Black Dolls Vol. 1 by Rachel Faturoti & Flo Woolley
It’s so rare to get graphic novels for just 99p on Kindle so when this popped up I instantly bought it. What an insanely cool idea for a graphic novel. I don’t have a photo for it yet (my camera is kinda working again so it’s coming soon) but trust me when I say this cover is incredible.
Synopsis: For fans of heartfelt graphic novels like Heartstopper and the kick-ass rock of We Are Lady Parts. Four Black teenagers take on the music industry to smash its exclusionist rules! SLAY.
Jada, has always dreamed of tearing up the tired rulebook of the music industry. When Clash of the Bands is announced, she grabs the chance to create Black
Influencer Sassy on lead vocals
Silvee, shy but a killer bassist
Dana, guitarist and ex-child star with insider knowledge on the industry
And Jada herself, rhythm legend on drums and vocals
But with competing leads and rivalries, band life is continual drama. The Black Dolls are also battling overbearing families, identity questions, paternity tests, and media exploitation as they try to keep their dreams alive.
Can Black Dolls work together to overcome their differences and take over the music industry? Or will they crash and burn before they skyrocket …
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
It’s going to be so weird to read a non-Caraval book from Stephanie Garber but I’m interested to see if this book has that wonderful magical quality to it that I’m always talking about with the Caraval series.
I’ll be honest and say this book was an autobuy when I saw it was only 99p on Kindle, so I hadn’t given the synopsis a full read until now. I love a magical realism book and I truly believe Stephanie Garber would write a fantastic one. Please don’t let me down.
Synopsis: It starts with a class in an old movie theater.
Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.
With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
I’d been on the fence about whether or not I should buy this book all month. My ‘12 books of Christmas’ series is usually made up of ARC copies of that year’s releases. However, I’m changing that for next year. After an absolutely abysmal selection of books in 2025, I’ve decided to switch out the ARCs for reads that have caught my eyes. This way, I can check out festive books by authors I already like. Hence why I ended up buying Good Spirits.
You won’t see a review of this book until December 2026, which means I won’t be checking it out for a long time, but I’m still excited about it. I’ve heard really great things about this book.
Synopsis: He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.
Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.
Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.
With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?
It’s a Love/Skate Relationship by Carli J. Corson
I can’t lie, I bought this purely because it looks very fun. Also as we’ve established by now I’m a huge hockey romance lover. You can’t blame me for this one though, it’s a sapphic hockey romance. When do you ever come across those? If there are more, please tell me any good ones you’ve read.
Synopsis: A sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between a hotheaded hockey player and the ice princess at the figure skating rink next door.
Charlie Porter is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the hockey rink. When she accidentally starts a brawl after a game, she’s suspended from school, meaning no hockey this season—and no chance to play in front of college scouts.
Alexa Goldstein’s pairs skating partner was hurt in the fight, and with only four months until their next competition, pickings for a replacement are slim. So she strikes a deal with Charlie—skate with her at the competition well enough to place, and her Olympian mother will use her formidable connections to get Charlie in front of scouts at D-1 schools, even without her team.
It seems impossible, and not just because Charlie has never figure skated before. Where Charlie is powerful, Alexa is elegant; where Charlie is quick to blow up, Alexa is cold as ice. But as the frostiness between them starts to thaw, they begin to wonder if they’ve found a partner for more than just skating.
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