I really appreciate how much information this book offers you, even when plenty of it I couldn't apply to myself. It was interesting to learn about it all, and it was more than just a book about how to be happy and comfortable with sex. This touched on so many different aspects like body image, self esteem, trust, patience, and outside influences as well as inside influences. It is very obvious by the end of the book that being comfortable with sex or your sexuality runs deep in many areas of your life.

The garden metaphor was a really helpful visual, as were some of the others. Because it's so packed with different life avenues, I definitely feel like I'll have to reread this book multiple times to have everything really sink in and not just forget about it in a week. It gave me lots of things to try out in and out of bed, as well as even more reading material to go through by other people. The only thing that sometimes made it hard for me to get through was the way it was presented, the "voice" of the narration. It felt like it was trying a little too hard to be relatable or for non-science-y people to understand.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I want nothing more than to bury myself in the world of this book, I'm so sad this particular adventure is over. I was a little nervous in the beginning, knowing that it was a very hyped up book said to be the perfect cozy fantasy (and also I didn't like Bambleby when he was first introduced), but I'm so relieved and ecstatic to be come out the other end knowing it was absolutely right.

The writing through journaling is so enticing to read, giving it a different voice than many books. I loved the touches of academia throughout it all, and the world of faeries intertwined with ours was so fun to experience. I'm so pleased by how it never felt like there was a lull in the pacing or adventure.

And the romance killed me, I don't know how it was spun so magically to the outcome that it was, but I was internally screaming and sobbing over it at every mention. I'm so excited to read the next book, and just to reread it.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

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challenging dark informative tense 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

4.5

This was an utterly fascinating read for a language lover as myself. Every mention of language, translation, etymology, and everything else was there to keep me continuing through the book. While I wouldn't say the book was ever boring at any point, I did notice that somewhere after the halfway point I really couldn't put it down. Besides language, I thought the focus on race and the white man were very well done, especially during that time period. I resonated extremely hard with Robin's moral dilemma of selfishly surviving.

I really had no idea where the end of the story was going to go, but as it loomed nearer it felt like there was only one trajectory. The amount of tragedy and despair packed into the last quarter was not something I came prepared for, but at the same time I'm not sure what else I expected.

All in all, an incredible story to read through.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

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emotional informative reflective relaxing 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

4.25

There is something so gentle and peaceful about this story, the way it takes you along the life of three people who've become family. It's slow and meandering, but not in a dull sense. It feels like it's teaching you how to romanticize life, and all the little things that people forget to stop and appreciate. Most of the math went over my head, but since I can only imagine the housekeeper and Root felt much the same, it doesn't seem to really matter. I was certainly hoping and wishing for a happier ending, but the way it went felt true.

The Work-at-Home Survival Guide by Caitlin Pyle

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informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced