Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
Hi friends, I’m excited to be back with a blog tour review today! I’m here to share my thoughts (and a few favourite quotes) as part of the blog tour hosted by Toppling Stacks Tours for The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh.
Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Click the banner above or here to check out the other incredible bloggers on the blog tour!
The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2 June 2026
Genre: YA Contemporary
Rating:
(4.75 pandas rounded up)
From the celebrated author of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow comes a poignant novel about a Syrian American girl who uses a magical sketchbook to turn her grief into art, painting miraculous murals of her motherโs life in Syria.
Seventeen-year-old Jihad Dabbagh has always seen life with a heightened sense for colors, one of many magical blessings the women in her family possess. But Jihad’s gift changes depending on her mood. When depression sets in, the world is a colorless oasis, and in the wake of her mother’s sudden death, the world has become a permanent shade of grey.
Broken by tragedy, Jihad’s family doesn’t believe her color loss. Her father sends her to the elite Braxton Academy to finish her senior year. There, Jihad’s name and hijab put a target on her back. Her haven comes in the form of an old sketchbook carved from a tree in her hometown in Syriaโa country she only knew through her mother’s stories. Jihad hasn’t picked up a brush in over a year, but finds herself channeling the colors of her hurt, pain, and grief as she paints the story of her mother’s journey in Syria.
When graffiti of that same mural starts magically popping up all over New York, her art goes viral and the world takes notice, the threat of legal consequences is imminent. To reclaim her voice, Jihad will have to paint a new future for herself and Braxton, guided by the resilience of her mother’s story.
Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Classism, Murder (mentioned briefly in recounting)
OK, honestly, I do think this is a solid 5-star read, but I havenโt been able to stop thinking about how I wanted certain parts of that ending to be a little bit differentโand it has been nagging at me since I finished thisโso Iโm giving it a 4.75. ๐คญ That doesnโt really make it any less of a 5-star quality read, though, and it is also one of my favourite YA contemporaries in a long time!
TL;DR:ย The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue enraged me. It filled me with sorrow and sadness, and maybe even a lottle bit of hatred, but it also infused me with hope. I lost track of the number of times I cried while reading thisโtears of anger and frustration at injustices, tears of grief and sorrow, and also tears of joy for true and simple kindnesses that were healing. Jihad and Jamie were complex and wonderfully crafted characters and I loved the friendship that grew between them. By the end of this review, youโll definitely be able to tell that this book made me feel MANY things.ย ๐ย This was another stunning novel by Katouh and it has solidified her in my YA auto-buy authors list, because even if her stories always gut me, she always manages to soothe my heart by the time we reach the last page. What a gift!
Read More » Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
Wow, I had no ideaโor at least I completely forgotโthat I didn’t do a monthly wrap-up for April, so I guess I’ll be combining April & May this time. I’ve been so exhausted and brain fog heavy these past two months, that aside from my weekend away in May, I don’t really remember anything else that’s happened. ๐ It’s probably because nothing has happened (other than work issues and my trip), but sometimes it’s discombobulating not remembering what happened a month ago, lol.
I announced a mini-hiatus at the end of April, and I really thought that I would still post every now and then in May, but I pretty much wound up going MIA. I think I just don’t have the energy for much these days and so it was needed, but as always, getting back into the groove of things always takes time. I think I might still be a little here-and-there in June, but I’ll try to slowly start to be more active!
My highlight in May was the pre-birthday trip that I took myself on to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) which is about a 6 hour flight in total with one transit through Singapore. I went specifically to get a tattoo with an artist who I’ve admired for a long time and who’s based thereโthankfully, it all worked out and I wound up spending about 4 days there. It was a really quick trip but I’m quite happy that I did it! I actually don’t have a photo of my tattoo but I do have the video the artist shared on her page. I’m really happy with how it turned out. ๐ฅฐ The majority of my tattoos are black so I’ve never had this much colour on me before. I’ve been really careful with the healing process so far and it seems to be looking good although I notice some colours (like the very light green) don’t show up as well on my dark skin, but I t hink it still looks really good. I’m so pleased I got it done! ๐
Special thanks to the author and Feiwel & Friends for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Behind Five Willows
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: 26 May 2026
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance
Panda Rating:
(4 pandas)
From the New York Times-bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves comes a warm and romantic homage to Jane Austen set in historical Korea, about a reader and a writer who secretly fight against government book banning and find themselves irresistibly drawn together.
As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. Itโs dangerous work, but she loves itโespecially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.
When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldnโt be so terrible… if it werenโt for the young manโs uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.
As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. Heโs kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his fatherโs son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.
When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated coupleโalong with the girl’s younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly…
Classism, sexism, misogyny, past death of a family member (recounted briefly), past attempted murder of a family member (recounted briefly), censorship, mild violence
TL;DR: Iโve been looking forward to reading this book ever since it first came on my radar. A Pride & Prejudice remix set in Joseon era Korea featuring characters with a passion for fiction and a forbidden romance? I loved the sound of it and Iโm happy to say that I enjoyed this so much! Hur excels at weaving the historical Korean context into a story that most are familiar with, and still makes it her own by introducing elements of intrigue and rebellion. Haewon and Seojun were great characters full of passion and longing, and though I wished their romance and arcs had been a bit more developed, I still loved both of them. I especially loved the yearning and by the end, I did get weepy. ๐ฅนย Overall, this was a really great historical and romantic YA, and a pretty fun read for those who enjoy Pride & Prejudice with a twist! I would definitely recommend it.
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Hi friends, I’m excited to be back with a blog tour review today! I’m here to share my thoughts (and a few favourite quotes) as part of the blog tour hosted by Toppling Stacks Tours for You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker by Gwenyth Reitz.
Thanks to Roaring Book Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Click the banner above or here to check out the other incredible bloggers on the blog tour!
You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: 12 May 2026
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Rating:
(4 pandas)
A swoonworthy YA supernatural romcom where two academic rivals are trapped as ghosts to haunt the same house.
Theyโd kill each otherโฆ if they werenโt already dead.
Tessa Sinclair is a winner. Winner of spelling bees, science fairs, and scholarships. So when she finds herself unexpectedly dead after a graduation party in an abandoned mansion, sheโs none too pleased. Whatโs worse, her academic rivalโthe Harvard-bound, Mr. Perfect Reed Walkerโis there too, deceased, smug, and annoying as hell.
Being a ghost is hard enough, but itโs a thousand times worse having to haunt the same house with your nemesis. But as Tessa and Reed retreat to R.I.P in their respective corners of the mansion, a mystery unfurls about the exact cause of their deaths.
Though theyโd rather die (again) than work together, theyโll need to find a way to overcome their differences to hunt down a murderer on the loose. And should they happen to fall for each other along the wayโฆ who ever said you canโt find love after death?
Murders (described in semi-graphic detail), child death, underage drinking and intoxication, stalking, abusive and toxic relationship and ex-partner, panic attacks
TL;DR: Youโre Dead to Me, Reed Walker was a surprising YA supernatural romcom debut. Itโs a really easy read to slip into and I found myself having a great time following Tessa and ReedโIโm so glad we got both of their POVs in this because it really served to allow us to get to know the characters so much better. Of the two, I admit that Reed was my favourite, but I did enjoy their banter, their playfulness, their chemistry, and also, the mysterious turns this story takes. It is much darker and heavier than I anticipated, but as someone who loves what the turns entailed, it made me enjoy the storyline even more! That said, as it does confront some difficult topics, please read with care and view the content warnings beforehand. Overall, an exciting YA debut and Iโm looking forward to seeing what the author puts out next.
Read More » Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
A Sorceress Comes to Call
Publisher: Titan Books UK
Pub Date: 6 August 2024
Genre: Fantasy Horror
Panda Rating:
(4.5 pandas)
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes a dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic.
Perfect for fans of Naomi Novic, Alix E. Harrow and Nettle & Bone.
Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesnโt have any doors between roomsโthere are no secrets in this house!โCordelia isn’t allowed to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.
But more than a few quirks set her mother apart. Other parents canโt force their daughters to be silent and motionlessโobedientโfor hours or days on end. Other mothers arenโt… sorcerers.
Ableism, physical & emotional child abuse, parental mariticide recounted, murder, infidelity, loss of autonomy (possession) including forced self-harm, murder & suicide, animal attack (horse), animal death & harm (horse, geese)
TL;DR: I don’t know why I was so pleasantly surprised by this, but I was and I’m so glad that I read it! Kingfisher has definitely won her way into my auto-buy author list by this point. I love her writing and the way she balances the dark and hopeful moments, and still manages to work in witty banter between the horrifying without diminishing or cheapening the seriousness of such events. Cordelia and Hester were fantastic characters who I had no trouble rooting forโI loved the found family in this so much! I will say that if you’re interested in an unlikely band of protagonists (who are older!), good overcoming evil, fantastic found family, and delightful banter amidst darker moments, I would highly recommend checking it out!
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Hi friends, I’m excited to be back for another blog tour today and this time it’s for an upcoming graphic novel memoir! I’m here to share my thoughts as part of the blog tour hosted by Toppling Stacks Tours for Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian.
Thanks to First Second Books for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Click the banner above or here to check out the other incredible bloggers on the blog tour!
Until We Meet Again
Publisher: First Second Books
Publication Date: 21 April 2026
Genre: Memoir
Rep: Chinese, AAPI, Depression
A poignant and vividly illustrated graphic memoir about a young womanโs search for belonging as her immigrant family moves between Canada and China.
Lily isnโt sure where home is anymore. Her family is constantly on the move, resettling in different towns across Canada and, eventually, in Shanghai, China. Her father plays the role of primary caregiver while her mother is absent for long periods of time. When she reappears, her strange behavior turns Lilyโs life upside down. As Lily enters her college years, she strives to better understand her family and her place in the world. But can she escape the inherited trauma passed down by her immigrant parents?
Trauma, mental health struggles
Until We Meet Again is a heartfelt and introspective memoir. The author reflects on her childhood moving from state to state, coming-of-age in a place that should feel like home but doesnโt quite, and dealing with a parent who struggles with mental health. The way the story is written feels almost cathartic to the author. I donโt know if thatโs the right way to put it, but there was so much vulnerability reflected on the pages, and recounting what sheโs been through felt like a release, or at the very least another way to process her experiences. I donโt know if this was written with younger audiences in mind either, but I think it would be suitable, as the author touches on heavier topics without diving too deeply.
It was heartbreaking to read about her relationship with her mother, but I loved the depiction of a fairly healthy relationship between father and daughter. What I especially appreciated was how the author drew attention to the stigma of mental health in Asian cultureโsomething which is still prevalent today, especially with older generations. A lot of what she said about it rang true to my own experiencesโyou push it aside so you pretend it doesn’t exist and that the person who has mental health issues, in a way, doesn’t exist beyond someone to pity or politely ignore. It was sad, but thankfully, it seems that those who most needed help in her story got it in the end and to this day are doing much better for it.
The reason this piqued my interest because I too am a child of frequent moves and I always seek out stories about people who have experienced something similar, if not had a mirror experience to my own. I wished that she had delved deeper into her experience of the diaspora child returning to her “home country”. There were a few things about language and expectations from the people are you (based on how you present, your name, etc.) that did ring true to my own experience, but I think it would’ve been nice to get a deeper reflection on how that changed her perspective about her upbringing and experiences.
Ultimately though, I did enjoy this memoir. The art style was vivid and rich in colour and expression. The combination of colour and illustration created stunning and visceral imagery, and I think did a great job of emphasizing the turmoil she experienced in her childhood, and other experiences growing up. You could feel the confusion, fear, and frustration, but also the quiet, peaceful and healing moments in the author’s journey.
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