I really hate not being able to write a positive review for books. But sometimes, a book just doesn’t work for you. I think Strange Creatures is one of those for me. Based on its components, I should have really liked it, but I ended up feeling very meh about it as a whole.

Massive thanks to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC of Strange Creatures. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 01/06/2021

STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶

SUMMARY: From the moment that Annie was born, she and her older brother, Jamie, were inseparable. Alike in almost every way, they promised to always take care of each other while facing the challenges of growing up different in suburban America. And when life became too much for them, they created their own space in the woods behind their house: a fantasy world, called Gumlea, where no one else could find them.

And it was enough, for a while. But then came middle school, when Jamie grew dark and distant. He found new friends, a girlfriend, and a life away from Annie and Gumlea. Soon it was as if she hardly knew the brother who was her other half.

And then, one day, he disappears.

Annie, her family, and the entire community are devastated. And as the days turn into months turn into years, everyone begins to accept that Jamie is gone for good. Everyone, that is, except Annie, who believes that Jamie, somehow, has entered Gumlea, and who believes that she’s the only one who can bring him back.

But as Annie searches for answers and finds a new relationship with a girl she did not expect, she makes startling discoveries about her brother’s disappearance—and has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to give up in order to keep hope alive. (from Harper Teen)

OPINIONS: So, this has elements of story within a story, dealing with mental health issues and queer discovery. Which means that in its parts, I should have really liked it – but as the whole is greater than its parts, it ended up not working for me. I think the main issue I had with it is that it felt really meandering, with no clear direction for the plot to be propelled forward. Added to that was that I found almost all of the characters really unlikeable – not in a villain/anti-hero sort of way, but more in a ‘I couldn’t care less about you’ way.

But! this does feature a wonderful book-girlfriend in its later parts. I loved Court’s character and found her parts a wonderful antidote to the rest of the book. I just wish she ended up playing a more important role in the grand scale of the story. Sadly, one great character does not make up for the rest of the book. Another thing that might have helped cause my disconnect with the story is that it follows Annie from childhood almost through her college degree. For that amount of time spent in a characters head and throughout the course of their life, Annie stays a bland character without much development.

It is also most certainly not the almost whimsical portal-fantasy adventure I expected this to be when I picked it up. It is closer to a contemporary drama – which is less my thing to start with. It touches on a lot of interesting topics, but I feel like it doesn’t actually carry them through to their conclusion, which means that it is much harder for the reader to connect to the story.

If you’re intrigued, add Strange Creatures to your Goodreads here, or order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of the most prolific authors we currently have working in science fiction and fantasy. In the last few months alone, I have read his last doorstopper sci-fi novel The Doors of Eden (released in Fall 2020, mini review here) and the novella One Day All This Will Be Yours (review here) which was one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. He writes spanning the breadth of the genres, and always at high levels of quality. So I was thrilled when I was offered a review copy of Shards of Earth by the lovely Black Crow PR and UK Tor. All opinions are my own, and if you’re intrigued, I’m doing a flash giveaway on Twitter for an Adrian Tchaikovsky bundle today!

RELEASE DATE: 27/05/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans ­such as Idris – who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these ‘Architects’ simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.

Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they really returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, and many would kill to obtain it. (from UK Tor)

OPINIONS: This is epic space opera the way it should be written. It is compelling, well-paced and interesting. 550 pages of action in space. I really enjoyed reading another Tchaikovsky, and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Grand scale intergalactic war, yes please. I’m usually far more of a fantasy person than a sci-fi reader, but I will always make an exception for Tchaikovsky.

The architects are a true menace to the world as we know it – giant entities capable of reforming space. Earth has basically exploded years ago, and now the threat seems to be reforming. Idris – an intermediary, a sort of superhuman capable of piloting ships faster than light speed – and his crew are on a mission to figure out what is going on. And I just want to give all of the characters in this story a big massive hug. Humanity is on the brink of extinction and the exhaustion of the characters is palpable.

There is a lot going on in Shards of Earth, and I for one am grateful for the inclusion of a glossary and timeline at the back of the book. I feel like I already want to reread the book to get even more out of it now that I know about those aids (because, obviously, I’m too silly to go check in the first place). But it’s a great sign that the story captivated me so even if I was a bit confused at times and wasn’t fully sure of what was going on.

Add Shards of Earth to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

You know a book is good when a friend makes you send it to them before you even manage to review it. Heartbreak Incorporated is such a fun urban fantasy with paranormal romance elements. If you’re into that kind of thing, this is a must read!

Massive thanks to Hanna Waigh and Rebellion for sending me a review copy – all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 24/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Evie Cross had big dreams of becoming an investigative journalist but at 25 and struggling to make it in New York City, she’s finally starting to admit that her dream is her side hustle and her day job is actually… her job. That is, until she signs on as a temp for a small consultancy whose principal, Misha Meserov, specializes in breaking up relationships. Misha is tall, infuriatingly handsome, and effortlessly charismatic—he can make almost anyone, man or woman, fall into bed with him. And he often does.

But the more Evie is exposed to Misha’s scandalous world, the more she becomes convinced that he’s hiding something… when a wealthy San Francisco tech CEO with a dissolving marriage starts delving into the occult and turns up dead, Evie has to decide between her journalistic desire for the truth and her growing desire for Misha. (from Solaris)

OPINIONS: Remember the urban fantasy/paranormal romance boom of the early 2000s/2010s? Because, I do. And those books are a large part of the reason why I stuck to reading predominately YA for a very long time. Heartbreak Incorporated both is and isn’t like that – it has the fun and irreverent elements of classic books from that genre, but it avoids quite a lot of the more frustrating tropes that put me off them. This is smart and character-driven, and DOES NOT fall into the alpha male trap – even though the love interest could easily serve as one. In short, Heartbreak Incorporated is exactly the kind of fun book to get me enthused about paranormal romance again.

Can we talk about the concept hook? An agency that breaks people up. It sounds so cliché and out there, but it is very well done – Alex de Campi has really managed to turn this into a smart story aimed to entertain.Oh, also, this is queer. It’s not super out-there, but there are a number of different elements that make it so (not going to actually mention them to avoid spoilers). And generally, I really enjoyed the characters. Misha is such a loveable idiot, and Evie is VERY relatable. I mean, how much more relatable does it get than struggling to make ends meet in your twenties, pursuing your dream and somehow working more on other things?

I really enjoyed Heartbreak Incorporated, and have already been yelling at many of my friends about it. It is compelling, fast-paced, and while it doesn’t have the most unique plot, it doesn’t need to. Evie and Misha are strong enough leads to carry it through any weaknesses the book has, ensuring a great reading experience.

Add Heartbreak Incorporated to your Goodreads here, or order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link) if you too want to be seduced by Misha.

This year is really blessing us with the folklore-inspired fantasy novels. And The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid is ready to compete with the best of them. I also really enjoyed The Second Bell by Gabriela Houston, and am super excited about For the Wolf by Hannah Witten. Forest-y, folklore-y fantasy galore, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 08/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered.

But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he’s no ordinary Woodsman – he’s the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power. Gáspár fears that his cruelly zealous brother plans to seize the throne and instigate a violent reign that would damn the pagans and the Yehuli alike. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it’s like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother.

As their mission takes them from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, their mutual loathing slowly turns to affection, bound by a shared history of alienation and oppression. However, trust can easily turn to betrayal, and as Évike reconnects with her estranged father and discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gáspár need to decide whose side they’re on, and what they’re willing to give up for a nation that never cared for them at all. (from Del Rey)

OPINIONS: This is simply a wonderful story. It is not an easy read – it addresses trauma, both personal and that of social groups – but as a whole, it packages them in a story that is a delight. Ava Reid’s debut is lyrical, compelling, heart-breaking at times and like with many of the great books that I’ve been able to read and review this year, I already have a finished copy organised and I am looking forward to re-reading it in its finished form.

I devoured The Wolf and the Woodsman – I think I read it in a little more than a single sitting. It is an addictive story with strong worldbuilding that draws the reader in. And I loved Évike as a main character. She is stubborn and gives few shits about what others want for her. She stands up for herself, her family and her people. And Gáspár is a soft boi hiding behind a tough shell – I don’t read a lot of m/f romantic stories these days, but this was one that I found worked really well for me. I definitely need more of Ava Reid’s writing and nuanced approach to trauma and social issues.

The story has a strong Jewish element – and with that I mean both in terms of Évike finding her father and his community, finding a place to belong, but also a community that struggles against prejudice, against prosecution. But ultimately, the book’s message is one of hope. And that is, I think, a large part of why it deals so well with difficult themes. I highly recommend this one.

Add The Wolf and the Woodsman to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).

TJ Klune has been publishing for a while, but he only really showed up on my radar with The House in the Cerulean Sea (one of our Subjective Kind of Chaos nominees!). And while I loved that one, I’d say that he levelled up with Under the Whispering Door. It takes the cosy atmosphere of Cerulean Sea, and adds further depth to it by discussing death and the afterlive(s). I should say at this point, Under the Whispering Door comes with a massive trigger warning of death, self-harm and suicide. If those are topics that cause you discomfort or might trigger distress, please avoid reading.

Massive thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 21/09/2021

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days. (from Tor)

OPINIONS: If the trigger warnings I mentioned above don’t put you off this, please, please pick this up. It is amazing and beautiful and it talks about tea so much – and tea is the second best thing when you need to feel better (the best thing being a good book). Hugo is the most adorable cinnamon roll character and I love him to bits. Its not his story, first and foremost, but he is what made me fall for it. Because Wallace is a DICK. A huge self-centred dumbass. And that is his main story arc. Coming to terms with who he is and growing into someone bigger and better than himself. He’s the kind of person who fires an employee because they made a tiny mistake after twenty years at the company with no second thought.

But all that changes after Wallace dies and meets Hugo. Accompanied by a charming cast of side characters, he undergoes a massive character development arc in a sort of halfway-house between life and death, where Hugo acts as a ferryman. Under the Whispering Door brings back all the charm that made people fall for The House in the Cerulean Sea, except that it’s deeper, expanding the comfy vibes to philosophising about life and death and how to make the most of the time we have with the people we love.

This is a delightful book, with fantastic quirky characters, a cute queer romance and feelgood vibes, while still addressing deeper themes and trauma. I highly recommend it. Add Under the Whispering Door to your Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy via Portal Bookshop here.

Fairy stories. In all versions. They’re like catnip. And The Cottingley Cuckoo combines fairies with psychological suspense, with history, and an unreliable narrator. The reader does not know what is happening until the very end, and it is such an interesting story. AND look at the stunning cover. That gold foil is just so pretty!

Massive thanks to Sarah Mather and Titan Books for sending me a review copy. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 14/04/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Captivated by books and stories, Rose dreams of a life away from the confines of the Sunnyside Care Home she works in, until elderly resident Charlotte Favell offers an unexpected glimpse of enchantment. She keeps an aged stack of letters about the Cottingley Fairies, the photographs made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle, but later dismissed as a hoax. The letters insist there is proof that the fairies existed. Rose is eager to learn more, but Charlotte allows her to read only a piece at a time, drawing Rose into her web.

As the letters’ content grows more menacing, Rose discovers she is unexpectedly pregnant, and feels another door to the future has slammed. Her obsession with what really happened in Cottingley all those years ago spirals; as inexplicable events occur inside her home, she begins to entertain dark thoughts about her baby and its origins. (from Titan Books)

OPINIONS: This is a very interesting book. It is not necessarily one that will make huge splashes, but it is definitely one that I enjoyed. In The Cottingley Cuckoo, the reader doesn’t really know whether what the main character, Rose, is experiencing is real or not until the very end – and even then, it is largely left to the reader to interpret. It is a story about madness and fairies, about reality and shifting perceptions. Interspersed with this are letters about the Cottingley Fairies, from the environs of Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is the kind of slow-burn horror novel that I enjoy – no jump scares, no gore, but simply a lot of creepy and a lot of uncertainty. Neither the reader nor the protagonists know what is happening to them, packaged in a compellingly written narrative. Rose is a great main character. She isn’t special – she is your average person, thrown into a situation that overwhelms her, and had to adjust to this world that she didn’t know how to deal with – and doesn’t that sound familiar.

The Cottingley Cuckoo is the sort of novel that stradles the line between literary fiction and genre writing, that experiments while also using a lot of elements that feel familiarly uncomfortable. It is a solid book and a good read. Add The Cottingley Cuckoo to Goodreads here, or order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

I am very lucky with the books I get to read this year – I have had the opportunity to read and review most of my most anticipated books so far, and they don’t disappoint. 2021 is the year of diverse sapphic books and I’m all here for it. Black Water Sister is going to be playing in the highest leagues, and it’s a delicious story (it’s not just beautifully written, there’s also a lot of food mentioned).

Massive thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 10/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: As Jessamyn packs for Malaysia, it’s not a good time to start hearing a bossy voice in her head. Broke, jobless and just graduated, she’s abandoning America to return ‘home’. But she last saw Malaysia as a toddler – and is completely unprepared for its ghosts, gods and her eccentric family’s shenanigans.

Jess soon learns her ‘voice’ belongs to Ah Ma, her late grandmother. She worshipped the Black Water Sister, a local deity. And when a business magnate dared to offend her goddess, Ah Ma swore revenge. Now she’s decided Jess will help, whether she wants to or not.

As Ah Ma blackmails Jess into compliance, Jess fights to retain control. But her irrepressible relative isn’t going to let a little thing like death stop her, when she can simply borrow Jess’s body to make mischief. As Jess is drawn ever deeper into a world of peril and family secrets, getting a job becomes the least of her worries. (from Macmillan)

OPINIONS: Black Water Sister is one of those magical novels that just captivate you and suck you into their world and teach you about our world in the process. Deeply rooted in Malaysian Chinese society, but told through the lens of Jess, raised in America and returning to Malaysia as an adult, this is a story of family, grief, and, yes, religion. Shortly after she arrives in Malaysia, the spirit of her grandmother starts possessing Jess and she gets pulled into a world of spirits, gangsters and gods.

Jess’s life is dominated by her family and trying to fit into the narrow confines of the expectations she believes her parents have for her. She is not straight, but she will also not ever admit to being gay – which means that she is keeping her girlfriend a massive secret from everyone in her life. This causes huge issues between them and Jess needs to figure out not only who she is and what she wants but also how far she is willing to risk her family’s approval to get it. And while I can’t speak to how well this was portrayed in terms of the culture it is set in – which is the one Zen Cho is from – I thought that Jess’s struggles were well done and relatable. She was a great leading character, a woman in her twenties, trying to juggle figuring out where she wants her life to go with her family’s expectations.

I generally felt that Black Water Sister managed to balance all its parts well. The characters were fleshed out, not just Jess, but also Ah Ma, her grandmother’s ghost, and many of the other minor and major players. The world was plastic, and the plot was consistently paced with high tension throughout. I can’t wait to re-read it and dive back into its world. This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it.

Add it to your Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

It is no secret that I love me some good middle grade. And macabre middle grade playing with black humour and accompanied by adorable illustrations? YES PLEASE! This is the perfect kind of book for those reluctant readers that are just about to enter middle grade territory.

Massive thanks to Little Tiger for sending me a review copy! All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 04/03/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: On Brutalia violence is a way of life. Ravenous ravens circle overhead, monstrous grot bears cause chaos and the streets are bulging with brawls. But Mort isn’t like the other islanders – he’s determined to live peacefully. His struggle is made even tougher when the cruel queen appoints Mort as Royal Executioner. No one has challenged the royals and lived to tell the tale. Can Mort keep his head and outwit the queen? (from Little Tiger)

OPINIONS: This is such an adorable story. I really loved Mort as a main character. The way the story was written and played with black humour added a lot of appeal to it and I think this will be great for reluctant readers at the lower end of the middle grade spectrum. George Ermos’ illustrations give the story another dimension and I found them sweet and playfully macabre at the same time.

Personally, I felt like the wordplay was occasionally a bit too much and the humour too on the nose, but that is my impression as an adult reader – Mort the Meek might cause the occasional eyeroll from adult supervisors, but it will be taken up enthusiastically by its young audience. I can just imagine children trying to imitate scenes from the book! Kid me would most definitely have loved this, and adult me is kind of sad that the kids in my life are just a bit too young for it. but in a few years…

Add Mort the Meek to your Goodreads here, or order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link) for the adventurous child in your life.

Yeah, so, I’m not a contemporary reader. The older I get, the more I realise that it’s connected to growing up in a very different setting to the ones represented in most books – Switzerland is an utterly different world to the UK or US that it’s a completely different conversation from the diversity conversations that are had in publishing at the moment. And this is not me complaining – merely musing on why I’ve been struggling to relate to contemporary stories, especially in a YA space. But then, there come these rare gems that transcend that by being such powerful stories of self-discovery that they leave a profound impact on the reader. And Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender is such a story.

Many many thanks to Bethany Carter and Faber Books for sending me an ARC of Felix Ever After for review. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 18/05/2021

STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Felix Love has never been in love – and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalisation too many – Black, queer and transgender – to ever get his own happily-ever-after.

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages – after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned – Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle . . .

But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.

OPINIONS: Hi, yes, this broke me. I love it with my whole heart, but it also led to much questioning of my whole identity – in a good way. Felix’ struggles with coming to terms with his identity and figuring out who he is deep down are extremely relatable and dig deeper than your average contemporary YA novel. While the setting of it is deeply rooted in its YA story, the issues that Felix faces are universal, and are ones that confront adults in their twenties, even their thirties just as much.

What are our relationships with our friends at their core? Who are we, really? And who do we value most? While I obviously can’t speak to the portrayal of the black or transgender experience, this twenty-eight year old queer got reaffirmed in queerness and discovered new things about myself that I was not able to put into words before. It is really to Kacen’s credit that they can manage to write such excellent books in a variety of genres – I haven’t read their middle grade books, but I really liked Queen of the Conquered and King of the Rising, the duology is nominated for the Subjective Kind of Chaos Awards, and you can read my review for King here. Not many authors show that range and sustained level of quality throughout all of their ventures, I am impressed. They are a treasure and I can’t wait to see where their career takes them next.

This really is a brilliant book throughout, and one that transcends over its status as a YA novel. It is highly recommended for anyone who might be thinking about their own gender or sexuality, or just generally likes to read widely. I love it with my whole heart even if it destroyed me at times.

The entire first print run of the UK paperback will have AMAZING flowery sprayed edges. So I highly suggest you actually pre-order this one and don’t just wait until you maybe see it in a bookshop at some point, because you might miss out on the epic first edition. Add Felix Ever After to Goodreads here, and pre-order your copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

So, a couple of hours I got an email from Edelweiss. The notification that I’ve been granted a digital ARC of The Heartbreak Bakery. I’ve had a bit of a crappy day today, so I thought I’d check out the beginning. Only, I just raced through the whole story and love it so much that I can’t wait to write about it. This is exactly what I needed, probably the queerest book I’ve ever read, and absolutely brilliant.

Massive thanks to Candlewick Press and Edelweiss for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 12/10/2021

STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Syd (no pronouns, please) has always dealt with big, hard-to-talk-about things by baking. Being dumped is no different, except now Syd is baking at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. And everyone who eats Syd’s breakup brownies . . . breaks up. Even Vin and Alec, who own the Proud Muffin. And their breakup might take the bakery down with it. Being dumped is one thing; causing ripples of queer heartbreak through the community is another. But the cute bike delivery person, Harley (he or they, check the pronoun pin, it’s probably on the messenger bag), believes Syd about the magic baking. And Harley believes Syd’s magical baking can fix things, too—one recipe at a time. (from Candlewick)

OPINIONS: This book. It’s EXACTLY what I needed today – just like Syd’s baked goods would be. I adore the story, the characters, the writing. I’m probably slightly biased because the book worked so well for me today – but I think even without the context, it is pretty damn amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a book this quickly – it’s only been about two hours since I got my hands on it. This is why I am a reviewer – magical books that will find their perfect audience in the right moment and make a difference to someone’s life.

One of my favourite things about The Heartbreak Bakery is that it includes actual recipes. Some of them for abstract things, but many of them for baked goods, complete with Syd’s intention. And you can bet that I’m going to bake that strawberry peach basil pie ASAP. I’m very very hungry after reading this story… Also it might well be the queerest thing I’ve ever read. And I’ve been reading Anna-Marie McLemore and Charlie Jane Anders for a long time. So you know, standards are high.

And the characters are absolutely brilliant. Syd is going through so much character growth, it’s amazing to see, and her queer group of people around her are both interesting and heartwarming. This is a character-driven book, with hints of magic, and a lot of humour. When I think about what I consider a comfort read, this is exactly that – I think it will also appeal to readers who have loved T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea. It has those same kind of magical and comfy vibes. I love The Heartbreak Bakery with my whole heart.

This is a book you simply need. It is magic. Add it to Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy from my favourite queer indie Portal Bookshop here. I know it’s not out for a while, but please support the author and get yourself an advance present!