monicalaurette's reviews
289 reviews

Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

I DNFed this book at 26% and here’s why: From the first page, I was confused and off-put by the characters, how they handled situations, and what even was happening.

Obviously as I read a little more I got the point of the salvaging, but I felt like I was missing so much information as to the why, the purpose, and even the history of everything. I don’t want a seven-hundred page beginning detailing each year leading up to the present time of the book, but a little crumb would have helped.

The story didn’t grip me like I thought it would from the summary, and James as a character is not someone that I like to read, so it made getting through the few chapters that I did slow. Really all I liked was learning about Cole, who we didn’t hear from again after besides him getting sent to space-jail, and the mystery jumper at the base. But those two weren’t enough to keep me reading.

One quote that I did like from the pages I did manage to read is “It was no surprise mankind got so good at killing once they were in space.” because why would that be a surprise? We’re good at killing now (sadly).

I think the main part that really turned me off from the book was when James went back in time to the 1940s and was disguised as a N*zi. I get why he’d have to be one in that time but, choosing that time and area to begin with could have been avoided, and I wouldn’t have had to read a line where James had sympathy for the young N*zi he killed. I just think maybe choosing a different historical relic and time period would have maybe allowed me to read more of the book.

Content Warnings

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black by Gregory Howard Williams

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

3.75

Biographies and non-fiction stories are not ones that I normally turn to, but sometimes there are those few that really spark curiosity in me that I’ll actually sit down and read. Some take me a little bit to actually finish once I start, like with this one, but all-in-all I enjoy what I’m reading so I don’t stop. I had never heard of Greg’s story before and only found it from a friend who read it (I believe) for a class in Undergrad. The tag line hooked me and I knew that I’d want to read it. And my friend also said they enjoyed reading it and it was something they felt I’d enjoy too.

I think one part that worked for me with this book (or at least my edition/copy) was that in the middle were photographs of Greg and those in his life that were mentioned in the book. So I was able to go through those photographs and see the faces that he talked about, like Miss Dora, and make me feel like I knew them all more than what I was just reading.

“Muncie has never paled into insignificance. It has lived inside me forever.”

I could not imagine how uprooting your entire life as a child feels, especially from going from one type of life to one so utterly different and for no fault of their own, but being forced to navigate it as if they always had. Sure I had struggles growing up, but I never had to toe the line between two different worlds and wonder which one I belonged to or which one was safer to stay on (one could say both sides were dangerous for Greg while he grew up). And reading about all the different opportunities that slipped from his hands because of his background & race was infuriating. While I remember that our country has always been racist, I forget how racist it was and never really thought about some of the smaller effects to those communities until reading it.

Part of me wishes that I could find a documentary or interview with Greg to hear more about his story in his words, or maybe someone else like Greg to see how their experiences matched. I just like watching people’s life stories over reading about them, but glad that I gave Greg’s a chance because it really made me think about how different are those communities from then to now? The “black-coded” neighborhoods (normally that way due to stereotypes and systematic racism) versus the “white-coded” ones. While some of the threats have gone away, new ones have arisen that to some could feel like the Civil Rights Era all over again (this is speculation here but honestly I wouldn’t doubt if people of color felt this way right now and I’m sorry if they do).

This story I think should be taught, I don’t think the book is good to teach to younger kids, but maybe high schoolers could read the book, because not everyone goes to college so assigning it there leaves others out from reaching it. The way that this book made me feel is profound and I hope that someday there are no more stories like this in our country, and the hatred is only a distant memory that only appears in the pages of a history book. It’s a far-fetched dream and one that has been chased forever, and sadly probably not one that will be obtained during my lifetime, but maybe the lifetime of my children or grandchildren. I know that Greg, just by being himself, is working to fight that. Sharing his story is helping to reach it, and the more people that open their eyes and actually see the world for what it is, the faster we can stop more kids from experiencing what Greg and more kids in his Muncie neighborhood lived through.

Content Warnings

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.

I DNFed this book at 49% and let me tell you why: I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Kite Runner to start, so I went into this book wondering if I’d like it more. I did but only by a little bit.

For me it’s more on Khaled’s writing style and prose than the actual story he told. So because of that, and the fact I could tell how the story would end based on the summary and sections of the book I did read, I decided to not continue reading it.

One thing I felt was interesting was that both girls had sort of the same relationships with their parents for the majority of the time. Both loved their fathers and while they loved their mothers, had a more stand-offish relationship with them. And sadly when both parents left their lives, it was through trauma and heartbreak.

With Khaled’s stories that I’ve read, I just find it also uncomfortable to have miscarriage and a woman’s infertility something that is part of the story. Like the only thing left to make them a true woman is ripped away but then “hey! Here’s a child that you didn’t birth but you’ll now love and you’re whole again” rubbed me the wrong way. Especially as someone who has fertility issues (though I never plan to have children, but still). And while I’m not an amputee or know anyone who is (that I can recall right now while writing this) having Laila compare the loss of Tariq to phantom limb pain was off-putting, but I also see why that specific comparison was made towards Tariq since he was, in fact, missing a leg and had a prosthetic.

Perhaps if I watched this as a movie or show instead of reading it I’d finish it. But I know the ending (broadly) and don’t really care about the characters, I don’t know if I’ll ever search that out.

Content Warnings

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“Because the past claws its way out.”

So this book was something that I had always heard of as such a great book and something everyone should read. So I bought it years ago. Then my mom borrowed it for one of her college courses and loved it, so I kept the book even though I never looked up the summary. So I went into this book totally blind. And part of me wishes I was still blind to it.

I could not get myself to really enjoy the book. I think I finished the book out of spite for the main character because I just didn’t like him. Most of what he did rubbed me the wrong way, even as a child yes some of those things, and I don’t feel that he really changed by the end. The only thing I liked was Amir’s wife and the fact that we got justice for Hassan through his son.

“But Baba had found a way to create good out of his remorse… What had I ever done to right things?”

The trauma and assault that Hassan went through, while I guess I understand why it was added in the book, given the story and the time it was written, but I felt that it wasn’t needed, especially with the constant flashbacks with new details that Amir had. I almost stopped the book when it happened and each time it was brought up again I was close to stopping, but I had to know what happened to Hassan by the end. And I was only sad about what happened to him and his wife.

The somewhat namesake of the book, that kite tournament, was very interesting to read about though. I’d love to watch something like that or participate in. I think that it was a great point to start and stop the book during two different tournaments; possibly the two most important ones in Amir’s life.

Due to me just not liking this book or the main character (given the fact that his growth really only happened during the last few chapters in my opinion) I gave The Kite Runner 3 stars. I was originally going to do 3.5 stars but after thinking about it more I decided against it. I have started the author’s second book, and I wonder if I’ll complete it or DNF should I feel the same as I did with this one.

“Or, maybe, it was meant not to be.”

Hassan was just too loyal and accepting. The mother who abandoned him comes back years later and he aides her back to health, he does what he is told and never tells on Amir, and for just watching the home while Rahim was gone he is met with trauma, grief, and his own death.

I know why Baba also probably paid for the surgery, but did anyone ask Hassan if he even wanted to get the surgery done on this lip? Because I feel like he only did it because his master told him to.

I didn’t like how we were supposed to just always feel bad for Amir when all bad that came to him was karma and his own doing. He was a rich boy and had bad things happen to him yeah, but what about all the bad he did himself?

Sohrab hitting Assef in the eye with that brass using the slingshot felt like poetic justice. The weapon and threat from Hassan finally came true and he should feel proud for what he did.

Soraya’s infertility was something that had to be done to bring Sohrab home, but I wish that it talked more into Soraya’s sadness with him and focused on her a little during that time. As someone with fertility issues it was sad to see that it was only written as a way to bring a child in later, that no woman can be happy without a child in her life.

I KNEW THEY WERE BROTHERS WHY ELSE WOULD BABA TREAT HIM LIKE THAT!?

Content Warnings

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

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emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

"I’m fat and I take up space, but that’s okay.”

I want to start this off by saying that I cried while reading this, and I don’t normally cry during my reading time. But the comfort and love, and shared trauma with Skye, that I experienced while reading this was just so much and I honestly loved every part of it. I think that this book is something that if I had it while I was in high school, would have utterly changed my life. Because it changed my life as a 25-year old.

As someone who grew up loving American Idol and other competition shows, and a current lover of The Masked Singer, I found it so fun to follow Skye in the background of it all. And as a plus-size woman who also has trauma surrounding that from my youth, this was such a nice book to read to remind myself that I’m still worthy of love and happiness. I wish that this book was 100 pages longer and was able to dig more into those moments too, just because I loved being in Skye’s world with every fiber of my being.

“You’re living your best life. They’re not.”

The only part that I didn’t like was how short the events of the finale were. I wanted to have more drama, I wanted to feel like I was there on that stage or in the audience, and I wanted to know what happened with Bora! It was a large build up to this event, that was over in a few paragraphs. However, besides that, I really and truly enjoyed this book.

I gave I’ll Be The One 4 stars because I loved it, but I wished it didn’t feel so rushed. I also saw somewhere (can’t find it now) that called this book 1 in a series and if Lyla writes about Skye’s time in Korea after the competition I’ll be sure to grab that book.

“You are beautiful. Don’t let anyone, not even yourself, tell you any different.”

Did anyone else get hairspray vibes from this? The conventionally attractive male celeb (in a small scale) falling in love with a bigger girl, really feels that way but with no racism plot line.

I couldn’t help but think that it was partly Melinda’s fault that Bora made that fake reason to get Skye out of the dancing portion. Like my gut says she was one of the reasons….

I almost didn’t want Henry & Skye together, especially after they both came out to each other. I think it would have been nice to have them just be friends after it all and maybe have them in same-sex relationships by the end. But not mad that they’re together, because we got consent for the first kiss which is something I love seeing!

Content Warnings

We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia

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adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

“But comfortable doesn’t win battles.”

After a long month I was finally able to finish this book after reading We Set the Dark on Fire. Now be warned, this review will not censor spoilers from the first book but will for this book.

So WUtMS is narrated by Carmen Santos, the rebel spy who had been placed in Medio’s School for Girls five years ago to get into the highest ranking family in Medio. To get information and sneak protestors into the city. To help further the mission of La Voz.

And the girl who left Dani Vargas broken, bruised, and burned on a road next to the dead body of her mother-in-law & guards; unsure if the girl would ever return her love, keep her promise, and not betray the rebellion. But with Dani’s loyalty put into question, and the organization she was raised in seemingly changed overnight, Carmen runs BACK into the city where she is a wanted murderer to save her, and save the group she considers family in the process.

While fighting both sides to prove loyalty, love, and support for the cause, many others' stances come into question and friendships are broken, lost, and shot down. But will Carmen be able to unite and tie together La Voz from the attack coming down on them all from her evil ex-husband?

“It makes you worthy of the title rebel.”

I felt like this was such a good conclusion to the story that began with WStDoF. The growth of the characters and the inner turmoil of Carmen was a great piece to see instead of it being in Dani’s view again. To see both sides of the couple. I loved how passionate Carmen was about both Dani and her loyalty to La Voz, showing that you don’t need to have a one-track mind to be successful, and that sometimes having something else worth fighting for along with the bigger picture can help push you farther than expected.

Of course I love a good book about women falling in love as well, but seeing the fight in the relationship that stemmed from the end of book one through all the issues in book two was nice to see. It’s not always going to be a catwalk to be in love, but it makes life so much brighter. That even when they fought, the love that the other felt for each other was what grounded them to the world. Though personally I don’t know how many declarations of love I’d be giving if I knew someone was coming for me with the sole purpose of ending my existence, but that’s what escapism is for!

“But even through all of that, the sun was shining.”

I gave We Unleash the Merciless Sea 4 stars like the first book. While I wish a certain man was not left alive, I’m okay with how he came out of the final battle. I also liked the twist of the La Voz leadership at the end of the book to see a mantel taken up in a new direction than the thousand of years before. And while I’m sad I won’t be able to see Dani & Carmen live on until their ends as a happy couple, I’m glad that I was able to be there while I could.

I knew from the beginning that Ari was a gov’t spy, just not how he knew Mateo. I was theorizing he was like a illegitimate child of Mateo’s father or something

Why did Cielo have to die? Think of the happy life she could have had with that sweet village on the end of the wall that Carmen met. I dislike meeting someone and having them ripped away so soon.

Of course, RIGHT AS I LIKE SOTA he goes and gets shot….not my foxy boy

Carmen getting poison-induced powers over animals or something to attack Mateo was very cool, the Gods saw the fight and were like “here’s some rain and attack crows, go wild my children”

Content Warnings

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

I’ve had my eye on these rainbow books for a while now. The concept sounded so good, and I heard a rumor that it featured a lovely gay storyline between the two many female characters. So one day, after getting a shot and not passing out (I’m afraid of needles okay?) I treated myself to a trip to the bookstore and picked both books up.

Obviously this review is going to be for only the first book, as while I’m writing this I’m reading the second one, but I wanted to get it out as soon as I could.

“You will find a way to make a life you love.”

This story follows Dani, who has forged papers showing she lives on the ‘right’ side of the wall, and those papers have brought her all the way as the top graduate from Medio’s school for Girls. She’s set to marry the man in line to be president, and finally help her family get higher in life than they were before. But more than one wrench comes into play.

The rebellious La Voz knows her secret and blackmails her to spy on her new husband, and now she is married alongside her school-yard enemy who she may or may not have feelings for. What will Dani do? What won’t she do to protect herself and do what is right? But which way is right?

This book was filled with less action than you’d think, but what it does have is the inner turmoil of a woman who is just starting to get to know herself, and the truth of her world. She can’t run from her past, she has to fight for it to matter. Mixed in with Latinx representation, neck-aching twists, and a love story you can’t help but cheer for.

I really liked the way the world was built, it made me nostalgic for like the kind of classic dystopian world where the rich got to be up on the top with cars and guards while the poor lived on the edge of society in squalor, but they also have the fire in their hearts to fight. While this book was a fiction tale, the way the rebellion and the rich interacted, along with the actions of the police force, was very similar to some of the things we see in the world today. Which is sad to say but very interesting to also see in a book written right before it all got really bad, but during a time that this has been happening for a while now.

“Freedom has a price. People who want easy & pretty stay in their cages.”

I also liked the characters in this book because I felt each one was written so well to work on their own and mixed in with others around them.

For this book I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the intrigue, the story, and the romance within the book and how each one had its own level of danger, all intertwined together for an even more dangerous world for Dani to navigate. I hope that I’m able to get time to finish the next one before the month is up.

the fact that not only was it a forced marriage, but forced polygamy at that was a unique concept; having each wife serve a different purpose also helped to give a level of control over them that neither could connect with the other, just what was the same.

I wanted to punch BOTH Mateo and Sota, I just didn’t like either of them and I don’t trust them

the amount of double-agent-ness between both Carmen & Jasmin was crazy to me because how many more women within the rich and healthy are spies for La Voz?

I straight up thought Dani was going to die at the end, like she’s be able to kiss a girl and feel love and then die by FIRE, I was ready to mourn</spoiler

After when Carmen did, and all the Dani was dragged through, I don’t know if I’d trust ever again or help either side to do anything

Content Warnings

Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. A bisexual (possibly pansexual), plus-size girl who loves animals has superpowers? That’s right up my alley, however, I just couldn’t get myself to love it. Perhaps the book was too young for me, causing me to cringe at the fandom-talk and not connecting with the characters that much as a 25-year old.

“You can’t save them all, Faith.”

Faith as a character is too trusting as a character, like immediately trusting people she meets in one day and not even really caring about other intentions. I found myself reading the prologue rolling my eyes at how eager she was to believe this man who essentially lied to her and confessed that he and others were watching her. If I was her, first I wouldn’t have been alone with him, and second I would have left so quickly.

Most of the book, in my opinion, was just Faith being a teenager and focused very little on her powers and the issues happening in the town. All the issues and the “big bad” really only came in the last few pages.

Also, I didn’t like how Faith’s plus-size-ness was brought up with Miss Ella making a comment that she can’t run. But perhaps that is because I have my own issues with my weight and have had people say that to me before. Then when Whitney comes into the fold and mentions Dakota having a “type” of bigger girls, I was really put off because it made me think of like, chubby chasers and how when I was younger I thought that was sweet, but instead it’s more like fetishizing plus-size people.

But still, I think it would be nice to have a YA book where there’s a plus-size girl that doesn’t have to deal with that. Again, this comes from my own life being plus-size so if you’re plus-size and you liked how the rep was done, I’m honestly so happy for you because we need all the good rep that we can get.

Overall, I give this 3 stars because it was a plus-size rep that wasn’t bad, it just didn’t make me feel good as a plus-size person. I do have another book by this author, but it’s an adult story so perhaps I’ll like that one more. But in the end, I am content with leaving Faith’s story where it left off here and not picking up the next one.

I feel that the situation with Chelsea was so damn quick for them to notice her not being around and then her arrested. Part of the issue with being in only Faith’s head I guess. Matt being so angry at Faith as well about it after knowing about Lou was also really rude of him.

With Chelsea as well, Matt constantly making rude comments about her practice was not the type of behavior a best friend would do. If he were my friend and did that to me, he wouldn’t be my friend for much longer.

Poor Grant honestly, yeah he was dealing but also like, he didn’t have to die.

Johnny was my favorite of the romantic options, Dakota rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning. I felt very vindicated at the end when it was revealed she knew what was going on.

Content Warnings

The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Just know it was great and if you haven’t yet: read all the Iron Fey books - K thanks bye

I have friends who all share their love of the Iron Fey together, and when the Call of the Forgotten books came out, a meme was made of Ash’s head on a clownfish body yelling “HAVE YOU SEEN MY SON!?” And I just kept thinking of that while reading this book. Why does that boy have to keep disappearing on us? (so yeah spoiler Keirran is missing for part of this book)

“What are nightmares, but the dreams of different emotions?”

Now see if Ash had been more careful this would not have happened. Or if…the Lady wasn’t so her this wouldn’t have happened actually. Because just like in COTF, it’s her fault for the most part.

Also I tried looking at my notes for this book and ALL of them are spoilers, there’s not much I can mention because there will be another one, this isn’t the end. The top sentence still stands.

“I’d rather die fighting beside my friend, then have to face him as an enemy one more time.”

Julie, if you could release the last book as soon as you can that’d be WONDERFUL so I can purchase that and the FairyLoot edition the second they are out. Love you!

I gave The Iron Sword 4 stars & cannot wait for the next one to get here. I just hope some of my predictions & thoughts are not true because then I'm just hurting myself.

“Let’s make this epilogue unforgettable.”

my heart fears that our favorite exiled son Keirran is not going to survive this trilogy & I hope I’m wrong

the shadow creatures/evenfey that our team fights keep showing up as Cubone’s in my mind and I can’t stop it

MY MOTHER KENZIE IS BACK AND SHE’S PREGANANANT! Them living deep in the woods as well is so funny to me, like Ethan you’re ASKING for the fey to come and bother you in the woods.

anyone else think that Ash busting open the seal to Evenfall while not listening was like when Quill messed up the fight against Thanos in Infinity War? Just me? okay

Content Warnings

A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown

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adventurous dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

There’s not much that I can say about this book without spoiling it since it’s a sequel (so if you haven’t read the first one WHAT are you doing here?)

“It’s not every day you get to embark on a new character arc.”

I thought one thing would happen to a character, and something else entirely different would occur which just goes to show how wonderful the writing is to have you also not notice what is happening along with the POVs. And I loved the new characters that we were introduced to in this book, mainly Ife. I wanted to travel the world with them because they kept me laughing even in the saddest parts.

Seeing how this was a sequel, certain relationships developed and others deteriorated during the course of the book. I was happy for some, and others hurt me to my core. Part of that is because I thought of my own similar relationships (sibling/child/friend) and thought about how emotional it would be for me. But thankfully (I guess) I am not from a line of royalty with a magic secret nor am I destined to fight someone like that.

"Every time she’d look for a savior and hadn’t found one, she’d become her own.”

I’m glad that we were able to explore more of the Sonande world in this book though. I've always loved it in books where they explore their world, even if it’s not the point of the particular book and the world building is mentioned in passing. It helps keep me connected while reading. Now I just need Rosanne to write a book of a traveler just going through all of Sonande, maybe Ife, and talking about all the beauty & magic of the world around them.

I gave this book 4.5 stars because it twas a wonderful story and a great way to end a curse. I just dislike open endings which this book sort of had, I want to have more of a solid ending, but that’s a personal thing and nothing against the book or author. If you’ve gone this far in my review and haven’t read either both books or just this one in the series please do now. You’re missing out on a wonderfully crafted & enrapturing story.

“This was still his mind. He was still the strongest person here.”

I honestly thought Nadia was going to get sacrificed for a minute there because of her like….stoic-ness

so like….would Malik have a right to the through with Khenu

I knew Farid’s lust for love (and power) would kill him in the end, and kill him his love did

that long run-on sentence/paragraph on pg 401-402 literally had my heart racing I love the way Malik’s anxiety is portrayed it’s just like

when Afua took over Maame’s role I wanted to cry because she deserved to see the end of it all and live life how she always wanted to :(

Content Warnings

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monicalaurette's reviews 289 reviews

monicalaurette's reviews
289 reviews