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babydmarie's reviews
280 reviews
The Observable Universe: An Investigation by Heather McCalden
4.5
A really beautiful and exploratory piece of fragmented memoir. Formally dynamic in a series of brief vignettes, McCalden manages to use conversational prose to weave between the history of the internet, the history of viruses, and her own complicated personal history. This book feels both reminiscent of other similar modern writers who balance complex research with personal history in the format of vignettes (I imagine this work will find itself in conversation with Maggie Nelson), but there was something fresh and unique about its exploration of science as well as the exploration from the point of view of a non-expert. McCalden is neither an epidemiologist nor is she a computer programmer or internet historian, she is a writer on a personal mission. The fact that she acknowledges and does not shy away from that fact makes a lot of this work and adds to the underlying narrative and the readability. I did have to put this one down and pick it up a few times, and I am going with 4.5 stars instead of 5 simply because it didn't 100% come together for me as a book I see myself returning to over and over. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful work, one I would recommend.
Thanks NetGalley and Hogarth/Random House for the early look!
Thanks NetGalley and Hogarth/Random House for the early look!
How It Works Out by Myriam Lacroix
3.5
Thanks netgalley and ABRAMS for the ARC!
The highs were high and the lows were low for me on this one. I loved the description of this book, so that always makes expectations super high. I think that this is one of those books that may have been better off being marketed as an interconnected short story collection (which it is) versus a novel (which it is not), but I understand the choice to go with novel from a marketing perspective.
I liked that this book wasn't afraid to go weird and dark, and some of the stories were real standouts to me. I personally loved the CEO/climate activist one the most, and I liked that it was a longer chapter. Some of the stories were gross and dark in a way that felt a bit try-hard and mean-spirited. The ending story was incomprehensible to me.
So yeah, highs and lows! Ultimately, I will always suggest a queer book to my pals in case it finds its readers, and I believe this book will find its readers, but I wouldn't necessarily pick it up again.
The highs were high and the lows were low for me on this one. I loved the description of this book, so that always makes expectations super high. I think that this is one of those books that may have been better off being marketed as an interconnected short story collection (which it is) versus a novel (which it is not), but I understand the choice to go with novel from a marketing perspective.
I liked that this book wasn't afraid to go weird and dark, and some of the stories were real standouts to me. I personally loved the CEO/climate activist one the most, and I liked that it was a longer chapter. Some of the stories were gross and dark in a way that felt a bit try-hard and mean-spirited. The ending story was incomprehensible to me.
So yeah, highs and lows! Ultimately, I will always suggest a queer book to my pals in case it finds its readers, and I believe this book will find its readers, but I wouldn't necessarily pick it up again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Excrement, and Cannibalism
Here for the Wrong Reasons by Lydia Wang, Annabel Paulsen
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!
This book was a fun read for both fans of queer romcoms and the bachelor franchise. As a lesbian who has often found myself thinking about the fact that surely some girls have hooked up in the bachelor mansion, I was so excited to pick this book up.
For being co-written, this book doesn’t have some of the unevenness that I have found with other books with two authors, and there was a clear feeling that the writers (who are partners irl! swoon!) had fun writing this. The parodying elements of the dating show were spot on, I loved the little contestant bios.
I do think that because there was so much rich work around the big set pieces of the show, the central romance sometimes suffered/fell into the background especially during the beginning of the book. As we got more into it though, it was fun to see how these women connected on their own queer journeys.
Overall a fun read!
This book was a fun read for both fans of queer romcoms and the bachelor franchise. As a lesbian who has often found myself thinking about the fact that surely some girls have hooked up in the bachelor mansion, I was so excited to pick this book up.
For being co-written, this book doesn’t have some of the unevenness that I have found with other books with two authors, and there was a clear feeling that the writers (who are partners irl! swoon!) had fun writing this. The parodying elements of the dating show were spot on, I loved the little contestant bios.
I do think that because there was so much rich work around the big set pieces of the show, the central romance sometimes suffered/fell into the background especially during the beginning of the book. As we got more into it though, it was fun to see how these women connected on their own queer journeys.
Overall a fun read!
In Universes by Emet North
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the early copy of this absolutely mindblowing book!
There are some books and some writers that are so awe-inspiring and achingly beautiful that they widen your universe, they push on the edges of your reality, and create space for something new. Emet North and IN UNIVERSES did more than just expand my one singular life and universe, this book, like the world inside of it, made my own universe feel vast and multitudinous. North's skill with prose rearranged everything inside of me, I don't know a better modern writer. These universes, these characters, and these worlds will impress upon me for a long long time.
This book is perfect for fans of queer and human-soaked fiction with whispers of sci-fi, like Emily St. John Mandel, Ted Chiang, or Carmen Maria Machado.
I can't wait to make every single person I know read this book. I can't wait to read this book again. I can't wait to follow the inevitable rocket that will be North's literary career.
There are some books and some writers that are so awe-inspiring and achingly beautiful that they widen your universe, they push on the edges of your reality, and create space for something new. Emet North and IN UNIVERSES did more than just expand my one singular life and universe, this book, like the world inside of it, made my own universe feel vast and multitudinous. North's skill with prose rearranged everything inside of me, I don't know a better modern writer. These universes, these characters, and these worlds will impress upon me for a long long time.
This book is perfect for fans of queer and human-soaked fiction with whispers of sci-fi, like Emily St. John Mandel, Ted Chiang, or Carmen Maria Machado.
I can't wait to make every single person I know read this book. I can't wait to read this book again. I can't wait to follow the inevitable rocket that will be North's literary career.
The Prospects by KT Hoffman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press for the ARC!
My first 5 star read of the year and bound to be an all-time favorite for me!!! This book really just ticked every single box for me and did it with flying colors. I absolutely love a sports romance, and this book was clearly written by someone who loves baseball and that love shows up on the page. I am a sports fan, but not the biggest baseball expert, and I still found myself absolutely engrossed in all of the baseball drama and plot.
I liked the choice to make the story take place in a realistic setting that was a slightly altered universe. As a very very light MLB fan, the world of the Portland Lumberjacks and their minor league counterparts, the Beavers, was so well sketched that there were multiple times that I found myself wondering and googling if Portland had a team that I just didn't know about. The slightly altered reality also made for a believable world in which we had our first out trans pro baseball player. This world balanced some realistic internal doubts for Gene and external criticisms/transphobia without leaning into trauma porn. As a queer cis reader, I think the way Gene's story as a trans athlete was shared was truly so perfect, it celebrated and shone light on his transness without devolving into a trans 101 instruction manual for cis readers.
The romance also was just so good!!! I loved Gene, I loved Luis, the tension was so great, the payoff was great. 10/10 for both the feelings and the hot parts!!
To me? This book is the best of the best kind of book that the romance genre has to offer. I can't wait to force all of my friends to read it!!!
My first 5 star read of the year and bound to be an all-time favorite for me!!! This book really just ticked every single box for me and did it with flying colors. I absolutely love a sports romance, and this book was clearly written by someone who loves baseball and that love shows up on the page. I am a sports fan, but not the biggest baseball expert, and I still found myself absolutely engrossed in all of the baseball drama and plot.
I liked the choice to make the story take place in a realistic setting that was a slightly altered universe. As a very very light MLB fan, the world of the Portland Lumberjacks and their minor league counterparts, the Beavers, was so well sketched that there were multiple times that I found myself wondering and googling if Portland had a team that I just didn't know about. The slightly altered reality also made for a believable world in which we had our first out trans pro baseball player. This world balanced some realistic internal doubts for Gene and external criticisms/transphobia without leaning into trauma porn. As a queer cis reader, I think the way Gene's story as a trans athlete was shared was truly so perfect, it celebrated and shone light on his transness without devolving into a trans 101 instruction manual for cis readers.
The romance also was just so good!!! I loved Gene, I loved Luis, the tension was so great, the payoff was great. 10/10 for both the feelings and the hot parts!!
To me? This book is the best of the best kind of book that the romance genre has to offer. I can't wait to force all of my friends to read it!!!
At Her Service by Amy Spalding
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC!
This book is a fun read for both fans of Spalding’s last hollywood romance, For Her Consideration, and new readers alike. Featuring a character from FHC and building on that universe, it has fun easter eggs for fans while also working as a standalone new adult romance. This book does a lot well in terms of character development, and plotting. I liked the way that it showed some of the discordance between the way Max saw herself, the way others saw Max, and the way Max saw others, it felt really real to being in your mid-20s and feeling sort of stuck even if you’re “successful” on paper. It was fun to have a romance that also explored friendship, career, and self-image in a thoughtful way. For me, sadly, the romance was the weakest part. The chemistry and build up just didn’t quite get there for me, and it was the part of the story that I cared the least about. This might be my own thing where friends/acquaintances to lovers and miscommunications are just not my favorite tropes, but things just felt a little too obvious at times. Overall I still would recommend this book, had a good time, and look forward to reading more from Spalding.
This book is a fun read for both fans of Spalding’s last hollywood romance, For Her Consideration, and new readers alike. Featuring a character from FHC and building on that universe, it has fun easter eggs for fans while also working as a standalone new adult romance. This book does a lot well in terms of character development, and plotting. I liked the way that it showed some of the discordance between the way Max saw herself, the way others saw Max, and the way Max saw others, it felt really real to being in your mid-20s and feeling sort of stuck even if you’re “successful” on paper. It was fun to have a romance that also explored friendship, career, and self-image in a thoughtful way. For me, sadly, the romance was the weakest part. The chemistry and build up just didn’t quite get there for me, and it was the part of the story that I cared the least about. This might be my own thing where friends/acquaintances to lovers and miscommunications are just not my favorite tropes, but things just felt a little too obvious at times. Overall I still would recommend this book, had a good time, and look forward to reading more from Spalding.
This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book just ticked off all of my boxes and contained so many things that scratch the good part of my brain. I grew up reading spiritual predecessors to this book, like the apt comp title Dash & Lily, but as a late-ish in life queer woman there has always been a bit of a hole in this space for me (even though Levithan’s work does include several gay boys!!).
This day changes everything was such a perfect balance of fun, adventure, and thoughtful exploration of identity. It featured the romanticized exploration of New York while still being grounded (things cost money! and it was acknowledged). The love story was sweet, and it had the requisite beats of a romcom without ever getting too frustrating or dark.
I really loved the time spent in both PoVs as well. Abby and Leo were a classic sunshine grump pairing with some really thoughtful depth. I appreciated the nuanced representation of queerness, especially around labels (and the fact that sometimes we can put too much weight into them!). It was fun to read a story with a transmasc read since there is still not much representation for trans people in romance, especially in YA.
A fun book! Would recommend for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the early read. Can’t wait for others to get to check this out!
This day changes everything was such a perfect balance of fun, adventure, and thoughtful exploration of identity. It featured the romanticized exploration of New York while still being grounded (things cost money! and it was acknowledged). The love story was sweet, and it had the requisite beats of a romcom without ever getting too frustrating or dark.
I really loved the time spent in both PoVs as well. Abby and Leo were a classic sunshine grump pairing with some really thoughtful depth. I appreciated the nuanced representation of queerness, especially around labels (and the fact that sometimes we can put too much weight into them!). It was fun to read a story with a transmasc read since there is still not much representation for trans people in romance, especially in YA.
A fun book! Would recommend for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the early read. Can’t wait for others to get to check this out!