Short AF Book Review | The Other Parker | ARCC Received By Netgalley

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "The Other Parker" by Sarah Zane. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

Bri Tanner has one goal for her junior year: destroy Shawn Parker.

After the no - good lousy cheat broke Bri's younger cousin's heart, she's determined to make him pay. He might be able to charm every other person at their school, but not her.

Bri has a secret weapon: she's demisexual and already hates him

There's nothing he can say or do to make her fall for him or his tricks. Shawn might be Harris High's star football player, but Bri Tanner is about to show the player how it feels to be played.

The only problem? The more time Bri spends with Shawn, the more she's around his sister Shannon. Shannon always has a goofy smile, a joke, and a helping hand ready for anyone who needs it.

Shawn Parker has no chance at her heart, but the other Parker? She might be a problem.

This sapphic coming - of - age story inspired by John Tucker Must Die and Easy A is packed full of queer joy, found family, girl power, high school hijinks, and a little bit of revenge."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is literally because this was advertised as "John Tucker Must Die" but make it gay, and I was all in. Friends, the description did not lie. This book was such a fun read. First of all, I got all the nostalgic feelings from this book, it did genuinely feel like watching an early 2000s girlypop movie like John Tucker Must Die, Mean Girls or Easy A. We truly don't make media like that anymore and it makes me so excited to see it coming back. This had everything I wanted in a queer story. The found family in this story was incredible and I loved that the characters friendships were built around what happened to them instead of them tearing each other down. The group was a feminist powerhouse and the wit and banter between them all was hilarious and so much fun to read and feel a part of. There were quite a few twists and turns that I was absolutely was not expecting, but once again just added to the story and made it so much more enjoyable to read. I genuinely laughed out loud so much with this story and kept wanting to pick it up any time I wasn't reading it. This was honestly just such an easy read, and I had such a good time with it. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who just wants a quick fun little read which gives off those y2k girlypop movie vibes, whilst being incredibly queer. I will definitely be picking myself up a physical copy of this book as well as reading Sarah's other books when I get the chance to.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book is already out!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Livingston Girls | ARC Received By Netgalley

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Livingston Girls" by Briana Morgan. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

"There's a place for troublesome teenage Livingston Academy. When 16-year-old Rose's relationship with her English teacher is exposed, her community mourns his reputation, and she's the one banished to boarding school

Ashamed and hoping to keep her past under wraps, Rose is surprised to learn she's not the only one with a Livingston Academy was founded by Salem witch trial survivors - and their successors still practice magic in secluded dorm rooms and the woods outside the school grounds. When Rose falls in with the strange and rebellious group of girls that make up the Livingston coven, Rose gets an offer to join that she can't refuse. Soon she's part of a hidden world of whispered spells, charms, summonings, and sisterhood.

But there's a darker side to becoming a waitch - there will always be powerful men who resent and envy a witch's abilities. When the headmaster of the nearby boy's school is revealed to be a witch hunter eager to claim the power of the Livingston coven, Rose and her new friends must fight for their very survival.

And Rose might have an even bigger problem. She can't keep her eyes off her prickly coven sister and roommate Charlie. Will she master her power in time to save the school, or will her crush prove a deadly distraction?"

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because as y'all know I love queer fiction especially with found family and magical elements, so I thought I would love this one... Friends, I could not have been more wrong. This genuinely sounded like it would be the perfect book for me as I really love girl power, and women coming together, and those books being queer... But honestly? Can there be such a thing as too much? First of all, the relationships between these girls were barely given the time or energy that they deserved to at least make their closeness believable. Everything just felt so rushed, especially with the amount of time jumps there were that were hardly given a reason for. I had no chance to find moments to fall in love or empathise with any of the characters, which is really sad because some of these characters truly did have heart-breaking stories, but the way they were portrayed made me feel absolutely nothing. I'm a girl who wants to laugh, smile, cry and hurt with the characters I'm reading about and honestly all this book made me feel was unamused and irritated. The only reason I actually finished this book is because it is just over 200 pages long making it a shorter read, and there were some parts that did actually make me want to keep on reading, which did not end up being worth it in the end. I do feel like the premise for the story is really there, it was just executed poorly. As much as I finished it, I don't think I will be recommending this story to anyone, and I don't think I'll be picking up another one of Briana's works again.

I gave this book a 2/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book is already out!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | You Weren't Meant To Be Human | ARC Received By Netgalley

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "You Weren't Meant To Be Human" by Andrew Joseph White. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

"Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award - winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.

Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation. A fresh start. It's an offer that none refuse.

Crane is grateful. Among his hive's followers, Crane has found a chance to transition, to never speak again, to live a life that won't destroy him. He even met Levi: a handsome ex - Marine and brutal killer who treats him like a real man, mostly. But when Levi gets Crane pregnant - and the hive demands the child's birth, no matter the cost - Crane's desperation to make it stop will drive the community that saved him into a devastating spiral that can only end in blood.

You Weren't Meant To Be Human is a deeply personal horror; a visceral statement about the lives of marginalized people in a hostile world, echoing the works of Stephen Graham Jones and Eric LaRocca."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because I previously read "The Spirit Bares It's Teeth" by the same author and loved it, and as y'all know I love queer books so I wanted to sink my teeth into this one. Friends, I have never both loved and been so triggered by a book at the same time more than I have with this one. Please, if you read this, make sure you pay attention to the trigger warnings! Something I admire about Andrew's writing is that he's not afraid to get deep and dark into these triggering topics, and I'm not gonna lie, there were so many times where I did want to put this book down and never pick it back up again. However, that is truly the point of this book, to make people feel uncomfortable, especially with something that is going on right now in real life (minus the alien/paranormal aspect). And at the same time, every time I put this book down, I wanted to pick it straight back up. I wanted to sit in that uncomfortableness and know that what I was feeling was only a fraction of what could happen to someone like Crane in real life. I do genuinely feel like Andrew is an incredible author in both the YA and adult horror space and I cannot wait to see what he does next. I will definitely be getting myself a physical copy of this book so I can share it with my horror loving friends.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book is already out!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Torchfire | ARC Received By Netgalley

  

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Torchfire" by Moira Buffini. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers, especially with this being the second book in the series, so please keep that in mind!)

"The hugely anticipated second instalment in Moira Buffini's dystopian fantasy trilogy. Who will triumph? Those with songlight, or those without?

Welcome back to a world where songlight - or telepathy - is either your greatest power or your greatest curse.

Elsa is on the run and urgently seeking a safe haven.

Nightingale is being held captive and forced to use her songlight against her own people.

Piper has been promoted up the ranks of the Airmen, where nothing but bloodshed is demanded of him.

Rye has stumbled across an incredible airship, the likes of which have never been seen before...

All for are united by their desire for peace.

But peace between the Aylish and Brightland feels more fragile than ever.

And there is a new threat, not just to Brightland, but to Ayland and the world beyond. The airship that Rye discovered is owned by the Sealanders, a race of elite Torches, recently returned to Earth.

The future of civilisation is on a knife edge, with those from Brightland wanting to stamp out songlight, those from Ayland wanting harmony and those from Sealand wanting songlight to rein, whatever the costs..."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this was because I read the first book (also as an ARC) earlier this year. Friends, I loved every single minute of this book as much as the first one. I loved that we kept with the multiple POV's making sure we get every single side of the story from all different kinds of angles. I loved that we got new characters and with those new characters, new lore and world building that paints so much more of a bigger picture. I love that we're slowly being introduced to more diverse characters who will possibly be able to help guide us with their POVs in the next book. I just loved this book. This book was daunting to me at first knowing it was over 500 pages (because I've been reading short books lately) but honestly, it just kept on pulling me back in to want to read it. Even last week when I had no time to read I just kept on wanting to shove away all my responsibilities and pick it up. I really cannot wait to see what the final book will bring. I will 100% be picking it up when it comes out and getting all 3 books for my book shelf!

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book is already out!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | A Quick & Easy Guide To Healthy Relationships | ARC Received By Netgalley

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "A Quick & Easy Guide To Healthy Relationships" by Mariah - Rose Marie. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

"It can be difficult to navigate a lifetime's worth of relationship patterns to clearly see the best ways to treat the folks we care about - and be treated well in return.

In A Quick & Easy Guide To Healthy Relationships, Mariah - Rose Marie offers a cheery, articulate, and fun - to - read guide to navigating, recognizing and reenforcing positive patterns in friendships, romances, families, and work connections, all while taking care of your own head and heart in the process. From tips for engaging in difficult conversations, advice on communicating boundaries, and resources for strengthening bonds, this guide can help you make your relationships stronger and healthier than ever.

The latest volume of the critically acclaimed, bestselling A Quick & Easy Guide series of educational comics."

I did receive this book as an ARC on Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because one: it is from one of my favourite graphic novel publishers Oni Press, but two: I feel like everyone could always use as much information as possible when it comes to healthy relationships, and even at the ripe old age of 31, that includes me too. Friends, I am so happy that I applied for this one and got it. The art in this graphic novel is beautiful, I loved the artist's colour palette as well as their use of anthropomorphism to show the different humans and helping them look more unique! In my personal opinion, this comic is so GOOD, and so IMPORTANT especially for younger readers who might not know what healthy relationships are, not just in the form of romance, but in friendships, families and in the workplace etc etc. Even at 31, there were things that I learned that I did not know before. I loved that each type of relationship was formed into categories and what would be considered healthy within that category whilst also showing if you wouldn't accept it in one type of relationship, you shouldn't accept it in the other. I read this in one sitting and loved every minute of reading it. Not only was the learning fun but the diversity within this book was beautiful (I almost cried because there was a wheelchair user depicted as a panda, which if you didn't know is my favourite animal). I genuinely believe whether you're 15 or 50 this book is suitable for people of all ages, and is 100% something that everyone should read at least once. I will definitely be looking at the other books in the series and I will be picking a physical copy of this one when it is out.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book comes out on the 2nd December 2025!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Short AF Book Review | Adventure Time Vol 1: Best Of Buds | ARC Received By Netgalley

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Adventure Time Vol 1: Best Of Buds" by Nick Winn & Derek M Ballard. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Netgalley synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

"C'mon grab your friends and head to distant lands for a brand - new ADVENTURE (er, TIME!)!

When Finn and Jake save the newly installed computer princess from the clutches of the evil Ice King - he just wants a bride. OK, is that too much to ask?! - the two escort her back to the Computer Kingdom, where she gives the best of buds a new quest: find the powerful guide for heroes, the Enchiridon, and bring it back to her so she can scan it for her digital archive! But where are they going to find it? And how?!

From songwriting with lovesick poets to attending art shows with megalomaniacs to dance battles with the Cat Queen in the funky reaches of outer space. Finn and Jake find themselves on a truly mathematical (and dare we say... radical?!) journey on their quest to complete CP's request - but surely nothing can stop the best of buds! That is to say, surely their friendship is totally, completely, definitely not about to be put to the test! Right?

Written and drawn by Annie - nominated designer for TV and feature animation Nick Winn, highlighting a host of talented artists and featuring backup stories by Adventure Time alum Derek Ballard (Cartoonshow), this new Adventure Time series is one you won't want to miss!

Collects issues #1-4 of the new Oni Press Adventure Time series."

I did receive this book as an ARC on Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because as you all know I love graphic novels, but what you might not know is Oni Press is one of my favourite graphic novel publishers and Adventure time is one of my all time favourite cartoons. So when I saw the three combined I knew I had to apply for this one. Friends, I am so ecstatic that I got to read this. This graphic novel truly sent me back, to me and Jamie binging the adventure time series at the start of our relationship, and gave me all of the nostalgia I could ever want. I loved every moment of reading it and had so much fun. I actually managed to get through this in two sittings in a single day (and honestly, I would of done it in one if I didn't have to stop because of other responsibilities), I genuinely would never need a reminder of how much I love Adventure time, but if anything was going to remind me it would have been this, and I definitely think I'm up for a rewatch after reading this. I'm so excited to see what the future entails due to this graphic novel, and I am 100% going to be grabbing the next ones as and when they come out. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves Adventure time, heck, even if you've never watched Adventure time I would recommend this as it's just such a fun read. 

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

This book comes out on the 25th November 2025!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Nimona | Gifted By Harper Collins

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Nimona" by N.D. Stevenson. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers to please keep that in mind!)

"The graphic novel debut from rising star ND Stevenson, based on his beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it 'a deadpan epic.'

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive sharply irreverent epic from N.D. Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive prologue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full - colour graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild size might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit."

I was gifted this book from Harper Collins, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is genuinely because I just wanted to read it before I watched the movie and I had heard so many good things about it. Plus N.D. Stevenson helped create some of my favourite series *Cough* She - Ra And The Princess Of Power *Cough*. So when I saw this in the Harper Collins influencer newsletter I applied for it. Friends, I'm not gonna lie, I was ecstatic when this showed up on my doorstep. As y'all know I LOVE graphic novels, and this one was no different. Friends, I just need you to know this HURT in all the good ways. If you are going to read it, please do so with tissues. N.D. does such a good job at making a story really beautiful without shying away from the nitty gritty of it all. Nimona's story was heartbreaking and truly showed how impactful what she had been through in her life had been for her. All I wanted to do was to reach through the book and give her a massive hug. I genuinely had to put this book down a couple of times in order to not get tears on the pages. You also know I loved this book from the fact that I read this in one sitting (which has been super hard for me to do these days). All in all, Nimona is a beautifully heartbreaking story about what it's like to grow up different, and how that can have such an impact on not only a young person's life but the people that come into their lives after the fact, and their relationships with them. This is forever going to be in my top 3 graphic novel recs now and I will 100% be reading more of N.D. Stevenson's works.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!