Another solid middle grade from Romero, but it didn't hit me quite like A Warning About Swans or The Dollmaker of Krakow.

The characters were good all around. I preferred Ezra more than Malka because I found his conflict and the deep connection it had to him becoming a Sorrow to be more compelling than Malka, though I do appreciate what Romero was representing between her and uncle Jonas. Olivia, though, is the most main character out of all of them, and she doesn't even have a point of view (Which she should have, because she could have been the grounding perspective of the weird happenings/culture of the Island as well as provide more insight to the Mainland). I just loved how she called all the adults out on their bull, and her friendship with Ezra is very sweet.

The Island itself is really interesting. The culture where no one's allowed to cry or think about the past draws interesting parallels to our world, and the settings of places like the hotel, the market, and other places were quite lovely. The Sorrows were interesting, but the solution the narrative comes up with did not feel satisfying for, whatsoever.

All in all, this is a good middle grade. It didn't absolutely wow me, but I can see its target demographic loving it, regardless.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Tear Collector is an atmospheric, emotional middle-grade cli-fi tale filled with monsters, love, and memories.

I absolutely adored this one. From the start, Ezra and Malka captivated me, and I loved the entertaining and well-developed characters, especially Olivia. I loved the sibling bond between Malka and Ezra and their friendship with Olivia. The emotions, love, and memories infused in this story were heartwarming and heart-wrenching, crafting an achingly beautiful and hopeful read. The world-building was incredible, presenting a dark and immersive climate change-ravaged world. The plot was engaging, and the ending was excellent. The pacing fit the story beautifully, and I did not want this fantastical tale to end. R.M. Romero’s prose was lyrical and magical. The exploration of climate change through this adventurous story was powerful and thought-provoking. The Tear Collector is a must-have for MG shelves (and fantasy shelves in general)!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

A fantastic fantasy sci fi with climate change themes; great and complex characters and great concept for this world. Probably one of the best middle grade books of the year. The whole story was enthralling from start to finish

*Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I loved The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero, but unfortunately this book was not for me. I enjoyed the setting. The descriptions of the hotel and island, where the characters lived, was very compelling. I also enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Malka and Ezra. It was sweet. Ezra and Olivia were well-developed and interesting. They were my favorite characters. The plot was also intriguing with a surprising twist.

However, I thought Malka was obnoxious and rude to everyone in the book. I think it is unfortunate that Romero made one of her main characters, Malka, so unlikeable. I also didn't like the fact that she had her cuss because she is a child. Another aspect I disliked was the use of "they/them" for the sorrowful ones. I found it confusing because it was only referring to one person at a time.

Overall, The Tear Collector was not a bad book, but sadly, it didn't work for me. If the premise sounds interesting to you, then go ahead and try it. You might enjoy it more than I did.

I loved reading this book it was well written and definitely recommend reading it. The Tear Collector by R M Romero has a great plot that makes you keep wanting more.

A heart wrenching story about resilience, love, and fighting for a better future that is incredibly timely.

Special Thanks to Netgally & Publishers

What a special little story! I appreciated the author's relentlessness towards climate change, as well as the necessarily of the message: Even in dire straits, hope is something to believe in. This book has the same feel as A Tale of Unfortunate Events, what with the misty island and rain-soaked old homes and plucky little orphans who are both the sweetest of souls and the spunkiest of spitfires. However,I think where the book falls quite flat for me *is* the characters themselves. They're not *bad* by any means but they are kind bland in comparison