Unicorn Crush by Dana Simpson

Dakota is feeling the brunt of not being popular so she turns to Phoebe for help. Of course, it doesn't last long. Though they are moving ever closer to being... friends. And we also see her with Sam, the older girl she wants to be friends with. 

It turns out Marigold is in therapy, with Tod of all people. We get a lot of discussion in "Rar" (which is nice that Marigold gets her privacy. Then, when Marigold is ready to spend more time with Phoebe, we get to read about Phoebe's comic strip. 

New character Sparkleface McGee makes an appearance. It is a being of pure energy. And we see Marigold talking in another new language. 

Infernus the Unicorn of Death also stops in. 

Five stars

This book comes out May 7, 2024

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #19

Follows Unicorn for a Day

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Unicorn for a Day by Dana Simpson

Once again, there are many delights from Phoebe and Marigold as they continue their adventures. We learn about unicorn omens and why booping is considered bad for unicornkind. The two also describe why their friendship works so well and Marigold is assigned some things by Phoebe might make them insecure but it's why they love each other. Also, we get some Freaky Friday action and a book club with Marigold, Todd, and Blartbert. 

Another delightful story. Simpson combines vocabulary words, learning about the world, and whimsy that keeps me reading.

Five stars

This book comes out October 3, 2024

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #18

Follows Punk Rock Unicorn

Followed by Unicorn Crush

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Punk Rock Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Marigold has given up her crush on Lord Splendid Humility. Instead, she is going to rebound crush on his opposite. And opposite Prince Aspirational Arrogance is. But Phoebe finds reasons to like him.

Besides, she has a book report to procrastinate writing. And to argue with Dakota about. Are graphic novels real books? (the correct answer, by the way, is yes.)
There is a lovely interlude with Marigold making a small, dark, rainy universe for Phoebe to be sad in and, oh, I wish I had one. Or a unicorn. That would be good too. 

Simpson's humor is nowhere more evident than in the story of the hole. Or, as Marigold says, "a magical portal to a dimension of DARK and UNSPEAKABLE EVIL." And then, they meet their evil selves which gives them pause.

It is again time for the school play. This year it is to be "Yoony the Unicorn." We even get to see Marigold's contemplation hat. 

Phoebe also returns to her summer music camp where she meets a new friend. And it provides a lovely loop back to the beginning of this book. 

Another amazing addition to the series. 

Five stars

This book comes out April 4, 2023

Follows Unicornado

Followed by Unicorn for a Day

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Unicornado by Dana Simpson

What happens when you spend too much time with a unicorn? Well, your house might turn into a magical sylvan glen where pixies and sphinxes frolic. You might also have the Shield of Boringness rub off on you. Of course, Phoebe also gets to spend time with her friend Max, though playing chess isn't as fun as she thinks it should be (even playing by unicorn rules, she loses.) And she tries to help Dakota when she is feeling sad about missing the goblin queen. Then they all attend a school dance

Phoebe and Marigold go to a corn maze (or is it the new unicorn restaurant? Phoebe and Marigold also get to have fun at Christmas and Halloween. Even meeting a real (or sort of real) ghost. And what happens when Marigold gets a step counter?

Delightful as always.

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 18, 2022

Follows Unicorn Selfies

Followed by Punk Rock Unicorn

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Unicorn Selfies: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure by Dana Simpson

Many more fun adventures in this book of Phoebe and her Unicorn. Pixies build a clubhouse that is amazingly splendiferous (and pixies are oddly like human contractors.) Also, Marigold gets stuck in her mirror (of course) and has some new-to-her emotions like envy and some self-doubt. The latter comes in the form of preparing for her family reunion.

One of my favorite things in reading Simpson's series is the language. Words are not dumbed down for kids and she plays with things like, "I'm a big fancy-butt! Pay attention to my big, fancy butt!" I love it. And the unveiling of Phoebe's name is built up to in this book (and some of the past books but the possibly more confusing second half is in this book.) 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out June 7, 2022

Follows Unicorn Playlist

Followed by Unicornado

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Unicorn Playlist by Dana Simpson

When the book starts out, Phoebe is sad because she saw some of the recent news on her dad's computer. And, well, the world can be a scary place. Luckily, we all have Marigold Heavenly Nostrils who can distract us even for a little while with her charming narcissism and love of Phoebe.

We learn about when the mail used to have more than just credit card offers, we learn what Marigold wishes for, we learn about Phoebe and Marigold's favorite music, some of Marigold's family tree (Infernus, the Unicorn of Death (also known as "Ferny")). There is also an interesting twist between Dakota and the goblins that I did not see coming. Luckily, she still wants to be friends with Phoebe. Lots of little jokes in between with my favorite being Phoebe's father getting a call that says "Scam Likely" and Marigold thinks it's a unicorn with the same name. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 28, 2021

Follows Unicorn Famous

Followed by Unicorn Selfies

ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magic Storm by Dana Simpson and Narrated by Thessaly Lerner, Cortney Wright, Maxwell Glick

This 45 minute story was a quick listen and an interesting new way to consume a Phoebe and Her Unicorn series book. I had read the graphic novel so I'm not sure whether this would have been more confusing if you didn't have that background. I am very sure that you will have want to read at least one of the comic collections so you can keep a hold on some of the names. The narrators were adorable and I really loved the interpretations of each of the characters. Especially the narration of the goblins. It was really fun to see how many different ways "blart!" could be interpreted. 
Phoebe and her unicorn are back (in what I believe is their first audio outing) and the story is as fun as the graphic novel. This time Phoebe and Marigold not only have to deal with Dakota and her goblins but with a serious cold spell and a sudden lack of magic. Marigold and the goblins are able to figure out most of the story but they still have work to do to clear everything up. Through their explorations, they manage to charm the reader as well as help facilitate another human/magical creature pairing. 

Four stars

The audio comes out June 15th, 2021

Borrowed as audiobook from NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Unicorn Famous by Dana Simpson

Another fabulous book from Dana Simpson. Though the stories show the life of a grade schooler, she doesn't talk down to them and even includes a glossary in every book because her vocabulary might be above their reading level.

Phoebe and Marigold are back again talking about unicorn fashion and going to the goblin awards as well as a water park. We learn more about unicorn lore including what unicorns used to think about thunder and a story about caring what others think. 

One of my favorite storylines is the relationship between Phoebe and her frenemy Dakota. I'm loving seeing how they went from mean girl and the person she bullied to both of them slowly growing. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out April 6, 2021

Follows Virtual Unicorn Experience

Followed by Unicorn Playlist

ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing

Opinions are my own

Reread May 2022

Virtual Unicorn Experience by Dana Simpson

Marigold Heavenly Nostrils and Phoebe have been friends for a number of books but their adventures are still fun and fresh. In this book, Marigold gives Phoebe a little bit of unicorn magic to help prove that Phoebe is worth being a unicorn's friend. Phoebe also goes to a meaningless trial but is disappointed with the results. We get to learn more about unicorn traditions and get to see some of our favorite characters like Lord Splendid Humility and Dakota (but no Max or the goblins.)
As always, a book worth reading: fun, fluffy, and with unicorns! Can there be anything more magnificent?

Four and a half stars
This book comes out September 1st
Follows Camping with Unicorns

Followed by Virtual Unicorn Experience
ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Camping with Unicorns by Dana Simpson

Phoebe and Marigold are back and at their best. For most of the book, the timing is summer vacation. Phoebe re-learns how to manage her own time. Marigold learns about camping. Everyone gets to meet a unicorn who lives in the forest so he can be "away from it all" (not including video games).  And Phoebe starts to be something like friends with Dakota (since Phoebe is the only person she can talk to about the goblins).
It's impressive how much growth these characters can still have in book 11 yet stay true to themselves (little girl and narcissistic not-so-fictional character.) I thought it was really interesting that, while Dakota seems to have no one to talk to about unicorns, Phoebe and her parents as well as Max and his parents all accept unicorns with equanimity.

Five stars
This book comes out April 7th
Follows The Unicorn Whisperer
Followed by Virtual Unicorn Experience
ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The Unicorn Whisperer by Dana Simpson

Another winner from Dana Simpson. Phoebe and Marigold go through another school year including

Halloween. Phoebe goes... as herself but with super powers. She also has a sleepover with Max and gets a bedtime story from her dad. Marigold deals with Phoebe having to do homework and Phoebe works through Marigold finding a new friend (but not a BEST friend.)

Four and a half stars
This book comes out October 8th
Followed by Camping with Unicorns
ARC kindly provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Unicorn Bowling by Dana Simpson

We get to see our favorite characters in the Phoebe and Marigold series: Dakota, Max, and the others. This time Phoebe is signed up for her school's talent show and works on several songs. She also goes to Max's birthday. They also get to go... bowling.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out April 23rd
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson

Phoebe goes to drama camp while Marigold visits her sister. The two don't really get to spend a lot of time together because Marigold is so busy trying to repair the relationship with her sister.
This book seems shorter than the others in the Heavenly Nostrils series. There was really only one story line which was good but, again, short.

Three stars
This book comes out October 23
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Today I'll Be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Would've been five stars if this book had been longer (8 pages!). There is a nice story of Marigold deciding that she is going to be a unicorn for a day but then deciding it is not for her. I'd call it an entrance drug to the Heavenly Nostrils series.

Four stars
This book comes out May 8
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Unicorn of Many Hats by Dana Simpson

Phoebe and Marigold are off on a new set of adventures that capture Dana Simpson's incredible imagination and wit. Marigold learns to write fan letters (you can definitely assume you know who the first person she writes one to is). Phoebe finds a like-minded individual on the internet but then finds out she might not like the person so much IRL. And we get to see Marigold's house as well as learning about unicorn elections and how the friends spend their holidays (let's just say Marigold is not about to let a Christmas tree out-sparkle her.)
As usual, a highly entertaining read. Well worth picking up.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out March 20
Follows Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magic Storm
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magic Storm by Dana Simpson

Phoebe and her unicorn are back and as adorable as ever. This time they not only have to deal with Dakota and her goblins but with a serious cold spell and a sudden lack of magic. Marigold and the goblins are able to figure out most of the story but they still have work to do to clear everything up. Through their explorations, they manage to charm the reader as well as help facilitate another human/magical creature pairing. All this and yet there is time for a costume montage.

Four stars

This book comes out October 17
Followed by Unicorn of Many Hats

Unicorn Crossing by Dana Simpson

I've heard about this series on several podcasts and at least a few blogs and there was a general amount of squee-age involved with every review. And now I know why.
The unicorn, Marigold, and her human friend Phoebe go through a lot in this book. Halloween, winter, reading books (discussion of ebook vs. physical vs. scroll), Marigold going on a trip, and many other adventures. It's fast, it's fun, it even imparts some moral lessons. A good read.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out March 28