depressing, nihilistic and incredibly bleak, Good Morning, Midnight wasn't an easy read, despite its relatively short page count. it was a slow, heavydepressing, nihilistic and incredibly bleak, Good Morning, Midnight wasn't an easy read, despite its relatively short page count. it was a slow, heavy, trudging experience—in a way that mirrors the narrator's life.
“Every word I say has chains round its ankles; every thought I think is weighted with heavy weights.”
did i enjoy it? frankly, no. the sheer loneliness and suffering was stifling at times. but i appreciated the vulnerability and raw emotion that was packed into its pages. there were some poignant quotes scattered through, as well.
perhaps one day i will read Jean Rhys' most popular work, Wide Sargasso Sea, but i think in the meantime, i am in need of something slightly more uplifting and hopeful.
pick this book up with care if you are going through a rough time. ...more
"There comes a point, though, when you can't keep looking after other people anymore. You have to start looking after yourself."
Solitaire is Alice Ose"There comes a point, though, when you can't keep looking after other people anymore. You have to start looking after yourself."
Solitaire is Alice Oseman's debut novel, and as such the place I decided to begin with her full length works. (I have already read some of her Heartstopper webcomic, but none of her books) I had heard pretty mediocre things about this one compared to some of her others, so decided it would be a good place to start, as to gently increase my expectations and not be too disappointed.
Solitaire is a YA contemporary about mental health, teenage malaise, and maybe even a little bit of romance (despite the tagline). For the first 100 or so pages, I really was not enjoying it. I found the protagonist Tori to be obnoxious and unlikeable. But after that point, the book slowly grew on me until I was genuinely invested in the fate of our characters- even Tori.
Alice Oseman wrote Solitaire when she was only 17, which I find incredibly impressive and motivating. The writing clearly and realistically captures the thoughts of teenagers, both the good and the bad. While the writing style was arguably simplistic and nothing special- it was engaging and easy to read.
The thing that got me the most invested in the story was the side plot regarding Tori's brother Charlie and his boyfriend Nick. While this may seem like a good thing, it actually stemmed from my preexisting love for those characters via the Heartstopper comics, and not this book. Regardless, I was engrossed in that plot line from the beginning and thought it was handled well (although definitely look at the trigger warnings which you can find here).
“All I know is that I’m here. And I’m alive. And I’m not alone.”
However, I didn't really care that much about the overarching plot line/mystery introduced. It definitely took a backseat to character and relationship development- which while not necessarily a bad thing- made the book end up feeling like it tried to do too many things.
Overall, I am neither disappointed nor particularly impressed. I mostly read this to begin my journey into Alice Oseman's backlist and finally read Radio Silence, which I now probably have too high expectations for. That being said, Icannot wait to see how this author's writing evolves and grows in future books!...more
unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. while I could acknowledge its important themes and skilful writing, it was just too bldnf @ 100 pages
unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. while I could acknowledge its important themes and skilful writing, it was just too bleak, hopeless and depressing for me at the moment. don't let this review put you off if you are interested in the book, but just be warned of its confronting subject matter. ...more
I accidentally deleted this review (whoops) but managed to find a backup, so enjoy this three year old review lol (don't judge it too harshly though, I accidentally deleted this review (whoops) but managed to find a backup, so enjoy this three year old review lol (don't judge it too harshly though, I was still finding my footing with writing reviews)
The Guest List was my first thriller by Lucy Foley, but I will be sure to keep an eye out for anything she writes in the future!
This book was the perfect amount of mystery, atmosphere and thrilling that hooked me from the very beginning and had me engrossed until the last page.
The Guest List follows an exclusive wedding on an island off the Irish coast, but beneath the glamour and spectacle hides secrets that threaten to escape. By the end of the wedding, someone will be dead.
We follow many POVs at the wedding from the bride to the wedding planner. I love stories told in this way, and The Guest List was no exception. I enjoyed seeing all the storylines slowly weave together and had fun trying to guess at how everyone was connected.
The atmosphere was one of the strongest points of the book, amplified for me by the audiobook. I would really recommend trying out the audiobook, as it is narrated by a different person for each character and helped me keep them all straight. It also really added to the intoxicating nature of plot, the feeling that I HAD to keep reading.
In terms of the actual mystery, I guessed a few things- but some others really shocked me. I spent the whole book with a slightly unsettled feeling, knowing that something was wrong about each of the characters, trying to guess their secrets. Most of the time, it left me with that feeling of having a word on the tip of my tongue- so close to the truth, but not quite putting the pieces together. That is the sign of a really good mystery to me, as it shows that clues were planted throughout but not enough to completely give away the twists. The victim was relatively easy to predict, but I never saw the killer coming. That being said, mystery/thrillers are not my typical reads, so to those more experienced in the genre it might be more predictable.
I am not entirely sure what made me hesitate to give this book 5 stars, but I think it has to do with the characters. I am quite a character driven reader, and I felt like I didn't get to see enough depth in these ones. They felt like caricatures at times and didn't fully become their own person. I also felt like some issues were thrown in with not enough care or effort, particularly to do with Olivia. These issues weren't addressed and left me without complete closure after finishing the story.
That being said, in terms of pure enjoyment I would rate this book 5 stars. It was an engaging, tense and twisty read that I would undoubtably recommend.
Thank you to HarperAudio and Libro.fm for this ALC
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a gritty, unsettling and thought-provoking collection of short stories from one of Argentina's most talented author The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a gritty, unsettling and thought-provoking collection of short stories from one of Argentina's most talented authors. I read the English version, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell. Despite their length, the stories were well developed, suspenseful and profound. They ranged from the absurd to the paranormal to unflinchingly human. While I inevitably enjoyed some more than others thematically, they were all undoubtedly well crafted. If you, like me, have a slight fear of Booker Prize nominees and their occasionally pretentious and convoluted writing styles- don't worry, Mariana Enríquez' stories are surprisingly accessible and easy to read.
Skip to the end for a TLDR, otherwise here are my feelings and interpretations for each of the twelve stories:
➽ Angelita Unearthed ★★★★☆.5 The first story in The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, Angelita Unearthed, was intriguing and slightly unsettling, but not scary. A darkly funny undercurrent flowed through the narration. I really enjoyed it. I don't want to give away too much about the individual plots of the stories considering how short they are, but I will briefly allude to their themes and social commentary, or at least my interpretation of them.
Angelita Unearthed was about how the past can come back to haunt us, intergenerational trauma, and how women are dismissed rather than believed. It touched on the expectation for perfection, and how dangerous the pursuit of it can be for all involved. It explored how people are blinded by what they want to see, how objectivity and rationalism can be just as limiting as superstition and unfounded belief.
➽ Our Lady of the Quarry ★★★☆☆ .5 This story employed an interesting use of first person plural narration, with a group of teenage girls referring to themselves as 'we'. The characters were deeply unlikeable and toxic, which I'm not usually a fan of reading but it made for a unique experience. It was like watching a car crash about to happen, but being unable to do anything to stop it- and unable to look away. It was an exploration of the effects of jealousy, insecurity and the need for outside validation. It felt slightly less nuanced and engaging than some other stories, hence the lower rating, but I think other readers with different tastes to me will find more to like in it.
➽ The Cart ★★★★☆ A tale about the spread of poverty and how we see it as a contagious disease. About how mistreatment of the downtrodden and misfortunate only makes things worse. How capitalism alienates us from each other and creates animosity in the working class, and what happens when we don't show class consciousness. Instead, the only way forward is to stick together, be kind, and show empathy. A steady escalation leading to a powerful and ambiguous ending, this was one of the best in the collection.
"There's not much difference between the two, just the fear of falling deeper into poverty, that really can make you a monster" - Mariana Enriquez, interview on Electric Literature Blog
➽ The Well ★★★★★ That ending. This story was gut-punch after gut-punch. It discussed fear, intergenerational trauma, society's treatment of those with mental illness (and how it can make it worse). The characters felt real, an impressive feat for a story less than 20 pages long. The main character became the personification of fear, and it was terrifying to see how terror was killing her.
The Well is about self-reflection, a fitting symbol. The real fear in the story doesn't come from ghosts or curses, but from the readers looking at the main character and seeing pieces of ourself staring back. We helplessly watch her sink deeper into depression and hopelessness. But, like her family, we can't help her, because that would require us to take on some of her suffering too. And it is much easier to ignore it, to ignore her, to ignore the well.
If you only read one story from this collection, let it be The Well.
➽ Rambla Triste ★★★★☆ .5 Haunting, vengeful and angry. Rambla Triste was about the policing of poverty, the destructive impact of tourism and the willing blindness of the rich. A tangible example of the enduring effects of colonialism, imperialism and gentrification. The present of a place is inextricably tied to its past, and no matter how hard you try to sanitise it, manifestations of past violence will rear its ugly head. A well written and powerful addition to the collection.
➽ The Lookout ★★☆☆☆ Dark, but not necessarily in a good way. Sad, but not in a thought provoking way. Just depressing. I think I get what it was trying to do, and perhaps the fact that it made me uncomfortable was the point, but I just couldn't like it. About PTSD, sexual trauma and suicidal thoughts. Definitely check the trigger warnings if you're sensitive to such topics.
➽ Where Are You, Dear Heart ★★★☆☆ Ayo? I don't know what this story was trying to say, but I was strangely fascinated. Was it about the allure of illness? the romanticisation of death? I don't really know, but I think I'm landing on the side of liking it. The ending is what solidified that for me, Mariana Enríquez sure knows how to end a story with a bang.
warning: this story contains spoilers for Jane Eyre.
➽ Meat ★★★★☆ Once again- THESE ENDINGS. wow. About the dangers of fanaticism, obsession and idolisation. At first, I had a pretty surface level reading of the story and thought it was fine, but nothing special. But after reading this review I think I've been converted (pun intended). They pointed out the parallels to christianity in terms of the whole holy communion/cannibalism thing. I really like that interpretation, and how through that lens this story is not just another 'typical teenage girls become obsessed with a male celebrity' but rather an exploration of the cult of religion.
➽ No Birthdays or Baptisms ★★☆☆☆ Hmm. Uncomfortable to read, but I don't really understand the point of it? While other stories felt like they were toeing the line, this felt like it step firmly over from being thought provoking to just provocative. It felt like a *certain element* was just in there for shock value rather than serving an actual purpose. If I had to use a word other than uncomfortable to describe my reading experience with this story, I'd probably say voyeuristic. Which in the context of a story about a photographer makes sense.
However, I have a bit more appreciation for the second part of the story. It was still shocking and disturbing, but in a way that made sense. It had clear themes of the cycle of abuse and victimisation. About how abused women aren't believed- or even if they are, their suffering is exploited, furthering the harm. About how broken people aren't treated as people, just toys to play with for a bit, then discard at a moment's notice. The ending wasn't what I had expected, but in hindsight it made sense for the story. What's a bit more suffering and betrayal?
➽ Kids Who Come Back ★★★★☆ This was the longest story in the collection, the only novella. As a result, it felt a bit more developed and complex- although my biggest hang up is still just wanting more. An exploration of the enduring effects of trauma. How change and a lack of understanding makes us fearful, and therefore dangerous. Scarily realistic feeling.
➽ The Dangers of Smoking in Bed ★★☆☆☆ I didn't really get the point of this one. It was well written, as usual, but it felt kind of empty. An introspective story about self-destructive tendencies, apathy and loneliness.
➽ Back When We Talked to the Dead ★★★☆☆ .5
The spookiest and most paranormal of all the stories, Back When We Talked to the Dead features a ghost story about the legacies of Argentina's military dictatorship. About how living in a society where anyone can disappear at any time ends up taking a toil on everyone, even those not directly affected.
➽ TLDR For people who don't want to read my ramblings about each individual story (I don't blame you). I enjoyed this collection much more than I expected, and I can't wait to read Mariana Enríquez' other works! Best Stories: The Well, Rambla Triste, The Cart, Angelita Unearthed, Meat. Worst Stories: The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, The Lookout.
Let me know what you thought about this collection! I'd love to know if you had similar thoughts to me or if you had different interpretations of the themes. ...more
“It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.”
After reading and loving Graceling, I had som#1.) Graceling ★★★★☆.5 #2.) Fire ★★☆☆.5
“It's hard to wake from a nightmare when the nightmare is real.”
After reading and loving Graceling, I had some pretty high expectations for its follow-up, Fire. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be less vibrant, the plot less engaging and the overall experience frankly less enjoyable.
It sort of comes with the territory of companion series that readers' experiences will fluctuate more than with a traditional linear series. Everyone has different tastes in books, and in particular what characters they connect with most. After loving the cast of characters in the first book, it can be disappointing to pick up the next instalment only to be greeted by a completely different tone, dynamics and relationships. But others will have the opposite experience, which is equally as valid. I know many count Fire as their favourite book in the Graceling Realms, and I can definitely see why!
Fire features a deep exploration of the female experience. The main character, Fire, is essentially traditional femininity personified and magnified. This is one of the few fantasy books I have read that even mention menstruation, let alone cramps, discomfort and the other inconveniences of having a uterus.
Something I appreciate about Kristin Cashore's novels is that they are not overly moralising about casual sex, sexuality or chastity- especially in comparison to their contemporaries (looking at you, Twilight).
However, despite being amenable to the themes and message- that didn't necessarily translate into liking the characters. I didn't find Fire or Archer to be particularly compelling. It was only when Brigan was introduced that I found someone to really root for. But even then, I didn't fully buy into the romance or chemistry.
The plot took a while to get going, and even then it was a bit meandering. But maybe that's because I didn't have the investment and buy-in that I did in the first book.
My overall feeling towards Fire is just... disappointment. I am definitely not writing off this series, or even this book. Perhaps I will revisit Fire in a few years only t0 love it. But, for now, this isn't a book that will stick with me. ...more
“I'm on vacation. Vacations always end. It's the very fact that it's finite that makes traveling special. You could move to any one of those destinati“I'm on vacation. Vacations always end. It's the very fact that it's finite that makes traveling special. You could move to any one of those destinations you loved in small doses, and it wouldn't be the spellbinding, life-altering seven days you spend there as a guest, letting a place into your heart fully, letting it change you.”
Emily Henry is quickly becoming one of my favourite romance authors- an impressive feat considering I have only read two of her books. Beach Read was one of my favourites last year, and while I didn't like this follow up quite as much, I still greatly enjoyed my time reading it.
I read You and Me on Vacation while on a tropical holiday myself which I couldn't have planned better. The way Emily Henry wrote about the magic of holidays was absolutely perfect- the idea that you can be whoever you want to be, the freedom of knowing no-one, the endless possibilities.
I always forget how much I like the friends-to-lovers trope until I read a book that does it well. Because when it is good, it is good. I could feel the connection between Alex and Poppy, and actually understand why they wouldn't want to ruin their friendship.
I do feel that the middle of the story dragged a little. It was so obvious to readers that they both liked each other that it could get a bit repetitive and tedious at points. And when we finally got the reveal of why they had their falling out it felt lacklustre, especially after all the buildup leading up to it.
That all being said, my experience reading this book was largely positive and I hope Emily Henry continues with this genre and style. If you haven't read this yet, I would definitely recommend it- particularly if you were a fan of Beach Read. Like her previous book, this is the definition of a perfect beach read for the summer- or whenever you are feeling a bit of wanderlust.
After a 9 month reviewing slump (ie. not a single review posted) I am finally- maybe- back! I got busy with school and work and life, and unfortunatelAfter a 9 month reviewing slump (ie. not a single review posted) I am finally- maybe- back! I got busy with school and work and life, and unfortunately reviewing books fell to the 'will do one day when I'm less busy' list (spoiler alert, nothing ever makes it off that list). In that time I have still been reading, although at a significantly slower pace, so have accumulated almost 40 books to review- which is to say the least- overwhelming.
But we've got to start somewhere! And unfortunately in my case that comes in the form of a 2 star book. As mentioned, I read this book a long time ago, but luckily I took some notes in the process which I will try to compile and make sense of for you!
I had relatively high expectations for this book. I had only read one Morgan Matson book, 'The Unexpected Everything' but I had really really loved it, so was I was hoping that 'Take Me Home Tonight' would follow along in that trend. But, alas, it not only disappointed me but also was generally an unpleasant reading experience.
This book took place in the space of 24 hours, but it took me over 7 times that length to actually finish it, which can definitely be partially blamed on myself, but also the fact that it was so needlessly long.
I never felt emotionally invested in the story, and instead was deeply aware of the fact that I was reading a book the whole time- a strange sentiment to express but one I think most people can relate to. I was reading for the sake of getting to the end, constantly checking how many pages were left... never a good sign. In fact, I was paying so little attention that it took me an embarrassingly long time to even figure out there were dual POVs going on.
The final note I took about this book was about a reference to 'baby shark'. Pop culture references have never been my favourite in books but this takes things to a whole new level of cringe and internal agony. And I not only had to experience it once, but after my brain purged it from my mind I had to be reminded while writing this review. And now I can share it with you! Joy!
I apologise for the lack of synopsis and actual substance to this review, but hopefully as I get more consistent writing reviews again they will improve in quality! Until next time, (hopefully not another 9 months in the future) Sarah
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for this ARC
are there plenty of questionable things in this book? yes. did I still enjoy it despite them? also yes.
I wont get into those issues in my review becauare there plenty of questionable things in this book? yes. did I still enjoy it despite them? also yes.
I wont get into those issues in my review because there are many others out there that discuss them in detail. I'll just say that if you are sensitive to reading about infertility- it may be best to avoid this book.
That being said, it's time for me to gush over how much I love Abby Jimenez' romances. I started with her second book- the happy ever after playlist- and after loving it so much decided to go back and try this one despite the negative comments I had heard. And I am so glad I did. These books are nothing life-changing or prize-deserving, but for me, they are perfect to just relax and turn off my brain for a while.
I listened to the audiobook, which I would highly recommend! The narrators did a really good job and it didn't feel awkward to listen to as I can imagine some romance audiobooks may be.
There were a few things that pulled me out of the story. I don't really like the alpha-male, loves hunting, military type thing. But of course that is a matter of personal preference.
All that being said, I without a doubt enjoyed my time with these characters and this romance. Something about Abby Jimenez' writing just works for me! I am excited to see what else she does in the future. ...more
“And I think about how Dad gave me everything I could need. Except for the one thing that shouldn't have terms or conditions. That should be a given. “And I think about how Dad gave me everything I could need. Except for the one thing that shouldn't have terms or conditions. That should be a given. That should be so easy. Acceptance.”
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was a heartwarming and poignant story of first love, self-acceptance and queerness. It was honest and authentic, depicting the experience of a queer chicanx boy in all its joy and heartbreak.
I can see this book resonating on a deep level with many in the community, and I am so glad it has been written and released for anyone who needs it. It is the queer happily ever after that is so so important for those teens to read.
But it is not all rainbows and happiness- there is grit to the story, strained relationships and themes of homophobia and abuse. Just keep in mind that for every bad thing that happens to these characters, there are countless other moments of hope and beauty.
Despite this being an objectively great book, I personally didn't connect with it on as high a level as I was hoping. But that is fine, I think I just wasn't the target audience. I cannot pinpoint exactly why it left something to be desired for me. Perhaps it was the social media slang that felt a little forced and unrealistic. Maybe it was the writing, which while perfectly fine, wasn't anything special. But I don't want to dwell on the drawbacks for too long because they are just personal nitpicks I had and most likely won't impact the majority of people's experiences.
“We can’t stop living. Which means we have to live, which means we are alive, which means we are humans and we are human: some of us are unkind and so“We can’t stop living. Which means we have to live, which means we are alive, which means we are humans and we are human: some of us are unkind and some of us are confused and some of us sleep with the wrong people and some of us make bad decisions and some of us are murderers."
In the Dream House is one of the most unique books I have ever read. It pushed the bounds of what it means to be a memoir, and almost felt more like fiction in the way it was written. I have been burned too many times by celebrity memoirs that are simply indulgent, money-making schemes reliant on the person's fame rather than their writing ability. But this memoir restored my faith in memoirs and reminded me that books of any kind have the potential to be beautiful, no matter their subject matter.
And this subject matter is certainly not beautiful. In fact, it is harrowing, haunting and scary. But it is also so, so important. In the Dream House deals with domestic violence, specifically within queer relationships. It is incredibly personal and raw, and that transfers through the writing. But despite the bleakness of the subject matter, Carmen Maria Machado managed to instill a sense of hope and healing into her words.
"And it sounds terrible but it is, in fact, freeing: the idea that queer does not equal good or pure or right. It is simply a state of being—one subject to politics, to its own social forces, to larger narratives, to moral complexities of every kind."
As well as the lyrical writing, the experimental style that this book was written in helped to keep me engaged and reading through the horrors. Footnotes were included that tied her story back to folktales. There was a choose-your-own-adventure style chapter. It was told in little vignettes that create a mosaic of her story. While some readers have complained that that made the book feel disconnected, I personally found them to enhance the story.
Overall, this was an incredibly important and breathtaking book that I would recommend to almost everyone. The themes are undoubtably distressing and chilling, however if you feel ready to read something like that- you have to read this book.
"So bring on the queer villains, the queer heroes, the queer sidekicks and secondary characters and protagonists and extras. They can be a complete cast unto themselves. Let them have agency, and then let them go.”...more
"The first time August met Jane, she fell in love with her for a few minutes, and then stepped off the train."
After reading and loving Red, White & Ro"The first time August met Jane, she fell in love with her for a few minutes, and then stepped off the train."
After reading and loving Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I was beyond excited to pick up One Last Stop, their sophomore novel. And while it was a similarly well-written, romantic and original story- it was missing that spark for me.
"That’s the way it happens on the subway—you lock eyes with someone, you imagine a life from one stop to the next, and you go back to your day as if the person you loved in between doesn’t exist anywhere but on that train. As if they never could be anywhere else."
One Last Stop is a sapphic time-loop romance with elements of found family, humour and lots of love. I had such high expectations because of RW&RB, but unfortunately they worked against me when it came to this book. Because while I can acknowledge that this was undoubtably a good book- I was still left feeling disappointed.
I can't help but think that if this book was narrated by anyone except August, I would have liked it more. She is surrounded by a cast of such colourful and diverse characters that she just paled in comparison.
I also felt like my enjoyment ebbed and flowed throughout the story, so potentially some pacing issues. It felt like the concept of the story took too long to come to fruition. It felt like I knew what was going to happen for so long before it actually happened, that I was just waiting for the story to start.
I don't want to compare this to RW&RB, because they are obviously different stories and deserve to stand on their own. However, I can't help but think of how the humour just hit in that book, whereas here the jokes didn't quite land for me. Same goes with the chemistry.
If you loved this book- I am so happy for you. Trust me, no one is more disappointed than I am that I didn't love it. But there is always next time! Hopefully McQuiston's next novel will work better for me!
Overall, this is a pretty unpopular opinion. So if you are even the slightest bit interested in the plot, I would still recommend picking it up. And even though pride month is over, it doesn't mean that we should stop reading LGBT+ books! ...more
Woah. Just, woah. Crooked Kingdom was a spectacular sequel and finale to a spectacular series. It is mind-blowing to think that same author who wrote Woah. Just, woah. Crooked Kingdom was a spectacular sequel and finale to a spectacular series. It is mind-blowing to think that same author who wrote the shadow and bone trilogy also wrote this- the growth is exponential.
The characters in this duology are all so unique and authentic, loveable despite their flaws and maybe in some cases even because of them. My favourites would have to be Wylan and Jesper, and my love for the latter in particular has been heightened by the Netflix show that I can finally watch now that I am all caught up!
This duology is such a YA cult classic that I honestly feel like one of the last ones in the community to read it, but on the off-chance that you haven't either, I add my voice to the thousands screaming about how good it is.
However, don't get your expectations up too too high, because the extreme level of hype did get to me a little bit. I had heard so many people talking about the ending of Crooked Kingdom and how amazing and heartbreaking it was that I was left feeling slightly underwhelmed because I was anticipating it the whole time, a similar phenomenon to what I felt reading Lord of Shadows.
There's not much to say that hasn't already been said about this duology- just know that I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of character driven fantasy stories and heist plot lines. Plus you can watch the show straight after to fully immerse yourself, so now is the perfect time to read it!...more
"Nothing matters more than money to us, the Beautiful Ones who walk down these streets in pristine gloves and silk-lined garments. You can give yourse"Nothing matters more than money to us, the Beautiful Ones who walk down these streets in pristine gloves and silk-lined garments. You can give yourself the luxury of love because you are not one of us. That is why you are my friend: because despite everything, at heart you remain an innocent."
The Beautiful Ones was released in 2017, but it is getting republished with a brand new (gorgeous!) cover this year. Like I am beginning to learn is common with all Silvia Moreno-Garcia books, this novel is difficult to categorise or even describe. All of her books are so different from one another, yet laced with the same breathtaking writing style and atmosphere.
“A sea roared inside her and made demands, but she waded it, she bobbed up, took a breath, and opened her eyes to the cold winter morning. Then she rose because the day was there, the world was there, and she wanted to be part of it.”
The best way I can pitch this book is Jane Austen x magic. In many ways it feels like a classic Austen novel, with the naive and inexperienced protagonist being thrust into the unfamiliar world of society's elite- secrets, backstabbing and forbidden romance.
"At nineteen Antonina was without all the skills a young lady making her entrance into society should possess. She could not sing, danced mediocrely, and displayed neither wit nor seductiveness."
This book is told from three different perspectives, which I had mixed feelings about. In some ways, I wish it was only told from Antonina's point of view to keep some things a secret from the reader. However, I also appreciated the changes in pace that the other narrators brought with them. Valerie in particular was an intriguing and layered character to read from.
"she was the kind of woman who started and ended trends, who made heads turn when she walked into a room, whose name dropped all over the society pages."
Something else that refreshed this story for me was the light sprinkling of magic. It was interesting, because it didn't take over the whole plot, but was definitely a prominent and unexpected element.
"ever since she was a girl, she'd made things move. She'd given the maids a bit of a fright at times- and couldn't control it well. but Nina tried to consider it all in a scientific light. The universe was unveiling new wonders every day, the motorcar and the photographic camera, to name but a handful of the inventions dazzling the world. She preferred to classify herself as one of these new wonders."
I would recommend this for people who like historical romance/drama, think Bridgerton. If you don't mind naive protagonists, love triangles or some instances of miscommunication- this book is for you! The writing style is incredible, characters loveable and plot engaging. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has such range in the genres she can write- and excel at. I can't wait to read Gods of Jade and Shadow particularly, and will definitely be keeping an eye out for what she releases next!...more
Between the Bliss and Me is an ambitious young adult contemporary novel that tackles heavy subject matter while maintaining the conventions of its ageBetween the Bliss and Me is an ambitious young adult contemporary novel that tackles heavy subject matter while maintaining the conventions of its age range. It makes topics like mental health, substance abuse and schizophrenia accessible for a younger audience, something I think is incredibly important. My main issue was simply that I didn't connect with the characters, romance or plot- which is an entirely subjective thing.
Let my make one thing clear, it was by no means bad. The writing was polished and I didn't have major issues with the structure or setup. I think it is more a personal problem of my recent pickiness when it comes to YA contemporaries. Unless I feel an intense personal or emotional connection with the book and its characters- I cannot bring myself to care.
While I found the discussion of schizophrenia to be interesting and important, it didn't single handedly make me love the book. If I wanted solely to be informed about issues, I would read a non-fiction book on the topic or listen to a podcast. The reason I love fiction is because it allows me to live thousands of different lives and experience different perspectives. Unfortunately, the actual story of Between the Bliss and Me wasn't interesting to me.
I also really wasn't a fan of the romance. The love interest was already in a relationship when our main character started falling for them, which always makes me a bit icky. Putting that aside, I found it just simply didn't add much to the story and didn't have much chemistry- but again, a totally personal preference.
Second First Impressions is Sally Thorne's third novel, but the first one I have read. It is about Ruthie and Teddy who meet at a retirement home. TheSecond First Impressions is Sally Thorne's third novel, but the first one I have read. It is about Ruthie and Teddy who meet at a retirement home. Their unconventional love story progresses from there, full of wholesome moments, emotions and tattooed bad boys.
I was so excited when I got approved for this arc despite never reading a Sally Thorne before, because I had heard such amazing things about The Hating Game in particular. Unfortunately this was a little disappointing because of my high expectations, but I am still excited to read her other books.
I also want to preface this review by acknowledging that it may be little bit of an its not you, its me situation. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately, particularly when it comes to getting through my eARCs. So I read this in tiny incriments of about a chapter a night, which definitely played a part in my lack of connection with the book. Perhaps I will reread this at a better time and get a hopefully better second first impression (ha!)
That being said, I don't think it was entirely my fault for not loving this book. The beginning was pretty slow and I felt like I was just waiting for the story to start. Nothing was keeping me engaged or wanting to read more than one chapter at a time.
I thought the characters were... okay? Neither were particularly special to me, the hero felt a bit too immature and reliant to me. I couldn't really see why Ruthie felt his actions were endearing rather than annoying.
I haven't read The Hating Game, but from what I have gathered about it, this is quite a different tone. Where The Hating Game is a raunchy, hate-to-love, office romance- Second First Impressions is a sweeter, tamer contemporary fiction. That isn't a bad thing, just different. If you liked The Switch by Beth O'Leary this is a similar feeling (although I liked that one considerably more).
I know this review has been quite harsh given I still gave it three stars, a pretty good rating. I truly believe this will work for many people who will love it, and I don't want to prevent them from reading it. I also am conscious that some of my disconnectedness came from my reading slump in general, so it feels unfair to rate it any lower.
“You have two choices when you’re confronted with your every last fear: Give up or fight like hell.”
Every Last Fear is a new psychological thriller f“You have two choices when you’re confronted with your every last fear: Give up or fight like hell.”
Every Last Fear is a new psychological thriller following two seemingly unrelated mysteries that are linked by one family. It pulls on contemporary true crime influences; from Netflix documentaries to wrongful convictions and investigative journalism. It had such an interesting premise and outstanding early reviews that I thought this would be one of the few thrillers I would love. Unfortunately, I didn't connect on a deeper level to the story which prevented that, but Every Last Fear nevertheless delivered with a solidly entertaining plot that I am sure many will adore.
I don't want to go into depth with a synopsis for this book because there are so many twists and turns that I don't want to spoil any for you. It honestly felt like a movie; cinematic in nature and fast paced action from beginning to end. While that made it easy to fly through, it also resulted in what became my main complaint about the story- I didn't connect to it. This is a similar phenomenon I feel with many movies i watch- I sympathise with the plights of the characters for the duration, but once the end credits roll I end up forgetting who they were and they have no meaningful lasting impression on me. So while I was obviously sad for the main characters and the traumas they were forced to endure, there wasn't any lasting feeling that resided with me. This was particularly evident with our protagonist, Matt Pine, who felt like the weakest out of all our different perspectives. I cared more about the deceased members of his family than I did him.
Overall, I am clearly in the minority with book and it is evident that the majority of my criticism is of a personal nature and probably won't affect most people's reading experience. It was still a good thriller, just not one that I would consider particularly great.
What if You & Me is the sequel to Yes & I Love You, a book that I really enjoyed (and would definitely recommend!)
While I didn't love this follow up What if You & Me is the sequel to Yes & I Love You, a book that I really enjoyed (and would definitely recommend!)
While I didn't love this follow up as much as the first book, it still had the signature Roni Loren wit and chemistry. If you haven't read the first book, but are interested in this plot- you can definitely go straight into this no worries. You may not get some of the context surrounding Hollyn and Jasper- the couple from the previous book- but it shouldn't detract from your enjoyment.
What if You & Me follows Andi, a true crime podcaster with a troubled past. She struggles with anxiety, and finds it difficult to have lasting relationships due to her trauma. Insert Hill Dawson. A former firefighter who is left stuck in limbo after losing his leg. The unlikely pair quickly develop a bond and maybe even something more.
This book definitely deals with some harder hitting themes, but it also has its fair share of cute, romantic moments. If you want to read a romance that actually has good communication- here is a perfect example! They talked about their triggers and fears and likes and never got annoyed at the other because of them. Thank you Roni loren!
I can't exactly pinpoint what made me like this book less than its predecessor, but one thing I definitely didn't vibe with was the sex scenes. For some reason I found them awkward. Maybe it was because of my experience listening to the audiobook that it felt intrusive- or maybe because of the word choices- I don't completely know. But nevertheless I didn't enjoy them unfortunately. (Obviously this is more a personal issue than anything else though)
Overall, What if You & Me was a super fun and fast paced read that I would definitely recommend- especially if you are a fan of Roni Loren's previous works!...more
"We can't keep the people we love alive by putting our own lives on hold. In fact, we can't put our lives on hold at all. Time marches on, even when w"We can't keep the people we love alive by putting our own lives on hold. In fact, we can't put our lives on hold at all. Time marches on, even when we don't want it to."
The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) follows Moira, after her parents have decided to send her to a boarding school specialising in therapy and recovery from mental illnesses. But the school has an air of mystery to it, and the more she learns about it, the more things seem odd to Moira. After having no contact with the outside world- Moira discovers another school across the woods that houses only boys.
This synopsis makes it sound like the book will be a thriller, or at very least a mystery. But the overarching themes were of grief, recovery and friendship. I think these misplaced expectations made my experience a little tainted- mostly because I would have preferred the story if it followed a bit more of the thriller/mystery path. I spent the first half to three quarters of the book questioning everything, was the school a cult? a crazy medical experiment? a hallucination? but things were much less sinister than I was assuming. This isn't intended to spoil the story- but rather prevent you from spoiling it for yourself. If I had known going in that this wasn't a thriller, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more.
That being said, I still really liked this book. Its exploration of mental health was nuanced and didn't resort to stereotypes- as I have come to expect from Alyssa Sheinmel. One of my favourite aspects of the story were the short chapters telling the backstories of some of the other girls interspersed throughout. Everything from kleptomania, anorexia, OCD, selective mutism and drug addiction addressed, and more. The sheer amount of issues might seem overly ambitious for such as short novel, but I thought they were each given an appropriate amount of time and not glossed over. It take me a while to sort out who each of the girls were, but that was bound to happen in a book with such a large cast.
I can't help but be a little disappointed in this book because the summary sounds so good. I adore boarding school stories, found family tropes and the twelve dancing princesses (with which this book has some slight parallels). Unfortunately, my misplaced expectations brought down my enjoyment a little- but I would still without a doubt recommend it. The writing was good, characters nuanced and plot intriguing. It could have done with a little more development, but overall it was an engaging and important book.
“I wonder- if nobody is listening to my voice, am I making any sound at all?”
Alice Oseman has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors, an“I wonder- if nobody is listening to my voice, am I making any sound at all?”
Alice Oseman has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors, and I am so excited to read anything else she ever writes. ever.
I have been reading her works in publication order (with the exception of Heartstopper), and the growth between Solitaire and Radio Silence was unbelievable. As always, Alice Oseman's description of the teenage perspective and life was authentic and raw. She managed to tackle so many issues that are relevant to today's youth, from mental health, to self-discovery, to figuring out what on earth you want to do with your life. I found myself relating to many of the same issues Frances was going through, which is one of the best parts of YA in general, I think. It is so important that teenagers and young adults to know they aren't alone in their problems- because it can often seem like that.
I knew a bit about the plot of this book before going it, but it still managed to surprise me. The tone was darker than I was expecting and tackled more serious subject matter than I would have thought.
I am not sure what exactly dissuaded me from giving this five stars, but for whatever reason it didn't quite reach that level. I am definitely eager to reread this soon, however, and I could definitely see myself liking it more second time around!
I feel like one of the last people to read this, but if you still haven't checked it out I would really recommend it! In particular, I would say for anyone who places a large part of their self-worth in their academic success, doesn't know exactly what they want to do in the future or feels pressured by school. This book has the potential to change someone's life. ...more
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