Tag: contemporary

ARC, contemporary, ya

🤔 First Impression Friday 🤔

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I am so excited about this first impression! I’m still not quite done with All the Stars and Teeth. But it should be soon! I’m at 75%. I wanted to do this post though, so I went on and read the first two chapters of We Are the Wildcats. It’s my most anticipated book this month and I think I’m going to love it!

“Tomorrow, the Wildcat varsity field hockey squad will play the first game of their new season. But at tonight’s team sleepover, the girls are all about forging the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship necessary to win.
Everything hinges on the midnight initiation ceremony—a beloved tradition and the only facet of being a Wildcat that the girls control. Until now.
Coach—a handsome former college player revered and feared in equal measure—changes the plan and spins his team on a new adventure. One where they take a rival team’s mascot for a joyride, crash a party in their pajamas, break into the high school for the perfect picture.
But as the girls slip out of their comfort zone, so do some long-held secrets. And just how far they’re willing to go for their team takes them all—especially Coach—by surprise.”
– Goodreads

The first chapter goes through the girl’s last day of field hockey try-outs. It’s always the hardest day.

And so, on this day on girl always pukes.
One girl always cries.
One girl always falls.
But they all keep going.

– We Are the Wildcats

At the end of the day, they find out who made it. They get custom mouth guards for free. Then, at the end, they have a mandatory team sleepover.

Luckily, there’s a tradition for this, too. A secret celebration that will take place tonight on this very field. It is the single facet of being a Wildcat that belongs entirely to the girls.
At least, that’s how it used to be.

– We Are the Wildcats

I mean, that last paragraph! I instantly wanted to know what was going to happen. Why is the tradition changing? What are they gonna do? So, I kept reading even though I knew I should finish my other book.

The second chapter we meet Luci. She is about to enter 9th grade, she’s the youngest on the team, and she’s shy. She is taking in the team’s celebrations and learning about their traditions.

This book is told in alternating POV’s from six of the girl’s on the team. I can’t wait to meet the rest and see what the future holds for them. I feel like it’s gonna be a wild ride!

I predict that I’ll finish this in just a couple days – no more reading the same book for a week! I also think it’s going to be 4.5-5 stars. I can’t wait to see what happens!

Have you read We Are the Wildcats? Is it on your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, ya

Stacking the Shelves!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

So it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve done this post! With the way the Saturdays fell I did my wrap up for February and my top 5 March releases.

Since February 22, I have been approved for 15 ARCs. Wow, I didn’t realize it was that many. Today I’ll show you the 6 I am currently most excited for!

Stacking the Shelves meme is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. Here’s how it works:

“Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!”

Admission by Julie Buxbaum

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes an of-the-moment novel that peeks inside the private lives of the hypercompetitive and the hyperprivileged and takes on the college admissions bribery scandal that rocked the country.“

The college bribery was so interesting to me. I cannot wait to read this novel!

Release date: May 5, 2020

We are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian

“A toxic coach finds himself outplayed by the high school girls on his team in this deeply suspenseful novel, which unspools over twenty-four hours through six diverse perspectives.“

I am reading this after I finish All the Stars and Teeth (hopefully this weekend!) I CANNOT WAIT

Release date: March 31, 2020

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“A desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial daughter find a connection on the high seas in a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic.“

Magic and pirates. I didn’t think I liked pirate books, but I’ve been real into them recently.

Release date: May 5, 2020

Spindle and Dagger by J. Anderson Coats

“This rich literary novel follows Elen, who must live a precarious lie in order to survive among the medieval Welsh warband that killed her family.“

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel set in Wales, so I’m excited about that. It sounds like a super interesting read!

Release date: March 10, 2020

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

“Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.“

This cover is gorgeous. It sounds amazing. I can’t wait! Thanks Steph for getting this one for me!

Release date: May 26, 2020

The Ballad of Ami Miles

“Raised in isolation at Heavenly Shepherd, her family’s trailer-dealership-turned-survival compound, Ami Miles knows that she was lucky to be born into a place of safety after the old world ended and the chaos began. But when her grandfather arranges a marriage to a cold-eyed stranger, she realizes that her “destiny” as one of the few females capable of still bearing children isn’t something she’s ready to face.“

This sounds so good. I love cult-y stories. I can’t wait to dive in!

Release date: May 26, 2020

So these are all releasing this month or May.. ha! I will definitely get to We Are the Wildcats this month, and maybe even Spindle and Dagger.

Are any of these on your radar? What are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, review, Romance, ya

💔 Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak ARC Review 💔

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💔 Title: Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak
💔 Author: Adi Alsaid
💔 Publisher: Inkyard Press
💔 Publish Date: April 30, 2019
💔 Book Form: E-ARC
💔Pages: 384
💔Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
💔 Dates Read: Mar 3 – Mar 7
💔Rating: 💔💔💔💔

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected: after her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can’t write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer. Then, she meets Cal.

Cal’s ever-practical girlfriend Iris is looking ahead to her first year of college, and her plans do not include a long-distance boyfriend. When Lu learns that Cal and Iris have planned to end their relationship at the end of the summer, she becomes fascinated and decides to chronicle the last months the couple will spend together.

The closer she gets to the couple, the more she likes them, and the more she wants to write about them. The summer unfurls, and Lu discovers what it really means to be in love. On the page, or off it. The book is touching exploration of love and how it shapes us both during a relationship and after it has ended.

– Goodreads

This is the first book by Adi Alsaid, but I know it will not be my last. I was instantly pulled into Lu’s story and couldn’t wait to see what happened.

In the beginning, and throughout the whole book, really, I wanted this weird relationship with Lu and the couple she eavesdropped on – Cal and Iris. I wanted Lu and Iris to become bffs. They seemed to instantly click and they jsut had a nice flow to their friendship. However, Lu met Cal before she met Iris. He sat beside her on a bench where they talked in fake French accents and helped French tourists find their way. They seemed to have instant chemistry and I really wanted Cal to be the one to mend Lu’s heart.

For a while, this weird situation seemed to work. Lu started hanging out with Cal and Iris together, then separate. When she and Cal were together, it seemed like a romantic connection. When Lu and Iris were together, they seemed like they had been friends forever.
Lu had a best friend before all this went down – Pete. He might have been my favorite. He was asexual and Lu described him as her wise old uncle, which he thought was pretty fitting. He was funny and smart and gave the best advice.

Lu was eavesdropping on Cal and Iris because she writes a love column. Since her boyfriend broke up with her, she had writer’s block. She was listening to what she thought was their breakup for inspiration. This is really the central plot of the book – Lu working through her heartbreak so she can write again. Besides, her whole future lies in this column. She has to keep it to get her scholarship to go to NYU for journalism.

Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak was such a quick, fun read. It made me laugh out loud at times. It also took me back to my past days of high school romance when a break up was totally the end of the world.

I would recommend this book if you like YA romance contemporaries – but the ending will surprise you! I want to say more thoughts about the ending, but I’m scared it’s spoilery so I will refrain.

Have you read Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

contemporary, Romance, three star book, ya

Lock and Key Review!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Ruby, where is your mother?
Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.
That’s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?
Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.

– Goodreads

I remember reading Sarah Dessen as a high schooler and loving her. I wanted all her books. So when Lock and Key popped up on my TBR, I knew I would keep and give it another go. Unfortunately, I was pretty underwhelmed.

Lock and Key is almost like a day-to-day in the life of a high schooler. Sure, Ruby had some issues. Her mother left her, she lived alone for weeks, it’s hard for her to trust anyone. She’s been lied to more times than she can count. That’s the makings of a dark, interesting character. Ruby just didn’t live up to it. I was sorely disappointed in just… the lack of personality, I guess? I didn’t feel bad for her at all.

Nate was the love interest – if you can even call him that. Yes, there was flirting. Almost kisses. And Nate had some secrets of his own. However, there was so little romance I’m not sure it even should count as a romance book. I’m obviously not expecting smut, but they barely flirted. They were more like best friends.

My favorite characters were Jamie and Cora, Ruby’s brother in law and sister. They were fun to me and seemed like they really cared. They had the most personality of anyone.

Lock and Key is probably a great read for middle school to high school aged kids. I think I would have loved it back then, but there just wasn’t enough action for me now. If you have kids or siblings 13-18ish, I think they would love this book!

Have you read Lock and Key? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

contemporary, Romance, ya

First Impression Friday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

This is becoming one of my favorite posts to do! I love reading the first chapter of a book and really analyzing it. So far, I haven’t been far off in my predictions!

This week we are looking at Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, the book that’s been on my TBR longest! It’s also from my TBR posts.

“”Ruby, where is your mother?” Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return. That’s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?” Goodreads

So, I don’t know if I’ve ever read Sarah Dessen. I may have way back in the day, like high school days. I wasn’t super sure what to expect going into it.

The first chapter was LONG. Like, 32 pages. I’m more of a short and sweet kinda girl – I hate not ending on a chapter! So that was my first hiccup.

The first chapter was also LONG. It opened up with a ton of descriptions, which I don’t do well with. I don’t need to know the exact color of the carpet, walls, and drapes. Just tell me it’s nice and super expensive and I can imagine the rest. I found myself skimming the first few pages.

I also felt like nothing really happened in the first chapter. You meet Ruby, her sister Cora, and brother in law Jamie who she just moved in with. You find out she was living alone before that. But like, nothing else? I don’t know. It just seemed unnecessarily long.

My predictions for this book. Hm. I don’t think I’ll hate it, but I think maybe it isn’t really in my wheelhouse anymore. I feel like it’s going to be more of a day to day life thing instead of any action. I’m guessing it’ll be a 2-3 star read.

Have you read Lock and Key? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

You can follow my live-reactions to this book on twitter here!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, Historical Fiction, mystery, Romance, thriller, ya

Stacking the Shelves

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I did this post last week and loved it so I decided to do it again! Maybe this will become a weekly post. Who knows?

This meme is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. Here’s how it works:

“Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!”

This week I got an amazing arc box! I also got five e-galleys from Netgalley. Let’s see what I got!

Crave by Tracy Wolff

“My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.“

I’ve seen this advertised as the new and improved Twilight. Honestly, I can’t wait.

Open Fire by Amber Lough

“A dramatic page-turner that captures the devastating toll of war and the impact of women’s struggles and solidarity, through the lens of a little-known slice of history.“

Honestly, the cover freaks me out. This is set in 1917 Russia. A 17 year old girl goes to war – and finds she was very disillusioned.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

“In this coming-of-age romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen, scandal and romance collide when an ambitious teen returns to her hometown only to have her plans interrupted after falling for the town’s “bad boy”—a.k.a. her childhood best friend.“

Honestly, I did not expect to get approved for this. I haven’t read Jenn’s romances yet, so I’m excited to finally try. I’ve heard great things.

The Mall by Megan McCafferty

“The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans…”

I was a 90’s kid. I can’t wait to go back!

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant

“Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris’s criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.“

Adventures. Thieves. Set in France. Fans of Six of Crows? This book was written for me.

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

“For fans of Sadie and Serial, this gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost.“

Again, fans of Serial. That’s me! I love these books. Keep them coming YA authors!

Have you heard of any of these gems? Are you on the lookout for them? What are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, LGBT, ownvoices, Romance, ya

Year of the Asian Reading Challenge 2020

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

So, as I was perusing through twitter one day, I saw this reading challenge. The banner above is so adorable. I also want to read more diverse books. I think all my January books were by cis, white authors. So. I thought this was a perfect challenge for me! There are so many books by Asian authors I want to read!

Here are the guidelines taken from The Quiet Pond, who is one of the hosts!

The aim of this challenge is to read as many books written by Asian authors as you can! These books can be backlist titles (i.e. released in 2019 or earlier), new releases, and ARCs. We welcome books of any genre, any format, and any length. Check out the levels we have made for this challenge (I drew them too!) and set your sights on a level you want to achieve.

In order for a book to count, you must start and finish it within 2020; the challenge will end on the 31st of December of this year. (This means that books started in 2019 and finished in 2020 do not count!) Likewise, any books started in 2020 and finished in 2021 do not count either.

We want this to be a relaxing and, above all else, fun challenge, so you can join in at any time in the year! The sign-up form will remain open until 2020 ends.

Follow us on Twitter (@YearOfTheAsian) for announcements, surprises, and more bookish fun. The official hashtag for this reading challenge is #YARC2020.

I chose the Phillipine Tarsier badge, which is reading 1-10 books by Asian authors. If I read more, I can always move on to the next badge!

Here are the 10 books I plan on reading this year:

2020 Releases:

  1. The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
  2. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
  3. The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi
  4. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Backlist Titles:

  1. Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan
  2. Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
  3. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
  4. Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
  5. Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
  6. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Have you read any of these? Are you doing the challenge? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, contemporary, fantasy, Romance, ya

Stacking the Shelves!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Happy weekend, guys! This was a crazy week. I didn’t get to do near enough on the blog! We were short someone at work, with a record number of patients. Needless to say, I could barely stay up to read, let alone blog! Thankfully it’s the weekend. I plan to finish my current read, We are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo, play DnD, and just relax!

So this meme is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. Here’s what they have to say about it:


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

This week I was approved for seven arcs on Netgalley! I went to Barnes and Noble, but didn’t buy any book! A travesty, I know. I just couldn’t decide. So here are the arcs I have added to my forever long TBR shelf this week:

Let’s start with the one I’m most excited about. The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke.

The cover is gorge and immediately drew me in. Then I read the synopsis:

“An outcast teenage lesbian witch finds her coven hidden amongst the popular girls in her school, and performs some seriously badass magic in the process.“

I think I squealed when I got the acceptance email. No shame.

Next was The Stone of Sorrow by Brooke Carter.

“In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the runecaster her clan has been hoping for.”

I love a good comeback story. Plus I love the girl’s hair and cloak. Cause who doesn’t want an amazing cloak?!

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles. Again, another gorgeous cover. Like, I need her dress.

“Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.“

I mean, how amazing does that sound?!

Music from Another World by Robin Talley.

“A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.“

I got chosen for a blog tour for this novel and I am so excited! Tour date TBA!

We Didn’t Ask for This by Adi Alsaid

“Central International School’s annual lock-in is legendary. Bonds are made. Contests are fought. Stories are forged that will be passed down from student to student for years to come. Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.“

I got chosen for a blog tour for this title too! I can’t wait to dive in! Tour date TBA!

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass by Adan Jerreat-Poole

“Even teenage assassins have dreams.“

We all know how I feel about an assassin book! Plus this cover. Omg. Swoon. I think this is the one I’m second most excited about!

The Bad Boy’s Forever by Blair Holden

“Tessa O’Connell is a girl with an unbreakable spirit and a strength that will get her through anything and this strength is one she needs now more than ever before. Through the two big chapters of her life, her goal remains to be fearless and make the best of all the opportunities that come her way.“

Oops. I didn’t realize this was book 3? So I’ll have to read book 1 and 2 first. But it sounds great and I love supporting wattpad authors!

So those are my seven new books this week! I hope to get to them soon. THey all sound amazing and I’m working really hard to get caught up on arcs!

Have you heard of any of these? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time..

adult, contemporary, thriller, ya

Down the TBR Part 9!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Wow! Another week! Of me not reading…. What is my deal?! I’m already six books behind my GR goal. I need to get my ass in gear. And like…. read a book. Or six.

Anyway, when last we left our TBR, we were at 1954. We are currently sitting at 1957. I joined a great community of bloggers on twitter, and they’ve been giving me some great books to read! Oh yeah, I started a twitter last week too! Follow me @Mithah_Reads!

So lets jump right in! First look at the covers of these next 10 books, I’m not sure I’ll keep any? Maybe one. Maybe the synopses will change my mind though!

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Girl has too many drinks and sleeps with bff’s fiance. Now a decision to risk it all for happiness. I think too chick lit
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Hush by Kate White

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: A thriller! MC is going through a divorce and the guy she sleeps with ends up dead. Yes, please!
  • Keep or Delete: Keep!

Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Another thriller! This is about two young girls, an unstable mom and abusive step father. Sign me up!
  • Keep or Delete: Keep!

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Chick lit Christian fiction. I think I’ll pass
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Chick lit about a group of friends getting together every two years to catch up on life.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Deed by Keith Blanchard

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Honestly, it was hard for me to get through this synopsis. I think that means its not for me.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: This might be cute. A husband writes his wife every week and they both die. Kids find the letters and secrets. I’m just not sure It would keep my interest.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Shattering by Karen Healey

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: This was the one I thought I’d keep based on the cover, and I was right! It’s YA (yay!) and a thriller!
  • Keep or Delete: Keep!

Blood Orange by Drusilla Campbell

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Eek. About a daughter going missing. Since having a kid, I can’t read these books.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeuw

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: This sounds like horror/thriller and I think I’m here for it.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep!

Wow! I kept way more than I thought I would, but there were a lot of thrillers! So that’s pretty exciting!

I am ending at 1951, so I kept four and deleted six. I am so close to being under 1950! Next week FOR SURE! Unless I keep adding to my tbr…

Have you read any of these novels? What did you think? Let me know below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Five Star Book, ya

Don’t Read the Comments ARC Review!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: Don’t Read the Comments
  • Author: Eric Smith
  • Publisher: Inkyard Press
  • Publish Date: January 28, 2020
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 368
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary
  • Dates Read: Jan 10 – Jan 12
  • Rating: ★★★★★

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she’s trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho’s entire life. Much to his mother’s frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron’s dreams and Divya’s actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn’t going down without a fight.

– Goodreads

Omg yall. This book. It’s my first 5 star read of the year and so deserving of every single star it gets. Don’t Read the Comments is a great look at the sexist nature of the video gaming community. That just because you are a female, you automatically aren’t as good as a male. Like, honestly. What do genitals have to do with gaming skill? NOTHING.

I’ve been gaming since I was 15. I started with Halo online, then went to World of Warcraft. I’ve tried various other MMO’s, FPS’s, everything. And no matter how good I am, if I speak, I’m either just trying to find a boyfriend or I’m a boy who hasn’t hit puberty yet. It’s so annoying, so I felt what D1V did. I knew how it was – people saying nasty things about you because they think you don’t belong. It was so nice to have that rep. To have a strong, GOOD female gamer, who didn’t let them see her break. She was so brave and so strong. Even when she got doxxed. If you don’t know about doxxing, check this out. It happened to a lot of females in the gaming/geek world and it it SO.SCARY.

Okay, now you see why the books means so much to me. I imagine it will mean a lot to the female gaming community who are also readers. Let’s get into this book review, shall we?

I first featured this book on my First Impressions Friday post. I read the first chapter and was immediately hooked. I was so interested in Divya, or D1V as she is known online. I immediately felt a kinship with her and her best friend, Rebekah. They were part of the streaming community, which is something I so desperately wanted to do back in the day.

In the next chapter you meet Aaron, a casual gamer who also plays Reclaim the Sun. The descriptions of the game make it sound like No Man’s Sky. Which I immediately had to play. I’ve logged three hours since finishing the book. Anyway…

A doxxing group attacks D1V and her armada of followers. She has to start over in game. She happens to meet Aaron when grinding to level back up. They end up playing together a lot, growing a friendship, then something more.

The romance was definitely in the background of this book. The main focus was D1V and Rebekah and how they have been attacked over and over. Both physically, verbally, and mentally. I think a lot of people don’t understand what it’s like to be in their position until they’ve been there. No, I’ve never been physically attacked, but I have been verbally and mentally.

There were so many great references in this book. All kinds of games, gamer news sites, and pop culture. I think I highlighted about 10 of them! It was so fun to read! The dual POV was so fun, too. I loved getting both sides of the friendship and romance.

I feel like I just rambled at the beginning of this, but this book is so important to me. I was so fortunate to get an ARC. I would recommend this to anyone in the gaming community or who loves geeky things!

There’s also an amazing pre-order incentive going on! Check it out here!

Until next time…