Ready or not, Skye Warren fans--she's back with her latest romantic standalone and it promises to be a heated, seductive tale for the ages. Escort has all the makings of a delectable romance--and who wants to miss out on that? Fortunately for readers, I have all the dirty details--follow the cut for your first look at Escort!

doll eyes. by Jessyca Thibault | Rating: ★★★★★ 

"I was looking for those distractions / Anything to avoid the pain / Anything to avoid dealing with what happened / But I think the longer you put it off / The harder it hits you / And I think the longer you hold back the tears / The heavier they are when they fall." 

I've been following Jessyca on Instagram for roughly two years. I know her as this: an incredibly cool girl with good taste in music, literature and lipstick. Seeing her book photography and thoughts is a treat. Talking with her is a privilege.

When I heard she'd penned a collection of poetry, I knew straightaway I had to support her--anyone who knows her presence on social media knows how wonderful she is. Needless to say, I didn't even have to question whether or not I was going to purchase doll eyes. I'm glad I did. It is the perfect addition to any poetic soul's shelves and there's no arguing this. Jessya Thibault carves out a place in the poetry community and has a voice that stands tall with many great minds.

And I can't wait to see where the future leads her.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo | Rating: ★★★★★

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

There's nothing inexplicable about why The Poet X works and how it represents such an important voice in coming of age novels. Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerhouse in terms of accurately portraying the mind of a youthful poet as she is discovering herself and her prose. Every second of The Poet X is full of strength and honesty. Raw, lively and heartbreaking. Most importantly, it covers so much ground in such a short amount of time.

Acevedo's Xiomara is frankly one of the best voices in YA contemporaries of the last decade. When she feels, readers feel. When she writes, it's this intensely intimate look into the mind of a young woman and it feels unlike anything I've felt in recent memory. Xiomara is someone you long to know--to look into her mind once, twice, a dozen times--and automatically root for.

There's this incomparable prose to the story that is melodic and adds more depth to an already stellar coming of age tale. Topics explored include first loves, religion, tense family bonds, the changes that come to our bodies in our teenage years, and so much more. Acevedo conveys all of these with a familiar and frank observation. Xiomara will remind you of someone you know or knew--or, of course, yourself.