What I wouldn't give for Selina's writing abilities right now - my mind is currently a jumble of praise that I'm going to attempt to put into something understandable when really I just want to write 'my favorite, please read it' over and over.

As much as I love a funny and sweet rom-com, I've always found myself gravitating towards romance novels that are unique and a bit unconventional in ways. BAD WORDS is everything I could have hoped for and more in both regards. Within these pages you'll find sweet moments and delightful banter, but you'll also find absolutely gorgeous character studies and a slow-burn kind of love that makes your heart hurt. How Robinson is able to make each POV so distinct and perfectly fitting is like some form of sorcery, and I would truly say this is one of the rare books where I felt the dual viewpoints added and essential level of depth to the story. The book thrived on the back and forth of Parker and Selina's thoughts, without that it would have felt less whole.

Regarding the characters themselves, I was ride-or-die for Selina from the start, while Parker had to earn his place in my heart. I was immediately drawn to Selina's respect and desire for honesty and her passion for seek out the things that make life worth living - at least to her. Good food, a cozy home, books worth reading, they're all things I too want in my life and can only hope I'm half as adept at pursuing. Comparatively, Parker was throwing red flags in the air far too often, but once his true ambitions and motives began to make themselves known, I was able to better appreciate his situation and the relationship he was starting to build with the woman who continued to throw wrenches into his life.

I am simply in awe of how much Robinson's writing soothes my brain and calls to my heart and cannot recommend this novel enough.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have a new and burning need for every adult - all of them - to read this book. Witty, humorous, well-written, and chock-full of important information, this truly changed my way of viewing children’s books.

Despite absolutely devouring books these days, and even once being a child(!), I had, without realizing it, fallen into the dangerous and embarrassing belief that children’s literature is not real literature, and by default, as Barnett points out, that children are not real people. Adults simply cannot continue with this way of thinking, particularly when we alone are the ones deciding what gets published for the children of the world, and this book is a wonderful way to start combating those thoughts.

Whether you have kids or not, whether you regularly read to kids or not, please take the time to read this work. It’s charming and thoughtful and will remind you that the board books and early readers filling bookstores and bookshelves should not just be seen as tools, but rather as the doorways through which storytelling and the joy of reading enter our lives. Children are people and their books are just as real and as valuable as ours.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't realize how much I was missing high fantasy until I picked this one up after months of telling myself "I'll read it next!" Islington has given us such a phenomenally written novel that I am truly finding it hard to put into words how much I enjoyed it. From the complex and flawed characters, to the gorgeous world building, to the incredible magic system, this book is so well planned and executed that it soared to the top of my favorites list immediately. In fact, it might just be THE best book I read this year.

Vis is an orphan, filled with vengeance and on the run, doing his best to survive in a society where everyone must eventually cede their strength, their focus, their Will, to the Empire. It's a hierarchy where those below are slowly drained of life, and those at the top seem to do little more than hoard power. When Vis find himself with a spot in Catenan Academy, the Empire's elite school where the next generation of Senators are trained, he knows this is an opportunity he cannot waste. Yet his time at the Academy will be far from easy, for his entry came with a price, and Vis has no choice but to hold up his end of the bargain.

The ending had me literally vibrating from 50% glee and 50% "oh sh*t" vibes. I don't want to rush sequel because this series is a masterpiece and those take time, but just know I will be setting my hands on a copy of book two as soon as I possibly can, and yelling about book one to literally everyone I know up until then.

If you like scrappy and smart main characters, cutthroat schools, seemingly impossible tests, and cool and unique magic, then I urge you to give this book a chance. Don't let the length deter you!