Book Review – Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch

 

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch is about a middle schooler, Olivia Gray, trying to navigate the challenges of feeling invisible while coming to terms with her asexual identity. As Olivia begins the seventh grade, she knows this year will be different from last year. Her beloved brother has come out and found a boyfriend. Instead of spending time with Olivia, he spends all his time with his crush. Her friends only want to talk about boys, who likes who, and school dances.

When Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks Olivia to the dance and she unknowingly rejects him, her life is thrown into a tailspin. Olivia goes viral on the social app KruSHH after rejecting Robbie. Now the chatter about Robbie and dating is nonstop among her friends, and Olivia feels left out and invisible.

When Olivia feels invisible, only the new librarian and Jules, a friendly kid she met who also struggles with feeling invisible, notice her. As Olivia tries to figure herself out and come to terms with being asexual, she struggles to find where she fits in and to deal with the negative perceptions of the label. All Olivia wants is to fit in with her friends.

I thought the book was a cute read. I have read another book by the author, and this one seemed geared toward older kids who are struggling with their identity. At times, I did get annoyed with Olivia, as while she tried to fit in, she wasn’t always receptive to other people’s wants and needs, especially when they didn’t align with hers. I did like seeing her grow and become a better friend and sister. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

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 - Moonsick by Tom O’Donnell

 

Moonsick by Tom O’Donnell follows two teenagers, Heidi and Cam, who become infected with a contagious disease that transforms people into werewolves. Heidi Mills is a high school senior who seems to have it all—wealthy parents, a popular boyfriend, and supportive friends. When her mom and stepdad leave for a vacation in Hawaii, Heidi promises her friends that she’ll host a party at her house to celebrate the end of high school.

The party is scheduled for the next night, but tonight is a full moon. A global epidemic has ravaged the population, and anyone who becomes infected turns into a savage werewolf. Heidi believes she’ll be safe in her mansion thanks to a state-of-the-art lockdown system designed to keep the monsters out.

She expects to simply wait out the night and enjoy the party tomorrow. However, two intruders break into her house, assuming it will be an easy target with everyone gone. Everything Heidi has taken for granted begins to unravel. She realizes how quickly her life of privilege, comfort, and security can be stripped away—especially now that she’s directly exposed to the virus. Desperate to survive and find a cure, she is even willing to team up with Cam, the boy who broke into her house.

Overall, I thought the novel was an okay read. The plot was interesting, though somewhat predictable. I enjoyed watching Heidi confront her privilege, her humanity, and the monstrous aspects of herself. It was satisfying to see her take control of her life and stand up for what she believed in. I think it was a cute read, and I’d be open to reading more from this author. If you enjoy books about pandemic-level diseases with a unique twist, you might enjoy this one too.

Book Review - Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

 

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle explores the lives of the women in the Novak family, who are born with the gift of turning back time, but only once. When Lauren was fifteen, she knew her mother, Marcella, had saved her father, Dave, after he was involved in a deadly car accident. After Marcella used her only wish to bring him back, Dave has been alive and happy ever since. However, Marcella lives in fear of losing him since she used up her only chance.

Marcella’s mother, Sylvia, is the complete opposite. She is a free-spirited woman who refuses to be tied down or share her past. Lauren has grown up between these two women, helping mold her into the woman she has become.

One summer, Lauren’s husband, Leo, takes a new job in New York, and Lauren decides to move back home into her childhood house. She looks forward to surfing with her dad, spending time with her mom, and hopefully repairing their fractured relationship. However, she didn’t expect her first love, Stone, to move back home after his mother is diagnosed with cancer. As Lauren reconnects with her family and Stone, she begins to question her choices and the decisions that brought her to this moment. She starts to wonder whether she should use her wish.

I had high hopes when I started this novel. I thought it would be a grand sweeping romance that would leave me emotional for days. However, I found the story boring and lackluster. I didn’t like any of the characters, who felt a bit one-dimensional. The author hints at a great mystery involving Sylvia, but I feel like we barely get to know any of the characters. At times, it was confusing who was narrating and what time period it was. I wish the author had made the timeline and narration clearer in each chapter. After finishing the book, I felt like it was pointless and that I was robbed of my time.

Book Review - The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski

 

The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski chronicles the decline and secrets of the eccentric Gilbert family as their crumbling English manor, Thornwalk, as it is set to be transformed into a luxury hotel—uncovering forgotten loves, hidden motives, and the lasting weight of legacy.

Thornwalk was once a beautiful and enviable estate, but over time, it fell into disrepair. The property is eventually sold to a luxury hotelier who plans to completely renovate and modernize the old manor. As the manor gets its facelift, the secrets and memories of its past risk being erased. Meanwhile, one of the family’s neighbors takes it upon themselves to document the Gilberts’ history, offering a final guided “tour” through the rooms and revealing long-buried stories and mysteries.

I found myself on the fence with this novel. It began with promise, but the middle dragged, and although the ending was enjoyable, I might have just been relieved to reach it. I struggled to stay engaged throughout.

The story is narrated by an anonymous, mysterious figure, which I didn’t love. The writing style was difficult to connect with, and while the chapters were short and easy to read, they lacked cohesion. Each chapter focused on an object from Thornwalk and told a story about its connection to the family—but many of these vignettes felt incomplete or irrelevant. It often seemed like we were getting fragments rather than a full picture, and I couldn’t see how they fit into the larger narrative.

The timeline spans from the eve of World War II to the early 2000s, but the shifts in time felt abrupt and disorienting. Overall, the novel read more like a collection of disjointed mini-stories than a cohesive family saga. While I do think the author writes beautifully, the storytelling style just wasn’t for me, and the lack of payoff left me unsatisfied.

Book Review - One Night with the Duke by Jodi Ellen Malpa

 

One Night with the Duke by Jodi Ellen Malpas follows nineteen-year-old Eliza Melrose, who is determined to avoid an arranged marriage but finds herself drawn to the reclusive and enigmatic Duke of Chester, who recently returned to London amid rumors of family murder.

Eliza has always cherished her independence while living in the countryside, where she could do as she pleased—whether taking midnight strolls or writing articles for her father’s newspaper. However, after her father’s newspaper gains wealth and notoriety, the family relocates to London, where every move and thought is judged by society’s elite.

To make matters worse, her father insists she marry to secure their social standing. Eliza believes that marrying the man her father chooses will strip away her freedom. When the new Duke of Chester moves into his long-abandoned family home across the square, her curiosity gets the better of her. She’s determined to uncover whether the rumors about him murdering his family are true—and whether he truly is the rake everyone claims. The more Eliza interacts with him, the more captivated she becomes. But as she digs deeper into his past, she realizes she might not be the only one with secrets and ulterior motives.

The novel is a quick read with a few steamy moments, though they’re brief. The plot felt somewhat predictable, and while the characters were fine, I didn’t feel especially connected to them. At times, Eliza’s character was a bit frustrating—particularly her repeated insistence that she’s “no lady.” The pacing could also feel choppy and rushed in places.

However, if you’re looking for a light romance with a touch of intrigue and mild steam and something that feels more contemporary than truly Regency, you might still find it enjoyable.