2024 Reading Challenge Books in Review and Recommended Reads

by in Rachel Barnard and tagged , , ,

I spent nothing on books this year (using promotional credits on Amazon worth $33.93, the library, and reading for reviews).

My favorite books I read this year:

Title Author Genre Genre
Same Time Next Year Tessa Bailey Romance Novella
Woke Up Like This Amy Lea Romance YA
Advanced Physical Chemistry Susannah Nix Romance Contemporary
Token Black Girl Danielle Prescod Nonfiction Memoir
Don’t Forget to Write Sara Goodman Confino Historical Jewish
The Real Deal Caitlin Devlin YA Contemporary
Hurt for Me Heather Levy Romance Thriller
Deconstructed Liz Talley Romance Contemporary
Their Last Resort R.S. Grey Romance Contemporary
What Is Love? Jen Comfort Romance Contemporary
There’s No Coming Back from This Ann Garvin Romance Contemporary
Housemoms Jen Lancaster Romance Contemporary
The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana Jennifer Banash Historical Chick Lit
The Anti-Heroes Jen Lancaster Humor Chick Lit
West Side Love Story (Queens of Mariachi #1) Priscilla Oliveras Romance Contemporary
Friends with Secrets Christine Gunderson Mystery Thriller
The Checklist Addie Woolridge Romance Contemporary
Kat Girl: A sweet and spicy romantic comedy Sarah Lahey Romance Australia
Chasing Karma: A small town, 2 brothers, lol romcom Susan Murphy Romance Comedy
Rainbows and Lollipops: Friendship is the New Family Mo Fanning Friendship Contemporary
Culture Hacks: Deciphering Differences in American, Chinese, and Japanese Thinking Richard Conrad Nonfiction Japan
Yellowface R.F. Kuang Literary Fiction Contemporary
Culture Hacks: Deciphering Differences in American, Chinese, and Japanese Thinking Richard Conrad Nonfiction Japan
Tomo: Friendship through Fiction: An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories Holly Thompson Short Stories Japan
Poverty, by America Matthew Desmond Nonfiction Politics
The Upper Crush Evie Alexander Romance Contemporary
Love ad Lib Evie Alexander Romance Contemporary
An Unholy Affair Evie Alexander Romance Contemporary
Bitterroot: A Novel Suzy Vitello Fiction
The Love Position (Foxbrooke, #4) Evie Alexander Romance Contemporary
Atomica: Between Sea and Sky Heather McKenzie Fantasy
Tell Me It’s Right Katie Wismer Romance Contemporary
Louie the Lynx and Ryan the Lion Sarah Lahey Romance Australia
Christmas off Script: A Friends to Lovers, Steamy Romantic Comedy (Foxbrooke Book 5) Evie Alexander Romance Contemporary

Out of the 53 books that I read, some reading stats:

  • 5 from the same author (Evie Alexander)
  • 29 with a romantic element
  • 6 nonfiction – goal was 2
  • Only 4 YA
  • 24 contemporary
  • 17,567 pages (average of 325 pages)
  • Rated 34 books 5 stars (I’m more selective when choosing books to read)
  • 27 books were from Amazon First Reads program
  • 17 were review copies
  • 4 audiobooks vs. 50 ebooks
  • 6 books from the library
  • I read 1 book for book club (Yellowface)
  • I read 5 books in anticipation of traveling/set in that location (Japan) – goal was 6-12
  • I read 1 book from Obamas 2023 Favorite Book list – goal was 2
  • I read two books from book tubers (Chelsea Fagan and Katie Wismer)
  • In September my review for Kat Girl was featured on the homepage of Reedsy Discovery!
  • I reviewed 17 books this year for a total of 449 reviews written in my lifetime
  • I won a book contest by naming a character in Suzy Vitello’s WIP.

Next year I want to:

  • Read ~1 book from President Obama’s Favorite Books of 2024
  • Read ~2 nonfiction books
  • Read ~4 books in anticipation of traveling/set in that location
  • Write ~13 book reviews

The books I read this year:

2023 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2022 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2021 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2020 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2019 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2018 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2017 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2016 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2015 Reading Challenge Blog Post

Book Review: Her Ex’s Secret By Tricia Saxby

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Her Ex’s Secret By Tricia Saxby

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Pete’s Press (11/20/2024)

Summary:

Karen dreams of turning her design hobby into a career but first, she has to get her foot in the door. She plans to start at the bottom. The bottom is as an intern at Vale Designs in New York even though she has much more knowledge and skills than any other intern. Leo is a playboy to the highest extreme living the life of the rich and carefree at his Tuscany estate when he decides to take a short job as a photographer in New York. The same New York as Karen. The same Vale Designs as Karen. The same Karen that he used to date and then ran away without explanation five years ago.

Keywords:

Contemporary, Romance, Fashion Design, New York, Evil Boss, Exes, Winter, Photography

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

“Sometimes women need to hear the words and see the struggle. It means more to us than any fancy gift.” (Page 292).

Leo still feels guilty for leaving Karen without a word, but not enough to try to reconcile until their second chance meet cute. This is a quick read, coming in at a word count lower than a typical romance. The two main characters, Leo and Karen, already have a past as they are exes and don’t need as much middle chunk of the book to slowly fall in love. The spark of attraction is still alive but Leo will have to show Karen that he’s not just going to run away again.

Leo is not an immediately likable character. He will have to redeem himself in Karen’s eyes and the reader’s eyes in order to become the dreamy romantic lead we fall in love with.

Nat is the surface-level villain. The nasty little witch with an ego as big as the city she lives in. Her backstory may be short but it also involves Leo and she is one major Drama Queen. She is clearly the antagonist, a bully, and ready for her comeuppance.

From the POV switching between Karen and Leo, we get a true sense of how they view themselves and each other. Leo points out Karen’s glaring fault and has to see from her perspective even though we’re in his head. Karen downplays herself out of self-preservation and because she’s been ignored and passed over for years. Leo thinks her self-esteem is not what it used to be and wants her to stick up for herself. Karen doesn’t trust Leo after what happened in the past and even though his actions today show him to be a standout swoon-worthy gentleman, can she trust the new Leo?

There are many gems sprinkled throughout this fast-paced novel that made me slow down and appreciate the writing. “He wore his guilty conscience like a cloak, even after all this time. If anything, it weighed more than ever before.” (Page 76). If you want a quick exes-to-lovers romance, then you might enjoy this read.

This novel was published by Pete’s Press on 11/20/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Book Review: Chasing Karma by Susan Murphy

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Chasing Karma by Susan Murphy

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Susan Murphy (10/01/2024)

Summary:

“I mean that I think I’m realising that life is surrounding me with bad karma to force me to change.” (Page 101).

What is karma and how did Ava get so bad at it? Misfortune and disaster are always bringing her down but she’s determined to be grateful and find the good in everything. It can’t all just be bad luck. But if it is bad karma, Ava is convinced she has to change it to bring her life around. She jumps at every chance to do good deeds in her local community but soon realizes that she has to make her own opportunities to make a bigger difference.

Keywords:

Self-Discovery, Friend Group, Karma, Romance, Mistakes, Volunteering, Kindness, Small Town, Community

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

It’s all bad luck for Ava. She’s rear-ended someone (didn’t even try to brake), chipped a tooth, choked on a piece of donut, tripped, fell, stubbed her toe, and dropped a vat of soup. That’s just in the last few days. Every little incident looms big in her mind as bad luck, disaster, and misfortune. Ava is determined not to be a victim of her bad luck and to drown in any bad attitude. She can’t live her life in misery but she’s tried changing her attitude and it’s time to change her karma instead. Karma is the idea that a person’s actions and their consequences are connected in a cycle of cause and effect. Ava thinks she has the power to change her karma by doing good for others. At first, she intentionally tries to help others for the sake of a point-based karma system as if it were a game. Even her friends are skeptical that doing good deeds is going to magically bring good things her way. Yet, Ava perseveres in her quest for karma because she has hope that everything will eventually balance out in her favor.

Ava has an enviably supportive group of friends and a telepathic twin-like relationship with her sister which makes me jealous. Ava just so happens to be helped by a very attractive man and finds herself surrounded by welcoming people. She doesn’t just have meet-cutes she has meet-disasters. Her life is chaotic and I want to know everything that’s going to happen next. She is the car crash you can’t look away from but at the same time, I am rooting for her.

Ava needs to have her aha moment before anything will change. Much like Yes Man or Eat Pray Love, Ava must continue her quest of self-discovery to unleash her power to make a change in her life before anything changes. I love how powerfully this concept is presented. Ava doesn’t even realize that she’s stuck in a rut. It will take a new perspective and a drive for change both mentally in the way she looks at the world and in her physical situation. I love how feel-good this book is. Ava is not a glass-half-empty person wallowing in her self-pity. She is still so positive, so hopeful, even amidst her rampant bad luck. I want to have the same strength of character as Ava. She is a force. She carries the book. She could be the star of a movie. I would love to see this book as a romcom. It would work so well. The elements of self-discovery, humor, and romance are boldly present.

Even when things go wrong Ava is likeable and I love that about her. She is humble to the point of self-deprecation but it’s not over the top or grating. It’s still on the humble scale. When she realizes that she has to be the change, it doesn’t scare her. I want to be more like Ava in my own life. She realizes that doing something meaningful is important. In other words, if it’s not heck yes, then it’s heck no! Do what you love. Do what makes you happy. What a wonderfully uplifting message from this book. Reading this book was not just entertaining but made me happy.

This novel was published by Susan Murphy on 10/01/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Susan Murphy’s Website

Book Review: Kat Girl (Love Chronicles) Kindle Edition by Sarah Lahey

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Kat Girl (Love Chronicles) Kindle Edition by Sarah Lahey

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Cross Over Press (07/12/2024)

Summary:

“She had forgotten what it was like to be loved by a man, someone who wasn’t a friend or a family member. It was a different kind of love – it was fulfilling and reassuring and life-affirming.” Page 288

Kat works in the male-dominated construction space. After being made redundant at her company, she feels lost but quickly discovers an opportunity to work as a heritage consultant. Liam needs his construction project to work. When he meets Kat on the work site, he knows she is someone he wants to pursue. Kat is determined never to marry again but that is Liam’s single-minded focus, at least initially.

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Second-Chance, Construction, Australia, Male-Dominated Industry, Friendship, Romance

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

I love second-chance romance books and this one is a solid read. It has the perfect level of sizzle in the romantic department. The sex scenes were well-written and hot, yet still concise enough not to feel overpowering.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was up with Kat but I get the vibe that she might be neuro-divergent in the way that Christopher from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time appears neuro-divergent but no specific diagnosis is presented. Sometimes Kat reads social situations in a way that I think is neuro-divergent. She is also very levelheaded emotionally, emotionally, and physically capable of being independent and alone, and thinks through situations in a way that is often detailed and literal. Her perspective is fascinating. She is also working in a male-dominated industry but never appears to be intimated by her surroundings or peers. She is not overly confident or overly anxious. She is analytical and precise with specific opinions and preferences. I adore her and the way her tea must only be brewed for 20 seconds. She feels like a real person full of a complete personality and childhood.

Liam is also a character I love. I appreciated the gender role reversal with Liam and Kat and that both these romantic leads were fully fleshed characters with their hopes, dreams, and past baggage. Liam was equally as interesting as Kat, equally as real, and full of personality. I wanted both of them to be successful but also to stop being so stubborn! Because they are unique persons, they don’t always see eye-to-eye with each other and that’s where tension blooms. There is some miscommunication but it feels organic.

The level of detail for construction, business, buildings, and history was oftentimes over my level of knowledge but I appreciated the depth it added to the world-building of this book. I wouldn’t know any better but it felt genuine and like the author and characters knew what they were talking about.

I don’t always read books set in Australia and have never been to Australia, but I didn’t feel like this was a different place than any town in my own country where you can have a meet-cute in a bar, lose your job to the boy’s club takeover, or take a weekend to get away to the country.

This novel was published by Cross Over Press on 07/12/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Sarah Lahey’s website

Book Review: Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

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Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/04/24)

Summary:

Ella and Leo have always been best friends. They’ve known each other for so long and so well that they can easily finish each other’s…. Sandwiches. Ella has a lot going on. She’s been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Her best friend, Leo, is only interested in her as friends but she’s always had feelings for him. Add to the mix her ex Zach coming back on the scene and her dad about to be released from prison. Leo is the perfect best friend but he’s always secretly had a crush on Ella. What will it take for them to overcome their fear of affecting their friendship and just admit their feelings and attraction for each other?

Keywords:

Friends to lovers, Christmas, Holidays, Foxbrooke, Christmas Panto, Cinderella, Steamy, Forced Proximity

My Review:

Friends to lovers is one of the best romantic tropes and this book delivers the bestest of best friends to fexiest of fexy lovers.

I love a good fairy tale retelling and this is a classic Cinderella retelling that features a story within a story – the pantomime mirroring real life throughout the novel.

Ella is funny, kind, smart, gifted, caring, thoughtful and stunningly beautiful – at least according to Leo. She fully embodies some of Cinderella’s qualities – kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and patience. Almost to a fault! I’m glad Leo was there to get mad on her behalf because Ella is the most understanding and forgiving person, and she doesn’t hold onto anger like so many of us. Leo is the friend who always loved her and will do anything for her, even just as a friend. He is obsessed with Ella in the best way, in the most unrealistic way, in the most fantastical swoon-worthy I-wish-Leo-was-my-best-friend-turned-lover way.

As soon as the heat picks up, there are quite a few sex scenes. The intimacy was also full of romantic sex tropes.

I absolutely love a good Holiday read; this one is full of the Holiday spirit. There are so many Christmas and British Holiday traditions, along with Ella and Leo traditions. I’d never heard of a Christmas Quiz before this book.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/04/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: Tell Me It’s Right by Katie Wismer

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Tell Me It’s Right by Katie Wismer

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Ahimsa Press (09/25/24)

Summary:

Gracie has spent months trying to get a job, even though she now has a college degree. Bills are due and she makes the tough decision to move back home. At least she’s not living with her parents, but her brother’s basement isn’t that much better. She gets pity hired by the local tattoo studio owner who also happens to be her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. What could go wrong? Liam’s tattoo shop has never been profitable and he’s slowly running out of money. He needs to make the shop profitable and Gracie might be perfect for the job.

Keywords:

Romance, Tattoo, Baggage, New Adult, Recent Grad, Job Search, Small Town, Sibling, Best Friends

My Review:

I relate to Gracie so much. I also struggled to find any job, let alone a job that made use of my college degree, after graduation. It absolutely sucks to spend thousands of dollars on a required education and then not land a job. It sucks mentally. It sucks financially. I also spent time living at home post-graduation. Gracie is plagued by anxiety and spiraling thoughts. I also experience anxiety and felt an even closer kinship to Gracie through our anxieties. That’s where the similarities between us end as Gracie gets her romantic happily ever after with Liam and I get to live through her story.

 

Gracie and Liam’s story is very much alive through the plot and the writing. I’m not sure if Sweetspire is a real place but it was brought to life in this book. I imagined this book as an Amazon Studios romcom with all the right plot points and pacing. I can see a known B-list actor playing one of the lead roles.  I see it as a recommendation in the romance category. It’s a solid read as a book and would be a solid watch as a movie.

 

Contemporary romances are my favorite books to read and I’m thrilled that Katie Wismer continues to write in this genre as she is a wonderful writer. I love her writing style. She brings the setting and the characters to life and makes me want to live in her stories.

 

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

 

This novel was published by Ahimsa Press 09/25/24 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Katie Wismer’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Louie the Lynx and Ryan the Lion by Sarah Lahey

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Louie the Lynx and Ryan the Lion by Sarah Lahey

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Cross Over Press (09/30/23)

Summary:

“Relationships didn’t just devour time – they ate entire days.” (Page 97).

Louie thinks romance is nonsense. But when Ryan McDermott, he of the throw down factor of nine and a half, excellent drawing skills, and very good apologies enters her life, she’s thrown for a loop. She doesn’t have time for love or romance, but Ryan is determined to win her over.

Keywords:

Opposites Attract, Romance, Contemporary, PHD, Teacher, Art, Communication, Dog, Attraction, Dreamer

My Review:

“Difficult things build resilience.” (Page 113).

Louie does not have her stuff together. She has so many issues – anxiety, time management, sometimes her self-esteem is so low – it’s a lot for anybody to take on. She doesn’t think she and Ryan can work out because of where she is in life. Ryan is an architect, champion of low-income housing, lover of kelpies, painter of orchids, owner of a rope chair, lover of light. Yet he also needs to be in control and won’t take no for an answer when it comes to certain things.

“She wouldn’t have called any of her past boyfriends men. But Ryan was a man. He had a profession and knew what he was doing with his life. He fitted comfortably into the world. A world that she often found complex and confusing.” (Page 190). Louie is describing Ryan as a man, but she really means that Ryan is adulting and has his stuff together. Louie thinks, in this way, that they’re opposites and how could they work out? She feels like she has nothing to offer.

Both Louie and Ryan are impossible and fascinating. “When it came to parking fines, Louie was risk averse. She would happily walk for twenty minutes.” (page 25). Yet her phone passcode is 0000. Sometimes she spends hours in a brain fog, unable to move, captured by her own fear. She is the exaggeration of all my own anxieties and depression. I really, really wanted to see her triumph over herself because it’s like she is my champion. If she can pull herself out of a slump, then so can I. I also related to Ryan and his need for unrelenting control. Without compromise and compassion for each other, a relationship would never work!

I love the writing style in this novel. It is clear, succinct, and straight to the point. Yet sometimes the description of light, paintings, and landscapes go on so long that I feel like I’m there. I can feel my own response to the gray day with unending rain giving me Seasonal Affective Disorder (even though it’s summer and not a cloud in the sky where I live right now).

If you liked the show Lessons in Chemistry and you like to read contemporary and/or romance novels then you would enjoy this book.

This novel was published by Cross Over Press 09/30/23 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Sarah Lahey’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: To Catch a Monkey by Richard Read

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To Catch a Monkey by Richard Read

A Middle-Grade Novel Independently published (01/28/2024)

Summary:

It’s not Calista Snipe’s job to support her family. Money is tight and when she is presented with an opportunity to help she’ll jump at the chance. The local zoo has lost their precious monkey and they’re offering a good reward for information leading to his capture. Calista, along with her friends, will learn about this special monkey but they’re not the only ones looking to snag the reward money. She’ll have to outsmart older kids, desperate criminals, and maybe even a monkey!

Keywords:

Puberty, bullying, friendship, problem-solving, sleuthing, teamwork, bravery, monkey

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

Small problems seem like big problems for the young protagonist. Any time one problem is solved or suddenly less of a big problem, a new problem pops up for her. Not all issues are equal; some require help, critical thinking, or creative problem-solving. Some are even more moral dilemmas than physical problems. The first problem to solve is about the bully from the bus. Then it’s her family’s financial stability. Then it’s the missing monkey. Then it’s what to do with the monkey after they find it. And so on. There are teachable moments throughout the story that ground it in the middle-grade category.

The plot is quite simple but touches on some more advanced topics. I was a little surprised that the story included drugs, kidnapping, and drinking. The bad guys are seen in their daily lives, which is not always the case with stereotypical bad guys!

At times I could tell that this was not the first book in the series, but it does stand on its own. If you want to get to know the characters more then you should probably start at the beginning of the series, but it was fine to start with this book as the author does a good job building the backstory, setting, characters, and story.

The pacing was good and the story kept me entertained, especially as it was a third-person narrative that kept switching perspectives. I really liked Otis’ brief yet distinct character arc. It was nice to see Calista’s friendship with Skyler (especially as they are different genders and that can sometimes be a point of tension).

This is a solid middle-grade book with easy-to-read writing. Sometimes there are word definitions to help out younger readers. Sometimes some pictures add to the descriptions and are fun to look at while reading.

This novel was Independently published on 01/28/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Book Review: The Throwaway Queen (Ushallav’s Queen series) by Whitney McGruder

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The Throwaway Queen (Ushallav’s Queen series) by Whitney McGruder

A Fantasy Novel published by Bowker (08/01/22)

Summary:

“There is always a happy ending beyond the horizon. We must only search for it.” (Kindle Page 138).

After her caravan was attacked, Queen Anjali barely escaped with her life and that of her unborn child. She was cautioned to stay away until the identity of the attacker was discovered but it has been over two years since Anajali has seen her firstborn son, husband, and kingdom. On her way back to her rightful place, she is determined to figure out what happened and reunite with her family but in her absence, many things have changed.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Action, Adventure, New Adult, Warrior Women, Unlikely Allies, Blended Family, Royalty, Mystery, Murder

My Review:

I enjoyed reading about a strong female heroine who is also a mother. Anjali has to protect both her family and her position. How do mature people navigate something like this? I greedily read every scene, thought, and piece of dialogue related to this conflict.

The aspect of blended families was also interesting to me. I liked how Anjali wasn’t just one characteristic, she was appropriately complex and had a rich and intriguing backstory. She isn’t just a mother. She isn’t just a warrior. Anjali was the best character. She was so balanced as a person and she is presented with such impossible situations! But the times she became frustrated she did have a reaction (which I appreciated).

I liked the mixing of sub-genres. This book had fantasy, action, romance, and mystery. There were layers to the book to unpack. I was curious about the world-building environment and the unfurling mystery as well as seeing how the relationships were going to break or strengthen.

I enjoyed reading about Anajali’s culture and traditions and wanted more of them and more descriptions. They weren’t always alive and tangible to me as an outsider. I didn’t fully feel the discrimination Anjali faced but I did feel her frustrations. I felt more sympathy for her regarding the gendered discrimination than the racial discrimination.

I loved the eventual reveal of the villain! It was a bit of a twist and I didn’t see it coming. It felt both satisfying and conclusive

This novel was published by Bowker on 08/1/2022 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Whitney McGruder’s Website

Book Review: Ugliest by Kelly Vincent

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Ugliest by Kelly Vincent

A YA Novel published by KV BOOKS LLC  (08/13/24)

Summary:

Nic is back in Oklahoma City’s boarding school. This school is so much better than the small-town high school they had been going to but Oklahoma is still a very conservative landscape. It isn’t just Nic experiencing discrimination but also their gender non-conforming friends. It’s a battle that’s becoming bigger than them but this time there might be even uglier consequences to speaking up.

Keywords:

YA, Contemporary, Bullying, Gender Nonconforming, Identity, Art, Introvert, Questioning, Labels, LGBTQ+ themes

My Review:

“Things were looking up, but looks could be deceiving.” (Page 17).

Nic is back, anxiety and all! The quote above encapsulates how Nic goes through the world. Even when things are going well, there’s always an edge of possible negativity and a sliver of anxiety. Nic’s anxiety is obvious, loud, and all over their life. And that is sometimes how anxiety is. For those without anxiety, maybe seeing it portrayed continuously in Nic’s inner voice will help them understand what living with anxiety is like and how that manifests in everyday interactions, actions, and thoughts.

Nic is more than just their anxiety. Nic is blossoming into a complex and very interesting person with their own personality, desires, and needs. Gender nonconforming and non-binary are two terms that are so general that it can be difficult to understand what they mean. As a reader, I get to live the everyday reality of what it means to be non-binary with Nic and their friends. I think all of Nic’s friends are gender nonconforming but they embody their own gender (or non-gendered) identities in unique and very personal ways. I appreciated getting multiple aspects and perspectives on gender and non-binary in this novel.

This novel takes Nic and their identity from discovery to action. Trans rights are human rights. LGBTQ rights are human rights. If they start taking away human rights for a group that identifies in one way, what’s to say they won’t come for others? It is up to Nic and their friends to stand up for their rights as individuals, as humans, and as people representing a vulnerable population. But with that action comes consequences and it’s so powerful to see such active characters. It was very rewarding to read this book and to see Nic and their friends stand up for themselves. The ending was also very rewarding, especially through all the aggressions Nic faces during this series.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was published by KV BOOKS LLC  on 08/13/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Kelly Vincent’s Website