Book Review - The New Norm by Matthew J. Gilbert

 

 

The New Norm by Matthew J. Gilbert is about a middle schooler, Alexander "Norm" Norman, who finds himself viral-famous after being chronically ignored because he isn't popular.

Everyone is on the Meadowview Middle School social media forum. It's where everyone goes to discuss everything from the latest morning announcements to the food in the cafeteria, but the gossip is the best part of the forum.

When Norm goes from being the kid no one notices to becoming a middle school celebrity, it seems exciting at first. Everyone wants to talk to him and hang out with him. However, Norm struggles to balance his newfound fame with his real friends. Will he be able to manage both without losing what matters most to him?

This middle-grade chapter book is a quick read that I was able to finish in one sitting. It was an okay read without any unexpected twists or turns. I thought the characters were fine, but I'm not sure I agree that Norm posting a boring video was the right way to apologize. I think he should have skipped that and simply talked to his friends instead.

The book teaches young readers about friendship, belonging, and the downsides of fame. It is the first book in a series that focuses on middle schoolers navigating their social lives both online and in the real world.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - Little Monsters by Máire Roche

  

 

Little Monsters by Máire Roche is a retelling of the classic Little Women with a supernatural twist.

The March sisters have a dark secret that they will do anything to protect, even if a beast is hiding in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three younger sisters are all monsters with different abilities. Meg has sharp teeth and claws. Jo becomes furry during the full moon and whenever she is stressed or experiencing strong emotions. Beth has wings that she uses to fly, and Amy turns into a mermaid whenever she is near salt water.

Meg is afraid that if their foster mother, Marmee, finds out the truth, the sisters will have to find a new foster home and might be split up. Their next-door neighbor and Jo's best friend, Laurie, would also be terrified if he discovered their secret. So Meg and her sisters do everything they can to hide who they really are before they scare away the people they love.

A new boy, John Brooke, has moved to their small town on the outskirts of Salem. Around the same time, a mysterious monster is spotted in the forest. Farmer Bhaer believes the creature is responsible for his missing chickens and the damage to his property.

Meg has been sleepwalking and waking up in random places covered in mud. She begins to worry that she is the monster causing havoc in the town. As Halloween draws closer, Meg teams up with John Brooke to uncover the real culprit before someone discovers who she really is and she and her sisters lose their home.

I thought the book was a cute and fun read. I liked the supernatural twist, which wasn't too scary for younger readers. The story mostly revolves around Meg learning to trust others, finding where she belongs, and embracing her identity. I haven't read the original book, but I think this middle-grade novel would appeal to younger readers because it tackles important themes that are still relevant today in a modern way.

There were a few inconsistencies in the story that were mildly annoying. Meg mentions that the dress she is wearing doesn't have any pockets, but later, while she's running, she puts her phone into that same nonexistent pocket. Later, when Meg is trying to access a USB drive, she simply plugs it into her phone, and the video immediately starts playing. I feel like most USB drives use a different connector than a phone's charging port, so an adapter would be needed. I also don't think a video would automatically be the first thing to open.

Overall, though, I thought the book was well written, and I think younger readers would enjoy this fun supernatural twist on a classic.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson

 

 

Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson is about a young girl, Sadie Cooper, who is killed at a barn party.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper is excited to attend a party at the McClain family farm. The parties are known for being epic, alcohol-fueled ragers. However, something goes horribly wrong, and by the end of the night, two bodies are found in the barn.

Sadie is found murdered by her classmate, Mason Vreeland, who was a loner. The murder is witnessed by Sadie’s twin sister, Jayne, and Sadie dies in her arms. Mason is then killed by Sadie’s boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie and in self-defense. The police determine that it should be an open-and-shut case. However, someone is not telling the truth. As the little details stop adding up, will the police be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late?

The book is split into three acts, with the first two narrated by Ben, Jayne, and Sadie’s best friend, Liz. Each character recounts the events before and after the tragic incident. In the final act, we finally get Sadie’s point of view.

The book was well written with a lot of twists and turns. I was surprised by the ending. I was able to guess who the culprit was, but I was on the fence about their motive because I felt like we didn’t really get to know the different characters well enough. While the ending does provide some clarity, I would have liked to see more consequences for the guilty parties. I really thought we were going to get all the answers, with everything wrapped up in a nice bow, especially after the local police were taken off the case.

I did enjoy the book, and I would be open to reading more books by the author. If you enjoy young adult murder mysteries, I think this is an entertaining read.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

 

July 2026 Empties!

 

Since the weather has been slowly melting me alive, I have not had the energy or willpower to do anything. I did manage to finish a few things, though.

 I finished the Umm Body Butter. The body butter had a pleasant sandalwood and jasmine scent. It smelled more like sandalwood than jasmine though. The body butter was very thick and creamy. It does leave a bit of a heavy residue on my skin even when I used a tiny bit. 

The Nue Skin Filter Serum was meh. It had a watery consistency and left a bit of a tacky residue. It had no scent and it didn't leave any sensitivities on my skin. However, I didn't notice a difference while using it.  I felt the same way with the OFIR drops. They leave a tacky feeling on my hands and face that I could have done without.

 

 

 

Book Review – Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

 

 Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake is about two women, Iris and Stefania, who decide to enter into a fake relationship.

Everyone Iris knows is in love and coupled up with their perfect partners. Even her siblings and parents are blissfully married. Iris is happy for her friends and family, but she doesn’t want to settle down. She’d rather have commitment-free hookups. All her loved ones want to see her settled down and find someone, somehow, no matter how insistent Iris is about not dating, even though she is a romance writer. Iris might have to cave since she is facing writer’s block, her second book is almost due, and she has no idea what to write.

Iris decides she needs a break and goes to a bar with her friend, looking to blow off steam and meet someone for a one-night stand. There she meets Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into one of the worst one-night stands Iris ever had.

To get her mind off things, she decides to change tactics and join a local play, a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Iris ends up meeting Stefania’s friends, who goes by Stevie. Stevie’s friends do not know that Iris and Stevie’s one-night together ended disastrously, and Stevie asks Iris to pretend to be her girlfriend until the end of the play. Iris consents to Stevie’s plan, as she realizes she might get some much-needed inspiration and romantic content for her book. As the duo play their roles, lines start to blur and feelings are at stake. Will Iris and Stevie find what they are looking for?

The novel is the third book in the series. However, I was able to read the book as a standalone. The two previous books were about Iris’s friends, so there were character relationships and nuances I might have missed.

I thought the book was an okay read. It didn’t have any unexpected twists and turns. The book did have a lot of side characters, and it was hard to keep track of how they related to their main characters and their side stories. The book did have some steamy moments for readers who are looking for a steamy sapphic read.