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

Snoopy: First Beagle in Space by Charles M. Schulz

This is mostly a collection of various strips where Snoopy goes to space. He variously visits the moon, space, and Mars. But the whole book is not just Snoopy (which I thought was a shame, the title sort of implies differently.) We also get an extended story about Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts getting lost in the woods, the children at school, playing sports, and other Peanuts activities. 

Four stars

This book came out March 17th, 2020

Ebook borrowed from Kindle and 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

M.Y.O.B. (Paperback) by Christophe Cazenove

 I had originally requested this book from NetGalley but didn't realize that the archive date was so soon so I missed the window to read it. But it intrigued me enough that I looked for it later and am glad I did. While older sister Wendy is getting ready to go to her first big dance with her boyfriend, younger sister Maureen is bouncing around... pretty much everyplace.
This whole series really focuses on the love between sisters, even when one is much older than the other. They annoy each other, try to outsmart each other, enjoy each other, and ultimately have each other's backs in a tight spot.

Four stars

This book came out December 29th, 2019

eBook borrowed from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

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

Nancy: A Comic Collection by Olivia Jaimes

I loved Nancy as a kid and was excited to see this collection. Olivia Jaimes is a newish Nancy author, it sounds like from the introduction. Unfortunately, I think a lot of the charm was from reading the jokes from that time period. And probably from not understanding just how grating her personality might be from an adult perspective. While I think it's me that's changed, not her, Nancy in the teens is not my favorite.

Three stars
This book comes out October 1st
ARC kindly provided by Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Charlie Brown: All Tied Up Charles M. Schulz

Another great collection of Peanuts comics. We have Charlie in a fight with the kite eating tree, Sally trying to write a report that is factual, and Lucy still working on getting Schroeder to notice her. Of course, we get some glimpses into various baseball games and more than a few Beagle Scout trips (addition of Harriet and her Angel Food Cake with Seven-Minute Icing.)

An excellent addition to the Peanuts canon.

Four and a half stars

This book comes out October 15th

ARC kindly provided by Andrews 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