First coming across this book I was completely in love with it from the cover, further reading the description I was sold when I saw The Greatest Showman and KNEW I had to read it!

In life I genuinely love the circus and am obsessed with the mystery and magic of it all. Harley is the perfect character - multicultural and trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs - full of emotions and life lessons there were definitely times when I lost myself in emotions.

I loved Harley in the Sky from the first page and could not put it down - I read it in one sitting. At no point did I feel the book was lacking or missing anything.

Eighteen-year-old Harley works at her parents' circus but they into a disagreement about Harley's career goals and future. Harley wants to be an aerialist but her parents want her to go to college. Harley, feeling betrayed, ends up ditching her parents' circus for another circus. Harley does not run away to any circus but she runs off to a rival circus, Maison du Mystère. Harley wants to harness herself to become the best she can be and she feels like her parents are stopping her from reaching her full potential. However, quickly learns that working at a circus is hard work. It's not all about magic and love. Harley learns that there are people that can make her dream as an aerialist difficult at Maison du Mystère. She wants to learn but not everyone supports her. Some people actually see her as a threat. One particular aerialist feels threatened by Harley and is not super welcoming or helpful at all.

Akemi Dawn Bowman shows Harley's internal struggle with mental health issues as well as Harley's struggle to do what is best for her despite what her parents think. She is bi-racial and never quite feels like she knows where she belongs. Vivien, Dexi and Vas definitely have good relationships with Harley and I would love to read more about them. Bowman writes poignant novels with a strong plot and character development. Readers will feel emotionally invested when they read Bowman's novels.

Harley in the Sky is about self-exploration; it's about exploring who you are but staying true to yourself at the same time. It's about self-acceptance and following your dreams and figuring how to navigate internal struggles. I highly recommend this book if you love reading about circuses and self-discovery.

Harley is in love with the circus. Her parents run their own circus, and it’s her dream to someday be on the trapeze in front of the crowd. But when her parents won’t let her pursue the trapeze, and instead want her to go to college, she has to take matters into her own hands. She runs away and joins a rival circus, hoping to be properly trained and allowed to perform. But will all the risks she’s taken be for nothing?

I received a free advanced reading copy of Harley in the Sky in exchange for an honest review.

Harley in the Sky is a YA fiction novel by Akemi Dawn Bowman. It’s her third novel, and while I’ve had her first novel, Starfish, on my TBR for a while, this is actually the first of her books I’ve read. It’s a novel about struggling with one’s identity, family, found family, and achieving one’s dreams.

So now that I’ve given you some basic information on the book, let’s dive into the review, shall we?

I can’t talk about Harley in the Sky without starting out with Harley. The entire novel is told from her first-person POV, and it’s told in the present. This, and the actual narration, makes the reader feel incredibly close to Harley. Bowman does an amazing job in allowing me to feel what Harley is feeling: her frustrations, her anger, her sadness, and her joy. And while I often didn’t agree with Harley’s decisions, I had to agree that they fit her character perfectly. She did everything for a reason, and it fit. And I loved her. She’s such an amazing character: so real and so flawed and so undeniably there. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I felt pretty connected to her, despite our differences.

As for the story, it’s led pretty strictly by Harley and the life she forms for herself in this circus. We meet all the people she gets to know, and see her begin to form a new family with them. All of her relationships, actually, feature a lot in this novel. And by relationships, I don’t mean only romantic. I mean friends, family, acquaintances, everyone! Her interactions with others can be sweet or stressful. Sometimes they’re easy and other times full of tension, with both people practically holding lit fuses. But they all come about organically, all the characters mean something to Harley, and they come to mean something to the reader.

It was her relationship with her parents that stood out the most to me. She often feels like she can’t meet her parents’ expectations, and what child doesn’t feel that, but she’s brave enough to do something about it and leave. But that doesn’t mean that her parents are no longer a part of her story or her life. There are so many moments throughout the book (I’m trying so hard not to spoil it here) where something brings them back to the present, and where it’s clear how much they love Harley, and how much she loves them. The book is filled with this love, and it overshadows most other relationships that Harley develops, and it’s amazing.

But Harley’s most important relationships are clearly with the circus and with herself. In terms of the circus, Bowman sets a beautiful stage for all our acts, with the dramatic and magical backdrop of a traveling circus troupe, formed of very real people who have talents that would make any audience believe in magic. What an excellent setting for any novel, but it really took this novel to new heights.

And as for Harley’s relationship with herself… I did mention early on that this is a story about finding one’s identity, about realizing who one is and what dreams propel them forward. Harley grows and changes in this novel, seeing herself through so many eyes. Harley has both Chinese and Japanese in her, as well as a variety of different heritages, and she often finds herself trying to put the puzzle together in a way that makes sense. And, she also has to find some way to manage what is going on in her head. Again, I don’t want to give spoilers here, but Harley in the Sky also introduces mental health representation, gently at first, with it growing to become a bigger part of the novel. It was sometimes hard to read about, as again, as a reader, I was just placed so close to Harley. But I made it through.

It was beautiful. This book had me crying at the end, because it was so perfect. Because its message made its way into my heart and I just adored every word on the pages. Harley in the Sky was an amazing read, and I would recommend it to literally anyone.

Harley in the Sky will be released on March 10. You can pre-order your copy from Simon & Schuster here.

Yes! I love the idea of a character "running away to join the circus" and exploring college as only one option. The writing resonates with many coming-of-age youth--putting thoughts they are experiencing on the page. No, they may not be juggling the idea of joining a circus, but they are in the tug-a-war of finding their own path vs the path their parents have provided. Beautiful story about family and finding forgiveness.

This is the first Bowman book I've read, and I can say I'm very interested in reading more. (Do you have any you'd recommend?)

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own!*


One of the things that really made me love this book was the plot mixed with the setting and atmosphere- it was gorgeous! If you were a fan of The Greatest Showman or like to read books with the circus kind of setting then here you go- perfection!

Plot-wise, I really liked the idea at the beginning. Then I loved the idea, but the main character handled things rather pettily at spots which is where the side characters came in and kept me in love.

Harley running off to join the circus that her parents hate was a plot idea that definitely gave us some extra drama in the story and character relationships.
And then later with Harley making, again, some less-than-good decisions for petty reasons didn't help with my opinion of her though it definitely got the story heading in an interesting direction. It helped to get resolve and the development needed though.


I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this read. It was so romantic and amazing to read! Definitely plan to re-read this year!!

The ending was a combination of Harley dealing with different relationships- some made me squeal happily, and some were touching and heart-warming. Again, perfection!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion. 

"A girl living among the planets."

I have always enjoyed Bowman has wrote, because I have always found myself in one way or another. From the social anxiety rep. to A-spec rep. to having a dream in the circus. So it's just really likely that I'd enjoy her books from what she has wrote-and i have. This one is no different, bring my enjoyment in the circus. I have fond memories of going even though things changed, and my fear of clowns is present.

For some odd reason, this book just reminded a lot about The Greatest Showman (please, let this be the inspiration.)  I'm not complaining, because the music is lit, the story-line, however, I kinda fell asleep and did other things because it was boring. But it seriously reminds a whole lot from the inspiration of it.

If there was anything that I have always loved about Bowman's characters is that they are realistic. They're human and that's what makes me enjoy them a lot. Harley is a little different. I can't help, but become irritated by the way she is-acting really immature. A lot. 

Harley is an... interesting character to say. I enjoy her character, the love of wanting to be in the circus and her family not wanting her to be in the circus to peruse her studies more. There were a lot of moments where I loved her, and quite a bit of moments where I wanted to slap her.

I loved her passion about things, and I liked how she could get somewhat blinded until she realizes it wasn't a good idea. That's kinda like the main gist of her, and the book because it's because of that fault-where she learns that being in the circus is hard. Harder than what she imagined. 

It shows throughout the book with how she was being treated in Maison du Mystère. Her thoughts were quite realistic on why she wasn't making friends. Why it didn't seem to include her into anything? Those thoughts were something I have always known because I feel like whenever I mess up, those people always go away. That I wasn't good enough for anyone, and that's why people avoided me and I still have those thoughts.

I have never realized how common those thoughts are, because I thought it was just me-but seeing myself in Harley with her mental illness. It was just so beautiful, because I could relate to her a lot.

But I can't fault her for that. For every bad quality she has, there is always something good about her. It's what makes us all human, and I loved that Bowman creates such realistic characters who are gray.

I adore Harley's passion in the circus! The way it was written was just so beautiful. It made feel like I was there, witnessing the things in the circus. I could feel how much the circus was Harley's life-and it was all so beautiful. 

From the way she describes the circus. Like wow. Look at this amazing quote I've found that was just really beautiful.

"Because this place-the circus-it's home to people who'v never quite fit in anywhere else. It's home to people who feel different. It's home to people who see that magic doesn't strictly exist in fairy tales. 

Can we just talk about the multicultural rep in this? It was so beautiful, and I loved it. I'm not multicultural from what I've known about my family, which is practically nothing. i loved the fact that Harley felt like she wasn't Asian enough from the rest of her family members.

That her Asian middle name made her feel like an alien. I felt like it was written really well, because it happens to a lot of people. It was so beautifully touched on, and I loved that she learned to be comfortable with who she was.

Aah! I'm not screaming, but I literally can not believe in words. I always knew woman always had it worst off, but watching Miss Americana, my World Cultures teacher teaching us about the social power and the privilege that (cis) men have. It was in words, and I loved that Bowman went to that direction, because it's true.

"People automatically call me a bitch because I'm driven and I don't want to waste my time on distractions. But if I were a man, do you think for a moment they'd associate those qualities as negative? No. They'd praise me as a hard worker. They'd find my initiative and determination impressive. But women are not snobs and brats and whatever else. Because I don't smile and take people's shit, or accept less than what I deserve."

This is me in words. I don't take distractions, and I work so hard-but honestly, no one understands that woman or anyone else who's not a (cis)man, can be smarter. That we don't get praised for anything that we do, because it isn't what society believes.

The only thing I really didn't like is the whole separation of the things. It was fine up until week 3, that's where I was confused. Because my page would load, but when I swiped down. It was week 4. It made me think I was missing something and maybe I am, because I'm confused by the way it is.

It kept jerking me out the story because my mind was like, "What's going on. Is it because my copy didn't downloaded correctly? Or is there no information?" It was just so weird, and perhaps I should have been used to it, since I know one other book that did the same thing.

The writing was just beautiful and was so hard not to love. It was hard refraining myself not to find every single inspiring quote and writing them here, because those are Bowman's books. Something I will always look forward to.

Akemi Dawn Bowman has become one of my favorite authors. She has such an incredible way with words that when you're reading, you get sucked into this world she has created. 

The circus is all Harley has known. Her parents own a famous circus show in Las Vegas and it has always been her dream to be the star trapeze artist, even though her parents want her to go to college. After her 18th birthday and one of the biggest fights she's ever had with her parents, Harley impulsively runs away to join the rival traveling circus, betraying her family. After a rocky start being shunned by the aerialist that was supposed to train her, Harley works every night to train and along the way strikes up a relationship with an aspiring composer who also has an affinity to late night practice sessions.

Harley feels everything, very passionately. She experiences very high levels of mania and extremely low, lows. While this was mentioned and talked about frequently in the story, I wish there was more done to help her in what could be seen as bipolar disorder, or at least hyper fixation. I also wish there were more scenes of the performances or the training—the classic show, don't tell. 

While this wasn't my favorite of Bowmans's work, I still really enjoyed this and loved reading Harley's journey.

This review was posted on my blog, The Library Lane.

After finishing Harley in the Sky, all I want is circus related contemporaries! This was my first time reading anything by Akemi Dawn Bowman, but I can say with certainty that it will not be my last. Her writing was so beautiful and she knew how to pull at your heart strings.

Our maim character Harley wants nothing more than to train to become a trapeze artist. While she is passionate about her dream, her parents don’t think it’s a great idea. They only want what is best for her but Harley feels like they aren’t listening or supporting her. Because of this, she really will do anything and everything to be in the circus. Harley is not perfect by any means, but I still loved her. She makes multiple mistakes and she hurts the people she loves. She has good intentions, she just goes about things the wrong way. I really couldn’t help but root for her though.

This book comes with an amazing and diverse group of characters. I loved all the circus crew that Harley mets along the way. In particular, Dexi and Vivien were there for her when she really needed it the most. Also, Vas was sweet and helpful in his own quiet way.

The circus setting was perfect. I loved getting to see behind the scenes and learning how much hard work goes into each performance and event. It brought back memories of going to the circus as a kid. It was always so magical. The author really made everything come to life!

Of course there was a romance and it was really cute. Being that it wasn’t the main focus, I felt like it took a while for the chemistry to appear, but when it did, it was THERE! I love that their relationship kind of mirrored Harley’s parents in a way. I can’t really explain what I mean by that because of spoilers, but if you read this book then you’ll know. It was a sweet thing to add.

Harley in the Sky touches upon mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Harley struggles with what seems like depression (it wasn’t labeled or diagnosed as far as I can remember). Her family believes that it is something that will just pass and it can be ignored. Harley though, wants them to understand that it’s a part of who she is. It is her normal. I want to mention that there is a brief discussion about suicide. It is only a small part, but if it’s something that triggers you, read with caution!

Overall, this book was a delight to read. The setting was stunning, the characters were complex and the writing flows so well. I can’t recommend Harley in the Sky enough. You will get lost in the beauty and magic of the circus!

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman is my first book I have read from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Shuster for a copy of this ARC for an honest review.

Harley Milano comes from a family of Circus Performers as well as her family owns the most famous circus in Las Vegas. She wants to be a Trapeze Artist but her parents want her to stay in school and go to college. Then one day Harley feels like her parents are just not listening to her dreams so she decides to join their revival circus Maison Du Mystère. Harley feels this is the only way she will become what she has always wanted to be.

I loved the story. The characters where all so different. I enjoyed the chemistry between Harley and Vas. I enjoyed how this story took place around the circus and learning the in and outs of the circus life. The writing style was beautiful. Such a fun read!

Well written and full of strong characters, this was a surprise as it was better than I thought it would be. I enjoy the story and the characters quite a bit and I'm glad that I finally picked this up to check out. The author does an amazing job developing her characters and I look forward to reading more by this author! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

With atmospheric and beautiful writing style Akemi Dawn Bowman tells the story of Harley who runs away with a rival circus to become a successful trapeze artist. She does this against her parents' wishes who want her to go to university.

It's a magical modern-day YA story of growing up and growing as a person that teaches us that if you're ready to fight for your dreams then you should also be ready to work hard, get ready to fail and get up over and over again until you get what you want.

We get an exciting insight into the everyday life of a circus and the minds of the people who work there. The book also delves into mental health issues but it never gets too dark rather makes the characters more real and the story more meaningful.

*I received Harley in the Sky as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Series Info/Source: I got an eGalley of this book from NetGalley.com to review. This is a stand alone book.

Story (4/5): This is, at heart, a coming of age story about Harley who is desperate to pursue a career as a trapeze artist while her parents would prefer her to go to school. I enjoyed the circus setting and Harley’s steadfast determination to follow her dreams. It was an engaging story that was a quick read for me.

Characters (4/5): The characters are complex and well done, even the side characters are intriguing. I was a bit frustrated at how poorly Harley and her parents communicate with each other. Harley is definitely a heavily flawed protagonist, she’s bad at compromise and not willing to communicate. However, that is part of the point of this story...so, while I didn’t love Harley I did understand how these flaws were something she had to grow around.

Setting (5/5): Absolutely loved the contemporary circus setting, I am always intrigued by circus life.

Writing Style (4/5): The writing in this book flows well and is easy to read. Some of the descriptions are very well done and really make you feel like you are sitting there in the circus tent. While there’s nothing truly outstanding or spectacular here, this is still a very well written book that is easy to fall into and read.

Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this book. I loved the look into circus life and it was interesting to watch Harley learn that her family and friends deserve just as much consideration as her ambitions. It was also interesting to take a look at a character that has manic depressive tendencies and see how that affects the people around her.

I’ve really enjoyed this author’s past books and I was so excited to join the street team! It’s been so fun so far. I’ll admit, it did take me a bit to get into this book, but I ended up really liking the second half! Harley in the Sky is a story of complex family relationships and following your dreams.

Harley desperately wants to be a trapeze artist in her parents’ circus, but they continually refuse and instead want her to go to college. Eventually she gets fed up and runs away to apprentice at a rival, travelling circus called Maison du Mystere. There, she’s still iced out but she eventually finds a few friends.

I really liked the dynamics of the characters. Harley forms a bond with the violinist and composer named Vas, and they become closer over time. Her friends at the circus were also so supportive and welcoming when Harley felt isolated.

Obviously her relationship with her parents is strained. It’s made very clear that they still care about her and I liked that we got to see both sides. Harley desperately wants to follow her dreams, but her parents want her future to be secure. They want her to be happy in the long-run, even if she’s miserable now, and Harley refuses to accept this as her future. It was important for her to realize that her parents are allowed to worry about her, even if they disagree.

Throughout all of this, she is also struggling with her mental health. It’s later said that she has depression (not professionally diagnosed), and it’s implied that her mom also has depression. Harley has to learn to control her impulses and manage her moods, particularly the comedown after her happiness.

The romance was hot honestly. The tension between Harley and Vas was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. I liked seeing their relationship develop, and I really liked seeing more of Vas’s personality once he grew more comfortable with Harley.

Overall, Harley in the Sky was an enjoyable read with a lovable characters, a great ship, and an important discussion on complex family relationships. I definitely recommend it if you liked the author’s other books or if you want to read a book about passion!

Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.

After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.- Goodreads

I loved this book but Harley needed her ass kicked. Let me explain, her feelings were valid. What she did was completely wrong, she was spoiled and self-centered. There is no way around it and there was character development but then there wasn't. Acknowledging what you did wrong and still getting what you want without an actual consequences doesn't work in my eyes. Because what did she actually learn?

Harley was a great character to read. I loved her drive. In regards to the circus she knew what she was talking about and what she was doing. Everything else she didn't know what she was doing.

What I loved most was the circus. I am not a circus person and this is the first book I have read surrounding the circus that made me see the magic (and the shade). What Harley feels when performing, when watching performances was really inspiring to read and it was the most beautiful part of the book.

There is romance within this novel and I liked it. The romantic interest had depth and he was cute and his story. . . made sense and worked with everything happening in the book and he worked with Harley. That was the most important part. He worked with Harley and not against her. 

The pace of the novel was great. But the author touches upon mental health issues but doesn't dip into it. I am not exactly sure about why but it would have been good to see some form of insight. Towards the end of the novel there were some things that happened that would have been great to have more insight on. The author was a bit too vague when it came to what I believe is mental health issues. 

And more on a personal note, there is another relationship that Harley has within this novel and how it goes down really bothered me on a personal level. I shall leave it at that because that is the best I can do without spoilers lol.

Overall, love this book and would recommend it. 

4 Pickles

Just barely three stars

I LOVED _Starfish_ and really enjoyed _Summer Bird Blue_, so I was expecting to have a similarly positive response to this novel. Sadly, that was not the case.

Harley is...SO selfish. Yes, she's a teen m.c. in a YA novel, but the first 60% of the novel is just her displaying all of her acts of selfishness without much consideration for why they are selfish or why she is behaving in this way. In fact, she openly admits that she knows and wishes she could feel bad for some of the choices she makes; she just doesn't. It's not the selfishness that bothers me here; it's how much of the book centers on this aspect of her personality. By the way, it's not like this disappears at the 60% mark. That's simply where she starts to reveal some minor potential reasons for her behavior and some glimmers of hope that she might one day not be like this (though, spoiler alert, if she gets there, I don't feel like it happens within the confines of this novel).

While her parents appear somewhat powerless in the sense that she won't speak with them for some period and that she has clearly run away from them, their handling of the situation is also so strange. Her mom's emails and her parents' appearance at her performance...it's too much coddling without enough consequence. Bowman effectively explains why this is the case, but it didn't help me feel less grossed out by these aspects.

Even for a YA novel, the ending is too tidy. Harley pays what appears to be one single lasting relationship consequence for months (or, when we take a closer look, YEARS) of crappy behavior. Then, EVERY one of her dreams comes true. Ugh.

Also, I had a really hard time connecting with the circus settings of this work outside of the symbolic aspect of Harley being in the sky literally on the trapeze and when she's having a potentially manic episode versus when she comes down (literally and figuratively again). The circus part was just...challenging to relate to, even as a general setting for following dreams and achieving goals.

I so enjoyed the complexity and evolution of Bowman's earlier novels, and - while the writing remains undeniably beautiful here - I feel a bit let down by how this one unfolds.

Harley's dream is to fly across the Teatro della Notte’s big top on a trapeze. This shouldn't be a problem because her parents own the circus. But they want her to go to college, not perform in their circus. Harley betrays her parents and joins a competing circus, the Maison du Mystere.

This is the first book I have read by Akemi Dawn Bowman, but now I want to read more of them! I really liked that this book explores mental health and questions of identity. Harley and her mother both have undiagnosed psychological disorders which they must learn to live with. Both of Harleys' parents are biracial. Being multiracial, Harley often feels like she doesn’t quite belong with any group. The circus -a place full of misfits- is the one place she truly feels like she belongs. I think there are many topics in this book that a large number of readers will be able to relate to.

My review will also be posted on Instagram @rosetree_bookreviewer

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC of Harley in the Sky in exchange for my honest review!

Another beautifully written, heart wrenching book from Akemi Dawn Bowman. (Is it even an Akemi Dawn Bowman book if it doesn't make you cry at least once?)

When Harley's parents--owners of the most famous circus in Las Vegas--refuse to listen to her dreams of becoming an aerialist, she runs away to the circus. Another circus, that is. But despite the deal she made with the ringmaster, the show's static trapeze artist refuses to train her, and Harley is left feeling like an outcast. Training every night in secret and working hard to prove she's cut out for circus life, Harley eventually carves a place for herself in the big top. But are the secrets she's keeping and the betrayals she's made along the way really worth it?

I love how character driven Bowman's books are, and Harley in the Sky is no different. Though the circus setting adds a particularly fun element, Harley's feelings and choices and relationships are still the real heart of the story. I really appreciated her complexity and the depiction of her struggles with mental illness. I definitely recommend this to everyone who's loved Bowman's other books and anyone who is a fan of character-driven contemporary YA in general.

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Bowman|Book Review|
fictiveescapes Book Reviews, Book Reviews December 13, 2019 2 Minutes
I am still new to the book blogging world but I am learning more about publishing cycles with each passing day. I first discovered this book on edelweiss plus. I instantly decided that this was one novel that I just had to read. But since I get declined for literally everything on edelweiss; i just resigned myself to the fact that this was one e-arc that was a lost cause. When I saw the listing on NetGalley I was just happy to be receiving another chance. The moment that the arc showed up on my bookshelf I instantly Egan reading; how could I not. Thank you NetGalley for making my year and I am looking forward to many more wonderful reads in 2020.



This books is available March 10, 2020

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Harley in the Sky follows Harley an 18 year old half Japanese quater Chinese girl on the cusp of college. But Harley doesn’t want to go to college; she wants to be a trapeze artist. Her parents own a circus in Las Vegas but all they care about is her continuing school so she has a “stable back up plan”. The novel focuses on Harley’s growth as a person and how she attempts to chase after her dream.

This novel really surprised me, I was just expecting a fun adventure piece that used the unique circus background, like The Greatest Showman, but this novel was actually so much more.

It’s a coming of age story that really encapsulates how it feels to leave home for the first time emotionally. And how easy it is to push relationships away when you are so focused on creating something new.

Mental illness awareness ends up playing a huge part in the narrative which was rather unexpected; there is no mention of Harley dealing with depression anywhere in the blurb just a heads up for any readers that prefer to be warned about such topics. Bowman takes the time to show that while some emotions and coping mechanisms can be helpful in a moment can also be harmful for the individual in the long run.

This novel has a wide lovable cast of characters and a setting that enraptures the reader just as much as it does Harley. Harley spends most of the novel freaking out instead of enjoying herself; which isn’t a bad thing but it has left me wishing for a spinoff or sequel novel focusing on the other characters which will probably never happen.

I wish that there was more circus focused media because everything about this setting just seems really interesting and under-utilized. Akemi Bowman has done a fabulous job creating this world and I hope to read more from her soon.



Thanks again to NetGalley for providing me with an early review copy.

This book was so good! I don't normally reach for this kind of book but i have heard so much about it. I was sucked in as soon as I started reading and the main character is so relatable. I think everyone should give this book a try. I will be purchasing this book for my libraries collection.