self-discovery, and the power of chosen family in a way that is both enchanting and profound. The Ivyweather sisters, Constance and Ivory, are sent away for what promises to be a relaxing family vacation, but they quickly find themselves plunged into the mysterious and decaying town of Quixx, where nothing is as it seems.

Constance, the anxious society darling, and Ivory, the adventurous rebel, couldn’t be more different, yet their bond is tested when Ivory disappears, leading Constance on a daring rescue mission. What follows is a gripping adventure filled with eerie fog, forgotten monsters, and the unlikely friendship of Derrek, a dapper, spider-like astronomer with a tragic past. Together, they must uncover the secrets of Quixx, battle both literal and figurative monsters, and lift the veil of darkness that shrouds the town.

Author Kate Schumacher masterfully blends the magical with the emotional, crafting a story that is as much about confronting inner demons as it is about battling external ones. The story's charm lies not only in its captivating plot but also in its exploration of love, kinship, and the importance of both given and chosen family. Though it occasionally dips into middle-grade territory, the novel remains a compelling read for young adults and anyone who enjoys a heartwarming yet thrilling adventure.

With its queer, modern take on the monster genre, The Stars of Mount Quixx stands out as a tale that is both cautiously optimistic and richly imaginative, leaving readers eager for the next chapter in this enchanting series.

I had the hardest time starting this one, sometimes you just aren't the target demographic for books and that's okay!

This charming tale explores the magical journey of two sisters, Constance and Ivory, as they navigate a new world filled with surprises and hidden depths. Set in the quaint town of Quixx, the story beautifully captures the bond between siblings and the importance of both given and found family. With its whimsical charm and endearing characters, it's perfect for young readers seeking a magical adventure, yet equally delightful for those simply yearning for a heartwarming tale

I had difficulty getting into this. I don't think I'm the target audience. I think this is great potential though.

I normally love YA fantasy, but unfortunately the writing just didn't engage me in this one. I do think that I would have absolutely loved this when I was younger, but unfortunately couldn't finish it now.
Still giving three stars because I see the potential.

"The Stars of Mount Quixx" transports readers into a world where two sisters, Constance and Ivory, embark on an unexpected adventure in the enigmatic town of Quixx. With its blend of society and rebellion, science and the supernatural, this tale weaves a captivating narrative. Alongside the spider-like Derrek, we delve into a foggy mystery and face not only literal monsters but also the deeper demons within. This queer modern monster story shines a light on the power of chosen family amid the darkness.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

This book has a ton of potential, and I think the only issue is I’m not the target audience.

I would have loved this as a teen, but unfortunately as an adult this is one of those YA books where the writing just doesn’t grab me. I love YA fantasy, but this one for some reason didn’t hold my attention. I DNF’d about 40 percent as I felt I was having to force myself to read it. It def has potential! Just not for me.

Leaving 3 stars as I didn’t finish completely.

A YA fantasy of love, sisterhood, finding ones self and transgender issues. This was a fun story to read but some parts came off a tad more middle grade than YA and the plot lost itself a few times. For book one it's still pretty good and I'd be curious to see where the book goes from here.

I would have loved this book as a teenager. It has mystery, intrigue and monsters. All the towns people are a little odd and in some ways it reminded me of one of the series of unfortunate event books (without the Narrator breaking the fourth wall).

Both of the sisters were so different and I enjoyed their dynamic. There is a little romance, and a town brimming with history. The world building was well done and I believe it is based in the 50’s or 60’s.

The message is a nice one ‘love is stronger than fear’

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic read! In-depth storytelling, world building, wonderful characters. Would recommend! Excited to read more work by the author.

It is always unfortunate when the synopsis of the book sounds wonderful but the book itself doens't do it justice. The world part was interesting but the characters just didn't hold my interest and I just didn't want to read anymore so I DNF'ed this one.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I’ve found a new favourite author….I am in love with this book.

It’s written so wonderfully, and introduces us to Constance and Ivory, whose parents don’t seem to care a jot about them, but allow Constance to take Ivory away on holiday to let’s say..bring her more into line with what a young lady is expected to be. So, off to Mount Quixx they go, but the place is a bit odd, and off the girls go on an adventure.

This was an absolute joy to read and I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

My thanks to Netgalley and ECW Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I'm afraid this was one of these books that I just couldn't make myself finish. I made it about halfway before deciding it wasn't worth my time finishing it.

I found the story completely bizarre in places, sometimes I wasn't really following what was happening. The main characters are both annoying in different ways, and despite constance being about 18, and talking like she's an adult, everything she does seems very childish. Ivory at least is younger, but is playing the role of 'not like other girls ' in a really obvious and rather irritating way.

I found the writing style a bit childish too. Sometimes too simple and sometimes just trying way too hard.

I never like to leave negative reviews, but this book just wasn't for me at all.

I could tell the direction this book was trying to take, however it just fell a little flat for me.

The premise was good but the overall story just lacked something to keep my attention.

The whole story didn't feel like it was told with very much descriptive language and just more dialogue then anything else which could work if I didn't feel lost.

The Stars of Mount Quixx is an adorable story about love, fear, and embracing the unknown.

Sisters Constance (18) and Ivory (14) head off to Quixx for a summer getaway, only to discover the town is a far cry from what they thought it would be. And the mysterious mountain towering over the town has a secret - monsters live there, and Ivory can't wait to meet them.

I really enjoyed the character arcs for Constance and Ivory and even some of the side characters. Derrek and Ms. Bee were lovely, too! The vibe of the book is cozy with just the right amount of suspense. There's a section with a disjointed timeline that was a little difficult to keep straight, but the order of it made sense. I really appreciated the variety of representation.

Rep: anxiety, Sapphic, Achillean, transgender, nonbinary, fat

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #TheStarsOfMountQuixx.

I want to say that I loved this book but in all honesty I just couldn't get my attention to stay focused. It didn't draw me in the way I had hoped that it would. There was something about the writing that just bothered me and I finally had to just stop reading it. It may have gotten better, but for me I just couldn't finish it. Maybe I will try again another time.

I did enjoy this story despite the slower start to it. It has likable characters, and a really interesting premise. There is also a really lovely small town setting, imbued with magic. It definitely focuses a lot on the relationships between the characters more so than action and plot. Some of the dialogue and thoughts of characters did make them appear to be younger than they actually were. It definitely felt aimed at younger readers.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an opportunity to read this book.

At the younger end of the YA genre so I struggled to identify with the characters and thus did not enjoy this as much as I hoped to.

This was a very enjoyable read, although a bit predicatable. I will definitely continue on with this series. I liked both the main characters and how different they were to each other but I felt like there could've been more to them to get the story going a bit more. It was a bit slow but did get going a bit towards the end. Overall enjoyable but not the best.