Author: Joshua Flores

I am 23 years old and currently live in Orange County, CA. When I'm not working as a writer at a local marketing agency during the day, I can be found reading YA fiction at a cozy coffee shop, binge-watching RuPaul's Drag Race, and drinking sleepy time tea. At Germ I specialise in content relating to books and authors. As staff writer I cover a variety of content, including: author interviews, book reviews, and local signings and events within the Los Angeles writing community.

Normal People: The Pain of Adolescent Love

Posted on Jul 9, 2020Jul 6, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Based on the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Normal People is a story about sex, love, and redemption — all of the discomfort, confusion, and lust of adolescence on full display. With a frank and graphic depiction of teen love, Normal People chooses to delve into the small moments, both good and bad, that make young […]

Love, Victor: Another Memorable Creekwood Coming-Out Story

Posted on Jul 7, 2020Jul 6, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Looking for the perfect feel-good story to celebrate pride? In need of pure escapism during quarantine? Love, Victor takes audiences back into the warm, compassionate world of Love, Simon and introduces an arguably even more charming male protagonist that adds complexity and humor to the turbulence and confusion of adolescence. While different from Love, Simon, […]

Selling Sunset: A Lavish, Blunt Look at LA Living

Posted on Jun 10, 2020Jun 9, 2020 by Joshua Flores

From glamorous homes to petty workplace drama, Selling Sunset returns to Netflix with its second season, showcasing more drama and more lavish homes than ever before. Documenting some of the most extravagant estates available in the Los Angeles community and focusing on the talented Oppenheim Group, Netflix combines reality TV with a soapy, sassy, and sincere look […]

The Sky Is Mine: The Brutal, Heartbreaking Path to Recovery

Posted on Apr 27, 2020Apr 25, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Izzie is slipping, falling, unable to stand back up on her own two feet. She feels alone, isolated, her words unable to be heard by Jacob, by her mother, and especially by her best friend, Grace. The Sky Is Mine by Amy Beashel is a harrowing and painful look at the violent, tragic experiences of […]

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird: A New, Complex Romantic Read

Posted on Apr 16, 2020Apr 15, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Lydia thought she had her life planned out with her boyfriend, Freddie. They had ordinary lives, ordinary jobs, and an ordinary, wonderful life together. But when tragedy strikes, Lydia must reevaluate her future and try to find some solace in a world without Freddie. Both tragic and ultimately uplifting, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird […]

Little Fires Everywhere: A Frank Look at Motherhood and Race

Posted on Mar 31, 2020Mar 30, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Everything comes back to the night of the fire, the fire that stole the Richardson home, leaving only ashes and despair. Chronicling the intertwining lives of Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) and Mia Warren (Kerry Washington), Little Fires Everywhere takes an intimate, frank look at the pains of motherhood and deeply-rooted division of race. Mia Warren […]

Jennifer Niven: The All the Bright Places Film and Beyond

Posted on Mar 18, 2020Mar 17, 2020 by Joshua Flores

The movie adaptation of Jennifer Niven’s bestselling novel All the Bright Places was released on February 28th, featuring heart-wrenching performances from Elle Fanning (Super 8, Maleficent) and Justice Smith (Paper Towns, Everyday). From the adaption process to seeing her personal, heart-felt novel come to life, Jennifer and I discussed All the Bright Places and all the effort and love that […]

Interview with Kaitlin Ward, Author of Lie to Me

Posted on Mar 5, 2020Mar 4, 2020 by Joshua Flores

For fans of Netflix’s You and the recently renowned YA series One of Us Is Lying, Lie to Me is a complex, thrilling, and absorbing read that is certain to impress teens looking for a novel to keep them up late at night, searching for the answers to Amelia’s story. Kaitlin Ward was kind enough to share some of […]

Birds of Prey: A New, Edgier Look at Gotham

Posted on Feb 26, 2020Feb 25, 2020 by Joshua Flores

Suicide Squad was anything but impressive. With a score of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and an overall dislike from even the most loyal DC Comics fans, Birds of Prey presented itself in the same way: audiences uncertain whether the film would remain in the murky waters of the last movies released by DC or be […]