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effinalice's reviews
508 reviews
Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden
medium-paced
4.0
Love in Bloom follows Emma, who inherits a farm from her estranged grandparents only to discover it’s secretly a medical marijuana operation. Recently fired from her high-paying job in Atlanta and reeling from a breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Emma decides to give the farm a shot. There, she meets an Indian British horticulturist who helps her see she doesn’t have to do everything alone.
I had two personal gripes:
- The initial "insta-love" connection between the leads. I almost put it down because of this, but I’m so glad I kept reading. Eden's writing and storytelling won me over, pulling me into a world filled with complex themes of family secrets, mother-daughter dynamics, and found family.
- The frequent use of “love” as a term of endearment. While some find British accents sexy, it doesn’t work for me; it just reminded me of when older men call women “sweetheart.”
It just gives me the ick okay.
Highlights to note:
- Black female lead
- Small-town setting
- Biracial romance with non-white main characters
- Big-city girl and Indian British horticulturist dynamic
This was my first read by Lucy Eden, and she did not disappoint!
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of Love in Bloom.
A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories by Mariana Enríquez
4.0
A Sunny Place for Shady People is a collection of 12 literary horror short stories by Argentine author Mariana Enriquez.
This is my fourth book by Enriquez; I’ve previously read her two other translated short story collections as well as her novel Our Share of Night. What I enjoy most about Enriquez’s writing is her ability to seamlessly blend the supernatural with the horrors of everyday life. In this collection, she dives deep into both societal trauma and personal fears, leaving readers questioning the line between reality and the supernatural.
One notable aspect of this collection, which I either hadn’t noticed in her other works or is new here, is her inclusion of stories, settings, and characters from the U.S. One of the stories even centers around the mysterious death of Elisa Lam. Just as in her other collections, A Sunny Place for Shady People captures universal fears and struggles, making her themes feel universal.
If you enjoy literary horror, social commentary, and open endings, you’ll find much to love in this collection.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hogarth for an advanced reader's copy of A Sunny Place for Shady People.
This is my fourth book by Enriquez; I’ve previously read her two other translated short story collections as well as her novel Our Share of Night. What I enjoy most about Enriquez’s writing is her ability to seamlessly blend the supernatural with the horrors of everyday life. In this collection, she dives deep into both societal trauma and personal fears, leaving readers questioning the line between reality and the supernatural.
One notable aspect of this collection, which I either hadn’t noticed in her other works or is new here, is her inclusion of stories, settings, and characters from the U.S. One of the stories even centers around the mysterious death of Elisa Lam. Just as in her other collections, A Sunny Place for Shady People captures universal fears and struggles, making her themes feel universal.
If you enjoy literary horror, social commentary, and open endings, you’ll find much to love in this collection.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hogarth for an advanced reader's copy of A Sunny Place for Shady People.
The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back by Madiba K. Dennie
medium-paced
4.0
The Originalism Trap by Madiba K. Dennie delivers a powerful critique of originalism as a method of constitutional interpretation. Dennie argues that originalism is a modern invention, inconsistently applied by its proponents to push specific policy goals.
She dedicates several chapters to detailing how originalism has eroded civil liberties, distorted elections, and undermined equal representation, all supported by thorough research and extensive notes.
Dennie offers an alternative to Originalism, something she calls inclusive constitutionalism. She provides a call to action to both lawyers and readers on how to move forward.
I am primarily a fiction reader although I do pick up nonfiction books from time to time. I found The Originalism Trap to be extremely readable in terms of language. Dennie also frames her arguments in a digestible and easy to follow manner. I read this book via audio and that's where some of my comprehension issues lie. Dennie refers to several pieces of legislation, court cases and laws - most of which I was not familiar with. It was challenging to pause mid-sentence to do my own research because I mostly listened to this on my commute to work. In hindsight I wish I would have read it physically or electronically to allow me time to look into areas I'm unfamiliar with.
She dedicates several chapters to detailing how originalism has eroded civil liberties, distorted elections, and undermined equal representation, all supported by thorough research and extensive notes.
Dennie offers an alternative to Originalism, something she calls inclusive constitutionalism. She provides a call to action to both lawyers and readers on how to move forward.
I am primarily a fiction reader although I do pick up nonfiction books from time to time. I found The Originalism Trap to be extremely readable in terms of language. Dennie also frames her arguments in a digestible and easy to follow manner. I read this book via audio and that's where some of my comprehension issues lie. Dennie refers to several pieces of legislation, court cases and laws - most of which I was not familiar with. It was challenging to pause mid-sentence to do my own research because I mostly listened to this on my commute to work. In hindsight I wish I would have read it physically or electronically to allow me time to look into areas I'm unfamiliar with.
Model Home by Rivers Solomon
Model Home by Rivers Solomon is an experience that left me gutted, shaken, and questioning the true horror lurking within its pages. I need to go back and re-read those last three chapters because WHAT?!?
This isn’t a book I’d describe with “enjoyment” in the usual sense. Model Home is heavy, weighted with grief, trauma, racism, and family secrets, and it challenges any expectations a reader might bring. The emotional toll is intense, and Solomon’s raw storytelling doesn't allow for a conventional reading experience.
The story centers on three siblings—Ezri, Emmanuelle, and Eve—whose lives are shattered after a devastating tragedy takes their parents. Ezri, who fled to another country to escape her past, is forced to return and confront the painful memories she left behind almost two decades prior. While her sisters remained in Texas, close to the ghosts of their childhood, Ezri tried to escape. But the trauma they share proves impossible to outrun. This isn’t merely a haunted house story; it’s a haunting exploration of grief, secrets, and generational pain.
Solomon has a way of immersing you in their characters’ lives so viscerally that, at times, I felt as though I was Ezri. In those moments, their pain was mine, their fear was mine. I saw pieces of myself reflected back, and it was both unsettling and compelling. Solomon’s prose draws you in and eats you alive, making you live the story rather than just read it.
One of the most captivating elements is Solomon’s exploration of the body. Themes of disability and bodily dissociation are woven throughout, creating an intense sense of claustrophobia. The way they describe breath, physicality, and the neediness of human bodies brings the text to life in visceral detail.
Solomon’s writing is nuanced and precise, blending family drama with psychological horror. The sibling dynamics are complex, each character painfully unreliable, their recollections and perspectives twisted by suffering. Though the story initially seems to explore reconnection and identity, it quickly turns darker, touching on assault, abandonment, and the brutal weight of being Black women burdened by trauma passed down through generations.
The themes Solomon engages with—expectations of Black mothers, the enduring effects of abuse, and generational trauma—are handled with astonishing insight. Solomon captures the liberation and ache embedded in these lives, showing that while it may not be the horror readers expect, familial trauma can be horrific in its own right.
Model Home is both a testament and tribute to River Solomon's poetic and visionary voice.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of Model Home.
4.5
Model Home by Rivers Solomon is an experience that left me gutted, shaken, and questioning the true horror lurking within its pages. I need to go back and re-read those last three chapters because WHAT?!?
This isn’t a book I’d describe with “enjoyment” in the usual sense. Model Home is heavy, weighted with grief, trauma, racism, and family secrets, and it challenges any expectations a reader might bring. The emotional toll is intense, and Solomon’s raw storytelling doesn't allow for a conventional reading experience.
The story centers on three siblings—Ezri, Emmanuelle, and Eve—whose lives are shattered after a devastating tragedy takes their parents. Ezri, who fled to another country to escape her past, is forced to return and confront the painful memories she left behind almost two decades prior. While her sisters remained in Texas, close to the ghosts of their childhood, Ezri tried to escape. But the trauma they share proves impossible to outrun. This isn’t merely a haunted house story; it’s a haunting exploration of grief, secrets, and generational pain.
Solomon has a way of immersing you in their characters’ lives so viscerally that, at times, I felt as though I was Ezri. In those moments, their pain was mine, their fear was mine. I saw pieces of myself reflected back, and it was both unsettling and compelling. Solomon’s prose draws you in and eats you alive, making you live the story rather than just read it.
One of the most captivating elements is Solomon’s exploration of the body. Themes of disability and bodily dissociation are woven throughout, creating an intense sense of claustrophobia. The way they describe breath, physicality, and the neediness of human bodies brings the text to life in visceral detail.
Solomon’s writing is nuanced and precise, blending family drama with psychological horror. The sibling dynamics are complex, each character painfully unreliable, their recollections and perspectives twisted by suffering. Though the story initially seems to explore reconnection and identity, it quickly turns darker, touching on assault, abandonment, and the brutal weight of being Black women burdened by trauma passed down through generations.
The themes Solomon engages with—expectations of Black mothers, the enduring effects of abuse, and generational trauma—are handled with astonishing insight. Solomon captures the liberation and ache embedded in these lives, showing that while it may not be the horror readers expect, familial trauma can be horrific in its own right.
Model Home is both a testament and tribute to River Solomon's poetic and visionary voice.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of Model Home.
This Motherless Land by Nikki May
medium-paced
4.0
This Motherless Land opens in 1978, following nine-year-old Funke Oyenuga, who lives in Lagos with her family until her mother’s sudden death forces her to move to England to stay with her estranged Aunt Margot. Funke’s new life in England is lonely and disappointing, far from the wealthy English family stories she’d heard. But she finds solace in her cousin Liv, and the two form a bond closer than sisterhood, helping each other through their difficult legacies.
The novel explores privilege, identity, generational trauma, and culture through Funke and Liv’s struggles with absent maternal love—Funke’s mother is gone, while Liv’s is bitterly critical. Set against the backdrop of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s in both Lagos and London, the story dives into how their contrasting environments shape their identities. Funke faces racial prejudice and the constant feeling of being “too Nigerian” or “not British enough,” while Liv is largely unaware of her privilege until later in life.
Through the lens of both cousins, This Motherless Land gives an in-depth look at generational wrongs, forgiveness, sisterhood, and grief. Nikki May captures these themes with vivid character development, showing how the girls’ different yet intertwined journeys create a shared resilience. Although I was occasionally frustrated by Liv’s mother’s overbearing presence, I found Funke and Liv’s characters refreshing and their bond heartfelt.
I'd recommend This Motherless Land for reader's who enjoy reading stories about sisterhood, identity, family drama and stories that span decades.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an ARC of This Motherless Land.
The novel explores privilege, identity, generational trauma, and culture through Funke and Liv’s struggles with absent maternal love—Funke’s mother is gone, while Liv’s is bitterly critical. Set against the backdrop of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s in both Lagos and London, the story dives into how their contrasting environments shape their identities. Funke faces racial prejudice and the constant feeling of being “too Nigerian” or “not British enough,” while Liv is largely unaware of her privilege until later in life.
Through the lens of both cousins, This Motherless Land gives an in-depth look at generational wrongs, forgiveness, sisterhood, and grief. Nikki May captures these themes with vivid character development, showing how the girls’ different yet intertwined journeys create a shared resilience. Although I was occasionally frustrated by Liv’s mother’s overbearing presence, I found Funke and Liv’s characters refreshing and their bond heartfelt.
I'd recommend This Motherless Land for reader's who enjoy reading stories about sisterhood, identity, family drama and stories that span decades.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an ARC of This Motherless Land.
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell
3.5
Educational, readable and at times funny.
Montell invites reader's to think about language and the way it is used to uphold/create power structure. She dives into the ways in which women's speech patterns are policed and criticized. She also addresses the ways in insults are often geared to be insults to women even when men try to insult other men.
Overall I enjoyed the ride and would recommend to people who are interested in thinking more critically about language and words.
This book is primarily center on english in the United States and although it tries to be intersectional it misses the mark in some areas. I would recommend to pick this up with other more intersectional reads.
Montell invites reader's to think about language and the way it is used to uphold/create power structure. She dives into the ways in which women's speech patterns are policed and criticized. She also addresses the ways in insults are often geared to be insults to women even when men try to insult other men.
Overall I enjoyed the ride and would recommend to people who are interested in thinking more critically about language and words.
This book is primarily center on english in the United States and although it tries to be intersectional it misses the mark in some areas. I would recommend to pick this up with other more intersectional reads.
Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton
Devils Kill Devils is a dark horror/fantasy standalone featuring vampires, gods, and action-packed, blood-fueled sequences.
I was conflicted about this book around the 20% mark. I was initially hooked but slowly lost interest as the story progressed. Then, around the 40% mark, I fell back in love with it. The opening storyline—where our main character Sarita has a “guardian angel” who has saved her life multiple times but suddenly goes dark and kills a loved one—was intriguing. However, as more characters were introduced, the tone shifted, and the layers of the more complex, grander story began to unfold. The plot expands into themes of the occult, vampires, and gods, with some very gory scenes. While there was a lull for me between the 20% and 40% marks, those chapters were crucial for setting up the explosive, well-plotted ending.
That said, Devils Kill Devils offers a fresh and darker take on vampire mythology. I'd recommend it to fans of Stephen King, Mariana Enriquez, and those who enjoyed the show Supernatural.
I'll take whatever Johnny Compton writes next.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
medium-paced
4.0
Devils Kill Devils is a dark horror/fantasy standalone featuring vampires, gods, and action-packed, blood-fueled sequences.
I was conflicted about this book around the 20% mark. I was initially hooked but slowly lost interest as the story progressed. Then, around the 40% mark, I fell back in love with it. The opening storyline—where our main character Sarita has a “guardian angel” who has saved her life multiple times but suddenly goes dark and kills a loved one—was intriguing. However, as more characters were introduced, the tone shifted, and the layers of the more complex, grander story began to unfold. The plot expands into themes of the occult, vampires, and gods, with some very gory scenes. While there was a lull for me between the 20% and 40% marks, those chapters were crucial for setting up the explosive, well-plotted ending.
That said, Devils Kill Devils offers a fresh and darker take on vampire mythology. I'd recommend it to fans of Stephen King, Mariana Enriquez, and those who enjoyed the show Supernatural.
I'll take whatever Johnny Compton writes next.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim
Blood of the Old Kings is a standalone Korean fantasy novel filled with dragons, sorcerers, and political intrigue. In this world, the empire’s magic is powered by the corpses of dead sorcerers, serving as eternal batteries. The story follows three characters resisting the empire’s grip: Loran, who seeks revenge after losing her family and gains a powerful sword from a dragon; Cain, a loose cannon investigating a loved one’s death in the capital; and Arienne, a magic student hearing the voice of a dead sorcerer, introducing us to the book’s unique magic system.
Each character offers a fresh perspective on the empire’s control, politics, and revolution. Loran is relentless in her quest for vengeance, Cain’s shady connections keep his chapters exciting, and Arienne’s journey into magic discovery was especially engaging.
While I enjoyed the book, some character developments felt unearned, and more time spent on growth would have been appreciated.
One aspect I loved was the representation of a character who wears glasses and is impaired without them—something rarely seen in fantasy. I also appreciated that one of the main heroines is an over-30-year-old badass! We definitely need more non-male characters in fantasy with agency who are over 30.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced reader’s copy of Blood of the Old Kings.
3.5
Blood of the Old Kings is a standalone Korean fantasy novel filled with dragons, sorcerers, and political intrigue. In this world, the empire’s magic is powered by the corpses of dead sorcerers, serving as eternal batteries. The story follows three characters resisting the empire’s grip: Loran, who seeks revenge after losing her family and gains a powerful sword from a dragon; Cain, a loose cannon investigating a loved one’s death in the capital; and Arienne, a magic student hearing the voice of a dead sorcerer, introducing us to the book’s unique magic system.
Each character offers a fresh perspective on the empire’s control, politics, and revolution. Loran is relentless in her quest for vengeance, Cain’s shady connections keep his chapters exciting, and Arienne’s journey into magic discovery was especially engaging.
While I enjoyed the book, some character developments felt unearned, and more time spent on growth would have been appreciated.
One aspect I loved was the representation of a character who wears glasses and is impaired without them—something rarely seen in fantasy. I also appreciated that one of the main heroines is an over-30-year-old badass! We definitely need more non-male characters in fantasy with agency who are over 30.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced reader’s copy of Blood of the Old Kings.
Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America by Paola Ramos
3.5
Defectors is a highly digestible non-fiction book that explores the trend of some Latinos becoming radicalized to the far-right in the U.S. Through a mix of history, trends, and personal interviews, the book delves into the political trauma in Central and South America, often driven by U.S. intervention, which has fueled distrust in government systems and heightened fears of communism, especially among Cuban Americans.
Paola Ramos highlights the shift in Latino voting patterns, noting how despite Trump's anti-immigrant stance, he gained more Latino support in 2020 than in 2016. Ramos travels across the country, meeting GOP candidates, January 6th insurrectionists, and Evangelical leaders to understand why some Latinos support issues that seem at odds with their interests. The book shows how traditionalism, tribalism, and political trauma have been used to radicalize this community.
Overall, Defectors is a great introduction to this emerging trend. It’s easy to read and digest, though at times a bit repetitive. I wish the author had delved further into the nuances, but it’s a valuable starting point for understanding this shift.
I do recommend Defectors specially for people in the U.S who identify as part of the Latino/Hispanic community.
Paola Ramos highlights the shift in Latino voting patterns, noting how despite Trump's anti-immigrant stance, he gained more Latino support in 2020 than in 2016. Ramos travels across the country, meeting GOP candidates, January 6th insurrectionists, and Evangelical leaders to understand why some Latinos support issues that seem at odds with their interests. The book shows how traditionalism, tribalism, and political trauma have been used to radicalize this community.
Overall, Defectors is a great introduction to this emerging trend. It’s easy to read and digest, though at times a bit repetitive. I wish the author had delved further into the nuances, but it’s a valuable starting point for understanding this shift.
I do recommend Defectors specially for people in the U.S who identify as part of the Latino/Hispanic community.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage & Anchor for an advanced reader’s copy of Defectors.