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jess_esa's reviews
512 reviews
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
I loved how short and fun this was. The self-aware Murderbot is adorable and very relatable, and I’m excited to see where the series goes from here. It kind of reminded me of a Doctor Who episode which is exactly how I like my sci-fi.
Pageboy by Elliot Page
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I couldn’t put this down. Definitely one of my favourite memoirs so far.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect but since I love Elliot Page it was an instant purchase.
This memoir really dives into his childhood trauma and trauma around coming out, including all of his relationships and hookups along the way. He makes it clear he still has a lot of work to do unpacking everything he’s been through, and you can very much see he’s still on a journey.
I would say you need to be in the right frame of mind to read this because there are some really difficult topics addressed here including abuse, sexual assault and disordered eating. This is particularly apparent in the first half of the book.
I really enjoyed his tangents, I felt like a learnt a lot about Nova Scotia, the environment, roller derby, the city of Los Angeles…and more! It’s written like a friend telling you a story and I appreciated that.
I feel like some people might struggle with how disjointed it is, it really flits between time periods and topics with no real through line. But I honestly really enjoyed that and it kept me interested.
I personally wish there’d been a little bit more about the Umbrella Academy era. But he generally doesn’t linger much on his work outside of how incredibly uncomfortable it has been masking all these years and how suffocating the whole industry can be for queer people.
Overall, I highly recommend!
I honestly didn’t know what to expect but since I love Elliot Page it was an instant purchase.
This memoir really dives into his childhood trauma and trauma around coming out, including all of his relationships and hookups along the way. He makes it clear he still has a lot of work to do unpacking everything he’s been through, and you can very much see he’s still on a journey.
I would say you need to be in the right frame of mind to read this because there are some really difficult topics addressed here including abuse, sexual assault and disordered eating. This is particularly apparent in the first half of the book.
I really enjoyed his tangents, I felt like a learnt a lot about Nova Scotia, the environment, roller derby, the city of Los Angeles…and more! It’s written like a friend telling you a story and I appreciated that.
I feel like some people might struggle with how disjointed it is, it really flits between time periods and topics with no real through line. But I honestly really enjoyed that and it kept me interested.
I personally wish there’d been a little bit more about the Umbrella Academy era. But he generally doesn’t linger much on his work outside of how incredibly uncomfortable it has been masking all these years and how suffocating the whole industry can be for queer people.
Overall, I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
Minor: Emotional abuse
Here, and Only Here by Christelle Dabos
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
One of my most anticipated books this year but there are too many POV characters who all have the same voice so I quickly lost interest
However, this may also be one of the funniest books ever written because the students are separated into a higher and lower status which has been literally translated from the French as ‘Top’ and ‘Bottom’. Giving us truly hilarious sentences like ‘I scouted for the Bottoms in my class’. This isn’t on purpose by the way.
I might give this another go later since I went feral over The Winter’s Promise series, and it honestly does sound intriguing, but rn I just can’t deal.
However, this may also be one of the funniest books ever written because the students are separated into a higher and lower status which has been literally translated from the French as ‘Top’ and ‘Bottom’. Giving us truly hilarious sentences like ‘I scouted for the Bottoms in my class’. This isn’t on purpose by the way.
I might give this another go later since I went feral over The Winter’s Promise series, and it honestly does sound intriguing, but rn I just can’t deal.
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn’t know what to expect from this but I’m so glad I read it. I felt for Pizza Girl so much and some scenes (particularly concerning end relationship with her dad) were genuinely harrowing. It’s a short and fast read, and you can’t help but be invested from the start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
It’s very different to Milk Fed and The Pisces but absolutely has that Broder biting wit, surrealism, and matter of fact view of the world.
The descriptions of the Best Western and the staff who work there were some of my favourite parts of the book.
While this isn’t my favourite of hers, I applaud her for going in a different direction and I think many people are going to really connect with this book.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finding a will to live and navigating grief (particularly preemptive grief) while lost in the desert. This feels like Broder’s most personal book to date.
Fever dreamish and hazy, you feel like you’re out there in the hot sun along with our protagonist. It’s a real journey, and I was never sure if I was enjoying the book but was always thinking about it when I put it down.
Fever dreamish and hazy, you feel like you’re out there in the hot sun along with our protagonist. It’s a real journey, and I was never sure if I was enjoying the book but was always thinking about it when I put it down.
It’s very different to Milk Fed and The Pisces but absolutely has that Broder biting wit, surrealism, and matter of fact view of the world.
The descriptions of the Best Western and the staff who work there were some of my favourite parts of the book.
While this isn’t my favourite of hers, I applaud her for going in a different direction and I think many people are going to really connect with this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
I didn’t pick this up thinking it would be a cozy fantasy/found family book but that’s exactly what it is.
There are definitely some striking horror images (which isn’t surprising considering this author’s other books) which definitely gave it a bit of an edge compared to typical cozy fantasy books but it’s still low stakes, everything works out, and the characters are extremely lovable.
Into the Woods meets Uprooted meets The House in the Cerulean Sea.
There are definitely some striking horror images (which isn’t surprising considering this author’s other books) which definitely gave it a bit of an edge compared to typical cozy fantasy books but it’s still low stakes, everything works out, and the characters are extremely lovable.
Into the Woods meets Uprooted meets The House in the Cerulean Sea.
XOXO by Axie Oh
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This felt like taking a typical kpop book and pouring honey all over it.
It seemed to avoid conflict at all costs, everything works out and any of the big issues that you are working towards (like Jenny and her mother’s relationship) are handled off page and always work out in the end.
The same for hers and Jaewoo’s relationship. They get found out and everything is sorted out in a few pages, no huge scandal. Which feels particularly unbelievable when Sori and Nathaniel are split forever.
Also Sori going from so hostile to a complete sweetheart in the space of a few pages was completely unbelievable.
I enjoy a stupid kdrama as much as the next person, and this did feel like that which is why I was compelled to finish it, but it’s a little unsubstantial even by those standards.
It seemed to avoid conflict at all costs, everything works out and any of the big issues that you are working towards (like Jenny and her mother’s relationship) are handled off page and always work out in the end.
The same for hers and Jaewoo’s relationship. They get found out and everything is sorted out in a few pages, no huge scandal. Which feels particularly unbelievable when Sori and Nathaniel are split forever.
Also Sori going from so hostile to a complete sweetheart in the space of a few pages was completely unbelievable.
I enjoy a stupid kdrama as much as the next person, and this did feel like that which is why I was compelled to finish it, but it’s a little unsubstantial even by those standards.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Mourning the Carrie/Nicki tennis lesbian romance we could have had. Like, really? That last tennis match would have been SO hot.
But alas.
I didn’t find this as compelling or well-written as EH or DJ but I was invested enough to finish it.
Things were rarely left to breathe and I feel like every feeling or moment of character growth was over explained to the point it was cringe. The dialogue was kind of forced, seemingly into a tennis back and forth style? Constant quips, and it just never left any room for character growth or depth.
Also why are blueberry smoothies and raw almonds the only thing she ever eats?
Javier and Carrie’s relationship was the most compelling aspect about this book, I found myself very fond of him. I also really enjoyed learning so much about tennis, as someone who came in knowing nothing. I could honestly see myself watching a game after reading this book which is amazing.
So yeah mixed feelings, but I’m glad I read it.
But alas.
I didn’t find this as compelling or well-written as EH or DJ but I was invested enough to finish it.
Things were rarely left to breathe and I feel like every feeling or moment of character growth was over explained to the point it was cringe. The dialogue was kind of forced, seemingly into a tennis back and forth style? Constant quips, and it just never left any room for character growth or depth.
Also why are blueberry smoothies and raw almonds the only thing she ever eats?
Javier and Carrie’s relationship was the most compelling aspect about this book, I found myself very fond of him. I also really enjoyed learning so much about tennis, as someone who came in knowing nothing. I could honestly see myself watching a game after reading this book which is amazing.
So yeah mixed feelings, but I’m glad I read it.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
sad
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 really enjoyed the interview style of this book and the characters, even though the 60s isn’t an era I have much interest in (or band stories tbh). It wasn’t quite as good as Evelyn Hugo for me but I still couldn’t put it down so I consider that a win.
My one complaint is that the twist at the end felt very shoehorned in.
My one complaint is that the twist at the end felt very shoehorned in.