Ruei's Reading Corner

My last post of the year! I started my blog over a year ago and I'm so so happy I did. In the middle of a pandemic, I felt kind of lost but my blog has helped me get past this difficult time. These following books are the ones I've this year that stood out to me. This year, I read a total of  62 books! Out of the 62, these are the ones I would definitely recommend. Also, can we just stop for a minute and take in how beautiful all these covers are? Anyways, happy reading! 1. Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher. It's an amazing debut novel. The details that the author writes are just so good and completely shocked me. I got an ARC of the author's newest book and I'm so excited to read it! Review here

Title:  Tokyo Ever After Author:  Emiko Jean Publisher:  Flatiron Books Release Date:  May 18, 2021 Pages:  336 Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess. In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight. Izzy soon finds herself caught between worl...

Title:  You've Reached Sam Author:  Dustin Thao Publisher:  Wednesday Books Release Date:  November 2, 2021 Pages:  304 Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes. Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail. And Sam picks up the phone. In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the ...

Title:  Iron Widow Author:  Xiran Jay Zhao Publisher: Penguin Teen Release Date:  September 21, 2021 Pages:  400 The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower ...

The following books are upcoming releases for December. There are tons of new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye. They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. The Big Reveal by Jen Larsen is releasing December 7, 2021. Synopsis: Addie is a talented dancer, a true-blue friend, fat, fierce, and driven. When she's accepted into the prestigious dance program of her dreams, she thinks nothing can bring her down—until she realizes she doesn't have enough money to go. Refusing to give up, Addie and her friends decide to put on a top-secret, invitation-only burlesque show to raise funds. But word soon gets out, and the slut- and body-shaming begin. Has Addie been resisting the patriarchy, or playing right into its hands? Perfect for fans of Jennifer Mathieu and E. Lockhart, The Big Reveal asks hard-hitting feminist questions while reveling in some of life's greatest joys: cha...