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Articles by Mandy Wan
Stream It Review: Slo Pitch (Season #1)
Title: Slo Pitch (Season #1) Genre: Comedy Fix: Bad News Bears But Make It Grown-Up and LGBTQ+, Canada-isms (Although Technically GTA-isms) Platform: Crave (Canada), HBO Max (Australia) Crave Summary: A determined coach leads their ragtag LGBTQ+ softball team through ups and downs on and off the field as they chase their dreams. FYA Summary: Confession: I didn’t realize until just now that there are actually different kinds of softball? Which is already another type of baseball?
Stream It Review: Sterling Point (Season #1)
Title: Sterling Point (Season #1) Genres: Drama Romance Fix: YA Goodness, Family Secrets, Muskoka Cottages Platform: Prime Video Prime Video Summary: After discovering she’s inherited a remote island in Canada from the estranged grandfather she was never allowed to meet, 17-year-old Annie Jacobson decides to investigate, pulling her into a world of buried secrets, unexpected sisterhood, and the complicated family history she was never meant to find.
Stream It Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Genres: Drama Historical Fiction Romance Fix: Summer, ’80s Nostalgia, Coming-of-Age Angst Platforms: Hoopla, Kanopy Source Material Title: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante #1) Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz Published: 2012 Series: Aristotle and Dante Content Warning (click to reveal) This movie depicts the aftermath and mentions of LGBTQ+ hate crimes.
Book Review of The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse
Cover Story: Sure BFF Charm: Let Me Love You Talky Talk: Straight Up 1918 Bonus Factor: Hello Girls Factor: Calling Your Shot Relationship Status: Study Buddies Content Warning (click to reveal) From the book itself: “The Brightwood Code is a work of historical fiction, and touches on many issues that remain all too prevalent today, including misogyny, grief, PTSD, bullying, and sexual assault.” Cover Story: Sure It’s a bit on the nose — a girl literally running from the past — but there’s no...
FYA Book Club Selection 2026.07: The Brightwood Code
This month’s FYA Book Club selection is The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse. Check out the discussion questions below! (Slight spoilers ahead.) P.S. If you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any other discussion questions of your own in the comments! You can also check out the publisher’s discussion guide here. The Brightwood Code is a work of historical fiction, and touches on many issues that remain all too prevalent today, including misogyny, grief, PTSD, bullying, and sexual assault.
Stream It Review: Adults (Season #1)
Title: Adults (Season #1) Genre: Comedy Fix: Twenty-something Friend Group in New York City Platforms: Disney+, Hulu (U.S.) Disney+ Summary: A group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither “good” nor “people” yet. FYA Summary: As usual, I have issues with the official summary — in particular, the part about them trying to be good people? It makes them seem like this a group of aspiring good Samaritans. It’s a Gen Z hangout comedy set in New York City.
2026 Most Anticipated Books, Part 2
I know we say this every month of every year, but how is it already JUNE?!!??! One silver lining about the relentless passage of time is NEW BOOKS. Pro-tip: You can also see our full list (incl. Part 1) directly on Bookshop or Amazon! Note: This post contains affiliate links. Learn more about our affiliate policy here.
Stream It Review: Starstruck (Season #1)
Title: Starstruck (Season #1) Genre: Romantic Comedy Fix: Celeb/Normie Romance, London/England Platforms: Crave (Canada), HBO Max (U.S.) Crave Summary: A struggling millennial who develops a relationship with a famous actor after having a one-night stand with him.
Stream It Review: Forever (Season #1)
Title: Forever (Season #1) Genres: Drama Romance Fix: Swoon, L.A., Judy Blume Platform: Netflix Source Material Title: Forever… Author: Judy Blume Netflix Summary: With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, this story of first love between two teens from different worlds “is one of TV’s all-time best romances” (Time). FYA Summary: In continuing my Judy Blume education through recent adaptations, the newest installment opted to update the story, both in setting and perspective.
Stream It Review: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Fix: Awkward Adolescence, Amazing Adults, Judy Blume Platforms: Netflix (Canada), Hulu (U.S.) Netflix Summary: In the 1970s, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friendships, family life, questions of faith — and the agony of waiting for puberty to finally arrive. FYA Summary: It’s 1970, and everything is CHANGING for 11 y.o. Margaret: her address, her school, her friends, her perspective on religion. And, uh, her body, hopefully? One day very soon, please?
Variation in oral liquid medicine concentrations dispensed to children and adults in primary care in England
What is already known about this subject The availability of oral liquid medicines in multiple concentrations for the same drug has contributed to medication errors. Data on the extent of concentration variation are limited. Oral liquid medicines are used in both paediatric and adult practice, but little is known about how use compares between these patient groups. What this study adds Children are 2.5 times more likely than adults to be prescribed an oral liquid medicine.
Support the Girls
Title: Support the Girls Genre: Comedy Fix: Sisterhood in a Knock-off Hooters, Boss Envy Platforms: Hoopla, Pluto TV (Canada), Kanopy (U.S.), Plex (U.S.) Hoopla Summary: The general manager at a road-side ”sports bar with curves” has her incurable optimism tested over the course of a long, strange day.
FYA Book Club Selection 2026.03: A Treachery of Swans
This month’s FYA Book Club selection is A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek. Check out the discussion questions below! (Slight spoilers ahead.) P.S. If you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any other discussion questions of your own in the comments! If you had a magical owl-face pendant, whose identity would you want to assume? 1. The magical kingdom of Auréal takes inspiration from mid-17th-century France, blending history with fantasy.
Rye Lane
Fix: Beautiful Charming Strangers Getting Over Breakups and Falling in Love Platform: Disney+ Disney+ Summary: Dom and Yas, both reeling from bad break-ups, connect during an eventful day in South London. FYA Summary: It’s an honest-to-goodness rom-com, y’all! Heartbroken strangers, brought together by a chance encounter, get to know each other throughout the course of a memorable day as they start falling in love.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 Wrap-Up
Previously: “The Fleece Works Its Magic Too Well” Hello, Campers! How is the season already over!??! At least the next one is right around the corner, but first! Let’s revisit Season 2 with POLLS POLLS POLLS! I’m a little less certain about my final rankings than I was for Season 1. I have a clear top two, and then there are two tiers that are kind of interchangeable (#3 to #5, and #6 to #8).
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E08 “The Fleece Works Its Magic Too Well”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E08 “The Fleece Works Its Magic Too Well” Hero of the Week: Percy Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 19 to 20 Previously: “I Go Down with the Ship” Last week, I asked if y’all missed the gods this season; 60% said yes, and 40% said no.
Friday Night Lights Series Wrap-Up
Title: Friday Night Lights Series Wrap-Up WE DID IT, Y’ALL. After 87 weeks (or, in toddler terms, 20 months), the FYA Friday Night Lights Rewatch Project is officially over! To commemorate our time in Dillon, TX, our biggest Rewatch Project team yet got together for ONE. LAST. HEIST. — er, POST. As always, we start with a drinking game — or, rather, games! Here they all are, one for each season! Because I can never resist data analysis, here are the episodes with the most drinks taken by each writer.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E07 “I Go Down with the Ship”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E07 “I Go Down with the Ship” Anti-Hero of the Week: Luke Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 16 to 18 Previously: “Nobody Gets the Fleece” Last week, I asked y’all which super sense you’d rather have, and y’all voted for Cyclopes’ sense of hearing (83%) over Satyrs’ sense of smell (17%). I have to side with the majority, since I’ve encountered far more unpleasant smells than sounds.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E06 “Nobody Gets the Fleece”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E06 “Nobody Gets the Fleece” Hero of the Week: Annabeth Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 14 to 16 Previously: “We Check in to C.C.’s Spa & Resort” Last week, I asked if y’all would look into C.C.’s mirror to discover your fatal flaw — and the results were divided down the middle! Call me Pandora the way I’m too curious for my own good, because WOULD.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E05 “We Check in to C.C.’s Spa & Resort”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E05 “We Check in to C.C.’s Spa & Resort” Hero of the Week: Percy Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 12 to 13 Previously: “Clarisse Blows Up Everything” Last week, I asked what y’all thought of Clarisse: 75% voted yay, and 25% were undecided.
2025 FYA’s Top 10
Happy 2026, y’all! The start of each new year means it’s time for one of my fave traditions: revisiting the most popular posts that were published last year! 10. Book Review of After Life by Gayle Forman FYA has been stanning Gayle Forman for basically our entire existence, so it’s no surprise y’all feel the same. 9.
Heated Rivalry (Season #1)
Title: Heated Rivalry (Season #1) Genres: Drama Romance Fix: Hockey Horniess, ANGST, YEARNING Platforms: Crave (Canada), HBO Max (U.S.) Source Material Title: Heated Rivalry (Heated Rivalry #2) Author: Rachel Reid Published: 2019 Series: Game Changers Crave Summary: Two hockey players must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for real love. FYA Summary: If you managed to miss the past 5 weeks on the internet, this little Canadian show is EVERYWHERE (incl.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E04 “Clarisse Blows Up Everything”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E04 “Clarisse Blows Up Everything” Hero of the Week: Thalia Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 10 to 11 Previously: “We Board the Princess Andromeda” Last week, y’all unanimously chose to take Percy’s lifeboat to the Sea of Monsters.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E03 “We Board The Princess Andromeda”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E03 “We Board The Princess Andromeda” Heroes of the Week: Percy and Annabeth Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 8 to 10 Previously: “Demon Pigeons Attack” Last week, I asked for y’all’s first impressions of two new Season 2 cast members. I’m happy to report that the Tyson love is UNANIMOUS (100% yay!), whereas Tantalus’ approval rating came in at 75%.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E02 “Demon Pigeons Attack”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E02 “Demon Pigeons Attack” Hero of the Week: Clarisse Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 6 to Y Previously: “I Play Dodgeball With Cannibals” It’s chariot race day at Camp Half-Blood, and the winner will lead the quest to save Camp Half-Blood’s magical barrier by retrieving the Golden Fleece from the Island of Polyphemus! To add to the commotion, Percy (Walker Scobell) breaks confinement to participate so that Annabeth (Leah Sava...
Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E01 “I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals”
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2.E01 “I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals” Hero of the Week: Tyson Riordan Readalong: The Sea of Monsters, Chapters 1 to 5 Previously: A whole season happened! We are, as the kids say*, SO BACK! Because what better time to head to summer camp than uhhhhh two weeks before Christmas? * Or maybe no longer say at this point; who knows?
Friday Night Lights S5.E10 “Don’t Go”
Title: Friday Night Lights S5.E10 “Don’t Go” Drinks Taken: 19 drinks Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch! Last week, the Lions are in disarray after their first loss of the season, but they bounce back after winning a game that sends them to the playoffs — while Vince watched from the sidelines after being benched, very much to Ornette’s dismay.
Title: Save You (Maxton Hall #2) Authors: Mona Kasten Rachel Ward Cover Story: Save You, Save Me… BFF Charm: Begrudgingly Two Peas in a Pod and Big Sister Talky Talk: Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves Bonus Factors: Side Characters in Expanded Roles, School Dances Factor: Teen Pregnancy Relationship Status: Stockholm Syndrome Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for the first book in the Maxton Hall series, Save Me. Cover Story: Save You, Save Me… No lie — I started writing the...
Book Review of An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew
Cover Story: A (Tear) Drop in the Ocean BFF Charm: Big Sister Talky Talk: Easy (Ocean) Breezy Bonus Factor: World Building Anti-Bonus Factor: World Building Relationship Status: Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am Cover Story: A (Tear) Drop in the Ocean The symbolism is STRONG: the fire lilies, teardrop-shaped brooch, and hummingbird are all significant to the story. Without context, however, they make for a confusing — but pretty — underwater combo.
Upgraded
Fix: Residual Affection for Actors from Other Roles Platform: Prime Video Prime Video Summary: Ana (Camila Mendes) is an ambitious intern dreaming of a career in the art world while trying to impress her demanding boss Claire (Marisa Tomei). When she’s upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will (Archie Renaux), who mistakes Ana for her boss– a white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.
Interview with the Vampire (Seasons #1-2)
Title: Interview with the Vampire (Seasons #1-2) Genres: Drama Fantasy Horror Fix: Vampires, Sumptuous Dialogue/Sets/Costumes, Toxic Gay Husbands Platforms: Crave (Canada), Netflix (U.S.) Crave Summary: Based on Anne Rice’s iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe’s epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality. FYA Summary: First of all, Crave — IT’S LOUIS DE POINTE DU LAC; PUT SOME RESPECT ON HIS NAME!!! … ANYWAY.
Friday Night Lights S5.E03 “The Right Hand of the Father”
Title: Friday Night Lights S5.E03 “The Right Hand of the Father” Drinks Taken: 26 drinks, 2 shots Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch! Last week, the Lions get rally girls, the players attend a party that gets out of hand, and Eric redirects the team’s attention from getting ranked to getting to state championships. Stephanie asked whether she was being too harsh on the writers re: Tami and Julie, and if anyone else was bothered.
Book Review of Save Me (Maxton Hall #1) by Mona Kasten, Translated by Rachel Ward
Title: Save Me (Maxton Hall #1) Authors: Mona Kasten Rachel Ward Cover Story: (Somebody) Save Me…! BFF Charm: Swoonworthy Scale: 9 and Negative Infinity Talky Talk: Bonus Factor: Private School Factor: Adaptation Relationship Status: Just Can’t Get Enough Cover Story: (Somebody) Save Me…! I mean, it’s fine; completely inoffensive, but also that not interesting. Why do we care about this building? Who’s being saved? Does the building need to be saved?
Fix: Super Hero(es), Super Reporter, Super Villain, Super Pup Platforms: Crave (Canada), HBO Max (U.S.) Crave Summary: Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. FYA Summary: I MEAN. I’m not sure that any summary is necessary, other than “new Superman movie”. But if you somehow lack the context: a baby alien who crash landed on Earth grew up to be a powerful superhero.
One of Them Days
Title: One of Them Days Genre: Comedy Fix: Bestie Hijinks, Vicarious Stress Platforms: Crave (Canada), Netflix (U.S.) Crave Summary: When her boyfriend takes her rent money, Alyssa and her roommate race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact. FYA Summary: We’ve all been there: those awful days when absolutely nothing is going your way.
Friday Night Lights S4.E09 “The Lights in Carroll Park”
Title: Friday Night Lights S4.E09 “The Lights in Carroll Park” Drinks Taken: 16 drinks, 1 shot Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch! Last week, THE LIONS WON THEIR FIRST GAME!!! Off the field, Tami accompanies Julie as she aces her interview at Boston College, Jess gets closer with both Vince and Landry, Luke is medicating real hard for his injury, and the Riggins brothers are once again dabbling in illegal activities.
KPop Demon Hunters
Netflix Summary: When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats. FYA Summary: My feed’s been full of posts about this movie ever since it came out, but what finally convinced me to watch it was extremely on brand: it was mentioned by a BTS* member in a live broadcast, as well as on one of my favourite blogs.
Challengers
Title: Challengers Genre: Drama Fix: Tennis, Legitimate Love Triangle, SO MUCH SWEAT Platforms: Prime Video Prime Video Summary: To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, a tennis player turned coach makes her world-famous, grand slam champion husband play a “Challenger” event against his former best friend…who also happens to be her former boyfriend.
Friday Night Lights S4.E02 “After the Fall”
Title: Friday Night Lights S4.E02 “After the Fall” Drinks Taken: 22 Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch! Last week, Dillon was a town literally and figuratively divided over the East vs.
Overcompensating (Season #1)
Title: Overcompensating (Season #1) Genre: Comedy Fix: College Life, Messy Relationships, 2010s Vibes Platform: Prime Video Prime Video Summary: Created by Benito Skinner, Overcompensating is a college-set ensemble comedy about the chaotic journey of Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, as he becomes fast friends with Carmen, an outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs.
2025 Most Anticipated Books, Part 2
With summer just around the corner (already?!?!?), it’s time for our favourite semi-annual tradition: loading up our TBR lists with upcoming releases! Pro-tip: You can also see our full list (incl. Part 1) directly on Bookshop or Amazon! Note: This post contains affiliate links. Learn more about our affiliate policy here.
Title: The Last of Us S2.E07 “Convergence” Previously: Joel surprises Ellie for (almost) every birthday of hers that they spend together. During Ellie’s first patrol on her 19th birthday, she and Joel are called in for backup, but Eugene’s already been bit and Joel kills him instead of bringing him back to Jackson first to say goodbye to Gail. After the New Year’s Eve dance, Ellie finally learns the truth about what happened with the Fireflies in Salt Lake City.
The Last of Us S2.E06 “The Price”
Title: The Last of Us S2.E06 “The Price” Previously: In their attempt to get closer to the WLF’s hospital outpost, Dina and Ellie get trapped in an abandoned building full of Stalkers but are thankfully rescued by Jesse, who came to Seattle with Tommy to bring our dynamic duo back to Jackson. Our heroes have a run-in with the Seraphites before getting separated.
Flow
Fix: All Animals, No Humans, Found Family Platforms: Crave, Max Crave Summary: Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species. FYA Summary: I went into this movie basically knowing that (1) there’s a cat, and (2) there’s no dialogue. Which was especially amusing when Crave made me choose a language option and claimed that the original is in French.
Friday Night Lights S3.E08 “New York, New York”
Title: Friday Night Lights S3.E08 “New York, New York” Drinks Taken: 14 drinks and 2 shots Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch! Last week, the younger California Garritys visited fascist Texas, the house flippers got a purchase offer, Jason meets New York-based sports agent Grant Halbert through former teammate Wendell Foley, Billy and Jason put together a Tim highlight reel for college recruiters, Landry kisses Devin before finding out that she’s a...
The Last of Us S2.E04 “Day One”
Title: The Last of Us S2.E04 “Day One” Previously: Three months after Joel’s death, the Jackson Hole town council rejects Ellie’s proposal to send a 16-person team to track down and kill Abby and her crew, so Ellie and Dina travel to Seattle to do it themselves. Last week, Stephanie asked if I’d be able to travel cross-country with just a backpack and some ammo. I’m actually very good at traveling light, but whether I’d want to make the trek is the better question.
The Last of Us S2.02 “Through the Valley”
Title: The Last of Us S2.02 “Through the Valley” Previously: Joel and Ellie have been living in Jackson for the past five years in relative peace and harmony until a seemingly recent fracture in their relationship; during a rogue hunt with her best friend, Dina, Ellie encounters a new version of a clicker with intelligence; Ellie and Dina make out at the New Year’s Eve dance before getting rudely interrupted by the town bigot, Seth; a group of surviving Fireflies led by revenge-seeking Abby...
North of North (Season #1)
Title: North of North (Season #1) Genre: Comedy Fix: Plucky Heroine, Quirky Small Town, Inuit Life, Beautiful Snowscapes Platforms: CBC Gem, Netflix CBC Gem Summary: A young Inuk woman wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous and extremely public exit from her marriage. It won’t be easy in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business. FYA Summary: In fictional Ice Cove, Nunavut, Siaja’s been a wife and mother for almost as long as she’s been an adult.
Book Review of Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins
Title: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) Author: Suzanne Collins Cover Story: Panem-tastic BFF Charm: Let Me Love You Talky Talk: HOT DAMN, SUZANNE Bonus Factors: The Breakfast Club, Underdogs Factor: Capitol Cruelty Relationship Status: Love Hurts Spoiler Alert: This is the 5th published book in the Hunger Games series, but the 2nd chronologically.
Friday Night Lights S3.E01 “I Knew You When”
Title: Friday Night Lights S3.E01 “I Knew You When” Drinks Taken: 33 Follow the whole rewatch here! Welcome back to our Friday Night Lights Rewatch Project! Even the show’s glad to be rid of Season 2, on account of how it doesn’t even bother with the Previously segment. (Which could just be a premiere quirk, but I’m choosing to believe it’s because of Season 2.) I’ll only revisit the Season That Shan’t Be Named one more time for Steph’s questions.
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