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A review by magicalreads
Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman
4.0
3.75 stars
read on my blog
**I received an ARC as a part of the street team and from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I’ve really enjoyed this author’s past books and I was so excited to join the street team! It’s been so fun so far. I’ll admit, it did take me a bit to get into this book, but I ended up really liking the second half! Harley in the Sky is a story of complex family relationships and following your dreams.
Harley desperately wants to be a trapeze artist in her parents’ circus, but they continually refuse and instead want her to go to college. Eventually she gets fed up and runs away to apprentice at a rival, travelling circus called Maison du Mystere. There, she’s still iced out but she eventually finds a few friends.
I really liked the dynamics of the characters. Harley forms a bond with the violinist and composer named Vas, and they become closer over time. Her friends at the circus were also so supportive and welcoming when Harley felt isolated.
Obviously her relationship with her parents is strained. It’s made very clear that they still care about her and I liked that we got to see both sides. Harley desperately wants to follow her dreams, but her parents want her future to be secure. They want her to be happy in the long-run, even if she’s miserable now, and Harley refuses to accept this as her future. It was important for her to realize that her parents are allowed to worry about her, even if they disagree.
Throughout all of this, she is also struggling with her mental health. It’s later said that she has depression (not professionally diagnosed), and it’s implied that her mom also has depression. Harley has to learn to control her impulses and manage her moods, particularly the comedown after her happiness.
The romance was hot honestly. The tension between Harley and Vas was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. I liked seeing their relationship develop, and I really liked seeing more of Vas’s personality once he grew more comfortable with Harley.
Overall, Harley in the Sky was an enjoyable read with a lovable characters, a great ship, and an important discussion on complex family relationships. I definitely recommend it if you liked the author’s other books or if you want to read a book about passion!
read on my blog
**I received an ARC as a part of the street team and from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
An artist performing on a trapeze — the strength, and the movements, and the story, and the sparkle — it’s the very heart of the circus.
I want to be that heart.
I’ve really enjoyed this author’s past books and I was so excited to join the street team! It’s been so fun so far. I’ll admit, it did take me a bit to get into this book, but I ended up really liking the second half! Harley in the Sky is a story of complex family relationships and following your dreams.
Harley desperately wants to be a trapeze artist in her parents’ circus, but they continually refuse and instead want her to go to college. Eventually she gets fed up and runs away to apprentice at a rival, travelling circus called Maison du Mystere. There, she’s still iced out but she eventually finds a few friends.
Running away to join Maison du Mystere was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.
I really liked the dynamics of the characters. Harley forms a bond with the violinist and composer named Vas, and they become closer over time. Her friends at the circus were also so supportive and welcoming when Harley felt isolated.
Obviously her relationship with her parents is strained. It’s made very clear that they still care about her and I liked that we got to see both sides. Harley desperately wants to follow her dreams, but her parents want her future to be secure. They want her to be happy in the long-run, even if she’s miserable now, and Harley refuses to accept this as her future. It was important for her to realize that her parents are allowed to worry about her, even if they disagree.
Throughout all of this, she is also struggling with her mental health. It’s later said that she has depression (not professionally diagnosed), and it’s implied that her mom also has depression. Harley has to learn to control her impulses and manage her moods, particularly the comedown after her happiness.
The romance was hot honestly. The tension between Harley and Vas was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. I liked seeing their relationship develop, and I really liked seeing more of Vas’s personality once he grew more comfortable with Harley.
It’s a world of color and emotion and constant change.
Overall, Harley in the Sky was an enjoyable read with a lovable characters, a great ship, and an important discussion on complex family relationships. I definitely recommend it if you liked the author’s other books or if you want to read a book about passion!