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challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For some reason, I thought this book was gonna be a silly goofy time, but it turns out that the only silly goofy thing was me, and this book is actually devastating, introspective, and truly unique.
Aftertaste starts with Konstantin losing his father at a young age, and then the way grief settles in him. He starts tasting a dish in his throat, so flavorful, but doesn't understand what it means. As he grows up, he receives more of these tastes, and finally acts upon one of them and makes the dish he's tasting for the client in front of him.
There is grief, so much loss, terror, depression, consequences, love, and betrayal in here. There are bad decisions, ghosts, ignorance, and determination. so much is going on it this book, and it is so so so well done. I was surprised by just how much I loved it. By about 25%, I didn't want to put it down. I recommend it to everyone, particularly those who enjoy sci-fi, and to those who enjoy reading about grief.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC!
Aftertaste starts with Konstantin losing his father at a young age, and then the way grief settles in him. He starts tasting a dish in his throat, so flavorful, but doesn't understand what it means. As he grows up, he receives more of these tastes, and finally acts upon one of them and makes the dish he's tasting for the client in front of him.
There is grief, so much loss, terror, depression, consequences, love, and betrayal in here. There are bad decisions, ghosts, ignorance, and determination. so much is going on it this book, and it is so so so well done. I was surprised by just how much I loved it. By about 25%, I didn't want to put it down. I recommend it to everyone, particularly those who enjoy sci-fi, and to those who enjoy reading about grief.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I'm very grateful I was able to receive an ARC of this deliciously unique story. Going into the book I thought it sounded unlike anything I had ever read before, and that was very true. This beautifully written book discusses grief, how humans are bonded together with food, the dangers of holding on too tightly, and love. Just be warned that you will get hungry as you read the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
This book has been on ALL of the summer "must read" lists! That's no surprise with such a unique story idea. I love the concept of Kostya bringing back a loved one through food, and that not turning out exactly as he envisioned.
However, I felt like there was a lot going on to add to the intensity - maybe too much. I think the book could have been just as compelling with fewer stories (threads?) to follow. I found myself wishing the book was about 50 pages shorter.
Overall though, this was a good read that kept you wondering how things were all going to work out in the end! This is a fun twist on a ghost story.
This book has been on ALL of the summer "must read" lists! That's no surprise with such a unique story idea. I love the concept of Kostya bringing back a loved one through food, and that not turning out exactly as he envisioned.
However, I felt like there was a lot going on to add to the intensity - maybe too much. I think the book could have been just as compelling with fewer stories (threads?) to follow. I found myself wishing the book was about 50 pages shorter.
Overall though, this was a good read that kept you wondering how things were all going to work out in the end! This is a fun twist on a ghost story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt
I do not know how to review this book. It was so interesting and once I made it halfway I could not put it down. So we meet Kostya. As a boy he realizes he can taste a ghost's favorite meal. If a ghost is around he starts getting a taste in his mouth. If he can quickly make that meal, the ghost will appear to their loved one. He thinks this is a great party trick and it will help the grieving loved one get closure and the ghost can now move on. He meets Maura and he tells her about what he can do and she starts thinking that this is a bad idea. They fall in love so I enjoyed the romance of this book as well. It was just a very interesting book and things go very wrong for Kostya and Maura. There is suicide and a lot of death involved with the book but I had to see where the story would go.
-"But letting go doesn't mean that you forget me. Just that you don't let the memories hurt you anymore."
-"There's a perfect logic to a game world. Orderly. Predictable. Not like real life."
-"Most of my life, I've felt more connected to the Dead than the Living."
"Maybe you just need to live a little more."
-"But letting go doesn't mean that you forget me. Just that you don't let the memories hurt you anymore."
-"There's a perfect logic to a game world. Orderly. Predictable. Not like real life."
-"Most of my life, I've felt more connected to the Dead than the Living."
"Maybe you just need to live a little more."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tried something very out of my norm but just didn’t work for me. I did love the way the author wrote about and describes food and flavors. The perfect book for any foodies who also love fantasy/sci-fi/magical realism!
Thank you netgalley for my eArc!
Thank you netgalley for my eArc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail