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burnedoutbookdragon's reviews
399 reviews
What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you liked Celeste Ng's "Little Fires Everywhere", you'll enjoy this book.
Genre: literary fiction, mystery
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: all the things
Method: hardback
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
Although this isn't a slow read, I took my time with it. There were so many quotable lines and moments in which I wanted to sit with. This was so beautifully written. The characters, who are fictional, are actual people who walk amongst us. Their stories we may never know unless we are so inclined to show a moment of kindness and empathy.
There are so many themes explored in this book and I won't name them all. The biggest theme is how secrets and lack of connection hurt us all. What happens if we're truly vunerable and share all of ourselves? The other themes are best revealed and explored as you read along. This book felt like a love letter to the city of L.A., immigrant life, the diversity of the city, and the human experience are the same, even if we're experiencing it differently.
The author artfully weaves all of this into a suspenseful story of a mysterious death, a missing person, and how it affects an Asian-American family.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is great if you love a suspense novel that explores what it means to keep secrets and keep parts of ourselves hidden from the world and those we love.
Genre: literary fiction, mystery
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: all the things
Method: hardback
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
Although this isn't a slow read, I took my time with it. There were so many quotable lines and moments in which I wanted to sit with. This was so beautifully written. The characters, who are fictional, are actual people who walk amongst us. Their stories we may never know unless we are so inclined to show a moment of kindness and empathy.
There are so many themes explored in this book and I won't name them all. The biggest theme is how secrets and lack of connection hurt us all. What happens if we're truly vunerable and share all of ourselves? The other themes are best revealed and explored as you read along. This book felt like a love letter to the city of L.A., immigrant life, the diversity of the city, and the human experience are the same, even if we're experiencing it differently.
The author artfully weaves all of this into a suspenseful story of a mysterious death, a missing person, and how it affects an Asian-American family.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is great if you love a suspense novel that explores what it means to keep secrets and keep parts of ourselves hidden from the world and those we love.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: Asian-American, immigrant life
Method: audiobook
This book talks about generational trauma and complex PTSD. Please check your trigger warnings before proceeding.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
WHHEEEW! This book is heartbreaking, poignant, and UTTERLY GUTTED ME! In the first few chapters, Foo shares her experience with childhood trauma (Although they are not graphic, there is mention of verbal and physical abuse, please check yourself if these are not what you're ready for.) and I was triggered. Although my personal experiences were not as extreme as Foo's, the gaslighting, the name-calling, and her mother's general frustration with life being taken out on her is something I unfortunately can relate to.
We follow Foo, a successful adult who cannot manage her emotions or keep close relationships. She goes through the journey of investigating her childhood, challenging what she remembers, learning about C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Disorder), and sharing some of her lessons from therapy.
This book is heavy and I had to take it in sections and sit with it. I'm glad I read it. It helped me understand my childhood trauma, why therapy has only helped me so much, and help me not feel alone. I loved how the author shares how immigrant parents from war-torn or unstable governments harbor their trauma and if left unhealed can trickle down, not just through the relationship but through the DNA also. She humanizes her parents without the need (or excuse) to forgive them or excuse their actions. She's decided to take the steps to heal herself and give herself what she needs.
RECOMMENDATION:
There's a lot to learn from this book and the author's experiences. If love personal stories of resilience and the healing journey, and want to understand C-PSTD more, then this book is for you.
Diversity: Asian-American, immigrant life
Method: audiobook
This book talks about generational trauma and complex PTSD. Please check your trigger warnings before proceeding.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
WHHEEEW! This book is heartbreaking, poignant, and UTTERLY GUTTED ME! In the first few chapters, Foo shares her experience with childhood trauma (Although they are not graphic, there is mention of verbal and physical abuse, please check yourself if these are not what you're ready for.) and I was triggered. Although my personal experiences were not as extreme as Foo's, the gaslighting, the name-calling, and her mother's general frustration with life being taken out on her is something I unfortunately can relate to.
We follow Foo, a successful adult who cannot manage her emotions or keep close relationships. She goes through the journey of investigating her childhood, challenging what she remembers, learning about C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Disorder), and sharing some of her lessons from therapy.
This book is heavy and I had to take it in sections and sit with it. I'm glad I read it. It helped me understand my childhood trauma, why therapy has only helped me so much, and help me not feel alone. I loved how the author shares how immigrant parents from war-torn or unstable governments harbor their trauma and if left unhealed can trickle down, not just through the relationship but through the DNA also. She humanizes her parents without the need (or excuse) to forgive them or excuse their actions. She's decided to take the steps to heal herself and give herself what she needs.
RECOMMENDATION:
There's a lot to learn from this book and the author's experiences. If love personal stories of resilience and the healing journey, and want to understand C-PSTD more, then this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Pit Stop by Ellis Mae
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
If you love grumpy x sunshine, second chances, and the power of human connection, this book is for you!
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This a cute and heartwarming queer romance! Even though the book has some heavy topics, the author did an amazing job creating complex characters, sharing real stories, and tugging at your emotional heartstrings. All the characters were likable, even grumpy John, haha. The pacing of the love story was great and felt real. It didn't feel rushed or unbelievable.
I would have liked to see more scenes of Isamu's interactions with the public and not necessarily PTSD triggering. I'm an Army brat and have several military veterans as friends, and we (civilians) don't get to see what it's like for them enough (those stories aren't shared enough). This doesn't take away from the story and probably wouldn't be necessary. I can see this being made into a Netflix or Hallmark movie.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you're in the mood for a cute romance, then this book is for you. Please avoid, if you are easily triggered about family members with alcoholism and experience PTSD. Scenes are not graphic but are shared enough to give background to the characters.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This a cute and heartwarming queer romance! Even though the book has some heavy topics, the author did an amazing job creating complex characters, sharing real stories, and tugging at your emotional heartstrings. All the characters were likable, even grumpy John, haha. The pacing of the love story was great and felt real. It didn't feel rushed or unbelievable.
I would have liked to see more scenes of Isamu's interactions with the public and not necessarily PTSD triggering. I'm an Army brat and have several military veterans as friends, and we (civilians) don't get to see what it's like for them enough (those stories aren't shared enough). This doesn't take away from the story and probably wouldn't be necessary. I can see this being made into a Netflix or Hallmark movie.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you're in the mood for a cute romance, then this book is for you. Please avoid, if you are easily triggered about family members with alcoholism and experience PTSD. Scenes are not graphic but are shared enough to give background to the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Genre: fantasy
Diversity: Asian representation
This was one of the books I was most excited to read, however, I was very disappointed. The cover is gorgeous and the author's note, in the beginning, explaining her inspiration for the book was compelling and made me excited for the book. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book.
What I did love about the book was the magic system and the conflict is based off other civilization from another world through a portal. The writing was descriptive and beautiful.
What fell flat for me was:
- the colonial civilization was called Rome but they were modern with technology and clothing. Everything else is made up in the book with inspirations to Chinese civilizations or modern life. This may have been intentional for the author, so the reader can contextualize something familiar. It just didn't work for me.
- The FMC Ruying is not believable and unlikeable. I can chalk it up to being an unreliable narrator but I don't think it fits. Some of her actions and thought processes were inconsistent. For example, she was taught many things to survive and be politically savvy, but none of that shows. With all the references to what she was taught by her grandmother, I expected some Margaery Tyrell behavior and we did not get that.
- There were many repetitive phrases and thoughts by Ruying throughout the book that felt like the author was beating a dead horse. This might be something this debut author will work out as she grows in her writing.
This book is part of a series. I like the premise of the book and I think the themes of the story are important to share. I hope the author finds her stride in the rest of the books of this series. I wouldn't recommend this book as I found this wasn't an enjoyable read. If it wasn't a debut author, I would have DNF'd it. I pushed through hoping the climax and ending would be redeeming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Diversity: Asian representation
This was one of the books I was most excited to read, however, I was very disappointed. The cover is gorgeous and the author's note, in the beginning, explaining her inspiration for the book was compelling and made me excited for the book. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book.
What I did love about the book was the magic system and the conflict is based off other civilization from another world through a portal. The writing was descriptive and beautiful.
What fell flat for me was:
- the colonial civilization was called Rome but they were modern with technology and clothing. Everything else is made up in the book with inspirations to Chinese civilizations or modern life. This may have been intentional for the author, so the reader can contextualize something familiar. It just didn't work for me.
- The FMC Ruying is not believable and unlikeable. I can chalk it up to being an unreliable narrator but I don't think it fits. Some of her actions and thought processes were inconsistent. For example, she was taught many things to survive and be politically savvy, but none of that shows. With all the references to what she was taught by her grandmother, I expected some Margaery Tyrell behavior and we did not get that.
- There were many repetitive phrases and thoughts by Ruying throughout the book that felt like the author was beating a dead horse. This might be something this debut author will work out as she grows in her writing.
This book is part of a series. I like the premise of the book and I think the themes of the story are important to share. I hope the author finds her stride in the rest of the books of this series. I wouldn't recommend this book as I found this wasn't an enjoyable read. If it wasn't a debut author, I would have DNF'd it. I pushed through hoping the climax and ending would be redeeming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Murder, and Colonisation
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If you're a writer, author, or someone who loves bookish stories, this book is for you.
Genre: literary fiction
Diversity: Latina community. Dominican & Dominican-American
Set against the backdrop of a small village in the Dominican Republic, Alvarez invites readers to follow a celebrated author, Alma Cruz, who is seeking to bury all the stories she couldn't finish. Hoping this will give her characters and herself peace.
Alvarez's writing is both poetic and rich, seamlessly blending elements of historical fiction and magical realism. I loved as a reader we got to see a different side of authors. I feel like this book was cathartic and maybe personal for Alvarez. Here we get to see a side of authors who are at a point done with their career and don't know what to do with the untold stories they carry.
We get four different perspectives sprinkled in perfectly, between Alma, Filomena, and two of Alma's story characters. This is a character driven plot, that may feel slow for any action or climax. The alternating of Alma and Filomena's perspective helps alleviate the slowness feeling tedious.
Thank you to Ms. Alvarez's team and Algonquin Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: literary fiction
Diversity: Latina community. Dominican & Dominican-American
Set against the backdrop of a small village in the Dominican Republic, Alvarez invites readers to follow a celebrated author, Alma Cruz, who is seeking to bury all the stories she couldn't finish. Hoping this will give her characters and herself peace.
Alvarez's writing is both poetic and rich, seamlessly blending elements of historical fiction and magical realism. I loved as a reader we got to see a different side of authors. I feel like this book was cathartic and maybe personal for Alvarez. Here we get to see a side of authors who are at a point done with their career and don't know what to do with the untold stories they carry.
We get four different perspectives sprinkled in perfectly, between Alma, Filomena, and two of Alma's story characters. This is a character driven plot, that may feel slow for any action or climax. The alternating of Alma and Filomena's perspective helps alleviate the slowness feeling tedious.
Thank you to Ms. Alvarez's team and Algonquin Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Sexual assault, and Violence
A Conduit Of Light by Chelsey Ann Tompkins
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Diversity: none
Spice Level: 2.5 🌶
<i>I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.</i>
If you like an epic love that can bring down an empire, outsiders finding themselves, a magical forest, then this romantasy is for you.
We follow two women, Ash and Karus. Ash is sent to Felgren Forest to train with the Baron against her wishes. There, she must accept herself, her place there, and open to letting people in. Karus is lost and must find her way back to herself.
I could not put this book down! The author does a good job of balancing the romance storyline and the fantasy plot interweaving them seamlessly. I've read some books in this genre that were either romance forward with some fantasy or vice versa, which is eh for me.
There is spice, but it felt believable and helped truly feel the connection between the love of couple (I'm not naming characters because I don't want to spoil anything).
I usually can catch most plot twists, but the author got me at every turn. THAT ENDING 😱. I can't wait for the second book of this series to come out in May.
This is a debut indie author, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Spice Level: 2.5 🌶
<i>I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.</i>
If you like an epic love that can bring down an empire, outsiders finding themselves, a magical forest, then this romantasy is for you.
We follow two women, Ash and Karus. Ash is sent to Felgren Forest to train with the Baron against her wishes. There, she must accept herself, her place there, and open to letting people in. Karus is lost and must find her way back to herself.
I could not put this book down! The author does a good job of balancing the romance storyline and the fantasy plot interweaving them seamlessly. I've read some books in this genre that were either romance forward with some fantasy or vice versa, which is eh for me.
There is spice, but it felt believable and helped truly feel the connection between the love of couple (I'm not naming characters because I don't want to spoil anything).
I usually can catch most plot twists, but the author got me at every turn. THAT ENDING 😱. I can't wait for the second book of this series to come out in May.
This is a debut indie author, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
The Waves Take You Home by María Alejandra Barrios Vélez
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: latinx community
If you like "Clap When You Land" or a fan of author Angie Thomas, you'll love this book.
I could not stop reading this book. Violeta is caught between living the life she wants and what her family wants for her. Her Abuela wants her to go to the States and study and do something more with her life and not be trapped by the stresses of running a restaurant. However, Violeta loves the restaurant and her childhood love and doesn't want to leave. She sees that the women in her life, including her mom, are doomed in their love lives, and decides to go to school in the States.
We follow Violeta, ten years later, living her life in the States, but is called back home for a family tragedy. Violeta is again faced with deciding what life she wants to live, a beautiful safe life in New York, or back home, where things are uncertain but feel right.
Impossible choices, leading with love not fear, and learning to honor yourself are key themes in this book. Beautifully written by Vélez, it's a must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Diversity: latinx community
If you like "Clap When You Land" or a fan of author Angie Thomas, you'll love this book.
I could not stop reading this book. Violeta is caught between living the life she wants and what her family wants for her. Her Abuela wants her to go to the States and study and do something more with her life and not be trapped by the stresses of running a restaurant. However, Violeta loves the restaurant and her childhood love and doesn't want to leave. She sees that the women in her life, including her mom, are doomed in their love lives, and decides to go to school in the States.
We follow Violeta, ten years later, living her life in the States, but is called back home for a family tragedy. Violeta is again faced with deciding what life she wants to live, a beautiful safe life in New York, or back home, where things are uncertain but feel right.
Impossible choices, leading with love not fear, and learning to honor yourself are key themes in this book. Beautifully written by Vélez, it's a must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Diversity: no
Hardcover
If you like Gossip Girl, this book is for you.
You're dealing with themes of classicism, finding yourself/voice, and what it means to live the life your parents want for you versus what you want.
This book read like a season of Gossip Girl. Nothing and no one is as it seems. Even though I figured out one of the twists by chapter five, I was still invested in where the story was going to go. This book was a guilty pleasure, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hardcover
If you like Gossip Girl, this book is for you.
You're dealing with themes of classicism, finding yourself/voice, and what it means to live the life your parents want for you versus what you want.
This book read like a season of Gossip Girl. Nothing and no one is as it seems. Even though I figured out one of the twists by chapter five, I was still invested in where the story was going to go. This book was a guilty pleasure, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Diversity: a well diverse group of characters
Narration: 4⭐
Henríquez weaves several stories to reflect what life was like in Panama when the canal was being built. At first it was a little overwhelming with so many stories, the author does a great job of weaving all these individual characters' stories into each other, as we see these strangers touch each other's lives during the upheaval and opportunities that building the canal brings to Panama.
Vivid storytelling, and narration was great at creating each character as their own. It felt like a movie playing out in my mind. I could absolutely see this adapted to a movie. I highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction, rich stories, multiple POVs.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: 4⭐
Henríquez weaves several stories to reflect what life was like in Panama when the canal was being built. At first it was a little overwhelming with so many stories, the author does a great job of weaving all these individual characters' stories into each other, as we see these strangers touch each other's lives during the upheaval and opportunities that building the canal brings to Panama.
Vivid storytelling, and narration was great at creating each character as their own. It felt like a movie playing out in my mind. I could absolutely see this adapted to a movie. I highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction, rich stories, multiple POVs.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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? No
4.5
A beautiful retelling of the legend of Xishi (one of the four renowned beauties of ancient China). Xishi is recruited and trained to spy on the enemy, King Fuchai. She is to seduce him to do her bidding in order to bring about it's downfall. She, alongside her best friend, Zhengdan, is honed to be the perfect weapon for the Kingdom of Yue. She is trained by the king's trusted advisor, Fanli. Xishi learns that war isn't as black and white, enemies are human as well, shaped by their circumstances and environment.
This was exquisite writing. Some parts felt slow in the book but overall it read quickly. The main characters were relatable and I was invested in the outcome. The ending was unexpected, which I love, but others may not. If you love political intrigue, forbidden love, and historical fiction this book is for you.
This was exquisite writing. Some parts felt slow in the book but overall it read quickly. The main characters were relatable and I was invested in the outcome. The ending was unexpected, which I love, but others may not. If you love political intrigue, forbidden love, and historical fiction this book is for you.