Rating: 5/5 Pachinko is a phenomenal read, chronicling a Korean family's history as they move from Korea to Japan and beyond. Beginning with Yangjin and Hoonie, Lee follows the family from early 1900s through the late 1900s, showing the successes and failures of the family at large. From the opening line, this book is striking. … Continue reading Pachinko ~ Min Jin Lee
Rating: 3/5 This is a fictionalized account of Ron Bahar growing up as a very insecure Nebraskan teen, doing his best to impress his family of Israeli immigrants. His family is also Jewish, which is a huge plot point, as the girl of his dreams is not Jewish, and he desires a forbidden (by his … Continue reading The Frontman ~ Ron Bahar
Rating: 4/5 The Girl Who Drank the Moon is one of the most intricately detailed books I've read in a while, which surprised me to no end as it is marketed as a Middle Grade book. This fantasy/fiction was beautiful, and filled with fun characters. There is a swamp monster, a perfectly tiny dragon, several … Continue reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon ~ Kelly Barnhill
Rating: 3.5/5 This second volume continues Esther, Daisy, and Susan's first semester at college. However, this book is more about friendships and relationships than anything else. There are short side scenes, but the main characters most focus on their relationships throughout this story. I certainly still enjoyed it. One of my favorite scenes was from … Continue reading Giant Days Vol. 2 ~ John Allison, Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar
Rating: 3/5 I enjoyed this book more than I initially thought I would. The first chapter said "giving a fuck" and all the various iterations waaaayyyyyyyyy toooooooo many times. I was almost put off to the point where I thought I might close the book and pick a different one, which is saying something. I … Continue reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** ~ Mark Manson
Rating: 3/5 This book is not the most light-hearted of teen fiction, but the caper-like feel certainly gives readers a reprieve from the heavy topics. **Trigger warning for suicide talk** Cliff, commonly known to Happy Valley High School, is often referred to as Neanderthal, both behind his back and in his presence. He is an … Continue reading Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe ~ Preston Norton
Rating: 3/5 Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the sweet and fluffy conclusion to Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before series. Senior year is going as good as could be for Lara Jean. She and her boyfriend Peter are stable, her father has found love with their next door neighbor, and she's even … Continue reading Always and Forever, Lara Jean ~ Jenny Han
