Lewis Hughes

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is an Achillean Young Adult Contemporary Romance novel that utilises all of your favourite tropes – fake-dating, supportive family members and there’s only one bed – to make for a truly wonderful and joyous reading experience. The story follows Dylan, a seventeen-year-old boy, who helps his aunt run their family business (a Chinese takeout called Wok Warriors) after his mom’s death a year before. While delivering food, he meets rich-boy Theo Somers, the son of a powerful business man, and the two hit it off. Theo finds out about Dylan’s aunt’s struggling business and Dylan finds out that Theo needs a date for his cousin’s wedding in the Hamptons. The only solution…? To fake-date. The most compelling aspect of this story for me was the bond between Dylan and Theo. Their immediate connection, Dylan’s shyness and Theo’s open, easy going nature made for an extremely enjoyable read that made you swoon and laugh in equal parts. Dylan’s obliviousness to Theo’s advances never once felt contrived or forced but rather like an authentic reaction from a boy who’s never been kissed and always tried to avoid too much attention. By contrast, Theo’s openness, flirtatious moves and general suaveness made for a great foil to Dylan while also portraying how LGBTQ+ boys contain multitudes. The representation of gay boys is really, really strong in this book as both of our main characters are represented as fully formed people with imperfections and flaws while also being likeable and interesting. Both Dylan and Theo are the products of their experiences, upbringings and heritages and that shines so brightly the entire way through the novel. Seeing Chinese culture explored so openly and how each story of ancient history is told was absolutely fantastic to read. The way Sher Lee was able to weave Eastern values, morals and traditions into this story made it a really special read and made each and every character feel authentic. This links to the next strength of the book which may be hinted at in the title: the presence of food. Food plays a vital role in this story not just forwarding the plot in terms of a central aspect revolving around Aunt Jade’s takeout place and the Mooncake competition that serves as the climax of the novel but also in teaching and embedding Chinese culture into the very fabric of the story. Mooncakes in particular are used as a way through which Dylan and Theo connect not just with one another but with their shared culture. I can’t recommend Fake Dates and Mooncakes highly enough if you’re looking for a very easy to read, fun, swoony and tropey romp with two boys making and eating Chinese food.

Small Town Pride is Phil Stamper’s Middle Grade debut – you may recognise his name from his Young Adult titles: The Gravity of Us, As Far As You’ll Take Me and Golden Boys. It is a contemporary story following Jake, the first openly gay kid in his small village in Ohio, when his dad puts up a pride flag outside their house as a statement of his acceptance. When the flag draws up many a conversation, Jake is forced to deal with poignant themes and questions such as what it means to be proud of one’s identity, what it means to be an ally and what it means to belong. The stand-out aspect of Small Town Pride is the amazing conversations that are had between the characters within it. Jake’s thoughts early in the book about wanting to be out and proud but not knowing how to put that into action really spoke to me in particular as it really captures the feeling of unshaking clarity in one’s sense of self which is muddled slightly by a feeling of isolation being the only one like you in your area – or so you think, at least. Stamper so perfectly captures the small town/ village setting by conveying how Jake felt about coming out and also about how he felt having such a big statement made by his father, out of his control. Another such poignant conversation is that of allyship and how to be a productive and supportive ally without speaking over and neglecting the needs of those you claim to be an ally to. Jake’s discussions with his father, with Jenna and with his teacher in particular highlight this in a really amazing way and I think a lot of straight people could learn a thing or two from these conversations. My favourite aspect of this book is the dynamic between Jake and Brett. I am a sucker for Achillean – MlM – love stories, this is no secret, but this isn’t quite that, not in the way that you would expect. Do not go into this story expecting it to be the story of two boys becoming boyfriends as it is first and foremost a story of two boys finding their own sense of pride, what that means to them, and learning how to show that to the world. Brett’s story in particular was very heart-warming as he grows to accept himself. Small Town Pride is a wonderful Middle Grade story that I devoured in a single night. It is fun, joyous and celebratory while also evoking deep conversations and thoughts that Stamper balances perfectly.

Lose You To Find Me is an Achillean (MLM) Young Adult Contemporary story with a prominent Romance through-line. The story follows culinary enthusiast Tommy who’s working at a Retirement Community when he is reintroduced to his childhood crush Gabe and forced to train him. As Tommy tries to figure out what he’s doing in the next steps of his life – culinary school, perhaps? – he must also juggle his re-emerging crush on Gabe which proves more complicated than he could have even expected. This book is a soap opera disguised as a YA Contemporary and I mean that in the best way possible. I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you’re not into high drama levels. It’s an amazing, entertaining read that balances humour and heart. The romance elements were strong and the end result is very much worth the twisted path it took to get there. This story is very much one about self-love, following your passions and knowing what is right for you. I’d recommend this story if you love a drama-filled book (think Simon James Green), strong friendships and a story where the protagonist puts themself first for the first time in their life.

– Spoiler-Free Review for Into the Dark – But contains spoilers for Light of the Jedi – Into the Dark by Claudia Gray is a Young Adult novel taking place in the High Republic Era of Star Wars history. It is the fourth book in Phase One of the High Republic series and the first Young Adult novel within it. The story occurs currently with, and after the events of, Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi and therefore both this book and this review will contain some contextual spoilers for LOTJ. The main themes of the story that resonated with me are the ideas of legacy and destiny. What is one meant to do, what is one intended or expected to do vs. what do they actually want to do and see themselves doing? Has their choice been taken from them or do they have the ability to shape their own future. These ideas connect to all the central characters in the story from newly-Masterless Jedi Padawan Reath Silas; pilot Affie Hollow, the adopted daughter of a corrupt Guild leader; and roguish Jedi Knight Daz Rydan. The three of them each experience paths laid before them and must choose whether to pursue them in a traditional manner, the one that is expected of them, or to forge their own path. The idea of legacy is interestingly portrayed by both Reath and Daz due to the fact they were both the Padawans of Jora Malli. The book recounts the events prior to and after Malli’s death – which is portrayed in LOTJ – and uses Reath and Daz as lenses through which Jedi’s grief can be explored and felt. Paralleling this is Master Cohmac Vitus. This story contains three flashbacks to a mission twenty-five-years prior to the events of the main story following Vitus on a mission that has been a cause of great guilt and grief for him. The fact he carries this guilt still to this day is shunned by the Jedi Order. However, it is this grief that so perfectly allows Vitus to be a foil for Reath Silas. Their dynamic and conjoined growth throughout the story is one of my favourite elements that Gray crafted. The exploration of Hyperspace was really exciting in this story and felt like an epic nautical adventure in format in that regard. Everything felt quite swash-buckling with the Jedi aboard the Vessel providing a good helping of heroic archetypes for this to feel truly timeless as a story. The new additions of creatures and Nihil threats were excellent and added some complexity to the story while also, of course, tying to the wide High Republic initiative of story-telling. While some Star Wars fans may believe they can skip any non-Adult novel titles, I would advise everyone to give the Young Adult and Middle Grade books in Canon a chance as Into the Dark proves that wisdom and an amazing adventure can come to you at any age.

The Fire People: A Collection of British Black and Asian Poetry, edited by Lemm Sissay is an adult collection of poetry, as titled, by British Black and Asian poets both new and familiar. Included are the works of Chris Abani, Patience Agbabi, Malika Booker, John Citizen, Salena Godden, Lorraine Griffiths, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Parm Kaur, Shamshad Khan, Cheryl Martin, Raman Mundair, Bunmi Ogunsiji, Koye Oyedeji, Mallissa Read, Vanessa Richards, Khefri Cybele Riley aka KA'frique, Roger Robinson, Joy Russell, Kadija Sesay, John Siddique, Labi Siffre, Lemn Sissay, Dorothea Smartt, Andria Smith, SuAndi, Tricky, Akure Wall and Marie Guise Williams. I enjoyed this collection and how unapologetic it was as each of the poets within explored their roots and heritage. The discussions of ancestry and legacy are so profound and equally lovely and devastating to me that they filled me with so much emotion, exactly the reaction I want to feel when reading poetry. I had read works by Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Lemm Sissay and Dorothea Smartt before and found their works in this to be equally as amazing as I expected them to be but my main takeaway from this story is a plethora of poets who are new to me whose work I can now pursue. I think anyone looking for a new poet(s) to follow and binge the work of can read this book, sample each of the poet’s work and make a choice of who they’d like to continue reading because this is an excellent resource for that; while of course also being a wonderful and cohesive collection in and of itself.

Star Wars: The Rebel Files is an in-universe text written by a variety of leaders and figures within the Rebel Alliance but published in the real world by Titans Books and written by Daniel Wallace, who is a familiar name to those who have read other in-universe Star Wars titles by now. The book is a collection of files, holo-transcriptions, data, graphs, pictures, schematics, blueprints and more gathered by the Rebel Alliance prior to the formation of the Galactic Empire all the way through to its defeat at the Battle of Endor in the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Our primary voice in this collection of files is Mon Mothma as she forms, directs and shapes the Alliance into what we know it as in the original trilogy. We see her reactions to familiar events that occur within the movies, books and comic books and how the Rebels responded to such events. If you’re a fan of Mothma, the Disney+ Show Andor, Admiral Ackbar, Leia Organa or Rebel/ Empire warfare, then this book is going to spark your interest. My favourite thing about The Rebel Files is how we are able to witness the fallout, reaction and next steps for the Rebels following different events. It is clear to the reader – so long as they are familiar with Star Wars canon – where and when certain Files are occurring and we are allowed an insight that we have not previously gotten. In particular, the scouting out of Echo Base, the lead-up to the Battle of Endor and the Imperial weapons schematics obtained and displayed within the Files are fascinating and just add another level of depth to the overall canon. I do think an updated version is now due / will be due once the current run of Star Wars (2020), Darth Vader (2020) and Doctor Aphra (2020) comics finish, and Andor Season 2 releases, as to encompass the events of those comics as well, and to include the events surrounding Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, as well as the final season of Rebels which was barely mentioned considering the impact of the Ghost Crew. I’d recommend this book if you’re familiar with Star Wars canon and would get a kick out of knowing how the Rebellion dealt with events and how its leadership prevailed under Imperial rule.

The Language of Seabirds is an Achillean (MLM) Middle Grade Contemporary Romance story set at the seaside that follows two boys finding first love together. It’s the first summer after Jeremy’s parents divorced and our protagonist isn’t exactly enthused to be spending the summer with his father and uncle at the seaside in Oregon. That’s until he spots ‘Runner Boy’ who we quickly learn is named Evan and the two of them form a friendship that we watch blossom into something more. The seaside setting of this story is perfect for your next summer read and the Middle Grade age categorisation makes this book a wonderful and accessible book to a very wide readership. I can guarantee you’ll coast through this in no time and be left wanting more with these adorable characters. The development of Jeremy and Evan’s friendship and the navigation of the transition from friendship to relationship is so, so beautifully explored and it warms my heart to know that young Queer boys will be able to see this type of representation so early in their lives. The complicated relationship that Jeremy has with his father makes this book interesting and it explores the topic of divorce in a way I think will be good for children to see, especially if they are in a similar situation. While I don’t love Jeremy’s dad as a character, he is flawed and interesting which at least adds another aspect of merit to this book. I really recommend you check out The Language of Seabirds if you’re after your next summer read and want it to be a fluffy and cute one!