I know basically nothing about Antiguan history and politics, especially not in the 80s, but Kincaid has identified and named extant issues with colonialism that I have observed even in my own community of white, lower-to-middle-class Americans. I think she is rightfully expressing a great deal of anger and frustration in this piece, and she's adept at assigning both to the parties that deserve them. It is hard to be from a "small place", even if you love it and harder still to properly articulate your feelings about being from there, especially if you love it.

This was really, really good. It's a wonderful and nuanced story that tackles difficult topics with grace... but the author's note was very revealing.

This book is MUCH better than her recent work, because it a) is missing all of the Easter eggs the author always tries to jam in, and b) had an extra year of drafting. This is a pattern I hope she follows. Jimenez has things to say and I hope she'll continue to give herself the time to carefully hone her points, instead of having to bow to what she thinks her social media-heavy audience wants. Get out of your own way, girl.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC!

I actually really did enjoy reading this book, the prose is beautiful without being overly purple, and Caroline is a great main, her transformation from waifish ingenue to strong and capable protagonist was so gratifying to see.

However. There were choices made that I cannot help but question.

Firstly, why must we continue to treat the Whitechapel murders like this? These were real women who were brutally murdered. Surely we can do better than to use them and their lives as a fairytale to continually remix. This is a problem that extends far beyond this author but it warrants speaking of here.

Secondly, re: the last twist, why couldn't the final revelation have come nearer to the middle of the book? If you're going to make the Whitechapel Full Moon Society THAT, could we not have had some action from its various and sundry members? Maybe let Caroline bond with them so they're more than bit players? If there's eventually a sequel I hope we get more of the Society members, I wanna see more of them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

A fun romp into Welsh mythology! I think my only real complaint is that I wanted more, of everything. I wanted a deeper explanation of Violet and Raven's relationship, and Delilah and Raven's relationship, and Raven's feelings about the whole family deal. I wanted more weird magic and more shenanigans with Cherry and Idris. What we got was good, but just felt a little lackluster.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

And if I said I cried over Malcolm and Ruby, what then. What if I said I absolutely devoured every minute of their bizarre farces, then kicked and giggled my feet as they fell head-over-heels for each other anyway. What if I said I've never had this much fun reading a Regency romance, as a person who has a demonstrable love of Regency romances.

In conclusion please read this, I promise it's worth it.

3.75 ⭐, rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC!

This was pretty slow to start, but once I was able to get into it I really enjoyed myself. I was really reminded of old spy thrillers like Charade, with a glamorous female protagonist who has a terribly personal connection to the crime at hand. I related to Sterling not at all and I loved her all the more for it, she's an extremely enigmatic protagonist. (I am afraid I have no opinions about Andreas, compared to Sterling he's normal, which means he reads like wet cardboard, but that only serves to better contrast her).

I am absolutely, utterly astounded at what Hall has done here. Everything that was great about the first Legend of Uh is here and is also dialed up to 11, most especially including DJ's emotional arc. This is absolutely the kind of book teenagers need, something that will help them name and wrangle their big feelings, while remaining hysterically funny and action-packed. I am so, so excited to see what comes next for DJ and the gang.