anniefwrites's reviews
394 reviews

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really, really enjoyed this. Celeste Ng’s writing style is so perfectly readable and yet full of beautiful imagery and turns of phrase. She created such a vivid setting and culture in Shaker Heights with just as vivid characters to populate it. She managed a large cast exceedingly well, and I felt like I knew each character just as well as the next. And not only did I gasp more than once, but I sank deep in thought reflecting on Ng’s subtle yet powerful descriptions of race, class, and motherhood. Would absolutely read more of her work. 

Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why It Matters by Nate Sloan, Charlie Harding

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

This was a really interesting read! I’m a fan of the Switched on Pop podcast, and it was cool to get Nate and Charlie’s analyses of pop music in a different format. I think it was probably easier for me to grasp some of the concepts because of my music theory background, but all in all I think they did well managing such an audio-based subject matter in a non-audio medium. I think the most interesting parts were the info about how Skrillex produces his music and the inspiration for Since U Been Gone (mind blowing!!). Overall, a fun read to dip in and out of. 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

emotional mysterious medium-paced

This was just too opaque for me. I’m not a regular sci-fi reader, and there was so little context that I found the constant setting changes disorienting and couldn’t mentally fill in all the gaps.

The twists were fun, but I was struggling so hard with the general plot that they didn’t hit that hard for me.

And the language was so laden with imagery that I couldn’t really appreciate it—I was too busy trying to piece together what was going on. 

Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

What an absolute trip. I went in thinking this was an interesting (and at times gory) literary horror novel, but I came out with something almost entirely different. The Reddit thread interpreting the book is super interesting and illuminates some potential hidden meanings that I didn’t pick up on on the first read. I can’t remember ever reading a book this open to interpretation before, and I think Awad did so in a way that still feels satisfying. Such a strange storm of a book. 

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

dark funny lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

5.0

This book was an absolute riot from start to finish—so inventive and fresh while also having so much heart. I absolutely loved the characters; they felt so real and specific. The plural narration functioned so well with the plot, and the details of the setting were so specific and used such innovate language and imagery. (I consider myself to have a pretty good vocabulary, but I had to look up quite a few words.) I think the narrative could have gotten even darker, but based on the ending, I’m actually glad that it wasn’t. This was such a wholly original book, and I’ll definitely reread it during future spooky seasons. 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

I’m on the fence about this one. While the generally lighthearted tone was good for things like humor and entertainment, I feel like it lowered the stakes a bit throughout. It wasn’t until the last 25 chapters or so that things picked up enough to get my heart racing.

In the end, there were so many twists and wrong answers that I found it a bit hard to follow.

I did really enjoy the characters though—I wish I could have a chat with Joyce over a pastry and some tea. 

Philadelphia Mural Arts @ 30 by David Updike, Jane Golden

informative inspiring slow-paced

This was a really interesting way to learn about the different communities and challenges of my city. I loved the visuals of the murals, which I hope to see more of as I visit new spots downtown. Being a somewhat scholarly text, it could be a little dry, but it did give me a lot to think about and a certain amount of hope that art can be a tool in bringing people closer together. Shout-out to the local librarian who recommended this to me!

The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This one was a tough read. I loved where it ended up, but I did get a bit bogged down by the intense thoughts and negative memories throughout; I think I was looking for a few more moments of levity to break them up. It very much took me back to those preteen years of friendship troubles that made the world feel like it was crashing down, and I almost found it too much to bear at times. Still, Ali Benjamin did a great job of tapping into that tween psyche (and one that I interpreted as neurodivergent). It reminds me of books like The Line Tender and We Are Okay in its incisive capturing of grief. 

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Really glad I finally read this one. It’s very slow at first, but after that first Anne chapter, things really picked up. I fully believe that this was what show business was like in the ‘40s-‘60s, especially based on Jacqueline Susann’s own experiences, and I imagine it’s not that different today. Definitely an upsetting read

(absolutely fuck Lyon Burke)

, and there is some serious ableism and a LOT of fatphobia (which was probably accurate for the time but felt particularly egregious). An interesting glimpse into a world where self-destruction is nearly as easy as breathing. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I really, really enjoyed this! I am not usually a romance reader, but Emily Henry nailed the characters, dialogue, and friendship dynamic so well that I was sucked right in. It was super well-paced, and I think she handled the time jumps really well. I think the end got a little messy for me when we went back to two summers ago, but the END end was *chef’s kiss.* Would definitely read more from Emily Henry!