joymargot's reviews
107 reviews

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

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4.0

A super quick and cosy read and it’s always a bonus when a translated Japanese novel with a cat on the cover actually features cats in the story 🐈‍⬛

It’s quite heavy on the astrological references which wasn’t really my jam but I didn’t have a bad time, and I’m glad it wasn’t as repetitive as some of the other whimsical Japanese novels I’ve read!

The food and drink that The Full Moon Coffee Shop serves sounds absolutely delicious and I wish I could visit!
The Moon Represents My Heart by Pim Wangtechawat

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4.0

This is such a beautiful and poetic meditation on family, grief and finding yourself.

I’m a bit of sucker for a time-travelling love story and this didn’t disappoint and managed to bring something new to the genre.

A super neat ending tied up in a bow wouldn’t have been quite right but I personally would’ve liked something a little more conclusive!

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Pim Wangtechawat.
DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

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3.0

I was so excited to read this as it sounded like just my sort of thing, but sadly it fell a little flat for me.

I found Penny incredibly one dimensional and didn’t find her naïvety and earnestness as charming as every other character seemed to. I love a bit of whimsy but the dream maker’s names made me cringe 🫣

It wasn’t a total dud, and I enjoyed the concept, the world-building and the final chapters. I’m tempted to read the sequel, hoping it continues in that vein!
The Other Wife by Jackie Thomas-Kennedy

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4.0

A beautifully-written, well-observed and painfully relatable debut.

The absence of certain details about Zuzu and Agnes’ early relationship and why they got married and had a kid contributes to the overarching sense of “how did I end up here?”

If you enjoyed Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee, this is probably your jam. It’s character-driven but plot-light and our FMC is flawed and frustrating but still somehow likeable.

I wish the ending was a little more satisfying but I really enjoyed this and will be keeping an eye out for more from JTK!

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for the eARC.
Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata

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3.0

Such an intriguing premise and it had the potential to be absolutely incredible but sadly, this rather missed the mark for me.

Parts of it were fantastically creepy and unsettling but there’s a lot that feels like it’s there for shock value. It’s also incredibly repetitive in parts while some plot lines are left sparse and incomplete.

I loved the exploration of sex, relationships and the family dynamic but wasn’t so much onboard with the paedophilia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC.
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Passing by Nella Larsen

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5.0

There’s already a bajillion reviews and I don’t think I can say anything that hasn’t been said already, but I was utterly captivated from start to finish! Such a fascinating story and I imagine it would benefit from re-read to fully appreciate it.

It’s interesting to read through the reviews and see how divisive the ending was!
Monkey Beach: A Novel by Eden Robinson

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5.0

Wow! I’ve not read anything like before. It was a strange and fascinating combination of heavy and emotional but also a celebration of the everyday mundane.

I loved the non-linear storytelling and the way indigenous knowledge and tradition were woven seamlessly throughout.

I think this will stay with me for a long time!
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A Song for Wildcats by Caitlin Galway

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4.0

I just adored the intimate writing style of these short stories. The language was so rich and immersive and I really got a sense of the characters even in a relatively short space of time.

The titular story and The Lyrebird’s Bell (the first and last) were my favourites and I would have loved to spend more time with these characters. The only one that didn’t do much for me personally was the second story, Heatstroke.

If I gave half stars, this would be a 4.5!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the eARC.
Bitter Honey by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

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3.0

On (e)paper, this sounded like exactly my sort of thing as I love a multi-generational story but unfortunately this wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

I appreciate this is a very subjective criticism but as I couldn’t be less interested in Eurovision or football (they weren’t mentioned in the blurb), I found it difficult to invest in Tina and Seb’s storylines initially.

I was most intrigued by Tina and Nancy’s relationship but a lot more page space is dedicated to their toxic romantic relationships. As well as the expected discomfort of the romances themselves, I found the writing of the intimate scenes really off-putting and references to “perky breasts” and “panties” felt like they’d come from a male author.

Criticisms aside, this was a speedy read and I enjoyed how Swedish, Wolof and Mandinka as well as real-life cultural events were woven throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the eARC.
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Trans and Disabled: An Anthology of Identities and Experiences by Alex Iantaffi

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4.0

Trans & Disabled brings together a collection of insightful, raw and moving stories, essays, plays and poems sharing the intersection of trans and disabled identifies. A must-read for anyone who identifies as trans and/or disabled, or those wanting to expand their understanding.

As with any anthology, some pieces resonated with me more than others. I’m cis and disabled with low support needs, and there was much I could relate to as well as new-to-me knowledge and perspectives. I devoured it over the course of a weekend but will definitely return to some of my favourite pieces to savour them in more detail.

While there is diversity amongst the contributors, there’s unfortunately a disappointing lack of pieces by trans women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the eARC.