Crushing by Sophie Burrows – Blog Tour (Arc Review)

Title: Crushing

Author: Sophie Burrows

Publishing House: Algonquin Young Readers

Genre: Graphic Novel (Romance)

Synopsis (from Goodreads): She’s lonely and searching for connection. He’s lonely and afraid to reach out.

Life in the big city means being surrounded by connections—making them, missing them, and longing for them. But is finding someone else really the answer to their problems?

Crushing, the stunning debut graphic novel from Sophie Burrows, is a story told in silence; a story without words but bursting with meaning; a story about loneliness and love.
Achingly beautiful, quietly defiant, and full of subtle wit and wisdom, Crushing is a unique meditation on the human condition in the twenty-first century, and a timely examination of young adult life in an age of isolation.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

A huge thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for giving me the chance to read this graphic novel as an E-Arc before the release date and for reaching out to let me participate in the blog tour.
All opinions, however, are completely my own.

CW: solitude and loneliness.

This graphic novel was just so cute, it warmed my heart in a lot of different ways. I’m so glad the publishing house reached out to me and gave me the chance to read it, because I surely would have missed out on a little gem.

This graphic novel is quite short, just a little more than 150 pages, but it really is able to convey a lot of emotions and it makes you feel a lot even if the words are really sparse and rare.

We are in a big city, and we follow two different characters of whom we will never get the chance to know the names, they are quite young, possibly in their twenties, and they don’t know each other.
Actually, they don’t seem to know a lot of people, they are quite introverted, and the feeling of living in a big city surely doesn’t help them. But they have a flare of a connection, nothing more than a glance, at a pizza shop, and that will be enough for them.
From there a story of missed connections starts, and we follow these two characters as they brush in the big city, that, just as a character itself, has its role in their love story.

What I liked the most about this story is how the writer touches on the subject of loneliness and alienation. I think that sometimes, in our twenties, we feel a sense of detachment from the people around us if we are quite on the introverted side, and especially if we live in a place that’s so vibrant it almost feels like sometimes it drains energies from us.
Also, I think it was really on point with the current pandemic situation. Of course there’s no mention of it, but it really resembled in a lot of ways the feel that we now get after almost two years in this situation, and how it is sometimes difficult to start new relationships and to get to know more people.

The illustrations were adorable, I liked the choice of the author for the colours, from what I could gather she used very sad colours, blue for the most part, for when the characters felt lonely or alienated, just like the colour blue in the English language is associated to sadness, while for situations where the emotions were at their highest she chose to use the colour red. And also, both of the main characters’ hair colour was red, I found it to be a nice touch.
For the whole reading time I could only think of a Taylor Swift lyric that says “the rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming colours”.

Also, this novel really resonated with me because of the struggle but at the same time the want to find someone who really understands all of our quirkiness and our differences.
It’s very difficult to say, since the words are so scarce and we get to see not so much of these characters’ lives in 160 pages but I also think this graphic novel deals with some mental health theme and how being lonely can really sometimes take a toll on our mental health, so that was another theme I was glad to see touched upon.

Overall, I think this graphic novel was really sweet and full of hope and I was glad I had the chance to read it, since it was a quick and heart-warming glance into love and loneliness, and it left me with a really good feeling inside in the end.

We have come to the end of this review, I hope you enjoyed it, thank you so much for reading.
Talk to you soon,

Graphic Novels Mini Reviews

Creepy Cat Vol. 1

Author: Cotton Valent

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Synopsis: Flora has just moved into an old house with a gothic flare and a hint of mystery. She soon realizes that she’s not alone in this place: a weird cat already lives there, and it’s not leaving. It behaves like no cat she’s ever seen, phasing through solid objects and attempting to eat a police officer. As Flora cozies up to her new creepy yet adorable roommate, she learns there are more spooky surprises in store!

An ARC of this graphic novel was provided by the publisher Penguin Random House via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Flora moves into a house she has just inherited and she finds out that it’s inhabited by a curious creature, creepy cat! This small ball of fur has all the lovely qualities of a cat, but it’s also creepy and can do funny and quirky things like to infinitely multiply itself.
The graphic novel offers little scenes from Flora and creepy cat’s daily life together and it was all quite funny to read, especially because creepy cat loves to create chaos and scare Flora, even though it deeply loves her.
If you’re like me and you don’t really enjoy scary stuff, then I totally recommend this graphic novel, it’s definitely a great read for the spooky season!

Persephone: Hades’ Torment

Author: Allison Shaw

Release Date: November 23^rd 2021

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Synopsis: In this sexy, full-color graphic novel romance first released as a webcomic, desire blooms in the goddess of the harvest when she meets the ruler of the underworld.

According to the ancient legend, the Lord of the Dead kidnapped the innocent daughter of Demeter–or did he? The truth is, Persephone is no damsel in distress, but a spirited young lady with an overbearing mother. A failed scheme by Apollo leads Persephone to a chance encounter with the mysterious and handsome Hades, who is struck by love’s arrow. Now Hades must wrestle with his aching heart before he loses total control of his feelings, but desire is raging inside Persephone herself.

An ARC of this graphic novel was provided by the publisher Penguin Random House via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel tells the story of Hades and Persephone, but there were definitely some changes made. Here the two of them fall in love with each other and there’s no kidnapping involved whatsoever, it’s very romanticized in this regard. I enjoyed seeing Persephone having an active role and being more conscious and in control of her own choices, that was an interesting twist. I was not the biggest fan of Hades, I feel like he had almost no personality and I wish we could have seen more of the underworld and also just him in general.
Moreover, there were a lot of the other Greek gods involved in the story, especially in the beginning. It might have been insightful to see them in action, but in the end it was just confusing since the reader gets to see each of them for only a handful of pages and sometimes for scenes that aren’t even really relevant to the main storyline. In such a short book I would have cut some of them, just to keep the main story flowing.
Overall, this graphic novel was an okay read, nothing more for me.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading,

A Bunch of Bookish Reviews

Hey Readers! I decided to do a little article about a couple of things I read in the past few days and weeks. Down below you will find three spoiler-free reviews of a book, a graphic novel and a manga, so have fun!

Title: Every Heart a Doorway

Author: Seanan McGuire

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter. No matter the cost.

Rating: 4/5 stars

I had never read something by Seanan McGuire, and this was my first approach to her. I must say that I really liked this book and most of all the audiobook version of it.
The author created an original and amazing world with this series. It’s so interesting to see that there are so many worlds outside and that children can go there through a simple door. I would so like to have found my own door when I was younger, but I still hope to get the chance!
The characters were very well-developed, Nancy and Wade stole my heart and I can’t wait to read more about them. I also really liked Susi, she was sooo funny!
I didn’t know there was a mystery inside this story, so I was quite pleased about it. I almost understood who was behind all the things, but this didn’t bother me at all, thanks to McGuire’s amazing writing style.
If you haven’t read this book yet, listen to me and try it, you won’t regret it!

Title: Are You Listening?

Author: Tillie Walden

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou. This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak—and a startling revelation about sexual assault—culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.

Rating: 4/5 stars

I read this amazing and wonderful graphic novel in one sitting and I so enjoyed it. I didn’t know anything about it, I just took a look at some pages and decided to read it.
The drawings and the color palette were always on point and appropriate for this kind of story. The plot was really cool and interesting and even though I had some issues in understanding what was going on at the beginning, I had so much fun throughout the entire story. It’s basically a road trip, but at the same it is not the kind of road trip you would expect.
I read a couple of reviews on Goodreads where some people think that Bea and Lou, the two main characters, were not developed or “deep” enough, just flat characters. I totally disagree, I think that both the story and the characters were interesting and full of layers. I found it pretty easy to get along with both of them and I was eager to know more about their past and their lives. In order to not spoil anything to you, I strongly suggest you try reading it.

Title: Saturn Apartments, Vol. 1

Author: Hisae Iwaoka

Synopsis (from Goodreads): A touching, character-rich vision of an intriguing new world. Far in the future, humankind has evacuated the earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the earth, 35 kilometers up in the sky. The society of the ring is highly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated junior high. When his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu must take on his father’s occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu’s job treats him to an outsider’s view into the living-room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

I know it’s just the first volume of a series, but it didn’t completely convince me. The story was very original and interesting, I liked the main idea of putting a giant ring around the Earth (even though I don’t think I would like to live in it). The main problem with the plot was that it didn’t completely capture my attention. I would have preferred to see more about Mitsu’s mission to find his father. Maybe it will be better developed in the following volumes and this was just a little presentation of the main characters and plot, but in the end I wasn’t really eager to know more about it. Nevertheless, I will definitely try reading at least the second and third volumes of this saga in order to have a better idea of it.

So, these are my opinions about these stories, hope you liked reading about them! If you would like to let me know your opinions about them, leave a comment down below. Thanks!

3 Mini Reviews: Swamp Thing, Fangirl Vol. 1; Spell on Wheels Vol. 2

Hey guys! Today I’m bringing you three mini reviews of two comics and one manga I read last month. I enjoyed reading all of them and I’m so excited to talk about them more. Let’s get started!

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches

By: Maggie Stiefvater, Morgan Beem

Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

Synopsis: Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but they are inseparable. For their last summer before college, the two leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined.

While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer school laboratory, because he brought something from home on their trip—it’s an experiment that will soon consume him. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface.

An ARC of this comic was received by the publisher DC Comics via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Before this graphic novel I was completely unaware of anything relating to the Swamp Thing DC world, but I’m so glad I got the chance to discover such an interesting and unique story. As you may guess, I requested it because of Maggie Stiefvater whose writing I adore. I could totally see her personal touch in this story and I really enjoyed this aspect. The illustrations were great, especially how the colors were used, I loved how the green color palette was the one prominent throughout all the narrative.

I really liked reading about the Holland twin brothers, Alec and Walker. Walker’s outgoing and always ready to make new friends, especially now in their last summer before college. Whereas Alec is more of an introvert and wants to spend time researching for his experiment that’s all about plants, how they think and their memories. The experiment element was such a cool thing and it made me really invested in the story. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think that in a way it was fitting to the storyline that we were presented. I really hope there’s more to this story because it would be so interesting to continue on.

Overall it was a very unique and enjoyable read, I totally recommend it if you’re a Stiefvater’s fan or even if you just enjoy fantasy graphic novels.

Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga

 By: Rainbow Rowell, Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis: The manga adaptation of the beloved novel by #1 Bestselling author Rainbow Rowell!

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can’t let go. Now that they’re in college, Cath must decide if she’s ready to start living her own life. But does she even want to if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Cath doesn’t need friends IRL. She has her twin sister, Wren, and she’s a popular fanfic writer in the Simon Snow community with thousands of fans online.  But now that she’s in college, Cath is completely outside of her comfort zone. There are suddenly all these new people in her life. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming boyfriend, a writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome new writing partner … And she’s barely heard from Wren all semester!

An ARC of this comic was received by the publisher VIZ Media LLC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know how much I needed this, really! I loved Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, the novel this manga is based on, and I’m so happy to say I loved this manga volume just as much! I believe it was a great transposition and I found in it all the enjoyable elements I remember liking in the novel. There was my sweet Levi, who’s already growing close to Cath. Cath is experiencing the first few months of college and its hardships alongside it. I’m so happy that she can find solace in Simon and Baz’s story and also that she has the support of her roommate Reagan and Levi. It was so nice to read about Cath’s story in this new format which offers a way to re-read this adorable story in a quick and fun way. I’m really looking forward to reading the next volume!

Spell on Wheels Vol. 2: Just to Get to You

By: Kate Leth, Megan Levens, Marissa Louise

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Expected Publication Day: December 15^th

Synopsis: The trio of Witches from Spell on Wheels return in this follow up cross country series!

The witches Andy, Claire, and Jolene, find themselves back on the road traveling across the American Southwest when a mysterious dark force possesses Claire. Spells and confessions fly as the group confronts phantoms, cryptids, and personal drama.

As they make their way along the I-10 toward the elusive presence possessing Claire, they discover you can’t go home again, not really, and they’re running out of time.

An ARC of this comic was received by the publisher Dark Horse Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This second volume was definitely better than the first one. The storyline was interesting and fun, I was curious to see what was about to go down with Annabelle, a witch who’s causing quite a lot of problems, especially to Claire, who keeps having visions about her. And what about her connection with Jolene?
Also, I really enjoyed how the friendship of the girls got better in this volume, I feel like they are a true coven now, they even got matching magical tattoos!

This is a nice witchy read and if you’re looking for something like that, then I totally recommend this book! Also, the first volume, which is already out, is a lovely Halloween read!

That’s all for today guys, I hope you liked these reviews. Talk to you soon,

Le Black Holes di Borja González – ARC Review

The English review can be found below.

 

Titolo: Le Black Holes

Autore: Borja González

Casa Editrice: Oscar Vault – Mondadori

Genere: Graphic Noven

Sinossi (da Goodreads): Gloria, Laura e Cristina vogliono mettere su una band punk chiamata “The Black Holes”. Hanno tutto ciò che serve: talento, presenza, istinto. Solo il loro background musicale è un po’ debole. Ma non è questo il loro principale problema: non appena iniziano a provare, infatti, un’aura di inquietudine pervade la loro vita quotidiana. Ricorda dei fatti avvenuti 160 anni prima che continuano a perseguitare una di loro.

Rating: 4.25/5

Ringrazio tantissimo la casa editrice, Oscar Vault, per avermi dato l’opportunità di leggere in anteprima questa graphic novel in cambio di una recensione sincera. Ovviamente, tutte le opinioni sono mie.

Questa review è completamente spoiler free.

Avevo gli occhi puntati su questa graphic novel da quando la casa editrice aveva cominciato a postare snippet sulla sua pagina Instagram, infatti sono poi andata a controllare, e questa graphic novel aveva davvero tutti gli elementi per potermi piacere molto, come ad esempio la musica e l’emancipazione femminile, temi che sono stata felice di aver veramente trovato e che sono stati trattati con maestria.

La storia si svolge su due timeline, una nella metà del 1800, l’altra nel 2016 e segue varie ragazze. Nel 1800 abbiamo Teresa, una ragazza che adora suonare il pianoforte e scrivere poesie, e che una notte incontra uno scheletro in grado di parlare in un bosco e cerca di mantenere il segreto alla sua famiglia.
Nel 2016 seguiamo tre ragazze, Gloria, Laura e Cristina, che vogliono formare una band punk “Le Black Holes.” Ho adorato il riferimento alla canzone “Starglight” dei Muse, una delle canzoni che sono state una colonna portante della mia adolescenza. “I’ll never let you go, if you promise not to fade away”, queste lyrics mi fanno ancora piangere dopo anni che le ascolto.
Ma ritorniamo all’argomento principale, ovvero questa graphic novel.

Come dicevo, il fumetto si svolge su due piani temporali diversi, ed ero davvero curiosa di leggere di entrambi. Adoro le storie ambientate nel passato, e il 1800 è uno dei periodi storici di cui preferisco maggiormente leggere. Ovviamente, considerando gli standard sociali di quel tempo, è sempre un piacere poter leggere una storia di emancipazione di una ragazza costretta alle norme del suo tempo.

Il fumetto rende molto bene il concetto di emancipazione femminile, e porta con sé una buona dose di ragazze ribelli che vogliono solo poter seguire le loro passioni. Teresa, come dicevo poco fa, la ragazza che vive nel 1800, che ama scrivere poesie e la musica del suo pianoforte, e che sogna di raccontare storie per vivere, e Gloria, Laura e Cristina, tre ragazze che sognano di fondare il loro gruppo punk. Come la storia musicale ci mostra, i gruppi punk femminili che hanno sfondato sono stati davvero pochi, rilegando quindi questo genere musicale come un genere prettamente “maschile”, quindi ho adorato vedere queste tre ragazze mentre cercavano di rivoltare il patriarcato grazie a una loro passione comune, la musica.
Inoltre questo fumetto non ha paura di affrontare il tema della diversità, di come ci si sente a essere dissimili dal resto delle persone che ci circondano. Teresa ha interessi completamente diversi rispetto a quelli delle sue sorelle, interessate solo alla società dell’epoca, e anche nella parte del presente, sicuramente le tre ragazze cercano di distaccarsi da una società che non le fa sentire rappresentate al cento per cento.

I colori sono stupefacenti (e soprattutto molto importanti, non dico di più perché potrebbe essere uno spoiler, ma state molto attenti alle scelte dell’autore), e ho adorato lo stile dell’autore.
Il fatto che il passato sia raccontato a colori vivaci, mentre il presente sia per la maggior parte rappresentato solo da colori vicini al verde è davvero importante, e vi consiglio di farci il più caso possibile se leggerete la storia.
I dialoghi sono intelligenti e studiati. Ho letto che molte persone trovano questa graphic novel confusionaria, ma per me non lo è stato. Penso solo che sia nell’intenzione dell’autore sfidare intellettualmente il lettore con riferimenti sparsi nel corso della storia a cui si deve prestare attenzione.

Il finale mi ha lasciato a bocca aperta e senza parole. Ho davvero adorato come gli avvenimenti si sono conclusi, ma non dirò altro causa spoiler. Dico solo che ho dovuto leggere e rileggere la fine varie volte per riuscire a mettere insieme tutti i pezzi, fino a rendermi conto di trovarmi in un cerchio in cui non avrei mai davvero potuto trovare tutte le risposte.

È un viaggio divertentissimo che mi ha stimolato intellettualmente.

Sicuramente non si può leggere questo fumetto in maniera passiva, ma questo fattore me lo ha fatto amare ancora di più. Non mi piace leggere “per leggere”, nel senso che adoro leggere libri che mi rilassano, ma a volte sento anche il bisogno di prestare attenzione e cercare di comprendere fino in fondo ciò che lo scrittore vuole trasmettere. Sicuramente non vedo l’ora di leggere altre opere di questo autore.

E voi? Avete mai letto niente di questo autore? Siete interessati a leggere questa graphic novel? Vi ricordo che da Martedì si può trovare in tutte le librerie e tutti gli store online. Fatemi sapere con un commento qui sotto se avete intenzione di leggerla. Ci vediamo la prossima volta,

English Review

 

Title: The Black Holes

Author: Borja González

Publishing House: Oscar Vault – Mondadori

Genre: Graphic Novel

Synopsis: Gloria, Laura and Cristina want to start a band called “The Black Holes”. They have everything they need: talent, scenic presence, instinct. Only their musical background is a bit weak. But that’s not their main problem: as soon as they start to rehearse though, an aura of unrest takes control over their day to day life. It reminds of some facts happened 160 years prior and that continue to haunt one of them.

Rating: 4.25/5

A huge thank you to the Italian publishing house, Oscar Vault, for providing me with a digital ARC of this book. All opinions, however, are completely my own.

This review is completely spoiler free.

 

I had my eyes set on this graphic novel ever since the publishing house had started to post snippets on its Instagram page. I then checked it, and this graphic novel really had all of the elements that I really like, for example music and female emancipation; themes that I was happy to have actually found in the comic and that were dealt with a great skill.

The story takes place in two different timelines, one in the 1850s, the other in 2016, and it follows various girls.

In the 1800s we have Teresa, a girl who loves to play the piano and to write poems. One night she meets a skeleton in the woods who’s able to talk and she tries to keep this secret from her family.
In 2016 we follow three girls, Gloria, Laura and Cristina, and they want to start a punk band, “the Black Holes.” I loved the reference to the Muse song “Starlight”, one of the songs that really shaped me as a person during the teenage years. “I’ll never let you go, if you promise not to fade away”, these lyrics make me cry every time I listen to them, even if years have passed.
But let’s get back to our main topic, the graphic novel.

Like I said this graphic novel takes place in two different timelines, and I was really curious to read about them both I love stories set in the past, and the 1800s are one of my favourite historical periods to read about. Obviously, considering the social standards of those times, it is always a pleasure to read a story of female emancipation, of a girl subjected to the norms of her time period.

The comic deals really well with the concept of female emancipation, and it brings with it a lot of rebel girls that only want to follow their passions and dreams: Teresa, like I said earlier, the girl living in the 1800s that loves to write poems and play her piano and that dreams to tell stories for a living, and Gloria, Laura and Cristina, three girls that dream to start their own punk group. As we can see in the history of music, female punk groups that really became famous were really a few and this music genre was therefore seen like a “male” genre. I so loved to see these three girls trying to fight the patriarchy thanks to a shared passion, music.
Moreover, this comic is not afraid to deal with the diversity theme, with how people can feel different from the rest of the people surrounding them. Teresa has got completely different interests than her sisters’, who are interested only in the society of their times, and even in the part set in our days, surely the three girls try to detach themselves from a society that does not represent them completely.

The colours used in this graphic novel are really amazing (and most of all really important. I don’t want to say more because it could be a spoiler, but you have to pay attention to the author’s choices) and I also really loved the author’s style.
The fact that the past is told in bright colours, meanwhile the present is represented for the most part only with colours similar to green is really important, and I suggest you to pay attention to that, if you’ll read the story.
The dialogues are clever and well developed. I’ ve read that a lot of people found this graphic novel to be confusing, but it wasn’t the case for me. I think it was the author’s aim to challenge the reader intellectually with various reference scattered in the middle of the story, and you just have to pay attention to them.

The ending left me speechless and wanting more. I really loved how the events came to an end, but I won’t say anything else because of spoilers. I only say that I had to read and reread the ending several times, in order to put all of the pieces together. Until I realised I was in a circle, and I could not have possibly found all of the answers, ever.

It’s a very fun journey that challenged me intellectually.

Surely it can’t be read in a passive way, but this factor made me love it even more. I don’t like to read “just for reading something”, and what I mean by that is that surely I love to read books that distract me and relax me, but sometimes I feel the need to pay attention to the details and try and comprehend what the author tried to convey. I really can’t wait to read something else by this author.

And you? Have you ever read anything by this author? Are you interested in reading this graphic novel? Let me know down below if you would like to. See you next time,

Solitaire by Alice Oseman – Review

Title: Solitaire

Author: Alice Oseman

Synopsis (from Goodreads): In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story. My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep, and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now. Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden. I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden. I really don’t.

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

Beware, the following review will contain some spoilers!

 

I really enjoyed reading this book in the last few days. I didn’t expect the story to be like this, in fact I was quite surprised about what happened in there!

I think that the plot was pretty cool, I started it thinking it was just about Tori, her life, her struggles, her friends, Charlie and Nick and so on. But, in addition to that, there’s also a mystery! Not the kind of guess-who-killed-someone mystery, ok, but it’s still something that needs to be solved. I’m talking about Solitaire’s blog and the many things that happen around Tori. Someone is trying really hard to impress her by doing many different things. And the mind behind was none other than Lucas. It was a bit obvious; I was unsure if it was Michael or him, but in the end, I was 90% sure it was Lucas.

Talking about Michael, I loved him so much. He was so adorable and peculiar, I got along with him immediately. He was a bit funny sometimes, but still lovely. And I was so excited that he and Tori ended up together! They are one of my new favourite ships (even though Nick and Charlie are still in the first place, no doubts).

I have to admit that I started reading this book because I was curious to know more about Nick and Charlie. Heartstopper is such an adorable and amazing graphic novel, it’s quite obvious that I would be so interested in knowing more. Well, their story wasn’t all easy peasy lemon squeezy at all. In the graphic novel the author is still introducing the main challenge that Charlie will face in Solitaire. It was hard to read about his disorder, really hard. I hope he will feel better in the future. And with Tori on his side I’m sure he will have all the help he needs.

Last but not least, Tori. I got along with her really well since the beginning. Maybe because sometimes I feel like her or maybe it’s because of this quarantine, I don’t know, but I felt what she felt for almost the entire book. And her relationship with Michael was adorable. I so loved them!

So, these are my opinions about this book, hope you liked reading it! If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about the novel or you would like to talk about what I said in this review, leave a comment down below! Thanks.

Three Graphic Novels Reviews

Hey everyone! Hope you are feeling good and safe in your houses. For me staying at home means that I can finally read a lot of graphic novels and books! For this reason, I decided to give you three little reviews of the last graphic novels I read in these months. Let’s go!

All the synopsis come from Goodreads.

Pumpkinheads – Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Synopsis: Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1. But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye. Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years… What if their last shift was an adventure?

This was one of my birthday’s gifts and I loved reading it so much! The drawings and the colours were absolutely amazing, I loved them so much. I really enjoyed reading about Deja and Josiah, they were just cutie pies. Deja was so much fun, and Josiah was very adorable, I shipped them since the very first page. I also liked how we could see the entire pumpkin patch during their journey and mostly how everything seemed so cool! I would so like to take a trip and go to this place, even though I’m not the greatest pumpkin lover.

Bloom – Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

Synopsis: Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band—if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom… that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything. Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

Oh boy, this graphic novel was sooooo adorable. I read it from 2am to 4am because I couldn’t sleep, and I wouldn’t sleep anymore if I could read books  like this one. Even this time Ari and Hector are two cutie pies and I shipped them since the beginning. I had a soft spot for Ari because he needs to be protected from all the bad things of the world and also the bad things that happen to him.
The story was really cool, and heart-warming and the drawings were astonishing! They were coloured with a light blue palette that made everything even more beautiful. I need to re-read it right now!

The Prince and the Dressmaker – Jen Wang

Synopsis: Paris, at the dawn of the modern age: Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion! Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.

I also read this graphic novel in a couple of hours and in one sitting I just couldn’t stop reading it, because it was too beautiful. I liked how this story stands out from the other ones that talk about this particular topic. The drawings were really nice, and the two main characters have been adopted by me, because they’re too kind and good and they deserve all the love of this world. I also loved how it ended, seeing what happened really melted my heart.

So, these are three little reviews of the last graphic novels I’ve read, thanks for reading! If you’d like to let me know your opinions or to talk about these graphic novels, just leave a comment down below.

5 Books On My Spring TBR

Hi guys, sadly this is not a good period of time for our country and the world in general, and I don’t really know what to say about it except that for “It will get better, we’ll be alright”. I strongly believe that.
In the meantime please stay safe, wash your hands and stay at home if you can. Let’s do this in the hope of better times.
Apart from that, on a much brighter note, today I want to show you five books that I will surely read this Spring, no doubt about that.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
(All the summaries will be taken from Goodreads.)

1. House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis: Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion – one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

This book is for sure my first priority. I couldn’t get to it as soon as it came out because I had to read my other most anticipated book of the year, “Chain of Gold” by Cassandra Clare, but I’m definitely looking forward to reading Maas’s new release. I love her writing and I adored both “Throne of Glass” and the ACOTAR series. She just writes such addictive books and romances, and this one seems like a perfect mix of both, so yeah, I’m excited.

2. Since We Last Spoke by Brenda Rufener

Synopsis: When Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless… until it wasn’t.
A fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.
Still, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party hosted by a mutual friend and break the ice after a year of silence. But just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens when Aggi’s little sister, Grace, flees from home after their father spirals into a fit of rage. With a support system of friends close by, Aggi and Max must confront each other and their families in the hopes of mending all the broken pieces.

This book is our March book of the month and I can’t wait to dive into it. It seems like the perfect YA book for me. There’s romance, there’s a lot of angst (I love angsty books, don’t even ask me why) and I can’t wait to read more YA books, they’re just my favourites. Also, I know this book has some serious trigger warnings, so please go check them out before picking it up.
Always check books for trigger warnings, in my opinion it’s the best thing to do for my mental health. I don’t care if they spoil something about the novel, my mental health is more important.

3. Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman

Synopsis: In this volume we’ll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private…
Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…?

I’m so addicted to this graphic novel, it’s just the cutest ever. I can’t even begin to describe how much I’m rooting for these guys and this love.
I’ve read two books by Alice Oseman, and even though they were good, I really don’t get all the hype. Yeah they’re cute, but for me they’re not the best out there – just opinions of course.
But I love this graphic novel, it surely has all the fluff, the romance, and the cuteness I look for in a story. And these boys are the cutest beans ever, confirmed by me.

4. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Oscar Vuong.

Synopsis: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family’s history that began before he was born — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation. At once a witness to the fraught yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son, it is also a brutally honest exploration of race, class, and masculinity. Asking questions central to our American moment, immersed as we are in addiction, violence, and trauma, but undergirded by compassion and tenderness, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is as much about the power of telling one’s own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard.

This is the book that I picked from my (digital) TBR jar for the month of March and I’m so happy about it. I’m honestly growing more and more attracted to adult fiction in this time of my life. Yeah, I’m growing old – 24 is a good age as ever to start to read adult fiction lol, so I can’t wait to read this book.
I love the story that’s set out in the synopsis, give me a good LGBTQ+ book with Call Me By Your Name vibes set partly in the past and I’m sold.I kinda hope to cry, to be honest with you. I know this is weird, but since the beginning of the year I’ve read maybe two books (Chain of Gold and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird) that were able to move me. I love to be moved by books.
Please, writers out there, make me cry, I’m literally asking for it.

5. By The Book by Amanda Sellet

Synopsis: As a devotee of classic novels, Mary Porter-Malcolm knows all about Mistakes That Have Been Made, especially by impressionable young women. So when a girl at her new high school nearly succumbs to the wiles of a notorious cad, Mary starts compiling the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.
Unfortunately, Mary is better at dishing out advice than taking it—and the number one bad boy on her list is terribly debonair. As her best intentions go up in flames, Mary discovers life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction. If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself.

I’m so grateful to have a digital ARC of this book to read, thanks to the publishing house, and I’m over the moon about it. Give me a good contemporary and I will (possibly) be yours. Add a dose of literary references and a quite moody teenager that I’d possibly want to protect or scold according to times, and I’m surely in. If this does not have good banters, I’m out. I really have high hopes.

Okay, guys, these are the five books in my TBR I’m going to read for sure this Spring. Which are some books you’re hoping to read? Let me know in the comments down below.
We’ll talk soon and stay safe!

Vincent Van Love – Review (ita & eng)

Titolo: Vincent Van Love

Autore: Ernesto Anderle

Sinossi: La maggior parte delle persone pensa che Van Gogh sia stata una persona triste, pazza e malinconica. Leggendo le lettere al fratello Theo emerge invece una persona solare che amava la vita. Questo libro è un inno alla forza delle emozioni, una rappresentazione potente della fragilità e della sensibilità umana.

Rating: 5 stelle

Questo magnifico libro è tratto dalle seguitissime pagine Facebook e Instagram di Vincent Van Love e Roby il pettirosso, il cui autore, Ernesto Anderle ha saputo, nel corso del tempo, colmare di disegni e parole in grado di rievocare l’anima sensibile e unica di Vincent Van Gogh.
Ho scoperto fin quasi da subito le pagine di Anderle, dove oltre a sketches di Van Gogh, pubblica anche quelli di personalità come Fabrizio De André, Lucio Dalla, Alberto Angela, Francesco Guccini e molti altri ancora, caratterizzando ciascuno con cura e passione.
Se come me amate Vincent Van Gogh, non potete fare a meno di leggere questa graphic novel. Attraverso le fantastiche illustrazioni e le parole tratte dalle sue stesse lettere, entrerete in empatia con lui.
Ernesto Anderle ha uno stile davvero eccezionale! Molto colorato e d’impatto, ma allo stesso tempo delicato e soave. Mi ha conquistato davvero fin da subito. Inoltre, ricorda un po’ lo stile frettoloso, immediato, senza filtri e ricco d’amore del nostro amato pittore. Questo piccolo libro, come ci promette la trama, è davvero un inno alla forza delle emozioni, al grande potere che scaturisce dalla sensibilità e dalla fragilità umana e all’amore. È davvero un grande omaggio a un pittore, ma soprattutto a un uomo, che con la sua umiltà, bontà e immenso talento ha saputo toccare i cuori di milioni e milioni di persone!

Queste erano le mie opinioni su Vincent Van Love. Spero di aver suscitato in voi la curiosità di leggere questa graphic novel e, se già avete visto i disegni su Facebook o avete già avuto l’opportunità di comprare il libro, sentitevi pure liberi di farmi sapere le vostre opinioni nei commenti qui sotto. Mi farebbe molto piacere sapere cosa ne pensate.

ENGLISH

Title: Vincent Van Love

Author: Ernesto Anderle

Synopsis: For most people, Van Gogh was a sad, mad and gloomy person. But, throughout the reading of the letters to his brother Theo, you can discover a different person, one who is cheerful and in love with life. This book is a hymn to the power of emotions and a powerful representation of human fragility and sensitivity.

Rating: 5 stars

The wonderful sketches in this book are inspired by the ones of the popular Facebook and Instagram pages of Vincent Van Love. During the years, the author Ernesto Anderle (aka Roby il Pettirosso) has been able to recreate and evoke Van Gogh’s sensitive and unique soul.
I’ve discovered Anderle’s pages since their early stages, and every time a new sketch appears, I’m blown away as the first time. Anyway, he not only draws things about Van Gogh, but also about personalities such as Fabrizio De André, Lucio Dalla, Alberto Angela, Francesco Guccini, and some others.
If you’re a Vincent Van Gogh’s lover, then this graphic novel is definitely your cup of tea! Throughout the fantastic sketches and the words taken directly from Van Gogh’s letters, you’ll empathize with this amazing artist.
Ernesto Anderle has a majestic style! His drawings are very colourful and impactful, yet so delicate and gentle. They conquered me since the very first time I saw them. Moreover, this style reminds me of Van Gogh’s: rushed, immediate, without filters and full of love.
This little book truly is a hymn to the power of emotions, to the power behind the human fragility and sensitivity and to love itself. It’s a great homage to a painter, but most of all to a man, who was, and still is, able to inspire and touch the hearts of millions and millions of people!

So, these were my opinions about this graphic novel. Unfortunately, you can find Vincent Van Love only in the Italian language, but I hope that one day it will be translated in all the languages. It truly deserves it.
If you’re curious to see the sketches, feel free to look them up on Facebook, and then let me know your opinions. I’d really appreciate it.

Short Books to Read in One Sitting

Today I’d like to share with you some short books that you can totally read in one sitting. These are perfect to throw in your bag when you’re going to the beach or the pool and cannot spend a lot of time reading. They can also be the perfect read for your airplane journeys or road-trips. Plus, they’re great for readathons, if it’s something you like taking part in.

So let’s get started!

I’m not going to list them all, but of course a graphic novel is always a nice and quick read. I personally recommend Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, a sweet romance between two English boys.

If you’re in the mood for a mystery short story The Grownup by Gillian Flynn might be a good choice. I’m no expert at all when it comes to the mystery genre but I quite enjoyed this story and I still think about it months after having read it.

If we’re talking about short books we cannot not include the Penguin Little Black Classics and the Penguin Modern Classics. I think they’re a great way to read more by some of our favourite authors and also to discover new ones. I personally recommend Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, Fame by Andy Warhol and Chess by Stefan Zweig.

Looking for a very good feminist read? I’ve got two suggestions for you: We should all be feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and A room of one’s own by Virginia Woolf. They’re both great works and they truly make you think about a lot of stuff.

If there’s one thing readers love to do is read about reading. What better way to do that than reading about Queen Elizabeth II’s passion for books? You can do that in a funny short story called The uncommon reader by Alan Bennett.

If you’re always on the lookout for new content from your favourite authors I strongly suggest checking their Goodreads pages, there are usually some short stories. I personally recommend Mr Salary by Sally Rooney. I really liked it and it was the perfect read after having finished her novel Normal People.

That’s it for today! I hope you like these recommendations.