More January new releases! And this is a good batch, guys! Nothing under 4 stars here, so you kind of want all of these, tbh. Sorry, not sorry!

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Medusa by Jessie Burton & Olivia Lomenech Gill
Lawless Spaces by Corey Ann Haydu
The Chosen Twelve by James Breakwell

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Published by Berkley on January 11, 2022
Pages: 352
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.

In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.

Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

Rachel Lynn Solomon can honestly have all my money at this point. To be fair, that won’t exactly make her rich, but the point stands. This woman could jot down a to-do list, and I’d be in line to read it. And as you can probably gather, Weather Girl was another huge hit for me!

The thing about Rachel’s books that always, always draws me in, whether they be adult or YA, is that the characters are so well-developed that it’s impossible not to care about the outcome. They are always so very relatable, and likable, and yes, flawed, but in a way that makes you feel like if they were real, you’d want to be friends with them.

In Weather Girl, we have Ari, who is a meteorologist and is also dealing with depression. Oh, and her work environment is high key toxic, as her bosses are ex-spouses who fight like actual cats and dogs. So after one especially bad public  “altercation” between the exes, Ari teams up with sports reporter Russell to get these two back together- and maybe repair their own sanity in the process.

It’s clear that there are sparks between Ari and Russell fairly early on. He seems like such a nice, kind dude, but he’s a little reserved about his own past, and Ari isn’t exactly opening up too much about hers. I loved that they both had to learn how to be open, and communicative, and trusting in order for their relationship (both friendship and romantic) to progress. And Ari had to do a lot of soul searching herself to work through her depression, and how to be herself while living with depression.

I absolutely loved the focus of mental health in this story. I loved that Ari also had to confront her mother’s mental illness and rehabilitation while dealing with her own. And, as the author states in her note, this is an #ownvoices novel:

“I wanted this book to highlight a neurodiverse heroine who happens to be on medication and in therapy falling in love and thriving.”

I appreciated that so much, and found Ari’s story really moving. The way Ari responds to her depression is so very different to how I react personally, but I felt that I had this whole new understanding for others because of how the author presented Ari. I understood Ari, even if I never felt the same way she did. Which, in my opinion, is why it’s so necessary to have stories from so many different perspectives (of all kinds, not just mental health).

And the story is adorable and wonderful, the characters are wholly endearing, and I absolutely could not put the book down and simultaneously wanted to read it forever. So yep. It’s a win.

Bottom Line: Another home run (Russell-approved figure of speech, obviously) for Rachel Lynn Solomon. Incredibly realistic and relatable characters and a story I fell in love with, one again.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Series: The Anatomy Duology #1
Published by Wednesday Books on January 18, 2022
Pages: 352
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

Edinburgh, 1817.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

Who doesn’t love when a badass woman bucks the system? I sure love it! And a woman choosing to pursue medicine in the early nineteenth century, at any cost, seems extra awesome to me. Hazel has always been quite fascinated by medicine and the human body and such, and she’s far less enamored by the life that her parents have planned for her, which is to marry her cousin (yeah my reaction too) and basically just be arm candy and a baby factory. Sounds awful to me, too.

But society in those days was even more trash than it is today, so of course women’s weak constitutions could not possibly handle doctoring (insert a million eyerolls here). So Hazel grabs some boys’ clothes and goes to class. (Yes, I am oversimplifying, shh.) Turns out, there is far more going on behind closed doors in the Scottish medical community than Hazel could have imagined.

And look- Hazel is definitely quite privileged to be able to run around doctoring, even if what she is doing is noble. I love that this is addressed, too! Because honestly, a lot of women would have neither the means nor the opportunities to do so, and Hazel has them in abundance- as well as not having too worry too much about what will happen to her if she is caught.

The story gets rather exciting as we start to delve into the messiness of some of the “doctors” Hazel comes into contact with. Add to it that people have resorted to literally stealing bodies to study on, and throw in a plague, and things are certainly dicey! Makes the stakes high, and the book very readable! The vibe and tone of the story are also very on point, as you can feel the gothic undertones and the sinister nature of the situation.

As for the “love story” part? I mean, if we’re talking Hazel’s love story with medicine, then absolutely! Because while there is some romance, it hardly takes center stage, so be aware of that going in. (Also, luckily, it isn’t with the creepy cousin.)

Bottom Line: Atmospheric with a great heroine, I found this a very readable and exciting historical fiction.

Medusa by Jessie Burton, Olivia Lomenech Gill
Published by Bloomsbury YA on January 11, 2022
Pages: 224
Format:ARC, Hardcover
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review

A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love, betrayal . and destiny itself.

Filled with glorious full-colour illustrations by award-winning Olivia Lomenech Gill, this astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for readers of Circe and The Silence of the Girls. Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation.

I feel like I know a bit about books by now, right? And I liked this one quite a bit! Here’s something I don’t know jack about: art. That said, the art in this book really moved me! So from a very very unknowledgeable person’s perspective, I thought it was phenomenal. The book is, too. It’s a quick read, certainly, but I absolutely felt a connection to Medusa, felt empathy for her. The emotions that I felt from both the writing and the illustrations were on point.  Funnily enough, while I was reading the ARC, I kept thinking “wow I bet this is going to be fire in color/finished!” and wouldn’t you know, the fine folks at Bloomsbury granted my wish, which I am glad about, because I feel like I can properly explain why you need to read this one in full color:

And this is just the cover!!

I’m going to be honest here, I didn’t know much about the original Medusa. I could have picked her out in a lineup, sure, but her story? Not so much. So I can’t speak to that comparison. But I loved this version that Jessie Burton told! Medusa had full relationships, had to make difficult choices, relieve painful memories, all from an isolated cave. We got to know her quite well in just a short story.

Bottom Line: Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated, and certainly bittersweet, this one is definitely worth the read!

Lawless Spaces by Corey Ann Haydu
on January 18, 2022
Pages: 496
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

Perfect for fans of Deb Caletti, this poignant coming-of-age novel in verse follows a teen girl who connects with the women of her maternal line through their journals and comes to better understand her fraught relationship with her mother.

Mimi’s relationship with her mother has always been difficult. But lately, her mother has been acting more withdrawn than usual, leaving Mimi to navigate the tricky world of turning sixteen alone. What she doesn’t expect is her mother’s advice to start journaling—just like all the woman in her family before her. It’s a tradition, she says. Expected.

But Mimi takes to poetry and with it, a way to write down the realities of growing into a woman, the pains of online bullying, and the new experiences of having a boyfriend. And all in the shadows of a sexual assault case that is everywhere on the news—a case that seems to specifically rattle her mother.

Trying to understand her place in the world, Mimi dives into the uncovered journals of her grandmother, great-grandmother, and beyond. She immerses herself in each of their lives, learns of their painful stories and their beautiful sprits. And as Mimi grows closer to each of these women, she starts to forge her own path. But it isn’t until her mother’s story comes to light that Mimi learns about the unyielding bonds of family and the relentless spirit of womanhood.

TW, via author: “Dear Reader, Lawless Spaces includes material related to sexual trauma, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and generational trauma. Please read with care, and step away if you need to protect your mental health. If you are in need of support, resources are listed in the back of this book.”

As you can tell by the content warning, this book tackles some tough topics. Mimi is turning sixteen, and she’s struggling. Her mom (Tiffany) is… okay look, her mom is absolute rubbish, frankly. I was going to say that she abandoned Mimi in favor of her boyfriend, but the truth is, it might have been better if she simply ignored Mimi. Instead, she treats her like crap, and is super toxic. On Mimi’s sixteenth birthday, Dear Ol’ mom yeets a journal at her and tells her basically “write your feelings here because I give zero fucks about them”.

I was so full of rage, I cannot even explain. Full. Of. Rage. And the thing is, this kind of stuff truly does happen in life! Parents do this to their kids! I can’t wrap my head around how, but here we are. Anyway, Mimi finds the box containing her mom’s journal, and those of several generations before her too. Meanwhile, while all of this is happening, news comes out that Tiffany has accused a Shitty Famous Dude of sexual assault. And of course, as always, the media pounces on Tiffany and Mimi, dissecting their lives, their choices, and how they respond to the scrutiny.

I loved the trips back in time, seeing how the other women in Mimi’s family struggled too. The one thing that bummed me out pretty hard was how much they all seemed to have failed their daughters. Obviously Tiffany didn’t just randomly decide to dump her daughter for some gross dude. She’s been through the ringer too. Not that it excuses her behavior to Mimi, not by a long shot, but it does explain some stuff.

There is also a bit of a weird issue I had with the book, though I really did enjoy it. Mimi (and her predecessors) say many times that because of their particular body type, they were harassed, treated poorly, etc. Nah, fam. It’s all female bodies. All. Of. Them. No matter what your body is like, in this society, someone will have something to say about it.

Regardless, the writing is stunning, and the story is really quite beautiful as it all shakes out. The messages are obviously strong and tons of important topics are explored. There is even a great plot point about social media, and how we present ourselves in certain ways online versus how we present ourselves in our everyday lives.

Bottom Line: Beautifully written and extremely emotive, the stories of Mimi and those who came before her shouldn’t be missed.

The Chosen Twelve by James Breakwell
Published by Solaris on January 18, 2022
Pages: 384
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley

The Hunger Games meets Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in this breathless survival thriller.

Lord of the Flies meets Philip K Dick.

There are 22 candidates. There are 12 seats.

The last interstellar colony ship is down to its final batch of humans after the robots in charge unhelpfully deleted the rest. But rebooting a species and training them for the arduous task of colonisation isn’t easy – especially when the planet below is filled with monsters, the humans are more interested in asking questions than learning, and the robots are all programmed to kill each other.

But the fate of humanity rests on creating a new civilization on the planet below, and there are twelve seats on the lander. Will manipulation or loyalty save the day?

Okay, full disclosure, I was kind of  lost when this started? But it was funny, and I like funny, so I kept going. And soon enough, I got the hang of it! Plus look, if you tell me it’s The Hunger Games in space, I’m never going to not read that, right? And so I will tell you the things I enjoyed about this one!

• It’s funny, remember? It made me crack up. Like a lot. I really liked the author’s humor, and it made the book so much more readable. Because a bunch of (biologically) twelve year olds dying, in the last human outpost, at the hands of a broken vacuum or whatever? Bleak. But add in the humor, and it becomes very palatable.
• The concept is built for excitement. I mean, much like ALIE, these AIs just don’t see the point of humanity. We’re messy and emotional and as a rule, mess things up. So the AIs have come up with a plan to basically train the last humans, or “organics” as they call them, to pretty much just complete the AI agenda. It’s a pretty good plan, honestly, but not one you want to follow if you are indeed a human. So you can tell from fairly early on that this will be far more nuanced than a simple “12 best organics” competition.
• So thought provoking. A lot of “no good choices” for sure, and wondering if humanity really was worth saving at this point. Especially when they are fighting each other so fiercely at this point in the species.
• While we don’t get to know the individual characters too well, it actually works in this format. I almost never say that, but hear me out. These “kids” have been raised by machines. They have no culture to speak of, no awareness of the past, outside of what they’ve been fed by the artificial intelligence. And remember, these AIs don’t even like humanity. So in essence, they’re raising them to be like AIs. It makes sense! BUT. The humanity shines through anyway. And I think that is perhaps supposed to be the point? That despite the AIs’ best efforts, these are still human beings with individual personalities.
• It’s exciting and entertaining. The pacing was good, the story certainly entertained me, and I was certainly invested in seeing how it all panned out. And frankly, I’d be very here for a sequel.

Bottom Line: So very fun and entertaining, but still thought provoking and smart, I certainly enjoyed the ride!

Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!  

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