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girlonbooks's reviews
386 reviews
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I both loved this book and I didn’t. I wanted it to end and I didn’t. Before I say anything else let me make it clear that I am a SMG Stan for life! The woman can write and well. I would read a grocery list if it had her signature at the bottom. For whatever reason, however, this story just didn’t have me very gripped. I did finish it, though, so it deserves at least 3 stars for that. Also, the narration was seriously top notch and I really knew these characters by the end. So def go the audiobook route if you’re able and maybe don’t expect this book to change your life. To sum up: While I honestly relate to and agree with a lot of the criticisms about this book I’m also not honestly able to say I didn’t like it. I guess whatever spell Moreno-Garcia has on me is there for the long haul (Not that I’m complaining?) because I’ll probably buy every book she ever writes.
✨ Read this book because: you have often longed for your life to be more like a movie or can relate to a starry-eyed Latina getting herself into a real big mess.
✨ Content warnings for this book: violence, organized crime, state sanctioned violence, corrupt government, kidnapping, sexual content, medical stuff, gun violence
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
🐈🐈🐈 Three Stars (As rated in Leonora’s cat)
Maite knows big love is out there; she’s read about it in all her favorite comic books. But the pieces of romance she’s found IRL are just so… boring! She goes from her job to her home to her mother’s house and back again, always imagining that something unusual might whisk her into a whirlwind of intrigue. When her neighbor, Leonora, asks that she cat-sit for a long weekend, Maite agrees simply because she has nothing better to do. But when Leonora doesn’t return as planned, Maite uncovers a lot more excitement than she was prepared to handle. If only a dashing young man were to come to her aid. Or maybe even three?
Maite knows big love is out there; she’s read about it in all her favorite comic books. But the pieces of romance she’s found IRL are just so… boring! She goes from her job to her home to her mother’s house and back again, always imagining that something unusual might whisk her into a whirlwind of intrigue. When her neighbor, Leonora, asks that she cat-sit for a long weekend, Maite agrees simply because she has nothing better to do. But when Leonora doesn’t return as planned, Maite uncovers a lot more excitement than she was prepared to handle. If only a dashing young man were to come to her aid. Or maybe even three?
“She had peered into the soul, the life, of another human being, and she had cut out a part of them and they’d never know it.”
I both loved this book and I didn’t. I wanted it to end and I didn’t. Before I say anything else let me make it clear that I am a SMG Stan for life! The woman can write and well. I would read a grocery list if it had her signature at the bottom. For whatever reason, however, this story just didn’t have me very gripped. I did finish it, though, so it deserves at least 3 stars for that. Also, the narration was seriously top notch and I really knew these characters by the end. So def go the audiobook route if you’re able and maybe don’t expect this book to change your life. To sum up: While I honestly relate to and agree with a lot of the criticisms about this book I’m also not honestly able to say I didn’t like it. I guess whatever spell Moreno-Garcia has on me is there for the long haul (Not that I’m complaining?) because I’ll probably buy every book she ever writes.
✨ Read this book because: you have often longed for your life to be more like a movie or can relate to a starry-eyed Latina getting herself into a real big mess.
✨ Content warnings for this book: violence, organized crime, state sanctioned violence, corrupt government, kidnapping, sexual content, medical stuff, gun violence
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, and Violence
The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin
There are layers to this book. It should be stated up front, though, that this is a book that really feels like it was written for white people. That isn't necessarily a bad thing as there are certainly concepts - particularly concerning racism - that white people need to hear more than POC do (for obvious reason). But before I get into all that I want to visit the two points that I felt Ali Benjamin totally nailed with this story:
The first is the absolutely atrocious way that even the most progressive and liberally minded people treat neurodiversity and disability; our systems are set up to punish anyone that is different (like Alex) and the roadblocks and downright cruelty she faces because of that are expertly illustrated in The Smash Up.
The second point is that white people pay witness to a lot of problematic behavior by other white people without mustering the strength to call it out. The preference for "maintaining civility and comfortability" with other white people above all else —even in the presence of inflammatory or potentially inciting behavior— is something that, it would seem, is finally being confronted in certain white circles. Especially since it turns out that sometimes silence can lead to a mob of white people storming the Capitol building. 👀
The Smash-Up could be simply summarized as *SPOILER ALERT* a story about white people who are passive to bad behavior by other white people for a so long that the problematic person they all knew was problematic finally goes off the rails and kills someone for the exactly the reason he always said he would. Unfortunately, there is never really an expressed sense of accountability about this from the witnessing characters. And I can't help but think that was a real opportunity missed.
It takes a lot of contextual understanding to keep us from being the villain in someone else's story. And without open mindedness concerning the trauma of others, we are all essentially an interruption away from doing something horrendous. I really wish this concept as well had been explored more deeply. In Zo's anger she conflates her experience with the police to that of a woman that was sexually assaulted by a supreme court nominee— an act that ends up carrying the potential to actually damage the integrity of other survivors. For his part, and in his willful ignorance about his friend and business partner's true character, Ethan bears witness to numerous instances of sexually predatory behavior, some of which are implied to even have been physically assaulting. There is no real reckoning for this by either Ethan or Zo. In fact, there never seem to be any real consequences for anyone except Maddie; the one character who was actually a victim in the thing that she was ultimately punished for! If Ali Benjamin's purpose with these respective arcs was to prove that financially stable white American's can basically get away with whatever they want, then give this book an award. Around every renowned predator are all the witnesses - like Ethan - that could have spoken up at any point but either didn't notice anything was wrong or just didn't care to get involved. And I can't say which option is worse.
I think the biggest tragedy about this story by far, however, was all that remained completely unsaid. For example, Zo's rage at not being able to protect Alex from the predators of the world is understandable. Could that not have been related to what every Black mother experiences in knowing how likely it is that their child will be the victim of a hate crime or sanctioned police violence? While there are moments of profound realization by all characters in The Smash-Up, there is a clear veil of white feminism in the way of true intersectionality. At the end of the day, and despite my trying to see the best in it from page one, this is a book is about middle class white people arriving too late to the outrage that more marginalized communities have been describing for generations.
✨ Rep in this book: Neurodiverse supporting character
✨ Content warnings for this book: bullying, sexual violence, sexual assault, cursing, drug use, depression, suicide, death, trauma, medical stuff, car accident
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
🍦🍦🍦 (Three stars as rated in dirty leprechaun flavored ice cream from Cone Heads with extra rainbow sprinkles on top.)
Ethan and his wife Zo have moved from New York City to the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts where they now live with their enigmatically spirited and neurodiverse daughter, Alex. In the wake of a Judge Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court, and a series of other high profile sexual assault cases, Zo and Ethan Frome's lives are upended by their own respective associations with the #MeToo movement. As storylines converge, and their once uncomplicated life spirals more and more off the rails, only one thing is certain - the road they're on is leading to one hell of a "Smash-Up."
Based on Edith Wharton's short story, Ethan Frome, in which a visitor to the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts describes the titled character's daily life as well as his being somewhat of a "fixture" of the town, The Smash Up seeks to modernize and build off its predecessor by imagining Ethan as actually being the narrator in his story, while- one could argue - not actually being the main character anymore.
Ethan and his wife Zo have moved from New York City to the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts where they now live with their enigmatically spirited and neurodiverse daughter, Alex. In the wake of a Judge Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court, and a series of other high profile sexual assault cases, Zo and Ethan Frome's lives are upended by their own respective associations with the #MeToo movement. As storylines converge, and their once uncomplicated life spirals more and more off the rails, only one thing is certain - the road they're on is leading to one hell of a "Smash-Up."
Based on Edith Wharton's short story, Ethan Frome, in which a visitor to the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts describes the titled character's daily life as well as his being somewhat of a "fixture" of the town, The Smash Up seeks to modernize and build off its predecessor by imagining Ethan as actually being the narrator in his story, while- one could argue - not actually being the main character anymore.
"What exactly is the point of a tiny protest in the middle of nowhere seen by almost no one? The point is that the person who does see might need exactly this, exactly now. The point is her individual belief can become part of a collective one. The point is this may or may not change the world but it will almost certainly change her."
There are layers to this book. It should be stated up front, though, that this is a book that really feels like it was written for white people. That isn't necessarily a bad thing as there are certainly concepts - particularly concerning racism - that white people need to hear more than POC do (for obvious reason). But before I get into all that I want to visit the two points that I felt Ali Benjamin totally nailed with this story:
The first is the absolutely atrocious way that even the most progressive and liberally minded people treat neurodiversity and disability; our systems are set up to punish anyone that is different (like Alex) and the roadblocks and downright cruelty she faces because of that are expertly illustrated in The Smash Up.
The second point is that white people pay witness to a lot of problematic behavior by other white people without mustering the strength to call it out. The preference for "maintaining civility and comfortability" with other white people above all else —even in the presence of inflammatory or potentially inciting behavior— is something that, it would seem, is finally being confronted in certain white circles. Especially since it turns out that sometimes silence can lead to a mob of white people storming the Capitol building. 👀
The Smash-Up could be simply summarized as *SPOILER ALERT* a story about white people who are passive to bad behavior by other white people for a so long that the problematic person they all knew was problematic finally goes off the rails and kills someone for the exactly the reason he always said he would. Unfortunately, there is never really an expressed sense of accountability about this from the witnessing characters. And I can't help but think that was a real opportunity missed.
It takes a lot of contextual understanding to keep us from being the villain in someone else's story. And without open mindedness concerning the trauma of others, we are all essentially an interruption away from doing something horrendous. I really wish this concept as well had been explored more deeply. In Zo's anger she conflates her experience with the police to that of a woman that was sexually assaulted by a supreme court nominee— an act that ends up carrying the potential to actually damage the integrity of other survivors. For his part, and in his willful ignorance about his friend and business partner's true character, Ethan bears witness to numerous instances of sexually predatory behavior, some of which are implied to even have been physically assaulting. There is no real reckoning for this by either Ethan or Zo. In fact, there never seem to be any real consequences for anyone except Maddie; the one character who was actually a victim in the thing that she was ultimately punished for! If Ali Benjamin's purpose with these respective arcs was to prove that financially stable white American's can basically get away with whatever they want, then give this book an award. Around every renowned predator are all the witnesses - like Ethan - that could have spoken up at any point but either didn't notice anything was wrong or just didn't care to get involved. And I can't say which option is worse.
I think the biggest tragedy about this story by far, however, was all that remained completely unsaid. For example, Zo's rage at not being able to protect Alex from the predators of the world is understandable. Could that not have been related to what every Black mother experiences in knowing how likely it is that their child will be the victim of a hate crime or sanctioned police violence? While there are moments of profound realization by all characters in The Smash-Up, there is a clear veil of white feminism in the way of true intersectionality. At the end of the day, and despite my trying to see the best in it from page one, this is a book is about middle class white people arriving too late to the outrage that more marginalized communities have been describing for generations.
✨ Rep in this book: Neurodiverse supporting character
✨ Content warnings for this book: bullying, sexual violence, sexual assault, cursing, drug use, depression, suicide, death, trauma, medical stuff, car accident
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
Real Talk: Shakespeare’s The Tempest is just not that great of a story. The thing drags, the characters are tiresome and forgettable and I always leave it wondering what the actual point of it was. Understandably, I went into Bright Ruined Things (being a retelling of the former) with very low expectations. Its predecessor just doesn’t have that much for one to work with. So you can imagine my utter delight at what this turned out to be. Cohoe has taken one of Shakespeare’s most lackluster comedies and exponentially improved it by –*gasp*– turning the thing into a tragedy! What island magic is this!? BRT is the ultimate glow up for what is an otherwise pretty uninteresting story. So here I say, “Samantha Cohoe, if you’re reading this, what are the chances of us being gifted another Shakespeare retelling by you one day? And would you consider doing The Comedy of Errors next?”
✨ Read this book because: you’re into books set in the 1920’s, flawed characters, complicated friendships and love stories that aren’t at all what they seem – or even what you wanted them to be.
✨ Content warnings for this book: bullying, neglect, threats of sexual violence, adultery, abuse, imprisonment, kidnapping, trauma, fire, death, enslavement, gaslighting, toxic relationships
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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 was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of Bright Ruined Things by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
🎆🎆🎆🎆 Four Stars (as rated in the fireworks at midnight)
On an island where the magical family Prosper rules supreme, “mousy” Mae is regarded as an outcast and even a nuisance. Known for her meek and eagerly obliging nature, all Mae has ever truly wanted is to be accepted by the family she depends on and to learn the magical skills for which they’re known the world over. On the eve of the summer solstice, Mae stumbles on something that could very well be her ticket into the world that’s always shut her out. With her days on the island numbered and her options limited, Mae is determined to finally take what she’s always wanted. But this magic comes with a price that Mae isn’t exactly in a position to pay. At least, not without a little help…
🎆🎆🎆🎆 Four Stars (as rated in the fireworks at midnight)
On an island where the magical family Prosper rules supreme, “mousy” Mae is regarded as an outcast and even a nuisance. Known for her meek and eagerly obliging nature, all Mae has ever truly wanted is to be accepted by the family she depends on and to learn the magical skills for which they’re known the world over. On the eve of the summer solstice, Mae stumbles on something that could very well be her ticket into the world that’s always shut her out. With her days on the island numbered and her options limited, Mae is determined to finally take what she’s always wanted. But this magic comes with a price that Mae isn’t exactly in a position to pay. At least, not without a little help…
“I had finally realized how little I could wring from the Prospers by trying to please them. If I wanted more, I would have to take it.”
Real Talk: Shakespeare’s The Tempest is just not that great of a story. The thing drags, the characters are tiresome and forgettable and I always leave it wondering what the actual point of it was. Understandably, I went into Bright Ruined Things (being a retelling of the former) with very low expectations. Its predecessor just doesn’t have that much for one to work with. So you can imagine my utter delight at what this turned out to be. Cohoe has taken one of Shakespeare’s most lackluster comedies and exponentially improved it by –*gasp*– turning the thing into a tragedy! What island magic is this!? BRT is the ultimate glow up for what is an otherwise pretty uninteresting story. So here I say, “Samantha Cohoe, if you’re reading this, what are the chances of us being gifted another Shakespeare retelling by you one day? And would you consider doing The Comedy of Errors next?”
✨ Read this book because: you’re into books set in the 1920’s, flawed characters, complicated friendships and love stories that aren’t at all what they seem – or even what you wanted them to be.
✨ Content warnings for this book: bullying, neglect, threats of sexual violence, adultery, abuse, imprisonment, kidnapping, trauma, fire, death, enslavement, gaslighting, toxic relationships
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, and Toxic friendship
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
This book really grew on me. I loved the narration from the start (Kathleen McInerney deserves her own genre of the word talented) but I took a minute to connect with the story. Once things get going, though, and the mystery “intensifies,” so to speak, I was officially in it for the long haul. Just something to keep in mind if you’re on the fence about DNFing within the first 50 pages.
✨ Read this book because: you want a cozy winter read with some mystery, the tiniest bit of sexual tension and a lot of politically motivated backstabbing.
✨ Content warnings for this book: descriptive medical stuff, graphic medical trauma, gore, blood, death, death of a parent, murder, poisoning, body horror, war, violence
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
🌨️🌨️🌨️🌨️ Four Stars (as rated in the snow clouds in this splendidly wintery read)
Niece to the queen herself, Wren Southerland might as well be a nobody. Sequestered in the Abbey from a very young age, Wren fought to establish her worth with her exceptional (and magical) healing abilities. Having worked her way up to Lieutenant in the Queen’s army, all Wren wants in the whole world is to be recognized for her value; to be told she matters. But when one moment of misplaced compassion leaves her at the mercy of an enemy spy – compromising her entire mission – Wren risks losing everything she’s spent years worked for. Getting back in the Queen’s good graces will require a bigger gamble than she’s ever taken before, and necessitate allying herself with the very enemy she’s sworn to defeat.
Niece to the queen herself, Wren Southerland might as well be a nobody. Sequestered in the Abbey from a very young age, Wren fought to establish her worth with her exceptional (and magical) healing abilities. Having worked her way up to Lieutenant in the Queen’s army, all Wren wants in the whole world is to be recognized for her value; to be told she matters. But when one moment of misplaced compassion leaves her at the mercy of an enemy spy – compromising her entire mission – Wren risks losing everything she’s spent years worked for. Getting back in the Queen’s good graces will require a bigger gamble than she’s ever taken before, and necessitate allying herself with the very enemy she’s sworn to defeat.
“Maybe the only difference between a monster and a hero was the colour of a soldier’s uniform”
This book really grew on me. I loved the narration from the start (Kathleen McInerney deserves her own genre of the word talented) but I took a minute to connect with the story. Once things get going, though, and the mystery “intensifies,” so to speak, I was officially in it for the long haul. Just something to keep in mind if you’re on the fence about DNFing within the first 50 pages.
✨ Read this book because: you want a cozy winter read with some mystery, the tiniest bit of sexual tension and a lot of politically motivated backstabbing.
✨ Content warnings for this book: descriptive medical stuff, graphic medical trauma, gore, blood, death, death of a parent, murder, poisoning, body horror, war, violence
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War
The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman
I very much wanted to love this story. It has a neat enough premise and I think the bones were there. I just didn't really connect with any of what was happening and felt let down by the end. I can't say it was "bad" in any way, but I certainly had to drag myself through the end. Truth be told, my biggest motivator for finishing this book is that it was my Taurus pick for the month of June and I am nothing if not a completionist!
✨ Read this book because: you need a beach read or something to get you through a flight or longer commute
✨ Content warnings for this book: sexual assault, sexual violence, rape, violence, murder, drowning, gun violence, blackmailing, threats of violence, suicide, stalking
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
🔑🔑🔑 Three Stars (as rated in Emily's car keys)
Mia Eliot is in Hollywood to make a fresh start. Her personal life may be crumbling around her but professionally she's riding the wave of her new-found fame on the critically acclaimed show called, *Jane*. With nothing and no one holding her back, Mia is determined to land her next big role. But the L.A. scene is a lot more cut-throat than what she's gotten used to in London. Mia finds solace one afternoon in commiserating over the whole charade with another actress at an audition. But only moments later the woman is gone, her keys and wallet left behind in Mia's possession. What began for Mia as a random act of kindness is quickly spiraling into something more dangerous. In a city built on fake personas, how far should one actress go to discover what's real?
Mia Eliot is in Hollywood to make a fresh start. Her personal life may be crumbling around her but professionally she's riding the wave of her new-found fame on the critically acclaimed show called, *Jane*. With nothing and no one holding her back, Mia is determined to land her next big role. But the L.A. scene is a lot more cut-throat than what she's gotten used to in London. Mia finds solace one afternoon in commiserating over the whole charade with another actress at an audition. But only moments later the woman is gone, her keys and wallet left behind in Mia's possession. What began for Mia as a random act of kindness is quickly spiraling into something more dangerous. In a city built on fake personas, how far should one actress go to discover what's real?
“It’s hard not to think the worst when you’re trying not to think the worst.”
I very much wanted to love this story. It has a neat enough premise and I think the bones were there. I just didn't really connect with any of what was happening and felt let down by the end. I can't say it was "bad" in any way, but I certainly had to drag myself through the end. Truth be told, my biggest motivator for finishing this book is that it was my Taurus pick for the month of June and I am nothing if not a completionist!
✨ Read this book because: you need a beach read or something to get you through a flight or longer commute
✨ Content warnings for this book: sexual assault, sexual violence, rape, violence, murder, drowning, gun violence, blackmailing, threats of violence, suicide, stalking
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall
I was excited to finally be getting to this one as it was the Cancer pick on my new release book rec list for the month March. Not that it matters that much, but I stand by my designation that this is a total book for Cancers. It's actually a bit ridiculous how much of a water sign book this is. 🌊🐟**
What I enjoyed most about this book is that I went into it with a certain idea of what was happening, and while that misconception crumbled beneath me the plotline that took it's place ended up being 5x better. Kate Alice Marshall brings a nice dose of originality to the "something lurking in the mist" trope and I rather enjoyed that.
✨ Reasons to read (or listen to) this book: diverse cast of side characters that are not stereotypical or problematic (an apparent feat for white authors, let's be real), Native American voice actor
✨ Content warnings for this book: murder, violence, death, blood, spooky and unsettling themes, vomit
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
📹📹📹 Three stars (as rated in all the clues on Abby's camera)
It's been years since Sophia's mother vanished into the Alaskan mist and no one seems to know exactly what happened. All Sophia has are fragmented memories and a story that doesn't make sense. Posing as an eager, bird-loving intern, Sophia makes her way back to the remote refuge of Bitter Rock - a bird preserve shrouded in constant cover of a nearly anthropomorphic mist. But with the answers she's sought for decades almost in reach, Sophia realizes that this truth comes at a price that isn't hers to pay.
It's been years since Sophia's mother vanished into the Alaskan mist and no one seems to know exactly what happened. All Sophia has are fragmented memories and a story that doesn't make sense. Posing as an eager, bird-loving intern, Sophia makes her way back to the remote refuge of Bitter Rock - a bird preserve shrouded in constant cover of a nearly anthropomorphic mist. But with the answers she's sought for decades almost in reach, Sophia realizes that this truth comes at a price that isn't hers to pay.
“What’s down there?” she asked. “A crack in the world,” I answered automatically."
I was excited to finally be getting to this one as it was the Cancer pick on my new release book rec list for the month March. Not that it matters that much, but I stand by my designation that this is a total book for Cancers. It's actually a bit ridiculous how much of a water sign book this is. 🌊🐟**
What I enjoyed most about this book is that I went into it with a certain idea of what was happening, and while that misconception crumbled beneath me the plotline that took it's place ended up being 5x better. Kate Alice Marshall brings a nice dose of originality to the "something lurking in the mist" trope and I rather enjoyed that.
✨ Reasons to read (or listen to) this book: diverse cast of side characters that are not stereotypical or problematic (an apparent feat for white authors, let's be real), Native American voice actor
✨ Content warnings for this book: murder, violence, death, blood, spooky and unsettling themes, vomit
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Terminal illness, Violence, and Body horror
Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin
This book reads like Shakespeare was trying to get featured on an Olivia Rodrigo album and I mean that in the absolute best possible way. 💀 Y'all, this is the full sociopath Macbeth retelling I didn't know I needed. If you like slasher flicks, read R.L Stine as a kid or enjoy when sexual predators get absolutely wrecked by their own karma (👍🏻) then this book is a spooky season must!
✨ Read this book because: the MC is relatable in that depraved AF way that we all felt on some level in our teen years, the ending is satisfying as hell and rife with poetic Shakespearean-style justice ...
✨ Content warnings for this book: sexual assault, sexual violence, alcohol, death, violence, gore, murder, drowning, car accident, medical stuff, drug use, sex, trauma, PTSD, transphobia
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️ Five stars (as rated in the coffins that are literally piling on top of one another by the end of this book)
Elle and her friends are more than just besties; they're The Coven. And no one fucks with The Coven. On the night of Elle's sixteenth birthday, The Coven is closer than ever. Dressed to kill and with their sights set on crashing a party thrown by the St. Andrews Prep Lacrosse Team, The Coven feels absolutely untouchable. That is until the St. Andrews boys corners Elle the way they've cornered countless girls before her. In the aftermath of her assault, The Coven vows revenge. Reeling from her trauma, Elle transforms herself; she is now Jade and Jade has one mission; take those St. Andrew's perverts down once and for all. And she'll use one of their very own to do it.
Elle and her friends are more than just besties; they're The Coven. And no one fucks with The Coven. On the night of Elle's sixteenth birthday, The Coven is closer than ever. Dressed to kill and with their sights set on crashing a party thrown by the St. Andrews Prep Lacrosse Team, The Coven feels absolutely untouchable. That is until the St. Andrews boys corners Elle the way they've cornered countless girls before her. In the aftermath of her assault, The Coven vows revenge. Reeling from her trauma, Elle transforms herself; she is now Jade and Jade has one mission; take those St. Andrew's perverts down once and for all. And she'll use one of their very own to do it.
“We'll be the witches they don't believe in until it's too late."
This book reads like Shakespeare was trying to get featured on an Olivia Rodrigo album and I mean that in the absolute best possible way. 💀 Y'all, this is the full sociopath Macbeth retelling I didn't know I needed. If you like slasher flicks, read R.L Stine as a kid or enjoy when sexual predators get absolutely wrecked by their own karma (👍🏻) then this book is a spooky season must!
✨ Read this book because: the MC is relatable in that depraved AF way that we all felt on some level in our teen years, the ending is satisfying as hell and rife with poetic Shakespearean-style justice ...
✨ Content warnings for this book: sexual assault, sexual violence, alcohol, death, violence, gore, murder, drowning, car accident, medical stuff, drug use, sex, trauma, PTSD, transphobia
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Gore, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual assault
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
This book really is aaaaall of the fluffy, teen romance feels. Izumi is such a fun character and one with whom it is very easy to empathize. Her romance with Akio made me very giggly at times and her blunders were just magnificently cringey. While the romance is obviously a primary plot point of the story, let us not overlook just how fantastically loyal and dependable Izumi's friends are. Protagonists are so often left dangling without the structure that a good cast of well developed friends provides. To give us that without a bunch of needless drama surrounding their respective relationships says a lot about the sophistication of Emiko Jean. Would 10/10 recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a quick weekend book/audiobook that will have you squealing while you listen in the car. I could not tear myself away!!
✨ Rep in this book: Japanese-American MC, diverse cast of friends, Japanese and Japanese-American supporting characters
✨ Content warnings for this book: vomit, medical stuff, bullying, alcohol use
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hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
🎵🎵🎵🎵 (four stars as rated in a song played on loop from a cell phone while two people dance in an otherwise empty room)
Izumi Tanaka has big plans for her senior summer and most of them consist of being generally ridiculous with her friends in their home town of Mount Shasta, California. But when Izzy stumbles on a love note to her mom from the dad she's never known, Izzy's whole life changes. Izzy uncovers that her father is none other than the crown prince of Japan, making Izzy a princess herself. Catapulted almost overnight from American anonymity to Japanese royalty would make anybody's head spin. Throw in some conniving cousins, an unrelenting paparazzi, a scrupulous lady in waiting and a unshakable body guard (who is really nailing that sexy brooding thing, by the way) and suddenly Izzy's summer is nothing like what she'd envisioned. Does Izzy have it in her to commit to this princess thing forever?
Izumi Tanaka has big plans for her senior summer and most of them consist of being generally ridiculous with her friends in their home town of Mount Shasta, California. But when Izzy stumbles on a love note to her mom from the dad she's never known, Izzy's whole life changes. Izzy uncovers that her father is none other than the crown prince of Japan, making Izzy a princess herself. Catapulted almost overnight from American anonymity to Japanese royalty would make anybody's head spin. Throw in some conniving cousins, an unrelenting paparazzi, a scrupulous lady in waiting and a unshakable body guard (who is really nailing that sexy brooding thing, by the way) and suddenly Izzy's summer is nothing like what she'd envisioned. Does Izzy have it in her to commit to this princess thing forever?
“I used to think the world belonged to me. But I was wrong. I belong to the world. And sometimes … I guess sometimes, our choices have to reflect that.”
This book really is aaaaall of the fluffy, teen romance feels. Izumi is such a fun character and one with whom it is very easy to empathize. Her romance with Akio made me very giggly at times and her blunders were just magnificently cringey. While the romance is obviously a primary plot point of the story, let us not overlook just how fantastically loyal and dependable Izumi's friends are. Protagonists are so often left dangling without the structure that a good cast of well developed friends provides. To give us that without a bunch of needless drama surrounding their respective relationships says a lot about the sophistication of Emiko Jean. Would 10/10 recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a quick weekend book/audiobook that will have you squealing while you listen in the car. I could not tear myself away!!
✨ Rep in this book: Japanese-American MC, diverse cast of friends, Japanese and Japanese-American supporting characters
✨ Content warnings for this book: vomit, medical stuff, bullying, alcohol use
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Alcohol
Moderate: Medical content and Bullying
Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee
If while reading Anna K you thought to yourself, "what that book needs is some more K-pop," then have I got the sequel of your DREAMS! This book is the chunky monkey ice cream of teen dramas. It is just so much stinking fun to DEVOUR in a single sitting. Which, is what I love to do anyway! Full disclosure, Anna K: Away reads a teeny bit slower than its predecessor and a lot of what goes on with some of the characters is clearly set up for book three. Because there is obviously going to be a book three. So. Many. Cliffhangers!
What I think I enjoyed most about this book is how it deals with the fallout of Anna K and Vronsky's relationship as well as Alexia's subsequent death. The whole situation is so horrible traumatizing to everyone and, unlike in Anna Karenina, the reader gets to witness how that all plays out. Even the characters that didn't really know Anna and Alexia discuss how the situation affected them. Everyone carries a small piece of guilt which, is what I like to think would have happened in Anna Karenina had we gotten a bit more at the end there as well. I found this creative decision to be very special and was really pleased with Jenny Lee's choice to use her continuation of the story to give some justice to the memory of Anna K's infamous inspiration. Well done!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
💄💄💄(three stars as rated in The Mystery Girl's signature red lipstick)
Once the teen queen of the New York City, Anna K has all but disappeared from the social scene following the tragic death of her boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. Her father, currently estranged from his own wife, has decided that time away will do the pair of them some good and so it's off to Korea for them both. In their absence, Anna's brother Steven is having troubles of his own. His girlfriend Lolly is preparing for a stint away at drama camp, putting strains on the trust that is still healing from Steven's past infidelity. Steven's best friend Dustin struggles to navigate his own burgeoning relationship with Kimmie, Lolly's younger sister, while simultaneously trying to forge some sort of family unit with his late brother's girlfriend, Natalia. On the other side of country, Beatrice (Vronksy's cousin and BFF), is also reeling from the loss of her partner in crime. She despises Anna K for stealing Alexia from her and has vowed to spend the whole summer drinking and wallowing in misery. That is until a pretty girl working the hotel reception desk catches her eye...
Once the teen queen of the New York City, Anna K has all but disappeared from the social scene following the tragic death of her boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. Her father, currently estranged from his own wife, has decided that time away will do the pair of them some good and so it's off to Korea for them both. In their absence, Anna's brother Steven is having troubles of his own. His girlfriend Lolly is preparing for a stint away at drama camp, putting strains on the trust that is still healing from Steven's past infidelity. Steven's best friend Dustin struggles to navigate his own burgeoning relationship with Kimmie, Lolly's younger sister, while simultaneously trying to forge some sort of family unit with his late brother's girlfriend, Natalia. On the other side of country, Beatrice (Vronksy's cousin and BFF), is also reeling from the loss of her partner in crime. She despises Anna K for stealing Alexia from her and has vowed to spend the whole summer drinking and wallowing in misery. That is until a pretty girl working the hotel reception desk catches her eye...
"Haters are always gonna hate…but everyone loves a good comeback tour."
If while reading Anna K you thought to yourself, "what that book needs is some more K-pop," then have I got the sequel of your DREAMS! This book is the chunky monkey ice cream of teen dramas. It is just so much stinking fun to DEVOUR in a single sitting. Which, is what I love to do anyway! Full disclosure, Anna K: Away reads a teeny bit slower than its predecessor and a lot of what goes on with some of the characters is clearly set up for book three. Because there is obviously going to be a book three. So. Many. Cliffhangers!
What I think I enjoyed most about this book is how it deals with the fallout of Anna K and Vronsky's relationship as well as Alexia's subsequent death. The whole situation is so horrible traumatizing to everyone and, unlike in Anna Karenina, the reader gets to witness how that all plays out. Even the characters that didn't really know Anna and Alexia discuss how the situation affected them. Everyone carries a small piece of guilt which, is what I like to think would have happened in Anna Karenina had we gotten a bit more at the end there as well. I found this creative decision to be very special and was really pleased with Jenny Lee's choice to use her continuation of the story to give some justice to the memory of Anna K's infamous inspiration. Well done!
"It's like waiting for the big one - the big wave. You gotta just follow your gut to tell you when it's the right wave to go for. As soon as you're up on your board and riding it there's no sense in worrying anymore. You just gotta relax into it and ride the wave."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Drug use, and Vomit
Moderate: Death
Minor: Infidelity
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
I first came across this book when researching new releases in February and fully intended to eventually read it but, full disclosure, seeing that Marin Ireland narrated the audio book is what pushed it to the top of my list. As with Leave The World Behind, Ireland's voice carries this book to an entirely different level and I can't imagine experiencing the story without it. She is just that good.
This book is written exquisitely. The prose itself is dynamic, illustrative and even harrowing at times while expertly maintain the whimsical ethos of a teen aged narrator living in a sheltered upper-class American neighborhood in the 1980's. For that I am in genuine awe of Vendela Vida's ability to capture the nostalgia of time and place - one which I have no personal experience with, at that - and forget it into something so perfectly familiar to me that I devoured the entirety of her novel in less than 24 hours. I saw myself in so much of Eulabee and even, truth be told, in Maria Fabiola at times. I think there are relatable traits in the worst of this book's cast of character which is precisely what made the entire thing so deliciously alluring to me.
This book is described as a mystery and even as a thriller. I would, however, classify We Run The Tides as contemporary fiction the likes of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Trust Exercise by Susan Choi. It is a story of teenagers that is written as much for adults to enjoy and relate to as for their younger counterparts. And, admittedly, that is my absolute favorite genre of fiction.
✨ Rep in this book: n/a
✨ Content warnings for this book: death, suicide, kidnapping, drowning, murder, sexual content, bullying, vomiting, blood, fatphobia, trauma, death of a parent, drug use, pedophilia, sexual violence, toxic relationship
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dark
funny
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
🛹🛹🛹 (three stars as rated in the oblong shape of Keith's skateboard floating in the waves)
Eulabee has never thought of her life as terribly exceptional. Like every other latchkey kid in the 1980's, Eulabee spends the hours after school and on weekends roaming the neighborhood with her best friend Maria Fabiola. Maria Fabiola is one of the richest kids in Sea Cliff, the upscale San Francisco neighborhood where they both live. Maria Fabiola is pretty and popular and Maria Fabiola always gets her way. When Maria Fabiola goes missing on her way home from school one day after a falling out with Eulabee, everyone in the neighborhood is naturally sick with worry. Everyone except for Eulabee, that is. The police call it kidnapping, the news calls it a local tragedy. Eulabee calls it the biggest sham her former best friend has ever pulled off.
Eulabee has never thought of her life as terribly exceptional. Like every other latchkey kid in the 1980's, Eulabee spends the hours after school and on weekends roaming the neighborhood with her best friend Maria Fabiola. Maria Fabiola is one of the richest kids in Sea Cliff, the upscale San Francisco neighborhood where they both live. Maria Fabiola is pretty and popular and Maria Fabiola always gets her way. When Maria Fabiola goes missing on her way home from school one day after a falling out with Eulabee, everyone in the neighborhood is naturally sick with worry. Everyone except for Eulabee, that is. The police call it kidnapping, the news calls it a local tragedy. Eulabee calls it the biggest sham her former best friend has ever pulled off.
"Separately we are good girls. We behave. Together, some strange alchemy occurs and we are trouble."
I first came across this book when researching new releases in February and fully intended to eventually read it but, full disclosure, seeing that Marin Ireland narrated the audio book is what pushed it to the top of my list. As with Leave The World Behind, Ireland's voice carries this book to an entirely different level and I can't imagine experiencing the story without it. She is just that good.
This book is written exquisitely. The prose itself is dynamic, illustrative and even harrowing at times while expertly maintain the whimsical ethos of a teen aged narrator living in a sheltered upper-class American neighborhood in the 1980's. For that I am in genuine awe of Vendela Vida's ability to capture the nostalgia of time and place - one which I have no personal experience with, at that - and forget it into something so perfectly familiar to me that I devoured the entirety of her novel in less than 24 hours. I saw myself in so much of Eulabee and even, truth be told, in Maria Fabiola at times. I think there are relatable traits in the worst of this book's cast of character which is precisely what made the entire thing so deliciously alluring to me.
This book is described as a mystery and even as a thriller. I would, however, classify We Run The Tides as contemporary fiction the likes of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Trust Exercise by Susan Choi. It is a story of teenagers that is written as much for adults to enjoy and relate to as for their younger counterparts. And, admittedly, that is my absolute favorite genre of fiction.
✨ Rep in this book: n/a
✨ Content warnings for this book: death, suicide, kidnapping, drowning, murder, sexual content, bullying, vomiting, blood, fatphobia, trauma, death of a parent, drug use, pedophilia, sexual violence, toxic relationship
Follow me on: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | Storygraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Murder and Death