As a girl who ran away from home because I felt like I was dying, Harley's story was so meaningful to me. While I didn't run away to join the circus, I still saw a lot of myself within Harley. This book opened my heart and then shattered it and then mended it back up. Beautiful and mesmerizing- the circus has never been so intense for me!

First coming across this book I was completely in love with it from the cover, further reading the description I was sold when I saw The Greatest Showman and KNEW I had to read it!

In life I genuinely love the circus and am obsessed with the mystery and magic of it all. Harley is the perfect character - multicultural and trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs - full of emotions and life lessons there were definitely times when I lost myself in emotions.

I loved Harley in the Sky from the first page and could not put it down - I read it in one sitting. At no point did I feel the book was lacking or missing anything.

Eighteen-year-old Harley works at her parents' circus but they into a disagreement about Harley's career goals and future. Harley wants to be an aerialist but her parents want her to go to college. Harley, feeling betrayed, ends up ditching her parents' circus for another circus. Harley does not run away to any circus but she runs off to a rival circus, Maison du Mystère. Harley wants to harness herself to become the best she can be and she feels like her parents are stopping her from reaching her full potential. However, quickly learns that working at a circus is hard work. It's not all about magic and love. Harley learns that there are people that can make her dream as an aerialist difficult at Maison du Mystère. She wants to learn but not everyone supports her. Some people actually see her as a threat. One particular aerialist feels threatened by Harley and is not super welcoming or helpful at all.

Akemi Dawn Bowman shows Harley's internal struggle with mental health issues as well as Harley's struggle to do what is best for her despite what her parents think. She is bi-racial and never quite feels like she knows where she belongs. Vivien, Dexi and Vas definitely have good relationships with Harley and I would love to read more about them. Bowman writes poignant novels with a strong plot and character development. Readers will feel emotionally invested when they read Bowman's novels.

Harley in the Sky is about self-exploration; it's about exploring who you are but staying true to yourself at the same time. It's about self-acceptance and following your dreams and figuring how to navigate internal struggles. I highly recommend this book if you love reading about circuses and self-discovery.

When I heard this book described as perfect for fans of The Greatest Showman, I added it immediately to my TBR. This movie musical is flawed and isn’t perfect by any means, but it means the world to me, so a book just like it? I was in.

A few years ago, I read a book called Freeks by Amanda Hocking. Thinking back now, I’m struggling to remember a lot of the plot, but to be fair, it’s been three years. But there’s one thing I’ll never forget: it made me fall in love with circuses and carnivals. And yet, I haven’t read any books set in huge, magnificent striped tents since then.

Reading Harley in the Sky was an out-of-body experience for me in so many different ways. It is a book full of so much raw and pure emotion. It impacted me so deeply, there were times I was crying so hard that my throat burned and my sight was blurry. It was like being driven over by a truck, except the only physical damage I suffered was heartbreak over this book being over.

Harley in the Sky follows Harley Milano, a multiracial 18-year old girl whose parents own one of the most prestigious circuses in the entire country, Teatro della Notte, located in Las Vegas. She dreams of becoming a professional aerialist and mastering the static trapeze, something she’s strived for ever since falling in love with the circus at young age. But when her parents don’t support her dreams and instead she’s forced into pursuing a college degree she doesn’t want, she runs away in search of freedom and joins Teatro della Notte’s main competition, the traveling circus Maison du Mystère.

I don’t even know where to begin discussing this novel. It has layers upon layers of complexity, and Akemi Dawn Bowman manages to explore several different topics and issues while delivering a compelling story full of heart.

Harley in the Sky is a slow book, but I think it strives in that. It doesn’t need a fast pace and action-packed plot to hook you from the first page, as it manages to do that in multiple other ways.

First off, the writing, which gripped me from the get-go. It is simple but delicate, and reading it felt like listening to the soothing, calming melody of a harp, vivid in all of its descriptions. It is so rich and vibrant, you have no choice but to picture everything perfectly in your head. The warmth of the spotlight, the cheer of the audience, the shine of the glittery costumes, the smell of the buttery popcorn, and the sound of every musical instrument. Every look, every laugh, and every touch that was shared. It all felt so real, it gave me chills. Can I officially start a campaign to adapt this into a movie?

The family dynamics are so complicated and messy, but so, so beautiful. Harley’s parents love their jobs and love the circus, but their beliefs lead them to brushing off her desire to pursue a career as an aerialist, as they’re convinced she’s not gonna succeed and she needs a backup plan. This is something so common in POC households, as a lot of parents hang on to the idea that arts aren’t sustainable and dedicating your life to them as anything other than a hobby is a waste. It’s something that hit so close to home for me, as it’s a conversation I’ve genuinely had with my own parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Milano’s intentions are never to hurt their daughter. After all, they just want what’s best for her; she has amazing grades and an out-of-this world GPA, and was even able to graduate high school early. But that’s NOT what Harley wants, and their pushing affects her mental health over the years.

Speaking of mental health, this novel handles it with such care and nuance. The way it discusses depression and how it impacts a person who doesn’t know what they’re going through, has not been medicated or gone to therapy. It was such an experience similar to mine that I don’t even know how to talk about it.

You can tell Harley is suffering since the beginning of the story. We see her casually talking about feelings of loneliness and the dark clouds that always loom over her mind, but this is normal to her. She just deals with it. People confront her about what she’s going through, but she insists she’s fine when she’s really not. She’s just avoiding her emotions and burying them down deep so they disappear.

I have read countless books with depressed main characters, but never have I read one starring somebody going through an experience so similar to mine, where culture greatly influences adults’ viewpoints and there is a lot of stigma and stereotypes to be unpacked. It broke my heart and put it back together in the best way. It wounded me and healed me, and helped me remember my struggles are real and valid.

I also adored how the author didn’t make our love interest, Vas, a mysterious, brooding bad boy just for funsies, but instead wrote him as a teen struggling with social anxiety who simply doesn’t want or know how to interact with other people, and it was such an amazing reimagining of a popular trope.

Leading me to talk about the characters. Sometimes in stand-alones such as these, it can be a bit hard to develop every character equally. But Akemi Dawn Bowman does it so well. I fell in love with everyone, specifically Vivien and Dexi, who were both so funny and amazing friends and I adored their dynamic. And every other character really, I don’t wanna talk about them much as I truly feel they’re people you just *have* to read about because I can’t possibly do them and their greatness justice. But just know you are in for an amazing cast of supporting characters, all with their own personality traits, bringing a ton of charm and wit to the table and elevating the story to a whole another level.

At first, I was wondering if the romance was moving a little too quick, but then I realized that it was a wonderful reflection of Harley’s unhealthy habits. There is this scene where Harley’s best friend since third grade, Chloe, argues with her and confronts her about her impulsiveness and ambition and how it negatively affects the people she loves. The romantic relationship was incredible to me, for that reason, because it really showed how true Chloe’s statement is and brought to light Harley’s coping mechanisms.

I wasn’t expecting the book to explore friendship breakups, a subject that is very near and dear to me, but it was done SO WELL, just like everything else in this book. Sometimes, friends hurt each other without realizing and a friendship is a relationship like any other and needs to be taken care of. Sometimes people grow apart from each other and their friendship stops working, and that’s okay. The book didn’t shy away from that and I really appreciated it.

Now, again, the romance was just stunning. I fell head-over-heels in love with motorcycle-riding Vas Lukov, a Russian British leather jacket enthusiast, who sings, plays the piano and the violin, and is a composer. How can I not fall for him? It was inevitable. His romance with Harley bloomed so naturally, without shifting away from the focus of the story. They had so much tension and chemistry and it was absolutely swoon-worthy.

One of the things Harley in the Sky does best is delivering its messages to perfection. This book is a lot of things, but it’s a story for everyone. But most importantly, for the artists whose work isn’t supported and uplifted and get told they’ll die of hunger and won’t have successful careers. For the dreamers, those people who won’t stop at anything and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals and dreams. For the imperfectly perfect teens who make mistakes and fuck up a million times and grow to be their best selves. For the people who aren’t supported by their parents, those who are locked and stifled in a box by parental expectations and pressure. For the depressed folks, because it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been diagnosed, you’re just as important as everybody else. All these themes are woven together to create what is a messy, profound tale full of passion and art.

Because Harley isn’t perfect. She is nothing of the sort. She is somebody who lets her emotions overwhelm her, whose ambition and impulsiveness impact her decisions. She is fierce and sharp. A girl who wants to live life to the fullest and experience the extravagance of it all. She wants to fall in love, and be joyful. She may fail, but she will always stand up and know that she tried, and that’s all that matters. We are one in the same and she is a character who will always be in my heart.

Harley is multiracial, coming from a mix of Irish, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian backgrounds. Her heritage is complicated and has greatly influenced her feelings of not belonging throughout her entire life. She often feels disconnected from the cultures running through her blood, feeling out of place even in her own home, where racist microaggressions exist and are very much present and affect her deeply, a perfect reflection of how society mistreats biracial and multiracial folks due to internalized racism. Harley may not be perfect, but what is perfect is her blood and where she comes from. She is Asian enough. She is American enough. And I really hope this story makes its way to readers just like her.

Can Harley in the Sky be defined? The only correct answer is no. It is a complicated, genre-defying novel, its cover a stunning representation of the beautiful words hidden beneath it. Akemi Dawn Bowman has crafted something truly out of this world. With casual nerdiness and The Greatest Showman vibes, she manages to tell us about the importance of gray areas and perfectly captures the identity of a depressed, multiracial teen who is after the dreams. And all of us are capable of going after our dreams, too.

Rating: 5 stars ⭐

Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing me an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!

Harley is in love with the circus. Her parents run their own circus, and it’s her dream to someday be on the trapeze in front of the crowd. But when her parents won’t let her pursue the trapeze, and instead want her to go to college, she has to take matters into her own hands. She runs away and joins a rival circus, hoping to be properly trained and allowed to perform. But will all the risks she’s taken be for nothing?

I received a free advanced reading copy of Harley in the Sky in exchange for an honest review.

Harley in the Sky is a YA fiction novel by Akemi Dawn Bowman. It’s her third novel, and while I’ve had her first novel, Starfish, on my TBR for a while, this is actually the first of her books I’ve read. It’s a novel about struggling with one’s identity, family, found family, and achieving one’s dreams.

So now that I’ve given you some basic information on the book, let’s dive into the review, shall we?

I can’t talk about Harley in the Sky without starting out with Harley. The entire novel is told from her first-person POV, and it’s told in the present. This, and the actual narration, makes the reader feel incredibly close to Harley. Bowman does an amazing job in allowing me to feel what Harley is feeling: her frustrations, her anger, her sadness, and her joy. And while I often didn’t agree with Harley’s decisions, I had to agree that they fit her character perfectly. She did everything for a reason, and it fit. And I loved her. She’s such an amazing character: so real and so flawed and so undeniably there. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I felt pretty connected to her, despite our differences.

As for the story, it’s led pretty strictly by Harley and the life she forms for herself in this circus. We meet all the people she gets to know, and see her begin to form a new family with them. All of her relationships, actually, feature a lot in this novel. And by relationships, I don’t mean only romantic. I mean friends, family, acquaintances, everyone! Her interactions with others can be sweet or stressful. Sometimes they’re easy and other times full of tension, with both people practically holding lit fuses. But they all come about organically, all the characters mean something to Harley, and they come to mean something to the reader.

It was her relationship with her parents that stood out the most to me. She often feels like she can’t meet her parents’ expectations, and what child doesn’t feel that, but she’s brave enough to do something about it and leave. But that doesn’t mean that her parents are no longer a part of her story or her life. There are so many moments throughout the book (I’m trying so hard not to spoil it here) where something brings them back to the present, and where it’s clear how much they love Harley, and how much she loves them. The book is filled with this love, and it overshadows most other relationships that Harley develops, and it’s amazing.

But Harley’s most important relationships are clearly with the circus and with herself. In terms of the circus, Bowman sets a beautiful stage for all our acts, with the dramatic and magical backdrop of a traveling circus troupe, formed of very real people who have talents that would make any audience believe in magic. What an excellent setting for any novel, but it really took this novel to new heights.

And as for Harley’s relationship with herself… I did mention early on that this is a story about finding one’s identity, about realizing who one is and what dreams propel them forward. Harley grows and changes in this novel, seeing herself through so many eyes. Harley has both Chinese and Japanese in her, as well as a variety of different heritages, and she often finds herself trying to put the puzzle together in a way that makes sense. And, she also has to find some way to manage what is going on in her head. Again, I don’t want to give spoilers here, but Harley in the Sky also introduces mental health representation, gently at first, with it growing to become a bigger part of the novel. It was sometimes hard to read about, as again, as a reader, I was just placed so close to Harley. But I made it through.

It was beautiful. This book had me crying at the end, because it was so perfect. Because its message made its way into my heart and I just adored every word on the pages. Harley in the Sky was an amazing read, and I would recommend it to literally anyone.

Harley in the Sky will be released on March 10. You can pre-order your copy from Simon & Schuster here.

Yes! I love the idea of a character "running away to join the circus" and exploring college as only one option. The writing resonates with many coming-of-age youth--putting thoughts they are experiencing on the page. No, they may not be juggling the idea of joining a circus, but they are in the tug-a-war of finding their own path vs the path their parents have provided. Beautiful story about family and finding forgiveness.

This is the first Bowman book I've read, and I can say I'm very interested in reading more. (Do you have any you'd recommend?)

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own!*


One of the things that really made me love this book was the plot mixed with the setting and atmosphere- it was gorgeous! If you were a fan of The Greatest Showman or like to read books with the circus kind of setting then here you go- perfection!

Plot-wise, I really liked the idea at the beginning. Then I loved the idea, but the main character handled things rather pettily at spots which is where the side characters came in and kept me in love.

Harley running off to join the circus that her parents hate was a plot idea that definitely gave us some extra drama in the story and character relationships.
And then later with Harley making, again, some less-than-good decisions for petty reasons didn't help with my opinion of her though it definitely got the story heading in an interesting direction. It helped to get resolve and the development needed though.


I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this read. It was so romantic and amazing to read! Definitely plan to re-read this year!!

The ending was a combination of Harley dealing with different relationships- some made me squeal happily, and some were touching and heart-warming. Again, perfection!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion. 

"A girl living among the planets."

I have always enjoyed Bowman has wrote, because I have always found myself in one way or another. From the social anxiety rep. to A-spec rep. to having a dream in the circus. So it's just really likely that I'd enjoy her books from what she has wrote-and i have. This one is no different, bring my enjoyment in the circus. I have fond memories of going even though things changed, and my fear of clowns is present.

For some odd reason, this book just reminded a lot about The Greatest Showman (please, let this be the inspiration.)  I'm not complaining, because the music is lit, the story-line, however, I kinda fell asleep and did other things because it was boring. But it seriously reminds a whole lot from the inspiration of it.

If there was anything that I have always loved about Bowman's characters is that they are realistic. They're human and that's what makes me enjoy them a lot. Harley is a little different. I can't help, but become irritated by the way she is-acting really immature. A lot. 

Harley is an... interesting character to say. I enjoy her character, the love of wanting to be in the circus and her family not wanting her to be in the circus to peruse her studies more. There were a lot of moments where I loved her, and quite a bit of moments where I wanted to slap her.

I loved her passion about things, and I liked how she could get somewhat blinded until she realizes it wasn't a good idea. That's kinda like the main gist of her, and the book because it's because of that fault-where she learns that being in the circus is hard. Harder than what she imagined. 

It shows throughout the book with how she was being treated in Maison du Mystère. Her thoughts were quite realistic on why she wasn't making friends. Why it didn't seem to include her into anything? Those thoughts were something I have always known because I feel like whenever I mess up, those people always go away. That I wasn't good enough for anyone, and that's why people avoided me and I still have those thoughts.

I have never realized how common those thoughts are, because I thought it was just me-but seeing myself in Harley with her mental illness. It was just so beautiful, because I could relate to her a lot.

But I can't fault her for that. For every bad quality she has, there is always something good about her. It's what makes us all human, and I loved that Bowman creates such realistic characters who are gray.

I adore Harley's passion in the circus! The way it was written was just so beautiful. It made feel like I was there, witnessing the things in the circus. I could feel how much the circus was Harley's life-and it was all so beautiful. 

From the way she describes the circus. Like wow. Look at this amazing quote I've found that was just really beautiful.

"Because this place-the circus-it's home to people who'v never quite fit in anywhere else. It's home to people who feel different. It's home to people who see that magic doesn't strictly exist in fairy tales. 

Can we just talk about the multicultural rep in this? It was so beautiful, and I loved it. I'm not multicultural from what I've known about my family, which is practically nothing. i loved the fact that Harley felt like she wasn't Asian enough from the rest of her family members.

That her Asian middle name made her feel like an alien. I felt like it was written really well, because it happens to a lot of people. It was so beautifully touched on, and I loved that she learned to be comfortable with who she was.

Aah! I'm not screaming, but I literally can not believe in words. I always knew woman always had it worst off, but watching Miss Americana, my World Cultures teacher teaching us about the social power and the privilege that (cis) men have. It was in words, and I loved that Bowman went to that direction, because it's true.

"People automatically call me a bitch because I'm driven and I don't want to waste my time on distractions. But if I were a man, do you think for a moment they'd associate those qualities as negative? No. They'd praise me as a hard worker. They'd find my initiative and determination impressive. But women are not snobs and brats and whatever else. Because I don't smile and take people's shit, or accept less than what I deserve."

This is me in words. I don't take distractions, and I work so hard-but honestly, no one understands that woman or anyone else who's not a (cis)man, can be smarter. That we don't get praised for anything that we do, because it isn't what society believes.

The only thing I really didn't like is the whole separation of the things. It was fine up until week 3, that's where I was confused. Because my page would load, but when I swiped down. It was week 4. It made me think I was missing something and maybe I am, because I'm confused by the way it is.

It kept jerking me out the story because my mind was like, "What's going on. Is it because my copy didn't downloaded correctly? Or is there no information?" It was just so weird, and perhaps I should have been used to it, since I know one other book that did the same thing.

The writing was just beautiful and was so hard not to love. It was hard refraining myself not to find every single inspiring quote and writing them here, because those are Bowman's books. Something I will always look forward to.

Akemi Dawn Bowman has become one of my favorite authors. She has such an incredible way with words that when you're reading, you get sucked into this world she has created. 

The circus is all Harley has known. Her parents own a famous circus show in Las Vegas and it has always been her dream to be the star trapeze artist, even though her parents want her to go to college. After her 18th birthday and one of the biggest fights she's ever had with her parents, Harley impulsively runs away to join the rival traveling circus, betraying her family. After a rocky start being shunned by the aerialist that was supposed to train her, Harley works every night to train and along the way strikes up a relationship with an aspiring composer who also has an affinity to late night practice sessions.

Harley feels everything, very passionately. She experiences very high levels of mania and extremely low, lows. While this was mentioned and talked about frequently in the story, I wish there was more done to help her in what could be seen as bipolar disorder, or at least hyper fixation. I also wish there were more scenes of the performances or the training—the classic show, don't tell. 

While this wasn't my favorite of Bowmans's work, I still really enjoyed this and loved reading Harley's journey.

This review was posted on my blog, The Library Lane.

After finishing Harley in the Sky, all I want is circus related contemporaries! This was my first time reading anything by Akemi Dawn Bowman, but I can say with certainty that it will not be my last. Her writing was so beautiful and she knew how to pull at your heart strings.

Our maim character Harley wants nothing more than to train to become a trapeze artist. While she is passionate about her dream, her parents don’t think it’s a great idea. They only want what is best for her but Harley feels like they aren’t listening or supporting her. Because of this, she really will do anything and everything to be in the circus. Harley is not perfect by any means, but I still loved her. She makes multiple mistakes and she hurts the people she loves. She has good intentions, she just goes about things the wrong way. I really couldn’t help but root for her though.

This book comes with an amazing and diverse group of characters. I loved all the circus crew that Harley mets along the way. In particular, Dexi and Vivien were there for her when she really needed it the most. Also, Vas was sweet and helpful in his own quiet way.

The circus setting was perfect. I loved getting to see behind the scenes and learning how much hard work goes into each performance and event. It brought back memories of going to the circus as a kid. It was always so magical. The author really made everything come to life!

Of course there was a romance and it was really cute. Being that it wasn’t the main focus, I felt like it took a while for the chemistry to appear, but when it did, it was THERE! I love that their relationship kind of mirrored Harley’s parents in a way. I can’t really explain what I mean by that because of spoilers, but if you read this book then you’ll know. It was a sweet thing to add.

Harley in the Sky touches upon mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Harley struggles with what seems like depression (it wasn’t labeled or diagnosed as far as I can remember). Her family believes that it is something that will just pass and it can be ignored. Harley though, wants them to understand that it’s a part of who she is. It is her normal. I want to mention that there is a brief discussion about suicide. It is only a small part, but if it’s something that triggers you, read with caution!

Overall, this book was a delight to read. The setting was stunning, the characters were complex and the writing flows so well. I can’t recommend Harley in the Sky enough. You will get lost in the beauty and magic of the circus!

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman is my first book I have read from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Shuster for a copy of this ARC for an honest review.

Harley Milano comes from a family of Circus Performers as well as her family owns the most famous circus in Las Vegas. She wants to be a Trapeze Artist but her parents want her to stay in school and go to college. Then one day Harley feels like her parents are just not listening to her dreams so she decides to join their revival circus Maison Du Mystère. Harley feels this is the only way she will become what she has always wanted to be.

I loved the story. The characters where all so different. I enjoyed the chemistry between Harley and Vas. I enjoyed how this story took place around the circus and learning the in and outs of the circus life. The writing style was beautiful. Such a fun read!

Confession time: I've never been to a circus in my life, but I've always wanted to! Books like Harley in the Sky are absolutely wish fulfillment for me, and I'm so grateful for the chance I had to read it.

Quick Thoughts
-The cast is colorful and diverse, and they were AMAZING. I loved learning more about the side characters and their stories. They felt so three dimensional to me.
-The research that went into this... whistle. I loved learning more about the circus environment and about being an aerialist in general. I felt like I was there, which is awesome.
-The romance doesn't take a huge part in this book, but I thought it was really sweet and enhanced the story.
-I loved the pacing of the story. Sometimes long chunks of time passed by quickly, but I appreciated that. I felt it was realistic, in that exciting things don't happen ALL the time. Being bogged down by mindless scenes of exposition isn't my favorite either, so I'm glad the author plowed right on through.

Lasting Impressions

I really struggled with Harley. I was immediately entranced by the setting, with the other characters, but it was really hard for me to connect with Harley. Several times, I wondered if I was going to dnf the book...but I pushed through. And the journey was honestly so worth it.

In real life, Harley and I would not be friends. She's a little too passionate, a little too single minded... but these things made her more realistic. And that was the main reason I kept reading her story—it felt realistic. While I have no experience with the mental illness described (what she has isn't explicitly stated), I felt it really added a depth to Harley's character. Her experiences are heart wrenching, but in the end, I left the book feeling light and uplifted.

One thing I really enjoyed was how involved her parents are in this story. Harley literally runs away from home to join a circus...and it affects her parents as well as Harley herself. The relationship she has with her mom and dad are messy and complicated and so realistic. It was definitely my favorite part of the book.

Overall Feelings

I can't say I totally enjoyed the experience of reading this book, but I definitely learned a lot and felt a lot of things while reading. And the end was totally worth it for me. I don't regret picking this book up.

Well written and full of strong characters, this was a surprise as it was better than I thought it would be. I enjoy the story and the characters quite a bit and I'm glad that I finally picked this up to check out. The author does an amazing job developing her characters and I look forward to reading more by this author! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

With atmospheric and beautiful writing style Akemi Dawn Bowman tells the story of Harley who runs away with a rival circus to become a successful trapeze artist. She does this against her parents' wishes who want her to go to university.

It's a magical modern-day YA story of growing up and growing as a person that teaches us that if you're ready to fight for your dreams then you should also be ready to work hard, get ready to fail and get up over and over again until you get what you want.

We get an exciting insight into the everyday life of a circus and the minds of the people who work there. The book also delves into mental health issues but it never gets too dark rather makes the characters more real and the story more meaningful.

*I received Harley in the Sky as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Series Info/Source: I got an eGalley of this book from NetGalley.com to review. This is a stand alone book.

Story (4/5): This is, at heart, a coming of age story about Harley who is desperate to pursue a career as a trapeze artist while her parents would prefer her to go to school. I enjoyed the circus setting and Harley’s steadfast determination to follow her dreams. It was an engaging story that was a quick read for me.

Characters (4/5): The characters are complex and well done, even the side characters are intriguing. I was a bit frustrated at how poorly Harley and her parents communicate with each other. Harley is definitely a heavily flawed protagonist, she’s bad at compromise and not willing to communicate. However, that is part of the point of this story...so, while I didn’t love Harley I did understand how these flaws were something she had to grow around.

Setting (5/5): Absolutely loved the contemporary circus setting, I am always intrigued by circus life.

Writing Style (4/5): The writing in this book flows well and is easy to read. Some of the descriptions are very well done and really make you feel like you are sitting there in the circus tent. While there’s nothing truly outstanding or spectacular here, this is still a very well written book that is easy to fall into and read.

Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this book. I loved the look into circus life and it was interesting to watch Harley learn that her family and friends deserve just as much consideration as her ambitions. It was also interesting to take a look at a character that has manic depressive tendencies and see how that affects the people around her.

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!

Harley in the Sky is about chasing your dreams and sticking it out when things get tough. It’s a story about having the courage to go after what you want, but being conscious of how what you do impacts others.

I didn’t really feel it with this book. I didn’t like any of the characters, including Harley. And a lot of the interactions between people felt forced and unrealistic. By the halfway point the plot hadn’t really progressed as much as it could have. There were also numerous characters who have mental health conditions but never really dealt with them. Harley probably is bipolar and by the end, she says that she has learned to cope with her moods but we see no evidence of that whatsoever. It was probably intentional, but none of the character’s mental health issues were named and I feel like they should have been. It felt like the book was trying to shy away from actually confronting mental health.

Overall, this book was fun to read because of the circus aspect but I didn’t really like anything else about it.

Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.

After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.- Goodreads

I loved this book but Harley needed her ass kicked. Let me explain, her feelings were valid. What she did was completely wrong, she was spoiled and self-centered. There is no way around it and there was character development but then there wasn't. Acknowledging what you did wrong and still getting what you want without an actual consequences doesn't work in my eyes. Because what did she actually learn?

Harley was a great character to read. I loved her drive. In regards to the circus she knew what she was talking about and what she was doing. Everything else she didn't know what she was doing.

What I loved most was the circus. I am not a circus person and this is the first book I have read surrounding the circus that made me see the magic (and the shade). What Harley feels when performing, when watching performances was really inspiring to read and it was the most beautiful part of the book.

There is romance within this novel and I liked it. The romantic interest had depth and he was cute and his story. . . made sense and worked with everything happening in the book and he worked with Harley. That was the most important part. He worked with Harley and not against her. 

The pace of the novel was great. But the author touches upon mental health issues but doesn't dip into it. I am not exactly sure about why but it would have been good to see some form of insight. Towards the end of the novel there were some things that happened that would have been great to have more insight on. The author was a bit too vague when it came to what I believe is mental health issues. 

And more on a personal note, there is another relationship that Harley has within this novel and how it goes down really bothered me on a personal level. I shall leave it at that because that is the best I can do without spoilers lol.

Overall, love this book and would recommend it. 

4 Pickles

Just barely three stars

I LOVED _Starfish_ and really enjoyed _Summer Bird Blue_, so I was expecting to have a similarly positive response to this novel. Sadly, that was not the case.

Harley is...SO selfish. Yes, she's a teen m.c. in a YA novel, but the first 60% of the novel is just her displaying all of her acts of selfishness without much consideration for why they are selfish or why she is behaving in this way. In fact, she openly admits that she knows and wishes she could feel bad for some of the choices she makes; she just doesn't. It's not the selfishness that bothers me here; it's how much of the book centers on this aspect of her personality. By the way, it's not like this disappears at the 60% mark. That's simply where she starts to reveal some minor potential reasons for her behavior and some glimmers of hope that she might one day not be like this (though, spoiler alert, if she gets there, I don't feel like it happens within the confines of this novel).

While her parents appear somewhat powerless in the sense that she won't speak with them for some period and that she has clearly run away from them, their handling of the situation is also so strange. Her mom's emails and her parents' appearance at her performance...it's too much coddling without enough consequence. Bowman effectively explains why this is the case, but it didn't help me feel less grossed out by these aspects.

Even for a YA novel, the ending is too tidy. Harley pays what appears to be one single lasting relationship consequence for months (or, when we take a closer look, YEARS) of crappy behavior. Then, EVERY one of her dreams comes true. Ugh.

Also, I had a really hard time connecting with the circus settings of this work outside of the symbolic aspect of Harley being in the sky literally on the trapeze and when she's having a potentially manic episode versus when she comes down (literally and figuratively again). The circus part was just...challenging to relate to, even as a general setting for following dreams and achieving goals.

I so enjoyed the complexity and evolution of Bowman's earlier novels, and - while the writing remains undeniably beautiful here - I feel a bit let down by how this one unfolds.

Harley's dream is to fly across the Teatro della Notte’s big top on a trapeze. This shouldn't be a problem because her parents own the circus. But they want her to go to college, not perform in their circus. Harley betrays her parents and joins a competing circus, the Maison du Mystere.

This is the first book I have read by Akemi Dawn Bowman, but now I want to read more of them! I really liked that this book explores mental health and questions of identity. Harley and her mother both have undiagnosed psychological disorders which they must learn to live with. Both of Harleys' parents are biracial. Being multiracial, Harley often feels like she doesn’t quite belong with any group. The circus -a place full of misfits- is the one place she truly feels like she belongs. I think there are many topics in this book that a large number of readers will be able to relate to.

My review will also be posted on Instagram @rosetree_bookreviewer

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC of Harley in the Sky in exchange for my honest review!