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dobbsthedog's reviews
1727 reviews
F**k, Marry, Kill Me, Daddy by Lance Lansdale
3.0
I don’t even know how to rate this…
It was absolutely bonkers, but also hilarious. I really appreciated the authors CWs at the beginning, because dubcon is very much not my thing, so I’m glad that I had a heads up, as well as the rationale behind it.
As I said, a fucking bonkers book about a hitman who falls in love with his mark, a bi-awakening, and sweet sweet revenge. I also appreciated that mixed in with all of the bonkersness there was also time for Brody to try to understand his internalized homophobia, the challenges of an open marriage, a bit of meta trope use analysis, and found family.
Definitely an enjoyable read (though if you’re considering it, please check the CWs, as this book is rife with questionable content that not everyone will be okay with), and I’ll be looking out for the next in the series!
It was absolutely bonkers, but also hilarious. I really appreciated the authors CWs at the beginning, because dubcon is very much not my thing, so I’m glad that I had a heads up, as well as the rationale behind it.
As I said, a fucking bonkers book about a hitman who falls in love with his mark, a bi-awakening, and sweet sweet revenge. I also appreciated that mixed in with all of the bonkersness there was also time for Brody to try to understand his internalized homophobia, the challenges of an open marriage, a bit of meta trope use analysis, and found family.
Definitely an enjoyable read (though if you’re considering it, please check the CWs, as this book is rife with questionable content that not everyone will be okay with), and I’ll be looking out for the next in the series!
Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt
2.5
*SPOILERS AHEAD!*
This was another bookstagram/good reads made me do it! I’ve been seeing this book everywhere and initially wasn’t going to bother with it, after not enjoying the author’s debut. But then the audio popped up on Libby, so I thought I’d give it a try. And it was fine.
I quite disliked Wren Martin for the entire book, he was not a likeable or sympathetic character. Part of this could be that I’m just really over YA, so I have zero time for mean, whiny protagonists who don’t see much development over the course of the book. Wren is still mean and whiny at the end of the book. I also thought that he treated Leo quite badly, including intentionally embarrassing him in front of their friends with PDA. Like, that seems mildly dubcon to me.
I also didn’t like that he really seemed to dislike his dad. Like, constantly making snide jokes and comments about his dad’s OCD (NOT FUCKING COOL) and lifestyle choices. Maybe it was meant to be more of a stereotypical *all high schoolers hate their parents* thing? But it just added to Wren’s overall unlikeability.
Also, bad chicken rep. At one point Wren has been cleaning their coop for an hour and is a disgusting mess, which just wouldn’t happen. To clean a coop for five chickens should take 10-15 minutes MAX, and if you’re filthy afterwards, you are doing something very wrong. Also, Wren should have been getting just as filthy (but likely more so) sitting with the chickens while he did his homework and having them sit on him, than he would cleaning their coop.
And again, as with DeWitt’s first book, I don’t entirely get the point of the asexuality part. Like, it plays virtually no role in the overall story, which is disappointing. At most Wren uses it as an excuse to not date, which is not asexuality, that is aromanticism. And I know it’s not up to me to be any sort of asexuality police, it’s a spectrum and is experienced differently, but to me it feels like it’s just stuck in there to make the character more interesting (maybe?), and not as an actual part of the character. Like, *I’m asexual so I don’t date and hate Valentines dances!*, but then behaviourally there is nothing there to indicate Wren’s aceness. I guess I wanted more from the character being ace, and maybe that’s because I’ve read other books with asexual protagonists that were excellent, and this one just fell flat.
And lastly, did everyone else figure out who Buddy Boy was almost immediately? Was it supposed to be some sort of big reveal?
Okay, I think I’ve actually talked myself down a star rating over the course of writing this review…
This was another bookstagram/good reads made me do it! I’ve been seeing this book everywhere and initially wasn’t going to bother with it, after not enjoying the author’s debut. But then the audio popped up on Libby, so I thought I’d give it a try. And it was fine.
I quite disliked Wren Martin for the entire book, he was not a likeable or sympathetic character. Part of this could be that I’m just really over YA, so I have zero time for mean, whiny protagonists who don’t see much development over the course of the book. Wren is still mean and whiny at the end of the book. I also thought that he treated Leo quite badly, including intentionally embarrassing him in front of their friends with PDA. Like, that seems mildly dubcon to me.
I also didn’t like that he really seemed to dislike his dad. Like, constantly making snide jokes and comments about his dad’s OCD (NOT FUCKING COOL) and lifestyle choices. Maybe it was meant to be more of a stereotypical *all high schoolers hate their parents* thing? But it just added to Wren’s overall unlikeability.
Also, bad chicken rep. At one point Wren has been cleaning their coop for an hour and is a disgusting mess, which just wouldn’t happen. To clean a coop for five chickens should take 10-15 minutes MAX, and if you’re filthy afterwards, you are doing something very wrong. Also, Wren should have been getting just as filthy (but likely more so) sitting with the chickens while he did his homework and having them sit on him, than he would cleaning their coop.
And again, as with DeWitt’s first book, I don’t entirely get the point of the asexuality part. Like, it plays virtually no role in the overall story, which is disappointing. At most Wren uses it as an excuse to not date, which is not asexuality, that is aromanticism. And I know it’s not up to me to be any sort of asexuality police, it’s a spectrum and is experienced differently, but to me it feels like it’s just stuck in there to make the character more interesting (maybe?), and not as an actual part of the character. Like, *I’m asexual so I don’t date and hate Valentines dances!*, but then behaviourally there is nothing there to indicate Wren’s aceness. I guess I wanted more from the character being ace, and maybe that’s because I’ve read other books with asexual protagonists that were excellent, and this one just fell flat.
And lastly, did everyone else figure out who Buddy Boy was almost immediately? Was it supposed to be some sort of big reveal?
Okay, I think I’ve actually talked myself down a star rating over the course of writing this review…
Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin
I am really unsure of what to think about this book. I listened to the audio, which felt really chaotic and difficult to follow. And then the ending felt very fast and sort of abrupt?
I feel like I could probably benefit from reading this again, yet really don’t want to. It was a bit much being in Enid’s head…
I feel like I could probably benefit from reading this again, yet really don’t want to. It was a bit much being in Enid’s head…
Practice Makes Perfect by Kris Ripper
5.0
Ugh, it’s like I forget how fucking good Kris Ripper books are if I don’t read them regularly.
And this one was SO good! I’m back to my SMU reread, including all of the side novellas, and this was a new-to-me story! Which doesn’t happen in SMU much anymore. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it, it was excellent.
I really loved all of the conversation happening between Ally and Paul. I liked the frank discussions about Paul and his use of a wheelchair. I’ve read one (I think?) other book with a wheelchair user in it, and it wasn’t nearly as good as this one (imo, I’m obvs not the wheelchair user rep police). I also really appreciated that this was a book with a lot of sex in it, but with zero PIV sex. It was about exploring what made each of them feel good and erogenous zones and what sex can look like for someone with no sensation below their waist.
It was also great to see Justin from Fail Seven Times, as the class (BDSM and Dating) that this story revolves around is mentioned in FST. And I loved getting to meet Paul and see how he and Ally met/got together. In the New Years novellas, he just kind of pops up, so I really enjoyed getting to read his and Ally’s story.
I can’t wait to continue with the reread!
And this one was SO good! I’m back to my SMU reread, including all of the side novellas, and this was a new-to-me story! Which doesn’t happen in SMU much anymore. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it, it was excellent.
I really loved all of the conversation happening between Ally and Paul. I liked the frank discussions about Paul and his use of a wheelchair. I’ve read one (I think?) other book with a wheelchair user in it, and it wasn’t nearly as good as this one (imo, I’m obvs not the wheelchair user rep police). I also really appreciated that this was a book with a lot of sex in it, but with zero PIV sex. It was about exploring what made each of them feel good and erogenous zones and what sex can look like for someone with no sensation below their waist.
It was also great to see Justin from Fail Seven Times, as the class (BDSM and Dating) that this story revolves around is mentioned in FST. And I loved getting to meet Paul and see how he and Ally met/got together. In the New Years novellas, he just kind of pops up, so I really enjoyed getting to read his and Ally’s story.
I can’t wait to continue with the reread!
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck
5.0
This is a lovely, if sad, story about a Palestinian family. Their father tells them stories each night about when he would visit Palestine as a child, and it’s really lovely to see his memories of the wonderful times he had. Though sad when it’s clear that he’s no longer allowed to return.
Really well written and accessible for a young audience, with a glossary of some of the terms used in the back.
Really well written and accessible for a young audience, with a glossary of some of the terms used in the back.
Kapaemahu by Joe Wilson, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer
5.0
I loved this book! It’s bilingual, written in English and Hawaiian, and is about the indigenous Hawaiian’s third gender, the mahu.
Really excellent book with lovely illustrations. I both read the book and listened to the audio, which is also bilingual, and it was fantastic.
Highly recommend!
Really excellent book with lovely illustrations. I both read the book and listened to the audio, which is also bilingual, and it was fantastic.
Highly recommend!
Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
I’m choosing to not give a star rating at this time.
I don’t know if I missed something because I listened to the audio, but I had a really difficult time following what was going on. Some of the chapters/parts were really good, but then others I truly had no idea what was going on.
I think this had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite work. I loved the idea of an SFF book loosely let in Sri Lanka, and I think the parts that were more based in reality did work better than the more SFF parts.
I almost want to reread with my eyes to see if it makes more sense that way, but I’m not sure that it would…
I’m choosing to not give a star rating at this time.
I don’t know if I missed something because I listened to the audio, but I had a really difficult time following what was going on. Some of the chapters/parts were really good, but then others I truly had no idea what was going on.
I think this had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite work. I loved the idea of an SFF book loosely let in Sri Lanka, and I think the parts that were more based in reality did work better than the more SFF parts.
I almost want to reread with my eyes to see if it makes more sense that way, but I’m not sure that it would…
Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
4.0
CW: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, physical abuse, self harm, attempted suicide, parental neglect
I quite enjoyed this book! I’ve been wanting to read it for YEARS, and I’m glad that I finally did.
Growing up in Northern BC, the setting was SO familiar to me; I knew all the places Jared mentioned, have been to a lot of them. It’s always fun when you can clearly picture a location. Also, so many of the shops and restaurants are real places in Kitimat, so that was also fun.
I liked the story, with that slight bit of magic throughout the book, until towards the end where it really comes through. I thought Jared’s relationship with Sarah was interesting and I’m really hoping that she comes back in the next books.
I appreciated how Robinson depicts the lives of the people living in Kitimat, Kitimaat Village, and Terrace, and the stranglehold that extractive industries have on them. Seeing how the extractive industries basically see everything as disposable; the land, the environment, and people, the towns. It was so bleak, yet so accurate.
While the book definitely touched on a lot of heavy topics, it was also a fairly easy read. I will likely pick up the other books in the series soon!
I quite enjoyed this book! I’ve been wanting to read it for YEARS, and I’m glad that I finally did.
Growing up in Northern BC, the setting was SO familiar to me; I knew all the places Jared mentioned, have been to a lot of them. It’s always fun when you can clearly picture a location. Also, so many of the shops and restaurants are real places in Kitimat, so that was also fun.
I liked the story, with that slight bit of magic throughout the book, until towards the end where it really comes through. I thought Jared’s relationship with Sarah was interesting and I’m really hoping that she comes back in the next books.
I appreciated how Robinson depicts the lives of the people living in Kitimat, Kitimaat Village, and Terrace, and the stranglehold that extractive industries have on them. Seeing how the extractive industries basically see everything as disposable; the land, the environment, and people, the towns. It was so bleak, yet so accurate.
While the book definitely touched on a lot of heavy topics, it was also a fairly easy read. I will likely pick up the other books in the series soon!