mari

lots of great commentary, but i read this in the wrong place and the wrong time and i think i accidentally sunk deeper into a depressive episode?

it's easy to see where the author is making clear commentary about the role of women's bodies in society, particularly korean society, and how women are viewed throughout life. but it's done in a subtle enough manner that you don't feel like you're getting slapped in the face moira rose style with the author's thoughts. until the end, that is, when you're bombarded with the complexity of being the eldest sister in an asian family. if you're in a similar situation to me and that character, there's no such thing as too much criticism of the undeniable and unavoidable pressure and impossible situations put upon us. super props for talk about that

but the whole ‘wanting to be unalive' bit kind of resonated with me too hard and now i am stuck in bed, thinking about this book. yikes.

i get the comps to daisy jones & the six, but honestly this was a beast of its own

delving into the world of late 90's/early 2000's teen popstar-dom had me skeptical at first, but i'm glad that we got to see extremely realistic of the behind the scenes actions of a girl group from start to finish. the fact that the girls didn't like each other, all of them had no idea what fame would entail, and the ugly business behind the curtain with directors and managers and execs all felt incredibly real and equally heartbreaking. it was great to see how each of these girls handled the limelight during and after gloss' peak, and i could have honestly imagined each of them being real people.

i think my only gripe (and it's a big one) was that their time in the limelight felt so short-lived, and there wasn't really a description of how ubiquitous and popular gloss became. popstars and celebrities can cause entire revolutions, from hair and fashion trends to political campaigns. like, ok, we heard how popular gloss got and that it lead to some unruly fans, but what was the scene of america like in the wake of gloss? were people dressing like cherry? did americans explore japanese culture because of yumi? these are the things missing from this book that i think would've really made it all feel real. but with that missing, it felt like they were one-hit wonders, a blip of fame before fading into the limelight with no reason to be in the history books.

rtc but rq: the audiobook was SAAAAUUUURRRRRR GOOD

onto the actual review:
i can't sing praises for this book in audiobook form enough. i listened to this while i was moving and traveling, and it felt like the perfect companion to do mindless tasks with as we follow yumeko & co. on the next leg of their journey. it reads like an anime (if that makes any sense) and the pacing is just perfect enough to make you want to keep listening. i was actually almost a little sad that my plane ride wasn't longer so i could read more of the book!

i think in comparison to the first book, i felt like there were a lot of reveals and gotchas that i didn't feel wove in perfectly, or made me feel exasperated. like of course i wanted the action and adventure to keep going, but there were a few plot points that, in retrospect, felt like a little bit of a waste of time. but i guess if we're staying with that anime comp, there's gotta be some filler episodes, right?

super excited for the last book! eager to start up my libro.fm subscription again so i can listen to the last book in the series :-)

this was everything i wanted and more out of a small town romance

i get that this isn't everyone's cup of tea because i have a very specific cup of tea that i like to be brewed, and it looks like emily henry got the recipe right perfectly. i loved the setting of sunshine falls, the relationship between the sisters and the spitfire between charlie and nora. it was starting to feel a little gilmore girls-y in a good way, like if they'd written lorelai to be a little less eclectic and more business-y (if that makes sense)

also does anyone else want to read frigid or is that just me?

revisiting greek mythology from a feminist perspective is good for the soul

these were the conversations surrounding myths that i think i really yearned for when i was big on my greek mythology phase. as much as i enjoyed the drama, there was always that sour taste in the back of my mouth; women always get the short end of the stick. so it was incredibly refreshing to revisit stories i have read many times with a focus on the women and how they were portrayed throughout various renditions of their stories.

i won't say i agree with everything the author says (tbh there were some parts where i feel there was reaching) but i'm really glad natalie haynes made me rethink these stories, and most importantly these women

uy... i think i need to put some space between myself and YA for a little bit

this started off so great. to have a main character who excelled at a non-traditional sport for women was incredibly exciting, and i also really enjoyed the fact that she had trouble asking for help or advertising if she needed help. i think that's something a lot of kids of immigrants/kids of color can relate to, and i know that i definitely saw a lot of myself in kareena's surprise when people did start turning up for her.

however, the fact that muay thai and her father's illness fall to the wayside for a boy was really not it for me. while i do love a good romance, especially one where it's two people who really challenge each other, it took too much of the spotlight, and got a little savior-y at the end there. it didn't sit well with me that this novel was trying to paint kareena as a badass who could take a punch and get sh*t done, only for a boy to solve her problems. it also got a little too girlboss-y at some points, especially towards the end when i was just getting exasperated.

culture also falls to the wayside after that one event, which was disappointing. i feel like once the author had established that kareena was indian, ameet was indian, lily was filipino, etc. none of that really mattered except to cause drama (e.g. mentions of arranged marriages). just wasn't a fan of how representation was handled

but uhhh i won an ARC in a giveaway so i had to give it a chance so hah... the more you know

silly goofy time, and i think i've discovered the joys of light novels

this read like a plot-less, character-/world-driven anime, which is not entirely a complaint as i generally enjoyed myself. it's quite clear from the beginning what one of the (if not the biggest) reveals is, but it wasn't the focal point nor driving factor of the whole book, rather something to keep in the back of your mind as events unfold.

i like the idea of xie lian having to figure out all these mysteries plaguing humans, but the execution was hit or miss. giant chapters, typos that actually hinder comprehension, and comedy taking the forefront before actual plot progression lead to a lower rating. i get that it's supposed to be comical, but you can be comical without sacrificing plot or good writing.

i'd be interested in reading more by this author to see if their writing differs at all between their series!

banging pots and pans together Y'ALL NEED TO READ THIS

honestly, even if you're not a fan of YA fantasy, but are down for an amazing adventure full of a tea-based competition, incredible female friendships and political navigation, this is a book you need to pick up!!

it's certainly not perfect and while i do have my gripes, overall i had a wonderful time following ning throughout the competition. i wished there was more explanation of the magic system but i vibed with the writing and plot so it was easy to go along with the story and not bother with the details.

i CANNOT wait for the sequel, i needed it uhhhh yesterday?

whoa, i enjoyed this WAY more than the first book!!

i think that's mostly in part to the fact that there's less set up for the series in the second book, which made the pacing a lot better. the first few chapters were info dump-y, and i'm still not a fan of how these books wrap up, but i definitely enjoyed the in-between!!

i actually didn't see the killer coming so that was really great. but also i'm exhausted from end of semester shenanigans so perhaps i would've seen the signs otherwise

i don't even know how to express my love for TJR books at this point

this book seems pointless and trivial at times, but wraps up beautifully with conversations on the meaning of fate and soulmates. the converging yet intertwined timelines kept me hooked and i'm so glad i found the energy to just barrel through this book because i couldn't get enough. again, it's mostly the nosy person i am when it comes to life drama but also TJR knocks it out of the park every time

i'm running out of her books to read tho it's Spooky

still don't 100% understand what happened but definitely enjoyed myself regardless!!

i'll do my best to mince my (mean) words and clarify my feelings on this book as best as possible, but honestly the more i think about it, the more it upsets me

there are a lot of concepts and archetypes that the author tried to pull in that were not well executed. i love cars and racing, but was severely let down by the clear lack of research spent towards building a car girl who loves to race. it became incredibly clear that the author used major movie franchises like fast and furious and ocean's 11 for this book but did not go the extra (necessary) mile to research the mechanics of things like street racing or oh uh i don't know actual heisting?

if you're thinking of picking up this book for the thrill of a heist, let me stop you there, because you aren't gonna find that in this book. despite great potential for heist glory, any semblance of heist execution in this book is lackluster and far too short for anyone to truly get the thrill or satisfaction of a good heist. none of the characters have any actual heist knowledge and make the stupidest mistakes that boggled my mind. i stopped taking this book seriously at like the 20% mark because of it


what i think shines particularly from this is the discussion of diaspora identity, which is tackled from five different perspectives in a pretty good way. however, as satisfied as i was with the discussion of diaspora identity struggles, it wasn't enough to outweigh my incredible disappointment towards this book.

bruh what is with this streak of me reading low vibe books? i'm UPSET...

undoubtedly a waste of time.

what was the point? nishino SUCKS. he dates two women at once, always going between relationships like a monkey on tree branches and somehow NEVER getting attached. i didn't want to read 200 pages of women getting treated like crap for a good for nothing guy!!

also, what was the allure? can someone mcfreakin explain to me? did he shit gold or something?

this was a case of, “did i read the same book everyone else did?” because i saw friends raving and expected the same reaction but... i'm sad to report that i was largely disappointed by this

i will say, first and foremost, that i really enjoyed the spooky parts. i'm not big on blood and gore, but the b&g in this mixed with the thriller aspect properly spooked me in a good way – i felt thrilled and even a little scared to turn the light off at night, but also not permanently traumatized for life. i think that's my personal happy medium when it comes to anything scary or that involves body horror, so i'm pleased with that.

i'm also pleased with how sutherland handled the narrative of three sisters and the consequent dynamics, no matter where they grew up. i think each sister, in personality and actions and words, embodies key parts of being the eldest, middle and youngest sister and these complex dynamics are really well played out without being cringe-y and obvious. as an eldest sister who would once upon a time do anything for her younger, that part really struck me.

however, my disappointment largely lies in the “twist”, which was obvious to me from the second the characters were introduced on the backside. i don't know if that's the author's intention, or if they were trying to be clever, but for me i knew the twist from the back of the book summary and spent the entire book praying that the twist was going to be more spectacular than what it was. unfortunately, it was predictable and there were way too many hints dropped in i guess not the best way for me to personally enjoy it, but in retrospect it's kind of neat to see all the bread crumbs there (har dee har).

also i had a hard time switching between the urbanity and lighthearted rapport of the sisters and then suddenly blood and gore. i'm not saying that thrillers have to be 100% serious or 100% goofy, but the transitions between the two felt clunky and sometimes the effect of some of the funny or serious parts were lost on me because of it.

feeling uber conflicted about this book because, like i said, i liked the spook i got, but i have many (many many many) gripes with how the plot was executed

HOLY. SMOKES. ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME!!

with a somewhat slow start given a large amount of world-building and character establishment to be done, the start of this book can be a little difficult, but once elin is flung from her mother's arms into the wind, you will be hooked!

reminiscent of books by elizabeth lim and the daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan, this book sees the main character, elin, over a long period of time as she tries to find her place in the world and protect what she loves most. as the daughter of an ahlyo, elin has a special affinity for the beasts that the country uses for protection, but does not agree with the way that they are supposed to be raised. in creating in alternative to raise these beasts, she discovers the secrets behind the country's history amidst political unrest.

i was absolutely blown away by how masterfully this book was written. while the focus is on elin and her journey in learning how to properly raise beasts, there is an incredible and beautiful amount of world-building that perfectly intertwines with the story. i appreciate that there was no info-dumping, and a lot of the relevant details were revealed at appropriate times that coincided well with where elin was in her journey. the writing/translation was absolutely gorgeous in describing the beasts and the way elin saw the world differently than others. i could honestly keep going because the more i think about this book, the more i can say that i liked!!

i highly recommend picking up the beast player, and i'm super excited to get my hands on the sequel!!

ok yeah... a little disappointed (and i don't mean to compare, but since darling was another 2021 YA peter pan release, my expectations were sky high)

this book felt about 100 pages too long with parts of the story that felt like extraneous information that could have been connected to the main mystery but weren't. while i liked the twist, i had predicted it and wasn't too thrilled by it, especially since it left me wondering, “ok, what was the point of this, this and that?”. i guess i'm a gal who likes purpose to every itty bitty detail from every conversation in a book with such a big mystery, and while there were some elements of that, i feel like there were moments when i just kept thinking, “what's the point?” only to learn that there was absolutely no point.

all that being said, i still think this was a book with great writing, an okay plot and believable characters. i think aiden thomas writes teens well as they never feel like the “how do you do fellow kids?” meme and face struggles actual teens face. but in terms of a dark peter pan remix, this fell short of expectations

it's official: i will read anything yaa gyasi writes

while there are so many topics discussed and explored in this book, my favorite part was how expertly it was all connected by gyasi without feeling like there was extensive reaching, which really does speak to the interconnectedness of it all. in trying to “reason away” humans, life and nature with science or religion, we forget to take into account humanity and all of its complexity.

a fantastic retelling of mary shelley's frankenstein that unfortunately fell short of personal expectations

as the title would suggest, i was expecting the descent of elizabeth frankenstein. from the start, she is postured as the orphan girl who would pursue any means if that meant surviving, even covering up dastardly deeds of victor frankenstein. victor is much more terrifying, unhinged and outright bad in this retelling, and so i had expected elizabeth to descend into madness with him – again, as the title suggests. as much as i hate the harley quinn & joker dependency/toxic relationship trope, i think it would've been interesting in this context (what with the time period, elizabeth's characterization of a morally f***ed-up teen, etc.) but was not at all pursued.

in fact, i would say that elizabeth's character changes halfway through the book, and she is no longer as motivated by how badly she wants to “survive”, rather she is motivated by “love” and “friendship”. which, i guess ended up being an interesting take, but i can't say this enough: it's really not what i expected nor wanted from a book entitled “the dark descent of elizabeth frankenstein”

so while this isn't a bad book by any means and i was entertained for most of it (there were some third act pacing and plot issues that i wasn't a big fan of), the execution did not live up to the promise of the title nor the synopsis alone

had a similar experience to most where the stories i enjoyed were really quite good and made me think in all the good ways, and then there were the rest...

this was like gilmore girls (with all the white privilege of new england) but emily smoked weed and lorelai wasn't a perpetual child

i unexpectedly really enjoyed this book. it felt detached in a sense while we followed this family through a small period of time yet learned so much about them and all the traumas that their family structure and experiences imparted onto each member. as someone who has experienced multigenerational trauma and wishes so desperately that the perpetuators of said trauma could wake the fuck up and apologize for what they've done, i really appreciated this story

i will say that while queer characters have some limelight in this book, their stories reek of white privilege, so i would proceed with caution. it's nice to read how easy and fluffy queer life is for them (in comparison to the experiences of QBIPOC) but also man am i salty i'll never have a coming out like that lol

interested in reading more from emma straub if i can get a lovely intertwined cast of characters like this again!!

rating update: the more i think about this book, the more upset i get. i need to leave more time between finishing a book and reviewing it because my god in retrospect were some things a hot mess about this book, and i'm not even talking about the weird author bashing a reviewer debacle

the portrayal of a Black character did not sit well with me upon first read, and i'm glad to see that i wasn't the only one. not only did it feel like tokenism (especially since no other side characters play much importance in this book) but the fact that their only purpose in this book is to teach a white character that Racism Exists? holy moly... lots of other weird things that just... did not need to be said with regards to The One Black Character Who Gets A Name. also weird comments about their hair. what i wouldn't give for white authors to stop fixating on Black hair

original review preserved below:

i'm growing increasingly convinced that dark academia is not for me

i think that victoria lee crafted a really spooky and atmospheric little school with messed up girls, but the predictability of the book and the pacing really crushed my enjoyment and by the end i felt exasperated. also, as someone who has read all of the referenced material throughout the book, that also felt like really painful giveaways as to what was going to happen.

overall, i still really liked the world-building and the story behind the dalloway five, but the modern day characters never quite hooked me in and at some points just plain annoyed me. also i'm still wondering what the point of some of the side characters were... but i digress.

so i think with that i'll be approaching any books marketed as dark academia with caution from now on, as i'm regularly disappointed with the execution, but that's on me and not on the authors/writing/stories!

anyway i'm sending my next therapy bill to nina lacour

while i was enjoying this book for the subtly supernatural ghost factor and hoping it would be some sort of spooky story with a wicked family, i was humbly surprised to find out it was a story about overcoming childhood trauma, and the ways we may project our traumas unknowingly. i started the healing process of my childhood trauma last year, and reading this book felt like a warm hug with some tears falling on my shoulders. like mila, i found my healing family too, and it's incredible feeling

but y'all lmao idk what i'm going to do until yerba buena drops in paperback... lmao

as someone who can't get enough of TJR's evelyn hugo-verse books, this hit the spot while also combining nina lacour's poignant writing!!

as predicted, a lot of what hooked me into this novel stemmed from the intrigue surrounding a fictional movie star and his descendants, and how their lives turned out — i guess i'm just chismosa like that? anyway i love that this also had the added layer of set designing and emi's own coming-of-age discoveries while unraveling the mystery behind a letter

i only have one nina lacour book unread till yerba buena drops

the only brown sisters LI who deserves rights is zaf and that's the hill i will die on

i adored eve rather unexpectedly, i thought her “being a hot mess” would annoy me like it did jacob, but i found it endearing and somewhat relatable. growing up with chloe and dani as sisters must have been difficult but to have parents that expect you to be exactly like them in achievements? poor thing :-(

i hated jacob. with a passion. felt bad for him at times but mostly felt overwhelmingly frustrated because eve deserves better lmaooo✌️

i'm in an incredible amount of pain right now