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helium's reviews
396 reviews
Severance by Ling Ma
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5
As its title suggests, "Severance" invites its readers to explore, with a certain detachment, the contents within the story that urgently demand attention.
I love when a story is based on dualities, precisely what Ling Ma creates with this book. The social commentaries with a backdrop of an almost apocalyptic situation made this book compelling.
Candace Chen is a millennial searching for her place and purpose in the busy city of New York. Her coming-of-age story juxtaposes her parents' experience as new immigrants in a foreign country. Both parents adamantly push through to become "true" Americans to ensure Candace's successful future in being beneficial to society. Her father's fervent belief in the American Dream and her mother's deep dissatisfaction with not having a career in the United States influence Candace and make her unable to separate herself from the busy bees in such a capitalist city. She continues contributing to society even when everyone she knows has left after the Shen Fever causes a worldwide pandemic.
The continuous dualities and numerous themes in this book, paired with such addictive writing, are what make this book so phenomenal. Despite its slightly nonchalant tone, I was engaged from start to finish.
This book will make you question your purpose in life as you'll find little to no difference between the workers who have a typical 9-5 job and those who are fevered and mindlessly complete their tasks. Should one sever all ties and attachments to achieve genuine happiness and find purpose?
The juxtapositions Ling Ma creates and the reflections she brings forth are pretty disturbing as they make me even more doubtful in a world with no certainty.
As its title suggests, "Severance" invites its readers to explore, with a certain detachment, the contents within the story that urgently demand attention.
I love when a story is based on dualities, precisely what Ling Ma creates with this book. The social commentaries with a backdrop of an almost apocalyptic situation made this book compelling.
Candace Chen is a millennial searching for her place and purpose in the busy city of New York. Her coming-of-age story juxtaposes her parents' experience as new immigrants in a foreign country. Both parents adamantly push through to become "true" Americans to ensure Candace's successful future in being beneficial to society. Her father's fervent belief in the American Dream and her mother's deep dissatisfaction with not having a career in the United States influence Candace and make her unable to separate herself from the busy bees in such a capitalist city. She continues contributing to society even when everyone she knows has left after the Shen Fever causes a worldwide pandemic.
The continuous dualities and numerous themes in this book, paired with such addictive writing, are what make this book so phenomenal. Despite its slightly nonchalant tone, I was engaged from start to finish.
This book will make you question your purpose in life as you'll find little to no difference between the workers who have a typical 9-5 job and those who are fevered and mindlessly complete their tasks. Should one sever all ties and attachments to achieve genuine happiness and find purpose?
The juxtapositions Ling Ma creates and the reflections she brings forth are pretty disturbing as they make me even more doubtful in a world with no certainty.
Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is incredibly difficult for me to believe this is not a memoir.
"Mother In the Dark" is an intimate and raw portrayal of a complicated, dysfunctional family where children are forced into adulthood because their parents lose their way.
Told through the eyes of Anna, the eldest of three daughters, we become acquainted with everything that slowly causes this initially happy and content family of five to disintegrate.
Where does it all begin to go wrong? Whose fault is it? Those are the questions Anna keeps asking herself as she becomes more and more secluded, resentful and angry at herself for being unable to move on from the past. This family's wounds expose the most painful aspects of motherhood, sisterhood and female friendships, showing how far generational trauma can affect even the seemingly happiest individuals and how we never truly know someone, even if they are a family member.
Each character felt immensely real to me with their contradictions, doubts, cruelties and sorrows; they made me feel a range of emotions and, ultimately, so much compassion. Their ever-changing thoughts and behaviour took me on a ride where I could not find one evil but only characters that needed more love and certainty and who do not always know the best course of action and how to heal.
I was captivated from the start and was constantly hungry for more despite the story tugging at my heartstrings. Kayla Maiuri's writing style is addictive and enchanting; I cannot imagine a better way to tell this story. This particular style and storyline are incredibly reminiscent of Elena Ferrante's writing style and stories, and I cannot wait to see what Kayla Maiuri comes out with next.
Thank you, Kayla Maiuri, for gifting me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review
"Mother In the Dark" is an intimate and raw portrayal of a complicated, dysfunctional family where children are forced into adulthood because their parents lose their way.
Told through the eyes of Anna, the eldest of three daughters, we become acquainted with everything that slowly causes this initially happy and content family of five to disintegrate.
Where does it all begin to go wrong? Whose fault is it? Those are the questions Anna keeps asking herself as she becomes more and more secluded, resentful and angry at herself for being unable to move on from the past. This family's wounds expose the most painful aspects of motherhood, sisterhood and female friendships, showing how far generational trauma can affect even the seemingly happiest individuals and how we never truly know someone, even if they are a family member.
Each character felt immensely real to me with their contradictions, doubts, cruelties and sorrows; they made me feel a range of emotions and, ultimately, so much compassion. Their ever-changing thoughts and behaviour took me on a ride where I could not find one evil but only characters that needed more love and certainty and who do not always know the best course of action and how to heal.
I was captivated from the start and was constantly hungry for more despite the story tugging at my heartstrings. Kayla Maiuri's writing style is addictive and enchanting; I cannot imagine a better way to tell this story. This particular style and storyline are incredibly reminiscent of Elena Ferrante's writing style and stories, and I cannot wait to see what Kayla Maiuri comes out with next.
Thank you, Kayla Maiuri, for gifting me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review
L'Élixir d'amour by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"L'élixir d'amour" est l'histoire de Louise et d'Adam, deux anciens amants qui se quittent et se retrouvent séparés par un océan. Louise est à Montréal et Adam, Paris. Au lieu de les séparer, cette distance semble les garder tout aussi proches par l'intermédiaire de courriels qui alimentent leur récit.
Le charme de Schmitt réside dans sa manière d'écrire qui réduit des notions complexes à quelque chose de simple. Dans ce livre-ci, il questionne la véritable nature de l'amour et de la séduction et si l'amour est réellement un choix.
Il n'y réellement a que Schmitt qui puisse écrire un livre à propos de l'amour d'une manière aussi charmante et amusante.
Le charme de Schmitt réside dans sa manière d'écrire qui réduit des notions complexes à quelque chose de simple. Dans ce livre-ci, il questionne la véritable nature de l'amour et de la séduction et si l'amour est réellement un choix.
Il n'y réellement a que Schmitt qui puisse écrire un livre à propos de l'amour d'une manière aussi charmante et amusante.
Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a fun and charming book!
"Under the Influence" follows Harper Cruz, who suddenly finds herself accepting a job out of desperation for which she has almost no information. She moves from her darling New York into an unfamiliar city and starts anew. However, under the shiny exterior and job title, she soon discovers that her inspirational influencer boss is not as perfect as she may seem.
Truly reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed following along with Harper as she learns more about herself through this experience and realizes her mistakes. It is not a book that will make you reflect on much, but I guarantee this book will make you smile at least once. It is also definitely not a complex story, but it does exactly what it sets out to do, and it also does not change the fact that many aspects of Harper's story are relatable for someone in their 20s.
From friendships to building a career, seeking validation, finding true friends and finding love, this book will remind you that sometimes it is okay to take risks and to make mistakes. It all depends on what you do afterwards and who you decide to be.
This book is perfect for escapism, and I do recommend it!
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Under the Influence" follows Harper Cruz, who suddenly finds herself accepting a job out of desperation for which she has almost no information. She moves from her darling New York into an unfamiliar city and starts anew. However, under the shiny exterior and job title, she soon discovers that her inspirational influencer boss is not as perfect as she may seem.
Truly reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed following along with Harper as she learns more about herself through this experience and realizes her mistakes. It is not a book that will make you reflect on much, but I guarantee this book will make you smile at least once. It is also definitely not a complex story, but it does exactly what it sets out to do, and it also does not change the fact that many aspects of Harper's story are relatable for someone in their 20s.
From friendships to building a career, seeking validation, finding true friends and finding love, this book will remind you that sometimes it is okay to take risks and to make mistakes. It all depends on what you do afterwards and who you decide to be.
This book is perfect for escapism, and I do recommend it!
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As someone who always enjoys a book about dysfunctional and complex family dynamics, this book did not quite hit the mark for me.
Its gorgeous book cover hints at the mood and setting of the book, which is one of the aspects I am most fond of. The descriptions of Cape Cod's scenery, alongside the sprinkles of marine biology facts, added an intimate touch that I loved, allowing me to feel the sand between my toes and smell the ocean as I followed each character's stories.
The plot relies on the Gardner family's stories as we are exposed to their inner thoughts and secrets. Under the picture-perfect exterior of this family lies a tangled web of deceit, lies and manipulation. Patriarch Adam is an award-winning marine biologist with bipolar disorder whose selfish exterior hides a man afraid of not having left his mark. Son Ken marries into a wealthy family, trying to live up to his "man of the family" title until his inner rage and insecurities explode, leading him to hurt others around him. Daughter Abby is a famous artist who is only starting to live out her own life without fearing the two men who have overshadowed her entire life.
The dramatic irony was done exceptionally well as I looked forward to each character's revelations and reactions when secrets were unearthed.
If I am honest, I despised being in the shoes of all the male characters and could not stand those book chapters. They are misogynistic, conceited, insufferable and selfish, hardly making them morally gray characters. I am unsure what the purpose is, but I could not stand on their side and struggled to feel empathy for those characters.
Such is family, I suppose. It is hard to condone the wrongdoings of family members when they are all you have known, even though their actions seem outrageous to an outsider.
This was still a beautifully written book with an entertaining plot that involved many themes, such as mental illness, brother-sister relationships, father-children relationships, female friendship and chosen families.
However, nothing in its themes or execution truly surprised me, and the ending left me slightly disappointed.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for gifting me this book for an honest review!
Its gorgeous book cover hints at the mood and setting of the book, which is one of the aspects I am most fond of. The descriptions of Cape Cod's scenery, alongside the sprinkles of marine biology facts, added an intimate touch that I loved, allowing me to feel the sand between my toes and smell the ocean as I followed each character's stories.
The plot relies on the Gardner family's stories as we are exposed to their inner thoughts and secrets. Under the picture-perfect exterior of this family lies a tangled web of deceit, lies and manipulation. Patriarch Adam is an award-winning marine biologist with bipolar disorder whose selfish exterior hides a man afraid of not having left his mark. Son Ken marries into a wealthy family, trying to live up to his "man of the family" title until his inner rage and insecurities explode, leading him to hurt others around him. Daughter Abby is a famous artist who is only starting to live out her own life without fearing the two men who have overshadowed her entire life.
The dramatic irony was done exceptionally well as I looked forward to each character's revelations and reactions when secrets were unearthed.
If I am honest, I despised being in the shoes of all the male characters and could not stand those book chapters. They are misogynistic, conceited, insufferable and selfish, hardly making them morally gray characters. I am unsure what the purpose is, but I could not stand on their side and struggled to feel empathy for those characters.
Such is family, I suppose. It is hard to condone the wrongdoings of family members when they are all you have known, even though their actions seem outrageous to an outsider.
This was still a beautifully written book with an entertaining plot that involved many themes, such as mental illness, brother-sister relationships, father-children relationships, female friendship and chosen families.
However, nothing in its themes or execution truly surprised me, and the ending left me slightly disappointed.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for gifting me this book for an honest review!
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Sunshine Nails" is a heartwarming and charming story revolving around the Tran family as they try to survive as Vietnamese immigrants and small business owners in Toronto.
Based on the stereotype that most nail salon owners are Vietnamese, this book provides an exciting insight into life as salon owners and the challenges that such a life can present.
I loved the multiple points of view of this story and liked following along with this family's adventure as a strong competitor moves across the street from their salon, "Sunshine Nails." I liked being able to get a glimpse of each family member: Debbie, Phil, Jessica, Dustin and Thuy, who are all imperfectly perfect. Despite not being Vietnamese, I also loved how the author included bits and phrases in language, even though I didn't always understand, while also giving us glimpses of the traditions of that culture.
At times funny, at times enraging, and at times heartbreaking, this is a tender and light-hearted read about resilience, power within a community and being brave when faced with difficulties. A perfect summer read!
Thank you, Simon Schuster Canada, for gifting me this copy for an honest review!
Based on the stereotype that most nail salon owners are Vietnamese, this book provides an exciting insight into life as salon owners and the challenges that such a life can present.
I loved the multiple points of view of this story and liked following along with this family's adventure as a strong competitor moves across the street from their salon, "Sunshine Nails." I liked being able to get a glimpse of each family member: Debbie, Phil, Jessica, Dustin and Thuy, who are all imperfectly perfect. Despite not being Vietnamese, I also loved how the author included bits and phrases in language, even though I didn't always understand, while also giving us glimpses of the traditions of that culture.
At times funny, at times enraging, and at times heartbreaking, this is a tender and light-hearted read about resilience, power within a community and being brave when faced with difficulties. A perfect summer read!
Thank you, Simon Schuster Canada, for gifting me this copy for an honest review!
Greek Lessons by Han Kang
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
One thing I always love about Han Kang's writing is that she rarely punctuates her thoughts, which may seem odd to like, but I thoroughly enjoy the way she does it.
The imagery and the feelings that emerge from that particularity in her writing always linger in my mind and in my heart.
Nothing really happens in this book. There isn't even any reflections really, it's just a simple story of two individuals: one who is losing his sight, and the other who has become mute, and how they come to understand each other through a system of language of their own.
It is a quiet and grounding book that forces you to sit down and savor each word as you read on. It's a beautiful and poetic story about human connection and what it means to find comfort in someone, and how naturally it can occur.
I am really loving Han Kang's recent style, which is a lot more abstract and indirect, prompting me to really focus on her words and extract what I need from them.
In this book, I found comfort in sadness, and it was truly an exquisite reading experience.
The imagery and the feelings that emerge from that particularity in her writing always linger in my mind and in my heart.
Nothing really happens in this book. There isn't even any reflections really, it's just a simple story of two individuals: one who is losing his sight, and the other who has become mute, and how they come to understand each other through a system of language of their own.
It is a quiet and grounding book that forces you to sit down and savor each word as you read on. It's a beautiful and poetic story about human connection and what it means to find comfort in someone, and how naturally it can occur.
I am really loving Han Kang's recent style, which is a lot more abstract and indirect, prompting me to really focus on her words and extract what I need from them.
In this book, I found comfort in sadness, and it was truly an exquisite reading experience.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A creative premise, unreliable characters and social commentaries, what more could one ask for in a book?
As it turns out, the answer is a lot.
The story started off strong with its absurdly satirical and scorning tone which, unfortunately, dried out quickly towards the middle. This book speaks the language of any modern book lover, whether you're on BookTok, Bookstagram or Booktwitter, the lingo and references will all be familiar to you. Unfortunately, reading this sometimes felt like reading copy-paste excerpts of Twitter threads and TikTok social justice warriors comments... so let's just say I'm not the biggest fan of that and I doubt this will age well.
Despite the commentaries on cultural appropriation, cancel culture and yellowface which were, at times, interesting, RFK's true opinions always bled through, forcing the reader to have a bias and discouraging any discussions this book seemed to want to create. Despite an attempt to “show” the reader the end message, she only succeeds in “telling” us exactly how to think, and I’m not the greatest appreciator of her style of “telling.”
That's my main issue with this book. It's messy. Promoted as a dark satire, I only found it to be true in the beginning, while the rest is not even close to satire. As such, any efforts RFK seemed to put into trying to write a book that will create discussion and encourage the reader to engage in critical thinking (which is different from her usual writing style) was not successful.
Perhaps this was the goal of the book, but it lost me.
The discussions about the process of publishing and the displays of racism within the industry were interesting, and I definitely found this book to be easy to read, but the resemblance she has with Athena Liu made me, in proper TikTok lingo, side eye the whole narrative. It's incredibly strange, and given my issues with Babel (the incorrect usage of the Chinese language, her own mother tongue), I felt that, through this book, RFK says: "I know, but I don't care, and I am above it." Because even though all the characters have faults, Athena's are easily brushed over and most readers are on her side.
All to say that, once again, I wanted to be impressed, but I just feel indifferent. Are my expectations too high? Oh well, I can live with being a Candace Lee among a sea of fans who aren't short of praise for RFK (a.k.a Athena Liu).
As it turns out, the answer is a lot.
The story started off strong with its absurdly satirical and scorning tone which, unfortunately, dried out quickly towards the middle. This book speaks the language of any modern book lover, whether you're on BookTok, Bookstagram or Booktwitter, the lingo and references will all be familiar to you. Unfortunately, reading this sometimes felt like reading copy-paste excerpts of Twitter threads and TikTok social justice warriors comments... so let's just say I'm not the biggest fan of that and I doubt this will age well.
Despite the commentaries on cultural appropriation, cancel culture and yellowface which were, at times, interesting, RFK's true opinions always bled through, forcing the reader to have a bias and discouraging any discussions this book seemed to want to create. Despite an attempt to “show” the reader the end message, she only succeeds in “telling” us exactly how to think, and I’m not the greatest appreciator of her style of “telling.”
That's my main issue with this book. It's messy. Promoted as a dark satire, I only found it to be true in the beginning, while the rest is not even close to satire. As such, any efforts RFK seemed to put into trying to write a book that will create discussion and encourage the reader to engage in critical thinking (which is different from her usual writing style) was not successful.
Perhaps this was the goal of the book, but it lost me.
The discussions about the process of publishing and the displays of racism within the industry were interesting, and I definitely found this book to be easy to read, but the resemblance she has with Athena Liu made me, in proper TikTok lingo, side eye the whole narrative. It's incredibly strange, and given my issues with Babel (the incorrect usage of the Chinese language, her own mother tongue), I felt that, through this book, RFK says: "I know, but I don't care, and I am above it." Because even though all the characters have faults, Athena's are easily brushed over and most readers are on her side.
All to say that, once again, I wanted to be impressed, but I just feel indifferent. Are my expectations too high? Oh well, I can live with being a Candace Lee among a sea of fans who aren't short of praise for RFK (a.k.a Athena Liu).
Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5
I always enjoy a retelling of a strong woman, and this book is no exception!
It gave me major Circe vibes, but a lot less intense.
One of my main complaints was that the book ends as the story becomes more interesting, but after finding out that this will be a trilogy, I am impatiently waiting to learn the rest of her story.
In this first installment, we are acquainted with a young Morgan who has yet to truly develop her affinity with the healing arts, as many obstacles prevent her from growing into her true potential.
It sheds light on her past and all the reasons that contributed to her becoming a renowned villainess in the Legend of King Arthur.
As a teenager, I was enthralled by his story, so learning more about Megan through the eyes and words of a woman is so enchanting; as we all know, men tend to reduce powerful women to vindictive, selfish and shameful creatures.
I loved the multiple descriptions of nature and the characterizations of the female characters, who are all strong in their own right and deserving of respect.
This was precisely what I needed: an entertaining read with female characters that are incredibly loveable for whom it is hard not to root for.
Thank you, Random House Canada, for gifting me this finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
I always enjoy a retelling of a strong woman, and this book is no exception!
It gave me major Circe vibes, but a lot less intense.
One of my main complaints was that the book ends as the story becomes more interesting, but after finding out that this will be a trilogy, I am impatiently waiting to learn the rest of her story.
In this first installment, we are acquainted with a young Morgan who has yet to truly develop her affinity with the healing arts, as many obstacles prevent her from growing into her true potential.
It sheds light on her past and all the reasons that contributed to her becoming a renowned villainess in the Legend of King Arthur.
As a teenager, I was enthralled by his story, so learning more about Megan through the eyes and words of a woman is so enchanting; as we all know, men tend to reduce powerful women to vindictive, selfish and shameful creatures.
I loved the multiple descriptions of nature and the characterizations of the female characters, who are all strong in their own right and deserving of respect.
This was precisely what I needed: an entertaining read with female characters that are incredibly loveable for whom it is hard not to root for.
Thank you, Random House Canada, for gifting me this finished copy in exchange for an honest review!