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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
I follow Jen Campbell’s youtube channel and the videos that she makes about books are just fantastic. I picked up my copy of this book earlier this year at the Brooklyn Book Festival. Jen has worked in a bookstore for several years and during that time has had many interesting interactions with customers. She started to document the weird things that people say on her blog, and that later evolved into this book. The book features quotes from Jen, and also other booksellers around the world (including one from my local bookstore in CA!). This is a super fast read and I thought it was hilarious. I can’t believe people actually said some of these things. This book was delightful and would make a great gift for any book lover.
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Well this was delightful!
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Well this was delightful!
Thank you to Penguin Books for providing me with this review copy!
I'm going to start this with the caveat that I rarely read poetry. In fact, this might be the first poetry book I've ever reviewed on here. But when I read a couple positive reviews and discovered that the author is Nigerian/Jamaican, I was definitely intrigued.
Since I'm such a poetry newbie, I don't feel at all qualified to comment on the technical merits of this collection. I will say that this many of the poems in this collection are about love, relationships, and vulnerability. I felt like I could identify with some of the subject matter, so that definitely helped create an overall positive reading experience for me.
I would say that her poems reminded me of SZA's latest album, in that they are raw and open in a way that allows you to connect, feel, and be seen.
In terms of dipping my toe back into the poetry world, I was very happy with this choice. It felt accessible and made me think that, "hey, maybe poetry is for me after all."
I'm going to start this with the caveat that I rarely read poetry. In fact, this might be the first poetry book I've ever reviewed on here. But when I read a couple positive reviews and discovered that the author is Nigerian/Jamaican, I was definitely intrigued.
Since I'm such a poetry newbie, I don't feel at all qualified to comment on the technical merits of this collection. I will say that this many of the poems in this collection are about love, relationships, and vulnerability. I felt like I could identify with some of the subject matter, so that definitely helped create an overall positive reading experience for me.
I would say that her poems reminded me of SZA's latest album, in that they are raw and open in a way that allows you to connect, feel, and be seen.
In terms of dipping my toe back into the poetry world, I was very happy with this choice. It felt accessible and made me think that, "hey, maybe poetry is for me after all."
3.5 stars
Even though the last book was disappointing, I still felt like reading another holiday book afterwards. This one follows a family that is stuck together for seven days during the holidays, due to a quarantine. As you can imagine, things get a little bit crazy when they’re all cooped up in the same house for several days, and old family secrets start to rise to the surface.
I thought all of the characters were well done. They are a family that’s used to stuffing down their feelings, and that’s something I can relate to. We also see how feelings can fester for years and years, but eventually, they all come out into the open.
The family dynamics were interesting, especially the relationships between the parents and the children. You have a father that loves one daughter more than the other, because it’s easier, and a mother that tries to be everything for both daughters, to the point where she smothers them.
For me, there were some things in the book that stretched plausibility, but not to the point where it snapped. I really enjoyed this as a holiday read and I would recommend it.
Even though the last book was disappointing, I still felt like reading another holiday book afterwards. This one follows a family that is stuck together for seven days during the holidays, due to a quarantine. As you can imagine, things get a little bit crazy when they’re all cooped up in the same house for several days, and old family secrets start to rise to the surface.
I thought all of the characters were well done. They are a family that’s used to stuffing down their feelings, and that’s something I can relate to. We also see how feelings can fester for years and years, but eventually, they all come out into the open.
The family dynamics were interesting, especially the relationships between the parents and the children. You have a father that loves one daughter more than the other, because it’s easier, and a mother that tries to be everything for both daughters, to the point where she smothers them.
For me, there were some things in the book that stretched plausibility, but not to the point where it snapped. I really enjoyed this as a holiday read and I would recommend it.
I think Jasmine Guillory's books are just so delightful! I'm a sucker for a good rom com and this book definitely fit the bill for me.
Our main character, Alexa, gets stuck in an elevator with a hot guy named Drew. One thing leads to another, and Drew somehow convinces Alexa to pretend to be his girlfriend and accompany him to his ex-girlfriend's wedding that weekend. After a really fun weekend, it seems like their fake relationship has run its course, but neither of them really wants it to end...
I loved that this book features an interracial couple (Alexa is black and Drew is white). It was great the way that Guillory touched on some aspects that are specific to interracial couples. For example, Alexa asks Drew if she'll be the only black person at the wedding and it's something that Drew has never considered before. Alexa has often been the only black person in the room, so she's used to it, but she just wants to know what to expect. I thought the author did a good job of shedding light on issues like that. However, the overall tone of this book is definitely light, so I wouldn't go in expecting a deep dive on these issues.
I thought Alexa was a great character. She's smart and driven, and also seems very sweet, like someone you'd want to be friends with. She definitely had her insecurities as well, about her body, dating, and relationships, which made her even more relatable. I will say that Drew was a bit of a lovable jerk though (sometimes with too much emphasis on the jerk part).
Overall, I thought this was a light and charming read, which is exactly what I wanted right now. I can't wait to read her next book!
Our main character, Alexa, gets stuck in an elevator with a hot guy named Drew. One thing leads to another, and Drew somehow convinces Alexa to pretend to be his girlfriend and accompany him to his ex-girlfriend's wedding that weekend. After a really fun weekend, it seems like their fake relationship has run its course, but neither of them really wants it to end...
I loved that this book features an interracial couple (Alexa is black and Drew is white). It was great the way that Guillory touched on some aspects that are specific to interracial couples. For example, Alexa asks Drew if she'll be the only black person at the wedding and it's something that Drew has never considered before. Alexa has often been the only black person in the room, so she's used to it, but she just wants to know what to expect. I thought the author did a good job of shedding light on issues like that. However, the overall tone of this book is definitely light, so I wouldn't go in expecting a deep dive on these issues.
I thought Alexa was a great character. She's smart and driven, and also seems very sweet, like someone you'd want to be friends with. She definitely had her insecurities as well, about her body, dating, and relationships, which made her even more relatable. I will say that Drew was a bit of a lovable jerk though (sometimes with too much emphasis on the jerk part).
Overall, I thought this was a light and charming read, which is exactly what I wanted right now. I can't wait to read her next book!
I like a good coming-of-age novel, which is why the premise of this book intrigued me. As a young teenager, Chase's father sends him to Beijing to join the national junior tennis team. In his temporary home, Chase tries to adapt to a new culture, all while missing his friends and his routine back home.
This book is written very simply, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Due to the writing style and a younger protagonist, this felt more like a YA read, even though I think it's being marketed as an adult novel. I did enjoy reading about Chase's experience of moving to a new country because relocating is such a formative experience, particularly at a young age.
My biggest critique of this novel is that I wanted more depth. I wanted to get to know the characters better, including Chase and the young boys who become his new teammates, I wanted Chase's family history to be further developed, and I wanted to know more about the relationship between Chase and his father, which was often tense. To me, it felt like the author would start to discuss interesting themes, but then not follow through, which is a skill that may develop over time (this is his debut novel). This was a pleasant and easy read, and I'll be keeping an eye on this author to see what he writes next.
This book is written very simply, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Due to the writing style and a younger protagonist, this felt more like a YA read, even though I think it's being marketed as an adult novel. I did enjoy reading about Chase's experience of moving to a new country because relocating is such a formative experience, particularly at a young age.
My biggest critique of this novel is that I wanted more depth. I wanted to get to know the characters better, including Chase and the young boys who become his new teammates, I wanted Chase's family history to be further developed, and I wanted to know more about the relationship between Chase and his father, which was often tense. To me, it felt like the author would start to discuss interesting themes, but then not follow through, which is a skill that may develop over time (this is his debut novel). This was a pleasant and easy read, and I'll be keeping an eye on this author to see what he writes next.
Three Women is everywhere right now, and for good reason. I'm not usually a big nonfiction reader (in fact, I think this is the only one I've read this year), but I had to see what the hype was about. Also, many people have commented that this book reads like fiction, and I would wholeheartedly agree with that. The writing style is one aspect of the book that I found appealing and made it less intimidating to pick this one up, for someone like me who doesn't read a ton of nonfiction.
I thought this book was excellent. I've never read anything like it, so for me, it was completely original. It tells the stories of three women, Lina, Maggie, and Sloane. Lina is an unhappy housewife who is having an affair, Maggie is a young woman who was involved in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher when she was underage, and Sloane is also married, but sleeps with other men at the request of her husband.
This book is all about the sex lives of these three women. It starts with a personal story about the author's mother that I could not stop get out of my head. It made me think about all the things that we deal with and put up with as women, often because we don't feel like we have any other options.
I felt it was very brave of these women to have shared their stories so honestly and to have laid themselves bare in this way. Everything is exposed: their hopes, feelings, dreams, thoughts, and most of all their desires. One theme that runs throughout each of these stories is the desire to love and be loved, which I think is a common part of the human experience. We see what happens when these women feel unloved and the lengths they will go to to experience love in their lives.
I fell in love with Taddeo's writing style pretty early on. Her writing is truly beautiful. It reads like fiction because it has such a wonderful flow. I felt like the writing really captured the truth of these women's lives. You can tell that Taddeo really took the time to get to know these women, to understand them, and to get to the root of who they are.
Sometimes the desire to please others overtakes the personal desire. Sometimes we go along with (even when we don't want to) or suffer through situations because we want to please someone else (or because we don't want to displease them). We see these women taking on other people's wishes and sometimes putting their own wants first.
I feel like sex is still a taboo subject for many people, particularly women having sex. I loved that this book is unapologetic with its focus. It's like, "No, let's talk about this, let's put it all out there for the world to see!" This book makes it clear that of course women are sexual creatures. But in the world that we live in, it can still be detrimental for a women to admit to having sexual feelings and/or express her sexuality.
This book is not about judgement. These women are not perfect (no one is!). I don't feel like it's asking us to agree with their choices or to declare their lifestyles as right or wrong. Instead, it shines a light on their lives and shows us that at the core, their aspirations are not that different from yours or mine. It's not about judging their lives, but taking the time to hear their stories and discover who they really are.
I saw a review that pointed out that these three women are all straight and white, which is true. It's not representative of everyone and I don't think it's meant to be. While there might be themes that many people can identify with, this is about three very specific women and their stories. The author does mention a subject who was a woman of color who dropped out while she was researching the book. I wish we could have gotten the chance to hear that person's story too because it would have been a completely different perspective.
Clearly, I could go on and on about this book! This book is an example of brilliant writing and storytelling. I can tell that I'll be thinking about this book for a while. I think if you're even slightly intrigued by the subject matter, you should pick it up. If you find some of the topics discussed (such as sex, love, and lust), slightly uncomfortable, I think you should still pick it up (although of course, you know best what subjects you can and can't handle based on your background and experiences). If you've read it, talk to me, because I'm itching to go in on this book. And if you haven't read it yet, go pick it up, and let me know what you think!
I thought this book was excellent. I've never read anything like it, so for me, it was completely original. It tells the stories of three women, Lina, Maggie, and Sloane. Lina is an unhappy housewife who is having an affair, Maggie is a young woman who was involved in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher when she was underage, and Sloane is also married, but sleeps with other men at the request of her husband.
This book is all about the sex lives of these three women. It starts with a personal story about the author's mother that I could not stop get out of my head. It made me think about all the things that we deal with and put up with as women, often because we don't feel like we have any other options.
I felt it was very brave of these women to have shared their stories so honestly and to have laid themselves bare in this way. Everything is exposed: their hopes, feelings, dreams, thoughts, and most of all their desires. One theme that runs throughout each of these stories is the desire to love and be loved, which I think is a common part of the human experience. We see what happens when these women feel unloved and the lengths they will go to to experience love in their lives.
I fell in love with Taddeo's writing style pretty early on. Her writing is truly beautiful. It reads like fiction because it has such a wonderful flow. I felt like the writing really captured the truth of these women's lives. You can tell that Taddeo really took the time to get to know these women, to understand them, and to get to the root of who they are.
Sometimes the desire to please others overtakes the personal desire. Sometimes we go along with (even when we don't want to) or suffer through situations because we want to please someone else (or because we don't want to displease them). We see these women taking on other people's wishes and sometimes putting their own wants first.
I feel like sex is still a taboo subject for many people, particularly women having sex. I loved that this book is unapologetic with its focus. It's like, "No, let's talk about this, let's put it all out there for the world to see!" This book makes it clear that of course women are sexual creatures. But in the world that we live in, it can still be detrimental for a women to admit to having sexual feelings and/or express her sexuality.
This book is not about judgement. These women are not perfect (no one is!). I don't feel like it's asking us to agree with their choices or to declare their lifestyles as right or wrong. Instead, it shines a light on their lives and shows us that at the core, their aspirations are not that different from yours or mine. It's not about judging their lives, but taking the time to hear their stories and discover who they really are.
I saw a review that pointed out that these three women are all straight and white, which is true. It's not representative of everyone and I don't think it's meant to be. While there might be themes that many people can identify with, this is about three very specific women and their stories. The author does mention a subject who was a woman of color who dropped out while she was researching the book. I wish we could have gotten the chance to hear that person's story too because it would have been a completely different perspective.
Clearly, I could go on and on about this book! This book is an example of brilliant writing and storytelling. I can tell that I'll be thinking about this book for a while. I think if you're even slightly intrigued by the subject matter, you should pick it up. If you find some of the topics discussed (such as sex, love, and lust), slightly uncomfortable, I think you should still pick it up (although of course, you know best what subjects you can and can't handle based on your background and experiences). If you've read it, talk to me, because I'm itching to go in on this book. And if you haven't read it yet, go pick it up, and let me know what you think!
This was such a fun read that gave me And Then There None vibes! It follows several guests who are spending the weekend at a cozy lodge in upstate New York. It's supposed to be an escape for them, but the weekend quickly turns sinister when people start dying.
The book alternates perspectives between the guests and I thought that was quite well done. Each person felt like a distinct character and you couldn't tell who was lying and who was telling the truth. Everyone had something to hide and I feel like Lapena succeeded at making it seem like several people had a motive for the murder.
I also enjoyed that it was set in upstate New York, as that is close to home and I've been on weekend getaways upstate. It made the story feel even more real to me. Towards the end, I began to suspect who the murderer might be (but not the motive), and I was kind of right!
This was a great book to read during winter. You could see how the wintry setting and remote location really contributed to the terror the guests feel. This was a solid mystery/thriller for me and I really enjoyed it!
The book alternates perspectives between the guests and I thought that was quite well done. Each person felt like a distinct character and you couldn't tell who was lying and who was telling the truth. Everyone had something to hide and I feel like Lapena succeeded at making it seem like several people had a motive for the murder.
I also enjoyed that it was set in upstate New York, as that is close to home and I've been on weekend getaways upstate. It made the story feel even more real to me. Towards the end, I began to suspect who the murderer might be (but not the motive), and I was kind of right!
This was a great book to read during winter. You could see how the wintry setting and remote location really contributed to the terror the guests feel. This was a solid mystery/thriller for me and I really enjoyed it!
3.5 stars
Ethan St. James’s dream job is to work at a fashion magazine. He graduates college, moves to New York City, and lands a coveted internship at Régine, the biggest fashion magazine in the world. As he quickly discovers though, Régine is not all he thought it would be, leading him to question everything he’s ever wanted.
For some reason, I was a bit skeptical when I started the book. It sounded like something I would enjoy, but then I thought that maybe I’d be disappointed. Well, original me was right- I really enjoyed this book. First of all, the fashion. I love reading descriptions of clothing and style, so the sartorial passages were right up my alley. Secondly, I know that I love books about twenty-somethings trying to make it New York City (hello real life, meet fictional life). Finally, the main character went to Yale University, which is my alma mater. As you can see, there were a lot of elements of this book that I could connect with and enjoy.
Our main character is a misfit. He grew up in a small, conservative town in Texas, and is teased for being different and having different interests than the other kids. It’s a coming-of-a-story in which Ethan explores his aspirations, his sexuality, and his identity. There’s also lots of fun and snarky commentary on the fashion industry. This felt like a fun and appropriate summer read.
Ethan St. James’s dream job is to work at a fashion magazine. He graduates college, moves to New York City, and lands a coveted internship at Régine, the biggest fashion magazine in the world. As he quickly discovers though, Régine is not all he thought it would be, leading him to question everything he’s ever wanted.
For some reason, I was a bit skeptical when I started the book. It sounded like something I would enjoy, but then I thought that maybe I’d be disappointed. Well, original me was right- I really enjoyed this book. First of all, the fashion. I love reading descriptions of clothing and style, so the sartorial passages were right up my alley. Secondly, I know that I love books about twenty-somethings trying to make it New York City (hello real life, meet fictional life). Finally, the main character went to Yale University, which is my alma mater. As you can see, there were a lot of elements of this book that I could connect with and enjoy.
Our main character is a misfit. He grew up in a small, conservative town in Texas, and is teased for being different and having different interests than the other kids. It’s a coming-of-a-story in which Ethan explores his aspirations, his sexuality, and his identity. There’s also lots of fun and snarky commentary on the fashion industry. This felt like a fun and appropriate summer read.
Thank you to Gallery Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
Sadly, this book didn't quite deliver for me. It's a bummer too, because I was intrigued by the premise and hoped that it would be a solid summer read.
Matt and Elise head upstate to sell Matt's grandfather's old cabin on the lake. While they're away, Elise and Matt's lives are turned upside down when their daughter, Gracie, is taken. Their marriage was already strained due to Elise's frequent absences as she works as a professional horse rider and pursues her dreams of making the Olympic team. Gracie's disappearance will either bring them together or tear them further apart.
Here's my main issue with this book: I felt like Elise was being punished for being a working mother with goals and ambitions. All the blame was put on her for everything that went wrong with Gracie and with her marriage to Matt. I'm not saying she was a perfect person, but it didn't seem right that all the blame was laid at her feet. And honestly, Matt seemed like a bit of a creep, especially when he starts to fantasize about his old girlfriend, the girl next door, Cass.
Pacing was another problem that I had with this book. Based on the synopsis, I expected the book to focus on Gracie's disappearance and how that affected Elise and Matt's lives. However, at one point, I realized that I was more than halfway through the book and Gracie's kidnapping hadn't happened yet! The plot ramps up once the kidnapping takes place, but not much happens before that.
My overall feeling about this book was "meh." I couldn't connect with these characters and I wasn't invested in the story. However, I think if the lakeside setting sounds appealing to you, or if you don't mind a very slow-burning book, then you might get along with this one better than I did.
Sadly, this book didn't quite deliver for me. It's a bummer too, because I was intrigued by the premise and hoped that it would be a solid summer read.
Matt and Elise head upstate to sell Matt's grandfather's old cabin on the lake. While they're away, Elise and Matt's lives are turned upside down when their daughter, Gracie, is taken. Their marriage was already strained due to Elise's frequent absences as she works as a professional horse rider and pursues her dreams of making the Olympic team. Gracie's disappearance will either bring them together or tear them further apart.
Here's my main issue with this book: I felt like Elise was being punished for being a working mother with goals and ambitions. All the blame was put on her for everything that went wrong with Gracie and with her marriage to Matt. I'm not saying she was a perfect person, but it didn't seem right that all the blame was laid at her feet. And honestly, Matt seemed like a bit of a creep, especially when he starts to fantasize about his old girlfriend, the girl next door, Cass.
Pacing was another problem that I had with this book. Based on the synopsis, I expected the book to focus on Gracie's disappearance and how that affected Elise and Matt's lives. However, at one point, I realized that I was more than halfway through the book and Gracie's kidnapping hadn't happened yet! The plot ramps up once the kidnapping takes place, but not much happens before that.
My overall feeling about this book was "meh." I couldn't connect with these characters and I wasn't invested in the story. However, I think if the lakeside setting sounds appealing to you, or if you don't mind a very slow-burning book, then you might get along with this one better than I did.
The story of Thomas Cromwell, who I didn't really think I was interested in until I started reading the book. I rather like her writing style and although it was difficult at times to keep up with all of the different characters, I generally enjoyed the book.