A nice story about the power of tea to bring people together. The word for tea around the world is derived for the Chinese word for tea, Cha. As otherA nice story about the power of tea to bring people together. The word for tea around the world is derived for the Chinese word for tea, Cha. As other cultures traded for tea with China, they brought back the word, and the pronunciation changed from culture to culture. I love the pictures of the tea cups used around the world as end papers, and the illustrations are bright and cheerful. Lots of backmatter about tea to help readers learn more about this....more
A funny book about a "knight owl" who takes his job very seriously and finds a way to stop an invading dragon from eating him by instead offering him A funny book about a "knight owl" who takes his job very seriously and finds a way to stop an invading dragon from eating him by instead offering him a pizza. This results in an unexpected friendship....more
This got kind of weird toward the end. I don't know. I can't describe it. I felt like I shouldn't be an onlooker or something. A story of friendship aThis got kind of weird toward the end. I don't know. I can't describe it. I felt like I shouldn't be an onlooker or something. A story of friendship and sharing your feelings....more
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