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Review: Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal’s aunties’ new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer…

Lila Macapagal’s godmothers April, Mae, and June—AKA the Calendar Crew—are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should’ve been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized—and the body of Ninang April’s niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila’s gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?

With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it’s up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.

The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again. 

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Let’s Talk: Books I want to read this Scary Season

Hello besties! Happy October — the scary season is officially upon us and I am so excited! 

There are so many horror, mystery/thriller, and just autumnal vibe stories that I want to read this month and I thought it would be fun to share with you some books I’m planning and hoping to read this month!

So, get cozy and let’s go through some of my scary season TBR!

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Let’s Talk: The bookstores I visited during my New York trip & the books I bought there

Hi friends! At the beginning of this month I visited my best friend in the NYC area, and aside from seeing some Broadway shows (yes, we did see & Juliet twice within 24 hours), we visited a lot of bookstores. Therefore, I thought it would be fun to tell you about the bookstores we visited and what I bought!

So get comfy, grab a snack and/or your favorite beverage, and let’s talk about all six of the bookstores I went to over Labor Day weekend!

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ARC Review: The Getaway List by Emma Lord

The day of her high school graduation, Riley realizes two things: One, that she has spent the last four years trying so hard to be a Good Kid for her mom that she has no idea who she really is anymore, and two, she has no idea what she wants because of it. The solution? Pack her bags and move to New York for the summer, where her childhood best friend Tom and co-creator of The Getaway List ― a list of all the adventures they’ve wanted to do together since he moved away ― will hopefully help her get in touch with her old adventurous self, and pave the road to a new future.

Riley isn’t sure what to expect from Tom, who has been distant since his famous mom’s scriptwriting career pulled him away. But when Riley arrives in the city, their reconnection is as effortless as it was when they were young―except with one, unexpected complication that will pull Riley’s feelings in a direction she didn’t know they could take. As she, Tom, and their newfound friends work their way through the delightfully chaotic items on The Getaway List, Riley learns that sometimes the biggest adventure is not one you take, but one you feel in your heart.

Inescapably romantic and brimming with Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave. 

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ARC Review: The Death I Gave Him by Em. X Liu

A lyrical, queer sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a locked-room thriller

A Twenty-First Century Hamlet.

Hayden Lichfield’s life is ripped apart when he finds his father murdered in their lab, and the camera logs erased. The killer can only have been after one thing: the Sisyphus Formula the two of them developed together, which might one day reverse death itself. Hoping to lure the killer into the open, Hayden steals the research. In the process, he uncovers a recording his father made in the days before his death, and a dying wish: Avenge me…

With the lab on lockdown, Hayden is trapped with four other people—his uncle Charles, lab technician Gabriel Rasmussen, research intern Felicia Xia and their head of security, Felicia’s father Paul—one of whom must be the killer. His only sure ally is the lab’s resident artificial intelligence, Horatio, who has been his dear friend and companion since its creation. With his world collapsing, Hayden must navigate the building’s secrets, uncover his father’s lies, and push the boundaries of sanity in the pursuit of revenge. 

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Caitlyn’s Monthly Wrap Up: August 2023

August sure has slipped away, hasn’t it? Alexa, play august by Taylor Swift, thank you.

Hi besties! You know what time it is, it’s wrap-up time! As I publish this I am sitting at the airport because I’m headed to the East Coast to visit my best friend Helena — yes, of Bubbling Up With Helena fame! And I figured as I sit here because of my… 5-hour layover (wouldn’t be surprised if I end up finishing another book while I’m here) I might as well share my August wrap up, so let’s get into it!

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ARC Review: Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight edited by Shelly Page & Alex Brown

Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology that explores a night when anything is possible exclusively featuring queer authors of color putting fresh spins on classic horror tropes and tales.

No matter its name or occasion, Halloween is more than a Hallmark holiday, it’s a symbol of transformation. NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS is a YA horror anthology that explores how Halloween can be more than just candies and frights, but a night where anything is possible. Each short story will be told through the lens of a different BIPOC teen and the Halloween night that changes their lives forever. Creative, creepy, and queer, this collection will bring fresh terror, heart, and humor to young adult literature.

Contributors include editors Alex Brown and Shelly Page, Kalynn Bayron, Ryan Douglass, Sara Farizan, Maya Gittelman, Kosoko Jackson, Em Liu, Vanessa Montalban, Ayida Shonibar, Tara Sim, Trang Thanh Tran, and Rebecca Kim Wells.

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Review: The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall

A deliciously terrifying novel about a ghost who uncovers a teen girl’s best kept secrets while haunting her boarding school, perfect for fans of Lost in the Never Woods and The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived.

Eden White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live.

Delphine now lives in careful isolation, sealed off from the world. Even a single drop of unpurified water could be deadly to her, and no one but Eden has any idea why. Eden has never told anyone what she saw or spoken to Delphine since, but now, unable to cover her tuition, she has to make a her expenses will be paid in return for serving as a live-in companion to Delphine.

Eden finds herself drawn to the strange and mysterious girl, and the two of them begin to unravel each other’s secrets. Then Eden discovers what happened to the last girl who lived with she was found half-drowned on dry land. Suddenly Eden is waking up to wet footprints tracking to the end of her bed, the sound of rain on the windows when the skies are clear, and a ghostly silhouette in her doorway. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too.

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Mini Reviews: Bring Me Your Midnight, The Summer of Broken Rules, What Happens After Midnight, One of Us is Back

Hi besties, happy Thursday! I hope that August is treating you well so far 💜

At the beginning of July, I read a lot of adult horror and mystery/thrillers for Summerween, and I can’t lie, although I enjoyed it, it kind of burned me out and once Summerween ended I didn’t do a whole lot of reading. Towards the end of July, I decided to pick up some YA books for a change of pace, and it absolutely helped me get back into the swing of things.

Whenever I’m in a bit of a slump, switching genres or age ranges tends to help and it definitely did in this case. I’ve been reading a lot these last few weeks, and I thought it’d be fun to share some mini-reviews of a few of the YA books I’ve read lately.

Get cozy and let’s chat!

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