Hi friends! Happy October! I’m back on the blog for the first time since starting my sophomore year of college. I feel like I’ve been flung into orbit; the world around me is spinning with to-do lists and responsibilities that I don’t feel qualified to tackle. But, to quote BTS, “life goes on,” and there’s so much to look forward to as autumn arrives!

Speaking of fall, I’ve got a few book recommendations for y’all! First up is Other Side of the Tracks by Charity Alyse, a stunning debut to come November 22, 2022. I was blessed to be a part of the Street Team for the upcoming launch. Charity is a such a talented writer, and I can’t wait to read more works from her!

OSOTT is Romeo and Juliet meets BLM. The towns of Bayside and Hamilton are racially divided and have been for decades; no one dares cross the train tracks that separate them. The book itself shifts between three perspectives: Capri, an aspiring dancer who dreams of following her late mother’s career in the spotlight; Justin, Capri’s brother with big dreams for college, and Zach, a boy who has just moved to Bayside from Philadelphia. There are poignant themes woven throughout the novel, which delve into difficult topics and conversations, and I appreciated how each and every struggle was given time to unravel. Plus, the chapters were short, and each cliffhanger kept me flipping. One scene in particular—involving Capri and an audition—was so beautifully written; I can’t get it out of my head! I would have loved the ending to be longer and more conclusive, as I feel as though it was abrupt (I was so attached to the characters, and it hurt my heart 😦 but it was realistic; not everyone is going to be unscathed by the events that unfold). In other words, a fantastic first book from Charity Alyse! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Hate U Give or Dear Martin. Available for pre-order now!

Next, which I have finished this past week, is Seoulmates by Susan Lee! If you’re looking for an end-of-summer read before October gets into full swing, this is the perfect option. Our main characters are Hannah Cho and Jacob Kim, former best friends turned enemies when the latter abandoned San Diego for Korea. When he returns for the summer to take a vacation from starring in a hit K-Drama, old feelings resurface (the good, the bad, the ugly) and bucket lists are formed. I had a WONDERFUL time reading this debut; it made me laugh, giggle, and grip the book tighter as the plot unwound. At certain points, and I suppose this comes with the territory, there were a couple places where the cheesiness factor was exaggerated— but aside from this, Seoulmates was a lovely, light-hearted read that gave me a much-needed brain break from class readings. If you’re into K-Dramas and K-Pop, add this to your TBR immediately!

That’s all for now! I appreciate you taking the time to read through 🙂 My posting schedule will be once or twice a month now, so as not to overwhelm myself. I’m trying to be better and more intentional with my time, but we’ll see how long it lasts. I hope that you have an amazing week!

Sincerely,

Sophia