words of coffee

 'Meant For More Than This', by Rha Arayal [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  'Meant For More Than This ' is the new collection of poetry by Rha Arayal . It comes out on the 25th May . The author explores a myriad of topics and delves into them in depth : identity , self-love and life itself. I'd like to highlight it also exposes a bit and represents what life is for women, the sharp edges that haunts us for just being women. I love that the author talks about these topics and give it exposure. It also explores the experience of living between two different cultures, and its marvels - and how love and care is an universal language. I found these poems effervescently and beautifully well written .  This poetry is woven and captured with detailed imagery - it pictures vivid descriptions of a wide variety of scenarios that encompass the author's life.  It is a portrayal of the search for your own identity . Wh...

'365 Days of Gutsy Women' , by Rosemary Roenfaz Title: 365 Days of Gutsy Women Author: Rosemary Roenfaz Genre (s): Biography, Nonfiction Language: English Publisher: Self-published Publication Date: 12th September 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Link to buy it! Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy of '365 Days of Gutsy Women' in exchange for an honest review. I loved that it was personalized signed! I find this detail so lovely! A delightful, must-read biography book centered on women , this book talks about activists and rebels, educators and philosophers, scientists and innovators, authors and poets, leaders, artists and musicians, and goddesses. All women.  I loved this book a lot! If you have read a few book reviews of mine before, you can know that I love reading and learning more about women. I do believe it is so important to educate ourselves and to learn more about the women that have preceded us, and even the actual ones.  The dynamic in this bo...

'The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell' , by Laura Alary and Ellen Rooney  Title: The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell Writer: Laura Alary Illustrator: Ellen Rooney Genre (s): Picture Book, Astronomy, Non-fiction Language: English Publisher: Kids Can Press Publication Date: 3rd May 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Link to buy the book! Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell is a lovely, fascinating picture book about women and astronomy . It talks about women's rights , desires and dreams and aspirations; bonds Maria had with her family; the environment she grew up in,... This book is written by Laura Alary , and is illustrated by Ellen Rooney . Maria Mitchell was an American astronomer that grew up believing she did not need someone else 一of authority一 to think for her, or telling her what to ...

'Daniel' , by Marcin Lechna Title: Daniel Author: Marcin Lechna Genre (s): Sci-fi, Fiction, Psychology, Astrology Language: English Publisher: Labrum Publisher Publication Date: 02/08/2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 4 Link to buy the book! Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Daniel is a sci-fi book that tells the story of Daniel Roark , a cardiologist who ends trapped in a white hall where the laws of physics and logic begin to fail .  But how did he end trapped there? Why? Who? What do they want from him? It is a book packed with many themes , many different feelings and subplots so well structured. It's like an action , mystery , sci-fi all at once movie playing in your head while reading this book. The descriptions are fascinating, the plots so well carried, the characters so complex.  Synopsis Daniel Roark is a cardiologist who finds himself imprisioned in a hall where the laws of physics and logic begin to fail. Daniel...

'Te doy mi corazón' , de Julia Quinn Título: Te doy mi corazón (español), An Offer from a Gentleman (inglés) Autora: Julia Quinn Género (s): Romance, Ficción Histórica Idioma: Español Editoriales: Titania (español), Avon (inglés) Fecha de publicación original: 13 octubre 2009 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Links para comprarlo: español e inglés Un baile de máscaras, la misteriosa dama del vestido plateado, y un amor prohibido e inalcanzable. Sinopsis: Como en el cuento de Cenicienta, Sophie ve una noche cumplirse su sueño. A espaldas de su madrastra, se viste como una reina y acude al baile de disfraces más importante de Londres. Lo que es más, consigue captar la atención de Benedict Bridgerton, el soltero más atractivo y encantador de la reunión. Sin embargo, pronto vuelve a enfrentarse a su cruda realidad, la de una hija ilegítima, pobre y sin recursos. El destino quiere darle una segunda oportunidad cuando entra a servir en casa de Benedict, aunque él no reconoce en ella a la hermosa j...

'The Lost Ages, Vol. 1: The Fort on the Moors' , by Jerôme LeGris Title: The Lost Ages I: The Fort on the Moors Author (s): Jerôme LeGris (writer), Didier Poli (illustrator) Genre (s): Fiction, Graphic Novel Language: English Publisher: Europe Comics Publication Date: 21st April 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /4 Link to buy it! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  A tale of survival and bloodshed , and rival clans and unchanging cycles. 'The Lost Ages' is a graphic novel that tells a post-apocalyptic story about how the world fell in 999 (or at the beginning of 1000), and how humans are a few thousand years later. They need to relearn and to rebuild everything that was lost. But there are some of them that are not willing to change their way of life.  A powerful, brave female warrior is the main character of this story: Elaine . She loves her people, protects them in the best way she can and to the end. She is loyal and ...

'Touch Is Really Strange' , by Steve Haines Title: Touch Is Really Strange Author: Steve Haines Genre (s):  Non-fiction Language: English Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Publication Date: 21st April 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ /3 Link to buy it! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This is a book about touch , about what effects physical touch and interactions have on us. It is about how we perceive and how we sense touch and social interactions. It has a few simple " exercises " inside to do if we want to feel what the author is talking about. I expected something way different form this book, but it does not mean that I didn't enjoy it. I did it. I did really love , especially, the simple, beautiful illustrations . I strongly believe they were perfect for this kind of book. I did really liked them.  For me, it was just a simple book about touch, honestly. As I've said before, I expected something different...

'Song of Echoes' , by R. E. Palmer Title: Song of Echoes Author: R. E. Palmer Genre (s): Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction Language: English Publisher: FrontRunner Publications Publication Date: 5th July 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /4 Link to buy it! Thank you to the author for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  'Song of Echoes' is an epic, adult fantasy book about old legends , politics and magic . We follow two PoVs: Elodi , and Toryn , while we're immersed quickly in a magical ambience, surrounded by politics.  Synopsis : For three hundred years, the people of the Five Realms have lived in relative peace, protected by their great leader, the Archon. Yet, far to the north, in the frozen lands beyond the Draegalen Trench, the Ruuk stir, driven by a rising evil, long believed banished from the world. But rumors questioning the Archon’s ability to defend the realms once more, persist. Elodi, the Lady Harlyn, uneasy in her new role followin...

'The Art of Sidewalking' , by Cole Feldman [BOOK REVIEW] Title: The Art of Sidewalking Author: Cole Feldman Genre (s): Poetry Language: English Publisher: Self-published Publication Date: 25th September 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Link to buy the book! Thank you to the author for sending me the e-book of The Art of Sidewalking in exchange for an honest review.  The Art of Sidewalking is a collection of poems that talk about our daily life , scattered all over the pages in the shape of a quick and short reading that makes you want to read more.  I really found the writing of the author so beautifully written! There are a few poems that I, personally, absolutely loved.  The book is divided into ten chapters called: Living Room, Kitchen, Neighbor, Bedroom, Street, Sidewalk, Park, Baja, Big Sky, and In my Head. Every chapter has an illustration in the first page, illustrating the chapter and its poems. The way the author interlaces all the chapters and the free poems that live...

'How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed' , by Megan Devine Title: How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Author: Megan Devine Genre (s): Self-help, Nonfiction Language: English Publisher: Sounds True Publication Date: 18th May 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Link to buy the book! Thank you to the publisher Sounds True and Netgalley for this e- ARC in exchange for an honest review.  How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed  is a self-help book about grief and loss, and anxiety and fears.   The author talks about how grief  affects us, and how to carry with it, and with loss and anxiety. The book gives us more information to learn more about them. It creates more awareness about them.  I also found it very helpful the exercises that were in the book to calm the mind, how it gives you things to do to calm it : meditation, draw something calming,... I found all of them so helpful!  Also, it gives you space to feel good while reading it in a way so calm and quiet. It lets you express...

'Living With Viola' , by Rosena Fung Title: Living with Viola Author: Rosena Fung Genre (s): Nonfiction, Mental Health Language: English Publisher: Annick Press Publication Date: 26th October 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Link to buy the book! Thank you to the publisher Annick Press and Edelweiss for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Living with Viola is a middle grade story about Livy , and how she feels about the world and everything that surrounds her, how anxiety and fear doesn't seem to let her go. It's a story about mental health in teenagers, how many factors can affect them.  It's a graphic novel that explores feelings and negative thoughts. There are two topics that I find them of more importance: racism and anxiety and panic attacks . I won't talk about these topics here because it will be spoilers from the book and I don't want to ruin the experience of reading such great work.  Regarding the illustrations , they are beautiful and full of co...

'Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppeable Athletes' by Rebel Girls Title: Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppeable Athletes Genre (s): Biography, Children, Nonfiction, Sports Language: English Publisher: Rebel Girls Publication Date: 12 October 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the publisher Rebel Girls and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  'Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppeable Athletes' is a book about 25 women in sports , and how was their life and how they became what they wanted to become to, and how they kept fighting for their rights and their dreams . This book encourages girls and shows them that they can be whatever they want, that they are strong.  There are many sports in this book: snowboard, field hockey, soccer, etc. I found this book a light, fresh reading for all ages , but especially for children . It is a book that I highly recommend!  This book comes out on 12 October 2021 ! So stay tuned, an if ...

'Flower Crowns & Fearsome Things' , by Amanda Lovelace Title: flower crowns & fearsome things Author: Amanda Lovelace Genre: Poetry Language: English Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing Publication Date: 5 October 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Link to buy it on Amazon ! Thank you to the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Before I start, I must say that I am a huge fan of Amanda Lovelace, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read this book. I have absolutely loved it! 'Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things' is a book of poetry that talks about women , abuse, sexism , love,... It talks about many topics and the author writes it in a way so beautifully written . It talks about death , cheating, trauma, and misogyny, too. I found really interesting the way the author talked about some topics, like the body image , how we perceive and love ourselves, the sexism inside many regular things we are used to do...

'Iris Apfel' , by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara & Kristen Barnhart Title: Iris Apfel Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara Illustrator:  Kristen Barnhart Genre (s): Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Children Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group Language: English  Publication Date: 24th August 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This new book in the collection Little People, Big Dreams talks about Iris Apfel , a vivacious and accidental fashion icon who grew up in New York . Iris grew up between fabrics and colors and patterns. She never dressed for anyone to see her, she dressed for herself, which is so important. The principal message in this biographical story is: be yourself just for yourself. Dress like you like, dress for you. Be you . She has a documentary, has written a book about herself,... "She dressed to express herself." She loves and admires her work . The illustrations are so fu...

'Cici's Journal' , by Joris Chamblain   Title: Cici's Journal Author: Joris Chamblain Illustrator: Aurélie Neyret Publisher: First Second Books Language: English Publication Date: 20th July 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the author, the publisher First Second Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A graphic novel for children about friendship, family, love and life.  Cici is a girl who wants to be a published author , and she loves mysteries . In the summer , Cici starts to follow and resolve little mysteries through her town. A mysterious man in the forest, an old woman going every Tuesday to a specific place...  I loved the story, I loved the characters . There are a lot of things that are talked in this book that I myself find them so beautiful and so necessary for children to be there. It talks about life, about what love and friendship means, about family.  One of the things that I loved most about the book was the friendsh...

'Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Astronomy' , by Sarafina Nance & Greg Paprocki Title: Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Astronomy  Author: Sarafina Nance Illustrator: Greg Paprocki Genre (s): Graphic Novel, Children, Astronomy, Science Publisher: Gibbs Smith Language: English Publication Date: 7th September 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the author , the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Illustrative, interesting facts about the universe and celestial objects fill this book in a way so easy and so beautiful for children to understand and to learn more about this fascinating subject.  This book talks about how universe works , and what's inside it: planets , galaxies , stars , black holes, white dwarfs, moons , neutron stars,... Along with supernovae that happens when a bigger star dies, and light , and dark matter and dark energy , which is invisible to us. It shows you illustrations so full of color ...

'How to Be Fearless: In 7 Steps' by Jessica Hagy Title: How To Be Fearless In 7 Simple Steps Author: Jessica Hagy Genre (s): Self-help, Nonfiction Publisher: Sasquatch Books  Language: English Publication Date: 17th August 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Repeat your hopes. Delete your doubts." Thank you to the author , Sasquatch Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This book talks about mental health . It's a self-help book. It contains its own quotes so beautifully drawn and illustrated.  'How to Be Fearless: In 7 Simple Steps' talks about the hopes that we have within ourselves, the fear that shows up to isolate and weaken us, the lies that are told by that fear that overwhelms us, the progress we should do on this matter,... It talks about many topics, many important topics.  In addition, the author writes and illustrates our wishes and strengths , our failings and tryings, the gratitude , the power we have to accomplish all ...

'The Smallest of Bones' , by Holly Lyn Walrath Title: The Smallest of Bones Author: Holly Lyn Walrath  Genre (s): Poetry Publisher: CLASH Books Language: English Publication Date: 26th September 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the author , the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A beautiful, different kind of poetry that has lovely and dark poems within itself. The book talks about love , death , bones and skeletons , gender , ghosts , relationships, women , pain ,... It talks about many things. The author writes it in a way, in general, so beautiful and dark — the author does it so well! (In general, in my opinion) I loved it ! It's a different kind of poetry I am used to read. Despite this is not the kind of book I am used to read, I loved it anyway. The author takes the dark sides of life and transforms it into art. And it's beautiful. There are also references to mythology , which I absolutely adored ! This book comes out on...

'By Any Other Name' , by Lauren Kate Title: By Any Other Name Author: Lauren Kate Genre (s): Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Adult Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group Language: English Publication Date: 22nd March 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the author Lauren Kate , the publisher Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  A fresh, lovely human story of two people finding their way to each other through emails and words scattered through the pages of a book. It's the story of Lanie Bloom , a woman with a successful career at Peony Press as a romance editor . Peony Press is the publisher of the best-selling author Noa Callaway. Lanie is successful and is engaged with the man of her dreams, a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, so everything is fine, isn't it? She's killing it. Then she's given the opportunity to work with her biggest inspiration in love and life: Noa Cal...

'The Crowns of Croswald' , by D. E. Night Title: The Crowns of Croswald Author:  D. E. Night Genre (s):  Fantasy, Fiction, Magic Publisher:  Stories Untold Language:  English Publication Date:  21s July 2017 Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to the publisher for pre-approving me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley.  “You are she, the one all of Croswald has been searching for. Waiting for, whether they knew it or not.” An orphan girl. A magical school full of mysteries and secrets. How this could end? Ivy will meet her new friends , her new family not by blood, but by choice. And, certainly, will know more about her lineage and her parents.  Ivy Lovely is such a brilliant character . I wouldn't be able to describe her in a word, because she's many things at once, many good things. This book has so many great characters. Fyn, Rebecca, Derwin, and more but I don't want to make spoilers so I won't say a thing about those characters. I loved how the auth...