Hockey, but not

 

If All Else Sails
By Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication date:  August 5, 2025
Print length:  368 pages
ISBN-13:  978-1400346943

 Publisher’s Blurb:

In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

 When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

 A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.

 Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

 Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

 Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

 Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.

 Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.

 And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.

 If you're a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

 My Thoughts:

Emma St. Clair can be relied on to deliver imperfect people who aren’t just grumpy for the sake of grumpiness—they have reasons for the way they are. It’s those reasons and past hurts that get in the way of their HEAs until they can be acknowledged and worked on.

 That is the case in this book. Wyatt’s family dynamic has made him shun the spotlight, despite his fame. Josie has past trauma with athletes, which has led her to misjudge Wyatt from the very first time they met. Which is too bad, because for him, it was pretty close to love at first sight.

 So when Josie’s over-the-top charming brother coerces her into looking after Wyatt’s recovery from an off-the-rink injury, she’s not exactly happy about it. But she recognize that Wyatt is in a vulnerable place, so she stays.

 As they both work through their vulnerabilities, they end up confessing past traumas and hurts and finally (and it takes some time) work through just how much Josie has misjudged Wyatt over the years. She has to be willing to look at all their past interactions through a new lens.

 Of course, there are obstacles. They don’t live in the same city. Josie has a lot of insecurity about fitting the mold of a famous athlete’s girlfriend…if Wyatt even thinks of her that way. Those insecurities are an obstacle, but Josie is self-aware enough that they avoid the third-act breakup.

 Though this is billed as a standalone, it does have a connection to the Appies series, cowritten by St. Clair and Jenny Proctor (reviewed here). This is completely a good thing.

 This is petty, but the most annoying thing to me about this book is the way Josie goes all in on dressing up the dog. I just…don’t get the appeal.

 All told, this is another entertaining read from St. Clair, with all the banter, feelings, and character development that we’ve come to expect.

 Also—St. Clair is working on a playlist for the book. Keep your eyes peeled!

 Possible objectionable material:

Past death of a family member, including spreading their ashes. Family disfunction. Josie’s older brother is a “player”. Past sexual assault. Kissing. Unmarried people share a bed.

 Who might like this book:

There’s not really any hockey in this book, though the male protagonist is a hockey player. If you like books with cameos from familiar characters, this has it. It’s classic closed-door romance.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #ClosedDoorRomance #Appies #EmmaStClair #IfAllElseSails #RomCom @emmastclairauthor

Jinkies!

 Very Dangerous Things
By Lauren Munoz
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593857892
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Everyone in town knows about the game. For decades, J. Everett High has staged an annual murder mystery to put its criminology students to the test. And this year, crime junkie Dulce Castillo is dead set on winning. Soon, the game kicks off, and the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school’s greenhouse . . . except his death is not pretend.

It’s murder.

When the authorities open an investigation, all the evidence points to Sierra Fox, Xavier’s ex-girlfriend and Dulce’s ex-best friend. Claiming innocence and desperate to clear her name, Sierra begs Dulce to look past their bad blood and find the culprit.

After all, Dulce knows this school better than any investigator ever could, but she must use caution to solve this mystery. Because these historic halls are full of suspects with no shortage of motives. And in this game of cat and mouse, the other player kills.

 

My Thoughts:

Well, I didn’t see that coming.

 

I can frequently figure out the culprit in mysteries, but this one was sneaky. It’s not that it was unbelievable…just that it was a surprise.

 

Dulce and her late mother loved the detective novels of Dorothy Sayers, and Dulce attends a magnet school for forensics and criminology. Each year, the school stages a fake murder, and teams race to solve the case. Dulce is tired of taking second to her former best friend. But when the murder turns out to be real, and the former bestie is the prime suspect, Dulce grudgingly takes the case.

 

She turns out to be…not that great of a detective. I won’t tell you exactly how, but, while she does some things well, she bungles others. Nontheless, she and her friends do solve the case.

 

The idea of a magnet school for future crime solvers is an interesting premise. The school still has things like band and PE, so it’s not totally out there.

 

Overall, I found the characters interesting. They all have their flaws and are real and human. Zane’s sketchy past before transferring to Dulce’s school is a strong motivator for his actions in the story, although his attraction to Dulce is an equally strong motivator for other actions.

 

All in all, it’s a fun detective novel with imperfect people who still find a way to be successful.

 

I love Dulce’s dad, by the way. We don’t see him much, but I love what we get.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Swearing, including the F-word. Teenage partying. Teen sexual activity (off page). Some teenaged petty crime. Kissing. A parent died in a car accident. Same sex couples. Murder, poisoning, and assault. A smear campaign.

Who might like this book:

Fans of mysteries and true crime.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview #NetGalley #YA #Mystery #VeryDangerousThings #LaurenMunoz #biblioquacious

A Passion for Fashion

The Other Side of Imani
By Lisa Springer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0063288782
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Ever since she could remember, thirteen-year-old Imani has wanted to be a fashion designer.

 

But fashion designers are bold, out-there, and in your face. And despite her unique sense of style, Imani has trouble fitting in, let alone standing out. Entering her new school’s design competition for a scholarship to the nearby arts high school seems like the perfect way to make new friends and get closer to her dream of being a designer.

 

Then Imani’s designs are stolen by one of her classmates, and Imani is forced to enter the competition anonymously, under a virtual persona of her own creation—“Estelle.” When Estelle then goes viral, Imani must figure out how to be her “real” self as she finds her true friends and her voice... all while hoping to win the competition.  

 

My Thoughts:

Being new at a school is rough. Imani is overjoyed to find another girl who is as interested in fashion and design as she is, and she excited to be invited to the other girl’s house to work on their designs for their school’s competition. (I find it a little hard to believe that everyone in their middle school is so excited about this competition.)

 

As an adult reading this book, I saw the theft of Imani’s designs coming. Her resolution of the situation is what the real story is about.

 

Honestly, the fact that all these middle-schoolers are so heavily engaged in the story’s equivalent of Instagram is a little disturbing. I mean, yes, my high school students are super into it. But to have 11-14-year-olds so invested…oof.

 

As is the case with so many middle grade novels, Imani feels she must solve her problem by herself. Of course, if she just confided in her parents or her older sister, we wouldn’t really have a story.

 

There are some awesome supporting characters. And some—like the school principal—that you’ll love to hate.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Bullying. Sneaking around. Lying. Way too much social media use.

 Who might like this book:

Those who like fashion and creative expression. This one’s probably going to be of interest to more girls than to boys.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrades #TheOtherSideOfImani  #LisaSpringer #HarperCollins #biblioquacious

A New Dystopian Twist

Soulmatch
By Rebecca Danzenbaker
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 496 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665963701
Reading age: 12 years and up
Grade level: 7 - 9

Publisher's Blurb:

Two hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every eighteen-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

 

My Thoughts:

This book hinges on the idea that reincarnation is real, as well as that some people have true soulmates.

 

Imagine that each soul has a specific vibration or frequency, and that it can be measured, identified, and catalogued. That is the premise here. Sivon has turned 18 and it is time for her to be kirled, the process by which her soul is identified. She is terrified that she has a bad soul, one that still owes society for crimes committed in past incarnations.

 

Instead, she finds out that her soul has never been catalogued—a New Soul. This gets her involved in her time’s equivalent of a presidential race, in order to provide protection for her mother from all the people who feel strongly (both positively and negatively) about New Souls.

 

Along the way, she meets two boys: one infuriating, and one who claims to be her soulmate. She must unravel the realities of who really has her best interests at heart and who is using her.

 

Although I don’t believe in reincarnation, I found the base premise of this story to be interesting and well-handled. Although it wasn’t particularly difficult to figure out who the true bad guy of the story was, watching Sivon figure things out was only mildly frustrating. I’ve definitely had worse reads.

 

Possible objectionable material:

Reincarnation. Swearing, including multiple F-words. Same gender relationships. Nonbinary characters. Souls can be born into bodies of either gender in future lives. Kissing. Physical danger. Possible suicide.

 

Who might like this book:

Fans of YA dystopian fiction. Anyone who enjoys a love triangle.

  

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #YA #DystopianFiction #Soulmatch #RebeccaDanzenbakerBooks #biblioquacious

Solving a Parisian Mystery

The House of Found Objects
Bea Bellemore Mysteries #1
By Jo Beckett-King
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665967174
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 – 7

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Twelve-year-old Bea from Passaic, New Jersey, is visiting her family in Paris for the summer when her grandmother’s most precious heirloom—a drawing by Henri Matisse—goes missing. After a cryptic clue arrives on Bea’s doorstep suggesting its whereabouts, Bea is determined to pursue the lead.

Without the French skills to navigate her way around the landmarks of Paris, she teams up with her cousin, Céline, whose clear-eyed French directness makes her a perfect partner for curious, problem-solving Bea. The girls embark on a city-wide search, deciphering riddles, solving puzzles, and cracking codes as they try to locate the Matisse, find a thief, and identify their mysterious benefactor.

 

My Thoughts:

Bea is bummed. She was supposed to be having lots of fun adventures with her aunt. Her parents are on a trip (without her), and sent her to stay in Paris. Sounds great, right? Well, her aunt, a journalist, keeps having to work. Her grandmother is busy running her secondhand/antique shop. And her cousin doesn’t seem to have much in common with Bea.

 

And then disaster strikes. Bea accidentally allows a man to take a box that contains the family treasure, a portrait of Bea’s great-grandfather, created by famous artist Henri Matisse.

 

And thus begins Bea’s true adventures in Paris. A mysterious note is left for her which indicates that, if she unravels the clues she will be able to recover the portrait. But Bea’s French is rudimentary, so she must enlist Celine’s help. The two visit sites around the city—although Bea is not supposed to leave the neighborhood without her aunt.

 

There are red herrings and misdirections along the way. But with the help of a couple of clever—and cute—French boys, Bea and Celine just might win the day.

 

We feel Bea’s frustration with being limited to her aunt’s flat and her grandmother’s shop all day while the aunt is at work. I’d be frustrated too! We also understand Bea’s guilt at having—however accidentally—allowed the painting to be taken.

 

Descriptions, characterizations, and conversations were well-done.

 

Possible objectionable material:

A tweenage kiss. Sneaking around and going places without adult permission. Lying.

 

Who might like this book:

Anyone interested in Paris or who likes solving a mystery. I’d say that the grade levels provided by the publisher are pretty accurate.

 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrade #TheHouseOfFoundObjects #JoBeckettKing #SimonAndSchuster #biblioquacious

Middle Grade Novel in Verse

Aarzu All Around
By Marzieh Abbas
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Print length: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665970419
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Living with her aunt and patriarchal uncle in Karachi, Pakistan, recently orphaned twelve-year-old Aarzu detests the way she and her younger sister get treated like extras and excluded from all the fun stuff. Aarzu dreams of playing cricket, just like her male cousins and the neighborhood boys in the streets, but her uncle will hear nothing of it. According to him, girls ought to master the art of making round rotis, not play sports.

When her sister requires urgent medical treatment but finances are tight, Aarzu decides to earn money herself. She hears of a part-time job at a bungalow near her school—but it’s only open to boys. Aarzu has no choice but to disguise herself as a turban-wearing boy to get the gig.

Now, Aarzu must find a way to balance school, work, chores, and secret cricket practices—all without burning out or getting caught by her uncle—or else her dreams of making the girls cricket team and her quest to save her sister will crumble around her.

 

My Thoughts:

Thiswas a difficult book for me to read, for two vastly different reasons.

 

1.     It’s a novel in verse. While I love reading poetry, I find that verse novels don’t really work for me. Poetry is about packing a great deal of meaning into a few carefully chosen words. In narratives, I feel that many times depth of description and emotion can suffer when told in verse.

2.     Aarzu is in just such a sad situation. Her parents were killed in an earthquake, and she lives with her mother’s sister and her husband and sons. The uncle is very patriarchal and has strong ideas about the roles of girls and women. The older son is a bit of a bully. And Aarzu’s sister suffers from a debilitating and potentially fatal kidney disease. They live in near poverty; the uncle’s income comes from taking tourists around in his rickshaw, and the aunt sells items she has embroidered.

 That said, don’t think I didn’t like this story. Aarzu is resilient, and devoted to her sister. Her indomitable spirit shines out in this story.

 Like so many middle-grade novels, there is a subplot of a friendship nearly broken by jealousy, but Aarzu comes to realize her faults and the friendship survives.

 The book also features an explanation of how the game of cricket works, a glossary of Arabic/Pakistani terms, and—best of all to my English teacher heart—a list of the various forms of poetry used to tell the story.

 Possible objectionable material:

Loss of parents, misogyny, domestic abuse (not shown). Aarzu does some serious sneaking around. Chronic illness.

 Who would like this book:

If you like stories of courageous young people who find a way to rise above their difficulties, this would be a good one for you. And if you like or are interested in cricket, give it a shot.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #BookReview #NetGalley #MiddleGrade #NovelInVerse #MarziehAbbas #AarzuAllAround #SimonAndSchuster #biblioquacious