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dhrish's reviews
123 reviews
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
5.0
C/W: Blood, gore, violence, character deaths, parental abuse, talks of racism, colonisation, gentrification and fetishisation
"These Violent Delights" is a love letter to YA and this generation. I don't know how else to describe how absolutely aware Chloe's writing comes across.
Topics like colonisation, gentrification, filial loyalty and racism weave itself in a plot that just works. YA is a target group that while popular isn't as beloved as Children's or MG books, but in order to make that jump from MG to Adult, YA is a necessary step.
"These Violent Delights" speak to readers of YA, written by someone brought up in the peak of the YA boom.
I adore that we get to see Shanghai and learn about the history that surrounds it. The characters are wonderful mirrors to the world of Gen Z.
Basically, this has convinced me that we need more people closer to the YA demographic writing YA. The talent and stories they have to tell are timely, fun and I felt spoken to rather than spoken at.
"These Violent Delights" is a love letter to YA and this generation. I don't know how else to describe how absolutely aware Chloe's writing comes across.
Topics like colonisation, gentrification, filial loyalty and racism weave itself in a plot that just works. YA is a target group that while popular isn't as beloved as Children's or MG books, but in order to make that jump from MG to Adult, YA is a necessary step.
"These Violent Delights" speak to readers of YA, written by someone brought up in the peak of the YA boom.
I adore that we get to see Shanghai and learn about the history that surrounds it. The characters are wonderful mirrors to the world of Gen Z.
Basically, this has convinced me that we need more people closer to the YA demographic writing YA. The talent and stories they have to tell are timely, fun and I felt spoken to rather than spoken at.
Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao
3.0
3.5 Stars
C/W: Arranged marriage, misogyny, sexism, sex-shaming, purity-obsession, classism
"Rent a Boyfriend" is an interesting look into a first-generation Taiwanese-American family whose hopes is that their 19-year-old daughter gets engaged to the local rich-family in their community. While I definitely can't speak on the specific Taiwanese experience portrayed in 'Rent a Boyfriend' I do think this is a very honest look at how some Asian communities do act. I adored the strong rom-com moments of this book and would definitely be the first in line to watch a movie adaptation.
The one thing I had a hard time believing was that Chloe, at 19, was being actively pressurised by her parents to seek marriage. This plot point did not sit well with me at all as (from my understanding) this pressure usually doesn't exist until at least after finishing undergrad. I wished that the main characters had been slightly aged-up as this would have made the plot and it's execution points more believable.
Also, I don't think there is a moment where Drew does anything wrong. As a love interest and main character his story, although not the focus was woven in so well with the main plot.
Overall this was an incredibly gut-wrenching read and a realistic look at the distance and expectations that may exist in an immigrant household.
C/W: Arranged marriage, misogyny, sexism, sex-shaming, purity-obsession, classism
"Rent a Boyfriend" is an interesting look into a first-generation Taiwanese-American family whose hopes is that their 19-year-old daughter gets engaged to the local rich-family in their community. While I definitely can't speak on the specific Taiwanese experience portrayed in 'Rent a Boyfriend' I do think this is a very honest look at how some Asian communities do act. I adored the strong rom-com moments of this book and would definitely be the first in line to watch a movie adaptation.
The one thing I had a hard time believing was that Chloe, at 19, was being actively pressurised by her parents to seek marriage. This plot point did not sit well with me at all as (from my understanding) this pressure usually doesn't exist until at least after finishing undergrad. I wished that the main characters had been slightly aged-up as this would have made the plot and it's execution points more believable.
Also, I don't think there is a moment where Drew does anything wrong. As a love interest and main character his story, although not the focus was woven in so well with the main plot.
Overall this was an incredibly gut-wrenching read and a realistic look at the distance and expectations that may exist in an immigrant household.
Teddy Spenser Isn't Looking for Love by Kim Fielding
2.0
2.5 stars
Kim Fielding can write, she has an incredible way of stringing together a lot of things that probably shouldn't work but does. Her writing is fun to read and I did enjoy this work by her.
Where "Teddy Spenser Isn't Looking for Love" falls flat is simply that the characters read young, YA young, and that this book made heavy use stereotypes for it's the Black love interest and the main character while not giving them much substance otherwise. The stereotyping may not be obvious but I genuinely wished the author hadn't leaned into them for either of the characters.
There was very little enemies-to-lovers action, and while that usually doesn't bother me, I didn't enjoy the insta-love in this story because I kind of feel I was promised a slow-burn that didn't deliver. I did enjoy the very surface level look of working at a start-up though. I also would have liked to know more about Teddy's previous boyfriend and that relationship.
The story itself was interesting but I never felt attached to Teddy or Romeo nor to any portion of their love story further than the antics of the story.
This book expected to come out on the 29 December 2020.
Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for allowing me a free e-arc of this title. All opinions are my own.
Kim Fielding can write, she has an incredible way of stringing together a lot of things that probably shouldn't work but does. Her writing is fun to read and I did enjoy this work by her.
Where "Teddy Spenser Isn't Looking for Love" falls flat is simply that the characters read young, YA young, and that this book made heavy use stereotypes for it's the Black love interest and the main character while not giving them much substance otherwise. The stereotyping may not be obvious but I genuinely wished the author hadn't leaned into them for either of the characters.
There was very little enemies-to-lovers action, and while that usually doesn't bother me, I didn't enjoy the insta-love in this story because I kind of feel I was promised a slow-burn that didn't deliver. I did enjoy the very surface level look of working at a start-up though. I also would have liked to know more about Teddy's previous boyfriend and that relationship.
The story itself was interesting but I never felt attached to Teddy or Romeo nor to any portion of their love story further than the antics of the story.
This book expected to come out on the 29 December 2020.
Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for allowing me a free e-arc of this title. All opinions are my own.
Tales from the Bottom of My Sole by David Kingston Yeh
5.0
C/W: Mentions of abortions, mentions of miscarriage, dead-naming of a trans character, mentioned drug use, mentions of homophobia and transphobia
"Tales from the Bottom on My Sole" is incredibly personal, yet casual and encompasses the messiness and structure of someone in their twenties with such ease. It was as if I was watching these events happen in my own friendship groups and we were just catching up on it.
The structure of this story is unapologetically and frighteningly human. It uses the multi-cultural setting of Toronto contrasted with the small town of Sudbury with incredible ease. The cast of characters are delightful and there was so much respect with the way multiple storylines were dealt with.
While I felt like this story had a really slow start and a massive amount of characters, the investment is one that easily pays off by the end of the first part, especially as the reader gains an understanding of the relationships highlighted by David. This book is aware, present and tries for a moment to show the reader that life will never fail to surprise, hurt but love just as hard.
Thank you to NetGalley and Geurnica Editions Inc for allowing me to read an e-arc of "The Tales from the Bottom of My Soul"
"Tales from the Bottom on My Sole" is incredibly personal, yet casual and encompasses the messiness and structure of someone in their twenties with such ease. It was as if I was watching these events happen in my own friendship groups and we were just catching up on it.
The structure of this story is unapologetically and frighteningly human. It uses the multi-cultural setting of Toronto contrasted with the small town of Sudbury with incredible ease. The cast of characters are delightful and there was so much respect with the way multiple storylines were dealt with.
While I felt like this story had a really slow start and a massive amount of characters, the investment is one that easily pays off by the end of the first part, especially as the reader gains an understanding of the relationships highlighted by David. This book is aware, present and tries for a moment to show the reader that life will never fail to surprise, hurt but love just as hard.
Thank you to NetGalley and Geurnica Editions Inc for allowing me to read an e-arc of "The Tales from the Bottom of My Soul"
When Sparks Fly by Annie McDonald
3.0
3.5 Stars
C/W: References to past addiction, homophobia and implied racism
If you like stories surrounding sport and f/f relationships, this is the story for you. Dani and Luca are genuinely such easy to love characters and their romance is something you root for from the first meeting. There is Indigenous and Gauyenese representation in this book. While I can't speak on either, I didn't pick up any major red-flags in terms of the representation.
The side-characters were used well and I loved how "When Sparks Fly" didn't shy away from the hyper-competitive nature of high school sport that brings out both the good and bad in people.
While I think the book explains niche topics like hockey and welding well; I also liked the sensitivity that it showed when dealing with storylines of opiate addiction. Sometimes the story did feel like it was too busy, but for the most part, I really enjoyed the direction it went with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for allowing me to read an e-arc of "When Sparks Fly" by Annie McDonald. All opinions stated are my own.
C/W: References to past addiction, homophobia and implied racism
If you like stories surrounding sport and f/f relationships, this is the story for you. Dani and Luca are genuinely such easy to love characters and their romance is something you root for from the first meeting. There is Indigenous and Gauyenese representation in this book. While I can't speak on either, I didn't pick up any major red-flags in terms of the representation.
The side-characters were used well and I loved how "When Sparks Fly" didn't shy away from the hyper-competitive nature of high school sport that brings out both the good and bad in people.
While I think the book explains niche topics like hockey and welding well; I also liked the sensitivity that it showed when dealing with storylines of opiate addiction. Sometimes the story did feel like it was too busy, but for the most part, I really enjoyed the direction it went with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for allowing me to read an e-arc of "When Sparks Fly" by Annie McDonald. All opinions stated are my own.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
4.0
C/W: Murder, misogyny, references to childhood abuse
"My Sister, the Serial Killer" was not something I picked up because I thought I would have fun. It was actually an attempt to read more thrillers and slashers. So imagine my surprise when I did have comedy levels fun with this story.
Braithwaite is incredibly clever for weaving modern Nigeria into this story. The focus of this story isn't the deep trauma that kind be found all over African literature but rather the responsibilities of an older sibling (which read quite tragically). For all the dark moments in this story, there are times where it reads as incredibly wholesome. That duality is definitely worth picking up "My Sister, the Serial Killer".
"My Sister, the Serial Killer" was not something I picked up because I thought I would have fun. It was actually an attempt to read more thrillers and slashers. So imagine my surprise when I did have comedy levels fun with this story.
Braithwaite is incredibly clever for weaving modern Nigeria into this story. The focus of this story isn't the deep trauma that kind be found all over African literature but rather the responsibilities of an older sibling (which read quite tragically). For all the dark moments in this story, there are times where it reads as incredibly wholesome. That duality is definitely worth picking up "My Sister, the Serial Killer".
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
5.0
C/W: Racism, sexual coercion, sexual assault, misogyny, suicide
"Pachinko" is a comfort read for me. I think where this story succeeds is in its portrayal of the diaspora experience and the fact that this experience isn't centred in the UK or US. Because those stories are not usually highlighted.
While "Pachinko" takes place over 50 or so years, it is interesting to note that we never really see big history moments but rather how those moments affect this particular family over three generations. My love for this book is definitely biased because this was honestly the first time I felt represented by an experience in a story especially with regards to the first-gen immigration experience.
"Pachinko" is a comfort read for me. I think where this story succeeds is in its portrayal of the diaspora experience and the fact that this experience isn't centred in the UK or US. Because those stories are not usually highlighted.
While "Pachinko" takes place over 50 or so years, it is interesting to note that we never really see big history moments but rather how those moments affect this particular family over three generations. My love for this book is definitely biased because this was honestly the first time I felt represented by an experience in a story especially with regards to the first-gen immigration experience.
Lake Barcroft by Jeffrey Marcus Oshins
2.0
C/W: Racism, sexism, drug use. underaged sex, abortion, forced pregnancy, misogyny, grief, mental illness, slut-shaming. manipulative relationships, underage pregnancy, forced adoption, talk about abortion.
I thought I would enjoy "Lake Barcroft" the topics it touches upon are things that interest me: religion, politics and teenagers. I left this book incredibly frustrated, not because I hated the story; I just genuinely disliked how it was told. This book was about rich white people, in politics in the 60's. doing rich white people things. If that is something that interests you, I would suggest picking it up. Oshin's writes quite an interesting bunch of characters and, apart from Beck, all of them are kind of iconic.
I suggest skipping the rest of this review if you do plan on picking this story up, it contains spoilers and please head content warnings above before reading this review further.
Oshin's in his attempt to write from a young female perspective seems to just let go of the "male gaze" (only to bring it back during sex scenes) and writes from a perspective of giving Beck no tangible characterisation or growth. In an attempt to do everything right, Beck reads as so incredibly wrong. I went to an all-girls school for twelve years and none of the girls I met read like Beck even a little bit.
Beck for all her money, grades, social and political mobility is so incredibly bland, it's frustrating. When Beck gets pregnant (by accident at 15) and wants an abortion, her grandma literally forces her to carry the fetus while doing nothing apart from slut-shaming Beck, hiding her away and then makes her give up the baby for adoption. You can't tell me a rich, white girl with that much political backing couldn't have organised her own healthcare because she literally does prior to finding out she is pregnant.
While I get not wanting to give up power or social mobility, Beck does literally nothing with it. She is aware she owns all of these things and shrugs it off.
Oshins seems to have done very little research into actually writing young girls. While I did enjoy his portrayal of Beck as an adult in her late twenties, for the majority of the book Beck is in her teens and in no way does she endear herself to me. Beck has no friendships or relationships that are meaningful (outside her romantic ones) and even her family is so incredibly toxic.
Personally, if this book was written from Beck's adult perspective looking back I would have enjoyed it far more. then I did. There was a ton of great plot points that weren't executed very well and I just want to cry because I was so frustrated by this reading experience and I haven't even touched on the poor portrayal of non-white characters or the incredibly racist way the white characters do talk/act. This review barely touches on the things I didn't enjoy or thought could have been done better.
Oshins seemed so focused on writing from Beck's perspective that he forgot to tell the reader a story, or that's how I felt after reading "Lake Barcroft".
I thoroughly disliked my reading experience of this book to the point of ranting about it. While subjectively it was a 1-star read, objectively it was ok.
Thank you to NetGalley and DeepSix Publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
I thought I would enjoy "Lake Barcroft" the topics it touches upon are things that interest me: religion, politics and teenagers. I left this book incredibly frustrated, not because I hated the story; I just genuinely disliked how it was told. This book was about rich white people, in politics in the 60's. doing rich white people things. If that is something that interests you, I would suggest picking it up. Oshin's writes quite an interesting bunch of characters and, apart from Beck, all of them are kind of iconic.
I suggest skipping the rest of this review if you do plan on picking this story up, it contains spoilers and please head content warnings above before reading this review further.
Oshin's in his attempt to write from a young female perspective seems to just let go of the "male gaze" (only to bring it back during sex scenes) and writes from a perspective of giving Beck no tangible characterisation or growth. In an attempt to do everything right, Beck reads as so incredibly wrong. I went to an all-girls school for twelve years and none of the girls I met read like Beck even a little bit.
Beck for all her money, grades, social and political mobility is so incredibly bland, it's frustrating. When Beck gets pregnant (by accident at 15) and wants an abortion, her grandma literally forces her to carry the fetus while doing nothing apart from slut-shaming Beck, hiding her away and then makes her give up the baby for adoption. You can't tell me a rich, white girl with that much political backing couldn't have organised her own healthcare because she literally does prior to finding out she is pregnant.
While I get not wanting to give up power or social mobility, Beck does literally nothing with it. She is aware she owns all of these things and shrugs it off.
Oshins seems to have done very little research into actually writing young girls. While I did enjoy his portrayal of Beck as an adult in her late twenties, for the majority of the book Beck is in her teens and in no way does she endear herself to me. Beck has no friendships or relationships that are meaningful (outside her romantic ones) and even her family is so incredibly toxic.
Personally, if this book was written from Beck's adult perspective looking back I would have enjoyed it far more. then I did. There was a ton of great plot points that weren't executed very well and I just want to cry because I was so frustrated by this reading experience and I haven't even touched on the poor portrayal of non-white characters or the incredibly racist way the white characters do talk/act. This review barely touches on the things I didn't enjoy or thought could have been done better.
Oshins seemed so focused on writing from Beck's perspective that he forgot to tell the reader a story, or that's how I felt after reading "Lake Barcroft".
I thoroughly disliked my reading experience of this book to the point of ranting about it. While subjectively it was a 1-star read, objectively it was ok.
Thank you to NetGalley and DeepSix Publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
4.0
C/W: Sex-shaming. past infidelity
I love that a Hibbert romance is both straight forward, but surprising. I know what I am getting into and the twists along the way make sense.
The rating above may be biased as I was not having the best time with my other reads and needed a comfort read to escape too.
While the story isn't what I would classify as a slow-burn, the relationship definitely felt organic and I found myself grinning and falling in love with the characters. The friendships and found family dynamic, while small in comparison to the romance, was handled so well.
I can't speak about the representation, but Hibbert did portray living in a small town perfectly.
I love that a Hibbert romance is both straight forward, but surprising. I know what I am getting into and the twists along the way make sense.
The rating above may be biased as I was not having the best time with my other reads and needed a comfort read to escape too.
While the story isn't what I would classify as a slow-burn, the relationship definitely felt organic and I found myself grinning and falling in love with the characters. The friendships and found family dynamic, while small in comparison to the romance, was handled so well.
I can't speak about the representation, but Hibbert did portray living in a small town perfectly.
Untouchable by Talia Hibbert
3.0
This was a 3.75 read.
C/W: Parental abandonment, depression, talk about mental illness, talk about chronic and terminal illness, racism
I think why I enjoy reading Hibbert's books is simply because people are always talking. Whether it is to the reader or other characters. Talia doesn't shy from topics like mental health, grief and trauma. Also, she may have singlehandedly made me realise how important healthy communication. Also, Hibbert's bisexual characters read flawlessly and I love that.
I enjoyed Hannah and Evan were quite pleasant to read. While there isn't a ton going on with the plot, the story does seem to deal with every major conflict well. I can't speak on the Black representation however, a nice detail that I enjoyed was points where Hibbert touched on Africa as a diverse diaspora rather than a monolith. This isn't something I often seen dealt with in romances.
I love that I can come back to Hibbert's writing, get what I'm looking for and I'm definitely looking forward to reading and rereading more of her work.
C/W: Parental abandonment, depression, talk about mental illness, talk about chronic and terminal illness, racism
I think why I enjoy reading Hibbert's books is simply because people are always talking. Whether it is to the reader or other characters. Talia doesn't shy from topics like mental health, grief and trauma. Also, she may have singlehandedly made me realise how important healthy communication. Also, Hibbert's bisexual characters read flawlessly and I love that.
I enjoyed Hannah and Evan were quite pleasant to read. While there isn't a ton going on with the plot, the story does seem to deal with every major conflict well. I can't speak on the Black representation however, a nice detail that I enjoyed was points where Hibbert touched on Africa as a diverse diaspora rather than a monolith. This isn't something I often seen dealt with in romances.
I love that I can come back to Hibbert's writing, get what I'm looking for and I'm definitely looking forward to reading and rereading more of her work.