Mackenzie's Picks
I have to say, I was nervous about reading a super-flu book after COVID...but Erik J Brown handled the subject tastefully, in a way that allowed me to feel some feels, but didn't overwhelm me. ALL THAT'S LEFT IN THE WORLD is end of the world meets queer coming-of-age. I laughed, I cried, I was creeped out and stressed out, but most of all, full of hope for Andrew and Jamie.
This was my first 5 star read of the year, and it completely devastated me. AND THE TREES CREPT IN features a haunted manor, a sentient forest, and a main character who isn't sure what's real and what's not. Full of twists and turns, this YA horror kept me creeped out and guessing all the way through, then ripped my heart out at the end. Could not recommend it more!
Romantic, funny, heartwarming, and full of sapphic representation! Delilah Green, an artist strapped for cash, is forced to travel back to her hometown to photograph her stepsister's wedding, but what should have been a small town nightmare turns into an opportunity for romance when Delilah reconnects with her stepsister's best friend, Claire. This book gave me the one-bed, blast-from-the-past, secretly-soft realness that I needed from a romance novel.
Every so often you need a book that reminds you that you aren't the only one who has felt lost and alone. Marin crossed the country to outrun her ghosts, but when she receives a visit from her best friend, Mabel, she realizes that in order to grow, she needs to embrace her past. WE ARE OKAY perfectly captures the feeling of accepting loss and uncertainty, and letting it change you for the better.
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA is full of summer vibes and coming-of-age-feels. Morgan wants nothing more than to keep her big secret to herself until she can leave her island, her family, and her friends behind. Unfortunately for Morgan, the mysterious girl who saved her life isn't so good with secrets... Packed with adorable illustrations, this story is a snapshot of young love, friendship, family, and what it means to be true to yourself.