Ash
Classic romance. I love the little ridiculous but perfect things that authors throw in when writing romance. Hunting for a safety-pin with a metal detector, silly nightgowns, scared of cows, crazy corgi ladies and their nude paintings and knitted sweaters. I liked that Hannah was accidentally funny and Jack was giggly. It's an adorable read.
I'm not going to lie, I picked this up solely based on the assumptions I made looking at the cover. I thought it was going to be an adorable romance with a deafblind male lead. Yes, all of those things were present, but it was also so much more. There were moments that I cried, moments of intense anxiety, of mystery, and moments where I felt angry.
I loved the point of view shift from Arlo to Cyril. I loved the flashback scenes and being able to read with the asl sentence structure. I loved how vehemently CyriI advocated for Arlo, even to his own detriment. I felt like this book was so crammed full of experiences that the deafblind community goes through that it was almost too long. Almost, but not really. I'm torn because I really wanted and appreciated the variety of instances as there is such a lack of representation in any of the other books I read and media I consume.
I think the details about the day to day moments and the flashback moments were well thought out, but there were aspects of the story I didn't love. I think Brother Birch was a weak (if not completely quintessential) villain. Molly had a redemptive moment, but her reasoning pissed me off. I know people like Brother Birch and Molly exist, I just am sick of them being the bad guy archetype for every story. I also don't think the ending was thought out very well. It felt rushed and was obnoxiously convenient compared to the struggles Arlo went through just to get to New York. I'm glad he got to advocate for himself, but the fact that Shri's plan worked perfectly and they all ended up happy with almost no consequences was frustrating. I think this is a good book, but the ending and overarching conflict could have been given more time and attention.
I bought this book to do a buddy read a couple years ago, but we never got around to it. I didn't pick the book, I just agreed based on the Goodreads score alone. I picked it at random from my tbr with a number generator. Fair warning, this is going to be a full on rant.
I don't like the way it made me feel reading it. This book was an accumulation of every stereotype and had the most ideal and unrealistic ending. I hate that she let Turk end this novel and it was a redemptive moment. I personally feel like the opportunity to share stories about racial injustice should be given predominantly to the people who live through the societal consequences that come with walking through the world while being part of said race.
Jodi Picoult is a popular author. She has several best selling books and even has movie adaptations. Even this one is getting a movie adaptation. It makes me wonder at the true motivation for writing this book. She has already received so much acclaim for pedaling trauma porn in all of her other 27 books and yet this one is among the highest rated. Makes me wonder who actually benefits from this book? This is the type of “allyship” that feels icky. Virtue signaling while also typing countless slurs and making the reader look through the perspective of member of the white power movement. Just icky. In the author's note the author talks about how she wanted to write about race for 20 years and found a real story of a poc nurse in Michigan who was requested to be removed from a patient's team, a skinhead who turned their life around and apologized to someone they terrorized years prior, and identified with the character who tried to do right as a white person but made blunders along the way. I hate the narrative from famous “allies” that white people should make other white people understand that what they think is wrong. Because at the base of that, these particular white people are profiting off of it. They get the book sales, and movie offers, and pats on the back. At no time, did she stop and think she should promote the stories that already exist from people of color. Invite people of color into the space of your readership and viewership and give them the floor. Show your support, do your own research, and field the questions afterward. Give the press coverage to them and stop using their trauma to feel good about yourself. Ugh. /rant
This is a masterclass in context and nuance. A slice of life that is heart wrenching. I loved the writing and the characters. I love that I know Angie Thomas is a millennial because of the importance of Tumblr in the story. I am incredibly picky with the YA genre because I feel like many adults write teenagers as stereotypes. This book didn't do that. Starr read as a real teenager. Yes, there was angst and petty teen moments, but she was also thoughtful and worried about everything around her and not just herself. Her self-doubt relied upon her place in the world and the social economics surrounding her. A misfit, not because she wears glasses or likes books, but because her identity within her community at home and at school relied upon an assumed loyalty or lack thereof by proximity to each group of people. This will be a book classified as realistic historical fiction in 20 years. Outside of the importance of the story itself, it was told really well. The pacing and character development, the scenery and anticipation, it's just a really great book.
The first half of this book deserved 5 stars, but the second half brought the overall down to 3. I loved the story up until Vivian left New York. I loved Peg, Olive, Celia, Billy, and Anthony. I loved the exciting New York partying and the showgirl moments. I loved the descriptions of the clothes Vivian made or appreciated. When Vivian came back to New York, I just didn't care about Marjorie or the dress shop or Frank. The second half took me way longer to read. I think if the tone of the book remained the same throughout, I wouldn't have minded. I get that she ages so life isn't as rosy and exciting, but to become so boring when you're still a hot older licentious woman who dresses fantastically? Make it make sense. I finished this book a full week ago, but had to let it marinate because I really didn't know how I felt about it.
This book was not at all what I expected it to be and I don't know how to feel about it. I loved Six-thirty and Walter. I liked the show and the relationship between Mad and the priest. I don't think I formed enough of a connection to Calvin to feel anything about his death. Elizabeth Zott was frustrating at times. I think it's weird that there was more about rowing in this book than chemistry... This book was marketed as funny, but with hard-hitting issues. I feel like there weren't any funny moments though. There were sad moments and rage inducing moments, but the humor wasn't there for me. The quirky aspects written in were more cringey than funny. So many bad things kept happening in succession and sprinkling a snarky neighbor or a genius daughter in isn't enough to bring that around. Elizabeth also was shut down for the whole book to the point of being a robot until she said something awkward or spieled about injustice. I feel like I'm still searching for the plot. Maybe if everything except Suppers at 6 was edited out I would have liked it better.
If we could all agree to stop writing unnecessarily descriptive SA scenes in books that are supposed to be “funny feminist reads”, that would be great.
My feelings towards this book are complicated. I struggled through the first 100 pages. I didn't care enough about the characters and I kept setting the book down. Once I started to care about them though, all of my feelings towards the book changed. I think I cried like 6 times in the last 50 pages. Marcellus was the puppiest. I loved him and Tova and Ethan. When it switches around and he calls Tova and Cameron “remarkably bright creatures, “ I lost it. I did feel a little annoyed every time Marcellus' arms were called tentacles. I feel like that is the fact that is most commonly told at aquariums that house octopuses. Regardless of the slow start and inaccurate octopus knowledge, this book is still one of my favorites for this year.
I don't really know what I was supposed to take away from this book. It read like a teen tv show from the early 2000's where there isn't really a plot, but you follow teen characters. Charlie was right on the line of being adorable and obnoxiously naïve. Granted, he is 14, but still. It was okay, but I think I'll enjoy the movie better.
This book didn't give me the same squee feeling that I've become accustomed to with Christina Lauren books. I'm declaring this the fluke in their otherwise great track record. I got 75% of the way through and still felt like the plot hadn't really started yet. The connection between Sam and Tate in London wasn't gripping enough to carry the desire into the next decade. Why does she keep telling these dudes her secrets? Meh. I genuinely didn't like any of the characters. I feel like I need to read another one of their books asap to remind myselfp that this is just a one off.
So many spoilers ahead. This book was not my favorite. I will never love a book where the author kills off the main character and the rest of the book is in someone else's perspective. I really liked Circe and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get into this book. I was bored for most of it.
The love Patroclus feels for Achilles is desperate and sad. I was glad when he found Briseis because their friendship was beautiful. The only appeal that Achilles had was that he was popular and paid attention to Patroclus. The mommy issues alone though... There wasn't enough substance to Patroclus's character outside of his connection to Achilles. The lack of will to live without one another was more frustrating than romantic. I think the only character I really liked was Briseis. She called out Achilles for being horrible and she genuinely loved Patroclus. I'm also not a huge fan of war politics. I'm so disappointed that I didn't love this book. I don't think I even liked it.
I binged this book like I binge the reality shows this book was based on. I loved the drama and the fact that Cindy was obsessed with shoes. I also love that there wasn't an evil step mother or sisters. Code name cabbage patch was great. It was a cute read definitely. I only wish there were more moments with Cindy and Henry. Henry was too perfect. He needed to be a little more human? I don't know. I liked it anyway.
This book was slow. It stunted my reading plans for this month. It's definitely more mystery than fantasy. So many bad things just kept happening in a row that I didn't want to keep reading. The resolution was good enough, but I hated how at some point during the story, you don't trust any of the characters. Yes, they all end up being good except for Peter, but still. If it were a morally gray moment, it would have been good. If I lose trust in a character, it's hard to bring it back. It was just okay.
The writing was good and the plot was executed well. Sean and Grace read as real people, but I feel awkward commenting on it because the families that this story was based on are still alive. If you want to have a better understanding of the racial tensions between Korean liquor store owners and black youth during the 90's, this is a thorough insight.
What I will comment on, though the actual plot had nothing to do with my personal history, it was eerie how much of this book mirrored random specific aspects of my life. I grew up in Palmdale and moved to LA when I was 21. To Koreatown specifically. I also married someone who's last name is Cha. It's weird to hear about my high school and have my favorite K-pop band mentioned. Definitely creepy.
When I think of the “slice of life” type fiction, this book fits perfectly. Yes, it's a romance, but it reads more contemporary. I say that because the main characters don't get together with their romantic partners until their last chapters of the book. The plot is more about Eileen and Leena learning about themselves and their place in their world. They connect with people they ordinarily wouldn't and create found families in each other's circle of people. I don't read many books with characters over the age of 70 and Eileen was fantastic. I loved the way grief was handled. It was a heart warming story and I feel like it would make a great mini series on the BBC.
This isn‘t the series for me. Hoang's female characters are unbearably one dimensional. I rolled my eyes during most of this book. The dialogue and inner thoughts were all so predictable or cringey. There was nothing between Khai and Esme except sexual thoughts. I really think I messed up reading this after reading an Emily Henry romance. I need more than undeserved longing and butthurt characters. Quan is the best part of this book so I'm going to read his book, but I would be lying if I said I was excited about it.
This book was going so well for me until the “you're beautiful and you don't even know it” trope reared its stupid head. Literally everything else was fantastic. I love Sam and Charlie and Delilah. Percy is ok. I love the slow build and flashbacks. I could picture Barry's Bay and the cottages and the lake. It was a good summer read.
When books are written around a mass tragedy that happened in real life, I always feel conflicted. I remember some of the news coverage after hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and hearing about the giant power outage that to this day has differing reports of how long it actually lasted. I purposely searched out reviews of this book from actual Puerto Ricans that went through hurricane Maria and both of the ones I read showed that they were upset about this book.
Olga and Prieto are such strange main characters. They are written with the purpose of showing the struggle of being part of the diaspora and stay true to the values of your community and the urge to assimilate into the corruptive rich white societal practices. All of their most negative traits come from this urge, but the author paints their mom, who was an activist for the liberation of Puerto Rico turned radical, as the most evil character. She is a very one note villain. It's confusing, to say the least. All except one of the characters in this book was written in a way where you hate them more than you like them. Matteo was really the only one that wasn't compromised. It's not even worth mentioning Dick because of course he is trash. He is a member of the only true monolith in this world: the old, white, and corrupt. I really hated every one of his POV scenes. I felt like this book was a lot, but also wasn't enough. I don't know how else to explain it.
This book had me at “Bigfoot Erotica.” My favorite part about Emily Henry is her nightmare brain. I laughed so much through this book and already knew my rating for it early on. I kept repeating, “don't mess this up for me” over and over while reading. I aspire to be as funny as Henry's characters (I'm already as frigid and shark-like). Charlie was perfect in the least annoying way possible. I was worried that Libby would come off as petulant or naïve, but she surprised me. Well rounded and hilariously smart characters in a romance novel is my favorite of all book tropes. Ugh I love this book! I think this is my favorite of the three books I've read by her.
This book was a roller coaster. I'm not going to pretend like all of my Norse mythology knowledge hasn't come from God of War and the Marvel movies, but this book made me want to look into more of it (from more reputable sources). I love a villain redemption story. I loved and hated Angrboda and Loki. Jormungand and Fenrir deserve their own book with a rewritten happy ending. I loved them the most and they just had the worst time. This book ended on such a high note that I'm willing to overlook some of the dragging moments.
This book gave me the ick from the first chapter. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be whimsical. Names, word choices, character interactions, all trying way too hard. But then it grows on you just a little. Dellaria and Winn's love story is cute, if not awkwardly chaste. Delly sleeps with a few dudes, but only kisses Winn a couple times and gets engaged.
Saf and Dani are adorable and I love them. I read a lot of romance, especially the smutty kind. So much so that I've become annoyingly picky about it. Specifically the words used during the smutty situations. I am not a fan of scientific terms, modern names for specific body parts, or bluntness. I literally never want to read the word balls, d¡ck, or labial folds... I need beautiful words and questionable euphemisms. Allusions are sexy, literal terms are not. The romance in this book is 5 stars. The smut is a 3 for me. I'm going to take a break before reading the next one in the series.