Audrey
I always forget what an exciting setting this time and place in history makes for novel settings. I'd hoped to be posting this review before the US publication date, but I was so invested that I took my sweet time.
As the Tsar begins to fall and the revolutionaries rise, The Countess of the Revolution follows Countess Sophia Orlova, her family, and her friend Regina. Thanks to her husband Dmitry's brother Nikolai, they are spared execution early on though the brothers save opposing views on the revolution. Inspired by his efforts, Sophia helps Nikolai set up a hospital. Working side by side and getting to know him better, problems aside from both of their lives being in danger arise for them.
I liked so much about this book, but the pacing is my highest praise. I didn't find that the story dragged anywhere. Another thing I enjoyed was that the characters each had morally grey areas all the while maintaining a likableness. I was invested within the first few pages and maintained my interest from start to finish.
A huge thanks to Harper360 for sending me a free ARC to read and review!
Though set on a different planet, Who Writes the Rules? is as relevant as ever in this day and age. Covering topics such as the environment, spirituality, and society as a whole, this book makes for a thought-provoking read.
The book follows Mosse and Heelia's relationship and their life on the planet of Thera. Through their conversations and experiences, we learn about their home and the planet's history. Several chapters cover different topics from the Big Bang to climate change and everything in between.
I find the draw of this book is the discourse more than the story. Though I'm inclined to disagree with some of the arguments being made here, I'm someone who enjoys hearing opposing opinions in a civil manner. However, I personally don't look for this often in fiction. I did expect a great deal of conversations of this nature given the book's description, but it ultimately overshadowed the story itself. Because of this, I also struggled to connect with the characters.
My highest compliment goes to the writing. I enjoyed the style and everything flowed together exquisitely. The world-building was also fantastic. Right away I got a feel for the setting. Though descriptive, the details also didn't ramble on for pages and pages. In my experience, I struggle to find a happy medium with dystopian novels either giving too much or too little information. This book hit the sweet spot.
In the end, I was left feeling indifferent. I would have liked more focus on the characters themselves rather than a laundry list of social issues, which in fairness, is advertised quite plainly. As someone who prefers dystopia more for the psychology and action of the plots, I found it okay. Readers who enjoy heavy debates and have a deep interest in current events will enjoy the book immensely.
A huge thanks to the author and Discovery for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
Though set on a different planet, [b:Who Writes the Rules?: for living in an over-populated, multi-cultural, dying society 75365285 Who Writes the Rules? for living in an over-populated, multi-cultural, dying society Norman George https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672212944l/75365285.SY75.jpg 100584700] is as relevant as ever in this day and age. Covering topics such as the environment, spirituality, and society as a whole, this book makes for a thought-provoking read. The book follows Mosse and Heelia's relationship and their life on the planet of Thera. Through their conversations and experiences, we learn about their home and the planet's history. Several chapters cover different topics from the Big Bang to climate change and everything in between. I find the draw of this book is the discourse more than the story. Though I'm inclined to disagree with some of the arguments being made here, I'm someone who enjoys hearing opposing opinions in a civil manner. However, I personally don't look for this often in fiction. I did expect a great deal of conversations of this nature given the book's description, but it ultimately overshadowed the story itself. Because of this, I also struggled to connect with the characters.My highest compliment goes to the writing. I enjoyed the style and everything flowed together exquisitely. The world-building was also fantastic. Right away I got a feel for the setting. Though descriptive, the details also didn't ramble on for pages and pages. In my experience, I struggle to find a happy medium with dystopian novels either giving too much or too little information. This book hit the sweet spot.In the end, I was left feeling indifferent. I would have liked more focus on the characters themselves rather than a laundry list of social issues, which in fairness, is advertised quite plainly. As someone who prefers dystopia more for the psychology and action of the plots, I found it okay. Readers who enjoy heavy debates and have a deep interest in current events will enjoy the book immensely.A huge thanks to the author and Discovery for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
I had high hopes for this book after reading Anxious People and I was not disappointed. Fredrik Backman's writing is so relatably human, managing to find humor in some of the darkest areas of our lives.
On the surface, Ove appears to be nothing more than a cranky old man. Beneath that gruff exterior is a wounded and lonely old man. When new neighbors move in, he finds himself suddenly surrounded by people despite his efforts to maintain his isolation.
I had to read this in a hurry because my library has waitlists on multiple copies, so I'm not sure if because of this I found it dragged a lot in the beginning. By the middle, it began to pick up though I can't say the pace changed much overall. It's one I would have preferred to read slowly. Still, I enjoyed it a lot.
I'm going to say upfront that this isn't necessarily a book I would have chosen for myself unless I was looking for a good beach read, so please take my review with a grain of salt. I was sent a surprise ARC copy.
Maggie has (in my opinion) a dream home in the Tower of London. Unfortunately, her life hasn't been filled with fairytales. Throughout the book she's on a quest to find love which, of course, she finds in an unlikely place: a Royal Guard.
The book is cute and I enjoyed the London history intertwined, but it ends there for me. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and wasn't able to connect to Maggie at all. The romance was sweet and I appreciated that it wasn't explicit, though it took a long while to get into it. Overall, I think someone more into romcoms will enjoy this. If you're picky like I am, it could be hit or miss.
A huge thanks to Harper360 for sending me an ARC copy of the book to read and review!
Not intimidating in length and extremely organized, [b:The Core of Success: Step by Step Principles for Achieving Anything - Mastering the Skills of Top Performers to Build Happiness, Wealth & Freedom 75516099 The Core of Success Step by Step Principles for Achieving Anything - Mastering the Skills of Top Performers to Build Happiness, Wealth & Freedom (The core of Success Series Book 1) John Belvedere https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672679292l/75516099.SY75.jpg 100808237] is a great starting point for people looking to bring some organizational skills to their lives and for people who are ready to put in the work to start achieving their goals.Each chapter covers different exercises to aid in personal growth and in some cases mental health management. These are the keys to success. The format makes it easy to go back and jump around as well with bullet points placed toward the end of the chapters.There were a lot of exercises I highlighted to revisit later, the first of which that comes to mind being the ‘Eisenhower Matrix'. I like that each section wasn't dragged out. It was simple and to the point which makes it (for me, anyway) a great introduction for further research. Self-help books are hit or miss for me, so I'm happy with how much I enjoyed this one.A huge thanks to the author's team for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
When I say that I've been looking for a copy of this book to read for years, I'm not exaggerating. Long out of print and a rare/expensive find, I finally traveled to read a library copy. Given how long I've waited, my rating may be a bit biased, but I'm also quite confident I would have enjoyed this book without already being an admirer of the author.
In 1936, journalist Dorothy Kilgallen set off on an around-the-world competition to attempt to break the world record at the time. The book catalogs her journey, detailing a number of places from Germany to Manila. Charming as ever, the book is a fun, adventurous, and inspiring account. It's also interesting to hear what the world was like at that time.
It's too bad this book didn't have more printings or a digitalization. People have forgotten what a trailblazer Dorothy Kilgallen was for women during her lifetime. This book is an excellent example, especially since it was still early on in her career. I'm grateful to have finally been able to read it.
I don't know how I'm feeling about this one. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't like it either.
Georgie finds herself back home and reevaluating her life. Having spent a life of people pleasing, she's ready to start figuring out her own wants and needs after rediscovering a ‘friendfic' she wrote as a teenager. An old high school acquaintance, Levi, helps her along on her journey of self-discovery.
The concept of this book is wonderful. I had really high hopes. Unfortunately, it felt like a strange mishmash of genres. The main plot felt like it wanted to be literary, but it was not written in a literary style. The romance plot felt like it wanted to be a romcom, but it wasn't comedic. While I liked the Georgie/Levi pairing, I grew bored of them quickly. I also found some of their romance scenes far too graphic for my taste. Disappointing overall, but ultimately comes down to a matter of preference and wrong assumptions of what the book was going to be.
It was such a pleasure to read another book by E.B. Roshan! I found this to be a pretty unique book, too, given it features illustrations. Set in an alternate version of England during the Edwardian era, this cozy mystery is filled with wit and lots of flowers.
Though the plot does focus heavily on the book's mystery (stolen orchids, tigers, etc.), it is also a largely character-driven story. Admittedly, I didn't find myself latching onto Opal as the protagonist. Her preference for flowers over people is endearing in theory, but as a whole, I didn't find myself feeling much for her during ups or downs. The supporting characters, however, I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly Opal's sister. I'd almost like to see an offshoot in her POV. I also liked the inclusion of prosthetics, which given the time, was largely the element of fantasy here.
Having previously read Wrong Place, Right Time by this author, I had no doubt that the writing itself would be good. The flow of the book is fantastic and everything came together nicely in the end making for a satisfying read from start to finish.
As I mentioned, the book also includes illustrations which I found to be a charming addition. Who says grown-up books can't have pictures? It was such a nice touch, especially given it was both written and illustrated by E.B. Roshan.
A huge thanks to the author for sending me a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!
This was everything I hoped it would be and more. Emotional, heartwarming, and infuriating at times, I was completely immersed in this story about the early days of Hitler's reign. Instead of being on European soil, it's set in America.
In the midst of The Great Depression, Liesl Weiss finds herself fired from MGM and without a job. Needing to provide for her two young children, her mother, and her brother, she takes the first job she can find — becoming a spy to gather information on the German American community. Also on her team is Agent Thirteen, although who exactly this agent is is something she has to discover for herself.
The character growth in this book is phenomenal. We get an uncomfortable look at the moral struggles Liesl faces such as her indifference to Hitler's rise in Germany and denial of the anti-semitism in her own community (and later her response to it). There's also a large focus on family, particularly between Liesl and her brother Fritz. Lastly, there is a hint of romance, however, I use the word loosely as it's such a minor element of the story.
The narrators of the book do a nice job, although I had trouble understanding Agent Thirteen at the usual speeds I listen to. Not a huge issue, but I did have to keep going back and forth to adjust it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a free audio ARC of the book to read and review!
I read this more out of curiosity than genuine interest. I'm quite fond of Princess Diana and I mostly wanted to hear what Harry had to say about her.
Told in a linear timeline, Prince Harry discusses the brutal reality of what it means to be part of the royal family. My heart has always gone out to him and I certainly sympathize more now that I've read this. What was off-putting to me was the amount of personal family matters disclosed that really didn't need to be discussed. It's one thing to talk about your own life in a memoir, but it doesn't sit well for me when it turns on others, even when they have wronged you.
Overall, the book was what I expected it to be: a media grab. There isn't a lot of depth to any of the stories aside from maybe what it was like to lose his mother in such a public and traumatic way. I found the writing melodramatic which didn't keep me super invested. I do understand that writing about difficult moments in one's life can be therapeutic, but that doesn't mean it needs to be published. So while I do feel sorry for some of the things he's had to go through, I also can't deny this story is getting so much attention simply due to his place in the Royal Family.
This was everything I hoped it would be and more. Emotional, heartwarming, and infuriating at times, I was completely immersed in this story about the early days of Hitler's reign. Instead of being on European soil, it's set in America.
In the midst of The Great Depression, Liesl Weiss finds herself fired from MGM and without a job. Needing to provide for her two young children, her mother, and her brother, she takes the first job she can find — becoming a spy to gather information on the German American community. Also on her team is Agent Thirteen, although who exactly this agent is is something she has to discover for herself.
The character growth in this book is phenomenal. We get an uncomfortable look at the moral struggles Liesl faces such as her indifference to Hitler's rise in Germany and denial of the anti-semitism in her own community (and later her response to it). There's also a large focus on family, particularly between Liesl and her brother Fritz. Lastly, there is a hint of romance, however, I use the word loosely as it's such a minor element of the story.
The narrators of the book do a nice job, although I had trouble understanding Agent Thirteen at the usual speeds I listen to. Not a huge issue, but I did have to keep going back and forth to adjust it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a free audio ARC of the book to read and review!
This was such an interesting read for me. It was unlike anything else I've read and a glimpse at a different culture than my own.
A retelling/reinterpretation of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the book follows Jawad as he wakes and discovers he's transformed into a monster. This transformation forces him to take a critical look at his life from a personal and social standpoint.
I've never read any of Franz Kafka's works so I can't offer any sort of comparison. I found Kafka in Tangier quite interesting, though I was moderately confused throughout it. It was a new concept for me, but given the book is under 100 pages, it wasn't intimidating to pick up. It was educational for me in a lot of ways. As a story, it didn't wind up being my thing in particular, but I'm glad to have given it a go.
A huge thanks to the author for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
Mysterious with a hint of romance, Faces & Lies turned out to be something of a unique mystery read for me.
Devin Marques isn't having an easy time of it. She's had her home broken into, she's being followed, but supposedly there's nothing that can be done about these things. She ignores it the best she can as she prepares for a horse show. However, when her groom goes missing, she starts taking this all a bit more seriously.
It took me a little while to get into this one, mostly because I don't do well when harm to animals is shown/involved. I wasn't super into the romance part of the plot, either, but the mystery was good. I liked the cryptic messages at the start of several chapters. It was a good touch. It was also interesting reading a book involving a horse show. I can't say I've ever read a book with this as a backdrop before, at least not in my adult life.
A huge thanks to the publisher for sending me a free digital copy to read and review!
Admittedly, it took me a little while to warm up to this story, but by the end, I had tears in my eyes. Yet again, a gorgeous cover drew me in. Of course, anything set in or around Italy is also going to pique my interest immediately.
With a duel timeline, we follow Giovanna and Vincenzo's 1940s love story and the struggles that go along with it. We also get to know Giovanna's family, her sister Faustina a constant presence in her life. In 2017, newly engaged Cass and Luca find a common bond through their grandparents, uncovering long-buried secrets.
It took me a little while to get into the plot but it picked up a lot by the middle. Usually I tend to enjoy the historical timeline the most, but this was a case where I enjoyed the modern one the most. It was an enjoyable switch. I loved Cass' character especially as well as the Italian backdrop.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for sending me a free digital ARC to read and review!
Not a happy-go-lucky love story for sure, and honestly, I think I prefer it this way. With a beautiful summer backdrop, this coming-of-age story doesn't shy away from the gritty parts of life.
During a milestone summer vacation, Kyle meets Jack. As he brings him into his group of friends on the island, the boys (and the rest of the group) face a number of trials — many of which will have a lifelong impact on their lives. Though a work of historical fiction, time doesn't seem to make much of a difference here as the heart of the story is its characters and their lives.
I enjoyed the writing style here. It was full of heart and I found myself connecting to the characters even though they weren't personally relatable to me (nor were all of them always likable). The plot got a bit busy toward the middle, but it smoothed out again by the end. As I said in the beginning, this isn't a fluffy romance. It has a realistic feel that is, for me, a refreshing break from too-good-to-be-true romances.
A huge thanks to the author for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
Not a happy-go-lucky love story for sure, and honestly, I think I prefer it this way. With a beautiful summer backdrop, this coming-of-age story doesn't shy away from the gritty parts of life.
During a milestone summer vacation, Kyle meets Jack. As he brings him into his group of friends on the island, the boys (and the rest of the group) face a number of trials — many of which will have a lifelong impact on their lives. Though a work of historical fiction, time doesn't seem to make much of a difference here as the heart of the story is its characters and their lives.
I enjoyed the writing style here. It was full of heart and I found myself connecting to the characters even though they weren't personally relatable to me (nor were all of them always likable). The plot got a bit busy toward the middle, but it smoothed out again by the end. As I said in the beginning, this isn't a fluffy romance. It has a realistic feel that is, for me, a refreshing break from too-good-to-be-true romances.
A huge thanks to the author for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
In the age of the internet (and before that, television), radio was the form of mainstream media. Like our media today, it shaped the way people viewed the world. In this account of the airways post-World War II, we focus on poetry and the dawn of FM.
Focusing mostly on the 1950s-1960s, Lisa Hollenbach lays out a history of radio poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Susan Howe, and several others, their impact on society, and the struggles they such as censorship and politics. Naturally, there's a focus on the Cold War era as well.
I can't say I was engaged from start to finish, but I definitely found the book informative. I learned a lot and it's a section of history I've never given much thought to. I was impressed that I did know some of the names mentioned here. Given it's under 300 pages, it's not a taxing read yet doesn't feel like it's leaving out large sums of information.
Thanks to NetGalley and University of Iowa Press for providing me with a free digital ARC to read and review!
In the age of the internet (and before that, television), radio was the form of mainstream media. Like our media today, it shaped the way people viewed the world. In this account of the airways post-World War II, we focus on poetry and the dawn of FM.
Focusing mostly on the 1950s-1960s, Lisa Hollenbach lays out a history of radio poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Susan Howe, and several others, their impact on society, and the struggles they such as censorship and politics. Naturally, there's a focus on the Cold War era as well.
I can't say I was engaged from start to finish, but I definitely found the book informative. I learned a lot and it's a section of history I've never given much thought to. I was impressed that I did know some of the names mentioned here. Given it's under 300 pages, it's not a taxing read yet doesn't feel like it's leaving out large sums of information.
Thanks to NetGalley and University of Iowa Press for providing me with a free digital ARC to read and review!
Here I am again judging a book entirely by its cover. Thankfully, what was promised visually did not disappoint. In fact, I think I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.
When the Germans begin bombing London, Beatrix is sent by her parents to stay with a family in America. She remains in Boston with the Gregorys until the end of the war. It's a lot of change for an eleven-year-old, but she pushes through it and eventually bonds with her host family.
I'm not sure why, but I was surprised to see this book had multiple parts. First, we get glimpses of Beatrix's time in America. Subsequently, we see her life in the decades following the war and her reconnection with the Gregorys.
I enjoyed the writing style of this book quite a bit, though I'm not a huge fan of dialogue mid-paragraph or dialogue without quotations, I got used to it. The story was beautifully put together. I especially loved reading about Beatrix's adolescence in America. I haven't seen a lot of books that show British children that evacuated to America. A lovely read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!
Normally I really love deeply character-driven stories such as this. While there were parts I did enjoy, something didn't sit right for some reason.
Nearing the end of her life, Violeta recounts her story starting from her birth in a small Chilean town. We follow her and her family through pandemics, political changes, and other important shifts in history as the decades pass. With this also comes the natural milestones of life such as adolescence and starting a family. All of this is told in a letter to her grandson.
For something that appears to be so close to the author, there is a glaring lack of emotion and empathy. I didn't feel connected to Violeta at all, nor did I find myself particularly caring partway through the part of the book. Until then I was finding the narration reminiscent of The Dictionary of Lost Words. Overall, I found it just okay.
There's something about Adriana Trigiani's writing I really love. This book was pretty fun, too, because in a strange way, it was giving me similar vibes as Daisy Jones and the Six only a different era.
Chi Chi and Tony are on their way to stardom in the 1940s. Newly married, they also have to face the questions surrounding starting a family. Can they balance a career and home life? We follow them through the decades through their professional and personal ups and downs.
While I can't say I enjoyed this as much as The Good Left Undone, it had a similar heart to the writing. It runs long though. I would have enjoyed it more if it'd been a slightly faster pace. I have mixed feelings about Chi Chi and Tony's relationship, too. However, I do love getting to see the plot span such a long period of time, so there was a lot of give and take for me.
3.75 (rounded up to 4) - This was such a cute Valentine's Day buddy read! It wasn't on my radar and it's always fun to find something new.
Matchmaker Cassandra Reynolds finds herself in need of a match of her own so she has a plus one to her estranged father's wedding. Enter Luke Dawson, who takes it upon himself to do the matchmaking. With a great mix of romance and family drama, there's never a dull moment.
I'm picky with romance. It's definitely a mood thing for me. I'm glad I gave this one a try because I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected not being in the zone for this genre at the moment. I'm glad that this is a series for when I am looking for a romance read sometime in the future. The writing style, especially with an overuse of euphemisms and cliches, wasn't my favorite, but the plot made up for a lot of it.