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Ouran High School Host Club

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Series Title: Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
First Book: Ouran High School Host Club Volume 1
Who it’s for: Teens

A romantic comedy manga that had me adoring the characters and wanting to join in on their daily shenanigans. The series follows Haruhi, she’s a scholarship student at a school for rich kids. When she’s trying to find a quiet place to study, she stumbles into a music room that ends up being used by the school’s host club. In her attempt to leave she ends up breaking an expensive vase and is now indebted to the host club to pay it back by being a host. Haruhi is a very logical and no nonsense person among people that don’t tend to make much sense, especially Tamaki—the host club’s king. Haruhi soons learns that even rich kids have their issues and warms up to them and the club members begin to understand Haruhi more too. I love all of the characters in Ouran High School Host Club with my favorite being Tamaki—he’s always so over the top.

Find Ouran High School Host Club in the catalog!

Instructions for Dancing

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Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Teens

This was a cute, quick, and bittersweet read. Evie loved reading romance books, but that’s all in the past now that her parents are divorced. She no longer believes in love. One day she gets the ability to see people’s love stories once she sees them kiss and how all relationships all eventually end. In her quest to find answers she ends up at a dance studio and partnering with a boy named X.

Evie is more cautious, while X is much more free-spirited. They had lots of cute moments together as they got to know each other from dance practice and hanging out. I loved their opposite personalities and how they worked so well together.

The ending caught me off guard the most, but I’m not mad at it. Just bittersweet. Check out Instructions for Dancing in our catalog.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruins

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Series Title: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
First Book: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
Who it’s for: Teens

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is an enemies to lovers fantasy romance that is inspired by West African folklore. While I’m not much for enemies to lovers, I did enjoy reading the first book in this duology. We have Malik, our first main character that has anxiety—yes to mental health representation— and he’s traveling with his sisters to a new city so they can make some money and send it back home. Malik has a kind heart and that ends up being used against him. He ends up having to kill the princess in order to save his youngest sister, Nadia.

Then there’s Karina, she’s a strong and resilient princess that has just lost her Mom. Karina knows that she is not fit yet to rule the kingdom by herself yet so she sets out on a mission to bring her mother back to life, but in order to do that she needs a King’s heart. That’s where the Solstasia competition comes into play, as a prize, she will marry the winner of the competition.

I was definitely invested in this story wondering how these two were going to develop a relationship and can’t wait to read the second book.

Check out A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in our catalog.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

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Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter is a relaxing book with beautiful illustrations to ease kids and adults into winter. The story follows a brother and sister who observe the subtle ways of how autumn becomes winter. As they say hello to the elements that make up autumn, like the leaves blowing off the trees and the flowers that will soon leave, nature says hello back with short explanations as to where they’re going. Then, as winter approaches the children begin saying hello to the elements of winter and hear what makes winter special. The illustrator beautifully showcases what makes each season unique. The slow and relaxing tone throughout the book will help others appreciate the change of the seasons.

Find Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter in our catalog.

Legendborn

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Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Teens

What caught my attention to read Legendborn was that it involved King Arthur lore that is rarely included in young adult fantasy. The story follows Bree, a determined teen that is trying to find the cause of her mother’s death after a terrible car accident that was classified to be a hit and run. She ends up getting involved in a secret society that is filled with descendants from King Arthur’s round table. In her gut, she knows this secret society had something to do with her mother’s accident. The society tried to alter or “mesmer” her and her father’s memories while visiting their mother in the hospital. What I liked about Legendborn were the characters and the magic system. I admired Bree’s stubborn spirit to find answers. She didn’t care what others thought of her and did what she needed to do. Legendborn is a good read for anyone that enjoys a modern twist on classic folklore.

Find Legendborn in the catalog.