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bookedbymadeline's reviews
942 reviews
A Carnival of Atrocities by Natalia García Freire
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Thanks to world editions and NetGalley! This sounded great but the writing style wasn’t working for me with too much telling over showing, and not engaging me after the first chapter
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
I laughed, I cried, I nodded my head in agreement shouting "yes!" and dropped my jaw in shock throughout the novel. I loved that Max is 30 and it felt like I started this at the perfect time; the week I turned 30.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for the eARC!
Disappoint Me has discussions of gender, identity, expectations, relationships, and the questions of "should people be judged by who they were in the past? Can people really change?"
Disappoint Me has discussions of gender, identity, expectations, relationships, and the questions of "should people be judged by who they were in the past? Can people really change?"
I laughed, I cried, I nodded my head in agreement shouting "yes!" and dropped my jaw in shock throughout the novel. I loved that Max is 30 and it felt like I started this at the perfect time; the week I turned 30.
I marked so many sentences- really beautifully written, relatable, and funny! The characters are flawed and complex, with moments that make you question how you would’ve handled the situation.
Despite Max being trans and me being cis, we both experience the mental gymnastics around pregnancy and kids. It’s easy for many people but for others, it’s something you really have to work for and hope that everything you do works out. Those moments made me feel closer to Max and pulled at my heartstrings!
I also related to her feelings around her parents-there was a great quote about feeling bad that she isn’t closer to her parents and that her childhood was difficult but others had it so much "worse" so how bad could it really have been?
I flew through the second half! These characters and their lives and relationships had me fully invested.
I flew through the second half! These characters and their lives and relationships had me fully invested.
Immediately after finishing this book I thought “Shut the fuck up this was incredible!” and started crying which does not happen for me often! The discussions and explorations of relationships plus following our main characters, seeing their flaws, reminds me a lot of Greta & Valdin. I think fans of that will enjoy Disappoint Me! This is my favorite for March and I can’t wait to read more from Dinan 💗
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infertility, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I loved this collection of stories! Each story felt different from the last, with their own original voices and narrative style. Each story explored either love, mother-daughter relationships, or infidelity. The stories individually and as whole were a good length too.
Like all short story collections, there were some I enjoyed more than others but overall it was an interesting collection! surprisingly even the characters who were involved in affairs were fascinating despite my usual lack of empathy for those types 😂
Like all short story collections, there were some I enjoyed more than others but overall it was an interesting collection! surprisingly even the characters who were involved in affairs were fascinating despite my usual lack of empathy for those types 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This is a reread for me! Reading it a second time closer to my 30th birthday to remind myself that aging/growing older is a blessing 💗
Quick and easy read! Loved it just as much the secon time around but this time I marked some good quotes about aging and life.
Quick and easy read! Loved it just as much the secon time around but this time I marked some good quotes about aging and life.
Only thing that never ceases to gross me out and that I had forgotten (read: erased from my memory) was Winnie being 10 and having Jesse (a 17/104 year old) wanting to marry her 🤮
Overall I still enjoyed the whimsical, magical nature of the story and love the Tucks (minus Jesse) 😂🥹
Overall I still enjoyed the whimsical, magical nature of the story and love the Tucks (minus Jesse) 😂🥹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Kidnapping
LIONESSHEART: The Life and Times of Joanna Plantagenet by CATHERINE. HANLEY
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you History Press UK for the eARC in Exchange for my honest review!
Not much is known about Joanna because most historians or chroniclers of the time didn’t care about women, even the Royal ones 🙃 Hanley does what she can with the primary sources available to paint a full picture of what Joanna’s life could’ve been like! And what a crazy life it was; Family disputes over the English throne, Queen of Sicily, and going on the Third Crusade.
Hanley also provides us with intriguing information about the life of women, especially noblewomen, in the 12th century. Mostly context of the time period and what was happening politically/geographically.
Not much is known about Joanna because most historians or chroniclers of the time didn’t care about women, even the Royal ones 🙃 Hanley does what she can with the primary sources available to paint a full picture of what Joanna’s life could’ve been like! And what a crazy life it was; Family disputes over the English throne, Queen of Sicily, and going on the Third Crusade.
Hanley also provides us with intriguing information about the life of women, especially noblewomen, in the 12th century. Mostly context of the time period and what was happening politically/geographically.
The book could be hard to read at times mostly because I was reading on my phone and that could be distracting or uncomfortable for my eyes after a while 😂 While it was one to take my time with, I was fascinated by Joanna and her family, as well as the overall history of the time.
I’d recommend more for history lovers especially those who enjoy the Middle Ages and discussions of both political alliances and disputes!
Ive also included some of my favorite quotes:
"…during a life in which she was variously a princess and pioneer, a captive and queen, a warrior and wife. She represented, and was often the very personification of, many of the crucial issues of the era, and this provides us with a wonderful opportunity to examine them in detail."
"A second difficulty in finding information about Joanna personally is that the contemporary chroniclers - who were inevitably male and often also monks who experienced very little female interaction - did not have a lot to say about the deeds of women. They hardly mention them except where it is unavoid-able, and even then, they tend to minimise female participation…"
"The trick, for a woman of the time, was being able to recognise which situation was which: when she might stand a chance of winning or getting her own way, and when she never would, no matter how hard she tried."
"Joanna was about to fall victim to betrayal, danger and violence, and they would arrive with shocking rapidity."
"After marriage, royal women of the Middle Ages continued to maintain relationships with their birth families. The rationale for doing so is clear: what would be the point of a strategic alliance if the parties never communicated with each other? The woman or girl in question was supposed to act as a bridge between the two families, so she needed to be firmly grounded on both sides of the river. The very fact that this needs stating is evidence of the way in which women’s contributions to politics have been side- lined by many (often male) historians, both medieval and modern, who were content simply to write, ‘... and she was married off at a young age to ...’ as though that were the end of the story."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Violence, War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!
I was immediately pulled in by the story and enjoyed even more than her debut novel. This is a creepy, Disturbing, and gross more than scary horror novel! There were times that the imagery made me nauseous but despite that I “enjoyed” the horror aspects and unique story.
I also appreciated that the author includes content warnings in the beginning.
I was immediately pulled in by the story and enjoyed even more than her debut novel. This is a creepy, Disturbing, and gross more than scary horror novel! There were times that the imagery made me nauseous but despite that I “enjoyed” the horror aspects and unique story.
I also appreciated that the author includes content warnings in the beginning.
I loved the atmospheric, historical setting. The story takes place in Drenthe which is one province over from me which I found really cool!! There was also a mention of my home state, Michigan 😍
Enjoying the mixing of the story as told by Lucy as well as newspaper articles, letters, and diary entries. You really get to know the characters who are flawed and well written! I had a lot of mixed feelings for them throughout the book.
The novel as a whole was well paced throughout and had a great ending. My best read of March so far and makes Van Veen an auto read author for me now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide
Minor: Sexual violence, Lesbophobia
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very dark, sad, frustrating book. Split into 3 parts and narrated by 3 different characters who speak about Yeong-Hye. I hated the male characters from the first two parts, they’re repulsive and incredibly misogynistic and selfish. However it was like a car crash, I didn’t want to look away and it held my attention the most compared to part 3. The third part had me confused where the story was going and then disappointed by the end. I felt really disconnected from the characters and wanted to know more about what “the dream” was and what was going on in Yeong-Hye’s own mind.
I did love that Kang, in a small way, has her other books connect. She mentions both Jeju island (which is a main setting in her latest novel) and the May Massacre which is a main plot point of Human Acts! Both of which came out later compared to this book but I kind of loved that nod to her future works (or for me the works I read first).
I did love that Kang, in a small way, has her other books connect. She mentions both Jeju island (which is a main setting in her latest novel) and the May Massacre which is a main plot point of Human Acts! Both of which came out later compared to this book but I kind of loved that nod to her future works (or for me the works I read first).
Overall while I do still enjoy Kang’s prose, it feels as if I got more questions than answers and had that “what was the point of this? What the fuck did I even read” moment upon closing the book. I wanted more and guess I just “didn’t get it.” Maybe it sticks with me but maybe it’s forgettable? Only time will tell but for now I just feel like it was an average read. Also minor thing but this should really be called The Vegan!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual content
Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail for the eARC in Exchange for my honest review!
Hazy, hedonistic, reckless, debauchery, excess, decadence, uninhibited, bacchanal
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better.
First half had its ups and downs. Second half had me so engaged I didn’t want to put it down! It was confusing at times as it skips around from person to person and scene to scene especially in the beginning. It starts to take off and become less meandering and more focused in the second half.
Explores each person, watching them as if you’re lounging on a slow, summer day overtaken by heat and alcohol numbing your mind to feel fuzzy! Which made the story feel almost like a fever dream for the reader. Each character has flaws and secrets revealed through the course of the holiday.
The book also explores the privilege and darker side of the wine industry. With commentary on the old vs the new, alcoholism, snobbery (I guess; or how closed off certain parts of the industry are for majority of the population), and the sexism that’s faced by female somms. This is especially evident through Avery who is a Black woman in a largely white and male industry.
I enjoyed the lyrical prose and provocative imagery. The novel is filled with similes and metaphors to create a vivid setting and occasionally thought provoking sentimentality.
The title is accurate; everyone is drinking often and to excess. Overall I enjoyed my time with it and the second half definitely redeemed the book! I’d recommend if you want a meandering story that is purely vibes and would make Dionysus proud
Hazy, hedonistic, reckless, debauchery, excess, decadence, uninhibited, bacchanal
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better.
First half had its ups and downs. Second half had me so engaged I didn’t want to put it down! It was confusing at times as it skips around from person to person and scene to scene especially in the beginning. It starts to take off and become less meandering and more focused in the second half.
Explores each person, watching them as if you’re lounging on a slow, summer day overtaken by heat and alcohol numbing your mind to feel fuzzy! Which made the story feel almost like a fever dream for the reader. Each character has flaws and secrets revealed through the course of the holiday.
The book also explores the privilege and darker side of the wine industry. With commentary on the old vs the new, alcoholism, snobbery (I guess; or how closed off certain parts of the industry are for majority of the population), and the sexism that’s faced by female somms. This is especially evident through Avery who is a Black woman in a largely white and male industry.
I enjoyed the lyrical prose and provocative imagery. The novel is filled with similes and metaphors to create a vivid setting and occasionally thought provoking sentimentality.
The title is accurate; everyone is drinking often and to excess. Overall I enjoyed my time with it and the second half definitely redeemed the book! I’d recommend if you want a meandering story that is purely vibes and would make Dionysus proud
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Death
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I’d been longing to read this book because of friends who raved about it but it fell short sadly. It was really slow paced, and the long chapters made it hard to read for longer periods of time.
The highlight of the book was the food descriptions 🤤 don’t read this on an empty stomach though! I also marked quite a few pages with well written (and sometimes relatable) quotes.
The main characters are quite complex, and often morally ambiguous. I could relate to them occasionally or understand where they were coming from, while other times I deeply disliked them 😂 Also we suddenly get to know Reiko and get her POV at one point which only felt forced and random. But otherwise I loved her infertility storyline as I could deeply relate to it.
The main characters are quite complex, and often morally ambiguous. I could relate to them occasionally or understand where they were coming from, while other times I deeply disliked them 😂 Also we suddenly get to know Reiko and get her POV at one point which only felt forced and random. But otherwise I loved her infertility storyline as I could deeply relate to it.
Now my expectations going into this were a problem at first. I knew very little about the synopsis and went in based on various summaries I’d hear from others. So because I went in knowing the bare minimum, and I guess I was expecting more of a “chase” like a Killing Eve or Hannibal situation, I felt let down. The Crime aspect gets a little lost, like how is this labeled a literary crime/thriller? It’s mainly a litfic focused on misogyny and food (which I did enjoy those parts but if you’re gonna sell me crime, GIVE ME CRIME!! it’s suggested maybe she had a partner but then it goes nowhere?! Eventually I let these expectations go and just went along for the ride.
I did enjoy the explorations of gender roles and misogyny in contemporary Japan, I felt like I learned a lot about the culture and food with Butter! And again, the food descriptions were deliciously detailed.
I did enjoy the explorations of gender roles and misogyny in contemporary Japan, I felt like I learned a lot about the culture and food with Butter! And again, the food descriptions were deliciously detailed.
As the story goes on, it could drag at times. There were moments that were overly descriptive or had too much telling over showing, so that certainly didn’t help. Plus this book could’ve been 100-150 pages shorter and had the same outcome/message for the reader.
Overall it wasn’t what I hoped for but was still enjoyable enough. If you liked the discussions of society’s expectations for women in Japan in Convenience Store Woman then you’ll like this, it goes a lot deeper than that book! I’d also recommend if you’re a big foodie 🧈 But fair warning don’t go into this expecting crime/thriller/mystery as that was more of a back burner sub-plot.
Overall it wasn’t what I hoped for but was still enjoyable enough. If you liked the discussions of society’s expectations for women in Japan in Convenience Store Woman then you’ll like this, it goes a lot deeper than that book! I’d also recommend if you’re a big foodie 🧈 But fair warning don’t go into this expecting crime/thriller/mystery as that was more of a back burner sub-plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Blood, Death of parent
The Mothers by Brit Bennett
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I marked so many pages, immediately pulled in by Bennett once again! She is officially an auto buy author for me 💗
I loved following these characters, they’re complex and well written! We get to know them so well as we follow their lives throughout the years. I loved the way the story was told through “the mothers!”
I really related to Aubrey at times especially later in the book. Bennett has a wonderful way of creating her characters and breathing life into them!
I really related to Aubrey at times especially later in the book. Bennett has a wonderful way of creating her characters and breathing life into them!
It was thought provoking and emotional, with a perfect ending and all I can say to sum up my feelings is: Omg the writing 😭😍
TW/CW: adult/minor relationship, pregnancy, abortion, death of parent, suicide, domestic abuse, rape (brief mention), alcohol (specifically underage drinking), violence, infidelity
Rep: Muslim minor character, Filipina minor character, Black MCs and author, white side character, lesbian side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Infidelity, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy