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clairebartholomew549's reviews
701 reviews
The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sadly, this book was a disappointment for me. I was so looking forward to it because I adored The Light We Lost, but this book did not have what made The Light We Lost special.
Ten years after the love of her life Gabe dies, Lucy has closed her heart off completely and is focused on her kids. But then she finds a paper in Gabe’s things with an address in Rome, and she’s determined to figure out what it means.
Ugh. I really, really wanted to like this book but I just didn’t. I don’t know if the issue is that I read The Light We Lost a few years ago and don’t remember it being this cheesy and overwrought, or that The Light We Lost was deeply magical and this just doesn’t work. There are many things that were off to me. The “twist” / secret barely warrants being labeled a twist, and the plot meanders and builds several times without really going anywhere. Lucy is insufferable in this book - so whiny! The fact that this book was written in her voice but directed to Gabe was so strange and I did not like it. The insta love is also stronggg in this book, and I couldn’t see the chemistry between Lucy and Dax at all. I did appreciate the depiction of blended families and thought all the plots about the family dynamics were the most interesting part. I rolled my eyes through much of this book which is a huge disappointment :/
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!
Ten years after the love of her life Gabe dies, Lucy has closed her heart off completely and is focused on her kids. But then she finds a paper in Gabe’s things with an address in Rome, and she’s determined to figure out what it means.
Ugh. I really, really wanted to like this book but I just didn’t. I don’t know if the issue is that I read The Light We Lost a few years ago and don’t remember it being this cheesy and overwrought, or that The Light We Lost was deeply magical and this just doesn’t work. There are many things that were off to me. The “twist” / secret barely warrants being labeled a twist, and the plot meanders and builds several times without really going anywhere. Lucy is insufferable in this book - so whiny! The fact that this book was written in her voice but directed to Gabe was so strange and I did not like it. The insta love is also stronggg in this book, and I couldn’t see the chemistry between Lucy and Dax at all. I did appreciate the depiction of blended families and thought all the plots about the family dynamics were the most interesting part. I rolled my eyes through much of this book which is a huge disappointment :/
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Xenophobia and War
O Sinners!: A Novel by Nicole Cuffy
This is an unsettling, fascinating, and revelatory book. Faruq is a journalist who’s felt adrift since his father died, and his next assignment is immersing himself in a cult - wittily named the Nameless - nestled deep in the redwoods of California. The book goes back and forth between Faruq’s investigation of and immersion into the cult, the cult leader Odo’s formative experience in the Vietnam War, and the script of a documentary about the cult’s clash with a Texas fundamentalist church.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is an unsettling, fascinating, and revelatory book. Faruq is a journalist who’s felt adrift since his father died, and his next assignment is immersing himself in a cult - wittily named the Nameless - nestled deep in the redwoods of California. The book goes back and forth between Faruq’s investigation of and immersion into the cult, the cult leader Odo’s formative experience in the Vietnam War, and the script of a documentary about the cult’s clash with a Texas fundamentalist church.
This is both a fast paced and meditative book, which is definitely an impressive feat, and I enjoyed it immensely. We follow Faruq as he goes deeper and deeper into the cult, and I appreciated that we really got to see the seductive nature of a group like the Nameless, as well as the ways in which cults require their members to cede their identities, privacy, autonomy, and so much more. The Nameless want Faruq and their followers to release themselves from society’s expectations and mores and be truly themselves, but this book masterfully teases out how that is a form of control and expectations too. Faruq is an incredibly introspective protagonist, and he provides the emotional beats and depth that anchor the narrative.
The documentary portions move fast and give us great insight into the context Faruq arrives into, as well as one of the central characters in the cult. There were times when the Vietnam War timeline dragged, and I don’t think the book totally made the connection between Odo’s time in Vietnam and his decision to start his group. But overall, this book made me think a lot and kept me flipping the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Death and Torture
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loveee a good second chance romance, and there aren’t enough of them - and this one is particularly well done. It makes complete sense why Eli and Georgia broke up in the first place, and also why it’s possible for them to have a healthy relationship years later despite the horrible heartbreak they both inflicted on each other. The Napa Valley setting is beautifully written, and Eli and Georgia both have personal growth that feels real and earned. I liked the way Joyce used sexual intimacy to show the developing emotional intimacy between Eli and Georgia, and overall this was just fun and sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved this little novella! It’s short, sweet, sexy, and witty, and somehow manages to tackle a lot in a short time. I’m excited to read more of 831’s books - I appreciate that they are solely focused on the romance genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism
The Californians by Brian Castleberry
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a mixed bag for me. We have three different timelines. In 2024, Tobey lives in a small town in California that is sadly burned down by a wildfire. In the 1920s, Klaus immigrates from Germany and becomes a major Hollywood player. And in the 1970s, Diane makes her way up through the art world with provocative political pieces. These characters are all connected by family and history, and we meander through their lives.
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed, but overall this was a let down for me. I think my disappointment with this book was that it felt extremely unoriginal. To me, the 1920s Hollywood story has been done again and again, and it didn't feel like Klaus' story had much to say (besides him being a vapid narcissist who was only out for himself and couldn't even acknowledge the damage he did). We didn't spend enough time in Tobey's timeline to feel that connected to him, and there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to any of the threads. Diane's timeline was the most interesting and emotive, and I wish that had been its own book, because the other timelines didn't have any resonance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed, but overall this was a let down for me. I think my disappointment with this book was that it felt extremely unoriginal. To me, the 1920s Hollywood story has been done again and again, and it didn't feel like Klaus' story had much to say (besides him being a vapid narcissist who was only out for himself and couldn't even acknowledge the damage he did). We didn't spend enough time in Tobey's timeline to feel that connected to him, and there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to any of the threads. Diane's timeline was the most interesting and emotive, and I wish that had been its own book, because the other timelines didn't have any resonance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
Liquid: A Love Story by Mariam Rahmani
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is so charming and funny. Our unnamed narrator graduated with her PhD two years ago and has been struggling to find a job or relationship, and her Iranian and Indian parents desperately want her to marry someone. On a whim, she decides to go on 100 dates in one summer. But when her dad has a heart attack and she goes home to Tehran, her plans go awry and she has to reevaluate everything.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and the pace was great. Our narrator is incredibly witty, and her inner dialogue as she goes on different dates, tries to figure out her career, and continually rethinks her relationship with her parents is very interesting. Once we get to Tehran, it at first feels like the narrative stalls, but then that time becomes the focal point of the story and propels so much of our narrator's character growth and realizations. There were times when it felt like the writing was a bit too obsessed with itself, but overall I thought this book's depiction of grief and of feeling like you don't belong anywhere was really artful and resonated with me. It's also unlike other books I've read, which is always fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed this book a lot, and the pace was great. Our narrator is incredibly witty, and her inner dialogue as she goes on different dates, tries to figure out her career, and continually rethinks her relationship with her parents is very interesting. Once we get to Tehran, it at first feels like the narrative stalls, but then that time becomes the focal point of the story and propels so much of our narrator's character growth and realizations. There were times when it felt like the writing was a bit too obsessed with itself, but overall I thought this book's depiction of grief and of feeling like you don't belong anywhere was really artful and resonated with me. It's also unlike other books I've read, which is always fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Islamophobia
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is an extremely well-done memoir that tugs at the heart strings and delves deep into how people find themselves in situations they never thought they would succumb to. I'm a huge One Tree Hill fan, so of course I ate this up, but this book's exploration of religious cults and cults in general is completely fascinating no matter if you've ever even heard of One Tree Hill. Lenz details her bible study group becoming progressively more controlling, and you can really see the way the abuse (emotional, financial, at times physical, etc.) ramps up over time little by little, in ways that are easy to rationalize, especially the deeper Lenz gets. It's also just a really interesting story, and Lenz's voice is assured and compelling. I really, really loved this one.
If you're able to, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. I'm not generally an audiobook person, but it's narrated by Lenz herself with cameos from some One Tree Hill characters, and she is a very effective and emotive narrator.
If you're able to, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. I'm not generally an audiobook person, but it's narrated by Lenz herself with cameos from some One Tree Hill characters, and she is a very effective and emotive narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
Minor: Violence
Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a timely, difficult, and fascinating read. We have two timelines here, both exploring horrifying abuses by the U.S. In 2019, we follow Jessa, a corporate lawyer who takes on a pro bono immigration case and subsequently discovers that doctors in an ICE facility are performing nonconsensual sterilizing surgeries on female detainees, including hysterectomies and removals of ovaries. In the 1920s, we follow Carrie Buck, the subject of a truly heinous Supreme Court case condoning the sterilization of "feeble-minded" people in the name of eugenics.
I waffled between giving this book three and four stars, but landed on four stars in the end because I couldn't stop reading and found much of this compelling. There are definitely not enough accessible books about our country's long history of performing nonconsensual medical "experiments" on marginalized populations and surgeries in the name of "purifying" America's bloodlines, and in a time when reproductive justice issues are at the forefront, it's important to know the breadth of oppressions that exist. Friedland does a great job tracing how Carrie ended up being eugenicists' test case for sterilization in the courts, and I appreciated that Carrie wasn't pathologized or condescended to by the narrative. Jessa's storyline gives the reader insight into how draconian and confusing immigration law is, how government agencies operate with impunity in the name of "national security" and against marginalized populations, and how media makes all the difference when trying to make change. The story moves fast, and the writing for the most part is not too ham-handed.
Now for the parts of this book that for me skewed this book closer to three stars. The white saviorism definitely grated on me (a letter Jessa receives singing her praises feels especially icky), and it was frustrating that we got very little insight into the actual people affected by ICE's horrors. Why couldn't one of them have been a main character? Jessa's relationship with Vance is one of the weakest parts of the book - he is just not an interesting character, their marriage makes zero sense, and they both are selfish and bullheaded (although Vance at times is almost cartoonishly evil) - and Jessa having fertility issues was a bit on the nose. It was nice to have Carrie's perspective, but that often felt secondary, especially when the book shoehorns in Jessa's connection to Carrie (more on that in the spoiler section below). Ultimately, there are times where this book just really reads like it was written by a privileged white woman - which is not necessarily a criticism since I too am a privileged white woman lol - but given how the issues discussed in this book involve complex racial and class dynamics, sometimes things felt a bit too trite and self-aggrandizing. It's also wild how long it takes Jessa to enlist other lawyers to help her with the case, and her stubbornness about having to be involved in the case really shows her own self-centeredness and need to be a hero. But I'd still recommend this book because you really do learn a lot and it's fascinating.
Jessa's connection to one of the lead scientists in Carrie's case, who was a preeminent eugenicist and whose research was relied upon by the Nazis to justify and carry out their genocides, felt kind of weird to me. It almost felt like it was there for shock value, and it really just functioned as a way to applaud Jessa for fighting against her family's legacy and trying to make a difference. The connection between the U.S. eugenics movement and the Nazis is incredibly important and deserved more space, time, and depth than being reduced to a wedge between Jessa and Vance and a vehicle for Jessa to do good.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I waffled between giving this book three and four stars, but landed on four stars in the end because I couldn't stop reading and found much of this compelling. There are definitely not enough accessible books about our country's long history of performing nonconsensual medical "experiments" on marginalized populations and surgeries in the name of "purifying" America's bloodlines, and in a time when reproductive justice issues are at the forefront, it's important to know the breadth of oppressions that exist. Friedland does a great job tracing how Carrie ended up being eugenicists' test case for sterilization in the courts, and I appreciated that Carrie wasn't pathologized or condescended to by the narrative. Jessa's storyline gives the reader insight into how draconian and confusing immigration law is, how government agencies operate with impunity in the name of "national security" and against marginalized populations, and how media makes all the difference when trying to make change. The story moves fast, and the writing for the most part is not too ham-handed.
Now for the parts of this book that for me skewed this book closer to three stars. The white saviorism definitely grated on me (a letter Jessa receives singing her praises feels especially icky), and it was frustrating that we got very little insight into the actual people affected by ICE's horrors. Why couldn't one of them have been a main character? Jessa's relationship with Vance is one of the weakest parts of the book - he is just not an interesting character, their marriage makes zero sense, and they both are selfish and bullheaded (although Vance at times is almost cartoonishly evil) - and Jessa having fertility issues was a bit on the nose. It was nice to have Carrie's perspective, but that often felt secondary, especially when the book shoehorns in Jessa's connection to Carrie (more on that in the spoiler section below). Ultimately, there are times where this book just really reads like it was written by a privileged white woman - which is not necessarily a criticism since I too am a privileged white woman lol - but given how the issues discussed in this book involve complex racial and class dynamics, sometimes things felt a bit too trite and self-aggrandizing. It's also wild how long it takes Jessa to enlist other lawyers to help her with the case, and her stubbornness about having to be involved in the case really shows her own self-centeredness and need to be a hero. But I'd still recommend this book because you really do learn a lot and it's fascinating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Antisemitism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book centers on four different women: three wealthy women raised in Nigeria, two of whom live in America and one who still lives in Nigeria, and one of the women's housekeepers. Some of the book takes place during the first stages of the pandemic, but we jump around a lot. The plot is not really the engine of the book per se: each section is a deep dive into each of the women's lives and psyches.
I enjoyed this book and found its ruminations on racism and classism very interesting. Adichie really interrogates the ways in which the African American experience is so different from the African experience and how the world perceives each of the women. It did feel disjointed at times -Kadi's storyline could easily have been its own novel - and the emphasis on finding love felt a little off. But I did appreciate how deeply this book explores the ways we twist ourselves into pretzels to make romantic partners happy, and as always Adichie's writing is beautiful.
Also, lots and lots of trigger warnings here for gender and sexual violence in many forms.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed this book and found its ruminations on racism and classism very interesting. Adichie really interrogates the ways in which the African American experience is so different from the African experience and how the world perceives each of the women. It did feel disjointed at times -Kadi's storyline could easily have been its own novel - and the emphasis on finding love felt a little off. But I did appreciate how deeply this book explores the ways we twist ourselves into pretzels to make romantic partners happy, and as always Adichie's writing is beautiful.
Also, lots and lots of trigger warnings here for gender and sexual violence in many forms.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, and War
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fascinating premise, done very well. In the somewhat near future (no year is specified, but it doesn't seem that far off from present day), surveillance is everywhere. Sara is a museum archivist with twin toddlers, returning from a business trip in London. She is stopped at LAX by "Risk Assessment" agents, who tell her that her dream data has been flagged because she's dreamed of killing her husband. She is baffled and pushes back, but she is put into "retention" for 21 days so she can get "risk score" back down. Of course, her sentence gets extended time and again.
This book reminded me of The School for Good Mothers, which I found utterly devastating and so impactful. Similarly to that book, we follow Sara as she adjusts to life in a place that is "not a prison," but so extremely strips away one's rights and humanity that the distinction has no meaning. Sara's every move is surveilled and interrogated, and the goalposts keep moving. Sara learns quickly that anything she and the other women do can be seen as defiant, and the attendants at the facility have such discretion that they can basically make up rules whenever they want.
This is definitely a read that wore me down, but I found it fascinating and compulsively readable nonetheless. It's terrifying to think of our already horrible criminal system being made even more horrible by even more surveillance than we already have, and this book also made me think about how our conceptions of "normal" are entirely dictated by people with power. Of course that's not an original thought, but I thought Lalami did an amazing job of depicting how arbitrary it all feels.
Sara's emotions about being away from her family, feeling betrayed and like no one trusts her, and being incredibly angry all resonated, and I really enjoyed her relationships with her fellow confinees. It's hard to describe this as enjoyable because so much of the book I wanted to punch every single person who worked at the facility, but Sara's revelations about state power and technological creep are really interesting, and the plot moves fast enough to keep you going. All in all, glad I read this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book reminded me of The School for Good Mothers, which I found utterly devastating and so impactful. Similarly to that book, we follow Sara as she adjusts to life in a place that is "not a prison," but so extremely strips away one's rights and humanity that the distinction has no meaning. Sara's every move is surveilled and interrogated, and the goalposts keep moving. Sara learns quickly that anything she and the other women do can be seen as defiant, and the attendants at the facility have such discretion that they can basically make up rules whenever they want.
This is definitely a read that wore me down, but I found it fascinating and compulsively readable nonetheless. It's terrifying to think of our already horrible criminal system being made even more horrible by even more surveillance than we already have, and this book also made me think about how our conceptions of "normal" are entirely dictated by people with power. Of course that's not an original thought, but I thought Lalami did an amazing job of depicting how arbitrary it all feels.
Sara's emotions about being away from her family, feeling betrayed and like no one trusts her, and being incredibly angry all resonated, and I really enjoyed her relationships with her fellow confinees. It's hard to describe this as enjoyable because so much of the book I wanted to punch every single person who worked at the facility, but Sara's revelations about state power and technological creep are really interesting, and the plot moves fast enough to keep you going. All in all, glad I read this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence and Fire/Fire injury