Take a photo of a barcode or cover
laurel00's reviews
319 reviews
Where Black Stars Rise by Nadia Shammas, Marie Enger
I read this passage a dozen times before moving onto the next page, and I know I will be coming back to it dozens of times more in the future. As a huge fan of horror, this a truly beautiful sentiment.
I cannot recommend this enough, I am so excited to check out both of these creators' other work. If you're a fan of horror or comic books or you struggle with mental health or you know people close to you who struggle with mental health or you're an artist or a fan of art... this book is for you.
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I am so eternally, deeply OBSESSED with the character design in this oh my god. How do I, as a living breathing human being who exists on the three-dimensional physical plane, embody the exact look of either of these main characters? I am so serious, I need an answer asap.
I don't even think I read the synopsis of this book before diving in and I absolutely loved it, Shammas and Enger did a phenomenal job! I connected so strongly to both of our main characters right from the get-go, so I felt immediately completely involved in their storylines, and it was such an emotional experience to follow them through their journeys. I cried so much in those last 20 pages or so, I didn't want to have to face the fact that the book was coming to an end and it was such a beautifully nuanced way to conclude each of their stories. As much as it broke me, I adored it so wholeheartedly.
I loved the conversations surrounding family and culture and how they affect the ways you view and discuss your mental health. I really appreciated the way that schizophrenia was discussed, especially considering the history that the horror genre has of misappropriating or misusing mental health issues to advance or build a plot. Finding out afterwards that Enger has schizophrenia made a lot of sense to me, because of how raw and vulnerable and honest the book felt as a whole.
Shammas and Enger built a truly memorable story, with one of my favourite quotes of all time:
I don't even think I read the synopsis of this book before diving in and I absolutely loved it, Shammas and Enger did a phenomenal job! I connected so strongly to both of our main characters right from the get-go, so I felt immediately completely involved in their storylines, and it was such an emotional experience to follow them through their journeys. I cried so much in those last 20 pages or so, I didn't want to have to face the fact that the book was coming to an end and it was such a beautifully nuanced way to conclude each of their stories. As much as it broke me, I adored it so wholeheartedly.
I loved the conversations surrounding family and culture and how they affect the ways you view and discuss your mental health. I really appreciated the way that schizophrenia was discussed, especially considering the history that the horror genre has of misappropriating or misusing mental health issues to advance or build a plot. Finding out afterwards that Enger has schizophrenia made a lot of sense to me, because of how raw and vulnerable and honest the book felt as a whole.
Shammas and Enger built a truly memorable story, with one of my favourite quotes of all time:
Most of all? I love that in horror, our storytellers are always right. They're never believed, they're cast aside and undermined and left to face the cosmic cruelty alone. But they weren't wrong. And the readers, the audience? We bear witness to them. We listen, and by merit of their narrative or performance, we believe them in that short burst of time. I want to write that feeling into being. I want to be believed.
I read this passage a dozen times before moving onto the next page, and I know I will be coming back to it dozens of times more in the future. As a huge fan of horror, this a truly beautiful sentiment.
I cannot recommend this enough, I am so excited to check out both of these creators' other work. If you're a fan of horror or comic books or you struggle with mental health or you know people close to you who struggle with mental health or you're an artist or a fan of art... this book is for you.
Across a Field of Starlight: by Blue Delliquanti
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I had some very up and down moments with this graphic novel, but I think, overall, I kind of enjoyed it.
It was definitely hard at times for me to get into the story, specifically because of the actual science behind it. There was something about the world building and the descriptions & explanations of all the tech that I just could not get myself to focus on. The whole thing sadly felt like it was dragging along because of that, so I just didn't feel all that motivated to pick the book up.
The second half of the novel I think almost redeemed it for me, because it centered a lot more around Delliquanti's main message: the characters' friendship and their humanity and all the conversations around deserving did actually make me quite emotional, and I felt a much stronger connection at that point to the MCs and their story. I wish we had gotten to that point earlier, because it would've hooked me in much more.
The illustrations are very nice and the colours are absolutely stunning, but there were definitely some action scenes where the panels were drawn so chaotically I couldn't really understand what I was looking at. It actually made it a bit difficult to figure out what was going on, and I had some moments where I just skimmed through the pages instead of trying to piece together what was happening.
The diversity felt very comforting and the wonderful spectrum of gender represented in the story, especially with two non-binary main characters and multiple trans and queer people shown throughout the pages, was really great to see. But I sadly don't think it's enough to fully redeem it for me. I would recommend this if you specifically are a big fan of sci-fi, but I probably wouldn't include it in any of my personal top reading lists.
It was definitely hard at times for me to get into the story, specifically because of the actual science behind it. There was something about the world building and the descriptions & explanations of all the tech that I just could not get myself to focus on. The whole thing sadly felt like it was dragging along because of that, so I just didn't feel all that motivated to pick the book up.
The second half of the novel I think almost redeemed it for me, because it centered a lot more around Delliquanti's main message: the characters' friendship and their humanity and all the conversations around deserving did actually make me quite emotional, and I felt a much stronger connection at that point to the MCs and their story. I wish we had gotten to that point earlier, because it would've hooked me in much more.
The illustrations are very nice and the colours are absolutely stunning, but there were definitely some action scenes where the panels were drawn so chaotically I couldn't really understand what I was looking at. It actually made it a bit difficult to figure out what was going on, and I had some moments where I just skimmed through the pages instead of trying to piece together what was happening.
The diversity felt very comforting and the wonderful spectrum of gender represented in the story, especially with two non-binary main characters and multiple trans and queer people shown throughout the pages, was really great to see. But I sadly don't think it's enough to fully redeem it for me. I would recommend this if you specifically are a big fan of sci-fi, but I probably wouldn't include it in any of my personal top reading lists.
Method and Madness: The Hidden Story of Israel's Assaults on Gaza by Norman G. Finkelstein
informative
5.0
There were a lot of reasons that made me worried about picking up this book:
First of all, I am not a big non-fiction reader. I've always been very intimidated by it, I've found it difficult to focus on the few non-fiction books I've picked up in the past, and therefore I've pretty much exclusively read fiction novels throughout my life.
Second of all, the information I had on Palestine was quite limited. I had been keeping informed as much as possible on current events, but other than a few headlines here and there, and one basic 1h30 class on the Israeli-Palestine "conflict" in high school, I had been woefully uninformed about what preceded October 2023.
This tied into my third concern: this book focuses on the events of ~2002-2014, and only very quickly summarizes any earlier history to at least minimally contextualize the attacks addressed by Finkelstein. I was worried that I should start with the very beginning, but then worried about pinpointing the elusive "beginning" of this "conflict".
Finally, all of this was amplified by the fact that everyone has always told me, either through school or family or Canadian news and other international western media that this was an "incredibly complex" issue, seeming to imply that even the most informed, academic experts on the topic struggled to pick a side or understand the true depth of the situation.
I started reading this book expecting to set it down after a chapter or two, only to maybe pick it up again later once I did some more "basic" research. It ended up being an extremely straightforward, yet still deeply informative read.
I'm sure part of the reason is that Finkelstein is indeed a very talented author. His research is so extensive and his references/footnotes constitute in and of themselves a great source of further research. The way he presents his arguments is super clear and concise, the entire book was so well-organized which made it really easy to follow.
However, I think another reason this ended up being an easier read than I expected, is that the struggle of Palestinians and the violence they've had to face from Israel for decades now, is not nearly as complicated as the world has made it out to be. Just a couple of chapters into this book and I guarantee you will see that you cannot, as a person with humanity and logical critical-thinking, be anything other than pro-Palestine.
I strongly urge everyone to pick this up, even if it is the very first novel you ever read on the topic. It serves as a great starting point or as a complimentary read for people who have already been educating themselves on the issue for some time now. I'm excited to read some of Finkelstein's other books and I will absolutely be recommending this novel to everyone I know.
First of all, I am not a big non-fiction reader. I've always been very intimidated by it, I've found it difficult to focus on the few non-fiction books I've picked up in the past, and therefore I've pretty much exclusively read fiction novels throughout my life.
Second of all, the information I had on Palestine was quite limited. I had been keeping informed as much as possible on current events, but other than a few headlines here and there, and one basic 1h30 class on the Israeli-Palestine "conflict" in high school, I had been woefully uninformed about what preceded October 2023.
This tied into my third concern: this book focuses on the events of ~2002-2014, and only very quickly summarizes any earlier history to at least minimally contextualize the attacks addressed by Finkelstein. I was worried that I should start with the very beginning, but then worried about pinpointing the elusive "beginning" of this "conflict".
Finally, all of this was amplified by the fact that everyone has always told me, either through school or family or Canadian news and other international western media that this was an "incredibly complex" issue, seeming to imply that even the most informed, academic experts on the topic struggled to pick a side or understand the true depth of the situation.
I started reading this book expecting to set it down after a chapter or two, only to maybe pick it up again later once I did some more "basic" research. It ended up being an extremely straightforward, yet still deeply informative read.
I'm sure part of the reason is that Finkelstein is indeed a very talented author. His research is so extensive and his references/footnotes constitute in and of themselves a great source of further research. The way he presents his arguments is super clear and concise, the entire book was so well-organized which made it really easy to follow.
However, I think another reason this ended up being an easier read than I expected, is that the struggle of Palestinians and the violence they've had to face from Israel for decades now, is not nearly as complicated as the world has made it out to be. Just a couple of chapters into this book and I guarantee you will see that you cannot, as a person with humanity and logical critical-thinking, be anything other than pro-Palestine.
I strongly urge everyone to pick this up, even if it is the very first novel you ever read on the topic. It serves as a great starting point or as a complimentary read for people who have already been educating themselves on the issue for some time now. I'm excited to read some of Finkelstein's other books and I will absolutely be recommending this novel to everyone I know.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
dark
informative
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
As someone who pretty much exclusively reads physical books and e-books and who generally hates novels that are hype-focused on detailed description, this 4-hour audiobook that consists of essentially a near-constant string of meticulous observations was one of the most fascinating things I have ever come across.
There's something about the way that Adania Shibli wrote this story and the way that Elisabeth Jaquette subsequently translated it and finally the way that Siiri Scott narrated it that made it virtually impossible for me to pause the book. I was truly enthralled by the entire production, I guarantee you will not be able to put this audiobook down.
With regards to the most important or informative details of the story, especially in the current context of readers trying to learn as much as possible about the Palestinian struggle, this book really gives a comprehensive idea of, first of all, the systematic restriction on Palestinians' freedom of movement and, second of all, the way that Zionist propaganda incites hate within the Israeli population for Arabs as a whole and falsely convinces the citizens of Israel that their government has never done anything wrong and that their treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is justifiable.
The dual timeline aspect of this was an amazing writing choice and that ending is just...wow. I audibly gasped and had my head in my hands from my general state of shock. The main character was so well-written, and I'm sure there are people who might not like her, but I related to her so much and I understood so many of the choices she was making throughout her journey. Following her story was an extremely memorable reading experience that I strongly recommend to everyone.
Shibli without a doubt deserves every award she has received for this novel, and I urge the Frankfurt Book Fair and Litprom e.V. to apologize for cancelling the ceremony and give her all her well-earned recognition.
There's something about the way that Adania Shibli wrote this story and the way that Elisabeth Jaquette subsequently translated it and finally the way that Siiri Scott narrated it that made it virtually impossible for me to pause the book. I was truly enthralled by the entire production, I guarantee you will not be able to put this audiobook down.
With regards to the most important or informative details of the story, especially in the current context of readers trying to learn as much as possible about the Palestinian struggle, this book really gives a comprehensive idea of, first of all, the systematic restriction on Palestinians' freedom of movement and, second of all, the way that Zionist propaganda incites hate within the Israeli population for Arabs as a whole and falsely convinces the citizens of Israel that their government has never done anything wrong and that their treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is justifiable.
The dual timeline aspect of this was an amazing writing choice and that ending is just...wow. I audibly gasped and had my head in my hands from my general state of shock. The main character was so well-written, and I'm sure there are people who might not like her, but I related to her so much and I understood so many of the choices she was making throughout her journey. Following her story was an extremely memorable reading experience that I strongly recommend to everyone.
Shibli without a doubt deserves every award she has received for this novel, and I urge the Frankfurt Book Fair and Litprom e.V. to apologize for cancelling the ceremony and give her all her well-earned recognition.
This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
When I picked this up at the library, I discovered it was actually being shelved in the children's section; not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but there is no doubt in my mind that there are hundreds of thousands of adults in Canada that would learn so much from picking up this anthology. I really do believe it should be taught in schools and receive a lot more public praise, because it is a great tool to help unlearn so much misinformation and realize just how often our governments and our media perpetuate stereotypes against marginalized groups to protect their own image and justify their own actions to their population.
I loved that there were so many different art styles in this. There really is something for everyone to appreciate here and there are some truly stunning and poignant illustrations, which made the entire collection both informative and emotionally gripping.
As I was reading, I kept thinking back to all the stereotypes I had heard perpetuated against Indigenous people, often by older generations of white Canadians, and that were inevitably passed down to me. There wasn't even any specific malicious intent behind these beliefs, they were discussed as simple, objective facts. Reading through these stories showed me just how nefarious propaganda can be, especially when it is perpetuated by governments and by the media. And it reminded me once again just how important it is to read stories by Indigenous authors, to unpack all the biases that have been instilled in you since a young age, to continue to unlearn all of the misinformation that has been spread, and to urge others around you to also do that work.
I absolutely recommend this, regardless of who you are or how old you are (even if it is shelved in the children's section at your library). It is a must-read for all Canadians, and I strongly suggest you look into the footnotes and use them to conduct further research, even after you've closed the book.
I loved that there were so many different art styles in this. There really is something for everyone to appreciate here and there are some truly stunning and poignant illustrations, which made the entire collection both informative and emotionally gripping.
As I was reading, I kept thinking back to all the stereotypes I had heard perpetuated against Indigenous people, often by older generations of white Canadians, and that were inevitably passed down to me. There wasn't even any specific malicious intent behind these beliefs, they were discussed as simple, objective facts. Reading through these stories showed me just how nefarious propaganda can be, especially when it is perpetuated by governments and by the media. And it reminded me once again just how important it is to read stories by Indigenous authors, to unpack all the biases that have been instilled in you since a young age, to continue to unlearn all of the misinformation that has been spread, and to urge others around you to also do that work.
I absolutely recommend this, regardless of who you are or how old you are (even if it is shelved in the children's section at your library). It is a must-read for all Canadians, and I strongly suggest you look into the footnotes and use them to conduct further research, even after you've closed the book.
Zenith by Iasmin Omar Ata
hopeful
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Honestly, I wish this had been ten times as long. I could've read a thousand pages of this, and I'm so excited to get my hands on copies of Ata's other work!
This is a great story about struggling to find your place in this world as a queer Muslim, and I think Ata did a great job of conveying that message in such a short number of pages. I loved the art style; as simple as it may seem, there's a ton of great detail in each of the panels. I keep scrolling through the pages, there's something so enticing and comforting about the illustrations.
I liked the fact that, as dire as the situation was in the story, there was still a lot of humour, especially within our main character. There was something really sweet and relatable about them, and I think a lot of queer people would be able to relate to their general feeling of not knowing where they belong.
It's a super quick read and a perfect introduction into getting readers interested in Ata's other graphic novels.
This is a great story about struggling to find your place in this world as a queer Muslim, and I think Ata did a great job of conveying that message in such a short number of pages. I loved the art style; as simple as it may seem, there's a ton of great detail in each of the panels. I keep scrolling through the pages, there's something so enticing and comforting about the illustrations.
I liked the fact that, as dire as the situation was in the story, there was still a lot of humour, especially within our main character. There was something really sweet and relatable about them, and I think a lot of queer people would be able to relate to their general feeling of not knowing where they belong.
It's a super quick read and a perfect introduction into getting readers interested in Ata's other graphic novels.
Stage Dreams by Melanie Gillman
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A super sweet and fast read!
I especially loved the art in this, I think the colour palette was absolutely stunning, just so wonderful to look at. I also really liked that the panels looked pencil-drawn; there was something about it that made the landscape shots especially so beautiful.
I really appreciated the footnotes that Gillman included at the end. It added great insight into not only the way that they wrote the story or chose the specific details to include in their illustrations, but it also gave me a ton of great historical information that allowed me to understand the backdrop of the plot and appreciate it that much more.
It's a great, fun read if you're looking for a little excitement and some trans sapphic love!
I especially loved the art in this, I think the colour palette was absolutely stunning, just so wonderful to look at. I also really liked that the panels looked pencil-drawn; there was something about it that made the landscape shots especially so beautiful.
I really appreciated the footnotes that Gillman included at the end. It added great insight into not only the way that they wrote the story or chose the specific details to include in their illustrations, but it also gave me a ton of great historical information that allowed me to understand the backdrop of the plot and appreciate it that much more.
It's a great, fun read if you're looking for a little excitement and some trans sapphic love!
Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was so unbelievably cute! From the setting to the found family storyline to the aspect of collective support and community, this graphic novel really did feel like a much-needed hug.
I think Artie felt very realistic as a teenage character. At that age, I believe that we have a tendency to distance ourselves from those around us because of the internal struggles that plague us at that time. And by distancing ourselves and associating with people who don't necessarily have our best intentions at heart, it can turn into a vicious cycle of further pain. Stephens did a great job of showing how important it can be to reach out, to let your family and your friends be there for you and support you, and of making that message clear for her younger audience.
I also really appreciate that, although this is a middle grade novel, Stephens doesn't shy away from dealing with some heavy topics and having some very honest conversations. The characters in the story are not absolved of all fault: multiple times a character finds themself in a situation where they must face the fact that they made a mistake and that they hurt those around them. And I loved that some of these characters were adults and parents. I think it's a great way to shows younger readers the importance of apologizing for your hurtful actions, while also being aware of the fact that adult can also make mistakes and should rectify them.
I do admit that this middle grade novel about a family of werewolves not only made me tear up but did in fact get me to shed a few tears. I think it's very sweet, including and especially the adorable sapphic romance arc, and I definitely recommend it!
I think Artie felt very realistic as a teenage character. At that age, I believe that we have a tendency to distance ourselves from those around us because of the internal struggles that plague us at that time. And by distancing ourselves and associating with people who don't necessarily have our best intentions at heart, it can turn into a vicious cycle of further pain. Stephens did a great job of showing how important it can be to reach out, to let your family and your friends be there for you and support you, and of making that message clear for her younger audience.
I also really appreciate that, although this is a middle grade novel, Stephens doesn't shy away from dealing with some heavy topics and having some very honest conversations. The characters in the story are not absolved of all fault: multiple times a character finds themself in a situation where they must face the fact that they made a mistake and that they hurt those around them. And I loved that some of these characters were adults and parents. I think it's a great way to shows younger readers the importance of apologizing for your hurtful actions, while also being aware of the fact that adult can also make mistakes and should rectify them.
I do admit that this middle grade novel about a family of werewolves not only made me tear up but did in fact get me to shed a few tears. I think it's very sweet, including and especially the adorable sapphic romance arc, and I definitely recommend it!
Frankenstein by Junji Ito
dark
tense
4.0
I think that, for whatever reason, Junji Ito's work does translate better for me on-screen than through text and illustrations, so I did kind of set this up for a twinge of disappointment by having started with the Netflix adaptation of his work. That being said, I really do understand why he's revered as an icon within the horror genre, and I'm very excited to pick up some of his other story collections.
I remember one of my critiques of his Netflix series was that some of the stories lacked the necessary background and/or character development for the audience to truly understand and connect to the story. I thought, at first, that this was because of the way the show was formatted, but I'm now noticing that Ito's work in general has a tendency to be quite short and focused on the specific scene that has been set in that particular timeframe. I guess you could say that it is a testament to his talent that he manages to consistently pique my curiosity and yearn for more from every single one of his stories, but I also do wish I had more time and more information that would allow me to engage with the characters and the overall message.
However, it's clear that Ito's talent is in being able to draw such terrifying, gut wrenching, nauseating images, they make your entire body tense up in anxiety and fear no matter how long you look at them. There are so many panels in this collection that I feel have been printed onto my brain, it was a truly exciting experience to feel like these monsters were staring deep into my soul. I'm not sure how Ito manages to execute such terror and invoke such emotion in a still image, but it was a pleasure to appreciate all the details of his horrifying art.
I definitely recommend this if you're a horror fan, even if you're not a big manga reader, and I hope I'm lucky enough to find copies of his other story collections at my library.
I remember one of my critiques of his Netflix series was that some of the stories lacked the necessary background and/or character development for the audience to truly understand and connect to the story. I thought, at first, that this was because of the way the show was formatted, but I'm now noticing that Ito's work in general has a tendency to be quite short and focused on the specific scene that has been set in that particular timeframe. I guess you could say that it is a testament to his talent that he manages to consistently pique my curiosity and yearn for more from every single one of his stories, but I also do wish I had more time and more information that would allow me to engage with the characters and the overall message.
However, it's clear that Ito's talent is in being able to draw such terrifying, gut wrenching, nauseating images, they make your entire body tense up in anxiety and fear no matter how long you look at them. There are so many panels in this collection that I feel have been printed onto my brain, it was a truly exciting experience to feel like these monsters were staring deep into my soul. I'm not sure how Ito manages to execute such terror and invoke such emotion in a still image, but it was a pleasure to appreciate all the details of his horrifying art.
I definitely recommend this if you're a horror fan, even if you're not a big manga reader, and I hope I'm lucky enough to find copies of his other story collections at my library.
A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I picked this graphic novel up mainly for the colour scheme which not only captured my attention from the very beginning, but remained just as beautiful and evocative throughout the entire story.
Leong has a true talent, and you can tell how intentional her artistic choices are. There are so many moments during my reading experience where I kind of just sat back and appreciated the illustrations. I would also often flip back and forth throughout the pages to see the way she specifically picked out certain colours to represent certain emotions or feelings, which goes to show how invested I was in the art style itself. It is a stunning book through and through.
I also really appreciated the found family aspect of the storyline. The girls feel very realistic as characters, the fights made sense when you consider their ages and their individual situations. I was sometimes really frustrated with them, but I could tell that was precisely the point of the book or the scene. I loved following them through the ups and downs of their friendship and seeing the way they grew together as young girls who have far too much being throw at them all at once.
The thing that got the most in my way was the fact that their individual storylines aren't developed enough. Ren's is probably the most detailed, as she sort of takes on the role of the main character. So I really did feel like I connected to her, in a way that I didn't get to experience with the others. Leong kind of touches on some super interesting or heartbreaking aspects of the other girls' lives that I would have loved to explore further. But a lot of those secondary character arcs didn't really go anywhere, which I think that was a bit of a shame because there really was so much potential and I feel like certain elements of the overall story remain unresolved.
That being said, it is still a wonderfully crafted novel and I think it is absolutely worth the read!
Leong has a true talent, and you can tell how intentional her artistic choices are. There are so many moments during my reading experience where I kind of just sat back and appreciated the illustrations. I would also often flip back and forth throughout the pages to see the way she specifically picked out certain colours to represent certain emotions or feelings, which goes to show how invested I was in the art style itself. It is a stunning book through and through.
I also really appreciated the found family aspect of the storyline. The girls feel very realistic as characters, the fights made sense when you consider their ages and their individual situations. I was sometimes really frustrated with them, but I could tell that was precisely the point of the book or the scene. I loved following them through the ups and downs of their friendship and seeing the way they grew together as young girls who have far too much being throw at them all at once.
The thing that got the most in my way was the fact that their individual storylines aren't developed enough. Ren's is probably the most detailed, as she sort of takes on the role of the main character. So I really did feel like I connected to her, in a way that I didn't get to experience with the others. Leong kind of touches on some super interesting or heartbreaking aspects of the other girls' lives that I would have loved to explore further. But a lot of those secondary character arcs didn't really go anywhere, which I think that was a bit of a shame because there really was so much potential and I feel like certain elements of the overall story remain unresolved.
That being said, it is still a wonderfully crafted novel and I think it is absolutely worth the read!