2025 Book Bingo Wrap Up

30 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in Book Bingo Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What I’ve enjoyed with my Book Bingo cards of late is reading whatever books through the year and come December seeing what I can put into my card, then trying to find something to read to fill in the final few boxes if there are any left. I think this time a few choices could be a bit stronger, and of course, one year this will backfire miserably, but for now we’re safe.

With 150+ books at my disposal to choose from I only managed to not fill in two. But the year is not finished yet, I could maybe do it, but I think we’ll call it and aim better next year. I’ll add that in as a new rule, what isn’t completed one year must be on the next year’s card. I vaguely recall that happening in the very beginning but all it resulted in is a lot of empty poetry boxes before I learnt my lesson.

Last year I was going to move more into fantasy, but I’ve not really gone the fantasy route instead there’s a lot of contemporary, my push to at least try a few romances, and of course my rereads were always fun. My diverse reads are getting better and I have found some amazing Aussie YA through my challenge and through the #LoveOzYA tag and website. Though, having said that, the point of the bingo card is to read widely so maybe I need to add poetry and fantasy back on and read more outside the norm.

I am keen to get into a new bingo card. I will say I am going to up my short story and anthology reads, I did have one, technically, but I also needed a Shakespeare spot filled and as it was a Shakespeare anthology it was a toss up which slot it should satisfy. Maybe in the final days of the year I can get through a Shakespeare adaptation and balance out the boxes. But for now, this is my list and I will link up to the reviews when they come out.

 

Debut Author: All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield

From Own Shelf: Rocking Horse Hill by Cathryn Hein

Romance: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Chosen for the Cover: Flubby Will NOT Go To Sleep by J. E. Morris

Non-Fiction: A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

Aro/Ace Character: The Trouble by Daria Defore

Historical: The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor

Picked Up by Chance: The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stainton

New author: Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

Lesbian: Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris

Non Human Main Character: The Duck Never Blinks by Alex Latimer

Free Choice: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Different Culture: Impossible Music by Sean Williams

Fairytale: The Beast Within by Serena Valentino

On TBR Pile: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

CBCA Book: How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox

Published This Year:  The View From the Balcony by Janette Paul

Shakespeare Retelling: That Way Madness Lies by Dahlia Adler

Number in the Title: 100 Remarkable feats of Xander by Clayton Zane Comber

Own Voices: Green by Alex Gino

#LoveOZYA: Tin Heart by Shivaun Plozza

Reread A Series: Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde

TV/Movie Adaptation: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

 

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler

16 Sep 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Audiobook, LGBTQIA, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , ,

Published: 11 May 2021 (print)/11 May 2021 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Wednesday Books/Macmillan Audio
Pages: 259/6 hrs and 20 mins
Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
★   ★ – 2.5 Stars

Lara’s had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He’s tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he’s talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe…flirting, even? No, wait, he’s definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara’s wanted out of life.

Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she’s finally got the guy, why can’t she stop thinking about the girl?

I am so glad this is my second Adler book because I have wanted to read her stuff for years and I’m glad I loved the first one because I’d be disappointed if this was my first introduction, though the sliding doors element of Going Bicoastal might have tempted me past this mediocre read. There is no real plot except Larissa having a crisis over her feelings. The benefit is it’s a fast read because I kept waiting for the plot to start and I realised it was already two thirds of the way through and nothing had actually happened yet.

Instead of having a character look on at the popular kids Adler has written this from the inner circle and perspective from those in that group. The characters are exhausting. The effort they go to to be in their friend group is so much more work than friends need to be with a lot more rules. The US American trope of popular kids is on clear display and they are vacuous and shallow. There are some examples where they show some depth, but they are all still shallow and showing compassion within your shallow and entitled group doesn’t hold much sway. Plus they aren’t given a lot of depth so most of them are easily forgettable. It doesn’t do much to break the stereotypes. I feel bad for Larissa even having these people as friends sometimes. It’s always a fascinating study reading these kinds of books. We didn’t have this in my school, we had groups sure, but not the hierarchy these US high school books always contain. It makes it a strange novelty and a tired trope to see it in these books.

There were some good moments. I enjoyed the stuff with Jasmine, it felt like the only time Larissa was her real self, less performative, which was possibly the point even though it’s never addressed. I did enjoy the casualness of Larissa’s bisexuality. It wasn’t an issue, dealing with it wasn’t the plot (technically), and it was an established thing. I do like it when diverse books can have a character have an identity but not make the entire plot about that identity.

It felt like a novella despite being a full length book, and could easily have been cut down to a short story. No plot would be lost since there isn’t any and with a tighter story it could have been a lot more enjoyable.

You can purchase Cool for the Summer via the following

Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Going BiCoastal by Dahlia Adler

10 Jun 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, LGBTQIA, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Published: 13 June 2023 (print)/13 June 2023 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Wednesday Books / Spotify Audiobooks
Pages: 336/8 hrs and 57 mins
Narrator: Mara Wilson
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult Romance
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4.5 Stars

A queer Sliding Doors YA rom-com in which a girl must choose between summer in NYC with her dad (and the girl she’s always wanted) or LA with her estranged mum (and the guy she never saw coming). In Dahlia Adler’s Going Bicoastal, there’s more than one path to happily ever after. Natalya Fox has twenty-four hours to make the biggest choice of her stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad (and finally screw up the courage to talk to the girl she’s been crushing on), or spend it with her basically estranged mum in LA (knowing this is the best chance she has to fix their relationship, if she even wants to.) (Does she want to?)

How’s a girl supposed to choose? She can’t, and so both summers play out in alternating timelines – one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mum, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the girl she’s always wanted. And one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mum, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the guy she never saw coming.

I have wanted to read this since mid 2023 when it came out and now I finally have access to it and I loved it. I love Sliding Doors and I love seeing two different versions play out based on one single decision. The issue here is both options were good. I loved the natural way each relationship developed and how both had potential and benefits for Natalya.

With her east coast choice, the connection and relationship with Elly felt organic and real. You believed that they may have seen one another visiting the same places over and over again without their meeting and connection be a perfect stars aligning situation. Even though it was classed as a safe choice, it still gave Nat a chance to take chances.

For the west coast, Adam was a great new discovery and a good lesson on her taking risks and changing up her routine. His family and his story was unique and engaging and I loved the ease in which they suited one another.

All characters in both versions were really well developed. I kept forgetting most of them were teenagers, seventeen or eighteen, they felt and sometimes acted a lot older, I often found myself thinking they were in their twenties. But that isn’t a disservice to Adler, I think it’s great to show that people that age can be mature and confident, and can have engaging lives that don’t constantly remind you of being at school. And when the younger kids were hanging out with people older, they never felt like they were missing out, or immature. It was an easy mix and great to read.

I was glad there were more conversations happening that weren’t entirely school related. I enjoyed seeing characters have their attention and plot on something other than school, or having their deep and meaningful summer of change (not that those don’t have a place). This story balances the big decisions of leaving school and having a summer themed book all without making it “the summer that changes their life” profoundness. The casualness was what made it so enjoyable to read.

I loved Nat’s parents and the different relationships and seeing the two storylines overlap was creative and a great way to show off how some things would always have happened, even if you made a different choice. There is also great representation of the Jewish faith and seeing it play a large part in Nat’s life was something I hadn’t seen before in a book. I’ve read stories where being Jewish is mentioned, but not shown to be as intertwines in day to day life as this.

As I said, I loved the Sliding Doors element, I thought there was going to be a way to have it merge together, but Adler makes it a choose your own adventure which puts great power in the readers hands and lets you pick your own ending. I must say I had trouble picking, but based on my enjoyment of each side of the story I did enjoy one a lot more, or I felt was more rewarding I should say. One would have happened anyway, while the other one felt like she was missing out if that hadn’t happened. Cryptic enough? No spoilers? Good-o.

 

You can purchase Going BiCoastal via the following

Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

7th Blogiversary Celebrations + Int Giveaway!

23 Jan 2020 26 Comments

by Amy in Giveaway Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

As slow as 2019 was, the year seems to have come around quickly again as January means I get to celebrate my blogiversary, the day I took the plunge and started my blog all those years ago. There’s no seven year itch in sight as I make this blog into something which has taken up a lot of my life and something I genuinely enjoy doing and sharing with you all. I have found myself thinking about my ten year anniversary already which I really must not do because that is a ridiculous time, not to mention three years away. But while it has been a somewhat chaotic and often rewarding time, the past seven years seems to have gone by in a flash and those early years seem a lifetime ago.

Now that I‘ve become settled in my blogging routine it has become a stable, everyday party of my life that honestly I couldn’t see myself not doing. It’s a great habit to have though, sharing amazing books, sharing my favourite reads and spreading the book love, and maybe even introducing someone to their new favourite read.

Last year was my big reflection year, this year I am only here to be grateful for the amazing opportunities I have had since I started this blog and for the amazing people who read it. Not to mention the books I have had the chance to read, the new authors I’ve discovered which I never would have found if I hadn’t agreed to review their books, and the wonderful community I’ve become a part of.

To celebrate I’m running my giveaway featuring eight of my favourite books. I haven’t actually released my Top 5 of 2019 yet but I’ve added them into my giveaway, I’ll let you guess which ones are which. I’ve also added in a few of my favourites reads which I thoroughly enjoyed and think everyone should read.

The Selection

His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler

The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman*

The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson*

The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited by The McElroys*

The Wicked Prince by Holly Black*

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

What If? by Randall Munroe

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

 

*These items are sequels to other books that possibly won’t make any sense if you haven’t read the first one. Keep that in mind when picking your book.

 

To enter: For a chance to win one of the pictured books simply enter here and complete the Rafflecopter form.

Please note: This giveaway is international on the basis the Book Depository ships to your country. To see if you are eligible you can check their website.

Thank you for helping me celebrate and if you entered the draw I wish you the best of luck!

Giveaway runs until midnight AEDT on Thursday 20th February 2020

His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler

10 Dec 2019 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, Audiobook, Short Stories, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Published: 10th September 2019 (print)/10th September 2019 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Flatiron Books/MacMillan Audio
Pages: 480/14 hrs and 13 mins
Narrator: Various
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Horror/Anthology/Young Adult
★   ★   ★   ★   ★ – 5 Stars

Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar to readers or discovered for the first time, readers will revel in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales, and how they’ve been brought to life in 13 unique and unforgettable ways.

My main exposure to Poe has been the Simpsons and the amazing Edgar Allan Poe’s Murder Dinner Party series on YouTube. But Poe is such a huge name in literature the references are often found in the most unlikely places. This retelling of Poe’s short stories are an amazing contribution to Poe’s legacy because they bring modernity to his tales while keeping the themes and the unnerving nature of his imagination to new audiences.

I loved the way these authors have retold the original stories. You can see the evidence of the original Poe stories coming through but the unique modern and not so modern settings these interpretations are divine. Some of the stories have a close similarity to the original Poe tales, others have a similarity that is easily recognisable, while others change completely but the theme and intention remains. The horror side is mild otherwise I wouldn’t be touching this, nothing overly grotesque but it is eerie and unsettling which is perfect for any Poe story. There’re sinister intentions and things from out of this world, but each of these authors tells stories that are modern, timeless, and in other realms altogether.

A rarity for an anthology I enjoyed all of these stories. Of course some were more engaging and intriguing than others, but I found that each story had its own curiosities that kept your mind working, especially as you think about what the original story is that they are retelling. Absolute stand outs for me include Happy Days, Sweetheart (The Tell-Tale Heart), The Oval Filter (The Oval Portrait), and She Rode a Horse of Fire (Metzengerstein); and I loved the creativity of The Glittering Death (The Pit and the Pendulum), Changeling (Hop-Frog), and It’s Carnival! (The Cask of Amontillado). But there were so many other wonderful ones like Lygia (Lygia), Night-Tide (Annabel Lee), and The Fall of the Bank of Usher (The Fall of the House of Usher) where each author brought their own styles and imagination into a story that I was amazed the same story could be told but in a completely new way. These authors have given voices to those who didn’t have a voice before. The first person nature of many of these stories allows insight into intent, thoughts, and justification which is fabulous considering some of the deeds depicted in these stories.

The audio version is narrated by each of the authors, telling their own tale to the listener. They also narrated the original Poe story that their reimagining is based on. I enjoyed listening to these authors read their own stories. They had good pace and range of voices which helps you enjoy the stories even more.

I do prefer the new versions, they bring modernity not necessarily in their settings or content, but in their language. Compared with Poe there is a lot less waffling and wordiness (looking at you The Purloined Letter) that is removed while still maintaining the theme and tone of the stories. That is to say some were quite enjoyable, they are dark and sinister, creative and poetic. It is easy to see why Poe’s stories have lived on. These retelling do that wonderfully, even if you don’t read the originals you can still enjoy these retellings, they keep Poe’s intentions alive and the haunting nature of some of these stories is still ever present.

You can purchase His Hideous Heart via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Book Depository

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible