A slow-burn, book-themed romance with appeal for patient readers of character-driven stories.
During a time of censorship, two young people who are flouting the law find one another.
Joseon Dynasty Korea, 1792: King Jeongjo just reinforced a ban on fiction, but not everyone follows the rules. Eighteen-year-old Shin Haewon, a cunning young commoner, transcribes novels under the pseudonym “Magpie” for Five Willows, a secret bookshop that lends out forbidden texts for “a small fortune.” Nineteen-year-old Yu Seojun is torn between pleasing his traditional father, an important government official, and doing what he loves most: writing fiction. After the reinstatement of the Munchebanjeong edict, Seojun, or “Black Lotus,” stopped writing his novel—or responding to letters from his transcriber and pen pal, Magpie. When their paths finally cross in person, they meet as strangers. Seojun dismisses Haewon because of her social status, while Haewon sees Seojun as arrogant “Lord Perfect.” But over time, Seojun develops a fondness for Haewon and realizes her identity; Haewon takes longer to recognize who Seojun is, let alone her feelings for him. In this heartwarmingly beautiful yet frustratingly slow romance that riffs on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, layers of secrecy, mystery, and sociopolitical risk weave tension into a charming love story.
A slow-burn, book-themed romance with appeal for patient readers of character-driven stories. (historical note, character list, author’s note) (Historical romance. 14-adult)Pub Date: May 19, 2026
ISBN: 9781250348081
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A beautiful, magic-infused love story that doesn’t shy away from harsh realities.
Two Japanese American 17-year-olds find one another in an internment camp as they try to piece their lives back together.
It’s 1942. Ren Hamada has a bad reputation, but he works to help support his alcoholic mother and unwed pregnant sister. The only thing his absent father has ever given him is a small wooden carving of a sacred fox. Violet Aratani has loving parents who own a print shop, and she dreams of studying art in college next year. Then her father is arrested by the FBI, accused of being a community organizer. Before he’s taken away, Otōsan slips Violet an old family heirloom—a small figurine of a deer from Nara. With World War II raging on, the two families are taken to the Manzanar relocation center in the California desert, where the magical relics draw Ren and Violet together. The magic also helps them see the fallen god who lives among them—and who could destroy them all. Freeing him would earn them divine favor, but they struggle amid rising tensions and the camp’s inadequate living conditions. Informed by the author’s family’s experiences, this is a fascinating blend of history, romance, and Japanese mythology. Krause accurately depicts the injustices and hardships experienced by Japanese Americans. Despite some heavy, bleak themes, the story captures the ways people sought joy, love, and happiness even in harsh circumstances.
A beautiful, magic-infused love story that doesn’t shy away from harsh realities. (map, author’s note, photos, discussion questions) (Historical fantasy romance. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9798217027668
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
