Totally recognize the historical importance of this book in relation to homosexuality’s history of being criminalized and stigmatized. I also found thTotally recognize the historical importance of this book in relation to homosexuality’s history of being criminalized and stigmatized. I also found the theme of different relational configurations (e.g., how queer men and women navigated outness or not) mildly intriguing.
But, the writing itself was so dull and bland. Felt like a slog to get through and couldn’t differentiate much between the characters. Some of the sex scenes were well-written but that didn’t make up for the book as a whole. Also, I know people may say the following is a product of the book’s time and place, though I did eye-roll at an attractive man being described as “clean and white” and a man who is described as unattractive being called “a little too dark.” And at least one instance of casual anti-fat bias. I would not highly recommend this book....more
I found this book mildly entertaining! Robinne Lee’s writing was smooth enough to keep me engaged and curious about how the plot would unfold. There wI found this book mildly entertaining! Robinne Lee’s writing was smooth enough to keep me engaged and curious about how the plot would unfold. There were some interesting themes related to age gap relationships and dating someone who’s a celebrity, especially a celebrity who has a lot of fans engaging in a parasocial connection kind of way.
At the same time, I don’t think anything about this book truly amazed me. The writing was solid but I didn’t feel intensely moved by it. I don’t think the book super deeply interrogated the themes of age gap relationships or celebrity (though perhaps that wasn’t the book’s intent…) I was interested in reading this book because of how Lee shared that she struggled for several years to sell a book with a Black protagonist, so then she wrote this one. Anyway, this was an okay read but not one I’d rush out to recommend to anyone....more
Loved how unapologetically gay and Asian this was and how I felt that it didn’t try to appeal to the heterosexual or white gaze. Unfortunately it stilLoved how unapologetically gay and Asian this was and how I felt that it didn’t try to appeal to the heterosexual or white gaze. Unfortunately it still may have been a genre clash for me. I really did not understand most of what was going on plot-wise and the characters’ relationships with one another didn’t feel believable. Perhaps those more into erotic storytelling and genre fluidity would like this one more!...more
Another short review because I found this book cute though that’s about it! I think this might be a case of mismatch of genres. I like the idea of a nAnother short review because I found this book cute though that’s about it! I think this might be a case of mismatch of genres. I like the idea of a novel that doesn’t rely on conflict to keep the story going, though I still struggled to get much out of Legends and Lattes. The writing felt too simplistic for me, and the characters didn’t pop or come across as especially three-dimensional. Also, yay for the sapphic elements (even though I still didn’t like the book much overall)....more
A cute and pleasant story about two queer siblings in New Zealand figuring out their love lives. I liked the thoughtful representation of OCD, the porA cute and pleasant story about two queer siblings in New Zealand figuring out their love lives. I liked the thoughtful representation of OCD, the portrayal of a wholesome sibling dynamic, and some deeper commentary about how past generations affect the present. I didn’t love the story because I found the writing style hard to get into. First, I felt like Greta’s perspective was almost trying too hard to come across as Fleabag-esque and quirky, which pulled me out of the narrative. Also, within the dialogue, there were some really long speaking turns that were either used to convey information or for a character to engage in an in-depth monologue. I also found these elements of the dialogue distracting. Overall, I thought this book was okay but it wouldn’t be the first I’d recommend....more
Deeply enjoyed the last 150 pages or so of this novel, felt so bored by much of what came before that though. In Good Material we follow 35-y3.5 stars
Deeply enjoyed the last 150 pages or so of this novel, felt so bored by much of what came before that though. In Good Material we follow 35-year-old comedian Andy, who was recently broken up with by his girlfriend. After Jen breaks up with him, Andy struggles in all sense of the word – to find a place to live, to resuscitate his failing stand up career, and to get over Jen at all. We follow him through his meandering messy life post-Jen as he tries to cope with a new fitness regime, a new situationship, and eventually maybe a new perspective on what transpired in his old relationship.
One of my favorite things about this novel was that when I finished it, I had a renewed sense of empathy for my friends going through breakups. Ending relationships, even when it’s the right move, is tough! I thought Dolly Alderton did a great job of honestly portraying the messiness of the post break-up stage.
I really did struggle to get through the first half of this novel though. For the majority of the novel we’re in Andy’s head, then we move to Jen’s for the last bit. Andy… wow. He really was a self-absorbed white man who pitied himself and had little empathy for others. It was hard to get through his perspective and I can’t help but think Alderton wrote his point of view in an intentionally annoying way. I’m still not sure how much of my “eh”-ness about the first half of the novel stemmed from Alderton making Andy intentionally unlikable versus the actual writing quality lacking a bit. The first half felt repetitive to me and I was leaning toward two to three stars max.
But, Andy does grow a little by the end of the novel which was nice to read. And I loved when the perspective shifted to Jen’s point of view. As a more femme gay man/genderqueer person who’s not into the whole get married and have kids thing, I related a lot of Jen’s perspectives and experiences. I also found the writing in Jen’s section fluid and entertaining, while still feeling grounded and convincing.
So, mixed feelings about this one. I wonder if Alderton could have done anything differently to the first half of the novel – maybe actually exploring Andy’s emotions more in-depth like with some of his father stuff? Still, after thinking about it I think I will at some point read more of her work, especially given how people in my Goodreads community seem to be a fan of hers....more
I wanted to like this one though found it so boring compared to its predecessor All of Us Villains. While the first book in the series always keptI wanted to like this one though found it so boring compared to its predecessor All of Us Villains. While the first book in the series always kept me on my toes, for some reason I struggled to remain interested in All of Our Demise. I’m not sure if it’s because the ending felt obvious or because the novel lacked the higher stakes of the first book (view spoiler)[which shouldn’t be the end of the world because it’s preferable that not so many of the champions have to die, but (hide spoiler)]. I also was annoyed that so many characters ended up in romantic relationships. I’m mostly giving this novel three stars out of nostalgia for the first in its series. The writing was not technically bad in any sense, though it failed to captivate my attention....more
I felt underwhelmed by this book. At its core is a story about a couple who’s dissatisfied by their marriage. Somehow, Nathan Hill stretches this basiI felt underwhelmed by this book. At its core is a story about a couple who’s dissatisfied by their marriage. Somehow, Nathan Hill stretches this basic premise across 600 pages, when I think everything insightful about these two characters could’ve been communicated within 200 pages. I found some of the conflicts within their marriage and some of the flashbacks into their pasts interesting, though a lot of times the prose felt dry or the characterization came across as too try-hard.
Hill also includes a lot of commentary about the wellness industry which came across as a bit random to me. I felt like these portions of the book could have been better distilled into a few paragraphs of straightforward critique instead of being interspersed throughout the book. Finally, throughout Wellness he incorporates basic psychological principles in a name-dropping kind of way (e.g., here’s this psychological premise, here’s how this character uses it) which also felt distracting and oddly jammed into these characters’ lives (maybe I was particularly unimpressed because I am a Psychology professor, lol.) Onto the next!...more
The second half of this novel blew me away! I enjoyed An Echo in the City, a book about two star-crossed teenagers falling in love during the 2019 HonThe second half of this novel blew me away! I enjoyed An Echo in the City, a book about two star-crossed teenagers falling in love during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. I feel that K.X. Song did a great job writing about a topic that doesn’t get much mainstream attention in the United States (I’m referencing the U.S. just because that’s where I live.) She highlights sixteen-year-old Phoenix’s journey from privilege and lack of awareness to activism, from her disinterested path in attending Yale to her taking action to capture key moments in an activist movement. Song also portrays seventeen-year-old Kai’s evolution from working as a police officer to fulfill what his father wants from him, to honoring what he wants from his life regardless of what other people may think. In the afterword of this novel, Song writes about how people told her that this book may not do well because it doesn’t feature a white protagonist. While the book doesn’t seem to be super popular, I’m so glad Song stuck through with it because it definitely raises intersecting themes of identity, politics, and pursuing what’s right even when doing so comes at a cost.
I also enjoyed the characterization and romance in this novel. Loved the development of a healthy romance between two Asian protagonists! I also thought Song did a nice job of having both Phoenix and Kai come to terms with what they really want and who they really are despite familial pressures. I will say though that that ending ~broke~ my heart in an amazing way, I was sitting in bed just like “omg I can’t believe this I’m shaking and devastated though thank goodness a book can make me feel this way.” I’m giving this novel four out of five stars instead of five out of five because I felt that the book did drag a bit in the first half, there just wasn’t much that grabbed my attention. Still, the second half won me over and I’d recommend this book to fans of young-adult realistic fiction....more
Well-written and character-driven novel that follows two Black women as they navigate romantic and familial relationships and choices that uproot theiWell-written and character-driven novel that follows two Black women as they navigate romantic and familial relationships and choices that uproot their lives. I thought Sadeqa Johnson did an excellent job writing about how colorism, class, and gender dynamics affected our protagonists without diluting the story or taking us out of the narrative. While I found the prose smooth and easy to read, it lacked that little extra oomph to really wow me or make me feel even more strongly about the story as a whole....more
What an intoxicating novel. I Could Live Here Forever follows Leah Kempler, a woman in her mid-twenties completing an MFA at the University of WisconsWhat an intoxicating novel. I Could Live Here Forever follows Leah Kempler, a woman in her mid-twenties completing an MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, she meets Charlie Nelson, a man with big feelings and grand proclamations of love. Leah is swept up in Charlie’s affection and soon finds herself in an all-consuming relationship with him. When Leah learns that Charlie is in recovery for a heroin addiction, she pauses, though presses on in the romance that’s become irresistible to her. As Charlie’s behavior grows more erratic and Leah’s friends and family grow increasingly concerned, her doubts increase, even as she proclaims to love him just as much as he loves her, flaws and all.
I found this book mesmerizing. Leah is a deeply flawed protagonist who relies on people’s external validation of her, though I thought Hanna Halperin did an excellent job characterizing Leah and providing context into the roots of her behavior (e.g., Leah’s complicated relationship with her mother, who abandoned Leah several years ago). Halperin’s writing felt smooth yet magnetic; I wanted to know every twist and turn that awaited Leah and Charlie’s relationship as well as Leah’s own emotional journey throughout her twenties. It was difficult to see Leah crave men’s desire for her, though Halperin crafts her character with sharp writing that renders her in a sympathetic light. Halperin really showed us the toxic forces of amatonormativity and how people can try to use romance to fill up the voids within themselves! Whew.
I also appreciated Halperin’s portrayal of Charlie. There’s still so much stigma surrounding substance use disorders, and I liked how Halperin portrayed Charlie as a three-dimensional character with some positive qualities (e.g., capacity for love and affection, artistic and a skilled singer) while also not shying away from showing the devastating effects of an opioid use disorder. Charlie definitely was emotionally manipulative and codependent a lot of the time too, and I think Halperin highlighted the cruelty of those behaviors instead of glorifying Charlie and Leah’s relationship as some nonproblematic intense love affair.
The one element of this book that I felt disappointed by was that I don’t think Leah grows very much as a character? Perhaps she does a little bit by the end of the book as evidenced by how she (view spoiler)[broke up with Charlie, though her moving back to Boston made that convenient (hide spoiler)]. However, I don’t think she developed much insight into her propensity to throw herself into romantic relationships over and over without addressing her internal issues (e.g., lack of self-love, attachment wounds from her relationship with her mother). It’s not like I necessarily needed or expected a “Leah goes to therapy and after several sessions learns to love herself slowly yet surely” or even a “Leah develops an amazing best friendship with someone where she’s able to love healthfully and fully” type of thing, though something just a little more than where we left off would have been more satisfying for me.
Overall, a strong novel that I could see many people enjoying, such as fans of realistic fiction, romance, and stories in general about complex women and relationships. Halperin’s debut novel Something Wild is on my to-read list for sure after witnessing the quality of her writing in I Could Live Here Forever!...more
Whew! This book took me by surprise. In Five Years follows type A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan, a woman who’s checked off all the boxes in her five-yWhew! This book took me by surprise. In Five Years follows type A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan, a woman who’s checked off all the boxes in her five-year plan: crushing her career as a corporate lawyer and soon-to-be-married to her kind, wholesome boyfriend David. The night after David proposes, however, Dannie wakes up for one hour and finds herself in a surreal state, one in which she’s sleeping with a different man, in a different apartment, five years into the future. When Dannie wakes, she’s back in 2020 and still sleeping beside David. Her life continues on track, until four and a half years later, she meets the man from her dream, and destiny takes a turn Dannie wasn’t expecting.
On a plot level, I think Rebecca Serle did a great job of using the flashforward in time to keep the suspense of the novel going. We sense this future vision is what’s going to happen, but we don’t know how Dannie will get there. And, I really was taken by surprise by the plot twists that led us there, in a pleasant way – the events made sense and didn’t feel too random yet were surprising all the same. This plot device also speaks to Dannie’s character growth, about her learning to let go of planning for the future and living in the moment. As a fellow type A planner, it was a nice reminder for me that sometimes life will just happen and all you can do is practice mindfulness, compassion, and enjoyment of the moment.
I was also surprised in a good way by the theme of friendship and its significance in this novel. There are romantic elements in In Five Years, but Dannie’s relationship with her best friend Bella really takes center stage. I won’t spoil any of the plot, though I will say I was genuinely moved to tears a couple of times. Serle did that!
All that said, I don’t think this was a perfect novel by any means. I felt that Dannie and Bella’s friendship could have been more richly constructed from the beginning of the novel. Serle’s writing got the job done but didn’t wow me as much as the five-star novels I’ve read over the past few years. Dannie’s loss of her brother from her childhood could have been more deeply explored. Still, In Five Years conveys an important message about living in the moment and skillfully portrays a heartrending friendship story. A solid four star read....more
Super cute book! I loved the all-Black cast and the determination of our main character, Kiki. I also enjoyed reading about her romance with Kai, its Super cute book! I loved the all-Black cast and the determination of our main character, Kiki. I also enjoyed reading about her romance with Kai, its fire, ups and downs, and ultimately satisfying ending. I think this book’s genre and I didn’t match well; I wanted a bit more depth from the characters apart from the romance, though it’s a romance novel so I can’t really blame it for that. I also found the writing style occasionally clunky. I definitely agree with Bolu Babalola’s intent and mission in writing this novel though and appreciate her care for her characters....more
I read this book because my Boston Asian book club chose it for our February read. It was cute in a way! I felt like I did learn some interesting tidbI read this book because my Boston Asian book club chose it for our February read. It was cute in a way! I felt like I did learn some interesting tidbits related to romance, like how decades ago people tended to meet their romantic partners through close geographical proximity (e.g., living in the same apartment) which has changed now with online dating. The issue of having “too many” options living in a city made sense to me too (so maybe it’s not just patriarchy’s socialization of men and white supremacy that’s made me romantically single for all of my life, but also living in predominantly urban environments?? intriguing!)
One glaring limitation of this book is the lack of discussion of amatonormativity. I find it almost laughable to write an entire book about romance without discussing heteronormativity and amatonormativity and how they shape the prevalence of romance and the wedding industrial complex in our society. Aziz Ansari kind of almost barely touches on this through mentioning that women’s increased economic power made it so they didn’t have to marry men to access financial security.
I also found a couple of small statements in the book… annoying in a mosquito bite-y sort of way. For example, Ansari makes a joke about having an “Indian stalker” and I was kind of eye-rolling about the stalker being Indian, like why do you have to implicate your own race (and it made me think of this broader criticism of Ansari and his lifting up of white women over women of color). And in another section of the book he implies that a man he meets isn’t a “stud” because he’s on the shorter side. Yawn! Where are our critical thinking hats in regard to desirability and gender norms??
I wouldn’t recommend this book though at least the writing was accessible and easy to read. I’m going to be taking notes *for sure* at my next book club meeting especially if anyone actually liked the book lol o_o If anyone is interested, I also write about amatonormativity on my blog....more
Overall I loved the content of this book. A romance between a queer Mexican American girl and a queer Asian American girl, themes of coming-of-age amiOverall I loved the content of this book. A romance between a queer Mexican American girl and a queer Asian American girl, themes of coming-of-age amidst homophobia among a rich white Catholic school, and some difficult family dynamics that turn out okay. I felt a lot of heart from this novel and am happy to see uplifting representation of LGBTQ+ people of color.
Unfortunately I didn’t love the execution of the book from a writing perspective. The first half of the book in particular felt like a lot of teen cliches without much direction. While the latter half of the book contained more scenes with heartfelt emotional resonance, some of what took place still felt rushed. I wanted more from the writing. Still, I’m happy with what this book represents in terms of social justice and narrative of joy for queer poc!...more
Super super cute book. Beating Heart Baby follows a romance between a mixed Korean-Japanese and mixed Filipino-Latino gay teenaged couple as they searSuper super cute book. Beating Heart Baby follows a romance between a mixed Korean-Japanese and mixed Filipino-Latino gay teenaged couple as they search for one another and themselves. Leo Min includes a lot of elements that I imagine will resonate with those who had quirky interests in high school or throughout life: internet friendships, music, anime, and more. I liked this book because it’s unapologetically queer and trans and on-the-nose sentimental. The role of affirming, life-giving friends and family stood out to me too.
There was a tightness and quality to the prose of this book in its first 50 pages that had me wondering if I’d give this book five stars, though over time I felt like the writing became a bit more diffuse/not-as-precise. Still, I’d recommend this book to fans of queer young-adult fiction and I’m glad Beating Heart Baby exists for today’s teens....more
Hmmm I think this book and I did not fit well together given my literary tastes. When a book includes romance, I prefer the characters to feel developHmmm I think this book and I did not fit well together given my literary tastes. When a book includes romance, I prefer the characters to feel developed outside of their romantic interests and relationships. These characters’ lives and actions felt very centered on their romantic pursuits, which may feel fine for some though left me wanting more. I think I wanted more from the writing too.
I will say I found Valerie’s treatment of Nina sad and interesting. Valerie has faced gender oppression throughout her life and instead of supporting Nina, she tries to make Nina’s life as miserable as hers. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a nice job of showing that just because someone shares an identity with you (gender in this case, though applicable to race, sexual orientation, etc.) it does not mean they will always want the best for you....more
So I found this book very entertaining and easy to read and also disappointing at times too. Starting with what I enjoyed about the book, I found the So I found this book very entertaining and easy to read and also disappointing at times too. Starting with what I enjoyed about the book, I found the prose so readable. Gabrielle Zevin has a knack for telling a good story and about 100 pages in, I felt immersed in her characters’ lives in a way that only some of the best writers can execute. There’s a slice-of-life quality to the storytelling in Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow that helped me feel like I was gliding along with Sam, Sadie, and Marx’s lives from their college years to their early and then approaching mid-adulthood. The video game aspect of the story actually made sense to me and added a quirky touch to the novel that didn’t come across as gimmicky.
I also liked the integration of social commentary in this book through the characters’ lives. I felt a lot for Sam and his struggle with his disability and Sadie with her experiences of sexism in the video game industry and in life generally. Zevin does a nice job of showing and not telling so that these elements of social justice/injustice felt organic instead of too obvious or preachy.
I think my biggest critique of this book centers on Sam and Sadie’s friendship. I will couch this commentary by saying that I read a lot of literary fiction and it’s one of my favorite genres so my expectations are reasonably high. I found their friendship engaging, though at the same time I don’t think Zevin developed the foundation of their friendship enough to merit all of the conflict and turmoil they experienced. For example, Sam consistently idealizes Sadie throughout the book and is all “I love Sadie Green even though I can’t tell her” and I was like uh why?? Like I get that they had a somewhat intense bonding experience as kids and then they made video games together, but I literally had no clue why Sam actually loved Sadie – she treats him pretty horribly throughout the book as he does to her at times. I get that friends can treat each other poorly, though I struggled to believe Sam and Sadie’s bond given that they get into these intense arguments all the time and then resolve them by… forgetting and forgiving instead of communicating through the conflict and processing what actually happened?? Idk, maybe my best friendships are so healthy to the point where it feels a bit incomprehensible to me (shout-out to Bri one of my bestianas who’s also on Goodreads!)
As a side note, I think I’m spoiled because I read Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Lowland and Unaccustomed Earth earlier this year and late last year respectively, and she sets the bar so high in terms of characters with rich inner lives that then manifest in their interpersonal relationships. Hanya Yanagihara pulled this off too in A Little Life, though I don’t recommend her other books lol.
I also felt frustrated by the overall treatment of friendship in this novel. For the first 60% or so, there’s this implicit and explicit theme of friendship being important and special and not inferior to romance. However, this deteriorates when certain events happen later on in the book. Like, at the very end, Sam literally (view spoiler)[says that he felt insecure that Sadie didn’t want to be with him romantically/physically because of his disability, his Asianness, his lack of wealth… which implies that he actually wanted a romantic relationship with her all along… which undercuts the importance of friendship. Yikes (hide spoiler)] Like, Sadie is a white woman from a wealthy background, why did Sam feel so entranced by her?? Idk, it reminds me a bit too much of Asian men who are obsessed with white women’s approval and being attractive to white women instead of loving themselves (like this tweet depicts). And I don’t think Zevin sufficiently showed an arc of Sam learning to love himself, even if imperfectly, which would have been my preference even if it’s not everyone’s.
Anyway, as you can tell this book was engaging enough that it elicited this long of a review from me. Again, I was entertained and immersed so I can see why so many people hyped this book. Not my favorite though a story with interesting elements and relevant social commentary for sure....more
Appreciated the Black sapphic representation in this book and its theme of a codependent relationship with devastating ups and downs. My reaction to tAppreciated the Black sapphic representation in this book and its theme of a codependent relationship with devastating ups and downs. My reaction to this book reminds me of why I tend to avoid reading poetry collections – I tend to rate then a bit lower because *I* struggle to resonate with them which makes me feel a tad guilty. I liked how Woodfolk portrays the immersive grip of an intense friendship turned romance and the complexity of caring for someone even when they are not right for you. The story being told in verse and the related lack of specific detail made it difficult for me to deeply connect with the characters. Still, I would recommend maybe checking this one out if you like poetry and are intrigued by the book’s synopsis....more
Oh wow, what a great book. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows follows Nikki, a young Punjabi woman living in West London who takes a job teach4.5 stars
Oh wow, what a great book. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows follows Nikki, a young Punjabi woman living in West London who takes a job teaching writing to a group of older Punjabi widows. To Nikki’s surprise, the class takes on a life of its own as the women begin to share stories that center erotic fantasies and desire. While this sequence of events may sound funny and naughty, Balli Kaur Jaswal incorporates rich themes of female solidarity and empowerment throughout this novel as well.
I enjoyed this book so much, both its humor and its powerful messages about sexism and women standing up for themselves! Kaur Jaswal sets this novel up so well with a humorous, attention-grabbing premise: older Punjabi widows sharing salacious, sexual stories with one another. She maintains a lightness to her prose that made this book feel readable and suspenseful in a positive way.
At the same time, Kaur Jaswal tackles heavy topics in Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. One of the most powerful themes that stood out to me is internalized sexism and how women can turn against one another when they come to believe in patriarchal messages about right and wrong. I loved how Kaur Jaswal shows us the process of unlearning internalized sexism through Kulwinder’s character. There were a couple of scenes of feminist solidarity toward the end of the novel that brought tears to my eyes – the female characters’ growth and their bonds with one another made my heart swell. I also liked reading about Nikki’s romance with Jason – yay for a healthy romantic relationship between people of color – and Kulwinder’s journey of grief after the loss of her daughter, Maya.
Overall, a well-written novel that touches on some heavy topics yet stays light enough for a fun time. I’m in the middle of a super intense job application process now so reading this book definitely helped improve my mood, thank you Balli Kaur Jaswal!...more
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