I truly don't remember Roman from the Kate Daniels world, but if you give me a book from Ilona Andrews, I'm going to read it. I'm an Ilona Andrews fanI truly don't remember Roman from the Kate Daniels world, but if you give me a book from Ilona Andrews, I'm going to read it. I'm an Ilona Andrews fan-girl.
Sanctuary was... dense. You need to wade through a ton of Slavic world-building and lore, and it didn't always quite hold my interest. This book can 100% be read as a stand-alone, so it isn't as though the Kate Daniels' books would really help here, but I'll admit I was confused at times. It was action-forward, and not romance-y, though there is certainly potential there, and it didn't hold my interest quite as well as some of the other more recent series by this author duo. However, I'm very hopeful that the following books in the series will be more engaging and easier to follow now that some of the groundwork is already there.
If Ilona Andrews is writing a book, I'm going to read it. Let's keep the momentum going.
Legends & Lattes was so stinking cute. A lightly sapphic cozy fantasy? Yes, please.
If I tried to describe the plot to Legends & Lattes to you, it wouLegends & Lattes was so stinking cute. A lightly sapphic cozy fantasy? Yes, please.
If I tried to describe the plot to Legends & Lattes to you, it would seem... boring. A former bandit orc decides to settle down and open a coffee shop and makes friends? How does that that fill 300 pages?
Well, it does and it's fantastic.
Sure, there isn't a lot of action (romantic or otherwise), but I've never read a cozy fantasy before, and I think I sort of love them?? It was... kind of nice to have a book just chillax and not be so intense.
The friendships were adorable, the lattes sounded delicious, and I can't wait for another. Happy I own this book in paperback.
This was a nice little snack while I wait for the next in the series to be released, HOWEVER, I missed James Marsters narrating. Jim Butcher did a decThis was a nice little snack while I wait for the next in the series to be released, HOWEVER, I missed James Marsters narrating. Jim Butcher did a decent job, but it just wasn't the same. ...more
I've been reading so much contemporary romance that I forgot what it was like to be swept into another world, but C.S. Pacat took me there.
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I've been reading so much contemporary romance that I forgot what it was like to be swept into another world, but C.S. Pacat took me there.
I haven't read a full-length C.S. Pacat in years. My daughter and I buddy-read the Fence, Vol. 1 series, but I had honestly forgotten what power this author can wield. Dark Rise blew my mother forking mind.
I knew from reading some reviews that this book had some twists, so I was sort of prepared for emotional and mental mayhem, but I still was very surprised but a ton of the content. However, lots of authors can write twists into their books, but fewer authors can make it make organic sense.
Best of all, C.S. Pacat really stunned me with the phenomenal world-building. I was completely in it, almost from page one. For a book that is nearly 500 pages, the pacing and world-building was really remarkable. I read it all in one sitting (and I was holding a HARDCOVER! that $hit is heavy!), and I didn't want to put it down. This was a 2 am read for me. I would have read it all night.
There are some *very* minor hints at romance, but don't get your hopes up or read it for that. Primarily, this is a fantasy book, and a YA fantasy at that.
After reading this STUNNING book, I can't believe I have to wait another three months for the second book. It will be nearly unbearable...
Ugh, just buy this book. It ruined me, and I loved every minute of it.
I've read many, many books on weight loss and dieting over the years, mostly to try to get healthier and in order to understand my body better[image]
I've read many, many books on weight loss and dieting over the years, mostly to try to get healthier and in order to understand my body better because I'm a science geek. This book outshines them all.
It takes a lot convincing to change your mindset from the ingrained "calories in, calories out," but Dr. Fung is very compelling. Listening to his book changed my whole mindset about food, sugar, and fake sugar (which is my true weakness). It was truly life changing.
An excellent book with lots of science to back it up. You'll never look at food the same way again.
Let me tell you, it is such a relief to have a funny, well-written book from a comedian that I admire. Man, I've been burned so many times before withLet me tell you, it is such a relief to have a funny, well-written book from a comedian that I admire. Man, I've been burned so many times before with mediocre books from comedians, I barely dared to hope with this one. But Ali Wong really delivered.
If you are a fan of Ali Wong, you will like this book. I pinky-swear promise. The beginning of the book is pure Ali Wong humor, and if you think think that means vagina and pubic hair jokes, you would be 100% CORRECT.
Ali Wong is purely who she is, and I love that about her. I think people underestimate her (though not so much anymore, thank you "Always Be My Maybe"!), but she is one of the most honest, crassly-amazing comedians out there. I love that she is a parent now, and I related to her stories a ton, even though our upbringing was completely different. I ate up the stories about how she met her husband and how he compared to the (multitude) of men she had dated in the past. She gave me the intimate content I was craving, and, no, I don't mean of her sex life (get your mind out of the gutter!).
The second half of the book was a bit less funny and more of an exploration of her ethnic background, which I also enjoyed. Ali Wong showed me a lot about who she is and where she is going, both in her own journey to learn about herself and with her comedy. Sometimes, I think it's too early for a comedian to write a book, but with Ali Wong, it was just right. Both funny and poignant, Ali Wong really nailed it with Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life.
I adore a funny, self-deprecating parenting book, and I LOVED #IMomSoHard at the start. I was telling everyone about it, and I was *3.5 stars*
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I adore a funny, self-deprecating parenting book, and I LOVED #IMomSoHard at the start. I was telling everyone about it, and I was convinced it would be a favorite of mine. The audio version of this book is very charming, and I was hooked. However, though it remained decent up until the end, it became very repetitive over time and I found myself fast-forwarding as I went along.
I'm a part time working mom, and I try to do it all, just like most of my fellow moms out there. I'm struggling (like the rest of you) to remember pajama day, theme lunch day, and also to remember to shower myself once in awhile. However, mom books are so, so hard because you might relate to one mom's experience in one way but not in other ways. The birthing and parenting parts in the beginning of this book were very fun, but it is almost like the authors ran out of stuff to talk about, and it became the same thing over and over again, some of which I related to more than others.
Also, and this is pretty personal, but it always irks me when women (and fellow moms) talk about how their husbands think they are so attractive and want sex 24/7, like it's a problem every woman has. My husband is the one coming home tired and wanting to sleep in peace, and I'm the one reading filthy romance books and bugging him at 2 am. Never wanting sex isn't a universal woman thing, and I hate feeling weird that I'm not like, ugh, not again.
I think #IMomSoHard is a fun audiobook, especially at the beginning when the authors have the most material to talk about. I would listen to their podcast and watch their videos any day of the week, but to fill up a cohesive book... that's hard stuff.
I'm a fan of Tan France, and I find him to be charming, funny, but a bit aloof. His book feels the same way.
Naturally Tan was an easy, enjoyable read that actually felt like Tan wrote it instead of the book being fully reworked by a ghostwriter. It had his voice and cadence, and I loved that about it.
Tan's upbringing, love life, and religion aren't new to anyone who watches his show, but we learn a bit more about the details in his book. I liked the anecdotal details about his childhood and family, and I loved his very firm commitment and love for his husband, but if you are expecting a lot of very personal details, you will won't really find them here. Tan stays a bit guarded while telling his story, and any details about his religion, further details about his romance, and many of the juicier tidbits aren't in the book. Though I learned more about Tan than I knew perviously, it didn't quite satisfy me.
On the flip side, while I liked that the book felt like Tan wrote it himself, it's also very apparent that Tan isn't a writer. It doesn't have a polished feel, and the books seems a bit choppier and more scattered than I would like.
I think if you are a fan of Queer Eye or Tan France, you will enjoy this book. It's a light, easy read, and it made me smile and learn a bit more about fashion, so I'll call it a win.
I read the blurb, and I assumed that the story was about a quirky girl, perhaps on the autistic spectrum, who makes some friends and comes out of her shell. I was very, very, very wrong.
There is a reason that I primarily read romance, and that's because I don't enjoy sad. I get tired of people telling me that I need to read books about war or violence or loss for it to count. I get enough horrifyingly sad stories just reading the news or seeing what happens in our world every day. If I had truly knew exactly what Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine was about, I think I would have avoided it. I think it's important for readers to know that the story involves past emotional and physical child abuse.
But, to be honest, I'm glad I didn't know what the story was truly about and that I went outside my comfort zone, because this book was bloody brilliant.
I listened to the story for hours on my day off. I spent the day in Ikea, and I felt lost in my own head, my own world of Eleanor and her bravery and fumbles and struggles. I wandered for hours (typical for Ikea), and the story kept me company, even though I cried at times.
Unlike some readers, I didn't find the story at all funny. I found it tragically, tragically sad, though I took comfort in Eleanor's progress over time and her support from her new and growing circle of friends.
If you have a chance to listen to this book in audio, take it. The audiobook narrator, Cathleen McCarron, was a wonder, and deserves an award for her work. It was a full-body experience listening to this story.
Eleanor Oliphant isn't at all fine, and neither was I while listening to this story, but maybe that's okay sometimes. Especially when a story can move me like this one did.
Whenever I go to a book convention, I try to read as many of the attending authors as possible. I'm going to Book Lovers Con in May, so I'm checking aWhenever I go to a book convention, I try to read as many of the attending authors as possible. I'm going to Book Lovers Con in May, so I'm checking as many new-to-me authors off my list as I can.
I basically went into this book blind, but I love paranormal and the plot sounded fun. However, I had issues with To Catch Her Death.
The story wasn't a romance, which surprised me but wasn't a big deal. I actually liked the basic set up for the story, but I had a lot of content issues, some of which will sound a bit nit-picky.
I had problems with the way the gay side character was depicted in the story. It was a small thing, just a few scenes, but as a gay romance reader and reviewer, I didn't appreciate the way the gay hairdresser was shown. Plus, no one, and I mean no one, would go for a spiky blond cut with two pieces hanging down long around the face. I was getting bad Kate Gosselin flashbacks.
The plot became predictable and boring, the editing needed a LOT of help, and though I think the author had some really interesting ideas, I don't think she is the author for me.
Honestly, I barely got through this audiobook, as compelling as it was. The neglect hurt me, but I think that Tara's story was inspiring and powerful, nevertheless. And though some of the medical details of the many accidents Tara's family suffered may have gotten distorted a bit through the lens of a young Tara, I have personally seen people suffer through black, decayed, pus-ridden ailments of the mouth (I'm a dentist), and NOT treat them. If you add in the fear of the medical profession and a lack of money, I can easily see how you could ignore even the more dire of illnesses.
A fascinating book that will haunt me for a long time.
The book itself was a bit dry with an awkward structure and a dull narrator, but the content was fa[image]
5 stars for the woman, 3 stars for the book.
The book itself was a bit dry with an awkward structure and a dull narrator, but the content was fascinating. I started this audiobook to try to learn more about RBG and I certainly accomplished that. However, I think the formatting could have been a bit more compelling. I think I'll continue reading more about RBG as her personal and professional career is #inspiration.
I can understand all of the 5-star reviews for this poetically written memoir by influential author, Roxane Gay. She truly[image]
*3.5 stars*
Impactful.
I can understand all of the 5-star reviews for this poetically written memoir by influential author, Roxane Gay. She truly is a lovely writer, and the subject matter is, obviously, very difficult to articulate and something that she has been dealing with her whole life.
I was also really moved by some of her descriptors, like calling her body "unruly," which is a surprisingly powerful word to describe bodies that we can't get to conform to others' standards. There are many instances of phrasing so beautiful and poignant that they will stick with me for some time.
However, as an audiobook, I have mixed feelings. The author's voice is very pleasant to listen to, but the book seemed extremely repetitive, especially in audio format. The story seemed like it could have been shortened or edited down as parts were redundant to the point of boring. I think if I had read the story in ebook format, it would have been more like reading a book of poetry/memoir fusion, but the listening experience is just a very different animal.
A fun, easy introduction to they/them pronouns with some pretty awesome graphics to boot.
I'm no novice when it comes to trans issues, but I'll admit tA fun, easy introduction to they/them pronouns with some pretty awesome graphics to boot.
I'm no novice when it comes to trans issues, but I'll admit that I know much less about people who identify as genderqueer.
I knew a person who identified as genderqueer when I was in college, but has since adapted she/her pronouns, so my first-hand knowledge of someone who is genderfluid or genderqueer is extremely limited. However, I'm always up to learn and grow as a person in this crazy world we live in, and understanding different people and different perspectives in a big part of that journey.
My favorite part of this little book was the really skilled artistry of the comics. They were fun with informative with witty dialogue, and it easily kept me reading and engaged. I learned a number of things as well, and any take-away from a book like this one is meaningful.
I like that this book furthers the dialogue between cis people and their trans/genderqueer acquaintances and friends, and I think it would be a good starter book for someone who wants to learn the basics of gender-neutral pronouns.
I'm not sure why I decided to read this one, other than the fact that it looked mildly interesting. It wasn't.
Look, I'm notA very... odd little book.
I'm not sure why I decided to read this one, other than the fact that it looked mildly interesting. It wasn't.
Look, I'm not sure exactly who the target audience is for this story. It's sort of artsy, in an erudite, pretentious way. I like a good intellectual book of musings as much as the next girl, but most of the book felt like overblown filler. It had moments where it was interesting, but most of the stories failed to excite me.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*...more
If you've read a lot of articles and/or books on being trans or the trans experience, you won't find Trans Teen Survival Guide to be parti*3.5 stars*
If you've read a lot of articles and/or books on being trans or the trans experience, you won't find Trans Teen Survival Guide to be particularly groundbreaking, but I personally enjoyed it.
Disclosure: I'm not trans, but I do make it a point to educate myself thoroughly on trans issues.
Now, I'm not sure exactly why it's marketed to teens other than the fact that it's a more basic-ish guide to being trans. It's a very welcoming, easy-to-read book, and other than some pandering-ish "teenager" language, I think it would appeal to almost anyone. There are chapters on coming out, clothing, dating, sex, pronouns, and lots of other things that are useful (but again, not anything you can't find easily online).
My favorite part of the book were the personal anecdotes. I wish there were more stories from trans teens as those were the sections that really spoke to me. I think having lots of personal stories and, perhaps, pictures would enhanced the book even more.
Overall, I think this is a good book to have in your arsenal, especially if you are new to being/accepting that you are trans or you want to learn about the trans experience.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*...more
I've had it on my Kindle for some time, but... but... but...
With all the praise The Hate U Give has gotten, I was honestly afraid that I would hate it or that it would be too sad or too violent for me. I've read a number of books that were important stories but didn't work for me, and I always left those feeling vaguely ashamed, like I didn't deserve an opinion or that I shouldn't even have tried.
However, a few things happened in my reader community regarding the marginalization of black authors (read more about it here, and here), so I decided to dedicate a week to reading only black and black-mixed authors. I read seven female, black-authored books last week and, honestly, I had one of the best reading weeks of my life. The Hate U Give was a big part of that.
The Hate U Give is an example of why "own voices" books are important. The book felt important, but the messages didn't overpower the storyline or make the book inaccessible. The book broke my heart and gave me hope and everything in between. I could NOT put it down.
The Hate U Give addresses and confronts extremely important issues that our black community is facing. The book felt current and topical, but these issues are, sadly, not even close to being new problems. It also made me reexamine my own biases regarding speech and language, something that isn't easy but is crucial for me as person. The book really changed me.
But when it really comes down to it, The Hate U Give is simply excellent writing. The storyline is important, but the writing made the book utterly compelling.
Required reading, and I'd like to see this book in all classrooms....more
DNF at 40%. Truthfully, difficult to get through. I thought the main character was pompous and an ass. the historical elements were quite inter[image]
DNF at 40%. Truthfully, difficult to get through. I thought the main character was pompous and an ass. the historical elements were quite interesting, though, and the narration of the audiobook was excellent. ...more
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
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