As things start to feel more serious, though, Shani’s hurt over her ex-girlfriend’s rejection comes rushing back. Then they’re snowed in together on Christmas Eve. She was going to spend all her time thinking about dead fish and not at all about how she was unceremoniously dumped days before winter break.īut when a dog-walking gig puts her back in May’s path, the fossils she’s meant to be diligently studying are pushed to the side-along with the breakup.

She was supposed to be focusing on her monthlong paleoichthyology internship. With her mom’s Subaru.Īttempted vehicular manslaughter was not part of Shani’s plan. You’ll want to savor every word, and then run and recommend it to everyone you know.” (Let the record show I am not usually so annoyingly flowery with blurbs, but like, the perfect winter vibes are so strong, it was beyond my control!) Anyway, it’s out now from HarperTeen, so go get it! How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow Love light Sapphic YA romance? Love queer holiday romance? Excited to see a book mesh the two and be resplendent with nerdery? It’s got enemies-to-lovers! It’s got Jewish rep! It’s cozy and funny and basically exactly what you want to read as the fall turns to winter, and I loved it so much I blurbed it, so I’ll throw that in here too, because why not: “With wit and chemistry that crackle like a roaring fire, the warmth and sweetness of gourmet hot cocoa, and the surprising softness of a gentle snowfall, How to Excavate a Heart truly gave me the romantic winter break of my dreams. Now responsible for the ring and its consequences, will Zach and his friends, with the help of Ash, be able to stop the Apocalypse and save the world?Ĭontinue reading Happy Jewish American Heritage Month 2023! → But soon the ring brings unexpected visitors-Ashmedai, King of Demons, in the guise of a preteen boy named Ash, and the local chapter of the Knights of the Apocalypse, a secret society intent on completing a creepy prophecy that will bring three monsters to Earth to start the events of the end of times. Zach discovers that the ring grants him strange powers, and he’s intrigued maybe he can use the ring’s strengths to halt the slew of anti-Semitic and homophobic bullying he’s experiencing at school. The little beachside town of San Pancras is not known for anything exciting, but when Zach Darlington buys a mysterious ring at the local flea market, his quiet little hometown is turned topsy-turvy by monsters straight from Jewish folklore and a nefarious secret society focused on upholding an apocalyptic prophecy.

Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow