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alienrosey's reviews
128 reviews
Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin
5.0
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I have a LOT of thoughts about this one. This is a book about family, grief, birds, autism and a little bit about alcoholism.
Frankie O’Neil is a lonely ornithologist working on her dissertation and running into many problems at her family’s lake house. She forms an unlikely friendship with her longtime neighbors wife Anne Ryan and her 5yr old son Aiden who does not speak. Frankie starts caring for an injured baby crow and through that interaction, she starts to discover a new path.
Anne is far from her home in Ireland and trying to help her son thrive while dealing with her overbearing in laws and complicated relationship with her husband. The beginning of the book was a bit hard to get into but once you get in the groove, its hard to put down! It breaks your heart and puts it back together in a warm hug.
As an avid bird lover myself, I really liked the chapters starting with bird facts and the immersion of nature was so so wonderful. The way autism is talked about is pretty good too. It focuses on the parent's difficulties with finding accommodations and understanding what their son needs, but it also gives you insight into what the son himself is asking for. It doesn't feel as one sided or dumbed down for the audience, just a humanizing portrayal of how much fear and prejudice people had towards autism in the 90s (and still today!).
Even with some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At some times, it felt like it was written for me. I will for sure be purchasing this and rereading and annotating, all that jazz!!
I have a LOT of thoughts about this one. This is a book about family, grief, birds, autism and a little bit about alcoholism.
Frankie O’Neil is a lonely ornithologist working on her dissertation and running into many problems at her family’s lake house. She forms an unlikely friendship with her longtime neighbors wife Anne Ryan and her 5yr old son Aiden who does not speak. Frankie starts caring for an injured baby crow and through that interaction, she starts to discover a new path.
Anne is far from her home in Ireland and trying to help her son thrive while dealing with her overbearing in laws and complicated relationship with her husband. The beginning of the book was a bit hard to get into but once you get in the groove, its hard to put down! It breaks your heart and puts it back together in a warm hug.
As an avid bird lover myself, I really liked the chapters starting with bird facts and the immersion of nature was so so wonderful. The way autism is talked about is pretty good too. It focuses on the parent's difficulties with finding accommodations and understanding what their son needs, but it also gives you insight into what the son himself is asking for. It doesn't feel as one sided or dumbed down for the audience, just a humanizing portrayal of how much fear and prejudice people had towards autism in the 90s (and still today!).
Even with some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At some times, it felt like it was written for me. I will for sure be purchasing this and rereading and annotating, all that jazz!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Ableism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
4.5
I love New Jersey men <3 (even tho he’s technically also from California but shh)
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a LOT of things at once. 3.5 stars
This is the 2nd book in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy series, I don't really think it can be read as a standalone. That said, I loved the first book so so much but this one did not hit the same. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book but I think the vibes are far different from the first so be prepared for that.
Middle aged Twyla and Frank are longtime Tanrian Marshall partners and best friends. After the events of the first book, the job has gotten a little boring for them...until they discover a dead body of another marshall AND a baby dragon. Together, along with a good looking dracologist and fellow marshall Penrose Duckers, they attempt to figure out how these dragons suddenly showed up in Tanria and the cause of the other marshall's death. And also maybe confront the feelings they have for each other?? Yeah this is a friends to lovers book too!
This book was WAY goofier than the first, sometimes it was great but other times it fell flat for me. I think that's just humor styles but it was a good time. Far less creepier than the first one but that makes sense with the ending of the last book. This book is single POV, Twyla's perspective. Her cute midwestern mom vibe was so cute but it was also great to see her grow as a character and learn to set boundaries and ask for things SHE wants rather than always prioritize the needs of others.
I also enjoyed the focus on the emotional and physical labor women (especially wives and mothers) are expected to take on simply for existing. Twyla is always expected to do so much for others without getting her needs met or even considered. Seeing her overcome that and learn how to push back against that expectation was great. Reminds us all to treat mothers as human beings and empower older women to regain their agency. There were times her rage was PALPABLE, I was getting secondhand anger from her adult son's behavior. Twyla is also a milf!!! This book is so so pro milf/dilf. GRILF EVEN. Love that for her.
All in all, this book was sweet n spicy, goofy and magical and warmed my heart. Part rom com, part mother/older woman empowerment book, part sparkly fantasy dragon book. Fun ride.
CW: Sexual content, really just one chapter so skip if you feel so inclined.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Unladylike Rules of Attraction by Amita Murray
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
Thank you Avon Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.75 stars 💞
This book was a lot of fun!! I don’t usually read historical/regency romances but this one was really easy to get into and I found myself laughing out loud sometimes.
Anya is a court singer who has gotten in the good graces of a dowager who had recently passed and in her will, a large sum of money has been left to Anya and not the family! The catch is that she has to marry before her 25th birthday (which is in 4 months) and the marriage has to be approved by Lord Damian Ashton, a grumpy and harsh (but very attractive) cousin of the family.
Something I enjoyed from this book was the diverse characters. Anya is of Indian descent and Damian is of Jamaican descent and that is made clear in the text and woven into the story. We get little bits of backstory about their respective cultures and it really enhanced the reading experience for me. Damian uses his influence to fight for slavery abolishment and equal rights, we love Damian in this house even if sometimes he is a lil silly about romance lol
There’s some twists and turns and spicy times and discussion of race and class and justice. This book kinda has it all! I felt sometimes the romance was a bit rushed but I did feel for the characters and wanted them to be together so I don’t mind it. Some plot details fell flat but overall I had a great time. This is the 2nd book in the series but can be read as a standalone. I have not read book 1 and I didn’t feel lost but there are some characters from book 1 that show up, so keep that in mind.
TW: racism, sexual assault, rape (attempted and mentioned but no on page description of the act)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
When I tell you this book made me LOSE MY MIND‼️‼️ rollercoaster of emotions on every chapter idk how i can read other books after this one