Reviews written by Samantha Randolph

Antonia, wizarding apprentice to Master Betrys, may not be the best at actual magic, but she tries her absolute best and hopes one day Betrys will recommend her for a magic school. Unfortunately for Antonia, the new scullery maid, Moppe, turns out to be a magical prodigy. Shortly after Betrys...

5 Reasons to Read THE GIRL AND THE GHOST 1.) Beautiful prose- This was my first time experiencing Hanna Alkaf’s writing. By the end of the prologue, I felt head to toe immersed in the story Alkaf was spinning. There is a richness to each...

Top 3 reasons to read LIKE SISTERS ON THE HOMEFRONT: 1.) The characters- Gayle, a NYC girl sent to small town Georgia with her baby, has such a powerful voice. She reads so authentically to her age and is sharp and funny. Her journey of growth is...

Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley are opposites. Daphne is popular, traditionally pretty, and sociable. Velma prefers books and information to people most days and is leery of friendship because she and Daphne used to be friends. Now they don’t look at each other if they can help it. When Daphne’s...

Felix has never been in love, but he wants to be. He wants the experience of opening your heart, having it broken, and opening it again. But while he is happy with who he is, Black, queer, and trans, he fears that might be too much for a potential partner....

Eileen, Claire, and Murphy Sullivan used to be close. They had their special traditions, their shared laughs, and their shared sisterhood. But time has passed, and now, they barely speak to each other. Eileen, 18, read something that changed her perception of everything around her and has been turning to...

Sal and Gabi are back for another multiverse adventure in this follow up to SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE. This time, there are multiple Gabi’s, an AI toilet with a dramatic flair, a friend in need of help, and more. While it would...

June Hur’s THE SILENCE OF BONES follows Seol, a young woman indentured to the police in 1800s Joseon (Korea). Her role is not to solve crimes, no matter how sharp her mind is, but to assist the inspectors and carry out chores. When she isn’t helping them, she’s looking for...

Blackbrook Academy is an elite school in Maine with rigorous competition. When a storm strikes, a group of students, their headmaster, and other campus personnel are left stranded at Blackbrook. Students Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry all have something to...

Seanan McGuire’s YA/Adult crossover series, Wayward Children, returns to the land of the Moors in COME TUMBLING DOWN. The last Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children saw of twins Jack and Jill was Jack carrying Jill’s dead body through the door to the Moors to bring her back...

Veronica sees her mother’s ghost all over her house. She’s not sure if it’s real, given the other ghosts that seem to roam downstairs, or if it's a symptom of her brain tumor. What she does know is that it’s getting worse...and she can’t tell her dad who is still...

In Wanderly, everyone has a role. Some are Triumphants, the greatest of heroes, some are Tragicals, orphans doomed to a sad ending, and some are given a role in between, like the Magicians. Unfortunately, no one gets a say in what role they have, and they can’t change their fate...

JANE ANONYMOUS follows two timelines: one while Jane was captured for 7 months and one after she is back home. While she is captured, she is confused and disoriented, unsure of where she is or why she was taken. Once she's back home, she struggles to adjust to her previous...

LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES tells a new story of teen Loki, before all the big battles and intergalactic feuds with Thor. Here, Loki is a young prankster with a great gift of magic and eye for trouble. When a strange request for help comes from London, Loki is sent to...

3 Reasons TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL needs to be on your shelf immediately: 1.) The spot-on comparison: This has been compared to Gilmore Girls if Rory ended up with Paris and was more diverse. The author absolutely brings the family feels, shippable romance, and fun...