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hayleyjames24's reviews
329 reviews
Everything Is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I love the power running gives me to believe in myself. Believe in my body and the space it takes up in the world. Each step is more than a movement forward, it’s a mark on the earth to say “I am here. I am loved. I am enough”
This book fully took my heart and I did not expect it too! It was so sad and tense but also hopeful and makes you truly reflect. Having it set in Aotearoa and written by a NZ author sealed the deal for me and is so freaking special to read about familiar places, language (especially the macrons over the Māori words something about that makes my heart sing) birds, descriptions of undulating hills and salty air at the beach. This is a bloody epic debut! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I have been running for a wee while and it definitely inspired me to get out there and go for my runs and remember the love of it and how powerful it feels to run!
This book is very heavy and should come with a few trigger warnings for people who are sensitive to these topics. It did a lot and talked about some really deep things which as body issues, family issues (absent dad), exploitative relationships, toxic sport careers, eating disorders, underdog!!! Kinda found family but also did it SO well. I found myself sucked in everytime I opened this book.
Mickey has my heart!!!!!!
I can feel the anxiety in my stomach as I qread this book, it’s so real being in Mickey’s mind anxiously awaiting the next thing that’s gonna happen to her. It feels like watching a car accident, you know it’s gonna all come crashing but you’re just waiting for it to happen and the character doesn’t know what’s around the corner. I was always rooting for Mickey hoping she would make it through and keep going!
I did get to one part before bed where I was absolutely sobbing and couldn’t stop to go to sleep haha so it truly took me on a journey.
it’s so visceral and real. The writing is kinda basic (????) but the pictures she paints and the feelings that are sitting in my body when I’m reading are crazy. I loved the flash backs and flash forwards, it really kept you wanting to turn pages.
The way she described running as the only thing that quietened her brain and stopped her pain was so important to me, I definitely don’t have as much pain she she does but when I get horribly anxious a run is the only thing that makes my brain stfu
Really great musing on women’s rights and women running alone, and a bit of feminism
This book fully took my heart and I did not expect it too! It was so sad and tense but also hopeful and makes you truly reflect. Having it set in Aotearoa and written by a NZ author sealed the deal for me and is so freaking special to read about familiar places, language (especially the macrons over the Māori words something about that makes my heart sing) birds, descriptions of undulating hills and salty air at the beach. This is a bloody epic debut! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I have been running for a wee while and it definitely inspired me to get out there and go for my runs and remember the love of it and how powerful it feels to run!
This book is very heavy and should come with a few trigger warnings for people who are sensitive to these topics. It did a lot and talked about some really deep things which as body issues, family issues (absent dad), exploitative relationships, toxic sport careers, eating disorders, underdog!!! Kinda found family but also did it SO well. I found myself sucked in everytime I opened this book.
Mickey has my heart!!!!!!
I can feel the anxiety in my stomach as I qread this book, it’s so real being in Mickey’s mind anxiously awaiting the next thing that’s gonna happen to her. It feels like watching a car accident, you know it’s gonna all come crashing but you’re just waiting for it to happen and the character doesn’t know what’s around the corner. I was always rooting for Mickey hoping she would make it through and keep going!
I did get to one part before bed where I was absolutely sobbing and couldn’t stop to go to sleep haha so it truly took me on a journey.
it’s so visceral and real. The writing is kinda basic (????) but the pictures she paints and the feelings that are sitting in my body when I’m reading are crazy. I loved the flash backs and flash forwards, it really kept you wanting to turn pages.
The way she described running as the only thing that quietened her brain and stopped her pain was so important to me, I definitely don’t have as much pain she she does but when I get horribly anxious a run is the only thing that makes my brain stfu
Really great musing on women’s rights and women running alone, and a bit of feminism
Finding our grit, pushing to excellence but also learning to love ourselves and the journey. Female friendships!!!!!!
Love the (very) secondary love story with Niall 😭 Mickey deserves this
Love the (very) secondary love story with Niall 😭 Mickey deserves this
I love Mickey, I love Phillipa!!! I love Bonnie I love Niall - these characters have my heart
I was rooting for Mickey the whole way and I kinda like how the ending was open, it felt like it brought the themes of finding our grit and learning to love ourselves and healing to a full circle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Mental illness
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"From now on, I intend to gather close all the things that are important to me, I will make my own anthology."
I grinned and kicked my feet through the last pages of this. It was so freaking charming and whimsical. If you are ✨soft, emotional girl in your twenties✨ you'll love this. (It reminded me deeply of "Before the Coffee Gets Cold so if you liked that, I think you'll like this)
"What you are looking for is in the library" follows 5 characters in all different ages and stagesin a slice of life format. All of them have a gripe with life or wish for things to be different than their current circumstances, and they all find their answers within a Community House and Library.
I personally really connected with Ryo (35, accountant) Natsumi (40, former magazine editor) and Hiroya (30, NEET, not in employment, education or training)
I personally love a translated Japanese fiction that meanders along with the characters teaching lessons and giving you warm and fuzzy feels. This novel was so charming and cosy and I loved it. I wrote down so many quotes and felt like I could journal or mull over a lot of the conversations that were had throughout. I read this from Friday afternoon to Saturday night and found myself completely immersed in the settings and the minds of these characters.
It romanticises the mundane in the most gorgeous way, and really digs into the deep physiological questions a lot of us have from our mid twenties onward.
It explores what it means to have a good life, muses about work and careers, retiring and what it actually all means, pursuing the jobs that we actually want vs the safe option, motherhood and careers, being a woman and having a career, anxiety, depression and feeling like you were made for more. (Man this made me feel alllllll the feels.)
The importance of third places was deep throughout the novel with all the characters get all their information and great thinking points from their community house/library. It makes it such an important structure and representation for learning about life and the characters taking small evening classes at their local community house/school was a beautiful nod to the importance of community.
Also loved the discussion on creativity and being a creative while also having to do "real life" and it not being "realistic" to pursue those dreams. (these bits really hit for me in the current stage I'm in with my own creativity.)
The importance of third places was deep throughout the novel with all the characters get all their information and great thinking points from their community house/library. It makes it such an important structure and representation for learning about life and the characters taking small evening classes at their local community house/school was a beautiful nod to the importance of community.
"Everybody is connected. And any one of their connections could be the start of a network that branches in many directions. If you wait for the right time to make connections, it might never happen. But if you show your face around, talk to people and see enough to give you the confidence that could work out then 'one day' might turn into 'tomorrow'"
It has deep themes of trust, in ourselves, each other and the universe to bring it all together - I especially loved this theme in terms of creativity (see above lol) It pushes how important it is to believe in yourself and your creativity and how its not a failure to have a "proper" job and also pursue your creativity and be happy with that and it doesn't make your creative endevours any less important.
Loved this quote "What kind of job do you think is totally secure?"
"A public employee like you, or a big corporation?"
"Nothing is," He replies gently "not one single job I could name is absolutely secure. Everybody just does their best to hang in there, trying to balance it all"
The characters are all intersperesed however briefly into each others stories and its such a delight to see the characters pop up again.
I think this quote is a great conclusion for this long ass review
"Belonging is an ambiguous state"
I grinned and kicked my feet through the last pages of this. It was so freaking charming and whimsical. If you are ✨soft, emotional girl in your twenties✨ you'll love this. (It reminded me deeply of "Before the Coffee Gets Cold so if you liked that, I think you'll like this)
"What you are looking for is in the library" follows 5 characters in all different ages and stagesin a slice of life format. All of them have a gripe with life or wish for things to be different than their current circumstances, and they all find their answers within a Community House and Library.
I personally really connected with Ryo (35, accountant) Natsumi (40, former magazine editor) and Hiroya (30, NEET, not in employment, education or training)
I personally love a translated Japanese fiction that meanders along with the characters teaching lessons and giving you warm and fuzzy feels. This novel was so charming and cosy and I loved it. I wrote down so many quotes and felt like I could journal or mull over a lot of the conversations that were had throughout. I read this from Friday afternoon to Saturday night and found myself completely immersed in the settings and the minds of these characters.
It romanticises the mundane in the most gorgeous way, and really digs into the deep physiological questions a lot of us have from our mid twenties onward.
It explores what it means to have a good life, muses about work and careers, retiring and what it actually all means, pursuing the jobs that we actually want vs the safe option, motherhood and careers, being a woman and having a career, anxiety, depression and feeling like you were made for more. (Man this made me feel alllllll the feels.)
The importance of third places was deep throughout the novel with all the characters get all their information and great thinking points from their community house/library. It makes it such an important structure and representation for learning about life and the characters taking small evening classes at their local community house/school was a beautiful nod to the importance of community.
Also loved the discussion on creativity and being a creative while also having to do "real life" and it not being "realistic" to pursue those dreams. (these bits really hit for me in the current stage I'm in with my own creativity.)
The importance of third places was deep throughout the novel with all the characters get all their information and great thinking points from their community house/library. It makes it such an important structure and representation for learning about life and the characters taking small evening classes at their local community house/school was a beautiful nod to the importance of community.
"Everybody is connected. And any one of their connections could be the start of a network that branches in many directions. If you wait for the right time to make connections, it might never happen. But if you show your face around, talk to people and see enough to give you the confidence that could work out then 'one day' might turn into 'tomorrow'"
It has deep themes of trust, in ourselves, each other and the universe to bring it all together - I especially loved this theme in terms of creativity (see above lol) It pushes how important it is to believe in yourself and your creativity and how its not a failure to have a "proper" job and also pursue your creativity and be happy with that and it doesn't make your creative endevours any less important.
Loved this quote "What kind of job do you think is totally secure?"
"A public employee like you, or a big corporation?"
"Nothing is," He replies gently "not one single job I could name is absolutely secure. Everybody just does their best to hang in there, trying to balance it all"
The characters are all intersperesed however briefly into each others stories and its such a delight to see the characters pop up again.
I think this quote is a great conclusion for this long ass review
"Belonging is an ambiguous state"
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Wasn’t in the mood for such a large book and although I felt like I was flying through it it didn’t interest me enough for me to finish a 500 page book. Maybe I would come back to it when I don’t feel so intimidated by it
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Never really keen on an open ended ending - especially in a contemporary novel that is absolutely a stand alone.
When we finally got to read her letter that blew up her life, I did think that it was incredibly written.
Not a huge amount of character development, we don't see Mickey necessarily right her wrongs, but we do get the start of her doing something about it. But I definitely rooted for her. Just wanted her to sort her shit out tbh haha.
Mickeys flaws and the industry she works in (journalism) were the main focus of this book, but there were also so many themes that hit different for young women.
It was a really interesting look at dream careers, being a black person in your dream career, going viral (or wanting too) going home to people who never left and thinking what if? The good ol mid/late twenties what the fuck am I doing with my life? Am i making the right decision? What the fuck IS the right decision? Disappointing family and awkward family dynamics. Trauma in relationships
Loved Mickey's grandma and she felt like a real character to me.
It was kinda giving way less unhinged Yellowface by R.F Kuan and a better written and less pop culture
heavy The List by Yomi Adegoke which I enjoyed. I like a deep dive into a particular industry and looking at it through the lens of racism, or homophobia etc (I do wish this gave us more of that - it focused a massive amount of plot time to interpersonal relationships andinfidality
Idk whether it's just because I've read so many literary fiction messy girl in their twenties blowing up their career books that have been coming out recently that it didn't quite hit for me the way I think it would and could for someone else. I can feel it's on the precipice of greatness and it would be earth shattering for someone who has been in similar situations as Mickey so definitely acknowledge that just because I read it at a time I didn't really need what it had to say (in terms of relationships, family trauma, not being over old love, struggling with self within love although the themes of career, not knowing who you are in terms of career and wanting your words to mean something, and needing outside validation to figure out whether you are what you see yourself as is what i deeply deeply related too) it was powerful regardless.
It was a very easy and quick read, I found myself keen to pick it up again. Would recommend for someone who likes this genre and isn't oversaturated with it. I do wish that she had focused more on the manifesto that goes viral a little sooner in the book cos thats what the back leads you to believe is the focus but it's a lot of Mickey making terrible decisions and spiralling.
Would definitely read more from this author.
Not a huge amount of character development, we don't see Mickey necessarily right her wrongs, but we do get the start of her doing something about it. But I definitely rooted for her. Just wanted her to sort her shit out tbh haha.
Mickeys flaws and the industry she works in (journalism) were the main focus of this book, but there were also so many themes that hit different for young women.
It was a really interesting look at dream careers, being a black person in your dream career, going viral (or wanting too) going home to people who never left and thinking what if? The good ol mid/late twenties what the fuck am I doing with my life? Am i making the right decision? What the fuck IS the right decision? Disappointing family and awkward family dynamics. Trauma in relationships
Loved Mickey's grandma and she felt like a real character to me.
It was kinda giving way less unhinged Yellowface by R.F Kuan and a better written and less pop culture
heavy The List by Yomi Adegoke which I enjoyed. I like a deep dive into a particular industry and looking at it through the lens of racism, or homophobia etc (I do wish this gave us more of that - it focused a massive amount of plot time to interpersonal relationships and
Idk whether it's just because I've read so many literary fiction messy girl in their twenties blowing up their career books that have been coming out recently that it didn't quite hit for me the way I think it would and could for someone else. I can feel it's on the precipice of greatness and it would be earth shattering for someone who has been in similar situations as Mickey so definitely acknowledge that just because I read it at a time I didn't really need what it had to say (in terms of relationships, family trauma, not being over old love, struggling with self within love although the themes of career, not knowing who you are in terms of career and wanting your words to mean something, and needing outside validation to figure out whether you are what you see yourself as is what i deeply deeply related too) it was powerful regardless.
It was a very easy and quick read, I found myself keen to pick it up again. Would recommend for someone who likes this genre and isn't oversaturated with it. I do wish that she had focused more on the manifesto that goes viral a little sooner in the book cos thats what the back leads you to believe is the focus but it's a lot of Mickey making terrible decisions and spiralling.
Would definitely read more from this author.
Sadness Is a White Bird by Moriel Rothman-Zecher
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was quite a hard (but important) read. It’s the story of an Israeli man who is on the cusp of adulthood - adulthood that means joining the IDF and fighting for his country and land.) Yonathon meets Palestinian twins Laith and Nimreen and it changes his whole perspective of what it means to live and what’s important. This was such an intense novel, it took me longer to read than I thought cos I had to really be in a place to appreciate its construction and what it was saying amongst all the other information I was getting about Palestine via social media.
It was so poetic, all the tiny little details of breathing, or swallowing or laughter were enhanced and you really felt like you were experiencing it. Lots of metaphor and lingering sentences and descriptions of mundane things.
The cognitive dissonance that our main character had throughout the book was hard to read, the love he felt for his Palestinian friends and the actions he was taking against Palestine and the beliefs he grew up with really were the biggest antagonist in this book. There is also themes of grappling with sexuality and what that means as a soldier and the macho'ness that comes with that which was an interesting plot point too as the novel wound on Yonathon fell more and more in love with the twins.
I felt like I had a better understanding of the way that people in Israel were raised and why they do the things they do through reading this book, and although it was written by an Israeli American I think it was a very neutral (almost more sympathetic to the Palestinian side) but was so interesting to hear that perspective.
I think I’d need to read it again to get a few more of the references, or just think deeper about it. Definitely has made me want to look up and read the poets that are mentioned throughout the novel (and the poem that the books title came from)
Such an immersive book, you can smell, hear, taste and see everything that is going on around Palestine/Israel. Gives great descriptions of checkpoints and the thoughts and feelings that Palestinians and Israelis are feeling in those moments. It’s very tender and very complex and there is a lot of love in this.
It can get a bit over sexualised and a tad graphic (I cringed a few times at the language describing sex and other bodily functions haha).
I would recommend to broaden your horizons and be able to think a little deeper about this genocide and I would definitely read more from this author. Would be a fantastic book club read.
It was so poetic, all the tiny little details of breathing, or swallowing or laughter were enhanced and you really felt like you were experiencing it. Lots of metaphor and lingering sentences and descriptions of mundane things.
The cognitive dissonance that our main character had throughout the book was hard to read, the love he felt for his Palestinian friends and the actions he was taking against Palestine and the beliefs he grew up with really were the biggest antagonist in this book. There is also themes of grappling with sexuality and what that means as a soldier and the macho'ness that comes with that which was an interesting plot point too as the novel wound on Yonathon fell more and more in love with the twins.
I felt like I had a better understanding of the way that people in Israel were raised and why they do the things they do through reading this book, and although it was written by an Israeli American I think it was a very neutral (almost more sympathetic to the Palestinian side) but was so interesting to hear that perspective.
I think I’d need to read it again to get a few more of the references, or just think deeper about it. Definitely has made me want to look up and read the poets that are mentioned throughout the novel (and the poem that the books title came from)
Such an immersive book, you can smell, hear, taste and see everything that is going on around Palestine/Israel. Gives great descriptions of checkpoints and the thoughts and feelings that Palestinians and Israelis are feeling in those moments. It’s very tender and very complex and there is a lot of love in this.
It can get a bit over sexualised and a tad graphic (I cringed a few times at the language describing sex and other bodily functions haha).
I would recommend to broaden your horizons and be able to think a little deeper about this genocide and I would definitely read more from this author. Would be a fantastic book club read.
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
This book is so sweet and heartwarming but also hits some real deep cut topics.
Themes of homophobia, religion, and religious trauma, racism and culture, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are touched on throughout the novel but I really enjoyed hearing about teenagers wanted to reconnect with their cultures and being brave enough to stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
The concept of being at a catholic school and being queer was really interesting, I wish we dug a little deeper into religion and queerness and the narratives around that. The most interesting parts were the confessionals with the priests and times when there was discussion (and fights) about it at school.
I’m 27, so not in the age range of the target audience of this book but I work in a high school library so try to keep up with YA releases. While I liked this books themes, the writing style was a little cringe for me at times and it sometimes felt a little stream of consciousness??? I feel like it could’ve been a lot shorter and been punchier.
I did really grow to love the characters and the ending was very very sweet.
I appreciated Yami’s family dynamic and the way the author dealt with issues in their family like their Dad being sent back to Mexico, and the way they have to be so careful around police etc, how they have to work twice as hard to be able to live like everyone else.
The author really swung hard on this book and thinking back at all the themes and all the issues she tried to work with I can appreciate that she seemed to do each one justice. Maybe a little more depth and it being less drawn out could’ve helped but for teenagers I think it’s a great starting point for thinking about these things.
Overall it was enjoyable and I came to love the characters: it hits a lot of birds with one stone well and I’m glad it exists. Although I can’t really get behind the youthfulness of the writing style I think it’s an important book
Themes of homophobia, religion, and religious trauma, racism and culture, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are touched on throughout the novel but I really enjoyed hearing about teenagers wanted to reconnect with their cultures and being brave enough to stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
The concept of being at a catholic school and being queer was really interesting, I wish we dug a little deeper into religion and queerness and the narratives around that. The most interesting parts were the confessionals with the priests and times when there was discussion (and fights) about it at school.
I’m 27, so not in the age range of the target audience of this book but I work in a high school library so try to keep up with YA releases. While I liked this books themes, the writing style was a little cringe for me at times and it sometimes felt a little stream of consciousness??? I feel like it could’ve been a lot shorter and been punchier.
I did really grow to love the characters and the ending was very very sweet.
I appreciated Yami’s family dynamic and the way the author dealt with issues in their family like their Dad being sent back to Mexico, and the way they have to be so careful around police etc, how they have to work twice as hard to be able to live like everyone else.
The author really swung hard on this book and thinking back at all the themes and all the issues she tried to work with I can appreciate that she seemed to do each one justice. Maybe a little more depth and it being less drawn out could’ve helped but for teenagers I think it’s a great starting point for thinking about these things.
Overall it was enjoyable and I came to love the characters: it hits a lot of birds with one stone well and I’m glad it exists. Although I can’t really get behind the youthfulness of the writing style I think it’s an important book
Catboy by Benji Nate
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This was a super super cute light quick read that was a lot of fun.
The illustrations were gorgeous and I’ve taken photos to try to recreate some of the outfits that Henry and Olive wear bc CUTE!!!!
Henry is hilarious, I love how quick witted and also oblivious his dialogue is - after all he’s still an actual cat! I forced my husband to read it after me and he CACKLED (and proceeded to want to buy it as a coffee table book)
It’s very self aware and I love all of the parts where they talk about creativity and careers, especially the scene with olives parents and her drop kick brother.
Overall had such a good time with this and read it in a sitting.
I read it as we had bought if for the school library I work at but I think it would hit much better for the 20-late 20s age group as it has a lot of fuck knows what I’m doing with my life vibes. For anyone who wants to be a creative or artist for a living (or just generally) i think you’ll find this endearingly familiar and achingly real ahhahaha.
The illustrations were gorgeous and I’ve taken photos to try to recreate some of the outfits that Henry and Olive wear bc CUTE!!!!
Henry is hilarious, I love how quick witted and also oblivious his dialogue is - after all he’s still an actual cat! I forced my husband to read it after me and he CACKLED (and proceeded to want to buy it as a coffee table book)
It’s very self aware and I love all of the parts where they talk about creativity and careers, especially the scene with olives parents and her drop kick brother.
Overall had such a good time with this and read it in a sitting.
I read it as we had bought if for the school library I work at but I think it would hit much better for the 20-late 20s age group as it has a lot of fuck knows what I’m doing with my life vibes. For anyone who wants to be a creative or artist for a living (or just generally) i think you’ll find this endearingly familiar and achingly real ahhahaha.
Talking at Night by Claire Daverley
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That was a gut punch.
I’ve spent the last two rainy rainy days reading this book and it’s been the perfect backdrop to this agonisingly melancholic novel. My heart hurts.
I started this book not really liking the writing style and thinking our female MC Rosie was a bit of a pick me and although I was enjoying it felt like some of it was a bit cringe and ended it with a deeply hurt heart and the need to sit and stare out my window for a few hours to recalibrate..
The themes of grief, and doing the “right” thing, and what the fuck am I doing with my life, and the portrayals of anxiety and OCD and depression were so visceral. This book is full of deep anger and wide sadness with happy vignettes layered throughout.
This novel is so massive and sweeping and dramatic and I can hear the booming soundtrack playing as I read these final pages, but it’s also so small and slow with everyday vignettes and classic worries and anxieties we all have, whether we’ve made the right decision, who are we making decisions for? What did we miss out on when we chose something else? It’s actually taken my breath away and taken a small part of my heart.
I’ve spent the last two rainy rainy days reading this book and it’s been the perfect backdrop to this agonisingly melancholic novel. My heart hurts.
I started this book not really liking the writing style and thinking our female MC Rosie was a bit of a pick me and although I was enjoying it felt like some of it was a bit cringe and ended it with a deeply hurt heart and the need to sit and stare out my window for a few hours to recalibrate..
The themes of grief, and doing the “right” thing, and what the fuck am I doing with my life, and the portrayals of anxiety and OCD and depression were so visceral. This book is full of deep anger and wide sadness with happy vignettes layered throughout.
This novel is so massive and sweeping and dramatic and I can hear the booming soundtrack playing as I read these final pages, but it’s also so small and slow with everyday vignettes and classic worries and anxieties we all have, whether we’ve made the right decision, who are we making decisions for? What did we miss out on when we chose something else? It’s actually taken my breath away and taken a small part of my heart.
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I enjoyed it, but felt like it’s a bit too long and I’m started to get a bit bored??? The font is very small on the page so it feels like it takes AGES to read a page hahah
Not as much horror as I was expecting but some gross moments.
She’s weaved SO many characters and somehow made them all connect which like big ups.
It’s a complex storyline of dates and different years and before and after the main plot points of the story so you’re introduced to a lot.
Writing style is quite lyrical and dreamy. But her descriptions of place and setting are insanely good. She’s also amazing at describing food! I felt really connected with place in this novel.
It’s an incredible debut. I didn’t overly like any of the characters which I think was a letdown for me, but I was most interested in Binh as a character, she was complex and gross and weird. But actually they were all interesting in their own way. I didn’t have to like them or even root for them to be interested and intrigued by them. They were all very complex and nuanced which was nice, no side character felt not real.
Amazing debut tbh, I just can’t fathom how she kept track of all this as she was writing, it’s an incredible complexly woven story with history and current day and all the different characters (there’s a lot of them, thankful for the key in the front of the book!) I feel came along at the right time before I got bored.
Loved learning about the culture and Vietnamese folklore and really immersing myself in a time and place so different from myself.
I feel like some of the themes and ideas might’ve went over my head in the grasping of the actual story but it was definitely enjoyable
Not as much horror as I was expecting but some gross moments.
She’s weaved SO many characters and somehow made them all connect which like big ups.
It’s a complex storyline of dates and different years and before and after the main plot points of the story so you’re introduced to a lot.
Writing style is quite lyrical and dreamy. But her descriptions of place and setting are insanely good. She’s also amazing at describing food! I felt really connected with place in this novel.
It’s an incredible debut. I didn’t overly like any of the characters which I think was a letdown for me, but I was most interested in Binh as a character, she was complex and gross and weird. But actually they were all interesting in their own way. I didn’t have to like them or even root for them to be interested and intrigued by them. They were all very complex and nuanced which was nice, no side character felt not real.
Amazing debut tbh, I just can’t fathom how she kept track of all this as she was writing, it’s an incredible complexly woven story with history and current day and all the different characters (there’s a lot of them, thankful for the key in the front of the book!) I feel came along at the right time before I got bored.
Loved learning about the culture and Vietnamese folklore and really immersing myself in a time and place so different from myself.
I feel like some of the themes and ideas might’ve went over my head in the grasping of the actual story but it was definitely enjoyable
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed this, with all the hype I think I expected a bit more from it.
It was very cute, and loved the boys relationship, the side characters were all fleshed out well enough and I liked how in depth the talk around politics actually was rather than just being like a very very secondary theme/topic.
I can see why everyone raves,
(Surprising amount of sex???)
Great themes, loved that it talked about bisexuality rather than just being a gay love story. Reminded me of heartstopper but more grown up and a lot more sex
It was very cute, and loved the boys relationship, the side characters were all fleshed out well enough and I liked how in depth the talk around politics actually was rather than just being like a very very secondary theme/topic.
I can see why everyone raves,
(Surprising amount of sex???)
Great themes, loved that it talked about bisexuality rather than just being a gay love story. Reminded me of heartstopper but more grown up and a lot more sex