this is my third time trying a book of the “cozy” variety, and after an n3 sample size, as much as i tried and would love to be, i don’t think i’m a cozy fantasy/romance sort of reader. i’m glad i gave the genre the minimum of significant tries, to say the least. it was an enjoyable read, and the ending tied all the ends into a neat bow, more or less, if you forget about some of the historical lore that was introduced.

surprised that the book spanned as much as it did across different perspectives and timelines. the banter between the main leads was very fun and well-written, however i wasn't completely sold on it. 3.75/5

celeste ng does it again :D wonderful prose that strung me along to discover mia's past and explain the turbulent dynamic of the not-so-utopian small town of shaker heights. was surprised that ng grew up in the same town set in the book, which I thought was a fictional town. at the same, she painted well certain themes and experiences that fit the setting of 1990s suburbia: racial ignorance, growing class disparity, and spiraling teenage choices. 4.25/5

beautiful, imaginative writing. in every sense except physical, i felt spirited away to another world. the storytelling is fast and does not go deep or linger on a scene for too long until a new one is introduced. Some lack of expositions, but I think that’s part of the experience (refer to any miyazaki movie). the ending is equally as wistful, tying together well the themes of devotion, love, loss, and being the captain of your own fate. the pacing, while not my cup of tea, is something I can recognize to appreciate. 3.5/5.