This sampler features previews of:
-The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
-Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
-Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
-Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
-Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram

The world in The Bone Spindle seemed interesting, but it didn’t seem like something I’d be into. It was a gender swapped Sleeping Beauty retelling.

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions is about a boy going to prom, his love for some kind of fandom and trying to get out of his late brother’s shadow. This one wasn’t for me either.

I remember wanting to read Hotel Magnifique when it came out. It’s about two sisters in a poor town trying to get jobs in a magical hotel that reappears every 10 years.

Right Where I Left You is about two best friends, Diego and Isaac, spending their last summer together before Isaac heads to college in the fall. I like to characters and writing style in this one. I really want to read the book now.

The last sample, Kiss & Tell, is about an openly gay boy band member who’s preparing to go on a huge world tour. I liked this one the second best.

I saw a few books I wanted to read so I give this sampler five stars. The reasons I gave it five stars is because I read about some amazing books that I would add to my tbr pile.

I always love a good sampler, thank you for adding to my neverending tbr! So many interesting titles, neer enough time to read in a day!

Before I begin, let me just thank Penguin Teen for the opportunity to read this sampler! It provided a fantastic glimpse into this year's upcoming titles, and threw some books onto my radar that I hadn't heard of before! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Every snippet in this sampler was great. However, I was most enthralled by HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE: dark, whimsical, atmospheric, and reminiscent of two of my all-time favourite fantasies (CARAVAL and THE NIGHT CIRCUS), it was everything I wanted from a YA fantasy and more. I've already placed it on my pre-order list, and can't wait to read it in its entirety in April!

All in all, this sampler gave a great taste of some of the titles coming out next year, all of which I'm looking forward to picking up. Thanks again for the opportunity to read it!

There is a good variety of stories in here. I am also pleased to see so many writers of color featured in one place! All of the book sound amazing, but I am most interested in KISS & TELL by Adib Khorram. His Darius the Great series is one of my favorite YA contemporaries.

This was the first sampler I've ever received. Thank you Penguin for allowing me a preview of your upcoming releases.

I am most excited for Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions! I love contemporary novels, and am so glad to see more about prom/senior year.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This sampler gives readers a sneak peek into five upcoming titles Penguin Young Readers will be publishing.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed reading this. I'm a huge Cruel Prince fan and the Fi/Shane both gave me major Jude Cardan vibes - both are super badass, adventurous, and not afraid of a little danger. I can definitely see the Sleeping Beauty x Indiana Jones here. And I'm a sucker for fresh gender-bending retellings so I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy of this. Why'd you have to end the sample at a cliffhanger though 🥲?

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This looks like it's going to be a solid debut. I was really upset when I couldn't read anymore of it. I love a good dark fantasy/adventure tale. Plus Caraval x Night Circus? Yes please. Reason why I didn't give it 5 ⭐️ though is because I was a bit thrown off by Jani's jealousy. Definitely will be reading it still.

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon - ⭐️⭐️

I feel like I would've enjoyed this if the writing was a bit better. It didn't really pull me in the way I hoped it would. Not sure if I'll be picking it up.

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters - ⭐️⭐️

Also not sure if I'll be picking this up. It didn't really hook me in the way I thought it would. It was a quick read though!

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram - ⭐️⭐️

Jokes in this made me really uncomfortable, especially the one about Africa. I don't think lumping an entire continent together is productive and is a harmful stereotype so it's something to consider editing out.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. I am so excited for this upcoming season of new book releases! All of these upcoming titles look so good! I enjoyed all of the samples I read and can't wait to read the finished and published copies!

I'm very excited about these! Thank you so much for this sampler.
I was mostly interested in Adib Khorram's Kiss & Tell as I loved the author's previous work. I can't wait to read the full book.
I also enjoyed Right Where I Left You a lot! The other stories were great as well.

Wanted to point out one thing about Kiss & Tell that should probably be edited out. One character talks about meeting people who have HIV and says they're "from Africa I think". Africa is a big continent, maybe it'd be nice to choose a specific place, if mentioning the location really is something that has to be done. Or simply not mention any location at all, as it just plays into the stereotype...

This was a good, varied sampler. I thought I was going to like The Bone Spindle, but that one didn't pull me in. I surprisingly found Sunny G funny and might pick that one up even though that's not usually my taste and I will 100% be picking up Hotel Magnifique. I don't think Right Where I Left You or Kiss & Tell are for me.

hmm so some of these titles were really great while some fell flat , for some the book here i can't wait for 2022 so I can finally get to read these as I need some of the tiles here asappppppp

The Bone Spindle (3/5): I’m interested in continuing the book. The idea of two female treasure hunters needing to save the prince is intriguing.
Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions (1/5): I will not be continuing with this book. I couldn’t get through the first few pages as there was nothing grabbing my attention. This is often the case with contemporaries, but especially this one as it seems there will be a strong focus on religion and that just doesn’t interest me.
Hotel Magnifique (3/5): Despite the annoying main character (she gets jealous of her 13-year-old sister within the first three chapters), the premise is fun enough to make me want to read more.
Right Where I Left You (1/5): Just not for me… already bored within the first few pages
Kiss & Tell (2/5): Again, not really my thing, but at least this one addresses issues like a toxic fanbase within the first few chapters.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for offering this sampler of upcoming releases for free on NetGalley.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder — ★★★★★

Oh, these first couple of chapters hooked me. I went from having no idea about this book to needing it immediately. It felt very much like a fairytale Tomb Raider, with booby traps and ancient magic and all that fun stuff. I'm so excited for this title. (Please tell me it's sapphic.)

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon — ★★★☆☆

This story was okay, but I didn't really like the narrator. Sunny is certainly likeable but he walks the line between quirky and obnoxious. I likely won't purchase or continue reading this book.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor — ★★★★☆

I liked this one, but it didn't grab me immediately; I was kind of bored with the main characters and the atmosphere. But the premise of the magic hotel and the small glimpses we got of it kept me reading quickly through the end. I wish there was just one more chapter included! I might consider this book if I see it out at a discount.

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters — ★★★★★

After reading the summary I was pretty lukewarm on this title, but the sample made me like it a lot more. I love the narrator, Isaac, and even though I'm not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers I'm still rooting for him and Diego. The cliffhanger this sample ended on was unacceptable!!

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram — ★★★★☆

This book is the reason I downloaded the sampler. I love Adib Khorram, and after reading IF THIS GETS OUT by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (which is PHENOMENAL, btw) I was excited for another boy band romance. I was a little disappointed to find that the romance isn't between members however, it's just the lead songwriter falling for someone else. Still, I am looking forward to the rest of this book being available!

It was a great experience to be able to read the sample of what seem to be great books. I hope to read all of them soon.

**Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the Sampler of these titles in exchange for this review. This in no way changed my thoughts or ratings for each title**

I'll be honest: I downloaded this solely for Adib Khorram's Kiss & Tell and weirdly, that ended up being my least favorite of the five. I don't know how to feel about that because Darius the Great is Not Okay is in my top 2 books of all time. However, these are the thoughts I have on each title in this sampler.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder:
-A very interesting and refreshing take on Sleeping Beauty retellings
-Seems like it's going in a great direction for a Fantasy quest with two badass heroines
-Feels like it would be good for fans of Throne of Glass or All The Stars and Teeth
-Will be reading this when it releases

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon:
-Gives me vibes similar to Darius the Great is Not Okay crossed with Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Thought the protagonist was very fun
-Easy to read. The writing style was very engaging
-Not a huge fan of the knock-off Harry Potter series, but glad that they called out the lack of diversity in titles like that and have made their own thing from it
-Will be reading this when it releases

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor:
-The most surprising on the list. I was not expecting to like this when it was compared to Caraval
-Really liked the setting and the inclusion of the lore for the hotel early on
-I enjoyed Jani as a character and her devotion to her sister
-This sample ended too soon and I want to find out what happens immediately. Will be reading this when it releases

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
-Another one I wasn't too sure about going in
-Another one where the writing was very engaging and a quick read
-I'm curious if this is going to be a slow burn because it was mentioned at the beginning that the character is into that and I historically do not enjoy slow burn romances. I would be willing to try because I liked the sample, though.
-Will probably be reading this when it releases

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram:
-Characters were well done, as expected from this author
-I'm hoping we meet more of the other band mates besides Ashton in this book. I know he has a closer relationship with him, but I would like to know more about the other three, as well
-Really like the love interest
-This one had some "jokes" I was on the fence about and that made me uncomfortable. The buzzfeed like quiz where they ask you to "build a pho order" to find out "which solo you are" from the ONE Asian band mate and the story about The Label flying in kids with HIV "from Africa I think" were some of the stand outs. The HIV one felt especially unnecessary. The idea that any current band would do a charity single instead of just donating money to the cause feels a little tone deaf in 2021, especially after the reception of the celebrity "Imagine" cover for COVID. I also didn't think it was necessary to throw in they were "from Africa". There are, unfortunately, plenty of kids living with HIV all over the world and that didn't sit right with me to continue a harmful stereotype.
-I will probably be reading this upon release because I like Khorram's other work, but I'm less excited for it than I was going into this sample

This sampler is a little goldmine! I was very excited to see that this had one of my most anticipated books for 2022 in it, Hotel Magnifique, and the sample did not disappoint. After finishing it, I now have several books that I am very eagerly looking out! 

Firstly, a huge thank you to Penguin Teen for putting this together, it is extremely generous and it has made me very keen for their upcoming books. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for allowing me to read this.

The Bone Spindle
This preview was fantastic! I was hooked immediately, I can tell that I'm going to like this one. Described as 'Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones', this was exciting and left me wanting to read more. I'll definitely be looking to read this one when it is released.


Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions
This is a YA which seems like it will be addressing some intense issues. It also does seem quite funny, with some humourous parts in the sample, so I'll give it a read when it is released. 


Hotel Magnifique
Okay so firstly this is one of my most anticipated reads, so I was over the moon to read this sample. It did not disappoint! The concept is fantastic, and the magic system involved sounds fantastic. I could not be more excited for this one! 


Right Where I Left You 
I am not a huge fan of friends to lovers, but this one does seem quite sweet. The fandom in this is ridiculous (ridiculous good), because the author has created a very impressive superhero story.


Kiss & Tell
This was SO GOOD. I love the concept, firstly, and the characters seem so open and exciting. I got drawn into the story immediately, and I am looking forward to reading this book to find out more.

This sampler includes several upcoming releases for early 2021. I really enjoyed Hotel Magnifique’s sample and can’t wait to get this book when it comes out. I also really enjoyed the sample for The Bone Spindle which is loosely based on Sleeping Beauty and includes really interesting characters and a sapphic romance which I can’t wait to read. There are also some contemporary previews for books that include POC main characters I’m really excited for,
I recommend reading this if you are interested in any of the titles included.

This was a great sampler of five upcoming titles.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder: This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and this preview did not disappoint! I’m even more excited about this Sleeping Beauty retelling!

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon: This seems like it’s going to be a cute novel that deals with some serious issues. Just added it to my TBR!

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor: I need this book now! It has a magical hotel and two sisters are the center, one of which is the main character. I really wish this was out in the world already – I need to know what happens to this cast of characters!

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters: Julian Winters needs to write a full-length superhero story, especially after creating a superhero fandom in this novel and writing a superhero short story. I like Diego but I’m not sure about the main character Isaac.

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram: The LGBTQ+ boy band take over continues! I’m intrigued by the premise and want to see how the main character, Hunter, gets over his last relationship and starts a new one.

All in all, there’s a lot of titles here that I am really looking forward to reading!

I love that Penguin Teen, one of my favorite publishers, has decided to push out samples of some of my most-anticipated releases of the summer! I'll be looking forward to reading more about these books in the coming weeks.

Always appreciative of this opportunity to see when new titles will be available from my favorite authors as well as to discover new authors of interest. Love the excerpts!