Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley

Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley

Back in high school, Lily Wang wanted to be popular, but she considered herself lucky to be part of a tight group of oddballs and honors students called the Nerd Herd. Now, at twenty-eight, she feels like she’s finally on the cusp of succeeding as a beauty influencer—if she can hit five million subscribers, brands will take notice and she could get her own makeup line. Fellow Nerd Herd alum Tobin Bui has had a lot of success as a YouTube gamer. But the road to online stardom has been rocky. First, he disappointed… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Sexism
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Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay

Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay

In this collection of essays, Blay expands on that initial idea by looking at the significance of influential black women throughout history, including Josephine Baker, Michelle Obama, Rihanna, and Cardi B. Incorporating her own personal experiences as well as astute analysis of these famous women, Blay presents an empowering and celebratory portrait of black women and their effect on American culture. She also examines the many stereotypes that have clung to black women throughout history, whether it is the Mammy, the Angry Black Woman, or more recently, the Thot. 

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial slurs
  • Sexual assault mentioned
  • Attempted suicide mentioned
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Police brutality
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Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge and translated by Jeremy Tiang

In the fictional Chinese city of Yong’an, an amateur cryptozoologist is commissioned to uncover the stories of its fabled beasts. These creatures live alongside humans in near-inconspicuousness—save their greenish skin, serrated earlobes, and strange birthmarks. Aided by her elusive former professor and his enigmatic assistant, our narrator sets off to document each beast, and is slowly drawn deeper into a mystery that threatens her very sense of self.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Suicide
  • Pregnancy
  • Emesis
  • Body horror
  • Cannibalism
  • Forced institutionalisation
  • Animal cruelty
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Room to Dream by Kelly Yang 

Room to Dream by Kelly Yang

After years of hard work, Mia Tang finally gets to go on vacation with her family — to China! A total dream come true! Mia can’t wait to see all her cousins and grandparents again, especially her cousin Shen. As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China’s going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life, like . . . 1. Lupe’s taking classes at the high school! And Mia’s own plans to be a big writer are … Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism & colourism
  • Gentrification
  • Bullying
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White Ivy by Susie Yang 

White Ivy by Susie Yang

Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her. Raised outside of Boston, she is taught how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops by her immigrant grandmother. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, where her dream instantly evaporates. Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Classism
  • Cheating
  • Dubious consent scenario*
  • Eating disorder
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Cancer
  • Murder
  • Bullying

* Context : Characters have sex while drunk.

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Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap 

Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap

“Am I dead?” Mebuyen sighs. She was hoping the girl would not ask. Spells and stories, urban legends and immigrant tales: the magic in Isabel Yap’s debut collection jumps right off the page, from the joy in her new novella, ‘A Spell for Foolish Hearts’ to the terrifying tension of the urban legend ‘Have You Heard the One About Anamaria Marquez’.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Homomisia
  • Deadnaming
  • Misgendering
  • Rape
  • Statutory rape
  • Suicide
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Murder
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This Is My Truth by Yasmin Rahman 

This Is My Truth by Yasmin Rahman

High school junior Gigi Wong strives to be the best: the top student, the perfect friend, and the ideal daughter. But it’s tough when there’s always someone who is just a little bit better. With college applications looming, she can’t help but worry that she won’t make the cut. Thankfully, her best friend Kyle never fails to find the right words–and the perfect bowl of ramen–to cheer her up.Best friends Amani and Huda are getting nervous about their GCSEs – and their future beyond school, which they’re both wildly unprepared for. Shy, quiet Amani has an outwardly picture-perfect family – a father who is a successful TV presenter… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Islamomisia
  • Domestic violence
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Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen 

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen

High school junior Gigi Wong strives to be the best: the top student, the perfect friend, and the ideal daughter. But it’s tough when there’s always someone who is just a little bit better. With college applications looming, she can’t help but worry that she won’t make the cut. Thankfully, her best friend Kyle never fails to find the right words–and the perfect bowl of ramen–to cheer her up. After her teacher, Ms. Harris, announces she’ll be nominating students for an app writing contest, Gigi is determined to be picked… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
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A Light Amongst Shadows by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

A Light Amongst Shadows by Kelley York & Rowan Altwood

James Spencer is hardly the typical “troubled youth” who ends up at Whisperwood School for Boys. Instead of hating the strict schedules and tight oversight by staff, James blossoms, quickly making friends and indulging in his love of writing, while contemplating the merits of sneaking love poems to the elusive and aloof William Esher. The rumours about William’s sexuality and opium reliance are prime gossip material amongst the third years. Rumours that only further pique James’ curiosity to uncover what William is really like beneath all that emotional armour… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Homomisia
  • Rape recounted
  • Depression
  • Drug abuse
  • Blood depiction
  • Murder, off-page
  • Torture
  • Blackmail
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Suicide Watch by Kelley York

Suicide Watch by Kelley York

18-year-old Vincent Hazelwood has spent his entire life being shuffled from one foster home to the next. His grades sucked. Making friends? Out of the question thanks to his nervous breakdowns and unpredictable moods. Still, Vince thought when Maggie Atkins took him in, he might’ve finally found a place to get his life—and his issues—in order. But then Maggie keels over from a heart attack. Vince is homeless, alone, and the inheritance money isn’t going to last long. A year ago, Vince watched a girl leap to her death off a bridge, and now he’s starting to think she had the… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Foster care system
  • Suicidal ideation (theme)
  • Suicide by jumping off a bridge recounted
  • Cancer mentioned
  • Heart attack
  • Homelessness
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