morganbee's reviews
360 reviews

In part 3 of the Guardian of the Winter Stone series, we pick up where we left off in the previous installment: the intrepid group has made their way to the village where they believe a scholar who can translate a journal for them resides. We'll spend all of this part of the story here in the village, where the team helps the people. There are developments in relationships, which is really the focus, as Akira opens up to Ashleigh and they grow closer, and Akira and Danny slowly make their way toward a tentative friendship.

Each time I read an installment of this series I find myself wishing it was longer, that I got more of the story before having to wait until the next one comes out, but I suppose that's one way to keep me coming back for more. I'll guess I'll just have to sit and patiently wait for the next one...

I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

Here’s the thing: when I first started listening to the audiobook I was a bit iffy about the narration, but it turns out that Finding Molly Parsons was the book I didn’t know I needed, and Sadie Provost was the perfect narrator. The story is ostensibly about a young lesbian named Faith who, on her 18th birthday, flees a restrictive and abusive religious home and goes in search of her long-lost aunt, Molly. Faith begins a journey that will change not only herself, but also the people she encounters along the way. 

The book is beautiful. It has all of Alyson Root’s typical humor mixed with serious moments and topics, but the best part isn’t the story, it’s the characters. All of them are so well developed and interesting, and I fell in love with them all. We’ve got Faith with her strength, youthful optimism and southern charm, and the grandmotherly but irreverent next door neighbor Enid, who swoops in with levity and nuggets of wisdom. Carmen Ruiz, a wonderful woman with a locked down heart, and her “brother” Mateo, who is funny and open, met in the foster system years ago and are the perfect found family for Faith. They open their home to her, offering support and going with her on her journey. 

Along the way we also get to meet some people who’ve had contact with Molly and learn more about her and her life. She’s moved around a lot since her brother and caretaker, Faith’s father, found out she was a lesbian and kicked her out, working with others who are in the same situation she was. Eventually we get to meet Molly herself, with her lovely southern drawl, heart of gold, and dedication to helping others, who longs to find that person who makes her feel safe and at home. 

Now don’t get me wrong, the story itself is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a caring exploration of community and found family. It’s funny and adventurous, while addressing some deep subjects with care. It brings us not just one but two developing sapphic love stories (including some spice), and some side romance. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait for the audiobook of Keeping Carmen Ruiz, book two in the Lost & Found series. 

I received a free ALC from the Sapphic Author Collective, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily. 

I know two things to be true about any book that Emily Austin writes: first, I’m going to read it; and second, it’s going to make me cry. The writing style is a bit different than her previous works, but We Could Be Rats affirmed these truths. The book is, for the most part, a series of writings. You won’t find a lot of character interactions outside a few retellings, but you will find a lot of exploration of mental health and internal struggles, and it is a gut punch. Fair warning: We Could Be Rats deals heavily with suicide and suicidal ideation, as well as strained familial relationships and addiction. 

The story is broken into three parts. The first (and the bulk of the book) is a series of attempts at Sigrid’s suicide note. Sigrid is a small-town lesbian working at a dollar store who never graduated from high school. The letters vary in length and tone, and detail her relationships with her parents, sister Margit, her childhood best friend Greta, and ramblings on just about everything in between. They’re irreverent and funny, but also melancholy, and show a version of Sigrid that tries to appease while also providing exposition about her life and decisions. 

Part two is Margit’s writing, recounting experiences and exploring family and relationships, and learning to open up to others. This section felt much heavier than the first (I was crying on the first page and did so repeatedly throughout if that’s any indication), but it was so moving. 

In part three we get a look into Sigrid’s journal, which is more reflection on family, feelings, and reconnection from her perspective. There are some jaw-dropping revelations in this section, and although there’s a lot of sadness it also left me feeling hopeful. 

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.