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analenegrace's reviews
475 reviews
Empire's Mistress, Starring Isabel Rosario Cooper by Vernadette Vicuña Gonzalez
challenging
dark
informative
Read for U.S. Empire with Dr. Jana Lipman at Tulane University in Fall '24.
This was a very interesting read that, in a way, I feel as if I didn't really learn much about Cooper at all. She is the person being written about, but yet I feel like I still don't really know her, which perhaps works well for what Gonzalez is telling us as readers: Filipina women of this time were sexualized, mistreated, mythicized, and fundamentally unknown.
Isabel Cooper is a woman who perhaps had agency in her life and perhaps did not. Gonzalez creates a lot of possible narrative action for her in an attempt to understand her choices and actions. Because we have such little information about her, even in this narrative attempting to separate her from men, her story is still framed around men because it is all we have.
This book allowed me to understand the Filipina experience a bit more during this period of U.S. colonization and the eventual freedom of the Philippines. It was a genuinely interesting and engaging read that left me with many more questions.
This was a very interesting read that, in a way, I feel as if I didn't really learn much about Cooper at all. She is the person being written about, but yet I feel like I still don't really know her, which perhaps works well for what Gonzalez is telling us as readers: Filipina women of this time were sexualized, mistreated, mythicized, and fundamentally unknown.
Isabel Cooper is a woman who perhaps had agency in her life and perhaps did not. Gonzalez creates a lot of possible narrative action for her in an attempt to understand her choices and actions. Because we have such little information about her, even in this narrative attempting to separate her from men, her story is still framed around men because it is all we have.
This book allowed me to understand the Filipina experience a bit more during this period of U.S. colonization and the eventual freedom of the Philippines. It was a genuinely interesting and engaging read that left me with many more questions.
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Read for the October '24 Meeting of the HEA Book Club at Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA.
So, I gave this book 3.5 stars the first time I read it, and I have no idea why!
This reread was amazing, and I was thrilled my book club chose it! Edwin and Robin are such little weirdos, and I just wanted to protect them and put them in my pocket. Their romance is so compelling, and I adored how they repeatedly came back to each other, constantly choosing each other.
The side characters, the women of this story, were not sidelined; instead, they were important characters who usually knew more than our MCs about what was going on.
The magical plot of this book is so engaging. It examines the history of their society and how they were created as magicians, as well as masculinity, rage, and greed for power. It also looks at women in magical history and how they had agency when they didn't have societal power.
Freya Marske is a must-buy, must-read author for me!
So, I gave this book 3.5 stars the first time I read it, and I have no idea why!
This reread was amazing, and I was thrilled my book club chose it! Edwin and Robin are such little weirdos, and I just wanted to protect them and put them in my pocket. Their romance is so compelling, and I adored how they repeatedly came back to each other, constantly choosing each other.
The side characters, the women of this story, were not sidelined; instead, they were important characters who usually knew more than our MCs about what was going on.
The magical plot of this book is so engaging. It examines the history of their society and how they were created as magicians, as well as masculinity, rage, and greed for power. It also looks at women in magical history and how they had agency when they didn't have societal power.
Freya Marske is a must-buy, must-read author for me!
The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Unsurprisingly, I loved Timothy Janovsky's newest book! Janovsky is one of my must-read authors, and I was SO excited when my library hold finally came in.
The Santa Clause is my favorite Christmas Movie by far, so this book was HUGE for me! I really enjoy the Marriage in Trouble trope as well so that worked really well here. Patrick and Quinn's love for each other was palpable even as their hatred for the lives they were stuck in was as well.
I loved the way the dual POV and flashbacks worked here as we got to see how their marriage got to where it was when the book began. Both of their relationships with their parents played important roles in the struggle of their marriage and I really appreciated how that was handled as well.
As heavy as the troubles with their marriage were, this book was still fast-paced and incredibly fun as Patrick and Quinn adjust to their lives as Santa and the Merriest Mister, respectively. Gender and Gender roles play a huge role in this book as The North Pole changes their ways with a man as "Mrs Claus." Quinn's relationship with his gender and his gender expression were super important, and I'm glad that Quinn and Patrick had discussions about what made him feel powerful.
I wish we had gotten more of the letters between the two, but the ones we had worked wonderfully!
The Santa Clause is my favorite Christmas Movie by far, so this book was HUGE for me! I really enjoy the Marriage in Trouble trope as well so that worked really well here. Patrick and Quinn's love for each other was palpable even as their hatred for the lives they were stuck in was as well.
I loved the way the dual POV and flashbacks worked here as we got to see how their marriage got to where it was when the book began. Both of their relationships with their parents played important roles in the struggle of their marriage and I really appreciated how that was handled as well.
As heavy as the troubles with their marriage were, this book was still fast-paced and incredibly fun as Patrick and Quinn adjust to their lives as Santa and the Merriest Mister, respectively. Gender and Gender roles play a huge role in this book as The North Pole changes their ways with a man as "Mrs Claus." Quinn's relationship with his gender and his gender expression were super important, and I'm glad that Quinn and Patrick had discussions about what made him feel powerful.
I wish we had gotten more of the letters between the two, but the ones we had worked wonderfully!
A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a super cute, cozy fantasy romance set in a D&D-Inspired world! The world is fleshed out in a way that is shown, not told, as we meet the other shopkeepers, the mayor, adventurers, and the family of our MCs and learn about what they do.
The romance was a slow burn, which isn't my favorite thing, but it was still very sweet. Ambrose and Eli had a great enemies-to-lovers romance where they got into a fistfight at one point, and their getting-to-know-you moments felt earnest as they worked together.
The non-romance plot was fairly light but fun. They competed in business and were then forced to work together on a gift for the mayor's daughter, which really just brought them together and forced them to get to know each other.
The audiobook narrator was fairly good, and the characters felt distinct enough that I didn't get confused by who spoke.
There wasn't anything wrong with this; it was a very strong 3.5 book.
The romance was a slow burn, which isn't my favorite thing, but it was still very sweet. Ambrose and Eli had a great enemies-to-lovers romance where they got into a fistfight at one point, and their getting-to-know-you moments felt earnest as they worked together.
The non-romance plot was fairly light but fun. They competed in business and were then forced to work together on a gift for the mayor's daughter, which really just brought them together and forced them to get to know each other.
The audiobook narrator was fairly good, and the characters felt distinct enough that I didn't get confused by who spoke.
There wasn't anything wrong with this; it was a very strong 3.5 book.
Fall for Him by Andie Burke
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a brilliant follow-up to Burke's first book, which I also greatly enjoyed! These characters felt warm and real, and I was happy to see Olive thriving as a background character.
Derek and Dylan were great MCs, although I struggled with the 2 D names, lol. I really appreciated the care Burke took in telling their stories, which were filled with grief and growth: for family, for lives lived before, for those whom they loved, and for their personal selves.
I thought the ADHD representation here, as managed rather than in the height of struggle, was great!
As someone who also has a dead dad, Derek's journey with acceptance and control related to that loss was so palpable, and I just wanted to hug him and start a support group...
The smut in this was also very well-written, and I could feel these characters falling in love throughout the book!
Best Line: "Breaking something sometimes doesn't mean you're broken."
Derek and Dylan were great MCs, although I struggled with the 2 D names, lol. I really appreciated the care Burke took in telling their stories, which were filled with grief and growth: for family, for lives lived before, for those whom they loved, and for their personal selves.
I thought the ADHD representation here, as managed rather than in the height of struggle, was great!
As someone who also has a dead dad, Derek's journey with acceptance and control related to that loss was so palpable, and I just wanted to hug him and start a support group...
The smut in this was also very well-written, and I could feel these characters falling in love throughout the book!
Best Line: "Breaking something sometimes doesn't mean you're broken."
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a really great audiobook although I really wanted two different narrators for Katie and Will!
I really enjoyed this book and the way the characters had to help each other move forward from where they were stuck in their own pasts and traumas. As someone with a dead dad, Will's story was incredibly well-written and I appreciated that she was struggling with her dad's death even though it had been many years.
These two women had mythicized each other from High School and from watching each other from afar and as such, it was really fun to see them actually get to know each other!
I really loved their romance, and when they fully got together, I was prepared for a terrible heart-wrenching third-act breakup, andwhen it didn't happen I'd never been happier.
I do wish this book had been a bit more intersectional and explored the MCs' whiteness a bit because it definitely treated them like they were very mistreated for their womanhood but didn't really consider anything else.
I really enjoyed this book and the way the characters had to help each other move forward from where they were stuck in their own pasts and traumas. As someone with a dead dad, Will's story was incredibly well-written and I appreciated that she was struggling with her dad's death even though it had been many years.
These two women had mythicized each other from High School and from watching each other from afar and as such, it was really fun to see them actually get to know each other!
I really loved their romance, and when they fully got together, I was prepared for a terrible heart-wrenching third-act breakup, and
I do wish this book had been a bit more intersectional and explored the MCs' whiteness a bit because it definitely treated them like they were very mistreated for their womanhood but didn't really consider anything else.
Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City by Greg Grandin
dark
informative
Read for US Empire with Dr. Jana Lipman F24 at Tulane University.
A very interesting popular history that is well-cited but still falls into the traps Ford's American exceptionalism and paternalism.
A very interesting popular history that is well-cited but still falls into the traps Ford's American exceptionalism and paternalism.
America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan
challenging
dark
tense
Read for U.S. Empire with Jana Lipman at Tulane University, Fall '24.
It is a fascinating text that helps us understand the Filipino perspective on the period between WW1 and WW2. Arguably Creative Non-fiction, pulling on what happened to many Filipinos in a composition of Bulosan.
It is a fascinating text that helps us understand the Filipino perspective on the period between WW1 and WW2. Arguably Creative Non-fiction, pulling on what happened to many Filipinos in a composition of Bulosan.
My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ah, this one made me laugh so many times and kick my feet at how sweet it was!
Reginald was my favorite character from Levine's first book, so I preordered this one so far in advance, and it perfectly lived up to my imagination!
Reggie is a gender-nonconforming icon, and I love him so much! Amelia was the perfect person for him because she took her life seriously, and they balanced each other so well from the outset. They were so adorable immediately! I loved the dual POV and the emails, records, and bullet journaling at the beginning of each chapter; that was such a fun way to give us more insight into other characters and Reggie's brain.
Plot-wise,fighting The Collective via tax law was iconic and was such a silly thing that every character was taking so seriously, which made it even funnier!
This was such a great rom-com, and I also loved the little bits we saw of Cassie and Frederick from the first book!
Reginald was my favorite character from Levine's first book, so I preordered this one so far in advance, and it perfectly lived up to my imagination!
Reggie is a gender-nonconforming icon, and I love him so much! Amelia was the perfect person for him because she took her life seriously, and they balanced each other so well from the outset. They were so adorable immediately! I loved the dual POV and the emails, records, and bullet journaling at the beginning of each chapter; that was such a fun way to give us more insight into other characters and Reggie's brain.
Plot-wise,
This was such a great rom-com, and I also loved the little bits we saw of Cassie and Frederick from the first book!
Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc! I adored Evocation when it came out, so I was excited to read the updated and illustrated version of the prequel novella. Knowing what comes after made this all the more interesting, as I was already attached to the 3 MCs from Evocation.
The novella is short, and it doesn't waste its time; with Gibson's signature atmospheric language, it absolutely pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Moira and Rhys are such compelling characters, and even as they struggle, you can't help but root for their magic. David is much less in this than in Evocation, but I adore him, so it was interesting to see him in this smaller, more antagonistic role.
I can't decide which I think you should read first, so just go read this when its out on Oct 8th and go read Evocation ASAP!!
The novella is short, and it doesn't waste its time; with Gibson's signature atmospheric language, it absolutely pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Moira and Rhys are such compelling characters, and even as they struggle, you can't help but root for their magic. David is much less in this than in Evocation, but I adore him, so it was interesting to see him in this smaller, more antagonistic role.
I can't decide which I think you should read first, so just go read this when its out on Oct 8th and go read Evocation ASAP!!