emilyrosebooks's reviews
595 reviews

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

2.0

I want to preface this with the fact that I already like RuPaul, but this memoir just did not do it for me. The first part of the book outlined his childhood traumas, as well as this imposition of greatness bestowed on him from birth. Even his name was given to him by his mother because she believed he would be special. For the majority of the book, and for the beginning part of his life, this belief seemed to make RuPaul think he was destined to be famous, but he didn't seem to be taking the steps to get there. I'm not saying he didn't, but his memoir seems to be focusing on his drug use and entertaining anecdotes, not on how he managed to change the drag scene forever. This felt more like a memoir of drug abuse and hitting rock bottom to then become sober, and that has its own value, but I was hoping for more about his challenges and obstacles and discovering himself in drag. 

That being said, I have a hard time loving memoirs, and I have heard mixed reviews about this, but I just can't say that I really enjoyed it at all. Still a RuPaul fan though!

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This was a beautiful work of contemporary fiction that absolutely captures how reading is more than just a hobby, or a form of distraction or entertainment, it really can bring people together. I'm enamored with Mukesh and Aleisha and their unlikely friendship. This story is crushing and beautiful in the best ways. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

This book absolutely gets the ka-tet back on track of the quest for the Dark Tower. It is a bit of a side mission, helping the town escape the clutches of the terrible wolves, but there is much connection to the original quest that it doesn't feel out of place. One of my favorites of the series overall. 

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

HO-LY shit, this book had me on my toes! Very dark, and graphic crimes, but it was suspenseful and tense like a good crime novel. I loved Titus, the main character, the first Black sheriff of Charon county, and his backstory and character arc are fantastic. The writing makes it nearly a literary masterpiece, if it weren't for the murder-mystery aspect. Couldn't put this one down. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.0

Proving there can be a rekindled romance even after 30 years of marriage.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

Friends to lovers is always so exhausting because you just see the love so clearly and want them to just shut up and be together already, but the growth of the characters and finding themselves before finally coming together is always so satisfying! Alex, the quiet, reserved teacher type, and Poppy, the bubbly world-traveling writer, have this super fun "summer trip" they started back in college. Emily Henry takes you on their current summer trip while flashing back to all the summer trips before. I laughed out loud, the banter is excellent, and I cried more than once. The perfect amount of *spice that satisfies, but keeps it out of the smut category for sure. 

Loved it!

The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets, and Conspiracy That Let a Killer Go Free by Gregg Olsen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

I loved Gregg Olsen's other book, If You Tell, but this one reads completely differently. For me to enjoy a true crime book it needs 2 things, an interesting crime, and good storytelling. I don't think this has either at this point in the book. 

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Loved it! Fake dating trope, celebrity and "nobody" dating trope. What I really liked about this though was the underlying messaging of loving yourself first. Excellent little rom com that I couldn't put it down!

How Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt, Steven Levitsky

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

I would not identify this as an enjoyable book, because the subject matter about how the democratic institutions in America are being dismantled piece by piece, but it was well written and informative. The history lessons of other democracies in history that have fallen into autocracies is much more in depth than what we learned in history class. I highly recommend this book because I think it is important and informative, but bring your barf bag.

Toxic: The Story of Nine Famous Women in the Tabloid 2000s by Sarah Ditum

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

If you are a millennial, particularly a female, this was so incredibly informative and healing. Each chapter documents the rise, and often the fall, of all the 90s and 2000s icons. I remember so many of the instances referred to in this book, but looking at it through the lens of 2024 and the excellent insight of the author, paints it all in such a different light. If you were growing up and learning how to define and value yourself in this time frame, this is a must read.