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nikkitewes's reviews
451 reviews
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received this arc through Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me access to this e-book.
The Other Side of Disappearing is the story of two sisters, their absent mother, a true crime podcast, and a romance. Jess is in her early 30s, and has always picked up the pieces after her mother. So much so that she's been raising her younger sister alone for over a decade. Jess is fiercely protective of her younger sister, Tegan, and is shocked and hurt when she finds out that Tegan has contacted a true crime podcast to help locate their mother. Reluctantly, Jess agrees to a month-long road trip with Tegan and the podcast crew. This road trip is one that will forever change all of their lives.
As the eldest daughter, I could truly empathize with Jess. I've never had to raise my siblings, but just some of those emotions that she had and that role she felt that she had to take on. I enjoyed the relationship between Jess and Tegan. I think that was probably my favorite thing in the whole book. This road trip for Jess was eye opening and life changing. She discovered more about herself and found love. I appreciated that. Adam was an adorable golden retriever and I have no real complaints about him.
I disliked the insta-love feel of this. Jess and Adam fell hard and fast and while I did enjoy them together, I wish that it had played out a little more after the road trip. I appreciated that she took time for herself afterwards, but that felt like almost an afterthought. I also felt like the ending with mom felt like more of an afterthought and seemed like it deserved a little more wrap up than it got.
The Other Side of Disappearing is the story of two sisters, their absent mother, a true crime podcast, and a romance. Jess is in her early 30s, and has always picked up the pieces after her mother. So much so that she's been raising her younger sister alone for over a decade. Jess is fiercely protective of her younger sister, Tegan, and is shocked and hurt when she finds out that Tegan has contacted a true crime podcast to help locate their mother. Reluctantly, Jess agrees to a month-long road trip with Tegan and the podcast crew. This road trip is one that will forever change all of their lives.
As the eldest daughter, I could truly empathize with Jess. I've never had to raise my siblings, but just some of those emotions that she had and that role she felt that she had to take on. I enjoyed the relationship between Jess and Tegan. I think that was probably my favorite thing in the whole book. This road trip for Jess was eye opening and life changing. She discovered more about herself and found love. I appreciated that. Adam was an adorable golden retriever and I have no real complaints about him.
I disliked the insta-love feel of this. Jess and Adam fell hard and fast and while I did enjoy them together, I wish that it had played out a little more after the road trip. I appreciated that she took time for herself afterwards, but that felt like almost an afterthought. I also felt like the ending with mom felt like more of an afterthought and seemed like it deserved a little more wrap up than it got.
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
slow-paced
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for the audiobook arc. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.
The Cemetery of Untold Stories is a hard one for me to review. I went into this book thinking that it was going to be a collection of short stories that followed a shared plot line. However, that wasn't what this was at all. Julia Alvarez used descriptive language and wrote this beautifully, but in the end it fell flat and was left feeling disappointed.
The Cemetery of Untold Stories is a hard one for me to review. I went into this book thinking that it was going to be a collection of short stories that followed a shared plot line. However, that wasn't what this was at all. Julia Alvarez used descriptive language and wrote this beautifully, but in the end it fell flat and was left feeling disappointed.
There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Abdurraqib wrote another amazing book! This is part memoir, part nonfiction, and fully enjoyable! I loved every second of it! I am not even a huge basketball fan, but absorbed every morsel that Hanif put in here. I cannot recommend this one enough!
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
WHAT IN THE WORLD DID I JUST READ?!?!
Motherthing is about as unhinged as a novel can get! In this you follow Abigail and her husband Ralph. Abigail's mother in law dies in their basement and the couple is left to pick up the pieces. Ralph is struggling to manage his grief and is suffering from mental health issues. This book is very much a stream of consciousness inside of Abigail's head. She is doing what she can to keep Ralph happy and try to rid their lives of her mother in law's ghost. Strap in for a wild ride!
Overall, I enjoyed this! There were definitely moments where I was confused about what was happening. Abigail's lies and her irrational thoughts were so frustrating, but that is part of the story. If you love unhinged, female characters then I think that you will love this story. If you like concrete characters and a concrete plot than this may not be for you.
Motherthing is about as unhinged as a novel can get! In this you follow Abigail and her husband Ralph. Abigail's mother in law dies in their basement and the couple is left to pick up the pieces. Ralph is struggling to manage his grief and is suffering from mental health issues. This book is very much a stream of consciousness inside of Abigail's head. She is doing what she can to keep Ralph happy and try to rid their lives of her mother in law's ghost. Strap in for a wild ride!
Overall, I enjoyed this! There were definitely moments where I was confused about what was happening. Abigail's lies and her irrational thoughts were so frustrating, but that is part of the story. If you love unhinged, female characters then I think that you will love this story. If you like concrete characters and a concrete plot than this may not be for you.
youthjuice by E.K. Sathue
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I would like to thank Netgalley and RB Media for this audiobook ARC. This audiobook is narrated by Suzy Jackson.
Youthjuice follows Sophie's journey starting her new job at Hebe, a luxury skin care brand. Sophie is quick to want to impress her boss, Tree. Tree gives Sophie a serum to try on her scarred hands. It works amazingly and the scars seemingly disappear. There are interns missing, there's conflict with Sophie's roommate, and there's murder(s). As the book progresses, Sophie's want to impress Tree is her ultimate downfall.
Youthjuice was so enjoyable. It is unhinged in the best way! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. If you like unhinged, female main characters, I think that you will love this. It reminded me a lot of Bunny by Mona Awad, but had a more defined plot. The book ties together young people's desire to be noticed and liked. It also really sheds light on the problematic influencer community. I highly recommend this one!
Youthjuice follows Sophie's journey starting her new job at Hebe, a luxury skin care brand. Sophie is quick to want to impress her boss, Tree. Tree gives Sophie a serum to try on her scarred hands. It works amazingly and the scars seemingly disappear. There are interns missing, there's conflict with Sophie's roommate, and there's murder(s). As the book progresses, Sophie's want to impress Tree is her ultimate downfall.
Youthjuice was so enjoyable. It is unhinged in the best way! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. If you like unhinged, female main characters, I think that you will love this. It reminded me a lot of Bunny by Mona Awad, but had a more defined plot. The book ties together young people's desire to be noticed and liked. It also really sheds light on the problematic influencer community. I highly recommend this one!
Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A. Olivas
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
4.0
Chicano Frankenstein is a modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It is told from a Latine Chicano perspective as our man character, "The Man," is a "reanimated" being. He goes through life and the mundane daily tasks that everyone else does. He starts to have feelings for a woman and you're able to see from her point of view as well. They're living in a time where the President is an "anti-stitcher" and trying to campaign against the stitcher/reanimated community. They're trying to isolate them and make their daily lives harder and harder until they can eventually consider them "illegal."
Olivas does a great job reimagining the Frankenstein story and making it relevant to things occurring today. He goes more in depth about the comparisons between the plot and immigration in his author's note. I HIGHLY suggest that you read/listen to that portion. It was excellent!
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing-audiobooks for this audiobook ARC! I highly enjoyed it. The narrator was excellent and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book.
Please do yourself a favor and read this one!
Olivas does a great job reimagining the Frankenstein story and making it relevant to things occurring today. He goes more in depth about the comparisons between the plot and immigration in his author's note. I HIGHLY suggest that you read/listen to that portion. It was excellent!
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing-audiobooks for this audiobook ARC! I highly enjoyed it. The narrator was excellent and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book.
Please do yourself a favor and read this one!
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a dual timeline novel. It starts off following Anita de Monte, a Latina artist, in the 1980s. Anita and her husband Jack, who is also an artist, have a very volatile relationship. Jack is jealous of her work and angry that she doesn't back down to him. All of that comes to a head one night and Anita falls from the window of their apartment. The story then skips ahead to 1998, where Raquel is working on a story for her grad paper. She originally plans to write it on Jack's artwork, and uncovers more about Anita's story.
First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me access to this audiobook. I think this is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to in the past couple of years. The narrators are excellent! I especially enjoyed the narrator for Anita de Monte's point of view chapters. She used such emotion and really made me "feel" it as a reader! It was such a fun experience. I highly recommend this one and if you can listen to it on audio.... DO IT!
First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me access to this audiobook. I think this is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to in the past couple of years. The narrators are excellent! I especially enjoyed the narrator for Anita de Monte's point of view chapters. She used such emotion and really made me "feel" it as a reader! It was such a fun experience. I highly recommend this one and if you can listen to it on audio.... DO IT!