snowdropfairy's reviews
46 reviews

This was such a sweet and touching graphic novel. Adara must cope with the loss of her mom while putting down roots in her new home—Grandma’s house in Michigan.

Much different than the sunny California coast, the winter blues settle in on top of the weight of undiscussed grief. When Adara’s dad takes her to a plant nursery to cheer her up, everything changes as a tiny succulent arrives and makes a big impact in Adara’s life.

Things I loved about this book:
- The colors used throughout the book to portray emotions. There was great play on light and dark to capture the tone of the scene.
- Can we just be real and say that Adara’s dad is a cutie? Okay. It needed to be said.
- THE FOOD SCENES! Adara’s grandma declares her “sous-chef” and there are a couple cute cooking moments with food that I wish I could’ve eaten off the page.

Overall a very cozy and beautifully-illustrated middle grade graphic novel perfect for a tween, touching on important issues like grief, friendship, and communication.

Taxi Ghost invites us into chilly winter wonderland Montreal, where we meet Adèle and her family. Adèle gets quite a surprise when, upon getting her first period, she begins to see the spirits and souls of the city!

Adèle soon finds that the ghosts need her help—the city and its community (ghosts included) are at stake! (Gentrification impacts ghosts, too!)

Things I really liked about this read:
- Use of color in the ghosts and ancient ghosts!
- Illustration was beautiful and inspiring.
- Talks about menstrual cycle in an empowering, community-building way.

Without spoiling anything, I have to mention how touching the storyline of the Soul Eater was—that scene had me in my feelings. The ending scenes are gorgeous (an understatement) and emotional. I loved the humanity and community shown throughout this story, in both the ghost and human realm. The storyline is mellow and humorous enough to remain a cozy read yet compelling enough to want to tear through in a sitting. It was a joy to read from cover to cover.

This sucked me in and kept me reading on! 

I have not read the first volume, and even so, this was a spooky storyline that kept me drawn in and reading on to find out what happened next! A unique plot with a variety of interesting and otherworldly characters, this is perfect for anybody who is not afraid of the things that go bump in the night. 

Warning, this is SPOOKY! 

This was fantastic and witty from start to finish. Makes an important social statement with bright splashes of humor in nearly every page. I loved the art style and read this a second time over immediately after finishing it!

*receiving an ARC did not influence my review or rating.

Cute quick read. The artwork was enjoyable and I loved the raccoon familiar’s little side story.

You should read this if:
- You like illustrations that highlight body positivity and being yourself!

- You don’t mind swearing.

- You’re looking for a light, ridiculous read without a lot of heavy plot!

I will be honest—I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did when I first began reading it. Neesha has her walls up and comes across very defensive. Gabby puts on a happy face and seems to lack emotional depth. Please believe me when I tell you that the character development in this story dissolved my initial hesitation and doubt!

By the end, I had laughed; I had cried (a few times); I had felt, which is ultimately what any good read should do—make the reader experience an emotional journey with their characters. Navigating With You touches on many important social concepts and offers a glimpse into realities of what people with disabilities and trauma survivors go through in their day-to-day lives.

Although not skimping on emotional and evocative scenes and dialogue, this story also highlights just plain teenage fun in a slice of life style. You like road trips? You got it. Yard sales, thrift shops, and flea markets—and a weird magical traveling thrift store van?! Look no further. Oh, you also love Yuri Manga? BET! This book is for you!

I could write more, but it’s best to just say: READ IT!

It was an immense honor and genuine pleasure to read this ARC, and it in no way influenced my review or rating of this book.

I loved the artwork in this story! I also appreciated the extras in the end, showing some of the author’s process with their sketches.

I have to wipe the drool from my chin before I write this review…

This book is YUMMY! Yummy illustrations, yummy backstory, and YUMMY recipes inspired by your favorite anime foods & beverages that always left your mouth watering and wishing for a taste!

Now, with a little preparation, the right ingredients, and the help of this magically whimsical Anime Café recipe book, you can actually bring those flavors and dreams to life within your own home.

This is a book you can eat with your eyes, that brings joy just from reading alone—I absolutely cannot wait to plan and shop for my first recipe. I am going to make the Brown Sugar Milk Tea from My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu and the Naruto Onigiri, as I have been on an onigiri kick this summer! (The boba tea was an obvious yes. It’s boba.)

Such a fun and beautiful book, sure to make your mouth water before you even set foot in the kitchen to make your first recipe. As a Cooking Mama fan, this also fills a nostalgic anime-food-shaped spot in my heart.

*receiving an ARC did not influence my review or rating.

A heartwarming, cozy manga about dog lovers, for dog lovers. Stunning illustrations that are crisp and refreshing. The perfect balance of laughs and heart string tugs. A woman who doesn’t know the power of her own strength and a man who will do anything to please and protect. Will they, and their furry counterparts, find that opposites truly do attract?

I always enjoy when books include behind-the-scenes content at the end. It is nice, as an artist myself, to see what goes into some of the characters and illustrations. It helps me learn and grow my own skillset! Always a nice touch that I appreciate. 

The translation notes section was stellar. A combination of illustrations and written clarifications to cultural or language context that is important to understanding the story in its entirety. 

First impressions:
The art is too cute in the best way. I loved the facial expressions of little Monjuro—truly brought the tiny dog to life and had me giggling. As a small dog owner myself, the essence of the small dog personality was captured perfectly and hilariously.

Wait, now the dogs have their own dialogue!? Love that.

When the story ended, I wanted more! I plan to buy this when it releases because it was such a sweet and heartwarming read. Perfect cozy anxiety buster for bedtime or a quiet afternoon. I can’t wait to see where the next issue goes. Thank you!

*receiving an ARC did not influence my review or rating.

I have to wipe the drool from my chin before I write this review…

This book is YUMMY! Yummy illustrations, yummy backstory, and YUMMY recipes inspired by your favorite anime foods & beverages that always left your mouth watering and wishing for a taste!

Now, with a little preparation, the right ingredients, and the help of this magically whimsical Anime Café recipe book, you can actually bring those flavors and dreams to life within your own home.

This is a book you can eat with your eyes, that brings joy just from reading alone—I absolutely cannot wait to plan and shop for my first recipe. I am going to make the Brown Sugar Milk Tea from My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu and the Naruto Onigiri, as I have been on an onigiri kick this summer! (The boba tea was an obvious yes. It’s boba.)

Such a fun and beautiful book, sure to make your mouth water before you even set foot in the kitchen to make your first recipe. As a Cooking Mama fan, this also fills a nostalgic anime-food-shaped spot in my heart.

*receiving an ARC did not influence my review or rating.