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A review by simonlorden
Moon Dust in My Hairnet by J.R. Creaden
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
I received a copy from the publisher and my review is voluntary and honest.
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't make myself finish it. Somebody who doesn't get too caught up in the characters' anxiety would probably enjoy this book more than I did. Also, might help if you enjoy YA books - see my last note.
I liked the way polyamory was normalized in this future world, and I really loved Lane's relationship with her sister, her little flashbacks about cooking together and such. Those were nice.
The book is very diverse sexuality-wise and racially, although that diversity was sometimes introduced strangely. As one example: "that was before she had transitioned, just like X and Y", which was a pretty convenient but kind of weird way to reveal 3 characters as trans at once? Similar sentences to this happened with other marginalized characters.
Mostly though, I had to put this book aside because the constant frustration was affecting me. Most of this book is Lane's grief, anxiety, insecurities, and most of all her constant conflicts and frustrations with her parents. And it was just... not fun to read, I'm sorry. The sci-fi plot is really dwarfed in comparison to the (largely negative) emotions and inter-personal conflicts.
I was also annoyed by the part where I felt Lane used racial diversity as a weapon. No, actually, I don't think "it's weird that you're targeting a Black guy and his mixed girlfriend" is a good comeback when you literally also agree that the girl was acting suspicious.
As a last note, I imagine this is due to the protagonist being only 20 and quite sheltered, but emotionally and conflict-wise this felt a lot more like a YA book than an adult book. I don't believe YA books are inherently worse, but that wasn't what I was led to expect from this one.
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't make myself finish it. Somebody who doesn't get too caught up in the characters' anxiety would probably enjoy this book more than I did. Also, might help if you enjoy YA books - see my last note.
I liked the way polyamory was normalized in this future world, and I really loved Lane's relationship with her sister, her little flashbacks about cooking together and such. Those were nice.
The book is very diverse sexuality-wise and racially, although that diversity was sometimes introduced strangely. As one example: "that was before she had transitioned, just like X and Y", which was a pretty convenient but kind of weird way to reveal 3 characters as trans at once? Similar sentences to this happened with other marginalized characters.
Mostly though, I had to put this book aside because the constant frustration was affecting me. Most of this book is Lane's grief, anxiety, insecurities, and most of all her constant conflicts and frustrations with her parents. And it was just... not fun to read, I'm sorry. The sci-fi plot is really dwarfed in comparison to the (largely negative) emotions and inter-personal conflicts.
I was also annoyed by the part where I felt Lane used racial diversity as a weapon. No, actually, I don't think "it's weird that you're targeting a Black guy and his mixed girlfriend" is a good comeback when you literally also agree that the girl was acting suspicious.
As a last note, I imagine this is due to the protagonist being only 20 and quite sheltered, but emotionally and conflict-wise this felt a lot more like a YA book than an adult book. I don't believe YA books are inherently worse, but that wasn't what I was led to expect from this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief