Book Review - Big Nate: Aloha! by Lincoln Peirce

In Big Nate: Aloha! by Lincoln Peirce, sixth grader Nate Wright tries to win over his crush, Daisy, survive a disastrous haircut, and stumble through many other fun adventures. While the book is part of a series, it can easily be enjoyed on its own. Most of the comics connect to form longer storylines, though a few stand alone outside the larger arc. Fans of the series will be glad to see their favorite characters return for another adventure, and the book delivers the same humor and playful jokes that readers have come to love.

Book Review - Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

 

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng explores the lives of two families whose paths become intertwined, leading to hidden secrets being exposed. In Shaker Heights, Cleveland, the community is centered around order and meticulous planning. Longtime resident Elena Richardson lives by the principle of following the rules.

Mia Warren and her daughter, Pearl, rent a house in Shaker Heights from the Richardsons. The two families are contrasting: Mia is a single mother and artist who lives by her own rules. Soon, Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants to the Richardsons.

The Richardson children are drawn to the mother and daughter, and their lives become interconnected. When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese American baby, the custody battle fractures the town, pitting neighbors against each other, including Mia and Elena. Elena is suspicious of Mia’s wandering lifestyle and is determined to uncover her secrets. As Elena probes into Mia’s past, she realizes that the truth could come at a great cost.

I was excited to read this novel because I heard many positive reviews, and it was one of my book club’s picks. Unfortunately, I struggled to get into it. I found the writing style very dull and dry. It was hard to stay interested in the characters because of the way the story was narrated. It felt like nothing was happening for pages, and when something did, it wasn’t always clear. The book does explore interesting themes about family, belonging, and motherhood, but sadly, it wasn’t for me.

April 2026 Empties!

 

One thing I’ve been working on this year is consistently using up my products and keeping track of my empties. I’m happy to say I’ve stuck with it for three months (I missed January) so far! Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going for the rest of the year.

I finished a few things this month. Some were great, and some were just okay.

I love perfume, so I picked up Commodity Gold… and this is exactly why you should never blind buy perfume, especially multiples. It has beautiful sweet vanilla notes, but on me it basically smelled like nothing. It was like I sprayed air. Even when I smelled my clothes, there was no scent. I’m not sure if I got old stock or if it just doesn’t work with my body chemistry.

I also tried the Biche White Tomato Cream. It has a faint scent, but the texture is wonderfully creamy. My skin felt amazing after applying it. It’s not too thick or heavy, but it provides lasting hydration. I would definitely repurchase this one.

The Sel:ph Microdose Retinol Concentrate was interesting, but ultimately a fail for me. The dispensing method was frustrating. You had to turn the bottle upside down and press the bottom. It made it hard to measure the right amount and nearly impossible to get the last of the product out.

The Vacation Lip Treat in Strawberry Jello Salad felt overhyped. It smells pleasant but has no flavor, and it was surprisingly drying. My lips felt moisturized for only a few minutes before I needed to reapply. This brand seems to be everywhere, social media, magazines, recommendation lists but for me, it didn’t live up to the hype.

I also tried Papatui soap by Dwayne Johnson, and it was just okay. I used the Sandalwood Suede bar. It’s generously sized and has a pleasant, masculine scent, but the lather is average, and it’s not very moisturizing.

Did you finish anything this month that you liked? 

Book Review - Coleman Hill by Kim Coleman Foote

 

Coleman Hill by Kim Coleman Foote follows two Black women who migrate north during the Great Migration and the ways their families’ lives become intertwined across generations. In 1916, Celia Coleman and Lucy Grimes fled the racism and poverty of the South and moved to Vauxhall, New Jersey, hoping for a better life.

They quickly realize that life in the North is no easier. Like in the South, women are hired mostly for domestic work, money is scarce, opportunities are limited, their children struggle in school, and Black men often die young. Within only a few years of their arrival, both women lose their husbands, leaving them to navigate an unforgiving new environment alone.

Relying on one another for support, Celia and Lucy become close friends and confidantes, and their children grow up together as well. But when an incident occurs, their bond begins to fracture. Over time, the rift between the families deepens, and the consequences ripple through future generations, leaving lasting trauma.

I found this novel both powerful and difficult to read. It is a story steeped in trauma, grief, and abuse, with no lighthearted or uplifting moments, which at times made it emotionally heavy. What I especially appreciated, however, was the structure—each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character in a different time period, giving the novel a rich, multigenerational depth. That said, I often wished the narrator of each chapter had been made clearer at the start, since the large cast of characters sometimes made it hard to keep track.

Overall, Coleman Hill was a compelling, if heavy, read. Though emotionally challenging, Kim Coleman Foote’s storytelling was strong, and I would be open to reading more of her work in the future.

Book Review - The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter

 

The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter  follows sixth-grader Emma, who accidentally loses her magical wishes to her classmate, Jackson, and must find a way to retrieve them before one of her wishes causes real harm. Before her beloved Nana passed away, she told Emma that magic exists and left behind detailed instructions on how to access it. Hoping to make her middle school year more memorable, Emma decides to give magic a try.

She carefully follows Nana’s instructions at the magical wishing well, planning every step perfectly—until Jackson, the new kid, interrupts and tosses in his own wishes, knocking hers astray. At first, Emma doesn’t understand why none of her wishes are coming true, until she realizes that Jackson is the one benefitting from them. When she confronts him, the two uncover that one of Emma’s wishes could have serious consequences for their families unless they work together to undo the mix-up.

I thought the book was an okay read with a few fun moments. However, I found the tone a little confusing. At times Emma and Jackson acted like children their age, but other times their dialogue and behavior felt much older, which made me unsure who the intended audience was. The pacing also felt uneven—it started off slow and then picked up very quickly near the end. I also wish the magic system had been explained in more detail, since it felt a bit underdeveloped.

While this wasn’t a standout read for me, I would still be open to trying more books by Lynn Painter in the future, though I wouldn’t necessarily seek them out.