An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a cozy supernatural romance about a witch in the 17th century who is transported forward in time to modern times. It’s lighthearted and funny. It kept me reading with quirky elements like talking cats and spell craft. It’s a slow-paced romantic comedy that tackles online dating and hot veterinarians that might be warlocks. While the romance is sweet, the fish-out-of-water comedy is what drives this narrative. I liked the premise and comedy, but it didn’t satisfy my hope for a romance with a lot of tension. I would recommend it to public libraries and readers who want a comedy with a little bit of romance.

The best thing about Let’s Make a Scene is that while it pairs beautifully with book one in the Theo & Cynthie series, reading book one is not a requirement. It’s a fast-paced, witty, funny, yet deeply emotional romance. The plot goes back and forth through time between the shooting of a period piece movie and its sequel many years later. The main characters Cynthie and Jack are perfectly opposed to each other as co-leads, who quickly become enemies then lovers. It’s a new up-and-coming actress versus a classically trained nepobaby leading man. All the supporting characters are loveable. What appealed to me the most was that there is a lot of character growth from the first movie in the past and the new movie in the present. It deals with tough issues like toxic relationships and emotional abuse. Yet, it also is very comical with hilarious pranks. This book would suit a public library collection.

A girl panics when the pool she is swimming in becomes overcrowded with other swimmers. There are so many people that there is no room for even her tears. Feeling out of place, she swims to the very bottom of the pool’s drain, only to emerge into an old swamp. There, she comes to terms with her feelings of being “unnatural” and returns to the pool to inspire others to be their “unnatural” selves too. The illustrations in this picture book, although beautiful, are also uncanny. This is perhaps to highlight the protagonist’s feelings of being “unnatural”, but they may be a little too eerie for readers under the age of 6. The message of this story, although confusing at first, seems to be that one must sit with their feelings and come to accept themselves for who they are. Although the intent behind Unnaturally Blue is a good one, unless a child has great inferencing skills, I feel the message will be lost on younger readers. It would be better recommended in a class setting, where the metaphors and messages in the story could be explained in detail and discussed with an adult.

The beloved Hockey in the Wild is back in paperback format! Beaver goes to swim one day and realizes that the lake is now ice. Excited, he calls over Moose and Bear to play hockey… only to realize that the lake is not thick enough to play hockey as they fall into the ice. Hilarity ensues as they wait for the lake to freeze over enough to play. The three delightfully funny critters are sure to please both children and adults alike with their quirky antics. The illustrations are fun and lively, in Nicholas Oldland’s usual style. This more affordable version of the picture book would be a wonderful addition to any library catering to children.

Aggie is excited to move out on her own, but discovers a ghost haunting her house. At first, Aggie tries to get along with the ghost by establishing some house rules. But the ghost constantly breaks them, leading Aggie to challenge the ghost to a game of tic-tac-toe: if the ghost loses, he must move out. They tie the game and return home together, but the next day the ghost is gone, and Aggie quickly realizes being alone is not everything she hoped for. Making one final rule, Aggie tells the ghost to never visit her every now and then, which, of course, the ghost breaks, and they become good friends (though not the best of friends). Illustrations are composed of soft lines and a cozy colour palette, which add additional meaning to the 2-4 lines of text per page. Aggie and the Ghost would make an excellent addition to a school or public library children’s collection for ages 4-8, as Aggie navigates setting boundaries with a companion that constantly oversteps.

The Book of Lost Hours is a thrilling blend of historical and science fiction. Lisavet Levy, a child hiding from the Nazis on Kristallnacht in Germany 1938, becomes trapped in the time space, a library where all of the world’s memories are stored. In 1965, Bostonian Amelia Duquesne learns of the time space after her uncle—a CIA agent for the Temporal Reconnaissance Program—is killed under mysterious circumstances. Gelfuso takes readers on a journey through time, space and memory, following both young women as they work to understand their role in remembrance. The author weaves the stories of these two women together in a way that is at times surprising and heartbreaking, all while asking important questions about the power of controlling narratives. With its unique concept and story full of government secrets, rebellion, romance and plenty of action, The Book of Lost Hours is a great read for anyone looking for an adventurous and gripping book.

In this fantasy romance novel, Emma Hamm takes readers to a world where the gods are dead, a mysterious plague threatens the kingdom of Inverholm and the only way Princess Jessamine Harmsworth can save it is through a marriage she does not want. The story has a running start in chapter 1, when Jessamine is betrayed and murdered by the groom at the wedding before the story flags and meanders for most of the book. It manages to find its momentum again for the last few chapters, but the overall effect has plot and themes of revenge and “feminine rage” (promised on the back of the book) taking a backseat in favour of romance between Jessamine and the Deathless One. This leaves the book feeling clumsier than it needs to be. The Deathless One can fit New Adult or Adult fantasy-romance collections in public libraries. Emphasis that this book falls firmly in the New Adult genre and not Young Adult (for example, the sex scenes do not fade to black).

Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar, follows a woman as she experiences two life-altering conversations one after another: her husband tells her he is leaving her for his affair partner, his coworker Maggie, and her doctor tells her she has breast cancer. Told in a beautiful first-person prose that reads like journal entries, the narrator adjusts to her new reality while reflecting on her life and relationships as a friend, daughter, partner, Asian woman, (ex)wife and mother. The relationships between the narrator and her kids, as well as with her best friend Darlene, are particularly special, highlighting the power and importance of non-romantic, unconditional love. Vulnerable, reflexive, with gut-wrenching and heartwarming moments alike, Katie Yee’s debut novel is a deeply moving exploration of devastation and rebuilding that readers are sure to continue thinking about long after finishing the last page.