The Wednesday Issue

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN’S PRESS FOR THE ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Red, White, and Royal Blue has a very interesting and intriguing settings. A first son and a royal prince together? It was a no-brainer decision to pick up this LGBTQ romance.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found myself not being able to put the book down. Casey McQuiston managed to catch our attention right from the first page of the book. Let’s start with the characters. Both Alex and Henry are witty and intelligent. This was very apparent in their conversations and email exchange they had throughout the book. Both characters are well-rounded, but doesn’t mean they don’t have flaws. Alex’s emotions sometimes created more issues than necessary. But Henry’s cool and collected manner is definitely a good match to Alex. There are many hilarious moments in the book as well as intense scenes between Alex and Henry. Yes, the book has it all. SO MANY SWOONY MOMENTS! 

Although the main topic in this book is romance, there are much more being discussed in this book. We got to see how Alex actually struggled with his mixed heritage as a high-profile half white, half latino first son. Henry struggled with anxiety and the two of them bonded over the struggle and the heavy weight of carrying on their family legacy. On top of that, I love McQuiston’s in-depth writings about the political side of things. As someone with massive interest in royal families and political figures, nothing makes me happier when the settings are done well in fictional books. 

In terms of storyline, it’s pretty predictable but you’ll be surprised by sprinkle of wit and funny moments in the book, especially towards the end. Red, White, and Royal Blue is truly well-written fiction and I wish there were more of these characters! 

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him. 

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND Algonquin Young Readers FOR THE ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

I love any books about ballet – Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces being examples. So when I saw Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small on NetGalley, I requested it immediately. 

Upon reading the first page of the book, I knew instantly I was in for a ride. For some reason, Bright Burning Stars felt darker and more intense compared to other ballet fictions I’ve read before (even more than TPT and SBP that I’ve claimed as the most dramatic and insane YA fictions). 

If you’re looking for books that really dig deep into the darker side of the ballet world, Bright Burning Stars is a must-read. It has more focus on the ballet world itself. As someone who enjoys character development in a story, it was a bit of a disappointment. We did get to know more about each character, but there was nothing big in development. 

The book focuses on the world itself – this high-stakes world where only the top ballerinas can succeed. Things like injury, pregnancy, and gaining weights will definitely end their career. All the things I mentioned happened in the book. Throw in eating disorder, mental health issues, and heartbreak – it created the perfect dramatic and intense settings. 

Between the two characters, Marine and Kate, it was easy to root for Marine. She is essentially the good girl in the story. While I understand Kate’s motives, there are many moments where I couldn’t agree with her. I know that it’s because at the end of the day, I hold more similar values with Marine than Kate. She’s just everyone’s best friend and I found myself hoping that Marine could survive in the crazy world as she could be a little naive. Especially compared to Kate who’s good at the games. 

All in all, Bright Burning Stars is a great ballet book. If you are looking for ballet fictions, this one is worth reading. 

Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small

Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.

But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book blindly. I decided to pick this book solely based on the cover and honestly, it surpassed my expectations!

The Quiet You Carry discussed a real and heavy issue. With the book being written in first POV, I was able to get into Victoria’s head. And oh, it was heartbreaking. Through this POV, we get a glimpse of her inner thought and have a bit more understanding about what’s inside an abuse survivor’s head. The flashbacks, the guilt, the shame, and finally, the acceptance.

I have to admit that this book moved in a slow pace. I was frustrated while reading the book – I just wanted to shake Victoria and said “IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT”. But I realised that it has to do with the circumstances. Through the way the book is written, we watched how Victoria slowly came to acceptance that what her father did was wrong and that she should stand up for herself and let go of all the guilt and shame; that she doesn’t have to protect her father. I’m happy that the book ended in a happier note, that Victoria got her justice – she deserved it.

The Quiet You Carry is not the easiest book to read. It’s heavy, it feels raw, and it’s emotional. I’m glad that there are more gritty YA books out there. If you are looking to read a young adult fiction that talks about heavier issue and impactful, The Quiet You Carry is a book you should check out!

The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess

Victoria Parker knew her dad’s behavior toward her was a little unusual, but she convinced herself everything was fine—until she found herself locked out of the house at 3:00 a.m., surrounded by flashing police lights. 

Now, dumped into a crowded, chaotic foster home, Victoria has to tiptoe around her domineering foster mother, get through senior year at a new school, and somehow salvage her college dreams . . . all while keeping her past hidden.

But some secrets won’t stay buried—especially when unwanted memories make Victoria freeze up at random moments and nightmares disrupt her sleep. Even worse, she can’t stop worrying about her stepsister Sarah, left behind with her father. All she wants is to move forward, but how do you focus on the future when the past won’t leave you alone?