Susan Scribner
This book is frustratingly unbalanced. There needed to be about 100 fewer pages about Anna, Gina, and “British Anna's” similar experiences with the person they knew as Ethan Schuman, and at least 100 more about the ethical issues of “aspirational identity” (the subject of the author's doctoral dissertation) that Ethan represented, and the trio's attempts to pursue legal redress against him.
As it stands, I spent most of the book wondering how these intelligent, accomplished women could have possibly been duped for months (in some cases years), and smugly reassuring myself that I wouldn't have fallen for Ethan's lies. And yet...
[He] was skilled at pressing just the right buttons and displaying the perfect amount of vulnerability to somehow stop otherwise rational people from behaving normally. His masterful cunning, combined with the intensity of their emotional connection, heightened by months of anticipation, allowed her to show him unprecedented levels of understanding and empathy, and to continue talking to him, instead of writing him off.
Very readable account of how the idealistic 1960s and cynical 1970s gave rise to the Yuppie (Young Urban Professional) phenomenon of the early 1980s. This was the first time since the end of WWII that the promise of the American Century was realized only by white, college-educated Baby Boomers. These Yuppies flocked to New York and other big cities, worked in the rapidly evolving finance industry, and generally lived by the mantra, “whoever dies with most toys, wins.” No, Millennials didn't event foodie-ism (they just turned it into an app) or trendy workout spas; the Yuppies got there first. Jerry Rubin, former 60s radical activist, actually became a stockbroker, claiming that entrepreneurship-focused capitalism was the best way to empower people and bring about change.
McGrath views the era with nostalgic humor (Jane Fonda workout videos! “Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?” The Sharper Image catalog!), but also describes with chilling accuracy how the Reagan presidency and the prioritization of corporate stock prices led to extreme inequality, especially in communities that formerly relied on manufacturing jobs. You can draw a line straight from the Yuppie phenomenon to the election of Donald Trump. Suddenly those “how many Yuppies does it take to change a lightbulb?” jokes* aren't so funny anymore, are they?
*Two: one to fix the martinis and one to call the electrician
Jadon is a Sad Prince because, although he is incredibly wealthy and pampered, he has to honor the royal traditions of Reverie, his French-African island nation. That includes not speaking his mind every time he is angry about some perceived injustice. After dressing down the country's Prime Minister (and letting it be recorded), he is banished to a hovel...er, actually a mansion in Santa Monica, California. His older sister Annika, the heir to the throne, accompanies him to assist in the rehabilitation of Jadon's image.
At his new high school, a cute boy with pink hair catches Jadon's eye, but Reiss Hayes is not impressed by “His Royal Arrogance.” Jadon's haughtiness is a cover for loneliness and insecurity, and once he drops the attitude, he and Reiss start making heart eyes at each other. But the new couple have to keep their relationship a secret, and Jadon's ex-boyfriend has just appeared in Santa Monica, allegedly to help Jadon. Although Jadon is really into Reiss, his ultimate goal is to return to Reverie. Can their relationship survive conniving exes and potential long distance? Can Prince Jadon find a way to be suitably royal without sacrificing himself?
This was a predictable but enjoyable YA novel that distinguishes itself by having a Black, queer royal as the MC and taking place in an environment where neither of those things are a big deal. There are a lot of secondary characters, notably Jadon's new friends who are only mildly impressed by his title, and at times I lost track of who was who. I wish Winters had gone for quality over quantity; Annika alone deserves her own book, as does Jadon's Poor Little Rich Girl friend, Grace.
The story's narration is first person from Jadon's POV, so we only see Reiss through his eyes. The pink-haired boy with no tolerance for bullshit is an aspiring filmmaker and sneakerhead who is inexperienced sexually and part of a warm, loving family. He needed a little more depth to come fully alive, but he wasn't one-dimensional. Winters nicely sidesteps a potential Big Misunderstanding between the boys when Jadon's ex shows up, although being honest with Reiss doesn't solve all of their problems.
I caught several Easter Eggs including references to [a:Jonny Garza Villa|20244297|Jonny Garza Villa|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [b:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487|Red, White & Royal Blue|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487._SY75_.jpg|61657690], and I'm sure I missed many others. Honestly, I need to read fewer YA novels and more adult fare, but it's hard to stay away from stories like this one that are so optimistic about life's possibilities.
ARC received from publisher and Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
I'll never forgive David Nicholls for [b:One Day 6280118 One Day David Nicholls https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327873020l/6280118.SY75.jpg 6463667] (IYKYK), but You Are Here was surprisingly enjoyable. Believable chemistry between the MCs, witty repartee, wry British humor, and a much more romantic ending than That Book. Plus a realistic portrayal of depression and isolation: It was as if she'd returned from a foreign country and not let anyone know. The threshold of her flat seemed like a high diving board, too big a leap, too many people watching, and even when she made it out, what did she have to say? Conversation required a warm-up now, time set aside to workshop smiles and responses, and she no longer trusted her face to do the right thing, operating it manually, pulling levers, turning dials, for fear that she might laugh at someone's tragedy or grimace at their joke. In Japan and California, they were developing robots with a more natural and spontaneous set of responses than she currently possessed. The MMC needed to do more groveling to make up for keeping a Big Secret from the FMC, and I would have liked an epilogue to put an exclamation point on the HEA, but those are just some nits to pick because I'm still peeved about that bestselling, award-winning, “we'll take a love story seriously if it's written by a man” abomination.
3.5 stars. Subtracting a few points from the latest installment of this reliable series because 1) Kate and the rest of her team are oblivious to the perpetrator's identity long after the reader gets it; and 2) Kate engages in some close-to-TSTL* behavior (even for a police chief). There is more investigation-related violence than usual, which I don't care for, but Kate and Tomasetti's marriage is off to an intriguing start.
*Too Stupid To Live, especially characters who put themselves in danger by doing stupid shit like trying to run from the serial killer while wearing high heels, or doing a solo expedition into a creepy, boarded-up house without even texting someone your location.
Judy Blume wrote groundbreaking books for children and teens that normalized body-related subjects that were considered taboo, like masturbation, premarital sex, and, as memorably portrayed in [b:Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret 59365703 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Judy Blume https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675288783l/59365703.SX50.jpg 4121], “men-STROO-ation.” This appreciation of her work is moderately interesting, but if you've seen the recent Judy Blume Forever documentary or even read the author's responses to correspondence from her fans in [b:Letters to Judy 480338 Letters to Judy Judy Blume https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663884l/480338.SY75.jpg 2023], you won't find much new information about her life and work. However, now that Blume's novels, as well as many others, are subject to censorship in selected public and school libraries, we need Judy's messages more than ever. The Genius of Judy is a timely reminder of why the fight to preserve access to these books is so urgent.
I don't think anyone is going to make an award-winning musical out of this one! I was looking for a saga of Bechdel's relationship with her mother that would parallel what [b:Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic 26135825 Fun Home A Family Tragicomic Alison Bechdel https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440097020l/26135825.SY75.jpg 911368] did for her relationship with her father. But I ended up sorely disappointed. Belying the title, Are You My Mother? focuses primarily on Bechdel's own psychoanalysis, her strange dreams, and how the writings of Freud, Adrienne Rich, Virginia Woolf, and lesser known psychologist Donald Winnicott inform her understanding of her self and the mother-daughter relationship. The result has little emotional resonance, despite its emphasis on insight and healing through therapy. Even the drawings, most of which show Bechdel talking to her analyst, feel stilted. Decided not to rate it because it would feel like I am rating the author's life, not her work.
A huge step up from [b:The Wishing Game 62926992 The Wishing Game Meg Shaffer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684817680l/62926992.SY75.jpg 95993000], Meg Shaffer's debut, although considerably darker as well. One of those rare books that casts a spell while you're reading it, even though its weaknesses quickly become apparent if you think too hard after the last page. For example, the Storyteller Corner gimmick is way too twee and totally unnecessary. And Schaffer tries to cram too much plot into 350 pages. But none of that matters when you're in the midst of the magical experience. My advice is to let go of any 2024 cynicism (I know that's a big ask) and allow yourself to believe that a good story can literally save your life. Here's how much The Lost Story captivated me: the new e-reader I ordered arrived today, but I finished the last third of the book on my creaky old Kindle because I couldn't stop reading long enough to set up the new one.N.B. It's best to go into The Lost Story not knowing much about the labyrinthine plot. But I have to ask this, hoping it isn't too spoilery: why doesn't the blurb mention that the book has a queer love story at its heart? Who is the publisher afraid of (besides several state governments and the Republican platform)?
Worth reading in its own right as a powerful memoir, and also as a way to gain additional insight into McBride's amazing novel [b:The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store 65678550 The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store James McBride https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685350945l/65678550.SY75.jpg 100130221].
I do have a soft spot for awkward but cute smart guys, and Charlie needed his own HEA after being bullied in [b:The Amazing Alpha Tau Pledge Project 195724834 The Amazing Alpha Tau Pledge Project (Alpha Tau, #3) Lisa Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691782045l/195724834.SY75.jpg 197604099]. Probably my favorite book in the series, or at least the one that killed the fewest number of brain cells.
Finally got around to reading this classic queer graphic memoir because it was #35 on the New York Times best books of the 21st century list. (They made a musical out of this? Did it put the “fun” in “dysfunctional family”?) Off to find the sequel [b:Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama 11566956 Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama Alison Bechdel https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511409644l/11566956.SX50.jpg 16507555]
Three of the four Jacobson siblings win the $20 million Powerball, then discover - surprise! - that being rich doesn't solve all of their problems. Some of the plot threads are tied up too easily or dropped completely, but if you're reading the book on the beach and soaking up the sun, you probably won't care.
Maybe I don't hate horror novels after all. I didn't hate [a:T. Kingfisher 7367300 T. Kingfisher https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1642281799p2/7367300.jpg]'s first two efforts in the genre, and I actually liked [b:A House with Good Bones 60784409 A House with Good Bones T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664972416l/60784409.SY75.jpg 95849240]. I rated Chuck Tingle's mainstream debut [b:Camp Damascus 61884782 Camp Damascus Chuck Tingle https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664285565l/61884782.SY75.jpg 97258162] highly for its clever layering of religious fundamentalism and homophobia over more traditional scary stuff. So maybe I can add Tingle to my short list of auto-read horror authors. Bury Your Gays employs genre staples like creepy figures, jump scares, and gory violence. But it is also a satiric critique of Hollywood, a warning about the existential dangers of late-stage capitalism, a coming out memoir, a tribute to the many faceted types of queerness, a sweet love story, and an ode to ride-or-die friendship. The MC, his BFF, and his boyfriend are so well-developed that I feared for my emotional well-being if any of them were killed (no spoilers). Do all horror novels contain multitudes like this? Or is Chuck Tingle a genius? (Both things can be true.) The screenwriter MC even offers a spirited defense of his genre when someone describes it as “a celebration of death.” You don't wanna feel [fear] all the time, but it's a muscle that needs to be exercised. There are scary things in the world, that's just a fact, and if you pretend they're not all around us then you're in for a rude awakening. Horror offers a chance to recognize this truth, to explore dark places in a safe way. I'm not about to dive into Steven King's entire backlist, but I can see the genre's appeal. Especially if there are more books like this one that make me laugh and cringe on the same page.
I had Paul Scheer mixed up with Nick Kroll when I picked up this book, and it turns out I know very little about Scheer's work. I vaguely remember him as one of the funny talking heads from VH-1's Best Week Ever in the early aughts, but he's better known for hosting the film podcast How Did This Get Made? His memoir is a harrowing tale of being physically abused by his stepfather, and having the problem ignored or minimized by by his mom, dad, and other relatives. Along with the traumatic narrative, Scheer sprinkles in lighthearted anecdotes about famous people he has embarrassed himself in front of, his fortuitous discovery of improv theater, and his determination to have a healthier relationship with his wife and kids. Might have made more of an impression on me if I was a HDTGM fan, but I always appreciate a testimonial about someone who is willing to put in the hard work in therapy to heal and change.
Every MC in the book is miserable until the last 5%, so it was a slog to get through, other than the engaging trivia night scenes. YMMV if you don't mind reading about characters who are either futilely pining for their ex; stuck in a toxic relationship with a tosser; frantically avoiding their mental health issues; or feeling trapped in a marriage that is based on duty instead of love. Whew, just reviewing this paragraph makes me sad again.
3.5 stars. Like 2022's [b:Honey and Pepper 60620498 Honey and Pepper (When in Pheme, #1) A.J. Demas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647308677l/60620498.SX50.jpg 95554039], this one feels slight compared to the brilliant [b:Sword Dance 51856712 Sword Dance (Sword Dance, #1) A.J. Demas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564091594l/51856712.SX50_SY75.jpg 71873589] trilogy. Hylas has a strong personal arc; he arrives in Tykanos with a boatload of emotional and professional baggage, but develops ease and confidence over the course of his stay. Zo is a bit of a cipher because Reasons, but props to Demas for writing an MC with chronic pain issues. Their love story is meh, but if Hylas is happy with Zo, I am happy for him. I'm still a huge fan of the author, who astutely describes her work as “gentle love stories with a strong sense of place and a lot of talking”; and “characters who make good choices most of the time and treat each other with respect.” Demas warns that her next book, to be published in September 2024, amps up the angst and tropiness. I'm glad she's trying something new, but hope she doesn't forsake the rare and welcome niche that she inhabits in the queer romance space.
DNF at 50%. Thought I would enjoy this rare non-Omegaverse novel from Roe Horvat, but it was light on plot and heavy on explicit sex scenes. Just not my jam. I'm still a fan of his earlier work, especially [b:The Layover 35455703 The Layover (The Layover, #1) Roe Horvat https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497772305l/35455703.SY75.jpg 56844379] and [b:Vanilla Clouds 40699859 Vanilla Clouds Roe Horvat https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530608017l/40699859.SY75.jpg 63301694].
Same Time, Next Year or [b:28 Summers 52588078 28 Summers Elin Hilderbrand https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572261156l/52588078.SY75.jpg 71307449], but make it 17-year cicada cycles. DNF, skimmed through last 50%. I liked both MCs, but there was not enough plot to sustain a 400+ page book. Also, maybe it's not such a great idea to include recent political events in your “epic love story.” I was not in the mood for reminders of COVID's first terrible year or the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Plus the Democrat = good, Republican = bad theme seems so naively simple in the summer of 2024. Finally, having recently lived through the Brood XIX emergence in Missouri, I have a hard time finding anything about cicadas romantic. YMMV if you didn't have to shovel their dead bodies off your driveway, or suspend your daily walk outdoors for fear of bombardment.
Is there such a thing as a “fantasy women's fiction” genre? If not, I think Megan Bannen, in her second installment of the Hart and Mercy series, just invented it. I liked the book's best friends-to-lovers romance, but I absolutely worshipped everything about 53 year old FMC Twyla. She may have difficulty in getting up off the ground (can relate) or telling her son NO when he drops the grandkids at her house without any notice. But she's still a badass marshal who can kill a zombie drudge or face down an unfamiliar, fierce beast. Twyla wrestles with her sudden romantic feelings for her partner Frank, while also trying to establish a meaningful, fulfilling identity aside from wife and mother. Her hard-fought realization that she deserves more is arguably more satisfying than the romance (although Twyla and Frank's unconventional happy ending is a hoot). Plus, while there is a love triangle (ugh), it allows Twyla to have a makeover courtesy of her bemused daughter, and go on a date for the first time since her husband's death. Twyla and Frank features less life-threatening action than [b:The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy 58510253 The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, #1) Megan Bannen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639888350l/58510253.SY75.jpg 91899176] (whose MCs appear long enough to have a wedding), but the story feels more intimate, and there are more opportunities for humor. Bannen continues to explore and expand her unique fantasy world, where people bake peach pies and wash dishes, use equimares and autoducks as their modes of transportation, and accept the daily mail from talking animals. Initially, I was slightly disappointed by the not-quite-extinct fierce beasts (dragons), but eventually I decided that their appearance and behavior were a good match for the story's tone. Bannen will publish at least one more book in the series in 2025, [b:The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam 215547926 The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam Megan Bannen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1720114733l/215547926.SY75.jpg 221975343]. Judging from the few glimpses we get of Rosie, it should be an exciting ride.
3.5 stars. Emily Nussbaum does not subscribe to the critical consensus that the ascent of American Reality TV is a sign of the cultural apocalypse. She believes that the genre has its merits and that the people who create, produce, and write the shows have unique skills that are insufficiently appreciated. Her overview of some the most notable examples, from Candid Camera to The Apprentice, is well-written and informative, but I wish it featured more of a through-line of how the genre's evolution over 65+ years has reflected changes in American culture. To be fair, Nussbaum does offer some of that analysis, but I expected a higher level of commentary from a New Yorker regular and Pulitzer Prize winner.
Warning: the book's last chapter is all about DT45. I'm writing this in late June 2024 and it seems highly probable that the November election will put him back in the White House, God help us all. As a result, the final 25 pages are probably more alarming than Nussbaum intended.
Loved the book's innovative plot and resolution; its thoughtful exploration of who “owns” a story after it's published; and the strong relationship between the FMC and her BFF. But the love story was not convincing; the switch from “he's so grumpy, I hate him” to “isn't it adorable how grumpy he is?” felt like a product of the page count, not an organic development of the relationship. Also, the MMC's green eyes were described as “minty” so frequently that I wondered if the book was sponsored by Crest toothpaste. I'd rank Poston's third novel behind [b:The Seven Year Slip 62926938 The Seven Year Slip Ashley Poston https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685350807l/62926938.SX50.jpg 98750023] but ahead of [b:The Dead Romantics 58885776 The Dead Romantics Ashley Poston https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649027850l/58885776.SX50.jpg 91652095]. She's swinging hard to come up with new romance novel tropes, so a .333 batting average is actually pretty good.
You had me at “Jewish, trans undertaker sees dead people, including the ghost of his new boyfriend's late husband.”
Okay, to be accurate, Ezra Friedman is only filling in temporarily as the office manager for the Friedman Memorial Chapel; it's more than a little awkward for his mother to keep working there after she drops a bombshell at the family Passover seder that she and the rabbi's wife are in love and both leaving their husbands. Ezra has avoided his family's funeral home since he started seeing ghosts at a young age, starting with his beloved grandfather. Now he needs to be there daily, which gives him numerous opportunities to see his crush Jonathan, a Chapel volunteer who is still grieving the loss of his beloved husband, Ben. Ezra suspects that Ben hasn't let go yet either—because Ezra can see his ghost. And unlike the other specters, Ben can talk, and he has a lot to say.
Shelly Jay Shore does a lot of things well in her debut novel, including explaining traditional Jewish funeral rituals and posing questions around how trans individuals are welcomed into the gender-segregated ones such as taharah (ritual cleansing and dressing of the body). Ezra is a troubled but sympathetic character whose role as the family's emotional caretaker is starting to take its toll. The love story is a tad underdeveloped but it improves as the story progresses. The book's overall tone is serious but not melodramatic, with flashes of wry humor sprinkled throughout. I was afraid that the plot had the potential to succumb to farce, similar to the 1945 movie Blithe Spirit, but thankfully no hijinks ensue.
On the minus side, the novel's 400 pages are overly stuffed with subplots. Ezra moves into a house whose residents include his asexual/demisexual former boyfriend. The other housemates, mostly queer, become his found family. The funeral home faces financial issues and looming threats of corporate buyout. Ezra and his siblings struggle to reconcile their anger at their mother with their respect for her authentic queer truth. Jonathan has secrets about his marriage, and Ezra has secrets about the literal ghost in their new relationship. And there's a cute, slobbering pit bull mix named Sappho.
So depending on what you are hoping to find in the book – Family saga? Queer love story? Jewish fiction? – you may be disappointed, but you will not be bored. I give the author credit for penning such a distinct debut. Maybe next time she be more parsimonious with her ideas, and not try to cram them all into one story.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.