Early Reader Review: Big Robot Invasion A Graphic Novel by Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Big Robot Invasion A Graphic Novel by Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson

Series: The Adventures of Tubby Nugget #2
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication Date:  October 6, 2026

 

Format: Ebook 

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Blast off into the second story of this charming graphic novel series with social media sensation Tubby Nugget!

Ever since Tubby Nugget escaped his planet and arrived on Earth, he couldn't be happier to call it home. 

But his peaceful life is suddenly interrupted when a tiny robot named J.O.H.N crash-lands his spaceship right into Josh and Jenine's kitchen. His to bring Tubby back to Nuggetville and force him to turn golden once and for all. Can Tubby convince the robot to let him stay, or will he have to say goodbye to his friends forever? 

Whether you're a longtime fan of Tubby Nugget or new to his adventures, this graphic novel promises to be a nugget of joy in your reading collection. Grab your favorite snack and get ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure with Tubby Nugget!

Review: 

This was an odd, but funny story featuring a chicken nugget (?) and a very persistent robot.

J.O.H.N., is a robot with one mission: bring Tubby Nugget home to the king and their planet. Tubby, however, has other plans. Having made a life for himself and with a group of new friends, he has no intention of going home. He tries introducing J.O.H.N. to other hobbies in the hopes of distracting him, but it turns out that a robot's programming is hard to change. King Nugget wants Tubby to come home and conform, but Tubby is all set now and he and friendship have other plans.

I haven't read the first book in the series, but a short recap at the beginning helped get me up to speed. The story was silly, with some interesting characters, and a fun message about friendship and being true to yourself. The illustrations are full of bright colors and little details, while still keeping the overall look fairly simple and easy to follow.

I think younger readers, it is for ages 6–9, will have a fun time with this one. It's a silly, entertaining read.

Building the Book Pile #532 - Evening Edition

​

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi everyone ~ Happy Sunday. 

Evening edition! Hi!!!! I'm here... just busy, tired, lazy, reading slowly... and reviewing even slower. I am in a funk and really trying to break out of it, but it isn't really working. I also think I am getting a cold.

The last few weeks have been less chaotic but work is still high-stress. Then it was my partners b-day this weekend, so we went out for drinks with friends, a bday dinner, and then lunch and errands for his day. So lots still going on.

This upcoming week, I will be in NYC for work and I get to see some of my siblings. I am excited about that. Hopefully the travel days will also be some good reading opportunities. 

In blog news - I am getting so many great looking reads from Simon and Schuster Teen... 💕🥰...now just to sit still long enough for reading.

• Currently watching: Finished Lanterns (so good). Still following F1.
• Currently reading: The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace... it is good but I am pacing myself
• Playing/ Hobbies - DnD with friends once a month and having a blast. I am also cross-stitching still. I made a witchy bookmark and just started another one.

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Big Robot Invasion A Graphic Novel by Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson

Halloween Round Up #2 With Penguin Young Readers

Books Received Recently...  

For Review From Publishers

Sadist by Chaos Davie

Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White

Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz

Academy of Muses by Andrea Max

The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Hafiza

Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch

Reviews and Such

Rainbow Boys Anniversary Edition: Queer YA Then and Now - From Visibility to Possibility

Recent Reads: Castle Swimmer#2 by Wendy Martin (YA, GN) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: Love Between the Lectures by Christie Curry (Adult) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monthly Re-Cap: September 2026

Early Reader Review: Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne, Adapted by Kevan Chandler (GN) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Early Reader Review: Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne, Adapted by Kevan Chandler

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Winnie-the-Pooh: The Graphic Novel by A.A. Milne, adapted by Kevan
Chandler

Publisher: Ten Speed Young Readers
Publication Date:  October 13, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Experience the idyllic magic of the Hundred Acre Wood like never before through this charming graphic novelization of A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard’s beloved classic, Winnie-the-Pooh.

Adapted by Kevan Chandler and Eisner Award-winning artist Joe Sutphin, this enchanting adaptation brings all ten original Winnie-the-Pooh stories to life with soft, captivating colors and sprawling scenes that are faithful to the heartwarming spirit of Pooh and friends. Follow along for an adventurous romp through the Wood as Pooh helps Eeyore find his tail, gets stuck in a tight space after eating far too much honey, tries to catch a Heffalump with Piglet, joins Christopher Robin on an Expotition, and more.

Perfect for both new readers and lifelong fans of all ages, this beautiful graphic edition is a treasure to be cherished for generations to come.

Review: 

It has been a while since I read the Winnie the Pooh stories but I remember some of them. 

This new/ adapted Graphic Novel does a great job holding on to that nostalgic vibe that I remember with illustrations that look and feel older. They have a soft pastel coloring and the artist did a wonderful job at recreating this world. 

The text is pretty much directly quoted from the original although slightly edited to fit into the graphic novel format. There were 10 stories compiled and we see Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Rabbit, and Kanga and Roo. I was a little disappointed that there was no Tigger yet, that might be disappointing to other fans as well. My favorite is Eeyore so I was happy his gloomy raincloud self made the cut. 

Overall this was a beautiful re-mastered version that I think all audiences will enjoy.

Recent Reads: Love Between the Lectures by Christie Curry

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Love Between the Lectures by Christie Curry 
Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  September 22, 2026 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sex positivity has never been hotter than in this steamy rom-com full of wit and humor that will appeal to fans of Christina Lauren and Jessica Joyce.

Sparks fly when a human sexuality professor is paired up with her former childhood crush to organize a sexual health event, until the university’s biggest donors—spearheaded by her conservative parents—oppose.

After growing up shackled in purity culture, June Wells broke out with a bang. She’s now a human sexuality professor on the brink of tenure and nothing is going to get in her way. That is until Alex Cardoso crashes back into her life. She’s managed to avoid her childhood neighbor and former crush for fifteen years, ever since the mortifying moment in high school when he turned her down. Worse? He’s a hot shot PhD candidate appointed to cover his first human sexuality class, and June is assigned as his mentor, linking her tenure to his success—or failure.

While June and Alex struggle to find their footing both in and out of the classroom, they’re tasked with organizing a sexual health event: Sextival. But June has a secret. She’s kept the details of her profession hidden from her ultraconservative parents, who happen to be the university’s largest donors.

When word about Sextival reaches June’s mother and her wealthy friends, they threaten to pull their donations unless the event is canceled. But June isn’t about to let the prudes win, and neither is Alex. Together, amid late-night office hours and an impromptu road trip, they finally find their rhythm at work… and in bed. But Alex has a secret of his own—one that will force June to decide what’s most important to her: her dream job or her dream guy.

Review: 

June is so close to tenure that she just has to make it through the next few months, but then her childhood friend Alex shows up and is instructed that he must teach a section of her class, leaving June to mentor him. There’s plenty of tension between them, and they have to figure out how to work together despite all that lingering animosity and attraction.

I really liked the tension, banter, and miscommunication between June and Alex. Their dynamic was definitely the highlight for me, and I appreciated that the story kept its focus on the two of them. The university setting was fun, although some of it felt a little unrealistic to me. Having spent a lot of time in that environment myself, it just felt a little off. But maybe my institution is just different.

I also had mixed feelings about the family storyline. It was a major source of the miscommunication between June and Alex, but it felt like the book gave it more weight in the plot than the amount of time spent actually exploring it. Their relationship itself was good, I was invested in the both of them and their budding romance was kind of adorable. 

Overall, this was a fun romance and I love a book about sex positivity.

Monthly Re-Cap: September 2026

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people. 

Here is my September re-cap!

~~Books I Read in September~~

DNF

~~Some Review Links ~~

DNF Review: Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon

Recent Reads: Castle Swimmer: Volume 1 by Wendy Martin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: Pole Position by Rebecca Caffery - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream by Debbie Fong -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: Fire Power by Mir Benitz -⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: Castle Swimmer #2 by Wendy Martin -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

September Bingo w/ Chapter Break

• Fire Power - Not Finished in Previous Month, Treasure/Money
• Pole Position- Physical Book, Secret
• Castle Swimmer #1-#2- Free Book, In a Series, Merpeople
• Faraway Forest- Ebook
• Love Between the Lectures- New Author, Not in a Series
• Cards on the Table- Revenge
• +Free space

12 points

Recent Reads: Castle Swimmer#2 by Wendy Martin

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Castle Swimmer #2 by Wendy Martin 
Series: Castle Swimmer #2
Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
Publication Date: June 3, 2025 

 

Format: Hardback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Two mermen reject their destinies and embark on a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself—and a romance that nobody could have predicted—in the stunning second installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer.

The sharks want Kappa dead, and time is running out for Prince Siren to save him. Queen Susca knows Siren doesn’t have the courage to kill Kappa, and for the sake of the kingdom, she’s willing to do the deed herself. As tensions run high, neighboring queens pay the sharks a visit to offer an alliance, and while they might just be the means of escape the two mermen have been looking for, it’s unclear if they can be trusted.

Siren will do anything to get Kappa to safety—even if it means never seeing him again, and even if all Kappa wants is to stay by his side. Yet escaping the queen’s spear will take all of Siren and Kappa’s courage and cunning, and there’s no guarantee they’ll both make it out alive.

This beautiful graphic novel collects episodes 20-41 of Webtoon’s Castle Swimmer and includes a never-before-seen bonus chapter featuring Kappa and Siren.

Review: 

The second installment in the Castle Swimmer series brings us back to the emotional turmoil between Kappa (the beacon), and Siren (the shark prince). Destined to fulfill a prophecy that requires Kappa to die, Siren is determined to find a way to help him escape his fate, while Kappa does his best to stay strong in the face of what lies ahead.

This collection of the Webtoon series delivers plenty of emotional moments as secrets are revealed and other characters enter the story. But the real highlight is watching Kappa and Siren’s romance finally take off! Their relationship is equal parts heart-wrenching and adorable, and those kisses are absolutely precious. I loved seeing their connection deepen even as the threat of the prophecy looms over them.

A beautiful mix of angst, romance, and swoon-worthy moments. I’m completely invested in these two and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Rainbow Boys Anniversary Edition: Queer YA Then and Now - From Visibility to Possibility

In honor of the 25th Anniversary Edition of Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez, I was asked how I might celebrate this silver anniversary.

What better way than to chronicle Queer Rep then and NOW.

Representation has come such a long way over the years, and queer representation is right along with it in such a beautiful way. Lucky for us, not only have we gotten MORE, but the overall representation within queer lit has also expanded – identity, race, culture, gender, and the kinds of stories we are getting show more of us in those books. 

Starting with the masterpiece that we are celebrating – Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez. Celebrating 25 years, this was a groundbreaking novel, making gay teens feel seen and quite possible the most accessible YA novel of its time. Rainbow Boys navigated they early 2000’s hetero-normative society with three seniors looking for their place. Full of emotion and cultural impact, the plot centers on the coming-out experience during the pre-technology onslaught, when there was still stigma around HIV/AIDS. Sanchez offered hope and this book is now an essential piece of YA queer lit history. 

 

About the Author

ALEX SANCHEZ (he/him/his) spent almost fifteen years working with youth. He
is the author of the teen novels Boyfriends with Girlfriends, Bait, The God Box, Getting It, Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High, and Rainbow Road, as well as the Lambda Award–winning middle grade novel So Hard to Say. Lambda Literary honored Alex with a Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize. He lives in Thailand and Hollywood, Florida. Visit him at AlexSanchez.com.

Because of what Rainbow Boys and other books have done, we have so many options within this space. Here are a few:

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

 

You have seen it everywhere, these bright, colorful graphic novels. A TV show now! This story had changed the narrative by offering a more-hopeful story of love and relationship in the queer space. It has the feel of a more ordinary teenage life where gay teens are free to find friendship, romance, and be joyful and awkward.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz 

 

Books like this one are a good example of how writers have space for introspection. This one focuses on Mexican American identity, family, masculinity, and is a coming-of-age alongside sexuality.

  

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender 

 

One that I have not read yet, but it is on my list! Centers on a black, queer, transgender teen that navigates self-worth, community dynamics and some romance.

We are even graced with beautiful Middle Grade queer literature now as well.

When You’re Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim 

 

A coming-of-age story that explores the nuance of coming out as a lesbian in middle school. Lacey is queer, Jewish and the pressure around both. The emotion and bravery in this book were absolutely beautiful.