Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H: A queer hijabi Muslim immigrant survives her coming-of-age by drawing strength and hope from stories in the Quran in this daring, provocative, and radically hopeful memoir.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.K. Chakraborty: The bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.

I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp by Zumrat Duwat: This graphic novella recounts the true story of Zumrat Dawut, as originally published in the independent online news organization, Insider, through interviews conducted by Anthony Del Col and testimony given to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Shubeik Lubeik by Dena Muhammad: A brilliant and imaginative debut graphic novel that brings to life a fantastical Cairo where wishes are real. Author, illustrator, and translator Deena Mohamed presents a literary, feminist, Arab-centric graphic novel that marries magic and the socio-political realities of contemporary Egypt.

Roses, in the Mouth of  Lion by Bushra Rehman: An unforgettable story about female friendship and queer love in a Muslim-American community.

American Fever by Dur E Aziz Amina: A compelling and laugh-out-loud funny novel about adolescence, family, otherness, religion, the push-and-pull of home.

Best Friends by Kamila Shamsie: The moving and surprising story of a lifelong friendship and the forces that bring it to the breaking point.

Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan: Delving deep into racial tensions, and police corruption and violence, Blackwater Falls examines a series of crimes within the context of contemporary American politics with compassion and searing insight.

Review: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is probably one of the most hyped and talked about mystery debuts. It has a very catchy premise and is taking advantage of the popularity of Knives Out. I think your mileage for this book will be if you can tolerate the narrator Ern.

  Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is a meta-mystery. Our narrator, Ern, is a self published author who earns his money swindling novice writers who want to be successful mystery writers. There are lots of discussion on the framework of a mystery, which cut in and out of the main story as Ern breaks down the fourth wall and talks directly to the reader. At first I found Ern's comments about mystery plot devices to be amusing and clever, but then it became tedious and actually quite condescending. I find myself able to digest a 'clever', fourth wall breaking mystery more tolerable as a TV show like PBS's Annika or as a voice-over narrator in a movie where a viewer might not get to see everything on screen. In other words there is a reason why that fourth wall is broken, but in this book it's just a gimmick and a way for the character/auhor? to remind you how clever he is. There is even a chapter and a half (I think it's like 14.5) in which the entire plot is summarized for you.

   When it comes to the actual mystery of the book, it was simply okay. It's a spin on the locked room or in this case ski resort with multiple characters who have multiple motives. Despite the adult language, it leans towards the cozy mystery side as the violence isn't graphic and it takes mostly off page. It's been a few weeks since I finished it and I can't recall any of the characters except for Ern. I don't think this is a series that I'll continue reading. I like a chewy mystery, but not one in which I'm meant to feel stupid and be beholden to the author's brilliance. 

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language. Most of the violence takes place off the page. Recommended for teens and adults. 

If you like this book try: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey

Review: There are not many young adult books that talk about the freshmen experience of college. While categorized as a romance, I think readers of that genre will be disappointed as the book really is a coming of age story with a romantic subplot. 

   Andie has always aspired to study psychology and attend Blue Ridge State. Since the death of her mother who had an illustrious college experience at Blue Ridge State and pioneered the college radio's program, Andie's goal had been set, but was unfortunately it was derailed when she put her boyfriends needs ahead of her own. After she’s rejected, though, she attends Little Fells Community College while her boyfriend, Connor, heads off to Blue Ridge. When she’s given the opportunity to transfer, she keeps the good news secret from Connor, hoping to surprise him; however, upon arriving at Blue Ridge, she learns that Connor has transferred to Little Fells to be near her. 

   Alone in an unfamiliar place, Andie’s has a lot on her plate: figure out how to maintain a long distance relationship with Connor, create a social circle of her own, pass a difficult statistics class, and of course meet her parents' expectations of success. In a slice of life format, we begin to learn more about Andie as she reveals her gift/flaw in wanting to make people happy. A natural people pleaser, Andie put other people's needs ahead of her own. It is her way to keep people near her. When her relationship with Connor comes to a crossroad, Andie has to decide what does she want out of her college experience?

    Begin Again reminded a lot of the television show Felicity, starring Kerri Russell in which Felicity makes the impulsive decision to follow her crush Ben and attend a fictional NYU instead of continuing her journey to medical school at a university in California. What starts as a stereotypical romance leads to a story of self discovery. Andie follows a similar path. Through ups and downs, Andie does make a circle of friends who she cares about and who equally care about her. She comes into contact with her perpetually sleep-deprived RA named Milo, whom she shares similarities with and slowly starts a slow burn romance. Despite all of these subplots, the focus on Andie never wavers and I found her first year college experience to be relatable and realistic. I also really liked the subplot featuring Andie's queer friends who also have a sweet romance. While this is a worthwhile read, fans looking exclusively for romance will be disappointed and/or bored. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, the main characters have lost a parent (one due to cancer and another a car accident), and mentions of underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Study Break edited by Aashna Avachat, This is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua 

Review: Rabia Chaudry may be a familiar name to you if you follow the Undisclosed podcast or followed the Adnan Syed trial that was highlighted in the Serial podcast. In her candid and engaging memoir, she recounts how her life has been shaped and complicated by her relationship with food and culture.

   Born in Lahore, Pakistan, and raised in the U.S. by Muslim immigrant parents, Chaudry was subject to myths of American greatness and capitalism when it came to nutritional supremacy that favored processed foods (i.e. junk food, fast food restaurants, etc) as well as baby formula over breast milk. The foods that Rabia consumed reflected simultaneously high class from the lens of her Pakistani relatives, but also a low class from the lens of a U.S. viewer.  

    As Rabia grew up from a healthy chubby baby to the heaviest student in her grade, body image has always haunted her. After years of internalizing fatphobia and being told repeatedly by her family comments that her weight made her undesirable, Rabia married the first man who approached her. Unfortunately, this was not a healthy relationship as she endured an abusive husband and suffered years of disordered eating. 

   Rabia does go on a journey of self healing seeking therapy and constructs a healthy relationship with food, and spends time with relatives who support rather than shame her, becomes a turning point. The goal turns from being thin to one of being healthy. She wonders where she walks on the side of body positivity, fat acceptance, and weight loss. Overall, I really enjoyed her candidness and critique of Pakistani culture when it comes to body image which not only entails weight but also colorism and beauty standards. I applaud this realistic story of self acceptance. I also enjoyed looking at the various recipes that are found at the back of the book. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are scenes of fatphobia, disordered eating, colorism, and domestic abuse. 

If you like this book try: Shrill by Lindsey West, Hunger by Roxane Gay, Heavy by Kiese Laymon

Review: The Shirley and Jamila graphic mystery series is utterly delightful. This is the second book in the series and I think you would have no problem if you started with this book. The author does a great job in summing up the first book so you can dive right into this new adventure. 

  The fall brings the start of a new school year. Jamila Waheed is attending a new school, but luckily her best friend, Shirley Bones, is right by her side. After solving their first case together over the summer, the school year has brought a new shift in their routine such as doing homework, attending lessons, sport practices, and possibly even new friends. While Jamila befriends, Seena who shares similar cultural and family dynanics and also loves playing basketball, Shirley is still working as detective. 

   The latest case has the Shirley and Jamila pitted against a formidable opponent: the notorious school bully Chuck Milton. Chuck trades in secrets and wields them against fellow students he extorts, including their recent client. 

  This Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery series not only has a strong cast of characters and an intricately detailed plot, but it also addresses important questions. Can you justify breaking and entering to help solve a case? How about faking a friendship? I really appreciate how there is no clear cut answer and seeing the characters come to their own conclusions. The series continues to have a focus on friendship and  not the usual drama that surrounds middle grade reads. Jamila's struggle about building her friendship circle and finally finding someone who she can be her authentic self will resonate with a lot of readers. Overall this is a really fun series that I hope continues because I adore these characters. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are scenes of bullying and also breaking and entering a house. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Enola Holmes Graphic Novels by Serena Blasco, Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King, Goldie Vance by Hope Larson (for Grade 5 and up readers)

Review: The Stolen Heir is a spin-off series to Holly Black's extremely popular fey centered series Folk of Air. While you can jump into reading this spin-off series, be aware that it does spoil the events of the Folk of Air series. There are returning and important characters from the first series.

  The Stolen Heir has a very different tone when it is compared to the first series. Our narrator, Wren (named in the human realm) or Suren (in the fey realm) is a changeling born to the Court of Teeth as a device for political machinations. She is taken from her human family when she is of age and dragged, abused by her fey parents. Enduring lots of trauma and betrayed several times over, Wren is an internal, highly suspicious character. When is she sought and saved by former friend Prince Oak, they begin a mysterious quest. Wren and Oak dance around one another as their loyalties and alliances shift throughout the story.  

  The plot of The Stolen Heir is much more slow burned and has a fairy tale quality. The ambiance of the book is much grimmer and grittier. Black takes her time in expanding her fey world. I really liked the character of Wren and watching her character grow from a skittish young woman to something much more sinister as the book progresses and her backstory is revealed. While I liked Wren's character arc, I did find myself a little lost about the purpose of the quest and I found the pacing to be slow at times, but things finally clicked in the second half of the story. The last few chapters unveiled some plot twists including one that shocked me. I'm definitely intrigued enough to pick up the second book in this duology. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Road of the Lost by Nafisa Azad, Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Barshardoust

   When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn't even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that's all this can be. Hailey doesn't want any distractions. Wes doesn't want to fall in love. What could possibly go wrong?

Review: Harmony and Heartbreak is the first book in the charming, magical series called Suite Hearts. The story centers on two cousins, Rose and Cora, who come from a long line of matchmakers. The girls are also Matchmakers who have magical powers that allow them to forge love connections between people. As Fledglings or young Matchmakers in training, Rose and Cora practice their skills under the supervision of their guardians, but the time has come to take an exam to see if they can graduate to a higher Matchmaker level without the help of their guardians. 

  Rose, who is always confident and has an intuitive sense to her magic, is excited about this opportunity. Cora has the opposite reaction. Cora is much quieter and is used to being in her cousin’s shadow and has more challenges with her magic, is filled with doubt. They have two chances to pass the exam. If they fail, they could have their magic taken away. What makes the challenge even harder is that it will focus on their individual weaknesses. 

   Kann has created a delightful world filled with magic, but it is also rooted in reality as the girls navigate real life issues such as friendship troubles, crushes, and self confidence. This would be a great gateway book for younger readers who are hesitant to pick up a full-on fantasy story. The world building is easy to follow and there is a glossary provided for words that are specific to the world.The story is told in alternating perspectives by Ros and Cora, but I found myself more interested in the introverted Cora. While the story wraps up nicely in the first book, there are lingering questions left to be explored in the further books. I plan on continuing the series. Harmony and Heartbreak is a fun, Black Girl magic read.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano, Best Wishes by Sarah Mlynowski

  Exhausted by Kavya and Ian's years-long feud, their friends hatch a plan to end their rivalry by convincing them to participate in a series of challenges. But as the competition heats up, so too does the romantic tension.

Review: All of my Goodreads friends have given Lessons in Chemistry 4 or 5 stars and it has also landed on fellow blogger's favorite lists for 2022, so I am definitely an outlier when it comes to this popular book. If you are curious about this book even after reading my review, I would encourage you to take my review with a grain a salt and look up what other people thought.

  Lessons in Chemistry is set in the early 1960s in which our protagonist chemist Elizabeth Zott repeatedly reminds her colleagues and the reader that she is not the 'common woman' who is content on being a housewife and a mother, but a scientist who needs to be taken seriously. We follow her as she falls in love with a fellow scientist, has his child, is side-lined by double standards, sexually harassed, and finally ousted from her job. She then becomes an overnight sensation as a host of a 'radical' cooking show in which she can be candid to housewives and other female viewers of the show. 

  Lessons in Chemistry is the epitome of the first wave of feminism. I found Elizabeth to be less of a character and more of a talking piece for the author. She is cold and abrasive. Considering how much trauma Elizabeth has experienced in her life, which is alarmingly untouched or explored but rather used as 'part of her character', she has turned off all of her emotions. It is as if showing vulnerability displays weakness. 

  I also did not find this book to be funny at all. There is a quip in which Elizabeth is called into her daughter's school because her child was requesting the school library to have Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead so she could read it. While I understand how the author wants to display how smart the young child is, but why Norman Mailer, an author who is a well known reputation of being a domestic abuser? Why encourage her to ask for Nabakov, another writer who created a problematic female character Lolita, who by the way is also sexually objectified? Why not, I don't know, pick a female author?

  Elizabeth is constantly undermined because she is a woman, but in the end this so called 'feminist fairy tale' has a happy for now ending not because the patriarchy has been dismantled or someone's light bulb goes off and finally sees Elizabeth as a human being, but thanks to the favors of a rich, white, female benefactor who is equipped to strike back at everyone who has humiliated Elizabeth in the book. However, dear reader, let's not forget that there is this thing called racism that also exists and it's bad even though I can't recall a single character of color in this entire book. Considering how much this book rankled and infuriated me, I'd like to think that my 2 stars is actually very generous. 

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, including the use of the 'c' word, scene of sexual assault, homophobia, mention of suicide of a family member, death of a loved one, and sexual harassment. Recommended for adults only.

If you like this book try: Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

Review: Katie Zhao's thriller The Lies We Tell tackles important and timely topics. I can definitely see what the vision of what this book was suppose to be, but the execution of the story fell flat for me. 

   Anna Xu is a sheltered Chinese American freshmen college student who has recently returned from a summer visit in Beijing and will be starting school at Brookings University, a liberal college known for its elite, affluent, white alma mater. It is also known in the Asian community as the place for a cold case in which Asian-cued Melissa Hong, Anna's babysitter, was murdered seven years ago.  Anna, hoping for answers and closure, resolves to covertly investigate. 

  I had difficulty in believing Anna was a college freshmen. Her voice and actions were too young. I can understand having difficulty in making friends in a new environment and adjusting to a new environment, but Anna does not to have any common sense or street smarts. I didn't think she was capable of taking on an investigation. When she finds a suspicious app in which she can meet and make friends, she trusts it right away and discloses way too much information about herself.

 I also had issues with an unnecessary romance that didn't do anything for the story. In the book we learn about the rivalry between Anna's and Chris's family restaurants. We spend more time on their relationship than we do learning about Melissa's case. The thriller aspect of the story doesn't really start happening until about 60 percent of the book and once it started it was too rushed. I'm not sure how many readers would stick with this book. Some reviewers mentioned that the book is fast paced, but it wasn't for me. I found the mystery underwhelming because I figured it out early in the book. I did, however, like the themes the book touched on such as Anti-Asian discrimination and sexual fetishization of Asian women, but they didn't land powerfully as they should. The Lies We Tell wanted to be like a hybrid between Ace of Spades and a thriller by Tiffany D. Jackson, but ultimately it fell flat.  

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, a racial slur is used, bullying, and racial stereotypes. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson, Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Review: I'm usually up for a solid realistic story about self growth and self discovery. The Epic Story of Every Living Thing had an enticing plot and was well reviewed, but unfortunately for me it fell very flat. I was ultimately so bored and frustrated with this novel that I stopped caring around the halfway mark. 

  I had a lot of issues with this book, but the main one that stood out to me was Harper. I found Harper to be an exasperating and needy teen. For half of the book, Harper is fused to her phone. She treats her boyfriend Ezra like her Instagram lackey, transporting her equipment and chauffeuring her to locations that would guarantee her more likes and comments on her posts. She does not open up to her boyfriend nor tells him anything about her finding her half siblings even though she is very involved in his family. So when Ezra broke up with her, I actually cheered for him. I couldn't believe how Harper thought this breakup came out of nowhere.

  My other issue with this book is that the pacing is quite slow. The first half of the book is all about finding Harper's MF. The second half is supposedly Harper's epiphany, but it didn't feel earned. One minute her face is glued to her phone near the ocean, then her phone slips into the water, and then boom! her eyes open in wonder about the world around her. 

  I did, however, like her half siblings who all had different personalities. I didn't find her father nor her mother actually developed but they appeared more as caricatures. Her dad being a surfer boy who smokes pot and her neurotic mother who wants perfection because that's how she was raised.

  I did not care for the details of the shipwreck as it took way too long to make a connection to the story. I also wondered why Covid-19 wasn't stated in the book even though there are plenty of discussions about masks, quarantining, and vaccines. As far as I know the pandemic isn't trademarked? Also why was the book written in the weird third person narrative?

  I love stories about families, but this was an absolute swing and a miss for me. Looking back on it, I wondered why I even finished it. This should have been my first dnf (did not finish) book of the year. Your mileage with Harper may vary.
 

Review: I am a fan of Fatimah Asghar's poetry and I was super excited to hear that they would be releasing a debut novel at the end of 2022. When We Were Sister is a deeply personal, lyrical, and heartbreaking read. Using vignettes and poetry, Asghar has created a story that follows three young orphaned Pakistani sisters who have to fend for themselves and group. 

    After their father is murdered, Noreen, Aisha, and Kausar are taken in by their Uncle, their mother's brother, who keeps them completely separate from his own family, an ex-wife and their two sons who live in a rather well off home. The girls are enticed by the promise of a "zoo", but it's really a run down one bedroom apartment that has a hallway of neglected animals and is infested by roaches and mice. Uncle forgets to supply their refrigerator with food and takes the girls' government checks and deposits them into his own account for stock and gambling investments. Since Uncle leaves for long periods of time, Noreen is defaulted as "sister-mother" and to the best of her ability takes care of her sisters. Aisha is the typical rebellious middle child and Kausar, our narrator, is the sensitive wide eyed sister who tries to appease everyone. Each sister does her best in navigating their own grief, either channeling it through their studies in hopes of leaving their grungy apartment in hopes of a new future, into their art, or into simmering anger that it threatening to spill out. 

   The fragmentary nature of the book may not appeal to some readers, but it worked for me. When I picked up the book, I found myself reading quickly and rereading lines that were full of haunting images and pulsing with heartache. Since Asghar's background is poetry, it's clearly evident that they were very conscious and precise with their wording. The spaces between the sentences and the silence between the sisters speak volumes. I actually would have liked the book to be a bit longer. It's conclusion has a time jump that seems added on. I would liked to have witnessed each sister's journey during their time apart and brought back together again, but still I did enjoy this very intimate story about grief, family, sisterhood, and coming of age.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, a scene of sexual assault, and guardian negligence and abuse. 

If you like this book try: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir