Back of Book: 

For Sybil Clarion, the Belle Époque city of Severon is a wild, romantic dream, filled with cafés, cabarets, and glittering nightclubs. Eager to embrace the city’s freedom after running away from home, she’s traded high-society soirées for empty pockets and barren cabinets. At least she has Esme, the girl who offered Sybil a home, and maybe—if either of them dared—something more.

Ever since Esme Rimbaud brought Sybil back to her flat, the girls have been everything to each other—best friends, found family, and secret crushes. While Esme would rather spend the night tinkering with her clocks and snuggling her cats, Sybil craves excitement and needs money. She plans to get both by stealing the rare posters that crop up around town and selling them to collectors. With rent due, Esme agrees to accompany—and more importantly protect —Sybil.

When they’re caught selling a poster by none other than its subject, Maeve, the glamorous girl doesn’t press charges. Rather, she invites Sybil and Esme to The Absinthe Underground, the exclusive club she co-owns, and reveals herself to be a Green Faerie, trapped in this world. She wants to hire thieves for a daring heist in Fae that would set her free, and is willing to pay enough that Sybil and Esme never have to worry about rent again. It’s too good of an offer to pass up, even if Maeve’s tragic story doesn’t quite add up, and even if Sybil’s personal ties to Fae could jeopardize everything she and Esme have so carefully built.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟 

A sapphic historical romance starring two thieves and the magical Fae world in which their heist takes place. 

Sybil Clarion is a noble on the run from her family. She may have traded her lavish wealth for near destitution, but it's all worth it due to her roommate/secret crush, Esme Rimbaud. To pay their rent, the girls need money, and fast. They plan to steal some of the rare posters painted by famous artists that hang around town to earn some cash, but when they go to sell them, Maeve, the owner of the nightclub "The Absinthe Underground" discovers that they have taken her poster. Rather than demand it back, she inquires if they would be willing to perform a heist for her. Sybil agree full heartedly (while Esme relents reluctantly) and the two girls are swept into the biggest robbery of their lives which will take them deep into the Fae realm. 

Honestly, I couldn't get into this one at all. I didn't care about the characters, the plot, or the world that the author crafted (both in France and the Fae Kingdom). It's really hard to enjoy a book when you find yourself not caring about anything that was occurring. The only things I was even kind of excited about was learning more about the Fae realm and Sybil's backstory surrounding it, but the only things that were revealed were predictable and not that interesting. 

I found the writing to be a tad clunky, mostly due to the fact that the action was often skipped. One chapter would end with them about to go steal something and the next would begin with them already half-way through the event. Stuff like this happened throughout the book, and I found it really frustrating to read. I also found the book to be terribly predictable, especially toward the end, which was also annoying. 

I think the only thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the atmosphere of 1800s France. It was cool to learn about some of the art and to observe some aspects of historical life. However, this was such a minor thing, so it didn't make up for the boring nature of the story. 

Overall, I think that "The Absinthe Underground" could have been a very interesting book, but the writing and character development was so lackluster to me that it didn't work. The fantastical elements as well as the romance was nothing special and really didn't keep me all that entertained. I wish I could have liked this one more, but I felt like I was just kinda mentally slogging through this one in order to finish it, which didn't make for an awesome reading experience. 

Back of Book: 

It is 1939 Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath.

Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Grave Digger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

Walking on thin ice : on Rainy Lake, in the northern reaches of Minnesota, it’s more than a saying. And for Owen Jensen, nineteen and suddenly responsible for keeping his mother and five brothers alive, the ice is thin indeed.

Ice-Out returns to the frigid and often brutal Prohibition-era borderland of Mary Casanova’s beloved novel Frozen, and to the characters who made it a favorite among readers of all ages. Owen, smitten with Frozen’s Sadie Rose, is struggling to make something of himself at a time when no one seems to hold the moral high ground. Bootlegging is rife, corruption is rampant, and lumber barons run roughshod over the people and the land. As hard as things seem when his father dies, stranding his impoverished family, they get considerably tougher—and more complicated—when Owen gets caught up in the suspicious deaths of a sheriff and deputy on the border. 

Inspired by real events in early 1920s Minnesota, and by Mary Casanova’s own family history, Ice-Out is at once a story of young romance against terrible odds and true grit on the border between license and responsibility, rich and poor, and right and wrong in early twentieth-century America.

Book Number: Stand Alone (Note: Though this one can be read as a stand alone, it does feature the same town and characters as Casanova's previous novel Frozen. If you want to get the best experience out of these two books, I would recommend reading Frozen first and then checking out Ice-Out.) 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical  

Review: 🌟🌟🌟 

A story of a young man who is trying to get by in the Prohibition era when everything seems to be working against him. 

Owen Jensen's life is about to turn around. He's just received a loan that will allow him to start his very own car dealership. Growing up in the shadow of his alcoholic father, Owen finally has the chance to seize his own future. That is, until disaster strikes and he is left in charge with managing the family business. But that's not all of Owen's problems. His best friend, Jerry, has drawn him into bootlegging. And his girlfriend, Sadie Rose, is away at college, making it hard for Owen to maintain a strong long distance relationship with her. Just when Owen thought his life was going to turn around for the better, he now seems burdened with issues. 

The historical setting of small town Ranier, Minnesota in the 1920s was such an interesting one to read about. As a Minnesota native myself, there were many times that I found myself thinking, "Yep, sounds like Minnesota," and "Did people really think that was a good idea? It's a frozen lake, for Pete's sake!" Being a native resident of the state made the historical content in this one all the more relevant and often had me pondering what life could have been like if I was born then rather than now. 

My favorite part about this book is Owen's coming of age story line. He is faced with many challenges that he doesn't want to handle, but he accepts them head on. Despite swearing he would never get involved with bootlegging, it seems that it is the source of most of his problems. He has to deal with running two businesses, dating a girl long distance, as well as the grief of losing a loved one. My heart really went out to Owen while reading the story and I could really see his personal growth as the story progressed. He often didn't make the most logical decisions, but he dealt with the consequences and worked his way out of the hole in the long run. 

After reading the author's note, I was blown away not only by how much of this story was based in historic fact, but also by how much was inspired personally by Casanova's own heritage. Owen is heavily based on her father, and she goes over many of the tidbits she included about his life. Some of the situations are also based on her own experiences, which I found really cool. 

I did get a bit bored at times while reading this one. The story doesn't exactly drag on, but some parts aren't laden with action. I also thought that the ending came on a bit quick, and though it pretty much wrapped up most of the plot points, it seems a bit sudden. After finishing the book, I also realized that it was the add-on to Casanova's earlier novel "Frozen" which follows Owen's girlfriend, Sadie Rose, before they were together. I feel that if I read this one first, I would have felt more connected to the romance. As it was, I didn't personally connect to Sadie Rose, which made Owen's obsession with her feel a little strange. I am invested enough in this story to hunt "Frozen" down, so hopefully my opinion of her will change after reading the other book. 

Overall, "Ice-Out" is an interesting historical novel that dives deep into heart of Minnesota winter during Prohibition when times were extremely cold. Part coming of age, part romance, part moral study, "Ice-Out" was not what I expected it to be. I enjoyed learning more about Minnesota history in a unique way and I also really appreciate how Casanova presented nature as such a powerful and ethereal force. I would recommend this especially for Minnesota natives due to the added relatability of the content and the historical significance. 

Back of Book: 

Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish: to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she'll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in eighteenth-century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age—her tyrannical father has made that much clear.

As Nannerl's hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true—but his help may cost her everything.

In her first work of historical fiction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu spins a lush, lyrically told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Fantasy 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A wonderful tribute to close sibling relationships, following one's dreams, and creating music that will last for time immemorial.

Marianne "Nannerl" Mozart is the other Mozart. Everyone has heard of her prodigal younger brother, Wolfgang, but she was performing music before her brother ever saw a piece of sheet music. Despite the jealousy she feels towards her brother being able to achieve her dreams, she loves Wolfgang more than anything else. They may practice and perform together across Europe, but the two of them love spending their free time creating their magical Kingdom of Back. When the Kingdom becomes a little more real than Nannerl ever expected it to, she has to balance what is really important to her.

I wasn't one hundred percent absorbed into the plot of this story, but I loved learning more about the Mozart siblings in such a fun, magical way. I never knew that Wolfgang had a musical older sister who was just as talented in playing and composing as he was. It was fun to learn about Marianne, and it was heartbreaking to learn how her creative talents were suppressed by society.

I was shocked to learn that the Mozarts had actually invented a childhood game surrounding the Kingdom of Back. I think knowing this was based in truth made the story that much more cool. I thought Lu completely made it up, so hearing it was something that actually existed in the Mozarts' lives was really neat.

The themes that Lu tackled with this story were really cool and obviously close to her heart. It sucks how long women and other minority groups have been suppressed, especially in the creative and scientific fields. I love that Lu wrote this story for all the Nannerls out there in the world.

I didn't love all the Kingdom of Back aspects of this book, but I eventually got more invested in the magical world as the story progressed and the Mozarts got more involved. It was very reminiscent of Narnia and Neverland, and the magical prince gave me extreme Puck vibes. He was obviously sketchy, but it makes sense why Nannerl trusted him so much.

Overall, I found "The Kingdom of Back" to be an interesting read. I didn't love it nearly as much as I've loved Lu's other books, but I learned quite a bit from this read. I wasn't entirely invested in the characters or the kingdom, but I still very much enjoyed my time with the Mozart siblings.

Back of Book: 

Gwen is sick of hiding—hiding the fact that she’s taken over her father’s blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight.

Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is—until now. She’s been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can’t talk her way out of trouble.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together—Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means… well, let’s not go there.

One thing’s for sure: falling in love was never the plan.

But the best laid plans… are often trampled all over by dragons. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Romance | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟 

Hidden identities, a jousting competition, and whispers of dragons abound in this sapphic historical romance. 

Gwen has spent her entire life pretending that she is someone that she isn't. Not only has she taken over her father's blacksmith, but she's also queer and dreams of being a knight in a time where none of these things are acceptable. When Gwen runs into the glamorous noblewoman, Isobelle of Avington, she learns what it means to truly be oneself. Isobelle isn't afraid to seize the reins of her life and concoct a plan to keep her from being forced to marry any of the knights competing in the Tournament of Dragonslayers. Secrets abound as Gwen and Isobelle endeavor to keep Gwen's hidden identity of Sir Gawain hidden from the entire kingdom. If the two can manage to win the tournament, they'll both be free. But if they fail? Well, let's leave that to your imagination, shall we?

I was really hoping that this one would be a funny lesbian knight and noblewoman romance, but it was just so boring. Literally nothing in this book felt original. exciting, or unpredictable. The way that the authors decided to pen this novel certainly didn't help this matter any either. Between the weird segments that the narrator stepped in to tell the story momentarily and the chapter headers, little of this book had any shock factor whatsoever. 

I'm not a huge fan of fight scenes in general, but the ones in this book were especially tedious to read. Seriously, the long one at the end almost had me falling asleep and I seriously considered stopping reading this book with only twenty some pages to go. 

The biggest positive takeaway I have from this book is the feminist messages. Gwen has always been forced to hide her true strengths both in the forge and in combat. Isobelle's entire life has always been controlled by others, and she is trying to escape from a loveless marriage. They are both queer, which also isn't remotely accepted during their time. This story focuses a ton on defying the path that society has laid out for us, and defying expectations. Also, the bits about being your true self were sweet, I guess. 

Overall, "Lady's Knight" was just not that enjoyable of a book for me to read. I found it to be boring, predictable, and often repetitive. I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters and I felt super underwhelmed by the romance.  I can appreciate some of the feminist themes and messages, but that's about it. 

Back of Book: 

A thief. An artist. A acrobat. An actress. While Josefa, Emilie, Hinnah, and Violet seemingly don’t have anything in common, they’re united in one goal: stealing the Rubaiyat, a jewel-encrusted book aboard the RMS Titanic that just might be the golden ticket to solving their problems.

But careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance threaten to jeopardize everything they’ve worked for and put them in incredible danger when tragedy strikes. While the odds of pulling off the heist are slim, the odds of survival are even slimmer...

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟 

A fun read featuring a found family of four girls with unique talents who are attempting to pull off the biggest heist of their lives aboard the RMS Titanic.

Josefa is a thief known for both her charisma and her quick fingers. She has successfully completed many grand acts of thievery during her life, but in order to steal the Rubiyat, a one of a kind jewel encrusted book from a wealthy passenger aboard the RMS Titanic, she's going to need some assistance. Josefa recruits her best friend, Violet, who also happens to be the best actress she knows. Hinnah is next on board, a talented trapeze artist who has helped break into buildings during some of Josefa's previous endeavors. Emilie, an artist with an uncanny knack for forgery, rounds out the group of four. With her crew at the ready, Josefa boards the unsinkable ship with a plan to acquire wealth beyond her wildest dreams. . . and maybe even get a touch of revenge in the process.

The characters in this one are fun, though I must admit that it took a while for me to keep them straight, despite their widely different backstories, appearances, and skills. I think that the fact that there are four of them makes it a bit harder to connect to any of the character (the book really isn't all that long), but I still enjoyed the surface level attachment I had with them. The found family vibe that the girls have going on is so sweet, and I could really feel the bonds that they developed by the end of the tale.

One of my favorite part of this one is the amount of diversity that the author was willing to include, even though it wasn't the most likely to have occurred at the time. One of the girls is Croatian, another is from India, and a third is half French, half Haitian. I think it added a bunch to this story that the girls were all from very diverse backgrounds. And the fact that this story also has elements of sapphic romance, the diversity in this book is through the roof!

The biggest problem I had with this one is the overall lack of urgency. For this being a heist book, I feel that many elements repeated themselves, especially in the ways the girls escaped from their pursuers and the way they broke into places. I also found the conclusion to the scenario with Josefa and August to be a bit lackluster, but I won't go into specific details due to spoilers. I just felt their business was left a bit unfinished and that the final scenes with him really could have added more to the table. I also thought that the sinking of the ship could have been a bit more dramatic and that the fight for survival could have seemed more desperate.

Overall, "A Million to One" is a fun read featuring a goofy heist aboard one of history's most iconic backdrops, the Titanic. I found the romance to be cute, the characters to be interesting, and the diversity to be positive. There are many things I enjoyed about this book, but I feel the urgency of the story could have been better and that some of the character's backstory and relationships could have been explored a bit deeper. If I would have formed a deeper connection with the main girls, I'm sure this story would have been an absolute banger. But I didn't, so I just found it to be an enjoyable read, nothing more.

Back of Book: 

An OwnVoices, gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.

Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone in town thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl”; even her mother is desperate to marry her off for security. But Tania wants to be strong, independent, a fencer like her father—a former Musketeer and her greatest champion.

Then Papa is brutally, mysteriously murdered. His dying wish? For Tania to attend finishing school. But L’Académie des Mariées, Tania realizes, is no finishing school. It’s a secret training ground for a new kind of Musketeer: women who are socialites on the surface, but strap daggers under their skirts, seduce men into giving up dangerous secrets, and protect France from downfall. And they don’t shy away from a swordfight.

With her newfound sisters at her side, Tania feels for the first time like she has a purpose, like she belongs. But then she meets Étienne, her first target in uncovering a potential assassination plot. He’s kind, charming, and breathlessly attractive—and he might have information about what really happened to her father. Torn between duty and dizzying emotion, Tania will have to lean on her friends, listen to her own body, and decide where her loyalties lie… or risk losing everything she’s ever wanted.

This debut novel is a fierce, whirlwind adventure about the depth of found family, the strength that goes beyond the body, and the determination it takes to fight for what you love.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Mystery | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A feminist retelling of "The Three Musketeers" featuring a strong-willed protagonist who is much more than just her disability. 

Tania de Batz has been told her whole life that she isn't good enough. She's not good enough to be a successful wife, she's not strong enough to fight for her kingdom with her blade, and society views her as nothing more than the "sick girl." But Tania knows that she is destined for more, and with her sword in hand, she feels as though she can do anything. That is, until her retired Musketeer father is murdered in cold blood and she is sent to L’Académie des Mariées to be whipped into a fine young lady. Luckily, the finishing school isn't as it first appears and Tania finds herself part of a secret organization that are charged with investigating a dangerous assassination plot involving the king of France and some suspicious noblemen. 

We need more books like "One For All." It is one of the first books that I've ever read featuring a physical disability, and to see it done in a historical setting was really neat. I've never heard of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) myself, so I found this book to be very enlightening. The feminist messages were also powerful, and I hope that many young girls find themselves in this story, whether they have a physical disability, are queer, or have to fight for their place to belong. 

I'm not usually the biggest fan of historical fiction, but I love the fast paced nature of this story and the intrigue surrounding the court and the mysterious nobles. Watching the girls train to become Musketeers was truly awesome, especially because no one expects how ready these girls are to kick butt. The fight scene at the end between Tania and the big baddie was really sick, and you can truly tell that the author has experience with fencing herself as well as with POTS. 

The message of sisterhood in this story is so strong and so darn cute. Tania, Aria, Portia, and Théa have such a powerful bond, and I love seeing how they support one another. I think every girl needs a few women that they can trust with anything, so it was nice to see a little found family situation happen between these girls. I enjoyed learning about them individually, but they truly shine when they are working together. 

Overall, I was very impressed by "One For All." It is rare that historical fiction enchants me as much as this one did, but the characters, the high societal settings, and Tania's unique circumstances as a woman fencer with a physical disability in the 1650s really kept me engaged. I would love to check out any of Lainoff's future works and will for sure be recommending this one to anyone with loves stories of sisterhood, historical France, or mysteries featuring high society. And of course, it will be at the top of my rec list for books featuring disabilities. 

Back of Book: 

What if you found a once-in-a-lifetime love... just not in your lifetime?

Audrey Cameron has lost her spark. But after getting dumped by her first love and waitlisted at her dream art school all in one week, she has no intention of putting her heart on the line again to get it back. So when local curmudgeon Mr. Montgomery walks into her family’s Pittsburgh convenience store saying he can help her, Audrey doesn’t know what she’s expecting…but it’s definitely not that she’ll be transported back to 1812 to become a Regency romance heroine.

Lucy Sinclair isn’t expecting to find an oddly dressed girl claiming to be from two hundred years in the future on her family’s estate. But she has to admit it’s a welcome distraction from being courted by a man her father expects her to marry—who offers a future she couldn’t be less interested in. Not that anyone has cared about what or who she’s interested in since her mother died, taking Lucy’s spark with her.

While the two girls try to understand what’s happening and how to send Audrey home, their sparks make a comeback in a most unexpected way. Because as they both try over and over to fall for their suitors and the happily-ever-afters everyone expects of them, they find instead they don’t have to try at all to fall for each other.

But can a most unexpected love story survive even more impossible circumstances?

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Romance | Science Fiction | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

This was my first read by Rachel Lippincott, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it! "Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh" is a romance through the ages starring two girls who have lost their way in life and don't know what to do to fix it.

Audrey Cameron is an aspiring artist who has lost her willpower to draw after her boyfriend dumped her. She is trying everything to find inspiration. . . but she never expected it would take a jump through time to rekindle her spark. Lucy Sinclair is a girl living in 1812 who is in preparation to be married to the richest man in the county. . . against her will. She loves to read romances and dreams of nothing more than to marry someone she loves. But she knows that isn't possible, not after her mother died and her wishes have been completely smothered by her over controlling father. When Audrey is dropped into Lucy's world with nothing more than the clothes on her back and a mysterious coin, neither one could foretell what is in store.

I really appreciate both Audrey and Lucy as characters. I can easily empathize with their struggles and I love how they become better versions of themselves when they are together. The fact that Audrey loves to draw and Lucy finds her greatest joy while playing the pianoforte made them have an immediate bond over their art forms (and helped me connect to them, too!). I felt that there was a realistic balance of them being best friends, then completely pissed off at each other, back to friends, etc, that it made their relationship realistic enough to not feel too far fetched, even though the circumstances of their meeting is quite bizarre.

I also thought that the boys that were competing for Audrey's heart were all unique, though I was personally rooting for Mr. Matthew Shepherd (though it's pretty obvious from the get-go that he loses magnificently). I just think that he is such a charming lad with impeccable manners, yet I really enjoyed his adventurous side.

Despite this book being a romance, I loved how important each of the girls' personal growth was to the story plot. They both reminisce over the people that they used to be and wish they could return to those happier days. They both eventually realize that they can't and that they have to be brave enough to pursue the future that they desire. I loved experiencing Lucy and Audrey's growth arcs (though Lucy's was more interesting to me, because she had to deal with the expectations of the 1800s and her creepy father that were eternally burdening her) and was rooting for these girls to have a happy ending.

My biggest problem with this narrative was the ending. I feel that all of the characters seemed too happy to help out Lucy and Audrey in their desperate attempt at happiness. The only person that objected to everything was Mr. Sinclair (which was a given anyways). I found this a bit odd that no one protested Lucy's final decision, especially because it was 1812. I'm glad that these people cared about her enough to let her make her own decision, but it was still a tad bit strange in my head. Also, some of the scenes toward the end of the novel felt as though they ended rather abruptly; it would have been nice if some of these scenes could have been a little more fleshed out. This is a minor critique though.

Overall, "Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh" was a fun, cozy romance to read made extra interesting by the clash between Audrey and Lucy's upbringings. I loved the character growth, the setting, as well as the side characters. If you like cozy historical romances but want to spice it up with a female x female relationship, I'd give this one a go!

Back of Book: 

In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains...if she doesn't fall in love with one of his men first.

Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land. Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn't seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

An alternate universe historical piece inspired by "Zorro" in which a young girl must stand up for what she believes is right and discover who she truly wants to be along the way. 

Lola de La Peña has always felt suppressed by society's expectations. Wearing dresses and acting ladylike isn't exactly her forte, but she must pretend to be a proper señorita while her mamá uses sal negra, a newly discovered magical salt, to heal those with ailments. Luckily, at night she is allowed to shed the disguise and become her true self, Salvación. As Salvación, she and her trusty sword get to protect the people of Coloma from those who would do them wrong. Due to the newly signed Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, tension in Alta California is higher than it's ever been before making Salvación's duties even more important. When Damien Hernández comes to town with his dangerous sal roja, Salvación must fight harder than she ever has before to protect those she cares about most. 

"Salvación" is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so it is no surprise that I flew through this book once I was lucky enough to win a copy of it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be, but I'm still down for a feminist "Zorro" reimagining any day. It is important to note that the action in this book isn't nearly as intense as in the "Zorro" TV series and the book has quite a different plot line; it takes place in a similar era and setting, but Salvación is not Zorro. I repeat Salvación is NOT Zorro. I think people that are hating on this book because it isn't "Zorro" need to learn the definition of the word inspired. 

This book honestly reads as a historical fiction book with magical realism and a hint of romance. It is certainly not a high fantasy, and I pity those who thought it was. I found the subtle romance plot to be quite nice, especially when so much of the book focuses around Loli finding herself and the importance of familia. Not having the romance suffocate the rest of the story was much appreciated, and the speed that Loli and Alejandro's relationship developed at was more my speed than many YA books that I've read recently. The Mexican American War is often forgotten about, so I think it was nice that this book dwells in this era of history. 

The themes in this story are all so uplifting and sweet. One of the overarching ones is finding peace—be that with oneself, one's lifestyle, or one's family. Some others are the importance of family, standing up for what you believe is right, and embracing the person that you always wanted to be. The feminist lens of this story showcases how Loli feels alienated by how society wants a young woman to behave and validates the fact that she feels more at home in her skin when she acts as Salvación. 

The way that this book talks about the Earth is also quite magical. It speaks to not fearing nature, because it is never inherently evil (unlike humanity) and that we must not take from the earth unforgivingly without expecting to face the consequences. The way that Loli is one with her horse, Carisma, is also very endearing. 

Loli has a complex relationship with all the members of her family. She and her brother, Víctor, are quite close now, but weren't always that way. Loli adores her papá and feels like the chosen child, but she doesn't recognize the man that he has become recently. She has never seen eye to eye with her mamá for many reasons, but Loli begins to understand where her mother is coming from in the end. 

Overall, "Salvación" is a fun historical read with a hint of magical realism and a touch of romance. It didn't quite live up to the unobtainable expectations I had going into it, but I still enjoyed my time with it regardless. "Salvación" is filled to the brim with feminist messages, asks that you find peace with the life you have been given, and begs that we embrace the person that we are meant to be. I think this book is a great example of an alternate universe historical fantasy, and I hope that people can accept it for what it is. I really enjoyed my time with Loli and the gang; I certainly look forward to reading more of Proudman's work in the future! 

Back of Book: 

Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey's YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

By day Eustaquia “Kiki” de Sonza and Ana Lezama de Urinza are proper young seventeeth century ladies. But when night falls, they trade in their silks and lace for swords and muskets, venturing out into the vibrant, bustling, crime-ridden streets of Potosí, in the Spanish Empire's Viceroyalty of Peru. They pass their time fighting, gambling, and falling desperately in love with one another.

Then, on the night Kiki's engagement to the Viceroy's son is announced, her older brother―heir to her family’s fortune―is murdered. The girls immediately embark on a whirlwind investigation that takes them from the lowliest brothels of Potosí to the highest echelons of the Spanish aristocracy. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Mystery | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

The Wave is based on a true incident that occurred in a high school history class in Palo Alto, California, in 1969.

The powerful forces of group pressure that pervaded many historic movements such as Nazism are recreated in the classroom when history teacher Burt Ross introduces a "new" system to his students. And before long The Wave, with its rules of "strength through discipline, community, and action", sweeps from the classroom through the entire school. And as most of the students join the movement, Laurie Saunders and David Collins recognize the frightening momentum of The Wave and realize they must stop it before it's too late. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Historical 

Review: 🌟🌟