moholub's reviews
87 reviews

Just Add Water: My Swimming Life by Katie Ledecky

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.5

 An authentic dive into the behind-the-scenes of one of the most decorated- and most notoriously private- female athletes in history. Ledecky is genuine in both her celebration and her critique (mostly of herself), every word coming from a place of honesty and a love of her sport, family, and community. I enjoyed reading from her own voice the way her mind ticks and her perspective on her career and legacy (and as I am writing this, I am selling a copy of the book to two middle grade swimmers, telling me Ledecky is their favorite athlete and they want to swim just like her...Katie, more than anything, this inspiration and freedom to achieve is that legacy). 

The Price She Pays: Confronting the Hidden Mental Health Crisis in Women's Sports—from the Schoolyard to the Stadium by Katie Steele, Tiffany Brown

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

 As women's sports continue to rise in the public eye, the celebration of athletic achievement has also shone a light on the messy underside, including the culture of toxic and abusive coaching environments (tl;dr: NWSL's Sally Yates Report, USA Gymnastics Larry Nassar Scandal, Nike Oregon Project Lawsuit, etc...) and the stigma surrounding mental health support for athletes. Steele and Brown's "The Price She Pays" tackles these topics and more, taking on the sports world at all levels and challenging it with the main question on every female athlete's mind: how do we make sure that the athletes coming after us have a safer, healthier, and happier sports environment than we did? 

The extensive and thorough research in this book makes it required reading for anyone working with or raising a female athlete, covering everything from period equity to body image issue and eating disorders to the impact of social media. Equal parts educational and a call to action, Steele and Brown strive to raise awareness of the changes needed to foster a safer and supportive sports culture for our female athletes to succeed. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Racism, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Body shaming, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Drug use, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Fatphobia

This book covers a variety of topics related to emotional abuse and toxic coaching relationships. It also includes personal accounts from a range of female athletes discussing emotional abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and depression, self harm, substance abuse, body shaming, abortion, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. The accounts are not graphic but they are emotional and candid and, most importantly, real experiences of real people.

The New Girl: A Graphic Novel by Cassandra Calin

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 Once we move past the panic of the opening chapter (I'm sorry, waiting until literally thirty minutes before your international flight boards to go through airport security!!???), Calin's "The New Girl" is a delightful middle grade read about finding a place to belong without changing any part of yourself to fit. I enjoyed the cultural exploration between Lia's friend group, and the open conversation about menstruation that was present but not the focus of the story. 

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

I have no room in my brain for thoughts after turning the last page, only Kit-and-Theo and their tortured poetry and this:
1) Casey McQuiston you are a gift to this earth and
2) I desperately need to go on this exact European food and wine tour, if only to see this world through Kit and Theo's eyes once more

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.25

 "Wishful Drinking" is a messy, thoughtful, chaotic, and absolutely brutally candid reflection on a life spent in the public eye. Carrie Fisher does not shy away from sharing her truth, for better or for worse. 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

 TJ Klune can rip my heart out of my chest, stomp on it once for every page of this book, and I will still say thank you. A masterpiece of love and family. 

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Anything Molly Ostertag touches is a masterclass in coming-of-age, soul searching, deep emotional catharsis. "The Deep Dark" explores what it means to love with a hidden part of yourself, something almost monstrous but mostly just misunderstood. Mags' story is original yet all too achingly familiar and I loved every panel.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Body horror, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

 Nineteenth century witch romance with a welcome sapphic twist. Shields' debut novel is a good balance of cozy charm and tense drama as we witness Marigold grow into her own skin (and her power). 

Little Data by Mark Yakich, Christopher Schaberg

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.5

An intriguing collection of thoughts, stories, vignettes surrounding our perception of data and how it moves with us through the world, specifically in raising kids. "Forts" and "Zero" were my personal favorites.