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laura_ge's reviews
193 reviews
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
2.5
Sussman's writing is very easy to binge read which I appreciated. I see what she was going for with the dual timeline but I feel like a chronological storyline would've worked better to show the progression of the characters over time. I'm also not sure I buy the chemistry between the two main leads; it felt underdeveloped and a bit forced. This book suffers from one of the most last-minute, unnecessary third act conflicts I've ever read, with the "conflict" only occurring in the last fifteen or so pages.
The Valentine's Hate by Sidney Halston
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
I’ve been in a huge reading slump for the past month or so, mostly due to college applications and general burnout, so I’m grateful for this book for helping me get out of it. That being said, this was pretty mediocre. The writing felt very juvenile at times, especially in sentences like this one on page 54:
“Unfortunately, one day Lizzie’s father just packed his bags and left. “
This was supposed to be an emotionally impactful passage revealing aspects of the MC’s past that influence her behavior in the present, but the overly conversational tone makes it hard to sympathize with her backstory.
The third act conflict in the last 20 or so pages was pretty predictable.
Overall, this was fun in the beginning but I doubt it’ll make a lasting impression on me.
“Unfortunately, one day Lizzie’s father just packed his bags and left. “
This was supposed to be an emotionally impactful passage revealing aspects of the MC’s past that influence her behavior in the present, but the overly conversational tone makes it hard to sympathize with her backstory.
The third act conflict in the last 20 or so pages was pretty predictable.
Overall, this was fun in the beginning but I doubt it’ll make a lasting impression on me.
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Brainless entertainment; so thoroughly mid.
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
A mix of personal memoir and critical race theory. It was so interesting reading about the meaning/story behind the author’s name, because I definitely expected her to be a man when I first saw the cover. The religious portion of the book got too preachy for me.
Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump's America by
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
3.75
My favorite essays were Nasty Native Women and The Pathology of Donald Trump.
Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son by Richie Jackson
2.5
This felt preachy and excessively self-assured, and it got tiring to read after the first fifty or so pages. The author repeatedly compares racial justice activists to the queer liberation movement, which I found distasteful.
A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung
4.5
This was devastating, and I loved it. Nicole Chung’s writing is powerfully poignant without being overly flowery, which I find to be especially impactful. I would’ve loved for the author to explore the theme of healthcare inequality a bit more, but that’s just a personal preference. I was really interested by how the author’s relationship with her parents was affected by the fact that she was adopted.